But I'm talking once every five years over the long term being able to reasonably be in the conversation for a playoff bid (that doesn't mean make it). I would even concede that that goal may be ambitious. But we have a few things working for us....

The schedule being harder gives us some potential leeway. It's not out of the question that we could go 11-1 and still have a shot going into the ACCCG (and as long as a win in that game would give us a real possibility to make it, I would count that as "reasonably in the conversation".. even if we are a significant underdog). In the old Big East, one loss anywhere and it was over... and would have been over even in the current system.

We also have better facilities than we did before. We have more resources overall.

But in general, I'm taking a long term view here. I'm not saying we should compete EVERY fourth or fifth season. I'm saying that looking back at a much longer period of time (20-25 years) if we're generally getting into the conversation 20-25% of the time, we're meeting my (somewhat ambitious) goal. Over 25 years, that means competing 4 or 5 times. It would be absolutely amazing to make it once or twice.