SWC75
Bored Historian
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THE SCHEDULE
For comparison’s sake, here are Syracuse’s main team numbers for 2018, 2019 and 2020: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly:
2018:
Offense: 40.2 points (11th) 464.8 yards (19th) 200.1 rushing (36th) 264.7 passing (31st) per game
Defense: 27.0 points (64th) 426.5 yards (88th) 162.5 rushing (63rd) 264.1 passing (116th) per game
Turnovers: +13 (5th) Starting Field Position: 35.0-27.4 = +7.6 (2nd)
2019:
Offense: 28.3 points (69th) 394.6 yards (71st) 154.0 rushing (71st) 240.0 passing (60th) per game
Defense: 30.7 points (88th) 464.1 yards (110th) 201.6 rushing (109th) 262.5 passing (110th) per game
Turnovers +9 (13th) Average Field Position: 32.3 – 27.3 = +5.0 (15th )
2020:
Offense: 17.8 points (117th) 265.3 yards (125th) 92.0 rushing (121st) 173.3 passing (110th) per game
Defense: 32.7 points (90th) 463.9 yards (112th) 209.1 rushing (104th) 254.8 passing (95th) per game
Turnovers +3 (45th) Average Field Position: 30.0 – 30.1 = -0.1 (29th) (With Nolan Cooney setting an SU record for punting average: 44.8)
127 FBS played last year. I chose the 63rd ranked team in each stat as ‘average’. These were their numbers:
Offense: 28.5 points 393.8 yards 163.0 rushing 230.4 passing per game
Defense: 29.2 points 406.0 yards 163.7 rushing 231.6 passing per game
Turnovers Even (of course…) Average Field Position: 30.3 – 30.0 = +0.3
Basically, to win a modern college football game, you need to score 30 points. You might win with less than that, but probably not. We've averaged 30ppg nine times in our entire history: 1904, 1959, 1987, 1995-98, 2012 and 2018.
Saturday 9/4 7PM at OHIO UNIVERSITY TV: CBS Sports Network
The Bobcats are trying to decide which of two quarterbacks to use: one is more of a passer, the other more of a runner. Their defensive strength in the secondary. Sound familiar? Kurtis Roarke is the passer, who complete 68% of his passes for 368 yds, 3TDs 0int. in last year’s three game season, (it was supposed to be 6 but three games were cancelled due to Covid). Frank Solich, (now replaced by offensive coordinator Tim Albin), actually alternated him with Armani Rogers, who passed for only 48 yards and 1 score but ran for 114 and scored twice. I guess we’ll have a good idea of what the plan is when each man is in there. The thing is, they run the ball very well. De’Montre Tuggle, (love the name), who ran for 403 yards in 53 carries (7.6!) and 6TDs in those three games. He also returned four punts for 180 yards (45.0!), one for a 93 yard TD. We need to watch out for him – and for all their receivers, who return. Lindy’s “The wide receivers aren’t flashy but fit nicely into an offense brimming with potential”.
Their defense “managed just four sacks and gave up 4.8 yards per rushing attempt in 2020”. But they intercepted 5 passes, gave up just 34% three-point conversions and just 16.7ppg. They’ve got just one returning starter up front but has “a secondary loaded with upperclassmen”. Their punter averaged only 36.9 and their placekicker was only 2/6 in field goals, so we could have a big edge in the kicking game - we can control Tuggle.
Solich took Ohio to 12 bowl games in his 16 seasons there, including the last 5 full seasons. Lindy’s says Ohio has “a relatively easy schedule that can help build confidence”. I think they might be talking about us.
Over just three games vs. Central Michigan (27-30), Akron (24-10) and Bowling Green (52-10)
Offense: 34.3 points (24th) 362.7 yards (92nd) 216.7 rushing (18th) 146.0 passing (116th) per game
Defense: 16.7 points (7th) 389.0 yards (51st) 193.7 rushing (94th) 195.3 passing (19th) per game
Turnovers +4 (2nd) Average Field Position: not shown (Athlon does it but not for MAC teams.
The combined PS# of their starting line up is 7,126 compared to our 3,613, so we would appear to have a big advantage in talent level. But they just said on the new that the Bobcats are favored by a point!
