Syracuse Game Time 12:30 pm, RSN

[PhDeac]

Small margin of error to succeed is coded language for the team really isn't that good and needs to have some luck to win games/have winning seasons. Good teams don't have small margins of error because they blow bad teams out and win games on their schedule that they are supposed to win.

That's fair.

 

[Complacent Deac]

Clemson in 2006 was one of the most painful losses I can remember, we were laying down a beating on them. We were prepared to play then it all fell apart quickly.

We do have a hump to get over, but the 'cuse and 'ville games showed the character of our current program. To get to the next level you pull these games out but at the same time I can't say it made the season a failure or disappointing.

And let's keep quoting 1-3 finish when one of those games was 100% unwinnable.

People need to vent but some of this is a little over the top. Today we overcame a poor first half, got to the point where we could have won the game, made the right play but the defender made a better one (interesting thought is that the correct move for him was to hit the ground immediately as if he had fumbled etc and we picked up the ball the game would not be over, which is why losing by 9 is so odd).

I thought about Clemson 2006 today. We come up with the most bizarro, shocking ways to lose.

And losing Hinton to graduation is big. He’s been spectacular.

 

[Deac83]

People that are mad, are mad because the final 4 games were really bad compared to the first 8. VT stomped us, Clemson stomped us, Duke exposed our special teams and had 2 kickoff return TDs that made what should have been a blowout win close, and we just lost by 9 to a shitty Syracuse team that had nothing to play for. Terrible way to end the season. A Clemson stomping is expected, and losing to VT ok. Letting Duke's special teams look like all-Americans and then Syracuse win with a half-empty stadium and a backup QB...that makes this season look more like good luck and scheduling then progress.

Losing Scotty, Sage, and Justin are big losses, but you can't let 3 guys be what your whole team's success hinges on.

Yes, in theory they had nothing to play for, but it was 'Senior Day' and the back QB (a Sr) and the running back (a Sr) might have been a bit more motivated than normal. People here are acting like we lost to a 1-10 team, they had two one score losses that would have had them bowl eligible before today. We were 3-2 in one score games. We didn't dominate our week schedule, exactly.

 

[Demonwolverine]

If you watched football over the last 3 days, you saw at least 2 equally shockingly ways to lose (Including Alabama). And they didnt get bailed out by a facemask on 4th down that should have ended the game.

 

[wufu bufu]

Please come here and make excuses for losing to a 4-7 Syracuse team. Very curious.

 

[Deac83]

Yeah, the reality is if you're a mediocre team you end up in a lot of close games where "flukey" calls or plays can determine the game. We were an above average team at the beginning of the year that won those coin flips, lost some players, and became a team that didnt.

Was that really flukey? The only flukey thing is the guy ran it back, the defense just made a great play. Having a pass bounce off a guy's helmet into the defender's hands is losing on a flukey play.

I thought about Clemson 2006 today. We come up with the most bizarro, shocking ways to lose.

And losing Hinton to graduation is big. He’s been spectacular.

My wife literally said 'why are you so upset they aren't going to lose' then the rest is history. Still remember exactly where I was when Clemson blocked that kick.

 

[Demonwolverine]

To add a new flavor to this thread:

Hartman seemed to get his WR's hit HARD today, including 2 earlier passes to Hinton before the strip. I wonder if that played a role in the final play. He looked visibly shaken up after the second shot. I wouldn't blame Hinton for hearing steps or Cuse for recognizing an opportunity.

 

[Rafi]

Please come here and make excuses for losing to a 4-7 Syracuse team. Very curious.

No one is making excuses. We played poorly and it sucks to lose. People are just pointing out that lots of teams lose close games, and lots lose in crazy ways. It happens all the time.

Despite losing today, we’ve still had a good year. You want to see what a bad year looks like? Look at State.

 

[SC DEAC]

ONe thing that Clawson has done this year perfectly is manage the redshirt of Sam Hartman. We now know that Hartman will redshirt AND has played a huge role in all 3 games he has played which is about the best we could hope for in terms of Hartman's long term development. A lot of coaches would have put hartman into a situation where he hands off 3 times for one of his four games, but Hartman has gotten a ton of real game experience in his 3 games. When Hartman is a fifth year senior, we will be grateful that it worked out like this

 

[SC DEAC]

..

 

[wufu bufu]

No one is making excuses. We played poorly and it sucks to lose. People are just pointing out that lots of teams lose close games, and lots lose in crazy ways. It happens all the time.

Despite losing today, we’ve still had a good year. You want to see what a bad year looks like? Look at State.

No. I am one hundred percent on board with this. It just feels like we have all the downside of the way this season ended, but none of the upside of how it could've been. All the time. I'm just so disenfranchised.

 

[YankeeInAtlanta]

Hartman won the FSU game which was our 2nd best win of the season. The UNC win was Wake's biggest win especially with the special season that UNC had. Sam Howell is an elite QB and UNC's recruiting has been hot this year. UNC will likely be a major player in the ACC under Mack so it was really great to get that win.

 

[Deac83]

Actually losing on a flukey play would have been if that run back had happened if we had the ball first. Now that would be a fluke way to lose, giving up a TD on offense in OT to lose.

I think in hoops good offense can beat good defense, but in football good defense can beat good offense.

 

[ChrisL68]

Our tackling must get better. We have problems getting players on the ground.

 

[ProbationDeac]

The reality is 6-7 games in it felt like this could be a special/great season. 5 games later and it feels like a very good season. Injuries are part of that but that’s when other guys have to step up. Today was very disappointing.

 

[wufu bufu]

The reality is 6-7 games in it felt like this could be a special/great season. 5 games later and it feels like a very good season. Injuries are part of that but that’s when other guys have to step up. Today was very disappointing.

Yes

 

[DeacsOrDie]

The reality is 6-7 games in it felt like this could be a special/great season. 5 games later and it feels like a very good season. Injuries are part of that but that’s when other guys have to step up. Today was very disappointing.

Unfortunately Wake has historically struggled in November. I understand that is because the schedule gets tougher but grinding thru November games will be what gets us to 10-2/11-1

 

[80deacon]

I for one am a little tired of the "if we can just keep it close into the 4th quarter, then we know we have at least a chance to win ." Our problem is we do this with ALL conference opponents, good and bad. That just doesn't sound aggressive enough or Express faith that the program can continue to ascend. It similar to the O philosophy. We all know by now how to predict fairly accurately what play is coming. Since DCs do this well, we are easily and often stopped. Its overdue-time for more O variety.

 

[deacondamo]

Still don't believe what I saw to end the game in OT.

Literally, we had defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

Reminded me of the BC game in 2007 or so. I think BC scores a FG, so a TD would win. Skinner went one way, Rinfrette went the other. Fumble ball game. BC wasn’t stopping us at all. Tough scene.

 

[80deacon]

There were no wins over any Power 5 teams that had a winning season. Wake almost lost to Utah St, BC, UNC and FSU. This team could have easily lost those games and had a 4 - 8 season. It shows just how small Wake's margin of error is to succeed.

The last 3 teams you listed all had winning seasons and are going to bowls.