The Charlie Strong era is mercifully over

"Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Matthew 7:20

Well...it's over.

The Charlie Strong era can best be summed up by the fact that, in a year where they saw the second best single season rushing performance in program history, the team only managed to win five games.  It seems impossible for those two facts to exist side-by-side.  Nevertheless, that's where we are.

As to yesterday's game, it was the same mix of bad penalties, terrible special teams play, and bizarre play calling that have unfortunately marked the past three years.  5 trips inside the red zone only produced 9 points.  That Shane Buchele threw a pick on the final play of the season encapsulates everything.

On the other hand, D'Onta Foreman did become only the second running back in program history to rush for over 2000 yards.  For as much as the team struggled this season, Foreman's individual performance was a sight to behold.  The play that put him over 2000:

But Foreman's performance was merely a silver lining in what was otherwise a listless and uninspired performance from a team following a coach whose body language throughout the game indicated the degree to which he had become resigned to the status quo:

Bottom Line: Tom Herman, at least on paper, appears to be walking into a pretty good situation.  He simply needs to take the flashes of brilliance and have them execute more consistently.  Time will tell, but sports is cyclical.