Syracuse Football: My heartfelt good bye to former SU Coach Dino Babers

On Sunday, Dino Babers was dismissed as the head coach of Syracuse football, effective immediately, in an announcement posted to cuse.com by SU Athletics.

Babers and the Orange fell at Georgia Tech this past Saturday night, dropping the ‘Cuse to 5-6 overall and 1-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference competition.

Syracuse football has one more 2023 regular-season game left, as the Orange will host Wake Forest this Saturday. Tight ends coach Nunzio Campanile will serve as the interim head coach against the Demon Deacons, and if the ‘Cuse prevails, Syracuse football will go to a bowl game for the second year in a row.

With his dismissal, Babers was one regular-season game shy of completing his eighth year as the team’s head coach. In his tenure on the Hill, he compiled a 41–55 overall mark and a 20–45 record in ACC games.

Here’s my heartfelt goodbye letter to former Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers.

Dear Coach Dino Babers,

I write this heavy-hearted but out of love and gratitude for what you gave to the Syracuse football program.

You provided an environment where student-athletes could excel in the classroom and on the field. Never once did I have to worry you were not looking out for their best interest and not just as a player. Or worried that your sideline demeanor was demeaning towards players or anyone else.

You made me feel good to cheer for you being a standup guy who didn’t do or say things that embarrassed me or the program. I never worried about your press conferences being cringey and watched just about every one because you were so engaging and informative. You handled the press in a way I was comfortable with seeing.

You cared about the university and the program. You conducted yourself with class and respect never once looking to make massive changes to things while also respecting the past.

Twice I got the chance to speak with you (well three times if you count your first season here when I shook your hand at one of your first coaches shows and you liked my Cuse fedora). When we spoke, I felt not like I was speaking to someone in power but someone who showed me respect and compassion including condolences for my grandmother’s passing, which was a huge loss for me and my family.

You brought “ohana” to the program and embraced the theory of not just a team but a family. And I felt like part of the family win or lose because of how you led. I was raised to believe family isn’t always blood but it’s also the ones who are there for you in the good times and the bad.

You brought in players not only with talent but also heart and high character. Players we wanted to root for and players who loved us back. And in many cases, players who whether it’s the NFL, the WWE or in the business world are better people because of how you led them.

So I can’t say good bye because I don’t believe in them but I can say thank you. Thank you for being a beacon of pride for the program I’ve loved and cared about for most of my 51 years on this earth. I’m sorry for how it ended but I’m glad for the journey we had together. I may not have played for you or worked for you but every day I woke up my life was better because you were part of my Orange Ohana and I am forever grateful you are. Mahalo Coach…malama pono.

Aloha,

Chuck Fiello Jr. (Orange Chuck aka the guy who almost hit you with my van)