I am in agreement that next year will not be pretty but 2016 has promise. Barring injury Brewer should be starting next year, the real intrigue is who is #2 and #3 getting some meaningful reps under fire for the following season. Hopefully we are far enough ahead (and not so far behind) that the 2nd and 3rd stringers get those in game reps. 8-4 is reasonable but given the last few years we can probably all agree that we will win games we shouldn't and loose games we shouldn't. Its science...
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I actually jokingly asked mama Fuller, Nina, this question last year when I was doing a story on Kendall, saying that it's something all Tech fans wanted to know. She laughed and said they were probably done.
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Andy, say, and this is pure curiosity, I had just now this very moment purchased the Barry White & Sade Greatest Hits albums. Where exactly should I be sending those to so that it strikes the right mood with Mama and Papa Fuller?
ok. serious question. Can we kickstarter this?
1) Plan tickets to Caribbean: $680
2) Weeks stay in honeymoon sweet of all inclusive 5 star resort: $5000
3) Sunset dinner for 2 on secluded white sand beach: $450
4) Fifth Fuller in Pads at Lane Stadium: Priceless
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Not to insult the Fullers but at their age she may be beyond DB God creation, maybe ours funds would be better spend getting their sons to create the next generation of Hokie Superstars?
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Tailgated next to Mama and Papa Fuller before the 2010 ACC Championship. After getting over the excitement that there was a 4th Fuller brother by the name of Kendall still in HS, (none of us really followed recruiting then) who was playing better than his 3 older brothers were at the age. One of my drunk buddies basically asked Mama fuller the same thing. Her response was something along the lines of there are no plans, but you never know.
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So first 2015 was supposed to be the year, now not so much. But 2016 - look out!! I don't quite understand that opinion. If Brewer is the starter this year, like many assume he will be, then we are breaking in a new QB in 2016, losing Maddy, Dadi, Marshall, Malleck, and potentially Fuller and Bucky, the latter if he really has a breakout season this year. I know we've gotten some talented recruits and are starting to establish depth, but that would be a lot of key talent to replace.
Given Whit's indirect mandate for improvement next season, I really think patience will wear thin on a lot of fronts if we fall apart again like last season. To me, a return trip to Charlotte seems to be the measure of success for this year. I have a lot of faith we can get there, but if an 8-4 record and pointing to 2016 is all people have to offer right now, that doesn't exactly bode well at all. We are going to have a great defense this year. Bottom line: this offense really needs to finally produce.
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Agreed. We have the pieces for an ACC title run this year. If we completely collapse on offense again, excuses will have completely run out, barring catastrophic injury. This is going to be a huge year. As much as I like the experience that comes with Brewer when we open against OSU, a part of me really hopes someone can step up and beat him out, giving us stability for the next few years and a great backup option if needed.
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There's also the statistically improbable run of close losses. Overwhelmingly, stats show that teams are .500 in games decided by 2 touchdowns or less, and any cluster in one direction is typically offset in the near future. Bill Barnwell at Grantland harps on that aspect a lot, and there's some pretty strong evidence in using recent close losses as a predictor of future success.
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Everyone has always said 2016, for the past several years now, not sure when anyone said 2015 would be anything but a step in the right direction.
Also, there's no way Bucky leaves as a sophomore, playing tight end in the NFL is hard, and requires a the complete package as a tight end. You can't just be a tall receiver and get into the NFL, you have to block. Just look at Eric Ebron this year, top 10 pick and could barely get on the field in Detroit. Fuller will likely leave, but I think there's an equally good chance he doesn't provided its a good year. He's got strong ties to the program and three brothers who are already taking care of the family. Although less publicized, kids forego high draft picks all the time, just look at the Notre Dame offensive tackle who returned this year.
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Last offseason the coaches were talking like 2015 would be the year. Beamer himself even pointed towards 2015 being the year to look at during the ACC Media Day last summer. Once the season started, and the losses started to pile up, the talk very quickly and quietly shifted to 2016 being the year, with everyone seemingly forgetting all the hype that was going on over the summer in 2014.
