Syracuse gets crushed 56-0 by Georgia Tech. Here’s D.A.’s knee-jerk reaction:
-It’s nice that Scott Shafer took much of the blame of this disaster, but it rings hollow. Shafer wanted to make sure he cruised through the first question: “How shocked are you by the final score?” Shafer tried to play it off like this happens all the time in football, but that’s just not sincere. An 8-touchdown thrashing doesn’t normally happen, especially between two reasonably matched conference opponents.
“Not shocking at all. Look forward to playing the next game. It’s football. Sometimes you get your rumps kicked. We got our rumps kicked today, and it’s a great job by your Georgia Tech team. And I wish them all the luck in the future. Next question.”¬†
That doesn’t make any Orange fan feel better. You probably don’t need to move on to the next question. The first one needs plenty more answers. Historically speaking, SU hasn’t taken it on the chin this bad in over a decade. So playing the “it’s football” card just sounds ridiculous.
-That’s an absolute defensive embarrassment. For Shafer to be a defensive mind and allow that on his watch, it’s one of the low points of his entire career in football. Every Syracuse fan figured there would be some tough moments in this first ACC season, but who could’ve figured this? GT put up 56 points and yet only completed three passes. Let that sink in. The Jackets only threw the ball 5 times, but nearly rushed for 400 yards in this game. That could be a month for most teams. Everyone in the Western Hemisphere knew GT would run, run and run some more. The triple option is the only thing it does. The fact SU was clearly not ready to stop it, nor have the ability to stop it once it got going, is very much an indictment of the coaching staff. Surely the players deserve blame too. SU’s front 7 was just manhandled. But the Orange also looked lost and ill-prepared, which comes back to the staff.
-This is particularly ¬†frustrating because of how poorly the Jackets had been playing coming into this game. Granted, the previous three opponents were good teams. But GT lost by 7 to Va Tech, 15 to Miami, and 18 to BYU. It wasn’t like GT was hot coming into the game. But Tech found its mojo and rolled with it. Despite being on a three-game losing streak, the Jackets rebounded in a big way.
-This was history for SU, in a bad way. It was the eighth worst loss in program history. It ranks up there with Va Tech in ’99 and Miami in ’01. But almost every other game on that list is from the 1890s or before 1937. It was a different world back then. So this ranks as one of the four most embarrassing losses of the modern Syracuse era.
-It’s one thing to give up a ton of yards and points to a quirky offense you’ve never seen before. But the SU offense was dreadful in this game, and it makes you wonder where Terrel Hunt really is in his development? The quarterback was ineffective last week in the win vs. NC State, but led first half drives of punt, punt, interception, punt, punt, fumble. It was a total of just 30 plays in the entire first 30 minutes. Can Hunt actually move the ball, or was that just against the Tulane and Wagner’s of the world? While Shafer and Chuck Bullough deserve blame for the defensive woes, George McDonald also should take his lumps. Hunt doesn’t appear to be progressing as a QB, and that falls on the coaches. The offense was unable to move the ball with either Hunt or Drew Allen in the game.
-All in all, a complete disaster. A Shafer-led defense should not allow this type of avalanche, but his quick dismissal of the slaughter also begs the question whether he actually has the answers. The good news? SU gets Maryland and Wake the next two games before a mismatch against FSU.
Posted: D.A.
38 responses to “Syracuse Demolished 56-0 by Georgia Tech: D.A.’s Knee-Jerk Reaction”
Embarrassing day to be a ‘Cuse fan… I feel GRob would have coached a much closer game.
That was a poor defensive plan. With only 3 down lineman, linebackers nowhere in the frame, p-ss poor safety help, no one taking the pitch man and trailing running back. Not stringing out the wide run plays with no one taking the 2 hole. Offense needs “FEMA”.
Difficult loss to watch. Its the first game in a while where i actually had to flip off the tv and walk away. It definitely seems like coaches are “pressing”. A lot of quotes this year about needing to simplify things…. I think it’s high time the coaches do just that!
coach shafer told us all at the beginning of the season that he was going to let his coached coach the team by committee and not be involved himself. I believe that one of two things have to happen,either he takes control of the team and starts coaching them or he gets rid of the OC and DC and gets someone new in there. It looked neither one had a clue as to what was needed to win the ballgame.
I know that we have to give the new coaching staff time to adjust and learn exactly what they have to their new team but yeasterday was ugly and I mean downright ugly.
The highschool game between Don Bosco Prep and Paramus Catholic on Friday night was more exciting than the Syracuse/Ga Tech game.
Come on Coach Shafer get your head out of your butt and make the tough decisions that needs to be made.
