George McDonald, still irked by Pitt loss discusses growth as a play-caller heading into Year 2 (PS)

[OrangeMojo]

Please tell me you're not making excuses for P and the infamous "wind" game at Rutgers. Or the inability to make any adjustments what so ever to stop Walter Washington. You do remember we had an extra point missed in the Pitt game as well a 40 yard field goal. GMac certainly had a rough game -- but the real story was the inability to handle Aaron Donald. Donald was a unanimous first team all american, as well as winner of the Outland, Lombardi, and Nagurski awards. Walter Washington won nothing, and was a running back playing QB.

Come on now CIL - it's only the players fault if P&D are on the sidelines. P got screwed over by mediocre players - so mediocre that even great coaching could not lead them past winless teams that had been blown out by mid-major programs. The current staff has been blessed with exceptional players at every position and if they lose it is completely on the coaches. Oh Lord

 

[Millhouse]

i know there are lots of factors at play in any loss but i can't think of a game that's every been decided so simply. aaron donald was godzilla and blew everything up. best performance i've ever seen maybe

 

[CIL]

i know there are lots of factors at play in any loss but i can't think of a game that's every been decided so simply. aaron donald was godzilla and blew everything up. best performance i've ever seen maybe

He was their Dwight Freeney. Literally. Most disruptive college force I have seen since Dwight -- if Donald was 3 inches taller he may have been the first overall pick.

 

[Millhouse]

He was their Dwight Freeney. Literally. Most disruptive college force I have seen since Dwight -- if Donald was 3 inches taller he may have been the first overall pick.

the only person that could stop freeney was nunez

 

[TheCusian]

He was their Dwight Freeney. Literally. Most disruptive college force I have seen since Dwight -- if Donald was 3 inches taller he may have been the first overall pick.

He did it to everyone too - including FSU.

Everyone else on that team was mediocre against us for that game. Savage was up and down - he was running off his life a few times.

 

[Millhouse]

the only person that could stop freeney was nunez

uhhhhh and maybe miami and mckinnie...

 

[OrangePA]

Been drinking, huh?

Yeah, water.

I don't drink alcohol.

What about you?

 

[RMH44]

uhhhhh and maybe miami and mckinnie...

I watched that match-up exclusively during the game. McKinney always had help from a TE or chip block from a RB. There were, maybe, 5-7 passing plays where Freeney wasn't doubled and those were 3-step drop-backs with quick passes. Miami's entire offense scheme was designed to slow down DF.

 

[OrangePA]

Please tell me you're not making excuses for P and the infamous "wind" game at Rutgers. Or the inability to make any adjustments what so ever to stop Walter Washington. You do remember we had an extra point missed in the Pitt game as well a 40 yard field goal. GMac certainly had a rough game -- but the real story was the inability to handle Aaron Donald. Donald was a unanimous first team all american, as well as winner of the Outland, Lombardi, and Nagurski awards. Walter Washington won nothing, and was a running back playing QB.

Come on now CIL - it's only the players fault if P&D are on the sidelines. P got screwed over by mediocre players - so mediocre that even great coaching could not lead them past winless teams that had been blown out by mid-major programs. The current staff has been blessed with exceptional players at every position and if they lose it is completely on the coaches. Oh Lord

Yeah with mediocre players his last season included a Big East Championship, wins against Pitt, Rutgers, BC and a bowl game.

I know how we're supposed to think on this board - the conventional wisdom was established long ago - by many with an SU Football pedigree that goes all the way back to 1995. And I know how blasphemous it is to, "oh my god," take a position on P that challenges that CW.

It was also the conventional wisdom on this board, for the longest time, that SU Football had the facilities and money to compete with anybody. Most everybody on this board believed that during the P years.

That "fact" of course has been proven wrong. Of course, that CW was fairly easy to debunk with photos and financials.

The board now recognizes a new CW in that regard.

So, as all of you know, I don't now and never have put much stock in the Pasqualoni CW nonsense that is this board.

I'll stand by the wins, the bowl games and the reputation and prestige that he brought to the program.

Getting back to Pitt.

As I recall it was a bad decision to have Norton try the FG against Pitt - I recall feeling that there was no chance it could be made.

