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Transfer Hindsight

Mario’s rigidity and portal timing with the playoff run affected the roster for this season. He didn’t invest the resources to manage / accelerate portal acquisition overlapping with game prep and it showed. Many of us called it out during the postseason.
 
kyle_schick said:
What this is indicative of is the fact that Mario seems to want to "wean" the program off of using the portal.

I'm not optimistic about the programs future because of this.

For him to look at the roster he had that got him to the natty, and then imagine what he was going to have the next year, and to just be okay with it speaks volumes.

But we know that he realizes the team does have deficiencies. He got a starting QB and WRs. But no Center? No Guards? No LBs?

He's too proud and he's going to become Dabo.
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Mario wanting to do all you just said is a fact?
 
ColoradoCane2017 said:
Hindsight is always 20/20. 2026 defense is solid thus far, but has left the fan base wanting. Two guys from the portal who could have made an impact and I wish we had pursued in the portal are Cade Ululae and Koi Perich.

Returning Toure and Smith as veteran LBs, Marcelin and Wiley in the wings, it's no surprise the staff felt solid. That's understandable. But with Smith playing below the hoped-for level of competition and Marcelin out, Ululae would have been a nice get to compete for LB #2 and a potential starting role. Watched him in person in 2025 at Cal. Man was a menace.

Poyser and Fitzgerald make up one of the strongest safety duos in the country. And Dunnigan is playing great as a true freshman. That said, with corners down and having to slide Fitzgerald to corner, Koi would have been a top-tier player to fill the role and push Poyerser and Dunnigan for competition.

Defense wins championships. Stack these two, with Wilson at full potential (eventually) out at DE, and we have a three-level defense that kicks d***s in. What say you?

First-time poster, long-time cane.

JC
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Can they play LG??
 
kyle_schick said:
What this is indicative of is the fact that Mario seems to want to "wean" the program off of using the portal.

I'm not optimistic about the programs future because of this.

For him to look at the roster he had that got him to the natty, and then imagine what he was going to have the next year, and to just be okay with it speaks volumes.

But we know that he realizes the team does have deficiencies. He got a starting QB and WRs. But no Center? No Guards? No LBs?

He's too proud and he's going to become Dabo.
Click to expand...

Jacksonville Jaguars Wtf GIF
 
I find it mind boggling that some on CIS can look at the impact Mensah is having on this team and speculate that Mario is moving away from the portal. Or Barkate, Wilson, Marty Brown, Lucas, Toure, Bonner, Davis, Carter, Hawkes, Poyser, Thorton, Jacobs, O’Connor, our kickers … am I missing anyone?

Does that look like a HC who won’t go out and get talent when he sees it and thinks he needs it? LOL.
 
3rd-43 said:
Mario’s rigidity and portal timing with the playoff run affected the roster for this season. He didn’t invest the resources to manage / accelerate portal acquisition overlapping with game prep and it showed. Many of us called it out during the postseason.
Click to expand...
They’ll never admit it but this is exactly what happened. They didn’t want to rock the boat and have players checking out so they rightfully focused on winning the Championship.
 
Kinsler got an offer that he couldn’t refuse/ Miami was not over paying.

Same with Seaton. You can overpay & than have Money to sign all Your Running Backs/ And an All Time great Class.

Take your Lumps with Congdon, Cantwell , Joel Irvin, Wilkerson, Buchanon with time they will Mature to Pass Kinsler level.I’m Suprised Wilkerson Hasnt made more of an impact . Wanted to see what he can do at Guard.

Seaton wanted Cartoon money & Was not a Culture fit.
 
ColoradoCane2017 said:
Hindsight is always 20/20. 2026 defense is solid thus far, but has left the fan base wanting. Two guys from the portal who could have made an impact and I wish we had pursued in the portal are Cade Ululae and Koi Perich.

Returning Toure and Smith as veteran LBs, Marcelin and Wiley in the wings, it's no surprise the staff felt solid. That's understandable. But with Smith playing below the hoped-for level of competition and Marcelin out, Ululae would have been a nice get to compete for LB #2 and a potential starting role. Watched him in person in 2025 at Cal. Man was a menace.

Poyser and Fitzgerald make up one of the strongest safety duos in the country. And Dunnigan is playing great as a true freshman. That said, with corners down and having to slide Fitzgerald to corner, Koi would have been a top-tier player to fill the role and push Poyerser and Dunnigan for competition.

Defense wins championships. Stack these two, with Wilson at full potential (eventually) out at DE, and we have a three-level defense that kicks d***s in. What say you?

First-time poster, long-time cane.

JC
Click to expand...
Perich was an afraid of our DB competition. He didn’t see himself as a Nickel or competing with Poyser and Fitz!

Yes hindsight is 20-20. A LB, a TE, a starting OT (McCoy at G) or at least another IOL starter and we would have been talking perfect portal and also THE most expensive roster and all of CFB.
 
3rd-43 said:
Mario’s rigidity and portal timing with the playoff run affected the roster for this season. He didn’t invest the resources to manage / accelerate portal acquisition overlapping with game prep and it showed. Many of us called it out during the postseason.
Click to expand...
The injuries and OL development better not kill our championship hopes because we are pretty elite across the board except at TE and LB. Both showed progress against CMU but we need to see it against better competition Saturday.
 
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