Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Diabate aiming for redemption against alma mater
9/6/2017 5:30:00 PM | Football
Former 'Cuse player, coach excited to come home
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee first-year linebackers coach Siriki Diabate has a lot of familiarity with Syracuse, the Blue Raiders' Week 2 opponent.
It all started when he was 13. Diabate, his mother and a sister fled from violence in their native Ivory Coast to New York City, where he quickly found a love for football and sparked an interest in the university 4.5 hours to the north.
Since he had just two years of organized football playing experience under his belt, not a lot of schools came calling when Diabate graduated from Lehman High School. He chose to attend Nassau Community College on Long Island and walked onto the football team.
After a solid freshman campaign, Diabate had a breakout year as a sophomore, being named a NJCC All-American after leading his league with 92 total tackles, 36 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three defensive touchdowns. His play caught the attention of Syracuse, and the next season he would don the orange uniform.
Learning from the Orange
For two years, Diabate starred in the Syracuse linebacking corps, being named a co-captain and racking up 77 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss as a senior. But, it was perhaps after his playing days when he was most impacted by the Orange.
Diabate graduated in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in economics, and he took a role as a graduate assistant coach with 'Cuse when Scott Shafer, now MT's defensive coordinator, rose to head coach. Diabate helped coach the linebackers, and graduated again in 2015 with a master's degree in economics.
When Shafer left Syracuse after the 2014 season, Diabate moved to Colgate University, a Division I Football Championship Series program about an hour southeast of Syracuse where he coached safeties.
It didn't take him long to get back to his old stomping grounds. Coincidentally, the first game of the 2016 season, Diabate's second year at Colgate, was held at Syracuse on Sept. 2.
He's hoping his second go-round with coaching against his alma mater will be more successful than the first, a 33-7 Colgate loss.
"I'm still looking to get back at them for that one," he said.
Help from his new boss
Just over a year after returning to Syracuse for the first time as an opposing coach, Diabate is prepping for another trip to the school where just a few short years ago he was standing on the other sideline.
This time, he's confident he'll know what to expect in the homecoming. He'll also have the added benefit of being a part of a staff with a head coach who's been through similar circumstances.
Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill played at Florida State from 1977-1982, and before coming to Murfreesboro he served in a few positions with the Clemson staff from 1989-2002.
Clemson and FSU were, and still are, members of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1989 when Stockstill and the Tigers traveled to Tallahassee to take on the Seminoles.
It was the first time Stockstill had been back on Florida State's field since his last home game, and emotions were high. But, after many more trips for conference play, he figured out how to handle coaching against his alma mater.
"I think it's probably more the emotions leading up to the game," he said. "Once the game starts and until it ends, you don't think about it.
"I wanted my guys to play great and for us to win, because I was coming back home and I wanted to show them that, hey, I'm doing alright for myself."
How to handle the return
Diabate expects emotions to run high before Saturday's game begins. He'll try to visit with some friends and family and go to some of his favorite spots, like Pastabilities restaurant and Insomnia Cookies, to help keep his mind from running too rampant.
"That place is home to me," he said, "it's given me a lot in my life. Even walking through the visiting locker room and walking through the visiting tunnel, it's emotional."
Having coaches around him who know how to handle the situation will be invaluable, as will having his former head coach alongside.
Diabate and Shafer shared some of their fondest memories in their years together at Syracuse, but when the teams line up for kickoff, none of that will matter. Both coaches will have the same mindset: Beat the Orange.
"It's crossed my mind how special this one will be if we do get the win, especially going back with Coach Shafer," Diabate said. "Every single game is important, but this being the next game and it being my alma mater … it will be a special one.
"Every time I step foot on that campus it takes me back through memories. But, we'll only go in there with one goal, to beat the Orange, and after that it's back to being my alma mater."
It all started when he was 13. Diabate, his mother and a sister fled from violence in their native Ivory Coast to New York City, where he quickly found a love for football and sparked an interest in the university 4.5 hours to the north.
Since he had just two years of organized football playing experience under his belt, not a lot of schools came calling when Diabate graduated from Lehman High School. He chose to attend Nassau Community College on Long Island and walked onto the football team.
After a solid freshman campaign, Diabate had a breakout year as a sophomore, being named a NJCC All-American after leading his league with 92 total tackles, 36 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three defensive touchdowns. His play caught the attention of Syracuse, and the next season he would don the orange uniform.
Learning from the Orange
For two years, Diabate starred in the Syracuse linebacking corps, being named a co-captain and racking up 77 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss as a senior. But, it was perhaps after his playing days when he was most impacted by the Orange.
Diabate graduated in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in economics, and he took a role as a graduate assistant coach with 'Cuse when Scott Shafer, now MT's defensive coordinator, rose to head coach. Diabate helped coach the linebackers, and graduated again in 2015 with a master's degree in economics.
When Shafer left Syracuse after the 2014 season, Diabate moved to Colgate University, a Division I Football Championship Series program about an hour southeast of Syracuse where he coached safeties.
It didn't take him long to get back to his old stomping grounds. Coincidentally, the first game of the 2016 season, Diabate's second year at Colgate, was held at Syracuse on Sept. 2.
He's hoping his second go-round with coaching against his alma mater will be more successful than the first, a 33-7 Colgate loss.
"I'm still looking to get back at them for that one," he said.
Help from his new boss
Just over a year after returning to Syracuse for the first time as an opposing coach, Diabate is prepping for another trip to the school where just a few short years ago he was standing on the other sideline.
This time, he's confident he'll know what to expect in the homecoming. He'll also have the added benefit of being a part of a staff with a head coach who's been through similar circumstances.
Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill played at Florida State from 1977-1982, and before coming to Murfreesboro he served in a few positions with the Clemson staff from 1989-2002.
Clemson and FSU were, and still are, members of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1989 when Stockstill and the Tigers traveled to Tallahassee to take on the Seminoles.
It was the first time Stockstill had been back on Florida State's field since his last home game, and emotions were high. But, after many more trips for conference play, he figured out how to handle coaching against his alma mater.
"I think it's probably more the emotions leading up to the game," he said. "Once the game starts and until it ends, you don't think about it.
"I wanted my guys to play great and for us to win, because I was coming back home and I wanted to show them that, hey, I'm doing alright for myself."
How to handle the return
Diabate expects emotions to run high before Saturday's game begins. He'll try to visit with some friends and family and go to some of his favorite spots, like Pastabilities restaurant and Insomnia Cookies, to help keep his mind from running too rampant.
"That place is home to me," he said, "it's given me a lot in my life. Even walking through the visiting locker room and walking through the visiting tunnel, it's emotional."
Having coaches around him who know how to handle the situation will be invaluable, as will having his former head coach alongside.
Diabate and Shafer shared some of their fondest memories in their years together at Syracuse, but when the teams line up for kickoff, none of that will matter. Both coaches will have the same mindset: Beat the Orange.
"It's crossed my mind how special this one will be if we do get the win, especially going back with Coach Shafer," Diabate said. "Every single game is important, but this being the next game and it being my alma mater … it will be a special one.
"Every time I step foot on that campus it takes me back through memories. But, we'll only go in there with one goal, to beat the Orange, and after that it's back to being my alma mater."
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