1. A win.
2. A step forward by the offense and the defense.
3. Grace from the fans.
Michigan was a huge step up in talent and coaching from the week before. Even amid that, there was solid preparation (as our start showed) and there were some players that took steps forward in their development. Even a player like Collins or McMaryion, who had some issues in the game, learned to play on a big stage, learned to take snaps under duress and learned what the talent level they are going to be going against is like.
So while I expect a win this week, I hope we see some players up their games so to speak. Clean up some of the little stuff and move forward. The hope is that the players will continue to get more comfortable with the system and techniques and will be better in week 3 than they were in week 2.
Unfortunately, number 3 is going to be the most difficult yet maybe the most important. We cannot have an overwhelming sentiment of grace and allowance for a rough year in August turn to vitriol and "These coaches suck rocks" by mid September. Yet here we are.
We as fans will not survive this season or the rest of our lives as Beavers if our expectations exceed reality year in and year out. I can expect to win Championships all I want, but reality is going to punch me in the gut more often than not. BennysLoveChild had a great post about getting kicked in the nuts, but I would expand on that a bit to say "We need to be OK with mistakes, be OK with confusing play calling and even OK with the team's performance ebbing as the game goes on." Not because these things are OK, but because they are inevitable in 2015. I can get bent out of shape about a play call or call out players for "giving up" at the end of the game, but in the end, right now, that is just me being a jerk.
This is not a love fest or sacrificing standards, this is realizing that this team is changing, going through all new systems and coaching styles and is going to have games like that. It is not because the coaches suck, or because the players are terrible. it is because it is new and they are learning. And it is just for now. I also fully expect them to take great strides next year. I expect that Civil War drought to end next year. I think it is fair to have raised expectations with a young team that has a year under its belt. I just mean right now, today, in 2015.
I fully expect the team to play better this week than last, partly because of the opponent and partly because I expect them to fix things. But that doesn't mean I am all in for a win against Stanford next week. I just am fairly certain it will be a better result, or more complete result, than Saturday.
I am not saying we sacrifice our dreams of banners or standards of play. I am just saying that when reality hits you in the face like last week, don't be shocked or break your ankles jumping off the Andersen bandwagon, because the reality is that this is the season we were going to get no matter who was coach.
Anyway, not sure why I felt the need to write this, but I have just seen a lot of anger and what feels like shock and it is probably because they have shown flashes of better and given us hope.
Oh and on a side note, I fully expect the team to think they are going to dominate every game. It is a double standard, but again, the whole reality thing. Players and fans are different.
2. A step forward by the offense and the defense.
3. Grace from the fans.
Michigan was a huge step up in talent and coaching from the week before. Even amid that, there was solid preparation (as our start showed) and there were some players that took steps forward in their development. Even a player like Collins or McMaryion, who had some issues in the game, learned to play on a big stage, learned to take snaps under duress and learned what the talent level they are going to be going against is like.
So while I expect a win this week, I hope we see some players up their games so to speak. Clean up some of the little stuff and move forward. The hope is that the players will continue to get more comfortable with the system and techniques and will be better in week 3 than they were in week 2.
Unfortunately, number 3 is going to be the most difficult yet maybe the most important. We cannot have an overwhelming sentiment of grace and allowance for a rough year in August turn to vitriol and "These coaches suck rocks" by mid September. Yet here we are.
We as fans will not survive this season or the rest of our lives as Beavers if our expectations exceed reality year in and year out. I can expect to win Championships all I want, but reality is going to punch me in the gut more often than not. BennysLoveChild had a great post about getting kicked in the nuts, but I would expand on that a bit to say "We need to be OK with mistakes, be OK with confusing play calling and even OK with the team's performance ebbing as the game goes on." Not because these things are OK, but because they are inevitable in 2015. I can get bent out of shape about a play call or call out players for "giving up" at the end of the game, but in the end, right now, that is just me being a jerk.
This is not a love fest or sacrificing standards, this is realizing that this team is changing, going through all new systems and coaching styles and is going to have games like that. It is not because the coaches suck, or because the players are terrible. it is because it is new and they are learning. And it is just for now. I also fully expect them to take great strides next year. I expect that Civil War drought to end next year. I think it is fair to have raised expectations with a young team that has a year under its belt. I just mean right now, today, in 2015.
I fully expect the team to play better this week than last, partly because of the opponent and partly because I expect them to fix things. But that doesn't mean I am all in for a win against Stanford next week. I just am fairly certain it will be a better result, or more complete result, than Saturday.
I am not saying we sacrifice our dreams of banners or standards of play. I am just saying that when reality hits you in the face like last week, don't be shocked or break your ankles jumping off the Andersen bandwagon, because the reality is that this is the season we were going to get no matter who was coach.
Anyway, not sure why I felt the need to write this, but I have just seen a lot of anger and what feels like shock and it is probably because they have shown flashes of better and given us hope.
Oh and on a side note, I fully expect the team to think they are going to dominate every game. It is a double standard, but again, the whole reality thing. Players and fans are different.
