Freeney Returns to Syracuse for Offseason Workouts

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Former Syracuse University defensive end Dwight Freeney returned to his alma mater this week for a series of workouts with SU strength and conditioning coaches Will Hicks and Hal Luther and members of the Orange football team. Freeney registered 39 tackles and 11 sacks for the Indianapolis Colts last season, making him the first player in club history to turn in four straight double-digit sack seasons. Freeney brought his strength, speed and work ethic to the SU training facilities this week not only to improve himself, but also the members of the Orange team which he feels so closely connected with.

“I like to come back and help the young guys and also to train with coach Hicks and Luther because they know me best,” Freeney said. “A lot of times you get to the NFL and you’re with guys that don’t know you and don’t know when to push you and when to pull off a little bit. With these guys, who are both greatly respected guys throughout the NFL, they know me and that allows me to get the best workouts.”

Freeney is one of the fastest players in NFL history to accumulate 50 career sacks, only Reggie White and Derrick Thomas have done so quicker. He looks back on his time at SU as a very memorable and valuable time which is part of what keeps bringing him back.

“I remember my freshman year when Miami came here and we beat them 66-13,” Freeney said. “Donovan (McNabb)was throwing touchdowns and it was just awesome. My first year I also got my first sack at Michigan against Tom Brady in the “Loud House” filled with 111,000 people. I just have so many great memories of this place.”

At 6-1, 268 pounds, Freeney’s success was inevitable in the mind of Hicks, the head strength and conditioning coach for the Orange. Hicks joined the SU staff in 2000 after spending several years at North Carolina State and says he never doubted the potential of the Pro Bowl defensive lineman.

Hicks and Freeney have remained close since the all-time tackles for loss leader in SU school history (50.5-297) was drafted by the Colts in 2002. Freeney continues to come back and work with Hicks because of the trust that has been built throughout their years working together.

“He feels comfortable here and really cares about Syracuse,” Hicks said. “We still treat him like he’s one of our own because that’s the only way he wants to be treated. Everywhere else he goes he’s a superstar, but here he’s just a former Syracuse player. Yeah he’s a superstar and is a great player and well respected and our players love to see him, but I think he likes coming back because here he is still Dwight, the humble guy that comes in and gets his work done.”

Today Freeney plays his home games in front of 57,890 fans in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, but he still can’t help but smile when he thinks about the memories he has at the Carrier Dome and how difficult it was for opponents to play there.

“The Carrier Dome was the loudest place - nobody liked coming here,” he said. “You can talk to any of the guys in the NFL right now that played here and they’ll tell you that this place was the worst to play in. Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne, they all say that they didn’t want to go to the Carrier Dome to play.”

The Indianapolis Colts will open the regular season on September 10^th when they travel to take on the New York Giants in a Sunday night showdown. Freeney will be lining up against Giants quarterback Eli Manning, brother of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Freeney said Peyton hasn’t said anything to him about the game yet but he has talked with the younger brother.

“Peyton hasn’t said anything to me about it but I talked to his brother (Eli) and he just said take it easy on me. It’s going to be fun, I can’t wait.”

Syracuse University Athletics

Freeney Returns to Syracuse for Offseason Workouts

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