Syracuse post game thread | Page 14 | The Boneyard

Syracuse post game thread

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uconnyankee said:
Curious, do people realize this is the obvious feeling of most people that support UConn fb, and dormant really need to be said?

I’m sorry, I disagree with that 100%.
Up 11 points, about 5 minutes left, the clock is your advantage.

You eat the clock.
Run the ball. Wait until 1-2 seconds to snap, and force other team to use up any TO’s they have. You protect the ball and go for sustained drives. 3 out and taking 20-30 seconds off clock doesn’t work.

UConn did everything they needed to for all but last 5 minutes. It absolutely came down to leveraging the clock, if Syracuse doesn’t have the ball, they can’t score.

Had Uconn gotten 1 first down towards the end, likely a different turnout.
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You can disagree all you want.

But your understanding of modern football is outdated.

11 points is nothing in the modern game. And you saw why yesterday.

You don’t have an argument.
 
This isn't complicated. Maybe it wasn't a must win game at opening kick-off but it became a must win game up 17-6 with 7 minutes left. Let's just say the football program blew it.

UConn is in a unique situation unlike any other program. Many outsiders still perceive UConn as a fledgling program that no conference wants. No, one game doesn't make a difference for most programs and it doesn't make a difference whether UConn lands in a conference, but a long series of games do. We know the financial disadvantage we are at just trying to win a single P4 game but outsiders don't care. They only care about W's.

Under our beloved HC Jim Mora and I mean that 100%

2022 1-3 vs P4 beating bcu
2023 0-4 vs P4
2024 1-4 vs P4 including 3 close losses and the Fenway Bowl victory
2025 0-1 vs P4 so far with games against bcu and duke remaining. We don't know how good those 3 ACC teams will perform this year but the W over cuse which was circling the hole would have gone a long way to giving UConn some much needed cred.

UConn plays 3 ACC, 3 American, 2 CUSA, 2 MAC, and 1 MWC programs. It's a very winnable schedule for most programs. UConn absolutely has to beat duke or bcu and not sheet the bed against G5 programs. The cuse game was a mega lost opportunity.
 
ZooCougar said:
You can disagree all you want.

But your understanding of modern football is outdated.

11 points is nothing in the modern game. And you saw why yesterday.

You don’t have an argument.
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Running that reverse on 3rd and 10, is hoping to make a play rather than trying to make play a happen. Whatever, on to Delaware.
 
TouchdownHusky said:
The game shouldn't come down to "running out the clock". It should be about putting points - and more points - on the scoreboard. You got 'em down keep 'em down. UConn can't afford to be passive, it needs to be exciting, bold , flashy. They need to attract attention.
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I stand by the statement: the game shouldn't come down to running out the clock.
uconnyankee said:
I’m sorry, I disagree with that 100%.
Up 11 points, about 5 minutes left, the clock is your advantage.

You eat the clock.
Run the ball. Wait until 1-2 seconds to snap, and force other team to use up any TO’s they have. You protect the ball and go for sustained drives. 3 out and taking 20-30 seconds off clock doesn’t work.

UConn did everything they needed to for all but last 5 minutes. It absolutely came down to leveraging the clock, if Syracuse doesn’t have the ball, they can’t score.

Had Uconn gotten 1 first down towards the end, likely a different turnout.
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They chose your approach: how'd that work out for them? Offensively or defensively. For 40 minutes or so, that game was not an upset, the better talent was imposing it's will. Keep punching, don't start to gradually turtle. When you have an opponent on the ropes, finish him.
 
nelsonmuntz said:
I was pretty upset right after the game, which is why I didn't post. After sleeping on it, it sucks that the team lost, but it played pretty well to be in the position to put the game away.

Defensively, UConn leaned heavily on blitzing to get pressure the whole game, which put a lot of pressure on the defensive backfield. Despite the passing stats, which were a little warped by the late scores, I thought the secondary played well against a good QB. Syracuse's play-calling helped us out, with a lot of trap runs that got eaten up by our blitzers.

