Those were among many lessons packed into CRS 360, Communication Strategies in Sports. The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) offered the new, three-credit Maymester course for the first time this year to provide a study-away opportunity for student-athletes whose academic year schedules are defined by little flexibility due to training and game commitments.

Emmy-award-winning entertainment executive Kip Konweiser ’85 (center), provided insights about communicating in sports and sports-events production during a classroom session. (Photo by Anna Proulx)

,�� professor and chair of communication and rhetorical studies (CRS), and , visual and performing arts program director for the University’s Dick Clark Los Angeles Program, worked with G’20, assistant provost for student-athlete academic development in the Department of Athletics, to devise the experience program.

Classes, activities mix

The students experienced class days split between coursework, business site tours, discussions with top sports and broadcasting executives and the creation of presentations. They were taught by , renowned award-winning book author, documentary creator and film producer. Students were housed in a Hollywood Hills apartment complex near the . They enjoyed a weekend Dodgers game and a hike to the iconic Hollywood sign, and got to meet with many members of the LA Regional Alumni Council for a roundtable discussion. Another highlight of the course was the tour of Fox Sports, where students visited the set used for several Fox Sports shows organized by alumni Bernie Kim ’01 and Cayden Feifer ’12. Students were able to meet “Speak” show hosts LeSean McCoy, Emmanuel Acho, Joy Taylor and Skip Bayless.

Many Syracuse University LA Regional Alumni Council members who are prominent in their fields met with the students for a roundtable discussion, including Jordan Pynes ’98, Frank McFarland ’94, Phil Netz ’98, Sean Carey ’89, JaNeika James ’05 and Amelia Goldstein ’19, pictured with the student group. (Photo by Anna Proulx)

“This was an incredible opportunity to explore a course in a short amount of time, get a sense of Los Angeles, go on many site visits and meet alumni who are excited to impart their wisdom, who really care about these students’ success and who now are contacts for continued communication,” Proulx says.

Life after athletics

She believes the course’s career-development focus offers a sense of what life could be like after athletics and after Syracuse. “Many of our former players who moved beyond football have gone into careers in entrepreneurship, sales management, investments, NASCAR, athletic design and sports broadcasting. These alumni showed the students that the skills they already have from football are transferable to many different future careers.”

Student LeQuint Allen Jr. ’26, a running back on the Syracuse football team and a sociology major in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, says it was “unbelievable” how many people he met during the two weeks he spent in Los Angeles. He says he identified with alumnus Lou Alexander, “whose story is like mine,” and he wants to model the demeanor of alumnus Roland Williams. “I was getting a lot of tips from him, seeing how he handled himself and learning from him, and I felt like I can mirror that.”

Roland Williams ’97, center, a former Superbowl champion, was one of many alumni who spoke with the group of Maymester CRS 360 students. (Photo by Anna Proulx)

A good balance

Kyle McCord, a CRS major, will graduate this December. The quarterback plans to play football professionally after graduation then envisions a career in either coaching or sports broadcasting. He was impressed by the way the course maximized the Maymester timeframe. “It was a really good balance between school and being able to explore LA. Given how busy our schedules are, carving out two weeks and having a very productive trip, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’ll 100% be able to put what I learned to use right away.”

Marlowe Wax Jr. ’24, G’26, earned a psychology degree in May and is now enrolled in the project management master’s program in the College of Professional Studies.

The linebacker says the course allowed him to learn a lot about public speaking and how to control a stage. “I want to go into professional football, and after that, I’d love to do anything in sports. I really appreciate the number of people I met and I love that I have these people to connect to.”

Students David Clement and Yazeed Haynes practiced pitching their origin stories with instructors Rob Carpenter and guest speaker Lou Alexander at the Dick Clark Los Angeles Program. (Photo by Anna Proulx)

Powell says the course offered a transformative learning experience. “Our student-athletes gained unparalleled exposure to dynamic instruction and industry leaders, that enriched their academics and broadened their perspectives,” he says. “Few student-athletes have the opportunity to benefit from study abroad or away opportunities. This class aligned with the University’s academic strategic plan and our commitment to prepare students not just in their sport but as global citizens poised to lead in an interconnected world.”

More information about VPA’s Los Angeles Semester is available on the school’s .

Student-athletes will be able to take a new Maymester course in Los Angeles.

A new study away opportunity for student-athletes will be offered this year as a Maymester course in Los Angeles.

The course, Networking and the Art of the Pitch, was developed by , chair of communication and rhetorical studies (CRS) in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), and , director of VPA’s Los Angeles program, working with , assistant provost for student-athlete academic development in the Department of Athletics.

The course was designed to help break down a common barrier faced by student-athletes who are interested in studying off campus.

“Student-athletes are often constrained by their training and game schedules, which means they do not have many opportunities for study abroad and study away,” Dubrofsky says. “Tommy mentioned that student-athletes would love an opportunity to study away, and that a perfect time for it is Maymester, when they don’t have any games or practices.”

Dubrofsky adds that CRS enrolls many student-athletes, making it the logical program to house the new initiative.

The two-week course will introduce students to the principles of persuasive communication and networking in the sports broadcasting industry. Students will visit studios and other companies and attend games and cultural events. Syracuse alumni who were student-athletes and pursued a variety of career paths will serve as guest lecturers.

The course is open to all CRS student-athletes; those in other majors can take it as an elective. For more information, contact Proulx at 818.314.6722 or asproulx@syr.edu.

Brown and his peers from Camden, New Jersey, made the 95-mile trek to Meadowlands Stadium to watch local star Donovin Darius ’98, future Pro Football Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb ’98 and the 17th-ranked Orange take on the 24th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in the Kickoff Classic on Aug. 26, 1997.

On Monday morning, as Brown was introduced as the newest head coach, he harkened back to vivid memories of a dominant, 34-0 trouncing of Wisconsin by Syracuse as the blueprint for where he wants to take this program.

“Why Syracuse? That [game] is my vision of Syracuse. We are going to bust our butt to get back to that way. To bring back the great tradition of football that was here before me, before my era,” Brown told a packed audience of media members, former Orange football student-athletes and supporters of the program in the Ferguson Football Auditorium in the George R. Iocolano and William C. Petty Football Wing at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud (left), head football coach Fran Brown (center), and Director of Athletics John Wildhack ’80 during a press conference introducing Brown to the Syracuse University community.

Wanting to return the Orange to a time when the program was consistently ranked in the Top 25 under former head coach Paul Pasqualoni (107-59-1 record in 14 seasons) and offensive coordinator George DeLeone (who Brown worked with at both Temple University and Baylor University), Brown had a message for the football alumni.

“I need your presence. I need those guys to see the history that was before them. I need them to want to be able to mimic what happened before them,” Brown said. “The money and all those things will come when the time is right. I want your guys’ presence. I want your heart. Because you’re going to get my heart. You’re going to get every bit of me that you can get for the entire time I’m here.”

Vowing that current and prospective student-athletes will follow his DART method—being detailed, accountable, relentless and tough in their pursuit of greatness on the football field, in the classroom and in the community—Brown said he’s “all-in on Syracuse University.”

“I am competitive. I need to win at everything. You can’t chew gum faster than me. I’m going to win at everything and we’re about to go shock the country,” Brown said.

Get to know Brown, the nation’s top college football recruiter and a member of the 2022 College Football National Championship coaching staff with the University of Georgia.

What Can Brown Do for Orange?

Brown played a critical role in attracting top talent to Georgia, and his deep ties to New Jersey and the Northeast will allow him immediate recruiting success for the Orange.

Brown and Wildhack share a laugh.

“I was always able to go out and recruit and get the best players, but it wasn’t because I was saying or selling all this stuff. It was because of the relationships. It was me continuously talking to them about life, helping young men become closer to the man above [God],” Brown said. “I recruit just being genuine. I’m telling the kids the truth. I’m telling all the kids now, ‘The reason you should come to Syracuse is, because [if] you’re coming here, you’re going to be successful for the rest of your life.”

Brown said he plans on “taking care of our backyard, from Canada to the DMV [Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virgina].”

“That’s why I got the job [because of my recruiting]. We all understand that. I’m not going to stop that. Why would you stop doing what you’re good at?” Brown said.

Diamonds in the Rough

Brown is a self-made man who came from humble beginnings. His mother gave birth to Brown when she was just 13 years old, and by the time she was 21, there were four boys running around the house. Football became an outlet for Brown to escape life’s difficulties, and he excelled on the gridiron as Camden High School’s quarterback.

