Staff

The 2010 season certainly had its memorable moments, ranging from the good, to bad, to the ugly.  Before the season even began Syracuse fans had to deal with the Delone Carter Snowball Incident, which lead to his eventually reinstatement.  Then Syracuse went out and won on opening day, their first time doing that since 2003.  Big wins throughout the season ensued, including at South Florida, West Virginia, Rutgers and eventually at Yankee Stadium against Kansas State.  And although ‘Cuse fans rather forget, it’s hard not to recall the Carrier Dome debacles against Pittsburgh, Connecticut and Boston College.  It was a season of ups and downs – lot’s of ins, outs and what-have-you’s – but as we look back, we ask, what was the most memorable moment of 2010?

—

Steve Schaefer, Otto’s Army

Ross Krautman’s game-winning kick against Rutgers to make the Orange bowl-eligible. I was in the stands and what a thrill it was when the team ran over to the Syracuse section post-game to sing the alma mater with their jubilant fans. (Unfortunately, for everyone else in America the answer to this question is the absurd excessive celebration penalty called against Kansas State in the Pinstripe Bowl.)

—

Tom Sullivan, Otto’s Army

In a season filled with memorable moments and achievements that were long overdue, I’d say waking up at 6am in Waikiki Beach to watch the Orange dismantle Cincinnati has to rank up at the top for me. Getting up for a Saturday noon kickoff is hard enough here on the east coast, but when you’re 6,000 miles away in paradise it’s called dedication. Not much compares to watching Delone Carter and Antwon Bailey run all over one of the Big East pre-season favorites as the sun slowly creeps its way over Diamond Head and on to one of the greatest tourist areas known to man. If only I had never come back maybe that ugly November wouldn’t have happened for the Orange.

—

Euclid 419er, Otto’s Army

SU defeats West Virginia as I defeat a Potbelly’s meatball sub

The fall was a busy time for me.  My job had me dispatched to the great state of Wisconsin for several weeks and I was working long hours and seven days a week.  Unfortunately, watching Syracuse football was a casualty. So there I was, October 23at a Potbelly’s in Wauwatosa.  Blackberry in one hand, meatball sub in the other.  I was able to watch some of the first half but was on the move as Syracuse closed in on a seminal victory.  My instincts, having been heavily influenced by the previous decade, told me that somehow, someway, Syracuse would find a way to lose.  So I was beyond surprised that with every auto-refresh, the time shrank but our lead did not.  And then, the final auto-refresh loaded.  The blue “requesting” bar lengthened.  And the screen went still.  The score read 19-14.  Beneath it, the word “Final.”  That’s a spicy meatball.

—

Dave Cooperman, Otto’s Army

What do you get when you cross your most hated rival, arrogant fans dressed in scarlet, bowl eligibility on the line, the Ambassador Derrick Coleman in the house and a clutch game winning field goal from a true freshman?  Syracuse 13 – Rutgers 10 and what was better than the single victory was the Rutgers fans walking back to the lot feeling like their window had closed.  It wasn’t pretty but Syracuse was back and they knew it. 

Order had been restored. 

—

Tim Schlittner, Otto’s Army

I’d have to say the most memorable moment was the Pinstripe Bowl victory. 28 seconds into the game Kansas State’s Daniel Thomas broke off a 51-yard touchdown run and there was a collective feeling from everyone in attendance, including members of Otto’s Army, that we were about to see a disaster unfold. But that all changed when later in the first quarter Ryan Nassib took a pitch back from Antwon Bailey and delivered a 52-yard touchdown strike to Marcus Sales, the best throw of his young career. The shootout was on.

After a combined 370 yards and 5 touchdowns from Sales and Pinstripe Bowl MVP Delone Carter, Syracuse had its first postseason win in 9 years. Head coach Doug Marrone said after: “We’ve won a lot of battles off the field. Now we’re starting to win them on the field.”

Amen. 

—

2010 Football Recap

Offensive MVP

Defensive MVP

Most Improved

Most Disappointing Player

Most Memorable Game