Former Íű±ŹĂĆ men’s soccer standout was on his way home from a recent training session when he received the message that would change his life.

As his phone dinged, Robinson saw a WhatsApp message from Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the (USMNT), containing a video message announcing that Robinson had earned a spot on the .

“I was so excited. I rushed home and called my family. It was a special moment for sure!” Robinson says in an exclusive interview coordinated by the USMNT.

Robinson, a defender for the Orange during the , will become the first Orange alumnus to play for the USMNT at the World Cup, which kicks off Thursday. The U.S. will play Paraguay at 9 p.m. Friday in the team’s opening match in Inglewood, California.

“[This] feels great. Obviously, it’s been an honor to be here in this group, but it’s just a dream come true,” says Robinson, a native of Arlington, Massachusetts, who plays for in Major League Soccer (MLS). “It’s a surreal moment to be here to represent the country, represent the nation in the world’s biggest tournament. I’m definitely honored.”

Sweet Redemption Following Devastating Injury

The satisfaction of making the U.S. roster is even sweeter when Robinson thinks back to where he was four years ago, watching the 2022 World Cup as a fan instead of suiting up for the U.S. Robinson, who was widely considered to be one of the team’s top prospects heading into the Qatar World Cup, was sidelined with a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg.

The hard work and long days rehabbing from the leg injury were all worth it when Robinson found out he made the national team roster.

“I’m so thankful for my support group, my friends, my family and my loved ones that motivated me and got me in this position,” Robinson says. “Thankfully, I got back from that injury and was able to continue to compete with the national team and here I am.”

Lifelong Lessons Learned at Syracuse

Robinson started all 42 games during his Orange career as a key contributor on head coach ‘s squad that won the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship and made its first College Cup appearance during the 2015 season. Robinson scored eight goals and added one assist during his two seasons and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.

“To represent Syracuse means a lot because I have so much love for the University,” Robinson says. “I love being a part of Orange Nation and everything Syracuse [represents]. I was there for three great semesters and have so many memories, so many people that I met that are now lifelong friends.”

One of the people who made the biggest impression on Robinson during his time on campus was McIntyre, who like Robinson was a center back during his playing days. Robinson credits McIntyre with teaching lessons that extended well beyond soccer.

“Mac taught me a lot about what it means to work hard, to compete and to stay focused. To be vocal and be comfortable with being uncomfortable as a center back trying to push forward and lead a group of guys,” Robinson says. “He challenged me, but that challenge helped me be ready for the MLS once I was drafted. He taught me a lot on and off the field, so I’m forever grateful.”

After leaving Syracuse to pursue his professional soccer dreams, Robinson was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 MLS Super Draft by Atlanta United. Robinson signed a contract with FC Cincinnati in 2024 and has been a regular presence for the USMNT, representing the U.S. at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and appearing in 40 matches since his national debut in 2019.

Among his international competition highlights was scoring the in extra time to lift the U.S. past Mexico in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

At the World Cup, Robinson will be joined by Tajon Buchanan, who is representing Team Canada. Buchanan played for the Orange in 2017 and 2018, scoring 12 goals with six assists during his two seasons.

Before the first match kicks off, a group of students has already run thousands of simulations to predict who will lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

The has published its , featuring game-by-game forecasts, heat maps and predictions for each group and for each nation.

President Evan Pegorsch ’27, a sport analytics and economics major in the and data analyst for the Orange’s men’s soccer team, and Noah Bair ’28, a sport analytics major, discuss their predictive model, who they think will win it all and the U.S. team’s chances of advancing out of their group and into the knockout stage.

What makes the model stand out?

Noah Bair: We wanted to study those contributing factors to team success at the World Cup—roster quality, previous World Cup experience, how teams have historically performed and whether a team has a veteran or a first-time coach—to think about our predictive model as sports fans rather than analysts. What important characteristics are missing, and how can we add to the research?

Evan Pegorsch: We’re providing the data to back up why we think a team is going to win or lose. We don’t just rely on FIFA rankings. We also factor in how many players each team has on the Ballon d’Or rankings [a list of the top 30 players in the world], how each team performs playing in different temperatures, how long the coach has been with the team and other key indicators. If you just went off the FIFA world rankings, our model overperformed that baseline by 15%.

Who are the favorites to win the World Cup?

Pegorsch: The consensus favorite is Spain, but my number one is France. Their attack is overpowering, they have enough depth in other key areas, and the defense is looking good. Then it’s Spain. Then you must include Messi and Argentina, which has great team chemistry and a willingness to fight for each other. Then I’d go with England and Portugal, which has a talented midfield and a defense that’s on the rise.

Bair: France is my number one, based on what they’ve done historically—they won it all in 2018 and were runners-up in 2022. That historical dominance along with the quality of players is going to take them very far. Then it’s Argentina. Anytime Lionel Messi is on the field you have a chance to win. Then I like Portugal. The quality in their midfield is second to none. England having a new manager is going to help, and this is an invigorated team with a lot of young talent that can bring home the trophy. I’m also high on the Netherlands. They have a deep team and one of the best benches in the World Cup.

What will be the impact of an expanded field and multiple co-host nations?

Bair: For the first time, we have three co-host nations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and 48 participating teams, the largest field in World Cup history. This will create an unexpected challenge. Unlike during their domestic season when matches are centralized and you might be traveling 30-40 miles for matches, these teams will be traveling across countries and for far greater distances than they’re used to, which could definitely impact the matches.

Pegorsch: Travel fatigue is going to be a big factor in this tournament. Teams will have to adapt to added travel and shorter rest times between matches. And adding more teams decreases the likelihood of every single country winning it all in our model. The top teams have a smaller chance of winning it all than they have in the past, because there’s more potential for upsets and more variance.

How far does the model think the U.S. will advance?

