Fjoinkay
Starter
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 1,421
- Like
- 752
(or for that matter, this isn't ISIS), and today is a beautiful day in NY state. I am very grateful for that.
SU football is right where it is (1-1) with a chance to go to a bowl game and a lot of room for improvement. Going into the game yesterday we all knew that this team is a work in progress. I had hoped for an SU win in a hard fought and close game. The game ended up surprising me in several ways.
I think what DB said about the players' emotions was truly a big factor. Say what you want about FHCSS, but those kids loved him, and they went to battle for him each and every game- all year-around for that matter. Yesterday, many of them saw Shafer on the field before the game and many greeted him as they should, and I'm pretty sure for some of them it presented enough of a disruption to their pre-game ritual, at least emotionally, that they felt a little off during the game. And when that happens during a game it can be hard to shake because you don't really understand what is happening emotionally. And right now where the program stands that can be enough to lose a game at home where you are slightly favored to win.
Credit FHCSS for having his defense ready to go. It's only 2 games for MTSU, but Shafer appears to be doing the same kind of job he did here for SU back in 2009 when he completely turned around the SU defense. And his SU defense in 2010 was one of the best in school history and was ranked in the top 10 nationally. And while his tenure at SU as a head coach wasn't good enough for so many, he took the job when the football program was entering the ACC. During his three years at the helm SU was 14-23, but he beat every non-P-5 school he coached against. I believe all 23 losses came against P-5 schools, if you consider Notre Dame a P-5 school. He just couldn't win enough games in the ACC. His teams also suffered a bizarre number of injuries to key players, especially at the QB position. FHCSS never made excuses. Sure, he made a few mistakes with statements to the media. Also, a lot of people were bothered when he yelled across the field at Dabo. That's understandable, but I also think he and Dabo are on pretty good terms. They might even be friends. But if you watched Shafer be interviewed last night after the game you saw that he is the same classy guy he has always been. He's a warrior, and he is also a good guy. He even called DB to congratulate him after DB received the SU job even though the two did not know each other. Those SU players love Shafer for a reason.
The SU football program needed more talent when Marrone took over from GRob, and it needed more talent when Marrone left and the SU the program entered the ACC. Today the program still needs more talent. The margin for error for SU football teams has been slim-to-none for the past 18 years. It takes time for a staff to fix that problem. It took Mac at least 5 years. Any coach needs time, and DB is no different. I'm glad to see the board so supportive of the current staff. I hope it continues.
Go Cuse!!
SU football is right where it is (1-1) with a chance to go to a bowl game and a lot of room for improvement. Going into the game yesterday we all knew that this team is a work in progress. I had hoped for an SU win in a hard fought and close game. The game ended up surprising me in several ways.
I think what DB said about the players' emotions was truly a big factor. Say what you want about FHCSS, but those kids loved him, and they went to battle for him each and every game- all year-around for that matter. Yesterday, many of them saw Shafer on the field before the game and many greeted him as they should, and I'm pretty sure for some of them it presented enough of a disruption to their pre-game ritual, at least emotionally, that they felt a little off during the game. And when that happens during a game it can be hard to shake because you don't really understand what is happening emotionally. And right now where the program stands that can be enough to lose a game at home where you are slightly favored to win.
Credit FHCSS for having his defense ready to go. It's only 2 games for MTSU, but Shafer appears to be doing the same kind of job he did here for SU back in 2009 when he completely turned around the SU defense. And his SU defense in 2010 was one of the best in school history and was ranked in the top 10 nationally. And while his tenure at SU as a head coach wasn't good enough for so many, he took the job when the football program was entering the ACC. During his three years at the helm SU was 14-23, but he beat every non-P-5 school he coached against. I believe all 23 losses came against P-5 schools, if you consider Notre Dame a P-5 school. He just couldn't win enough games in the ACC. His teams also suffered a bizarre number of injuries to key players, especially at the QB position. FHCSS never made excuses. Sure, he made a few mistakes with statements to the media. Also, a lot of people were bothered when he yelled across the field at Dabo. That's understandable, but I also think he and Dabo are on pretty good terms. They might even be friends. But if you watched Shafer be interviewed last night after the game you saw that he is the same classy guy he has always been. He's a warrior, and he is also a good guy. He even called DB to congratulate him after DB received the SU job even though the two did not know each other. Those SU players love Shafer for a reason.
The SU football program needed more talent when Marrone took over from GRob, and it needed more talent when Marrone left and the SU the program entered the ACC. Today the program still needs more talent. The margin for error for SU football teams has been slim-to-none for the past 18 years. It takes time for a staff to fix that problem. It took Mac at least 5 years. Any coach needs time, and DB is no different. I'm glad to see the board so supportive of the current staff. I hope it continues.
Go Cuse!!
Last edited:
