The question hanging over the Carrier Dome—sorry, the JMA Wireless Dome—these days isn’t just about winning a few more games. It’s about something far more profound: can Syracuse football return to glory? As someone who has followed this program through the peaks of the McNabb era and the valleys of the last decade, I feel that question in my bones. It’s a heavy legacy to carry. We’re talking about a program with a proud history, one that feels increasingly distant with each passing 5-7 season. But as we look ahead to the 2024 campaign, there’s a tangible, if cautious, sense of a corner being turned. It reminds me of a dynamic I recently observed in a completely different arena, the Philippine Volleyball League. There, a foreign guest team, Kobe Shinwa, is on the cusp of doing something remarkable: facing an unbeaten powerhouse, PLDT, with a chance to become the lone foreign team ever to be hailed a two-time PVL champion. That’s the kind of rare, legacy-defining opportunity that Syracuse itself is chasing—not just to be good, but to carve out a unique place in history again.
Let’s be clear, the path back isn’t paved with gentle inclines. It’s a steep climb against established powers. Coach Fran Brown’s arrival has injected an energy into the program that I haven’t felt in years, primarily through a transfer portal haul that can only be described as aggressive and targeted. We’re not just talking about bodies; we’re talking about potential game-changers. The quarterback position, perennially a question mark, now features Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord. In 2023, McCord completed 65.8% of his passes for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions for an 11-1 Buckeye team. Those aren’t just numbers; they’re proof of concept at the highest level of college football. Pairing him with a receiver like Georgia’s Jackson Meeks, who brings championship pedigree, could instantly transform an offense that ranked a dismal 102nd nationally in scoring last year. The defensive side saw an even bigger overhaul, with nearly a dozen transfers, including key pieces from Texas A&M and Florida International, aimed at shoring up a unit that was far too generous. This isn’t a slow rebuild; it’s a targeted reconstruction with immediate competency in mind. The schedule, however, presents a brutal reality check. An early trip to Stanford is a tricky cross-country opener, and the ACC slate is unforgiving, featuring road games at Clemson and Miami, not to mention hosting a potentially explosive NC State team. To even reach a bowl game, this new-look squad will need to gel faster than any Syracuse team in recent memory.
That’s where the Kobe Shinwa analogy really sticks with me. They entered a dominant league as outsiders, faced skepticism, but built a champion through cohesion and belief. Now, they stand before an undefeated giant, PLDT, with a chance to secure a legacy so unique it might never be replicated. For Syracuse in 2024, the “unbeaten PLDT” is the entire weight of the modern ACC and their own history. The goal isn’t necessarily an ACC Championship this year—let’s be realistic—but to achieve something that feels just as significant for the program’s soul: becoming a consistent, tough out that can pull off an earth-shaking upset or two and secure a bowl victory. That’s their version of a “two-time champion” moment—proving they can not only reach the postseason but win there, something they haven’t done since 2018. It’s about changing the narrative from “can they sneak into a bowl?” to “which bowl will they dominate?” The development of the offensive line, which returns three starters but must improve dramatically in pass protection, and the emergence of a consistent pass rush are the nitty-gritty battles that will determine if this story has a glorious chapter or just another prologue.
So, can they return to glory? My heart says the trajectory is finally pointing upward. The deliberate roster construction, the fresh coaching perspective, and the clear identification of weaknesses all point to a more competitive product on the field. But my head, seasoned by years of disappointment, knows that glory isn’t claimed in a single season. The 2024 season, in my view, is about laying an undeniable foundation. It’s about showing that Syracuse football isn’t just a nostalgic memory but a present-day threat. If McCord lives up to his billing and the defense finds an identity, a 7-5 or even 8-4 season is within reach. That would be a monumental success. Like Kobe Shinwa stepping onto the court against PLDT, Syracuse is walking into a 2024 season filled with formidable opponents and a chance to redefine itself. They may not win the whole thing, but if they can secure that winning season and a postseason victory, they’ll have taken a crucial, legacy-altering step. The glory days might not be fully back, but for the first time in a long while, you can start to see a path from here to there. And that, in itself, is a victory worth celebrating.
