Jake's Take: The Past, Present and Future of SU's Conference Affiliation
What does the outcome of the Big East-ACC situation mean for Syracuse University? We have to adapt to the new conditions we face. And we are doing so, working closely with several of our fellow Big East institutions. It’s easy to be angry or disappointed by what has transpired over the past few months, but our energy is better spent on determining the best way to move forward.
Even before Miami made its announcement we started contemplating contingencies, and in the days immediately afterward I and my colleagues at Boston College, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and West Virginia had a conference call and met in Providence to discuss our collective future. Last week, Chancellor Shaw and I joined the presidents and athletic directors of these institutions in New Jersey to formulate a plan. We are now proceeding with that agreed upon process. As Commissioner Mike Tranghese announced recently, one aspect is moving up Connecticut as a full-time football playing member of the Big East, in 2004. As we know from Connecticut’s many successful teams (men’s and women’s basketball, soccer and track-and-field to name a few), the Huskies have an outstanding athletic program and now seek to raise the bar of their football team.
Chancellor Shaw’s and my intentions are to 1) bolster our conference position as a football entity—which is essential in this era of the BCS, not to mention key to our second intention—and 2) stabilize and secure SU’s athletic future. I was privileged to be involved in the birth of the Big East 24 years ago, and I take pride in what we’ve accomplished as a conference, as well as the achievements of our individual members. I have confidence—and I see all around me the determination—that we will go forward and through deliberation and hard work will create a bright future for our conference members.
Looking to the immediate future, this fall holds great potential. Our football team begins a fresh season in about six weeks, and a few months later we will raise to the Carrier Dome rafters the permanent national championship banner of our men’s basketball team.
I am encouraged by what I have seen from the football team and believe we can bounce back from last year’s disappointments. The defense has improved significantly, and we have an experienced offense returning—with a solid offensive line, two excellent running backs and a veteran quarterback who knows the system and has shown success in orchestrating it (10-3 in 2001).
We have a challenging schedule this fall, which any team needs to test its mettle. Eight of our 12 opponents are coming off of post-season bowl appearances. Four of our home contests are against programs that won nine or more games last year—Toledo, Boston College, West Virginia and Notre Dame—and two other home opponents, Louisville and Central Florida, have traditionally solid teams. Opponents of this caliber will make for outstanding football in the Dome.
And not all of the action will take place between the sidelines. Fans can anticipate a reinvigorated Homecoming celebration, the debut of our new high-tech video boards, many new in-game promotions, and other aspects of our ongoing Fans First initiative.
Information on these activities and on the progress of the conference situation will be posted on our website (www.suathletics.com) as it becomes available.
Your support of SU Athletics is, as always, greatly appreciated—especially now, as we reshape our future.
Sincerely,
Jake Crouthamel
Director of Athletics
