Football Kicks Off 2013 Preseason Camp
8/4/2013 3:07:00 PM | Football
2013 Preseason Depth Chart | 2013 Season Preview | Coach Shafer Press Conference
First year head coach Scott Shafer and members of the Orange officially started the 2013 season spending the day answering questions and posing for photos with the media this afternoon.
"I'm looking forward to getting out there, everyone is going to be excited on day one," Shafer said. "Coaches, players, managers, everyone included, is going to be ready to go but we're going to set the tone, focus in on our initial objectives which are to work extremely hard and prove daily and start to gel as a team."
The 2013 season officially started yesterday, with student-athletes, coaches and staff reporting to campus for meetings. The first practice will take place on Monday afternoon.
The biggest question of the day was who would fill the void of quarterback Ryan Nassib, who graduated last spring. Drew Allen, Terrel Hunt and Charley Loeb all fielded questions on their fight for the starting spot.
"The beauty of sport, especially NCAA football is competition is that every year there are going to be holes regardless of the position and I'm looking forward to those kids competing and showing us what they're all about," Shafer said. "Everybody has good tools. Some guys have strengths in one area better than other areas and for a coach it's a blast to get out there and see those guys compete and have fun with it."
The 2013 roster features 101 student-athletes including 17 starters from last season. Syracuse will benefit from its veteran defense, returning six starters, five of whom are seniors. Linebacker Marquis Spruill defensive tackle Jay Bromley will lead the unit, along with linebacker Dyshawn Davis, cornerbacks Keon Lyn and Ri'Shard Anderson, and free safety Jeremi Wilkes.
Syracuse returns three starters on the offensive line including senior center Macky MacPherson, junior left tackle Sean Hickey and sophomore left guard Rob Trudo. In addition, starting tight end Beckett Wales is back, along with standout running backs Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley, who each started games in 2012.
Kicker Ross Krautman, who ranks fifth in the SU record book for career points scored, will return for his final season, along with junior punter Jonathan Fisher.
Following the first week of camp, the team travels to Fort Drum on Monday, August 12. Syracuse will hold preseason camp at the 10th Mountain Division's facilities for the week and will benefit from multiple sessions with military personnel to improve leadership, communication and team unity.
All Syracuse fans are invited to join 'Orangenation Rising,' a state of mind where passion, tradition and die-hard loyalty intersect, by renewing their season tickets or purchasing new 2013 season tickets. Fans can use the internet (SUAthletics.com), telephone (888-DOME-TIX), or visit the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at just $99 each. Individual game tickets go on sale on August 1.
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