Decisions have consequences.
These are the things we knew would happen when you switch to something drastically different. If you didn't want to be bad for 5 years and potentially tank your program, you should have hired Jeff Monken and kept Nate Woody as defensive coordinator... he is now at Army with Jeff Monken.. Army currently is #4 in the nation in total defense, #3 in nation in turnovers gained, #9 in scoring defense, etc. Georgia Tech is #51. Does anyone really think Geoff Collins is a better football coach than Jeff Monken?
Head Coach: Jeff Monken
QB: Tobias Oliver
AB: Dontae Smith
AB: Tij Whatley
BB: Jordan Mason/Jerry Howard
WR: Jalen Camp
WR: Malachi Carter
WR: Adonicas Sanders
At worst, Georgia Tech is 2-1 right now with Monken depending on what happened against UCF (more on the schedule later). Could be 3-0 and ranked. Oliver would be in his 3rd year running the option, with who knows how many yards gained. The dude had 12 touchdowns as a backup QB, which led the team and was 4th in the ACC. He was born to run option. So GTech would have been settled at QB for 3 straight years of success.
That Syracuse team is terrible.... and that Florida State team totally sucks. It might be the worst Florida State team in history, and they barely won it.
Florida State is the easiest game on schedule.
Schedule coming up:
Louisville (loss)
Boston College (tossup)
#1 Clemson (loss)
#5 Notre Dame (loss)
#8 Miami (loss)
#23 Pittsburgh (loss)
Duke (win)
NC State (tossup)
2-3 wins max.
The recipe for success at Georgia Tech, and I have never waivered from this, isn't that difficult. You play in a BRUTAL conference. You can't do what everyone else is doing. Run the option, and schedule favorably.
Last year, if they had me as Athletic Director, here is what would have happened.
Jeff Monken takes the reigns from Paul Johnson. Nate Woody retained as defensive coordinator.
Game 1: UL Monroe.... win something like 55-3
Game 2: Middle Tennessee State.... win something like 55-3
Game 3: UAB.... win something like 63-10
Game 4: Georgia... get beat most likely
At this point you are 3-0... putting on a show, perfecting your timing, hitting your recruiting areas... leading the nation in rushing, rushing touchdowns, yards per rush, etc. Working on your passing game. Implementing the playbook, etc.
Then you go into your conference schedule.... Beat UNC, Pitt, Duke, Miami, NC State... Lose to Clemson, Georgia, VA Tech, and Virginia. Chances to beat VA Tech and Virginia. Only outclassed twice. Beat Virginia Tech 49-28 in 2018, 28-22 in 2017, 30-20 in 2016... Then lost to them 45-0 in Geoff Collins' first year.
Next season:
Game 1: Rice... win 60-0
Game 2: Charlotte... win 47-7
Game 3: Florida International... win 50-6
Rinse/wash/repeat
The Recipe
Play all non-conference games at home (except Georgia)
Schedule teams you will destroy. Each season you have 3 automatic wins to start the year
Play an insanely tough conference
In great years like 2014, you have a chance to do something special
In other years, you win 8 or 9 games and have a fun season
In really bad years, you win 5-7 games.
2011 is probably the best example of this strategy.... Played Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee, and Kansas to open the year.
Won 63-21, 49-21, and 66-24.
662 yards of offense against Western Carolina
596 yards of offense against Middle Tennessee State
768 yards of offense against Kansas
Finished 8-5 in an ok season. Got to #13 in country... Lost bowl game in overtime.
Fine season. Try to win those close games the next year.
How do I apply to be Athletic Director?