Michael Irvin is a great Cane and will forever be remembered as the soul of the teams he played with during his career. He had a spectacular career both in college and the pros. When we were down 19-3 against FSU, he beat Dion Sanders and changed that entire game. No receiver was as willing to do a 15 yard crossing pattern and yet he always evaded the big hit. He has my total and complete respect as a Cane fan.
Respectfully, I disagree with this opinion at THIS time. If you are a fourth year coach, you have established the culture or winning and have refined your formula for success. You have established an offensive and defensive philosophy, and, having the benefit of playing common opponents every year you should have enough on tape so as to game plan opponents. You also have to know and recognize your talent, including exceptional ones. You can say wefense all you want but if you have a Clowney, Rubin Carter, Duke, O J Anderson, Dorsett, Irvin and Walford type of player then you scheme to your strength.
We did a very, very poor job of utilizing our special players because, for these coaches, prefer players play down to their average ability to benefit the "team" concept rather than let these special players do their thing. We preferred to go all in with a true freshman quarterback and passing game rather than rely on at least 2 sure NFL linemen, an NFL tight end, a junior phenomenal running back, and one of the fastest players in college football as a wideout. Enormous talent and a 6-7 record. I won't cool my *** down and accept mediocrity. Michael Irvin shouldn't either, with all due respect to him.