Wildhack retires today

[Sdot]

The umass AD wife grew up in Syracuse definitely some connections there.

 

[Brian Orange]

We sure Fran will survive all this transition? New ADs like to hire their guys absent some institutional success at the position.

No way a new AD will hitch his wagon to someone he has zero experience with. Clock is on Fran now to really succeed asap.

I would bet the same w Gait. Clock is running.

Good point. Come on down Jeff Monken!?

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Good point. Come on down Jeff Monken!?

I am surprised he is not older. He would easily have time for 5 solid years here.

This year would have to be another disaster for Fran to even have his seat be warm. So whomever the new AD is will likely have Fran at least two years.

 

[Scooch]

The Dome renovation was mandated to get in the ACC

Huh? No, it was most certainly not.

 

[Brian Orange]

I am surprised he is not older. He would easily have time for 5 solid years here.

This year would have to be another disaster for Fran to even have his seat be warm. So whomever the new AD is will likely have Fran at least two years.

The success of Wildhack's tenure likely will come down to Fran Brown.

 

[PAcuse]

The success of Wildhack's tenure likely will come down to Fran Brown.

So we should through all the good out the window and hitch the wagon to just Fran Brown...

I'm pretty sure the following is fairly imperssive:

• Sent 94 teams to national championship events.
• Achieved 85 NCAA tournament appearances across sports.
• Won multiple conference championships and individual national titles, in addition to the 2022 men’s soccer crown and individual running titles.
• Football team had 10 wins TWICE
• 2024 Football team beat 3 top 25 teams for the first time since 1998
• Woman's lacrosse 6 final four apperances
• Men's lacrosse is finally back to championship weekend

 

[Brian Orange]

So we should through all the good out the window and hitch the wagon to just Fran Brown...

I'm pretty sure the following is fairly imperssive:

• Sent 94 teams to national championship events.
• Achieved 85 NCAA tournament appearances across sports.
• Won multiple conference championships and individual national titles, in addition to the 2022 men’s soccer crown and individual running titles.
• Football team had 10 wins TWICE
• 2024 Football team beat 3 top 25 teams for the first time since 1998
• Woman's lacrosse 6 final four apperances
• Men's lacrosse is finally back to championship weekend

You are not wrong and I agree with those. Ultimately I think he'll be judged by the Fran hire though, for good or bad.

 

[PAcuse]

You are not wrong and I agree with those. Ultimately I think he'll be judged by the Fran hire though, for good or bad.

That's fair, football does drive the bus for College.

 

[5OutFred]

So we should through all the good out the window and hitch the wagon to just Fran Brown...

I'm pretty sure the following is fairly imperssive:

• Sent 94 teams to national championship events.
• Achieved 85 NCAA tournament appearances across sports.
• Won multiple conference championships and individual national titles, in addition to the 2022 men’s soccer crown and individual running titles.
• Football team had 10 wins TWICE
• 2024 Football team beat 3 top 25 teams for the first time since 1998
• Woman's lacrosse 6 final four apperances
• Men's lacrosse is finally back to championship weekend

These are valid accomplishments, but, for better or worse, the monetary success of an athletics department is largely tied to football and mens bball, and those were mediocre over the decade. Fair to acknowledge both.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

So we should through all the good out the window and hitch the wagon to just Fran Brown...

I'm pretty sure the following is fairly imperssive:

• Sent 94 teams to national championship events.
• Achieved 85 NCAA tournament appearances across sports.
• Won multiple conference championships and individual national titles, in addition to the 2022 men’s soccer crown and individual running titles.
• Football team had 10 wins TWICE
• 2024 Football team beat 3 top 25 teams for the first time since 1998
• Woman's lacrosse 6 final four apperances
• Men's lacrosse is finally back to championship weekend

What is successful athletically?

If we are talking all sports we have struggled post covid.

If we are talking FB and BBall, we have been decent in FB and bad in BBall. That said JB/Autry aren't really his fault.

Our #3 (Lax) has been below our standard too.


