I have seen this a lot so I am not just singling you out but my question is why? What makes everyone think this staff has the elements or the it factor to make this team good? If you want to just say you're optimistic that's fine, I can understand that. I do agree that I think we some talent that was not utilized the best of the ability the past few years, I also think that the last staff lost this team half way through the season. I think they did not have a QB, which Cheeks is a Skrosky recruit who from what I heard early on, new staff didn't even want but I digress.
I hope you are right on all the statements you're making. I agree I am glad Skrosky is gone. I think he did a lot more than the staff before him with recruiting and that but he still didn't win games. This first game means little to me, a couple pretty good nonconference games after that... but let's see what we do in the CAA. That's when I can really say this staff might have something or not.
OK, I'm optimistic, I certainly don't
know. But, again, this is what I
think. Remember, you asked, so here goes.
1. Cignetti has an outstanding coaching pedigree. His father is in the college hall of fame. I'm sure he learned something from his dad. He coached under another hall of fame coach in Johnny Majors. His brother Frank is a QB coach for the NY Giants of the NFL. In addition he coached under Nick Saban. A stint which he unabashedly states is where he learned his style.
2. Experience. He coached the likes of Julio Jones, Mark Ingram and Philip Rivers. He recruited Russell Wilson to NCSU. He has successful head coaching from a top notch D2 team in IUP. 53-17 overall, 33-11 conference, 3 visits to the playoffs in 6 years.
3. Tony Trisciani, DC. Outstanding coach with a technical mind and experience coaching the top defense in the FCS.
4. Drew Folmar, OC. Built and coached the best offense Lehigh has had since Pete Lembo was there.
5. I have watched the coaches interact with the team on several occasions. They look and sound like football coaches. (hard t explain, but if you've ever played football, you know what I'm talking about). They pat the players on the back when they deserve it and really climb in their tree when it's needed. These guys are strict disciplinarians, which we've really never had since Elon has been in D1.
6. I have personally talked to Cignetti, Trisciani, Folmer, Haines, Hall, and Wroblewski about what they want to accomplish. Each of them was specific rather than pie in the sky like Swepson, and general BS like Skrosky.
7. Cignetti expects perfection. He's relentless about it. He's not a crowd pleaser like Lembo. He's not a yes man like Skrosky. He's not a dolt like Swepson. He's a dyed in the wool football coach. He knows how to get it done. Nothing fancy, just gritty.