After spending one year playing football for Hudson Valley Community College, Brown earned an associate’s degree and caught the eye of Matt Rhule, future head coach of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers who was serving as Western Carolina University’s assistant head coach. Rhule recruited Brown to play for Western Carolina, where he thrived at cornerback, earning first-team All-Southern Conference honors and serving as team captain en route to a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

As Brown was talking with Kent Syverud, Syracuse University’s Chancellor and president, Syverud asked him an innocent question:

“I know you can recruit, that’s great, but what about the diamonds in the rough? What about those guys that people overlook? What are you going to do about them?” Brown recalled. “I said ‘How am I going to forget about me?’ I can’t forget about me. I was one [a diamond in the rough]. I was the guy that went to school, didn’t have all the stuff everybody else had. I had an uncle, Charles Brown, he told me ‘Don’t ever, ever, ever allow your situations to dictate your outcome. You make the best of it. You dominate, you get up, and you walk every single day with the next foot forward.’ And I’ve always busted my butt.”

Relationships Matter

Brown’s extensive coaching resume includes stops at Rutgers University (2020-21), Temple University (2011-16, 2019), Baylor University (2017-18) and Paul VI High School (2010). He has worked with some of the top coaches in the country, including Rhule at the University of Nebraska and Georgia’s Kirby Smart. Both offer high praise for Brown.

Fran Brown (center) poses with his two sons, Fran Jr. (far left), and Brayden (second from left), his wife, Teara (second from right), and daughter Ivy Ann.

Brown made a lasting impression on Rhule, who first recruited Brown to play at Western Carolina and then connected Brown with then-Temple University coach Steve Addazio, an introduction that helped Brown land his first college coaching job in 2011. After Rhule took over the Temple program in 2013, he tapped Brown as one of his full-time assistant coaches.

It’s one of the many reasons why forming lifelong relationships with his coaches and his prospective student-athletes really matters to Brown, and why Brown continues to keep in touch with the families of his recruits long after they’ve committed to join him.

“I don’t really have a recruiting pitch. I just ask recruits ‘Do you want to be successful? Do you want to become a man? Do you want to be a good father? Do you want to be a good husband?’ When you’re asking those questions, then it becomes authentic,” Brown said. “I’m building genuine relationships. I’m going to know your grandma, I’m going to know your aunt. I’m going to know your cousin. I’m going to make sure that I’m detailed with everything and write it down. For me to have students trusting me, I need to understand and know them.”

Burdens of Being a Black Head Coach

There are 133 Division I institutions playing football, and only 14 of those programs (10.5%) have Black head coaches. Brown recognizes the special opportunity in front of him and realizes there will be immense pressure on him to succeed. If he’s successful, he knows more doors will open for other aspiring Black head coaches.

“Do I know that there’s a little more on me because I am a Black man? Yeah, and I’m cool with that. I’m excited about that because I’m going to open the door for everybody. I’m going to do this the right way because it’s bigger than me. There’s a lot of people that came before me that didn’t get this opportunity, and there’s going to be a lot that come after me that will be because of how I do here at Syracuse,” Brown said.

Artist rendering of John A. Lally Athletics Complex

“I want to offer my sincere gratitude to all ’Cuse Athletics Fund members and donors who continue to step up and impact Syracuse Athletics and Syracuse University through their support,” says Director of Athletics John Wildhack. “Providing competitive resources for our student-athletes, coaches and staff is a top priority, and we simply cannot pursue and accomplish this without you. We are immensely appreciative of your support across all levels and thank you for the impact you have on our student-athletes.”

Contributions to the ’Cuse Athletics Fund encompass all areas supporting Syracuse Athletics, including annual giving to the Athletics Opportunity Fund, support to individual sports teams, priority seating and Legends Society commitments to the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

“We have been able to surpass significant milestones in supporting our student-athletes due to the collective support from our alumni, friends and fans,” says Michael Paulus, senior associate athletic director and executive director of ’CAF.�� “Every gift matters, and we want to thank the more than 11,300 members and donors who have supported ’CAF through our many avenues of giving and have a vital impact on Syracuse Athletics.”

Support for ’CAF came at every gift level in 2022-23 to achieve a record number of donors. This year during the University wide day of giving—Boost the ’Cuse—Syracuse University Athletics received gifts from more than 870 donors. The one-day total in giving was 2.5 times more than the amount raised in 2022 for the giving challenge. Annual support from Boost the ’Cuse for head coaches’ funds provides resources for recruiting, training and competing. Due to generous donor support, several teams were able to travel abroad for training trips in 2023, including men’s soccer to England and men’s and women’s rowing to the Henley Royal Regatta. Furthermore, donations from alumni and friends provided individual teams the ability to upgrade training technology, improve team spaces and invest in additional areas of programmatic support.

Most notably from the successful year, philanthropic major gifts from donors propelled the capital campaign to surpass $50 million in commitments and complete Phase 1 of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. The first step in this capital project was celebrated on Feb. 17, 2023, with a ribbon-cutting to formally open the Complex Entranceway. In May, the capital project reached another on a new Football Operations Center and “One Team” Olympic Sports Center. Anticipated completion of Phase 1 renovations is set for spring 2025.

Support through the Legends Society has provided momentum for the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, the new home of the Orange. The Legends Society, which serves as the leadership philanthropic giving arm of ’CAF and supports the John A. Lally Athletics Complex capital campaign, saw record growth during this fiscal year.

Since July 1, 2022, there have been 85 new Legends Society commitments, of which more than 65 were from first-time major gift donors to Syracuse Athletics. With the addition of these new commitments, the Legends Society has eclipsed 191 donors as of June 30, 2023, including 20 donors who have committed $1 million or more. The support comes from across Orange Nation and includes donors from 20 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada.

Commitments to the Legends Society begin at $25,000 and are fulfilled over a period up to five years ($5,000 per year). The program encompasses six levels of commitments and extends up to $1 million or more. In recognition of their philanthropic leadership, donors of the Legends Society may enjoy unique stewardship experiences and engagement opportunities in alignment with their support.

“Our Legends Society donors have been critical to achieving the Phase 1 milestone and impacting the student-athlete experience for all our programs. We thank you for trusting the vision of the capital campaign and helping bring to fruition the first part of our new home at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex,” says Wildhack.

As construction continues on the Football Operations Center and the “One Team” Olympic Sports Center, fundraising will begin to support the anticipated next phase of the multi-year, multi-phase capital project. Phase 2 will include a Student-Athlete Development Center encompassing academic program support, tutoring space, mental health support and career counseling. The University also plans to construct a new Strength and Conditioning Performance Center and an updated Hall of Champions to recognize alumni successes and celebrate the accomplishments of Orange student-athletes in the classroom and on the field. This area will also serve as a gathering and event space.

The plans to renovate the existing footprint at the Lally Athletics Complex follow the in the fall of 2021 to raise $150 million to impact the student-athlete experience for all 20 sports programs and 600-plus student-athletes.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About the ’Cuse Athletics Fund

The ’Cuse Athletics Fund (’CAF) is the driving force of private support for Syracuse University Athletics. The goal of ’CAF is to provide the resources needed for our 600 student-athletes and 20 sports teams to excel in competition and the classroom. ’CAF relies on the support of annual members, alumni and major gift donors to provide these resources. Thanks to the commitment and passion of our supporters, Syracuse Athletics leverages exceptional athletics and academics to transform student-athletes into leaders and champions. .

About the Legends Society

The Legends Society is an exclusive group of Syracuse fans, family and alumni who join in this shared vision and are actively supporting the John A. Lally Athletics Complex by making commitments to the capital campaign. Donors to the Legends Society enjoy unique stewardship opportunities in recognition of their support.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.

After their hard-earned National Championship season, the Syracuse men’s soccer team wanted to respond in gratitude back to the community and held a meet and greet with youngsters at the Boys & Girls Club.

Team members ’22 and ’24 started a program, Sincere Impact, to show their appreciation to the community. During their first event, in April, members of the team held a meet and greet with youngsters through the Boys & Girls Club and organized a clothing giveaway.

“As members of the men’s soccer team, Julius and I were overwhelmed by the support we received from the community during our National Championship season in 2022,” says Singelmann, who earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the and the and is pursuing a graduate degree in economics from the Maxwell School. “Witnessing the impact our success had on the City of Syracuse was truly humbling and inspiring. We knew we wanted to give back, and that’s when we came up with the idea to start a clothing drive.”

The response from fellow student-athletes and other University members was overwhelming.

