Syracuse, N.Y. -- In the long and storied span of Syracuse University lacrosse, two seasons is just a blink of time.
But when it comes to the program’s legendary No. 22, it can be a historically lengthy stretch.
For the second year in a row, SU’s famed No. 22 will be kept in storage. That’s the first time since 1983 that it will be unused in consecutive seasons. The only other break was for one year, between Mike Powell (2001-04) and Dan Hardy (2006-09).
Here’s the recent lineage:
- 1983 - Sun Ho Lee
- 1984-87 - Chris Baduini
- 1988-90 - Gary Gait
- 1991-94 - Charlie Lockwood
- 1995-98 - Casey Powell
- 1999-00 - Ryan Powell
- 2001-04 - Mike Powell
- 2006-09 - Dan Hardy
- 2010 - Cody Jamieson
- 2011-13 - JoJo Marasco
- 2014-17 - Jordan Evans
Syracuse head coach John Desko said a few current Syracuse players (whom he didn’t identify) asked about wearing it this season, but he said no. He said he also did not offer it as a lure to any potential recruits.
"That number is a big deal, and I have not wanted that to change the focus on a particular player right now,'' Desko said. "That doesn’t mean that we won’t have a 22 next year, whether it be somebody on the team now or someone coming in. I just want the players that we have to focus on getting better individually and as a team.
“I didn’t want to put it on somebody this year. I think there’s some guys that were looking at it that could wear it in the future, but not yet. The 22 goes on somebody who’s a 22. I don’t want to put a 22 on somebody in hopes of being a 22.''
Two talented Orange players who have shown the potential and production to make the case for wearing that number quickly distanced themselves from that notion.
"It doesn’t really matter to me. I’m just happy to be on the team, happy to be at Syracuse overall,'' said senior attack Nate Solomon.
"It’s just a number. I think no one’s really focused on that. They’re more focused on the team and our expectations for this year,'' said junior attack Stephen Rehfuss.
