Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse football captains Marlowe Wax and Justin Barron were non-committal about whether they will play in the Orange’s bowl game following the team’s 35-31 win over Wake Forest on Saturday.
The win over the Demon Deacons helped the Orange finish 6-6 and qualify for a bowl game for a second consecutive season. It’s the first time that SU has gone to bowl games in back-to-back years since 2012-13 and the first time the school has accomplished that feat while playing both seasons in the ACC.
The team celebrated the accomplishment by dumping ice on interim coach Nunzio Campanile. They wore “bowl bound” shirts to the team’s press conference.
Despite the celebration, the allure of competing in bowl games has diminished in recent years as the College Football Playoff has dominated conversation about the postseason, the number of bowls has swelled to 41 games, players have prioritized staying healthy to prepare for the NFL Draft and transferring has become commonplace.
Syracuse’s bowl game will almost certainly come after players are permitted to enter their names into the NCAA’s transfer portal, reducing the roster.
Both Wax and Barron said they needed to take time and put thought into decisions, both whether they will play in the bowl game and whether they would return to Syracuse.
“I haven’t made my mind up,” Wax said, when asked if he’s decided whether to return to Syracuse next season. “I’m just worried about this bowl game right now.”
When asked if that meant he was playing in the bowl game, Wax said: “We’re gonna see. We’re gonna see what happens.”
Wax’s comments, made at a podium, led Barron to shout: “Come on, man, we’re going bowling.”
When asked the same questions, Barron offered similar answers to Wax.
“I have no idea,” Barron said. “I have to talk to the coaches. I’ve got to talk to people that care about my future.”
When asked about whether he expected to play football in college next…
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