“We extend our gratitude to all our team members for their generous contributions of over 400 articles of clothing, which surpassed our expectations of making a significant impact,” says Rauch, a double major in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises and finance in the . “In collaboration with the Syracuse Athletic Department and our fellow student-athletes, we gathered more than 1,500 gently used pieces of clothing that met our donation standards.”

The Athletics equipment staff assisted in sorting and cleaning the donated items to ensure they were in top condition.

Members of the men’s soccer team enjoyed spending time at the Boys & Girls Club and interacting with the youngsters.

Members of the University’s , Kate Flannery, executive director of community engagement, and Cydney Johnson, vice president of community engagement and government relations, connected Singelmann and Rauch with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse to set up an event.

“The student-athletes coming to the Boys & Girls Club on Shonnard Street provided a very positive and genuine experience for our neighbors on the near West Side,” says Johnson. “The club was thrilled to host the student-athletes and share a meal with them, along with activities and general fun time.”

The members of the soccer team enjoyed spending time at the club and interacting with the youngsters.

“It was truly heartwarming to witness the impact we were able to make on the kids from the Boys & Girls Club,” Singelmann says. “Our organization was founded with the goal of having a sincere and direct impact on the community by providing necessities while also fostering relationships with the youth.”

Rauch says the whole experience was impactful to him—to just hang out and play basketball, offer them a variety of gear and share some pizza and cookies together—and the best part was the chance to reinforce to the children how much they are valued and loved.

Members of the men’s soccer team organize clothing as part of a meet and greet and clothing giveaway at the Boys & Girls Club.

“In addition to the satisfaction of spending time with members of our community, we were overwhelmed by the gratitude we received and how fulfilling it was to see the children enjoy themselves,” Rauch says.

Singelmann also enjoyed spending time playing foosball, pool and basketball with the youngsters and building connections.

“I am excited about the potential to strengthen our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse and have even more events like this in the future,” Singelmann says. “Our mission is to help create an environment in which the young people of Syracuse can thrive and reach their full potential, and I am proud to be a part of that mission.”

Rauch agrees, noting they want to continue to build a strong relationship with the organization by partnering on future events.

“I would like to express my appreciation to the staff, children and families of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse for welcoming us into their community,” Rauch says. “We intend to continue providing the children with support in any way possible. More importantly, we aspire to foster an unwavering sense of belonging and confidence in every one of them.”

Men’s soccer players Julius Rauch ’24 and Noah Singelmann ’22 organized a clothing giveaway for an event at the Boys & Girls Club.

“While the national landscape in college athletics is changing rapidly, Syracuse University student-athletes remain focused on their academic success as evident with this latest APR report,” says Assistant Provost for Student-Athlete Academic Development Tommy Powell. “This success, sustained over 11 consecutive years, demonstrates the commitment to academic success by our extraordinary student-athletes, coaches, support staff, University administration and faculty.”

For the fourth year in a row, Syracuse’s men’s cross country, men’s track & field and women’s volleyball teams scored a perfect 1,000 APR multi-year score, while women’s ice hockey also achieved that mark this year.

The NCAA also tracks one-year APR scores for every team. In 2021-22, 12 teams posted a perfect score, which ties for third on the list of the most teams to achieve a perfect single-year score. Women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, ice hockey, women’s lacrosse, women’s rowing, men’s soccer, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, and women’s volleyball all posted a perfect 1,000 APR.

The APR score follows individual student and total program progression at each Division I institution, tracking student-athletes by assigning points for each semester they remain eligible and for staying enrolled or graduating.

Every Syracuse team surpassed the minimum standard of 930 (a perfect score is 1,000). The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years.

John A. ’82 and Laura Lally cut the ribbon to officially mark the opening of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex entranceway.

The John A. Lally Athletics Complex entranceway is complete. The first milestone in the ongoing to build a new home for the Orange will welcome all visitors to the Lally Athletics Complex. When completed, the John A. Lally Athletics Complex will stand as a state-of-the-art academic and athletics village serving all 20 Syracuse University teams and more than 600 student-athletes.

On Friday afternoon in front of more than 100 esteemed donors, coaches, student-athlete and University leaders, Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Svyerud, Director of Athletics John Wildhack ’80 and lead donors John A. ’82 and Laura Lally cut the ribbon to officially mark the opening of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex entranceway.

“The John A. Lally Athletics Complex is an Athletic and Academic Village,” Wildhack said. “It represents our commitment to provide every student-athlete with the tools to reach their full potential, both academically and athletically. We will provide best-in-class services in academic support, sports medicine, nutrition, strength and conditioning, career counseling, and personal support for every student-athlete at Syracuse. It will enable us to recruit the brightest and best student-athletes. It will help us compete and win at the ACC and national level. The success of our student-athletes, both academically and athletically, will bring great pride to our University, our community, our alumni, and Orange fans around the world.”

A key priority of Forever Orange, Syracuse University’s comprehensive capital campaign, the Lally Athletics Complex will elevate the student-athlete experience and provide a first-rate facility to help the department continue to develop, recruit and retain high caliber student-athletes. Thanks to the leadership support of Lally, a three-time Orange football letterwinner, and his wife, Laura, this vision is steadily becoming a reality.

“Being a Syracuse Football player was formative for me,” Lally said. “I took what I learned on the field and applied it to business and life. I am very excited about where we are with the project at this time. But we’re just beginning—we need to do everything we can to support it and continue to make this great facility a reality.”

Lally, a graduate of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and an offensive guard for the Orange from 1977-82, made a in 2019 to jumpstart the campaign and help inspire fellow alumni, fans and donors to support.

“The John A. Lally Athletics Complex is the physical embodiment of Syracuse University’s promise to our student athletes,” Syverud said. “Here our students will see the investment Syracuse University is making in their development as a whole person —academically, athletically and personally.”

Friday’s ribbon cutting marked the completion of construction on a new front entrance and expanded meeting space that features engaging interactive technology and state-of-the-art video boards. The entranceway will be the central entry for all alumni, friends, staff, coaches, student-athletes and prospective student-athletes and their families to enter into the home of Syracuse Athletics. Future plans for the complex call for the second level of the entranceway to be expanded into a student-athlete academic success center serving all Syracuse student-athletes.

Momentum for the campaign is building as the ‘Cuse Athletics Fund (‘CAF) and Syracuse University continue to fundraise for the next phases of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. The includes the creation of a new Football Operations Center and the ‘One Team’ Olympic Sports Center, which will be utilized by all Olympic sports teams and house updated dining and nutrition facilities, renovated locker rooms, medical training and strength and conditioning facilities, and modernized displays honoring the history of Syracuse Athletics.

“John and Laura, your support, commitment and passion inspire all of us,” Wildhack said. “Thank you for believing in us, thank you for trusting us. Your generosity will enable tens of thousands of young women and men to come to Syracuse University to learn, to grow as people, to thrive, to compete, and to win at the highest level. Today, our collective vision and dream is being realized — and we’re just getting started.

“What does today represent?�� It represents the official beginning of the multi-phase vision for the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. It represents a new era in Syracuse Athletics.”

To date, the Phase 1 fundraising goal to continue construction on the John A. Lally Athletics Complex is 90% complete. In just two years, the , a leadership group of fans, family and alumni who join in a shared vision to provide current and future student-athletes with a championship experience through philanthropy, has grown to almost 170 donors who have made major gift commitments to support Syracuse Athletics and the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

To learn more about the John A. Lally Athletics Complex capital campaign and how to support, please visit the .

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit foreverorange.syr.edu to learn more.

But despite those lean early times, from the moment he assumed the role of head coach, McIntyre was focused on building up the Orange’s men’s soccer program, and on Dec. 12, his team reached the pinnacle.

When senior Amferny Sinclair buried his penalty kick shot high over the outstretched arms of Indiana University’s goalie, the Orange (19-2-4) claimed their first national championship, outlasting Indiana 7-6 in penalty kicks to win the College Cup.

The seeds for this successful postseason run were planted last year, and with many returning student-athletes who endured the growing pains of losing six one-goal games, McIntyre’s team won 11 more matches than it did last year, including sweeping the Atlantic Coast Conference’s (ACC) regular and postseason championships.

Ian McIntyre coached the Syracuse University men’s soccer team to its first national championship, outlasting Indiana University 7-6 in penalty kicks to win the College Cup.

“We really started thinking about doing something not just magical, but legendary when we drove back from Clemson as ACC champions. It’s been a lot of fun to watch video and have videos shared with us of how much enjoyment there was on the field,” McIntyre says. “The drama and emotions that went with securing a national championship via a penalty shootout—it’s been a whirlwind the last few weeks. Very humbling to see just how everyone has embraced this terrific group of young men. And it was very special to bring a national championship back to Syracuse.”

