3-0

[SWC75]

I thought I'd look at past seasons where Syracuse started out 3-0:

source: Syracuse Historical Scores

1890 We went 4-4 the rest of the way = 7-4
1901 + 4-2 = 7-2
1902 + 3-2-1 = 6-2-1
1903 + 2-4 = 5-4
1905 + 5-3 = 8-3
1913 + 3-4 = 6-4
1916 + 2-4 = 5-4
1918 + 2-1 = 5-1
1919 + 5-3 = 8-3
1920 + 3-2-1 = 6-2-1
1921 + 4-2 = 7-2
1922 + 3-1-2 = 6-1-2
1923 + 5-1 = 8-1
1924 + 5-2-1 = 8-2-1
1925 + 5-1-1 = 8-1-1
1926 + 4-2-1 = 7-2-1
1927 + 2-3-2 = 5-3-2
1928 + 1-4-1 = 4-4-1
1930 + 2-2-2 = 5-2-2
1931 + 4-1-1 = 7-1-1
1933 + 1-4 = 4-4
1934 + 3-2 = 6-2
1935 + 3-1-1 = 6-1-1
1937 + 2-2-1 = 5-2-1
1938 + 2-3 = 5-3
1942 + 3-3 = 6-3
1959 + 8-0 = 11-0
1960 + 4-2 = 7-2
1967 + 5-2 = 8-2
1975 + 3-5 = 6-5
1987 + 8-0-1 = 11-0-1
1991 + 7-2 = 10-2
2015 + 1-8 = 4-8
2018 + 7-3 = 10-3
2022 + ??? = ???

Prior to World War II, Syracuse, like a lot of schools, would open the season with 2-3 games against small colleges, (we are 15-0 vs. Clarkson, 10-3 vs. Hamilton - 1890-92 - 25-0 vs. Hobart and 11-0 vs. Niagara). The record after their first three games, which is when they started to play what was then known as 'big time' opposition, is their 'real' record. Since the war we've been 3-0 only nine times. The 1959 and 1987 teams, of course, ran the table. The 1960 team got to 5-0. 1991 and 2018 got to 4-0. 1967, 1975 and 2015 lost game 4. Scott Shafer's team, which started 3-0, then lost 8 games in a row is the only 3-0 SU team to have wound up with a losing record. If we can beat Virginia, we're a cinch to get to 5-0, since Wagner is probably the worst team we've played since those pre-war warm-up teams. That would put us up there with '59, '60 and '87. (In the pre-war era, 1902, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1931, 1934, 1935 and 1942 also made it to 5-0 with a leg up from those early teams.)

 

[djorange1989]

awesome, so under current bowl eligibility rules, every one of those SU teams would go bowling so to speak. except for Cigar Boy's swan song "We're 3-0!" team. that figures.

 

[FrancoPizza]

The Virginia game is enormous from a historical perspective but overlooked in all this is - we'd be guaranteed to be undefeated for another 3 weeks after that game. That's 3 weeks we could enjoy without the nerves that accompany game week/day. 3 weeks of increasing national exposure. Talk of trying to sell-out the Dome for NC St is a lot more interesting than discussing fifty shades of blue on Ticketmaster.

Friday night is huge. Let's play well. get out of this game without any more season-ending injuries. Let's get Tuck back on track.

 

[dwilmont44]

I saw a stat that we would be 2-0 in the ACC for the first time ever with a win tomorrow.

 

[JRHEETER]

This game has massive implications

We win, we are relevant on a national stage. We would be one of the only teams in the nation with 3 wins against P5 opponents.

We lose, everyone is going to say it’s the same old same old Syracuse football program.

Hopefully the fans bring it tomorrow, we’ve got a doozy!!

 

[djorange1989]

This game has massive implications

We win, we are relevant on a national stage. We would be one of the only teams in the nation with 3 wins against P5 opponents.

We lose, everyone is going to say it’s the same old same old Syracuse football program.

Hopefully the fans bring it tomorrow, we’ve got a doozy!!

frankly, it's similar to what we said about the Purdue game. let's get it done and in easier fashion this time, please! 5-0 is a big difference from 4-1, just 1 win from a bowl with a daunting(albeit not quite as daunting as we thought) schedule the last 7 games, 5-0 likely gets us ranked, etc etc. I think UVA will end up getting their offensive act together at some point, but catching them now and in a short week should help.

