1. With all the talk of recruiting picking up - and I agree that's very true - I think this all points back to the 2012 season.
Beckman recruited well at Toledo (really well for the MAC, honestly). He landed a couple of 4 star prospects there, I think. His first class was shaping up to be very good.
Then 2012 struck. I can't remember a bigger flop than that one. It destroyed all the momentum Beckman had, and severely limited his ability to sell (in addition to forcing major staff changes and the associated loss of recruiting relationships).
2013 wasn't that bad of a year from a coaching perspective. We had 3-5 win talent and went 4-8 (closer to 5 wins than 4, as well). Unfortunately, 4-8 seasons don't change narratives.
Making a bowl in 2014 changed the narrative some. At least Beckman isn't a historically bad hire. We are seeing the results in recruiting - the guy was always a solid recruiter - since January 2015, which coincides with the bowl appearance.
That 2012 season is still really too bad. I don't know that Beckman is some top notch answer (and he well may prove this fall he's not the answer at all), but I'm not sure I've ever seen one campaign put a new coach much more behind the 8-ball.
2. This program needs to win one of at UNC, home Nebraska, at Iowa, and home Wisconsin in the first half of next year, preferably two. It really changes the narrative, and needs to occur. Then you have a 4-3 or even 5-2 team going into the softer half of its schedule. There's four beatable opponents and the unwinnable tOSU game left at that point.
Beckman recruited well at Toledo (really well for the MAC, honestly). He landed a couple of 4 star prospects there, I think. His first class was shaping up to be very good.
Then 2012 struck. I can't remember a bigger flop than that one. It destroyed all the momentum Beckman had, and severely limited his ability to sell (in addition to forcing major staff changes and the associated loss of recruiting relationships).
2013 wasn't that bad of a year from a coaching perspective. We had 3-5 win talent and went 4-8 (closer to 5 wins than 4, as well). Unfortunately, 4-8 seasons don't change narratives.
Making a bowl in 2014 changed the narrative some. At least Beckman isn't a historically bad hire. We are seeing the results in recruiting - the guy was always a solid recruiter - since January 2015, which coincides with the bowl appearance.
That 2012 season is still really too bad. I don't know that Beckman is some top notch answer (and he well may prove this fall he's not the answer at all), but I'm not sure I've ever seen one campaign put a new coach much more behind the 8-ball.
2. This program needs to win one of at UNC, home Nebraska, at Iowa, and home Wisconsin in the first half of next year, preferably two. It really changes the narrative, and needs to occur. Then you have a 4-3 or even 5-2 team going into the softer half of its schedule. There's four beatable opponents and the unwinnable tOSU game left at that point.