Pegorsch: Our model gives them a 4% chance to win it all. Being on home soil helps. I worry about the goalkeeper, which is a huge area of weakness. When you get later into the World Cup rounds, the chances of dealing with either a penalty kick or penalty kick shootout increase, and I don’t trust our goalkeeping there. But there’s a lot of excitement around the U.S. and it’s realistic for them to reach the quarterfinals.

Bair: As tournament hosts, they’ve been given a favorable draw and don’t have a great contender in their group. The U.S. is the favorite to win Group D [88.7% to advance] and make the knockout stage. The talent is there to make it to the quarterfinals, and the U.S. will get a boost playing in front of the home crowd. But realistically, I think the team will lose in the round of 16.

What’s a dark horse country with the talent to make a deep run?

Bair: Ecuador is an up-and-coming team with some quality players who have been on the rise since 2022. Because Ecuador doesn’t have that historic success on the national stage, the data will likely say they’re not going to go very far, but Ecuador has one of the best defenses in the world, and at the World Cup, defense can carry a team.

Pegorsch: The model is high on Norway. They have one of the best players in the world in Erling Haaland, and while Norway is 29th or 30th in the FIFA rankings [at the time the data was collected], we have them with the 11th best odds to win because they have strong attacking options.

When sportscaster Jason Benetti ’05 is on the microphone, he treats every game like it is Game 7 of the World Series—ready for anything to happen and prepared to tell the stories of the game.

“Sometimes the best moments are the things you’d never expect in a game,” Benetti says. “You have to be ready for the strategy and the tactics, discussing what pitch might be thrown to this batter or how a manager will handle his bullpen.”

For Benetti, that balance between preparation and the unpredictable is part of the sport’s charm.

“Baseball has this chess feel to it, and then it rapidly becomes like sitting in an airport food court people watching,” he says. “I love that about baseball.”

Benetti’s excitement reached a new level when he called the Cleveland Guardians/Seattle Mariners game on March 29 as part of NBC and Peacock’s new primetime “Sunday Night Baseball” coverage.

“This was an opportunity to be the lead broadcaster on something I grew up watching,” says Benetti, who also serves as the Detroit Tigers TV broadcaster. “‘Sunday Night Baseball’ games always felt like the game of the week. To be the lead announcer for something like this, it truly is the one thing that hadn’t yet happened in my career.”

Benetti, who has called Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Basketball Association and college football and basketball games, dreamt of this moment ever since his agent, Kevin Belbey ’13, G’16, L’16, and NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood broached the subject.

“I get to see a lot more of the league and get to form relationships with players and managers through ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ that I like to think will help with my calling Tigers games. I’m very fortunate,” says Benetti, who earned bachelor’s degrees in broadcast journalism, economics and psychology.

Finding His Calling

Benetti says from an early age he had to navigate the world differently due to how people perceived his cerebral palsy. He has a drifting eye and walks with a limp but doesn’t live with chronic pain or major health complications.

“My hurdles are because I don’t look the same as everybody,” says Benetti, one of the leading advocates for those with cerebral palsy, including working with the to create a YouTube animated video series aimed at promoting awareness and inclusion.

Determined to become a sportscaster since high school, Benetti found his calling as a student broadcaster with .

“WAER teaches so many marvelous things about play-by-play. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Syracuse and WAER,” says Benetti, who called lacrosse and women’s basketball games for WAER.

Baseball Is the Perfect Sport for Sharing Stories

Benetti holds deep admiration for broadcasting legends like Vin Scully, Bob Costas and Ernie Harwell, who called Tigers games for 42 years.

Benetti and his broadcast team like to bring the fans into their telecasts, showing them attempting to catch a foul ball or sampling ballpark treats. Benetti will often say “message and data rates may apply” when featuring fans, because “anybody in the crowd can be a star, and when we show people on TV, their phones will blow up.”

Honoring a Broadcasting Legend

Calling Detroit’s playoff-clinching, 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 27, 2024, stands out as Benetti’s favorite baseball broadcasting moment. He paid homage to Harwell, who said a batter “stood there like a house by the side of the road” whenever he struck out.

Benetti was listening to Harwell’s old broadcasts as the season wound down, and as Tigers players and fans celebrated, Benetti told the audience that the rest of the American League “stood there like the house by the side of the road and let the Tigers go by.”

“That fan base hadn’t seen the team make the playoffs in a long time. There was so much joy and beauty watching the fans experience that playoff-clinching moment at Comerica Park,” Benetti says of the Tigers, who earned their first playoff berth in 10 years. “It’s a beautiful thing being able to connect history to the moment now.”

Every four years, millions of people around the world find themselves glued to their televisions, watching athletes slide massive stones across sheets of ice while teammates frantically sweep in front of them at the Olympics.

What makes curling so appealing?

Members of the explain what entices people into the sport that is part ice, part strategy and part finesse.

“There’s just something special about curling. The novelty and the silliness of the sport draw you in. Every four years we just have to watch curling at the Olympics,” says Adam Wingert ’27, a member of the Íű±ŹĂĆ club curling team and fourth-year architecture student in the .

“Growing up, I would watch curling at the Olympics with my parents and I often thought, ‘Yeah, I could do that,’” says teammate Alex Reid ’26, who is studying computer science in the .

Before this year’s Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, Wingert and Reid share what viewers can expect and invite community members to try their own hand at some of the team’s open lessons.

The Basics of Curling

Traditional curling features four-person teams taking their turn sending a massive stone down a thin sheet of ice while teammates frantically clean and sweep as the stone slides towards its target, known as a house.

Sweepers utilize a broom to melt the top surface of the ice as the stone is hurtling toward its target. But don’t let the name fool you: there are no bristles on these brooms, just a thin fabric covering over a foam pad.

Sweepers use their brooms to control the stone’s speed and trajectory by reducing friction with the ice—making it slide farther, curl less or curl more depending on strategy.

Stones can be used to either knock an opponent’s stone out of the house, or to position it strategically in the house to amass points. Teams score points for each stone closer to the center of the house than their opponent’s best stone.

