2018 Syracuse Football

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
There are at least a few alums here. Surprised there isn't a thread yet.

Big win today. Not so much in that FSU is elite right now, because they are clearly struggling. But it was a dominating conference win over an opponent that, pre-season, looked like a likely L. Now the team has a chance to go to 4-0 with a win over the vaunted UConn offense, which would be the first time since 1991 they have started 4-0.

Not once in the McNabb era did they get there.

Post-game, Babers said Dungey was poked in the eye and that his last couple plays he was playing with some blurred vision, and thats why they took him out. No concussion, and everything else, injury wise, was playable with.
 

LeftyTG

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
1,345
Austin
I don't believe the eye thing for a minute. There is something very wrong with his elbow/arm/shoulder and Dino doesn't want to divulge it.

I also believe that Syracuse is better off with Devito playing than Dungey. I respect the hell of out Dungey, and he was the perfect QB during the transition from Shafer to Babers. The talent at Syracuse was largely barren under Shafer, and Dungey's competitiveness, moxie, and running ability masked a lot of warts. But Dungey is terrible inaccurate and a poor decision makers who is prone to playing hero ball. Devito is a redshirt freshmen and will make freshmen mistakes, but he is exactly who Dino handpicked to run his offense and is an excellent fit in a way that Dungey is not.
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
I'm playing it down the middle re the eye thing. I think the eye was the last straw in what looked like a series of ailments that were affecting him yesterday. I agree his arm is fucked in some way, but I think it was something he was going to try to play through. But I also think that the eye thing was the point at which he had too many things wrong with him to continue.

I expect Devito to start next week vs UConn (Im making the trip for that one). Clemson, I have no idea. Tough as fuck place for a freshman to start. I could see a rotation there where dungey starts but Devito comes in shortly after.

I like Devito, and I am on board with however much he plays moving forward, although i do think they will give Dungey as much playing time as they can given all he has done with the program. I hear your points re his inaccuracy and hero ball, but my biggest concern with him has always been his frailty. He may be the most injury prone QB Ive ever seen.
 

LeftyTG

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
1,345
Austin
It's probably too much to hope for Syracuse to beat Clemson two years in a row, and at their place to boot (getting a noon kickoff was a good break, albeit a very minor one). This year's Syracuse team is improved, and the potential exists for there to be a special season (by our modest standards anyway) the way the schedule breaks down, but we're not at the place where we can expect to realistically challenge Clemson year in and year out. I want to see Syracuse look competitive and get through without any major injuries. After Clemson we have @Pitt, bye, UNC, NC ST., @Wake, LOUISVILLE. If we can get through that stretch with only one loss (we'd be favored in 3 with the other two being essentially toss ups), then we end the season with ND and BC, setting up a 9-3 or 8-4 season - either of which is a major step forward for the program.
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
This is another national game. I just want to put up a good effort and not get crushed. Lets have this still be a game in the 3rd quarter. Make them work for it.
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
6-2 through 8 games is a great start for the program. Shame is they are a few plays away from 8-0. But still, 6-2 is a great start. I think 9-3 is possible.
 

TheWizard

Well-Known Member
Silver Supporter
Oct 31, 2013
95
I went to the Florida State game in the Dome back in September. Some general comments on the team:
  • In years past under Dino they've had great offense but all other phases of the game were sub-par. This year their special teams has been top notch, which has made a huge difference.
  • A real change of style from DeVito to Dungey. DeVito is the better pure QB but I hope Dino still balances using both; keeps opponents on their toes.
  • I hope Dino stays around at least one more year, to see what he can do with DeVito. Interesting that the current AD Wildhack didn't hire Barbers but has given him his full support, as he should.
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
I went to the Florida State game in the Dome back in September. Some general comments on the team:
  • In years past under Dino they've had great offense but all other phases of the game were sub-par. This year their special teams has been top notch, which has made a huge difference.
  • A real change of style from DeVito to Dungey. DeVito is the better pure QB but I hope Dino still balances using both; keeps opponents on their toes.
  • I hope Dino stays around at least one more year, to see what he can do with DeVito. Interesting that the current AD Wildhack didn't hire Barbers but has given him his full support, as he should.
I really doubt Dino leaves after this year, although its not impossible. Leaving after this year leaves the program very vulnerable for backsliding. I'm hopeful the university renegotiates, gives him a significant enough pay bump to keep him around another couple years. I know he will likely jump eventually, but 2 more years of success can put is in a position to sustain this with new people.
 

bosox4283

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Mar 2, 2004
4,673
Philadelphia
Assuming Syracuse beats Louisville, is the game against Notre Dame Syracuse's most important game in the last 10 years? 20 years? More?
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
May be the biggest since mcnabb yeah. That said, I think it would be bigger if they had beaten Pitt. Their ceiling, minus something crazy, does not seem.to be the playoff. 9-3 vs 10-2 still.prob gets them into a similar bowl mix.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
24,375
SU should be 10-0 right now. They had Clemson beat when they converted the fourth down play, only to (correctly, unfortunately) have it called back on a penalty.

