Anyone else take this loss differently than they'd expect?

[88]

Really has been a strange season for a lot of reasons with each side of the ball on polar ends.

Anyone else find themselves not as ****ed off as they thought they'd be after Syracuse?

This was a slow burn for me. I knew right around Louisville that this defense was beyond repair and put a ceiling on this team below our ambitions. That painful drink-your-sorrows-away loss was spread across the last 6 or so games little by little; even after wins.

Defense is usually the time I got off the couch/seat and most into the game - this season I found myself mad, then annoyed, then disinterested to the point where I just wanted to walk out of the room until the offense was back on the field.

I think if this team were in the teens or 20s on both sides of the ball and lost because of turnovers or sloppy play this would have been devastating... But the polar nature of the units - although more frustrating big picture to have wasted the offense - seemed to just have made the result inevitable far before Syracuse.

 

[Jonnyblaze]

Everyone knew by midseason the D was a liability that would cost us eventually. We got away with it for a few games because of Cam, but it caught up with us late season.

 

[Dhatguy]

Disappointed but not upset, first game I didn’t watch as I was busy with other important things that day but checked the score periodically. Another loss was bound to happen at some point.
When I saw we blew a 21-0 lead I curse then laughed tbh. I knew it had to be the defense lol, laugh through the pain type ****

 

[Silver King]

Really has been a strange season for a lot of reasons with each side of the ball on polar ends.

Anyone else find themselves not as ****ed off as they thought they'd be after Syracuse?

This was a slow burn for me. I knew right around Louisville that this defense was beyond repair and put a ceiling on this team below our ambitions. That painful drink-your-sorrows-away loss was spread across the last 6 or so games little by little; even after wins.

Defense is usually the time I got off the couch/seat and most into the game - this season I found myself mad, then annoyed, then disinterested to the point where I just wanted to walk out of the room until the offense was back on the field.

I think if this team were in the teens or 20s on both sides of the ball and lost because of turnovers or sloppy play this would have been devastating... But the polar nature of the units, although more frustrating big picture to have wasted the offense, seemed to just have made the result inevitable far before Syracuse.

I think you may have misdiagnosed it a bit and are confusing it with close to a quarter century of PCTSD (Post Canes Traumatic Syndrome Disorder).

 

[Memnon]

Not upset at all.

Losing always sucks, but the consensus prediction for this season was 10-2. The 2 losses were going to be against some teams that we weren't technically supposed to lose to, because that's Mario's trademark.

Even at his absolute best at Oregon, he would have games like
- 2018 vs Stanford
- 2018 vs Wash ST
- 2018 vs Utah

- 2019 vs AZ ST

- 2020 vs Cal

- 2021 vs Stanford
- 2021 vs Utah (twice)

That's just who Mario is as a Coach. He's not ever going to lead your team beyond what expectations are. People are only upset or shocked because they buried their heads in the sand back in 2021-22 before he got hired here. It was discussed & brought up by some on the board, but people ignored it & called them mopes.

The reality, this is probably the best it will get under Mario's tenure. We'll be able to go on runs & catch lightening in a bottle depending on if we can keep getting NFL caliber QB's via Portal.

But, the whole long process "doing it the right way" building through HS recruiting stuff is not going to work with him as our HC. It's an old model in a new era.

So, the best way to deal with these types of losses as a fan, is just understand that this is what comes with it. You can't/shouldn't be upset about a loss to GTech or Cuse, or whoever, if you understand that this apart of the HC's DNA.

If you really think he can turn us into a perennial playoff team that can compete for Natty's, it's because you simply want to believe it, not because you have an actual reason to believe it.

 

[QuattroCane]

Disappointed, but not at all surprised. I'm more annoyed that we blew a 21-0 lead, how we didn't start milking the clock and shorten the game still baffles me.
I was also miffed at the typical second-quarter swoon, if not for that we should have been able to outpace them...in theory
The scoop and score was brutal too, that was the dagger IMO.

 

[hollyhood27]

Unless we have stupid money for NIL, 9-3 with 10-2 is our ceiling. If we are 2nd tier NIL (consider like OSU, Bama, LSU, Oregon etc as tier 1) then we need a scheme guy as HC.