GT desperation + criminal officiating + triple option uniqeness = bad loss. Still more season to and goals out there to play for.
@Carlton;
Well at least Saturday wasn’t all bad. FSU destroyed Clemson. How great the feeling was to sdtay up until midnight watching that happen. Getting destroyed and leaving the field like a bunch of puppies with their tails between their legs couldn’t have happened to a better group of players.
The play of the redshirt freshman FSU QB was just outstanding,should put him as the #1 candidate for the Heisman Trophy.
Going to hate seeing Syracuse travel to Tallahassee to play FSC after that performance lastnight.
I’m just wondering if the political correctness group is going to go after him to change his last name from being Winston the way that they’re going after the Washington Redskins to change their name and the way that they forced NASCAR to change the Winston Cup Championship name?
If and when he gets drafted into the NFL,do you think the team that gets him will be forced by Goodell to give him a new name?
I know that it sounds crazy,but Carlton so is “political correctness”.
Draft Coughlin He’s Orange royalty. He lobbied to get the job when Coach Mac left and he was HC at Boston College. If the brain trust at SU gave him the job then Syracuse would be a dynasty and he would still be the headcoach now. Time to right a wrong, make him athletic director and executive head coach.
Coach Schafer you better take over the defense and hire a special teams coach. I know your loyal to your boys and brought them all in as assistants but this team is getting out coached. 22nd best run defense in the nation and you switch to a 3-4 come on. Jerome Smith 11 carries come on. Another special teams blunder come on. I like Coach Schafer and his attitude but we also forget this is his first year as a head coach and Marrone also made moves to his staff after the first year. Lets just hope he adapts. MacDonald may be a great recruiter but his play calling and offense is very questionable at this time. We also miss Donnie Henderson working with the cbs. Very frustrated as a cuse fan today. Marrones teams never got crushed like this. We have been crushed three times this year. The lack of WR and QB play is killing us as well. I don’t know if there is a fix but hope there is.
Sorry I gotta vent!!
Is it FSU or FSU?? Meaning Florida State U or #@*&ing SU(for Ron)!! Here we go again!! FSU is what any college football fan would want for its program. The Warchant was louder than any Clemson voices. I’d take 50% of FSU program now!! Yet we have SU and its bland ball and program.
SU played a team sliding away to hell on a 3 game losing streak. Yet HCSS and his PLAYERS made them look like the 1972 Dolphins!! Don’t only blame HCSS and his staff. The players quit to!!! Get over it!!! SU really hasn’t changed any for years and only has 2 2 games over .500 seasons and 2 bland snow bowls in those many years.
When was the last time SU really hired an EXPERIENCED HC. Hell Coach MAC coached at U of Mass that’s not big time but still is HC exprience. HCSS is over his head and has lost the team. 28-10 loss is embarrassing to but the team might of showed up there. We are stuck with HCSS for now, but we all know that bad smell of SU stinking up the fort is back again.
The PLAYERS on the field also have no leadership at all. It sure ain’t HUNT. He’s lost out there. The “D” showed up more for a bull fight and a football game. RON this is why 2star/NR players just don’t do it AT ALL!! Well at least they get their degrees after 4 years and SU gets a losing record!!
The fans??? I read the grade the SU game. JC what fregging mess(for RON) all F’s was by far the logical choice of SU fans for SU appearence at GT. But all 5 catigories it had 10/12 who felt SU deserved a C/B/A. I know that some of that was in jest, but homers out just sit on their hands and still won’t hammer this injustice of SU play at GT.
But what is really annoying is seeing Missu,Indiana,NW, Vandy and Duke(to name a few) improve while SU does a Colgate and fade away into history. Years ago SU beat up on these programs regularly!! SU fans are better than that. But if you read this site they would rather talk NJ high school football than knocking why SU’s football program is in total decline after decades!! The administration seems not to get it about a real improvement in SUFB program. Well now the fans just seem as unispired about calling like it is. That SUFB is in decline and over the past 10/15 years has shown the Dome is 1/2 filled,talent is lacking, coaching is lacking, 2 winning seasons only in those years, lesser programs are improving greatly,but most of all its the snickering from the national media when they mention SUFB program. The GT game just fueled that. I can’t let that go by!!
So what would you want FSU or FSU!!
Do not forget the 19 abused kids from PSU!! The NCAA did!!
I cannot believe CUSE will play that bad again..in fact it would be hard to achieve.
Poor coaching//game plan//execution..the works..a debacle. but I’m going to write this one off as a “bad day/week at the office.”
You sitting down??
