Head coach Greg Robinson and the 2008 Orange kick off the 2008 campaign in six days.
Orange Football Kickoff is Six Days Away
8/24/2008 10:12:23 PM | Football
Game Notes
The 2008 Syracuse football season kicks off in six days. The Orange will begin the campaign at Northwestern on Saturday, August 30 (12:00 pm ET, ESPN2). Syracuse’s starting units boast 18 players who have lined up with the first-string during their collegiate career.
On offense, center Jim McKenzie, guard Ryan Durand, tackle Corey Chavers, quarterback Andrew Robinson, fullback Tony Fiammetta return as starters, in addition to three tailbacks who have starting experience in senior Curtis Brinkley and sophomores Delone Carter and Doug Hogue.
Five defensive players, including nose tackle Arthur Jones, defensive end Vincenzo Giruzzi, linebacker Jake Flaherty, strong safety A.J. Brown and cornerback Mike Holmes return as starters. In the special teams category, the Orange returns field goal and PAT kicker Patrick Shadle, punter Rob Long, kick returners Max Suter and Holmes and punt returner Ryan Howard.
All 2008 season and individual tickets are available online and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOMETIX). Season ticket packages begin at $100 in Touchdown Town. Adult season tickets are $205, youth/student season tickets are $115 and faculty/staff season tickets are $164. A 2008 Penn State Pack, which includes tickets for SU’s games against Penn State (Sept. 13) and Pittsburgh (Sept. 27) or Penn State and Connecticut (Nov. 15), is also available. The cost of the two-game package is $85 for adults and $40 for youth. Individual game tickets for Akron, Northeastern, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Connecticut are $36 for adults and $18 for youth (ages 12 and under). Individual game tickets for Penn State are $57 for adults and $30 for youth.
Syracuse boasts three running backs with starting experience, including Brinkley, Carter and Hogue.
"The three players on the depth chart (Brinkley, Carter and Hogue) have all had very good camps," said head coach Greg Robinson. "Each in their own way have done good things and we'll kind of figure out how that's going to come about later in the week. We have talked all through camp and what we have seen in each one of those players. We are going to need them all. We will need all three of those guys to carry their load throughout the season."
At wide receiver the Orange has three players vying for the starting spotss in senior Bruce Williams, junior Lavar Lobdell and sophomore Donte Davis.
"The thing about the receiver position is that there will be many times where we will be lining up with three receivers," Robinson said. "It's clear that those are our top three wide receivers right there. Bruce (Williams) can play either spot and Lavar (Lobdell) and Donte (Davis) have had good camps."
The offensive tackle is another position that has sorted itself out during preseason camp.
"I think that Corey (Chavers) and Tucker (Baumbach) are a little further along in the whole process than Jonathan (Meldrum)," Robinson said "Jonathan, at times, displays his physical skills when he's comfortable with what he's doing and he's been growing more and more comfortable. Without going out on a limb, you can figure Jonathan will be in the ball game somewhere on Saturday (at Northwestern), but those other two have just been so consistent all throughout camp and Jonathan basically started out from scratch in the system here in early August. He's done a good job and I've recently noticed he's been getting cleaner and cleaner. I think it's a good situation at the tackle position."
On the defensive side of the ball, sophmore cornerbacks Da'Mon Merkerson and Nico Scott are battling for the spot opposite sophomore Michael Holmes.
"I've seen both Da'Mon and Nico improve and I really want to maintain their competitive spirit because they're both going to play," said Robinson of the position battle.
Robinson digressed from his player position battles and explained how preparing for the first game of the season is different than any other game on the schedule.
Syracuse's focus now shifts from learning the system and battling for starting positions to the season-opener.
"There's a great anticipation on their part to get going," Robinson said. "They have worked very hard and it's been a long time since they've played a real football game. The first game week for a player is a very exciting time. I think our team is excited and looking forward to getting started."
The 2008 Syracuse football season kicks off in six days. The Orange will begin the campaign at Northwestern on Saturday, August 30 (12:00 pm ET, ESPN2). Syracuse’s starting units boast 18 players who have lined up with the first-string during their collegiate career.
On offense, center Jim McKenzie, guard Ryan Durand, tackle Corey Chavers, quarterback Andrew Robinson, fullback Tony Fiammetta return as starters, in addition to three tailbacks who have starting experience in senior Curtis Brinkley and sophomores Delone Carter and Doug Hogue.
Five defensive players, including nose tackle Arthur Jones, defensive end Vincenzo Giruzzi, linebacker Jake Flaherty, strong safety A.J. Brown and cornerback Mike Holmes return as starters. In the special teams category, the Orange returns field goal and PAT kicker Patrick Shadle, punter Rob Long, kick returners Max Suter and Holmes and punt returner Ryan Howard.
All 2008 season and individual tickets are available online and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOMETIX). Season ticket packages begin at $100 in Touchdown Town. Adult season tickets are $205, youth/student season tickets are $115 and faculty/staff season tickets are $164. A 2008 Penn State Pack, which includes tickets for SU’s games against Penn State (Sept. 13) and Pittsburgh (Sept. 27) or Penn State and Connecticut (Nov. 15), is also available. The cost of the two-game package is $85 for adults and $40 for youth. Individual game tickets for Akron, Northeastern, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Connecticut are $36 for adults and $18 for youth (ages 12 and under). Individual game tickets for Penn State are $57 for adults and $30 for youth.
Syracuse boasts three running backs with starting experience, including Brinkley, Carter and Hogue.
"The three players on the depth chart (Brinkley, Carter and Hogue) have all had very good camps," said head coach Greg Robinson. "Each in their own way have done good things and we'll kind of figure out how that's going to come about later in the week. We have talked all through camp and what we have seen in each one of those players. We are going to need them all. We will need all three of those guys to carry their load throughout the season."
At wide receiver the Orange has three players vying for the starting spotss in senior Bruce Williams, junior Lavar Lobdell and sophomore Donte Davis.
"The thing about the receiver position is that there will be many times where we will be lining up with three receivers," Robinson said. "It's clear that those are our top three wide receivers right there. Bruce (Williams) can play either spot and Lavar (Lobdell) and Donte (Davis) have had good camps."
The offensive tackle is another position that has sorted itself out during preseason camp.
"I think that Corey (Chavers) and Tucker (Baumbach) are a little further along in the whole process than Jonathan (Meldrum)," Robinson said "Jonathan, at times, displays his physical skills when he's comfortable with what he's doing and he's been growing more and more comfortable. Without going out on a limb, you can figure Jonathan will be in the ball game somewhere on Saturday (at Northwestern), but those other two have just been so consistent all throughout camp and Jonathan basically started out from scratch in the system here in early August. He's done a good job and I've recently noticed he's been getting cleaner and cleaner. I think it's a good situation at the tackle position."
On the defensive side of the ball, sophmore cornerbacks Da'Mon Merkerson and Nico Scott are battling for the spot opposite sophomore Michael Holmes.
"I've seen both Da'Mon and Nico improve and I really want to maintain their competitive spirit because they're both going to play," said Robinson of the position battle.
Robinson digressed from his player position battles and explained how preparing for the first game of the season is different than any other game on the schedule.
Syracuse's focus now shifts from learning the system and battling for starting positions to the season-opener.
"There's a great anticipation on their part to get going," Robinson said. "They have worked very hard and it's been a long time since they've played a real football game. The first game week for a player is a very exciting time. I think our team is excited and looking forward to getting started."
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