Kevin Wall "Orange Nation" 8-22-24

final guest he is a friend of the program uh we've had Kevin Wall on before uh pleased to be joined by the editor of noon's magician with the season now nine days away Kevin it's uh it's almost time to kick this thing off how are things things are great after that intro appreciate that all right so you guys just put out uh a story about the biggest question marks heading into the football season so I guess let's start with that and and as you see it what are the biggest question marks facing Fran Brown in the orange in 2020 before I think uh you know in-game coaching for Fran is the big question mark I think everyone has in mind obviously we have no questions about his recruiting and motivation but those in-game decisions from a personal standpoint I think I'm looking to see if the offense can really um revert back to those Deon Pas balone days where it was the more multiple offense and really keep defenses guessing um you I know France hinted at the influence that D Leon had on him coming up as a young coach and I think depth is great um but you guys know you watch the modern game and the teams that are successful are the teams that can run out of what look like passing formations and throw out of what look like run formation and really keep defenses guessing and so I think if Syracuse can find success at the offensive line and be able to be um unpredictable you know out of their form formations I think that's going to go a long way to the success of the Season you know you guys are also releasing a series about the uh the record possibilities so let let's run the gamut here Kevin um I guess you know and we've talked a lot on the show about worst case scenario best case scenario what what is the worst case scenario in your mind and and what would have to happen for that worst case scenario to come true yeah we started that with Ora case of 5 and seven and I think that's just really not getting braak in close games and injury problems you know we've seen what that's done to Syracuse in the past especially at the quarterback position and I think obviously you know knock on wood whatever not to jinx it but any injury to long-term injury to Kyle McCord I think you know throws the season kind of out the window um but I think there there's a great opportunity for Syracuse to to finish anywhere from you know five or six wins to nine or 10 wins depending on how things go you brought up K mord uh you know I think here in Syracuse everybody is sold and can't wait uh to see him and huge upgrade from Garett Shader and so on and so forth you know you ask the the fans in Ohio State at least a lot of the fans in Ohio State and they're kind of like good riddens like no big deal like we you know he was what he was but uh you know we're better off without him what why do you think uh he's not getting maybe the national attention you know he wasn't in the Manning award watch list for instance and five other quarterbacks from the ACC were why do you think he's not getting some of the national attention that maybe qes fans think he should get I think last year people looked at him as a product of that system you know he had Marvin Harrison Jr he had skill position guys that are NFL prospects or first round picks and so they figured he was the game manager you know his job was to go out there and not screw it up and I think people look at the Michigan game right or wrong you know they look at that last impression and Ohio State didn't get it done and so they figure a lot of that goes on the quarterback U right or I I look back at the Notre Dame game where he led Ohio state for a game-winning drive on the road as a sign that Syracuse fans should be positive of but I think you know people look at the analytics where he wasn't good when he was under pressure and they figure well Syracuse can't protect him as well he's not going to have a Harrison Jr to throw to you know there's the talent around him is not as good but don't expect him to do well and I look at the opposite I think there's an opportunity for him to kind of prove people wrong um about him and and what he brought to that Ohio State team and I think Harrison even said that you know people uh underestimate McCord's ability so I think that's the biggest reason for Syracuse fans to be excited you know heading into next week we got Ohio State's Joe Gerard Steve that's kind of what it feels like you're right uh all right so we talked about worst case scenario you alluded to nine or 10 wins a moment ago what is the the tippy top of the best case scenario and what would have to happen in order for for for that to take place I think the tippy top is that Syracuse can find their way into the ACC Championship game and and be on The Fringe of college football playoffs I mean the games look winnable obviously you have to catch some breaks along the way um but you get two of your three toughest games you know on paper at least now are at home in the dome so if the team can get off to a good start um you know even if they drop a game at NC State um if they come into that Virginia Tech game with one loss you you know you've got 40 whatever two or 3,000 whatever the capacity will be inside the Dome you know waiting for the the first time a November game has meant something to this program and you know since 2018 you I think there's a chance that you know it's it's hard to win on the road in college football and and Syracuse you know getting their tougher games in the dome could play to their advantage and I don't think it's a realistic ask to think that the orange could make the a6c championship but I do think it's a best case scenario if things break right yeah I mean and I guess so if you're going to throw out your prediction what what is your you know we talked worst case best case I'm sure you're going to land somewhere in the middle what is your prediction for this season yeah I'm going to land at Edie and four right now I just I think I don't you know I think NC State's going to be a tough game to win I look for Syracuse to drop one of the other road games whether that's Cal or pit and then it's going to be tough to win all three of vgia Tech uh Virginia Tech and Miami um especially those last two I I think if I had to pick the four losses I would say NC State um i' probably say Cal on the road and then Virginia Tech in Miami what are you expecting attendance wise uh for that uh for that opener against Ohio I think push 40 um I think there's still a lot of people in this area that are playing weit and see um I do think that there's a lot of Buzz and interest in the program and I think you know if they can get to 40,000 for Ohio um Labor Day weekend I think that's a that's a great sign moving forward you know Paulie brought up a question earlier in the show I want to ask you we we both agree that Kyle McCord is the one guy the one individual this team cannot lose who's the second most important individual on this team that they can't afford to lose or is or is irreplaceable to some degree I'd probably go Marlo wax or Jack Stonehouse um it sounds weird to say a punter um but I have a feeling like I'm not sure if there's anybody behind Stonehouse but I think wax on defense does so many things that allow the rest of the defense to function that I'm not sure that Siri has a player behind him right now that could step in and fill that role um that he does in the middle of the defense yeah all right uh I like it you know we certainly brought brought up him we certainly brought up Justin Baron as well uh I think Paulie said R Gaton so a few uh few choices there uh all right Kevin any final thoughts here uh about the season you know about the opener about SU football uh before we part ways I would just say that this is probably the the first time in a while that I feel like there's a general Buzz about the start of football season and not just people wondering when they're going to get to basketball and so it's exciting for those football fans yeah no doubt about it uh Kevin and thanks so much for coming on enjoy the start of the Season I'm sure we'll talk again soon sounds great have a good time guys all right