The plight of SU fans in September

[Eric15]

I've always thought in the back of my mind that few fanbases have it more stressful than Syracuse football fans in the month of September. We are approaching a quarter-century since our last 3-0 start. Which is shocking because we have had excellent teams in that span that have gone to BCS bowl games. I know there were some seasons (1998) where we had brutal starts, but there have been plenty of others where the competition was very manageable.

I was 5 years old during the 1987 run, so I was too young to understand what was going on. Which means I've never experienced the thrill of an SU football team getting into the month of October with the dream of an undefeated season still on the table. I need to experience this. Here is how our drought of 3-0 starts compares to all other teams in the five major conferences - it's surreal how much of an outlier we are...

2013: Florida State, Louisville, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas Tech, Stanford, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, UCLA, Missouri, Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Mississippi State
2012: Iowa State, Texas, West Virginia, Kansas State, TCU, Notre Dame, Oregon State, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
2011: Boston College, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, California, USC, Vanderbilt
2010: NC State, Utah, Kentucky, Texas A&M
2009: Pittsburgh, Kansas
2008: Wake Forest, Colorado
2007: Arizona State
2005: Virginia, Washington State
2004: Tennessee

Two outliers
1994: Duke
1991: Syracuse

Long story short, 3-0 has to happen this year. If not this year, then literally when will it ever happen? The schedule is set up absolutely perfectly for a strong start. I'm a believer!

 

[Scooch]

For as much as Boeheim has gotten grief about it over his career, there's something to be said for scheduling easy at the beginning of the season, getting some wins, and building momentum and fan interest.

 

[TheCusian]

I've always thought in the back of my mind that few fanbases have it more stressful than Syracuse football fans in the month of September. We are approaching a quarter-century since our last 3-0 start. Which is shocking because we have had excellent teams in that span that have gone to BCS bowl games. I know there were some seasons (1998) where we had brutal starts, but there have been plenty of others where the competition was very manageable. I was 5 years old during the 1987 run, so I was too young to understand what was going on. Which means I've never experienced the thrill of an SU football team getting into the month of October with the dream of an undefeated season still on the table. I need to experience this. Here is how our drought of 3-0 starts compares to all other teams in the five major conferences - it's surreal how much of an outlier we are... 2013: Florida State, Louisville, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas Tech, Stanford, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, UCLA, Missouri, Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Mississippi State 2012: Iowa State, Texas, West Virginia, Kansas State, TCU, Notre Dame, Oregon State, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina 2011: Boston College, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, California, USC, Vanderbilt 2010: NC State, Utah, Kentucky, Texas A&M 2009: Pittsburgh, Kansas 2008: Wake Forest, Colorado 2007: Arizona State 2005: Virginia, Washington State 2004: Tennessee Two outliers 1994: Duke 1991: Syracuse Long story short, 3-0 has to happen this year. If not this year, then literally when will it ever happen? The schedule is set up absolutely perfectly for a strong start. I'm a believer!

This alone may be the reason for poor attendance over that period. Lack of momentum and buzz.

 

[Full_Rebar]

Great stuff in this thread. Getting to 3-0 will make a huge difference in the view of the casual fans.

 

[anomander]

This has long been my biggest frustration. Even when we were really good we always seemed to stumble out of the gait. At the time I blamed it on Coach P for not having the team prepared. I don't know what my excuse will be now. Just get it done.

I agree with you guys that this has a huge hand in poor attendance. We never can seem to gain any buzz, losing the casual fan before the season even starts.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I've always thought in the back of my mind that few fanbases have it more stressful than Syracuse football fans in the month of September. We are approaching a quarter-century since our last 3-0 start. Which is shocking because we have had excellent teams in that span that have gone to BCS bowl games. I know there were some seasons (1998) where we had brutal starts, but there have been plenty of others where the competition was very manageable.

I was 5 years old during the 1987 run, so I was too young to understand what was going on. Which means I've never experienced the thrill of an SU football team getting into the month of October with the dream of an undefeated season still on the table. I need to experience this. Here is how our drought of 3-0 starts compares to all other teams in the five major conferences - it's surreal how much of an outlier we are...

