With Joe Namath like bravado, Dino Babers following a 42-14 beatdown to the Boston College Eagles to end the 2017 season casually said that 2018 would be a year that people would be talking about for a long time.
That was bold to say the least. At the time Dino Babers had his second straight 4-8 season and the fourth straight season that the Orange would not go bowling. Why put that pressure on himself to deliver or else?
If Syracuse had another ho-hum 4-8 season, many would’ve called for Dino’s head, but instead he delivers on that 2017 guarantee with several accolades for the trophy case after a 42-21 beatdown of the Eagles in the regular season finale:
- Syracuse has clinched a nine win season for the first time since 2001 (team finished 10-3 under Paul Pasqualoni)
- The Orange are bowling for the first time since 2013
- Syracuse was ranked this season for the first time since 2001
There’s no other way to put it, Babers simply delivered and some for Syracuse.