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Last offseason, around here at least, all the talk I recall was about how 2016 with Bristol was lining up to be the year, and 2015 might just surprise us. I don't recall 2015 being seriously considered until we beat Ohio State. Maybe my recollection's wrong though
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Same here. I think it's important to qualify what expectations are, as well. I expect 2015 will be better than 2014 with a better offense and an elite defense. I expect that we should be able to compete for the conference title. My expectation is (barring injury, suspension, or other unforeseen issues) that we can and will win the Coastal in 2015. I have concerns (depth at DE, consistency at QB, injuries on OL or RB derailing things) but any of that can happen to any team.
I think 2016 sets up for a return to the national conversation if 2015 plays out well. We have a marquee non-conference game against the Vols on the biggest stage ever. We have another headliner at Notre Dame. Win those, win the conference, and we're on a title run. 2016 sets up to be more glamorous (and that's what the committee wants!), but all of this is predicated on 2015 being a solid year. I mean 10+ wins and everything I said above.
Now some have concerns about a new QB in 2016. I am not so concerned there because I think there is a difference between having a new QB take over and not being sure who your QB is going to be or if he can be good. 2011 was an OK transition because we KNEW that LT3 would be the starter and would have a good cast around him. 2014 was panic mode because we were relying on a transfer to come in and hopefully be as good as we all hoped. Two totally different scenarios. We have to see how things play out with the development of Ford, Durkin, Lawson, et al. but there is reason to believe in good things and expect success with a QB with 1+ years of tutelage, a developed cast of skill players (Ford and Phillips in year 3, maybe Hodges in his last year - a swan song?, and the solid stable of RBs we're developing) around him, behind a line that's actually been recruited well.
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I agree. I think winning the coastal and possibly the conference are attainable goals THIS year. At least 10 wins is very possible and achievable. Last year was the growing pain year, and this one SHOULd be our big step forward.
I see what you're saying about the QB spot, but I still worry about them not having enough experience when Bristol rolls around. Assuming Brewer starts all of '15, there will be very limited playing time coming with whoever is the heir apparent. I also really hope a clear pecking order will start to emerge this spring and summer with the QBs. If one or more really can push Brewer and give him a run for his money/take the job, I would feel much more comfortable about our prospects for '16. A lot will start to become clear this spring.
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I definitely remember a lot of the talk saying 2014 might surprise us, but 2015 is the year to look to for big improvement. I don't see how 2016 puts us in a better position than this year if we're starting a new QB and have key losses on D. I would expect growing pains in 2016 with a brand new QB taking the reins. If we can't at least make it to Charlotte this year, I don't see how it will be easier the next. If there isn't a sizable improvement this year, I don't know if many people will be buying the whole "just wait until next year" line for much longer. This is year three of the new offense; I think we should see results this year. If not, 2016 isn't looking very much brighter.
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The defense really only loses at our two deepest positions: CB and DT. And Fuller might even stay. Dadi leaving will hurt, but provided one of the guys we have now steps up I don't think it will be crippling, the defense will still be championship caliber.
As for offense, all we'll be missing is the QB, who will have an OL that should be fully built up after 3-4 years of strong recruiting, running backs and receivers at the top of their game, and one of the best receiving tight ends in the country.
The only major question mark on that team will be QB, but I'd argue it's likely to improve from this year (where I expect Brewer will be the deserving starter). We'll be getting the winner of Lawson/Ford/Durkin, three guys with high ceilings who will be battling out for the next year and a half. And it's not like having a new QB is necessarily a break-in period, two of the past three heismans have been redshirt freshman quarterbacks, and we seemed to do pretty well with a young Logan Thomas stepping into a talented cast.
There needs to be a major improvement this year, no disagreements there, but I would still argue that 2016 has had the highest ceiling all along.
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Agreed. If we show big improvement this year, it could set up for big things in '16. We will lose some great guys on D, but continuity at QB is my key concern. I'm looking forward to seeing these QBs battle it out starting this spring and going forward. Hopefully we start to see someone emerge. We're really going to have to see a significant improvement on offense if anything is going to set up for '16, though.