2013: Florida State, Louisville, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas Tech, Stanford, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, UCLA, Missouri, Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Mississippi State
2012: Iowa State, Texas, West Virginia, Kansas State, TCU, Notre Dame, Oregon State, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
2011: Boston College, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, California, USC, Vanderbilt
2010: NC State, Utah, Kentucky, Texas A&M
2009: Pittsburgh, Kansas
2008: Wake Forest, Colorado
2007: Arizona State
2005: Virginia, Washington State
2004: Tennessee

Two outliers
1994: Duke
1991: Syracuse

Long story short, 3-0 has to happen this year. If not this year, then literally when will it ever happen? The schedule is set up absolutely perfectly for a strong start. I'm a believer!

Agreed that this year sets up perfect for at least a 2-0 if not a 3-0 start but for once the pressure is on Syracuse. Villanova and Central Michigan on paper are games SU should win and in the case of Nova win pretty easily. That being said both of these game are much tougher then they appear. Nova is light years better then Wagner (wish we were playing them again) as they have a good Mobile QB and hung with BC for most of the game last year and Central Michigan returns the most starters in the nation and is very good on the O and D lines.

Syracuse should absolutely be 2--0 going into Maryland but I hope people realize neither of these games are going to be a cakewalk.

 

[Eric15]

I hope people realize neither of these games are going to be a cakewalk.

I completely agree with you - Nova is a solid club and this game could easily be competitive into the 2nd half.

 

[HtownOrange]

1987 was a great season. The Orange are set up well for the 3-0 start. No looking ahead, no swelled heads. Just old fashioned rolling up of sleeves and winning via play on the field.

I agree that Nova, CMU and UMD should not be taken lightly but these are should win games, no excuses.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I completely agree with you - Nova is a solid club and this game could easily be competitive into the 2nd half.

To be honest that game worries me more then it should for a few reasons. Normally when you have a 1AA scheduled to start the year its a dream come true but in this case Nova is high end 1AA team something I was hoping we would avoid and schedule a team like Wagner which guarantees a win.

First game of the year there is usually a lot of rust and kinks to work out especially when your a mid level program which is what Syracuse is. This as you noted could lead to a competitive game in the 2nd half which as we all know is the last thing you want especially a close game in the 4th with a 1AA opponent who with nothing to lose will start throwing the kitchen sink at you.

Secondly after the absolute blowout of Wagner last year I wonder how up the team will be for a labor day weekend game vs Nova with 30k in the stands. We saw this previously under Marrone when Syracuse got behing Maine and Rhode Island in the first half.

I fully expect Syracuse to win and win by 2 tds plus but people penciling in this team for an easy 2-0 start are setting themselves up for failure because both games could be competitive late into the game especially Central Michigan.

 

[JeremyCuse]

1987 was a great season. The Orange are set up well for the 3-0 start. No looking ahead, no swelled heads. Just old fashioned rolling up of sleeves and winning via play on the field.

I agree that Nova, CMU and UMD should not be taken lightly but these are should win games, no excuses.

Not sure Maryland is a shoud win no excuse game. Nova is that type of game, Maryland with all of its still issues is still a Div 1 team with good players.

 

[orangechef]

The fact that anyone is worrying about overlooking Villanova and directional Michigan suggests that those worrying do not see Syracuse as a team that has arrived yet. Completely overlooking power 5 conference teams such as Maryland is a bit much, but Nova and whatever direction Michigan, come on. Never would Nebraska, Michigan St., Louisville, etc., etc., etc., lose any sleep over those games. I for one see us handling those teams easily, as we should at this point. GO ORANGE!!!!

 

[HtownOrange]

Not sure Maryland is a shoud win no excuse game. Nova is that type of game, Maryland with all of its still issues is still a Div 1 team with good players.

I agree they have some tools. I believe Syracuse has more tools and much better coaching. Granted, this is my opinion but I think it is a should win more so than a push.

 

[NovaOrange]

I agree they have some tools. I believe Syracuse has more tools and much better coaching. Granted, this is my opinion but I think it is a should win more so than a push.