I actually think CUSE COULD win 4 of its last 5. Wake is fair, but come on..at the dome we should win(especially with about 34,112 fans going nuts-AHEM!!). Maryland is struggling big time since getting pasted by FSU and could be an NC STATE type of game. PITT and BC at our place-both very winnable games.
I know after yesterday it’s hard to think we could take Wagner again. But I don’t believe we are THAT bad.
I didn’t see this coming Ron but when you fall behind a Navy type triple option team and have no passing game or WR threats its a recipe for this kind of disaster!I couldn’t even watch the 2nd half I was so POd…I hope were better prepared w/a bye week for REs MD team who were just embarresed by Wake Forest who all of a sudden don’t look like a cupcake!Wish we didn’t have to go on a bye with this bad taste in our mouthes!
OrangeinVa,I like the optimism but I now think we win 1 of Wake(probably)and MD(lots of talent) and the same with Pitt(Savage) and BC(see how well they played FSU?)we can only hope to stay healthy in the FSU game and make a respectable showing!I’d like to see Terrys fatal predictions(he’s pretty good and brutally honest)!What do you say Terry?I know your even madder than me now after the debacle!I had this one down as a win but thought NC St would have been tougher!@Ron,how about NJ HS football?Pretty good game fridat night but St Josephs “Montvale” is #1 team in NJ this year!
Terry,theres a GOOD reason to talk NJHS football and HCSS should watch a little more too!!We were always great during the days our roster was stocked with NJ talent until Grob insulted the NJ/LI HS coaches by saying we didn’t downstate to win and gee whiz what happened?It coincided with our decline!!Mend the fences please…every good team east of the Mississippi recruits NJ(even OSU,Mich,FSU,USCe,Ala,etc etc)why not us?Don’t be as hard headed as Grob-Dougie Terry NJ is in the heart of our footprint!
I supported Marrone…and I am willing to support Shafer and his staff for the moment……but this was a BAD loss!!
@Terry,I didn’t see you earlier post till after I was done posting ergo the questions??Heck even you know our local recruiting has got to improve before we can hope to get better with talent from California Juco’s(I never thought going the JUCO route was smart except for quick filler)and Minnesota or Idaho let alone Texas or Illinois!Heck we are right next to NJ,Penn,Ohio and Md which should be our footprint along with NY/Conn and with Fla/Ga we should be able to stock up with good 3* and the occasional 4*s..
JB was right on the horrible officiating…it was criminal!Unfortunately I don’t think on its own it lost us the game!We just ran into a buzzsaw!
Russ our footprint in NJ is that of a sparrow!! That’s old history about GROB!! Get over it. Rutgirls/PSU(even with its lack of penalties) shows what a NE program is all about!! SU blew it over the last 10/15 years, because it just doesn’t win. Who care about NJ talent. The prime ribs go elsewhere anyway and SU might get the scraps of talent left. I’m tired of that, but the HOMERS are not!! Don’t forget HCSS comment about Northern Football. Those GT kids didn’t forget that! I wouldn’t!! Like 56 times they remembered!! Stupid remark by HCSS!! Fans just can’t let this go by, unless you want to watch NJ high school at the Dome instead of the CUSE. Negative criticism does not hurt if you can prove it by facts. And there’s plenty of that pudding around! GEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZ!!
Coughlin attended Syracuse University, where he played halfback for the Syracuse Orange football team. He was teammates with Larry Csonka and Floyd Little. In 1967, he set the school’s single-season pass receiving record. Jim Boeheim was his residence advisor (RA) during Coughlin’s Senior year at Syracuse.
Nine years of AD Gross who was going to “emphasize SU football”. Time for a new AD IMO
Well got to agree that I didn’t see that coming either. I thought cuse would have but up a better fight than that. I saw that WF beat Maryland. Glad that we have 2 weeks to prepare. Also watched that FSU and Clemson game. All I can say is WOW. I just hope that we can keep FSU under 70. DA as much as I agree with you about the embarrassing loses. That game too will be a laugher. I don’t think that I will be able to bare that game. I to am in agreeance of JB and the refs. Man they were just bad. I saw a report that funderburk didn’t even make the trip to GT. What is going on with this kid? Does anybody know? Guys as disappointed as as we all are. I just hope that something changes quickly. Have a hard time believing that this coaching staff couldn’t get this team prepared for this game. I really hope that HCSS isn’t over his head either. I liked the fact that he was the man picked.
