8/24/2013 12:15:00 PM | Football
Purchase Tickets Online | Watch Coach Shafer's Press Conference | 2013 Orange Football Blog
Syracuse leader Scott Shafer makes his head coaching debut on Saturday, August 31 when the Orange takes the field against Penn State at MetLife Stadium (3:30 p.m., ABC). With the focus on his first game as Syracuse's head coach, the veteran gridiron mentor reflected on his most vivid first experience as a coach in addition to other memorable moments in his career.
"My first college job was a graduate assistant position for Bill Mallory at Indiana," Shafer said. "We opened up the season against a real good Notre Dame team and the head coach there was Lou Holtz. When I looked at those two guys, both from Ohio, where I am from, and coaching at the higest level, what I remember the most was during pre-game warmups Coach Holtz yelled at me for being on the wrong part of the field. I remember thinking, getting kind of pissed at him, thinking, alright we are in someone's backyard now and it's on. All the stuff I read about him went down the drain and I realized that it's on.
"I also remember all of the games that we weren't supposed to win and we did. I've had a lot of those over the years, a lot of them here, and those are the ones I remember the most."
Shafer said his approach will remain consistent in mentoring the student-athletes.
"I have always felt that simplicity leads to complexity on the football field," he said. "When a kid knows the plan, has worked the plan in repetition, he's going to go fast and there is nothing more complex than speed on the football field."
His philosophy about simplicity extends to the game day environment, as well. The impact of Syracuse's opener being played at MetLife Stadium against a long-standing rival in Penn State will not matter once the teams take the field and the ball is kicked off.
 "This is just another football game. It's 11 guys on 11 guys, it's 10 coaches on 10 coaches, our managers against their managers and our trainers against their trainers. The competitive element of sport is going to be there whether it's Syracuse against Penn State or Baldwin-Wallace against John Carroll. It feels the same once you're in it."
Follow along with daily practice updates on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football) and Twitter (@Cuse&@CuseFootball) and find exclusive video content on Orange All-Access including today's interview with Coach Shafer.
The 2013 regular season kicks off at MetLife Stadium on August 31 against Penn State (3:30 p.m., ESPN 2, ABC). Season and single-game tickets can be purchased online, in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX.
Syracuse leader Scott Shafer makes his head coaching debut on Saturday, August 31 when the Orange takes the field against Penn State at MetLife Stadium (3:30 p.m., ABC). With the focus on his first game as Syracuse's head coach, the veteran gridiron mentor reflected on his most vivid first experience as a coach in addition to other memorable moments in his career.
"My first college job was a graduate assistant position for Bill Mallory at Indiana," Shafer said. "We opened up the season against a real good Notre Dame team and the head coach there was Lou Holtz. When I looked at those two guys, both from Ohio, where I am from, and coaching at the higest level, what I remember the most was during pre-game warmups Coach Holtz yelled at me for being on the wrong part of the field. I remember thinking, getting kind of pissed at him, thinking, alright we are in someone's backyard now and it's on. All the stuff I read about him went down the drain and I realized that it's on.
"I also remember all of the games that we weren't supposed to win and we did. I've had a lot of those over the years, a lot of them here, and those are the ones I remember the most."
Shafer said his approach will remain consistent in mentoring the student-athletes.
"I have always felt that simplicity leads to complexity on the football field," he said. "When a kid knows the plan, has worked the plan in repetition, he's going to go fast and there is nothing more complex than speed on the football field."
His philosophy about simplicity extends to the game day environment, as well. The impact of Syracuse's opener being played at MetLife Stadium against a long-standing rival in Penn State will not matter once the teams take the field and the ball is kicked off.
 "This is just another football game. It's 11 guys on 11 guys, it's 10 coaches on 10 coaches, our managers against their managers and our trainers against their trainers. The competitive element of sport is going to be there whether it's Syracuse against Penn State or Baldwin-Wallace against John Carroll. It feels the same once you're in it."
Follow along with daily practice updates on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football) and Twitter (@Cuse&@CuseFootball) and find exclusive video content on Orange All-Access including today's interview with Coach Shafer.
The 2013 regular season kicks off at MetLife Stadium on August 31 against Penn State (3:30 p.m., ESPN 2, ABC). Season and single-game tickets can be purchased online, in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX.
Monday, November 02
Monday, November 02
Saturday, October 31
Saturday, October 31
