Cuse Football 2017/2018

[jonvi]

Good first start to the season, albeit SUs playing CCSU.

Interesting note for this game is Rex Culpepper went in at the end of the 3rd period after the score was 42 - 6.

Culpepper over Mahoney is a surprise. Mahoney replaced Dungey the last two seasons when Dungey went out with concussions. And does this mean they are looking at redshirting Devito?

Dungey racked up good stats today before taking the rest of the day off. 328 yards and 3 TDs through the air. Plus another 9/51 yards rushing and 2 more TDs.

It's good to see the Orange dominate an fsc team to start off the season. Just a couple of years ago, Nova took them into OT.

Now....looks like HC Babers has the men getting an attitude. It's been a while.

 

[jonvi]

I wasn't the only one to wonder about Culpepper getting mop up duty....

MOST INTERESTING DECISION
Rex Culpepper was the second quarterback to see the field. The redshirt freshman was the forgotten backup throughout fall camp, as senior Zack Mahoney (listed as the No. 2 quarterback) and freshman Tommy DeVito shared second-team reps. But Rex relieved Dungey late in the third quarter and got on the field as a special teams contributor on kickoffs.

Best and worst from Syracuse football vs. Central Connecticut State

 

[UTVolCountry]

Well we got our asses whooped by Vandy...not expecting too much this game. Maybe MTSU can pull off a miracle, who knows...

 

[jonvi]

Well we got our asses whooped by Vandy...not expecting too much this game. Maybe MTSU can pull off a miracle, who knows...

I didn't know you were a MTSU fan. I just assumed it you were a UT guy. I've watched UT from the sidelines since McNabb lost to them back in the day when UT had T Martin.

I'm sure you know Shaffer was SU's HC for a few years. I liked the guy as a D coordinator....but not so much as an HC.

I expect Shaffer's game plan for this game is to do the same stuff against SU as he did with SU when he was here. Blitz, blitz and blitz.

I like this game for the experience. But I feel SU is turning a corner and heading in the right direction so I expect SU to put it on your boys in the Dome.

 

[jonvi]

This might shine some light with respect to why Culpepper was in the game last weekend.

Why is Syracuse football quarterback Rex Culpepper playing special teams?

Said Babers: "(He's) just too tough of a kid and too good of an athlete to be standing next to us waiting for an opportunity to play quarterback. We've got to get him on the field, and by getting him on the field, I think that's even going to help him when he does play quarterback for us."

This explains much. The team says the guy's a freak.

Letting Culpepper go in for mop in late in the 3rd last game is also going to put some fire under Devito's ass. I was beginning to think Devito to be the next SU QB. I think most did. Well now we see ... not so much.

The freak is on the field.

 

[jonvi]

Cuse going into Death Valley ... and after LSU took a thumping by Mississippi State. LSU still has a load of talent but still showed many issues against MS St. I would imagine the Tigers had "inspired" practices this week. We'll see.

Survive the initial attack and this could be an interesting game. HCDB and the Orange have a punchers chance here.

 

[jonvi]

Man....what a game at Death Valley. I came away pleased with SU's performance. But just watched Babers interview and he's "disappointed" the boys didn't finish. I really like this guy.

 

[jonvi]

SU's loss to NC State is another big game showing this team doesn't know how to win when they can. When these fella's learn to do all the little things right in HCDBs game plan, they are going to start to chalk up some Ws. I like the direction. Sure hope the team and fans can keep focused on the improvements.

We have the right coach.

 

[jonvi]

This weekend, SU decides who wants to be the bottom of the ACC. The contenders are SU, UNC, BC and Pitt. Pitt in the Dome this coming weekend is a must win for both teams and both hold records of 0-1 in conference and 2-3 overall.

A win for either puts them at .500 and a smidgen of hope. A loss and it's Goodnight Irene.

SU has a hell of a road yet to go with Clemson in the dome and games @ FSU, Miami and UofL ...





A win this weekend is a must.

