SU football plays where you would love a do-over

[kirbivore]

NC State played the entire conference tough that year - it was a solid team.

We were "non-competitive" in the Fiesta Bowl? Were you there??

The Orange was a couple of calls away from winning that game - against a very good K-State team.

It really is amazing how after all these years of some pretty bad football, members of this board seek to pick apart the great success we enjoyed back in the 1990s.

@Duke 45-14 W
#19 Clemson 17-19 L
@Wake 18-19 L
@ #25 GT 17-27 L
#4 NC 7-20 L
@ #3 FSU 35-48 L
MD 45-28 W
UVA 31-24 W

I don't know if those rankings were as of game day or the end of the season, but they lost all four in league play. The only ranked team they beat was SU (#13). Solid, mediocre, tomato, tomatoe, SU still had no business losing to that team and flushing the Wisconsin momentum straight down the toilet. My original post mentioned P's lack of preparation for the winning 2 point conversion, which you didn't counter. Between that and Dee Brown it wasn't a good day for the twins.

 

[CuyahogaCuse]

I just can't get that upset about an early season loss in OT to a pretty good NC State team.

The Wolfpack's only win over a ranked team all year, a season in which they went 6-5, cobbling together just two wins in their next seven game (against powerhouses Duke and Northern Illinois).

But yeah, I guess that qualifies as "a pretty good NC State team."

I suppose if the revisionist history is repeated often enough, it becomes gospel.

 

[SWC75]

1985 v. PSU. Fumble.

And the two fumbles back in '69, along with a goal line stand and a penalty. . We were up 14-0 but got stuffed at the goal line just before the half. Two fourth quarter fumbles allowed them to score twice and a penalty allowed them to try to for two twice. Fianl score, SU 14 PSU 15. They had the nation's longest winning streak. Too many others to contemplate just now...

 

[sufandu]

A few people have already mentioned it, but I have to go with the Dee Brown fumble. I remember thinking at the time I wanted it to go to Konrad, so I wasn't second guessing when I thought it was a bone head move to give it to a second string freshman at the end of the second game of the year.

Then again, why bother to put in your back up fb, who has a reputation as a good blocker, so that he can lead block for your 240 pound 3 year starter physical specimen who you gave 44 to and let him smash into the line.

It stands out to me because it seems like it should've been such a no brainer. But in the non-adapting world of P at the time, I suppose a fb was not allowed to line up behind another fb.

 

[javadoc]

1992/1993.

Yep. And having read the rest of the thread, this game stands out to me, still.

The week before, we played at BC, who was also ranked, and we beat them soundly and deliberately, something like 27 - 10. Musberger and Vermeil called the game. Musberger asked Vermeil if Syracuse had the horses to run with Miami the next week. Vermeil said YES.

Regroup. Dick Vermeil said that Syracuse had the horses to run with the #1 ranked team in the country. The team that had the eventual Heisman-winning QB.

And... we did, apart from the OL. Vermeil said at halftime of the Miami game that the only thing he could think of to counter Miami's dominance on the DL was for the SU OL to line up in a non-standard special formation. And goddammit, we came out of halftime with that formation. George Deleone, we salute you.

That day, Syracuse football stood toe-to-toe with what people regarded as the best team in the country, and came "this close" to beating.

Gino Torretta came into the game famous for not having thrown an interception in N pass attempts. We picked him three times!

Our first play from scrimmage, we threw deep to Shelby Hill on a go route. No fear!

We HAD them on the drive I mentioned. Warren Sapp, go to hell.

Small reward that Alabama destroyed Miami in the Sugar Bowl. Ate them alive. The Alabama D was NFL-caliber that day.

 

[cuse309]

I wish we could redo that one play in 2004 when Daryl Gross hired Greg Robinson.

 

[NJCuse97]

Yep. And having read the rest of the thread, this game stands out to me, still.

The week before, we played at BC, who was also ranked, and we beat them soundly and deliberately, something like 27 - 10. Musberger and Vermeil called the game. Musberger asked Vermeil if Syracuse had the horses to run with Miami the next week. Vermeil said YES.

Regroup. Dick Vermeil said that Syracuse had the horses to run with the #1 ranked team in the country. The team that had the eventual Heisman-winning QB.

