Syracuse, N.Y. -- A year after it was trolled by the Liberty football team in its home stadium, the Syracuse football team enjoyed a measure of lyrical vengeance on Friday against the Flames.
The home team celebrated by singing JAY-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” in celebration following a 24-21 win, the same song the Flames used to celebrate their big victory in Syracuse one year earlier, snapping pictures on the Carrier Dome turf after one of the biggest wins in Liberty history and capping the moment with a picture showing a squished orange on social media.
It was a defeat -- and melodic aftermath -- that stuck with the Orange for the better part of the year and provided a dose of additional motivation, so much so that even head coach Dino Babers couldn’t resist dropping a reference to the song in his post-game interview on ACC Network.
“We wanted to take that Empire State of Mind,” Babers said in his post-game interview on the ACC Network. “New York, New York, New York.”
Syracuse linebacker Marlowe Wax grinned when told about his coaches’ hip-hop humor.
“Last year after our loss we heard them playing that New York song,” Wax said. “We knew we had to turn it back on so they could hear it also. Had to.”
Wax later posted his own troll on social media, an image of him blowing out a matchstick. He was part of a pair of key defensive players that extinguished Liberty’s hope.
He helped force a fumble with 3 minutes and 35 seconds remaining that set Syracuse up for a game-winning field goal attempt, as well as being part of a pile up that stopped a Liberty fourth-down run at the Syracuse 2-yard line.
The trolling was just one part of an emotional outpouring from Syracuse after the win, which came on a 35-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt as the clock expired.
Szmyt was tackled after his kick by Cooper Lutz and buried under a pile of happy Syracuse football players. On other sections of the field, Syracuse players celebrated with chest bumps, posing for photos in the end zone and even a lineman performing a cartwheel.
The win was a rebound from one of the lowest points of last season, when the Orange were man-handled by a team in just its second year as an FBS program.
“Last year we felt disrespected, embarrassed,” Wax said. “It was in the back of our minds. Because of that song, social media, everything. Always had that chip on our shoulder. You saw the emotions. We had to let it all out.”
Contact Chris Carlson anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1639
MORE ORANGE FOOTBALL
What fuels Cody Roscoe since transferring up from FCS level? Proving ‘I deserve to be here’
Syracuse football vs. Liberty tickets: Cheapest tickets available now for Friday at the Carrier Dome
5 things to know about Liberty and its potential 1st-round NFL draft pick (opponent preview)
Axe: Syracuse football shouldn’t just restore 44. The legendary number needs a reboot
A visit with Tim Green: Despite ALS, ‘every day is full for me’ (video)
ORANGE FOOTBALL FANS
Sideline gear | Season schedule | Stream games on fuboTV, Sling, Hulu + Live TV
Ad Choices