Since we arrived in the ACC, there’s been some debate over the Syracuse Orange’s primary football rival’s identity.
I’ve long been a proponent of the Boston College Eagles as the easiest, closest fit, and we even have a trophy already out in the world (hand it over, Sean...). But there’s been pushback here and there. SU and BC have not been the strongest programs over the last four seasons, and it’s hard to be excited about two potentially moribund teams playing in a half-empty stadium right after Thanksgiving.
This fan base also suffers from knowing what a real rivalry is already, on many fronts. Syracuse’s feuds with Georgetown and UConn basketball continue to this day. Our brawls with West Virginia and Penn State went back decades on the football field at one point. Looking even further in the rearview mirror, we really did hate Colgate when their athletics mattered.
So with all of this in mind, knowing that while BC’s the default, they’re not the only option, I figured a weekly ranking of which ACC opponent we’re most incensed by could do us all some good. Rivalry week lost some of its luster in the conference switch (perhaps it got misplaced on the moving truck?), and I’m putting in the work to get that back.
Each week, we’ll rank this year’s ACC opponents by a subjective measure of hatred. Sometimes it won’t move. Other times it will. But the goal is to try and nail down exactly who we hate and why (and rank those feelings, because this is the internet).
1. Boston College Eagles
Our 4-0 advantage in the #OrangeEagle trophy shouldn’t dampen our disdain for the Screamin’ Eagles. We’ve also had an on-field fight in two of the last three meetings, adding fuel to an otherwise pointless (tire) fire. As many noticed during this year’s College Football Playoff, Steve Addazio stands for every meathead cliche that Dino Babers doesn’t. They’re a natural foil for the Orange is the New Fast mantra.
Rivalry rating: 4.5 out of 5 dudes
Anyway, here's Dabo Swinney as a dachshund pic.twitter.com/y1FDpVnZsX
— jorhay (@jorhay) August 3, 2017
If a Clemson fan is #DISRESPECK’D in the forest, does it make a sound? Apparently, it does, according to Tuesday’s reaction to a Josh Rosen statement that wasn’t even about the Tigers. With Scott Shafer gone, the venom’s subsided a little. But after last year’s (injury-assisted) ass-whipping down in South Carolina, it’s doubtful this online animosity toward one another’s fading anytime soon.
Rivalry rating: 4 out of 5 DABOS
Last year, Cards fans got pretty pissed off when I said they had to earn their place in the college football hierarchy. They thought they had after smoking FSU, but a sputtering finish to the season proved that... hey, maybe I was onto something when citing depth/talent relative to the sport’s powers. Obviously Bobby Petrino’s a dick, and the hurdle will haunt us forever. But this matchup’s had legs since the Big East days.
Rivalry rating: 3.75 out of 5 reset chains
History typically creates something between teams over time, but not in this case. But if we have more matchups like last year’s video game-style scoring fest? Perhaps we could be onto something. Pitt’s here because of familiarity and proximity, and a constant sense on our part that the Panthers are overrated.
Rivalry rating: 3 out of 5 Kiwi allergies
5. NC State Wolfpack
Similar to Pitt, there’s a predisposition among Orange fans to consider NCSU overrated. To me, 2015 was the only year the Wolfpack were truly better than Syracuse in any ACC of their ACC matchups (and they still almost effed that up). A subsection of the State fan base doesn’t like us. Perhaps we should grow that group. I’ll just keep slandering Eastern Carolina barbeque to stoke the fire.
Rivalry rating: 2.75 out of 5 undesirable vinegar-based meats
For years, we made a nasty habit of injuring Wake’s best player. Until we didn’t, and then we lost (not saying we should go back to the other strategy, but...). If we’re looking for a measuring stick on perceptions in this league, the short-term goal might be the Deacons -- despite our own 4-1 record over them in the last five meetings.
Rivalry rating: 2 out of 5 creepy old mascots
7. Miami Hurricanes
We don’t love the U, dating back to the 1990s, but a lot’s happened since then. Did you know that Syracuse has won more conference titles since 2004 than the ‘Canes have? I KNOW! It’s crazy. Even an upset in a half-empty NFL stadium won’t reignite the one-time animosity we had for one another. But we can still hope Miami can’t figure out its quarterback situation by then.
Rivalry rating: 1.75 out of 5 fans in the stadium
Oh ‘Noles, I can’t hate you guys. Think about all of the fun times we’ve had over the years: Celebrating your national championship, trading pleasantries on game week, making fun of Clemson together. There are just too many beloved memories to make us turn on you. Maybe that changes one year. This probably isn’t it.
Rivalry rating: 1 out of 5 friendship bracelets
Any and all feedback are welcome. Have different ratings for our various ACC rivals this year? Share your own below.