Debunking Misconceptions

Despite competing on ice, the athletes don’t wear skates when they throw the stone. Instead, Orange student-athletes either wear sliders or specialized nonstick shoes made from Teflon that provide grip and traction.

Once the stone has been released, Reid says another misconception—that the stone will automatically go where you intend it to—is also quickly debunked.

“Playing conditions on the ice change over time,” Reid says. “By the nature of the sport, the same exact shot is not going to wind up in the same position as the competition advances. Curling gets down to the minutiae, and every moment has to be perfect.”

What to Know About Syracuse Curling

The Syracuse Curling Club has nine co-ed student-athletes, practices at the Utica Curling Club and competes in tournaments (called bonspiels) as part of both the regional Grand National Curling Club College League and USA Curling. At each competition, teams earn points based on their performance that determine which schools advance into the National Championship.

Syracuse recently placed second at the Yale Curling Club’s SuperSpiel tournament in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and is preparing for the Northeast Regionals tournament this weekend in Utica, New York. If Syracuse places in the top two teams at regionals, it will automatically qualify for the 2026 National Championship, March 12-15, in Schenectady, New York.

“We’re able to come out and represent Syracuse and be part of the club’s proud history,” Reid says. “To be able to say I made my mark is a really special feeling.”

After each tournament, a Spirit of Curling award is presented to the team that best embodies sportsmanship and professionalism while helping to grow the sport. Teams will then stack their brooms on the table and celebrate the end of a hard-fought game by getting to know a little bit more about their opponents.

“That speaks to the broader culture of curling,” Wingert says. “Curling is a competitive sport, and we want to win, but being part of this tight-knit community comes first. Curling is about doing better every single time and being the best person you can be.”

‘I’m Part of Something Bigger Than Myself’

Determined to spread their love of curling across campus, the club team runs free learn to curl classes at the Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion on South Campus. At these sessions, which normally occur in September and October, all the necessary equipment is provided, free of charge.

That’s how Reid became involved and now he’s a key contributor to the team that has its sights set on representing the University at the upcoming national tournament.

“Once I tried the sport, what made me stick around was this understanding that I was part of something that was bigger than myself,” Reid says.

Wingert, who fell in love with the sport when he was a child growing up in Southern Ontario, Canada, says nearly every member of the club team had zero curling experience before coming to campus.

“The learn to curl sessions are great because it helps us recruit for the club while spreading our love of curling on campus,” Wingert says.

For more information or to fill out an interest form, visit the .

It happens every two years. An athlete captures our imagination with a stirring performance during the Olympics, and this year’s Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, will be no different.

But for the Olympian who wants to build a large following on social media, says the time to add followers is not when they’re on the medal podium, but in the years leading up to the Games.

“We started seeing athletes use social media to document their journeys and provide insightful moments that ‘go viral’ with the 2012 Summer Games,” says Horn, associate dean for strategic initiatives and professor of practice in public relations in the .

“Over the last four or five Olympic Games, we’ve found that the athletes who take the time to invest in brand-building before the Olympic Village opens are best positioned to take advantage of the moment should success give them the spotlight.”

Championing Causes to Connect Online

During this social media era of the Olympics, endorsement deals and commercial success comes to those athletes who deliver authentic, relatable content that shares their personal experiences with a captivated audience.

The best examples treat posting to social as an extension of their training, committing hours each week to cultivating engaging posts to share online, says Horn.

One of the best examples is Ilona Maher, a two-time rugby player with Team USA.

Maher’s popularity grew during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic) when, due to COVID protocols, she couldn’t mingle with her fellow Olympians in the Olympic Village. She first posted humorous TikTok videos before delivering messages about the importance of body positivity, body image and embracing who you are to her TikTok and Instagram followers.

Maher’s popularity continued to grow after winning a bronze medal during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She now has 5.4 million Instagram followers and 3.9 million TikTok followers and parlayed her inspirational messages into sponsorship deals with Adidas, T.J. Maxx, L’OrĂ©al, Maybelline, Coppertone and other companies.

“Ilona used the Olympics as a launch platform for the content that ultimately gained her notoriety, success and fame, and these partnerships all came years after the Tokyo Olympics,” Horn says. “She landed these sponsorships by staying true to her message.”

Social Media Popularity Not Tied to Winning

Pita Taufatofua instantly gained fame and notoriety worldwide during the 2016 Summer Olympics, but not for his successes in taekwondo.

By wearing a traditional Tongan costume as flag bearer for the tiny island nation—a feat he would repeat in both the 2018 Winter Olympics as a cross-country skier and 2020 Summer Olympics—Taufatofua made an immediate impression on millions of fans watching the opening ceremonies as Tonga’s bare-chested flag bearer.

Taufatofua lost in the first round but that mattered little to his followers who flocked to find him on social media, Horn says, adding that it would have been unheard of for an athlete to be remembered for something other than winning a medal even 10 years ago.

“This is about thinking of the digital media space and social media as your legacy building ground, rather than thinking people will remember the result of your accomplishments in competition,” Horn says. “But that’s the power of social media and the power of curated content with a strategic focus.”

Regulating What Athletes Can and Cannot Share

The IOC is fairly restrictive when it comes to the types of messages they will allow athletes to share during the Games.

Among the stipulations, athletes cannot:

• Livestream their event(s)
• Produce content longer than two minutes
• Post within an hour of their competition start time
• Share content showing medal ceremonies
• Promote products

Additionally, there are social community guidelines that reflect what the IOC refers to as the spirit of Olympism, emphasizing that athletes champion fair play, respect, and diversity and inclusion, uphold human dignity and build bridges, not walls.

Horn says it’s “a highly risky proposition” for athletes to make a political statement or take a stand on a social issue during the Olympics.

“This is an ecosystem where the athletes are not in control. The athletes’ opportunity is to create brand-building and brand-following and then monetize that after an Olympic Games,” Horn says.