Having a top level recruiting guy as HC is about to be an antiquated thought process.

 

[Mr. Dynasty1]

Not upset at all.

Losing always sucks, but the consensus prediction for this season was 10-2. The 2 losses were going to be against some teams that we weren't technically supposed to lose to, because that's Mario's trademark.

Even at his absolute best at Oregon, he would have games like
- 2018 vs Stanford
- 2018 vs Wash ST
- 2018 vs Utah

- 2019 vs AZ ST

- 2020 vs Cal

- 2021 vs Stanford
- 2021 vs Utah (twice)

That's just who Mario is a Coach, he's not ever going to lead your team beyond what expectations are. People are only upset or shocked because they buried their heads in the sand back in 2021-22 before he got hired here. It was discussed & brought up by some on the board, but people ignored it & called them mopes.

The reality, this is probably the best it will get under Mario's tenure. We'll be able to go on runs & catch lightening in a bottle depending on if we can keep getting NFL caliber QB's via Portal.

But, the whole long process "doing it the right way" building through HS recruiting stuff is not going to work with him as our HC. It's an old model in an a new era.

So, the best way to deal with these types of losses as a fan, is just understand that this is what comes with it. You can/shouldn't be upset about a loss to GTech or Cuse, or whoever, if you understand that this apart of the HC's DNA.

If you really think he can turn us into a perennial playoff team that can compete for Natty's, it's because you simply want to believe it, not because you have an actual reason to believe it.

I let Cam’s greatness allow me to forget the very reason I didn’t want Mario to begin with

 

[TwentySix]

Not upset at all.

Losing always sucks, but the consensus prediction for this season was 10-2. The 2 losses were going to be against some teams that we weren't technically supposed to lose to, because that's Mario's trademark.

Even at his absolute best at Oregon, he would have games like
- 2018 vs Stanford
- 2018 vs Wash ST
- 2018 vs Utah

- 2019 vs AZ ST

- 2020 vs Cal

- 2021 vs Stanford
- 2021 vs Utah (twice)

That's just who Mario is a Coach, he's not ever going to lead your team beyond what expectations are. People are only upset or shocked because they buried their heads in the sand back in 2021-22 before he got hired here. It was discussed & brought up by some on the board, but people ignored it & called them mopes.

The reality, this is probably the best it will get under Mario's tenure. We'll be able to go on runs & catch lightening in a bottle depending on if we can keep getting NFL caliber QB's via Portal.

But, the whole long process "doing it the right way" building through HS recruiting stuff is not going to work with him as our HC. It's an old model in an a new era.

So, the best way to deal with these types of losses as a fan, is just understand that this is what comes with it. You can/shouldn't be upset about a loss to GTech or Cuse, or whoever, if you understand that this apart of the HC's DNA.

If you really think he can turn us into a perennial playoff team that can compete for Natty's, it's because you simply want to believe it, not because you have an actual reason to believe it.

 

[JHallCanes]

Once VT and Cal happened I knew what I was in for

So no, not mad at all. Frustrated with some of the “how” for sure because that’s what happens when you lose

But watching Cam this year has been a pleasure and it went about how I expected once our team started to take shape

 

[hollyhood27]

I'm just disappointed that the one thing Mario didn't learn from Saban was not being scared to make the big decisions. Like benching Hurts for Tua in the natty.

I would have liked to see Guidry gone after the GT game. The same issues keep popping up and he hasn't shown the ability to fix them. Mario's methodical thought process hurt us there.

 

[OptimusCreampie]

Just more upset honestly with what was on the line. I knew what Mario is, I was hoping he could prove most of us wrong. That’s more on me for getting expectations up when they shouldn’t have been.

Again the red flags were there all year.

 

[FrancisSawyer]

Not upset at all.

Losing always sucks, but the consensus prediction for this season was 10-2. The 2 losses were going to be against some teams that we weren't technically supposed to lose to, because that's Mario's trademark.

