Get the latest Syracuse news delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.
In 2022, Syracuse Athletics has won its first national title since the men’s soccer team beat Indiana in the College Bowl in 2015. The year also featured the final meeting between Hall of Fame coaches Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski.
The past 12 months also saw the retirement of two female players’ jerseys, the debut of multiple SU program coaches and the death of former Syracuse football coach Greg Robinson.
The Daily Orange’s sports section picks out ten notable reads for 2022. Here are our picks:
Courtesy of Jamie Boheim
How Jamie Boeheim lost interest in playing basketball
Before her first practice as a sophomore, Jamie Boeheim — daughter of SU head coach Jim Boeheim and sister of former SU players Buddy and Jimmy Boeheim — realized she no longer had the same love for basketball.
She has always played basketball and won three state championships at Jamesville-DeWitt High School before playing at the University of Rochester (Division III). The game has been associated with excessive stress, anxiety and stress – it no longer brings her the joy it once did. Those closest to Jamie say the decision to let go of a lifelong passion and prioritize her own happiness speaks volumes about her strength as a person.
Now, a few years later, Jamie says she doesn’t regret the decision one bit.
“Just because I’m from Boheim doesn’t mean I have to love basketball.”
Photo illustration by Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor; Photo courtesy of SU Athletics
‘SYRACUSE NEVER CAME’: Orange’s New Jersey Hiring Mistake
Located in an area that lacks significant home-grown ACC-level talent, Orange has long been forced to expand its recruitment efforts Regional.
Head Coach Dino Babers direction New Jersey is SU’s “one of the top recruiting regions,” but Syracuse’s recent classes reveal a national approach to recruiting and a lack of apparent success in New Jersey and other nearby states.
Babs said in December 2021 that recruiting players from New York and New Jersey was important to him, but several high-profile New Jersey coaches said they had never met him.
“We want to get the best players from as many neighboring states as possible, ideally New York and New Jersey, that border us,” Barbers said on Dec. 15, 2021.
Megan Hendrix | Photo Editor
Syracuse wins first Varsity Bowl in program history, beats Indiana 7-6 in PK
Cary, North Carolina — On December 12, the Syracuse men’s soccer team defeated Indiana 7-6 in a shootout in Cary, North Carolina, to win its first-ever national title.
they are revenge its disadvantages 2015 University Student Cup Entry Listlost to Clemson in the semifinals.
The Orange were up 2-1 after goals from Nathan Opoku and Curt Calov in the 46th minute until Indiana’s Herbert Endeley equalized in the 80th minute. Neither team scored the remainder of the regular season and 20 minutes of overtime, with penalties set.
Although they both missed the second penalty, both teams made it to the eighth round perfectly, with SU goaltender Russell Shealy saving Maouloune Goumballe’s penalty and providing an assist for Amferny Sinclair.
Daily Orange file photo
Relive the first Boeheim and Krzyzewski matchup before their final meeting
On February 26, 2022, Syracuse and Duke played their final regular-season game, with both head coach Jim Boeheim and former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski serving as head coaches. The Blue Devils won 97-72 at the Dome.
But in December 1989, Syracuse won The first meeting between two Hall of Fame coaches. Despite leading by 15 points in the first half, the Orange won 78-76 after forward Dave Johnson made two free throws in the final seconds.
This game was part of the inaugural ACC-Big East Challenge, Los Angeles Times says The Duke-Syracuse race is the best race of the tournament. It marked the beginning of a multi-year rivalry between the two NCAA basketball coaches.
“Back then, only Syracuse wanted to beat Duke, and only Jim Boeheim wanted to beat Mike Krzyzewski,” said then-SU player Mike Hopkins. “As the years go by, you realize that those two were one of the greatest rivalries of all time.”
Remi Jose | Illustration Editor
Russell Shealy loves his pet pig
Syracuse goalie Russell Shelley once secretly asked Santa for a Christmas pet pig for a year, but cried when he didn’t see one under the tree. So his parents came up with their own offer—if he got all A’s, they’d buy him one.
His mother, Maureen, said Shelley went “overdrive” as a student and ended up getting straight A’s in his courses. Incredibly, Maureen even called Shealy’s teacher to ask if he could drop his grade to an 89. But his parents kept their word and researched where to find pigs in Georgia.
For 14 years, Shealy’s pet pig, Bella, has been home to Cartersville, Georgia. He kept pictures of Bella on his phone, always getting excited talking about her, sometimes blushing. Bella is also in the family Easter photo, which doesn’t include the family’s two dogs.
