Old-School Offense Propels SU Past Pitt at Yankee Stadium

Philip Galati: 100 YEARS AGO, YANKEE STADIUM CHRISTENED ITS FIRST FOOTBALL GAME BETWEEN SYRACUSE AND PITT. AND IN 2023, HEAD COACH DINO BABERS WOUND THE CLOCK BACK TO GET THE JOB DONE, WITH SYRACUSE COMING OUT ON TOP IN THE BRONX 28-13. IT WAS DAN VILLARI UNDER CENTER FOR MOST OF THE SNAPS, HE HAD 150 YARDS ON THE DAY AND A SCORE. GARRETT SHRADER HAD TWO RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS, AND LEQUINT ALLEN HAD TRIPLE DIGITS. IT WAS A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK – AN OLD-SCHOOL OFFENSE IF YOU WILL. COACH BABERS SAID IT WAS HARD TO GET HIS GUYS TO BUY INTO THAT GAMEPLAN.

Dino Babers: WE ASKED THEM TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS DRASTIC. EXTREMELY DIFFERENT. AND YOU CAN’T PULL THAT OFF WITHOUT BELIEF. 

Dan Villari: I THINK A LOT OF GUYS DIDN’T COMPLETELY BELIEVE IN IT AT FIRST, CUZ IT’S HARD TO JUST CHANGE YOUR OFFENSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON LIKE THAT. I WAS CONFIDENT, AND I TRIED MY BEST TO GET EVERYONE ELSE ON BOARD. 

Babers: WE WANTED TO GET PHYSICAL, WE WANTED TO GO OLD-SCHOOL, WE WANTED TO GO BACK 100 YEARS TO A 3-0 WIN, SYRACUSE VS PITT IN THE FIRST GAME AT YANKEE STADIUM, TO SEE IF WE COULD STIR UP THE GHOSTS.

Galati: NOW WHETHER THIS NEW WILDCAT LOOK FOR THE OFFENSE WILL BE THE GAMEPLAN FOR THE LAST 2 GAMES OF THE SEASON IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. BUT THE LAST ROAD TRIP FOR THE ORANGE IS NEXT WEEKEND, AGAINST GEORGIA TECH ON THE 18TH. KICKOFF IS SLATED FOR 8 PM, TUNE IN TO @CITRUSTVSPORTS ON X FOR ALL YOUR LIVE COVERAGE NEEDS.