Familiar Faces on Team USA

Team USA boasts seven five-time Olympians: Lindsey Vonn (alpine ski racing), Evan Bates (figure skating), Elana Meyers Taylor (bobsled), Nick Baumgartner (snowboarding), Faye Thelen (snowboarding), Kaillie Humphries (bobsled) and Hilary Knight (ice hockey), along with popular four-time Olympians Mikaela Shiffrin (alpine skiing) and Chloe Kim (snowboarding).

Horn says these household names have established presences on social media and understand how to deliver compelling and engaging content.

“The question is who will we be talking about one month from now because they burst onto the scene with a social plan that captured engagement in ways that companies and brands can embrace?” Horn says.

A great nickname certainly helps: Horn points to charismatic figure skater Ilia Malinin as someone to watch. Malinin is known as “the Quad God” for his proficiency in landing quadruple jumps—four-rotation jumps known as “quads” on the ice.

Mykala Walker’s message for the Orange community about is one she says is often repeated by head coach Felisha Legette-Jack: See it through.

Walker, who was of Syracuse women’s basketball in October, has in collegiate basketball, from playing at Wake Forest University to coaching at Arizona State, University of Delaware and Georgetown University.

Now, she’s excited to be back in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), joining the Orange and being on the frontline at a time of pivotal growth in women’s basketball.

“I love what we’re able to do for players these days,” she says. “We’re putting them on a platform to help them be truly successful long after they take off their Syracuse jersey for the last time. You’re always going to be an Orange when you leave here, but it’s an exciting time to elevate and help these kids launch into their futures.”

And in the meantime, she says the Orange community has a part to play as the team, which has won 10 of its first 11 games, continues its season.

“We need you to come here, sit with us,” she says. “See it through, and know we’re going to fight. We fight here at Syracuse.”

Below, Walker shares more about her vision for continuing to build the program.

When Brian Tarrant’s email arrived in the inbox of design faculty in the (VPA), it carried with it more than a simple project proposal. It carried the weight of history, the story of college football’s most famed number—the legendary 44—aČÔ»ć those who wore it.

Tarrant ’96, a former Orange football player and senior vice president with MC2, a brand experience solutions agency, reached out to partner with the University. He sought help curating the memorabilia and developing the storytelling for the Legend of 44 exhibition, which his company designed.

The primary stakeholder, Rob Konrad ’02, the last Syracuse football player to wear the number before it was retired in 2005, invested a significant amount of time and personal resources to help acquire the iconic memorabilia. “His generosity and deep love for the University truly made this project possible,” Tarrant says.

The is not just a jersey at Syracuse; it is part of the University’s identity. From 1954 to 1998, 11 players wore the number, beginning with Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown ’57, who ushered in the modern era and transformed it into a symbol of excellence.

The most notable players to follow Brown include Ernie Davis ’62, the first African American Heisman Trophy winner in 1961; Floyd Little ’67, H’16, a three-time All-American at Syracuse and Hall of Fame running back with the Denver Broncos; Michael Owens ’90; Terry Richardson ’94; and Konrad, who went on to play six seasons with the Miami Dolphins.

Honoring the Legend of 44

To create the exhibition, environmental and interior design students Trisha Mohta ’28, Katja Wetzel ’27, Carmela Garcia ’26, Isabel Lamporte ’26 and Holly Ishiro-Randall ’26—along with museum studies graduate student Daniel Griffaton G’26—worked alongside faculty members Zoriana Dunham, assistant teaching professor, Andrew Saluti, associate professor, and Tarrant and his team.

The students learned the stories behind the artifacts, including game-worn helmets from Brown and Konrad and cleats from Davis’ Heisman season. They visited the storage site to measure objects and examine them firsthand. The challenge was to translate decades of achievement, sacrifice and cultural significance into a cohesive narrative that would resonate with fans across generations.

Within the exhibition’s design, larger cases feature Brown, Davis and Little, and smaller cases feature Owens, Richardson and Konrad. A backlit 44 display lists all 25 players who were known to wear the number on the football field.

A Rewarding Experience for Students

As the project progressed, the team saw how individual stories wove together into something larger—a tapestry of excellence that transcended any single student-athlete. They collaborated through shared digital whiteboards, collecting sketches and concepts, refining their vision through multiple meetings with Tarrant’s team.

Garcia has focused on big-scale design in her studies, and this project taught her that human-centered design must prioritize the small scale.

“It was so exciting to see this project come to life within the course of a few weeks,” Garcia says. “And it made me realize the power of cooperation, various skills and a shared interest.”

Randall says the students were involved in the full design process. “For the first time, we were able to follow a project from initial ideation through installation, and I am proud to have been able to contribute to a project that celebrates ł§Čâ°ùČ賊łÜČő±đ’s legacy,” she says.

“A particularly meaningful element for the students was shaping the ‘legend story’ of the iconic number 44,” says Dunham. “They worked to design a display that would connect fans across generations while preserving the legacy and significance of the number within the school community.”

When installation week arrived in mid-November, the students and faculty completed the hands-on work. The exhibition, now permanently situated outside Club 44 at Gate C in the JMA Wireless Dome, features the artifacts alongside a timeline honoring every player who wore the number, plus video and photo displays that bring the legacy to life.

“Working with students from the environmental and interior design and museum studies programs was an incredible opportunity,” says Tarrant. “The students assumed ownership of the storytelling, including image selection, artifact descriptions and overall layout, which became a major asset to the project’s success. I could not be more proud of this project and the role the students played in bringing it to life.”

The unveiling ceremony in November was attended by Konrad and William Schoonover ’65, who also wore the 44, along with the families of the legendary players and Chancellor Kent Syverud.

For Dunham and Saluti, watching their students succeed was deeply rewarding. “The students gained experience in artifact research, narrative development, client collaboration, iterative design and team project management,” says Dunham. “It is a rare opportunity for students to leave a permanent mark on campus while applying the skills they are learning—what could be more powerful than that?”