And... we did, apart from the OL. Vermeil said at halftime of the Miami game that the only thing he could think of to counter Miami's dominance on the DL was for the SU OL to line up in a non-standard special formation. And goddammit, we came out of halftime with that formation. George Deleone, we salute you.

That day, Syracuse football stood toe-to-toe with what people regarded as the best team in the country, and came "this close" to beating.

Gino Torretta came into the game famous for not having thrown an interception in N pass attempts. We picked him three times!

Our first play from scrimmage, we threw deep to Shelby Hill on a go route. No fear!

We HAD them on the drive I mentioned. Warren Sapp, go to hell.

Small reward that Alabama destroyed Miami in the Sugar Bowl. Ate them alive. The Alabama D was NFL-caliber that day.

I remember it well. I was in the student section. I remember all the jawing Miami fans at Maggie's the night before. Oh the pain. Oh what could have been (should have been?)

As for Dick Vermeil, well that guy pushed Greg Robinson on us, so I don't care what he has to say.

 

[OrangePA]

The Wolfpack's only win over a ranked team all year, a season in which they went 6-5, cobbling together just two wins in their next seven game (against powerhouses Duke and Northern Illinois).

But yeah, I guess that qualifies as "a pretty good NC State team."

I suppose if the revisionist history is repeated often enough, it becomes gospel.

A win over a ranked team. A 6-5 record in a good conference. Competitive in every game - tough loss to Clemson - a solid performance against FSU at FSU. Torry Holt. Jamie Barnette.

Yeah, I guess it does qualify as a pretty good team.

And we lost the game on a fluke play and in OT.

And we went on to the Fiesta Bowl.

Yeah, I guess that NC State loss does qualify as a really horrible loss.

Sorry, I was there and have been there since and the truth is the truth. It was a disappointment to lose that game but it wasn't the end of the world. It was at best a blip on a great season - one that all of us would kill for these days.

 

[Bayside44]

A win over a ranked team. A 6-5 record in a good conference. Competitive in every game - tough loss to Clemson - a solid performance against FSU at FSU. Torry Holt. Jamie Barnette.

Yeah, I guess it does qualify as a pretty good team.

And we lost the game on a fluke play and in OT.

And we went on to the Fiesta Bowl.

Yeah, I guess that NC State loss does qualify as a really horrible loss.

Sorry, I was there and have been there since and the truth is the truth. It was a disappointment to lose that game but it wasn't the end of the world. It was at best a blip on a great season - one that all of us would kill for these days.

Agree with you - Miami and Tennessee would've been games people take to their end...not NC State...

 

[Finwad32]

A win over a ranked team. A 6-5 record in a good conference. Competitive in every game - tough loss to Clemson - a solid performance against FSU at FSU. Torry Holt. Jamie Barnette.

Yeah, I guess it does qualify as a pretty good team.

And we lost the game on a fluke play and in OT.

And we went on to the Fiesta Bowl.

Yeah, I guess that NC State loss does qualify as a really horrible loss.

Sorry, I was there and have been there since and the truth is the truth. It was a disappointment to lose that game but it wasn't the end of the world. It was at best a blip on a great season - one that all of us would kill for these days.

Funny story about that game, I was 11 or 12 and my father and his friend convinced me to sneak out onto the field with a piece of blue paper tied to my shorts, looking like a pass.

It was during half time so there wasn't much security there and I was able to get to the benches by the time the team came back out onto the field. I talked with Rob Konrad and slapped Donovan McNabb on the shoulder pads.

Then security came and asked me who told me I could be there. I said Paul. They said Paul who? I said Pasquoloni don't you know!

They radioed somebody for about a minute, and then asked me to come with them. I actually saw Coach P look up at the press box and say no with a bewildered look on his face, I'm almost positive it was to answer the question of whether or not I was supposed to be there.

They escorted me through the tunnel and into the security room which had about 300 cameras on the wall. Then, as a 11 or 12-year-old, they asked me all these ridiculous security questions like was I planning on causing bodily harm to any of the players.

After laughing and telling them what happened they escorted me back to my seat.

Even know the outcome was disappointing, I had a story for life.

 

[Scooch]

I've never been more upset after an SU football loss than after NC State 1997. From when McNabb started in '95 I really thought '97 was going to be the year the program competed for a national title. Tons of offensive weapons and a solid D. Plus Miami was down.

