Last year at this time,¬†The Fizz dissected the difficulties of Syracuse‚Äôs difficult non-conference schedule. According to the Sporting News, SU had the toughest non-con slate heading into last season. The Orange went just 2-3 against non-Big East opponents last year, but showed plenty of upside. Doug Marrone‚Äôs squad dropped to Northwestern by one point, and battled Matt Barkley’s USC late into the 3rd¬†quarter at MetLife and fell short. Additionally, SU lost an ugly game against Minnesota, but cruised against Stony Brook and clinched bowl eligibility last year against SEC’s Missouri on the road. Overall, not too shabby.
With¬†preseason training camp shifting to Fort Drum¬†this week, the countdown to opening day at MetLife Stadium is winding down. Syracuse opens its season against tough Penn State on August 31st.¬†SU’s first contest in its new conference is October 5th¬†against Clemson in the Carrier Dome. The first quartet of games is against teams outside of the ACC. Here‚Äôs how these teams faired in 2012:
Penn State (@MetLife): 8-4; ineligible for postseason
At #17 Northwestern: 9-3; defeated Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl
Wagner: 9-4
Tulane: 2-10
The first game of the season against the Nittany Lions has obviously been highly anticipated, there should be plenty of urgency and focus for Syracuse. Bill O‚ÄôBrien enters his second year following the Jerry Sandusky-Joe Paterno scandal. Was O‚ÄôBrien‚Äôs success last year a fluke? We’ll begin the season with that question getting some answers. Plenty of backlash still exists from last¬†season‚Äôs top college football storyline, which is something State College can‚Äôt avoid.
The matchup with Northwestern last season gives Scott Shafer some scouting tape to work with. Pat Fitzgerald’s squad comes in as a Top 25 team. In what the media likes to call “The Journalism Bowl,” Syracuse hope to battle the Wildcats tight, although it is on the road. 
Weeks three and four are must-wins for the Orange. Wagner was NEC Champs last year, but SU needs to win this game at the Dome or it would be a disaster. Tulane fell apart in Curtis Johnson’s first season as HC, finishing 8 games under .500.
If the Orange wants to be a bowl team this season again getting a minimum of two non-con wins is mandatory. But a third win would be enormous. Based on Shafer’s focus and determination at Fort Drum, a slow start doesn’t seem to be in the picture:
“There are multiple reasons we go to Fort Drum. First and foremost it’s to get away, to be alone. There’s no cell service, we’re not going to have the internet and a lot of the luxuries the kids have on a day-to-day basis are going to be taken away from them and the coaches. There will be fewer distractions. The other reason we’re going to Fort Drum is to be around the world’s greatest military, and one of the greatest divisions in the military, the 10th Mountain Division.”
Shafer realizes how difficult wins will come by in a new conference. Four non-con battles arguably set the tone for the season before competition in the team‚Äôs new conference.¬†If Shafer wants his ‚Äúhard-nosed‚Äù bunch to make a statement in year number one, SU will likely look back to how the first four set the tone for ’13.¬†
Posted: Brendan Glasheen
31 responses to “3-1 Start? Non-Conference Slate Will Set the Tone for Syracuse’s Season”
3-1 is possible. 2-2 is way more likely with losses to Penn State and NWestern.
Let’s be honest people. This team will win games it’s supposed to and lose the games it’s supposed to. A lot of turnover for this team and not enough talent to shock anyone.
I dont think a bowl is out of the question, but this is a building year.
@ Andrew. I don’t think it’s a rebuilding year. I think the rebuilding years have been the last 4 under Marrone. We now have depth and that is essentially what rebuilding means.
@Fizz…. SU beat WVU’s ass, which gave SU a very non “shabby” 3-3 aka .500 record vs non-conference opponents. So is this article false journalism… seems kinda “shabby” to base your article on a FAUX PAS ? Or does not dismantling WVU count? If not, that’s pretty objective.. I call this situation: “musket gate” lmbo
Based on LAST SEASON’S 3-3 non-conference record (Fizz can’t add), you would think this article would have a different TONE! Maybe the top25 Wildcats need to watch out for a team that took the to the brink last season? Or that the 3rd & 4th teams on the schedule should be great warmups for a top10 Clemson squad. Perhaps even “Jerome Smith, preseason All ACC Rb” could run for 400+ yards vs non conference foes…yadda yadda…. why the sense of urgency for two games SU is favored to win…big?