I know Syracuse has a better team but Stefon Diggs makes me nervous anytime he is on the field. IMO the kid will be a 1st round pick in 2015 if his leg is fully healed.

 

[SU2NASA]

1987 was a great season. The Orange are set up well for the 3-0 start. No looking ahead, no swelled heads. Just old fashioned rolling up of sleeves and winning via play on the field.

And if not, we can always win in the parking lot.

 

[JeremyCuse]

The fact that anyone is worrying about overlooking Villanova and directional Michigan suggests that those worrying do not see Syracuse as a team that has arrived yet. Completely overlooking power 5 conference teams such as Maryland is a bit much, but Nova and whatever direction Michigan, come on. Never would Nebraska, Michigan St., Louisville, etc., etc., etc., lose any sleep over those games. I for one see us handling those teams easily, as we should at this point. GO ORANGE!!!!

Sorry but teams who have "arrived" dont get beat 58-0 by a barely .500 Ga Tech team.

 

[Eric15]

Never would Nebraska, Michigan St., Louisville, etc., etc., etc., lose any sleep over those games.

And that mentality is precisely why a 1-AA team knocks off a BCS school opening weekend every single year... it's happened to Michigan, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Oregon State, Minnesota, Ole Miss and a handful of others over the last few years.

 

[NovaOrange]

Sorry but teams who have "arrived" dont get beat 58-0 by a barely .500 Ga Tech team.

I think that had less to do with the team and more to do with our coaches inability to adjust the defense. That was by far the hardest game I have ever watched. Having our d line bear crawling into gaps would have been better than what we ran

 

[shandeezy7]

And that mentality is precisely why a 1-AA team knocks off a BCS school opening weekend every single year... it's happened to Michigan, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Oregon State, Minnesota, Ole Miss and a handful of others over the last few years.

I love the fact that Nova is the first game of the year. If you can't be pumped up and ready to play on opening night, regardless of the opponent, then D1 football is probably not for you. It's much better than playing them in the 3rd or 4th week of the season, when it has the possibility of being treated like a bye week by the players.

 

[Eric15]

Sorry but teams who have "arrived" dont get beat 58-0 by a barely .500 Ga Tech team.

Come on, Jeremy. It was 56-0!

 

[JeremyCuse]

Come on, Jeremy. It was 56-0!

As someone noted above that was one of the worst games I have ever seen and I remember the VaTech and Miami shalackings. Glad were not playing them again for awhile.

 

[anomander]

I know Syracuse has a better team but Stefon Diggs makes me nervous anytime he is on the field. IMO the kid will be a 1st round pick in 2015 if his leg is fully healed.

I am extremely worried about Maryland. I have little doubt we handle Nova by at least 4 td's. We are just too talented, and we will be fired up since it's the opener. Same for CMU, but could be a little closer since it's on the road. Maryland however worries me. They are just as, if not more talented, and we have the dreaded look ahead game to Notre Dame. I think it will be a dog fight, but is a must win. We can't afford to drop that game.

 

[anomander]

I love the fact that Nova is the first game of the year. If you can't be pumped up and ready to play on opening night, regardless of the opponent, then D1 football is probably not for you. It's much better than playing them in the 3rd or 4th week of the season, when it has the possibility of being treated like a bye week by the players.

The fans usually treat it as a bye week as well. If we are going to play FCS games we better make sure they are the 1st game of the season.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I am extremely worried about Maryland. I have little doubt we handle Nova by at least 4 td's. We are just too talented, and we will be fired up since it's the opener. Same for CMU, but could be a little closer since it's on the road. Maryland however worries me. They are just as, if not more talented, and we have the dreaded look ahead game to Notre Dame. I think it will be a dog fight, but is a must win. We can't afford to drop that game.

4td victory over both Nova and CMU? Lova ya Ano but I dont see that especially against CMU.

 

[anomander]

4td victory over both Nova and CMU? Lova ya Ano but I dont see that especially against CMU.

Nova 45-10
CMU 31-14

Book it!

 

[JeremyCuse]

Nova 45-10
CMU 31-14

Book it!

I would love those scores.