Jill Nelsen L’27 playing soccer and loving sports. She was recruited to California State-East Bay with a four-year athletic scholarship to play women’s varsity soccer, while also earning a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. When she later decided to pursue law school, she hoped to stay connected to the world of sports and entertainment—but she never imagined that would open doors to opportunities like Miami Swim Week and New York Fashion Week.

During her first year year, Nelsen joined the Entertainment & Sports Law Society, often attending networking events with alumni thriving in this space. At one such event, she met Riley Christian L’16, now an entertainment and sports attorney with , a firm he founded in 2022.

Nelsen and Christian had a lot in common; she had been a collegiate soccer player and he a collegiate baseball player. At the time, Christian was rebranding his boutique law firm in New York City to focus more on the areas of sports and entertainment that dealt with navigating the NCAA’s new Name Image and Likeness (NIL) rules for college athletes and handling legal issues related to artificial intelligence in the entertainment and music business.

Nelsen later reached out to Christian, asking if he might need an intern, and he agreed to bring her onboard.

At first, she helped navigate the logo development for the firm’s rebranding, later moving on to legal research for defamation cases, statute of limitations issues, trademark infringements and intellectual property, while learning as much as she could about the ever-evolving NIL rules.

Piecing Together Sports, Fashion and the Law

While her whole internship experience was exciting, Nelsen says two highlights were attending Miami Swim Week and New York Fashion Week.

“Riley knew these big events would be good networking experiences for me, and he also knew I liked to talk to people and that would be a good way to spread the word about the rebranding of Artifex Athleta,” she says.

The annual Miami Swim Week is the world’s largest swimwear and resort wear event that includes runway fashion shows, trade shows and pop-up shops, as well as the chance to meet and network with all kinds of people connected to this area of fashion— from designers and buyers to athletes, agents and the media.

“Yes, it was focused on swimwear, but there are so many aspects of the law attached to the fashion space, including trademarks, sponsorships, negotiating and closing NIL and more,” Nelsen says. “It was a fascinating experience to see it in action.”

She also attended New York Fashion Week, one of the “big four” fashion events in the world, showcasing what’s going to be “in” for the upcoming season. The biannual event includes exclusive runway shows by world-class designers that are attended by celebrities, influencers, fashion buyers and the media.

This, too, gave Nelsen an opportunity to network with a host of agents, attorneys and other business leaders in the fashion space.

“The experience of not only attending these fabulous events but also having the chance to work with Riley helped me begin to make a name for myself as more than just an athlete,” she says. “The younger version of me would be emotional to see all the things I’ve accomplished both in my course work, as well as internship opportunities. My takeaway from this entire experience is that I can do it, and there are people who truly believe in me and see my potential.”

Uplifting Women Is the Ultimate Win

After completing her education at the College of Law, Nelsen’s dream is to one day work as general counsel for a NBA or NFL team and negotiate from the team’s side with players and their agents. But her ultimate goal is to one day be a general manager or even owner of a WNBA team.

“Sports, and now working in sports—has always been the dream,” she says.

Her older sister has been a role model, she says, “moving mountains” as director of services and retention for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.

“I’ve also learned a lot about creating space for people like me, particularly as a first-generation Latina woman,” Nelsen says. “I’ve been told I’m too much, too blunt, too Californian, but I’ve also been told ‘don’t dim your light to fit into a box that’s been predefined for you.’ I am proud to be a Syracuse law student with the opportunity to contribute to uplifting women in the sports and entertainment business and also within the legal field. That is a real win for me.”

When graduated from the University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management from the , legalized sports gambling in the United States was limited to two states: Nevada and New Jersey.

But since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that prevents the federal government from dictating how states manage sports betting, the industry has undergone a rapid and extraordinary expansion. Some form of sports gambling is now legal in 39 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and the betting market in 2025 is estimated to reach nearly $20 billion in the U.S. and $111 billion globally, according to .

After starting his career in sports sponsorships and then working outside of sports, Weiss put his entrepreneurial spirit and skills to work by creating a company that is now shaping the future of the booming sports gambling industry. Weiss is CEO and founder of (the M.V.P is for Make Vegas Pay), a Fort Lauderdale-based business that provides expert advice and education services for sports bettors.

“A lot of people love sports, and they love betting on games, but they work day jobs and they don’t really have the time to do the research,” Weiss says. “So the idea was for us to be that guiding hand for them.”

As M.V.P continues to grow, Weiss has reconnected with his Syracuse roots. He joined , a network of donors who share a common goal of supporting the University’s highest priorities. Following conversations with Falk College Director of Development , Weiss joined the , a group of the college’s most committed and influential young alumni.

Weiss is also helping to cultivate the next generation of sports betting experts. He’s in his second year of hosting Falk College students who are handling a variety of roles.

Sport analytics major Jared Weber ’26 is interested in a career in sports gambling and says he’s gaining a wealth of industry knowledge.

“My experience at M.V.P has helped me build a deep understanding of how to identify and create advantages over sportsbooks and thereby make myself a valuable candidate for jobs in the future,” Weber says. “I’m incredibly grateful to Simon for giving me the platform to learn so much about the betting space and helping other students learn along the way.”

Sport management major Lindsay Dorman ’27 also wants to work in what has been a male-dominated sports gambling industry. She says Weiss has given her jobs and introduced her to people that have increased her confidence and made her more motivated to work in the field.

“He’s taught me so much about the industry while giving me the freedom to take initiative and grow creatively,” Dorman says. “I’m really grateful for his mentorship and this experience is making me even more motivated to make an impact in this space.”

“A dark presence looms over the sanctity of a collegiate event.

In walks the top-ranked player, in walks the destroyer of worlds.

You asked for friendlies and you got a war; Syrup is in the building.”

Those were the words commentators uttered as Andrew Mo ’29  took his place with his Syracuse teammates , the largest gaming competition for Super Smash Bros. in the world. The University competed at the August event, facing off in a best of three crew battle against Shenandoah University.

When it was his turn at the controller, Mo sat slouched slightly forward in the black folding chair, focused on the monitor before him, seemingly unshakable as onlookers and commentators reacted to his gameplay.

