PS: Craig Forth follows path from Syracuse basketball to his one true love - education

[OrangeXtreme]

Mechanicville, N.Y. — Rumors preceded the new assistant principal's arrival. Some heard he was a former college basketball player. Others were aware that he was exceptionally tall. But nobody knew much more than a rudimentary outline of the man who convinced the district's superintendent that he could transition from teaching first graders to administering a school of hormonal junior high schoolers.

And then Craig Forth arrived at Mechanicville Junior/Senior High School. On the first day of classes, he stationed himself in a primary hallway and as children poured into the building, he offered his hand for high fives. Within weeks, he knew everybody's name. He learned which kid played which instrument. He knew which sports each child played.

"It was a pleasant surprise," said social studies teacher Dallas Foard, "because here is this tall, looming, intimidating figure, and he's got this huge smile for every kid."

"And a heart bigger than that," said English teacher Paul Moffitt...

Craig Forth follows path from Syracuse basketball to his one true love - education (Ditota)

 

[Deano]

That's a great article and must read!

 

[RandygoCuse]

Future Athletic Director perhaps?

 

[KaiserUEO]

51 is the MAN.

 

[OrangeDW]

Great article. Great for Forth.

My favorite bball memory of him was when he outplayed Emeka Okafor and we beat UConn in the 2004 season where they ended up winning it all.

 

[SU94]

This "kid" is such a feather in SU's cap.

 

[DeGrozz]

LEGEND!

 

[sutomcat]

He knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life even when he was a freshman at Syracuse.

And he is doing it.

Pretty impressive stuff...

 

[Eric15]

I know I've said this before, but there has never been a player who took more unnecessary verbal abuse from SU fans than him.

 

[realorange]

I know I've said this before, but there has never been a player who took more unnecessary verbal abuse from SU fans than him.

It was mostly from posters who understood little to nothing about what Craig brought to the game.

 

[Eric15]

It was mostly from posters who understood little to nothing about what Craig brought to the game.

And you could tell it really affected Forth's psyche. During the post-championship celebration in the Dome, he said something along the lines of: "I guess I picked the right time to finally have a good game."

 

[KaiserUEO]

It was mostly from posters who understood little to nothing about what Craig brought to the game.

a couple of 'posters' almost had their lives ended by me a few times at the Garden then.

idiots.

good thing my lawyer, max fisher, was there to advise me otherwise...

 

[Eric15]

My favorite bball memory of him was when he outplayed Emeka Okafor and we beat UConn in the 2004 season where they ended up winning it all.

What an incredible day in the Dome that was. That season had started to falter a little bit and there was slight paranoia of being on the bubble, and then we won our last five games including GMac's buzzer beater vs. GT, winning at #2 Pitt and then capping it off on Senior Day by beating one of the better teams in NCAA history in UConn.

Another special moment from that day: Jeremy McNeil was embarrassed that he didn't have any family to escort him on Senior Day (his mother died the season before), so the entire SU team walked him out and the Dome went nuts.

 

[orangetom]

He knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life even when he was a freshman at Syracuse.

And he is doing it.

Pretty impressive stuff...

My great nephew just graduated from that high school. I attended most of his basketball games and Craig was often there chaparoning. His great rapport with both students and parents was obvious. I also attended several academic functions for my nephew and Craig was always there (as assistant HS principle). He always acted as co-Master of Ceremony and was always impressive. The last one was the Senior Awards ceremony the week of graduation. He said an emotional goodbye to the high school students even though he was only moving to a different wing (JR High wing) of the school. His passion for what he is doing is very obvious. Mechanicville is extremely lucky to have him.

 

[NateW]

Another special moment from that day: Jeremy McNeil was embarrassed that he didn't have any family to escort him on Senior Day (his mother died the season before), so the entire SU team walked him out and the Dome went nuts.

To this day - that's the most inspiring thing I've seen at the Dome. And I've seen some pretty damn cool things go down in that building.

When you re-watch the '03 title game, you can see that Jeremy's efforts of protecting the rim and rebounding in the first half were invaluable. He was a big reason why we got that big lead and eventually won.

 

[NateW]

Craig is the toughest S.O.B. I've seen in an Orange uniform (didn't see DC.) Craig did all the dirty work. It was never pretty, which is why a lot of people harped on him, but he just got the job done.

 

[OrangeDW]

To this day - that's the most inspiring thing I've seen at the Dome. And I've seen some pretty damn cool things go down in that building.

When you re-watch the '03 title game, you can see that Jeremy's efforts of protecting the rim and rebounding in the first half were invaluable. He was a big reason why we got that big lead and eventually won.

Yup. And without him protecting the rim in the back of the press, we probably lose to Ok. State in round 2.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

I know I've said this before, but there has never been a player who took more unnecessary verbal abuse from SU fans than him.

Long story short. I was attending a game, and a guy had been yelling at Forth. Of course nothing the guy said made any sense if you actually understood the game. At one point, he was screaming at Forth for 2-3 minutes consecutively when I turned around and loudly told him how stupid he was, because Forth had been on the bench for the last 5 minutes.
Didn't hear from the guy again.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

I've worked with Craig professionally. He is extremely pleasant and personable - very student-centered. No ego. I have little doubt he will be a great success as an administrator.

As a college basketball player he was pretty marginal at best (and was too harshly criticized).

 

[kirbivore]

Long story short. I was attending a game, and a guy had been yelling at Forth. Of course nothing the guy said made any sense if you actually understood the game. At one point, he was screaming at Forth for 2-3 minutes consecutively when I turned around and loudly told him how stupid he was, because Forth had been on the bench for the last 5 minutes.
Didn't hear from the guy again.

There was an account of a fan yelling "play like a man" then entire game at Forth. Probably the same guy.