Just some random stats that interested me.....
In 2008, CTT's total margin of loss was 76 points in 7 losses with half a season without an OC. Chizik's margin of loss for 5 losses was 61 points.
In 2008, CTT's total margin of win was 68 points in 5 wins. Chizik's margin of win is 123 in 7 wins. Both squads won only 1 road game.
Wins/Losses versus same opponents in 2008 and 2009 with rankings of opponents when AU played them, and end of the regular season record:
MSU
2008: W 3-2 (4-8)
2009: W 49-24 (5-7)
LSU
2008: L 26-21 (#6) (7-5)
2009: L 31-10 (#9) (9-3)
UT
2008: W 14-12 (5-7)
2009: W 26-22 (7-5)
Arkansas
2008: L 25-22 (5-7)
2009: L 44-23 (7-5)
UWV
2008: L 34-17 (8-4)
2009: W 41-30 (8-3)
Ole Miss
2008: L 17-7 (8-4)
2009: W 33-20 (#25) (8-4)
UGA
2008: L 17-13 (#10) (10-3)
2009: L 31-24 (7-5)
UA
2008: L 36-0 (#1) (12-0)
2009: L 26-21 (#2) (12-0)
The difference in the two years? AU was able to beat a WVU squad that was sans Pat White, and an Ole Miss squad that got its ass handed to it by a 4-7 MSU team. Now, I'm not so sure you can sit here and draw direct lines from year to year. Dynamics of teams change from year to year. Football as a whole changes from year to year. CTT didn't have an OC for half a year, and Chizik has had one all season. CTT had been at AU for 10 years, and this was Chizik's first year. However, 2008 was the worst year for CTT. I suppose use your brain on all of that.