Golly gee I’m worried guys..
@The Age of Diptron
The Wildcats were “taken to the brink” by a team with an NFL level QB, LT, SS and Head Coach.
This is nowhere near the same team that brought it down to the wire (at home) and still lost.
and Clemson will absolutely roll Cuse.. I mean cmon… seriously?!
Why is everyone so scared of Penn State? I really don’t get it. I’ll take a 5th year senior (potentially) starting for the first time over what Penn State will put out (most likely a freshman). I just dont get why people assume we’re losing that game. NW is different because its a road game. If we contain venric mark, then I like our chances. Granted this year’s team is different, and we were at home, but we should have blown them out of the water last year.
Here is something everyone seems to be forgetting is yes there is a lot of new faces on offense but you still have back your top running backs plus the addition of George Morris which gives SU a ton of depth there. So this Offense is more likely going to be designed as a run first offense and pass second based on the fact that you have a new starting qb, wr’s and a young oline.
But here’s the other thing the Defense didnt lose a ton of talent. And everyone knows that defense wins games. SO I expected the d to be pretty soild while the offense is finding it’s way. Im thinking that we’re looking at around an 8-4 season or 7-5. The other thing here is Su has had 1 major upset in the last 3 seasons had home so we will beat 1 team weren’t suppose to.
4-0 to start. This team has a different feel. And lets not forget, that Jerome Smith and PTG along with GM III are different backs that can move the sticks alone with out a passing game….ie,; WV
I agree with this team feeling different and I also think that even with a strong running attack, we will be less conservative on offense (i.e. gadget plays). I’ve officially put the G-Rob years behind me and will say we go 4-0 and will be ranked somewhere in the low 20’s going into Clemson.
3-1 is very possible…PSU game would seem more winnable than NW. PSU will be starting an unproven qb. Their placekicker’s longest FG last year was 38 yards. I don’t see them as being explosive, so we’ll be in it til the end and CUSE wins 24-20.
What concerns me most about CUSE is the coaching…Shafer never a HC and McDonald has never been an OC…how will they react/manage the game?
Shafer will have some growing pains with game management but I’m pretty confident in Mcdonald
I have them at 4-0.
5-0 actually.
@Brendan Glasheen;
I cringe when I see articles on how well Syracuse will do with their OC games. I’ve said it before,the media for some damn foolish reason,just don’t like the orange. Did some foolish ACC beat writer write this story and everyone else is trying to be somebody and tweaked it to make it look like their own. If you can’t write something positive about Syracuse,why write it at all?
You said Syracuse went 2-3 in their OC games last year. The way your looking at it,I guess the WVA Game didn’t count. Myself I believe they went 3-3.
@Andrew
If Syracuse beats Penn St, people better watch out,because they will beat NW in week two. Did you go to Fan Fest last week? We finally got back to having a full compliment of players. Syracuse will be able to sub at will on both sides of the ball keeping all the players fresh to kick the hell out of everyone. The OL is a hell of a lot better than what the local sports writers are putting to print
We wern’t suppose to beat Louisville last year were we,and no one and I mean no one had Syracuse beating that high octane offense of WVA did they? I said last year that we really didn’t lose that much to graduation and this team would be ok this fall.
I like what “LilJoe47″ is predicting a 5-0 start,because I believe in the same thing. When we go 4-0 and head into the bye week,were going to have 2 weeks to prepare for Clemson. We kicked the living hell out of Louisville last year and I see the same thing happening this year. As Clemsons QB drops back in the pocket to throw a pass,I can visualize Ron Thompson breaking free and hitting him just as he’s about to throw the ball and knocks him out of the game. How’s that my friend.
Drew Allen will be the starting QB. Everyone is overlooking the fact,that this kid is 6’4” 256 lbs and can run the damn ball. The ACC sation has Smith & Gulley as the best 1-2 punch in the league this year. We haven’t talked at all about Ashton Broyld or Georg Morris yet.
Syracuse is going to be good this year,the damn ACC better get themselves ready for some ass kicking from the Cuse.
@Brendan Glasheen;
My prediction for Syracuse this year 9-3 before we go to our bowl game. To some you may think my prediction is crazy. Let me ask all of you,is it any different than all the pundits telling us that USC was going to be the 2012/13 National Champions and Matt Barkley was going to win the Heisman Trophy and be the #1 pick in last years draft?