Saturday 9/11 2PM at the Dome vs. RUTGERS TV: ACC Network
When Greg Schiano first took over at Rutgers prior to the 2001 season, he announced that he was going to build a wall around the state, (and Donald Trump’s ears perked up), to prevent schools like Syracuse from stealing all the talent from their home state. He may not have built a wall but he did reverse the flow of that talent to get it coming to Rutgers, (which is basically “New Jersey State”). Paul Pasqualoni beat him 3 of 4 times but a 7-24 loss in 2003 almost cost him his job. Schiano then pounded Greg Robinson, 9-31, 7-38, 14-38 and 17-35. There was a famous incident where Robinson, in the Dome, advanced to shake hands with Schiano before a game and Rutgers, after the handshake, walked away, laughing. Doug Marrone won the hearts of SU fans by whipping Schiano, 31-13 in 2009 and then beat him again the next year before absorbing a frustrating loss in 2011, a 16-19 game in the Dome. I don’t recall the details but I remember that SU couldn’t figure out how we’d lost that one. Schiano moved on to the NFL but came back last, inheriting a Rutgers team with a 21 game Big Ten losing streak. He whipped Michigan State 38-27 in his first game, lost 4 in a row by an average score of 29-39, then split their last four games to go 3-6, which, per Athlon “was viewed as colossal feat” in New Jersey”. Yes, he’s back. And he can coach. And he knows how to beat us.
Noah Vedral “seized the Scarlet Knight’s marquee position, (QB), in training camp”. Schiano: “He’s really efficient at running our offense and there’s a lot that goes into it that you don’t see other than throwing.” He completed 61.5% for 1,253 yards and 9TDs vs. 8int. Lindy’s says that he’ll “be pushed by redshirt freshman Evan Simon”. Isaih Pacheco was the leading rusher with 116/515/3. The top three receivers all return: Bo Melton 47/838/6, Aron Cruikshank 37/238/1 and Sameen Jones 34/378/3. They return their entire offensive line.
They had a very aggressive defense that forced 19 takeovers on the season and made 8 tackles for a loss per game. Their 21 sacks were the most since the joined the Big 10. Both edge rushers, Mike Tverdov and Mohamed Toure return with 8.5 sacks between them. Athlon: “Rutgers boasts one of the Big ten’s best linebacker corps, headed by Olakinde Fatukasi, the conference’s leading tackler with 101 stops a year ago.” The middle man, Tyshon Fogg, is a three-year starter with 70 tackles. (Tyshon Fogg?) They have a deep secondary and very Young, Tre Avery and Max Melton have 69 starts between them. They have a strong kicking game. Their punter, Adam Korsak, averaged 43 yards. Their placekicker, Valentino Ambrosio hit 9 of 11 field goals and Aron Cruickshank returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Opposing coaches: “They’re an unknown still. I do think they’re playing harder and the little bit of stuff they showed seemed to fit their personnel better. …(Schiano) has definitely re-established their recruiting identity. On paper they’re doing great. The question a lot of us have is: how effective can he be developing players in this league? The knock against Schiano is that all of his success came in the Big East and the blueprint for winning Jersey and that region can win you 10 games in the G5 but not in the Big 10…I think this is the time to take risks and play the good signees that they have. Trial by fire and get your culture right…. they have to show proof of concept to recruits, not so much wins and losses right now.”
Offense: 26.7 points (80th) 339.1 yards (105th) 140.3 rushing (86th) 198.8 passing (94th) per game
Defense: 32.1 points (83rd) 449.1 yards (104th) 203.7 rushing (99th) 245.3 passing (81st) per game
Turnovers +6 (22nd) Average Field Position: 32.7 – 30.4 = +2.3 (42nd)
Phil Steele rates their talent at 2,977 PS points, a better rating than our 3,613.
Saturday 9/18 Noon at the Dome vs. ALBANY TV: ACC Network
The Great Danes were one of those FCS schools that played an abbreviated schedule in the spring, beating New Hampshire by a field goal and losing to Rhode Island, Maine and Stony Brook. Nunes: “On the year, Albany averaged just 18.8 points per game, while rushing for 118.5 yards per game and throwing for another 172.3 per…Defensively, Albany allowed 24 points and 272.5 yards per game, while collecting one interception and eight sacks.” 272.5 ypg is pretty good. Karl Mofor rushed for 460 yards in those four games while QB Jeff Undercuffler completed 55% for 556 yards 6TDs and 3 interceptions. In 2019, he 3,543 passing yards and an FCS-leading 41 touchdowns! Manlius native Danny Damico led with 34 tackles.
