Looks like Smith and Hickey are leaving

[rrlbees]

I hope it's just allowing them to cover their bases and not because they have made up their minds. I guess I can see Hickey, but Smith and West leaving with eligibility, doesn't make sense if it's to leave for the league. If they have their degrees and want to move on, that's their call, but can't see either as more than an UFA.

That's what I'm hoping for too. I hope they both return. But I'm racking my brain trying to think of players who did senior day then returned.

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[Chip]

That's what I'm hoping for too. I hope they both return. But I'm racking my brain trying to think of players who did senior day then returned.

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I remember someone being on the original Senior Day list but being pulled from the final list because they were coming back. Can't remember who that was, but I'm nearly positive that has happened.

Can't think of anyone who came out with the seniors on that day and then again the next year, but it wouldn't surprise me if it has happened.

Wonder if Shafer gets to create his own system for this. Much like Marrone with the reporting of academic year only. So even if what happens this weekend is unprecedented, it wouldn't matter because we're setting this regime's precedent.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

I wonder why Gulley isn't on the senior day list?

I mentioned PTG in the other thread.

Maybe he still doesn't have enough credits to graduate, or maybe Shafer put him in for a hardship waiver for his 2011 screw-up?

 

[bnoro]

That's what I'm hoping for too. I hope they both return. But I'm racking my brain trying to think of players who did senior day then returned.

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Didn't rishard get honored last season?

 

[GoCuse14]

personally, I like them both...but it would be a mistake for them to leave early. I do not think either are ready.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Didn't rishard get honored last season?

No

Saluting the Seniors The Senior Day ceremony will begin at 11:40 a.m. on Saturday. The class features four seniors who have etched their names on multiple Syracuse record lists, including quarterback Ryan Nassib, receivers Marcus Sales and Alec Lemon and strong safety Shamarko Thomas, in addition to offensive tackle Lou Alexander, linebacker Dom Anene, offensive guard Zack Chibane, tight end Carl Cutler, linebacker Siriki Diabate, defensive tackle Deon Goggins, free safety James Jarrett, kicker Ryan Lichtenstein, defensive end Brandon Sharpe, tight end David Stevens and linebacker Dan Vaughan. Senior managers Josh Evans, Darius Rose and Aaron Rudy will also be honored.

 

[xc84]

Make room for GMII.

 

[Rocco]

Rome seems to be on the outs with McD's flow; having Morris and MacFarlane playing so much was writing on the wall IMO. McD wanted to see what he's working with next year. We've all wondered why the ball was spread around so much, but this seems to be in line with that. Just my $0.02.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

WAER Sports ‏@WAERSports 1m
RB Prince Tyson-Gulley won't walk with the seniors on Saturday because he has another year of eligibility. #SU

 

[upperdeck]

He never played after week 3 in 2010. guess he was hurt

 

[rrlbees]

He never played after week 3 in 2010. guess he was hurt

He got a waiver.

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[rrlbees]

Rome seems to be on the outs with McD's flow; having Morris and MacFarlane playing so much was writing on the wall IMO. McD wanted to see what he's working with next year. We've all wondered why the ball was spread around so much, but this seems to be in line with that. Just my $0.02.

I don't they are playing much more than what PTG was when he was 100%. But I don't think we use Smith enough.

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[OburgOrange]

I mentioned PTG in the other thread.

Maybe he still doesn't have enough credits to graduate, or maybe Shafer put him in for a hardship waiver for his 2011 screw-up?

What was PTG's screw-up in 2011?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootb...h_scott_shafer_sa_8.html#incart_river_default

 

[GoSU96]

http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootb...h_scott_shafer_sa_8.html#incart_river_default

Good reasonable approach. Keeps options open, doesn't deny kids that experience if they decide to move on.

I like it.

 

[dinosaurbbq]

West ain't going anywhere near a football field after leaving SU. He certainly ought to be getting the message he doesn't help this team much and we are attempting to bring in WRs to take his place. He's graduating with a health and exercise science degree and those guys typically end up as Physical Therapists or go to med school. I could see him doing either, but I just can't see him back on the Carrier Dome field again next year.

I am hoping Smith and Hickey come back. Neither would be leaving with a reasonable expectation of being drafted high enough to make a career out of it. Of course, kids don't always have reasonable expectations. However, Hickey has to realize he'll make more from a rookie contract if he has a good year next year and is drafted in the first 2 rounds than he will make as an undrafted FA throughout an entire career of kicking around team to team hoping to hold on. Pugh will be telling him to stay. I don't think he's leaving.

Smith has plenty of reasons to stay. If Hickey stays, that OLine next year is stronger and better than this year with larger holes to run through and with a slightly better QB, drives stay alive and he gets more touches than this year. Yes, there are talented backs behind him, but I think he would hold them off and end up with better numbers than this year. He still has a chance at 1,000 yards this year, but that means getting 206 yards through this game (with an SU win) and a bowl game. That is doable. If he comes back, whether he gets those yards or not, he is on pace with a solid year next year to finish top 3 in SU career rushing yards behind Joe Morris and Walter Reyes. He is right now at 2,099 yards and Delone Carter is current #3 at 3,104. Above and beyond that, he is this team's captain and would pretty much have to be again next year. I don't think he's going anywhere.

I've never talked to any of these kids and have no actual info as to their thinking. Just my best guess and no idea what will ultimately happen. That's what makes the guessing fun.

 

[rrlbees]

West ain't going anywhere near a football field after leaving SU. He certainly ought to be getting the message he doesn't help this team much and we are attempting to bring in WRs to take his place. He's graduating with a health and exercise science degree and those guys typically end up as Physical Therapists or go to med school. I could see him doing either, but I just can't see him back on the Carrier Dome field again next year. I am hoping Smith and Hickey come back. Neither would be leaving with a reasonable expectation of being drafted high enough to make a career out of it. Of course, kids don't always have reasonable expectations. However, Hickey has to realize he'll make more from a rookie contract if he has a good year next year and is drafted in the first 2 rounds than he will make as an undrafted FA throughout an entire career of kicking around team to team hoping to hold on. Pugh will be telling him to stay. I don't think he's leaving. Smith has plenty of reasons to stay. If Hickey stays, that OLine next year is stronger and better than this year with larger holes to run through and with a slightly better QB, drives stay alive and he gets more touches than this year. Yes, there are talented backs behind him, but I think he would hold them off and end up with better numbers than this year. He still has a chance at 1,000 yards this year, but that means getting 206 yards through this game (with an SU win) and a bowl game. That is doable. If he comes back, whether he gets those yards or not, he is on pace with a solid year next year to finish top 3 in SU career rushing yards behind Joe Morris and Walter Reyes. He is right now at 2,099 yards and Delone Carter is current #3 at 3,104. Above and beyond that, he is this team's captain and would pretty much have to be again next year. I don't think he's going anywhere. I've never talked to any of these kids and have no actual info as to their thinking. Just my best guess and no idea what will ultimately happen. That's what makes the guessing fun.

Way to harsh on West. Sure, he's not a #1 but he had a fine year last year with a better situation at QB. I hope he comes back and if he does, I bet he plays.

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[tep624]

Way to harsh on West. Sure, he's not a #1 but he had a fine year last year with a better situation at QB. I hope he comes back and if he does, I bet he plays.

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Exactly. He's not a #1 or maybe even a #2, but he's a solid third option on a deep WR rotation. Flemming would be my choice to be on the list to go mostly because he can't stay healthy.

I hope West, Smith and Hickey are all back along with Gulley, but my guess is at least 1 of that group will be gone.

 

[Tobias Funke]

Exactly. He's not a #1 or maybe even a #2, but he's a solid third option on a deep WR rotation. Flemming would be my choice to be on the list to go mostly because he can't stay healthy.

I hope West, Smith and Hickey are all back along with Gulley, but my guess is at least 1 of that group will be gone.

West's only problem this year is that he is the #1 guy. Put some talent on the field ahead of him and he fits in well...

 

[dinosaurbbq]

Way to harsh on West. Sure, he's not a #1 but he had a fine year last year with a better situation at QB. I hope he comes back and if he does, I bet he plays.

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My problem Bees is that I hold West personally responsible to some degree for the futility of our passing attack this year. There are lots of other contributors on that list, too (McDonald's way too complicated play formations and calls, Hunt/Allen, OLine inconsistency), but West is part of that HUGE problem. I figured the other current WR were possibilities coming into this year, but West was a sure thing to get separation, make catches, make plays and provide an honest to God weapon for the offense above and beyond our talented RBs. West hasn't gotten separation, hasn't made catches, hasn't made plays and certainly isn't a weapon, at least not one any opposing coach accounts for. I know it isn't fair for me to be more mad at West than Fleming or any of the other duds, but I expected more from him while merely hoping for the rest of them. So last year's production is a sort of curse. I know, its not fair. Just the way I think and others can think whatever they want.

