Our eerie similarity to the University of Colorado Boulder

[SU2NASA]

We have more of an eery similarity to 1979 SMU.

 

[tep624]

The other valid comparison is that of how generations view performance.

Those like myself who are in their 40s perceive SU and CU as once strong programs who are trying to recapture their former glory.

I suspect those under 30 look at both SU and CU as generally mediocre-to-crappy programs. And that's it. They may know some of the history but it's not relevant.

I mean you guys can talk about how we won 8 games and beat another 8 win team in a bowl game played on a weekday afternoon 4 days before Christmas, and that's great for us, but no one else really cares. And it doesn't change the perception of our program much at all since 2/3rd of college football makes a similar kind of bowl these days.

The only way we are changing our national perception is to regularly be ranked in the top 20 for consecutive years and win some nationally televised games over opponents we're not favored to beat. That's it. We got our late 80's through late 90's reputation by doing just that and we got our current reputation by being mediocre to downright awful for 10 + years. Being an average program for 2 or 3 seasons isn't going to reset perceptions back to 1998.

 

[Scooch]

The only way we are changing our national perception is to regularly be ranked in the top 20 for consecutive years and win some nationally televised games over opponents we're not favored to beat. That's it. We got our late 80's through late 90's reputation by doing just that and we got our current reputation by being mediocre to downright awful for 10 + years. Being an average program for 2 or 3 seasons isn't going to reset perceptions back to 1998.

Agree, although I don't think it'd take a long time, honestly.

We have a much larger national fan base than the size of the school and the population of CNY would suggest. Syracuse, as an athletics brand, is quite strong. If we had a couple of really strong years -- 10 wins, beat a highly ranked opponent or two, etc. and the narrative on SU would change quickly.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Another connection- Mark Johnson is their PxP guy.

 

[Orangejet]

Will be in Boulder on 11/1 for the Washington Huskies game and will compare it to my experience at the Dome this year vs. MD.

 

[ssbriefcase]

Man, I hate this comparison. many times when I think about our struggles, I also think "well, at least we're not Colorado. They're horrible!"

This x1000. Being a CO resident and having actually done work on that project up at Dal Ward and the rest of the stadium, I think, "at least we're not them." But if anyone thinks SU doesn't like to spend money on sports or football in particular, spend 10 min listening to Denver local radio and you will feel like "at least we're not them." They're spending money for the first time that I ever remember on football because there was no choice really with the move to the Pac-12 and AD's and coaches fired almost every year and recruiting sucking for years. But bowl games is the big missing ingredient here. And not being competitive in most games.

Another reason is CSU being relevant these past few seasons, and a good coach in McElwain.

Now CU competed as of the last game and we haven't, but I still think we're a step above. That goes for recruiting also. And Jim Brown is still transcendent even with high schooler's out here today, because of a huge push to make lax a major sport here.
I also saw messages posted on a CU board last year talking about how they wish they could "turn their program around like Syracuse did."
Now this week or season has happened, so we'll see what the future brings now.

 

[wfschrec]

Wow, you must be a magnet for them then. I know a ton of people that recognize us for basketball but not football.

I get a mix of both but like I said I usually run into CFB fans often. Most of the time when I talk to folks in a business capacity it usually ends up ranging off on a tangent into college football. Especially since I am in the southeast and the south and into Texas football here is king. I also run into football fans a lot on the west coast too so that is usually where the conversation goes.

 

[ssbriefcase]

Will be in Boulder on 11/1 for the Washington Huskies game and will compare it to my experience at the Dome this year vs. MD.

I might be at that one as well. It will be a little different though, with Cyler Miles in his homecoming back to Denver as the Washington starting qb (Mullen).

 

[anomander]

CU regents approve $142M in athletic facilities upgrades

Colorado, along with all the other Pac12 schools have put that TV money to good use.