2016 (thus far) Compared to 2004

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.