Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights…..Mayber we are closer than you think..
Filed Under Mississippi State Sports | Posted on November 10, 2006
As I kicked back in my recliner last night to watch the second half of the Louisville/Rutgers game on ESPNHD I couldn’t help but think about the “what ifs” from MSU’s season. Here we had Rutgers a perennial loser, a team that went 13 years without a winning season until 2005, battling a good Louisville team and trying to stay undefeated. I couldn’t help but think, “if Rutgers can do it why can’t we”. I thought about the late 90’s when we were good. I remember the SEC Championship Game, I remember all those bowl games. Times were great, I actually thought we had turned MSU around. Built a foundation that would last till I was old and gray. I was wrong. Things went wrong in a hurry. We had some bust from JUCO, Jackie had some hard times in his personal life, and the NCAA decided it would make a visit to Starkvegas.
We hired Slyvester Croom after Jackie resigned in 2003. Coach Croom had a fire to him, he seemed to be an excellent motivator and speaker. I didn’t expect much in 2004, but I didn’t think we would lose to Maine. I didn’t expect much in 2005, but I didn’t think we would only win 3 games. This year I really expected us to win 5 games and show some significant improvement after 3 years of being in Coach Croom’s system. It could still happen, I doubt that it will, but I hope it does.
You see I realized something last night in that recliner. I realized that sometimes change does take time. Rebuilding a program doesn’t happen overnight. Rutgers has been a doormat for a long time, but Greg Schiano is changing that. It didn’t happen over night for him either. Does this sound familiar:
“Along the way, there are bowl games, there are conference championships, and then there are national championships. That’s still the ultimate goal. I knew it wouldn’t happen overnight, our staff knows that and our players know that,” Schiano added. “We’re building a program – it’s not about a season. It’s about building a program, and going to that pinnacle that we talked about when we first got here. This is a step on the climb.” - Greg Schiano
Sure it does. Coach Croom has preached the same thing for 3 years. Maybe I was just to smart to listen to what he was saying.
Coach Schiano has taken a very similar path to building a winning program as Coach Croom.
Schiano’s impact as head coach is evidenced in all aspects of the Rutgers football program. Schiano and his staff have continued to upgrade the level of talent by recruiting student-athletes with outstanding athleticism and great character, all part of the building process that continues to result in on-field success.
Rutgers now boasts one of the nation’s finest football complexes, highlighted by an expansive strength and conditioning facility, a state-of-the-art training room and academic support facilities which include classrooms, study rooms and computer labs. With a state-of-the-art scoreboard and field turf playing surface in place, Rutgers Stadium continues to be one of the most scenic settings for college football in the country. Excerpt taken from Rutgers Football Website
Maybe we are on the right path at MSU. I really hope we are. Does this mean I agree with everything Coach Croom does? No it sure doesn’t. I still believe we need to make some staff changes and recruit a little better. And before everyone starts flaming me, I know Rutgers is not playing in the SEC. I know their schedule is weaker than ours, but they’re winning. Regardless of who they are playing they are winning. And isn’t winning all we want as State fans. So rag me if you want to, I know I have been as critical of Coach Croom as anyone and next week I may be calling for his head. But for now I will give him a reprieve.