 

[All4SU]

I thought I'd look at past seasons where Syracuse started out 3-0:

source: Syracuse Historical Scores

1890 We went 4-4 the rest of the way = 7-4
1901 + 4-2 = 7-2
1902 + 3-2-1 = 6-2-1
1903 + 2-4 = 5-4
1905 + 5-3 = 8-3
1913 + 3-4 = 6-4
1916 + 2-4 = 5-4
1918 + 2-1 = 5-1
1919 + 5-3 = 8-3
1920 + 3-2-1 = 6-2-1
1921 + 4-2 = 7-2
1922 + 3-1-2 = 6-1-2
1923 + 5-1 = 8-1
1924 + 5-2-1 = 8-2-1
1925 + 5-1-1 = 8-1-1
1926 + 4-2-1 = 7-2-1
1927 + 2-3-2 = 5-3-2
1928 + 1-4-1 = 4-4-1
1930 + 2-2-2 = 5-2-2
1931 + 4-1-1 = 7-1-1
1933 + 1-4 = 4-4
1934 + 3-2 = 6-2
1935 + 3-1-1 = 6-1-1
1937 + 2-2-1 = 5-2-1
1938 + 2-3 = 5-3
1942 + 3-3 = 6-3
1959 + 8-0 = 11-0
1960 + 4-2 = 7-2
1967 + 5-2 = 8-2
1975 + 3-5 = 6-5
1987 + 8-0-1 = 11-0-1
1991 + 7-2 = 10-2
2015 + 1-8 = 4-8
2018 + 7-3 = 10-3
2022 + ??? = ???

Prior to World War II, Syracuse, like a lot of schools, would open the season with 2-3 games against small colleges, (we are 15-0 vs. Clarkson, 10-3 vs. Hamilton - 1890-92 - 25-0 vs. Hobart and 11-0 vs. Niagara). The record after their first three games, which is when they started to play what was then known as 'big time' opposition, is their 'real' record. Since the war we've been 3-0 only nine times. The 1959 and 1987 teams, of course, ran the table. The 1960 team got to 5-0. 1991 and 2018 got to 4-0. 1967, 1975 and 2015 lost game 4. Scott Shafer's team, which started 3-0, then lost 8 games in a row is the only 3-0 SU team to have wound up with a losing record. If we can beat Virginia, we're a cinch to get to 5-0, since Wagner is probably the worst team we've played since those pre-war warm-up teams. That would put us up there with '59, '60 and '87. (In the pre-war era, 1902, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1931, 1934, 1935 and 1942 also made it to 5-0 with a leg up from those early teams.)

So if my scanning skills are up to snuff, we’ve only had ONE losing season when starting out 3-0. Unfortunately that season was 2015.

 

[dasher]

I'm wondering how many times in the last 65 years we have been 5-0. That is on the table. Obviously we were in '59 and '87

 

[SWC75]

So if my scanning skills are up to snuff, we’ve only had ONE losing season when starting out 3-0. Unfortunately that season was 2015.

"Scott Shafer's team, which started 3-0, then lost 8 games in a row is the only 3-0 SU team to have wound up with a losing record."

 

[SWC75]

I'm wondering how many times in the last 65 years we have been 5-0. That is on the table. Obviously we were in '59 and '87

"The 1959 and 1987 teams, of course, ran the table. The 1960 team got to 5-0. 1991 and 2018 got to 4-0. 1967, 1975 and 2015 lost game 4."

 

[Dinkyspond]

awesome, so under current bowl eligibility rules, every one of those SU teams would go bowling so to speak. except for Cigar Boy's swan song "We're 3-0!" team. that figures.

Shafer's 3-0 was so soft. Didn’t it include a lucky OT win vs. Villanova and the missed extra point they called good vs. a directional Michigan team? And I think the 3rd was vs. Wake while Clawson started rebuilding.