Brendan,I always thought you were suppose to be partial/objective when writing anything about anyone. I don’t see any partiality or objectivity in your article at all.
Sorry Terry,I got carried away a little here.
Nope 6-6 for year and hopefully 2-2 to start the year. SU better have a solid passing game or Jim Brown/Barry Sanders wouldn’t do any thing either. The opposing “D’s” will just stack up against the run, no real passing attach and HCSS stated that.
All that matters is this year. Yes last years wins were very important, but they do nothing for the team at game time.
Ron are you sure your DNA isn’t spread around the area more than you think. Alot of SU fans out there are really legally high on SU chances this year!!! I just don’t see a record better than 2-2 for the start. And that will probably include to no-brainer wins too!! Sincerely I hope I’m wrong!! But and that’s a big but, being a GGGGGGGG-MAN fan the first time ELI and the GGGGGGG-MEN played NE in the SB I and many others thought no way ELI and the GGGGGGGG-MEN could pull off a SB win. Well the rest is history ain’t that the truth. Maybe its in SU’s cards to this year. I just doubt it. But really hope so that I’m wrong!!
RON/RUSS I can get carried away too!! LOL!
@Terry;
I had a incrediable day today,I just can’t begin to tell you what unfolded at my vegetable stand. It started with a conversation with the couple and his step sister who accompanied “Conner Center” to Syracuse on his offical visit before committing to Colorado. They told me he had over 30 offers. Amazing.
Two things needs to happen inorder for Syracuse to be successful in 2013. First it appears that damn injury bug has raised it’s ugly head again. They need to stay healthy. Second they really need to work hard on trying to vavoid making all those stupid mistakes that they make in a game.
But Terry,I had an awful lot of Syracuse Fans stop my stand today talking Syracuse Football and Basketball,telling me about the games that they’re going to this fall.
The fans Terry are getting real excited about the upcoming season. And yes,I agree with your last statement to Russ and me. Every once in awhile Terry you need to clear the passage ways.
Ron,its in our favor PSU should have early problems with a Fr QB in his 1st game out of HS against our 5th yr Sr so that game is very WINNABLE as our Running game should open it up for the craftier Drew Allen and with the D taking advantage of a PSU mistake or two I see a 23-13 shocker over the Nit’s!!Were lucky to get them b4 there new QB can get his feet under him!That should cheer you up Terry!
Ron/Russ PSU is not UConn, Temple,SMU, Wagner,Toledo etc etc. You’re right luckily their QB situation is unsettled, but probably in the LONG run much better than SU’s stable. After they are PSU. Allen/Hunt is still unproven-totally too!!! And how SU treats Allen(believe me the nation will be watching) will affect their future recruiting!! As usual you guys are true homers and myself and SU is grateful for that. But reality might strike on 8/31/13 at GGGGGGG-MAN stadium(that’s what I and others always will call it) so hang on!!!! I’m not saying SU can’t beat PSU. It not a pushover either like 5-0/4-0 records I’m reading. Look NW scares me hell alot more that PSU or even Clemson. NW has one of the best coaches nationwide. Plus braun and smarts from his players as well. A real tough team to beat. If NW stays healthy they could have a long run in the B-10 this year. I see that game in NW as a loss!! So SU better beat PSU-no doubt!!
*** This past weekend in Watkins Glen, NY(NASCAR) and Rochester, NY(PGA) there were massive crowds. But 25,000 are lucky to show up at the Dome for SUFB!! I bet there were a good 400,000 souls at both sites. That is more that 6 sold out games at the Dome. And that happened on 10 days total for both sites. So don’t tell me NYS and local areas don’t support great sporting events. BULL BLEEP!! At both sites the media stated that the fans here(Watkins Glen and Rochester) are very loyal to their sporting events. REALLY!!! What about the DOME. This is more than just about winning. Its about the good Doc Gross not finding ways to fill the Dome to the rafters. Or simply the media at both above mentioned sites are misled about NYS fans!! It sure looks like the media got it wrong!! Or the SU fan base just doesn’t get it!! Was is it????
Sorry did a Ron here. But it felt good!!
10-2 wake,fsu
Hey “Cuser”,I’m with you bro. That’s better than my prediction,I predicted 9-3.
But hey,just letting you know,I’m with you.
What do you think about that Terry?
