Most takes I agree with. Others have me scratching my head.
The experts must be thinking "4-loss Gus."Objective forecast I guess. I bet the over 7.5. UCF does have a favorable schedule this year.
UCF record on the Road with Malzahn gives a lot of concern for any road game.At Florida as a likely loss is enough to discredit him. That's a toss up
How much is that on Malzahn and how much on Heupel's anemic recruiting classes?UCF record on the Road with Malzahn gives a lot of concern for any road game.
2021 - 1-4, Beat Temple. Loss to Navy, Louisville, Cincy, SMU
2022 - 4-2 Beat FAU, Memphis, Tulane USF. Loss to ECU, Tulane
2023 - 2-4 Beat Boise State, Cincy. Loss to KSU, KU, Oklahoma, Texas Tech
Can’t blame Heupel. He won when here and winning at Tennessee. He’s been here long enough to need wins.How much is that on Malzahn and how much on Heupel's anemic recruiting classes?
I can forgive Gus for the earlier records, but he is on the clock starting this season. The Knights play at TCU, Florida, Iowa State, Arizona State, and West Virginia.
If Gus doesn't win one of those games, I will think about starting to doubt his ability to win on the road on the Big 12.
While true, he was one foot out the door and his recruiting the last two years show itCan’t blame Heupel. He won when here and winning at Tennessee. He’s been here long enough to need wins.
Better questions areWhile true, he was one foot out the door and his recruiting the last two years show it
I think DG stays. That’s the main reason I think he would have done better. His recruiting would have been light years better with B12 logo. Admittedly, Frost would have been better. There are better guys out there. Hoping Gus can turn it around this year.Better questions are
Would Hype-L have achieved the same levels of success Gus has enjoyed the last 3 years?
Would UCF recruiting still rank in the 60s-80s?
Would Dillion Gabriel have stayed or chased money?
I don't know. But I am happy things turned out the way they have.
I think Dillion would have stayed too. But Hype-L won only 6 games with a quarterback who was healthy for the entire 2020 season wire to wire.I think DG stays. That’s the main reason I think he would have done better.
Why?His recruiting would have been light years better with B12 logo.
Why?Admittedly, Frost would have been better. There are better guys out there.
I agree with this statement.Hoping Gus can turn it around this year.
The Big 12 recruiting statement was in comparison to AAC. Not necessarily compared to Gus. There’s no way to prove that.I think Dillion would have stayed too. But Hype-L won only 6 games with a quarterback who was healthy for the entire 2020 season wire to wire.
(I will discuss this more later.)
Why?
Gus Malzahn is known as a great recruiter. Hype-L is not known as a great recruiter. Why would the transition to the Big 12 all of the sudden make Hype-L a great recruiter? Not one single Hype-L prep recruit has been drafted.
Even if Gabriel had stayed the talent around him may have been so bad--and especially his defense, that his entire career may have unraveled. It wasn't until Gabriel left UCF and had better talent around him that he started piling up career wins.
Why?
Frost never had highly rated classes at UCF? He did "seem" to evaluate lower level and even unranked, unheard of guys who panned out. But he never had great recruiting classes. Even at Nebraska, Frost broke the top 20 in recruiting rankings only once and only a low percentage of those guys panned out.
Frost has one career winning season and is unemployed. To think, he would have better recruiting classes than Gus is absurd. Gus played for or has won conference championships in three different conferences. Scott and Hype-L have only won one conference championship apiece.
I agree with this statement.