I see the ND win as being significant, and something upon which we could have built. Then Cal happened. If -- and it's a big "if" -- we can show major improvement defensively next Saturday, it may bode well for the rest of the season. But that might be too much to expect.
Duke 28 Notre Dame 21 Halftime Even if they come back, Notre Dame is no good this year. I really wish that victory was more significant than closing the all time win gap by a game.
We started a True freshman QB. We started two seniors on offense. And two seniors on defense. I guess we can chalk up our victory as a tribute to our amazingly talented YOUTH. Was sad to see Cal lose yesterday. They were outscored. Much like they outscored us. No one is going to really stop Cal. But their defense is so porous that they will be outscored often. Strangely, their loss, the way it happened being outscored, gives me hope that our defense isn't that much worse than a lot of other teams, and that with Charlie's focused attention, and our talent, it can be significantly improved.
Cary, not a personal attack, just a look at reality. They are a horrible team so expecting them to win was a stretch. The Texas defense was bad last season and hasn't made much, if any, improvement. The talent is there something just isn't clicking.
I agree. I didn't say I was expecting them to win. I said I was "sad" they lost. No worries. Didn't feel attacked. And I appreciate your input.
Cary, Repeat after me, "S T A N F O R D"! Cal is NOT a good football team. Like so many over the last five or six years, we helped make their reject QB look like a Hype$sman candidate, plus our defense made a walkon WR look like a first round pick. Of the best DCs I've ever seen and/or known, Leon Fuller remains the best. Mike Parker may have been in top five if Fred had picked him instead of trying to placate DKR by naming David. Second on my list would be Rick Lantz. "Before you can win, you gotta defend" - Rick Lantz If his daughter is still in the front office of the ACC, you can call her and buy a tshirt with that on it.
Dykes had lesser talent and outcoached Strong. That's what good coaches do when they have lesser talent, they outcoach the opposing coach.
You mentioned exactly what I thought. People on here during the game were saying he was a whiner and while he was and I agree. He still beat us.
Dykes comes from good stock, his dad was on Royal's coaching staff. Both Sonny and Spike are damn good coaches. Sonny is a winner and Cal is much better since he took over. I suspect Cal will continue to improve under Dykes.
His overall head coaching record is 38-40, 16-25 at Cal. He did go 22-15 at Louisiana Tech, so he was a winner there.
People should research the mandate given to Sonny when he arrived in Berzerkley. He was told to clean house, clean up the program, get a better calibre of student athlete. Prior to his arrival, Tedford had turned that group into a cesspool. Sonny was told winning was not the most important thing, changing the culture was. He seems to have done both.
Dykes at La Tech took over a 2009 team that went 4-8 2010 5-7 2011 8-5 lost to TCU 24-31 in a bowl game 2012 9-3 Did not get a bowl bid Dykes at Cal took over a 2012 team that went 3-9 and as Sabre mentioned had a mess to clean up. 2013 1-11 2014 5-7 2015 8-5 beat Air Force in a bowl game. 2016 2-2 Dykes is a damn good coach.