Al Golden is not going to fire Mark D end of story. I don't think the university is in position to fire Golden due to his buyout. So realistically he'll have at least another 2 seasons.
So only a few outcomes are possible here moving forward.
1) Golden has a change in philosophy and the defense shows real improvements and keeps his job. Not inflated stats from beating down FAU and SSU.
2) Golden does not change his philosophy, team performs well enough to buy a little more time by catching a few breaks and making the ACC champ game.
3) Offense carries this team and we basically become an Oklahoma State type program under Golden.
4) Defense is terrible and Al is told to can his friend and he does.
5) Defense is Terrible Al is told to can his friend he refuses and is fired.
**If the recruiting stays at the current elite level. This team will be loaded with enough talent to make a real run under a competent coach with quality assistants.
IMO with or without Golden we are 2-3 years away from being "back". It's not to say that we can't feast on a weak sch and be 10-1, 11-0 because we should have been this year. But it would take the game of our coaches lives to win in a playoff against teams like bama,OU,FSU,Ore,OSU who will be there in the next few years. and have a talent and coaching advantage over us.
So only a few outcomes are possible here moving forward.
1) Golden has a change in philosophy and the defense shows real improvements and keeps his job. Not inflated stats from beating down FAU and SSU.
2) Golden does not change his philosophy, team performs well enough to buy a little more time by catching a few breaks and making the ACC champ game.
3) Offense carries this team and we basically become an Oklahoma State type program under Golden.
4) Defense is terrible and Al is told to can his friend and he does.
5) Defense is Terrible Al is told to can his friend he refuses and is fired.
**If the recruiting stays at the current elite level. This team will be loaded with enough talent to make a real run under a competent coach with quality assistants.
IMO with or without Golden we are 2-3 years away from being "back". It's not to say that we can't feast on a weak sch and be 10-1, 11-0 because we should have been this year. But it would take the game of our coaches lives to win in a playoff against teams like bama,OU,FSU,Ore,OSU who will be there in the next few years. and have a talent and coaching advantage over us.