Letter to JW

[kcsu]

After the game my Father and i along with some long time SU corporate supporters hung out. This is a group comprised of very good long time friends who own some of the long time Syracuse area businesses. Businesses that every poster on this board is familiar with.
For over 50 years our families have hung out together, gone to church, school, weddings, birthdays, and funerals. We have shared the best and worst of life together and we have always shared a love and passion for Syracuse University. It is and will remain a common thread.
So with that as a background on Sunday my Dad and one other individual who most of you have heard of, possibly know decided to write a letter to JW expressing their concern with the football program as well as the overall situation within the Athletic department. I thought that the letter was fair in both its praise of the ADs accomplishments and in its criticism of the current issues surrounding the football program and specifically the women's basketball program.

Yesterday we received a response from the AD. It wasn't a form letter. It was directly from JW. Im not going to share the contents but suffice to say that his response while guarded was extremely well thought out and fair. In short the past 2 years have been very challenging. JW pointed out the Dome project, Covid, and major internal and external issues such as NIL and the transfer rule as example that normally wouldn't be compacted in such a short time period. He wasn’t making excuses simply pointing out the fact that his department and the University in general and the collegiate landscape was in the midst of unprecedented change.

The bottom line for me is that based on the response we received it is very clear that JW is aware of and not pleased with the current state of the football program. He mentioned that sports are results based. Both on and off the field.
I appreciate the fact that he replied and im sure that the names of the individuals who signed the letter hold weight with him. I do know that one very significant donor is going to follow up with him in private.
As an FYI our group will be at the VT game which is this years designated road trip.
Last note. I suggest that anyone should reach out to the AD and express their feelings, positive or negative about SU athletics. JW is as passionate about SU as any of us and the more input he receives from SUs base of support the better.

 

[orangenauburn]

So Dino through next year

 

[kcsu]

So Dino through next year

I didn’t get a read either way.
My two cents and its purely speculation is that 4 wins and he stays. I dont know the buyout but i believe it is in the 10m range and baring a complete melt down i dont see the University spending that kind of money. With the exception of the one donor who is going to follow up i didn't hear anyone in our group talk about funding a buyout.

 

[4evaOrange]

Im gonna go kick rocks for a bit and think…

 

[GoSU96]

After the game my Father and i along with some long time SU corporate supporters hung out. This is a group comprised of very good long time friends who own some of the long time Syracuse area businesses. Businesses that every poster on this board is familiar with.
For over 50 years our families have hung out together, gone to church, school, weddings, birthdays, and funerals. We have shared the best and worst of life together and we have always shared a love and passion for Syracuse University. It is and will remain a common thread.
So with that as a background on Sunday my Dad and one other individual who most of you have heard of, possibly know decided to write a letter to JW expressing their concern with the football program as well as the overall situation within the Athletic department. I thought that the letter was fair in both its praise of the ADs accomplishments and in its criticism of the current issues surrounding the football program and specifically the women's basketball program.

Yesterday we received a response from the AD. It wasn't a form letter. It was directly from JW. Im not going to share the contents but suffice to say that his response while guarded was extremely well thought out and fair. In short the past 2 years have been very challenging. JW pointed out the Dome project, Covid, and major internal and external issues such as NIL and the transfer rule as example that normally wouldn't be compacted in such a short time period. He wasn’t making excuses simply pointing out the fact that his department and the University in general and the collegiate landscape was in the midst of unprecedented change.

The bottom line for me is that based on the response we received it is very clear that JW is aware of and not pleased with the current state of the football program. He mentioned that sports are results based. Both on and off the field.
I appreciate the fact that he replied and im sure that the names of the individuals who signed the letter hold weight with him. I do know that one very significant donor is going to follow up with him in private.
As an FYI our group will be at the VT game which is this years designated road trip.
Last note. I suggest that anyone should reach out to the AD and express their feelings, positive or negative about SU athletics. JW is as passionate about SU as any of us and the more input he receives from SUs base of support the better.

he’s already said this is a results based business in public on multiple occasions

 

[JeffCuse]

At some point our coaches and AD need to stop leaning on a pandemic that affected every single program in college football, many of whom had very good years last year.

 

[texascpa]

Um...every school has gone through unprecedented change the last two years. Every...single...one

 

[kcsu]

he’s already said this is a results based business in public on multiple occasions

Agreed. He has been very consistant with this take. Hopefully he has the ability to act on it if needed.

 

[orlandoorange]

Thank you for sharing this. That's somewhat encouraging.

I am tired of hearing about the past 2 years. The past 2 years have been challenging for everyone.

