The House of Blue

Lets take a look at next years schedule, shall we? Beside each game I will put what I feel is a realistic expectation for the outcome of the games.

Against Western in Nashville - I'd like to think we rebound with a win, but who knows
Home vs. Miami Ohio - We should get a win here
Home vs. Louisville - Even though at home, cant see us making up 30 points in one year. Loss
Home vs. Florida - Losing streak continues
Away vs. South Carolina - Can't see Spurrier losing 2 out of 3 to us
Home vs. Alabama - dont feel I need to respond
Away vs. Mississippi St - loss
Home vs. Alabama St.- win
Home vs. Missouri - Would like to give us the benefit since at home, but Franklin will probably be back. Loss
Away vs. Vanderbilt - coin toss. Since i went with loss vs Mizzou I'll go with win here.
Away vs. Georgia - loss
Home vs. Tennessee - loss

So I have us going 4-8. Of course this is completely my opinion only and anything is possible. I'm trying to look at it realistically and give an honest opinion.

Now I know a lot of you say that we are young have had a lot of injuries. I will agree with that as it has been the case. But are the players that are hurt really going to make that much of a difference? No offense, but its not like we had a bunch of first team all SEC players go down. And lets not forget that other teams also deal with injuries and play freshmen too. And most every other team in the SEC has freshmen that are better than ours. Don't believe me? Just look at the recruiting rankings. Yeah we might get a diamond in the rough here and there but you aren't going to get an entire class of 2 and 3 star playes to magically become 4 and 5 star guys. Lets get something straight too, in that I am not trying to bash these kids. They aren't awful or even bad players. They just aren't the quality of almost every other team in the SEC.

So, I am trying not to have a knee-jerk reaction and call for Jokers head on a platter like I have previously. Instead I would like for people to look at this REALISTICALLY and tell me why Joker should be brought back for another year. I don't see what good another year of what I feel will be a 4 win season will be good for the program. I'm not sure how people think that this 2 win year is going to help recruiting. Not all of the mistakes are made by young players and not all of them can be blamed on youth. Coaching has a lot to do with it and it just doesnt look like the players are being coached very well at all. And I'm not even going to get into some of the questionable-at-best decisions the staff has made this year and in previous years.

So lets hear something besides we are young and hurt. Everyone is hurt and everyone brings in almost the same amount of players every year. I want to know why our young kids that are rated at the bottom of the SEC in recruiting classes will suddenly become better than top recruits when they are also juniors. And even though those players might not have as much game experience as ours next year, let's remember they practice against some of the best players in the country every single day.

Make me change my mind people...