I really, really want to be in the Preseason Top 25

[Eric15]

I know the conventional coach-speak is that "it doesn't matter where you start, it's where you finish, yada yada." To hell with that. Teams that are ranked get more attention on Sportscenter and more eyeballs on your program is an objective advantage.

Even if we're 25th to start, I just want a number next to our name the entire season like the good old days. Do this for us, Football Gods.

 

[Trueblue25]

We all do. I expect 21.

 

[KaiserUEO]

I’ve be always felt that the preseason poll is one of the most important ones of the year.

Once the season starts, the bottom 15 gets muddy and most don’t really know or care, but to come out of the gate ranked is big.

Touching the top 25 for a week or so and dropping out, doesn’t weigh as much as a preseason ranking.

I’m with ya, put a # next to Syracuse...and then let’s spend the year making it smaller.

 

[Eric15]

We all do. I expect 21.

For some reason that's the number I envision as well.

 

[Chip]

I know the conventional coach-speak is that "it doesn't matter where you start, it's where you finish, yada yada." To hell with that. Teams that are ranked get more attention on Sportscenter and more eyeballs on your program is an objective advantage.

Even if we're 25th to start, I just want a number next to our name the entire season like the good old days. Do this for us, Football Gods.

And you're on the part of the ticker at the bottom of the screen that everyone pays attention to.

I expect us to be ranked in both polls. Between 15 and 20.

 

[CuseGrad94]

For some reason that's the number I envision as well.

I was thinking 22...and always thought of myself as an optimist.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Yeah, we need it.

The way the schedule lays out, if we don't start in the Top 25 I'm not sure we make it for a while unless we completely run the table.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I should add, I think we deserve it.

We bring A LOT back from a team that ended last ranked in the teens.

If we're not, at best we're facing unfair skepticism and getting judged by history as opposed to our recent showing as a program. At worst it's just outright disrespect or neglect.

 

[Acesn8s]

Certainly not a scientific method of thinking but if ABC and ESPN are hyping a week three game against Clemson it just sounds better and will probably be worth my $$$ if Syracuse is ranked for that game, so by my follow the money thinking I say Cuse is Ranked 24 and if they are lucky enough to be 2-0 we could around 17.

 

[dollarbill44]

I've always felt it's a lot easier to move up in the rankings if you start out ranked than it is to break into the rankings.
It's also hard to absorb an early loss, like week 3 to Clemson, ranking wise, if you are in the "others receiving votes" category vs being ranked.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I've always felt it's a lot easier to move up in the rankings if you start out ranked than it is to break into the rankings.
It's also hard to absorb an early loss, like week 3 to Clemson, ranking wise, if you are in the "others receiving votes" category vs being ranked.

That's exactly my fear.

 

[FrancoPizza]

I know the conventional coach-speak is that "it doesn't matter where you start, it's where you finish, yada yada." To hell with that. Teams that are ranked get more attention on Sportscenter and more eyeballs on your program is an objective advantage.

Even if we're 25th to start, I just want a number next to our name the entire season like the good old days. Do this for us, Football Gods.

Keep this attitude far away from the basketball board. They'll tell you all that matters is pulling a couple upsets in March.

 

[Eric15]

Keep this attitude far away from the basketball board. They'll tell you all that matters is pulling a couple upsets in March.

Everytime someone on the basketball board says they like starting outside the Top 25 in order to "sneak up on people", part of me dies inside. Like are we Syracuse or Iona?

 

[FrancoPizza]

Everytime someone on the basketball board says they like starting outside the Top 25 in order to "sneak up on people", part of me dies inside. Like are we Syracuse or Iona?

They're still in denial, kind of how football fans viewed things near the end of P's tenure just before the program collapsed. To this day some still think letting P go was the wrong move.

 

[Rocco]

We are one of the best 25 teams on paper to start the year. We should be on it.

Pretty simple for the pollsters, IMHO.

 

[Doc5120]

If we're not in the top 25 to begin the year, then voters have their head in the sand. I'll say we come in at # 20.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

We are one of the best 25 teams on paper to start the year. We should be on it.

Pretty simple for the pollsters, IMHO.

It does encourage me that we have so many players with pre-season accolades.

 

[MGDCuse]

I was thinking 22...and always thought of myself as an optimist.

And it's half of 44. Sorry. First thing I thought when I saw your post.

 

[cusefan88]

Going with 24 as my guess.

 

[orange44]

My guess: 20

 

[texascpa]

Based on some of the most recent "polls" that have come out, I would not be surprised to be just outside the Top 25. Much is being put on us replacing our QB.

 

[djorange1989]

They're still in denial, kind of how football fans viewed things near the end of P's tenure just before the program collapsed. To this day some still think letting P go was the wrong move.

yep, they confuse the horrific hiring of GERG with the firing of P being a mistake. not the case. P had to go, and we needed to hire a good coach, and Gross botched it

 

[SUFan44]

They're still in denial, kind of how football fans viewed things near the end of P's tenure just before the program collapsed. To this day some still think letting P go was the wrong move.

As a big fan of both, I am in agreement with this. There are a lot of people that are seeing what they want to see with Syracuse basketball. The program has deteriorated and is a shell of its former self. Boeheim built the whole thing, but that doesn't mean it isn't important to preserve his legacy by leaving at the right time, too. Unfortunately, that right time may have already past.

 

[djorange1989]

As a big fan of both, I am in agreement with this. There are a lot of people that are seeing what they want to see with Syracuse basketball. The program has deteriorated and is a shell of its former self. Boeheim built the whole thing, but that doesn't mean it isn't important to preserve his legacy by leaving at the right time, too. Unfortunately, that right time may have already past.

if the administration had made him retire immediately after the last round of sanctions, we would be in a better place right now, I believe. the coach in waiting plan didn't exactly work out. Except for Washington.

 

[RF2044]

And you're on the part of the ticker at the bottom of the screen that everyone pays attention to.

I expect us to be ranked in both polls. Between 15 and 20.

Agree 100% -- was going to say the same thing before seeing your post.

And even though it seems like it shouldn't matter, being constantly on the bottom of ESPN scrolls, covered in sports pages nationally, etc. is a big step towards changing the narrative about our program.

Not to mention, how fun was it the last month of the season to see us ranked, and to see information about our program actually COVERED?