Yesterday was extremely frustrating to watch. Not because of what I think it says about anyone’s abilities but more so about their priorities.  I know we have a lot of football intelligence within our coaching staff, they have already proven that but I feel like some within may have fallen victim to listening to the wrong voices around them and losing sight of what this whole exercise we watch on Saturdays is about.  I don’t care, and I do not think anyone in our fan base and team/coaching staff should care either, whether anyone thinks we are tough I only care if we have a higher number on scoreboard at end of 60 minutes every goddam week!   The thing is there isnt one idea of tough.  There are many ways to be tough. The team that picks up 80% of their 3rd and shorts running a big back up the middle isn’t any tougher than the team that picks them up throwing a quick pass to an unguardable WR.  I think we are falling into a trap of someone else’s making by taking our best players off the field in 3rd and shorts and bringing in an extra TE and tackle.  We are telegraphing our intentions.

I know there are people who love the idea of lining up and running even when the D knows you are running and that is necessary at times, but no one does that by always lining up so that all 22 guys on the field are in the box.  Why tie your hands unnecessarily?  Make them defend more than one possibility.  The D is always 11 tacklers against 9 blockers in that scenario.

That Gattis comment from 2021, that came from a place smack talking a rival, has really affected our staff and we need to stop letting that loss lead to more losses by trying to prove the unprovable.  

Iowa is usually a tough team, Wisconsin is usually a tough team so is Utah of late but we usually beat those teams.   I do t care if they are thought of as tougher…… we are BETTER!  Tough is only one ingredient for success and it can have multiple manifestations 

Whats really tough is winning all your football games. Do that, by any means possible,  and let the losers question your manhood all they want…you got the trophy they were fighting for and couldn’t get