Two seats, six home games, who knows how many victories?
I read the text from my dear wife Karen as I sat on the short wall in little Perseverance Park a block from work at lunchtime Friday afternoon in downtown Syracuse. She told me I’d gotten three good things in the mail.
Film blogger paycheck from the Syracuse New Times I immediately texted back. Correct. Biometric form from the doctor I needed to complete her work health insurance plan requirements was guess No. 2, but she’d already returned to work, and then so did I.
When I met her at the SMG front doorway for our Friday release walk to the parking garage, she told me she was surprised I hadn’t gotten good thing No. 3.
We now have our Syracuse Orange season football tickets in hand, stacked in the annual book that holds no end of mystery. Well, six games’ worth, anyway. I saw in a Post-Standard story this week that Coach Scott Shafer says he expects at least eight wins out of this team in its second season competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Tough road. That would one-up last year’s debut campaign, when the Orange went 4-4 in the ACC, then beat Minnesota of the Big Ten in the Texas Bowl to finish 7-6 overall.
The season is knock-knock-knocking. We’ll rush home from work on Aug. 29 to start Labor Day Weekend by getting to the Carrier Dome for a 7:30 p.m. opener vs. Villanova, a next-level-down foe that’s good in that division but not exactly causing great amount of excitement around here.
Of course I’ve got Sept. 20 circled in bright red, one of the many colors of my alma mater Maryland Terrapins, starting their first season out of the ACC and into the Big Ten. I will be wearing neutral colors and rooting for my old school in my heart for this non-conference battle. We covered this pretty thoroughly before last year’s ACC game down in College Park, which Syracuse won.
Of course everybody’s got Oct. 11 circled in bright orange. Syracuse hosts defending national champion Florida State, with Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston expected to return at quarterback, if he maneuvers the front end of the season unscathed. The Seminoles can rack up touchdowns, but the Carrier Dome will be filled with fans hoping for something mighty unexpected to happen.
Other home games are Sept. 13, another non-leaguer, against Central Michigan, and then ACC contests against new member (and former Big East rival) Louisville on what’s sure to be a steamy Friday night of Oct. 3 (what with no air conditioning in the Carrier Dome), Nov. 1 vs. North Carolina State, and Nov. 8 vs. Duke.
I’m not wishing away these three weeks in between. Time’s far too precious, always.
But, yes, this season ticket book was a good thing to get in the mail on an early August Friday.
Hey, do you like that tiny Orange football helmet I used to dress up the photo? That’s the way the helmets used to look a bit ago. School officials gave them away at the door one game, I believe during the first year of Doug Marrone’s coaching regime, which also was the first year of Karen and I’s season-ticket holding plan. We’ve upgraded our seats once since then, and SU has changed helmets several times. My little souvenir used to sit on my desk back at the big daily, and now adorns my dresser at home.
What are you looking forward to the most come the end of August, and why? Your alma mater plays the school in the city where you now live, so who do you root for, and why? What’s the last great piece of mail you received, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
As you know, I don’t have much to say on the subject of sports, except I LOVE your tiny orange helmet! 😀 AND I love getting good mail! 😀
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In this digital age, mail still rocks, Rachel. You can hold it in your hand and stick it in the drawer to pull out years later.
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Yes, it does! And especially when the mail is not a bill! 😀
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I’m looking forward to my trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, where — I believe — football has a whole different meaning. I would like to receive a “How To” book about Parking, because I often find that a challenge in the Boston area. Thank goodness, I will not have a car on my overseas trip.
Does this comment answer any of your questions, Mark?
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I am also looking forward to your trip to the Fringe Fest, Ann, because then I can feel like I am there, too. How selfish of me to feel that way, sort of.
My few trips to Boston have fortunately let me park in a garage across from the Royal Caribbean International terminal, but the few streets traveled off the highway to get there gave me a glimpse of what you mean. Yikes!
I would have a bit of a dread about driving over there, too, never mind parking, Ann. The other-side-of-the-road-thing. I would fear I’d forget.
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Me too, Mark. Thanks for not forgetting all you remembered here.
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The last thing I bought before we left Syracuse in July was a S.U. short-sleeve navy shirt. So, wherever I am, that’s who I will root for.
