Program Enthusiasm?

[DPCuse]

So, after this weekends performance, what are you hearing from your neighbors, coworkers, buddies? I was surprised to hear quite a bit of buzz about the team. One friend said he is going to buy season tickets this year even though we are a game in already. A coworker said he may even take in a game now that they look exciting. Anyone else hearing renewed interest? As they say, offsense sells tickets.

 

[All4SU]

I suspect the renewed enthusiasm is restricted to this board, and those who were actually at the game (some of them anyway). The others are waiting for wins -- as they probably should, and always will.

 

[SU2NASA]

That regardless, a loss is a loss.

"Oh man, if only we hadn't allowed that punt return for a touchdown, or late-hit that guy, or had that disastrous lateral pass, we totally would have won".

Yeah, but we did do those things, and they're not the first time.

There are no moral victories in losing to friggin' Northwestern.

 

[Sullycuse]

I don't think enthusiasm is quite the word yet...I think interest and willingness to pay attention without dismissing it is more accurate. Friends of mine (recent alums from '07 on) have always ridiculed me for my fervent interest in SU football/recruiting/coaching searches because of the lack of a reputable product on the field. But most of those friends who watched the game Saturday understand that what they saw is head and shoulders above what they've been casually watching for the past 8 or 9 years in terms of actually taking a definitive step in the right direction. As it's been said right here, however, one game doesn't make the point unless a dedication to that offense continues (particularly in a game against USC where you're expected to lose, and lose big). But it's not a joke anymore, even where it was within our own fanbase... and i think that may be just as good as enthusiasm at this point, a weary fanbase finally willing to edge closer to the line between interest and enthusiasm. For the past several years people have talked about the small steps that a program has to take to get back to relevance, and there was plenty of debate as to whether those steps being taken were too small...i think this season will be filled with the kinds of strides many of us wanted to see when we were hearing about "small steps" from the more patient among us.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I'm just one guy, but let me put it to you like this -

I'm more excited after Saturday's loss than I was after Wake last season, or any of the other games we won last season for that matter.

 

[nzm136]

That regardless, a loss is a loss.

"Oh man, if only we hadn't allowed that punt return for a touchdown, or late-hit that guy, or had that disastrous lateral pass, we totally would have won".

Yeah, but we did do those things, and they're not the first time.

There are no moral victories in losing to friggin' Northwestern.

Watch a GROB loss to Akron and then watch a HCDM loss to NW and tell me that there aren't moral victories.

 

[bevosu]

Got this email Sunday from an SU alum living in SEC territory...

"What a game yesterday! I feel much more confident about the Orange than I did before, they really hung in there. I thought that last penalty call was totally uncalled for."

 

[JeremyCuse]

Glad to hear most people are getting better responses then I got. I am still getting mostly indifference or the "typical SU" where they point out SU put up all those numbers but still lost. I think its going to take a couple games worth of marked improvement before the casual fan really takes notice.

 

[orangefog]

I am working on converting, or at least gaining the interest, of a Florida Gator fan. My sister's boyfriend said he might have to check out SU after I told him about their new offense.

 

[javadoc]

I'm just one guy, but let me put it to you like this -

I'm more excited after Saturday's loss than I was after Wake last season, or any of the other games we won last season for that matter.

It's tantalizing. I see a lot of room for improvement, too, with young guys learning and improving. Given our normal depth now, we shouldn't wear out, and should get noticeably better by year's end. Could be a pretty good team come bowl time.

 

[swish7]

I don't think enthusiasm is quite the word yet...I think interest and willingness to pay attention without dismissing it is more accurate. Friends of mine (recent alums from '07 on) have always ridiculed me for my fervent interest in SU

That 3rd sentence says a lot about what is wrong with the SU fan base.

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

My dad, who told me he'd never go to another SU game after he was at the Parent's Weekend beatdown of WVU because he didn't think it'd ever get any better, was border-line giddy after watching the game on TV and seeing the offensive performance. I've had a lot of people talk to me about the team since the game and had a buddy of mine that just graduated from Clemson text me and tell me he thought we'd win the Big East.

 

[Sullycuse]

That 3rd sentence says a lot about what is wrong with the SU fan base.

Completely agree...but it's hard to argue with them (again, these are people that graduated in the midst of Groobers...so may have felt a disconnect before this whole resurrection got started...their entire SU careers started with a parents weekend loss to temple, and was middling to miserable straight through graduation, they didn't even have the WV upsets up close, so the dome to them means basketball). I don't judge the people that left under that reign, but thankfully it's fewer and fewer people who refuse to believe that SU football can turn it around now.

 

[GoSU96]

That regardless, a loss is a loss.

"Oh man, if only we hadn't allowed that punt return for a touchdown, or late-hit that guy, or had that disastrous lateral pass, we totally would have won".

Yeah, but we did do those things, and they're not the first time.

There are no moral victories in losing to friggin' Northwestern.

No it's not, especially this early in the season.

The last time an SU team dominated and lost a fluke game to a B10 team, it went to the Orange Bowl that year. Give me a fluke What loss every year with a team that has solid BCS capabilities as opposed to a team that constantly loses on the merits and wins by smoke and mirrors.

 

[SU2NASA]

Watch a GROB loss to Akron and then watch a HCDM loss to NW and tell me that there aren't moral victories.

No it's not, especially this early in the season.