Even at his absolute best at Oregon, he would have games like
- 2018 vs Stanford
- 2018 vs Wash ST
- 2018 vs Utah

- 2019 vs AZ ST

- 2020 vs Cal

- 2021 vs Stanford
- 2021 vs Utah (twice)

That's just who Mario is a Coach, he's not ever going to lead your team beyond what expectations are. People are only upset or shocked because they buried their heads in the sand back in 2021-22 before he got hired here. It was discussed & brought up by some on the board, but people ignored it & called them mopes.

The reality, this is probably the best it will get under Mario's tenure. We'll be able to go on runs & catch lightening in a bottle depending on if we can keep getting NFL caliber QB's via Portal.

But, the whole long process "doing it the right way" building through HS recruiting stuff is not going to work with him as our HC. It's an old model in an a new era.

So, the best way to deal with these types of losses as a fan, is just understand that this is what comes with it. You can/shouldn't be upset about a loss to GTech or Cuse, or whoever, if you understand that this apart of the HC's DNA.

If you really think he can turn us into a perennial playoff team that can compete for Natty's, it's because you simply want to believe it, not because you have an actual reason to believe it.

That's an excellent post and really sums up Mario quite well. There is one thing I would like clarity on however. The long process of doing it the right way building through HS recruiting you said will not work with him. Is that because he is incapable of executing that blueprint or because it's an old model in a new era as you said? If it is an old flawed model that is incompatible with this new environment then what approach would you suggest?

 

[B Run]

Not me...I'm ****ed...I may have thought differently had we not gone up 21-0. If it were a shootout from the start, then my expectations would have been a little lower. When we got up 21-0, I thought with our O we should never blow this lead. Watching it melt away so quickly was tough to watch. My blood boiled 30 seconds into the second half when Syracuse tied it like they were playing touch football in the backyard. It was that moment I knew the game was over. We just wasted the best statistical offense this program has ever seen with a generational QB. The stat sheet said Kyle McCord was 26/36 380 yards and 3 TD's. I would have guessed he was 75/80 876 yards and 7 TDs watching it. Thats what it felt like. Sorry, but that one was hard to watch after going up 21-0

 

[Cane6]

Not upset at all.

Losing always sucks, but the consensus prediction for this season was 10-2. The 2 losses were going to be against some teams that we weren't technically supposed to lose to, because that's Mario's trademark.

Even at his absolute best at Oregon, he would have games like
- 2018 vs Stanford
- 2018 vs Wash ST
- 2018 vs Utah

- 2019 vs AZ ST

- 2020 vs Cal

- 2021 vs Stanford
- 2021 vs Utah (twice)

That's just who Mario is as a Coach. He's not ever going to lead your team beyond what expectations are. People are only upset or shocked because they buried their heads in the sand back in 2021-22 before he got hired here. It was discussed & brought up by some on the board, but people ignored it & called them mopes.

The reality, this is probably the best it will get under Mario's tenure. We'll be able to go on runs & catch lightening in a bottle depending on if we can keep getting NFL caliber QB's via Portal.

But, the whole long process "doing it the right way" building through HS recruiting stuff is not going to work with him as our HC. It's an old model in a new era.

So, the best way to deal with these types of losses as a fan, is just understand that this is what comes with it. You can't/shouldn't be upset about a loss to GTech or Cuse, or whoever, if you understand that this apart of the HC's DNA.

If you really think he can turn us into a perennial playoff team that can compete for Natty's, it's because you simply want to believe it, not because you have an actual reason to believe it.

I agree with everything you mentioned. Only way we/Mario break through the glass ceiling is to hire better coordinators.

I know we likely won’t pay our staff at the same level as Ohio St or Penn St, but they’ve got multiple position coaches making well over $1mm. I’m not saying that’s the only way to win a Natty, but Mario can’t keep whiffing like he’s done at Miami.

I know he’s got an ego problem, but he could certainly use extra experience on staff and bring in guys that were former HC’s.

 

[Rickd]

Really has been a strange season for a lot of reasons with each side of the ball on polar ends.

Anyone else find themselves not as ****ed off as they thought they'd be after Syracuse?

This was a slow burn for me. I knew right around Louisville that this defense was beyond repair and put a ceiling on this team below our ambitions. That painful drink-your-sorrows-away loss was spread across the last 6 or so games little by little; even after wins.

