Article: how long does it take to build a championship program?

Depends on the methodology by which you go about building said championship program.

If you're using the Bama/UGA method, then it'll take about 4-5 years of Elite top 5 recruiting.

If you're using the Clemson/Oh ST method, it will take around the same amount of time, but the key will replenishing at the QB spot & having primary coordinators who elevate the talent you have.

You're probably asking, "What's the difference?". Well Bama & UGA's success don't hinge on play callers per se, they have so much NFL talent they essentially win the majority of their games by simply overwhelming their opponents with their talent advantage. Neither team does anything spectacular in terms of X's & O's that set them apart from anyone, they really don't have to, they can afford to keep it simple because they know their 22 vs your 22 is always going to be in their favor.

While Oh ST & Clemson on the other hand along with having very good talent also beat you schematically. During their championship runs it was always highlighted & predicated on their exceptional QB play in conjunction with the overall Offense in general, yes they had good Defenses too, but the main catalyst during the titles (in the playoff era) has always mainly been the QB.

The LSU method is similar to theirs as well, but that was more of capturing lighting in a bottle, but the premise by which they got to their championship team was pretty much the same; they had a great QB, great WR's & RB & had a talented enough to Defense to hold down their fort while they outgunned most of their opponents.

I think it's pretty clear that Mario is going to have to do things the Clemson way, which is why I'm so disappointed with his Xs and Os, and so down on the UMs trajectory. The reason I say it has to be the Clemson/OSU way is that we saw how Oregon did with a good QB and how it did without one. Herbert was a generational talent (though it was hard to see at the time) and Cristobal managed to coach the Ducks to a 12 win season with this 'elite of the elite' QB. In the off season he lost 4 players to the draft and some to graduation. Biggest change was on OL which is his specialty, so it shouldn't have had too much effect. Of course the most important piece , Herbert, was gone.

And how did he do without this generational talent at QB? 4-3 with losses to some truly awful teams. Those inexplicable losses were covered up by the fact that Oregon lucked into the Pac 12 title game by virtue of UW being unable to play. Then he faced a USC squad whose HC was fired only two games later. If UW is healthy and gets the title shot instead of Oregon, then the national narrative is how in the world it's possible for the Ducks to have gone from 12-2 and the #5 ranking in 2019 to being one field goal away from .500 in 2020.

Cristobal HAS to have that elite QB in addition to a stacked roster and good Xs and Os. We have that top tier QB now, but his Xs and Os are so bad that we're now a sub .500 team.
 
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It’s a bit of a different era with the portal… you’d figure an elite recruiter with resources could cut the timeline…
 
Simple. The day we don’t hear “That’s what MT does to everyone” after we inexplicably give up 5+ long bomb tds.
 
If the playoff is expanded to 12 teams in 2024, then if Mario doesn’t have the Canes in the 12 member playoff group by 2025, he will have failed in my book. But I’m thinking he will pull it off.
 
I think it's pretty clear that Mario is going to have to do things the Clemson way, which is why I'm so disappointed with his Xs and Os, and so down on the UMs trajectory. The reason I say it has to be the Clemson/OSU way is that we saw how Oregon did with a good QB and how it did without one. Herbert was a generational talent (though it was hard to see at the time) and Cristobal managed to coach the Ducks to a 12 win season with this 'elite of the elite' QB. In the off season he lost 4 players to the draft and some to graduation. Biggest change was on OL which is his specialty, so it shouldn't have had too much effect. Of course the most important piece , Herbert, was gone.

And how did he do without this generational talent at QB? 4-3 with losses to some truly awful teams. Those inexplicable losses were covered up by the fact that Oregon lucked into the Pac 12 title game by virtue of UW being unable to play. Then he faced a USC squad whose HC was fired only two games later. If UW is healthy and gets the title shot instead of Oregon, then the national narrative is how in the world it's possible for the Ducks to have gone from 12-2 and the #5 ranking in 2019 to being one field goal away from .500 in 2020.

Cristobal HAS to have that elite QB in addition to a stacked roster and good Xs and Os. We have that top tier QB now, but his Xs and Os are so bad that we're now a sub .500 team.
Fire Steele and win a natty. Just ask Dabo and Nick
 
O.L. If we somehow get Samson and develop whats here, and the 5* play as true freshman year. Mario's 3rd (2024) year we're good. I wish it were now, but 20 years of bad takes time to make right
 
8-4 this year old be wonderful. Not sure if that record means getting to the ACC championship but regardless, I would be very happy with that kind of trajectory year one.

Top that off with a bowl win for 9 wins and there you go.

Now if you finish the year 9-3, then I am pretty sure we are in the ACC championship game, it obviously means we went undefeated the rest of the way and beat Clemson. Wow, a brother can dream.
 
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U didn’t need this article; I’ve been saying the same chit fighting w/ the anti Mario crowd. Too much established, tangible evidence to speak to these facts, but this fan base loves microwave results. There’s some anomalies throughout history, too, but the OVERWHELMING history shows yr 1 of a coach at a program that was dog chit b4 struggle yr 1, & makes a leap yr 2.
 
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8-4 this year old be wonderful. Not sure if that record means getting to the ACC championship but regardless, I would be very happy with that kind of trajectory year one.

Top that off with a bowl win for 9 wins and there you go.

Now if you finish the year 9-3, then I am pretty sure we are in the ACC championship game, it obviously means we went undefeated the rest of the way and beat Clemson. Wow, a brother can dream.
8-4 get us the division imo.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Coastal champ goes 5-3, like the good ol’ days.
We have a “good“ defense that makes critical mistakes. We held UNC to 6 points in the second half. Their QB is good, but as you saw, as a first year starter he is prone to mistakes.
Right now though, I don’t see 8-4.

7-5/6-6 is the direction we’re pointed in at this time.
That means a bowl we better **** well win.

9-3?
Maybe, just maybe then, the MTSU loss will be stricken from CIS in perpetuity.
Yeah…I can dream too.
 
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This site is hilarious. Thank you.
 
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