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Syracuse Orange entering new era under Dino Babers

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

Dec 7, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Dino Babers speaks with the media during a press conference at the Ferguson Football Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Dino Babers speaks with the media during a press conference at the Ferguson Football Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Syracuse Orange’s football program has been in the gutter over the last decade but a new athletic director and head coach Dino Babers could signal a change.

The Syracuse Orange are entering a new era in their collegiate history and that became official this week as they hired John Wildhack as their new Athletic Director. Wildhack, formerly of ESPN, is entering a situation that is in dire need of hope.

A lot of prominent Orange alum have spoken up since the announcement of their new AD. In particular, the former voice of Monday Night Football, Mike Tirico, was On The Block on ESPN Radio in Syracuse with Brent Axe on Wednesday and he said there is a clear first priority for Wildhack.

“The Carrier Dome is the most unique venue in sports,” Tirico said, and he’s right. Now perhaps the perfect storm is brewing in Central New York, especially with the hire of Dino Babers.

The best way to use a dome setting is to use a high-octane passing attack that can test the cardio of opposing teams. That is exactly what Babers plans on doing this Fall as he reveals his offensive philosophies.

Babers employs a spread attack on offense that has a tempo unlike any other and Syracuse football fans got a first look at this year’s spring game. But Babers said after the game to Syracuse.com reporter, Stephen Bailey, that the offense will never be that slow ever again.

"“The offense ran 155 plays, including kicking, and racked up 13 touchdowns — eight of which came off full-field drives, while five came in red-zone work. But the pace that wowed the Carrier Dome fans is far from a finished product, SU head coach Dino Babers said.”“I thought the tempo of the offense was OK,” Babers said. “We’ll never be that slow again.”"

Over the last several years, the Orange haven’t been able to rekindle the success of the past. In particular, looking at the production of the football team over the past decade, it’s depressing, to say the least. Syracuse is only 44-85, which includes vacated victories from 2005-2006.

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With a new AD in place, and with a new coach raring and ready to go, the Syracuse football program appears to be in good hands. It’ll take more than a year to change the culture of a losing football program, but Babers has the pieces in place to create a dynasty.

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