Sam Heckel overcomes rare blood disease to play for the Syracuse Orange (Links)

With the end of the 2018 Syracuse Orange football season approaching we get to see a little behind the scenes. Offensive lineman Sam Heckel was profiled by Syracuse.com as they went with him to witness one of the monthly blood transfusions he requires as he battles congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

In other Syracuse related news:

Josh Black to return after concussion (Syracuse.com)

With Alton Robinson and McKinley Williams out, getting Black back in the line-up is a needed boost for the defensive front.

The significance of having Dino Babes as Head Coach (The Newshouse)

Matthew Guiterrez talks to some Syracuse players about having one of the 12 black head coaches in FBS leading the program and also looks at what it means to people in Syracuse to have someone to inspire their dreams.

Dino Babers and Dana Holgorsen bring fast-paced football to the Northeast (Syracuse.com)

The two coaches talked about bringing their high-powered offensive systems to an area which had not been exposed to them too often.

Orange eager to show off improvement (Orlando Sentinel)

Kendall Coleman and Jamal Custis say the bowl game is a great opportunity to keep momentum moving forward for the program.

Former Eastern Illinois HC Dino Babers finds a home in Syracuse (Chicago Tribune)

A look at the career of Babers and how he found success with the Orange

“He’s very honest. There’s only black or white with coach, there’s no gray area,” said Jimmy Garoppolo, now with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. “He had a lot of energy. That offense they run is dynamic, and he makes it fun at the same time, which I think is important.”

Congratulations to Rakeem Christmas and Jasmine Jordan on the announcement that they are expecting their first child....which will make Michael Jordan a Papa/Gramps/Grandaddy