This may sound stupid.
First off, we are better than Fresno. You could see that with ease. We gave them the breaks they needed. Fresno didn't force any of those critical turnovers that turned the game around. They were lifeless until those happened. Those were on UNLV, they weren't great plays by Fresno. So the players have to own it. We won a couple of close ones this season too, this one just didn't go our way.
But under Hauck, under Sanchez, under Arroyo, ten years basically ... whether we won or lost ... even in the wins .... they felt like very incomplete and tattered wins for the most part. Not saying all wins were flukes, but it felt like there was no substance, zero staying power. It was a couple of good key players, like a Lex or Charles .... and you just crossed your fingers that the rest of the team would play "decent" so you'd "have a shot" at "stealing" a win. Even when we did, it's not like it inspired confidence. They were teams with so many holes at so many positions, the teams were really loose with fundamentals and poise. Basically, you crossed your fingers and hoped every game and usually it didn't work out as you wanted.
Alot of these guys aren't Odom's - yet they play smoother, more confidence, more poise, more discipline, better fundamentals. Hell, just look at some of the open field tackling we've seen. The defense isn't always the greatest, there are some holes - but on many plays, we are blistering them without any YAC instead of doing the ole thing that allows 6 or 7 more yards. That's not personnel, that's philosophy, that's a mindset, that's an accountability and expectation - that is COACHING. Listen, Maiava had a couple of mistakes, so did alot of other guys. But on that last drive, again - the team wasn't at all panicked as they moved down the field. There wasn't alot of time left on the clock but enough for us to do what we needed to do. That's one thing I really like about this team - they seem really focused. Game to game. Almost quarter to quarter. Again, that's coaching, that's spring ball and summer prep.
I see so many fans say "the future is bright" for football and basketball when we sign a couple of three star players or win a game we weren't supposed to win. The wishy washy type that just can't see some very obvious truths. They'll throw out the phrase and I tell myself - they must be just spouting off mindlessly because sucking hurts too much and they just don't want to face it. It's largely pure BS by blind or easily satisfied fans. Since the advent of the internet, I don't know how many times I actually felt that - a couple of seasons with basketball ... I don't think I've had that feeling with football outside of JRob 2000 heading into 2001 with JT at QB after his good season - and even though I felt it, it wasn't an overwhelming feeling. But I did feel it. It's happened a couple of times in basketball during those years, but haven't felt that in near a decade. Not that my confidence dictates how they will perform (see 2001 football), but it does make you more vested as a fan. It keeps your interest in the off-season. It builds anticipation.
I know, we lost a tough one last night. No, I'm not looking forward to next season ... but I will as soon as this season ends. I really feel with what Odom has and whatever he ends up bringing in ... we will lose some commits, we will gain some others ... and it matters ... but I think if he can get a group of Arroyo kids buying in, that's a huge part of the battle, he will be able to do that with whatever recruits he brings in.
So as long as we have Odom, yeah, I do think the future is bright. Brighter than any time since JRob and I have even more confidence in Odom than JRob.
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