‘Twas the Night Before Cusemas

A holiday gift to all Syracuse Orange fans from all of us here.

The Night Before Cusemas

’Twas the night before Cusemas, when all through the Cuse

Not a creature was stirring, not even a Roos

The jerseys were hung by the lockers with care,

In hopes that Tiana and Miranda soon would be there;

Otto’s Army were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of Tajon’s goals danced in their heads;

And Coach Q in his ‘kerchief, and Dino his cap

Had made sure to cut short our post-Christmas nap

When out on the Quad there arose such a clatter,

Otto sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the gate he flew like Aidan Tooker

Tore open the doors to get a better look-er

The moon light on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of platinum to objects below

When what to Otto’s wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight well-conditioned reindeer,

With a guy in the front yelling “Our House” out loud

Otto knew in a moment Dino emerged from that cloud

More rapid than Sean Riley his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

”Now Eric, now, Koda, now Aaron and Alton!

On, Jamal on, Guthrie! on, Dontae and Hof!

To the top of the nation! Success it shall last

We’ll win ACC contests and be tops in our class!”

As leaves that before Andre Szmyt kicks fly,

When they meet with an obstacle pass it right by;

So up to the Dome top the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of accolades, and a Johnson or two

And then, in a twinkling, Otto heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each athlete’s hoof

As Otto drew in his head, and was turning around,

Down to the turf Coach Babers came with a bound.

He was dressed in Hawaiian print from his head to his foot,

And his Nikes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of footballs he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! His smile, how merry

His cheeks were like oranges, his nose like a cherry!

His mouth was drawn up in a smile

And it spread across his face like it went on for a mile

The sound he made as he clapped his hand

Made shockwaves felt all across the land

He had a broad face and not much of a belly

That look when he smiled, turned Otto’s legs into jelly.

He had a welcoming look he was a jolly old elf,

And Otto grinned when he saw him, before spinning himself;

The stare from Coach’s eye and a point to his head

Soon let Otto know the image opposing defenses dread

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up to the Dome’s roof he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle

And away they all flew to Orlando like a missile

But Otto heard Babers exclaim, as he drove out of sight—

“Merry Cusemas Ohana and to all a good night!”