For the minuscule portion of the 40,833 -- actually, it looked more like 15,833 -- Syracuse University fans who stayed in their seats Thursday night, after kicker Jimmy Newman nailed his third field goal of the game and helped the Wake Forest Demon Deacons take a sizeable, 15-point, fourth-quarter margin (29-14) with 11:03 remaining, and would like to say something to those negative Nancys that exited the Carrier Dome early. I have a solution: Me.
I am your voice this Friday morning, and I am here to tell those so-called SU faithful: "Shame on you, dude, because you missed it!"
We, and I am saying this as a representative of those that are keyboardless, understand that many Orange fans -- those fans are probably the same ones that forgot to show up Thursday night at the Carrier Dome for the season/home opener -- wouldn't blame you, because it has been the norm for the Syracuse football program to not live up to, or any, of its expectations in the last decade. And, that seemed to be the story Thursday as SU played three quarters of dreadful football and seemed to be on their way to a disappointing loss to a Wake Forest team that finished 3-9 last season. But, dude, if you hung around for a bit then you would have witnessed some crazy things. Things that not even the Area-51 scientists could explain.
For starters, you would have seen a fullback, senior Adam Harris, catch a TD pass! Then, with SU still trailing, 29-21, with about eight minutes to play in the game, the defense actually did its job (yes, this is true) and held the opponent to just three plays -- I think, we used to call that a "three-and-out".
After that, just seven plays later, you would have seen a SU running back, senior Antwon Bailey, able to outrun, and break away from, defensive lineman, linebackers and defensive backs for a 53-yard rushing TD, which closed the gap to just two points, 29-27, with 7:07 to go!
Then, when everything was on the line, a SU wide receiver, senior Van Chew, actually made a remarkable catch in the corner of the opponent's end zone to not only tie the game in regulation, but just a few minutes later do the same thing and help the Orange win a game in overtime!
Of course, you missed it because you left when things looked over. You missed the Carrier Dome faithful smelling blood in the fourth-quarter waters and being so loud -- which was impressive because the place was only half full -- that you couldn't hear your neighbor. And, after the Demon Deacons only overtime possession failed to make it into the end zone, you missed the players and coaches storming the field and staying an extra 15 minutes to celebrate.
Just think, all you got to see was SU compiling just 52 yards of total offense and 56 yards of penalties in the first half. Ouch, bro.
Yeah, it was ugly for awhile, but, dude, you should have stayed, because you missed one heck of a show
The Syracuse football schedule features the Orange hosting Rhode Island at the Carrier Dome next Saturday (4:30 p.m.). The following week SU travels to the west coast to take on the USC Trojans (8 p.m. on FX).
SB Nation New York blogged live from the Carrier Dome during Thursday night’s home opener against Wake Forest and plans to do so all football season. Check back to SBNY for post-game reactions and the most up-to-date news on the Orange. Also, follow along on Twitter at SBNationNY and Jared_E_Smith.