 

[Hitman Hart]

This weekend, SU decides who wants to be the bottom of the ACC. The contenders are SU, UNC, BC and Pitt. Pitt in the Dome this coming weekend is a must win for both teams and both hold records of 0-1 in conference and 2-3 overall.

A win for either puts them at .500 and a smidgen of hope. A loss and it's Goodnight Irene.

SU has a hell of a road yet to go with Clemson in the dome and games @ FSU, Miami and UofL ...





A win this weekend is a must.

I'm not sure how UNC got this terrible this fast. Remember, they went 8-0 during ACC play back in 2015. Fedora has done a pretty terrible job of keeping the momentum going.

 

[jonvi]

I'm not sure how UNC got this terrible this fast. Remember, they went 8-0 during ACC play back in 2015. Fedora has done a pretty terrible job of keeping the momentum going.

Even in the good years I couldn't take UNC Football serious.

 

[Hitman Hart]

Even in the good years I couldn't take UNC Football serious.

It has to be the powder blue uniforms

 

[jonvi]

By Nate Mink

[email protected],

Syracuse, N.Y. -- There have been nights like this before, when 40,000-plus spectators came out, and the building became unglued.

Imagine, for a moment, Friday night's atmosphere happening six or seven times a season, instead of once every odd or so year when a game such as Syracuse football's clash against No. 2 Clemson rises to something more like a one-off event.

It is an advantage that led to Clemson converting twice on 11 third downs, a critical stat in keeping SU's undermanned defense rested and handing the ball to an offense hellbent on running the play count toward triple digits.

It is an advantage that can yield more victories for a school that is not an easy place to win a lot of football games at, particularly since the nation's population, and thus the majority of this country's best football recruits, shifted from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt.

This city saw its largest population decline over a 10-year period just as Syracuse University opened the $27 million Carrier Dome in 1980. Since then, the population dropped another 25,000 to about 145,000, numbers last seen a century ago.

Dino Babers chose a shrinking city and pledged to build something people would talk about for a long time largely because of the Carrier Dome. He declined to pursue other jobs, including in the SEC, to come here 22 months ago.

If you think this is unusual, you need to get around to the idea your football coach is the antithesis to conventional. His offense operates at such a pace one of the nation's brightest defensive minds looked befuddled, using concepts others blatantly admit to stealing for their own gain.

You have a coach who has not used the word "scared" since his car nine years ago spun out of control at 80 miles per hour on a Texas highway, facing oncoming traffic, nearly ending his life before he turned 50.

Syracuse University's brass hired a damn good football coach, one who can deliver on the grandiose vision of winning a conference championship at the highest level of college football because of a proven system and an environment tailor-made to conjugate the two into spectacular moments like Friday night.

 

[jonvi]

By Stephen Bailey

[email protected],

syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. -- To those in and around the Syracuse football program, the Orange's upset of No. 2 Clemson on Friday will hopefully serve as a turning point.

Class of 2018 commits watching the game couldn't help but envision having similar experiences when they suit up for SU in future seasons.

Here's a quick round-up of their reactions (this will be updated):

Linebacker Juan Wallace

"It was a really exciting, unbelievable moment for a minute. And knowing I committed here made it sweeter. This game was definitely a program changer and could result in more wins like this in the future.

Defensive back Cameron Jonas

"I wasn't able to watch the game last night because my own school had a game too, but when I heard that they beat Clemson, I knew that this team is building something great and I'm proud to be a part of it in the coming years.

"It's just gonna be a good experience to be up there overall and the future is going to be surprising."

Wide receiver Taj Harris

"It was great to watch. I was literally yelling at my TV the whole night, and way before this win, I knew Syracuse was my future. They better get used to that feeling.

"

Wide receiver Anthony Queeley

"Watching the game last night knowing that I'm pledged to SU made me feel very excited because I know one of these days I could physically be in that position.

"This shows that SU is growing in status. With the great coaches, players, and community surrounding this program, it shows that this program will be deadly in the future."

Defensive back Trill Williams

"Last night's game had just about everyone on the edge of there seats. We needed this win to show we can play with anybody and it made me real excited.

