I'm going to assume we strike out on so called tier 1 top candidates like Peterson/Patterson/Harbaugh and we end up with a Sumlin/Golden/Hoke/Mullen type.
IMO The honeymoon starts at the hiring conference and can be as short as a few weeks or as long as 2-3 years. It will be shortened/extended by several things.
-Hire any "name coordinators"
-Steal any top recruits, fill out a quality class with solid recruits
-If you can't get the recruiting going right away, you sign some local kids to fill out the class.
-Hit the media hard, interview well, spread goodwill and cheer with rock solid and sober analysis.
-Excite a bit at the spring game, simply designating Gray as the starting QB will do wonders. No overdoing the vanilla stuff.
As far as the season goes,
-You better try to blow the F out of NDSU, I'm talking 70-0 if possible. Cue Bison troll, the fact is this fanbase cannot take another FCS nailbiter or loss.
-You should be expected to win against Miami-OH and New Mexico St., two really bad teams. -Blowouts would bring more goodwill and cheer.
-After the NC season, assuming you didn't upset USC(not likely, but who knows)
I think the Big Ten record needs to include 1 upset and some surprisingly close games against big time programs.
-The rivalry games better be good showings, a win and your sitting pretty.
-Go for 3 against fatneck drunken sconnie coach and you are our hero forever.
-Bring in some impact recruits and if you've done the majority of these things you will on a path for rallying the fanbase around you in year 2.
IMO The honeymoon starts at the hiring conference and can be as short as a few weeks or as long as 2-3 years. It will be shortened/extended by several things.
-Hire any "name coordinators"
-Steal any top recruits, fill out a quality class with solid recruits
-If you can't get the recruiting going right away, you sign some local kids to fill out the class.
-Hit the media hard, interview well, spread goodwill and cheer with rock solid and sober analysis.
-Excite a bit at the spring game, simply designating Gray as the starting QB will do wonders. No overdoing the vanilla stuff.
As far as the season goes,
-You better try to blow the F out of NDSU, I'm talking 70-0 if possible. Cue Bison troll, the fact is this fanbase cannot take another FCS nailbiter or loss.
-You should be expected to win against Miami-OH and New Mexico St., two really bad teams. -Blowouts would bring more goodwill and cheer.
-After the NC season, assuming you didn't upset USC(not likely, but who knows)
I think the Big Ten record needs to include 1 upset and some surprisingly close games against big time programs.
-The rivalry games better be good showings, a win and your sitting pretty.
-Go for 3 against fatneck drunken sconnie coach and you are our hero forever.
-Bring in some impact recruits and if you've done the majority of these things you will on a path for rallying the fanbase around you in year 2.