Fagnano does not have nearly the arm strength to carry UConn against a P4, but there has to be something the coaches can do about his accuracy throwing off the run. Anytime he tries to make a throw that requires power, he sprays the ball. He is what he is physically, but I think he is a smart QB and a tweak on his form could make a huge difference. Only 1 sack on 44 passing attempts is a credit to the pass protection and Fagnano's judgment.

The coaches had a great came plan and then blew it at the end. We had to pass on the second to last drive when we were first and 1 on the Syracuse 39. We needed a first down more than the 20 seconds.
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The last line sums up the poor judgement of the coaches yesterday.

A first down was more valuable than burning off twenty seconds.

Couple this with the fact that the defense was getting tired and this tactical error seems even more egregious.

There were 3-4 four instances of this that sunk us yesterday.
 
I think it’s fairly obvious that JF is not the caliber of QB who can take us to where we need to be. Guys a decent game manager and avoids big mistakes but to beat P4 teams you need someone who has the balls to make runs and big plays. He simply does not have that mindset. Wouldn’t kill us to give Nick or Tucker a shot. What do we have to lose besides more games?
 
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TouchdownHusky said:
The game shouldn't come down to "running out the clock". It should be about putting points - and more points - on the scoreboard. You got 'em down keep 'em down. UConn can't afford to be passive, it needs to be exciting, bold , flashy. They need to attract attention.
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Scoe said:
When you score you burn more clock. If Cuse had a minute left well then ok run clock. But no Cuse had 3 TO and the 2 minute warning. The best defense as an offense that puts the game away.
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Well said. Kinda what I was saying.
 
Skies2018 said:
I think it’s fairly obvious that JF is not the caliber of QB who can take us to where we need to be. Guys a decent game manager and avoids big mistakes but to beat P4 teams you need someone who has the balls to make runs and big plays. He simply does not have that mindset. Wouldn’t kill us to give Nick or Tucker a shot. What do we have to lose besides more games?
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Whatever he is, he’s better than the other choices.

Did you not watch last season?
 
Kolumbo said:
This isn't complicated. Maybe it wasn't a must win game at opening kick-off but it became a must win game up 17-6 with 7 minutes left. Let's just say the football program blew it.

UConn is in a unique situation unlike any other program. Many outsiders still perceive UConn as a fledgling program that no conference wants. No, one game doesn't make a difference for most programs and it doesn't make a difference whether UConn lands in a conference, but a long series of games do. We know the financial disadvantage we are at just trying to win a single P4 game but outsiders don't care. They only care about W's.

Under our beloved HC Jim Mora and I mean that 100%

2022 1-3 vs P4 beating bcu
2023 0-4 vs P4
2024 1-4 vs P4 including 3 close losses and the Fenway Bowl victory
2025 0-1 vs P4 so far with games against bcu and duke remaining. We don't know how good those 3 ACC teams will perform this year but the W over cuse which was circling the hole would have gone a long way to giving UConn some much needed cred.

UConn plays 3 ACC, 3 American, 2 CUSA, 2 MAC, and 1 MWC programs. It's a very winnable schedule for most programs. UConn absolutely has to beat duke or bcu and not sheet the bed against G5 programs. The cuse game was a mega lost opportunity.
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How about take it one game at a time. People obsess over the ACC games and just assume the rest will be easy or don’t count for the success of the season.

If Fagano plays like he did yesterday, all of the road games will be in jeopardy. As it is, UConn is about 50-50 to win on the road against Buffalo, Rice, and Florida Atlantic. It’s very possible they could “sheet the bed”.
 
RitzLuce1 said:
How about take it one game at a time. People obsess over the ACC games and just assume the rest will be easy or don’t count for the success of the season.

