OK, I guess these are my teams

Maryland and Syracuse both played at noon Saturday, games televised on networks available to me, and I was ready with m flatscreen for the Orange vs. Central Michigan on ESPN News and my iPad for the Terps vs. West Virginia on the Big Ten Network. The Syracuse game kicked off first. And I stared hard…

What stories will this book tell these four months?

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.…

Spring football, Syracuse style

The powers that be would love for Syracuse football to catch on in popularity that could compare with national champion Florida State, big-time power Clemson and other college-crazy environments in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Maybe someday. Not today. At the annual spring game that closes this off-season segment of college football practices, a couple thousand…

After bowl Friday, Syracuse is up, Maryland is down

That was some bowl day for me Friday. One down, one up. My alma mater Maryland lost in the Military Bowl by falling apart defensively in the final quarter. I was not happy. My 30-year hometown team Syracuse took the Texas Bowl title with a last-minute touchdown against Minnesota. I danced around the living room.…

Love and loyalty play out on the football field

Tuition checks trump season-ticket checks. Today comes the football game I have been anticipating for more than two calendar years. Ever since it was revealed in September 2011 that Syracuse University would be leaving the Big East to join the Atlantic Coast Conference, I have metaphorically and mentally drawn a big, red circle around the…