transitional season from a "legend," I will probably end up judging this season more on other factors than just wins and losses.

The "Depends" Factors
1. Do the 3 team units (O, D, ST) show progression/regression/no change from the beginning of the season to the end of the season?
2. When did the losses occur?
3. Can the losses be explained because the offense and/or defense was missing a critical component (i.e. due to injury or solved with recruiting once VT completes its change in recruiting habits)?
4. Other factors that come up during the season.

Depending on the variables I could see myself being disappointed with an 8-4 record especially if any of those losses were "winnable." Likewise, if VT goes 0-12 then I could find myself to be very optimistic. Those 12 losses could give a barometer of just how many recruiting classes VT is away from having the kind of depth Fuente needs to run his system. Plus, if the team is bitten hard by the injury bug, then it may require everyone to take a mulligan on the season.

Personally, I am willing to give Fuente at least 2 seasons (maybe even 3) before I start to judge him more on the wins and losses. As much as it would be nice to see VT go undefeated and win the national championship in his first season, I am mentally prepared that this could be a long rebuilding project that may require gutting out the old (i.e. players' habits, players' mental aspects to practice/games, players that don't "fit" the system, etc).