Sports: Multimedia Belt

With the 2010 season just days away, Syracuse University's new offensive playcaller Nathaniel Hackett is clear about the offensive plan of attack: SU is going to run the ball.

“We want to be a tough team. We want to come out and say, ‘Hey, you’re going to have to play football. The old-school, let’s get down to it, Syracuse Orange, running-back U,’” said Hackett, SU's quarterbacks coach. “The greatest quarterbacks had an awesome run game.

"A lot of people have kind of gotten away from that, and I think it’s going to be fun to run the ball.”

Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation. One of the most important components in the game is the stick itself. Like the game, the stick has evolved over time. Until the late 1980s traditional wooden sticks were commonplace. Today, companies like STX, Brine and Warrior issue new models on an annual basis. 

They were a team on a mission. After winning back-to-back national titles, the Orange looked forward to their third in as many years. Syracuse lost to Army just once in fifteen games since 1984. As the second ranked team in the country, the Orange (13-1, 5-0) looked to have every advantage over the visiting fourteenth-ranked Black Knights.

And the Central New Yorkers prevailed in the end – but not those dressed in orange and white. Army upset Syracuse 9-8, just five seconds before the second overtime period expired.

Led by senior Cody Jamieson, who had four goals and one assist on the night, the Orange controlled the game and scored at will on Princeton. The Tigers played a cautious defensive game and it cost them, as shooting lanes opened up regularly and Syracuse was able to capitalize on nearly every opportunity.