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Definitely. I think the biggest risk is that if the offense doesn't improve or (somehow, if it's possible) regresses, I think we fire Loeffler and then we've got an even bigger question mark. Should be fun to watch at least!
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im hoping we have a logan thomas at the U 3rd and 16 type play at some point this season where lawson or ford or durkin come and and just makes everyone say we will be okay. i think that play when tyrod went out and logan came in we all thought logan was good we all wanted logan to be good but that play made us believe he could lead us and be great at VT.
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who will have an OL that should be fully built up after 3-4 years of strong recruiting
I'll believe it when I see it. Yes, Teller had himself a very nice end to the year and Clark looks to be a very good pickup, but we were still struggling at OL throughout the season last year, into the late games and bowl, and I did not see the kind of across the board improvement that I would have liked to see. And make no mistake, if we cannot solidify the OL and give our QB legitimate time to throw, we will see the same problems next year that we saw this year, even if Teller continues to pancake kids on run blocks.
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Yeah, it's certainly a question mark, but its hard to expect much improvement when you lose 3 or 4 (more? I stopped counting) from your two deep for the season. Things could certainly go very wrong, but looking at it critically, I think there's more reason to be optimistic with the young talent coming in and the development we've seen from people like Teller and Conte. It's not a sure thing by any means, but there's reason to be hopeful (which is kind of the whole point of looking ahead anyways).
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Do you know if we can get Mr. And Mrs. Fuller to have any more sons?
-- Craig Goodson, Wilmington, N.C.
I actually jokingly asked mama Fuller, Nina, this question last year when I was doing a story on Kendall, saying that it's something all Tech fans wanted to know. She laughed and said they were probably done.
Edit - DOUBLE POST. DRINK!
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I think with all the new guys from last year getting experience and Brewer building chemistry with them we are in good shape, and I feel confident in all of the redshirt o-lineman as well as Clarke who is there now getting broken in, I feel really good about the o-line and the weapons we have coming back as well as new receivers, running backs, and getting Kline back at TE. (new receivers meaning Holland and Bradshaw and Running backs being Reid and McMillian)
Defense the line does not concern me, neither does linebacker. I just want Facyson to be better and for Reavis and Fisher to make a big jump and be better than Bonner and Jarrett were. But if we don't have Facyson back and Reavis and Fisher aren't good enough to start I may be worried a little bit because we have good depth but we need good starters!
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By mid-season Bud will have the starting safeties playing like studs. The question is whether they play well enough against anOSU. That will be a definite liability in the OSU game, which will require more out of our Offense. But I have a good overall feeling about the season as well.
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I would honestly be a little disappointed with 8-4. I don't think 8-4 let's us compete for the ACCCG- it probably means losing to GT, NC State, and Miami/BC/Pitt again. That's not much improvement. Being so close to legitimately good at times last year even with all of the injuries and youth, I think 9-3 with a bowl loss is perfectly reasonable.
I don't expect the offense to make a huge leap, but a slight one for sure. I think that the defense struggles a tiny bit, especially the new starters, before settling in for ACC play and becoming elite by the end of the year. I don't think a 2007 or even a 2004 kind of season is out of the question, although that may be the ceiling. 8-4 should be the floor.
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I think 8-4 is realistic, while at the same time being the absolute worst possibility. Because spring ball hasn't even started it's way too early for season projections. But I believe that, if nobody gets injured (i know, highly unlikely) during spring/summer ball, then this team is talented enough, deep enough, and experienced enough to win 10 games with losses to Ohio State and one of UNC, Miami, or GTech. I honestly think that 10-2 during the regular season is more realistic than 8-4.
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Comments
I am in agreement that next year will not be pretty but 2016 has promise. Barring injury Brewer should be starting next year, the real intrigue is who is #2 and #3 getting some meaningful reps under fire for the following season. Hopefully we are far enough ahead (and not so far behind) that the 2nd and 3rd stringers get those in game reps. 8-4 is reasonable but given the last few years we can probably all agree that we will win games we shouldn't and loose games we shouldn't. Its science...