If Fagano plays like he did yesterday, all of the road games will be in jeopardy. As it is, UConn is about 50-50 to win on the road against Buffalo, Rice, and Florida Atlantic. It’s very possible they could “sheet the bed”.
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This supports my main point, that not closing yesterday was a disaster for this program. UConn should go bowling this year but could very well be sitting on the couch. A P4 road win means something. At Buffalo or Rice or FAU, not so much.
 
Kolumbo said:
This supports my main point, that not closing yesterday was a disaster for this program. UConn should go bowling this year but could very well be sitting on the couch. A P4 road win means something. At Buffalo or Rice or FAU, not so much.
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If we finish 9-3 with 3 Losses to the ACC teams the season is a success. It would be annoying. But a success.

Diminishing winning the G5 games is just ignorant. Ignoring how fortunate we were to win vs Temple and UAB last year. And ignorant to win predictably hovering at about 50% for several of the games on our schedule this season. If we win them all the season is a success. It’s not a sure thing at all.
 
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We blew an opportunity, one that we don't get that often. It wasn't a disaster for the program.

I'm as pissed as anyone over what happened but pulling that game out wouldn't have gotten us a P4 invitation by Columbus day and this loss won't derail our program. How we respond will play a massive role in whether we play a game in December (and where we play).

It sucks that we missed on a golden opportunity to win on the road against a P4 opponent and it sucks even more because it was Syracuse.

There's a lot of season left. There will be more chances to show something. I hope we can capitalize on them.
 
superjohn said:
As we all know the football program is a huge drain financially on the University unless they get an invite to the P4. Each time we blow a game like this it makes the chances of getting that invite less likely.

Big East is actually in pretty good shape financially with this new model because Big East schools don't have football, obviously except for UConn.

At some point something has to give.
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I really believe uconn will be ACC when the next expansion hits.
 
ZooCougar said:
Whatever he is, he’s better than the other choices.

Did you not watch last season?
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He’s a 7th year college QB. What we see is what we’re gonna get - which is clearly not good enough to take us to the next level (beating P4 teams). Why not give Tucker a try or see if Evers has improved? I don’t really get the argument for just sticking with mediocrity.
 
ZooCougar said:
It’s not nonsense. They simply stopped playing football. Once you start doing something other than trying to gain yards and score you open yourself up to EXACTLY what happened yesterday.

That’s how you win. You keep going until the time is gone or it truly is over.
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Exactly. Well said. Middle of the 3rd quarter on, something changed. Like a boxer, they had their opponent ready to fall, and instead of finishing him off they back off like they were afraid of punching themselves out.
 
I hope we don't look back at this game at the end of season and think of what could have been if we won this game.

It could have tremendous post season implications. Still have to go out and win games, but can't worry about this one now.

I'm kind of expecting big things
 
I think that the level of angst post game is heightened by the initial euphoria that was generated by the fact that UConn was so competitive. Amplified by the late game lead. Much like August two years ago when realignment killed the season that year.

Time to get ready for Delaware who will not be pushovers. UConn favored by only 9 means a tough game.
 
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RitzLuce1 said:
If we finish 9-3 with 3 Losses to the ACC teams the season is a success. It would be annoying. But a success.

Diminishing winning the G5 games is just ignorant. Ignoring how fortunate we were to win vs Temple and UAB last year. And ignorant to win predictably hovering at about 50% for several of the games on our schedule this season. If we win them all the season is a success. It’s not a sure thing at all.
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I'm not diminishing G5 wins and if your scenario plays out, that's basically what UConn did last year. Another successful season for UConn fans. It won't change the perception of UConn very much outside of our fanbase. An independent G5 program which can't compete with the P4. The last thing I want to do is rest on being able to beat G5 teams and accepting that losing to cuse doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. I don't know how you keep misinterpreting what I'm posting.
 
UCan3 said:
How do you not call pass interference in the end zone play? I’ve seen it posted like we were fortunate to get the call. And maybe due to the way they called the game yesterday we were but..

