Syracuse Football: Report says SU isn’t the best college team in New York

I was raised on Syracuse football, and hopefully, I’ll die in the Cuse. When I die, I hope I’m buried in Orange. I’ve loved Syracuse so much that my wife’s well aware I want an Orange house even. I love the area, the people, the food, the local businesses and of course the local sports.

So when someone insults the area (like Pete Davidson did in the past) or the teams I’ve loved passionately since I was a young Orange lad, sometimes I take it personally, especially if I disagree. So when CBS Sports says Army has the best football program in NY over the past 3-4 years, I feel like I’m being insulted.

First off, let me make one thing crystal clear and that is this, my writing this is not intended as a shot at Army. I love Army and served in the Army myself along with my father, two uncles, a cousin and a nephew.

I root for Army especially against Navy and even advocated the old Big East add them both before Syracuse football left. If I didn’t root for SU, it would likely either be Army or Buffalo, who was also snubbed here so why would I hate on a team that if I had a 2nd favorite football team (is that a thing…2nd favorite?), it would be them?

Second, I’d even go with Buffalo over Army. Buffalo had been playing great the last few years. Plus Buffalo RB Kevin Marks is a legit playmaker who alone gives Buffalo the advantage. Buffalo also had last season cut short and is equally comparable to Army in losses over the last 4 seasons but fewer games and fewer wins.

Syracuse football can prove on the field that it is the best team in New York state.

Now if you go back a 5th season, Buffalo had a 2 win season which does separate them a bit because Army’s worst season in 5 years was 5-8 but I guess it’s where we draw the line and if the record is the only criteria for this conclusion, yes Syracuse’s dreaded one-win season last season also plays horribly into the equation.

And yes if you look at Syracuse’s record the last 5 years in comparison, as the guy in Mad Men famously said, “Not great, Bob,” but is overall record the only criteria?

What about strength of schedule? Admittedly Army tends to play a decent schedule (they have Liberty and Wake Forest this season too along with Wisconsin so it’s nothing to mock). But does that compare to Clemson, BC, Louisville and others on the ACC schedule regularly? Nope (although I am always happy when Army beats Navy).

What about the impact Covid-19 and injuries played on Buffalo and Syracuse last season? While Army played through it and I’m sure had issues as well, SU lost their 2 starting RB’s to opting out and had injuries in the secondary involving players now playing in the NFL as well as on the offensive line, which I believe also impacted Tommy DeVito’s season as well.

These are facts, not excuses…if it were a level playing field and Army was better, I’d say it or at least refrain from writing this story but it’s reality. By the way, let’s not forget that former SU assistants left for greener pastures (and God bless them for doing what’s best for them and I wish them success), which left SU trying to adapt to a new offense and defense in a season where Covid-19 also impacted practice/camps.

My point is this, when you put together stories like what CBS Sports did here, did you take everything into consideration or just look at the schedule and go, “Welp, that’s all that matters!” Also, keep in mind the number of seasons you use to determine your criteria could vastly change the conversation.

For example, in 4 seasons, Army and Buffalo are almost equal but in 5, Army wins out due to Buffalo only winning 2 games in 2016. If we decide to go back 10 years, who wins? 2 years who is it? Why is 4-5 years a correct amount of time to support a strong argument versus any other amount?

I will give Army their due…their program is good and as I said, as a guy who served for 4 years before fulfilling my contract, I root for Army when I can, especially against Navy so I’m not a hater. I’m simply pointing out that when you say things like “Army is the best college football team in NY”, you’re either doing it to spark conversation or you’re not fairly judging every aspect of all the programs.

If the headline read that Army is in the conversation and you pointed to the success they’ve had recently, now that’s probably fair but to just dismiss Syracuse and Buffalo because both happen to have one of their worst seasons in the last five years is a bit misleading.

I don’t believe this article was intended to be “clickbait” but I may be wrong though I just think there would be a better way to state, “Look out Syracuse and Buffalo, Army is looking really good right now”. And maybe I do take any slight against Syracuse personally at times but again I just think Buffalo and Syracuse both deserve to have a little more respect put on their names and as my son would say, “No Cap!”

I’m happy to see a service academy (especially my former branch of the military) successful but they’re not the undisputed champion of NY college football. And I can’t wait until this season starts just so we can stop putting so much weight into that horrible season last year and using it to trash the whole program. “Give me Syracuse football or give me death…and some Dome Dogs too please!”

Let’s Go Orange!