I think I know why I enjoy college football so much. In high school I was a mediocre athlete and not a very aggressive guy. But as a linebacker I came to love the violence of football and marveled at how I could hit someone as hard as I wanted and not get into trouble.

My football career was a short four years of high school, and I readily transitioned to being a spectator. As a freshman at the University of Wyoming, I followed the Cowboys as they went to the Sugar Bowl, and I loyally sang the school fight song “Cowboy Joe” at the top of my lungs. (Fast forward 50 years and I love following Wyoming alum Josh Allen lead the Buffalo Bills.) I’ve been following Syracuse football since 1961, when Ernie Davis won the Heisman Trophy. I attended my first S.U. game in the then-brand-new Carrier Dome in 1980. It was a dreadfully boring game that Navy won 6-3. But I was hooked, and from that point on I attended about one game a year until Saranac Lake’s Cy Ellsworth captained the team, and went to the Gator Bowl. That year I got season tickets for my son Dustin and I.

From the mid-’80s to the turn of the century, being a Syracuse football fan was fun, but for the last 20 years it’s akin to being a Mets fan in the early ’60s. Since 1999 and the graduation of quarterback Donovan McNabb, Syracuse has struggled — and that’s putting it mildly. With the exception of a season here or there, they’ve been lucky to win half their games. With each of the five coaching changes since then, they hoped for success, but instead found mediocrity.

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Phyliss poses with Syracuse mascot “Otto.” (Provided photo — Jack Drury)

The Game …

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Syracuse was a 12-point underdog, and before we got our seats warm, they were behind 21-0. Phyliss and I were beginning to second-guess going there. Was it worth driving through the season’s first snowstorm if Syracuse was just going to get blown out? But the Orange fought their way back, and by halftime they were only a touchdown behind. Things were looking up.

After halftime they came roaring out and tied the game on their first drive. The 40,000 orange-clad fans roared their approval. Phyliss and I were standing, screaming and sharing high fives.

It was loud but not as loud as when Syracuse got the ball back and scored the go-ahead touchdown. The crowd roared, cheers erupted like waves, every run, pass and first down sparked a surge of exhilaration. The noise was like a heavy metal band accompanied by jackhammers, power saws and a couple of jet engines. We were jumping up and down, hugging those around us.

The drive to Syracuse through the season’s first snowstorm. (Provided photo — Jack Drury)

When the last seconds ticked away Syracuse won 42-38, beating a top 10 team and finishing the regular season with a 9-3 record. The players leaped with joy as thousands of passionate fans rushed the field. The Syracuse fans stayed and shared the jubilation. Only the Miami fans left the stadium … downtrodden, dispirited and despondent.

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…and the coach

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When 18th century English poet Alexander Pope said, “Hope springs eternal” he must have been referring to Syracuse football, and this season was a perfect example. New coach Fran Brown was hired, and although he had no previous head coaching experience, he is considered one of the best recruiters in the country.

He seemed to have the right “coach speak” and said all the right things. To get his message across he uses an acronym: DART which stands for Detailed, Accountable, Relentless and Tough. He talked of the importance of not only creating great football players but also about creating great young men. Would he?

I was skeptical. I’d seen too many coaches who gave it lip service but didn’t really believe in it. Coaches who talked the talk, but never walked the walk. Would Fran Brown be different? Would it work with today’s young men? It seems to. He’s benched players for not putting forth enough effort and started second stringers because the first stringer was late to class. It’s stuff you don’t see much anymore.

He seems to be a blend of old school toughness with the ability to get young men to buy into the difficult work necessary to find success.

Only time will tell if Coach Brown can consistently walk the walk and prove that molding fine young men is as important as winning football games. And I’m beginning to believe he can.