Orangeyes
R.I.P Dan
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
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Just as I had envisioned, the room reserved for HCDM's weekly luncheon, was filled to capacity. In fact a few people came in near the middle of the proceeding and stood in the back to take a listen.
Coach was a little later than usual, one can only imagine the demands on him from the press after a win like we had on Friday. As Black Knight mentioned, I brought in, what looked to be a scrumptious, Wegman's butter cream cake, half chocolate half white. On the cake was the image of the Ben Scwartzwalder Trophy. That cake made it's way back to the football offices where I believe the football staff and staffers consumed it.
Just before Doug came into the room, what should appear but the real McCoy, wow what an impressive piece of bronze. Just above the West Virginia logo stands Ben as a player in his Mountaineer Days. On the other side is the kneeling Ben, in coaching attire over the block S logo. In the middle is a vintage looking football. On either side there is an inscription one is under the University seal. Black Knight read both sides, maybe he will share with us, just what is inscribed? The wood looks like walnut. Many people got behind the trophy and had their pictures taken with it including several from syracusefan.com.
Coach came into the room and as is his custom, made it around the room and shook every hand.
Matt Park then opened the proceedings, as he always does, by announcing the Big East honors for the Orangemen. Dorian Graham was named special teams player of the week. Chandler Jones was the defensive player of the week and Ryan Nassib was named to the honor roll for what has to be a record sixth time(or is it seven?). Matt also noted that we would have a noon start against UConn.
Then Matt introduced the Head Coach of your 5 & 2 Syracuse University Orange, Doug Marrone.
Everyone rose to their feet and gave him a standing O.
Coach opened by mentioning that he might look gloomy but he isn't. When he hears the response he got he said it belongs to the players, not him. It is for their hard work in getting us to this point.
During his talk, he mentioned that at some point in the second half he looked up into the stands and thought, "I wish I could be up their watching this game with a cold beer in my hand." He later said with a Diet Pepsi. He mentioned that when he got home his family greeted him and his kids said, "It's about time dad!"
Doug said winning the trophy was a top priority for the players and staff. Marrone said you don't know how much winning it, means to the players, staff and myself. Doug recalled that back in the Coach Mac days, Ben attended practices with his old West Virginia coat on. The first time Doug saw that, he was thinking to himself a couple of bleep, bleep expletives. Then Ole Ben would take off the coat and throw it on the ground, revealing a Syracuse Orange shirt, much to the delight of everyone around.
After Friday's nationally televised contest the players took turns holding the trophy. There was quite a ruckus in that locker area, as you could well imagine.
Doug touched on recruiting, he said the move to the ACC didn't lose us one recruit. He said, in fact, we only have a spot or two left. He is really excited about the incoming class, he said it is a very, very good one. In his first two years, he recalled talking to some friends about getting their kids to come here. He got turned down and his pals would say, nah they are looking at Alabama, Penn State or some other such power. He reiterated that it was probably something that we couldn't understand, but face it, we weren't quite there as far as attractiveness goes. Then we show some progress with a 4-8 record but that didn't get us any of the elite recruits. Then the next year gets better, we become bowl eligible and win the Pin Stripe and now we are 8-5. Another step forward but still no top regarded player.
With games like Friday night's, where the place is almost filled and the fans are in a frenzy, the game is on national television and we pull off a huge upset, well that goes a long way in changing the perception of our program.
When Doug opened up the floor for questions, I got called on first. During the game I got to be rah, rah buddies with a group of eight guys, who, in part, were in town to celebrate the birthday of a fellow SU alum. I told them about Doug's Monday luncheons and how they should attend if they were still in Syracuse. One of the guys tweeted a friend about the game. The guy happened to be a room mate of HCDM's while playing for the NFL European League's, London Monarch's. Mike Renna is his name, he played for Delaware in college. He wanted me to say hello to Coach and to let him know he has been following his career and congratulated him for the win. (They were in each others wedding's) Coach got a kick out out that, he said you just don't realize all the people who are out there watching and being affected by what we do.
Go96 asked two questions, I will let him elaborate.
Other board members and tailgate friends in attendance were, Orange Extreme, SUTomCat, Carlos, Tom's buddy from work, OrangeOnions, All4SU, his queen, Diana and Black Knight. At our other table were the aforementioned GO96, DCCuse, his bride and Retro 44.
It was great seeing such a turnout of friends and fans.