The last time an SU team dominated and lost a fluke game to a B10 team, it went to the Orange Bowl that year. Give me a fluke What loss every year with a team that has solid BCS capabilities as opposed to a team that constantly loses on the merits and wins by smoke and mirrors.

NORTHWESTERN!

This isn't a top-flight BCS program we're talking about here.

We gave up 42 points, we struggle with discipline (like last year), our special teams are (like last year). Hey, the offense had a great game. We're 0-1 and it's not a fluke. Those things that if we didn't do we would have won? Well, we did do those things... again. And we lost.

If you want to compare to the teams of GERG, that's for Marrone's first or second season. GERG hasn't been here for four years.

(also, that 1998 Orange Bowl team didn't lose to a Big 10 team - only one played was the win at Michigan)

 

[OttoinGrotto]

NORTHWESTERN!

This isn't a top-flight BCS program we're talking about here.

We gave up 42 points, we struggle with discipline (like last year), our special teams are **** (like last year). Hey, the offense had a great game. We're 0-1 and it's not a fluke. Those things that if we didn't do we would have won? Well, we did do those things... again. And we lost.

If you want to compare to the teams of GERG, that's for Marrone's first or second season. GERG hasn't been here for four years.

(also, that 1998 Orange Bowl team didn't lose to a Big 10 team - only one played was the win at Michigan)

I completely understand the frustration.

If we commit to this offense, at the least we have a puncher's chance.

We never had that before.

 

[nzm136]

NORTHWESTERN!

This isn't a top-flight BCS program we're talking about here.

We gave up 42 points, we struggle with discipline (like last year), our special teams are **** (like last year). Hey, the offense had a great game. We're 0-1 and it's not a fluke. Those things that if we didn't do we would have won? Well, we did do those things... again. And we lost.

If you want to compare to the teams of GERG, that's for Marrone's first or second season. GERG hasn't been here for four years.

(also, that 1998 Orange Bowl team didn't lose to a Big 10 team - only one played was the win at Michigan)

Northwestern has been a lot better in recent years. They are projected to go to a bowl, and the B1G is great at choking on the big stage, but they are a deep conference with a lot of pretty good teams.

 

[baggerbob]

The biggest play of the game which was a fluke, and a 1ooo-1 chance was the int which bounced off sales fingertips right into a northwestern players hands running at full speed. If the pass hits the ground, or goes out of bounds we score and they don't have a touchdown. Would have been 16-7 or 20-7 and an entirely different game.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

The next two games probably won't answer too many questions on this debate, what would rather have blowout loss followed by a blowout win, or close loss followed by close win. I know for a fact that the west coast trips the last two years especially the USC took its toal on the team, they were banged up after that thing. I think SU shows well this Saturday I really do, not crazy enough to predict a win but we shall see.

Quite a few people close to the program last yeat left the USC game convinced that the gap was closing, hopefully we can demonstrate this year that it is closing some more

 

[orangefog]

The next two games probably won't answer too many questions on this debate, what would rather have blowout loss followed by a blowout win, or close loss followed by close win. I know for a fact that the west coast trips the last two years especially the USC took its toal on the team, they were banged up after that thing. I think SU shows well this Saturday I really do, not crazy enough to predict a win but we shall see.

Quite a few people close to the program last yeat left the USC game convinced that the gap was closing, hopefully we can demonstrate this year that it is closing some more

I feel the same way, I think SU is going to hang tough and make a game of it. Our athleticism will be on display and the national media will take notice and we will start winning some respect back.

 

[DPCuse]

I wouldn't say SU "gave up" 42 points. That implies the defense sucked and they didn't. They weren't even on the field for 14 of those points. And NW had a short field at least 2 other times with momentum.

I think how we play against USC will tell us everything we need to know about where the program is. There will be a national TV audience and a few big NYC recruits in the house. If we can compete and keep it close, it will turn some heads. But until we crack the top 25, I don't think you'll see the local fans come back to the dome on a regular basis.

 

[orangecuse]

Completely agree...but it's hard to argue with them (again, these are people that graduated in the midst of Groobers...so may have felt a disconnect before this whole resurrection got started...their entire SU careers started with a parents weekend loss to temple, and was middling to miserable straight through graduation, they didn't even have the WV upsets up close, so the dome to them means basketball). I don't judge the people that left under that reign, but thankfully it's fewer and fewer people who refuse to believe that SU football can turn it around now.

Unfortunately, this sentiment/mentality is an unfavorable and typical trait of your/today's generation...I want/got to have it all right now...

 

[sdhusky]

That regardless, a loss is a loss.

"Oh man, if only we hadn't allowed that punt return for a touchdown, or late-hit that guy, or had that disastrous lateral pass, we totally would have won".

Yeah, but we did do those things, and they're not the first time.

There are no moral victories in losing to friggin' Northwestern.

And without those mistakes and the hole you found yourself, does Marrone go pass happy and ring up 600+ yards with a lead?

History says no.

 

[SU2NASA]

And without those mistakes and the hole you found yourself, does Marrone go pass happy and ring up 600+ yards with a lead?

History says no.

That's the 2010 Kyle Orton theorem. Be down three touchdowns and throw the ball 50 times. Terrible for Broncos fans, great for fantasy football.

 

[Mark Lufkin]

I think people felt great about the program after the WVU game last year. They laid an egg the rest of the season. Here's hoping for the opposite to happen this time around!