@Terry,so does NY’s filet mignon go elsewhere but theres just 5 times more in NJ!!Can’t we at least get the 3* chopped chuck meat?Wasn’t it you crying about the no star local kid last year who BCs Adazzio grabbed and looked pretty decent on TV already as a true frosh?Heck no one gets them all in there footprint but aren’t we brand enough for a few?Cabinda’s a good start along with a couple others but we have the “ACC” card to play now…not the BE!!
That was awful! But not surprising. Welcome to the ACC. How many times do we have to sat it…… The kids that Shafer and McD can attach aren’t good enough to compete at a top 25 level. I said it before so don’t …oh! a bad game and your on his case…. Shafer.. Good defensive coordinator…not up to rebuilding Syracuse! What’s going on in Miami??? Big time Coach…high profile…NCAA up their ass…he is building a program….we think it’s great to get a two star 180 pound linebacker…
Good luck!
a few thoughts on the game. Going into it, I didn’t have a good feeling about this game. Our 2nd game in a row, on the road, new conference against a solid ACC team. Georgia Tech had just lost 3 in a row, so this was a must-win for them. Syracuse had just won 3 of 4 coming into this game, so not as life threatening. All that being said, we didn’t stand a chance. The referees / officiating dominated the game (and SU) from the opening snap. SU was flagged for 9 penalties for almost 100 yards. G’Tech – not 1. Not a single %$#@ penalty in 60 minutes of play against the Yellow-jackets. Not sure I have ever seen that in a college football game. The flags that were thrown against SU we drive-killing penalties and drive sustaining for Tech. Not to say would would have won, because we were awful, but it may have been closer and at least it would have been a fair game. This was not.
After Coach Shafer’s comment last week about SU bringing their ‘Northern style’ of play to the South – look for us to be heavily penalized going forward. The powers that be are going to make it almost impossible for us to win a game. We will probably account for 70-95 % of the games overall penalties weather we commit those infractions or not. The message was sent loud and clear to our coaching staff to keep their mouths shut next time.
@Terry;
Look I’ve always wondered why Guys like Russell,Mademan and Malone talked up NJ football. I’ve watched the games and seen the talent and I think coach shafer ought to get on his jet and fly down there immediately and try to get some of that talent. Sorry that I mentioned the Friday night game between Don Bosco and Paramus Catholic High Schools. Just letting you know I’m going to continue to watch them because NYS just doesn’t have anything to compete with it. Sorry!!!
I didn’t see that performance coming from Syracuse either,I predicted a 31-20 score to win the game. The triple option is difficult to defend,don’t you remember when we ran it with Donovan McNabb as our QB? But you see back then it was too damn boring for the fans in the upstate area to watch. We got rid of Paul Pasqualoni and hired GROB. What else is there to bitch about.
Look the game on Saturday pulled the heart out of my chest. I know deep down Terry things are going to change and I think it’s going to start in 2014.
We just had another 3* 6’3″ 180 lb QB Alin Edouard,committing to Syracuse after, decommitting from Miami,out of Florida for the class of 2014.
Things are going to be real interesting in spring practice next year especially the competition for the QB position.
I really think that Jason Cabinda is the key that unlocks the door to the recruits in NJ. Russell thinks I’m crazy,but I feel that we have a good shot a 4* WR Juwann Winfree and 3* TE/DE/DL Kurt Holuba. Watch the highschool games Terry and look at the talent that hasn’t committed to any school yet. I feel that besides the two players that I mentioned,there will be more. I also know Terry ranting/venting on this website isn’t going to do you or any of us any good. Watching that game I got really pissed Saturday. But the way I look at it is,I know this team is better than that and instead of getting so frigging mad and throwing things or punching someone in the damn face,I’ll be in my normal seat a week from Saturday watching them play Wake Forest and retiring McNabb’s jersey at half time.
Terry when we went 1-11 under GROB,I was to all of the games except one. There was a lot of those games that we should have won that year and didn’t. It’s going to get better Terry,all we need to do is be patient a little longer.
Ron! Cabinda is not a sure get for SU!! He’s playing the switch-a-roo game with PSU now!! A typical recruit of today commits then looks elsewhere. The new recruit(Edouard) to SU did the same to Miami!! Its an epidemic!! SUCKS!! Classless!! Sorry but the truth!! No matter what program it happens to!!
Russ/Ron! When was the last time SU got NJ’s best player let alone NY best player??????????????????????????? Years ago!! No chance now!! After SU’s lack of stellar winning years-SU won’t. Its that simple. So go elsewhere and don’t give a hoot if NJ/NY won’t supply SU with talent like in the years before. Talk about Florida/Georgia high schools. Many supply national programs there too!
