In a time of uncertainty, the Orange football team seems to be in good hands.

That is in large part thanks to the team's Leadership Council. The council, which is a collection of several players on the team, is the acting voice for the program. This summer, the Orange football team has had to deal with an unprecedented situation. With the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement, the team is relying on each other to navigate the upcoming season.

"It’s very empowering,” SU starting quarterback Tommy DeVito said.

“It’s also very eye-opening because a lot of players come from different backgrounds, and I might not be able to relate to someone’s stories and what they’ve been through and explain their feelings about the season and what’s going on, but there is someone on the council that can relate to them. "

It’s this leadership that has seemingly made this football team grow together. Most recently, Syracuse decided to skip football practice amid concerns over the university’s testing policies. That decision came from the group as a whole.

"This is new for everyone," said Orange defensive back Trill Williams. "So it's just about getting adjusted. Players that feel not safe about playing, we have to make adjustments for them. So, we take it day by day, one day at a time to make sure everyone is safe."

The Orange ability to work and reflect as one heartbeat is something head coach Dino Babers cultivated when he arrived five seasons ago. Coach Babers refers often to his team as his ohana, or family. It's clear that during this global struggle, the Orange have fully bought into what the head of their program is preaching.