Syracuse, N.Y. —We were promised a “wow” factor with the opening of Carrier Dome 2.0 and the unveiling of $118 million in renovations and that was kept for the most part.
The eye-popping center-hung scoreboard and new sound and lighting systems will provide an enhanced fan experience whenever they can return to the “Loud House.”
“It’s amazing,” Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said. “You’re going to love it and it’s going to wow you to death when you get a chance to see it.”
The air-supported roof has been replaced by a solid one which will hopefully allow Syracuse University Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer Pete Sala to sleep a little better from November to April without the worry of how much snow is weighing down the bubble.
Syracuse also announced facility-wide air conditioning is on target to be complete by May 2021. Only took 41 years to get air conditioning in a building named after an air-conditioning company.
Another noteworthy addition to the Dome was a ring of honor across from the press box that featured the names of Jim Boeheim, Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and Dwayne “Pearl” Washington painted on the wall on the first-level below the suites.
All are worthy candidates for reasons I don’t have to detail here, but what I would like explained was why Syracuse didn’t include a female athlete in that ring of honor.
As I have documented before, Syracuse has been woefully lax in properly honoring the best female athletes that have worn Orange in the Carrier Dome and elsewhere.
The Dome rafters were understandably lacking all of its banners from the past as time was of the essence to have the building ready for the Georgia Tech game.
That said, it’s funny that there was time to add Boeheim, Brown, Davis, Little, Washington and the football program’s bowl wins to the wall but not one female athlete?
Did they run out of paint before getting to names like Felisha Legette-Jack, Nicole Michael, Kayla Alexander, Alexis Peterson, Brittney Sykes, Katie Rowan, Alyssa Murray, Kayla Treanor or Kathrine Switzer, just to name a few?
I’m going to give Syracuse the benefit of the doubt that their remodel is still incomplete and that oversight will be fixed.
It seems like we’ve all done a little remodeling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stare at your own four walls enough and you can’t help but want to make a change.
I suggest Syracuse take a good, hard look at what will be hung or painted on the walls and rafters as the Dome remodel continues and make sure more women are honored properly.
I have been assured from Syracuse AD John Wildhack and other decision-makers at Syracuse that retired jerseys for female athletes are coming to the Dome.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
These things tend to get hung up in committees and other red tape that make my eyes ache from rolling so much.
Just get it done, Syracuse. It’s LONG overdue.
Before that happens, you can start with an easy fix.
Add at least one woman’s name (or more if you are feeling ambitious) to the ring of honor before the Duke-Syracuse football game at the Dome on October 10.
I’ll even make a run to Home Depot for the paint if it helps speed up the process.
Contact Brent Axe: Email | Twitter
MORE ORANGE FOOTBALL:
It’s OK to start talking about a bowl game after Syracuse football gets first win (stock watch)
More than a new Dome: Syracuse football defeats Georgia Tech 37-20 (Brent Axe recap)
Syracuse football shows off Carrier Dome renovations that ‘wow you to death’
The Link LonkSeptember 28, 2020 at 05:00PM
https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2020/09/axe-hey-syracuse-dont-forget-this-important-carrier-dome-improvement.html
Axe: Hey Syracuse, don’t forget this important Carrier Dome improvement - syracuse.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=forget&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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