Arrogance, Confidence or Adolescence?

[texascpa]

Saw this quote in Axe's postgame column:

AJ Long: "Syracuse football is back. We're going to an ACC championship in the next 4 years"

— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) October 11, 2014

I laughed, then pulled back wondering what kind of firestorm this will cause on the board. So, how do you see this comment?

 

[Chip]

Maybe he just meant they've planned a team outing to Charlotte to watch the game. Cheaper prices when you plan ahead.

 

[upperdeck]

last year there was no way we could have beaten FSU, this year at least you could see a few dropped balls going our way and making it a game. they still have way more athletes but they need to find a QB when Winston leaves, just ask florida what happens when you dont find the elite guy.

 

[orangeinohio]

I underestimated him before so I'm going with 'confidence' with a side order of 'adolescence'.

 

[Upstate]

FSU is in trouble the next few years if they don't find a QB. Clemson is beatable; Watkins and Boyd aren't walking through that door. Ville could get better offensively, but if Parker leaves, they aren't world-beaters. SU will have the majority of their Offense back next year; line will need some shuffling (one of the most underrated OLs in SU history this year). The D will have some to fill some holes, but can stay the ship, hopefully, and let the O catch up. Don't see why SU can't make a big jump. Strike while the iron is hot. Now's the time.

 

[MadNY3]

Saw this quote in Axe's postgame column:

AJ Long: "Syracuse football is back. We're going to an ACC championship in the next 4 years"

— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) October 11, 2014

I laughed, then pulled back wondering what kind of firestorm this will cause on the board. So, how do you see this comment?

I love it. LOVE IT.

I want my QB to have confidence and moxie...as long as he backs it up with performance.

Kid has a vicious chip on his shoulder. Awesome.

 

[JoeyZ]

I like it. They need someone who will lead the team and thinks the goal is to go beyond the Pinstripe Bowl. That said, I do think its hard to come into the conference when Florida State has their generational QB, while Clemson probably just got theirs.

I bet AJ Long meant and truly believes everything he said. Thats great.

 

[rrlbees]

Doesn't bother me at all.

 

[longislandcuse]

Absolutely love it

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

If the players don't believe in what he said, then we don't have the right players.

 

[Alsacs]

Nothing wrong at all at those comments. He isn't putting anyone down and is raising the expectations for he and his teammates. He is being a team leader and plus with the talk of the ACC scrapping divisions for a 3+5+5 model type of schedule Syracuse could conceivably play in an ACC title game within the next 4 years.

 

[CuseOnly]

I like it. They need someone who will lead the team and thinks the goal is to go beyond the Pinstripe Bowl. That said, I do think its hard to come into the conference when Florida State has their generational QB, while Clemson probably just got theirs.

I bet AJ Long meant and truly believes everything he said. Thats great.

Clemson's starter is out with a broken bone in his throwing hand or a finger. We will be facing Cole Stoudt when we go to Death Valley.

 

[TheCusian]

Everyone told him to shut up when he said he'd be starting QB this season too.

 

[CuseOnly]

FSU is in trouble the next few years if they don't find a QB. Clemson is beatable; Watkins and Boyd aren't walking through that door. Ville could get better offensively, but if Parker leaves, they aren't world-beaters. SU will have the majority of their Offense back next year; line will need some shuffling (one of the most underrated OLs in SU history this year). The D will have some to fill some holes, but can stay the ship, hopefully, and let the O catch up. Don't see why SU can't make a big jump. Strike while the iron is hot. Now's the time.

Does Jameis stay after this year? I don't think he will especially of he gets suspended after the Title IX hearing. We won't have to face him again.

 

[A Clockwork Orange]

Loved what he said. It shows confidence. Here's the thing though, he just jumped into the deep end of the swimming pool. If he doesn't back that up by playing well out on the field, people will use that comment to thrash him on this board. He's gotta back it up now. I have confidence he will.

 

[Cuseregular]

how can you not love this adolescent confidence. Leaders can be transformative for a team and listening to this kid post game makes me think he MIGHT have the intangibles necessary to be an over the top kind of kid.

Good enough skill set wise and possibly beyond that special with an ability to create and extend plays, good enough arm and intelligence to master the systems at a basic level it appears and from what little I could tell yesterday might be able to work through the progressions fairly well too.

If this confidence he portrays is an not too much of a self centered one (and listening to his post game comments and interview suggests this is a strong possibility) and is somewhat other directed to prop up the others in his sphere then theres a chance he could be a special leader.

An over the top leader/kid who because of the potential combination of attributes he seems to possess along with the importance of the position he plays, he could be the type player that can make an average team good and a good team great. Who knows and we'll certainly find out soon. At the very least its gonna be fun to watch his development and it's nice to have a certain level of hope that wasn't there just a week ago.

 

[Doctor44]

I don't think its any of the above. He's just staying positive. You have to say those things in order to start believing them. The power of positive thoughts.

 

[OrangePA]

Pretty much everything he did yesterday impressed me.

Strikingly mature kid - a kid who knows how to play the game - whose precise technique - jab steps while dropping to pass for instance - allowed him to complete passes and move the sticks.

He is setting the tone and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

If the players don't believe in what he said, then we don't have the right players.

Last year's class was tight knit, and I have no doubt they all believe this.

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

He's also a great recruiter. His attitude is infectious with recruits. He tweeted this after the game:

@FoeBoy_Cuse4: @Captainmoe21_ @RDubb_5 Come be apart of something special. Imma tell you now you go somewhere in the ACC you'll be sorry.

Rdubb is Robert Washington, a stud 4* RB who might be the top kid on our board, and the other is Moe Neal who's a 3* RB. Both kids are from NC which is why AJ mentioned going elsewhere in the ACC.

 

[HtownOrange]

AJ is a solid Orange Kool Aid drinker. Just like each of us. He loves the school for giving him a chance and he has that contagious positive attitude with the work ethic to be the leader on the field this team needs. He and AW are dedicated to Syracuse winning, and the kids around them have that same desire.

Hunt salvaged last season and we should never forget that, he has been a key building block and for that we need to thank him. Hopefully, he can return to the field in some capacity.

 

[TheCusian]

He should model his game after Russell Wilson. Leadership, smart, throw first - but dangerous with his feet. Did I mention leadership?

 

[orange79]

Non-issue. If my QB said, "We hope to finish as high as 3rd in my 4 years here" I'd seriously question as to whether he was my guy.

 

[raf4488]

Hey why not? College football is cyclical. With the roster turnover seen in college, all you need is a good staff and a couple good classes. Who could have predicted the Mississippi schools would outperform Alabama, LSU, TAMU in the SEC West this year? 2 small private schools in Texas played a game yesterday that upstaged Texas/OU. Wake, BC, and Duke have all played for an ACC title within the past decade. FSU isn't going to be #1 every single year.

 

[PhatOrange]

Fine with me