The coaching staff has their work cut out for them this week

[CuyahogaCuse]

The pendulum has swung. We are good. Pitt is not. Rarely, if ever, are we good at the same time.

I am bringing my family to Pitt this weekend and expecting a curb stomping. We scored 61 there last time - without ED. Our defense will not give up 70.

We win this going away. I’m thinking 42-17.

Stinks to have had the Clemson game slip through our collective fingers, but there should be little doubt which team is the better team this week, once the dust settles around 4:00 pm this coming Saturday.

 

[Orangello]

For those of you attending, remember, you can park at Station Square (on the south side) and take the boat over to Heinz. Pretty cool deal for kids:

Heinz Field Pitt Panthers Shuttle | Gateway Clipper

Lots of bars and restaurants in the south side flats area.

 

[money3189]

I marked this game as one of the most important. We havent won a road ACC game since BC in 2016. Beating Clemson would have been great but a true sign of a winning program is beating teams you are suppose to beat. Especially when the opponent is regional and desperate for a win. We have shown to be occasionally great but we need to show that we can be consistently good. Duzzi will have his team pumped up. If we win, we have a week off and host UNC. Nicely set up for a 6-1 record. That will get us ranked. Lets shoot all our missiles this week.

 

[Cuseregular]

Just to be clear -- you're claiming that it's only my opinion that we let a big opportunity slip through our grasp? Or that we'll need to be ready this weekend?

And then you follow that up with something you think about how the kids feel?

Agree 100% with you that we can play with anybody -- there might not be a better defense in college football than the one we just faced. And we only trailed for something like 2 minutes of the entire game [including those last 41 seconds]. Says a lot about how far our program has come under this staff.

thanks dude you're saying everything for me!

Its like the clemson people last week I engaged with saying things like, "no way this change (KB leaving) will effect the kids/lockerroom", and then the announcer saying about the AA wide receiver, "he's just not having his normal game", uh geez wonder why. Maybe a little conflicted emotion about his friend with resultant lack of focus and production. And now here its essentially the same saying that kind of loss won't have some lingering effect. Guess what it will. These kids are human, I know newsflash.

A small let down will be seen in practice this week with a little less spring in their step, vigor at practice such that Babers is gonna have to get pissed this week in practice to get them refocused and then do a supremo job of pre game motivating. Seen it first hand a million times. As IB said this will be a bell weather game on the direction of the program as if they overcome this inevitable emotional slide, get by the few but significant injuries and win big, then this will be the reality:

 

[money3189]

I acknowledge the disparity between us and pitt in talent and performance (they are inferior in each at this point imo), however, I dont believe we will ever have “easy wins” at Pitt.

I think we win but this is hard fought, ugly, big east football. Look to Slayton and our vets to be the difference.

Exactly

 

[Townie72]

re: psychological let downs. Last year there weren't any until after Wake when the season was lost. Crushing loss to LSU bounce back and play Nit State close (away). 2 demoralizing defeats in a row yet come back and beat Pitt followed by beating top ranked Clemson. Go on the road and lose a draining 100% effort game to Miami. Here you could expect a let down, nope, bounce back again on the road and lose to FSU at the buzzer. Then still come out again and jump all over Wake until the wheels fell off in the 2nd half. game set match season over.

Point is that all tells me Dino is the uber motivator and can keep the guys focused on the task at hand. The team is still trying to learn how to win but motivation should be easier this year because it's really simple. A bowl game is within sight and they know they have to take care of business. It's a completely different team playing with confidence.

I've never believed in that 'past' hokey stuff. Different teams different seasons different coaches. I'm sure Pitt is a little dinged up to and somewhat demoralized after taking 2 on the chin. Their stadium will be empty.

Anyhow I can understand people being worried about the let down. I just don't because I know the guy in charge is a real leader.

Isn't Pitt's stadium pretty much always empty except when the play Penn Statte or West Virginia?

Just to be clear -- you're claiming that it's only my opinion that we let a big opportunity slip through our grasp? Or that we'll need to be ready this weekend?

And then you follow that up with something you think about how the kids feel?

Agree 100% with you that we can play with anybody -- there might not be a better defense in college football than the one we just faced. And we only trailed for something like 2 minutes of the entire game [including those last 41 seconds]. Says a lot about how far our program has come under this staff.

Maybe we are speaking a different language here. I'm reacting to your characterization of this as a "crushing" defeat.

What makes a defeat "crushing"? Seems to me the suggestion is that a "crushing" defeat would have a debilitating affect on the morale of the team.

"Crushing" to me means "crushing" their spirit.

I actually am starting to think that's not what you believe. But "crushing" was the word you used.

I'll buy "disappointing" as an adjective. But disappointments can lead to greater resolve. "Crushing" defeats are demotivators, because that's what "crushing" refers to.

