Shiver me timbers....it's that time of year...

Call me crazy, but I'll just say this.

Holtz has moved this program forward in each of his successive seasons. Nice sized paces, not incremental steps....every year. He's got us aimed at a steep trajectory....topping what they did last year would raise some eyebrows. If there is an order to the universe, we're on the verge of a very special season.

From chumps to champs in four short seasons. They've been short, because Holtz made meaningful progress each year. The two years under that weak suck John Thompson....those, were long seasons. If not for Holtz, our program might still be mired in the unfortunate set of events conspiring along with Johnny's reign. Lame duck chancellor, no AD, Big East expansion with no Pirate voice, and all the while Thompson takes us on an uninspired 3-20 run. But I digress....

The last time I felt this enthusiastic about our chances going into a season was 2001. In 2000 we had gone 9-3, including some of the most heartfelt victories ever recorded in Pirate Nation. We capped the season with a beat down on Texas Tech in the La-Z-Boynaugahyde.com bowl. The 2001 preseason Autumn air included chatter on ESPN, we were opening with Wake Forrest, David Garrard was under center, 9/11 had not yet changed our world, and life was good. Of course that year didn't end with a trip to the Rose Bowl. But, it was our last season that included a bowl game prior to the Holtz era (Albeit a bowl loss in an incomprehensible manner). Ironically, it was that season that started us on the Holtz path.

Here's how I see it through my 2009 prism: The Pirates got a taste of the national spotlight last year. The young guys had to step up and learn how to deal with the media frenzy while also learning their new found starting roles. They stumbled, got roughed up, bent, but didn't break, fought hard, and continued to improve. They brought home a real nice Conference USA Championship trophy that was well and hard earned. This year should be special. We're playing a major league schedule, we got the talent to beat any team on the calendar, and we've caught lightning in a hell of a big bottle with Skip Holtz. So....Let's go BCS bowling....