What’s Next for Dino Babers and Syracuse Football After Disappointing Season?

Days before the Syracuse Orange faced the Clemson Tigers on Sept. 30, head coach Dino Babers entered his weekly press conference with confidence, optimism, and determination. The team had just secured a second-straight 4-0 start and its first out-of-conference sweep. With the Tigers looking vulnerable, Syracuse University students even organized a “Clemson game camp out.” It seemed like things were pointing towards a successful season and a second-straight bowl bid. However, a month later, Syracuse remains at four wins and without a victory over the ACC. The team has lost its first five ACC games by an average of 24.6 points, including a 17-10 defeat at home against the Boston College Eagles. The shift from optimism to frustration was evident as Babers addressed the media before the BC game.

On Tuesday, Syracuse Athletic Director John Wildhack declined to comment on Babers’s future in a recent interview. Speculative questions about Babers potentially being fired mid-season were deflected. Nevertheless, it is clear that the dynamic between Babers and Wildhack has changed. Babers was hired in 2016 and was given a long-term extension after a 10-3 season in 2018. He has brought some success to the program, leading the team to three appearances in the AP poll. However, there has been inconsistency, and frustration is mounting among the fanbase.

The goal behind the extension was to solidify the Orange’s future, but Babers now has a 40-55 overall record in seven seasons. The only outliers are the 10-win season in 2018 and the disastrous 1-10 season in 2020. Syracuse has averaged exactly five wins in the rest of his tenure. This season was meant to be a turning point, with hopes of building momentum for the program, but it has fallen short.

Regardless of how this season turns out, the situation remains uncertain. Syracuse needs to address long-standing issues with depth and name, image, and likeness. Simply replacing Babers with a new coach won’t solve these problems. The image of Syracuse Athletics and the perception of the program among alumni and donors are also at stake. The future of the program will depend on making a foundational investment.

The announcement of the new ACC schedule for the next seven years adds further complexity to the situation. The 2024 season features a favorable slate, with potentially 7-8 win season in the worst-case scenario. This raises questions about whether it is smarter for Babers to have one final “prove it” year before negotiations. What impact will this have on the program’s direction in the coming years?

In the end, the ideal result is for Syracuse to fight back and secure a win over BC, pushing them closer to bowl eligibility. However, October has been a challenging month for Babers and the team. It seems like the era of Babers and his evolution of the program may be coming to an end. If Syracuse decides to make a change, it is imperative that they set up Baber’s successor for success.

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Alex Martin

Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.