Photo by Frank Ordonez /The Post-Standard

By Tim Schlittner  

Just 3 weeks and 1 day until the opener. Pretty exciting. In my two previous Football Friday’s, I was fortunate enough to preview the two best units on the Syracuse football team: running backs and linebackers.  

This week, it is time to take a look at the coaching staff, a group with much less experience and a lot more question marks. Otto’s Army was lucky enough to gain access to recent entries from a number of the coaches’ personal diaries and Twitter Feeds.  Here are some of the excerpts.

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Doug Marrone 

Dear Diary-

So far, “The Plan” is off to a pretty good start. I continue to take my share of criticism from fans for holding our kids accountable for their actions. But our group is stronger and more cohesive for it. I still need to make a decision on Delone, who is dying to play in his hometown of Akron. I know he gives us our best chance to win. But what message would it send if I treated him different than a kid like E.J. Carter. It will be a tough call, especially since Averin has been so brutal in the classroom and will likely be unavailable.  

I recently decided to give up my offensive coordinator duties and I am having some heartburn about it. Nat is a smart young guy and I think he is capable. But no one knows how to design an offense like I do. Anyone who watched the Saints last year knows what I helped build.  But I can’t spread myself too thin as a head coach.  Nat will need more attention than Scott though. I have no doubt about that.  

Recruiting has been fun. We’ve gotten some decent commitments and have started to lay the foundation in the areas Coaches Mac and Pasqualoni did. The areas Greg Robinson spent four years dousing with gasoline and lighting on fire. Sorry. I promised I’d never blame my predecessor for what I inherited. But God what a bare cupboard. My wife is calling me. Ghost Whisperer is starting. Tomorrow I want to talk to you about how long I should play Ryan Nassib this year.  

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Nathaniel Hackett 

Dear Diary-

What have I gotten myself into? The only plays I’ve called in my life were on Madden ’93. I passed 95 percent of the time. I highly doubt that’s going to work with Van Chew and Alec Lemon. Not exactly Rice and Taylor. I feel like Vinny Chase after he agreed to do his own stunt. I see the smoke and wonder about the flames. People are already questioning Doug’s decision to promote me. Do they forget that I was a four-year letter winner at UC-Davis? I also coached TO in Buffalo last year. He used to call me Pat. What a jerk.  

I have been thinking about running a flea flicker to open the game against Akron. It’s risky given the fact that Syracuse turned it over on their first play from scrimmage last year. But it could be fun. I’ve been debating about how to broach the subject with Doug: in person or just catch him when he’s on Facebook chat. Or I can tell Ryan to call an audible in the huddle. That was Charley Loeb’s suggestion.  

Anyway, I have a fantasy football draft that is about to start. I got my father Paul to play this year. So I know I won’t finish in last. Talk to you tomorrow.  

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Scott Shafer

Dear Diary-  

I can’t wait to get the season started. I have nine starters back. Derrell and Doug look great. I really think we are going to have to hold teams under 17 points a game to have any shot this year. This group has the potential to do it. Especially if our offense can stop giving us short fields. When I was at Western Michigan, we went from 1-11 in our first year to 7-4 in our second, largely on account of defense. Can this team do the same? Maybe. I certainly dream about it.  

I want us to get even more aggressive this year. We need to keep blitzing our linebackers and opening up seams for Chandler and the guys up front. I think our success will all depend on our ability to cover. I’m still a little nervous about that. Maybe I’ll come with an all out blitz and try to create a turnover during Akron’s first series. Rob Moore told me Nat was thinking about a flea flicker. Amateur.  

Gotta go. The Big Ten Network is playing the game from last year where Michigan gave up 45 points to Wisconsin. Nice upgrade with Greggers, RichRod.  

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Tyrone Wheatley/Rob Moore

Dear Diary-  

Ty: Do you think it’s weird that we’re doing a joint diary?  

Rob: Nah dude. We can sell this to TV stations and get our own show like TO and Ochocinco. Didn’t you know that I was a technical consultant on Jerry McGuire?  

Ty: Word. I loved the little kid in that movie. Maybe we can pitch it to TruTV. How are the wide receivers looking?  

Rob: Not as good as when I was here. Marcus was great in the spring game but you never know what you’re going to get out of him. I’m excited for Aaron. I think he could be the surprise standout. Doug has made it clear that we are going to throw the ball this season. So these kids better get ready fast. How about the backs? Have they asked you to suit up yet?  

Ty: LOL. I’m basically still in the same shape I was with the Giants. AKA—not at all. Delone is back but I have no idea how many games Doug will suspend him for. Looks like we won’t have Averin. Kid spends too much time on Twitter.   

Rob: Can you believe we’re both older than the new offensive coordinator?  

Ty: Yeah that’s weak. Want to wrap this up and go play each other on Tecmo Super Bowl?  

Rob: Let’s do it.  

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Twitter  

Greg Adkins—Offensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
I repeat…SU Football is open for business again. Please send your resumes.  

Bob Casullo—Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
Never thought I’d say this but Ryan Lichtenstein is my best player.  

John Anselmo—Secondary
Shamarko Polo….haha….h/t Otto’s Army  

Jimmy Brumbaugh—Defensive Line
FML  http://www.ottosarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/marinovich.jpg  

Dan Conley—Linebackers
Derrell, Doug – this is Linebacker U baby.  

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Follow along in the Otto’s Army Football Friday series.  Here is what we already wrote about and the upcoming schedule: