Syracuse wins. Finally.

My ideal Saturday is a lovely sunny day spent indoors watching Syracuse win a football game. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened too often in recent memory. In fact, until last Saturday, my beloved Orange had won 10 games over the past four years. Thanks a lot, Greg Robinson, you jerk. The "one yard and a cloud of dust" offense was not very effective.

However, the time was ripe for Syracuse to start winning. After going 3-9 last year, Syracuse finally manned up and fired G-Rob. His replacement? Disciplinarian Doug Marrone fresh from an offensive coordinating gig with the New Orleans Saints. Apparently from what I've heard, he came out of the womb with a headset and clipboard. This man was born to coach and all he ever wanted was to coach the Orange.

Admittedly, the first two games didn't go too well. First, a heart wrenching overtime defeat at the hands of Minnesota, with the Orange stagnating in the second half. Next came Penn State, which I had the misfortune of attending. Greg "Unnecessary Longsleeves" Paulus had himself a terrible game and the Orange got shallacked.

Then Northwestern came to town. Begging to get beaten after a narrow escape against Eastern Michigan the week before. Syracuse was all too happy to oblige. But not before they sent half their fans home with heart attacks. They got out to a 17-0 lead thanks to some passable play by their quarterback (pun 100% intended) Greg "College Brett Favre" Paulus. And then the defense got bored with the game and decided to make things interesting by allowing 3 straight touchdowns. Syracuse responded by scoring 10 more points to come within a field goal of equaling the score against fellow compass school Northeastern the previous year. It was not to be, however, as kicker Ryan "Ulrich von" Liechtenstein decided to kick a field goal as low as he possibly could and it was blocked.

The defense continued its "Let Northwestern score" tactics, enjoying success similar to the first half. Northwestern gets 2 more touchdowns to make it 34-27. And misses the extra point. Who knew something so simple as letting a team drive the ball down your throat and letting them miss the extra point could charge up the fans so much? Well, it did. Syracuse scores a touchdown to tie (with everyone waiting with breath held during the extra point). Northwestern gets the ball back and can win with a field goal. Unfortunately their quarterback unleashed a Greg Paulus-esque pass to Syracuse safety Max Suter with no Northwestern receivers in sight. Syracuse drives, kicks a field goal, wins. Pandamonium.

It's awesome winning a football game at a school that sucks at football. We appreciate it that much more. It's like finding an onion ring in an order of Burger King fries. You don't expect it, but you're wicked excited because, let's face it, nobody likes BK fries. I apologize to whoever read this blog who doesn't like sports. Sucks to be you, because this one was entirely about sports. But, at least you read it. Your life is now better that you included me in it.