Honestly – – take the 1-point losses and turn them into wins, and given those two opponents, this is probably my favorite season save only 84 and 96.

We were that close to special this year.

There have certainly been more exciting teams, particularly on offense. But given Kalani's supreme likability, some cultural shifts in the program, the schedule we played, etc., and I'd probably place these guys as my third-favorite squad in my years of following the Cougars.

Those two points make a tremendous difference in our success.

As is, I give them a solid but unspectacular year if we finish with a bowl win. It would be a quite-respectable debut for our very-green coaching staff.