Syracuse’s bowl-clinching win had an ambience fit for its former coach: ‘Nobody in this facility would be here without him’

Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse offensive lineman Mark Petry held up a whiteboard featuring a thank-you note for former head coach Dino Babers. Quarterback Garrett Shrader called Babers his favorite coach that he’s ever played for.

Players took the “Senior Walk,” a tradition Babers brought to Syracuse, and finished their goodbye stroll by wearing Hawaiian leis from his birthplace.

Babers wasn’t in the JMA Wireless Dome for a 35-31 win over Wake Forest, a victory that secured back-to-back bowl appearances for the Orange for first time since 2012-13.

If Babers hadn’t been fired last Sunday the win would have given Syracuse the first back-to-back bowl appearances under the same head coach since 1998-99. Instead, Babers’ tenure ended one game short of eight seasons and one win short of bowl eligibility.

While Babers wasn’t at the game, it showcased the good and bad of what he built during his time.

There was another missed field goal attempt of more than 50 yards, although this one did arrive with only 30 seconds left before halftime. It was followed by a mortifying sequence of clock management, one where the Orange saw the clock expire with the ball on the 1-yard line.

There was also a stubborn refusal among Syracuse players to quit on their teammates and references to bonds that have held them together through the most trying moments of the season.

Each year he was at Syracuse, Babers pushed his players to create a player-led team, one that would consider itself a family, or an Ohana.

After the game, running back LeQuint Allen answered a question about his performance — he finished the season eclipsing 1,000 yards — by praising the offensive line. Dan Villari talked about loving his teammates and the fight they showed.

In the most emotional public moment of a difficult week, Shrader, who has appeared in pain on many throws late this season, choked up twice while discussing the injuries his teammates have worked through the course of the year.

“There’s too many guys that worked too hard,” Shrader said, before pausing. “They deserved it.”

Shrader was also the most glowing in his praise for Babers.

“I’m grateful for Coach Babers for providing me an opportunity,” Shrader said. “Nobody in this facility would be here without him. I’ll sing his praises. He and his family have been awesome to me. I understand the business side of it. ... I get it. But he’s my favorite coach that I’ve played for.”

Outside of rare moments, Syracuse players put a brave face to the week’s experience, saying they understand college sports is a business, and that they understand the rationale of firing Babers before the final game of the year.

Babers finished with a record of 41-55 over nearly eight years at Syracuse, ranking seven-worst all-time among the school’s coaches in winning percentage. His teams, including this one, had a habit of starting fast and fading as injuries hit. They were regularly among the most penalized in the country.

Villari said he appreciated Babers but he also believes the Orange is more talented than the results they have achieved under Babers. He said he believes the Orange was good enough to win 10 games this season.

“I would just say a couple culture things, a couple discipline things that I don’t want to get into,” Villari said, when asked what needs to change for Syracuse to be more successful next season.

“The talent is there. One hundred percent. Just some other things that got to be fixed up. I came from Michigan. I definitely saw how a great program operates. Just a couple of things, but I feel like it’s going to be turned around.”

Both Shrader and rover Justin Barron said they’ve spoken to Babers since the firing but declined to share what was said. Barron also declined to say when they spoke.

Interim head coach Nunzio Campanile said he spoke to the team on Sunday, delivering a message that they’d all feel different ways about Babers’ firing and they should work through their emotions as they saw fit.

He held a lengthy meeting with the team’s captains, stressing that the goal of the final week would be keeping things fun.

Collectively, the team found its focus and delivered a performance that should have made their old coach proud.

“I told the kids that everybody in the room, none of us, would be here without him,” Campanile said. “Including myself. You have to deal with that, and you have to work your way through that. Part of being a man is that you have to manage the expectations you have in other areas of their life. I think these guys did an excellent job of managing their emotions and putting them aside when it was time to play football.”

Contact Chris Carlson anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-382-7932