"Butch Jones’ Most Experienced Team"

[SaintLouisVol]

. . . IMHO, there's just no way it oughtta take 6-7 recruiting cycles to build the roster and win with it. And honestly, Jones has proven it already with where we are in year 4.

Putting together a winning season or two is not at all the same as "building a program." A truly "built" program has all the pieces in place to win now AND the culture to recruit and develop to win consistently over several years -- a team that is pre-season top 20 just by benefit of the doubt.

It makes sense that it would take six years or so to do this. It takes 3-4 years just to cycle all the guys off the roster that you didn't recruit. I think winning in year three or four is part of the steps toward that 5-7 year process.

James Franklin showed he could win, but he hardly has shown he can build a program.

The problem with today is that the "me and now" mentality allows guys to win a season or two and just jump ship to another team. Guys can coach 10+ years and bank $40-50 million and never have to really build a program.

 

[Wizard of Orange]

Agreed SLV. You cannot truly "build a program" in less than the 6-7 years Butch is referring to. If you win Natties your first three years, you're doing it with someone elses recruits - so you still haven't shown that you can/have built a program.

If you win in year 4 or 5, you may very well have just pulled a Cam-led Auburn or Young-led Texas, flash-in-the-pan type of success. It is only by winning consistently beyond that 5th year or so point that you can say that I have built a program.

...And , of course, even then there's the risk of easing up and not being able to maintain.

 

[JC61]

Putting together a winning season or two is not at all the same as "building a program." A truly "built" program has all the pieces in place to win now AND the culture to recruit and develop to win consistently over several years -- a team that is pre-season top 20 just by benefit of the doubt.

It makes sense that it would take six years or so to do this. It takes 3-4 years just to cycle all the guys off the roster that you didn't recruit. I think winning in year three or four is part of the steps toward that 5-7 year process.

James Franklin showed he could win, but he hardly has shown he can build a program.

The problem with today is that the "me and now" mentality allows guys to win a season or two and just jump ship to another team. Guys can coach 10+ years and bank $40-50 million and never have to really build a program.

this about nails it IMO.

Winning is different than building a program that is consistently in the conversation and competes for championships.

I'd like to see the list of "elite" coaches, who have taken a broken Power 5 program in the last 20 years; with marginal talent, no culture or winning spirit....and competed at a "championship" level out the gate.

While I think they are great coaches, the cupboard wasn't exactly bare for Saban or Meyer. The other coaches who won championships quickly were mostly one and done's, and even then...didn't inherit a program in disarray. Pete Carroll may be it, but I am not all that familiar with him or USC's football.

Then again, maybe there is a reason why "elite" is such a tough group to be lumped into.

 

[Rifleman]

RANK Team % Tackles Return
1 Arkansas 86.76%
2 Army West Point 84.95%
3 Wyoming 84.20%
4 UCLA 82.84%
5 Indiana 82.63%
6 Air Force 82.57%
7 Purdue 81.56%
8 Syracuse 81.09%
9 Kansas 81.02%
10 Rice 81.01%
11 Cincinnati 80.00%
12 Colorado 79.90%
13 Tennessee 79.72%

Folks, we got this!

 

[Rifleman]

RANK Team % Yards Returning
1 Louisville 99.79%
2 Old Dominion 97.03%
3 LSU 97.01%
4 Georgia Southern 96.80%
5 SMU 93.82%
6 Syracuse 93.42%
7 USF 93.31%
8 Connecticut 91.79%
9 UTSA 91.00%
10 Tennessee 90.95%

We have not been in this situation with a fully competent coaching staff in a very long time.

 

[rtb1983]

RANK Team % Yards Returning
1 Louisville 99.79%
2 Old Dominion 97.03%
3 LSU 97.01%
4 Georgia Southern 96.80%
5 SMU 93.82%
6 Syracuse 93.42%
7 USF 93.31%
8 Connecticut 91.79%
9 UTSA 91.00%
10 Tennessee 90.95%

We have not been in this situation with a fully competent coaching staff in a very long time.

Still aren't.