The morning after: wait, we actually won??

SU players flip the USF banner at Varsity for the first time ever

Syracuse is 4-1. It's still a little crazy to think about. The Orange has a better record than Florida, Miami, Texas and USC. That's pretty shocking, to say the least. But the most shocking thing about yesterday's landmark road victory in Tampa was the fact that SU found a way to win the type of game it always found a way to lose for the last six years.

It just had that feeling yesterday. Syracuse was good enough to win, without question, but they just kept missing out on opportunities. You couldn't help but think of previous failures that looked exactly like this one - Virginia (2005), Cincinnati (2005), Wake Forest (2006), Iowa (2006), Pittsburgh (2006), Miami (2007), Louisville (2009).

The SU defense looked like world beaters, but to be honest, we've seen this before. In 2005, the Orange defense could match up with anyone - remember, there were eight guys on that defense that had at least a cup of coffee in the NFL - but the pathetic offense continually hung them out to dry, giving them short fields to defend after about 45 seconds of rest.



This was 2005 all over again through three quarters. Syracuse was just 3-11 on third down conversions, accumulated just 146 yards and scored just six points. The defense looked gassed, but was hanging on, limiting USF to just three points on offense (not counting the special teams touchdown for the bulls), and keeping the Orange in the game.

Then came the drive. I don't think it's hyperbole to say this could be one of those program changing drives. In 98 yards, and 7:15, the Syracuse Orange went from a perennial loser, to a tough, gritty team that could pull out a win on the road. When Marcus Sales (MARCUS SALES!) caught the go-ahead touchdown and silenced the South Florida faithful, SU went from doormat to contender in one instant.

It's going to be pretty easy for us all to get ahead of ourselves and start talking about BCS games and Big East titles. That's probably taking it a little too far, but the fact is, the Syracuse Orange faithful think they're going to win games again. Does anyone think it's impossible to beat Pitt next weekend, at home, after they just lost to Notre Dame. Do Rutgers or UConn scare any SU fans anymore? Is it unthinkable for SU to pull off an upset against West Virginia (probably) or Cincinnati (maybe not).

As the great Lloyd Christmas once said: "So you're saying there's a chance."