Syracuse Football: I love Dino Babers, but it’s time for change at the top

I despise writing this column on Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers. I really do.

Without question, I think that he is a stand-up person. A good, kind, loving human being. I also think he’s a solid head coach.

At the same time, I feel like perhaps it’s time for a head-coaching change on the Hill, and many Orange fans echoed that sentiment in the wake of the ‘Cuse getting crushed for the fourth game in a row on Thursday night in Blacksburg, Va., on prime-time television.

We all knew that the three-game Atlantic Coast Conference stretch that recently transpired was brutal for Syracuse football. Clemson at home, followed by North Carolina and Florida State on the road.

However, then the Orange had a bye week to rest and regroup. Yes, the ‘Cuse had to travel to Virginia Tech for a third road affair in a row, but the Hokies haven’t appeared to be on the same level in the 2023 season as that other trio of Atlantic Coast Conference heavyweights (I acknowledge that Clemson isn’t stellar this year, but it’s still Clemson).

Virginia Tech dominated Syracuse football, the latest dud for the Orange and head coach Dino Babers.

Ahead of its encounter at Virginia Tech, I picked the ‘Cuse to knock off the Hokies. Whoops. Virginia Tech was a small betting favorite, and playing at home. I guess I was naive with this projection.

In any event, it’s not that the Orange fell on the road to a Hokies group that is playing well of late. It’s how the ‘Cuse lost. Virginia Tech pasted Syracuse football, 38-10.

A couple of numbers to consider. The Hokies out-gained the ‘Cuse in total yardage, 528 to 137. Syracuse football went 0-for-9 on third downs, allowed eight sacks, committed seven penalties and only had the ball on offense for about 18 minutes.

On the ground, the Orange rushed 25 times for zero yards, when you factor in the sacks. Conversely, Virginia Tech tallied 318 rushing yards. Let me repeat. Zero rushing yards for the ‘Cuse, and 318 rushing yards for the Hokies (4-4, 3-1 in the ACC). That’s abysmal.

To recap, during its four-game losing streak, all to ACC foes, Syracuse football has been outscored to the tune of 150-34.

After exploding on offense during its 4-0 mark in the non-conference, albeit against less intense competition, as the Orange (4-4, 0-4 in the ACC) has faced tougher opponents, it hasn’t produced on either side of the field. It’s disappointing to say the least.

What frustrates me and a legion of Syracuse football fans is that the ‘Cuse had a bye week to work some things out, and the team still laid an egg on Thursday night against a good, but certainly not a great, foe.

Up next, Syracuse football will return to Central New York to host Boston College on Friday, Nov. 3, followed by additional league clashes with Pittsburgh in New York City, Georgia Tech on the road and Wake Forest at home.

On paper, those are some “winnable” games for the Orange. But if the ‘Cuse doesn’t get its act together on offense and defense, could it lose all of those contests? Absolutely.

I’m still holding out hope that Syracuse football will grab at least two more wins and qualify for a post-season bowl for the second straight season. If the Orange does make a bowl game in 2023, I don’t envision Dino Babers being let go.

Candidly, though, the fan base has had enough. As I was on social media Thursday evening, and it was clear the ‘Cuse was going to lose by a wide margin for the fourth straight occasion, the number of fans saying Dino Babers needs to be fired was enormous.

And the commentary on Babers wasn’t just coming from fans. It was coming from former players, journalists and others. Honestly, it makes me sad, because I really, really admire and like Dino Babers as a person.

Syracuse football, under Babers, has had two winning seasons and made two bowl games. He’s in his eighth year as the team’s head coach. In 2022, the Orange started out 6-0 and was ranked in the top 15 nationally, but it went 1-6 the rest of the way to finish at 7-6 overall.

This season, the ‘Cuse raced out to 4-0, and it has gone 0-4 since, and the squad has looked awful in doing so. When is enough, enough?

In an article by Emily Leiker of Syracuse.com, Babers said that following the ugly setback to Virginia Tech, “Everything is under review.”

Does that include Dino Babers as the Orange’s head coach? I wish I wasn’t typing this column, but the time has come. Syracuse football needs a change at the top.