60%

[BillSU]

There was a discussion on the board this week about player recruiting in part based on a players desire to come to SU because of our team record(s), a decade of losing or dating back to the late 90's winners when D. McNabb led the Orangemen. None of today's youth through high school players were born when he played. Today's recruits, have really nothing to base a decision on about playing for us except results from 2000 until now. Fans want us to win. They're tired of losing seasons and coaches and many want instant gratification including me but I understand that cannot happen.

There are so many subjective reasons for a recruit to choose a school. Since we are a D1, ACC, FBS school only the best, (*** or better), will consider us for their future. Many are excellent five and four star rated players. They have been sifted through the recruiting screens of every top school in the country. Some know because of their play and stats that they will be playing and offered a full ride. Parents have expectations of their son(s) especially if they have attended and graduated and perhaps played for a school. Official and non - official visits play key part in the process. Maybe it's a rainy day and the coach doesn't seem that interested to the recruit and maybe it's blue skies and the locker rooms are nicer than their homes that will sway a recruit to not or to further consider a school. Hell, even cool uniforms, like Oregon's may play a part in a recruits decision. That we have arrived to this day with a coach who is smart, has a long term plan, is a winner in past programs, sincere and genuine is the most important part in any recruits decision or should be.

Now that Dino Babers has been here 3 years he's finally gotten recruits that are all his. Those recruits are green and aside from a few very talented players most are Redshirted which is, except for the best recruits who we need to play as true freshmen, a very good idea. They will get bigger, stronger, gain knowledge from the coaching staff, their peers, gaining practice experience, learning how to get better through constant repetition. The consideration here is, and it's a big one, is that it takes time to develop a winning program and going through the roster looking at the 104 names 60 % are Freshman, Redshirt Freshman, Sophomores, or Redshirt Sophomores. That time will be well invested by listening to Dino Babers and his staff, learning how to get better. We are a young team. The best part – some of the freshman, an especially good example is the special teams unit where we have two of the best kicker/punters in the nation. The others are good and will be here for four years hopefully improving themselves and and providing better team records each year. The result, more recruits will be considering us every year. Now 5-2, 2-2. End result is a ? No crystal balls. It is how it is and will be. My best guess - I think it's possible we have W's over NCST, Wake, Louisville and BC. That would be a great beginning to the start of a new and improved Orange football program led by an excellent football mind and AD. GOSU

 

[OttoinGrotto]

You're 100% right - between the returning depth, likely transition to a new QB with some meaningful playing time and success already under his belt, the likely contributions we can expect from some of the redshirting talent, the lighter schedule next season, and the skill player transfers that become eligible, the stars are aligning for us to get out of the hole and be a solid, competitive program.

The more we accomplish this season, the less future success will seem like a surprise, and Syracuse can cement a place as a program where players go to succeed.