"Syracuse is where I want to be, I honestly think In the future we can be a powerhouse."

Offensive lineman Willem Froumy

"Watching that game was crazy. I caught the end of the 3rd and the 4th (quarters), since we had a game, too. Cuse is gonna be a monster."

 

[jonvi]

Cuse +13.5 is the opening line for SU @ UM. Wow.....this season has become interesting.

 

[jonvi]

After Clemson stunner, Syracuse hungry for upset of Miami Hurricanes




Travis Homer (188 total yards, two touchdowns) had a fine debut as a UM starting running back. (Allen Eyestone/The Palm Beach Post)


In the last six years, defending national champion Clemson has lost 10 games

That alone puts Syracuse in select company.

The Orange’s 27-24 upset in the Carrier Dome last Friday night may be seen as a fluke, since all but two of those 10 that beat Clemson in that stretch were ranked, and five were top-10.

Syracuse may have tamed the Tigers at their house, and tangled with a banged-up group (quarterback Kelly Bryant was injured), but what they’ve done is more than enough to make Saturday’s game at Hard Rock Stadium (3:30 p.m., ESPN) a lot more interesting than previously anticipated.

Miami is bringing plenty of muscle to the matchup, of course. The Hurricanes (5-0, 3-0 ACC) are the only unbeaten team in the ACC, with Clemson’s loss, and are one of eight teams nationally with spotless records. Despite losing star running back Mark Walton to a season-ending ankle injury – one of six starters missing due to injury – 11th-ranked UM survived Georgia Tech 25-24.

On its final series against the Yellow Jackets, Miami went 85 yards in 15 plays — helped by Darrell Langham‘s tipped 32-yard catch on fourth-and-10 — in 2:26 to win its 10th game in a row. It’s the longest win streak for Miami since 2003-04.

Miami was No. 8 in Sunday’s Associated Press top 25 poll, and No. 7 in the coaches poll. It’s the highest AP ranking for the Canes since 2013, when they spent two weeks in the polls.

This will be the third week UM has spent in the top 10 since 2010. Miami was in the AP top 10 for three weeks in 2009.

Before that, Miami was a top-10 team in all but nine weeks from 2000-05, and was outside the top-10 in just two polls from 1986-94 (both weeks were in 1994).

The Canes are a long way from “back,” but they’re formidable — and believe they can win.

In addition to Walton, Miami was missing cornerback Dee Delaney (leg), safety Sheldrick Redwine (upper body) and right guard Navaughn Donaldson (ankle sprain). Star receiver Ahmmon Richards (hamstring) didn’t play, and linebacker Michael Pinckney (chest) left in the first half. UM trailed 14-3 early, and after halftime, shook off near-disaster on both a failed onside kick returned for a touchdown and a chop-block penalty that nearly killed the final drive. They survived, and sit alone atop the ACC Coastal.

“It’s like the stars align,” linebacker Shaq Quarterman said. “We come in, we make our adjustments, and our coaches do such a great job. … We already know the game is won before we actually come out to the field for the second half. We don’t know how it’s going to happen.”

No. 2 Clemson, No. 5 Washington, No. 8 Washington State and No. 10 Auburn weren’t as fortunate as the Hurricanes. Those teams lost, ensuring Miami would move up in the polls with its win.

The last time Miami faced Syracuse: 2003, its final year in the Big East. In UM’s 14-year run in that conference, its yearly game against Syracuse was seven times a battle of ranked teams. Ranked Miami faced unranked Syracuse four times.

The opposite happened once: in 1997, when Miami lost 33-13 in the Orange Bowl. The following year was the last time Syracuse beat Miami. Longtime fans remember Donovan McNabb’s coronation in the Carrier Dome, and a 66-13 blowout. Miami won the next five after that and leads the all-time series 15-7.

The Orange (4-3, 2-1) lost at home in Week 2 to Middle Tennessee State, clobbered Central Michigan, lost on the road at LSU and North Carolina State, and in the last two weeks, have won at home against Pittsburgh and Clemson by the same 27-24 score.

