I wrote a good post back in Nov 2010 on how "close" i thought we were to being "back" to dynasty levels.
Turns out i was actually right, just a year off
We had just lost 2 close games. A fumbled Ponder snap away from snatching a victory @NCSU, and a rare Dustin Hopkins miss at home vs UNC.
Everyone was bitching and complaining and it just appeared that we were never going to get "back".
We were 6-3 at the time and i remember folks loved the read.
I thought it was such a good post, I kept a copy for myself, and thought it would be an interesting read given time and perspective on what happened in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014
Dynasty years '87-'00 vs. This Year 2010 - a KoolAid drinkers perspective
OK. Another attempt to make myself feel better about the direction we are taking now.
I dont care if you take my argument and twist it around and prove that I am wrong. I'm on vacation taking care of my elderly mom and have lots of free time this week.
I try to be an optimist when it comes to my Noles, I love them a lot,and even if they went 0-11 I would still bleed Garnet and Gold. I think thats what makes me a true fan.
I got to thinking about the dynasty years... and all the great wins, top-5 finishes, how we seemingly would dominate teams week in and week out.
Let's not forget though - we call them the "Dynasty Years", but in reality, in almost each of those years there were games VERY SIMILAR to what we have experienced in the last 2 games. I think in the case of the many close wins over that time, we simply have forgotten about them because we won them....
Also, except for 1999, we always managed to stub our toe and lose AT LEAST ONCE.
Obviously, we were NEVER dominating EVERY team on the schedule and as we all know, some of the losses were crushing. CRUSHING.
To illustrate my point I looked all those 14 years, and especially at both LOSSES and CLOSE WINS, which I define as winning by 8 points or less
'87 - loss UM (1 point) , close win Nebraska (3 pts, Orange Bowl)
'88 - embarassing loss UM 31-0, close wins Clemson (3, puntrooskie) and Auburn (6, Sugar Bowl)
'89 - lost unranked So Miss (Farve), loss Clemson at home (11), close win Auburn (8) and UF (7)
'90 - losses to Miami (9) Auburn (3), close win Penn St (7, BlockB Bowl)
'91 - lost UM (WR1), UF (5), close win TAMU (8, Cotton)
'92 - loss UM (WR2), close wins Clemson (4) , Ga Tech (5, came from way down 4th)
'93 - loss N Dame (Game of Cent), close win Neb (2, National title)
'94 - loss UM, tie UF (OK, really win) , close win N Dame (7), UF (7, Sugar)
'95 - loss UVA (Dunn really scored), UF, close win N Dame (5, Orange)
'96 - loss (uf title game), close wins UF (huge), UVA (7)
'97 - loss UF (3), close wins SoCal (7), Clemson (7)
'98 - loss NCSU (by 17), Tenn (title game), no close wins (!)
'99 - PERFECT SEASON - close wins Ga Tech (6), Clemson (3), UF (7)
'00 - loss UM (WR3), Okl U (title game), close wins Ga Tech (5)
About once a year, we would win a close game (I am talking about regular season , not the bowl games). Dominating most, but always struggle in a game or maybe 2, and usually lose a game or two regular season (usually Miami or UF) on top of that
This year, we have had one blowout loss, 2 upsets, and a close win (BC).
Had we won these last 2 games instead (which one could make an argument that bad luck caused 2 bad breaks and we should have won them), perhaps one (koolaid drinker?) could infer that THIS 2010 team AT THE VERY LEAST has some of the same "GENETIC MATERIAL" as some of these greater teams in the dynasty years. Perhaps more similar to 1986, just BEFORE the official dynasty started, but I see it. Its what gave us OPTIMISM at 6-1 folks.
Not saying the 2010 team is RIGHT up there yet, but they COULD be.
I think that the killer instinct is there. I think the program is on the right track. These guys really refuse to lose or give up. They are fighting to the end!!! That is COACHING. Having these kids believe in themselves...
I think that is VERY IMPORTANT. We have finally gotten some GREAT RECRUITING classes put together and 2011 looks like no exception. Our talent level has been rising since JF's arrival... Defensive troubles perhaps - this is a NEW DC after all folks, our expectations were high, and I wouldnt trade Jimbo for anyone, nor Mark Stoops. These guys KNOW HOW TO WIN, its just a process to instill that same way of thinking in the team (process, good word process)
I think those of us "koolaid" drinkers, as we are affectionaly known, may just get the last laugh after all
I will obviously reserve judgment for after the season, but i STILL say if we go to ACCCG and BEAT uf, we are DEFINITELY BACK, and 2011 promises to be something special
Turns out i was actually right, just a year off
We had just lost 2 close games. A fumbled Ponder snap away from snatching a victory @NCSU, and a rare Dustin Hopkins miss at home vs UNC.
