Syracuse Football: Orange will be short-handed in Camping World Bowl
The Syracuse football squad won’t be firing on all cylinders in the Camping World Bowl due to some “personal reasons”, here’s whose out and who will replace.
The Syracuse football team will be in their first bowl game since 2013 when they step into Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Friday.
But they won’t be doing it with the same players they started the season with. Per a Syracuse press release, Alton Robinson and McKinley Williams will be missing this experience on Friday due to “personal reasons”.
Robinson led the Orange in sacks this season with 10 and also contributed with 17 TFLs (tackles for losses), 11 QB hits, and three forced fumbles, per Syracuse.com.
While McKinley Williams isn’t a full time starter on the defensive line, he has played in every game this season as a key rotational cog.
When head coach Dino Babers was asked more details about the “personal reasons” he didn’t budge much:
"“Asked if they were eligible to play in the game, Babers said, “we’re going to leave it at personal problems because I think that’s the best way to do it.”"
They’re both expected to return to the team next season with neither skipping this bowl game for the 2019 NFL Draft. Reading the tea leaves if it isn’t draft related and considering Babers vivid description above, it sure seems like a team violation issue.
The violation must be pretty intense for Babers to hurt his own team’s chances of winning by making his best sack artist stay in Syracuse. Also it sends a stern message that Babers doesn’t tolerate nonsense and that’s a good culture move by Dino.
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Sadly those won’t be the only absences in the Camping World Bowl. Antwan Cordy, the redshirt senior defensive back will also not make the trip.
Although it sure seems like Cordy’s situation is far more severe. Antwan has missed all of the open availability media practices and had missed the two final regular season games for the Orange. Babers indicated that Cordy will “likely not be available.”
For those who don’t know Cordy has battled back-to-back season ending injuries which robbed him the majority of the last two seasons. During that time Cordy fought depression and experienced a physically, mentally, and spiritually draining rehab process.
Technically Cordy is eligible for a sixth year of eligibility per Syracuse.com and he planned on making that decision after the season. I’m not 100 percent positive what personal situation he is dealing with at this moment, but I speak on behalf of all Syracuse fans hoping that this isn’t how his Orange career ends.
Antwan deserves better than this and he’s not only a talented football player but a wonderful human being. According to one scout I spoke with a few months back, if Cordy was a few inches taller he’d be a “first or second round draft pick easily”, beyond the physical limitations he has also battled durability issues throughout his collegiate career.
Next. Syracuse Football: Ranking every SU first round pick in NFL Draft history. dark
Syracuse despite all the losses is still considered a one point favorite in the Camping World Bowl vs West Virginia. Despite all Syracuse’s losses, West Virginia’s losses are more significant losing their best quarterback, offensive lineman, and one of their better wide receivers to the 2019 NFL Draft and those players will all miss the Camping World Bowl on Friday December 28th 5:15 p.m.