McIntyre relives the night Syracuse was crowned champions of the collegiate soccer world, shares how his student-athletes and coaches celebrated their national title, recounts when he felt his team was capable of making a deep run in the postseason, discusses the vital role support from the campus community and alumni played in the team’s postseason run, and more!

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Check out episode 128 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Ian McIntyre. A transcript [PDF]��is also available.

For the third year in a row Syracuse University Athletics ranks in the top 10 among Power 5 schools’ Graduation Success Rate (GSR). Syracuse’s 93% GSR is tied for the fifth highest score among Power 5 schools, and the Orange are one of 25 Power 5 schools nationally to score 93% or higher.

Syracuse’s GSR of 93% ties for the third-best score in program history, trailing only 95% in 2021 and 94% in 2020. It ties the mark set in 2019.

For the fifth time in the last six years, more than half of Syracuse’s teams achieved a perfect 100% score. GSR measurement reflects Orange student-athletes who enrolled in 2015-16 and earned degrees within six years.

Syracuse’s 93% GSR is above the national GSR of 89%, and the Orange are one of eight Atlantic Coast Conference schools to achieve a 93% or better.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) started measuring GSR, which includes those who entered midyear, as well as student-athletes who transferred into the institution, in 2004.

Syracuse’s women’s tennis and women’s volleyball programs achieved a perfect 100% for the 11th consecutive year, the longest active streaks in the athletics department. The Orange men’s cross country and men’s track and field teams have scored a perfect 100% for nine years in a row, and the women’s rowing and men’s lacrosse teams have a five-year streak of perfect scores.

In addition to those teams, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s basketball all scored a perfect 100%.

“These excellent scores are a testament to the dedication of Syracuse University student-athletes to their academics and to their sport, an incredibly demanding balancing act,” says Faculty Athletic Representative , professor of sport management in the Falk College. “Student-athletes have amazing competitive experiences here, while at the same time earning degrees in a diverse array of majors that prepare them exceedingly well for their future endeavors. Congratulations to Athletics Director John Wildhack and his team, especially all of the talented coaches, academic support staff and, of course, our highly-regarded student-athletes. Well done.”

The volleyball program leads all Syracuse programs with 13 perfect GSR scores, followed by the men’s cross country, men’s track and field, and women’s tennis programs, which have posted a perfect 100% GSR 11 times. Women’s soccer has each achieved a 100% GSR on 10 occasions.

“In the ever-changing world of higher education and collegiate athletics, one thing has remained constant: A degree from Syracuse University will set up our student-athletes for opportunities to thrive on a national and international level,” says Assistant Provost for Student-Athlete Academic Development . “I have had the privilege to see many of these graduates enter as first-year students and leave the University prepared to serve and contribute positively to our society.”

Syracuse’s GSR Success By the Numbers:

• Power Five Ranking: Syracuse ties for fifth among Power 5 schools (93% GSR)
• Teams with a 100% GSR in 2022: nine (women’s tennis, women’s volleyball, men’s cross country, men’s track and field, men’s lacrosse, women’s rowing, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s basketball)
• Consecutive 100% GSR scores: 11 years (women’s tennis, women’s volleyball)
• Most 100% GSR scores: 13 (women’s volleyball)

The NCAA instituted the GSR to more accurately reflect the mobility of college students as compared to the Federal Graduation Rate. The federal rate counts any student who leaves a school as an academic failure, whether or not the student enrolls at another school. The federal rate also does not consider students who enter as transfer students. The GSR formula provides a more complete and accurate picture by removing from the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible and including student-athletes who transfer to a school after being enrolled at another university.

Art Jones (left) and Chandler Jones have announced a seven-figure commitment in support of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.

Years after making their presence felt on the gridiron, the Jones brothers are committed to impacting the Orange football program well into the future. Arthur ’09 and Chandler Jones ’15, who dominated the line of scrimmage for Syracuse from 2005 through 2011, are helping to position Syracuse Athletics—and every person who wears the Orange—for success for years to come. The brothers announced a seven-figure commitment in support of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, a state-of-the-art academic and athletics village that will benefit more than 600 student-athletes. Their commitment will assist with construction of the new Football Operations Center at the Lally Athletics Complex.

The Jones brothers’ commitment represents a major boost for Syracuse University’s $1.5 billion Forever Orange Campaign and continues to build momentum toward completing phase 1 of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. Initial components of the first phase began in the spring with construction of a new front entrance into the complex. Additional renovations included in phase 1 are dependent upon philanthropy being secured, including the new Football Operations Center and the updated Olympic Sports wing.

The brothers, who grew up in Endicott, New York, each starred on the defensive side of the ball during their time at Syracuse.

A defensive lineman from 2005 to 2009, Arthur was a two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection and was selected in the fifth round of the 2010 National Football League draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He played for the Ravens from 2010 to 2013, including the team that won Super Bowl XLVII in 2013. He then played with the Indianapolis Colts from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Redskins in 2017.

Chandler, a defensive end for the Orange from 2008 to 2011, and All-BIG EAST First Team selection, was a first-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2012 NFL Draft. During his four years with the Patriots, New England won Super Bowl XLIX (2014). From 2016 through 2021, he played for the Arizona Cardinals before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. Chandler has recorded the most sacks and forced fumbles of anyone in the league since 2012. His 71.5 sacks during his first five-plus seasons with the Cardinals (2016-21) ranks third in the NFL during that span and first all-time in franchise history. A four-time Pro-Bowl Selection (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021), Chandler was named to the NFL 2010’s All-Decade Team in April 2020.

“My father being a pastor, he instilled in my brothers and me that it’s always better to give than to receive,” says Arthur Jones. “Syracuse University has been a blessing to my family and me throughout the years. The impact that SU has made on me is priceless, and you can’t put a dollar amount on that. I am a proud alumnus of the greatest school in the world!”

“Syracuse Football is a great piece of my history that I will always cherish,” says Chandler. “It is an honor for me to give back and be part of shaping the future of Syracuse Football. Together, we can continue to build a legacy of excellence on the football field and in the classroom. Being able to lift up others to assist in accomplishing their dreams is something I look forward to telling my children one day! Let’s go Orange!”

Designated as a core priority of phase 1 and vital to the future of Syracuse Football, the Football Operations Center, once complete, will immediately enhance recruiting efforts and support new levels of development for Syracuse Football student-athletes. In recognition of their commitment, the second level Football Suite in the new Football Operations Center will be named in honor of the Jones Brothers.

“The Football Operations Center is essential to the future of our program. It will be a new home for our student-athletes and include all the necessary resources to support their day-to-day development and enhance our recruiting efforts,” says Head Football Coach Dino Babers. “This commitment from Arthur and Chandler is remarkable, and we are so grateful to them for giving back and paying it forward for current and future players.”

The commitment from the Jones brothers amplifies the strong response since the athletics department announced the John A. Lally Athletics Complex was close to achieving its phase 1 goal. The ’Cuse Athletics Fund, the fundraising organization of Syracuse Athletics, recently announced a successful fundraising year that yielded nearly $30 million in donations. Energized by the campaign, fundraising for the athletics department has served as a catalyst to support the future renovations at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. To date, the athletics department has raised $43.5 million toward its phase 1 goal of $55 million. These capital investments in athletics facilities, along with support for other building projects on campus, are all part of Syracuse University’s Forever Orange Campaign.

“Support from the Orange family for the new complex has been tremendous, and this recent gift from Arthur and Chandler is another example of people wanting to making a positive impact,” says Director of Athletics John Wildhack. “Both Arthur and Chandler had outstanding careers as students and athletes, and we are thankful for the impact they continue to make on Syracuse University and Syracuse Athletics. The fact they both have their degrees from Syracuse, are Super Bowl champions and are from upstate New York is incredibly impactful.”

To learn more about joining the Legends Society and supporting the new John A. Lally Athletics Complex, visit the .

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit����to learn more.

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Michael and Sharon Bill

Michael Bill ’58 was a top student-athlete at Syracuse University, a center on the highly ranked football team that went to the Cotton Bowl. After graduation, he lost touch with his alma mater, but never lost the Orange spirit. In fact, his wife Sharon recalls that when they met and married in the 1970s, Mike told her: “If I get a chance, I’m going to give back to Syracuse University. They gave me the foundation for my success in business.”

