1st and 10: A look at the most memorable moments of last year, and a freshman guide of what’s to come in Syracuse sports
What you missed:May 25, 2009: The men’s lacrosse team defeats Cornell, 10-9, in an overtime thriller to win its second-straight national championship.
March 12, 2009: The men’s basketball team outlasts Connecticut in six overtimes to advance to the semifinals of the Big East tournament in one of the greatest games in history. Syracuse ultimately lost in the finals against Louisville.
Dec. 12, 2008: Doug Marrone is hired as the new football coach to replace Greg Robinson, whose record was 10-37 in four seasons – the worst stretch in program history.
Nov. 21, 2008: The field hockey team loses in the final four, capping its best season in program history. The Orange finished with a 22-2 record and enters this year ranked No. 3 in the nation.
March 27, 2009: Syracuse basketball finishes a strong season by losing to Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Nov. 22, 2008: The football team upsets Notre Dame, 24-23, in South Bend, Ind. It was perhaps the finest moment of Robinson’s tenure as head coach, but one week earlier he had already been informed he would not return for the 2009 season.
Sept. 12, 2008: Hollywood comes to Central New York. A slew of stars converged downtown at the Landmark Theater for the official premiere of ‘The Express,’ a film chronicling the life story of former SU running back and Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis.
Oct. 1, 2008: The women’s ice hockey team plays its first game in program history, losing to Colgate, 4-3. Syracuse went 9-16-3 in its inaugural campaign.
June 25, 2009: Point guard Jonny Flynn becomes the first Syracuse player selected in the Top 10 of the NBA Draft since Carmelo Anthony in 2003. Flynn went No. 6 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
June 12, 2009: Kyle Heath, a then-senior steeplechaser for the track and field team, caps his All-American season by reaching the final heat of his event in the 2009 NCAA Championships.
What’s next:
Sept. 5, 2009: Former Duke basketball standout Greg Paulus will make his debut as Syracuse’s quarterback against Minnesota at the Carrier Dome. It also marks new head coach Doug Marrone’s first game at the helm.
Fall 2009: Syracuse will honor the 50th anniversary of its lone football national championship all season long, including a ceremony on Oct. 3 before and during the South Florida game.
Sept. 4, 2009: Ange Bradley and the Syracuse field hockey team will play its first home game of the season against Ohio State at Coyne Field. The Orange reached the final four last year and enters this season ranked No. 3
Oct. 16, 2009: The Syracuse swimming and diving teams kick off their final season in existence by hosting the Syracuse Invitational.
October 2009: The Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Practice Facility is expected to be completed. It will house two practice courts and state-of-the-art training and weight rooms for the men’s and women’s teams.
November 2009: Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim is currently sitting with 799 career wins. When he picks up No. 800, he’ll become just the eighth coach in NCAA history to reach that historic mark.
Dec. 30, 2009: Professional wrestling comes to Central New York, when WWE will perform at the Carrier Dome.
Feb. 27, 2010: ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast live from the Carrier Dome before the men’s basketball team takes on rival Villanova at 8 p.m.
February 2010: JUCO transfer Jeremy Thompson, one of the top lacrosse recruits in the country, was accepted to Syracuse University over the summer and will play his first game for the Orange.
Winter 2009-10: The Syracuse women’s basketball team begins its pursuit of the NCAA tournament, led by forward Nicole Michael, who is on the preseason John Wooden Award watch list.
