Sunday Sidebar: Babers Had Faith Orange Would Break Through
11/25/2018 1:00:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Ever since Dino Babers stepped foot on the Syracuse University campus, he has preached faith – belief without evidence.
Faith that with time, proper coaching and a singular focus on winning regardless of who gets the credit, the Orange football team would become one that the Syracuse community would be proud of.
Even as Syracuse was projected to finish last in the ACC Atlantic Division before this season. Even as the Orange started the year as an afterthought on the national college football scene. Even after Syracuse lost consecutive games in the waning moments of the fourth quarter and overtime in the middle of the season. Babers never lost faith.
"I can still remember back to not feeling so great [after last year's season finale against Boston College] at the Dome and then talking about this senior class and what they had the capabilities of achieving," Babers said after yesterday's 42-21 win at Boston College. "I remember some people giggling, even smirking, about making a statement like that based on the score last year.
"I really did believe, and I really had faith that [the 2018 seniors] were a little bit different. It didn't mean it was going to turn out the way it was supposed to turn out, but I really did believe in them."
And that faith has been rewarded.
Syracuse's 21-point victory over its chief rival yesterday capped the Orange's most successful regular season in 17 years. Syracuse finished 9-3 overall and second in the ACC Atlantic Division, winning five straight conference games following an early-October loss at Pittsburgh.
"Faith," Babers said. "Belief without evidence that this thing's going to work even though you've never heard it before. That's kind of how this season was."
The senior class that Babers alluded to those many months ago have led the way, and Saturday was no exception.
Quarterback Eric Dungey accounted for 396 total yards of offense and was responsible for a career-high six touchdowns against the Eagles. He now has 32 for the season, breaking Donovan McNabb's previous record of 30 set in 1998 when Syracuse was a regular in the national polls and on its way to the Orange Bowl.
Running back Dontae Strickland, meanwhile, ran for a personal-best 129 yards on 20 carries (6.4 avg.), the third 100-yard rushing game of his career. Wideout Jamal Custis finished with three catches for 68 yards and touchdown.
The Orange's veterans delivered on special teams and defense, too. Tight end/fullback Kyle Kleinberg set the tone with a strong tackle on Boston College return specialist Michael Walker on the game's opening kickoff. Defensive lineman Chris Slayton finished with two tackles and clogged running lanes to help hold Boston College to 105 yards rushing. That figure was well below its average of 196.7 yards per game entering the contest.
Linebacker Ryan Guthrie matched his personal best with a team-high 12 tackles Saturday, his fifth double-digit tackle game of the season and his third game with at least 10 tackles in Syracuse's last four outings. Fellow linebacker Kielan Whitner carded a team-high 1.5 tackles for loss, recovered a fumble, and broke up a pass.
"For them to be able to accomplish what they have – second place in the ACC Atlantic with a last-place start by the media – and then having an opportunity to go do something that's very rare," Babers said. "To win 10 games is very, very rare, and it's special. We haven't done that yet, but we have an opportunity to do it, which is truly, truly amazing.
"Regardless of whether we achieve it or not, I'll always remember the 2018 class as being the class that did something that a lot of people didn't believe they could do."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Faith that with time, proper coaching and a singular focus on winning regardless of who gets the credit, the Orange football team would become one that the Syracuse community would be proud of.
Even as Syracuse was projected to finish last in the ACC Atlantic Division before this season. Even as the Orange started the year as an afterthought on the national college football scene. Even after Syracuse lost consecutive games in the waning moments of the fourth quarter and overtime in the middle of the season. Babers never lost faith.
"I can still remember back to not feeling so great [after last year's season finale against Boston College] at the Dome and then talking about this senior class and what they had the capabilities of achieving," Babers said after yesterday's 42-21 win at Boston College. "I remember some people giggling, even smirking, about making a statement like that based on the score last year.
"I really did believe, and I really had faith that [the 2018 seniors] were a little bit different. It didn't mean it was going to turn out the way it was supposed to turn out, but I really did believe in them."
And that faith has been rewarded.
Syracuse's 21-point victory over its chief rival yesterday capped the Orange's most successful regular season in 17 years. Syracuse finished 9-3 overall and second in the ACC Atlantic Division, winning five straight conference games following an early-October loss at Pittsburgh.
"Faith," Babers said. "Belief without evidence that this thing's going to work even though you've never heard it before. That's kind of how this season was."
The senior class that Babers alluded to those many months ago have led the way, and Saturday was no exception.
Quarterback Eric Dungey accounted for 396 total yards of offense and was responsible for a career-high six touchdowns against the Eagles. He now has 32 for the season, breaking Donovan McNabb's previous record of 30 set in 1998 when Syracuse was a regular in the national polls and on its way to the Orange Bowl.
Running back Dontae Strickland, meanwhile, ran for a personal-best 129 yards on 20 carries (6.4 avg.), the third 100-yard rushing game of his career. Wideout Jamal Custis finished with three catches for 68 yards and touchdown.
The Orange's veterans delivered on special teams and defense, too. Tight end/fullback Kyle Kleinberg set the tone with a strong tackle on Boston College return specialist Michael Walker on the game's opening kickoff. Defensive lineman Chris Slayton finished with two tackles and clogged running lanes to help hold Boston College to 105 yards rushing. That figure was well below its average of 196.7 yards per game entering the contest.
Linebacker Ryan Guthrie matched his personal best with a team-high 12 tackles Saturday, his fifth double-digit tackle game of the season and his third game with at least 10 tackles in Syracuse's last four outings. Fellow linebacker Kielan Whitner carded a team-high 1.5 tackles for loss, recovered a fumble, and broke up a pass.
"For them to be able to accomplish what they have – second place in the ACC Atlantic with a last-place start by the media – and then having an opportunity to go do something that's very rare," Babers said. "To win 10 games is very, very rare, and it's special. We haven't done that yet, but we have an opportunity to do it, which is truly, truly amazing.
"Regardless of whether we achieve it or not, I'll always remember the 2018 class as being the class that did something that a lot of people didn't believe they could do."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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