That sense of gratitude—and the desire to see other student-athletes succeed—is the motivation behind the Bill family’s latest gift to the Forever Orange Campaign. ��Mike and Sharon Bill have pledged $2 million to support the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, a state-of-the-art academic and athletics center designed to benefit all student-athletes and enhance the entire student experience.

In honor of their generosity, the new football locker room will be named the Michael M. Bill #59 Football Locker Room, acknowledging Mike’s legacy on the field (he wore #59) and his continuing support off the field.

“Mike and Sharon’s commitment to Syracuse Athletics and our student-athletes is remarkable,” says Director of Athletics John Wildhack. “Their passion inspires all of us and their support of the Lally Athletics Complex will significantly aid in our efforts to recruit student-athletes who excel academically and athletically.”

“To attract talented young men and women, colleges have to have a great athletics complex,” says Mike. “Better recruiting means better teams. ��And, in the case of football especially, great teams help build donor support. We see this as a long-term investment and a very good investment in the future of the Orange.”

Mike says his experience as a student-athlete at Syracuse University in the 1950s truly defined him. ��He had been an outstanding athlete at Garden City High School on Long Island, New York, playing basketball, football, baseball and track. He was courted by several universities, all offering scholarships. He played high school basketball against Jim Brown and was impressed that Brown had chosen Syracuse University (he was a year ahead of him in school). But what sealed the deal with Syracuse for Mike was the University’s academic reputation.

“Academics were extremely important to my Dad,” says Mike. “My high school baseball coach was also a history teacher and a Syracuse University graduate. He took me to visit Syracuse.” After that visit, Mike was all in.

“Syracuse really took care of me,” says Mike. “They gave me a scholarship and an education. ��If you wanted to play, you had to play hard and study hard. It’s really a time management skill.” He credits his coaches with improving his performance and nurturing a “linebacker mentality.” He had strength and speed.

After graduation—even with an invitation to join the Green Bay Packers—Mike set new goals and focused his energy on business. ��So with his history degree, an entrepreneurial spirit (and well-honed time management skills!), Mike became a respected entrepreneur and built MJ Insurance, one of the top 100 privately held insurance agencies in the country. He also founded company subsidiaries, Omnibus Financial, a finance vehicle for premiums; Benefit Design and Administrators, a third-party administrator; and Omnibus Insurance, products for the mining industry.

Once successful in business, he got reconnected to his alma mater. He was invited to join the Board of Trustees in 2001, serving as Audit Committee chair for several years. Both Mike and Sharon visited campus frequently.

“The Board includes the spouses in campus activities,” says Sharon. “I went to classes and met the deans. ��I saw how everyone was working together for the good of the students, to make their experience better and to give them more.” That’s what motivated the Bills to support the Ernie Davis 44 Endowed Football Scholarship and create the Sharon C. Bill and Michael M. Bill Endowed Football Scholarship which, each year, aims to bring the best and brightest to Syracuse.

“Both the physical and intellectual are important,” says Mike. “We believe that if these young men and women have a high-level experience at Syracuse they will continue on as enthusiastic alumni and donors.”

Sharon says that when she looks up to Mike (she’s only 5’8” and he is 6’3”), she sees “someone who has always been very determined, who always set goals and had a plan for how he was going to achieve what he was going to achieve. And I think a lot of that comes from football. To carry out a plan and know where you must go to reach the goal.”

Their shared goal: to see the Lally Athletics Complex come to fruition, and set the stage for successful students and alumni, on and off the playing field.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.

Ella Simkins ’20, G’21

Ella Simkins ’20, G’21 had big plans for the 2020 women’s lacrosse season. A standout defender, in her junior year she had started all 21 games, recorded career highs in caused turnovers and draw controls, and ranked third on the team in caused turnovers, all during a 16-5 season for the Orange.

However, the coronavirus pandemic canceled Simkins’ senior season after just eight games, the call coming while the Orange were having a pre-game meal before its March 12 match-up against the Cavaliers in Charlottesville, Virginia.

After this disappointment, Simkins, like other Orange student-athletes, was offered a fifth year of eligibility for 2020-21. Having already received her undergraduate degree, in order to return she needed to join a graduate program. The path she chose—through the School of Education’s Certificate of Advanced Study in Intercollegiate Athletic Advising and Support (CAS in IAAS), which was re-imagined in 2021 and became a popular option for fifth-year athletes—has set Simkins on her coaching career path.

“Through our CAS courses, and especially in mine, I saw Ella as this budding gem who I believed would be an incredible coach,” says Professor , chair of the Department of Higher Education. “Ella thrived in classes and also on the lacrosse field, becoming a . In all my years of teaching and amazing student growth, her transformation was one of the most rewarding.”

Now an , as well as a member of the , we caught up with Simkins to learn about her experience in the CAS in IAAS program and how it has helped her to navigate her first year at Army Lax.

“The Forever Orange campaign has been transformative for Syracuse University as a whole and we are so grateful for the donors, friends and alumni who have provided support,” says John Wildhack, director of athletics. “We recognize that creating a truly superior student-athlete experience demands a focused initiative that aligns academic and athletic aspirations. Philanthropy is critical to creating an environment in which student-athletes can thrive in their sport, in the classroom and in their careers. As a department, we are competing to attract the most talented student-athletes from around the nation and globe. Creating an unprecedented student-athlete experience will require equally unprecedented donor support for those who choose to wear Orange.”

As part of Syracuse Athletics’ fundraising initiative, Manley Field House, which has been the hub of activity and the center of student-athlete life for Syracuse University’s athletics for nearly 60 years, will be, over time, transformed into the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, a state-of-the-art academic and athletics village that will benefit all student-athletes. Named after alumnus and three-time football letterwinner John Lally ’82, he and his wife, Laura, , which will be entirely funded by private philanthropy.

The John A. Lally Athletics Complex will transform the student-athlete experience at Syracuse University for generations to come.

“John and Laura have been incredible partners over the years,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “We are grateful for their loyal support of Syracuse University—as donors, as champions and as fans. This is a defining moment for Syracuse University Athletics. The launch of this transformational project advances our trajectory to further create and foster a world-class culture of academic and athletic excellence.”

The first phase of the multi-million, multi-year project will commence in spring 2022 with the construction of a new front entrance. As part of this initial work, the Student-Athlete Academic Support Program will have an expanded state-of-the-art area to meet student needs through private in-person meeting spaces for expanded tutorial appointments and academic advising, along with career and life skills programming. Available to all student-athletes, the expanded academic support facility will house private rooms for student-athletes to utilize for completing class assignments or studying between classes. Additionally, early work will include an enhanced multi-display Hall of Champions experience. The display will celebrate the accomplishments of Orange student-athletes in the classroom and on the field in real time, as well as recognize alumni successes. This area will also serve as a gathering and event space that can be used for special events, along with day-to-day activities and programming.

Wildhack notes the revitalized complex will benefit all student-athletes at Syracuse University, improve recruiting and increase retention.

“Thanks to John and Laura’s generosity and the philanthropic support of other donors, our student-athletes are receiving a holistic experience that positions them to achieve their aspirations, on and off the playing fields,” says Wildhack.

The Lallys began thinking about how they could make an enduring impact on the University after retiring a few years ago. “It started with a donation to resurface one of the practice fields and the vision grew from there. Teamed up with Chancellor Syverud, John Wildhack and Head Football Coach Dino Babers, Laura and I became more and more excited about ways to impact the experience for generations of student-athletes to come,” says John Lally, a graduate of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and an offensive guard for the Orange from 1977-82. “It was clear to us they had the chemistry to accomplish great things, and that motivated us to take on a bigger role. We have been exceedingly happy with that decision.”

Originally from Clarence, New York, Lally is the former president and owner of PCB Piezotronics Inc., headquartered in Depew, New York. Together, he and Laura are active philanthropists, having supported the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western New York, along with supporting many other charitable organizations. In addition to their 2019 gift to create the Lally Complex, the couple also established an endowed scholarship to be awarded annually to a student-athlete on the football team.

This is a crucial time to be involved with the University, Laura says. “We believe in the leadership and the vision for Syracuse University, that makes a huge difference to us knowing that the University is in such good hands.”

Babers says he is grateful to the Lallys for their leading gift that will hopefully inspire others. “John is an incredible alumnus and storied Syracuse football player and, with Laura, they are an incredible team to help us reach new heights as a football program,” Babers says. “With their support, our student-athletes are positioned to succeed to their fullest potential.”