Let’s face it, if we can’t win this one, the basketball season begins on September 18th. Ever wonder how we’d compare to North Dakota State? The Great Danes open the season against the Bison.
Friday 9/24 8PM at the Dome vs. LIBERTY TV: ACC Network
Last year Liberty really came of age as a football program, going 10-1 with the one loss by one point due to a blocked field goal at NC State. Much of their schedule was lower major but they whipped up in the Dome, 38-21, and also won at Virginia Tech 38-35. Then they won a bowl game from another strong mid-major, undefeated Coastal Carolina, in a bowl game. And they’ve got EVERYONE (almost) back: 19 starters including all the big names. We need to be 3-0 going into this game.
There might not be a better quarterback in the country than Malik Willis, who passed of r 2,260 yards, ran for 944 and accounted for 34 touchdowns. His top three receivers are back and they’ve added 6-4 230 Stetson Moore from junior college. The running back, Joshua Mack was only the second leading rusher with 797 yards but averaged 5.7 yards per carry. All 5 interior linemen return. They averaged 38ppg last year: what will it take to beat them this year?
The defense has 9 starters back Ends Durrell Johnson and Treshaun Clark had 14 sacks and 13 other TFLs between them. “Follow rover Javon Scruggs if you can’t find the ball because he is always around it.” (Lindy’s). Chris Megginson “played anywhere from cornerback to free safety as a freshman” (Athlon) and he and Marcus Haskins “are not fixtures on the corners”. (Lindy’s)
Kicker Alex Barber only made 13 of 20 field goals but two of them were 51 and 54 yards. Punter Aiden Alvea had a 42 yard average.
Offense: 38.2 points (16th) 482.7 yards (15th) 252.4 rushing (9th) 230.4 passing (63rd) per game
Defense: 20.5 points (22nd) 317.7 yards (11th) 132.8 rushing (29th) 184.9 passing (12th) per game
Turnovers +1 (57th) Average Field Position: Not shown.
Phil Steele for some reason doesn’t rate 11 of their starters so I can’t make a comparison thee.
For comparison’s sake, here are Syracuse’s main team numbers for 2018, 2019 and 2020: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly:
2018:
Offense: 40.2 points (11th) 464.8 yards (19th) 200.1 rushing (36th) 264.7 passing (31st) per game
Defense: 27.0 points (64th) 426.5 yards (88th) 162.5 rushing (63rd) 264.1 passing (116th) per game
Turnovers: +13 (5th) Starting Field Position: 35.0-27.4 = +7.6 (2nd)
2019:
Offense: 28.3 points (69th) 394.6 yards (71st) 154.0 rushing (71st) 240.0 passing (60th) per game
Defense: 30.7 points (88th) 464.1 yards (110th) 201.6 rushing (109th) 262.5 passing (110th) per game
Turnovers +9 (13th) Average Field Position: 32.3 – 27.3 = +5.0 (15th )
2020:
Offense: 17.8 points (117th) 265.3 yards (125th) 92.0 rushing (121st) 173.3 passing (110th) per game
Defense: 32.7 points (90th) 463.9 yards (112th) 209.1 rushing (104th) 254.8 passing (95th) per game
Turnovers +3 (45th) Average Field Position: 30.0 – 30.1 = -0.1 (29th) (With Nolan Cooney setting an SU record for punting average: 44.8)
127 FBS played last year. I chose the 63rd ranked team in each stat as ‘average’. These were their numbers:
Offense: 28.5 points 393.8 yards 163.0 rushing 230.4 passing per game
Defense: 29.2 points 406.0 yards 163.7 rushing 231.6 passing per game
Turnovers Even (of course…) Average Field Position: 30.3 – 30.0 = +0.3
Basically, to win a modern college football game, you need to score 30 points. You might win with less than that, but probably not. We've averaged 30ppg nine times in our entire history: 1904, 1959, 1987, 1995-98, 2012 and 2018.
