Syracuse's senior class leaves behind a legacy marked both by a painful fall and, more importantly, a brilliant rise.
The cover of Inside Lacrosse's 2005 recruiting issue featured the magazine's second, third and fourth-ranked recruits, all three staring out at the camera and into three futures that looked, at the time, like perfection. All three were in Orange.
Four years later, those three men, Syracuse's Kenny Nims, Pat Perritt and Dan Hardy, are All-Americans - Nims, the country's leading scorer, on the second team with Hardy, and Perritt on the third team; And on Monday, they and eight other seniors will walk onto the Gillette Stadium field for their final game in Orange, taking on Cornell in the D-I national championship game. It's a chance to end a career that could have gone so wrong - and for a time, did, with the Orange hitting an almost unprecedented trough in 2007 - by clinching the team's second straight national championship, a feat that hasn't been accomplished by Syracuse since 1990, when the Orange finished a string of three straight titles under legendary coach Roy Simmons, Jr.
The cover of Inside Lacrosse's 2005 recruiting issue featured the magazine's second, third and fourth-ranked recruits, all three staring out at the camera and into three futures that looked, at the time, like perfection. All three were in Orange.
Four years later, those three men, Syracuse's Kenny Nims, Pat Perritt and Dan Hardy, are All-Americans - Nims, the country's leading scorer, on the second team with Hardy, and Perritt on the third team; And on Monday, they and eight other seniors will walk onto the Gillette Stadium field for their final game in Orange, taking on Cornell in the D-I national championship game. It's a chance to end a career that could have gone so wrong - and for a time, did, with the Orange hitting an almost unprecedented trough in 2007 - by clinching the team's second straight national championship, a feat that hasn't been accomplished by Syracuse since 1990, when the Orange finished a string of three straight titles under legendary coach Roy Simmons, Jr.
"Just to be part of the family that Syracuse lacrosse is, it's been an
experience for me that I'll cherish forever," Nims said. "[In 2008] we
had another chance. Last year was pretty special. I'm proud of how the
team handled themselves."
"Going back two years ago we were 5-8 and didn't make the playoffs," said Syracuse head coach John Desko. "So it was a focused group last year competing for the title and winning, so we're drawing on our past experiences and feeling pretty comfortable."
Two springs ago, the Orange finished the 2007 season with a 12-5 loss to Colgate to close the year at 5-8. That loss, on May 5, 2007, came as the program was honoring Simmons, Jr. with the 'Celebration of Champions.' At halftime, Syracuse hung a banner from the rafters at the Carrier Dome commemorating Simmons' 290-victory, six-national title, 28-year career.
The Orange then came out and allowed the Raiders eight goals in the second half to lose, ending with the program's fewest wins since the 3-8 campaign in 1975.
"That was as big a low as we've ever had for a lot of reasons," said Syracuse assistant coach Roy Simmons III - son of Simmons, Jr. "And [Nims, Perritt and Hardy], they were there; they were going through it."
A year before, the Orange had made the national semifinals, but fell short of the ultimate goal - really, the only acceptable finish for a Syracuse lacrosse team that's won a record 10 NCAA championships after four USILA titles.
"It definitely doesn't make you feel good when you walk around the halls at Manley [Field House]," Nims said. "You're seeing all the championship trophies, being like 'when am I gonna get mine?'"
Syracuse isn't just college lacrosse's most successful program. It's a family. Figuratively, yes, but just as importantly, literally. Simmons coached Nims' father Tom and Hardy's father, Bill, along with Perritt's brother. In high school, Simmons played with Orange Tewaaraton Trophy Finalist Matt Abott's father. Current coach John Desko, the heir to Roy Simmons, Jr. and himself a four-time national champ at the helm, now coaches his son, Tim.
Then there are people like the Gaits - Gary (the current women's coach at Syracuse) and Paul - two of the best to ever play college lacrosse, not only in Syracuse, but anywhere. And the Powells - Casey, Ryan and Mike - three of the best to ever play.
Of course, Simmons is the third generation of his family, after his father's father, Roy Simmons, Sr., coached the team from 1931 to 1970 and finished his career in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
"That was tough - it was tough for all of us, to be part of [2007]," Perritt said. "You feel like part of it's your fault, and you have that weighing on your shoulders. Then to have what happened last year was great."
But so much turned in that game. It was the first game that Abbott ever started at midfield, tying his career high with two goals. Mike Leveille - last year's Tewaaraton Trophy winner - tallied an assist to boost his consecutive-game point streak to 39.
So, under the surface, something major was forming. And, most importantly, the trio and their classmates endured the pain together, Desko said. Nims, Perritt and Hardy have all roomed together, in some combination, during school.
"He's terrible," Perritt said of Hardy as a roommate. "He's the dirtiest kid I've ever met."
"Kenny used to clog the sink every day," Hardy said, in his defense.
"If you wanna get started, Dan shaves a lot and leaves his hair sprinkles everywhere," Nims said. "It's hard to get ready for class. And Dan's dog [Kodi, an American Eskimo] likes to go to the bathroom all over the place, so that's been pretty terrible to deal with."
