I think most people know that there will be ups and downs, but they were surprised by the unexpected ending to 2012, and 2013. I similarly think most recognize that 2014 is likely a rebuilding year, but if 2015-2016 aren't better, there will be more than a fringe minority asking that question.  Since I think 2014 will show a renewed attitude, and 2015-2016 will be very good years, I think that the author of that piece will remain in a minority.

I do have to admit that I find myself asking if he'd be happier with PJ Fleck, though.

1965:  I was cruising around South America with the US Navy and teaching SA navies ASW techniques.  As a result I couldn't do my weekly phone consultation with Coach Hess.  So blame me! 
1977:  I think we had like 10 starters and/or key players go down in the Marshall game, which we ironically won, and then it was down hill from there.  I believe Coach Hess said it was the worst injury situation of his career. Also, Hess died during the off-season; as far as I know, though, his coaching was not affected by his illness during the season.  

Edit: Hess died of metastatic testicular cancer, if I'm recalling correctly. 

I still think we'll yet see your breakout Casper. I know you always complain about the lack of 3-star recruits, and while I don't think the "stars" are as accurate as you do, I understand what you mean. In general, better players mean a better team, and you can only get so far with unknown players. I personally think that stars are accurate at the high end (3 stars, and especially 4-5 star players), but at the 2-star level they aren't worth much. I think at the lower levels, the better indicator is how many other offers a player had. Here's a historical track record of Freshmen Recruits that shows the average numbers of other offers the incoming players have had from FBS schools:

    Avg Offers   #Freshmn     Impact Years  
2005 -  .10         25         2008-2009  
2006 -  .82         17         2009-2010
2007 -  .72         20         2010-2011
2008 - 2.00         15         2011-2012
2009 - 1.18         17         2012-2013
2010 -  .92         13         2013-2014
2011 - 2.50         22         2014-2015
2012 - 2.64         14         2015-2016
2013 - 2.33         18         2016-2017
2014 - 2.36         22         2017-2018 

The "impact years" are the years when the classes were/will be fourth and fifth year players.

Early on, under Solich, Ohio was basically recruiting players that had few if any other offers from FBS schools. Sometimes they were able to find hidden and overlooked talent, people like Carrie and Brazill, that had no other offers, but sometimes they ended up with players that didn't work out.

Once Ohio proved they could win, the recruits started getting better in 2008-2009, but then 2010 was an off year. Sure enough, the "impact yeas" of the 2008-2009 classes, 2011-2012, I think most of us would agree the teams were better in terms of talent than the ones that preceded them. Even though the 2012 season wasn't as good as hoped, I think most of us believe they had the talent to have done better had they not had so many injuries.

Next came a dip in talent in 2010, which was a small class to begin with. Worse, most of those are gone from the program, and only Carpenter, Cochran, Kristoff, and Ingol remain from that group. You'd expect a dip in overall team quality in 2013-2014 to match the dip in recruiting in 2010, and I think we've seen that.

Then comes a second spike in the talent level of recruits in 2011 and it has continued into the years following. I expect that the teams of the next few years will reflect that.  I think 2014 will be a rebuilding year, but 2015 and beyond we'll be looking at the best Bobcat teams we have yet seen under Solich.

I think the future looks bright, and I think it's a great time to be a Bobcat fan.

Ummmm, why is a "delete pending"?

But by all means Monroe, keep attacking people's character and then get your undies in a bunch if people do the same to you.  Or when people completely ignore your posts because they'd rather not "get into it" with you....only to have you claim nobody is as smart as you because nobody supplies answers to your questions.

One example to underscore how hard the injury bug struck in 1965, my friend and classmate John Edwards at one time or other that season played DB, WR and QB.

Despite several very disappointing losses the past two years, 17 wins is very impressive when you consider that is exact same number of wins we had under Cleve and Coach Lichtenberg for 10 years (1985-1994).

In terms of a strength coach, I think Ethan Reeve was the first fulltime strength coach we had when he came here with Jim Grobe in 1995.

About ten years ago my neighbor who graduated from Wake Forest went with me to hear Grobe speak here in Richmond.  Grobe was talking about his first year in Athens when he overheard a player complaining about the strength program Reeve was implementing prior to his first season.  Grobe said he went over and put his arm around the player and said, "Son, we managed to go 0-11 with you on the team last year and I am sure we can do just as well this year without you".

That sounds like Grobe.  Once when he knew I was going to be in Athens guest lecturing, he invited me to join him to watch practice.  As I was entering Peden, I saw one player jogging the field's perimeter.  I walked to Grobe, shook hands and asked, "What's with him?"

Grobe paused before answering, waiting till the player was within earshot and then said laconically, "He used a word he shouldn't have."

The player grinned sheepishly and continued his penalty laps.