Directors Cup
2020-21 64th (which was worst since 2008)
2021-22 72nd (beat that)
2022-23 45th
2023-24 44th (tied 3rd best)
2024-25 61st (14th in ACC)
2025-26 TBD (we are off to a good start but we usually do better in the fall anyway)

Before then was good though
2019-20 no final
2018-19 51st
2017-18 46th
2016-17 44th (3rd best)

Prior to JW while in the ACC
2015-16 21st (best ever)
2014-15 47th
2013-14 53rd

Last year in the big East
2012-13 39th (2nd best)


***1993-94 was the first year

 

[Moontan]

Well he’s a former Vet, so the guy at army will be strong candidate

Air Force vs Army?
Will they get along?

 

[Moontan]

The game experience is vastly better post renovation.

You didn't like getting blown out of the gates?

 

[JimBoston]

The college athletic landscape dramatically changed post COVID driven by NIL/Rev share and the collapse of the Pac12 and Texas and Oklahoma going to the SEC which created a P2 with more financial resources and power than the ACC/Big 12. The next AD has a tough job to figure out where Syracuse athletics fits in the new order especially if a Super League is coming. And, the new AD will have to figure out how to increase fundraising to improve Syracuse's competitiveness.

 

[elimunelson]

Gait’s seat is ice cold. Fran isn’t even warm.

Not what my SU LAX friends have said….not sure it’s ice cold.

 

[sutomcat]

You didn't like getting blown out of the gates?

I actually kind of did.

I didn’t like the hard benches with no back support, the bad scoreboards, the awful sound and the crappy food.

I would argue SU fans have the best game experience in the ACC.

 

[PAcuse]

What is successful athletically?

If we are talking all sports we have struggled post covid.

If we are talking FB and BBall, we have been decent in FB and bad in BBall. That said JB/Autry aren't really his fault.

Our #3 (Lax) has been below our standard too.


Directors Cup
2020-21 64th (which was worst since 2008)
2021-22 72nd (beat that)
2022-23 45th
2023-24 44th (tied 3rd best)
2024-25 61st (14th in ACC)
2025-26 TBD (we are off to a good start but we usually do better in the fall anyway)

Before then was good though
2019-20 no final
2018-19 51st
2017-18 46th
2016-17 44th (3rd best)

Prior to JW while in the ACC
2015-16 21st (best ever)
2014-15 47th
2013-14 53rd

Last year in the big East
2012-13 39th (2nd best)


***1993-94 was the first year

I don’t think the department is elite right now, but I also don’t think it’s falling apart. Feels like a middle-tier ACC department with some upward momentum in football, lacrosse and some rebuilding elsewhere.

 

[shu 49]

I would think your talking late spring ish, I believe the bball situation will be addressed first and then the AD. So your talking April/May.

If I was ad I would want my guy.

 

[shu 49]

Wildhack took significant risks in hiring a head football and head basketball coach with no head coaching experience. That is unacceptable for a P4 school. Brown had a great first year with a unicorn QB, but this year was a disaster for both football and basketball. Autry needs to be fired this year and the new AD might have a tough decision on Brown after next season if he doesn't win.

Brown will win.

 

[Jake]

If it ain’t Pete Sala who else would it be.

Dan French….lol

 

[HRE Otto IV]

I don’t think the department is elite right now, but I also don’t think it’s falling apart. Feels like a middle-tier ACC department with some upward momentum in football, lacrosse and some rebuilding elsewhere.

Last 5 year ACC ranks
2020-21 13th out of 15 (bottom 1/5)
2021-22 13th out of 15 (bottom 1/5)
2022-23 9th out of 15 (bottom 1/2)
2023-24 8th out of 15 (exact mid)
2024-25 14th out of 18 (bottom 1/3)

So 3 out of the last 5 seasons we have been bottom third or worse of the conference and no seasons in the top half of the conference.


I think it is fair to expect Top 60 nationally and Top 2/3rds of the ACC (Top 12 now that we are 18). We have failed at both 3 of the last 5 seasons. That ain't good.

If the FB, BBall, Lax teams were doing well you can excuse the overall.