Syracuse, N.Y. — Some quick takes on Dino Babers trying to find a quarterback and first thoughts on the 2021-22 Syracuse basketball schedule while wondering if there will be any apples left on the trees in Central New York after this weekend.
Who is QB won?
Perhaps sensing the audience is getting restless with all the flirting, Syracuse quarterback Dino Babers is ready to hand out a rose and make a commitment to a starting quarterback after Saturday’s game against Albany at the Carrier Dome.
“I don’t enjoy doing this at all,” Babers said. “I don’t like splitting reps with the starting quarterback and I don’t like playing people on a schedule. I want to play the guy that is really the best to me.”
Tommy DeVito has the arm, resume and potential but hasn’t quite grabbed the job by the throat.
Garrett Shrader has the benefit of upside, intrigue and a gift to make things happen with his feet. He has every opportunity to grab the starting job as we’ve seen the DeVito show so many times you can quote the best lines from memory by now.
Unsolicited word of advice for Babers as he gets ready to make the call.
It’s not so much what your quarterbacks do that should guide the decision but what they don’t.
Albany will treat this game like a Super Bowl but should provide Babers a controlled experiment for his quarterbacks with the talent gap between the two schools.
Look for who is not hitting the mark, not getting rid of the ball quick enough and who does not capitalize on the football equivalent of a shooting gallery and you’ll have your man.
“I’ve been in a situation where I cannot define clearly who’s the best, but it’s also time to make a decision, so we’ll play this game and we’ll make some decisions and we’ll move on with the season,” Babers said Thursday in an interview with ESPN Syracuse.
Is it basketball season yet?
If Babers can’t spot a true QB1 at the Dome on Saturday, get ready to hear those five words a lot over the next couple weeks.
And guess what? It almost is.
The 2021-22 ACC men’s basketball schedule was released on Thursday night, giving Jim Boeheim all the dates and times he needs to map out another rollercoaster ride to the NCAA tournament.
Here are a few early thoughts on the schedule.
1. How about a 2-3 zone side dish on Turkey Day or a hangover cure on New Year’s Day? Syracuse will play on Thanksgiving Day (Arizona State or Baylor) and New Year’s Day (Virginia) making holiday planning a breeze for SU fans.
FYI, the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament falls on St. Patrick’s Day, so maybe we’ll get a bonus party day out of it.
2. The schedule has the right cadence of warmup games and the feel of the hottest fire making the strongest steel. After what should be a 3-0 start against Lafayette, Drexel and Colgate, Syracuse dives into the Battle for Atlantis with an opener against pesky VCU and a potential Round 2 scrap against defending national champion Baylor.
That tournament appearance is followed by a run in the schedule against Indiana, at Florida State, Villanova (MSG) and at Georgetown before ACC plays settles in.
3. With fans allowed back in the Dome this season, place your bets on who noted SU superfan Adam Weitsman has sitting in the Dome’s “Spike Lee seats” this year.
Duke’s visit to the Carrier Dome on Feb. 26 should bring out some stars that will go viral from courtside.
Here’s hoping Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is one of them basking in the glow of a recent Super Bowl victory.
Contact Brent Axe: Email | Twitter
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