The new Lally Complex will support the academic and athletic experience of the 600 student-athletes across all sports at Syracuse University. Additional enhancements to the facility will be announced as new philanthropy is secured. As part of the vision for the Lally Complex transformation, the Department of Athletics is considering enhancements that include the creation of a new Football Operations Center; a One Team Center, which will be utilized by all of Syracuse University’s Olympic sports teams; a student-athlete academic center to expand resources for academic support and professional and career development; updated dining and nutrition facilities; renovated locker rooms, medical training and strength and conditioning facilities; and modernized facades on the exterior of the complex.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for Syracuse University is poised to do just that. Fueled by 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.

The 10-year partnership, which is already underway, creates multiple opportunities for collaboration between Syracuse and the MEAC’s member institutions.

One of the key components of the alliance is an athletics scheduling agreement that has a goal of up to 50 competitions between Syracuse and the MEAC institutions over the course of the next 10 years. Contracts have already been signed between Syracuse and Morgan State in football (scheduled for 2029) and between Syracuse and Morgan State in women’s basketball (Nov. 17, 2021). In spring 2022, Syracuse softball will play Maryland Eastern Shore and Coppin State.

“On behalf of Syracuse Athletics, I would like to thank Commissioner Thomas for his enthusiastic support of this unprecedented agreement,” says John Wildhack, Syracuse director of athletics. “My thanks extend to the MEAC staff and Syracuse Athletics and University staff who have worked diligently to make this idea a reality. We are excited with the opportunities this alliance will create for MEAC institutions, Syracuse University, thousands of student-athletes, coaches and staff from MEAC institutions and Syracuse University.”

“First, I would like to thank John Wildhack, director of athletics at Syracuse University, for his vision and progressive leadership on this alliance,” says Dennis Thomas, commissioner of the MEAC. “Our member institutions look forward to working with Syracuse to implement our shared vision of cooperation to ameliorate and procure opportunities for our student-athletes, both athletically and academically. Our membership, along with Syracuse, looks forward to assisting our constituents to lead this collaboration through sports competitions and academic engagement.”

Additional elements of the alliance include:

• Athletics Department Internship Exchange: The 10-week internship at Syracuse will be open to a student from a MEAC institution and for a Syracuse student at one of the MEAC institutions or the conference office.
• Compliance Matters Seminar: A series of rules compliance workshops involving Syracuse and MEAC institutions.
• Student-Athlete Development Seminars: Syracuse’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will partner with MEAC member SAAC bodies to conduct virtual workshops.
• Athletics Revenue Generation Conference: A seminar, focusing on revenue generation strategies for increased funding for athletics, will be held with Syracuse, the MEAC and MEAC institutional staffs.
• Women In Athletics Leadership Conference: The MEAC will invite Syracuse to partner with the league’s Women in Athletics Conference, which is held every two years. The workshop is designed to increase the awareness of opportunities available to women athletic administrators and to assist them in their professional development.
• Visiting Professorships/Lectureships: A Syracuse faculty member will be invited to visit a MEAC institution to conduct a weeklong series of lectures in an academic department. A faculty member from a mutually agreed-upon MEAC university will be invited to visit Syracuse to hold a weeklong series of lectures in an academic department.

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 51st year of intercollegiate competition with the 2021-22 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.

“It’s been really fun to have that interaction,” says Kate Donovan ’22, a member of the Orange women’s soccer team. “Just being able to get on a (Zoom) call and talk to these kids and help guide them through little things, it has been fun and helps us bridge that gap of wanting to be part of the Syracuse community, even during COVID times.”

The “Adopt A Classroom” partnership between the Syracuse University student-athletes and the North Side Learning Center is a collaborative effort among the University Athletics Department, the Diversity and Inclusion Student-Athlete Board (DISAB), the Football Club composed of former Syracuse football players, the University’s Office of Community Engagement and the North Side Learning Center.

At the heart of this initiative is a commitment by the University, its current and former student-athletes and the Office of Community Engagement to support and give back to the Syracuse community through these mentoring sessions.

“I want them to know I’m not just a hockey player,” says student-athlete Jessica DiGirolamo ’21. “I care about the Syracuse community, I care about those around me, I care about my neighbors here.”

Since March 3, eight student-athletes have been meeting virtually on Wednesdays and Thursdays with elementary and middle school students from the North Side Learning Center who are the children of immigrants. The sessions, which have been both one-on-one and in groups, will run until May 13.

Syracuse University student-athletes Rachel Bonner (top center) and Jessica DiGirolamo (top left) meet virtually with students from the North Side Learning Center in Syracuse.

Their discussions are all over the map, from serious conversations about family, school and religion to more light-hearted banter about pets, TikTok dances and braiding hair. Balqisa Mumin, a sixth-grader at H.W. Smith Pre-K-8 School in Syracuse, says she bonded with student-athlete Rachel Bonner ’21 over religion.

“What surprised me was that I didn’t know that many people were religious like we both were,” says Balqisa Mumin, whose parents are from Ethiopia and Somalia. “It’s easier to talk to her because she knows more about her religion and she’s older. I don’t have many Muslim kids in my grade, so they don’t tell me about their religions and things.”

Bonner, a distance runner on the women’s track and field team, says the most important lesson the student-athletes can impart to the students is that there is more that unites us than divides us.

“What I really appreciate about this is how it’s a beneficial relationship for both of us,” Bonner says. “We’re all daughters, athletes, students, sisters, people who identify with religion and practice religion, so it’s very cool to compare and contrast those identities.”

“The childlike resilience they bring to the table at this time is so admirable,” Bonner adds. “It’s something that inspires me to not be too adultlike during the pandemic and to just have that childlike joy about getting the best out of this.”

Connecting with the Community

When Keenan Hale ’15 attended Syracuse University, the former football wide receiver couldn’t help but notice the other world that existed just beyond the campus border.

“I recall on many occasions walking off campus directly under the bridge into the low-income housing area,” Hale says. “To see the inner city, which appeared to have a lack of resources and no one investing time, efforts, energy or money into the surrounding community, was disheartening.”

Hale is a member of the board of directors for the , which started in 2000 as a fundraising platform for former players to give back to the program but in recent years has expanded to provide support to football alumni, the University and the Syracuse community. Hale, who is now a federal lobbyist and senior director of government and regulatory affairs for the advisory firm Ian Reid LLC, is also familiar with the North Side Learning Center because his fraternity performed community service work at the center when he was a student.

Students gather at the North Side Learning Center for Adopt-A-Classroom sessions with Syracuse University student-athletes. (Photo courtesy of the North Side Learning Center)

The Football Club became involved with the Adopt A Classroom program at the request of Director of Athletics John Wildhack, who has been working with Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Culture and Climate Salatha Willis, the newly formed�� Diversity and Inclusion Student-Athlete Board (DISAB) and the Office of Community Engagement to find projects that connect student-athletes with the community. The Office of Community Engagement had partnered with the North Side Learning Center for other projects and was familiar with the Adopt A Classroom program.

“When some people look at my position, they only see the diversity and inclusion aspects of it; they don’t see culture and climate,” Willis says. “This program is an opportunity to lift the climate that exists within athletics and push our student-athletes outside of their environment�� and into the Syracuse community. And the other great thing about this program is that it’s a cross-collaboration between individuals among multiple teams, so young men and women are operating together in a capacity to mentor and support young individuals within their educational experience.”

The Adopt A Classroom program did require a financial commitment because it’s a means for the center to purchase needed books and supplies for students, and the Syracuse Football Club agreed to pay that cost. Football Club board member and former safety Chris Williamson ’14 says as the club grew and broadened its areas of support, it was important to find projects that impact children.

“The Adopt A Classroom initiative really goes into that aspect of being able to touch lives and make people’s daily lives better,” says Williamson, an award-winning and Emmy-nominated sports anchor/personality for SportsNet New York (SNY). “A lot of times, it comes down to supplies and books and the basic necessities and that touches on some of the things that Keenan brought up about the divide between the University and the community. This program is something to help bridge that gap.”

There are 12 students (seven from middle school and five from elementary school) who are meeting with the student-athletes to create relationships that ideally will last beyond this spring. Many of the North Side Learning Center students will be the first in their family to attend college, and the Syracuse student-athletes are sharing stories of their own journeys to help the younger students achieve their goals.

“When you think about refugees and immigrant families that have language barriers and other obstacles like that, they also need additional resources to navigate this complex American system,” Hale says. “Anytime we can be here to help guide them and provide those resources to that community, it’s an important thing for us to do.”

