Jim Knowles sounds optimistic about his first season at Ohio State. Did he sound similarly confident before Oklahoma State had a rebuilding year?
But improvement wouldn't be immediate. In Knowles' first season, Oklahoma State fell to 97th in scoring defense, allowing 32.5 points per game. The team's Big 12 record reversed from 6-3 to 3-6.
So how did what Knowles said about the Cowboys before that rebuilding season compare to his confident comments this week regarding“They will go into the first game knowing everything they need to know for that game,” said Knowles."Will it continue to grow and move forward as the season progresses? Absolutely.”"The players are very open to learning, and they want to be great," he said last month."That part of it has been exciting, and we've been able to get a lot in.
He even seemed to admit that while his goals were high –"We don't want to give up anything." – there would be some growing pains during his first season with the Cowboys.He seems comparatively pleased in Columbus.“We've put them through the crucible. We go against the nation's best offense every day. We've pushed and prodded and poked and tried to stretch them as far as they can go, so wherever they're at right now, it's 100%.
Oklahoma State may have given up more points in his first year, but by the time Knowles departed, it had improved to ninth nationally in that category. He seems to believe improvement will come even quicker in Columbus, where the Buckeyes were No. 38 a year ago. Ohio State will learn if that's the case starting with the team's season opener Saturday against Notre Dame.
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