It has been one of the most talked about topics of the summer. Dino Babers is leading Syracuse football into a new era and has brought some much needed optimism to Orange fans. He has been able to do this without winning a game. He is doing it with his words and his attitude.
It all started with the press conference where he was introduced, by then Athletic Director Mark Coyle, as the new coach of Syracuse Football. He talked about running the fastest show on turf and filling the Dome with capacity crowds on a regular basis. He is not, however, taking anything for granted and wants the same from his players.
Babers has been trying to light a fire in the bellies of his players as training camp has opened ahead of the 2016 season. He gave a particularly fiery speech on Friday morning. It was a speech that can be defined with many labels. Inspiring, brash, not safe for work, authoritative.
In the speech, he stressed the importance of working through both practices of the “Two-A-Days”. He suggested that other teams work as hard as they can in one practice and then the coaches and players both “cruise” through the second. He was quite clear that there would be no cruising through any of his practices.
“I need you guys to go today. I need you guys to G-O go today,” Babers said in his best impression of a military drill sergeant. “No freakin’ egos. Drop it and G-O.”
Babers continued in similar fashion for over five minutes. It was clear that they would be no wasted time and that it is not a given that this new system will work. The team will have to work at it to get where they need and want to be. One thing is certain. Syracuse has found a coach who has said all of the right things and has injected confidence and passion back into a deplete program.
Posted: Logan Grossman
