Coach A as we all know has close ties to Whittingham at Utah. He's talked about how what KW has done this is a 'model' for success in the Pac-12.
It's also been discussed the transition that both Utah and CU have had to make to be competitive in the Pac-12 conference since they joined in 2011. CU is obviously still struggling to make that transition, while Utah arguably has done it. So I went back to look at the Utah program under KW, specifically about the transition into the Pac-12; if this is the model Coach A wants to follow, I thought that only made sense.
In 2008, Utah won the MWC with a perfect season - 13-0 (8-0) and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. 2009, Utah went 10-3 (6-2) in the MWC, and in 2010 another 10-3 (7-1) season. In 2011, Utah joins the Pac-12, and goes 8-5 (4-5). In 2012, it gets rougher 5-7 (3-6), and 2013 they bottom out 5-7 (2-7). 2013 Utah rebounds, 9-4 (5-4), and this year assuming they'll dispose of CU, Utah should finish 9-3 (10-3 if they win their bowl game), and 6-3 in conference.
This supports the comments about a good MWC program that needed to get better athletes, get stronger, and get faster once they joined our conference. It has taken Utah a couple of seasons to get there. Now, in 2016 Utah may take a step back, as they lose a lot with graduation including a multi-year starter at QB. But I think it shows the road that we're on, and that it will take time for OSU to build back into a competitive program in a conference full of pretty good teams.
If this staff can bring home the recruits we've got lined up, and the guys we've got can continue to put the work with the training staff, I think 2016 will see a much better year for us. Not thinking miracles, but certainly positive steps forward.
It's also been discussed the transition that both Utah and CU have had to make to be competitive in the Pac-12 conference since they joined in 2011. CU is obviously still struggling to make that transition, while Utah arguably has done it. So I went back to look at the Utah program under KW, specifically about the transition into the Pac-12; if this is the model Coach A wants to follow, I thought that only made sense.
In 2008, Utah won the MWC with a perfect season - 13-0 (8-0) and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. 2009, Utah went 10-3 (6-2) in the MWC, and in 2010 another 10-3 (7-1) season. In 2011, Utah joins the Pac-12, and goes 8-5 (4-5). In 2012, it gets rougher 5-7 (3-6), and 2013 they bottom out 5-7 (2-7). 2013 Utah rebounds, 9-4 (5-4), and this year assuming they'll dispose of CU, Utah should finish 9-3 (10-3 if they win their bowl game), and 6-3 in conference.
This supports the comments about a good MWC program that needed to get better athletes, get stronger, and get faster once they joined our conference. It has taken Utah a couple of seasons to get there. Now, in 2016 Utah may take a step back, as they lose a lot with graduation including a multi-year starter at QB. But I think it shows the road that we're on, and that it will take time for OSU to build back into a competitive program in a conference full of pretty good teams.
If this staff can bring home the recruits we've got lined up, and the guys we've got can continue to put the work with the training staff, I think 2016 will see a much better year for us. Not thinking miracles, but certainly positive steps forward.
