Credit to the coaching staff

[Scooch]

These guys were up against it this year.

Shafer takes over for Marrone in mid-January, who took the vast majority of his staff with him. That means the only assistants that are going to come are ones where SU is a clear upgrade to their current spot, which means low-level FBS schools.

Then this new staff has to replace an NFL QB and OL anchor along with 2 very productive WRs.

And they're joining a new conference, which (a) has 2 top-tier programs better than anyone we've faced in conference in a decade, and (b) has opponents that are entirely new to us. In fact SU had just 2 opponents on our schedule that we saw the year before, compared to most years where we'd have 7-8 returning opponents. Methinks that adds quite a bit of time to game planning and preparation.

Despite all that, and the usual in-season trials and tribulations that every team faces, we manage to be just one win shy of last year's record. Truly remarkable.

Big kudos to the staff.

 

[Orangejet]

These guys were up against it this year.

Shafer takes over for Marrone in mid-January, who took the vast majority of his staff with him. That means the only assistants that are going to come are ones where SU is a clear upgrade to their current spot, which means low-level FBS schools.

Then this new staff has to replace an NFL QB and OL anchor along with 2 very productive WRs.

And they're joining a new conference, which (a) has 2 top-tier programs better than anyone we've faced in conference in a decade, and (b) has opponents that are entirely new to us. In fact SU had just 2 opponents on our schedule that we saw the year before, compared to most years where we'd have 7-8 returning opponents. Methinks that adds quite a bit of time to game planning and preparation.

Despite all that, and the usual in-season trials and tribulations that every team faces, we manage to be just one win shy of last year's record. Truly remarkable.

Big kudos to the staff.

Couldn't agree with you more...

 

[BostonOrange]

These guys were up against it this year.

Shafer takes over for Marrone in mid-January, who took the vast majority of his staff with him. That means the only assistants that are going to come are ones where SU is a clear upgrade to their current spot, which means low-level FBS schools.

Then this new staff has to replace an NFL QB and OL anchor along with 2 very productive WRs.

And they're joining a new conference, which (a) has 2 top-tier programs better than anyone we've faced in conference in a decade, and (b) has opponents that are entirely new to us. In fact SU had just 2 opponents on our schedule that we saw the year before, compared to most years where we'd have 7-8 returning opponents. Methinks that adds quite a bit of time to game planning and preparation.

Despite all that, and the usual in-season trials and tribulations that every team faces, we manage to be just one win shy of last year's record. Truly remarkable.

Big kudos to the staff.

Agreed. I can quibble with certain things like the penalties, clock management, and hail mary pass defense, but overall a winning record this year is a great achievement.

 

[Stern]

Shafer has grown the most of all our coaches. He turned into a nice head coach. The Clemson game was the low point where he was acting like an ass on the sideline, since then he has been terrific in every way. And is much better with "in game decisions" than Doug ever was. Light-years better at thinking on his feet during a game. Very pleased with Shafer

McDonald improved some late, but still has a ways to go at calling plays.

 

[supp]

These guys were up against it this year.

Shafer takes over for Marrone in mid-January, who took the vast majority of his staff with him. That means the only assistants that are going to come are ones where SU is a clear upgrade to their current spot, which means low-level FBS schools.

Then this new staff has to replace an NFL QB and OL anchor along with 2 very productive WRs.

And they're joining a new conference, which (a) has 2 top-tier programs better than anyone we've faced in conference in a decade, and (b) has opponents that are entirely new to us. In fact SU had just 2 opponents on our schedule that we saw the year before, compared to most years where we'd have 7-8 returning opponents. Methinks that adds quite a bit of time to game planning and preparation.

Despite all that, and the usual in-season trials and tribulations that every team faces, we manage to be just one win shy of last year's record. Truly remarkable.

Big kudos to the staff.

Let's imagine that Hackett got the HC job instead of Shafer, as some wanted. Does anyone from the old staff stay rather than go to Buffalo because of that? I don't think so. Is it possible that Shafer gets the HC job at Western Michigan instead of another former Cubit assistant, PJ Fleck, and also leaves? I think so. Does Hackett have the connections to put together a quality staff on the fly like Shafer did? I think it would have been ar more difficult.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

Shafer has grown the most of all our coaches. He turned into a nice head coach. The Clemson game was the low point where he was acting like an ass on the sideline, since then he has been terrific in every way. And is much better with "in game decisions" than Doug ever was. Light-years better at thinking on his feet during a game. Very pleased with Shafer

McDonald improved some late, but still has a ways to go at calling plays.

I think McDonald showed serious improvement this year, he grew up faster than Hackett did.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I think McDonald showed serious improvement this year, he grew up faster than Hackett did.

Hackett took until his 3rd year, right?

Coach McDonald seemed to be figuring out an offense for Hunt by the last few games. Pretty quick learning curve. Saved the season with improved offense late in the season.

 

[OrangePA]

McDonald did a nice job this year.

He certainly controlled the game against Minny.