Syracuse Football: Here’s why Dino Babers thinks UConn bout is so critical

Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers made some really interesting, and I thought insightful, comments earlier this week when discussing the Orange’s Saturday night non-conference battle at Connecticut.

Sure, the Orange (1-0) is a huge betting favorite against the Huskies (1-1). Yes, the ‘Cuse walloped fellow Atlantic Coast Conference team Louisville last weekend.

And, sadly, Syracuse football saw two of its key players go down with season-ending injuries suffered in the squad’s clash with the Cardinals.

My assumption is that the ‘Cuse will be able to handle UConn with relative ease. But it’s not just about winning, according to Dino Babers. It’s about improving for the long haul in the 2022 stanza.

Syracuse football boss Dino Babers on why week two is vital for his team.

"Check out this quote from Babers in a recent press release from SU Athletics. “The biggest improvement for a football team is between the first and second week. That’s the way it’s going to be because so many times, they are watching other people or (they’re) watching their past selves or their past version. Now they are watching themselves in the moment.”"

I really dig this sentiment from Dino Babers. Prior to the Louisville affair, all that the Orange roster could “rely” on was how the squad did in 2021 (5-7 for those of you keeping score at home), as well as all of the pre-season prognostications from national pundits, ACC experts, fans and the like.

And many of those pre-season projections, by the way, weren’t so rosy for the ‘Cuse, as numerous national analysts and journalists had pegged Syracuse football to finish in the basement within its ACC division.

Now, though, with a week-one triumph under their collective belt, the Orange players and coaches can put the most recent campaign and the pre-season prior to the 2022 term in the rear-view mirror.

Penalties aside, a lot of things impressed us about the ‘Cuse on offense and defense, as well as in special teams, in last Saturday’s 31-7 crushing of the Cardinals.

Babers praised his players for their effort in that ACC clash, and certainly Orange Nation hopes that spills over into the Huskies encounter.

"“That’s what we’re looking for – guys playing full speed snap to whistle, every snap, don’t worry about the outcome, don’t think about whether you’re going to catch the guy or not, just chase him. If you get him down, let’s play one more snap,” Babers said."

Well said, Coach.