Head coach Greg Robinson and the Orange are 13 days from the 2005 season-opener.
Countdown to Kickoff: A to Z
8/22/2005 7:02:08 AM | Football
August 22: O is for Opponents
The 2005 Orange schedule features seven teams that played in bowl games last year, including SU’s season-opening opponent West Virginia. Be part of the growing excitement every day leading up to SU’s first game against the Mountaineers (Sept. 4) with our Countdown to Kickoff: A to Z.
The Orange opens the season with a battle to win back the Schwartzwalder Trophy in the annual showdown with WVU, in a game that will be televised nationally on ABC. The trophy was introduced in 1993 as a way to honor Schwartzwalder, who played for West Virginia and coached at Syracuse. Syracuse will look to stop the Mountaineers three-game winning streak in the series. Last season, West Virginia finished as co-BIG EAST Champions, along with the Orange, Boston College and Pittsburgh, with an 8-4 record, including a 27-6 victory over SU. The Orange holds a 30-22 all-time series lead, including a 17-7 advantage in Syracuse and 8-4 edge at the Dome.
As Syracuse’s leader for 25 seasons, Ben Schwartzwalder produced 22 straight non-losing seasons and led the Orange to its only football National Championship in 1959. His 153 victories are the most ever by an SU head coach. Schwartzwalder posted an 11-8 record against his alma mater as coach of the Orange. In 2004 Schwartzwalder was inducted posthumously into West Virginia’s Hall of Fame.
Syracuse will then welcome Buffalo to the Dome on September 10. This will be the seventh matchup between the two New York schools. The Orange has won the last two meetings, 63-7 in 2000 and 37-17 last season. The Bulls finished 2004 with a record of 2-9.
Syracuse will host Virginia on September 17. The 12:00 p.m. game will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2. The Orange holds a 2-1 series advantage. The Cavaliers won their first game in the series last year, 31-10, in Charlottesville. Virginia finished 8-4 last season.
Syracuse will go on the road for the first time for a game at Florida State on October 1. The Seminoles hold a 4-1 series edge, including a 17-13 victory at the Dome last season. The Orange beat FSU 37-21 in the first meeting in 1966. The Seminoles finished 9-3 last season.
Syracuse will make its first visit to Connecticut on October 7 for a game that will be televised on ESPN2. The Orange won the first meeting between the two schools, 42-30, last season. UConn head coach Randy Edsall played for the Orange and served as an SU assistant coach. Connecticut finished 2004 with a record of 8-4.
Syracuse returns home to host Rutgers on October 15 in a BIG EAST matchup. The Orange defeated the Scarlet Knights 41-31 last season and own a 28-6-1 series advantage, including 16-3-1 mark at home and 10-3 in the Dome. The Scarlet Knights finished with a 4-7 record last season.
The Orange will travel to face co-BIG EAST Champions Pittsburgh on October 22. Last season, Syracuse defeated the Panthers 38-31 in double overtime in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse owns a 30-27-3 advantage in the series. The Panthers finished 8-4 last season.
Syracuse will welcome new BIG EAST member Cincinnati to the Dome on October 29. The game will be televised on ESPN Regional. The Orange defeated the Bearcats 19-7 last season and holds a 4-1 all-time series lead, including a 3-0 mark at the Dome. Cincinnati finished 2004 with a 7-5 record.
On November 12, Syracuse will host South Florida in the first meeting between the two schools. The Bulls will begin their first season as a member of the BIG EAST after finishing last season with a 4-7 record. At halftime, SU will retire the legendary #44 to honor the great Orange student-athletes who have worn it, including Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little.
The Orange will travel to South Bend, Indiana to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on November 19. The game will be televised on NBC. The all-time series is tied 2-2 and the Irish has won the only contest at Notre Dame Stadium. Syracuse won the last meeting between the two schools, 38-12, in 2003. The Irish finished last season with a 6-6 record.
The regular-season finale for SU will be played at Louisville on November 26. Syracuse has a 3-1 series lead, including winning the only meeting in Louisville. The Cardinals, who are in their first year in the BIG EAST, won the last contest 30-20 in 2003. Louisville finished the 2004 season with an 11-1 record.
The Orange owns a 103-67-5 record (.597 winning percentage) against 2005 opponents.
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