State of Syracuse Football

[skytop44]

I'm new to the board but I am a lifelong Syracuse fan! I along with all of you want nothing more than this program back to where it should be. I just wanted to see the opinion of where people think we are, what direction we are currently going, and what we have to do moving forward to get us back. I like Coach Shafer but think that he is in over his head and I'm not sure if he's the guy to get us back. I like the things we've done with bringing 44 back (sort of lol) but think we need more Syracuse people in here that were here when we had it going to get that magic back. I feel like we're getting closer but we're a few people away from really taking off. As always I'm going to be optimistic about the future and hope we can make our run soon.

 

[Millhouse]

welcome to the board

 

[RF2044]

I'm new to the board but I am a lifelong Syracuse fan! I along with all of you want nothing more than this program back to where it should be. I just wanted to see the opinion of where people think we are, what direction we are currently going, and what we have to do moving forward to get us back. I like Coach Shafer but think that he is in over his head and I'm not sure if he's the guy to get us back. I like the things we've done with bringing 44 back (sort of lol) but think we need more Syracuse people in here that were here when we had it going to get that magic back. I feel like we're getting closer but we're a few people away from really taking off. As always I'm going to be optimistic about the future and hope we can make our run soon.

That's the million dollar question. I think Shafer could be fine as a HC if and only if he surrounds himself with the right people, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. If he does that, then I believe he'll recruit well enough and we can win with him at the helm. If not, then he won't be around very much longer, IMO. I'm pulling for him--he's an easy guy to root for. But at the end of the day, he'll be judged by the results on the field. He's putting an awful lot of stock in Lester's capabilities--we'll see in a few months if that was a good gamble.

 

[kcsu]

I like HCSS. He is an excellant D coach with a proven track record on that side. He can recruit. He seems to truly care about his players, coaches, support staff, and by all accounts really likes Syracuse. He has been a complete failure on the O side. If he can right the ship i believe that we will have a long time coach. The Dome is being redone. We have the IPF. We are in the ACC. We are about to have a new AD who i believe will place an emphasis on Bball and Football and the ACC is about to launch their own Network. If HCSS can figure out the O side of the ball we are going to be fine. Bowl game each year with the every 5 year or so run that gets us all excited.

 

[orangejunkie]

I think it helps to have your 5th year senior QB returning. I think that will make a huge difference for the offense and provides SU with a good bridge year to some promising younger QBs.

 

[Finwad32]

I'm new to the board but I am a lifelong Syracuse fan! I along with all of you want nothing more than this program back to where it should be. I just wanted to see the opinion of where people think we are, what direction we are currently going, and what we have to do moving forward to get us back. I like Coach Shafer but think that he is in over his head and I'm not sure if he's the guy to get us back. I like the things we've done with bringing 44 back (sort of lol) but think we need more Syracuse people in here that were here when we had it going to get that magic back. I feel like we're getting closer but we're a few people away from really taking off. As always I'm going to be optimistic about the future and hope we can make our run soon.

As always, this program, is currently a run freight train armed to the gills ready to destroy anybody in the way. Every year, we start undefeated!

I agree with everything, except for the Shafer part.

 

[Guinness]

I will be in the minority but I don't think we have the coaching staff in place that can lead us back to where we all feel this program belongs. I think there are lots of good pieces in the staff but I am not a believer yet in the HC.

 

[RF2044]

I will be in the minority but I don't think we have the coaching staff in place that can lead us back to where we all feel this program belongs. I think there are lots of good pieces in the staff but I am not a believer yet in the HC.

I don't think you're in the minority at all. Even the most optimistic segments of the fanbase are justifiably worried, and in "show me" mode.

 

[CuseCactus]

I think the entire year rests with one arm. If Hunt makes a big leap forward in his development, things will move for the program. If he muddles along as a C- QB, or worse, gets hurt.... it becomes a dumpster fire.

He seems like a leader and the players are behind him. He's a big guy, a strong runner - maybe he will blow up this year? If so, a strong senior year shows recruits what can happen at Syracuse. It shows that we can score (to some degree) on offense. And that 3-9 was an aberration.

Seeing the George Whitfield pictures and twitters about Hunt got me excited again. Here's to a great senior year!

One other thing - I hope, hope, hope that Shafer has matured. No cringe worthy press conferences about ISIS. No ranting tantrums on the sideline directed at opposing coaches.

Very thin ice type of year all around. Hope springs eternal though.

 

[TheCusian]

I think the entire year rests with one arm. If Hunt makes a big leap forward in his development, things will move for the program. If he muddles along as a C- QB, or worse, gets hurt... it becomes a dumpster fire. He seems like a leader and the players are behind him. He's a big guy, a strong runner - maybe he will blow up this year? If so, a strong senior year shows recruits what can happen at Syracuse. It shows that we can score (to some degree) on offense. And that 3-9 was an aberration. Seeing the George Whitfield pictures and twitters about Hunt got me excited again. Here's to a great senior year! One other thing - I hope, hope, hope that Shafer has matured. No cringe worthy press conferences about ISIS. No ranting tantrums on the sideline directed at opposing coaches. Very thin ice type of year all around. Hope springs eternal though.

If we win, he can call Dabo an ISIS recruit for all I care.

 

[Pyle]

While Marrone made us all feel good after the Grob disaster, the fact remains he spent 2 seasons over .500 and 2 under .500 including year 3 of 4. Right now Shafer is 1 over and 1 under. Spring game results were very unsatisfying, I'm highly worried about the offense this year. Our defense always plays well under Shafer so I'm not worried on that side of the ball. Even with graduations, those guys will be hungry and aggressive. Out ST could very easily win or lose a game for us this year and to me it is really the biggest question mark and always is( by biggest question, I mean I don't expect the offense to generate more than 21 pts/game as I just don't feel Hunt has the arm to do it and therefore pretty much know what to expect). We will need to grind out games this year and a few muffed punt returns by either team could easily sway the outcome.

 

[CuseCactus]

Looking at the stats from last year - did we really average 17.1 points per game (#118 nationally)? Remarkable.

Only two years removed from 30 points per game (55th nationally).

Gotta pray for Hunt.

 

[xc84]

We will be vying for a number one ranking and spot in the championship series.

 

[NashvilleOrange]

I'm cautiously optimistic. Being in the ACC is great and bringing back 44 was nice too. I'm more into the program than I've ever been...mostly due to the fact that the college football product is awesome while college basketball has been on a pretty big decline (the undefeated UK season helped disguise the terrible recent ratings).