And running the ball wide with no TOs and time running out while trailing was very ill-advised in my opinion.

The Orange staff coached a bad game - a really bad game. It did not put the team in a position to win the game at the end. And that's what a staff is supposed to do.

Donald was utterly brilliant that day, and arguably won the game by himself.

But again, the Orange staff coached a really bad game - the worst I have seen.

Two other things, nobody could stop Walter Washington in 2004. And I'm pretty sure that he beat Va Tech one year. He was a great football player.

And, finally, just to make clear. Nobody on this board supports this coaching staff more than I do - nobody.

 

[TheCusian]

Yeah, water. I don't drink alcohol. What about you?

I like a good beer, Citron and lemonade, and a anything with a lime in it.

Back to your comment - you picked a game we barely lost (our D was very good against Pitt) vs GTech which we looked horrific on both ends and in the coaches booth? That Pitt game wasn't even the worst last season!

It's not a jump to wonder if you'd been drinking.

 

[OrangePA]

I like a good beer, Citron and lemonade, and a anything with a lime in it.

Back to your comment - you picked a game we barely lost (our D was very good against Pitt) vs GTech which we looked horrific on both ends and in the coaches booth? That Pitt game wasn't even the worst last season!

It's not a jump to wonder if you'd been drinking.

Just a thought while you sip your beer.

The article that prompted this thread was McDonald's own concession that he coached a very poor game against Pitt.

That was the whole point - he agreed - he coached badly that day.

 

[Scooch]

No actually in 1968.

How about you?

1991!

But it's cute that its cool to pile on a coach who won 7 games, all of one less than the year prior, after having lost the team's starting QB, 2 top WRs and top OL. But the guy who won 7 games once in his last 5 years at the helm is sacrosanct.

 

[Scooch]

Just a thought while you sip your beer.

The article that prompted this thread was McDonald's own concession that he coached a very poor game against Pitt.

That was the whole point - he agreed - he coached badly that day.

Sure. But you went into crazy hyperbole mode saying it was the worst coached game you've ever seen.

Every game of the 2005 season was worse, for starters.

 

[Ozcuse]

The Pitt game wasn't even the worst coaching example of last year. GT, Penn St., NW, all were worse.

God I wish we could do that Penn State game over again without the Drew Allen experiment :bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang:

 

[lvilleorange]

i know there are lots of factors at play in any loss but i can't think of a game that's every been decided so simply. aaron donald was godzilla and blew everything up. best performance i've ever seen maybe

I can think of a better game. Diamond Ferri.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=243320103

 

[TheCusian]

Just a thought while you sip your beer. The article that prompted this thread was McDonald's own concession that he coached a very poor game against Pitt. That was the whole point - he agreed - he coached badly that day.

I agree. I'm not defending his performance, it was poor. Just thought there have been worse in the last 30 years. I wonder what his thoughts on GTech are?!

 

[IthacaMatt]

Pitt Was The Most Poorly Coached Game I Have Ever Seen By An SU Team.

You must have forgotten most of the GRob era, then.

 

[CIL]

Yeah with mediocre players his last season included a Big East Championship, wins against Pitt, Rutgers, BC and a bowl game. I'm confused by this to be honest. Are you saying that last year's SU football team was full of world beaters? We were 7-6 last year. The 2004 team was 6-6. It wasn't a 9-3 champion. It was .500 and lost by 50 points to Purdue and GA Tech, and also an abysmal Temple team.

I know how we're supposed to think on this board - the conventional wisdom was established long ago - by many with an SU Football pedigree that goes all the way back to 1995. And I know how blasphemous it is to, "oh my god," take a position on P that challenges that CW.

It was also the conventional wisdom on this board, for the longest time, that SU Football had the facilities and money to compete with anybody. Most everybody on this board believed that during the P years.

That "fact" of course has been proven wrong. Of course, that CW was fairly easy to debunk with photos and financials.

The board now recognizes a new CW in that regard.

True, but he had the facilities to recruit solid players at UCONN and did nothing with it. UCONN's facilities are some of the bets in the East.

So, as all of you know, I don't now and never have put much stock in the Pasqualoni CW nonsense that is this board.

I'll stand by the wins, the bowl games and the reputation and prestige that he brought to the program.