“This guy is crazy,” one of them said.

After one devastating blow to an opponent, the commentators let out squawks of delight while people in the crowd clasped their hands to their heads in amazement.

Mo deftly removed his headphones, offered his opponent a fist bump and turned forward again, waiting for the next player to take a seat beside him.

By the time the battle was over, the commentators labeled the “Syrup sweep” complete.

At the time, Mo was ranked eleventh globally for Super Smash Bros Ultimate. His Smash Bros. coach , who is also the esports program manager in the , says Mo is now trending closer to the top five.

“He’s probably the fifth in the world right now,” Bair says.

What Makes Syrup So Good

Mo, an undeclared major in the , first picked up a controller when he was 5, playing Smash with his brother. He says what he loves about the game is how free form it can be.

“There’s a lot of room for creativity and your gameplay has personality in it,” he says. “Your gameplay is your own, and it’s unique.”

He began playing competitively in 2019 at the age of 12, starting with local tournaments in his home state of New Jersey.

Mo says when he was getting ready to compete in his first match, he forgot to create his “in-game” tag, or name. So he played with the moniker left behind by another player—Syrup.

“It was someone else’s, so I was just like, ‘OK, this is mine now,’” Mo says.

Now, it’s how he’s known around the world.

Why He Chose Íű±ŹĂĆ

Mo says he was drawn to Syracuse for its programs, but also for its investment in esports and new state-of-the-art facilities.

Esports started on campus in 2017 as a student club, but the University now has both an esports communications and management bachelor’s degree—offered jointly by the and the —aČÔ»ć , meaning the squads are school-supported, under . Thirty students field the six varsity teams playing Call of Duty, Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Valorant.

Programs are run out of two gaming facilities on campus, at the Barnes Center at The Arch and the Schine Student Center. A third space is also being built in the Marley Building.

“Syracuse is probably the only school with two whole facilities,” Mo says. “And the facilities inside, they’re very advanced and modern looking. It’s literally the perfect place to play any competitive game.”

While the NCAA doesn’t currently support esports, the University’s varsity teams compete in the Power Esports Conference (PEC) against other Division I schools, such as Michigan State, Boise State and Ohio State, among others. With a fall and spring season, the University plays each school in the fall and then again in the spring, culminating with an in-person championship in April. Some of the varsity teams also compete in the PlayVS College League (PCL).

There are seven student-athletes on the varsity Smash team, including Mo. Bair said separate of his skill, Mo’s contributions as a person and teammate in the program have also been significant. He’s humble when Smash comes up in classes, a good student and hardworking member of the varsity team.

“He represents collegiate esports really well,” Bair says.

The Impact at Syracuse

To convey what it means to have a player of Mo’s caliber, Joey Gawrysiak, executive director of esports and professor of practice, brings up another Syracuse legend.

“The analogy we always use is that Andrew is the best recruit Syracuse has had since Carmelo Anthony,” he says. “He is not only just technically gifted, he is mentally gifted at the game and understands how somebody is going to react to his play style, so he can then counteract it really well and not have to react in real time as much as the average person might have to.”

Bair says Mo might be the most talented person at a single skill you could meet in your lifetime.

“I don’t know if I will meet someone better at something than Andrew is skilled at this video game,” he says.

Part of Mo’s talent is simply innate, Bair says.

But the coach stressed the time Mo puts in to develop his game is also huge.

Mo says he tries to play every day. And if he can’t pick up a controller, he is still thinking about the game.

“I think about Smash a lot,” he says. “A big way to improve once you reach a higher level is you have to start thinking of new situations and how to implement new ideas into your game.”

Mo says Syracuse is the “perfect place to go” if you’re interested in esports.

He’s learned in his own classes how esports can translate to other majors, like business, management or production.

“I want to lean toward learning how to make content and get into maybe the production side of things, which Syracuse can definitely help me with,” he says.

(MLS) and Íű±ŹĂĆ announce a new initiative to provide current and former players and their families with access to market-relevant online degrees, certificates and career development opportunities through the University’s nationally ranked online degree and certificate programs.

The collaboration empowers MLS players and their families—as well as league and club staff and their families—to pursue customized degree programs and professional development designed for the unique demands of professional athletes. The initiative also extends to future MLS stars across and , ensuring the entire MLS ecosystem benefits from expanded access to higher education.

Creating flexible pathways for a variety of academic offerings, programs draw on the expertise of ł§Čâ°ùČ賊łÜČő±đ’s renowned schools and colleges, including the , , and .

“Major League Soccer is proud to work with Íű±ŹĂĆ to provide world-class educational resources that support the personal and professional growth of players, alumni and staff across our league,” says Sola Winley, MLS executive vice president and chief engagement officer. “This initiative expands on traditional higher education offerings by providing flexible, high-quality opportunities tailored to the unique needs of the MLS community.”

Opportunities created through this initiative include:

• Flexible, 100% online degrees and certificates
• Pre-academic English language support
• Credit transfer assessment
• Career-focused programs in business, project management and sport analytics, among others
• Dedicated online student support

“My fellow deans and I are excited to partner with Major League Soccer to provide the Íű±ŹĂĆ experience to current and former players and their family members who are interested in pursuing our robust academic offerings,” said Falk College Dean , who earlier this year helped create a with the Major League Baseball Players Association. “For athletes and professionals with unpredictable schedules, our online programs offer the perfect balance of flexibility, extensive academic support and real-world applicability—all without compromising the demands of their careers or personal circumstances.”

Educational offerings will be accessible online, on campus and at ł§Čâ°ùČ賊łÜČő±đ’s “away” centers in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Dedicated admission specialists and academic advisors will work with each participant to tailor academic pathways aligned with their goals.

“It’s big for all the players in MLS, the staff and coaches as well, to have this opportunity to go back to school and focus on their education, because it’s so important,” says Miles Robinson, center back for FC Cincinnati and former defender at Íű±ŹĂĆ (2015-16). “It’s a great chance for everyone in MLS, and their families, to be able to further their education, especially with Íű±ŹĂĆ. Being a Syracuse alum, it’s amazing to recognize how great the school is and what it has to offer.”

