As usual, I am late to the party the cool kids are throwing, but the cool kids usually are OK to me and let me hang out.
Born in 1970 in the center of the state- Norwich, NY (Get bent, Oneonta. Except you, Hoov). Played at the same YMCA that Mr. Lew Andreas used to run, know or knew most of the members of the Manley family, and have been aware of the Orange since the cradle. Lots of people had seasons to both sports, or made the trip to games. Many influential doctors, lawyers, etc, in the area are/were SU alums. In my middle school, one of the best teachers there (or that I ever had) was a proud Villanova alum who didn't even pretend to teach during BET week, and students often found their way to his room if SU was on. We railed against King Rice, the rival from the big city of Binghamton, for picking UNC over the Orange, but following Pearl and Sherm was apparently too much for King. The Lee brothers and so many other SU basketball and football players of the 40s, 50s, and 60s were very much a part of local lore and legend in the 1980s Norwich sports, especially the local guys who were such a part of the programs of that era.
Cried like Marsh(?) did, all night long, after the Keith Smart jumper. Got into SU for the fall of 1988, but there was no financial aid left and little room at the inn; friends told me of being tripled and quadrupled in two person rooms. Went to college in Western NY and never regretted it, except for almost everything stemming from the arrival on campus of PeteCalvin one year later. On campus, almost everyone was an SU fan and before the 'net and TV in rooms, every televised game was a party in the dorm lounges.
Unsuccessfully lobbied to name my firstborn either Boeheim or James Boeheim but ended up with the even more awesome Jack that some of you have met at Fine Mess tailgates. I just was always a fan of/looked up to JB, the CNY fella made good. Faithfully read the Herald-American every Sunday (the only day we got it in our town) to keep up as much as I could with the beloved Orange. To this day, my son and I- and both my dad and my most excellent father in law- bond over SU sports.
Never had seasons for hoops, but gladly pay to use tix that otherwise would go unused. Hope to take my wife to a game this season, but demand is outpacing supply. Have had some good times at SU with my son. Hope to make the BET this spring but probably won't. Ugh.
Thanks to CTO for the founding of this board and being both the straw that stirred this concoction and the glue that for so long held it together!