Getting back to Pitt.

As I recall it was a bad decision to have Norton try the FG against Pitt - I recall feeling that there was no chance it could be made.

And running the ball wide with no TOs and time running out while trailing was very ill-advised in my opinion.

The Orange staff coached a bad game - a really bad game. It did not put the team in a position to win the game at the end. And that's what a staff is supposed to do.

Donald was utterly brilliant that day, and arguably won the game by himself.

But again, the Orange staff coached a really bad game - the worst I have seen. Total hyperbole. I can name several more.

Two other things, nobody could stop Walter Washington in 2004. And I'm pretty sure that he beat Va Tech one year. He was a great football player. That 2004 Temple team won 2 games. Florida A&M and Syracuse. The 2003 team one 1 game against Middle Tennessee St. Walter Washington started both those years and had mediocre stats at best. He did run for 800 yards in 2004. 200 of which came against us.

And, finally, just to make clear. Nobody on this board supports this coaching staff more than I do - nobody. Doubtful.

 

[SU2NASA]

If we have an above-average high-school kicker we win that game.

 

[Millhouse]

I can think of a better game. Diamond Ferri.

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=243320103

pitt should've put donald at RB.

 

[orangeinjersey]

We lost to Akron. Akron. That Pitt game was fugly, but not as bad as losing by 14 to Akron in the Dome. Akron.

"As the coach at Syracuse, if you play...Akron 1000 times, how many times do you expect to win?"

 

[Jake]

I was at that game. I sat in the first row behind the SU bench.

That loss was not due to poor coaching or poor decision making by the staff.

It was due to very poor execution - a dropped pass by Lowe in the open field - the short missed FG. We were playing with a QB who had guts and brains and moxy but who was not physically capable of taking over a Division I game. And because of his lack of physical dominance we were subject to his up and down play.

I accept that my team will lose games and will lose games that it should win from time to time.

But the decision making on offense especially by the coaches was blatantly inept against Pitt last year.

That is not what happened against Rutgers.

And by the way, since you brought it up, if Shafer wins over 100 games and goes to nine bowl games including the Fiesta, Liberty, Orange and Gator Bowls, I'll be very happy - as you will be.

C'mon everyone. Bad losses in the P era were the players fault. Bad losses anytime else are on the coaches.

OPA has spoken, can we now all move along.

 

[OrangePA]

1991!

But it's cute that its cool to pile on a coach who won 7 games, all of one less than the year prior, after having lost the team's starting QB, 2 top WRs and top OL. But the guy who won 7 games once in his last 5 years at the helm is sacrosanct.

So lets see.

I had been watching SU Football for 23 years before you even came on the scene.

I'll take my knowledge base over yours. Sorry.

Just so you're clear.

I am a very strong supporter of Coach Shafer.

And, I suspect that I have a greater overall knowledge base about him than you do.

I was simply agreeing with Coach McDonald - a person for whom I have a great deal of respect - that the coaching effort versus Pitt was really bad.

Indeed, that is why the article about that game was published.

Hopefully, that places my observations in better context for you.

 

[OrangePA]

C'mon everyone. Bad losses in the P era were the players fault. Bad losses anytime else are on the coaches.

OPA has spoken, can we now all move along.

As one who has led the charge of the Coach P "CW" over the years I was waiting for your comment.

It's always enjoyable jousting with you.

So, here goes.

I didn't blame the Pitt loss on the coaches.

I actually agreed that Donald single handily won that game.

What I said was that the SU coaching was as bad as I have ever seen.

The coaches made a series of tactical mistakes that failed to put the team in a position to win. The article that prompted the observation was about McDonald's acknowledgment that he had a bad game. So, I think its unfair to suggest that I conjured the observation out of some partisan cloud of air.

As far as P is concerned I guess based upon the "Jake Rule" Coach P was 100% responsible for the 100+ wins, multiple BE Championships, wins over Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State, and Auburn, and trips to the Fiesta, Orange, Gator, Liberty, and other bowls - and as an assistant coach was at least partially responsible for the Sugar, Hall of Fame, and Aloha Bowls.

Nice talking to you Jake!

 

[CanadianSU]

Tech game was awful.

Imo losing to a team that is equal to us 56-0 was shocking.