The thing folks seems to be missing is that Grobe’s first five seasons weren’t great at all, especially after the first two. Closeness has surpassed that. He may never match year 6 though.
In year 1, Grobe went 6-5, beating ECU on road, App State at home. Losing by 1 possession to #11 Maryland, NC State, #24 Georgia Tech, and Clemson. Perhaps one of the most forgotten games, the 28-3 second half comeback against an 8-5 UNC team, was a highlight as well
In year 2, he won a bowl game against a good Oregon team.
Year three, we beat a very good Boston College team on the road, and Beat #14 NC State at home stacked with NFL players: Philip Rivers, Sean Locklear, Jerricho Cotchery, AJ Davis, Manny Lawson, Mario Williams among others. I believe we were in the top 25 after that start, before a 1 possession loss to pre season ranked Purdue, the Lobo shotgun call on 4th and 1 We were 5-4, headed in to a stretch playing a 3-8 UNC, .500 Maryland team, and a UCONN team playing their first or second year at division 1. That year didn't end well. Lots of close losses, save Dan Orlovsky smoking us.
Year 4, there were 2 OT losses on the road to Clemson and NC State. We also lost to #5 FSU at home 20-17. 6 of the 7 losses were by 7 points or less, the only blowout loss coming @ #12 Miami.
Year 5, We started Ben Mauk over 5th year senior Cory Randolph. Mauk started 1-3, before we made the switch. Randolph's first three games back, we beat #21 Clemson, Lost at #4 Florida State, but played them tough, and then blew a 9 point lead at BC and Matt Ryan's coming out with 2:00 left in the game. I think we beat Vandy and Maryland with Cory Randolph as starter and make a bowl that year if not for the decision to start Mauk.
It's a results business, and 1 bowl game and 2 winning seasons in 5 years on the surface isn't spectacular. But you could certainly see Grobe's teams giving better recruited, and ranked teams all they could handle down to the wire. A great couple of recruiting classes and the "fresh deacs" made 2006 possible. But I think it was built on some success and experience 2002-2005.