Andy, say, and this is pure curiosity, I had just now this very moment purchased the Barry White & Sade Greatest Hits albums. Where exactly should I be sending those to so that it strikes the right mood with Mama and Papa Fuller?
ok. serious question. Can we kickstarter this?
1) Plan tickets to Caribbean: $680
2) Weeks stay in honeymoon sweet of all inclusive 5 star resort: $5000
3) Sunset dinner for 2 on secluded white sand beach: $450
4) Fifth Fuller in Pads at Lane Stadium: Priceless
Not to insult the Fullers but at their age she may be beyond DB God creation, maybe ours funds would be better spend getting their sons to create the next generation of Hokie Superstars?
Vincent is 32-33. Should be about time for the next gen.
Tailgated next to Mama and Papa Fuller before the 2010 ACC Championship. After getting over the excitement that there was a 4th Fuller brother by the name of Kendall still in HS, (none of us really followed recruiting then) who was playing better than his 3 older brothers were at the age. One of my drunk buddies basically asked Mama fuller the same thing. Her response was something along the lines of there are no plans, but you never know.
So first 2015 was supposed to be the year, now not so much. But 2016 - look out!! I don't quite understand that opinion. If Brewer is the starter this year, like many assume he will be, then we are breaking in a new QB in 2016, losing Maddy, Dadi, Marshall, Malleck, and potentially Fuller and Bucky, the latter if he really has a breakout season this year. I know we've gotten some talented recruits and are starting to establish depth, but that would be a lot of key talent to replace.
Given Whit's indirect mandate for improvement next season, I really think patience will wear thin on a lot of fronts if we fall apart again like last season. To me, a return trip to Charlotte seems to be the measure of success for this year. I have a lot of faith we can get there, but if an 8-4 record and pointing to 2016 is all people have to offer right now, that doesn't exactly bode well at all. We are going to have a great defense this year. Bottom line: this offense really needs to finally produce.
In my opinion, barring injuries/unforseen, 2015 will be a very good year.
I don't see why not.
Agreed. We have the pieces for an ACC title run this year. If we completely collapse on offense again, excuses will have completely run out, barring catastrophic injury. This is going to be a huge year. As much as I like the experience that comes with Brewer when we open against OSU, a part of me really hopes someone can step up and beat him out, giving us stability for the next few years and a great backup option if needed.
Yeah, last year was a serious statistical outlier for injuries.
If it happens again, I will fall into the pit of despair.
Inexperience + Injuries = Inconsistent = VT Football 2014.
More Experience + Less Injuries (hopefully) = More Consistent = VT Football 2015
My statistics class in the spring of my senior year was definitely a D for diploma class...
There's also the statistically improbable run of close losses. Overwhelmingly, stats show that teams are .500 in games decided by 2 touchdowns or less, and any cluster in one direction is typically offset in the near future. Bill Barnwell at Grantland harps on that aspect a lot, and there's some pretty strong evidence in using recent close losses as a predictor of future success.
Interesting enough. Luther Maddy is listed on the ESPN website as attending the NFL combine this week.
Everyone has always said 2016, for the past several years now, not sure when anyone said 2015 would be anything but a step in the right direction.
Also, there's no way Bucky leaves as a sophomore, playing tight end in the NFL is hard, and requires a the complete package as a tight end. You can't just be a tall receiver and get into the NFL, you have to block. Just look at Eric Ebron this year, top 10 pick and could barely get on the field in Detroit. Fuller will likely leave, but I think there's an equally good chance he doesn't provided its a good year. He's got strong ties to the program and three brothers who are already taking care of the family. Although less publicized, kids forego high draft picks all the time, just look at the Notre Dame offensive tackle who returned this year.
Last offseason the coaches were talking like 2015 would be the year. Beamer himself even pointed towards 2015 being the year to look at during the ACC Media Day last summer. Once the season started, and the losses started to pile up, the talk very quickly and quietly shifted to 2016 being the year, with everyone seemingly forgetting all the hype that was going on over the summer in 2014.
Last offseason, around here at least, all the talk I recall was about how 2016 with Bristol was lining up to be the year, and 2015 might just surprise us. I don't recall 2015 being seriously considered until we beat Ohio State. Maybe my recollection's wrong though
this is how I remember it, and I know I wrote that several times myself
Same here. I think it's important to qualify what expectations are, as well. I expect 2015 will be better than 2014 with a better offense and an elite defense. I expect that we should be able to compete for the conference title. My expectation is (barring injury, suspension, or other unforeseen issues) that we can and will win the Coastal in 2015. I have concerns (depth at DE, consistency at QB, injuries on OL or RB derailing things) but any of that can happen to any team.
I think 2016 sets up for a return to the national conversation if 2015 plays out well. We have a marquee non-conference game against the Vols on the biggest stage ever. We have another headliner at Notre Dame. Win those, win the conference, and we're on a title run. 2016 sets up to be more glamorous (and that's what the committee wants!), but all of this is predicated on 2015 being a solid year. I mean 10+ wins and everything I said above.
Now some have concerns about a new QB in 2016. I am not so concerned there because I think there is a difference between having a new QB take over and not being sure who your QB is going to be or if he can be good. 2011 was an OK transition because we KNEW that LT3 would be the starter and would have a good cast around him. 2014 was panic mode because we were relying on a transfer to come in and hopefully be as good as we all hoped. Two totally different scenarios. We have to see how things play out with the development of Ford, Durkin, Lawson, et al. but there is reason to believe in good things and expect success with a QB with 1+ years of tutelage, a developed cast of skill players (Ford and Phillips in year 3, maybe Hodges in his last year - a swan song?, and the solid stable of RBs we're developing) around him, behind a line that's actually been recruited well.
I agree. I think winning the coastal and possibly the conference are attainable goals THIS year. At least 10 wins is very possible and achievable. Last year was the growing pain year, and this one SHOULd be our big step forward.
I see what you're saying about the QB spot, but I still worry about them not having enough experience when Bristol rolls around. Assuming Brewer starts all of '15, there will be very limited playing time coming with whoever is the heir apparent. I also really hope a clear pecking order will start to emerge this spring and summer with the QBs. If one or more really can push Brewer and give him a run for his money/take the job, I would feel much more comfortable about our prospects for '16. A lot will start to become clear this spring.
I definitely remember a lot of the talk saying 2014 might surprise us, but 2015 is the year to look to for big improvement. I don't see how 2016 puts us in a better position than this year if we're starting a new QB and have key losses on D. I would expect growing pains in 2016 with a brand new QB taking the reins. If we can't at least make it to Charlotte this year, I don't see how it will be easier the next. If there isn't a sizable improvement this year, I don't know if many people will be buying the whole "just wait until next year" line for much longer. This is year three of the new offense; I think we should see results this year. If not, 2016 isn't looking very much brighter.
The defense really only loses at our two deepest positions: CB and DT. And Fuller might even stay. Dadi leaving will hurt, but provided one of the guys we have now steps up I don't think it will be crippling, the defense will still be championship caliber.
As for offense, all we'll be missing is the QB, who will have an OL that should be fully built up after 3-4 years of strong recruiting, running backs and receivers at the top of their game, and one of the best receiving tight ends in the country.
The only major question mark on that team will be QB, but I'd argue it's likely to improve from this year (where I expect Brewer will be the deserving starter). We'll be getting the winner of Lawson/Ford/Durkin, three guys with high ceilings who will be battling out for the next year and a half. And it's not like having a new QB is necessarily a break-in period, two of the past three heismans have been redshirt freshman quarterbacks, and we seemed to do pretty well with a young Logan Thomas stepping into a talented cast.
There needs to be a major improvement this year, no disagreements there, but I would still argue that 2016 has had the highest ceiling all along.
