I was thinking today about how perfectly this season is lining up with the 2004 season. The parallels are shockingly similar.
After the 2003 season, it was clear we needed a culture change. The team was undisciplined, cared more about individual accolades, and were losing way too often late in the year (the late losses were apparent in 2001 and 2002 as well). After the 2015 season, we were also in need of a culture change. The coaches weren't getting the job done, the players seemed to have mastered the art of losing, and the program was simply a shell of its former itself.
Enter 2004. The first four games of the year saw us go 2-2 with the loss against USC being under weird circumstances. Had Josh Hyman not been called for that horrendous offensive pass interference, that game could have been completely different. Had we fumbled the ball maybe three less times against Tennessee, that game definitely would have been way different. The other loss in 2004 was to NC State, a game in which I think Bryan Randall was sacked 10 times and Brandon Pace missed a field goal as time expired to lose 17-16. Frankly, we should not have lost that game. We were the better team and just did not play well. Sounds awfully similar to the Syracuse game this season.
Following the NC State loss, we notched an impressive win over top 10 West Virginia. We played much better than our opponent that game. The 19-13 final score was not an accurate representation of how the game really went. This season's Miami game was that 2004 WVU game. We outplayed and outcoached Miami like we did WVU, except the score actually represented it. Our latest game, though, against Pitt was a gutsy win on the road on a Thursday night in a tough environment (not that it's intimidating or anything; we just couldn't seem to ever play well there). After trailing in the second half, we came back to win. In 2004, trailing as late as midway through the 4th quarter, we came back to beat Georgia Tech on the road on a Thursday night. That night in 2004 was a game where we saw Randall truly step up as a leader and take control of that team, just like Jerod Evans did against Pitt.
We had four remaining games after that Georgia Tech game, and they controlled their own destiny in the conference. They beat UNC, Maryland, UVA, and Miami to win the ACC. Two games were at home, two were on the road. This year, we have Duke, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, and UVA, two at home and two on the road. The Notre Dame game isn't a conference game and I honestly haven't given it two thoughts, but once again we control our own destiny in the ACC. Will Evans continue to lead as Randall did back in 2004? Can the team win out after a huge road win on a Thursday night and give themselves a shot at an ACC championship?
The 2004 season was a very exciting one and completely turned the program around. This season is looking family similar. Let's enjoy the ride and hope it plays out as it did 12 years ago.
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On the day we played NC State we weren't the better team. We had no answer to Manny Lawson and Mario Williams. The rest of that season was great though.
I outlined on another thread how we are also very similar to 2011 Clemson; new offense, new culture, loss in primetime, inexplicable loss to Syracuse (Clemson had an inexplicable loss to NC State 34-13ish) where the new, exciting offense somehow failed to show up. Culminating in an ACCCG win over a better overall team (11-1 us). So here's to hoping we handle our business and beat Clemson in the ACCCG.
We got handled in that game. I remember Sammy Watkins had two long TD catches in 2nd half. Clemson went on a 28-0 run in 2nd half, Tech couldn't do a thing. I Remember it was the same outcome of the Orange Bowl loss, the year before. We were down 13-12 to Stanford going into Half. Harbaugh made adjustments and Tech didn't, Stanford won 40-12.
I like to think Our Defense has gotten a little better this year because Foster has a new boss to impress.
It's hard to believe that 2004 was 12 years ago.
If the rising star and presumed starter Lawson left the team and the senior Motley had to put the team on his back with a talented young receiving corp...
Let's not forget that the last coaching staff wasn't that bad.
They won one more game than the current staff has, recruited almost all of the current roster (sans Evans), and lost multiple OT games with backup players due to injury. Also a good portion of that staff is still in place and Fuente has been commended for embracing the culture.
I'm happy for the changes and results but let's not pretend Fuente inherited the Mike London dumpster fire.
2004 was a wild ride, freshman year and all. Favorite memory was beating UVA at home. They played us tough that year. Bryan Randall had a ridiculous throw for a TD in that game where he was falling backwards. We hammered Maryland that year, so badly Lane was almost empty going into the 4th quarter.
After the GA Tech game, everyone working at West End called out the next day. There was maybe 10 people staffing the entire place that day.