Saturday 9/4 7PM at OHIO UNIVERSITY TV: CBS Sports Network
The Bobcats are trying to decide which of two quarterbacks to use: one is more of a passer, the other more of a runner. Their defensive strength in the secondary. Sound familiar? Kurtis Roarke is the passer, who complete 68% of his passes for 368 yds, 3TDs 0int. in last year’s three game season, (it was supposed to be 6 but three games were cancelled due to Covid). Frank Solich, (now replaced by offensive coordinator Tim Albin), actually alternated him with Armani Rogers, who passed for only 48 yards and 1 score but ran for 114 and scored twice. I guess we’ll have a good idea of what the plan is when each man is in there. The thing is, they run the ball very well. De’Montre Tuggle, (love the name), who ran for 403 yards in 53 carries (7.6!) and 6TDs in those three games. He also returned four punts for 180 yards (45.0!), one for a 93 yard TD. We need to watch out for him – and for all their receivers, who return. Lindy’s “The wide receivers aren’t flashy but fit nicely into an offense brimming with potential”.
Their defense “managed just four sacks and gave up 4.8 yards per rushing attempt in 2020”. But they intercepted 5 passes, gave up just 34% three-point conversions and just 16.7ppg. They’ve got just one returning starter up front but has “a secondary loaded with upperclassmen”. Their punter averaged only 36.9 and their placekicker was only 2/6 in field goals, so we could have a big edge in the kicking game - we can control Tuggle.
Solich took Ohio to 12 bowl games in his 16 seasons there, including the last 5 full seasons. Lindy’s says Ohio has “a relatively easy schedule that can help build confidence”. I think they might be talking about us.
Over just three games vs. Central Michigan (27-30), Akron (24-10) and Bowling Green (52-10)
Offense: 34.3 points (24th) 362.7 yards (92nd) 216.7 rushing (18th) 146.0 passing (116th) per game
Defense: 16.7 points (7th) 389.0 yards (51st) 193.7 rushing (94th) 195.3 passing (19th) per game
Turnovers +4 (2nd) Average Field Position: not shown (Athlon does it but not for MAC teams.
The combined PS# of their starting line up is 7,126 compared to our 3,613, so we would appear to have a big advantage in talent level. But they just said on the new that the Bobcats are favored by a point!
Saturday 9/11 2PM at the Dome vs. RUTGERS TV: ACC Network
When Greg Schiano first took over at Rutgers prior to the 2001 season, he announced that he was going to build a wall around the state, (and Donald Trump’s ears perked up), to prevent schools like Syracuse from stealing all the talent from their home state. He may not have built a wall but he did reverse the flow of that talent to get it coming to Rutgers, (which is basically “New Jersey State”). Paul Pasqualoni beat him 3 of 4 times but a 7-24 loss in 2003 almost cost him his job. Schiano then pounded Greg Robinson, 9-31, 7-38, 14-38 and 17-35. There was a famous incident where Robinson, in the Dome, advanced to shake hands with Schiano before a game and Rutgers, after the handshake, walked away, laughing. Doug Marrone won the hearts of SU fans by whipping Schiano, 31-13 in 2009 and then beat him again the next year before absorbing a frustrating loss in 2011, a 16-19 game in the Dome. I don’t recall the details but I remember that SU couldn’t figure out how we’d lost that one. Schiano moved on to the NFL but came back last, inheriting a Rutgers team with a 21 game Big Ten losing streak. He whipped Michigan State 38-27 in his first game, lost 4 in a row by an average score of 29-39, then split their last four games to go 3-6, which, per Athlon “was viewed as colossal feat” in New Jersey”. Yes, he’s back. And he can coach. And he knows how to beat us.
Noah Vedral “seized the Scarlet Knight’s marquee position, (QB), in training camp”. Schiano: “He’s really efficient at running our offense and there’s a lot that goes into it that you don’t see other than throwing.” He completed 61.5% for 1,253 yards and 9TDs vs. 8int. Lindy’s says that he’ll “be pushed by redshirt freshman Evan Simon”. Isaih Pacheco was the leading rusher with 116/515/3. The top three receivers all return: Bo Melton 47/838/6, Aron Cruikshank 37/238/1 and Sameen Jones 34/378/3. They return their entire offensive line.
