Inside the Loud House
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
13 of 14
Next

Syracuse Orange. OVERALL GRADE . A+. .

Could this season have been better? Sure technically speaking. Syracuse finished 10-3 and here are those three losses:

  • Week 5: Syracuse lost 27-23 to Clemson
    • The Orange dominated this game throughout and lost control near the end of the game. This game though proved the Orange were for real. After beating Clemson in the Carrier Dome, the Orange went down to Death Valley and dominated the Tigers when they had everything to play for. Syracuse may have not gotten the win, but they earned respect.
  • Week 6: Syracuse lost 44-37 to Pitt
    • Frustrating loss, Syracuse got off to a 14-0 lead and when it looked like the Orange would be on cruise control they folded. It was all sparked by a questionable forward progress call where Dungey was stripped of ball and it was returned for a touchdown.
  • Week 11: Syracuse lost 36-3 to Notre Dame
    • I was at this game, the whole game changed when Dungey was ruled out for the contest. The game likely would’ve had a very different outcome, Notre Dame dominated and this was the first and only blowout the Orange suffered all season.

While they certainly could’ve won at least two of these games, it’s only fair to point out they could’ve also lost a handful of 50-50 games:

  • North Carolina: 40-37
  • Western Michigan: 55-42
  • NC State: 51-41

In terms of the fairness considering 50-50 games, I’d say Syracuse fared really well. If I would’ve told you that the Orange would finish the season 10-3 before it even started, you would’ve laughed in my face.

People would’ve been THRILLED with a 6-6, .500 type season, and they got well more then that. How can this year be graded any differently?

Home/Syracuse Football