The life of a Syracuse Orange football player is one that has been turned upside down thanks to the actions of a former teammate and his associates. On Saturday, two Syracuse players were stabbed by a former football player, Naesean Howard.
Both Chauncey Scissum and Corey Winfield are current defensive backs, the same position that Howard played while with the team. Luckily, both have survived, with Winfield already out of the hospital and Scissum is in stable condition after being stabbed in the neck, chest, lip and shoulder during the attack.
Given the double attack on players, head coach Dino Babers met with his team on Tuesday, in what was actually an already scheduled meeting with the team. According to a Syracuse.com report, Babers was supposed to have advised his team against wearing Syracuse-related clothing during that meeting as well as these ominous instructions.
“Three sources told Syracuse.com that Babers instructed his players not to wear any SU football clothing out in public places and not to travel alone as associates of Naesean Howard may be looking for them.”
However, during Wednesday’s ACC teleconference, Babers refuted those claims, calling them “inaccurate.” He also said he made sure to tell his team that now is the time to stick together more than ever.
“I actually told them to put their Syracuse ‘S’ on and wear it proudly around the campus,” Babers said.
Babers also said his weekly meetings with the team are for “real-life” issues, and took time to remind them to do common-sense things to be safe in the future.
“I just told those guys to have common sense with the things they do in life. Like looking both ways before your step off the curb so you don’t get hit by a bus. I think that you can’t live life looking over your shoulder; you have to live life. You can’t be afraid to live it. I think these young men will be just fine and I think the University will be just fine.”
That’s not to downplay the temporary safety needs of his players, whom he did discuss safety measures with. Rather, the statement is to let this team know they have to stick together and not let the attack and associates out there win by terrorizing the team.
As for the attacker, Howard was picked up after the attacks and is being held on a $40,000 bond for two counts of assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
