The 2022 Schedule was just released, and though obviously we have more immediate concerns, it’s worth, maybe even demands, an (albeit brief) “look ahead”:
Six out of seven are home games to OPEN the season—and the eighth is the one in Jacksonville against UGA.
The first two, vs Utah then Kentucky, both at home, are tougher than normal to open the season (no time to start slow while we tune-up), but all in all, the overall schedule, taken as a whole presents a real opportunity, I think. ENTERING 2021 (in other words, even before this season) we were already, for various reasons and in many ways (and many quarters of fan and media following) aiming towards 2022 as perhaps our first, best chance at a full return to contention and prominence among the CFB elite. When you factor in the signs so far THIS year, the talent already here and likely on the way, further development at QB, and just about everywhere ELSE on the roster, in progress and likely to expand—well, when the time comes to turn our attention to it, “The future looks bright” INDEED!
But for NOW, I’M just beginning to accept and enjoy the idea that we MAY well be gathering ourselves for a run against the rest of the SEC, and hence the best of college football, right here and now during the balance of THIS SEASON’S scheduled competition—AND BEYOND, if we are fortunate enough to finally MAKE the CFB playoff THIS TIME.
So no doubt we’ll revisit this subject in detail and deeper examination come the end of THIS season—but for now, we turn our attention BACK to 2021’s schedule and prospective results, and hope we have little time or NEED to find ourselves focusing on “NEXT YEAR” for sometime—Hopefully AFTER accomplishing all we can in facing down whatever comes our way the REST of the way.
Six out of seven are home games to OPEN the season—and the eighth is the one in Jacksonville against UGA.
The first two, vs Utah then Kentucky, both at home, are tougher than normal to open the season (no time to start slow while we tune-up), but all in all, the overall schedule, taken as a whole presents a real opportunity, I think. ENTERING 2021 (in other words, even before this season) we were already, for various reasons and in many ways (and many quarters of fan and media following) aiming towards 2022 as perhaps our first, best chance at a full return to contention and prominence among the CFB elite. When you factor in the signs so far THIS year, the talent already here and likely on the way, further development at QB, and just about everywhere ELSE on the roster, in progress and likely to expand—well, when the time comes to turn our attention to it, “The future looks bright” INDEED!
But for NOW, I’M just beginning to accept and enjoy the idea that we MAY well be gathering ourselves for a run against the rest of the SEC, and hence the best of college football, right here and now during the balance of THIS SEASON’S scheduled competition—AND BEYOND, if we are fortunate enough to finally MAKE the CFB playoff THIS TIME.
So no doubt we’ll revisit this subject in detail and deeper examination come the end of THIS season—but for now, we turn our attention BACK to 2021’s schedule and prospective results, and hope we have little time or NEED to find ourselves focusing on “NEXT YEAR” for sometime—Hopefully AFTER accomplishing all we can in facing down whatever comes our way the REST of the way.