Did you see the replay? He actually interfered with Bell’s opportunity to catch the ball with the second part of that pass interference. It was clinical pass interference and I don’t chuck that up to a good call by the refs just the right call.
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NC State game 2 years ago at the Rent had a pass interference non-call in the end zone that was twice as egregious as Bell's call. Don't convince yourself that refs will make the proper call ... When their employer may be disadvantaged by that proper call.

Wait till we talk about the Duke game replay review ... Of a replay review. I have yet to see a replay review, of a replay review, by any officials, of any conference, of any game.
 
Hogwash to anybody that didn't think our offense went into play not to lose mode late...which ultimately led to this loss....which shoulda clearly been a win... If the shoe was in the other foot I bet Syracuse would've tried putting up another 7 points that late.

How can you determine the potential of your offense can be if you don't run high percentage plays that will move the football even with 8 men in the box against you on D? We might be more talented on paper than last year but you gotta play to win games... execute... not give a play or 2 or 3 away to the defense
 
Skies2018 said:
He’s a 7th year college QB. What we see is what we’re gonna get - which is clearly not good enough to take us to the next level (beating P4 teams). Why not give Tucker a try or see if Evers has improved? I don’t really get the argument for just sticking with mediocrity.
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JF had a bad game. QBs have bad games sometimes. The kid has produced more than adequately since last year. I think the differential moving from CCSU to P4 speed threw him off and he didn’t adjust well. But, you don’t go turtle and screw with his head. You let your receivers make plays and help the QB build some rhythm. More mid range looks to Bell and going to play action with the TEs would have done wonders. My concern is Sammis set this kid back by effectively letting him know he doesn’t have confidence in him. Worse case if you're in this situation is you change gears with Evers to run some QB option sets, and it becomes more about changing scheme than screwing with his head. Bad coaching all around. Very upsetting at so many levels.
 
giddyup said:
My concern is Sammis set this kid back by effectively letting him know he doesn’t have confidence in him.
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I thought the opposite - He might have showed too much confidence - Joe went 0-8 or 0-9 passing for a stretch didn’t he (drops might have factored in there)?
 
UConn spent most of the 4th quarter with a 90% or better win probability. Kudos to cuse for sticking in there and taking what UConn left for them to take, but make no bones about it, UConn let a win slip away.

Screenshot 2025-09-07 204640.jpg
 
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giddyup said:
JF had a bad game. QBs have bad games sometimes. The kid has produced more than adequately since last year. I think the differential moving from CCSU to P4 speed threw him off and he didn’t adjust well. But, you don’t go turtle and screw with his head. You let your receivers make plays and help the QB build some rhythm. More mid range looks to Bell and going to play action with the TEs would have done wonders. My concern is Sammis set this kid back by effectively letting him know he doesn’t have confidence in him. Worse case if you're in this situation is you change gears with Evers to run some QB option sets, and it becomes more about changing scheme than screwing with his head. Bad coaching all around. Very upsetting at so many levels.
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I just want to have the best player on the field and forget about the implications on the players psyche. because Evers gets put in there doesn't mean that Joe has to be done for the season.
 
UCan3 said:
I just want to have the best player on the field and forget about the implications on the players psyche. because Evers gets put in there doesn't mean that Joe has to be done for the season.
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Respectfully, Evers isn’t our best QB.. He’s neither very effective as a n RPO QB nor pure pocket passer. However, as a change of pace under the circumstance it may have been worth running some RPO which they hadn't seen rather than icing your QB and receiver corps. And, player self confidence matters immensely.
 
ZooCougar said:
“I trust in ___________.”

The olde Boneyard refrain, they’ve been saying it since before Edsall ghosted the team.

It’s like they think Football is preordained to have it’s version of Calhoun and they form a cult around it.

Criticism, even harsh criticism doesn’t equate to wanting a coach fired. Although I have never been sold on Gordon Sammis. I like a little and I don’t like quite a bit.
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I think Gordon has come a long way in managing the preparation and execution to put us in a position to win late in games. He just hasn't figured out how to manage what to do when he gets there.
 
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