Going out on a limb... I predict the next 2, the next 2 after that, the next 2... will be challenging as well. That's just the way things seem to go.

Don't tell me it's hard. Just win baby.

 

[bothsocksup]

Players need to start making plays. The coaching ain’t great. But the plays are there. Too much blame goes to the coaches. These kids need to step up and make plays.

 

[Nick44]

I would love JW’s perspective on a few underlying themes from this program -

- Injuries - Every team has them but this program has them 2-3x on an annual basis from its peers.

- Recruiting - I am on record saying that this program just cannot recruit at a Top 25 level and never will. I have accepted it. However, if peers like Pitt, VT, BC and Rutgers can occasionally recruit at that level, why can this program not even recruit at a top 40 level? Not even following a 10 win season did this program get a bump. Consistently been top 60.

- Dino and staff make little effort to attract interest in this program and encourage fans to support and come to games. No spring game, the pathetic Fan Fest event, the endless secrecy that clearly does not provide a competitive advantage, etc. Let me phrase it a little differently….how much revenue has been lost over the last 5-6 years because zero effort has been made by this program to encourage attendance?

- (Most importantly LOL) Can we fix the freaking sound system please? I wont blame that one on Dino but seriously? How do you spend millions and it actually sounds worse than the last system.

 

[orange7]

I bleed orange but our athletic department has been a clown show for a while now…

-the sound system is horrible. Last week I could barely make out what they were saying…
-misspelling mishaps. How do you misspell names on a jersey ceremony? Or Boeheim? It hasn’t happened once…it hasn’t happened twice. It’s happened more and that is flat out embarrassing.
-agree with interest and advertising…there is little to none. We should be able to come close to filling a 50K stadium…but we cannot even come close. Between the 20K student body and the surrounding areas of CNY. 40K averages or more SHOULD NOT be a problem.
-I honestly have not been impressed with John. Thanks for the donation and that was greatly appreciated. But he is over his head. Dino isn’t the answer. The women’s bball scandal. And we are all worried about the men’s team once B retires.

Now for the positive! Off to the Harrison lot to get the tailgate going!!

 

[3rdRecon]

It was good of you to share this with everyone. Thank You. Hopefully, our AD welcomes hearing the concerns and frustrations of supporters. The worse case would be the growing apathy toward the program. Beyond the product on the field, this Head Coach has an almost non existent community presence outside of paid endorsements - that is my overwhelming perception.. Say what you will about previous coaches , but past coaches have had high schools camps, open practices, Syracuse based coaches clinics that all extended the brand in our communities. My Son attended and benefited form these experiences and now plays for Tulane. Currently, in the off season(s) you almost forget we field a football team until season ticket notices hit our mailbox. I have not seen this topic talked about much on the forum, but I do not believe Dino or the University have not been well served by this the bubble approach with the program. ( Not speaking about the COVID period). As a 30 year season ticket holder, I am very discouraged by the product both on and off the field. Thanks again for sharing the information about the letter.

 

[gmoney44]

Players need to start making plays. The coaching ain’t great. But the plays are there. Too much blame goes to the coaches. These kids need to step up and make plays.

players do need to make more plays especially on offense where we lack consistency. Coaches need to call the right plays, insure the players can execute them, instill disciplined play, and manage the game. The coaches haven’t shown me they can do it and if it hasn’t happened by now it most likely isn’t going to happen.

 

[Dinkyspond]

So Dino through next year

His contract is through 2024. He'll get next year with 3 wins this year. The question is whether they will pay him for 2023 and 2024 not to coach. I don't think Dino accepts a buyout. I think SYR is willing to eat 1 year but not 2.

 

[kcsu]

It was good of you to share this with everyone. Thank You. Hopefully, our AD welcomes hearing the concerns and frustrations of supporters. The worse case would be the growing apathy toward the program. Beyond the product on the field, this Head Coach has an almost non existent community presence outside of paid endorsements - that is my overwhelming perception.. Say what you will about previous coaches , but past coaches have had high schools camps, open practices, Syracuse based coaches clinics that all extended the brand in our communities. My Son attended and benefited form these experiences and now plays for Tulane. Currently, in the off season(s) you almost forget we field a football team until season ticket notices hit our mailbox. I have not seen this topic talked about much on the forum, but I do not believe Dino or the University have not been well served by this the bubble approach with the program. ( Not speaking about the COVID period). As a 30 year season ticket holder, I am very discouraged by the product both on and off the field. Thanks again for sharing the information about the letter.

Dino hasn't and will never put down roots in Syracuse.