I guess I’m not the only one who’s drinking the Jack Daniels on the rocks and smoking whacky weed from Columbia. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Ron,maybe now with Hillimans commit to RU we can get a commit from the Ish-man Witter?Hearing any thing Ron?Or Malone on twitter?We need a little more buzz in this down time b4 the season gets started!The best recruits are quickly coming off the board in this new age of earlier committing b4 spots aren’t available.We had a decent start but Im starting to get nervous!Maybe Hallman?I don’t think we even had him here yet but isn’t he supposed to verbal on “26” Aug ??
I’m not hearing a thing Russell. Might hear something on Monday the 19th when I return to work.
Will keep you posted if I do.
Wow, Terry seems to be the only one with common sense.
I am a fan, but let’s be real. You are all looking at this through extremely Orange glasses. 2-2 to start, 6-6 on the year.
5-0 LilJoe? HAHAHA. no.
No Andrew this is a rah rah site like SU fan and we’ve had way too much negativity surrounding the program to last a lifetime!!Let us keep it optimistic at least with in reason till were proven orangeblind!!Read the PS if you want a slap of reality…anything written by UConn fan Cohen!!I try to “keep it real” within “fan reason” but your comments like mine,Ron,Malone,Dip or Terrys are all respected!Heck we accept anyone including fans of other schools unless their trolling cause we need a balance of viewpoints or why bother?
By the way,my prediction is 7-5 b4 the bowl!That seems reasonable and I was exact last season!
I like the new coaches in place and I like the incoming talent but it is hard to look at a turnover depleted team and say anything too positive with confidence.
I think 6-6 is fair and good for a team like this is a new (better) conference.
I love me some Orange, I hope I am wrong and they are ranked at the end of the year with double digit wins.
Prove me wrong Cuse, I want to be so so wrong.
What I’ve seen on Witter is that he is planning on an official to the Clemson game. He may come with another Fla running back named Cortavious Givins. Givins is big (5’10” 220 lbs.) and well regarded, but the scare on him is a knee injury (torn ACL) that has apparently hampered him a bit his last two seasons. Likely that teams want to see his recovery, but for now we are in front. He likes coach Perles.
I like 7-5, but I think they can beat it. Maryland, BC, and NC State just don’t scare me that much. My biggest in conference scares are Clemson and FSU. Ga Tech is an enigma to me. Pitt, will play us tough, as they are familiar with us. Wake should be a win, but could be a trap game coming off a bye and looking ahead to Fla St if we are going well(Maryland is in a similar position if we beat Wake).
@Andrew;
Our predictions so far is nothing but pure speculation. Russell was on target with his prediction last year with a 7-5 overall record. Malone,Mademan and others are predicting good thing for Syracuse this year. When I post my prediction of 9-3 record,it’s nothing for anyone to get serious about because it’s only speculation.
The time for some serious talk about the 2013 season is after they start playing the games.
Andrew,I will tell you one thing,if you haven’t paid attention on what the people are saying here,then go out and talk syracuse Football with the people on the street. I feel the enthusiasm growing and for me it’s exciting.
Ron you migt have to drink some rum and inhale that Columbian stuff if SU starts out like I think they will. In this years camp(QB’S) it looks like whom ever starts it really won’t matter. That’s from just specpulation from someone elses eyes. I trust this guy too! But I hear the “down the field” ability of these guys arms is very questionable!! Dump passes/flares and etc they both can execute the long tough pass down field has been a no show. Its just what I hear that’s all!! Lets not get over excited about SU’s RBs just yet either. They are quality, but they better be if the passing attack can’t scare them with a legit bomb down the field, once in awhile. They’ll just stack the line and SU’s RBs will look like high school again. If this issue is seen PSU and NW got to see it too!! Woe is SU!!
I see Samuals went OSU way today. Good for him but also good riddence too. Just like the other NYS/LI kids before him who didn’t choose SU and went else where so far most were never heard from again. THERE’S A STORY HERE AND THE MEDIA JUST REFUSES TO SEE IT. Yes the(media) has nibbled at this issue, but really hasn’t taken a big bite out why SU can’t sign the top talent out of Appleville or Long Island either!!
Russ I agree with you!! The SU staff got us going with the talent interested in SU this spring. But so far this years class ranked #69 now just ain’t going to do it. Those are kind words from me. Samuals from NYC didn’t have us listed at all on his wish list. OL and TE are invisable so far!! WHY?? Still stuck on 6-6 is the best for 2013!!