Everyone was bitching and complaining and it just appeared that we were never going to get "back".
We were 6-3 at the time and i remember folks loved the read.
I thought it was such a good post, I kept a copy for myself, and thought it would be an interesting read given time and perspective on what happened in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014
Dynasty years '87-'00 vs. This Year 2010 - a KoolAid drinkers perspective
OK. Another attempt to make myself feel better about the direction we are taking now.
I dont care if you take my argument and twist it around and prove that I am wrong. I'm on vacation taking care of my elderly mom and have lots of free time this week.
I try to be an optimist when it comes to my Noles, I love them a lot,and even if they went 0-11 I would still bleed Garnet and Gold. I think thats what makes me a true fan.
I got to thinking about the dynasty years... and all the great wins, top-5 finishes, how we seemingly would dominate teams week in and week out.
Let's not forget though - we call them the "Dynasty Years", but in reality, in almost each of those years there were games VERY SIMILAR to what we have experienced in the last 2 games. I think in the case of the many close wins over that time, we simply have forgotten about them because we won them....
Also, except for 1999, we always managed to stub our toe and lose AT LEAST ONCE.
Obviously, we were NEVER dominating EVERY team on the schedule and as we all know, some of the losses were crushing. CRUSHING.
To illustrate my point I looked all those 14 years, and especially at both LOSSES and CLOSE WINS, which I define as winning by 8 points or less
'87 - loss UM (1 point) , close win Nebraska (3 pts, Orange Bowl)
'88 - embarassing loss UM 31-0, close wins Clemson (3, puntrooskie) and Auburn (6, Sugar Bowl)
'89 - lost unranked So Miss (Farve), loss Clemson at home (11), close win Auburn (8) and UF (7)
'90 - losses to Miami (9) Auburn (3), close win Penn St (7, BlockB Bowl)
'91 - lost UM (WR1), UF (5), close win TAMU (8, Cotton)
'92 - loss UM (WR2), close wins Clemson (4) , Ga Tech (5, came from way down 4th)
'93 - loss N Dame (Game of Cent), close win Neb (2, National title)
'94 - loss UM, tie UF (OK, really win) , close win N Dame (7), UF (7, Sugar)
'95 - loss UVA (Dunn really scored), UF, close win N Dame (5, Orange)
'96 - loss (uf title game), close wins UF (huge), UVA (7)
'97 - loss UF (3), close wins SoCal (7), Clemson (7)
'98 - loss NCSU (by 17), Tenn (title game), no close wins (!)
'99 - PERFECT SEASON - close wins Ga Tech (6), Clemson (3), UF (7)
'00 - loss UM (WR3), Okl U (title game), close wins Ga Tech (5)
About once a year, we would win a close game (I am talking about regular season , not the bowl games). Dominating most, but always struggle in a game or maybe 2, and usually lose a game or two regular season (usually Miami or UF) on top of that
This year, we have had one blowout loss, 2 upsets, and a close win (BC).
Had we won these last 2 games instead (which one could make an argument that bad luck caused 2 bad breaks and we should have won them), perhaps one (koolaid drinker?) could infer that THIS 2010 team AT THE VERY LEAST has some of the same "GENETIC MATERIAL" as some of these greater teams in the dynasty years. Perhaps more similar to 1986, just BEFORE the official dynasty started, but I see it. Its what gave us OPTIMISM at 6-1 folks.
Not saying the 2010 team is RIGHT up there yet, but they COULD be.
I think that the killer instinct is there. I think the program is on the right track. These guys really refuse to lose or give up. They are fighting to the end!!! That is COACHING. Having these kids believe in themselves...
I think that is VERY IMPORTANT. We have finally gotten some GREAT RECRUITING classes put together and 2011 looks like no exception. Our talent level has been rising since JF's arrival... Defensive troubles perhaps - this is a NEW DC after all folks, our expectations were high, and I wouldnt trade Jimbo for anyone, nor Mark Stoops. These guys KNOW HOW TO WIN, its just a process to instill that same way of thinking in the team (process, good word process)
I think those of us "koolaid" drinkers, as we are affectionaly known, may just get the last laugh after all
I will obviously reserve judgment for after the season, but i STILL say if we go to ACCCG and BEAT uf, we are DEFINITELY BACK, and 2011 promises to be something special
