There’s something about the first year under a new coach that can make every sin forgivable, every bad game explained away. Much as they say about Opening Day in baseball season, hope springs eternal. There are exceptions, of course: I can’t imagine that Arkansas State fans are feeling all that hopeful with Butch Jones off to a 1-5 start in his first year. And that new coach smell can go away pretty quickly, too; just look at second-year Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz, who just saw his team give up 62 points to Tennessee.
Still, there’s something about having a first-year head coach that often makes you focus on the positives.