Por (JOEbull) on August 11, 2010 (Suggest removal)

I say we most likely lose two back-to-back games. WVU/Cincinnati and then Pitt/Miami. Other than those, we avoid a definitive “slump”.  However, Scott, has anyone on Holtz’s staff addressed the possible reasons as to why we always hit that mid-season swoon the last three years?

Por (Brian) on August 11, 2010 (Suggest removal)

Yes.

Reason 1, new approach:  As we have learned over the past week when players were shocked by 5 min. water breaks, crazy Jim ran this place like a gulag. . . . to include halftime beatdowns for missed blocks.  This team will be be more relaxed for the stretch run.  Additionally, Skip preaches the radical notion hydration, Crazy Jim thought a foamy bottle of Nesquik was the way to cap off a practice.

Reason 2, new scheme:  Teams that commit to the run are likely to improve as the season goes on. . . . and Skip seems to be leaning that way.

Reason 3, the schedule:  We finally get to end the season a home since the ACC its calamity of a championship game to Charlotte.

Por (Scott Carter) on August 12, 2010 (Suggest removal)

JOEBull: I know when Holtz took over that was something the staff did take a look at—what caused the second-half slumps…I think that’s why you are seeing breaks during practices, minimal two-a-days during camp, a total new approach in setting pace to camp and practice during the season.

They see this as a way to keep the team fresher for a longer portion of the season. Holtz has said several times he doesn’t want to beat the team up physically before they play a game.

Por (Ken) on August 12, 2010 (Suggest removal)

What has mostly caused the so-called “second half slumps” is the difference in quality between the teams we play in the first portion and second portion of the seasons. The average quality of the teams has been considerably higher in the second half, so, of course, we’ve lost more of those games. Typically, we’ve had 1 or 2 good teams in the first 6 games, and 4 or 5 pretty good teams in the second 6.  That’s true again this year, so I predict our first half record will be quite a bit better than our second half record.

Por (dave97) on August 12, 2010 (Suggest removal)

What Ken says is true, we typically play fewer good teams in the first five games. And for the most part the good teams that we do play we have not played before. I think they tend to under estimate just how fast we are and how hard we play. As far as the second have slump goes I blame the coaching more than anything else. In my oppinion we’ve lost numerous games that we should have won because of the play calling. Rather than playing our game they got conservative trying to protect a small lead.  Against a good team that is just asking for it.

Por (Dan Alatorre) on August 12, 2010 (Suggest removal)

Ken nailed it dead on - as I have also pointed out many times in the past. We scheduled cupcakes to start he season, and when the cupcakes ran out, the losses started. But I also viewed it as a kind of marketing genius, wherein we’d receive national headlines for the great start, and that probably helped with recruiting. I didn’t like it, but I understood. I hope it changes; I didn’t like all the “mid season meltdown” and “pretenders” talk. Can we play well all the time, and eliminaite cupcakes? We’ll see. Holtz already commented along those lines, so it may not change for a while. He sees value in some of it.

Por (KoozeeKingdom) on August 15, 2010 (Suggest removal)

Dan is right about the marketing genius.  Scheduling the cupcakes was a necessary act to allow USF to pile up wins heading into conference play.  I think USF is known enough now to discontinue that practice in upcoming schedules.  The slide will continue this year, although I think USF will lose more than they win, so hard to really call it a second half slide.  USF is one or two key injuries away from a REALLY rough season I think.  As I’ve said before, I think it’ll be 4-8 or 5-7 this time around.