Syracuse Football: Orange picked to finish last, and the disrespect is real

Why does it feel like there is no respect shown to Syracuse football just about every season?

So it seems that the 147 members of the media released their choice to win the ACC and cue the Gomer Pyle “surprise surprise surprise” line that Syracuse football is predicted to finish last in its division and *yawn* Clemson is the favorite.

This is the least surprising thing I’ve read lately and lines up with every other prediction I’ve seen online. This is not meant to disrespect Clemson because to quote the late Coach Denny Green, ”They are who we thought they are” but I am pretty tired of Syracuse football having one horrible season and suddenly they’re deemed as awful.

Have you ever had a bad luck streak at work and now you’re deemed the person everyone makes fun of? Or you forget a couple of items at the store and suddenly you can’t be trusted to go to the store anymore?

To me, this is what it’s like when I see people just assume Syracuse will have a horrible season in 2021 with little to no evidence to suggest it except only remembering the struggle. I don’t see many looking at their 10-win season and basing their predictions on this the same way they do the one-win season a year ago.

As I’ve said in the past, I refuse to view any game as unwinnable, and as someone who is competitive in nature, I refuse to believe that the players walk into a game against Clemson or North Carolina thinking they’ve already lost. I think the offensive and defensive lines will raise eyebrows of those who underestimate them which will be a catalyst for competitiveness and more success this year than some are expecting.

I will admit over and over again that I am a Syracuse homer aka a Syracuse fan who sees the positives in life. I put on my Orange colored glasses every season excited for what might be just like Cubs fans did in 2016 or Red Sox fans in 2004 or Syracuse basketball fans in 2002/2003. I wonder how many people told those fans to expect a lousy season or they would never win a championship only to see their teams win it all.

Syracuse football is picked to finish last in its ACC division.

What I also admit is that I understand these polls and are just people trying to give their best opinions based on what they know. What I don’t understand though is why one bad season during which COVID-19, injuries and the NCAA denying a waiver to a player with obvious reasons for his transfer who could have helped a position that had major injury issues suddenly means this season will be just as bad.

You think head coach Dino Babers and his staff looked at last season and said, “I think we did okay so we will just do what we did last year?” You think the players, especially the 5th year seniors who stayed, aren’t going into 2021 ready to go?

Did people not see how the running game progressed last season despite two top players opting out and coming back this season with a healthy and experienced offensive line? Did they miss when Cooper Lutz and Sean Tucker both rushed for over 100 yards in the same game against Notre Dame and Lutz was recruited to be a WR nonetheless? Do people think SU losing three top players to the NFL Draft in the secondary means all hope is lost?

Is there not reason to believe quarterback Tommy Devito will be better behind the line, especially with wide receiver Taj Harris ready to make a name for himself? Or if he does struggle, do you think the depth at QB will be lackluster? Or is it simply like in the movie Major League when the fans look at the roster and just assume they will suck again?

I admit that I don’t like preseason polls. I don’t need to hear some “expert” tell me my team will suck. If the team does struggle, fine then it is what it is but I would rather see what happens when they actually play than hear someone guessing that my favorite team will struggle. What do I like?

I like when people spend that time instead breaking down the positions or players, showing where they have improved or should improve, and maybe talking about new players and the impact they can make versus the “eh, I haven’t seen any proof so I just assume we will suck again” mentality. I do not need you to kiss someone’s butt but I also don’t understand this need to think because someone struggled before, they did not grow and learn and try to improve or at least be open to the possibilities.

I am a man of faith. I have faith in my religious beliefs. I have faith that CNY pizzerias are delicious (and that includes breakfast pizzas). I have faith that when winter comes around in Syracuse, I will count on the temperatures being cold and the ability to wear the hoodies that I love.

I have faith in the fact that if my wife borrows my car, my first stop the next time I drive it will have to be the gas station because she looks at the gaslight as a challenge to beat it home. And every year, when a new season starts for Syracuse athletics, I have faith that they will bring me joy and comfort, and I am optimistic that they will do well.

GO ORANGE!