What I see at these games is huge potential for our program. Unfortunately, unlike the begining of the season, I am seriously doughting we have the right direction, right AD, and right coaching in place. If all we want is a potential bowl game each year, and and 5 to 7 win seasons, then we seem to be on the right track. Here is three key points:
1. Recruiting: this in DM's 3rd class, 4th if you want to count his 1st year. There is NO ARGUMENT that can be made we are making the necessary strides in this area, in fact we may seriously be degressing after a short improvement if we don't bring in both Smith and EO from NY this year. People, wake up, although we have some nice talent here and there, we have no depth, that is why our special teams sucks so bad. Z. Allen looks like a nice pick up for this year, but if you don't have the depth, he very well may never get the chance to develop it. Our depth sits on the benches for other teams, yes I am talking Ishaq, Jones, and a host of others we can't entice to come here.
2. Our AD's committment to playing marquee games in NYC. This is not basketball, NYC does not come out to watch SU. We would have had a much larger game and turnout at home for the USC game, not even 40,000 in almost an 80,000 seat stadium? (And we played the #2 Team in the Country?) And our best games at home in the future there too? To bring in who? Is it really working?
3. Discipline: Like our 5 game losing streak last year, this team continuosly comes out of the gate not ready to play. Don't take my word for it, how many times does DM have to say it before we say enough, we hear you...how about doing something about it! Hire a Special Teams Coach right now, today. This is rediculous. And DM, get a little nasty, speak up, get a couple fines. The nice guy thing only goes so far.
There can surely be arguments made that we have made some strides that counterdict the 3 points I made above. Over the previous regime, yes. But we are no way better than Coach Pasq's programs, at least then we were somewhat feared and a good recruiting program. Now, on all the national blogs, we are considered a joke. Fodder for other teams to play. I for one would like to see our program prove them all wrong. I am just not so sure we have the right plan in place to do this in Football. How long must we wait to have to do all this over again. I don't think it will happen this year, as I do believe we will extend DM going into next year and probably for at least 3 years in the ACC. I just hope DM proves me wrong, as I really like him, but I don't see us returning anytime soon to the world of being a contender let alone respected as the program as we once were when I was a kid. People knew Syracuse all over the country, they knew the relevance of the #44 and those who wore it, and teams actually feared coming to the doom. It seems when we retired that number for good, we also hung our tradition up along with it. I just don't recognize our program anymore.