Coach Dino Babers runs a wide-open, pass-heavy system that Miami’s front seven will try and wreck. The Orange, like Georgia Tech, rack up yards (463 per game, 28th nationally) but are not particularly efficient (5.41 yards per play, 83rd). Other rankings of note: 53rd in points, 108th in yards per carry, 66th in passer rating,

Quarterback Eric Dungey wasn’t at his best in the aforementioned losses — he threw a pick in each one — but put up a quality line against Clemson (20-of-32, 278 yards, three touchdowns). He is a high-volume operator: he leads the ACC in attempts per game (41.9) and is second in yards (297.1) though he is eighth in passer rating (134.58). Dungey is also Syracuse’s leading rusher (386 yards, eight touchdowns on 101 carries).

Wide receiver Steve Ishmael is one of his team’s more impressive players. Fast and physical, he is a 6-foot-2, 209-pound graduate of North Miami Beach High. Ishmael, one of 20 Florida natives on Cuse’s roster, leads the ACC in catches (62) and yards (802, with four touchdowns). He was considered a three-star recruit in 2014 and was heavily recruited by Cincinnati, Illinois and Louisville.

Speedy wideout Ervin Phillips (5-11, 181) scored a 66-yard touchdwn against Clemson and ranks third in the league with 569 yards and three touchdowns on 56 grabs). Junior defensive tackle Chris Slayton gave Clemson’s offensive line trouble, while senior linebacker Zaire Franklin has been a four-year standout (21 tackles for loss in 2015-16; 3.0 this season).

The Orange defense is 51st in yards per play allowed, 62nd in opponent passer rating and 49th in yards per carry allowed. At 24.3 points per game allowed, Syracuse ranks 55th.

Three stat categories that could be critical:

Ball security. Though Miami’s Turnover Chain has made eight appearances, UM has only lost the ball three times — all on interceptions by Malik Rosier. The turnover total That’s tied with Alabama, N.C. State and Wake Forest for the lowest total in the nation. UM ranks 81st in the country in takeaways, an area defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was eager to improve (hence, the implementation of a Cuban link-style reward).

Front seven play. The Hurricanes have played five games while many teams have played seven, so their raw total (17) isn’t at the top. But in sacks per game (3.43) Miami is fifth, and in tackles for loss (8.6) the Canes are third. That seems to be a particularly bad match for Syracuse, who has allowed more sacks per game (3.0) and tackles for loss (6.86) than any ACC team not named Florida State (3.6 and 9.4).

Third downs. Syracuse leads the nation in third-down attempts, which points to a lot of offensive touches, and lack of success on first and second downs. The Orange are 51st in conversion rate (41.79). Defensively, Syracuse has been excellent at getting teams off the field on third down; it ranks third in opponent success rate (23.91). Miami’s offense is 97th on third down (34.48), and was a season-low 2-of-12 last week against Georgia Tech.

 

[jonvi]

• by Tom Fornelli

Syracuse at No. 8 Miami (-14): I'm scared of both sides here. You're asking me to believe Miami can beat somebody by two touchdowns, or that Syracuse can avoid a letdown after a massive win over Clemson. No thank you.

 

[douggie]

Haven't had the chance to tell ya. Congrats @jonvi on the big win versus Clempson. Good luck against the Canes!

 

[jonvi]

Haven't had the chance to tell ya. Congrats @jonvi on the big win versus Clempson. Good luck against the Canes!

Thanks man.

I'm liking our new HC Dino Babers and the attitude this team has this year. I'm hoping my boys don't have a huge let down this weekend and just pound on UM. I think they can get it done.

 

[jonvi]

What a brutal game. UM wanted to put a hurting on all of SU. Ish is gimping bad with a hip something hurting. Dungey took a beating. Everyone seemed to be dragging themselves up off the turf.

But I'll guarantee....nobody looking ahead at playing SU isn't as happy today as they were at the beginning of the season when they called a game against the Orange an auto W.