Over time, their classmates have risen up to join them. Fellow senior Matt Abbott, not as heralded as the trio coming into school, leaves Syracuse as a Tewaaraton Finalist (the winner's still TBD). Sid Smith joined Abbott as a first-team All-American.
But, above all, it's not the stats or the accolades, but the changes in the program that will be the mark the seniors leave, the trio said. Not a legacy of disappointment, but one of resilience - one of revival.
"We kind of put pressure on ourselves to do [win every year]," Hardy said. "We went through some growing pains, and last year, we really changed something with how the program is run. There are a lot of things done differently from when my brother played here."
So, four years after the trio came in, lauded as the next carriers of the Syracuse torch, there's a chance, after it dimmed for a year, that it's burning brighter than ever now.
"Even if we win there'll be lot of tears," Simmons III said. "I'm an emotional guy. I'm probably closer [to this senior class] because of the nature of the relationship. ... It's gonna be a sad day when we walk off the field for the last time."
"Going back two years ago we were 5-8 and didn't make the playoffs," said Syracuse head coach John Desko. "So it was a focused group last year competing for the title and winning, so we're drawing on our past experiences and feeling pretty comfortable."
Two springs ago, the Orange finished the 2007 season with a 12-5 loss to Colgate to close the year at 5-8. That loss, on May 5, 2007, came as the program was honoring Simmons, Jr. with the 'Celebration of Champions.' At halftime, Syracuse hung a banner from the rafters at the Carrier Dome commemorating Simmons' 290-victory, six-national title, 28-year career.
The Orange then came out and allowed the Raiders eight goals in the second half to lose, ending with the program's fewest wins since the 3-8 campaign in 1975.
"That was as big a low as we've ever had for a lot of reasons," said Syracuse assistant coach Roy Simmons III - son of Simmons, Jr. "And [Nims, Perritt and Hardy], they were there; they were going through it."
A year before, the Orange had made the national semifinals, but fell short of the ultimate goal - really, the only acceptable finish for a Syracuse lacrosse team that's won a record 10 NCAA championships after four USILA titles.
"It definitely doesn't make you feel good when you walk around the halls at Manley [Field House]," Nims said. "You're seeing all the championship trophies, being like 'when am I gonna get mine?'"
Syracuse isn't just college lacrosse's most successful program. It's a family. Figuratively, yes, but just as importantly, literally. Simmons coached Nims' father Tom and Hardy's father, Bill, along with Perritt's brother. In high school, Simmons played with Orange Tewaaraton Trophy Finalist Matt Abott's father. Current coach John Desko, the heir to Roy Simmons, Jr. and himself a four-time national champ at the helm, now coaches his son, Tim.
Then there are people like the Gaits - Gary (the current women's coach at Syracuse) and Paul - two of the best to ever play college lacrosse, not only in Syracuse, but anywhere. And the Powells - Casey, Ryan and Mike - three of the best to ever play.
Of course, Simmons is the third generation of his family, after his father's father, Roy Simmons, Sr., coached the team from 1931 to 1970 and finished his career in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
"That was tough - it was tough for all of us, to be part of [2007]," Perritt said. "You feel like part of it's your fault, and you have that weighing on your shoulders. Then to have what happened last year was great."
But so much turned in that game. It was the first game that Abbott ever started at midfield, tying his career high with two goals. Mike Leveille - last year's Tewaaraton Trophy winner - tallied an assist to boost his consecutive-game point streak to 39.
So, under the surface, something major was forming. And, most importantly, the trio and their classmates endured the pain together, Desko said. Nims, Perritt and Hardy have all roomed together, in some combination, during school.
"He's terrible," Perritt said of Hardy as a roommate. "He's the dirtiest kid I've ever met."
"Kenny used to clog the sink every day," Hardy said, in his defense.
"If you wanna get started, Dan shaves a lot and leaves his hair sprinkles everywhere," Nims said. "It's hard to get ready for class. And Dan's dog [Kodi, an American Eskimo] likes to go to the bathroom all over the place, so that's been pretty terrible to deal with."
Over time, their classmates have risen up to join them. Fellow senior Matt Abbott, not as heralded as the trio coming into school, leaves Syracuse as a Tewaaraton Finalist (the winner's still TBD). Sid Smith joined Abbott as a first-team All-American.
But, above all, it's not the stats or the accolades, but the changes in the program that will be the mark the seniors leave, the trio said. Not a legacy of disappointment, but one of resilience - one of revival.
"We kind of put pressure on ourselves to do [win every year]," Hardy said. "We went through some growing pains, and last year, we really changed something with how the program is run. There are a lot of things done differently from when my brother played here."
So, four years after the trio came in, lauded as the next carriers of the Syracuse torch, there's a chance, after it dimmed for a year, that it's burning brighter than ever now.
"Even if we win there'll be lot of tears," Simmons III said. "I'm an emotional guy. I'm probably closer [to this senior class] because of the nature of the relationship. ... It's gonna be a sad day when we walk off the field for the last time."
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