Missed opportunity for Syracuse. Here’s 5 reasons the program should be upset about the loss Saturday night:
5) Saturday night didn’t feel anything like a home game. It was supposedly an Orange home date, but outside of the end zones being painted “Syracuse” and the MetLife neon being orange, it might as well been on an air craft carrier in the Pacific. The crowd was probably 75/25 Notre Dame fans (understandably). The giant 80,000 seat stadium created too huge a space for the SU band to be heard or felt. The SU student section was sparse (understandably). MetLife in general is a stale, antiseptic place that feels more like a Sam’s Club than a football stadium. Sitting in the building Saturday night felt nothing like an SU (or college) atmosphere.
4) Third-down futility. The Orange were a miserable 3-for-15 on third downs. How can you possibly beat a good team like that? Combine that with 10 penalties, and the Orange offense took wind out of its own sails.
3) Syracuse didn’t play it’s best game. The Irish defense is very good, but there’s no reason SU should’ve been so scattershot offensively. The first 5 drives ended in punts for the Orange, and three of those were three-and-outs. Even worse, the longest drive of those first five managed just five plays. This was a chance to be an eye-opener to the nation. Syracuse failed by playing mediocre football.
2) Scott Shafer can’t beat ranked teams. The loss to Notre Dame made it 0-4 in the last two seasons playing opponents in the top 25. Losses last year to #19 Northwestern, #2 FSU, #3 Clemson, and now #8 Notre Dame means the Orange has been outscored 187-59 against the top 25 under Shafer. The last win over a ranked team was 11/10/12 when the Orange beat #11 Louisville.
1) 0-3. That’s the record of Syracuse in the MetLife series over the past five years. Losses to USC, Penn State and Notre Dame, all on national television. Both Doug Marrone and Scott Shafer talked up the potential these games could have on the program. Wins would be benchmarks for Orange football. In all three tries, SU couldn’t seal the deal. Missed opportunities for the program to grab the nation’s attention.
Posted: D.A.
8 responses to “5 Reasons Syracuse Should Be Upset About Notre Dame Loss”
Ron,
All true but no..it wasn’t football. Swam…was a university record holder. Long time ago. And yes..gross and the bitch wrecked the program to implement women’s ice hockey and build a new building…which never got built.
As I said…It was a long time ago…. and yes..I love my University!
Really!? 5 reasons we should be upset, and 2 of them are the stadium? This one was hard to read. 1) we are slow 2) too many of our offensive plays start by moving the ball in the wrong direction. 3) our defense was too easily caught in the wash of the ND screens. 4) our own screens are so poorly set up that our receiver/playmaker is facing a two on one by the time the ball reaches him 5) Hunt was pretty inaccurate missing guys high and behind. He did the same in the Maryland game. Nobody thinks he’s the answer or Drew Allen would not have started, but Hunt has to hit a screen in the flat, or a speed guy on the run in a slant or crossing pattern
Cuse17;
I had a chance to enroll into ESF and didn’t. Like I’ve said so many times before, “I love Syracuse University Athletics”. All of them. From reading your comments, I’ve come to the conclusion and understand the love that you have for the university. Just wondering if your going to the Louisville game on Friday,my son and I along with a couple of friends will be tailgating over at the South Manley parking lot. Your welcome to come over for a chat.
Ron,
Not sure yet if I’ll be in town…if I am..I’ll be there …and would enjoy meeting..”Ron”
And yes… I came to Cuse with very little and left with a lifetime of opportunities. I was lucky to have the chance to wear Orange.
Malone
Absolutely! The Dome isn’t the problem! The basketball team has no problem filling the place or using it as a competitive advantage. No one like coming in there…
If football was a quality product you could fill the place and more! The administration wants a free ride…we give you garbage and you support us anyway. Address the product..Support the product..Fire the little sicapaont Gross and get a real athletic director…get/pay for quality coaching/ get the damn facility finished….
Then “they will come!”
We’re probably going to set up the pop up and grill along with OttO,and flags/banners around 3:30 pm. From what my son tells me the menu will include Pull Pork sandwiches,pasta and potato salads,a slight possibility of having vension steaks and of course a desert and the normal beverages for the event.
It would be a good time if you were to join us.
During the last 20-25 years that I’ve worked part time at the University I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk with a lot of athletes from all of the different teams. When I meet a new recruit,I thank them for coming to Syracuse University and wish then well. I try supporting their respective teams by going to as many games as possible. I love and respect the interaction I have with them all and I wouldn’t change the chances that I have for all the money in China.
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