Syracuse Football: We no longer have to wait, SU starts 2023 vs. Colgate

It was September of 2008, and the head coach of the Syracuse football team then was the late Greg Robinson. The program was struggling so badly that ESPN College GameDay did a piece about it that featured the current staff and 44 legends Jim Brown and Floyd Little. That September, at home, the Orange fell to Akron, 42-28.

So when current Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers talks about in his press conference that games like this keep you from sleeping, there’s a reason.

In theory, much like that GameDay piece, when they asked if Syracuse football played Akron 1,000 times, they’d expect to win it 1,000 times, and the same should apply to Colgate, which comes to the JMA Wireless Dome for the 2023 season opener this Saturday.

But theories go out the window once you take the field and on any given day, any team can win. That’s why games are decided on the field and not by oddsmakers and fans.

Syracuse football is gearing up for its 2023 season opener.

The Colgate Raiders were 3-8 last season but also that was last season not this season. They did beat Georgetown so for that we thank them. But if you’re a player or even a fan and you think “this is an easy win…why show up?” you might wake up to a rude awakening the next morning (ask Michigan fans, too, when the Wolverines lost to Appalachian State University).

This is a FCS opponent in the Patriot League and a good game to start the season with to test your depth and your determination. But take them lightly and the next social media graphic you’ll see about the best football team in New York State might just have to be Colgate.

For example, Colgate has a quarterback named Michael Brescia, who is a dual threat to run and pass with already over 1,000 yards rushing in his career (which he surpassed while yes, you guessed it, beating Georgetown).

And look, I’m not saying Brescia is going to rush for 200 yards, pass for 200 more and beat Syracuse football in the JMA Wireless Dome. But if Syracuse wants to have that magical season the players keep talking about, it starts right here in game one of the season by going all Nuke in Bull Durham and saying, ”I wanna announce my presence with authority.”

If this Orange team struggles in this game, a good portion of the fan base will become mighty vocal wanting changes instead of packing their belly with dome dogs and dome foam. But having said that, please let’s not go nuclear if Colgate scores occasionally or makes a few good plays here and there.

And Syracuse football has also released its depth chart going into game one. As beat reporter Emily Leiker of Syracuse.com noted, there are a few things that catch your attention specifically Trebor Pena not being active and Stefon Thompson down the list.

But as she and Babers noted/stated in his press conference, Trebor has an “owwie” but is expected back soon. And it’s likely Stefon is coming back from an injury and being worked back in gradually. Again, this is a good game to test your depth for the run of the season and it’s only game one of 12 (hopefully 13) so you don’t want to rush anyone out there either.

I truly think Syracuse football has the depth and talent to win this game easily but like Coach Babers said, don’t go into this game without playing your best or it’ll be Akron all over again.

My prediction: Syracuse 59 – Colgate 13 (Yes, anything can happen but I think Syracuse comes out and handles its business).