Attractiveness of SU HC job

[Cusefan0307]

Come on it happens. Mick Cronin. Andy Einfield. Buzz Williams. Chris Beard. Shaka. It still happens when a school is serious about getting a coach. Also goofy Ed Cooley at goofy Georgetown

Cooley left because he committed adultery. He sucks anyway. So does Enfield. He was on the verge of
getting canned. So was Shaka. Beard is another one than got in trouble. I’ll give you Buzz and Cronin, but I don’t even agree with you who think is a good coach so this conversation is pointless. None of those guys were getting looks from UNC or UK if they were on the open market.

 

[LAorange44]

None of those guys were top 15. Beard sure but he was canned. Cronin was viewed as a major bust of a hire at the time after a middling career at Cincy. Buzz, sure solid but we are not talking top dog. Shaka was run out of town in Austin. Literally no basis for your argument.

Wasn’t saying they were top 15 just that p4 + big east coaches lateral all the time. We aren’t limited to up and coming mid majors

 

[Brooky03]

Have you ever been to Lexington?

Kentucky? About 8 times, yes. I go to the Louisville and Lexington area a couple times per year for work.

I like Lexington.

 

[Brooky03]

Aside from the snow which doesn’t affect practice or games, why would a coach really care about having the fancier nightclubs and elitist shopping/dining that you’d find in an economically booming city?

This city is doing ok and on an upswing, but I realize it’s easier to peddle lazy narratives because you just didn’t like living here.

I like Syracuse, as I’ve said.

Millionaires and millionaire’s wives like nice things. It’s not controversial to say the lack of nice things and the bad weather (which they still have to deal with, perhaps more so because the peak season of their job is in the heart of winter) will keep some big hires from considering us.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Syracuse basketball is like a professional sports team in CNY. Syracuse basketball when it’s winning is “IT” in CNY. We’ve seen that for decades.

I think that the success of Buffalo Bills football these past several years has cut into our ceiling as to attendance. We haven't been a ranked team for a decade, while Josh Allen is getting everyone excited about a possible Super Bowl.

NIL is unknown. I like to think we can spend $12-$15 mil a year on a team and that should be enough to be a competitor. Truthfully if we had a competent coach. I think this years team is pretty easily a tourney team. But we all know we have horrible coaching.

In the next 2-3 years, if there are no rules (or multi-year contracts), we are going to be priced out of the market.

 

[NJCuse97]

The school will get the big money back if they can start filling the dome again. They can't fill the dome again for basketball or football if they half step their way to obtain talent. That goes for coaching and athletes. SU is in a unique position to max out dollars with such a large facility like the dome. If you fill the seats!

I agree that a full arena aids in creating the right atmosphere, but that’s all. That aids recruiting, but gate dollars have no direct impact on NIL or recruiting. I think the weather and off field or court pieces are major factors, not just for the coach and his/her family, but for the players as well. A coach needs to believe they can recruit to the school and these pieces factor. Money, game day, and success are bigger factors, but I know first hand the other stuff matters and so will a coaching prospect. Can’t get to that winning position without the players, so everything else matters more. By this argument, a full Dome is more valuable than a big Dome. Said another way, 30,000 seats means less without 30,000 butts in seats.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I agree that a full arena aids in creating the right atmosphere, but that’s all. That aids recruiting, but gate dollars have no direct impact on NIL or recruiting. I think the weather and off field or court pieces are major factors, not just for the coach and his/her family, but for the players as well. A coach needs to believe they can recruit to the school and these pieces factor. Money, game day, and success are bigger factors, but I know first hand the other stuff matters and so will a coaching prospect. Can’t get to that winning position without the players, so everything else matters more. By this argument, a full Dome is more valuable than a big Dome. Said another way, 30,000 seats means less without 30,000 butts in seats.

We have players now. Like in this year. Give another coach this roster and we could be top 25.

 

[Blanko97]

I don’t think they’re struggling financially. The amount of money they’ve laid out for real estate alone would indicate they’re secure enough to make bets on the future. Perhaps the current administrations… disinterest(?) in supporting academics might be a cause for uncertainty? I know that’s a major reason why KS moved his retirement up a year.

Clarifying this is the presidential admin, not school admin… my bad if that wasn’t clear

 

[HyattsCuse]

I think that the success of Buffalo Bills football these past several years has cut into our ceiling as to attendance. We haven't been a ranked team for a decade, while Josh Allen is getting everyone excited about a possible Super Bowl.

Average Syracuse attendance per game
1991 - 29,246
1992 - 27,103
1993 - 25,351
1994 - 24,649

Led the nation every one of those years.

Bills made the Super Bowl all 4 years.

Not seeing the correlation between Bills success and Syracuse basketball attendance that you’re seeing?

 

[LAorange44]

Come play for the #5 fanbase in tickets sold!

 

[IthacaMatt]

Average Syracuse attendance per game
1991 - 29,246
1992 - 27,103
1993 - 25,351
1994 - 24,649

Led the nation every one of those years.

Bills made the Super Bowl all 4 years.

Not seeing the correlation between Bills success and Syracuse basketball attendance that you’re seeing?

Thirty years ago, we were a really good team.
Now, not so much.
Are we still hitting those numbers? No?
So how do you know, then?

 

[IthacaMatt]

Average Syracuse attendance per game
1991 - 29,246
1992 - 27,103
1993 - 25,351
1994 - 24,649

Led the nation every one of those years.

Bills made the Super Bowl all 4 years.

Not seeing the correlation between Bills success and Syracuse basketball attendance that you’re seeing?