‘More Than Just Athletes’

In the nearly two months since the Adopt A Classroom program started, Syracuse University student and North Side Learning Center teacher Khadija Sharif says she can already see a change in the students at the center.

“They seem to be more confident about their abilities to get into sports,” says Sharif ’23, a student in the College of Arts and Sciences. “It was really nice for our students to talk to them and get to know about��their interests and thoughts outside of being an athlete.”

Often, those conversations turn to the future. Fatma Mohamed, a seventh grader at H.W. Smith Pre-K-8 School in Syracuse, says that in addition to running track and playing soccer, she enjoys unique clothing and would like to become “a CEO of a fashion company.”

Women’s soccer player Kate Donovan (top center) says “it’s been really fun to have that interaction” with the North Side Learning Center students.

“We get to talk about what we want to become when we’re older and I like talking to other people about what I want my future job to be because it might inspire them to become what I want to be and I can be a role model for other people,” says Mohamed, whose parents are from Somalia.

Mumin, the sixth grader from H.W. Smith, has also talked to the Syracuse student-athletes about her career goals.

“When I grow older, I want to be a hair stylist,” Mumin says. “I want to create my own building with three different things: one floor could have where you get your nails done, another place you can get your makeup done, and then the top floor is where I will work and do people’s hair and give them haircuts.”

The Syracuse student-athletes say they are pleasantly surprised by the students’ focus and determination to go to college and have a career. “I don’t think I was in that same place at their age,” Donovan says, smiling.

“They’re very driven and passionate about the things they like and enjoy and a common theme with them is they’re all very family-oriented and talk a lot about how hard their parents and siblings have worked and they look up to their siblings who have gone to school and are working,” says, Donovan, the Orange soccer forward.

Bonner says she was encouraged that the University was able to find a connection that benefits Syracuse’s large immigrant community. And the student-athletes involved in this program say they will encourage other student-athletes to get involved in similar projects because it’s truly a win-win: They’re helping the community and they’re getting as much out of it–if not more–than students they’re mentoring.

“As much as I’m bringing happiness into their life for an hour or so, they’re making me happy as well,” says DiGirolamo, the hockey defenseman. “It’s about building those relationships and wanting them to understand that people are there to support them and care for them.”

Brittney Sykes ’17 (current WNBA player for the LA Sparks), Cam Lynch ’15�� (former NFL linebacker), Morgan Alexander ’21 (women’s lacrosse) and Quincy Guerrier ’23 (men’s basketball) will serve as panelists.

Additional keynote speakers include Valorie Kondos Fields (PAC 12 Conference Women’s Gymnastics Coach of the Century); Dr. Jessica Bartley (director of mental health for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committees); Breyah Richardson (former Loyola New Orleans women’s basketball player and founder of , an organization designed to bring mental health resources to the Black community); Matt Davidson (founder and president of the Excellence with Integrity Institute); Resa Lovelace (founder of RBL Theory, an organization dedicated to promoting workplace diversity and inclusivity); and Dona Rodgers (founder of Morgan’s Message, which strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics).

Falk College sport venue and event management graduate students are getting hands-on experience in event planning.

The topic of mental health was selected for its relevance in society, particularly sporting communities where, regardless of age, race, gender and/or sexuality, nearly 35% of professional athletes cite that they are coping with some form of a mental health issue. The Syracuse University SVEM program aims to bring awareness to mental health issues affecting athletes and to provide a safe space for sharing information and encouraging discussion.

A core component of Falk’s SVEM graduate program is a semester-long assignment for each cohort to collectively organize and host an event during the spring semester.

“This event provides students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in event planning from start to finish,” says Sport Management Associate Professor Gina Pauline, who has taught the Advanced Sport Event Management course for the past six years. “They have learned how to work on marketing, sponsorship, operations and more through the executing of this virtual symposium. In what is a very different academic year for everyone, the students found an opportunity to develop their skills while focusing on such a meaningful topic.”

This year’s symposium, “More Than a Game,” is a first of its kind within the program’s history as a completely online event.

For more information and to register for this free event, please visit and follow on Instagram and Twitter at @morethanagameSU.

Story by SVEM graduate students Kamille Cooper and Michael Okin.

Previously offered as a dual program with the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Cathy Engstrom, faculty member in the higher education program, redesigned the program to offer a set of courses, many accessible remotely, that give students a foundation about how colleges and intercollegiate athletics work and the impact of these intersecting, and at times conflicting, systems on student-athletes’ identity and college success.

Engstrom says, “Consistent with SOE’s mission, IAAS students are pushed to examine how race, gender, national origin and class shape student-athletes’ experiences, and ways in which ‘isms’ (e.g., racism, sexism, heterosexism) operate. They learn to uncover systemic inequities, tensions and demands many students encounter. In a few courses, they are asked to propose well-researched, feasible programs or policies that promote student-athletes’ well-being and position student-athletes to excel in the classroom, on the field and as they transition out of college. The intent is that intercollegiate athletic programs will seriously consider adopting these exemplary proposals.”

The relaunch coincided with an unprecedented time in higher education, as spring 2020 student-athletes were granted an additional year of eligibility due to COVID-19 and the resulting halt to many collegiate sports. Students from four different spring sports enrolled in fall 2020 after concluding that this program addressed their academic needs and career goals while fitting into their demanding intercollegiate athletic schedules.

Graduates of this program will be well-positioned to consider positions as academic advisors, intercollegiate athletic coaches or continue their studies with a to prepare them in student affairs/higher education administrator roles. In addition, several current master’s students in higher education are enrolled in this certificate program concurrently.

These possibilities attracted lacrosse player Drake Porter ’20, who enrolled in the program when the NCAA granted him an additional year of eligibility. Porter says the IAAS program has given him the tools he needs to prepare for a career in coaching after his student-athlete days are over and will offer him a leg up in a competitive job market. He adds that the program was the right support for his professional goals, and the design of the instruction has fit well with his other academic, personal and athletic commitments.

As an undergraduate, his commitment to his sport placed stress on his commitment to his academics, causing friction in his classes. “On group projects, where meeting outside of class was required, my groups would perceive me to be lazy or unwilling to meet because my schedule did not allow me to meet at regular times during the day,” Porter says. “Misconceptions like this were damaging, and sometimes my peer evaluations and grades could suffer as a result.” He says the barriers to academic participation and inclusion he faced as an undergrad have not been an issue in the IAAS program.

For international student and member of the Syracuse women’s rowing team Maddy Horridge ’20, the IAAS program provided place and purpose during uncertain times. “I am a student that thrives by being in the classroom. Being home and working constantly on the computer I have struggled to balance a healthy social and work life.” She says the peer network of student-athletes and the IAAS cohort provided support. “Some new challenges that student-athletes faced were testing more frequently compared to other peers, working and being very flexible with workouts while balancing classes, and trying to keep healthy.”

In his role as assistant athletic director, Morey Mossovitz ’08, G’10, has seen firsthand the unique experiences of student-athletes, and that has informed his practice as an adjunct professor in the IAAS program.

Mossovitz says the program stands out in its preparation of students to work at the crossroads of athletics and higher education. “Professionals that work with student-athletes require insight into many facets of higher education, particularly the structure of athletic departments, NCAA rules and particular challenges that face student-athletes. Currently, there are not many programs that provide a focused curriculum for student-athlete support fields.”

Horridge says, “There were a handful of student-athletes in [Prof. Mossovitz’s] class, but the majority were non-student-athletes. I believe the discussions opened the eyes of students about what student-athletes go through.”

Assistant Provost Tommy Powell agrees that the student-athlete culture is complex, and that the IAAS program is responding to it and preparing for its future in conscientious ways. “The program has been an incredible help in providing a voice and expertise on issues impacting student-athletes and athletics in general. It emphasizes ethics and integrity within the professional world and promotes the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion as critical elements of student-athlete success,” he says. “Additionally, the focus on scholarly research to help educate, prepare and advocate for student-athletes through transition, retention, graduation and beyond is needed in this field to support policy change within athletics and the academy.”

As the pandemic continues and the dynamics of higher education are changing, the importance of programs to prepare students for student support roles in intercollegiate athletics will increase and be more complex. Mossovitz says other shifts are on the horizon for college athletics, particularly around branding, image and concerns for social justice. “Professionals working with college athletes will need to understand these topics and develop the skills to help support the students they work with, so they can be leaders who develop the critical evaluation and thinking skills to advance and support the institutions they work for.”

The CAS program in Intercollegiate Athletic Advising and Support is currently enrolling students for fall 2021. The School of Education is offering 50 percent tuition scholarships for eligible students. For more information, contact program coordinator Cathy Engstrom.

