We’ve only just passed the midway point of Jimmy Rodgers’ first season at the helm, with a mismatched roster composed of some of his players from South Dakota State, some holdovers from the Jake Dickert era, and some transfers from elsewhere. None of this says “easy situation,” and I think any rational fan came into the season with very little in the way of expectations.
This season has had its highs and lows. Giving up 118 points over two games did not inspire confidence early on, but the last two weeks—battling against some of the best teams in the country and staying in both games until the final minute—have shown tremendous improvement that can only be credited to good coaching.