Big big pick up this morning
Wahoowa
4 Likes
2025 Top 1000 commits: 5/5 players committed
2023 and 2024 combined Top 1000 commits: 3/34 players committed
And weāre not even halfway through this cycle. Very encouraging start to this class.
12 Likes
CTE is cooking something up. Itās just a slow pit bbq and not a gas burning grill. Good things come up with patience.
5 Likes
If heās actually got the recruiting on track, that changes everything.
3 Likes
Fact thats the biggest hurdle at this moment.
2 Likes
Yep. My biggest concern was that he wasnāt a great in game coach and couldnāt recruit. Iām gaining confidence he can recruit. I still have questions about in game decision making, but he got better at that throughout the season. Weāll see. But Iām gaining confidence in the direction of the program.
Iād say Iām cautiously optimistic
5 Likes
Iām still tepid. So far so good in the ā25 recruiting cycle.
The last two classes were bottom of the ACC. Despite some names we were happy about in the portal, itās also not a very highly ranked class (9th in the ACC).
Positive momentum though - similar to in game - need to see if this staff can carry it through the end of the game/cycle.
2 Likes
Thatās the boat Iām in. Obviously the results have to be shown on the field and only time will tell. What I have seen over the offseason and in spurts of last season was enough to make me think there is light ahead, just not sure how long or if they get there.
2 Likes
Going to a bowl game this year is crucial. Not confident it happens but if the staff can show growth on the field that would go a very long way.
4 Likes
Iād like to see us get better at finishing close games. Encouraging that the games were, for the most part, close last year though.
Also, very encouraged that after the tragedy in Nov 2022, and a lot of losses last year, we didnāt get hammered in the portal. Actually won it when you consider what we got vs. what we lost. That shows the kids like this staff and their message, and believe we can be better.
Iām fine with a gradual rebuild, as long as progress is being made. Get recruiting to where our classes are in the 40ās & 50ās nationally, and get to a couple of lower tier bowls. Those teams help bring in classes in the 30ās, until we get to a point where winning 8 or 9 games regularly is feasible. That might be our ceiling in 4-5 years, but Iām ok with that.
3 Likes
I think we are trending the right way, but folks want results yesterday and there is no playbook on how to deal with a tragedy that our team, coaches endured. Couple that with a head coach who bailed and left the roster the way he did. Not a recipe for success. The one positive thing is Tony admitted that he did not handle the āheadā coach job very well his first year.
2 Likes
Agree with what everyone is saying. In many ways last year was year 0 for CTE. After the tragedy and the way that season ended you really canāt apply that to the program. Thereās no way to you can look at that as a building block for anything.
Thereās still a lot to do, but the fact that the team was largely competitive last season is great and a step. Like @GulfCoastHoo said learning to close those games is the next step. A lot of guys got a lot of experience which is huge. The portal season was mostly a win Iād say.
Iām not ready to say what the record for next season will be or if a Bowl is a realistic possibility. But if the team gets to one thatās a masterful accomplishment by the team and staff
3 Likes
Also important to remember how tight we kept most games with the number of injuries we had, specifically on the defensive side. Losing so badly to end the season just put a very bad taste in a lot of fans mouths.
5 Likes
Also closing games has a lot to do with playable depth. Something we do not have. I feel a little more comfortable with keeping games close, letās face it we didnāt/donāt have the depth to win those close ones, unless we face a Mack brown coached team 11 weeks in a row
3 Likes
Great point on depth. Hoos have virtually no depth the last 3-4 years now
1 Like
Iām certainly willing to give CTE 3 more years, as long as we make the College Football Playoffs this upcoming season. I think thatās the floor.
3 Likes
Under this model, We wouldāve made the playoff in 2019.
https://x.com/rossdellenger/status/1762980394003988776?s=46&t=KRUvpbKQ9s5_3BPeM0gClg
2 Likes
So much greed involved in this.
Letās see how 12 works for a few years before we go to 14.
2 Likes
I agree. Or they shouldāve gone to 14 or 16 immediately. Why 12?
Iām most surprised that theyād allocate 2 guaranteed spots each to the ACC and B12. I thought theyād give us 1 a piece to placate us.
3 Likes
Hey @jazznutUVA they brought the Champions League qualification structure to college football.
1 Like