Syracuse Basketball: Shows with head coaches of Orange programs are a fun hang

On Monday night, I’m writing from the Wegmans Burger Bar in Dewitt as Syracuse women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack is doing her radio show live (by the way, she has three more Monday night shows at 7 pm). Did you know that many of the Syracuse coaches do live shows in the area that air locally, stream online on the Cuse App or Varsity App, and fans can attend as well?

My life is hectic at times these days and I live an hour outside Syracuse. I do work near Dewitt so sneaking out for this show (with my family’s blessing) was something I wanted to do. I thought it would be fun to do.

I’ve been to one years ago with the now-retired Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim but I was so shy and watched from afar. I attended the first one former Syracuse football coach Dino Babers did as Syracuse's head coach too. So this isn’t my first but I don’t get to do them often but I try to listen whenever I can.

I thoroughly enjoy the weekly shows of the Syracuse basketball head coaches.

I’m a Syracuse fan. I like the press conferences and the media stuff not just to write about them but because it gives me a better insight into the programs and the coaches who lead them. I will never be the stat guy or the strategist, but I do know I love my teams and learning about them.

I love writing about these teams but inside of me will always be the kid who was a fan win or lose. I will always be a fan and a human first who just wants to find the joy in the programs I support and want to support the people who represent them in a positive way.

I don’t expect perfection from the players or coaches I support but I do want to believe that those who do represent it do so in a manner where I can feel proud to be a fan. When I listen to our coaches, I feel proud to be a fan. I can hear the passion in Coach Jack’s voice as I write this. I believe Syracuse men’s basketball head coach Adrian Autry is as passionate as any fan if not more so about winning.

I listen and I believe them when they’re fighting for the programs and I love seeing that joy like I have when they’ve won (like right now as Coach Jack does this show  with an excitable attitude following a recent win at Clemson).

You see, I write this because I like to humanize our coaches because I think it’s important as fans that sometimes we remember the players and coaches are humans just like us. For instance, Coach Jack and I both have mothers diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and I can relate in many ways to that even though I lost mine in 2020 literally a couple of weeks before the Covid epidemic hit our lives. I also saw her coaching at Buffalo and I know she’s a very good coach and motivator of people. I also love her positive energy and passion that she brings to wanting to represent Syracuse.

I won’t tell anyone how to be a fan (though I do wish sometimes we could find more ways to find the positives more often). I merely share my thoughts and experiences because I’ve lived in five states, I’ve been stationed in Germany and my life has seen highs and lows but one constant is always my love for Syracuse, Syracuse University and the sports teams that play here. And win or lose, I will always bleed Orange until they bury me six feet underground and do my best to show them my love and support.

So if I can, I want to show my support to those within the program who represent the teams I love. I want to call in to their shows if I can and thank them for their hard work. I want to show up when possible to see them and let them know fans care.

And as I am watching Coach Jack interact with the fans here tonight, I can't help but support her and believe the more we show our love and support for them, too, the stronger we become as an Orange family. I had a great time at the show, and I hope others will get out to the events and show them support whenever possible.