They should have beaten Pitt as well, and it looks like Pitt is better than people thought they’d be. So two very close losses on the road to good teams (well, one good and one GREAT team), both of which they should have won.

SU is a handful this year for sure. Hoping they shock the Irish next week. Boy would that be sweet!
 

LeftyTG

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
1,345
Austin
to be fair though, we should have lost to UNC. I still can't believe UNC managed to blow that game - it took a lot of curious decisions by UNC and some Devito bombs in the last 5 minutes to make it happen.

Still, your point is a good one. Syracuse is clearly trending up as a program. Just wait until next year - we've been winning with one hand tied behind our back with Dungey's accuracy issues. We'll have an actual throwing QB who will have some game experience and in his 3rd year in the program.

Still have issues at the LB position on secondary, but it's nice to be good again. I'll hope for the best against Notre Dame, but I'm skeptical a guy like Dungey can beat them. ND won't let Dungey run all over them, and Dungey isn't consistently accurate enough to beat a good defense. SU was fortunate against Clemson in that it was their Lawrence's first start after Bryant left the team, they knocked him out, and Clemson muffed a punt near the goalline. Syracuse really didn't move the ball much at all against Clemson, especially in the second half.

Hopefully I'll look like a fool on Saturday as Dungey leads Syracuse to a win.
 

LeftyTG

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
1,345
Austin
So excited for the kids this year. Camping World Bowl is the best they could have gotten short of the NY6
it's a bummer the Orange Bowl had a playoff tie in this year, or else they would have landed there as the second best ACC team with Clemson making the playoff (similar to the way Texas landed in the Sugar Bowl despite being ranked 15th because Oklahoma made the playoff).
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
it's a bummer the Orange Bowl had a playoff tie in this year, or else they would have landed there as the second best ACC team with Clemson making the playoff (similar to the way Texas landed in the Sugar Bowl despite being ranked 15th because Oklahoma made the playoff).
True. But that being said, i think they would have gotten mauled by Georgia in that matchup (who IMO should have been 4).
 

LeftyTG

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
1,345
Austin
True. But that being said, i think they would have gotten mauled by Georgia in that matchup (who IMO should have been 4).
ha, no doubt! But still, it's nice to say you made the Orange Bowl. Then again, after this two decade stretch, it is nice to say you made any bowl.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
24,375
I'm very very pleased with this year. Very entertaining team. Top 20 caliber team. Going to a really nice bowl, where they'll play old rival WVU. Should have beaten Clemson. Could have beaten Pitt. I hope they win the bowl game and then DeVito takes the next step forward, because this team has a lot of talent and is moving quickly in the right direction.
 

LeftyTG

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
1,345
Austin
it is weird to feel more optimistic about the future of Syracuse football than Syracuse basketball.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
24,375
Syracuse locked Dino Babers up to a long-term extension today. This is great great news.
Yes, but as we all know, contracts for these guys don't at ALL mean that they're not going to jump ship if a bigger, more prominent job comes along. Guys change schools when still under contract with their current school all the time.
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
Yes, but as we all know, contracts for these guys don't at ALL mean that they're not going to jump ship if a bigger, more prominent job comes along. Guys change schools when still under contract with their current school all the time.
Agreed. But this does a couple things. 1- It greatly increases the chances he will be here at least 2-3 more years. And 2- Assuming he got from the $2.5 mill range to close to $4 mill (which is the buzz), it takes all the lateralish moves off the table. Louisville, Maryland, etc. Realistically I felt before there were probably 15-20 schools that could potentially peel him off from us prior to this move. I think that number closer to 10 now, and of the 10, i think there are only about half that are 100% slam dunk you take the offer every time schools. The others are schools that I think Syracuse at least will make it a conversation whether to take based on the moves yesterday.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
24,375
Agreed. But this does a couple things. 1- It greatly increases the chances he will be here at least 2-3 more years. And 2- Assuming he got from the $2.5 mill range to close to $4 mill (which is the buzz), it takes all the lateralish moves off the table. Louisville, Maryland, etc. Realistically I felt before there were probably 15-20 schools that could potentially peel him off from us prior to this move. I think that number closer to 10 now, and of the 10, i think there are only about half that are 100% slam dunk you take the offer every time schools. The others are schools that I think Syracuse at least will make it a conversation whether to take based on the moves yesterday.
Yeah good points.
 

Rossox

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Feb 13, 2004
1,605
Metrowest
10 win season!! I’ll take it. Looking forward to seeing this team under Devito.
 

LeftyTG

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
1,345
Austin
10 win season!! I’ll take it. Looking forward to seeing this team under Devito.
what a year!

It was cool seeing Adams score 2 touchdowns and Jackson score another one. A lot of dominoes fell right for them this year, which made a 10 win season possible, but the future looks really bright. I'm very bullish on Devito, and the team speed continues to be upgraded. Adams will be the first back we've had who can outrun DB's in space. The secondary, especially, has more talent in it than seen at Syracuse in a few decades now (not exactly high praise, but still true).

Long live the Dino era!