Syracuse football has been heavily criticized in the last eight months. The program took heat for winning only three games in 2014, confusing fans about bringing 44 out of retirement this offseason, a lackluster spring game and not being straight with 2015 commit Brandon Ginnetti.
The last seven days have been different. On Thursday SU Athletics announced that it has scheduled a home-and-home series with Wisconsin that will take place in 2020 and 2021.
This news not only gives fans something to look forward to, it will also provide the Orange with an opportunity to see how it measures against one of college football’s big boys. These games should have a positive impact on recruiting as well. It’s an excellent move.
In addition to the scheduling announcement, on Saturday SU Athletics held an event for football season ticket holders called FanFest. The scrimmage/ meet and greet has been heralded as another victory for the program.
Fans got free food, access to the football facilities and prime seating for SU’s preseason scrimmage. Shafer even chatted with season ticket holders during the event. SU’s coach wants his team to become part of the Syracuse community and FanFest certainly helped with that initiative.
Scheduling Wisconsin and putting on a successful preseason scrimmage have definitely helped Syracuse football’s image. Let’s not forget though that the 2015 preseason win-loss projections have not been kind to the Orange.
Fox Sports has SU going 2-10 in 2015. Athlon Sports pegs Syracuse at 3-9 and Bleacher Report goes one game better at 4-8.
If Shafer’s team starts having “good weeks” once the season starts then fans will be over the moon. The program did well to schedule Wisconsin and hit a homerun with FanFest, but a winning season against the odds would make for a “good year”, which is something SU football has not had too many of recently.
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Posted: Connor Morrissette
