Inside the Loud House
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Syracuse Football: 2018 season report card, looking ahead to 2019

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Kendall Coleman #55 of the Syracuse Orange celebrates with Brandon Berry #97 after a sack against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the fourth quarter of the Camping World Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Kendall Coleman #55 of the Syracuse Orange celebrates with Brandon Berry #97 after a sack against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the fourth quarter of the Camping World Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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. . Syracuse Orange. OVERALL COACHING . A+

Is there a grade higher then A+? Now I consider myself a hard grader, so I want to explain fully why Dino Babers and this entire coaching staff deserve the highest grade possible.

  • Exhibit A: After Syracuse got demolished and embarrassed by Boston College to end the 2017 season, Dino Babers made a bold statement. “2018 is going to be a year we talk about on the hill for a very long time.”
    • Now pause the story for a second, what does that phrase mean? That doesn’t sound like 6-6, that sounds like something special, something really really special.
  • Babers unnecessarily put himself on the line and he delivered with the season we’ve been discussing throughout this article. Everyone likes pointing out when a coach says something stupid, I think it’s time that we point out when someone nails something.

Now there was a very pivotal moment of the season I’d like to take a closer look at. Syracuse started off the season 4-0 and everything was peaches and cream, then suddenly the Orange lost some mojo in their razor close loss to Clemson.

Then the Orange lost another razor close game to Pitt, things started to spin out of control. It looked as if Syracuse was going to lose their third straight to North Carolina with mere minutes left in the game, Babers pulled Dungey and inserted Tommy DeVito into the game.

DeVito saved the team throwing for three touchdown passes and 181 yards in the fourth quarter and double overtime.

If the Orange would’ve lost that game, they’d have lost three straight heading into a prime time game vs ranked NC State and could’ve easily lost four in a row. Syracuse would be 4-4 and I’d venture to guess this season would’ve been perceived a lot differently.

Babers masterfully orchestrated the quarterback decision. He knew when to switch quarterbacks, he knew when to stick with Dungey (had his best game of the year the following week vs NC State), Babers could’ve bombed that and lost the season, he didn’t. That’s an A+ coaching job if you ask me.

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