Syracuse Football: Processing the reality of the Orange being 6-3

Hello, Orange Ohana and Syracuse football nation! I’m sorry for my absence lately but it has nothing to do with on-the-field situations and more to do with personal issues. In fact, I thought I’d take a little time now to explain why even at 6-3 I can process it and not let it bother me.

First off, I did predict a one-loss season so maybe you could say in some ways there is disappointment there. However, when I make “predictions” such as that, I do so just by trying my best to look at the talent we have and what I think is possible. It should be taken with a grain of salt and understood that a lot can change and that it’s no guarantee.

Please keep in mind the first game of the season we lost two VERY talented and impactful players in Chris “Rhino” Elmore and Stef Thompson for the season (both of whom I said preseason would be relied on to get there). Both of whom were huge reasons I saw such heavy potential for this program this year. Now look at the injuries adding up, especially on defense, and you can understand maybe why it’s a bit harder to stop/contain the run of opponents.

Not to mention we’ve seen Garrett Shrader grow into our starting quarterback with NFL potential and he’s been out for half of the Notre Dame game and all of Pittsburgh as a true freshman in Carlos Del Rio-Wilson tried to make the best of the situation. And the other Garrett with NFL potential and a leader on the field, Garrett Williams also is lost for the season. Ja’Had Carter has been amazing stepping up since but you can’t just lose key guys like this and not expect a little difference.

Syracuse football now resides at 6-3, and that’s totally okay with me.

Second, can we really be mad after recent seasons that this team started 6-0 and is still bowl-eligible? I get it…many saw 6-0 and thought we could run the table and unfortunately that didn’t happen so you’ve already depressed yourself based on expectations YOU placed on this team.

Sometimes what’s needed is to take a step back, take a deep breath, look at the overall picture and realize this is still a good season in comparison to many who before the season saw the schedule and predicted 4-5 wins at best. I’m sorry it’s not the special season I predicted or many hoped for at 6-0 but I’d bet my salary in September that if you told 90% of the fans that Syracuse football would start 6-3, they’d take that bet and think you were a “homer” fan.

Losing sucks and nobody likes it. Watching your team struggle sucks and nobody likes it.  Let’s also remember those players and staff who put in all this work know it is too and are trying, and they don’t like it either.

But this team is still fighting and isn’t giving up and I won’t either. And with 3 regular season games and a bowl game left, 10-3 is still possible for Syracuse football and even if it doesn’t happen, it’s still not a bad season and will likely be a winning season. And with the staff and talent moving forward that we have now and some younger players getting experience, that gives me faith that this program is heading in a great direction, and I’m happy with whatever this season holds.