I'm all ears, but what we've seen so far this year is, quite frankly, a lack of focus, an absence of a clear over-arching sense of cohesion and purpose. An identity. A chemistry. A sense of destiny. Call it what you will.
In no other year under Sanderson, has this been so evidently the case.
No Scuffle or Keystone Classic, for example, to rally the team together early.
One can also and easily point to graduations, injuries, redshirts, line-up changes, illnesses, the Olympic year, etc.
But one thing is clear: Iowa has much more of that focus and willful drive to win the title.
Even with a (renewed) focus, it would have been (will be) tough to compete with them.
is there anything that can reasonably change the situation?
This is less a criticism than an observation. It's even understandable given all the contingencies. Sometimes you just lay low and recharge. Or embrace the contradictions that have already embraced you.
But this year started stranger than any year in the past ten and it continues to grow ... odder.
There are no doubt more unexpected surprises in the offing.
C'est la vie
In no other year under Sanderson, has this been so evidently the case.
No Scuffle or Keystone Classic, for example, to rally the team together early.
One can also and easily point to graduations, injuries, redshirts, line-up changes, illnesses, the Olympic year, etc.
But one thing is clear: Iowa has much more of that focus and willful drive to win the title.
Even with a (renewed) focus, it would have been (will be) tough to compete with them.
is there anything that can reasonably change the situation?
This is less a criticism than an observation. It's even understandable given all the contingencies. Sometimes you just lay low and recharge. Or embrace the contradictions that have already embraced you.
But this year started stranger than any year in the past ten and it continues to grow ... odder.
There are no doubt more unexpected surprises in the offing.
C'est la vie