It was a year or repeats & firsts. Let's start with the garbage (repeats) first. I've always been a "rip the band aide off quick" kind of guy, so here goes. Let's address the tiny, yet obvious red dot right dead center of the white wall: The way we finished the last two games was horrible. I'm not a speculation type of guy, so I'll leave it to the guys that do it. But in all honesty we played poorly on offense in very critical points off both game and the safety position (in the UM game) & LB position (GT game) really killed us. It's been beat to death, I'm not kicking this poor thing anymore.

Repeats: We let the Bama game cost us more than the 1 game in Tuscaloosa. Have you guys ever seen how an avalanche starts? It doesn't start with something huge, it starts with something unassuming & small. I've always dubbed it, the misplaced snow flake effect. Because that's what happens in avalanches from time to time. A single snow flake falls at just the right time, in JUST the right spot. I feel like our mental resolve was shaken after the Bama game & they never got it back. Earlier on after the Egg Bowl there was a question that was asked on here: would you go 9-10 wins a year but lose the EB? A lot of you guys said yes (for various reasons) and that's your opinion. But in all honesty every time CDM loses the EB he's lost the bowl game too. That says something whether you choose to believe it or not. Just something to keep your eye on.

Repeats: lose the EB lose the BOWL game too.

Repeats: CDM needs to learn to either lead every game going into halftime OR he needs to learn to make IN GAME ADJUSTMENTS. I once worked with a HC that was as stubborn and hard headed as they come. He was also the OC and a lot of times got our defense in terrible positions simply because he didn't make in game adjustments. When teams dropped 7 into coverage he'd keep throwing the ball despite our best advice to run the ball. This is going to be a reoccurring theme unless somebody gets in CDMs ear.

Repeats: we peaked too early TOO fast. I was hoping the upgrade in the QB position would help stabilize our offense (via the run) & the emergence of JRob. But it didn't. Something to watch for you guys this year upcoming: when the defense is pretty salty and shows blitz, what happens? Well right now we'll check to a running play to the opposite side (very predictable!) as we did Vs GT with the blown up speed option that caused a TO. They KNEW what we were going to do, and ate our lunch! If Dak is going to be a Heisman candidate and a possible next level QB he'll have to be TRUSTED to check to a simple quick hit pass play or be able to actually read the gap assignments of his OL & know where to escape. Right now, he can't do either. This is a BIG problem! If I can see this, I know guys that get paid well can see it from press boxes & film study. I love Dak but he's gotta work in this if we are seriously going anywhere beyond this year.

Repeats: Another one bites the dust. Being a DC is such a thankless job sometimes. But this whole thing with 5 DCs in 6 years is starting to be an issue. At some point someone who doles out the money needs to talk to Scott & CDM. No respectable DC is going to make the trek to Starkville if this continues. I've seen CDM in conferences, 7 on 7 tourneys & clinics. He's a good coach but he didn't invent the wheel or the wheel route. Time to check the ego!

Firsts: 10 reg season wins is HUGE! Never done before, can it be repeated next year?

Firsts: an early exit by a RB that really only played a lot in how many games? Look, the decision is up to Josh for sure. But go back and look he didn't play well once people figured him out. He needed another year, but it's his career. I wish the best for him & his fam.

Firsts: record breaking year for Dak with a slew of records broken.

Firsts: first orange bowl since 41'. But it ended bittersweet.

Firsts: first time for a coach to bail like this.

Closing the door, it was a banner year for us. It didn't end the way we'd have liked for it to, but let's look forward not backwards. Time to get the guys hired & in the offices to get the plan in place to make 15' better than 14'. I honestly feel like it will be better because it will end better next year.