Defense is usually the time I got off the couch/seat and most into the game - this season I found myself mad, then annoyed, then disinterested to the point where I just wanted to walk out of the room until the offense was back on the field.

I think if this team were in the teens or 20s on both sides of the ball and lost because of turnovers or sloppy play this would have been devastating... But the polar nature of the units, although more frustrating big picture to have wasted the offense, seemed to just have made the result inevitable far before Syracuse.

I expected Mario to lose this game. Was happy they went up 21-0 early on, but also didn't believe it was enough. Literally needed to get to half time up 35-0 to have a shot with this D. Do not listen to "coach" wrap ups after wins or losses. Have been hoping to see an improved CEO that would identify talented coordinators to run the program ... so far still waiting. Replacing Guidry could be worse than a root canal without anesthesia due to Mario's slow, unsure, rambling "hiring" process. Was a huge mistake not making it work with Alonzo. Mario needed a proven EVALUATOR of talent (both player and staff) with AUTHORITY.

 

[Ispyin]

Honestly, I’m pretty ****ed and it’s not because I didn’t know what we were getting with Mario because all of the points about expectations with him are valid but those expectations never came with the idea that that would you have a bad defense but that you would have a terrible defense. Even with all of his faults it’s not unfair to have an expectation that you would be average in things with recruiting and portal and the resources the program now has it for the defense to fail not just by being average or even bad but to being the worst I have ever witnessed on an ongoing basis

 

[Caneadian]

No I am actaully pretty pi**ed about it. You find a way to win that game as a coaching staff. You coach the kids up. You scheme something to confuse Syr. None of that was done. We blitzed when we shouldnt have , we sent a DE in coverage multiple times.

I said all year. We are an arena league team. Score a lot give up a lot. BUT just find 1 or 2 stops. 1 or 2 key sacks or turovers. A key special teams play.... And protect against those things happenning to you. Unfortunatley our 2nd best player had a huge turnover that was in the end they key to the game.

 

[gabednconfused]

Really has been a strange season for a lot of reasons with each side of the ball on polar ends.

Anyone else find themselves not as ****ed off as they thought they'd be after Syracuse?

This was a slow burn for me. I knew right around Louisville that this defense was beyond repair and put a ceiling on this team below our ambitions. That painful drink-your-sorrows-away loss was spread across the last 6 or so games little by little; even after wins.

Defense is usually the time I got off the couch/seat and most into the game - this season I found myself mad, then annoyed, then disinterested to the point where I just wanted to walk out of the room until the offense was back on the field.

I think if this team were in the teens or 20s on both sides of the ball and lost because of turnovers or sloppy play this would have been devastating... But the polar nature of the units, although more frustrating big picture to have wasted the offense, seemed to just have made the result inevitable far before Syracuse.

me personally? no I took it way worse than I expected. TWO ******* DECADES we waited for a neanderthal to just **** it up with stupidity. We will not see a competitive landscape this wide open for years. Such a waste.

 

[FrancisSawyer]

Once VT and Cal happened I knew what I was in for

So no, not mad at all. Frustrated with some of the “how” for sure because that’s what happens when you lose

But watching Cam this year has been a pleasure and it went about how I expected once our team started to take shape

It's a bit different for me in that I'm mad that Mario would field a defense this atrocious in year 3. I'm mad that given his lengthy and thorough interview and vetting process and the fact that he's been in this game as an HC who has had the opportunity to be around excellent and not so excellent coaches that he hired Guidry in the 1st place. For us fans its different as were just fans but Mario should have known Guidry's defense was fundamentally unsound.

I knew who he was coming in and was never really big on hiring him but in the end I thought it was the best shot we had at the time to have the school put the type of money needed into the program. That and frankly, I thought that the guy could improve especially with him finally being back as HC of his alma mater. Then it was the stark realization that this would be the best it would likely ever get plus knowing how his teams are always among the most penalized in the nation while he gets up there and preaches accountability, leadership and whatever other garbage that he spews out like a broken record. So I admit it. I'm pi$$ed! I may not win a Phil Jackson zen award but that's ok lol.