Guys,I think this Alin Edouard is gonna be a good/great all-purpose style QB and unlike AJ Long whose really barely 5’11’ Alin E is an honest 6’1″ and slippery with Fla style talent and swagger and might turn out to be what the docter ordered for us!Looks like AJ won’t be handed the job now though I liked Kimble more before Edouards commit!btw Ron,I think the “U” with
edit[ withdrew there offer?Could it be because they knew he was talking to Cuse?
Fret not, basketball is coming.
@Terry;
Is it FSU or FSU?? Meaning Florida State U or #@*&ing SU(for Ron)!!
Look Terry I’ve always told you and others that I love the college football game. I was really disappointed with Syracuses performance on Saturday,but when the FSU/Clemson game came on things turned a little for me and at the end of the night wasn’t so down after the beating they gave Clemson. They knocked Boyd out of the race for Heisman Trophy. Dabbo Sweeny wasn’t so frigging cocky after the game was he? We’ve talked tradition at Syracuse,after watching what Clemson does before the game was just outstanding. I would love to have been in that stadium to witness it live. Let’s talk about FSU’s tradition,every time I see the Seminole Indian come out on his horse and buries a spear into the ground at the 50 yard line,well it just brings tears to my eyes Terry. How do we compete with either school?
Syracuse once had a proud tradition when we had the Saltine Warrior represent Syracuse University,and now because of the school letting the student population vote on it’s new mascot,”WE HAVE OTTO”.Truely amazing when you compare it to FSU or Clemson.
Now let me ask,have you watched the tape on our latest recruit yet? If he does end up coming to Syracuse for 2014,all that I’m going to say is the competition for QB just jumped off the launch pad and is headed for outer space man. It’s going to be really really interesting.
But in the end Terry,even after Saturday’s performance,I will tell you again that I love Syracuse University Football and I’m not about to throw in the towel and give up on them. Just am not going to do that.
I give thanks again to my friend’s Russell,Malone and mademan who have turned me onto NJ highschool football. I’m not going to give up on that either and will continue to discuss it with him and others on this website,rather it upsets you or not.
I’m done and apologize Terry for carring on this morning. You have a nice day.
@Terry;
Ron! Cabinda is not a sure get for SU!!
I feel a little restless/uneasy knowing that he visited PSU a week or so ago. But I do feel that he’s going to keep his committment to Syracuse come February. Corey Cooper will be here too to join him in the class of 2014.
@Russell Dangerfield;
I liked what I saw on the tape with this 3* 6‚Äô3‚Ä≥ 180 lb QB Alin Edouard. We have two 6’3″ QBs(Kimble,Wilson) who will compete for the QB position in 2014. The rumors floating around after spring practice was their strenght of throwing the football. Adding Long and Edouard to the mix is going to bring brutal competition for the starting QB position next spring.
See Russell, I believe things are truely looking up for Syracuse Football.
@Terry;
Russ/Ron! When was the last time SU got NJ’s best player let alone NY best player???????????????????????????
I’m not talking about the normal person who post on this website,but when I go to a recruiting website and read that Coach Flood of Rutgers overlooking and not going after Jason Cabinda(second best player in NJ)would be a decision that he would later regret. So you see Terry,I feel Cabinda is one of those good players that your asking about getting.
The class of 2014 should start showing some good results around 2017!
Ron,Even I underestimated how good Cabinda was(I’m not as up on S.Jersey kids)when you asked about him in the summer!I thought he was “adequate” but in the camps later he blew up plus he grew 2 inches from last season when he was 5’11” 195 to this year 6’1″215?…Edouard looks like the real deal…..GO Giants Ron,,see you after the game!!
JB,your right but lets hope a couple are applying for the NFL draft in “17” too!!I’m liking UCF but still not liking O’Leary and his bleeding f%%e and lying tongue!Ha Ha..I can’t believe some voters didn’t vote UCF in the top 25 after their season until now? They’ve earned it,some of those pollsters are jokes!!
O’Leary is a tough SOB.That game was great Friday night. Hope someday the Cuse starts playing with that much heart.
We just had another 3* 6’3″ 180 lb QB Alin Edouard,committing to Syracuse after, decommitting from Miami,out of Florida for the class of 2014.
Scout.com and rivals websites have him rated a 3* Qb,ESPN has him rated as a 4* QB.
It makes the second 4* recruit Syracuse has recruited for 2014. Like I said in an earlier post I believe that some of our 3* recruits could be 4* athletes before the end of the season. Jason Cabinda is one who fits the bill nicely.
Hey there, I jumped over to your article via Pinterest. Not something I frequently read, though I like your thoughts nevertheless. Many thanks for writing something worthy of reading!