Monday, November 13, 2006

This is Progress?

Early this season the Syracuse Oranges jumped out to a 3-2 record and everyone talked about the huge strides the program made in Greg Robinson's second season after a 1-10 last year.

why is he squinting?

Turns out they still suck. They scored more than 30 points in non-conference wins over Illinois, Miami (Ohio) and Wyoming, but haven't scored more than 17 in any other game. Unless SU beats UConn or a gets a miracle against Rutgers, they will end the season with a 14-game Big East losing streak.
I've watched the last two games (Cincinnati & South Florida) or listened on the radio, and I'm very underwhelmed. The offense sucks. How does a team that's +14 on the season in turnovers still manage to be 3-7? They can't move the ball.
At the start of the second half, USF drove to the 1 yard line, and fumbled. SU got 2 first downs, gained 25 yards, but had to punt.
They picked off USF on the next possession, but followed that up with a 3 and out in which they lost 8 yards.
Once again USF turned it over, but SU could manage only 1 first down, and 11 total yards.
3 turnovers, 28 yards, no points.

Best 3-7 team in the nation

More galling than all of that was the insistence by homer radio announcer, former Coach Dick McPherson, that they could get right back in the game. Coach Mac kept saying "the encouraging thing is that we're not making mistakes." I've listened to him call at least 4 games this season and he never once said Syracuse or the Oranges. Only we and us.
He also never mentioned the discouraging part; that we're 3-6 and can't make a first down.

i believe the red headed stepchildren are our future

Then the other announcer suggested bringing in the backup QB Andy Robinson, since Perry Patterson only has two games left. Coach Mac went nuts saying it wouldn't be fair to the guys who are "busting their bazookas," because they should try to win the game. I guess he ignored the 27-10 score, and the horrible play of Patterson. The amateurish radio crew forgot to cut their mikes during the commercial so you could hear Coach Mac excoriating the other guy for his suggestion.
Then on the next drive, Robinson came in...and threw an interception. On his next possession, he fumbled. This could be the start of something big.

No comments: