John: Despite loss, now is not time for Syracuse to panic
SEATTLE — Not now. Now’s not the time to jump ship. Way too early for that.
Despite Syracuse’s horrific performance Saturday at Washington, it’s just too early to think that a decisive Week 1 victory at Akron was a mirage.
For SU, now’s not a time to point fingers. It isn’t a time to start doubting. It isn’t a time to implode. Not with Doug Marrone leading the way.
Despite how poorly the Orange played Saturday, it’s way too premature for that.
This is a time to renew faith in what Marrone has spent the better part of two years establishing at Syracuse. To renew that sense of optimism that followed a win at Akron.
Yes, an embarrassing loss to the Huskies means this squad isn’t where Marrone wanted his squad to be heading into Week 3 against Maine. Overhearing a portion of his passionate postgame locker room speech is evident of that.
But SU has three weeks to correct itself and right the ship before it starts what is expected to be the toughest four-game stretch of its season. Three weeks to fix the glitches in practice and to put a hurt on Maine and Colgate. By that time, barring a complete and utter disaster, the Orange should be 3-1. It should have that ‘swag’ back. It should be off to its best start since 2003.
‘We shot ourselves in the foot,’ SU linebacker Doug Hogue said. ‘Washington’s a good team, but there were a lot of opportunities out there that we could’ve capitalized on.’
It’s not a coincidence that faith becomes stronger through overcoming opposition. Overcoming Saturday’s loss, both in practice and on game day over the next two weeks at home and the bye week afterward, could put the Orange right back where it needs to be heading into Big East play.
And Saturday’s game in Seattle may have been just the wake-up call to make that happen.
Responding after a loss like that, as opposed to lying down the rest of the way, is something Marrone has instilled in this team since his arrival. Though it’s still a work in progress, Marrone has begun to change the losing culture at SU. He never expected it to be easy. But at some point, he’s expecting the results to speak for themselves.
‘I think we’re going to be a good football team this year,’ Marrone said emphatically Saturday. ‘I think we’re going to have to work on attention to detail, and it wasn’t going to be easy. We knew that coming in.’
Marrone, visibly distraught after Saturday’s loss, realizes how important each game is — especially this year. Not only does his team need seven wins to capture a bowl berth, but he also understands that results are what a program is ultimately judged upon.
The loss this weekend means even if Syracuse wins its next two at home, as expected, it must still win four of its last eight games — none of which will be easy contests. Perhaps that’s why it’s so frustrating for Marrone to see his squad play so poorly against the same caliber of opponent SU will face in the Big East this season.
And that’s why a loss like this should provoke a response. A big response. Would it have a few years ago? Probably not. But once again, the culture is in the process of changing. Marrone will make sure the Orange is ready for redemption.
‘I’m going to go out here this week and I’m not going to do anything but let my team get better,’ SU running back Delone Carter said. ‘I’m going to go out there and push them and work them. … And I guarantee we make this season a positive one.’
So it’s only understandable to expect Marrone’s squad to respond in a big way when it returns home to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse this weekend. After Saturday’s pride-swallowing performance and the tongue-lashing that followed, expect something big.
Expect something huge. If that doesn’t happen, then it might be the time to start questioning this team.
But not now.
It’s way too early, and Marrone has done too much to change the culture of this program to even think about jumping ship now.