For more information about the partnership, visit the .

An innovative initiative focusing on the power of sport fandom for character development has been awarded more than $800,000 in funding through a 2025 from the Educating Character Initiative, part of Wake Forest University’s Program for Leadership and Character, which is supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant will fund Character Development through Sport Fan Engagement, a project developed by , professor and dean of the , and the , vice president and dean of , who are co-principal investigators.

Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew says the project leverages the University’s existing strengths in sport-related academic research and teaching while drawing on themes outlined in the academic strategic plan, particularly human thriving. “This project has the potential to engage individuals across our campus community—students, faculty and staff—aČÔ»ć promote the respectful exchange of ideas around the concepts of fandom and character development,” she says.

This significant award recognizes Íű±ŹĂĆ’s commitment to fostering holistic student development and leveraging the unique environment of collegiate sport fandom for character education. The project aims to cultivate ethical reasoning, teamwork, empathy and a stronger sense of community among undergraduate students by engaging them in the social, emotional and cultural dimensions of sport fandom. Ultimately, the project has the potential to not only transform fandom at Syracuse, but also to become a national model for ethical and inclusive fan engagement throughout sport.

“This project represents a truly collaborative effort across Íű±ŹĂĆ to push past the boundaries of knowledge by uniting spiritual inquiry and sport scholarship to explore how the passion of sport fandom can be a powerful catalyst for human flourishing,” Konkol says. “We believe that by focusing on the virtue of teamwork, we can help our students not only understand—but also actively practice—the values that build stronger communities.”

Íű±ŹĂĆ, with its dynamic athletics program, is uniquely positioned to host this initiative. “Sport fandom, particularly in the vibrant atmosphere of NCAA Division I athletics, offers an unparalleled real-time context for character education,” Jordan says. “This grant allows us to harness that energy to teach fairness, loyalty, leadership, humility and sportsmanship in ways that deeply resonate with our students’ lived experiences. We are excited to contribute to a national conversation about the role of sport in character formation.”

The project will include a series of structured educational and experiential components, co-designed with student leaders, including peer-led workshops, team-based challenges, game-day campaigns and reflective discussions, all centered on the character virtue of teamwork. Its structure emphasizes inclusive participation across diverse student populations and encourages cross-campus collaboration among students, faculty and athletics staff.

“Cultivating individuals of character who embody teamwork benefits our university and our students but also strengthens our athletics program,” says John Wildhack, Íű±ŹĂĆ director of athletics. “This initiative will help us learn more about fan behavior and encourage students to develop lifelong connections to the traditions and teams that define the Orange Nation. Passionate and dedicated fans are essential for our teams to compete at the highest levels.”

The program will also include a multi-year research study, The Impact of Sport Fandom on Character Development Among College Students: A Multi-dimensional Analysis Using the Psychological Continuum Model, which is intended to address a critical gap in existing literature.

Beyond its well-recognized athletics program, Íű±ŹĂĆ has evolved its sport-focused educational offerings and is redefining the future of sport research, education and innovation. In July, the Falk College became the nation’s first standalone college of sport on a Research 1 campus. Singular in focus, global in reach and designed for the future, the Falk College aims to be the top academic and research institution in sport.

Hendricks Chapel, known as the spiritual heart of Íű±ŹĂĆ, serves as a global home for religious, spiritual, moral and ethical life. Established in 1930 as a home for all faiths and place for all people, the chapel sponsors over 2,000 programs for more than a million annual attendees to help prepare engaged citizens, scholars and leaders for participation in a changing global society.

Other participating units include the , the School of Education’s , the , and .

Why all the racket about Padel? Students and faculty in the collaborated with a global communications consulting firm to release a report about the emerging sport’s rapid rise in popularity.

The report, “Celebrities, Community, Content, and Competition: Padel’s Meteoric Rise in U.S. Popularity,” identifies key reasons behind the explosive growth of Padel, a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash.

Factors include more ways to stream Padel tournaments, an increase in community-focused clubs and the influence of celebrity enthusiasts like actress Eva Longoria and Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter.

“Padel in the U.S. won’t be just a sport—it will be a cultural phenomenon,” says Ben Nichols, founder of the firm, . “We’re seeing the same kind of momentum that once launched pickleball, but this time with a broader lifestyle appeal.”

Baneet Bains G’25 led the Newhouse students that produced the report through the Padel 22 partnership. They were supervised by , professor of practice of public relations and associate dean for strategic initiatives in the Newhouse School.

“As a former PR student myself, a big part of my mission is to support students in finding their way into the sport industry at a time when Padel is growing rapidly across the country,” says Nichols.

“To have been able to partner with one of the very best public relations programs in the United States has been an honor,” he says. “I’m thrilled Newhouse has been able to blaze the trail in the college sector by producing this industry-first report.”

What Is Padel and Why Is It Booming?

Padel is typically played in pairs, as doubles, on an enclosed court that is about one-third the size of a tennis court. In Padel, balls can be played off the walls.

There is some social media-fueled debate about how to pronounce the word. Nichols said the correct pronunciation is “PA-dell” (like “paddle”), though some players in the United States call it “pah-DEL.”

Either way, it’s considered the world’s fastest-growing sport, the report said. In the United States, Padel has gained traction through celebrity endorsements, increased exposure through digital content and investment in elite clubs and tournaments.

According to the Padel report released Wednesday, U.S. court construction skyrocketed from fewer than 30 in 2020 to more than 600 in 2024, with projections of 30,000 by 2030.

“Media growth and engagement serves as one of the key drivers of the success of emerging sports across the U.S.,” says , director of the . “The report shows that a combination of celebrity influence, community activation and content creation are all key drivers in Padel’s emergence.”

