How do we feel about the state of the program now?

[rosconey]

This guy is like listening to garbage, Go

no you can go

 

[tipphill]

I am always baffled by threads like this and the posts that follow the initial one.

I am unsure whether the point is to give an honest opinion or to give what you hope happens. Some seem to feel that anything they view is negative will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. It's somehow disloyal to say that the program will likely wallow in the middle of the ACC pack for a long time.

I get that that's a bad thing given the shallow roots of the fan support among the locals.

its unfortunate that the thinking is shallow roots. the roots were not shallow, for many many years. the fan base granted, is narrow---the loyalty to that fan base and the commitment to 1st class support has been grossly negligent. su STILL neglects the locals. who put more folks in the seats, buys more su s... the university operates on a second class mentality re football and i do not see that changing. since the dome was built --we are just history repeating itself. stop blaming the locals please ---blame the small mindedness, cheap and second class thinking of the the university from the chancellor (s) on down

 

[qdawgg]

People are way too sensitive on here. There are very few overly negative people on here, unless it's no longer okay to question things. Everyone had a field day doing that when Marrone was the coach. This place is tame compared to those times. On the old board we had a the payside which I'm guessing most people joined for the inside info and recruiting info but was also beneficial to have meaningful conversations too.

We had 3 wins last year and one of the worst offenses in the entire country. I don't think it's too far fetched to question whether Lester is going to make a big difference, questioning how we would have been significantly better playing another teams schedule, questioning whether a player steps up next season just because people on the board say they will, questioning punting the ball - at the middle of the field - with minutes left on the clock - when we are behind. I think those are all pretty valid questions.

 

[baggerbob]

perfect example- take out the great guru years to make your point-

screw the facts alter to fit your needs - sounds like the govt

Come back in the fall after a few games, last year is done and gone, no-one can get it back so let it go, if you have nothing else to say don't say anything. You are a one trick pony, constant complaining about the past, its done, and over with.

 

[TheCusian]

People are way too sensitive on here. There are very few overly negative people on here, unless it's no longer okay to question things. Everyone had a field day doing that when Marrone was the coach. This place is tame compared to those times. On the old board we had a the payside which I'm guessing most people joined for the inside info and recruiting info but was also beneficial to have meaningful conversations too. We had 3 wins last year and one of the worst offenses in the entire country. I don't think it's too far fetched to question whether Lester is going to make a big difference, questioning how we would have been significantly better playing another teams schedule, questioning whether a player steps up next season just because people on the board say they will, questioning punting the ball - at the middle of the field - with minutes left on the clock - when we are behind. I think those are all pretty valid questions.

Yep. All valid. The point is when it's relentless is gets old. Find something to like, talk about that in addition to the crap.

 

[qdawgg]

Yep. All valid. The point is when it's relentless is gets old. Find something to like, talk about that in addition to the crap.

I don't disagree. I do think it's pretty tame on here though, especially right now compared to at other times in the season or in the years I've been on "the boards".

 

[DoctorBombay]

As to Oakland's point above about "over scheduling".

Now I said earlier that the locals --- the good folks of CNY --- are the core of SU football support. Without them, there isn't any SU football program.

HOWEVER, that's a two-edged sword. SU has to schedule teams that the locals think are good.

The problem is that Orange fans aren't stupid. They just aren't going to drive from Rochester or where ever to watch Norfolk State. (Someone mentioned Rutgers above without pointing out that their "success" (if you can call it that) was based primarily on scheduling. Blessed with the dumbest fan base (almost all new college football fans) in all of football, they could schedule Howard and actually get fans in the stadium.)

Syracuse fans are way beyond the point where they can be fed chicken feathers and believe it is chicken salad.

So SU HAS to schedule teams that the casual local fans recognize as being worth their time seeing.

Of course, that leads to a problem with our record.

We are, my fellow SU FB fans, squarely on the horns of a dilemma.

Once we build up the fan base --- yet again --- we can get people to the Dome to watch the Orange regardless of who we play (e.g. Basketball)

Therein lies the rub.
My point about Rutgers' "success" was simply to illustrate that they benefitted as a program from timid scheduling, while we got to brag about how "tough" our sked was and proceeded to look overmatched versus every big boy program we faced. That got old very quickly and many a fan, including myself, became disillusioned watching us get blasted over & over again.
Once we've reestablished some momentum and continuity, then we can go back to murderers row. And I think you're mistaken in that SU fans WILL turn out for winning football no matter the opponent, especially if they feel we're playing for something. Coming out in droves to watch us repeatedly get blown out plainly sucks after a while. JMHO

 

[OrangeTarheel]

Win some early and at least one or two convincingly and I'll be onboard. I knew we were in for a long year last year when watching the game against CMU. Not going to invest in how we'll be doing this year until I see the product on the field.

 

[Oakland]

The alternative to LSU is not Norfolk St. It is Kansas, or Army, or Purdue, or Vanderbilt, or Cal, or any other second tier school.

As to Oakland's point above about "over scheduling".

Now I said earlier that the locals --- the good folks of CNY --- are the core of SU football support. Without them, there isn't any SU football program.