Syracuse University’s first appearance on the new ACC Network is Sunday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m., when the Orange men’s soccer team opens the season against Colgate at the SU Soccer Stadium.

For the past three years, Syracuse University has been immersed in large-scale, campuswide infrastructure improvements to prepare for the launch of the ACC Network (ACCN). In partnership with ESPN, the ACCN will feature around-the-clock linear broadcasts of Atlantic Coast Conference athletic events and programming beginning today.

Work began in 2016 to allow the University to broadcast games on the ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), the digital-only predecessor to the ACCN that allows fans to stream games exclusively through the ESPN app. To meet the goal of being “TV-ready” for ACCN linear (that is, traditional) broadcasts in 2019, an extensive connectivity overhaul was needed, in addition to technology and equipment enhancements that improve the viewer’s experience and create a seamless, gold-standard production.

The story of how Syracuse University brought its campus infrastructure to the caliber required for professional-grade, linear broadcasts was no small feat—and in many ways encapsulates a spirit that carries through all of Syracuse Athletics: a spirit of teamwork, innovation and thinking ahead.

It’s all about connectivity

The crux of the infrastructure upgrades needed for the ACCN was connectivity. Over a series of months back in 2017, the University installed an extensive network of fiber optic cable underground to connect seven Orange athletics facilities to Dick Clark Studios in the Newhouse School. The fiber (552 strands of it, to be exact) sends audio and video from the Dome, J.S. Coyne Stadium, the SU Soccer Stadium, the Skytop Softball Stadium, the Tennity Ice Pavilion and Gym A in the Women’s Building to the studios in Newhouse 2, which have served and will continue to serve as a primary control room for both linear and digital broadcasts on the ACCN and ACCNX. It also connects to a bureau camera room in Manley Field House that accommodates live pre- or post-game interviews with coaches and student-athletes at any time for ESPN and ACCN shows.

“We were already set up in a basic sense for multi-camera productions at several of our venues, but the connectivity upgrades really enhanced our camera positions and wired every single camera position for TV,” Syracuse Athletics broadcast engineer Tom White explains. “We put fiber optic cables and power in each camera position at each venue, including where our play-by-play and color commentary talent is located, and it all feeds back to the control room at Newhouse.”

To bring the necessary ACCN connectivity upgrades to completion, ESPN was on campus earlier this year installing dedicated transmission lines from Newhouse 2 directly to the network’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.

Upgrades at Newhouse and athletics venues help enhance the fan experience

The University’s ACC Network production control room in Dick Clark Studios in Newhouse 2.

Having state-of-the-art production studios at Newhouse that could serve as a central production room for ACCN broadcasts, without extensive upgrades, has been instrumental to getting Syracuse University broadcast-ready. While other ACC member institutions were likely faced with building control rooms from the ground up to support productions, the University had already renovated the Dick Clark Studios in a way that met many of the ACCN requirements.

“When we renovated the studios seven years ago, Syracuse had just joined the ACC and there was talk about an ACC Network,” recalls Neal Coffey, manager of operations and engineering at Newhouse. “So I said, ‘What if we turned Newhouse into the communications hub for campus?’ We built it with the broadcast infrastructure and though we didn’t yet have the connectivity to the athletics venues, our control room was ready to go for a high-end sports broadcast.”

“This project relied heavily on Newhouse and their willingness to jump in and partner with us on the upgrades,” says Morey Mossovitz, associate athletics director for facilities and event operations. “They have beautiful studios and had already built a great foundation of professional equipment. We were able to go in and make the additional investments needed to bring the studio up to the standards required to do an ESPN-level linear production.”

Additional studio upgrades included installation of a replay device with a greater number of inputs and outputs to accommodate four different replay channels, an upgrade to the graphics systems, and installation of a higher-capacity router to handle the additional video sources from each venue.

At the athletics venues, the University had to ensure that the number of cameras met the five-camera minimum requirement for a linear broadcast set by ESPN. For some of these cameras, an investment was made in larger lenses to increase the ability to zoom in tight on specific visuals to enhance productions. “We’ve also added point-of-view cameras that can be set up in a field hockey goal or next to the back of a soccer goal, or positioned to shoot the rim in a basketball production. Small upgrades like this can really make a difference in the quality of the broadcast and how the viewer experiences the game,” says White.

“We live in an era where fans aren’t just streaming on their laptop or mobile device, but often playing content on their TV sets at enormous sizes,” says Mossovitz. “Because of the upgrades we did at the studios and the venues, there will be a dramatic visual difference.”

That said, there will be no discernible difference to the viewer between a digital broadcast (on ACC Network Extra) and a linear broadcast (on ACC Network) when it comes to Syracuse Athletics productions. Because of the extent of the infrastructure investments the University has made, the technology can be leveraged no matter what kind of broadcast is being produced. “That will lead to ESPN and our partners being much more interested in taking Syracuse games, because we’re a proven entity,” Mossovitz says. “We’ve shown that we have the right camera locations, we’ve proven that we can produce a seamless, high-quality broadcast.”

The future looks bright

Otto knows the direction in which the ACCN is heading.

When it comes to future and ongoing enhancements to sports broadcasting infrastructure, Syracuse University is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve. “We’re in really good shape right now, but TV production and anything related to media or technology in the sports field will be constantly changing,” Mossovitz says. “Luckily, we have a lot of innovators on our team, like Tom and Neal. They consistently come up with ideas, new things to try, different ways of doing things to improve the end product, and all with the goal of being as cost-efficient as possible. One of the University’s tenets is being economically smart, and we mirror that in Athletics.”

One future enhancement that may be necessary is building out additional control rooms to accommodate more broadcasts. The 2018-19 academic year boasted more than 100 Syracuse University productions, and it’s anticipated that number will be exceeded in 2019-20.

“I can’t tell you how rewarding it is for me to stand in the back of the control room during a game and see the vision that we had for our studios a few years back come to life,” says Coffey. “We’ve been doing the digital broadcasts for two years now. We’re confident. We’re ready to go.”

“The teamwork that has gone into this project and the people I’ve worked with in Athletics and at Newhouse have been a joy,” White adds. “We all came together to get the work done, and I think we produce a pretty good end product here at Syracuse University.”

To learn more about the ACC Network, check out the launch story. To find a provider in your area, visit .

The Class of 2019 features more than 90 student-athletes.

“The Academic Progress Rate metric is a real-time look at the health of an athletics department,” says Syracuse University Assistant Provost Tommy Powell. “It assesses how well schools are keeping the student-athletes eligible and how well they are retaining them at the University. It also has real implications to the postseason. If a team were to drop below the NCAA cut score, that team would not have access to the postseason, bowl games or NCAA Championships.”

The APR score follows individual student and total program progression at each Division I institution, tracking student-athletes by assigning points for each semester they remain eligible and for staying enrolled or graduating. Syracuse’s seven teams with a perfect four-year APR ranks fourth among the Power 5 conferences in sports that all schools offer. Notre Dame and Northwestern have nine and Duke has eight.

In addition to the multi-year average, the NCAA tracks one-year scores for every team. For 2017-18, 12 Orange teams posted a perfect one-year rate, which is the highest number of teams for Syracuse to accomplish that in the same year. The programs to score a perfect 1,000 single-year score are men’s cross country, men’s soccer, men’s track and field, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s rowing, field hockey, women’s ice hockey, women’s soccer, softball, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball.

“The success our programs are having with the APR goes back to a complete academic support system that begins the moment we recruit the student-athlete,” Powell says. “It is the commitment we make to a student-athlete that we are going to provide them with great support here in the athletics department from an academic standpoint, including tutorial, academic coordinating and advising, and the University making sure that each student-athlete is on a four-year plan to graduate. We start before they get here and then support them through graduation, making sure that they have the tools that they need when they leave Syracuse University. They graduate as a proud alum who has options for the future.”

Every Syracuse team surpassed the minimum standard of 930 (a perfect score is 1,000) and, in combining the program numbers, the University earned the highest four-year average (.987) since APR began in 2006. The most recent APRs are multiyear rates based on scores from the 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years.

“Our teams are succeeding in competition with 11 of our teams competing in the postseason already and four more with that opportunity ahead of them,” Powell says. “As teams are having athletic success, the focus of the student-athlete gets greater. A good analogy is we like to tap into their competitive nature in the classroom the same way our coaches tap into their competitive on the field. As they are focused and having success, that success often translates into their studies, into their workouts, everything for the total package of the student-athlete.”