The Daily Orange Sports staff has always worked to keep you up-do-date on the latest Syracuse sports news, and last fall was no different. We’ve covered how SU teams handled the #NotAgainSU protests, recruiting in several sports and ongoing efforts to change the way the NCAA defines amateurism. 

Here is a list of the 10 most newsworthy sports stories of fall 2019: 

Elizabeth Billman | Asst. Photo Editor

Syracuse men’s basketball makes statement with #NotAgainSu warm-ups

As protests continued following a string of race and bias-related incidents on and around campus, the men’s basketball team decided they wouldn’t stay on the sidelines. The team did this as Otto’s Army, Syracuse’s official student section organization, decided to boycott the game, urging students to go to The Barnes Center at the Arch instead.

Throughout the protest, Syracuse athletes used their platforms to address the hate in the community. Their warm-up shirts are just one high-profile example. 

Max Freund | Staff Photographer

Syracuse fires defensive coordinator Brian Ward

A day after the Orange allowed 496 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, three passing touchdowns and 58 total points to a Boston College team that would finish just 6-6, head coach Dino Babers decided it was time for change. The casualty was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brian Ward. Ward’s third season with Syracuse was cut three games short amidst a disappointing 3-6 season.

“I felt a change needed to be made at this time to give us the best opportunity for success moving forward,” Babers said following Ward’s firing.

Max Freund | Staff Photographer

Syracuse has lowest scoring game in 74 years against No. 11 Virginia

The optimism of a new season. The excitement of hosting the reigning national champions.

Any positive energy that surrounded the 2019 edition of Syracuse men’s basketball, at least on the offensive end, was quickly smothered by the Virginia defense when the then-No. 11 Cavaliers opened the season at the Dome. In the season-opening Syracuse loss, the Orange shot 26.3% from the field on their way to the lowest scoring Syracuse performance in 74 years.

Elizabeth Billman | Asst. Photo Editor

Syracuse advances to 2nd round of NCAA tournament with 3-2 comeback win over Rhode Island

In a fall semester that saw early tournament exits for many of SU’s sports teams, and failure to qualify for many others, men’s soccer overcame an early deficit to win their first round NCAA tournament matchup against Rhode Island.

After the Orange were awarded a penalty kick in the 86th minute, Ryan Raposo — who had paced Syracuse offense all season with 15 goals — stepped to the dot. His shot into the bottom left corner of the net gave the Orange the 3-2 lead that would take them to the second round.

Max Freund | Staff Photographer

Sen. Kevin S. Parker explains new proposal to pay college athletes

Paying college athletes is one of the biggest topics in sports right now. Before the NCAA unanimously decided to move forward with allowing athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness, a wave of progressive legislation on the topic spread through several states, including New York.

State Senator Kevin S. Parker (D-NY) wrote a bill that would equally compensate all college athletes in the state based on an annual revenue sharing model. Parker explained his proposal to The Daily Orange.

Corey Henry | Photo Editor

Jim Boeheim clarifies earlier statement, answers questions at Barnes Center sit-in

Before the men’s basketball team decided to wear #NotAgainSU warm-up shirts, showing solidarity with the student-led protests, head coach Jim Boeheim addressed the ongoing situation and sided with Chancellor Kent Syverud, which didn’t sit well with protestors. 

“I need to know what I said,” Boeheim told the crowd at the Barnes Center. “I don’t understand what I said.”

Boeheim would clear up his statement to protestors at The Barnes Center at the Arch. The students refused his offering of pizza and largely dismissed his retraction.

Max Freund | Staff Photographer

4-star combo guard Kadary Richmond commits to Syracuse

Syracuse’s 2020 recruiting class expanded to two when four-star combo guard Kadary Richmond committed to the Orange on Oct. 28. SU offered Richmond three days after missing out on guard Andre Jackson — who committed to Connecticut — and added him to an incoming freshman group that already included Woody Newton.

Richmond chose the Orange over Cincinnati, Florida State, UConn and Georgetown, and currently attends Brewster Academy in New Hampshire.

Daily Orange File Photo

10 things to know about the Carrier Dome renovations

Throughout the fall semester, construction on Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome continued, with most changes set to be in place by fall 2020. From the iconic bubble roof’s end to a new scoreboard installation, the timeline will affect both SU lacrosse teams in the spring. An 1,100-ton crane and an 800-ton crane were also added for construction usage.

“What it’s going to be when it’s renovated is the best building between New York and Toronto,” Director of Athletics John Wildhack said in April.

Josh Schafer | Senior Staff Writer

Hugh Freeze coaches from hospital bed, holds virtual press conference after 24-0 loss to Syracuse

Syracuse football’s season-opener against Liberty made national news when Flames head coach Hugh Freeze coached his team from a hospital bed, still recovering from a near-fatal staph infection. Freeze called first and second down plays, and even conducted a postgame press conference from his bed through a TV screen.

“It felt different,” Freeze said through the television screen. “It’s odd that I’m not down there to talk to officials and calling timeouts when we need to.”

Corey Henry | Photo Editor

Syracuse women’s basketball lands 5-star recruit Kamilla Cardoso

On Nov. 7 , via an instagram post, Kamilla Cardoso announced she would be joining head coach Quentin Hillsman’s impressive 2020 recruiting class.

Cardoso was EspnW’s No. 1 post player and No. 5 overall recruit, joining two other top-100 Syracuse recruits in Priscilla Williams and Faith Blackstone.

“I’m happy to announce I’ve found my home at Syracuse University,” Cardoso’s Instagram post read.

Published on December 23, 2019 at 9:13 am