JOHN KEKIS
Syracuse begins spring football; nowhere to go but up

By John Kekis Mar. 08, 2022 02:13 AM EST
Dino Babers is starting the most important year of his tenure at Syracuse. With only

FILE - Army linebacker Andre Carter II (34) celebrates after sacking Georgia State quarterback Cornelious Brown IV (4) during the first quarter of an NCAA football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Atlanta.Carter II has become a disruptive force for the Black Knights in his first full season as a starter. The 6-foot-7, 250-pound junior from Missouri City, Texas, leads the nation with 1.32 sacks per game. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
Army LB Andre Carter II a force for Black Knights

By John Kekis Dec. 08, 2021 05:13 PM EST
Mention Army linebacker Andre Carter II to Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo and you'll

Syracuse head coach Dino Babers watches from the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Syracuse says coach Dino Babers returning in 2022

By John Kekis Nov. 29, 2021 11:18 AM EST
Coach Dino Babers will return for the 2022 season, his seventh, Syracuse

Pittsburgh wide receiver Jordan Addison, right, catches a touchdown pass while covered by Syracuse defensive back Aman Greenwood (26) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Pickett throws 4 TD passes in Pitt's 31-14 win at Syracuse

By John Kekis Nov. 27, 2021 10:50 PM EST
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi was worried about a letdown.

Syracuse's Sean Tucker (34) runs the ball away from North Carolina State's Vi Jones (31) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
No. 20 Pittsburgh visits Syracuse; Orange seeking 6th win

By John Kekis Nov. 26, 2021 11:37 AM EST
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — The pressure has reached a pinnacle for the Syracuse

Alabama offensive lineman Darrian Dalcourt (71) blocks Arkansas defensive lineman John Ridgeway (99) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
NFL Prospect Watch: Arkansas NT John Ridgeway thriving

By John Kekis Nov. 24, 2021 08:10 AM EST
Maybe it was that heavyweight wrestling title he won in high school in

North Carolina State cornerback Chris Ingram gets pass interference call against Wake Forest wide receiver A.T. Perry during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Anxious for a win, Syracuse travels to No. 25 NC State

By John Kekis Nov. 18, 2021 01:26 PM EST
Syracuse is one victory shy of reaching bowl eligibility as the Orange finish

North Carolina State running back Zonovan Knight (7) tries to break free Boston College defensive lineman Jake Byczko (91) and linebacker Isaiah Graham-Mobley (19) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
NC State vs Wake Forest Top 25 matchup highlights ACC slate

By John Kekis Nov. 11, 2021 04:07 AM EST
Things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference for Week 11:

Pittsburgh linebacker John Petrishen (0) celebrates with defensive back A.J. Woods (25) after making an interception against Miami during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Pittsburgh. Miami won 38-34. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
No dominant ACC team equals nailbiters all around

By John Kekis Nov. 03, 2021 01:06 PM EDT
It seems parity has arrived in the Atlantic Coast Conference — just look no

Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley discusses a call with a game official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisville in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Syracuse hosts Boston College; a lot on the line for both

By John Kekis Oct. 28, 2021 05:44 PM EDT
Syracuse has been living on the edge for most of the season and, in retrospect,

Virginia Tech defensive lineman Norell Pollard (3) chases Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader (16) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Blacksburg Va., Saturday, Oct. 23 2021. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)
Syracuse's 1-2 punch of Tucker and Shrader tough to stop

By John Kekis Oct. 27, 2021 02:35 AM EDT
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — One wears No. 16, the other 34, though a lot of Syracuse

Army quarterback Christian Anderson (4) looks to pass under pressure against Wake Forest during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in West Point, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
No. 16 Wake Forest beats Army 70-56 behind Hartman

By John Kekis Oct. 23, 2021 03:58 PM EDT
WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — When it was over, Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson used

Army's Tyhier Tyler reacts after running for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Army hosts No. 16 Wake Forest, looks to end 2-game skid

By John Kekis Oct. 21, 2021 04:05 PM EDT
WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Army is at the end of a two-game stretch that's as

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) leaves the field after an NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Blacksburg, Va. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)
Clemson at No. 23 Pitt highlights ACC action this week

By John Kekis Oct. 21, 2021 12:31 AM EDT
Here are things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 8:

Syracuse wide receiver Trebor Pena (29) dives into the end zone after a catch during the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game against Clemson in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Clemson holds off Syracuse 17-14 when late FG misses

By John Kekis Oct. 15, 2021 11:02 PM EDT
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — DJ Uiagalelei passed for 181 yards and one touchdown,

Clemson linebacker James Skalski (47) celebrates after breaking up a pass play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.)
Another Friday night thriller? Syracuse hosts Clemson

By John Kekis Oct. 14, 2021 11:51 AM EDT
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Having tripled last season’s win total halfway through

Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman passes against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Surging No. 19 Wake Forest visits upset-minded Syracuse

By John Kekis Oct. 07, 2021 01:52 PM EDT
Syracuse already has tripled its win total from a year ago and freshman

North Carolina State's Cory Durden (48) sacks Clemson's D.J. Uiagalelei (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
BC at Clemson might tell how far the once-mighty have fallen

By John Kekis Sep. 30, 2021 02:46 AM EDT
Here are things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 5:

FILE - Ernie Davis, halfback for Syracuse, holds the Heisman Trophy prior to official presentation to him in New York City, in this Dec. 6, 1961, file photo. Syracuse was one of the standard-bearers in terms of accepting athletes based on performance and ability. Its history includes: Wilmeth Sidat-Singh, a quarterback and the first star Black athlete at the school in the 1930s; Bernie Custis, who quarterbacked the Orange from 1948-50 and became the first Black professional quarterback in the modern era with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League; Jim Brown, regarded by many as the greatest running back of all time, starred at Syracuse in the mid-1950s and has dedicated much of his life to issues of social justice; and former Orange tailback Ernie Davis, the first Black to win the Heisman Trophy (1961). (AP Photo/File)
Syracuse, MEAC agree to 10-year partnership on and off field

By John Kekis Sep. 23, 2021 02:48 PM EDT
In the dead of winter Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack was

FILE - Syracuse head coach Dino Babers walks the sideline during an NCAA college football game against Duke in Durham, N.C., in this Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, file photo. Liberty plays at Syracuse on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2021. It's a payback opportunity for the Orange. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown, File)
Syracuse meets Liberty for 3rd straight year; payback time?

By John Kekis Sep. 23, 2021 01:11 PM EDT
Last year after Liberty beat Syracuse in the Carrier Dome with no fans to