Josh Pate take on Mario

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Here's the question for the Mario haters:

At the time, who else was both better and available, realistically, to take over the helm than Mario?

I did a quick google and found these names: It's probably too early to tell,
  • Brian Kelly to LSU
  • Lincoln Riley to USC
  • Andy Avalos to Boise State
  • Billy Napier to Florida
  • Kalen DeBoer to Washington
  • Josh Heupel to Tennessee
  • Steve Sarkisian to Texas
  • Lance Leipold to Kansas
  • Clark Lea to Vanderbilt
  • Shane Beamer to South Carolina
  • Jake ****ert to Washington State
  • Bret Bielema to Illinois
  • Tim Albin to Ohio
  • Sonny Dykes to TCU
  • Trent Bray to Oregon State
  • Brent Brennan to Arizona
  • Clay Helton to Georgia Southern
  • Manny Diaz to Duke
  • Mario Cristobal to Miami
  • Jay Norvell to Colorado State
  • Curt Cignetti to Indiana
It's probably too early to tell and I'm not sure how comprehensive or accurate this list is, but I don't see a whole lot of names I would rather have than Mario. Sarkisian? Heupel?

I remember plenty of the anti-Mario mob mentioning how Sonny Dykes fixed TCU right away because they made the playoffs and beat Michigan before getting destroyed by Georgia. They followed that up with a 5-7 season.

Ask the fans at USC, LSU or UF how they like their coaches. A few years after this list, DeBoer went to Alabama and he's not the most popular guy among their fans. My point is, the expectations by most fan bases (pobably all, but I'm leaving myself some wiggle room) are nearly impossible to meet. "Natty or bust" sounds really awesome, but it's not realistic. I'm also not saying that winning a natty shouldn't be the goal; it 100% should be. However a goal and an expectation are not the same.

If Mario can keep us relevant, winning 10+ games a year, I'm good and I think most reasonable fans would agree with that. We should win 10 this fall. Here's where I veer off slightly from others on the board - I'm not sure making the ACCCG is the true bar/expectation. Before you throw a rock at me, I say this because a LOT of the time in football or sports in general things happen that are out of the coach's control. The Cleveland Gary fumble in South Bend. The late flag from Terry Porter in Tempe. Multiple injuries. Yes, it sounds like an excuse and it kind of is. Kind of. However, if you draw back and take a wider angle view, you'll realize that by winning 10+ a year, statistically we will make the ACCCG more often than not and we will win our fair share of them. Essentially what I am saying is focus on the winning and let the trophies, awards, accolades and championships take care of themselves. 10+ wins is a fair expectation. It allows for a 9 win season here or there, but means that an 11+ win season should be in order as well. Now, you can throw your rocks.

Go Canes.
The answer will always be Lane Kiffin no matter how much he underwhelms.
 
Locked On, through the smoke and category 6 have also brought him up. You can gladly search those up for yourself. Other boards/groups have as well
Heard Lowe, Blount, Scott multiple times but not McConathy or even Lightfoot and Pickett. Sorry
 
People always underestimate how damaged our program when Mario took over. Mario has completely cleaned up our culture and flipped the roster significantly. He's pretty much addressed every issues that's come up. He hired one of the best Oc's in college football, he's added back to back elite portal qbs, he turned one of the worst db rooms in the country to the best in the ACC in the matter of one offseason, he hired a great defensive staff this off season. Oh and also, he even hired people to help improve his game day coaching, which was significantly improved in 2024. Our process may seem a little slow, but was there a coach out there that could have turned around Miami overnight back in 2022? I'm leaning towards no on that question. Also, it took harbaugh a while to finally win the big one. People were calling for that man to get fired, and he proved everyone wrong. The same applies for Kirby, Ryan Day and Dabboo Sweeney. 2025 is probably the most talented roster we've had in the last 20 years, and we'll continue to take that next step
It's not worth wasting your breath with many of this crowd. Just look at the reactions you got and from who.... smh.
 
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Just because you don't hear his name being mentioned in the 30 minute warmup sessions, doesn't mean he's not playing well lol. Also, despite having a terrible defensive scheme, we still managed to finish top 20 in the country in Sacks and top 20 in rushing defense (incoming vomit emoji because this doesn't fit your narrative)


Saying this is ******* WILD. It proves numbers don’t mean **** because you can make them fit just about any brain dead narrative.

We had a good run defense because teams didn’t need to ******* run the ball. On your provided stats for rush defense we also would rank #10 for fewest rushes against a defense. You don’t need to run the ball against a team that has wet single-ply toilet paper for a pass defense.

You were right about one thing though. Reading this is vomit inducing.

ill i feel sick GIF
 
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Saying this is ******* WILD. It proves numbers don’t mean **** because you can make them fit just about any brain dead narrative.

We had a good run defense because teams didn’t need to ******* run the ball. On your provided stats for rush defense we also would rank #10 for fewest rushes against a defense. You don’t need to run the ball against a team that has wet single-ply toilet paper for a pass defense.

You were right about one thing though. Reading this is vomit inducing.

ill i feel sick GIF

Saying this is ******* WILD. It proves numbers don’t mean **** because you can make them fit just about any brain dead narrative.

We had a good run defense because teams didn’t need to ******* run the ball. On your provided stats for rush defense we also would rank #10 for fewest rushes against a defense. You don’t need to run the ball against a team that has wet single-ply toilet paper for a pass defense.

You were right about one thing though. Reading this is vomit inducing.

ill i feel sick GIF
Womp Womp. Facts over feelings kid
 
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Special teams has been driving me nuts for a few years now, been asking for an upgrade there. I can't recall the last time we took one to the house on punt returns.
There were 23 punt returns for touchdown last year-----about 1 per 5 teams

Given we never stopped anybody we received fewer punts than most

You get such a limited amount of practice time, I think there isn't much upside in emphasizing returns
 
but but but the program he took over…. And 11 wins in the SEC is basically 5, 7 and 10 in the ACC

You’d be giving Mario a raise with Lane’s Ole Miss record… Maybe a statue of him taking a knee
Ohhh Yea I forgot.. having to play in the ALL Mighty SEC was the reason he was crying @ the podium after ****ting the bed again poor Kiffin. IDK about you but watching my coach whine and ***** about having to play in conference HE chose to coach in is pretty pathetic of you ask me, but hey I wont get in the way of your Kiffin fandom, do you my guy.
 
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