Syracuse vs Louisville

[MarkL]

Babers had his ACC opener today. When your offense puts up over 400 yards and 3 passing TDs, you would expect to win, right?

Not so fast. Louisville put up 844 yards and won in a blowout, pulling away late. Syracuse was competitive for some of the game but collapsed late.

On offense, the Orange either scored a TD or went 3 and out and there was little in between, and much more of the latter in the second half. Louisville completely had their way on offense. Lamar Jackson is the real deal.

Babers has an uphill climb. This is looking to be his first head coaching year without some kind of championship.

[apollo]

Dino isn't a good coach...his championship was the result of playing terrible competition and beating NIU when the had a WR playing QB. He'll be done in 3 years at Syracuse. His teams will get crushed against anyone with talent.

[MarkL]

Four years as a head coach, three conference titles, one divisional title, and 2 conference players of the year with a Walter Payton award winner beg to differ. He is a great coach. Year one will be rough at Syracuse. Year one was rough here but was aided by a weak MAC East and an NFL receiver.

[factman]

.....and he hasn't recruited EITHER of those award winners. The credit he deserves is a good offensive system, and taking over programs that are in good shape. If I had to guess, Clawson will finish ahead of him in the ACC in most years.

[Critical Thinker]

Babers is a good offensive coordinator. He's a mediocre head coach. The only way he can win at the P5 level is to go for 900 yards of offense every week.

[MarkL]

EIU was not in good shape in 2012. They were a conference bottom feeder when Babers took over that happened to have a smart QB.

I do think he will do fine at Syracuse. He probably has a ceiling of around 10 wins with an occasional win over Florida State with an odd loss to NC State. Like Baylor under Briles. It will take a few years and a complete change in recruiting to get there.

[guest44]

Ten years from now, we will realize Matt Johnson was way more valuable than either Clawson or Babers. I hope either staff finds a job for him, because he got them paid.