I am hoping we actually land KJ Williams, Custus and Ishmael and Cooper makes it here. I'm hoping those 4 have enough raw talent to be more productive than West and the others such that they don't red-shirt. We need playmakers now. I recognize we would lose a year on the back end of the deal, but I hope SU is ranked by the time they are seniors and we have recruited just as talented a WR corps behind them that we can afford to redshirt. Obviously, I know that redshirting isn't just done to gain that last year on the back end and that it is instead to allow the player a year to bulk up, learn the playbook and focus more on adjusting to college life and academic workload. There are situations, however, where the incoming freshman player is talented enough, quick enough to learn or competing inhouse against such inferior albeit more experienced players that he starts as a true freshman. That is what I am hoping for, because this group of WRs is inferior to the WRs on just about every team we've played this year.

 

[dinosaurbbq]

West's only problem this year is that he is the #1 guy. Put some talent on the field ahead of him and he fits in well...

Yes, for a #3 receiver, he'd be quite good. However, at his age, academic year and experience level, he has to be a #1 WR for this team to have any kind of an effective passing attack. If he comes back and fights with true freshmen for the #1 WR spot, that ain't pretty. If he is fighting with true freshmen for the #3 WR spot, that's pretty ugly. Thus, I could see him leaving and it wouldn't bug me a lot.

 

[Tobias Funke]

Yes, for a #3 receiver, he'd be quite good. However, at his age, academic year and experience level, he has to be a #1 WR for this team to have any kind of an effective passing attack. If he comes back and fights with true freshmen for the #1 WR spot, that ain't pretty. If he is fighting with true freshmen for the #3 WR spot, that's pretty ugly. Thus, I could see him leaving and it wouldn't bug me a lot.

If he fights for The #1 spot I see no problem with that. Every team will have guys that aren't made for the top spot, but settle in nicely as secondary options. Having an experienced receiver in ther as a 2 or 3 is not a big deal, quite frankly that is a good thing. There are true freshman around the country who come in immediately and they are the guy. It is called good recruiting. If we get there soon I would be a very happy man. If West were to leave over fear of competition for the #1 spot it would be very short sighted. He is the type that could thrive with the attention being pulled away from him.

 

[GoSU96]

My problem Bees is that I hold West personally responsible to some degree for the futility of our passing attack this year. There are lots of other contributors on that list, too (McDonald's way too complicated play formations and calls, Hunt/Allen, OLine inconsistency), but West is part of that HUGE problem. I figured the other current WR were possibilities coming into this year, but West was a sure thing to get separation, make catches, make plays and provide an honest to God weapon for the offense above and beyond our talented RBs. West hasn't gotten separation, hasn't made catches, hasn't made plays and certainly isn't a weapon, at least not one any opposing coach accounts for. I know it isn't fair for me to be more mad at West than Fleming or any of the other duds, but I expected more from him while merely hoping for the rest of them. So last year's production is a sort of curse. I know, its not fair. Just the way I think and others can think whatever they want.

.

I don't know what the issue with Funderburk is but Marrone and Hackett were going to have Funderburk and Flemming at WR and West in the Slot. Hunt would have been at safety.

 

[007]

I don't know what the issue with Funderburk is but Marrone and Hackett were going to have Funderburk and Flemming at WR and West in the Slot. Hunt would have been at safety.

The certainty of that statement makes it sound like you were personally in the meeting room with Marrone & Hackett when those decisions were made. Maybe you were. So, Who were you going to play at QB?

 

[sufandu]

I have to eat some crow on Smith. He's been better this year than last year and made improvements I didn't think he'd make. Last year I thought he went down far too easily after contact for a guy his size. This year he's been a tougher runner and has had to get more yards on his own with fewer gaping holes to run through. His lower production this year is at least partly due to an OC that refuses to give him the ball as much as he should. We should have been riding him until he collapsed this year. Having said all of that, I don't think it's a good draft move to leave. If he's just ready to be done with college, that's fine, hopefully the reduced number of carries aren't part of the reason. If his ultimate goal is the NFL, he'd probably be better served to come back next year when we'll hopefully have a more functional offense and an OC that has a better feel for what he's doing.