Inside the Loud House
Fansided

Syracuse Orange: Happy 4th of July, What to be thankful for

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

AUSTIN, TX - JUNE 30: A demonstrator waves an American flag during a rally against the Trump administration's immigration policies outside of the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, on June 30, 2018. Demonstrations are being held in cities across the U.S. Saturday to call for the reunification of separated families and to protest the detention of children and families seeking asylum at the border. (Photo by Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - JUNE 30: A demonstrator waves an American flag during a rally against the Trump administration's immigration policies outside of the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, on June 30, 2018. Demonstrations are being held in cities across the U.S. Saturday to call for the reunification of separated families and to protest the detention of children and families seeking asylum at the border. (Photo by Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Syracuse Orange fans have a lot to be thankful for on this July 4th, 2018. Here’s some reasons for the hoops and football squad, plus what this really means.

Let me first start this off with a Happy 4th of July Syracuse Orange fans! I hope you’re enjoying some Inside the Loud House, fun with friends and family, and of course the fireworks later tonight.

Sometimes the importance of holidays can get lost in the shuffle, so let’s just make sure that everyone is aware what this holiday means. This isn’t just a random Wednesday off from work, this is a special occasion to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Without them, we wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate our freedom any day, let alone on the 4th of July. Which is why we should try and celebrate our Armed Forces EVERYDAY not just on a commemorative holiday every year. So remember that as you bite into those juicy bratwursts and burgers, but also this is a day to really think about what you should be thankful for.

Since this is a site that covers all things Syracuse, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to list a quick few bullet points for the basketball and football teams on what they should be thankful for.

Syracuse Basketball

  • Jim Boeheim
    • Something that is either often overlooked or simply taken for granted is Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim. This is a guy who has taken a lot of crap over the years from fans, media, and opponents. They say the 2-3 zone is archaic. Boeheim can’t recruit anymore. Wow this team has been in the crapper. But then you take a second and look at the stat sheet. Boeheim has this team in the tournament nearly every year. The Orange seem to always be making deep runs with teams most don’t think should even be in the tournament. Be thankful because he’ll probably be here through Buddy Boeheim’s tenure and likely he’ll ride off into the sunset.
  • Frank Howard
    • Now wait just a minute, you can’t be serious? Actually I am. Frank Howard is one of the most underappreciated Syracuse basketball players ever. Fans love to blame Howard for losses and rarely give him credit when SU wins. He always seems to be in Boeheim’s dog house. He turns the ball over too much. Yet he’s always there for Syracuse. Howard had a monumental leap from his sophomore to his junior year. Now he’s the senior leader for this squad heading into what could be a pretty special 2018-19 season.

Syracuse Football

  • YOU THE FANS THAT ACTUALLY ATTEND THE GAME!
    • This is not sarcasm, this is reality. So many pundits in the media question the intestinal fortitude of Syracuse football fans. The fans have been called soft, weak, lame and sometimes that is true. Like making up excuses not to go to games in the Fall or simply not showing up because the game isn’t tantalizing enough. But remember this, there are loyal fans who show up every week. According to the most recent analytics, SU has 32,000 fans on a weekly basis rocking the home games. You may not have 50,000 like the old days, but appreciate what you have.
  • Dino Babers
    • Is he Ben Schwartzwalder? No, but you know what? He has hyped up the fan base more so than any coach has in over a decade. The hype hasn’t resulted in immediate production yet, but he seems to be on the right path. There’s a palpable difference among the fan base that this thing can be special. Dino may not be here forever, or perhaps he will. If the loud house keeps rocking and supporting the team, anything is possible.

Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History

In conclusion, we’ve got a Hall of Fame coach in basketball, a potential rising star on the football squad, some amazing fans, and an under appreciated player who finally deserved the spotlight. Thanks for reading our column, now go enjoy some time with your loved ones, tomorrow is never promised, live everyday like your last!

Home/Syracuse Orange