Spring Break
The Daily OrangeForth has academic plans after basketball
By Scott Bisang
Posted: 3/1/05, 11:32 PM EST Section: Sports
Craig Forth stood at a lectern in front of the Southern Rensselaer County Rotary Club this past fall and delivered a speech.
The crowd expected a lengthy narrative about what it's like to play for the Syracuse men's basketball team. They figured a few stories from the hardwood would be mixed in, maybe even a behind-the-scenes look at the 2003 National Championship season.
And for the first three minutes, Forth did just that, appeasing the crowd by talking basketball.
But for the final 27 minutes, Forth spoke about the rest of his life.
He discussed being a Big Brother and helping others. He talked about student teaching at local elementary schools. He spoke about what it was like having a younger brother with autism and having another brother involved in sports.
"Obviously winning a national championship is a big part of my life, and playing for Syracuse is a big part of my life," Forth said, "but if I didn't play for Syracuse, I'd still be active outside basketball."
Forth will start his record 132nd consecutive game for Syracuse on Saturday when it plays its regular season finale at Connecticut. Over the past four years, Forth has started every game for the Orange.
The only recognition Forth usually gets at games is when he's booed. He quietly averages his five points and 20 minutes.
Off the court, Forth was a third-team Academic All-American last season. He'll earn at least that same recognition this season and quite possibly be named to the first team. But when he graduates in May with a degree in inclusive education, fans won't be longing for the Craig Forth days anytime soon. That, said his high school coach Jim Obermeyer, will be a mistake.
Obermeyer compared Forth to a teenager's first car. It wasn't always pretty to look at and you always wanted something better. But it was reliable and always delivered you where you needed to be.
"You really didn't appreciate it, but you were lucky to have those wheels at the time," Obermeyer said. "Craig does a lot of things that don't show up in the box score."
The crowd expected a lengthy narrative about what it's like to play for the Syracuse men's basketball team. They figured a few stories from the hardwood would be mixed in, maybe even a behind-the-scenes look at the 2003 National Championship season.
And for the first three minutes, Forth did just that, appeasing the crowd by talking basketball.
But for the final 27 minutes, Forth spoke about the rest of his life.
He discussed being a Big Brother and helping others. He talked about student teaching at local elementary schools. He spoke about what it was like having a younger brother with autism and having another brother involved in sports.
"Obviously winning a national championship is a big part of my life, and playing for Syracuse is a big part of my life," Forth said, "but if I didn't play for Syracuse, I'd still be active outside basketball."
Forth will start his record 132nd consecutive game for Syracuse on Saturday when it plays its regular season finale at Connecticut. Over the past four years, Forth has started every game for the Orange.
The only recognition Forth usually gets at games is when he's booed. He quietly averages his five points and 20 minutes.
Off the court, Forth was a third-team Academic All-American last season. He'll earn at least that same recognition this season and quite possibly be named to the first team. But when he graduates in May with a degree in inclusive education, fans won't be longing for the Craig Forth days anytime soon. That, said his high school coach Jim Obermeyer, will be a mistake.
Obermeyer compared Forth to a teenager's first car. It wasn't always pretty to look at and you always wanted something better. But it was reliable and always delivered you where you needed to be.
"You really didn't appreciate it, but you were lucky to have those wheels at the time," Obermeyer said. "Craig does a lot of things that don't show up in the box score."
