Syracuse Football: My Hanukkah/Christmas wish list for the Orange

With the Syracuse football season over and as Hanukkah winds down and Christmas gears up, one can only wonder about the gift you may receive. Since these holidays often provide people the opportunity to make a list of things they’d want, I wanted to do one for the future of Syracuse football.

In honor of Hanukkah being 8 days long, I will limit my list to 8 items I’d want to receive this holiday season as it relates to the Orange.

Here’s my holiday wish list for Syracuse football.

Baby Come Back: Number 1 on my list has to be bringing back key players especially Sean Tucker, Mikel Jones, Garrett Williams, Duce Chesnut, Marlowe Wax and Matthew Bergeron. Obviously, I’d love to have more back (in fact I can’t think of anyone I wouldn’t want back if eligible) but I definitely think these are key pieces for at least a successful 2022.

No Offense But I Want A Fun Offense: Following right behind that, my other biggest wish is an offensive coordinator who will open up the playbook. I’m just a fan and don’t know who it should be, but I hope it’s someone who will utilize the players we have (including tight ends) and the players coming in efficiently and effectively. You’ve got a Clydesdale in Tucker who needs to be a corner piece but not the only piece if this team wants to get to the next level.

Bowl Or Bust: Speaking of that next level, I don’t even care what bowl game they go to, please dear God give this program a bowl game next season. I mean I’ll be rooting for a National Championship like always but will settle for any bowl game. If they fall short next season barring some major unforeseen changes in the program, even I may find it hard to see the progress and positives in the program.

I do not believe coaching is only about winning or losing at the college level because it’s still a “developmental stage” but too much losing does cause issues. I love Head Coach Dino Babers and having him as the face and voice for this program versus someone else who may make me cringe when he talks or not helping these young men on and off the field like I feel Coach Babers does well.

Jared Verse: The University of Albany DE Jared Verse has declared he intends to transfer, according to media reports. The guy looked great against SU and could join Syracuse football and make an impact right away at a position where the Orange are losing many experienced players. To me, this is like getting Cody Roscoe but instead of only one season, Jared has 3 more seasons of eligibility left. The defensive line is the position as of this writing taking the biggest losses this season so I think a mix of freshmen and experience will be needed to help cover for that.

A Quarterback Competition: Before people try to trash me, I like Garrett Shrader. I think he did a lot of positives but there were also times I wished Tommy DeVito or someone else was an option when Shrader struggled or the offense needed a change. I don’t know what offers they’ll get but a couple of guys I’d at least like to think could get an offer or at least talked to would be former Oklahoma Sooner Spencer Rattler or UCF’s Dillon Gabriel if he’s healthy by spring.

Finish Him: The 2022 schedule will not get any easier than 2021 was. The Orange’s non-conference games are against Wagner, UConn and Purdue plus Notre Dame along with the ACC portion of the schedule. In 2021, Syracuse football lost three games in a row by three points against three quality opponents and had they won even one of them, they’d be bowling this year. I’m not saying win all of those (although I’d love that) but let’s at least win our share of those especially against teams like Clemson or Florida State when you have the opportunity.

Makes Games Must-See Events: In 2022, I’d like to see ways to make Syracuse football games more fun and attractive to the casual fan. Maybe try to have pregame concerts/events in the quad, BOGO tickets sales, giveaways or something to help appeal to the casual fan who may just need a little more incentive to attend the games. Don’t just designate a game an Orange out unless you’re also offering up tees or rally towels or something and expect some people in this town to care, unfortunately.

Special Teams Return To Being Special: Andre Szmyt is not returning to the Orange and the punting game struggled with the lack of a special teams coach. This needs to be addressed immediately especially for a school where kickers and punters over the years have excelled and a history of players like Kirby Dar Dar and The Missile Qadry Ismail who scared opponents with the ability to break away for a score or at least better field position.

Being a team that plays home games in a domed facility has to not only be attractive to a recruit at the punter or kicker position but also a special teams specialist. If this team wants to contend for a bowl game next season, it’ll need to be able to make field goals when needed, punt the ball at least most of the time far enough to pin the opposing team back in their territory and hopefully see more returns like we did when Courtney Jackson returned a punt return 64 yards for a touchdown against Boston College (Jackson and a healthy Trebor Pena could be those returners we need ala Dar Dar and The Missile).