When you think of Syracuse athletics, you likely don’t think of football first, but rather picture 30,000 screaming fans in the Carrier Dome for a basketball game. However, with the football team fresh off an upset of North Carolina State and in the top 20 of the initial College Football Playoff rankings, campus is buzzing.
At Manny’s, a sportswear shop located on Marshall Street, this means business is on the rise. General Manager Mike Theiss says in past years people had given up on the football team and were getting ready for basketball games in November, weakening early-year sales.
“After the second or third game [the past few years], everyone had high hopes and then it was kind of a little deflated after they lost a few games. And everybody was starting to look forward to basketball in September already,” Theiss said.
Theiss remembers the days of Syracuse championships and consistent bowl appearances. He says he sees a bright future ahead for the Syracuse football program.
“A lot of fans don’t remember, but we used to have a very good program, so those of us who that’s been around for when things were good know what’s coming. And I think there’s nothing but good things coming for the football team,” Theiss said.
More success on the gridiron brings more fans to the Carrier Dome, and in turn brings more people down Marshall Street. A winning football team also engages fans, who are ready to support the Orange with hats, shirts and school spirit. This only adds to profits during a busy basketball season with a perennial national championship contender. Sophomore Syracuse University student Taylor Koonz says he wants to buy football merchandise to show his support.
“I want to get a sweatshirt now because we’re actually good again, so why not?” Koonz said.
Koonz, an avid fan of the team, says last week’s upset of North Carolina State was his favorite moment of the season.
“I loved seeing my boy [wide receiver] Nykeim Johnson with the 82-yard touchdown… there was a lot of energy in [the Carrier Dome] and now that we’re ranked, I’m glad I was there,” Koonz said.
With basketball ready to tip off their season next Tuesday against North Dakota, Manny’s expects sales to rise further. Meanwhile, the football team looks to continue their best season in over a decade when they travel to Winston-Salem, NC to face Wake Forest on Saturday.
