I want to be very clear: George Welsh is a freaking legend, at both the UVA and NCAA levels. Having said that…
GW years one thru five: 25-29-2 (13-20-2)
BM years one thru five: 30-32 (18-23)
Going out a sixth year (this season for Bronco):
GW: 33-33-2 (18-22-2)
BM: 35-34 (21-25)
Do I think Bronco is the second coming of GW? No. Do I hope I’m wrong? You bet. Is this truly an apples to apples comparison? Eh. I’m sure we could talk about the strength of the conference across the years, what they each had to build from, etc. but that’s not the point. The point is that referencing GW’s record as evidence to underscore what BM has done to date doesn’t stand up.
Bronco beats the teams he should beat most of the time. Teams uva beat this yr have a combined record of 14-18 led by 4-2 w&m. I know Bronco is not an awful coach and the hoos could do worse. But I also believe they could do better. 7-5 seasons dont fire up fan bases look at the half full stadium at homecoming. 7-5 is fine but I want more and don’t think it’s unreasonable to want more.
If that’s all the fanbase wants they have that now no need to build facilities and invest money. Invest that money elsewhere where it will be put to use.
I hear ya - you know more about football than me so just trying to understand.
Is there a program that has the type of success you’re looking for? I assume it is agreed that we aren’t going to be Bama, Clemson, UGA, LSU level consistently (we may have a 1 in 10-15 year season that is that level).
What is Bronco doing or not doing for you that could get us to the level of success you’re expecting? Scheme, recruiting, culture? Something else?
Is there any coach out there that UVA could realistically get who you think would improve on #2 above?
For me, and again I don’t know much about football, running through those 3 questions - and considering the facilities, academics, and a general fanbase that will never be considered “diehard”, I think Bronco is the best we can do. He’s not perfect, maybe he’s loyal to a fault to “his guys”, maybe the horseback rides aren’t for every 17-18 year old, but his positive qualities far outweigh the few quips I may have for this role.
Given what he inherited, to have a Coastal title and fielding an above-average P5 team consistently (already) is an incredible feat. Just my opinion.
I say shoot for the stars ans be Bama or Clemson. 20 Yrs ago no one thought the basketball team could routinely compete but here we are. An Okie St level is reasonable tjey float that 9-10 win mark.
it’s a combo of talent in via recruiting and what that talent becomes. Typically they get the most out of their players but it’s a lot of 2s and 3 turning into 3s and 4s and there’s a slim margin for error. Scheme I’d like to see something less gimmick dependent. Oftentimes you run gimmicks to make up for lack of talent. The defense is a mess 2 years running. As far as culture I’m not sure it lands with a wide enough recruiting bases. I could be wrong but it doesn’t land with me.
I don’t have a coach in mind off the top of my head. But I haven’t spent much effort digging
And for context for everyone saying you don’t fire a winning coach. LSU and Coach O just agreed to part ways at the end of the season. 2 yrs removed from a Nati and the day after their biggest win of the year.
Yeah, respectfully, I think expecting us to be Bama is tough. Bronco has created a program that is competitive, fun to watch, easy to cheer for, and since year 2 wins more than it loses. Playoffs aren’t going to be the norm, but if the stars align we’ll be top 10-15 once a decade, and a bowl team most of the others. That seems great to me.
We had Welsh, got greedy, went for Groh, then spiraled into London. Bronco has brought us back and raised our floor materially. Is there someone out there who could capture lightning in a bottle and turn UVA into Bama? I think no, but for sake of argument let’s say maybe. Do we churn through good/really good coaches and spend a bunch of money with flame outs so we can find the generational home run? Seems like bad business.
Said differently: BC basketball had Al Skinner. Great fit for their program. Should they have kept him, maybe limited their ceiling, but kept the floor at a very reasonable level? Or do they swing for the fences, maybe raising the ceiling but significantly lowering the floor? Hindsight is 20/20 but the latter didn’t work out well for BC.
I agree Bama is pie in the sky perfect scenario and likely unrealistic. but I’m also of the belief if you’re not striving to be the the best then why are you out there. I do think that Okie St level of conference contender in the 25 every season and give it a go st a top 10 periodically. Honestly only talking about a 2 game difference.
I don’t know much about Okie State- are they still big 12?
How are they winning their games and are they regularly beating Texas, Oklahoma etc? If they are then that would be akin to us winning most of our games and beating VT regularly and one other top team like UNC/Miami regularly.
I would say that it’s *not impossible, but also don’t know if Bronco cannot regularly do that- who can? Along with maintaining the winning of the lower tier teams?
My only thought here, similar to what I said on Friday, is that we won’t compete for the 12 team playoff under Bronco. How much of that is structural to UVa, and how much is Bronco? I don’t know, and as long as Bronco is here, we’ll never know. Hate to be the jerk who has to say it, but if it’s UVa structural, then it doesn’t really matter who is the coach unless you’re someone who’s year is made depending on whether you get to go to a third tier bowl.
The model for UVA is Wisconsin and Iowa. We can get to that level. Anyone expecting more than that is hopefully writing letters to Paul Tudor Jones, Ohanian and Serena, Grisham, and every other wealthy alum and fan asking them to become our T. Boone Pickens.
Wisconsin or Iowa means owning your state and territory. Wisconsin only has to compete with D3s and Iowa dominates Iowa St. I’d love to see the Hoos dominate VT but the last 3 coaches have failed at that.
Think Wisconsin fans would count owning Minnesota in that rivalry as their territory since those states aren’t as densely populated. But really I mean winning by dominating the lines and coaching up high 3 stars with a few 4 stars sprinkled in. When every thing breaks right you can compete for a conference title and in down years you are on the top 25 bubble. Until the donor base decides football is important the way Paul Tudor Jones did with basketball I think that’s the goal.
Joe Moorhead Oregon -doubtful
Graham Harrell USC -no clue to doubtful
Zac Hill ASU -maybe?
Warren Ruggiero Wake Forest - maybe my first call
Billy Napier- no chance
Charles Huff-Bama may not be ready
Sean Lewis Kent St feels oddly right and that scares me
Will Healy Charlotte
Like I said a rough cut list but i think a few of these guys are gonna be big and could do well at uva.
So if we were to move on one of these guys, they do work out, and we have a Arkansas or Cincinnati type season, the successful coach then leaves for a bigger program right? And we’re back to square one.
Maybe that’s cynical and maybe to your point if you aren’t trying what’s the point, but I believe we can be very good with Bronco - and he’s not looking for a “bigger” job.