By Tim Schlittner

Happy Independence Day Everyone! For many of us, 4^th of July weekend marks the countdown to football season. It’s been nearly nine years since Syracuse defeated Kansas State in the Insight.com Bowl, their last postseason victory. Since then, misery has ensued. In the 8 seasons that followed, Syracuse has gone 30-64. Their only bowl appearance in 2004 resulted in a 51-14 drubbing at the hands of Georgia Tech. During this period Syracuse has lost games by scores of 51-0, 49-7, 51-7, 35-0, and 55-13. They’ve lost to Temple twice, Miami of Ohio, and Akron. But since July 4 is supposed to be about celebration and optimism, I decided to highlight the four best wins in this truly putrid stretch. The task was easier said than done. Enjoy.

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4. November 27, 2004 @Boston College W 43-17

Anyone remember this performance? It is actually the last time Syracuse football won a really big game. The Orangemen stumbled to Chesnut Hill after being humiliated by Temple two weeks prior in the Walter Washington game. Waiting there was Matt Ryan and Boston College who were playing for the outright Big East title and a BCS bowl birth. Syracuse amazingly still had their own share of the Big East crown and bowl eligibility in its sights. Almost everyone thought this would be Paul Pasqualoni’s final game. Yet not only did the Orangemen win, they won big. On the first play from scrimmage, Damien Rhodes broke a 69-yard touchdown run. But the story of the game was safety Diamond Ferri who played time at running back in place of perennially injured Walter Reyes. This ironman scored three touchdowns: runs of 7 and 4 yards and an interception return of 44. “If they want to leave the conference, we wanted to send them out with a loss,” Ferri said of BC’s pending departure to the ACC. The Syracuse-BC rivalry will be renewed this fall at the Carrier Dome, the first in a 10-game series. 

Momentum Ended When: Syracuse was embarrassed by Georgia Tech 51-14 in the Champs Sports Bowl.

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3. December 6, 2003 Notre Dame W 38-12 and  November 22, 2008 @Notre Dame W 24-23

It’s pretty amazing that of the 30 wins Syracuse has racked up in the last 8 years, two have come against Notre Dame. The first game at the Carrier Dome in 2003 was an important one, with Syracuse needing a victory to become bowl eligible. Riding the back of Walter Reyes (189 yards rushing and 5 TD’s), Syracuse clobbered the beleaguered Irish 38-12. The win followed a week of speculation about Paul Pasqualoni’s job security after an embarrassing (at the time) 24-7 loss to Rutgers the week prior. But it was Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham who ended up getting the ax as a result of this game.

In the 2008 game, a coach’s fate had already been decided before the teams took the field. Days before Syracuse traveled to South Bend, Greg Robinson was informed that he would be fired after 4 disastrous seasons at the helm. The Syracuse team—perhaps as a tribute to their coach—played with tremendous heart against the Irish. They battled back from a 23-10 deficit and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to win the game. Take a second to watch some raw footage of Notre Dame’s unsuccessful field goal as time expired. Syracuse celebrates like they won a bowl game. I have to admit I did a fist pump myself. 

Momentum Ended When: 2003 Syracuse was not invited to a bowl game & 2008 Syracuse lost the season finale in Cincinnati 30-10.

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2. September 22, 2007 @Louisville W 38-35

This is 100 percent, without a doubt, the best Syracuse ever looked in the Greg Robinson era. Syracuse’s first play from scrimmage was a 79 yard touchdown pass from Andrew Robinson to Taj Smith. Robinson, who never found consistency in the program, finished the day with 423 yards passing, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. Smith caught 4 balls for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wide receivers Mike Williams and Da’Mon Merkerson (yes the guy who later switched to defense) had scores as well. Syracuse, who came into the game 36 ½ points underdogs and built a lead as large as 17, almost blew it late. But they recovered a final onsides kick attempt to preserve victory.

Momentum Ended When: Syracuse lost the following week to Miami of Ohio.

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1. November 9, 2002 Virginia Tech W 50-42 (3 OT)

This amazing victory came during a stinker of a season. But it was easily one of the greatest sporting events I have ever attended.  The 8-1 Hokies entered with expectations of rolling past the 3-6 Orangemen. But a raucous Carrier Dome crowd filled with students and their parents had a different idea. This was a day where Troy Nunes was an absolute magician. He threw for a career high 403 yards. Syracuse trailed 14-3 right off the bat and was a 4^th and goal from the 6 away from losing the game in the second overtime. But Nunes found tight end Joe Donnely in back of the end zone to force a third extra session. Freshman Damien Rhodes scored on a 25-yard run and ran for the 2-point conversion in the decisive third overtime. After a Syracuse picked off Virginia Tech’s last hurrah to seal the win, I jumped over the railing and ran onto the field. Out there, around the 45 yard line, I embraced with fellow Otto’s Army columnist Dave Cooperman. Who would have known how bad things would get for Syracuse football from there on out.  

Momentum Ended When: Syracuse lost in Boston College the following week 41-20, clinching their first losing season since 1986.