all the focus on Shafer's record last year vs. this year is too crude to be helpful. As has been pointed out, oftentimes the margin between winning and losing lies in the "lucky" or "unlucky" breaks - in game injuries, bad calls, fluke plays, etc.
I'm not a delusional Syracuse fan. I understand there are some intrinsic disadvantages to Syracuse football (no local fertile recruiting grounds, private school, etc). I realize the team will not consistently put up 10 win season year in and year out, simply because Syracuse will never consistently have the talent to pull that off. I'm not expecting Shafer, or anyone, to be a miracle worker.
That being said, there are some marks of what a well coached team looks like. A team that maximizes their talent, whatever the level. A team that is well organized. A team that is disciplined. A team that is cohesive and maximizes whatever small advantages they have. They may not win because the otherside blows away the talent, but they maximize their chances
Shafer's teams - regardless of record - are not well coached. There is no unifying vision for the team. There is no attention to detail. There is no intelligence in utilizing talent and positioning it as best as it can be. Whatever the talent level is, it is not being managed and maximized to win games.
And THAT is the indictment. All the squabbling over record means nothing to me. The team is not well coached, and trending in the wrong direction (as that ridiculous punt makes obvious) regardless of whether or not he gets 2, 4, or even 6 wins, this year, last year, or any year.