Let's hope we can keep this momentum going and meet next Monday at the same bat place, same bat channel with big smiles.
Coach was a little later than usual, one can only imagine the demands on him from the press after a win like we had on Friday. As Black Knight mentioned, I brought in, what looked to be a scrumptious, Wegman's butter cream cake, half chocolate half white. On the cake was the image of the Ben Scwartzwalder Trophy. That cake made it's way back to the football offices where I believe the football staff and staffers consumed it.
Just before Doug came into the room, what should appear but the real McCoy, wow what an impressive piece of bronze. Just above the West Virginia logo stands Ben as a player in his Mountaineer Days. On the other side is the kneeling Ben, in coaching attire over the block S logo. In the middle is a vintage looking football. On either side there is an inscription one is under the University seal. Black Knight read both sides, maybe he will share with us, just what is inscribed? The wood looks like walnut. Many people got behind the trophy and had their pictures taken with it including several from syracusefan.com.
Coach came into the room and as is his custom, made it around the room and shook every hand.
Matt Park then opened the proceedings, as he always does, by announcing the Big East honors for the Orangemen. Dorian Graham was named special teams player of the week. Chandler Jones was the defensive player of the week and Ryan Nassib was named to the honor roll for what has to be a record sixth time(or is it seven?). Matt also noted that we would have a noon start against UConn.
Then Matt introduced the Head Coach of your 5 & 2 Syracuse University Orange, Doug Marrone.
Everyone rose to their feet and gave him a standing O.
Coach opened by mentioning that he might look gloomy but he isn't. When he hears the response he got he said it belongs to the players, not him. It is for their hard work in getting us to this point.
During his talk, he mentioned that at some point in the second half he looked up into the stands and thought, "I wish I could be up their watching this game with a cold beer in my hand." He later said with a Diet Pepsi. He mentioned that when he got home his family greeted him and his kids said, "It's about time dad!"
Doug said winning the trophy was a top priority for the players and staff. Marrone said you don't know how much winning it, means to the players, staff and myself. Doug recalled that back in the Coach Mac days, Ben attended practices with his old West Virginia coat on. The first time Doug saw that, he was thinking to himself a couple of bleep, bleep expletives. Then Ole Ben would take off the coat and throw it on the ground, revealing a Syracuse Orange shirt, much to the delight of everyone around.
After Friday's nationally televised contest the players took turns holding the trophy. There was quite a ruckus in that locker area, as you could well imagine.
Doug touched on recruiting, he said the move to the ACC didn't lose us one recruit. He said, in fact, we only have a spot or two left. He is really excited about the incoming class, he said it is a very, very good one. In his first two years, he recalled talking to some friends about getting their kids to come here. He got turned down and his pals would say, nah they are looking at Alabama, Penn State or some other such power. He reiterated that it was probably something that we couldn't understand, but face it, we weren't quite there as far as attractiveness goes. Then we show some progress with a 4-8 record but that didn't get us any of the elite recruits. Then the next year gets better, we become bowl eligible and win the Pin Stripe and now we are 8-5. Another step forward but still no top regarded player.
With games like Friday night's, where the place is almost filled and the fans are in a frenzy, the game is on national television and we pull off a huge upset, well that goes a long way in changing the perception of our program.
When Doug opened up the floor for questions, I got called on first. During the game I got to be rah, rah buddies with a group of eight guys, who, in part, were in town to celebrate the birthday of a fellow SU alum. I told them about Doug's Monday luncheons and how they should attend if they were still in Syracuse. One of the guys tweeted a friend about the game. The guy happened to be a room mate of HCDM's while playing for the NFL European League's, London Monarch's. Mike Renna is his name, he played for Delaware in college. He wanted me to say hello to Coach and to let him know he has been following his career and congratulated him for the win. (They were in each others wedding's) Coach got a kick out out that, he said you just don't realize all the people who are out there watching and being affected by what we do.
Go96 asked two questions, I will let him elaborate.
Other board members and tailgate friends in attendance were, Orange Extreme, SUTomCat, Carlos, Tom's buddy from work, OrangeOnions, All4SU, his queen, Diana and Black Knight. At our other table were the aforementioned GO96, DCCuse, his bride and Retro 44.
It was great seeing such a turnout of friends and fans.
Let's hope we can keep this momentum going and meet next Monday at the same bat place, same bat channel with big smiles.