They had a very aggressive defense that forced 19 takeovers on the season and made 8 tackles for a loss per game. Their 21 sacks were the most since the joined the Big 10. Both edge rushers, Mike Tverdov and Mohamed Toure return with 8.5 sacks between them. Athlon: “Rutgers boasts one of the Big ten’s best linebacker corps, headed by Olakinde Fatukasi, the conference’s leading tackler with 101 stops a year ago.” The middle man, Tyshon Fogg, is a three-year starter with 70 tackles. (Tyshon Fogg?) They have a deep secondary and very Young, Tre Avery and Max Melton have 69 starts between them. They have a strong kicking game. Their punter, Adam Korsak, averaged 43 yards. Their placekicker, Valentino Ambrosio hit 9 of 11 field goals and Aron Cruickshank returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Opposing coaches: “They’re an unknown still. I do think they’re playing harder and the little bit of stuff they showed seemed to fit their personnel better. …(Schiano) has definitely re-established their recruiting identity. On paper they’re doing great. The question a lot of us have is: how effective can he be developing players in this league? The knock against Schiano is that all of his success came in the Big East and the blueprint for winning Jersey and that region can win you 10 games in the G5 but not in the Big 10…I think this is the time to take risks and play the good signees that they have. Trial by fire and get your culture right…. they have to show proof of concept to recruits, not so much wins and losses right now.”
Offense: 26.7 points (80th) 339.1 yards (105th) 140.3 rushing (86th) 198.8 passing (94th) per game
Defense: 32.1 points (83rd) 449.1 yards (104th) 203.7 rushing (99th) 245.3 passing (81st) per game
Turnovers +6 (22nd) Average Field Position: 32.7 – 30.4 = +2.3 (42nd)
Phil Steele rates their talent at 2,977 PS points, a better rating than our 3,613.
Saturday 9/18 Noon at the Dome vs. ALBANY TV: ACC Network
The Great Danes were one of those FCS schools that played an abbreviated schedule in the spring, beating New Hampshire by a field goal and losing to Rhode Island, Maine and Stony Brook. Nunes: “On the year, Albany averaged just 18.8 points per game, while rushing for 118.5 yards per game and throwing for another 172.3 per…Defensively, Albany allowed 24 points and 272.5 yards per game, while collecting one interception and eight sacks.” 272.5 ypg is pretty good. Karl Mofor rushed for 460 yards in those four games while QB Jeff Undercuffler completed 55% for 556 yards 6TDs and 3 interceptions. In 2019, he 3,543 passing yards and an FCS-leading 41 touchdowns! Manlius native Danny Damico led with 34 tackles.
Let’s face it, if we can’t win this one, the basketball season begins on September 18th. Ever wonder how we’d compare to North Dakota State? The Great Danes open the season against the Bison.
Friday 9/24 8PM at the Dome vs. LIBERTY TV: ACC Network
Last year Liberty really came of age as a football program, going 10-1 with the one loss by one point due to a blocked field goal at NC State. Much of their schedule was lower major but they whipped up in the Dome, 38-21, and also won at Virginia Tech 38-35. Then they won a bowl game from another strong mid-major, undefeated Coastal Carolina, in a bowl game. And they’ve got EVERYONE (almost) back: 19 starters including all the big names. We need to be 3-0 going into this game.
There might not be a better quarterback in the country than Malik Willis, who passed of r 2,260 yards, ran for 944 and accounted for 34 touchdowns. His top three receivers are back and they’ve added 6-4 230 Stetson Moore from junior college. The running back, Joshua Mack was only the second leading rusher with 797 yards but averaged 5.7 yards per carry. All 5 interior linemen return. They averaged 38ppg last year: what will it take to beat them this year?
The defense has 9 starters back Ends Durrell Johnson and Treshaun Clark had 14 sacks and 13 other TFLs between them. “Follow rover Javon Scruggs if you can’t find the ball because he is always around it.” (Lindy’s). Chris Megginson “played anywhere from cornerback to free safety as a freshman” (Athlon) and he and Marcus Haskins “are not fixtures on the corners”. (Lindy’s)
Kicker Alex Barber only made 13 of 20 field goals but two of them were 51 and 54 yards. Punter Aiden Alvea had a 42 yard average.
Offense: 38.2 points (16th) 482.7 yards (15th) 252.4 rushing (9th) 230.4 passing (63rd) per game
Defense: 20.5 points (22nd) 317.7 yards (11th) 132.8 rushing (29th) 184.9 passing (12th) per game
Turnovers +1 (57th) Average Field Position: Not shown.
Phil Steele for some reason doesn’t rate 11 of their starters so I can’t make a comparison thee.
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