Agreed. If we show big improvement this year, it could set up for big things in '16. We will lose some great guys on D, but continuity at QB is my key concern. I'm looking forward to seeing these QBs battle it out starting this spring and going forward. Hopefully we start to see someone emerge. We're really going to have to see a significant improvement on offense if anything is going to set up for '16, though.
Definitely. I think the biggest risk is that if the offense doesn't improve or (somehow, if it's possible) regresses, I think we fire Loeffler and then we've got an even bigger question mark. Should be fun to watch at least!
im hoping we have a logan thomas at the U 3rd and 16 type play at some point this season where lawson or ford or durkin come and and just makes everyone say we will be okay. i think that play when tyrod went out and logan came in we all thought logan was good we all wanted logan to be good but that play made us believe he could lead us and be great at VT.
I'll believe it when I see it. Yes, Teller had himself a very nice end to the year and Clark looks to be a very good pickup, but we were still struggling at OL throughout the season last year, into the late games and bowl, and I did not see the kind of across the board improvement that I would have liked to see. And make no mistake, if we cannot solidify the OL and give our QB legitimate time to throw, we will see the same problems next year that we saw this year, even if Teller continues to pancake kids on run blocks.
Yeah, it's certainly a question mark, but its hard to expect much improvement when you lose 3 or 4 (more? I stopped counting) from your two deep for the season. Things could certainly go very wrong, but looking at it critically, I think there's more reason to be optimistic with the young talent coming in and the development we've seen from people like Teller and Conte. It's not a sure thing by any means, but there's reason to be hopeful (which is kind of the whole point of looking ahead anyways).
Edit - DOUBLE POST. DRINK!
Just tell them to adopt... its really the name we care about
0% chance Miller transfers to VT, I think that's a bit high!
But how funny would it be if he did as a big FU to Urbie, espin talking heads might explode...
I think with all the new guys from last year getting experience and Brewer building chemistry with them we are in good shape, and I feel confident in all of the redshirt o-lineman as well as Clarke who is there now getting broken in, I feel really good about the o-line and the weapons we have coming back as well as new receivers, running backs, and getting Kline back at TE. (new receivers meaning Holland and Bradshaw and Running backs being Reid and McMillian)
Defense the line does not concern me, neither does linebacker. I just want Facyson to be better and for Reavis and Fisher to make a big jump and be better than Bonner and Jarrett were. But if we don't have Facyson back and Reavis and Fisher aren't good enough to start I may be worried a little bit because we have good depth but we need good starters!
By mid-season Bud will have the starting safeties playing like studs. The question is whether they play well enough against anOSU. That will be a definite liability in the OSU game, which will require more out of our Offense. But I have a good overall feeling about the season as well.
Reavis & Clark
Assuming Facyson is healthy and we can afford to move Clark to safety?
I would honestly be a little disappointed with 8-4. I don't think 8-4 let's us compete for the ACCCG- it probably means losing to GT, NC State, and Miami/BC/Pitt again. That's not much improvement. Being so close to legitimately good at times last year even with all of the injuries and youth, I think 9-3 with a bowl loss is perfectly reasonable.
I don't expect the offense to make a huge leap, but a slight one for sure. I think that the defense struggles a tiny bit, especially the new starters, before settling in for ACC play and becoming elite by the end of the year. I don't think a 2007 or even a 2004 kind of season is out of the question, although that may be the ceiling. 8-4 should be the floor.
I think 8-4 is realistic, while at the same time being the absolute worst possibility. Because spring ball hasn't even started it's way too early for season projections. But I believe that, if nobody gets injured (i know, highly unlikely) during spring/summer ball, then this team is talented enough, deep enough, and experienced enough to win 10 games with losses to Ohio State and one of UNC, Miami, or GTech. I honestly think that 10-2 during the regular season is more realistic than 8-4.
I like Reavis to contribute big and also hoping for any Dend to step up. Hopefully Dooley or the other backup since i like rooting for an underdog.