 

[orangenauburn]

Shafer's 3-0 was so soft. Didn’t it include a lucky OT win vs. Villanova and the missed extra point they called good vs. a directional Michigan team? And I think the 3rd was vs. Wake while Clawson started rebuilding.

So the equivalent of a Rutgers 3-0 then?

 

[djorange1989]

Shafer's 3-0 was so soft. Didn’t it include a lucky OT win vs. Villanova and the missed extra point they called good vs. a directional Michigan team? And I think the 3rd was vs. Wake while Clawson started rebuilding.

No it was very soft, but the Villanova game was 2014 and we escaped against Central Michigan in OT, but there was no blown extra point call, that was Toledo in 2011. Either way, yes, way soft!

 

[djorange1989]

So the equivalent of a Rutgers 3-0 then?

When Ash was there it was a soft 0-3

 

[Dinkyspond]

No it was very soft, but the Villanova game was 2014 and we escaped against Central Michigan in OT, but there was no blown extra point call, that was Toledo in 2011. Either way, yes, way soft!

Thanks for clarifying. All the years run together for me especially the last 2 forgettable years of Shafer. That guy was in way over his head. He was an embarrassment for cursing out Swinney when they rightfully went for a TD way ahead near the end of a 1st half and Shafer said a lot of stupid things in press conferences.

 

[orangemass]

When Ash was there it was a soft 0-3

Soft ash in the morning no good

 

[SWC75]

Shafer's 3-0 was so soft. Didn’t it include a lucky OT win vs. Villanova and the missed extra point they called good vs. a directional Michigan team? And I think the 3rd was vs. Wake while Clawson started rebuilding.

No it was very soft, but the Villanova game was 2014 and we escaped against Central Michigan in OT, but there was no blown extra point call, that was Toledo in 2011. Either way, yes, way soft!

Thanks for clarifying. All the years run together for me especially the last 2 forgettable years of Shafer. That guy was in way over his head. He was an embarrassment for cursing out Swinney when they rightfully went for a TD way ahead near the end of a 1st half and Shafer said a lot of stupid things in press conferences.

From the link I provided:


2015-Syracuse (ACC)

9/4 vs. Rhode Island (non-IA) W 47 0
9/12 vs. *Wake Forest (3-9) W 30 17
9/19 vs. Central Michigan (7-6) W 30 27
9/26 vs. Louisiana State (9-3) L 24 34
10/10 @ South Florida (8-5) L 24 45
10/17 @ *Virginia (4-8) L 38 44
10/24 vs. *Pittsburgh (8-5) L 20 23
10/31 @ *Florida State (10-3) L 21 45
11/7 @ *Louisville (8-5) L 17 41
11/14 vs. *Clemson (14-1) L 27 37
11/21 @ *North Carolina State (7-6) L 29 42
11/28 vs. *Boston College (3-9) W 20 17

4-8-0 (327-372)

It was kind of a snake bit team. It was a weak 3-0 but 3-0 nonetheless. We gave both LSU and Clemson all they could handle, (I think Mahoney was our QB in both), lost to Virginia on a horrible "was his arm going forward?" call, lost by a field goal to Pitt and gave NC State a good battle. The Louisville game might have cost Shafer his job: he and his OC couldn't even agree on why they left Dungey in in a 10-41 game with seven minutes left and he got hurt and missed the rest of the year.

 

[Dinkyspond]

From the link I provided:


2015-Syracuse (ACC)

9/4 vs. Rhode Island (non-IA) W 47 0
9/12 vs. *Wake Forest (3-9) W 30 17
9/19 vs. Central Michigan (7-6) W 30 27
9/26 vs. Louisiana State (9-3) L 24 34
10/10 @ South Florida (8-5) L 24 45
10/17 @ *Virginia (4-8) L 38 44
10/24 vs. *Pittsburgh (8-5) L 20 23
10/31 @ *Florida State (10-3) L 21 45
11/7 @ *Louisville (8-5) L 17 41
11/14 vs. *Clemson (14-1) L 27 37
11/21 @ *North Carolina State (7-6) L 29 42
11/28 vs. *Boston College (3-9) W 20 17

4-8-0 (327-372)

It was kind of a snake bit team. It was a weak 3-0 but 3-0 nonetheless. We gave both LSU and Clemson all they could handle, (I think Mahoney was our QB in both), lost to Virginia on a horrible "was his arm going forward?" call, lost by a field goal to Pitt and gave NC State a good battle. The Louisville game might have cost Shafer his job: he and his OC couldn't even agree on why they left Dungey in in a 10-41 game with seven minutes left and he got hurt and missed the rest of the year.

