Syracuse football desperately needs a Dino Babers kumbaya meeting

Syracuse football needs a Dino Babers kumbaya meeting ASAP. Here’s why the 2019 season is on the brink of imploding and how they can fix it.

The honeymoon period is over for the Syracuse football squad.

Dino Babers leading the Orange to the first 10-3 season since 2001 seems like a distant relic of the past.

With the 2019 version of the Syracuse football squad sitting at 3-3, this season has the potential to go off the rails.

It’s time for a Dino Babers kumbaya meeting pronto.

During the Syracuse NC State game, it was apparent on the television broadcast that Taj Harris and Tommy DeVito had some choice words for each other. The frustration led to Harris seemingly being benched and sitting alone on the sideline during a critical drive late in the game.

"After the game, Dino Babers clarified the Harris situation by saying, “I was under the impression that Taj got hurt. I don’t want to put his business out there but that’s what I was told.”"

Speaking of finger-pointing, the Syracuse defense and special teams (for the most part) played well enough to win this game. Throughout the 2019 campaign, either the defense or special teams has carried the team, while the offense has been non-responsive.

When that continues to happen that can lead to locker room unrest and friction.

Playcalling has been suspect, to say the least.

On several drives, the Orange ran it into a brick wall on first and second down and then asked Tommy DeVito to throw on an obvious passing down which often led to a sack or a critical mistake.

Just when you think Syracuse is going on a run, late indecision by Babers forces an early second-half timeout. At the time it seemed like it could cost the Orange late in the game and it did.

Penalties. Self-inflicted wounds. The offense hasn’t been lighting the world on fire, that’s no secret, but the team hasn’t done itself any favors by shooting itself in the foot and making things more difficult. Syracuse finished the game with 12 penalties for 59 yards.

"After the game when Dino Babers heard about the penalty differential between the two teams he said, “12-to-4? (A smile comes across Dino’s face), hey have you ever seen the movie Remember The Titans? It’s a good movie.”"

For those who have never seen the movie, Dino Babers was referencing this scene (via Wiki Quote):

"[Yoast realizes the Hall of Fame board have fixed the game against the Titans]Coach Yoast: [to referee] I know all about it, Titus.Referee: What are you talking about, Bill?Coach Yoast: You call this game fair, or I’m going to the papers. I don’t care if I go down with you. But before God, I swear I’ll see every last one of you thrown in jail.Referee: You dig your own grave.Coach Yoast: [Smiles] All right. DEFENSE, ON ME! [huddles players; to Petey] Petey, don’t you go on the strong side.Petey Jones: Coach they’re calling a holding penalty on me every time-Coach Yoast: Did I ask for your excuses? You wanna act like a star, you’d better give me a star effort, do you hear me? [Petey leaves] Forget about him. Allan, you’re in, come on. All right now, I don’t want them to gain another yard. YOU BLITZ ALL NIGHT!! If they cross the line of scrimmage, I’m gonna take every last one of you out! You make sure they remember, FOREVER, the night they played the Titans! [players cheer and get back to the field] LEAVE NO DOUBT!"

Dino Babers often preaches ‘ohana’ and family in the Syracuse facilities. With half a season left filled with tough ACC contests, the Orange are going to need to come together for a kumbaya meeting to figure out their issues before it gets out of hand.