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I could see the Frank Span firing, but I was surprised that Tom O'Brien was fired.

I wish we could find a way to get Tom O'Brien on our staff. He's got a record of making really good players out of average recruits. If the argument was he could win a few big ones, but lacked consistency. I think that would be a perfect fit for us. We're consistently knocking on the door against or beating some good teams, but seem to really whiff big when we play the big boys (ie any top 25 team). I really think mentally, we just need to get over the hump. Once we do that Coach Cuts recruiting and steady team development would take another leap forward.

Next year seems like a big year to me. In Losing Renfree, Vernon, and Scott, we lose 2 of our top rated recruits (4 star recruits by all the major evaluating services) and our biggest sleeper in the last 20 years. Unless our recruiting improves dramatically to finish out this year or with next year, what we were this year....could very well be what we will be. Baby step improvements don't change the Florida St or Clemson game. We still need some big steps to knock off Georgia Tech, Miami, UNC, or Va Tech consistently. Keep in mind, Va's QB missed a few wide open WR in the game we won. If he doesn't miss, those are different games.

Any word on what team we'll play in the bowl game?

The Football Fan wrote:I could see the Frank Span firing, but I was surprised that Tom O'Brien was fired.

I wish we could find a way to get Tom O'Brien on our staff. He's got a record of making really good players out of average recruits. If the argument was he could win a few big ones, but lacked consistency. I think that would be a perfect fit for us. We're consistently knocking on the door against or beating some good teams, but seem to really whiff big when we play the big boys (ie any top 25 team). I really think mentally, we just need to get over the hump. Once we do that Coach Cuts recruiting and steady team development would take another leap forward.

Next year seems like a big year to me. In Losing Renfree, Vernon, and Scott, we lose 2 of our top rated recruits (4 star recruits by all the major evaluating services) and our biggest sleeper in the last 20 years. Unless our recruiting improves dramatically to finish out this year or with next year, what we were this year....could very well be what we will be. Baby step improvements don't change the Florida St or Clemson game. We still need some big steps to knock off Georgia Tech, Miami, UNC, or Va Tech consistently. Keep in mind, Va's QB missed a few wide open WR in the game we won. If he doesn't miss, those are different games.

Any word on what team we'll play in the bowl game?

Wonder how TOB's defensive coaching skills are...

199 points and >2400 yards are a lot to give up in your last 4 games.

The Football Fan wrote:Any word on what team we'll play in the bowl game?

We will not know for another week, but Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl is a good bet. They beat Virginia Tech this season, average 200+ yards rushing and 30+ points per game. Our defense needs to rest and heal before December 27th.

Ahh...back at work so I have Internet beyond my daughter's I-Phone.

While I'm in no hurry to see these seniors go, I am looking forward to seeing Thomas Sirk play. Everything I hear makes me think he'll be even better than Sean. Jela Duncan has already raised the quality of our running game and Shaquille Powell should add another layer of quality in that portion of the game. Josh Snead got better as the season went on. There are some young guys at TE who should be major contributors. At WR we can look forward to Jamison Crowder getting better and better. Jeremy Cash had to sit out a year, but will be on the field next year. On defense we have Carlos Wray to look forward to. Kenny Anunike will be back. Our kicking game will only get better. These names are the ones that come to mind quickly. The cupboard isn't bare, but some familiar names will move on.

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:While I'm in no hurry to see these seniors go, I am looking forward to seeing Thomas Sirk play. Everything I hear makes me think he'll be even better than Sean. Jela Duncan has already raised the quality of our running game and Shaquille Powell should add another layer of quality in that portion of the game. Josh Snead got better as the season went on. There are some young guys at TE who should be major contributors. At WR we can look forward to Jamison Crowder getting better and better. Jeremy Cash had to sit out a year, but will be on the field next year. On defense we have Carlos Wray to look forward to. Kenny Anunike will be back. Our kicking game will only get better. These names are the ones that come to mind quickly. The cupboard isn't bare, but some familiar names will move on.

I'll be very interested in seeing/hearing what Duncan's injury is. I think he limped painfully off the field after fumbling a KO return in the 4th quarter. Looked pretty painful to me.

