The Next 3 Weeks will define the future

[CapitalO]

I feel really good about the hiring of DC. Kehres. If we can lock up QB. Stokes and LB. Sherman day one of the portal that would be a huge start to bolster the roster, as for the 21 players who are in the portal I feel Fran & staff wanted ( MOST ) of them gone, maybe 1-2 who entered on there own that could really help us next year decide to return that would be great. Another key task will be filling out the rest of the coaching staff and having a top 20 portal class.

 

[Eric15]

10 win season. 1 loss with Angeli before the season fell off the rails. Coaching staff can’t coach up? How would you know? We have a whole new defensive staff and OLine coach. Fran will bring in talent, he has both off seasons. Better players than we have seen in 2 decades. This board is wild sometimes. Let’s wait and see. I bet Fran brings in some heavy hitters.

I'm cautiously optimistic about 2026, but to that specific point, it's the coaching staff's fault that the season went off the rails. Losing your starting QB should mean a mild-to-moderate step backwards, not we instantly become a Pop Warner team. We couldn't compete with a 1-10 team at home.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Ya got me here. What was the song? "Sweet Emotion?" I don't get the connection but l would love to know the song and analogy. Please do.

 

[PhatOrange]

Next three weeks will define next year that's about it

 

[SUinNWE]

Next three weeks will define next year that's about it

Exactly. The current state of college football, everything is in flux with the portal and NIL. Nothing is certain regardless of who the head coach is, especially at Syracuse.

 

[Chip]

Grab a drink chief.

It was Saturday at 9:30, I think that was well underway.

But he’s right about the importance of the upcoming portal season.

I’m a little nervous about losing so many of the younger guys when Fran so often says we’re building something to sustain, that will take time. But he could have been planning for 105 roster and money dictates an 85 person roster. Who knows.

 

[Atlcuse44]

While I am not quite at the doom and gloom level of the original poster, we are looking more like a glass half empty than half full right now. This past season was a gut punch.
Losing your starting QB doesnt explain the sheer ineptitude of the coaching staff during games since Angeli went down. I'm glad Fran has made coaching changes and I am optimistic about having a competent defense for a change. I don't know what to think about Nixon. His star is not shining as brightly.
I guess not having sustained success since the 1990s has given many of us a ' Here we go again' attitude.

 

[Franz69]

Fun facts. "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing" was inspired by Barbra Streisand and James Brolin. They were lying in bed one night, when he told her, “I don’t want to fall asleep.” When she asked why, he said: “‘Cause I’ll miss you.'”

In 1997, Streisand told the story in a 20/20 interview with Barbara Walters. Songwriter Diane Warren, who was watching, wrote down the exchange as inspiration, later using it in the lyrics for “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”

Aerosmith recorded the song, and it became their first no. 1 hit in 1998. The song went on to score an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, after being included in Armageddon.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

It was Saturday at 9:30, I think that was well underway.

But he’s right about the importance of the upcoming portal season.

I’m a little nervous about losing so many of the younger guys when Fran so often says we’re building something to sustain, that will take time. But he could have been planning for 105 roster and money dictates an 85 person roster. Who knows.

I found that the proper response here with Fran’s statement about building to sustain here is “ Fran says stuff”

In all seriousness not many kids are going to stay put on a losing team with coaching upheaval. You want sustainability. Start with winning 7-8 games consistently. Fran fanatics talking about playoffs! Playoffs!

 

[Ttk.gman2]

I feel really good about the hiring of DC. Kehres. If we can lock up QB. Stokes and LB. Sherman day one of the portal that would be a huge start to bolster the roster, as for the 21 players who are in the portal I feel Fran & staff wanted ( MOST ) of them gone, maybe 1-2 who entered on there own that could really help us next year decide to return that would be great. Another key task will be filling out the rest of the coaching staff and having a top 20 portal class.

Top 20 portal class paired with the 29th ranked Hs recruiting class is an amazing mix for short term and long term success.

 

[Ttk.gman2]

It matters who we bring in, but ultimately it comes down to coaching—developing players and putting them in the right system and schemes. These are all talented athletes who reached Division I football, but talent alone isn’t enough if it isn’t maximized. The players we bring in through the portal and high school need to be coached up and placed in the right positions when the ball is snapped, because even the most talented roster won’t succeed without proper development. With the upgrades across the coaching staff, I think we’ll see clear improvement, and a stronger defense and offensive line will be the key factors that make or break our season next year.