While the exact number isn't public, there are many Buffalo Bills season ticket holders from the Syracuse area, as evidenced by local news highlighting longtime fans from Syracuse (like Avon natives Bob Hanna and Crystal Fiacco) who travel for games, showing strong Central New York support for the team despite the distance. The Buffalo Bills fanbase, known as "Bills Mafia," is widespread, but Syracuse represents a significant, dedicated segment.
Key Indicators of Syracuse-Area Support:

• Local News Coverage: Syracuse news outlets (WSYR, NewsChannel9) frequently feature stories about dedicated Bills fans from their region, detailing their long-term commitment to attending games.
• Long-Term Commitment: These fans often travel significant distances, sometimes through snow and ice, demonstrating passion that extends beyond the immediate Buffalo area.
• "Bills Mafia" Reach: The collective fanbase extends far beyond Western New York, with strongholds in Central NY (Syracuse) and even nationally, making it hard to pinpoint exact numbers but confirming broad geographic support.

In essence, there's no official count, but Syracuse is a well-known, vital part of the extended Bills fanbase, with many local residents holding season tickets and making the trek to games.

 

[HyattsCuse]

Thirty years ago, we were a really good team.
Now, not so much.
Are we still hitting those numbers? No?
So how do you know, then?

Your theory was interesting so I went back and looked at a time period where we do know that both the Bills and ‘Cuse basketball were good at the same time.

What I found suggests if ‘Cuse is good, it doesn’t matter how the Bills are doing. The attendance ceiling was #1 in the country.

I think that would be the case again if ‘Cuse can correct course and become good again.

I’d also be curious to see how many times a Syracuse home game occurred on the same weekend as a Bills home game. Maybe 2-3 games at most?

IMO, I don’t see how the success of the Bills affects the attendance ceiling for ‘Cuse basketball.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Your theory was interesting so I went back and looked at a time period where we do know that both the Bills and ‘Cuse basketball were good at the same time.

What I found suggests if ‘Cuse is good, it doesn’t matter how the Bills are doing. The attendance ceiling was #1 in the country.

I think that would be the case again if ‘Cuse can correct course and become good again.

I’d also be curious to see how many times a Syracuse home game occurred on the same weekend as a Bills home game. Maybe 2-3 games at most?

IMO, I don’t see how the success of the Bills affects the attendance ceiling for ‘Cuse basketball.

My theory is not about 30 years ago, it's about today.
Most of our season ticket holders no longer show up for games.

The bottom half of the Dome around mid-court if frequently empty. It's a terrible look.
Our fan base has gotten older, parking lots are being closed, and parking for games is harder to get and much more expensive.

NFL games are not cheap, but 10-15 years ago, you didn't see the number of Bills flags and Bills apparel around Syracuse as you do today. Google AI says that Syracuse fans make up a significant part of the Bills fan base.

In case you hadn't noticed, people are losing interest in college sports, unless they gamble.
But, sure, 30 years ago the Bills didn't draw away Syracuse fans.
Back then most Syracuse people grew up as Giants or Jets fans, not the Bills.

But we suck now. The atmosphere is terrible most of the time.
The Bills Mafia thing has made them much cooler than going to a Syracuse game.
I don't see us ever getting back to 25,000 for hoops games. These are the dying gasps of the program.
In just a couple years, we won't be able to afford to compete.

 

[jncuse]

OP is vastly overrating the brand value at this point.
Its not nothing, but it is not a major pro.
It will offend some, but it is what it is.

 

[Scooch]

Amen. And MSG >>> Barclays.

Went to the Providence-St John’s game yesterday and it was electric. Cuse fans can DOMINATE the energy of that place.

We seem to have abandoned MSG in recent years. It’s really baffling to me.

 

[Bill Orange]

We seem to have abandoned MSG in recent years. It’s really baffling to me.

Sure is. I believe the last time we played there was against Villanova in 2021.

 

[Hopkins16]

Bottom line is, with each passing year for over 10 years or more, our program has been in rapid decline. Some significant improvements need to be done after this season to turn things around. We are at a point where our past glories are irrelevant to today’s generation of players. But, we have a golden opportunity with eyes on us due to the popularity of Kiyan and his hall of fame dad Melo back in the picture.

Adding a big name competent coach to 2nd year Kiyan/Melo is media noise that we need to capitalize on in order to close the deal on top recruits.

 

[sufan59]

The timing lol

 

[Col. Bleep]

...We are at a point where our past glories are irrelevant to today’s generation of players. Bit, we have a golden opportunity with eyes on us due to the popularity of Kiyan and his hall of fame dad Melo back in the picture...

Agreed

And it's also going to be difficult to justify pumping millions into sports teams just to maintain mediocrity.

The portal/transfer system needs to be restructured.
If college sports are to function as little more than minor leagues for major league pro ball then multi-year player contracts must be implemented. And perhaps they should be in any case.

 

[Cusefan0307]

The timing lol

A few years ago we were 4th.

 

[sufan59]

A few years ago we were 4th.

Yeah Syracuse perception is hanging on by a thread.

 

[Orangezoo]

A few years ago we were 4th.

I think we still are most likely fourth and that would be near tied for third once a good coach takes full advantage of having the dome and a success starved fan base that would be rabid every night if a winning program was re installed.

 

[orange79]

The timing lol

The others I get, but how is Moo U a "better" job than Syracuse?

I mean, are they treating high expectations as a negative? Because I can't believe the expectations at NC St are that high...

 

[Scooch]

The timing lol

Divining precision from this is silly. The difference between 5th and 6th is subjective, to say the least. But, bracketing the top third, it makes sense we’re in that tier.

Personally I’d say it’s Duke and UNC above all others. Then SU, UVA and Louisville in the next tier.