I think one of the biggest issues facing the Return of Syracuse as Top 25 mainstay that we simply cannot overlook is the issue of the politics and current trends we see all around the city and state .
We have a tremendous amount of change coming that could cause strong headwinds or open fantastic opportunities to navigate the political structure of this state and this city and it's citizens. Many things are going to affect money available from both government and people that will affect this program going forward.
1. A new mayor of the city will be opon us soon, how will they view the University and it's place in the city? Will they view the carrier dome as an asset ot an afterthought?
2. Billions of dollars is going to be poured into the city in a short time with the pending rebuild of interstate 81. Where does SU and access to the dome fit into that equation will the design of the new road favor or hinder access to the area?
3. The pending modifications of the dome and what and when it will be done, is there state money going to be used for that, how important is this to the new administration on the hill?
The above issues are minor to what I think are the two elephants in the room that are now and going to be problems with bringing the fan base back to a big boy level,
1) let's face it Football with its safety and injuries and head trauma issues is under assault in many circles. Here in this state legislation on the burner or backburner may look at banning tackle foitball until the age of 14 or so. Big names coming out and saying there sons should do anything but play football etc. I firmly believe that there will be legislation in states in the northeast that while they have good intentions will further erode the talent and interest in football in this area.
2. The biggest issue for the program is one you can see right on this site. It's in Texas, and North Carolina, Florida, Atlanta and many other places only to be replaced locally by Bosnia, Syria, Sudan and places that wouldn't know American Football from a Ford Truck. Replacing Football with Football (soccer) is bad for attendance and future fan base of the football team. Look there were articles today in the Syracuse.com talking about many districts in the city so full of refugees that only 60 percent or so of the students could speak English . I'm not saying it's bad or goid as a whole but im flat out saying it's bad for football. These right now are lower income residents who not only have no former ties to football but don't have the money to spend on games .
The suburbs cannot supply enough fans on there own to develop a big enough fans base toe get 40000 people when say we play a Colgate which I consider to be the measure of a solid program. If we fill the stadium to 80 percent against lower tear teams we have a healthy program that is big boy football. Very Frankly going forward I have doubts this program can average 80 percent capacity for a season unless the team is like top ten.
Currently I don't think the numbers line up geopolitical from the states and cities inner working to see a strong fan base that can fully support the big time football .
We have a tremendous amount of change coming that could cause strong headwinds or open fantastic opportunities to navigate the political structure of this state and this city and it's citizens. Many things are going to affect money available from both government and people that will affect this program going forward.
1. A new mayor of the city will be opon us soon, how will they view the University and it's place in the city? Will they view the carrier dome as an asset ot an afterthought?
2. Billions of dollars is going to be poured into the city in a short time with the pending rebuild of interstate 81. Where does SU and access to the dome fit into that equation will the design of the new road favor or hinder access to the area?
3. The pending modifications of the dome and what and when it will be done, is there state money going to be used for that, how important is this to the new administration on the hill?
The above issues are minor to what I think are the two elephants in the room that are now and going to be problems with bringing the fan base back to a big boy level,
1) let's face it Football with its safety and injuries and head trauma issues is under assault in many circles. Here in this state legislation on the burner or backburner may look at banning tackle foitball until the age of 14 or so. Big names coming out and saying there sons should do anything but play football etc. I firmly believe that there will be legislation in states in the northeast that while they have good intentions will further erode the talent and interest in football in this area.
2. The biggest issue for the program is one you can see right on this site. It's in Texas, and North Carolina, Florida, Atlanta and many other places only to be replaced locally by Bosnia, Syria, Sudan and places that wouldn't know American Football from a Ford Truck. Replacing Football with Football (soccer) is bad for attendance and future fan base of the football team. Look there were articles today in the Syracuse.com talking about many districts in the city so full of refugees that only 60 percent or so of the students could speak English . I'm not saying it's bad or goid as a whole but im flat out saying it's bad for football. These right now are lower income residents who not only have no former ties to football but don't have the money to spend on games .
The suburbs cannot supply enough fans on there own to develop a big enough fans base toe get 40000 people when say we play a Colgate which I consider to be the measure of a solid program. If we fill the stadium to 80 percent against lower tear teams we have a healthy program that is big boy football. Very Frankly going forward I have doubts this program can average 80 percent capacity for a season unless the team is like top ten.
Currently I don't think the numbers line up geopolitical from the states and cities inner working to see a strong fan base that can fully support the big time football .