 

[Yegorange]

Agree with Phat, not worried about preparation. Dino is a master motivator and the kids are starved for success. And history does matter here, but will only serve Dino well to focus the team. The season so far has the feel of ...

 

[RF2044]

Isn't Pitt's stadium pretty much always empty except when the play Penn Statte or West Virginia?


Maybe we are speaking a different language here. I'm reacting to your characterization of this as a "crushing" defeat.

What makes a defeat "crushing"? Seems to me the suggestion is that a "crushing" defeat would have a debilitating affect on the morale of the team.

"Crushing" to me means "crushing" their spirit.

I actually am starting to think that's not what you believe. But "crushing" was the word you used.

I'll buy "disappointing" as an adjective. But disappointments can lead to greater resolve. "Crushing" defeats are demotivators, because that's what "crushing" refers to.

Yeah, I think it was just semantics -- your interpretation is more what I meant. Wasn't implying that it would "crush" our chances for the rest of the season [for example].

 

[Walshjfii]

I was going to say the exact same thing about Dino. He is a master motivator and will turn the frustrations form the loss against Clemson into fuel added to the fire when we face Pitt.

I really think Dino’s pep talks have been a larger influence on new recruits as the play on the field has been the last few years. Now the results on the field are starting to catch up as he gets his kids in! Really I think everyone of us would love to be in that locker room after games! “Whose house? Our house!” You sure as heck know recruits are seeing that hype and passion

 

[CousCuse]

The first thing Babers said to an announcer when they ask for his reaction was that he and his team wanted to go on the field "right now" and play Pitt to gets the taste of losing out of their collective mouth. I don't think they will play down after hearing that.

 

[Orangello]

Vegas only has us -7. Granted they completely missed the Clemson line but I thought it'd be at least -14 to -17.

 

[anomander]

I think it’s only natural for a bit of a let down early in the week. I know I’m still reeling. With that said I really think this team is special and Babers is an elite leader. I’m super confident this team comes out Saturday and handles business like a great team would. This 6 or 7 win talk is from past results from fan PTSD. Different year, different roster, different culture, and certainly different coach. This program is on the upswing and they aren’t settling for 7 wins. I think this weekend will go along way in making everyone believers.

 

[anomander]

Vegas only has us -7. Granted they completely missed the Clemson line but I thought it'd be at least -14 to -17.

That’s about right. Pretty much means we would be a 10.5/11 point favorite on neutral field and -14 at home .

 

[sufan4eva13]

After the Florida Gators lost to Ole Miss in 2008, Tim Tebow gave an iconic (and very short) speech in the press conference which resonates even a decade later. The Monday after the loss, Florida had their best practice of the season. Let's hope Dungey can display similar leadership.

 

[GoSU96]

All I'm gonna say is Gerg and Shafer aren't at the helm, and coaching matters.

Better coach, better QB, better defense = win.

 

[Chip]

1998 Michigan game. No better example.

Any chance there's an ice storm in CNY this week?

 

[bpo57]

Vegas only has us -7. Granted they completely missed the Clemson line but I thought it'd be at least -14 to -17.

I just got 5.5 an hour ago.

 

[PhatOrange]

Between 1991 and 2001 Syracuse won 11 straight vs Pittsburgh. From 1984 to 2001 = 16-1-1

Between 2002 - 2012 the record is Pitt 9 Syracuse 2.

Since 2001

Pasqualoni 2-2
Gump 0-4
Marrone 1-3
Shafer 0-3

The recent Pitt success has been against really bad Syracuse teams.

Babers is 1-1

 

[kingtidge]

They are going to try and run the ball, control the clock and keep our O off the field. They have another good RB as usual in Ollison. If this is close in the 4th, conditioning is going to be key. These tilts are almost always rock fights.

It's sort of what I am expecting... a rock fight.

That said, we are more than due to go there and blow the doors off them and their meatloaf with ketchup defense. I am cautiously optimistic this may be the year... we did our time in the wilderness... They can do theirs...

As for the coaching staff having their work cut out this week...

We have a competent head coach and staff at long last... it's OK to believe and expect we'll be ready to play.

The kids are bought-in.

 

[Upstate]

Keep their D on the field. Wear them out just like everyone else and we should be okay.

 

[Brian Orange]

Agree 100%. I still can't believe we never won again after the Clemson game last year. That left a bad taste in my mouth. I want to see a Dino team improve as the season goes before we start getting too crazy and take a peer game away from home for granted.

 

[Ish88888]

I think Babers' was preparing the team mentally for Pitt before they even played Clemson. He kept preaching about that they were 4-0 and if they lost it was only one game. Sometimes a loss can actually be beneficial. Now there isn't the pressure to remain undefeated or be 6-0 for the first time in who knows how long. Now it's just the next game.

And I think SU beats Pitt.

Spot on a loss can propel us. And as Dino has stated, dont let Clemson beat us twice...go and get it this week and not feel sorry for oursrlves.