The thing I remember about the close losses to LSU and Clemson was Shafer punting late in the game when we were within striking distance but needed the ball. If I remember correctly, many on the board believed Shafer was satisfied with keeping the final score respectable rather than winning the game. What a terrible hire as HC he was by Doc Hollywood.

 

[baggerbob]

From the link I provided:


2015-Syracuse (ACC)

9/4 vs. Rhode Island (non-IA) W 47 0
9/12 vs. *Wake Forest (3-9) W 30 17
9/19 vs. Central Michigan (7-6) W 30 27
9/26 vs. Louisiana State (9-3) L 24 34
10/10 @ South Florida (8-5) L 24 45
10/17 @ *Virginia (4-8) L 38 44
10/24 vs. *Pittsburgh (8-5) L 20 23
10/31 @ *Florida State (10-3) L 21 45
11/7 @ *Louisville (8-5) L 17 41
11/14 vs. *Clemson (14-1) L 27 37
11/21 @ *North Carolina State (7-6) L 29 42
11/28 vs. *Boston College (3-9) W 20 17

4-8-0 (327-372)

It was kind of a snake bit team. It was a weak 3-0 but 3-0 nonetheless. We gave both LSU and Clemson all they could handle, (I think Mahoney was our QB in both), lost to Virginia on a horrible "was his arm going forward?" call, lost by a field goal to Pitt and gave NC State a good battle. The Louisville game might have cost Shafer his job: he and his OC couldn't even agree on why they left Dungey in in a 10-41 game with seven minutes left and he got hurt and missed the rest of the year.

That was the year he should have gone ballistic, on the CMU coach for not suspending that clown for the dirty hit on Eric.

 

[djorange1989]

The thing I remember about the close losses to LSU and Clemson was Shafer punting late in the game when we were within striking distance but needed the ball. If I remember correctly, many on the board believed Shafer was satisfied with keeping the final score respectable rather than winning the game. What a terrible hire as HC he was by Doc Hollywood.

He was awful and acted like an assclown to boot while he was here.

 

[ForeverOrange]

Wow I was expecting to scan down to the 90's and see at least 3 3-0 starts. Maybe those teams did under perform after all. All that talent and no 3-0 starts? I am shocked at this one.

 

[SmilinBob]

Wow I was expecting to scan down to the 90's and see at least 3 3-0 starts. Maybe those teams did under perform after all. All that talent and no 3-0 starts? I am shocked at this one.

SU usually played a tough OOC so that really made it difficult to go 3-0.

 

[NKR1978]

The thing I remember about the close losses to LSU and Clemson was Shafer punting late in the game when we were within striking distance but needed the ball. If I remember correctly, many on the board believed Shafer was satisfied with keeping the final score respectable rather than winning the game. What a terrible hire as HC he was by Doc Hollywood.

The media and fans were a little upset after the close call against CMU to get to 3-0 and he just went off basically insinuating we hadn't been 3-0 in forever and should be happy. I imagine the last three seasons weren't easy for Dino, but I don't recall him ever letting it get to him the way it did Shafer. He seems happy at MTSU and I hope he is.

 

[SWC75]

The media and fans were a little upset after the close call against CMU to get to 3-0 and he just went off basically insinuating we hadn't been 3-0 in forever and should be happy. I imagine the last three seasons weren't easy for Dino, but I don't recall him ever letting it get to him the way it did Shafer. He seems happy at MTSU and I hope he is.

He was promoted above his level of competence.

 

[SWC75]

Wow I was expecting to scan down to the 90's and see at least 3 3-0 starts. Maybe those teams did under perform after all. All that talent and no 3-0 starts? I am shocked at this one.

