The Daily Orange is a nonprofit newsroom that receives no funding from Syracuse University. Consider donating today to support our mission.

Syracuse’s football program hasn’t identified any COVID-19 cases since 160 athletes and personnel were tested “just the other day,” head coach Dino Babers said Monday in his weekly press conference.

Syracuse tests three times per week, adhering to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s guidelines. The team will undergo two more rounds before Friday night’s game against Louisville. 

There haven’t been any cases reported since the football team returned to campus in July for workouts, but Syracuse Athletics doesn’t publicly release COVID-19 test results. One testing-related hiccup came in September, when Syracuse’s game against Georgia Tech was delayed for about 30 minutes to retest three Syracuse personnel who had inconclusive results. Their tests were later confirmed to be negative. 

SU paused all basketball-related activities on Sunday after head coach Jim Boeheim and another member of the men’s basketball program tested positive for COVID-19. The news comes as infections are reaching record levels on Syracuse’s campus, in Onondaga County and in the United States. 

When asked if he’s spoken with Boeheim since Sunday, Babers elected to keep that private.

“But I’ll tell you what, that guy is in better shape than a lot of people have any clue,” Babers said. “So when he says he’s at home resting, and he’s going to whoop tail and be back here in a little bit, there’s no doubt in my mind that’s exactly what’s going to happen.” 

Since the summer, Babers has praised his program’s handling of the pandemic, often saying he’d put SU’s protocols and results up against those of any other in the nation. His players are probably tired of him reminding them to be safe, he said Monday.

Babers didn’t loosen his messaging during Syracuse’s bye week, as he’s seen other teams have clusters emerge during off weeks. 

“We’ve been in their ears that this is the time you have to do your due diligence and cross your t’s and dot your i’s,” Babers said. “Hopefully it works out.”

Previewing Louisville

COVID-19 has affected Louisville’s football team more directly than Syracuse’s. Head coach Scott Satterfield confirmed Oct. 31 that some of the nine players unavailable for its matchup with Virginia Tech were out due to COVID-19-related issues. Days later, Louisville put the program on pause for an increase in cases. Louisville’s football game against Virginia was postponed to Nov. 14.

Babers still praised Satterfield’s ability to make the most of his personnel, calling the Cardinals’ offense “so explosive.” 

The asterisk season

The five years Babers has been at Syracuse have been a blessing, he said, but he’d like this one to come with an “asterisk” for COVID-19. 

“But I understand, I understand there’s not going to be an asterisk. But it’s been different,” Babers said. “There’s no doubt that 2020’s been a different year, and something that you need to grow and learn from. And that’s exactly the way I’m taking it.” 

Like every program, Syracuse adjusted to the cancellation of spring practice and maneuvered through COVID-19 protocols in the summer. But injuries and opt outs at key spots have hurt Syracuse much more than other programs. 

The supposed asterisk may have more to do with how Syracuse handles coaching and program changes going forward than how Babers cares to be perceived in central New York. Last year, when the Orange stumbled to a 4-8 season, SU hired two new coordinators, Tony White and Sterlin Gilbert. Babers’ tone Monday suggested similar changes are unlikely.

“The one thing you always want to be is fair,” Babers said. “Did people really have a fair opportunity to show what they can or cannot do? I think this year is one of those years you put an asterisk by and move on.”

Published on November 16, 2020 at 1:44 pm

Contact Danny: dremerma@syr.edu | @DannyEmerman