It’s the weekend and the Late Night Vampire is heading back to Syracuse University, where I graduated from the Masters program in Telecommunications
from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, in 1981. I’m looking forward to to seeing the Orange basketball team host Georgetown on Monday night
as it is the continuation of a long and memorable rivalry, dating back to the formation of the Big East conference in 1979. I am also looking forward to watching a
a couple of the team’s practices as well, which Coach Jim Boeheim is kind enough to allow me to take in. They are in the midst of as good a season as they’ve
had in quite a few years, with only one loss so far, to go along with 18 wins.
A few of the players I’m looking forward to watching,include forward Wesley Johnson, who is one of the stars of U.S. college basketball so far this season. He
transferred from Iowa State, and redshirted last year, although he was able to practice with the Orange, but not play in any games. He was pretty sensational to
watch even in practice, as he has an amazing vertical leaping ability, allowing him to perform sensational dunks. In games this year, he has been averaging ( I’m on
the Via Rail train, so I don’t have the stats right in front of me) close to 17 points per game, and he seems to have a great range for his shot, from both inside
and beyond the 3 point line. He rebounds well, in addition to his shooting and athletic skills, so he is regarded as a good prospect for the NBA.
Andy Rautins,is the son of former NBA player,as well as Team Canada coach, Leo Rautins. Andy is a senior guard, who is playing both
guard positions. He is a very good three point shooter, and very much appreciated by coach Boeheim for his defensive skills and leadership qualities. Andy also
competes for Team Canada men’s basketball.
Also on this trip, I’m looking forward to visiting with Syracuse University football coach Doug Marrone, who has just completed his first year in that role, after
having been the offensive co-coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. He was a lineman for the Orange in the 1980’s,prior to playing and coaching in
the NFL. He was recommended for the job by none other than Indianapolis Colts President, Bill Polian.The Syracuse football program needs to be reconstructed
from top to bottom, so this will be a long term project.
The trip itself is a fascinating experience, seeing sights you wouldn’t ordinarily observe. As the train goes by the Hamilton area, you see homes by the steel mills
that look like they were constructed in the 1940’s or /50’s, literally steps away from the mills. Niagara Falls,New York is, unfortunately, somewhat of an eye sore,
or at least it is from inside the train, as it goes past. There are a lot of rusty cars in wreck yards, and other more generic scrap piles, that dot the scenery,which
is then,as the train continues its brief tour of the city, substituted by houses that seem to be wooden frame, which is kind of surprising in terms of fire hazard
concerns. To add to the unique view of what used to be the home of the infamous and then highly toxic “Love Canal”, is a massive open mine of some kind, but
it’s difficult to tell just what it is they are removing from it. As the train approaches downtown Buffalo, there is more of the same, the scrap heaps , small
factories, and more wood frame houses. The last bit of interesting scenery is about 15 minutes outside of suburban Depew, where you can see several layers of
razor wire and windowless red brick buildings, with a few men outside wearing orange jump suits. I’m fairly certain that is the also infamous, Attica State Prison,
where a bloody riot took place somewhere around 1971. The rest of the journey is basically blasé, or at best, sleep inducing. That will not be the case,Monday
night at the Carrier Dome, when the Orange and the Hoyas get underway.