 

[SUDadx2]

After the game my Father and i along with some long time SU corporate supporters hung out. This is a group comprised of very good long time friends who own some of the long time Syracuse area businesses. Businesses that every poster on this board is familiar with.
For over 50 years our families have hung out together, gone to church, school, weddings, birthdays, and funerals. We have shared the best and worst of life together and we have always shared a love and passion for Syracuse University. It is and will remain a common thread.
So with that as a background on Sunday my Dad and one other individual who most of you have heard of, possibly know decided to write a letter to JW expressing their concern with the football program as well as the overall situation within the Athletic department. I thought that the letter was fair in both its praise of the ADs accomplishments and in its criticism of the current issues surrounding the football program and specifically the women's basketball program.

Yesterday we received a response from the AD. It wasn't a form letter. It was directly from JW. Im not going to share the contents but suffice to say that his response while guarded was extremely well thought out and fair. In short the past 2 years have been very challenging. JW pointed out the Dome project, Covid, and major internal and external issues such as NIL and the transfer rule as example that normally wouldn't be compacted in such a short time period. He wasn’t making excuses simply pointing out the fact that his department and the University in general and the collegiate landscape was in the midst of unprecedented change.

The bottom line for me is that based on the response we received it is very clear that JW is aware of and not pleased with the current state of the football program. He mentioned that sports are results based. Both on and off the field.
I appreciate the fact that he replied and im sure that the names of the individuals who signed the letter hold weight with him. I do know that one very significant donor is going to follow up with him in private.
As an FYI our group will be at the VT game which is this years designated road trip.
Last note. I suggest that anyone should reach out to the AD and express their feelings, positive or negative about SU athletics. JW is as passionate about SU as any of us and the more input he receives from SUs base of support the better.

KCSU - Thank you! Thanks for the information shared in your post, but thanks to you, your family and the other corporate sponsors who have supported SU athletics over the years.

Personally I would love to hear to hear more specifics about the football program. While I care about things SU, mentioning the football program and the WBB mess in the same conversation is not fair to the football program.

Go Orange!

 

[kirbivore]

I bleed orange but our athletic department has been a clown show for a while now…

-the sound system is horrible. Last week I could barely make out what they were saying…
-misspelling mishaps. How do you misspell names on a jersey ceremony? Or Boeheim? It hasn’t happened once…it hasn’t happened twice. It’s happened more and that is flat out embarrassing.
-agree with interest and advertising…there is little to none. We should be able to come close to filling a 50K stadium…but we cannot even come close. Between the 20K student body and the surrounding areas of CNY. 40K averages or more SHOULD NOT be a problem.
-I honestly have not been impressed with John. Thanks for the donation and that was greatly appreciated. But he is over his head. Dino isn’t the answer. The women’s bball scandal. And we are all worried about the men’s team once B retires.

Now for the positive! Off to the Harrison lot to get the tailgate going!!

Root of the problem is way too many comfortable job for life types up there like Sala.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Players need to start making plays. The coaching ain’t great. But the plays are there. Too much blame goes to the coaches. These kids need to step up and make plays.

Who recruits these players?

 

[OrangeinBoston]

I don't think Dino accepts a buyout. I think SYR is willing to eat 1 year but not 2.

and, you know this how?

 

[Bayside44]

You guys are nuts.

 

[Alsacs]

His contract is through 2024. He'll get next year with 3 wins this year. The question is whether they will pay him for 2023 and 2024 not to coach. I don't think Dino accepts a buyout. I think SYR is willing to eat 1 year but not 2.

I am not saying you agree with but our AD keeps Dino with another 4-8 then my 15 years as a season ticket holder end.
I pay for tickets I don’t use to support the AD but my god. 1 winning season in 6 years and you don’t make a change then fine.

It’s crazy that people don’t expect a bowl or change.
This isn’t year 4 it’s year 6.

 

[Alsacs]

You guys are nuts.

I get you like JW but his performance as AD has done nothing to give confidence he is up for the job.
He has personal relationships with people here. People like him because he isn’t going to look for another job and would stay here but that honestly isn’t a factor I would care about when your sports teams aren’t doing well.

I don’t care if people good at their job go to better jobs.
It means they will have done well here.
I don’t need wildhack for 20 years. If we had an AD that did well and a bigger dog wanted him then find another AD. Just like coaches.

 

[FAL]

Root of the problem is way too many comfortable job for life types up there like Sala.

Seriously? What does Sala have t do with the current state of the FB and women’s BB programs?
Head scratcher…

 

[3rdRecon]

Dino hasn't and will never put down roots in Syracuse.

Yes, I am afraid you are correct! Unfortunately, we were sold a bill of goods with this Coach.