Hands-on Learning at the Newhouse School

For the Newhouse team, the collaboration offered students a valuable opportunity to work on a high-profile project about an emerging sports trend, the first research of its kind about Padel in the United States.

“Providing students with hands-on learning opportunities in global sport communications is central to the Newhouse approach of integrating classroom knowledge with real-world impact,” Horn says. “This academic-industry intersection defines the value of a Newhouse educational experience, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, thanks to our industry partners and their desire to help our students sìłźd.”

Bains, who graduated in May, led a team that ranged from first-year to graduate students.

“This project was the ultimate hands-on experience of what we’ve been learning in the classroom,” she says, “working together in a setting that mimicked a professional environment.”

.

Jordan Boron ’25 loved to play ice hockey, but she came to Íű±ŹĂĆ in 2022 because its in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics is widely considered one of the best sport management programs in the country.

ł§Čâ°ùČ賊łÜČő±đ’s team? Not so much.

But in Boron’s three winters on campus, the club team went from having only six players in the season before Boron arrived to going undefeated (20-0) and winning the in early March, with Boron as one of the team’s leading defensemen.

Turned out, Boron really could have it all at Syracuse.

“I am honored to be a part of this team and to be a part of how far it has come,” she says. “The team’s leadership has done incredible things to build out this program and our coaches, Christina Beam and Marty Sicilia, have been a huge part of that. This team is a group of deeply dedicated players that worked so hard to win that national title.

“That is what made this win so much better, the hard work that we all put into this team,” Boron says.

Boron is one of six Falk College students who played on ł§Čâ°ùČ賊łÜČő±đ’s first women’s club hockey national championship team. The others are Sarah Anderson ’28 (health and exercise science and premed), Gia Becchi ’28 (sport management), Sophie Lauzon ’26 (public health), Neve Padulo ’28 (exercise science) and Bryana Treon ’27 (social work).

Boron was on the ice when the buzzer sounded to end ł§Čâ°ùČ賊łÜČő±đ’s 4-2 win over the University of Tampa in the AAU Women’s National Championship game in Jacksonville, Florida. It was a moment she’ll never forget.

“During the last few minutes of the championship game our bench was going wild because the inevitable win was in sight,” she says. “All I was thinking was ‘I need to go hug Emma (goaltender Emmalyn Lacz) because she played so incredibly.’ The next thing I know, the whole team is on the ice, gloves and sticks thrown about and we are all screaming at the top of our lungs. We are national champions!”

‘We Had A Real Chance’

Growing up in Mount Airy, Maryland, Boron started playing hockey when she was 10. She played in youth leagues and in her senior year of high school was talented enough to play for the Tier 1 Washington Pride. In youth hockey in the United States, Tier 1 represents the highest level of competition and requires significant time and travel commitments.

Boron could have certainly tried to play hockey in college, but she focused her choice on academics and once she learned about the sport management program at Syracuse, she “knew this was where I wanted to go.” While touring campus and visiting the on South Campus, she met one of her future hockey teammates, Amanda Wheeler, who was working at the pro shop. They started talking about hockey, and Wheeler encouraged Boron to try out for the team if she came to Syracuse.

was founded in 2022 as a way to give club teams more structure and competitive opportunities. The league is comprised of three men’s divisions and one women’s division, and the divisions are split into regional conferences. For the women, the division includes 18 teams divided into College Hockey North and College Hockey South divisions.

The time commitment is significant—three practices a week and home and away games each weekend with the away games often involving hours of travel and some overnight stays. Guided by coaches Beam and Sicilia, the team steadily improved over the years and this past season went 14-0 before defeating Springfield and Paul Smith to win the College Hockey North.

In the national tournament in Jacksonville, Syracuse defeated Springfield again before facing the Alabama Frozen Tide—the first team Syracuse played from the College Hockey South.

“The 10-2 win against Alabama was the moment for our team that made us feel like we had a real chance to win a national championship,” Boron says. “Seeing that we could win against a team that had previously beat Tampa, our next opponent, gave us the confidence boost we needed.”

‘The Moment Did Not Feel Real’

With a pool-play format, Syracuse qualified for the national championship after defeating Alabama but still had to play Tampa, which had also won its first two games to qualify for the final. But while ł§Čâ°ùČ賊łÜČő±đ’s pool-play game against Tampa didn’t decide the national title, it did set the tone for the championship game that followed the next day.

“I would argue that this was one of the most important games of the tournament,” Boron says. “We needed to play that game just like we would the next day to win the title.

“After our 3-2 win in our first game against Tampa, our excitement continued to build, and everyone was locked in and set on winning the next day,” Boron adds. “We went on to win the championship game 4-2, playing and fighting even harder than the game prior.”

For Boron, who will be graduating early in December after completing her Capstone internship this fall, the championship put an exclamation point on her stellar athletic and academic experience at Syracuse. This season, she worked as a community relations intern for the Syracuse Crunch American Hockey League team, assisting with community-related projects such as honoring military members and auctioning autographed game-used memorabilia for fans during games. Previously, she had internships with the Syracuse Athletics communications team, the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the Premier Lacrosse League at the Championship Series in February.

Boron is a member of (WISE) in the Falk College, and for the past two years she was co-chair of the Donations Committee for the Sport Management Club’s Sports Charity Auction. The 20th annual auction in December raised $59,500 for the Rescue Mission of Syracuse, and the club has now raised more than $760,000 for local charities since 2005.

As she prepares to start her professional career, Boron says she would like to work in youth hockey development to make the sport she loves “more accessible to all.” Her hope for young players is that they all have an opportunity to experience what she felt on the ice in Jacksonville, where all the hard work and sacrifice paid off in a historic championship for Syracuse club hockey.

“It was incredible to share this moment with my teammates,” she says. “After the huddle dispersed, I found some of my closest friends on the team hugged them because the moment did not feel real. There is no one I would rather be on that ice with.”

To learn more about the women’s ice hockey club, follow the team on . If you’d like more information about the team or to try out, email suwomenshockey@gmail.com.