Syracuse Football: Otto’s Army is ‘going to be crazy out there,’ coach says

Syracuse football is opening a season on the Hill for the first time dating back to 2017, and head coach Dino Babers expects the student section to be boisterous, excited, loud – heck, even crazy (in a good way).

I’m hopeful that the student section, which as we all know is referred to as Otto’s Army, and the rest of the newly renamed JMA Wireless Dome will prove a sea of Orange-colored fans as the ‘Cuse welcomes fellow Atlantic Coast Conference squad Louisville to Central New York this Saturday evening to kick off the 2022 campaign.

While a contingent of national experts is forecasting a low win total for the ‘Cuse this fall, I’m fairly high on Syracuse football in 2022, despite the 5-7 mark a stanza ago and an upcoming slate that, on paper, looks quite challenging.

Putting that aside, there is a lot to like about the current Orange roster on both ends of the field. The Cardinals, with their stellar dual-threat quarterback Malik Cunningham, present a tough opening opponent for the ‘Cuse, and Babers says the Orange will need students and other fans to show up and show out to give the team a jolt this Saturday.

Syracuse football fans, particularly students, seem pumped about the 2022 season.

In recent weeks, I’ve seen a lot of positive content being pumped out on social media by Orange fans, especially students, about the upcoming stanza.

Regardless of the squad’s record last year or in other recent terms, there is a keen sense of energy, enthusiasm, and excitement brewing among many ‘Cuse fans as Syracuse football gets set to entertain Louisville on September 3 beginning at 8 pm.

I have to say that the posts I’ve come across lately on the Otto’s Army Twitter account have gotten me jazzed up about the Orange, and the calls by Otto’s Army and others to pack the Dome this Saturday haven’t gone unnoticed.

Here are some interesting tidbits about the Cardinals clash, courtesy of SU Athletics. Besides being the first home opener since 2017, this will also be the first instance where Syracuse football has started a season by hosting an ACC opponent.

For better or for worse, Syracuse Orange sports moved from the Big East Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 2013-14 campaign.

According to cuse.com, when Louisville heads to the Hill, it will be the first occasion where the Orange has commenced a season at home against a conference foe in almost two decades, which is pretty surprising to me.

Last weekend, amid orientation activities for the incoming Syracuse University freshman class, Babers addressed the newest members of Otto’s Army, and he had some encouraging things to say.

"“That freshman class is large and they’ve got crazy in their eyes,” Babers said, per SU Athletics. “I can’t wait to see them become a part of Otto’s Army and we’re going to need every last one of them in this football game that’s going to be here Saturday. You get this year’s freshman class with last year’s Otto’s Army, that I thought was the best we’ve ever had – they are going to be crazy out there. I’m excited about that.”"

Me too, Coach Babers. If the Orange can pull out a triumph over Louisville and grab momentum early in the 2022 season, I think that will do wonders for charging up the ‘Cuse fan base – both students and the larger community alike.