re: Dan Skipper and Jim Chaney

quote:

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I cussed Chaney a lot during the game but really, it was mental mistakes that we usually don't make. I think they really wanted that win badly and it fricked with their heads a little.

Eventually, they will break through and learn how to win and it's all downhill from there. I'm ready.

IMO, we are further along than I thought we'd be.

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Agree, especially with the bold sentence.

We've played two top 6 teams (neither of which were at home), took one into halftime tied at their place and had the other on the ropes in the fourth quarter at a neutral site, and gave them both the most physical games they've had all year. That's not excusing losing, it's pointing out great positives in year 2 of a colossal rebuilding effort. Petrino was losing heartbreakers to Georgia, Florida and LSU in year 2 -- we've seen this before.

I'll say right now that I'm impressed as heck with 3 guys in particular -- Robb Smith, Clay Jennings and Ben Herbert.

Smith has us playing like an SEC defense, Jennings is doing great work with a young/patchwork secondary, and Herbert has our team looking physically like an top tier SEC team.