You got some wonderful surprises in the mail, Mark. I got what I thought was something wonderful – two airline tickets to anywhere. Turns out it was a scam. The airline name was not correct. Dave spotted something else on the letterhead that also looked out of whack. Ah well! 😉
What do I look forward to at the end of August? Smooth sailing till Thanksgiving. (That takes in most of the hurricane season which I would like to see bypass us again this year. We’ve been more than fortunate for quite a few years now.)
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Root root root for your orange team down Florida way, and I will root root root for no hurricanes for you from up here, Judy. And both of us can badmouth the stupid scammers. Idiots.
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I’m always hoping that the end of August will bring an end to triple digit temps. It rarely does, but hope springs eternal.
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Oh, Arizona, not Oklahoma, what does it matter … da da dum. Well I never been to Spain now … Let’s see if you get me on this one, Ms. M.
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Is it… Hoyt Ashton(?)
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Good try. So very close. Off by a hair. Three Dog Night.
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Curses!
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KSU plays Auburn this fall. I’m pretty stoked about that, Chum. I do like the little orange helmet. I need to get you a little purple one… 🙂
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I do like KState’s colors, Aud, as well as the fact that Bill Snyder seems to be able to coach in this second career of his until age 125! Beat the Tigers, Red, thump ’em good. I am not an SEC fan.
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I’m not going to tell you that the color purple was high on my reasons why I chose K-State, Chum. (sorta was) Good ole Bill. K-State was at it’s finest with him as coach back in the late 90s. This time around…I’m still a fan, but man 125 already. Giggle. I know… SEC…me either.
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Oh, Go Syracuse for Mark’s sake! Smiles, Robin
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Yes, thank you, Robin. But Maryland will be playing Ohio State this season and then you and I may have a rocky week, no?
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I am looking forward to the Maryland vs. OSU game, I would not ‘hold’ it against you if your team won, though! I am more of a cheering fan, but not one that dwells on losses. Although, I had been so hopeful this year of the Indians’ they were in 2nd place, then 3rd and now ?? Oh well! I am excited for you to have season tickets and to read about your experiences at the games, Mark!
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I like my Mom’s letters, albeit that they are a little more convoluted and disjointed. I enjoy rooting for the town I live in, instead of where I was from, most of the time. I think that it is discouraging when I drive down streets and they have other state’s flags flying or their teams are from far away… my opinion, that is all!
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Not that people like to hear this, but the little bitty helmet is adorable. Yes, adorable. Glad you’ve got such wonderful things to look forward to. I can’t get past what I have to look forward to today and tomorrow !!!! Life is good when we are so full of activity and work. And life is good when we get to sit down and rest and relax. 🙂 I had to give up watching football YEARS ago. It was so frustrating to me to SIT while they got to PLAY. 🙂 true story.
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Oh, Colleen, I can see you not wanting to be a watcher watching the doers! I get it. I really, really get it. I’m glad you like the little orange helmet. It can protect my thumb from violent collisions with my other thumb!
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I’m glad you understand it. Sometimes people just roll their eyes at me. It’s painful for me to sit and watch others do. I coulda been a football player!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I still could! Anyway…..thumbs need protected too. So there’s a good thing. 😉
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I cannot wait for college football. Cannot.wait. Watched four nfl games this week in preparation.
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Who’s your team, Apple Pie? Western Kentucky? Kentucky? Vandy? Tennessee? Let me know!
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Texas. And anyone that beats Florida and South Carolina.
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Texas! Hook ’em Horns for Apple Pie. And anti Gators and Gamecocks. You are an interesting college football fan. I like you!
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I am far too busy ‘wringing out every last drop of summer’ to think about the fall Mark! I am happy for you to have something to look forward to, though. 😀
Diana xo
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I can hear you wringing all the way over hear, Diana, and it sound so darn wonderful!
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that’s exciting stuff to look forward to, mark. i love the retro helmet and as for who i root for, i happen to live in the town where my alma mater lives, so it’s pretty easy for me ) last good thing in the mail, a letter from down under, from my daughter – i love getting mail!
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Yes, Beth, I too like the retro look of my itty bitty helmet better than the new-fangled spangled lids. You know that I think you are fortunate to live in Ann Arbor so you can root on your beloved Wolverines! And, finally, that letter from down under must have been a doozie, recapturing the adventures and love of July, my friend.
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yeh, i’m not a huge fan of uniform change ups and like the old school gear the best usually. living here makes it easy, only one collegiate team i have to cheer for and yes, i always look forward to the notes from down under )
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