Maureen still doesn’t know why her son wanted a pig, guessing it was just “to his liking”.
Daily Orange file photo
Those close to Greg Robinson recall his generosity and passion for football
Former Syracuse football coach Greg Robinson died of Alzheimer’s disease on January 5. He is 70 years old.
The Southern California native coached part of his 50 years in college and in the NFL. Robinson led the Orange from 2005-08, compiling a 10-37 record in four losing seasons, five of which were canceled due to NCAA violations.
Some say former Syracuse players and assistant coaches remember him for his kindness, generosity and overall passion for football. While in Syracuse, Robinson integrated into the local community and created a family-like atmosphere in the project.
“He taught me the biggest first lesson in life: You have to go after the life you want, and you need to be as passionate as possible,” former player Max Messer said.
Maxine Blackbill | Assistant Photo Editor
Julie Williamson’s creativity and curiosity live with jersey retirement
On Oct. 9, Julie Williamson’s No. 9 player becomes the first player and third woman to retire from SU’s lacrosse program Phylissa Leggett-Jack with Katie Rowan Thomson Have her jersey retired at SU.
Former SU hockey player Julie Williamson always finds joy in the challenge of learning a new skill. “I never thought of it as a chore, I always thought of it as an opportunity to try new things to beat my opponent,” she said.
When Syracuse first won the Big East title in 1993, Williamson’s curiosity for more creativity helped her become a commanding force for Syracuse. At the time, the title gave women’s sport “respect” in schools. She was the first SU player to win three consecutive All-American honors.
“I think Jolie can not only get to that level, but she can take the team to a different level,” said former head coach Catherine Parker.
Daily Orange file photo
Jim Boeheim switched from suits to quarter zips. It was his tailor’s idea.
Jim Boeheim’s tailor isn’t mad that the Syracuse head coach switched from a sport coat to a quarter-zip. He wasn’t mad that Boeheim might not buy a custom sports jacket with a photo of the Dom or the Boeheim family on game day.
“He’s a little more comfortable on the court now,” says Boeheim tailor Peter A. Roberti. adrian jules in rochesterexplaining that he would not try to convince Boeheim to switch back to the sports jacket.
For decades, basketball coaches have worn suits on the sidelines. But when the NBA relax its Mandating suits amid the COVID-19 bubble spilled over into college basketball in 2020-21 and has continued into this season.
“Someone got mad at me, but that’s it,” Boeheim said with a laugh on Nov. 1, 2021, presumably referring to his tailor (in fact, he wasn’t mad at him).
Presented by SU Athletics
From Player to Coach: Inside Gary Gait, Kayla Treanor’s Relationship to SU Lacrosse Program Leader
When Gary Gater made the jump from women’s lacrosse head coach to men’s lacrosse head coach, Syracuse hired program alumna Kayla Treanor as the new women’s lacrosse head coach. Treanor played under Gait from 2013-2016.
The two first met at Traynor’s lacrosse tournament thirteen years ago, when Traynor was in ninth grade. Treanor told Gait that she always wanted to be a lacrosse coach.
The pair were named to lead Orange’s Legends program eight months after Treanor, an assistant to Boston College’s 2021 championship team, beat Gait’s SU team in the national title game. Both coaches used to play for Syracuse, but now, they’re just a stone’s throw away at the Roy Simmons Coaching Center, while Trainor occupies Gate’s old office.
“I can’t believe how lucky I am to have (him) in my life. It’s awesome to have him want me to play for (Orange).”
Photo Illustration by Meghan Hendricks | Photo Editor
Syracuse native responsible for ‘one of the best card collections’
New York — In addition to paintings, vases, furniture and other 10,000 works of art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 10,000 works of art, there’s something in the collection that fits in the palm of your hand — baseball cards.
Syracuse native Jefferson R. Burdick was behind it. Burdick, known as the “Father of Baseball Card Collecting,” knew his cards deserved to sit alongside Leonardo Da Vinci’s paintings, which have lived at the Met for nearly 60 years . The exhibit occupies three sides of one wall and features 11 framed pieces featuring players such as Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth and Stan Mussel.
“He’s a visionary because he thinks it could be important, because very few people see a reason to keep any trading cards,” said Dave Jia, author of “The State of the Mint: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession.” Mison said.
Posted on December 31, 2022 at 12:16 am