After we annihilated Wiscy in the KO Classic I thought we were well on our way to a special season. Then came the goal line fumble. I'll never understand the play calling in that possession.

'97 ended up being a good season, but I spent the weekend after that NC State loss being thoroughly depressed.

Thinking about the 90s makes me long for SU being nationally relevant again. We haven't been since our game at Miami in November 2001. Sixteen years and counting. Ugh.

 

[Eric15]

I've never been more upset after an SU football loss than after NC State 1997.

I'm the same way. That game affected me like Vermont or Butler in the NCAA Tournament where I just felt physically depressed for like a week.

 

[Chip]

I've never been more upset after an SU football loss than after NC State 1997. From when McNabb started in '95 I really thought '97 was going to be the year the program competed for a national title. Tons of offensive weapons and a solid D. Plus Miami was down.

After we annihilated Wiscy in the KO Classic I thought we were well on our way to a special season. Then came the goal line fumble. I'll never understand the play calling in that possession.

'97 ended up being a good season, but I spent the weekend after that NC State loss being thoroughly depressed.

Thinking about the 90s makes me long for SU being nationally relevant again. We haven't been since our game at Miami in November 2001. Sixteen years and counting. Ugh.

After Wisconsin, and then to start NC State with a deep TD, it just didn't seem possible. Was a gut punch.

Two weeks later we were 1-3 and it seemed like the KO Classic never happened.

Credit to the coaches and team that they never quit and still made it to the Fiesta Bowl. But my god was that depressing after the some of those early losses.

Any students in the past, oh, 12 years or so must think this entire thread is written in Chinese.

 

[Millhouse]

Why do I feel like the real version of this story is that you and Chip spent the entire evening in the hotel watching Singled Out and playing Nintendo 64.

It was a drinking performance for the ages.

 

[kcsu]

I remember it well. I was in the student section. I remember all the jawing Miami fans at Maggie's the night before. Oh the pain. Oh what could have been (should have been?)

As for Dick Vermeil, well that guy pushed Greg Robinson on us, so I don't care what he has to say.

No dick actually let the gregger go

 

[NJCuse97]

No dick actually let the gregger go

And then endorsed him to be our head coach
Syracuse University Athletics - Retired NFL Coach Dick Vermeil's Impressions of SU Football

 

[SWC75]

Yep. And having read the rest of the thread, this game stands out to me, still.

The week before, we played at BC, who was also ranked, and we beat them soundly and deliberately, something like 27 - 10. Musberger and Vermeil called the game. Musberger asked Vermeil if Syracuse had the horses to run with Miami the next week. Vermeil said YES.

Regroup. Dick Vermeil said that Syracuse had the horses to run with the #1 ranked team in the country. The team that had the eventual Heisman-winning QB.

And... we did, apart from the OL. Vermeil said at halftime of the Miami game that the only thing he could think of to counter Miami's dominance on the DL was for the SU OL to line up in a non-standard special formation. And goddammit, we came out of halftime with that formation. George Deleone, we salute you.

That day, Syracuse football stood toe-to-toe with what people regarded as the best team in the country, and came "this close" to beating.

Gino Torretta came into the game famous for not having thrown an interception in N pass attempts. We picked him three times!

Our first play from scrimmage, we threw deep to Shelby Hill on a go route. No fear!

We HAD them on the drive I mentioned. Warren Sapp, go to hell.

Small reward that Alabama destroyed Miami in the Sugar Bowl. Ate them alive. The Alabama D was NFL-caliber that day.

We started out trying to run the option around the quickest defense in college football, (with Alabama as a possible exception). We got no where. We came out in the second half and went right at them and began to take over the game. We got the ball with a chance to win at the end but took forever to get plays off. Then Marvin Graves lost his lunch. The refs offered Coach P an injury time out but Graves would have had to come out of the game so we used our last time out, then ran Marvin on an option on the second to last play of the game with the defense already spread out to cover pass plays. They we went to the tight end throw back but Gedney never got to the end zone and caught the ball and was tackled on the three yard line. The final seconds ticked off because we couldn't stop the clock and the Miami players started prancing around the Dome, gesturing to fans about how they now owned the place.