The 60's and the 90's for SU were very similar. After the undefeated 1958 and 1987 seasons, people wondered when we would do that again. The overall talent level remained high for another decade but the teams could never make fans happy because they all had multiple losses, the first coming early in the season, dashing dreams of another national title, (or at least a run at one). Syracuse Historical Scores

1960: 5-0 start, then losses to 4-3-3 Pitt (0-10) and 6-3-1 Army (6-9). Result: 7-2
1961: Lost game 3 to 7-3 Maryland (21-22). Result: 8-3
1962: Opening losses to 8-3 Oklahoma (3-7) and 6-4 Army (2-9) Result: 5-5
1963: Second game loss to Kansas (0-10). Result: 8-2
1964: Opening loss to (6-3) Boston College 14-21 (on a tipped pass that should have been intercepted - we also lost on a last-minute bomb to West Virginia in the final regular season game). Result: 8-3
1965: Second game loss to 5-4-1 U of Miami, 0-24. Result: 7-3
1966: Opening losses to 5-5 Baylor (12-35) and 9-1 UCLA (12-31). Result: 8-3, (We won 8 in a row after that start.)
1967: 3-0 start followed by a 14-27 loss at 5-4-1 Navy. Result: 8-2
1968: Opening 10-14 loss to 5-5 Michigan State. Result: 6-4
1969: Second game loss to 1-9, (yes, 1-9) Kansas 0-13. Result: 6-4

1988: Second game loss at 4-6-1 Ohio State 9-26. Result: 10-2
1989: 2-0 start followed by three straight losses to teams with a combined record of 26-8-2. Result: 8-4
1990: 16-34 Kickoff Classic loss to 8-4-1 USC. Then a victory over Temple followed by the last two ties we've ever had vs. 8-3-1 Michigan State and 3-7-1 Pitt. Result: 7-4-2
1991: Four straight wins followed by a 14-46 loss at then #1 Florida State and a 20-23 home loss to 11-1 East Carolina. Result: 10-2
1992: 2-0 followed by 12-35 home loss to 8-2-1 Ohio State Result: 10-2
1993: A 3-0-1 start included a 21-21 tied at 5-5-1 Texas in game 3. Result: 6-4-1
1994: A wild 29-30 opening loss to 6-6 Oklahoma was followed by 6 straight wins. But the result was 7-4.
1995: An opening win at North Carolina was followed by another home loss to 8-3 East Carolina (24-27). Result: 9-3
1996: An opening home loss to 10-2 UNC, (10-27) was followed by a fumble-plagued 33-35 loss at Minnesota. Then we won 8 in a row before getting absolutely screwed by the refs in losing 31-38 to U of Miami in the Dome. Result: 9-3.
1997: A tremendous 34-0 win over 8-5 Wisconsin in the Kick-off Classic got us thinking "This is the year." No, it wasn't. We lost the next three games 31-32 in the Dome to 6-5 NC State, 34-36 at 4-8 Oklahoma and 3-31 at 7-5 Virginia Tech. Then we won 8 in a row again. Result: 9-4
1998: We again get screwed by the refs in a 33-34 loss to eventual 13-0 national champion Tennessee in the Dome. We then blew defending national champion Michigan out of their own place and put up 7 dimes on poor Rutgers before a lost evening in Raleigh where we lost to 7-5 NC State 17-38. Result: 8-4 but at least we made it to the Orange Bowl.
1999: After beating Toledo and Central Michigan easily, we lost in the Dome to 10-2 Michigan in a game remembered by Troy Nunes making the field disappear, as he retreated 35 yards against the pass rush only to be tackled in the end zone. Result: 7-5
Let's add: 2000: An opening blow-out win over Buffalo was followed by a 10-12 loss at 7-5 Cincinnati and a 17-34 loss at our old friends 8-4 East Carolina. Result: 6-5
and 2001: The season opened with a Kick Classic loss to 8-5 Georgia Tech (7-13) and a 9-33 disaster at 11-2 Tennessee. We then had still another 8 game winning streak before U of Miami squashed us like a bug in the Orange Bowl.

In both cases criticism of the coaching staff built up over the years as we were unable to duplicate the miracle year and many were glad to see the old staff go.

Then we had a long period of mediocrity or worse that put these years in a better perspective.

We still shoulda done better!