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:While I'm in no hurry to see these seniors go, I am looking forward to seeing Thomas Sirk play. Everything I hear makes me think he'll be even better than Sean. Jela Duncan has already raised the quality of our running game and Shaquille Powell should add another layer of quality in that portion of the game. Josh Snead got better as the season went on. There are some young guys at TE who should be major contributors. At WR we can look forward to Jamison Crowder getting better and better. Jeremy Cash had to sit out a year, but will be on the field next year. On defense we have Carlos Wray to look forward to. Kenny Anunike will be back. Our kicking game will only get better. These names are the ones that come to mind quickly. The cupboard isn't bare, but some familiar names will move on.

Agreed! Al Featherston's "Thanksgiving Leftovers" article at DBR has some solid analysis on the FB Team. While we are losing high profile players such as Vernon and Renfree, Duke is actually one of the youngest teams in the nation.

As far as Thomas Sirk goes, I believe he will be the starter next year. Might not happen right away, but he will take over by midseason. He is athletic, a strong runner and passer. I go into the stadium earlier than most as I like to watch the pregame drills. Sirk has a strong arm and really zips the ball. He has advantages over both Boone and Connette - as strong a runner as Boone is he is relatively slow plus he is inaccurate as a passer, Connette is a bull running the ball but can't pass worth a crap!

The staff must, must, must figure something out with the defense. We need a combination of grabbing a big time recruit or two and bringing in a Junior College transfer or something...the talent level at linebacker really needs to be upgraded. At least Kelby Brown will be healthy next season!

A second high quality cornerback to play opposite Ross Cockrell is a must. We have a solid prospect in Evrett Edwards but the thought of a true freshman starting at CB makes me shudder. Is there a JC cornerback lurking out there somewhere?

Fedora to Tennessee is a possibility:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/12/05/ ... ntact.html

According to comments at the bottom of the article (a highly reliable source of information), Fedora interviewed last night.

Bob Green wrote:Fedora to Tennessee is a possibility:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/12/05/ ... ntact.html

According to comments at the bottom of the article (a highly reliable source of information), Fedora interviewed last night.

Oooooooh! Abandon ship!

CameronBornAndBred wrote:

Bob Green wrote:Fedora to Tennessee is a possibility:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/12/05/ ... ntact.html

According to comments at the bottom of the article (a highly reliable source of information), Fedora interviewed last night.

Oooooooh! Abandon ship!

He could go from the sinking rathole to the Volunteer Navy.

Bubba responds.
http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/4 ... peculation

This time each year there are a number of coaching vacancies in college football and yesterday several rumors included speculation about our own football coach Larry Fedora. Neither Coach Fedora nor I are going to address rumors about individual jobs that are bound to happen each year.

Translation = "Fuckity fuck fuck fuck. We're fucked. "

CameronBornAndBred wrote:

Bob Green wrote:Fedora to Tennessee is a possibility:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/12/05/ ... ntact.html

According to comments at the bottom of the article (a highly reliable source of information), Fedora interviewed last night.

Oooooooh! Abandon shit!

Fixed it.

;)

Tennessee job filled by Butch Jones from Cincinnati. All the SEC openings have now been filled, so Fedora is likely hanging around the ACC a while longer.

YmoBeThere wrote:Tennessee job filled by Butch Jones from Cincinnati. All the SEC openings have now been filled, so Fedora is likely hanging around the ACC a while longer.

Guess you could say Fedora has somewhere to hang his hat for another year or two .

devildeac wrote:

YmoBeThere wrote:Tennessee job filled by Butch Jones from Cincinnati. All the SEC openings have now been filled, so Fedora is likely hanging around the ACC a while longer.

Guess you could say Fedora has somewhere to hang his hat for another year or two .

Today they'll release the "I'm very happy here" announcement. It really means "fuck, I was this close. I bet if I hadn't lost to Duke...".

In Knoxville, losing to Vandy is the final straw. Of course, that may be Vandy's most notable achievement this year even if they get 9 wins with a bowl victory, most opposing coaches fired immediately following a loss to XXXX team.