PS: John Wildhack discusses his ACC football scheduling preference, Syracuse's future

[Millhouse]

Playing to the fanbase is a losing proposition.

Schedule as many home games and as many wins as you can.

The marginal increase in ticket sales realized by a "name" out of conference opponent is minimal.

Give me two lower tier home games at 30K each and two W's vs one name OOC at 40K and a likely loss and a return away beatdown.

we used to be good, our opponents used to suck, and people would come out for the out of conference behemoths. it made sense then

we kinda suck, our opponents are good, and people come out for the in-conference behemoths

going by SOS from college football reference, I have no idea what these numbers mean other than higher is tougher and lower is easier

Babers so far (grain of salt) 17.75
Maloney 6.05
MacPherson 3.74
Gerg 3.67
Shafer 3.26
Pasqualoni 1.85
Schwartzwalder 1.47
Marrone 0.55

 

[sutomcat]

Agree. We have been trying to turn this program around seemingly forever using old school coaching and really aggressive scheduling. Let's change the formula...that didn't work.

Easier scheduling is the easiest and quickest way to get to bowl games again. Winning will help attendance, perception and recruiting more than anything else right now.

The eight game schedule has been great for the ACC. And it helps us make the schedule easier.

Down the road we can look to possibly change. One thing to note: turning down the 8+2 model reportedly cost each school $500K per season. ESPN was willing to pay for this and the ACC said no thank you. At some point, it would be nice to have more money from ESPN and bigger gate receipts for more attractive opponents.

But now is not that time.

 

[sutomcat]

FSU/Miami, Clemson/GA Tech, UNC/NC State, Duke/Wake need to be played. SU/Pitt should be played. If you swap divisions with Louisville and Pitt it would fix that mini problem. Then SU, Pitt, Louisville, BC, UVA, VA Tech would not need cross over games. By eliminating those we will see over a 6 year period:

Louisville 2.66 times vs 6 times.
UVA and VA Tech 2.66 times each vs 1 time each.

There still would be a problem of seeing Miami, GA Tech, UNC, and Duke more than once in 6 years, but at least you fix the problem of not seeing UVA or VA Tech.

At some point, I think you have to get rid of the rival games. We don't have to play Pitt every year. That game has no special meaning. Duke and Wake don't have to play every year. The same goes for all the other games. Even FSU vs Miami hasn't been a really important game in what, 15 years?

It is better for the league for everyone to play each other as much as possible. That builds rivalries and strengthens the league more than holding on to what happened many years ago.

Someone is horribly wrong when players stay at a school for 5 years and never once visit another conference school to play a game. That has to end.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

At some point, I think you have to get rid of the rival games. We don't have to play Pitt every year. That game has no special meaning. Duke and Wake don't have to play every year. The same goes for all the other games. Even FSU vs Miami hasn't been a really important game in what, 15 years?

It is better for the league for everyone to play each other as much as possible. That builds rivalries and strengthens the league more than holding on to what happened many years ago.

Someone is horribly wrong when players stay at a school for 5 years and never once visit another conference school to play a game. That has to end.

I agree with that, but it will be a very hard sell. Which is why one of three things has to happen:

1. Get rid of the perm cross overs which likely means realigning the divisions (not status quo)
2. Play 9 conference games (not status quo)
3. Use the pod system (not status quo)

Gross had his faults but he was one of the few ADs in the ACC trying to address the problem. The ACC good ole boys don't seem to care. Hopefully Wildhack will be proactive in finding a solution.

Not only are kids never visiting but they never play one school on the other side. Over a five year period we only play 6/7 Coastal teams, with only 3 of those road games. So they never face one school and never visit four schools out of the 7. It is worse if they are only a 4 year player.

 

[elimunelson]

BC played Buffalo, Wagner, UConn and Umass out of conference. Two of those games have some intrigue b/c they are local yocals. They are gonna go 4-0 in those games. That's what we need to do. Schedule Uconn, Umass/Army, Colgate perpetually.

