Dino Press Conference | Aug. 17 | Syracusefan.com

Dino Press Conference | Aug. 17



Babers asked about pauses in practice: "We dropped the ball on the one thing and they were right." This likely relates to the "miscommunication" regarding preseason testing frequency. Babers said "hopefully" there'll be more practices like the ones they've held in recent days.

Babers said the program is up to 1,450 total tests after the saliva pool last Thursday. AD John Wildhack previously reported five total positives before that most recent round of tests. "We just hope this continues as students come back to campus."

Babers asked more about the larger student body potentially causing issues for a football season: "That's going to be the real key. ... What they do at night reflects what's going to happen to them during the day... That's going to decide whether they play or not."

Babers said there are some players on his team with concerns, others who are good to go: "It's almost like they're deciding whether they're enlisting into the army or not." He emphasized that it's not the same magnitude of a decision, but there is a parallel.

Babers is asked whether's he's considered opting out. Jokes: "I'm not sure I ever saw anything about head coaches being able to opt out." Said he grew up on military bases. "I wouldn't leave these young men behind to do it themselves." Knows the risks of someone his age, tho.

Babers said four missed practices "does set you back." However, he knows this is an unprecedented year and you can't rely on plans or expectations. Has emphasized that with his coaching staff in everything they do. "You need to be flexible but you need to also be rooted."

Babers said he regularly polls his team about who has concerns and that split, which he didn't specify, fluctuates regularly. Some players have health concerns related to Covid-19. Some players have eligibility concerns (not wanting to waste a year on a broken season).

Babers pointed to this Friday's NCAA DI eligibility ruling as a potential turning point for players on the fence about playing in 2020. Could be a major domino in pushing the potential season either way.

Babers reiterates that the fault for an in-house testing frequency "miscommunication" lies with the school. I'll have to go back and listen again for the specific details, but he credited players for properly pausing practice to get tests Thursday.

Babers said he believes there will be increased transparency across the ACC regarding Covid-19 concerns before the start of the season.

Babers asked about NCAA's eligibility decision Friday (Aug 21): "It's going to give young men enough information move somewhere." Said it's hard to see these guys as indecisive. It runs counter to typical football culture. "That gray area, we really don't like."

Babers tells Nate Mink what every one of his subjects has probably felt about his questioning at some point in time: "I love you, but that thing was long."

Babers said the program has had direct conversations with players about myocarditis, the heart issue that's being linked to Covid-19. He's worked to put his players in touch with specialists who can properly answer questions about health risks.
 
Last edited:
OrangeXtreme said:
Babers asked about pauses in practice: "We dropped the ball on the one thing and they were right." This likely relates to the "miscommunication" regarding preseason testing frequency. Babers said "hopefully" there'll be more practices like the ones they've held in recent days.

Babers said the program is up to 1,450 total tests after the saliva pool last Thursday. AD John Wildhack previously reported five total positives before that most recent round of tests. "We just hope this continues as students come back to campus."

Babers asked more about the larger student body potentially causing issues for a football season: "That's going to be the real key. ... What they do at night reflects what's going to happen to them during the day... That's going to decide whether they play or not."

Babers said there are some players on his team with concerns, others who are good to go: "It's almost like they're deciding whether they're enlisting into the army or not." He emphasized that it's not the same magnitude of a decision, but there is a parallel.

Babers is asked whether's he's considered opting out. Jokes: "I'm not sure I ever saw anything about head coaches being able to opt out." Said he grew up on military bases. "I wouldn't leave these young men behind to do it themselves." Knows the risks of someone his age, tho.

Babers said four missed practices "does set you back." However, he knows this is an unprecedented year and you can't rely on plans or expectations. Has emphasized that with his coaching staff in everything they do. "You need to be flexible but you need to also be rooted."
Expand...
Is it possible to make up the missed practices?
 
Worry more about the defense than offense. We have some really good weapons and QB who with a line will pick teams apart and put up points. To me its less about the scheme and more about the line and protection. Devito may not be McNabb or even Dungy but he has a elite arm and accuracy and think he plays in the NFL
 
any team with a good defense is in every game. Exceptions to this are Clemson, Oregon, OU who can outscore people.
 
OmahaCuse said:
any team with a good defense is in every game. Exceptions to this are Clemson, Oregon, OU who can outscore people.
Expand...
I disagree. I think our defense has a lot of experience heading into this year and showed a lot of positives last year.

That being said, I don’t care if you’re the Kansas City Chiefs, any offense that returns the ball on downs at the pace that our offense often did last year is going to put its defense through hell.

The defense kept the clemson game competitive, our offense just had absolutely no answers.
 
I too think tempo is overrated now and I don't think we are nearly as fast as it is made out. Also think we have not seen the ideal QB that Dino wants in his system.
 
You look at the pre-season rankings and comments like this and I think it shows that as fans we have a higher regard for our players than the rest of the league. We seem to have a tendency to think our players are better than they are. I doubt all of the recruiting rankings are wrong. I hope we prove them wrong, but too many predictors are saying we aren’t going to be very good.
 
I have no problem with fair and hard criticism. If they don't want negative things said about them, then win. It is what it is. If Cuse can push ahead with 7 or 8 win season, that will change the narrative a bit. Have some back to back winning seasons and the team and fans will see more positive reviews.
 
I think it's hard to run any offense when you can't block. OL is key. I don't think the system is static, either. It's changing and morphing. Maybe tempo is less important. Maybe if you can't block you can't tempo effectively.

I'm still on board that we need to be dynamic and different due to talent disparities.
 
Newhouser said:
I too think tempo is overrated now and I don't think we are nearly as fast as it is made out. Also think we have not seen the ideal QB that Dino wants in his system.
Expand...
Been saying this for the last two seasons
 
upperdeck said:
I dont think we have run tempo close to what we really wanted to much of the time.. but the threat has been there and teams had to prep for it. Oline is the key to any offense more than they system.
Expand...

We did early in Dino’s tenure but it has been less and less each year.

If the OL can stay healthy, they’ll be better. Run game should certainly be better, DeVito should feel a little more comfortable. Hopefully the inexperienced WRs can come up to speed quickly. They pass the look test, but there’s no substitute for experience.
 

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