Well, I just watched Mullens' presser--and there's a whole bunch there I have reactions to--but I'm probably gonna limit all that: It's already "mid-week" and it would be time to turn our attention to "the next game" in any event, and in this case I think we all agree it is best to "Move on." in any event.
I do want to say once again how much I appreciate our Head Coach's general demeaner at these affairs--calm, balanced, even-tempered, good natured, informative and forward-looking. Given the opportunity, he addresses all concerns in a forthright manner. All in all, he managed here not only to answer the questions themselves, but seemingly "read" the general disquiet behind them among all of us "out here", and anticipate what really worries us.
So, along with the details of injuries, quitters and/or other ongoing "non-appearance" issues--and yes, there'll be some more missing pieces (especially in the defensive secondary, mostly due to injuries) and "returns" (notably Reese, almost surely, MAYBE Jefferson, and a few others)--the net effect seeming to be some brain-storming on bringing over some guys from the offense to help out in that depleted defensive secondary (still "on the drawing boards", remaining to be seen its promise in practice at the time of this presser, anyway)... Some revealing and (to me) encouraging discussion by the Coach of what he expects in the way of effort, attitude and PROGRESS from his players, as young men imdividually AND AS A TEAM in these practices, game by game, throuvhout the week and THE SEASON...
From my P.O.V., he said all the things I figured was and NEEDED to be the case as we began and evolved throughout this season. He talked a lot about "changing the culture" of our team and program, expressed it firmly, clearly and in hopeful yet realistic manner.
In fact, Coach Dan expressed much of both the attitude and content of much of what we ourselves have been thinking and discussing here, interestingly enough. In fact, we can take some comfort in everything we're seeing and hearing in this regard: Unless he is completely BS'ing us and everyone else about himself (something we had to accept and get used to in the course of the last SEVERAL regimes--not just to explain breakdowns and failures under the last two, but to "cover over" potential questions arrising regarding "successes" as we got deeper into the Meyer era)--his attitude, approach and ongoing plans, we can relax, take and trust the long view: Our program and future are in good hands--the RIGHT hands.
There was more, of course, but a lot of it was of about the game past, and as I say, I am sensitive to the feeling that it is time to look ahead at what is coming, rather than dwell much more on what is past.
There was one more thing he touched on, discussed briefly in reaction to a question from the media guys, and that was concerning "that supposed missed field goal in the 4th qtr". Coach DIDN'T jump all over and INTO discussion of how it profoundly affected the 4th qtr situation, and hence how the late game played out (though in wider context all that WAS referred to with repect to some other issues he noted, incidentally having to do with how he wants his players to approach the next practice week AFTER a game, win or loss, in exactly the same way--so even if "breaks" had somehow led to a victory, according to our Coach "...the only difference should be that maybe we have smiles on our faces coming in on Monday, the effort, attitude and progress day by day should be just the same..." Right ON!!! THAT'S part of what he is working towards in rebuilding this team and program)...And incidentally, they've submitted whatever "official queries" are required in order to have that play and call closely looked at, its details examined, a review of its accuracy and fairness eventually supplied by the NCAA rules committee...They can't change the score, even less "fix" the damage of its effect, obviously--but such "reviews" have been cumulatively known to lead to eventual rule changes (like maybe, in this case5 using advancing technology to place "pencil-cameras" with little lasers mounted beside them on the uprights pointing straight up, eliminating "OPINION", and/or flawed-positioning, and/or poor eyesite from the potential impediments to getting the call right)... OR even less likely it seems, some comment on (even better, some recommendation as to action that might be taken) regarding the whole question of why this official saw fit, then and there and in that situation to take the HUGELY rare step of choosing to make ANY such call in that particular moment and situation, consideted possibly deciding an SEC game on a questionable hairline judgement call that is almost NEVER called (having searched elsewhere following up on this ongoing investigation, I can tell you that the official in question is apparently claiming that though video has him still "backing up" as the ball sails over the uprights, he says he was "in position" by the crucial instant (though he couldn't possibly, then or now, KNOW that for certain), AND that his ruling on a tumbling ball took into account the place an imaginary line straight up from the pylon supposedly intersected the ball--supposedly in such a way that more of the ball was OUTSIDE that "invisible line" than inside of it at that instant--"though that WASN'T necessarily so" an instant later, as the ball sailed on--Ridiculous, I say...a call that close shouldn't have been made in first place, and so far all subsequent reviews have run from "impossible to tell for sure with slo-mo freeze frames, etc", to "Hey, dumbass, you got it WRONG"...Of course, I've also heard "How much they PAY you?", but I'm not going there).
For our Coach's part, he notes our "inquiry"/request for ruling and clarification, and "is satisfied that due to previous experience with them I have confidence that The Committee does its job, and does it well, with speed, frankness and accuracy..."
Bottomline: What's done is done, game is lost, streak over and this part somewhat buried by subsequent silliness and exagerated final score... MAIN point, from OUR points-of-view as I've tried to stress:
We take it, learn from it, and actually in the long term take SOME solace in wiping all the fluky aspects and outright SHADOWS of such "streaks" from our path and future history: We WANT "s clean slate" from here--and in one more way, we HAVE one.