BC will probably bowl this year and we probably won't. I would bet we are a better team come end of season. In 1994 you needed to get some big time out of conference games b/c 6 wins didn't equal bowl game. For us, 7 wins didn't equal bowl.

 

[sutomcat]

Agree, the status quo needs to go. I would hold off on the 9th conference game for a bit, until SU has been to a couple of bowl games in a row, and the ACC has established itself as the best or second best conference in the country.

War Damn Otto!

 

[TheCusian]

we used to be good, our opponents used to suck, and people would come out for the out of conference behemoths. it made sense then

we kinda suck, our opponents are good, and people come out for the in-conference behemoths

going by SOS from college football reference, I have no idea what these numbers mean other than higher is tougher and lower is easier

Babers so far (grain of salt) 17.75
Maloney 6.05
MacPherson 3.74
Gerg 3.67
Shafer 3.26
Pasqualoni 1.85
Schwartzwalder 1.47
Marrone 0.55

Marronites take note. Very favorable SoS

 

[Franz69]

Two hours before the Syracuse/Notre Dame game, I was wandering around aimlessly outside the stadium, looking for my tailgate. From out of nowhere, who comes walking towards me, but our new AD. I said "Mr. Wildhack!" He smiled, put his hand up to initiate a high five and we slapped hands. We both kept walking, content in our new blood brotherhood. While I blew my chance to harangue him about our schedule and awful uniforms, I'm willing to give my new bestie the benefit of the doubt.

Let's Go Hack!!!!!

 

[orange79]

Let's Go Hack!!!!!

Isn't that the Pitt hoops motto?

 

[Scooch]

Our AD was looking out for the best interests of Syracuse University football and not disadvantaging us to grab a few more bucks.

THE HORROR.

 

[Scooch]

Ironically 3 months ago he did have the same level of experience and expertise as the people who posted on this forum, and was himself one of those people.

So no one is going to comment on this? I have to do it? Really? OK, fine.

You're suggesting that one of the most powerful executives in American sports media had the same expertise as people here?

Right.

 

[RMH44]

So no one is going to comment on this? I have to do it? Really?

You're suggesting one of the most powerful executives in American sports media had the same expertise as people here?

Right.

The board was a much better place when the almighty Otto IV was in hibernation mode. We didn't have to read all his condescending, know-it-all drivel.

It must be quite a burden being the smartest guy in the room...I feel for him.

 

[OrangePA]

Well he is wrong. That is two strikes against him.

I would prefer nine ACC games.

It would allow for more cross division games and would eliminate much of the scheduling headaches we have had over the past few years.

 

[OrangePA]

The board was a much better place when the almighty Otto IV was in hibernation mode. We didn't have to read all his condescending, know-it-all drivel.

It must be quite a burden being the smartest guy in the room...I feel for him.

Different points of view are what make this board fun and at times exasperating.

 

[TexanMark]

Oldie but goodie

Anyone think we should add a 13th at Hawaii in 2023 and 2024?

 

[sutomcat]

Oldie but goodie

Anyone think we should add a 13th at Hawaii in 2023 and 2024?

Given the recent recruiting developments, it makes some sense now.

 

[UpstateSM]

I’ll take an extra Cuse football game in any form.

Also, week zero typically falls on the week of my birthday. It would be a real shame if I ended up watching Dino and Co. in Hawaii to celebrate

 

[TexanMark]

I’ll take an extra Cuse football game in any form.

Also, week zero typically falls on the week of my birthday. It would be a real shame if I ended up watching Dino and Co. in Hawaii to celebrate

Or you craft it with a bye week somewhere in seadon. Optimal to do it week 0 but the last week would be great too. Small chance we will ever play for a conference championship as long as we are in the Atlantic.

 

[SU68]

I know that a school can play a 13th game by going to Hawaii. Is the reverse also true? Can a school play a 13th game by hosting Hawaii?

 

[Hoo's That]

Oldie but goodie

Anyone think we should add a 13th at Hawaii in 2023 and 2024?

Given the recent recruiting developments, it makes some sense now.

Hey! We've got 2 starters and a key sub from there, so that's our territory! Find somewhere else.