Before Daryl Gross resigned, this upcoming season for Syracuse football was not necessarily a make or break year for Scott Shafer. Obviously 3-9 would not have been acceptable again, but even if the Orange did lose nine games Gross most likely would not have fired his man just three years into the process.
With a new athletic director on the way, Shafer’s time could be running out; he’s on the hot seat. Even another 6-6 season might not be enough to save his job if the new AD comes in already wanting to rebuild the program with someone he hand picks.
Shafer definitely brings positives to the table that the new athletic director will evaluate. He is an excellent defensive coach; SU ranked 26th in the nation in total defense last year. He also clearly cares about the program; he’s passionate. After Syracuse fell 27-10 at home to Duke last year Shafer pounded the press conference podium with his fist calling the season a disappointment.
That probably isn’t enough to impress the new man though. For as good as the defense has been, the offense has been horrendous. Injuries have had an effect, but there is no excuse for averaging only 17 points per game, as the Orange did last season. Shafer’s passion is definitely admirable, but every coach must be like that. They just don’t always show it like Shafer does.
Of course, Shafer’s team could come out guns blazing this season and he could retain the job. Honestly though, what are the chances of that? Almost negligible. Syracuse will spank Rhode Island but then get run over by LSU three games later. It’s tough to find anyone who thinks otherwise.
There’s very good reason to believe that Shafer will have a short leash with the new athletic director. He will need to have a very successful season to stick around. With the way this year’s team is shaping up, the odds are against him.
Posted: Connor Morrissette
3 responses to “Scott Shafer Is Officially on the Hot Seat”
Short and Sweet. His downfall or you can say Syracuse’s downfall is not paying a proven or better Offensive coordinator. I’m guessing that Tim Lester is not gonna be that good as a offensive coordinator, the offensive is still gonna struggle, and the program is gonna run out of patience with Shafer. I said could be Shafer’s fault or Syracuse, because I don’t know who decided to hire this guy as a offensive coordinator. They could have done a lot better. But they underpaid. You get what you pay for most of the time. I hope I’m wrong but I’d rather have a Offensive Coordinator with a better resume
“hot seat”?, Maybe but he must develop a team that at the very least must beat a high ranked team and not just Vegas style with the point spread.Bear in mind that a high profile coac will want a high dollar contract and we all know the administration doesn’t do that sort of thing.
Chris, I think he IS on the hotseat….Imagine if we are uncompetitive against LSU, Fla ST and Clemson(the high ranked teams) and we lose those 3 games
by a combined 120 to 40.
And Lester’s offense works only slightly better than last years McDonald offense. Shafer made Lester his OC pretty much overnight after demoting McDonald.There was no “interim” title. Let’s say we go 4-8 or 5-7 and average 36,500 at the dome. Do you bring Shafer back? I wouldn’t.
While I like Shafer’s passion and the players seem to like to play for him as well, I don’t like his sideline “presence” or game management as some of his 4th down decisions were horrible. If the school is serious about running a high quality athletic program, the new AD will have to bring in someone new and open up the purse.
Conversely, if we go 8-4 and hang up 32 pts/game, I’d lockup the current coaching staff with raises and new contracts.