If we had won that game to go to 10-1, would we have been the team playing Alabama for the national championship? I think it's possible.
1992 NCAA Division I-A football rankings - Wikipedia
We finished 6th with the loss. We'd be higher than with a win, obviously. Miami had beaten Florida State. Notre Dame had a loss and a tie. Texas A&m was regarded has being in a weakened conference.

 

[Chip]

Why do I feel like the real version of this story is that you and Chip spent the entire evening in the hotel watching Singled Out and playing Nintendo 64.

To be clear, there were 2 beds in the hotel room.

I'm not saying both were used, I'm just saying they were there. So you can throw intent right out the window, officer.

 

[Scooch]

After Wisconsin, and then to start NC State with a deep TD, it just didn't seem possible. Was a gut punch.

Two weeks later we were 1-3 and it seemed like the KO Classic never happened.

Credit to the coaches and team that they never quit and still made it to the Fiesta Bowl. But my god was that depressing after the some of those early losses.

Any students in the past, oh, 12 years or so must think this entire thread is written in Chinese.

That 1997 team...

Offensively...

McNabb, Kyle McIntosh, Rob Konrad, Kevin Johnson were juniors.

Jim Turner, Roland Williams and Kaseem Sinceno were seniors.

Pre-injury, electrifying Quinton Spotwood was a sophmore.

Defensively...

Donovan Darius and Tebucky Jones were seniors.

Also had Antwon Ponds, Keith Bulluck, Stan Gibs, Dulayne Morgan, Jason Walters and a frosh Morlon Greenwood.

Team was loaded all over. Injuries definitely contributed to the 1-3 start, but man oh man, if there ever was a year where we could've had a special run, 1997 was it.

Was even the rare year in the 90s where our OOC schedule wasn't completely ludicrous. After the KO Classic vs. Wiscy we had NC State at home (meh), a lousy Oklahoma team on the road, and mediocre Tulane & East Carolina at home.

*sigh*

 

[Eric15]

That 1997 team...

Offensively...

McNabb, Kyle McIntosh, Rob Konrad, Kevin Johnson were juniors.

Jim Turner, Roland Williams and Kaseem Sinceno were seniors.

Pre-injury, electrifying Quinton Spotwood was a sophmore.

Defensively...

Donovan Darius and Tebucky Jones were seniors.

Also had Antwon Ponds, Keith Bulluck, Stan Gibs, Dulayne Morgan, Jason Walters and a frosh Morlon Greenwood.

Team was loaded all over. Injuries definitely contributed to the 1-3 start, but man oh man, if there ever was a year where we could've had a special run, 1997 was it.

Was even the rare year in the 90s where our OOC schedule wasn't completely ludicrous. After the KO Classic vs. Wiscy we had NC State at home (meh), a lousy Oklahoma team on the road, and mediocre Tulane & East Carolina at home.

*sigh*

And it took a pick 6 at the very end of the Tulane game by Tebucky Jones to avoid a 1-4 start against Shaun Hill and Tulane.

 

[Scooch]

And it took a pick 6 at the very end of the Tulane game by Tebucky Jones to avoid a 1-4 start against Shaun Hill and Tulane.

[insert defensive retort about how that 7-4 Tulane team who played no ranked teams was awesome]

 

[Briancuse]

And then endorsed him to be our head coach
Syracuse University Athletics - Retired NFL Coach Dick Vermeil's Impressions of SU Football

Of course he did, Gregger was Vermeils guy.

 

[MadNY3]

In the scheme of things:

• Roland Grimes vs Ped State
• Will Allen vs Vols
• The call to GRob to offer the HC position

 

[Millhouse]

97 should've been a much better year. That was one of our weakest schedules ever (100th out of 115 SU seasons).

That and 2012 were the easiest schedules since 1954. Should won more games

Syracuse Orange Index | College Football at Sports-Reference.com sort by sos and srs

 

[Eric15]

97 should've been a much better year. That was one of our weakest schedules ever (100th out of 115 SU seasons).

That and 2012 were the easiest schedules since 1954. Should won more games

Syracuse Orange Index | College Football at Sports-Reference.com sort by sos and srs

Yeah the Big East was absolutely horrendous in 1997. Only one team (SU) won more than 7 games, and that was the season where Miami was decimated by probation and barely could compete.

It's funny you say that about 2012 because I feel like that's the year people always point to and say that we over-scheduled.