Orange All-American Donovin Darius (right) enjoyed his return to the Dome earlier this season.
Family Man: Darius Enthused About Orange Experience
11/10/2008 2:02:55 PM | Football
Orange All-American Donovin Darius returned to campus for the first time since his graduation in 1998 to serve as SU’s honorary captain on November 1. Darius spoke with the team on gameday, prior to the Orange taking the field against Louisville, participated in the pre-game coin toss and watched from the sidelines as Syracuse beat the Cardinals, 28-21. His message to the team focused on development outside of the lines.
“As players, especially in college, you never know what that journey is going to entail but when it is all said and done, you can look back and see how you developed as a man, your character, your personality,” Darius said. “A lot of times your future is determined by what happens in those four to five years in college, your friends are determined by who you meet during those years. You definitely have to seize the moment. Being a part of Syracuse, my time there, definitely set me up for life. I could not be more proud to be a Syracuse alum.”
During his Syracuse career, Darius excelled on the field, in the classroom and devoted himself to raising his two younger brothers for whom he had custody. They lived with Darius and attended Henninger High School while he was enrolled at Syracuse.
“Family means everything. That is really what you have,” Darius said. “Having a personal family and then being part of a Syracuse family made it that much easier and made the journey that much more worthwhile because you understood that you were not going through this alone. When I spoke with the team before the game at the hotel that is one of the things I emphasized to look around the room, that these are your brothers, it does not matter blood or no blood, this is your family. When you take that field or whatever you do in life, you understand that you are doing it together, you are building memories and you want to give everything you have because you never know when you will get that chance back. I was proud to know that they related to the message. I was hopeful that I was encouraging to some to maximize their opportunities and to take advantage of the people they have in their lives.”
Darius said he anticipated a positive result for the Orange by observing the team throughout the day.
“I definitely saw it coming, especially talking to Coach Robinson,” Darius said. “He was very optimistic, enthusiastic, motivated and inspired by the team’s opportunity to go out there and get a win. I would not have known just listening to him and being around the players that the win-loss record was what it was, especially being on the field and seeing how those guys fought for the entire game. You knew they were prepared. I knew Coach Robinson from years ago and one of the things that I always knew about him is that he prepares his team. That day when I had a chance to talk with him about his preparation, he told me that he knew they had a chance to go out there and do something special. And they did it. That was impressive to see and to be a part of.”
A free safety for SU from 1994-97, Darius and his Syracuse teams won two BIG EAST Conference championships. Darius earned All-America honors and the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1997. His career statistics included 12 interceptions and 379 tackles, which is the most in Syracuse history by a defensive back. An All-BIG EAST selection in 1996 and 1997, Darius led SU in tackles in the 1996 Gator Bowl and 1996 Liberty Bowl victories.
Selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round (25th overall) of the 1998 draft, Darius made an immediate impact and was named to the 1998 NFL All-Rookie team. He became a defensive mainstay, spending nine seasons in the Jacksonville backfield before ending his career with the Miami Dolphins in 2007. During his 10-year NFL career, Darius recorded 620 total tackles, including 480 solo stops and 14 interceptions for 189 yards.
Selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round (25th overall) of the 1998 draft, Darius made an immediate impact and was named to the 1998 NFL All-Rookie team. He became a defensive mainstay, spending nine seasons in the Jacksonville backfield before ending his career with the Miami Dolphins in 2007. During his 10-year NFL career, Darius recorded 620 total tackles, including 480 solo stops and 14 interceptions for 189 yards.
“It was a great experience and a great opportunity to be part of the Syracuse football family,” Darius said. “It was my first time at a game since I left Syracuse. Coming back and being around the players and the coaching staff at my alma mater, and especially getting the win, was a great opportunity.
“It brought back a lot of memories, being in that lockerroom and knowing my old locker. It is always great to see (equipment manager) Kyle Fetterly. Coming out of the tunnel and just being on the field with the great fans in the Carrier Dome. I spent the whole game on the sideline telling my son and my father-in-law about memories that I had being out there. It is kind of like it was almost yesterday. It is great to be part of the program.”
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