HOWEVER, that's a two-edged sword. SU has to schedule teams that the locals think are good.

The problem is that Orange fans aren't stupid. They just aren't going to drive from Rochester or where ever to watch Norfolk State. (Someone mentioned Rutgers above without pointing out that their "success" (if you can call it that) was based primarily on scheduling. Blessed with the dumbest fan base (almost all new college football fans) in all of football, they could schedule Howard and actually get fans in the stadium.)

Syracuse fans are way beyond the point where they can be fed chicken feathers and believe it is chicken salad.

So SU HAS to schedule teams that the casual local fans recognize as being worth their time seeing.

Of course, that leads to a problem with our record.

We are, my fellow SU FB fans, squarely on the horns of a dilemma.

Once we build up the fan base --- yet again --- we can get people to the Dome to watch the Orange regardless of who we play (e.g. Basketball)

 

[PeteCalvin]

This thread sucks. The program doesn't. All this bitching for a bad season full of injuries. We can only improve. And we will. Let's show a little optimism, people.

 

[tipphill]

i am guilty of negativity. long time fan blah,blah blah. what i do see as a positive note is out getting back to nj and hopefully nyc and l.i. for recruiting.when we were good we had numerous recruits from this area. we need them badly and need them to stay away from rutgers. i would like to see out of conference games home and home with rutgers. it would be good for attendance, and a good road game.i believe it would be a good rivalry-----just my take---i also advocated getting upenn to join the big east years ago, (stanford east so to speak) and we all know where that went---totally destroyed what little credibility i may have had

 

[Pyle]

I have renewed optimism for this season.

I hope the true frosh contribute.

I hope we see substantial improvement out of TH - and I think we will see it.

Based on what exactly? He didn't look any better in the spring game than he did 2 years ago. I'm afraid Hunt may have hit his ceiling. Question is, can Lester use his legs enough to keep defenses honest like 2 years ago? The offensive production was so bad in the spring game that I'm not convinced we can get back to a bowl this year.

 

[Townie72]

Based on what exactly? He didn't look any better in the spring game than he did 2 years ago. I'm afraid Hunt may have hit his ceiling. Question is, can Lester use his legs enough to keep defenses honest like 2 years ago? The offensive production was so bad in the spring game that I'm not convinced we can get back to a bowl this year.

Hey, Pyle, OrangePA did say he "hoped" and not that they "will".

That's what we have here. the "Hopers" and the "Show Me's"

 

[Townie72]

i am guilty of negativity. long time fan blah,blah blah. what i do see as a positive note is out getting back to nj and hopefully nyc and l.i. for recruiting.when we were good we had numerous recruits from this area. we need them badly and need them to stay away from rutgers. i would like to see out of conference games home and home with rutgers. it would be good for attendance, and a good road game.i believe it would be a good rivalry-----just my take---i also advocated getting upenn to join the big east years ago, (stanford east so to speak) and we all know where that went---totally destroyed what little credibility i may have had

I'd vote against any game with Rutgers. They should be left to sink to the bottom of the B1G.

You weren't alone on Penn.

Years ago I did some work at AMTRAK in Philly which seemed to be full of people who were previously with the Pennsylvania RR. Lots of them were Penn grads. And they were still highly-pissed that Penn had joined the Ivy League which had Penn significantly reduced Penn's athletic profile. They wanted Penn to be Northwestern, at worst and maybe Stanford. I thought of them as The Chuck Bednarik Fan Club.

AMTRAK at that time was like a throwback to the 1940's. Walnut paneled everything. Secretaries abounded. An Executive lunch room with white table cloths and white jacketed wait staff.

 

[javadoc]

rosconey - you are an a s s h o l e that is my final assumption. ban me delete this whatever I could care less. but no one comes here to read this negative bull__T

I can't speak highly enough of the ignore function. Know it, learn it, live it, love it. It has kept me blissfully unaware of whatever it is that you guys are speaking to in this thread.

 

[Pyle]

Hey, Pyle, OrangePA did say he "hoped" and not that they "will".

That's what we have here. the "Hopers" and the "Show Me's"

I consider myself bi-polar and a bit of both. I hope for alot, at the same time I try to temper my expectations based on what the team has shown me. Blind optimism leads to high expectations which in turn can lead to alot of frustration. Knowing what the team is capable of and basing expectations on the evidence provided so far keeps me grounded during the season which in turn leads to alot less venting and rants on this board.

 

[xc84]

I consider myself bi-polar and a bit of both. I hope for alot, at the same time I try to temper my expectations based on what the team has shown me. Blind optimism leads to high expectations which in turn can lead to alot of frustration. Knowing what the team is capable of and basing expectations on the evidence provided so far keeps me grounded during the season which in turn leads to alot less venting and rants on this board.

I think one of the misconceptions here about some are that if you don't make a big stink about something, then you are content with it. You have "orange colored glasses." Ok...so last season "we" were 3-8. I left the last game pretty pissed about the game and the season. It lasted the 3 hour drive home and probably most of the next day. Do I really need to come here and bitch about a 3-8 season? Is there anyone who doesn't know a 3-8 season sucks? Honestly, I don't feel the need to start a thread or even comment on e.g. how sucky last year was. I lived it. But apparently if I don't come here and gripe about a 3-8 season, that means I was content with it.

added: as noted below... I missed a loss and we were really 3-9

 

[Pyle]

I think one of the misconceptions here about some are that if you don't make a big stink about something, then you are content with it. You have "orange colored glasses." Ok...so last season "we" were 3-8. I left the last game pretty pissed about the game and the season. It lasted the 3 hour drive home and probably most of the next day. Do I really need to come here and bitch about a 3-8 season? Is there anyone who doesn't know a 3-8 season sucks? Honestly, I don't feel the need to start a thread or even comment on e.g. how sucky last year was. I lived it. But apparently if I don't come here and gripe about a 3-8 season, that means I was content with it.

Interseting, seems I was less upset about last season than you were. When Mitch Kimbell went under Center I knew we were screwed. Maybe OSU can win the NC with a 3rd string QB but not here. Kinda what I'm talking about when I mention tempering expectations. I defended the team at the end of the season. Told people what do you expect when you have to fire your OC mid-season and have an inexperiened 3rd string QB running the team? I was bummed but not pissed. Tempering my expectations with the offense means I hope we have a breakout year on ST and D to make up for what we're lacking on offense. But that doesn't mean I'm going to just hope the offense performs miracles. Foy at LT doesn't give me warm fuzzies, Hunt's accuracy was horrible in the spring game, and we have no proven RBs. Now combine that with having to learn a new offense and my hopes aren't with TH and the offense but rather that the rest of the team can carry the offense this season.

 

[baggerbob]

Interseting, seems I was less upset about last season than you were. When Mitch Kimbell went under Center I knew we were screwed. Maybe OSU can win the NC with a 3rd string QB but not here. Kinda what I'm talking about when I mention tempering expectations. I defended the team at the end of the season. Told people what do you expect when you have to fire your OC mid-season and have an inexperiened 3rd string QB running the team? I was bummed but not pissed. Tempering my expectations with the offense means I hope we have a breakout year on ST and D to make up for what we're lacking on offense. But that doesn't mean I'm going to just hope the offense performs miracles. Foy at LT doesn't give me warm fuzzies, Hunt's accuracy was horrible in the spring game, and we have no proven RBs. Now combine that with having to learn a new offense and my hopes aren't with TH and the offense but rather that the rest of the team can carry the offense this season.

Not having PTG is a plus, he never should have been our starter last year, and that's why as the year wore on ERV, and others got time. Morris, McFarland are more north- south runners with less dancing which PTG did too much of, which resulted in a lot of lost yards.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

This thread is a confirmation bias goldmine.

 

[xc84]

Interseting, seems I was less upset about last season than you were. When Mitch Kimbell went under Center I knew we were screwed. Maybe OSU can win the NC with a 3rd string QB but not here. Kinda what I'm talking about when I mention tempering expectations. I defended the team at the end of the season. Told people what do you expect when you have to fire your OC mid-season and have an inexperiened 3rd string QB running the team? I was bummed but not pissed. Tempering my expectations with the offense means I hope we have a breakout year on ST and D to make up for what we're lacking on offense. But that doesn't mean I'm going to just hope the offense performs miracles. Foy at LT doesn't give me warm fuzzies, Hunt's accuracy was horrible in the spring game, and we have no proven RBs. Now combine that with having to learn a new offense and my hopes aren't with TH and the offense but rather that the rest of the team can carry the offense this season.

Ok then. Replace the word "pissed" with "bummed" in my post.

 

[xc84]

This thread is a confirmation bias goldmine.

fans are biased?

 

[Pyle]

Not having PTG is a plus, he never should have been our starter last year, and that's why as the year wore on ERV, and others got time. Morris, McFarland are more north- south runners with less dancing which PTG did too much of, which resulted in a lot of lost yards.

Agree with this. Think part of the problem is the zone read blocking schemes. It forces guys to find the hole as it opens and if you don't have the instincts to do that then you're dancing, over-thinking, etc. One of my big hopes in Lester's new offense is a more straight forward blocking scheme. Get in your stance, look up, find the guy in front of you and knock him on his arse! I realize many don't like it as it equates to the 3 yards and a cloud of dust somtimes, but I'd rather be looking at 3rd and 4 than 3rd and 8.

 

[Scooch]

fans are biased?

No, fans should be confirmed.

 

[Scooch]

I think one of the misconceptions here about some are that if you don't make a big stink about something, then you are content with it. You have "orange colored glasses." Ok...so last season "we" were 3-8. I left the last game pretty pissed about the game and the season. It lasted the 3 hour drive home and probably most of the next day. Do I really need to come here and bitch about a 3-8 season? Is there anyone who doesn't know a 3-8 season sucks? Honestly, I don't feel the need to start a thread or even comment on e.g. how sucky last year was. I lived it. But apparently if I don't come here and gripe about a 3-8 season, that means I was content with it.

But what if we were 3 and NINE?!?!!?