A Clockwork Orange
2022 Cali Winner (Overall Record)
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2011
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What I'm looking for is a little more nebulous. Sure I'd love an 8 win regular season, but what I always look for is forward momentum. I want to see this team continue to improve on the field throughout the season, and improve on what they did last season.
Beyond that, I want some magic. Every time I think about the plays or the games or the seasons that are my favorites in Syracuse football, I get a little chill that runs up my spine. I get goosebumps all over still, this many years later.
Since I'm younger than some, older than most here are some of those "magic" moments for me.
1) SU hosting Miami in 1992, Conley picking off Toretta's pass. The dome erupting -- and thinking to myself "my God, they might be able to do this!" One thing was true that day -- the players thought they could, and they almost did.
2) Oklahoma and Bryce Bevil. That come back, the dome getting louder and louder, the eruption of the crowd when Harrison scored. Yes, it was a let down, but what heart. That team didn't achieve much that year, but that game felt magical.
3) I mean, do I have to pick one from the McNabb years? Nothing fun happened then.
4) SU-Wisconsin Kickoff Classic. KJ taking it to the house, and Ron Dayne being dominated by our defense.
5) SU trashing Clemson in the Gator Bowl.
6) McNabb to Brominski. I had season tickets in section 319 I think. Right across the field from the end zone. I hugged grown men I did not know that day, and reveled in it. That whole game was amazing.
7) McNabb's senior day. Perhaps the loudest cheer I've ever heard in the dome, is when he left the game. I had chills then, and still do when I think about it. What a send off -- and it lasted a LONG TIME.
8)More recently, SU beating Louisville during the GRob era. I mean, who saw that coming? Turns out Louisville was awful that year, but man for one game, there was some magic in old Taj Smith's legs (and hands).
9) SU-Mizzou. Frankly, any game down the stretch that year. Just felt like with that offense, we wouldn't lose. That last drive, you could just see that SU decided "I guess there's only one thing left to do. Win the whole *cking thing." Awesome moment. By the end of that season, that team was a legit top 20 in the nation.
10) SU-BC last year. There was magic back in the dome! The crowd was going crazy, I believe it happened in the same end zone at the same spot as Owens 26 years before. I got chills there -- literally the season on the line, and one play to prove you belong. I think we'll look at that last drive as a turning point for this program in the future.
Anyways -- all these moments had magic in them, a game, a moment, a season that felt pre-ordained. They all built excitement in the fan base. Can we have that this year? Can we have a game in the dome that no one expects us to win that we hang on, and hang on, and battle toe to toe with a superior opponent? Maybe not -- but stranger things have happened under the bubble. Here's to 2014, may the crowds come back, and may the team play some games that will go down in the annals of Syracuse football history!
LET'S GO ORANGE!
Beyond that, I want some magic. Every time I think about the plays or the games or the seasons that are my favorites in Syracuse football, I get a little chill that runs up my spine. I get goosebumps all over still, this many years later.
Since I'm younger than some, older than most here are some of those "magic" moments for me.
1) SU hosting Miami in 1992, Conley picking off Toretta's pass. The dome erupting -- and thinking to myself "my God, they might be able to do this!" One thing was true that day -- the players thought they could, and they almost did.
2) Oklahoma and Bryce Bevil. That come back, the dome getting louder and louder, the eruption of the crowd when Harrison scored. Yes, it was a let down, but what heart. That team didn't achieve much that year, but that game felt magical.
3) I mean, do I have to pick one from the McNabb years? Nothing fun happened then.
4) SU-Wisconsin Kickoff Classic. KJ taking it to the house, and Ron Dayne being dominated by our defense.
5) SU trashing Clemson in the Gator Bowl.
6) McNabb to Brominski. I had season tickets in section 319 I think. Right across the field from the end zone. I hugged grown men I did not know that day, and reveled in it. That whole game was amazing.
7) McNabb's senior day. Perhaps the loudest cheer I've ever heard in the dome, is when he left the game. I had chills then, and still do when I think about it. What a send off -- and it lasted a LONG TIME.
8)More recently, SU beating Louisville during the GRob era. I mean, who saw that coming? Turns out Louisville was awful that year, but man for one game, there was some magic in old Taj Smith's legs (and hands).
9) SU-Mizzou. Frankly, any game down the stretch that year. Just felt like with that offense, we wouldn't lose. That last drive, you could just see that SU decided "I guess there's only one thing left to do. Win the whole *cking thing." Awesome moment. By the end of that season, that team was a legit top 20 in the nation.
10) SU-BC last year. There was magic back in the dome! The crowd was going crazy, I believe it happened in the same end zone at the same spot as Owens 26 years before. I got chills there -- literally the season on the line, and one play to prove you belong. I think we'll look at that last drive as a turning point for this program in the future.
Anyways -- all these moments had magic in them, a game, a moment, a season that felt pre-ordained. They all built excitement in the fan base. Can we have that this year? Can we have a game in the dome that no one expects us to win that we hang on, and hang on, and battle toe to toe with a superior opponent? Maybe not -- but stranger things have happened under the bubble. Here's to 2014, may the crowds come back, and may the team play some games that will go down in the annals of Syracuse football history!
LET'S GO ORANGE!
