I agree with almost all of this post, but as to the bolded, is it important? Can we name all the teams that eeked their way into a bowl last year with 6 wins?
I mean, obviously I'd rather have 6 wins than 5! But given the state of CFB, I'm thinking that the perception thing kinda ends with being in the top 25. If you're not in that conversation, I'm not sure how critical it is to merely be playing in the Bahamas on December 18th.
Anyway, my digression on this point is clearly overdone. Just trying to get on the record now that -- absent some pretty serious mitigating circumstances -- I don't want to read a lot of rationalizing 6 wins come late November.
Yes, I absolutely think it's important -- for recruiting purposes. And to have Syracuse continue to be viewed as an attractive portal transfer option.
There's a big difference between trying to sell transfers on "we're
this close" compared to "we're going to bowls and posting winning records, come be a part of this."
We already see for the class of 2024 a higher rated class relatively speaking, due to the coaches being able to sell something positive on the recruiting trail. We haven't gone to consecutive bowls in a LONG time -- so at the macro level, doing so establishes an important trend.
I'm not talking about the micro of minimum bowl eligibility, for this team / with this group of personnel. And I'm not moving the goal posts down to 6 wins, so please don't attribute that sentiment to me. If we only get to 6, I'll be disappointed -- and I think it would be indicative [with the roster we have] of catastrophic injuries, because depth is really, really good at most positional units.
If we only get to 6, then I'll be right there with you on Dino. But I'm NOT there -- and I think that the stars are aligning for this to be a pretty damn good season.
And if it is, then hopefully you and others will be less skeptical about the team's chances for being competitive next year and in the future -- which looks bright to me, with the foundation that's been established. And getting back-2-back bowls is another step along that path.
