Grateful this godforsaken season has ended

[George S. Patton]

This was probably the most anticipated season that resulted in arguably the most dysfunctional.

Players were never properly used. Play calling remained suspect. Defensive effort and execution was optional at best. Game management was beyond mysterious.

And yet it is fitting it closes at 1-11 despite what happened on a gray day Saturday in Memphis. 3 games lost in overtime. Two others lost in the final minute of the fourth quarter. What can you say. We've seen more than we've needed to when it came to finding a way.

We made a lot of plays. But we didn't make the plays we needed to decide games. That's what losing programs do and have 1-11 seasons.

The culture and infrastructure all must change in order for this program to ever consider itself legit.

Matters are now coupled with a coaching search that appears to have more questions than answers attached to it.

I wish Phil Bennett well. I trust he will return to coaching in some capacity next year. I wish Steve Orsini well in his search and will back whoever leads the program because I'm an alum and that's what I do!

I've waited since 1989 and will wait some more because I want us to some day make it.

See you at Ford Stadium in 2008!

[ponyfan84]

I am glad it's finally over too. I remember being so excited for the season too begin. All the hype this summer and the promises that never came true. Great post. What a shame the way the season ended. I knew with our schedule it'd be difficult but still, I assumed we'd be 6-6 or something. And we could have finished around that. Here's to hoping the next coach does something special.

[mustangxc]

The 2000 season was just as disappointing. New turf new team. Big win over Kansas to open the season, new stadium, the hope of good things based on a great finish to the 1999 season. May have gone bowling if we had beaten TCU in 1999 (would have had to play and beaten SJSU). How Cavan was allowed to come back in 2001 after that 2000 debacle is beyond me. There was a clear pattern. Thankfully he reversed it in 2001. Unfortunately Bennett didn't realize the pattern was over and thought it was up to him to go continue it in 2003.

1997 6
1998 5
1999 4
2000 3
2001
2002
2003 0