Scenario A: The team somehow finds a way to 6 wins but loses the bowl game. The offense grinds out enough points to win but it's not good and still leaves a lot of questions for next year. So pretty much the same offense as last year. The Defense plays well enough to win, not the iron wall but solid. (like last year's D).
Scenario B: The team does not make a bowl and wins 4 or 5 games. The offense and defense make steady improvement each game to where they are able to upset a few teams down the road.
I contend that scenario B is the best case of the two for the long term success of the program. I realize that for scenario A to happen there will have to be upsets as well and more than what would occur in scenario B. However, it is how the team wins. They had chances to win against UNI and Iowa but they performed and executed poorly. In Scenario B win's happen because the players developed and results in executed game plans not due to dumb luck or sloppy opponent play.
Scenario B gives the team momentum into next year which will have the bulk of the players returning. A good platform for the team to make the elusive next step. Scenario A gives us a bowl but like last year it seems the program is mired.
Scenario B: The team does not make a bowl and wins 4 or 5 games. The offense and defense make steady improvement each game to where they are able to upset a few teams down the road.
I contend that scenario B is the best case of the two for the long term success of the program. I realize that for scenario A to happen there will have to be upsets as well and more than what would occur in scenario B. However, it is how the team wins. They had chances to win against UNI and Iowa but they performed and executed poorly. In Scenario B win's happen because the players developed and results in executed game plans not due to dumb luck or sloppy opponent play.
Scenario B gives the team momentum into next year which will have the bulk of the players returning. A good platform for the team to make the elusive next step. Scenario A gives us a bowl but like last year it seems the program is mired.