Scott Shafer was 21 seconds into his postgame press conference when he first said “3-0.” In the next 10 seconds, he recited Syracuse’s record and the phrase “24 years” three times each.

“So let’s not lose that with our questions,” the SU head coach said. “You guys with me?”

Shafer started off by trying to manipulate the media situated before him. After a 30-27 overtime win against Central Michigan, a victory that gave the Orange three consecutive wins to start a season for the first time since 1991, Shafer stuck true to his motto of “right here and right now.”

He snapped when asked point-blank if freshman quarterback Eric Dungey had a concussion. He sarcastically preceded a reporter’s question with “drum roll” after the same reporter asked last week about red-zone struggles. He replaced a reporter’s last name with “downer” and told him not to be one this weekend.

Shafer did acknowledge the defense bending a little too much, stress brought about by his team’s youth and overall needs for improvement. But with No. 8 LSU visiting next weekend, coming off a 24-point win against Auburn, Shafer savored his in-the-moment mentality with a little too much vigor.

Don’t get it twisted, 24 years is a long time and a 3-0 start is certainly cause to celebrate. This Syracuse team has been through the ringer with injuries, losing starters at five different offensive positions. It has overcome a 373-yard effort from Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford on top of losing Ervin Philips and Terrel Hunt on offense. Then a 430-yard day from Central Michigan quarterback Cooper Rush was bailed out by an offense without Dungey, Steve Ishmael, Rob Trudo and Josh Parris.

The head coach even admitted his team had only a few hours to enjoy the win Saturday night before flipping the page to the Southeastern Conference powerhouse Tigers. But the menace with which he answered some questions, even chiding and mocking reporters, begs the question as to why Shafer won’t address realities surrounding his team.

“I hate the fact that you guys always want to give the specifics out because really, it doesn’t help our cause,” Shafer said, following the question about Dungey’s exact injury.

But the media’s job isn’t to help a team’s cause. It’s to provide as much information as possible to gain credibility in a specific business field. Just like it’s Shafer’s job to win football games to gain credibility in his profession.

At that point, though, it wasn’t about losing his starting quarterback for the second time in three games. It wasn’t about a defense that allowed 520 yards and is about to face arguably the best running back in the country. And it wasn’t about sophomore Austin Wilson and walk-on sophomore Zack Mahoney’s level of understanding of an offense that will face LSU in less than six days.

But with the last question, it was clear what Shafer was about.

Asked why he went with Mahoney in overtime, Shafer could’ve simply praised the walk-on. Instead, he did that briefly then took another shot at the media, wondering why they care so much about quarterbacks — this one a once-fifth-stringer playing in overtime in Week 3.

And as he firmly tapped his thin stack of papers on the podium before walking off, Shafer had shown it was about protecting an image of Syracuse that has undeniable flaws despite an undefeated start.

“We’re just going to try to find a way to win and we’re 3-0 and it’s been 24 years,” Shafer said. “… and I cant wait to go hug my players.”

Published on September 20, 2015 at 8:07 pm