 

[orange79]

I'm with SanDiegoCuse. It is a very generic blah song. There are worse songs out there, but Aerosmith has so many that are better.

Oh, no doubt.

 

[orangepassion]

Football is a very unique sport. It is unlike no other team sport not even hockey in that the succes of the entire team is for the most part determined by the success of one player, the quarterback.
Without a good QB teams are at best almost always going to be average. I don't think there has ever been a team in college or the pros that has consistently won at a high level without a good QB.
Teams with great quarterback play can achieve success well beyond their overall talent level. And teams with great QB play that have overall strong rosters win championships.

The success of Syracuse football is so dependent on its QB and always will be. We are like 90% of the programs in college football never going to have a roster strong enough to overcome poor let alone terrible QB play. I believe that if Steve had remained healthy that Syracuse had a legitimate chance to make the ACC championship game. 7 wins was my floor.
Next season is going to go as Steve goes. If he comes back and picks up where he left off we are going to have a good season. If he comes back and we add a few important pieces we can make a run.
It's all about the QB and always will be with almost every team in college or professional football.

The key to not being so dependent on top QB play is to have at least a semi-consistent running game. Look at Pitt. I know everyone here hates Narduzzi, but they’re always decent because they can always run the ball and stop the run. Even this year with a True Freshman QB.

 

[kcsu]

All true but I think balance is key. You can’t have one side of the ball so weak that the other side has to be perfect or prolific every game out. The defense needs to be at least average and obviously Nixon has to right the ship and they need a legit back up QB Angeli is solid and was coming on but you can’t hitch your wagon to a kid coming off an Achilles. These things are already getting cleaned up. I think the new DC is going to be excellent. Hopefully he’s here a couple years. He’s future HC type material, IMO.

Having to score 30-40 a game puts too much pressure on the offense. It can make for exciting games but not sure it’s the path for consistent winning program

spot on IB. The D will improve for sure. We have enough pieces coming back on O that we will score. Our WR room is going to be our strength. Need the Oline to step up and someone that can carry the rock.

 

[Ozone!]

Remember, players and recruits may read posts on this site…please do your best to support our players and coaches, in time, we will know…

 

[Oakland]

I can't believe that song was #1. Don't remember it at all.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I'm pretty sure that the cockroaches have already taken over.

You mean like in Joe's Apartment?

 

[CanadianSU]

With this whole portal exodus I’m honestly hoping for some more. Do you guys realize how bad the team was this year? Just bring in better players.

 

[orangmannc1]

Top 20 portal class paired with the 29th ranked Hs recruiting class is an amazing mix for short term and long term success.

I am afraid a top 20 portal class won't happen. SEC, Big Ten, some ACC programs will have a ton of money to spend. Not so much for Syracuse. The money that top portal players are expecting to get is unreal.

 

[PAcuse]

I am afraid a top 20 portal class won't happen. SEC, Big Ten, some ACC programs will have a ton of money to spend. Not so much for Syracuse. The money that top portal players are expecting to get is unreal.

You do know we had the 8th best portal class in 2024.
We are not the little sisters of the poor.
Last we did get crushd in the portal and missed ALOT.
I believe that has been corrected and we will see some action very early on for the good, just a feeling.
Yes you will have teams, Texas Tech, throw out millions for a defensive line and QBs getting PAID.
We still have enough money to compete to get good pieces like Cook, Peel, Angeli, and Bryant (didn't fit want we wanted him to do in the defense but still a great player).
It's not all doom and gloom.

 

[GHLF]

I found that the proper response here with Fran’s statement about building to sustain here is “ Fran says stuff”

In all seriousness not many kids are going to stay put on a losing team with coaching upheaval. You want sustainability. Start with winning 7-8 games consistently. Fran fanatics talking about playoffs! Playoffs!

Definitely shaky potatoes, The old New York prehistoric dinosaur kind of potatoes that were in the field too long

 

[DoctorBombay]

Explain these 4 points. I’m not following. Define what over would mean?

 

[Doc5120]

Grab a drink chief.

I think he may have grabbed 10 before writing this piece.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

The ACC will not exist in its current form in 2030

The roster lacks talent and depth

The coaching staff can’t coach up

Fran’s so called recruiting acumen is quickly being exposed

Fran better fill the roster via the portal or it is over

I sense someone struck out at Ladies Night at the Braintree Marriott and is salty about it?

 

[Qbobby]

They were lying in bed one night, when he told her, “I don’t want to fall asleep.” When she asked why, he said: “‘Cause I’ll miss you.'”

Aim better