re: How much does a win against Miami change attitudes here?

Just like this season I take every game, hire, move, presser, and signing period as a 'milestone' that tips the scales.

Right now a win against Miami has Orgeron firmly in the 'bought time' balance position. With the caveat that the hires on the offensive side of the ball have to show up. A win, no matter the differential, with an impressive offense is pretty much required.

Because in this scale balance, 3 hires have to work out- Ensminger, Sullivan, and Cregg. Sullivan and Cregg are the position coaches for the two squads that need the most work to go with CSE in his new OC position.

At the beginning of last year both the OL and WRs started the season unprepared. Mistake filled and poor attention to detail. The OL had somewhat of an excuse, but it is what it is. That's why there's spring and summer camps.

If the players for those two groups don't come out and perform AND look prepared in the grand scheme AND Ensminger doesn't have a productive scheme then it's a double-whammy: Bad hires and bad game.

It won't go down this way, but that double whammy would tip the scales too far by a hair in my book. I think Orgeron has this full season no matter what (unless Alleva is fired AND we have an implosion, would take both).