Syracuse Football: Eric Dungey is going to need thoughts and prayers

The starting quarterback for the Syracuse football team is going to need your prayers this season. Here’s how Eric Dungey can realize his potential.

This article is fifth in a series previewing the Ninth Life (my name for this season as this cat has definitely gone through its first eight) by Paul A. Esden Sr.

So let us review where we have been over the past several articles.

I believe that this is the year Dino Babers needs to make a move and show improvement. There has been a lot of fireworks on the field with essentially the same statistics and win-loss record.  We have broken down the some of the biggest challenges that face this squad, changes that need to be made or questions that need to be answered.

The run-down of previous articles:

• Who is the next man up at receiver?
• We need to establish at least a mediocre running game to give the offense a chance.
• The defense has to replace some significant losses, coupled with an entire scheme change from the 4-3 to the nickel.

Each and every one of those discussions were key pieces or building blocks in the Quest for Six!  I have saved the discussion of the most crucial piece, the lynch pin, the glue that will hold this OITNF together the person who will lead the faithful to the promised land like Moses: Eric Dungey.

Now I understand that I am supposed to be an impartial journalist who does not play favorites but I just cannot do it in this case. Eric will go down as the most prolific quarterback in the history of Syracuse Football. I am sure I do not need to break down his accomplishments (I will) and I will put them in perspective of quarterbacks not in the history of Syracuse but the ACC.

Some quick hitter facts that will open your eyes and give you hope for the upcoming season:

• Eric Dungey is the only FBS quarterback starting the season with over 6,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in his career.
• Dungey is in the top four in ACC history in total average offensive yards per game. The other three you might have heard of as they will be all playing on Sundays this Fall: Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson and Jameis Winston.
• Current active leader in the ACC for all major quarterback statistics.

However despite the above facts and that in the games he played each year his production was arguably comparable to the quarterbacks invited to the Downtown Athletic Club the first Saturday in December for the Heisman reveal, he is not and has not received the respect he deserves.The latest offense is that Athlon Sports has him as a preseason THIRD TEAM all ACC selection. THIRD TEAM?!?! Are you freaking kidding me…

This is directly related to the elephant in the room that we need to talk about. The thing that makes Eric one of the best quarterbacks in the country and in my mind a Heisman candidate is the same thing that has cut short his football campaign every year he has played at Syracuse. His reckless abandon for his own personal safety and love for the game.

In the past this writer has blamed Dino (who I believe is partially to blame) and Eric but in retrospect this was unfair. The reality of it is the thing that makes him great also makes him vulnerable. Telling Eric to play safe or conservative is akin to telling Jim Brown not to run hard. The most we can hope for is the right play calling in the right situation and coaching Eric to not take unnecessary hits. The rest is up to the football gods. A healthy Dungey will have the Orange in contention for a bowl and he will be among the elite players in 2018.

Syracuse’s favorite son has missed the last three games of the last three years due to injury. It is well documented that the last three seasons we are 4-8, another statistic to put the importance of a healthy Eric Dungey is in the 9 games that he has been out due to injury over the past three years the Orange have won … one.  Another hidden stat is although he started the ninth game in each of the past two years, he was knocked out early in the first half. Both games ended in Orange losses.

In summation there is no way to guarantee that Eric will stay healthy. If he changes his playing style or the OITNF went conservative we would lose the magic and the excitement that both of them bring and that have helped put us on the map. So light a candle for Eric (or whatever your personal belief has you do), strap on your helmet and prepare for the launch of the 2018 season and with a little luck of the Orange, we will complete our Quest for 6 and be bowling this year.