Anything less than a trip to Atlanta to play for the SEC Championship will be disappointing. I don't know how that translates into wins/losses, but this team will be loaded with talent. And if Russell's performance in the 4th quarter is any indication of his performance next year, we may make some loud noise in the BCS.
Many of us were also predicting a return trip to the BCS championship game this time last year. Our '04 team far from impressed, and we all know and feel it. Was it youth? Was it a head coach who lusted after the NFL? Who knows. Let's keep the expectations realistic. We play most of our tough games at home, but that's still a very tough schedule. We couldn't even put away the "cupcakes" at home this year. I hope our team has matured by next September. And remember this: if I heard it once, I heard it a hundred times, "Nick Saban's teams always start slow." Well, I want a team that starts out like a champion and ends up one, as well. Maybe Les Miles' teams can do that. But to start making 9 and 10 win predictions is a little scary, IMO.
Stacey, why shouldn't we win 9 or 10 games? We lose 3 All-Americans, all with replacements who have the talent to be All-American next year. The talent is there. The QB's have shown vast improvement and just wait and see how far a little time off goes for these guys. Having the ability to sit back and really think about everything, realize what was wrong and how to improve can take a young player very far and I expect most of the team to really grow during the off season. The only reason we wouldn't win atleast 8 games is because of coaching, plain & simple. If coaches can't win 8 games with this much talent, then they aren't good coaches. They've got an entire off season & Spring ball to implement their system and I see no reason to lower expectations to a 6 or 7 win season.
My orignal post was before i knew about miles.. now i say 10-1.. and falling.. i see the program going down hill under Miles..
When I see Ramah's name and his posts I have this weird mental image of him having this nick saban blow-up doll, with its plastic tallywhacker permanetly implanted in his mouth.
Yeah I don't know what It is... but the guy cannot get over that guy. He's probably 30 times worse than the biggest Alabama "Bear" Bryant fanatic...
I'm okay with 8-3. Florida will improve, Auburn will be as good and Alabama will be respectable. Tennessee can't possibly be the disasterous team it was this season and Arizona in Stoops' 3rd season will be on the upswing. Given the fact that 3 of these games are on the road, a slight step back is to be expected. Not desired, mind you, but its understandable.
