SYRACUSE — Something magical is happening here, as magical as the changing of the leaves or the rushing of the spring waters through the nearby gorges.
Love is in the air.
It is a love story between a coach and his team.
Doug Marrone, a former college offensive lineman from The Bronx, came home to his alma mater, Syracuse, two years ago to resurrect a program that had wilted like a dead tree.
Marrone was not the athletic director’s first or second choice, but he has proven to be the right choice.
“He’s put his heart and dedication, his soul, he’s put his soul into this team and this university,” senior defensive lineman Anthony Perkins told The Post. “He gives us an aura that we can do this. And we want to perform for him. We want to go out there and give everything for our coach. We owe him that.”
Marrone was on the fast track to becoming an NFL head coach. The offensive coordinator for the Saints was sending in plays to Drew Brees and watching New Orleans rescue a city and its fans from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
But when Syracuse needed a savior, Marrone knew he had to answer the call, knew he had no choice. Some of his players were not the first or second choice of national programs, but they are Marrone’s players, and that’s all that matters.
“Any pressure that I feel, I feel like I have to do it for the kids,” Marrone said. “They’ve taken themselves to this point. How do I, as a coach, get them to this win?”
When they walk onto the Carrier Dome field for today’s game against Louisville (4-4, 1-2 Big East) knowing one more win will make the Orange (6-2, 3-1) bowl eligible for the first time since 2004, the nation might get its glimpse at this love.
“If we’re able to achieve this goal, that’s something I’ll tell my kids and grandkids about because I’ll be so proud,” said senior linebacker Doug Hogue, of Yonkers. “I’ll be proud that I was able to walk out of here a winner.”
How Marrone has transformed a core group of losers that were 3-9 two years ago into winners is a frequently asked question.
The Orange lead the Big East in just two statistical team categories: Opposing teams have committed league-high 62 penalties for an average of 64.5 yards per game and the Orange are tops in red zone scoring defense.
The rest is love, sweat and tears.
“I understand pressure, this is different,” Marrone said. “This is different. This is in your heart. This is bigger than the game. This is about life, doing something for these kids that they’ll have for the rest of their life.”
“The relief I would have, that this senior class is going out winners, that would bring tears to my eyes,” Marrone said. “I truly mean that.”
