FORT DRUM, N.Y. — Syracuse players and some coaches rappelled down a 45-foot wall on Wednesday as part of the team’s training at Fort Drum this week. SU has visted Fort Drum each of the past three seasons but this was the first time players rappelled.

“You’re up there and you’re like, ‘I don’t want to do this, I don’t want to do this,’” senior center Rob Trudo said, “but then you’re up next and you’re doing it.”

Some members of SU backed out, including starting senior quarterback Terrel Hunt, causing sophomore linebacker Zaire Franklin to say, “Don’t be softnosed,” — a reference to head coach Scott Shafer’s mantra of wanting his team to be “hardnosed.”

Redshirt freshman safety Rodney Williams shouted, “Why not us, why not you?” at the players who sat in the bleachers, mocking them by using SU’s own mantra for the season. Then Williams himself backed out as soon as he got to the top.

As players rappelled, teammates cheered and heckled teammates. As sophomore safety Chauncey Scissum came down taking notably small leaps, a teammate asked, “Why the baby jumps?” But Scissum was relieved just to make it all the way to the bottom safely, where he made the sign of the cross with his hand.

“Getting started was definitely the hardest part,” Trudo said. “Once you got up there it was a little bit easier. But it’s nerve-wracking.”

Text by Paul Schwedelson, asst. copy editor, pmschwed@syr.edu