GoBigOrangeVols
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2008
- Messages
- 8,532
- Likes
- 5,373
In 1999, Lou Holtz took over a South Carolina program that was in shambles. They went 1-10 in 1998, and in his first year on the job in 1999 they went 0-11, only scoring more than 14 points once the entire season. Guess what happened in 2000 (year 2)? they went 8-4, 5-3 in the SEC and had wins over a ranked Georgia team and then over a ranked Ohio State team in their bowl game.
Also in 1999, Kirk Ferentz took over an Iowa program that had fallen on hard times. He inherited a 3-8 team, and went just 1-10 in his first season. The second season they 'improved' to 3-9. By year 3, they were 7-5 and won the Alamo bowl. Year 4 they won the BIG TEN going 11-1 in the regular season before losing the Orange Bowl. His only HC experience prior to Iowa was in the early '90's at Maine.
We all know Nick Saban went 6-6 his first year at Alabama, with a bad loss at home to Louisiana-Monroe. Did you also know through his first four years at Michigan State he was a combined 25-22-1? In Year 5 (his final year before taking the LSU gig), they went 9-2.
The point is that rebuilds take time. Usually they take a lot of time. There are going to be many 'downs' and few 'ups.'
The entire culture of the program is slowly going to change under Coach Pruitt. It's going to take a lot of time. Come along for the ride.
Also in 1999, Kirk Ferentz took over an Iowa program that had fallen on hard times. He inherited a 3-8 team, and went just 1-10 in his first season. The second season they 'improved' to 3-9. By year 3, they were 7-5 and won the Alamo bowl. Year 4 they won the BIG TEN going 11-1 in the regular season before losing the Orange Bowl. His only HC experience prior to Iowa was in the early '90's at Maine.
We all know Nick Saban went 6-6 his first year at Alabama, with a bad loss at home to Louisiana-Monroe. Did you also know through his first four years at Michigan State he was a combined 25-22-1? In Year 5 (his final year before taking the LSU gig), they went 9-2.
The point is that rebuilds take time. Usually they take a lot of time. There are going to be many 'downs' and few 'ups.'
The entire culture of the program is slowly going to change under Coach Pruitt. It's going to take a lot of time. Come along for the ride.