Senior A.J. Brown (17) and the Orange host Akron on Saturday, Sept. 6 in the home opener in the Carrier Dome.
SU Gridders Begin Four-Game Homestand Saturday
9/3/2008 9:30:52 AM | Football
Game Notes
The Orange kick off a four-game homestand on Saturday, Sept. 6 against Akron (3:30 p.m.). The home-opener against the Zips will mark the first time the teams have faced each other on the gridiron. There will be many celebrations throughout the day for Orange fans to enjoy, including the unveiling of the 2008 Lacrosse National Championship banner, as well as a celebration of Syracuse’s 2008 Olympians and Patriotic Day. At halftime, the men’s lacrosse team and coaches will take the field as the University and the community celebrate the lacrosse program’s record 10th national title with the unveiling of the 2008 Lacrosse National Championship banner.
"It is certainly an opportunity for us to have four home games and really get ourselves in position to make a run at the BIG EAST," said head coach Greg Robinson. "We have a chance to really work ourselves into getting grooved where we need to be. Confidence is part of that. When you play well and win, that helps in building confidence. We have to take advantage of these four games, play better, and find ways to win the football games."
Robinson and the Orange will look to rebound from a season-opening loss at Northwestern.
"I've now had the opportunity to go back and watch (on film) both sides of the ball, and I firmly believe, as a whole, there are so many ways this team can improve, and I mean in a hurry," Robinson said. "I think there are a number of things that were part of that first game syndrome that can happen. There's an opportunity for us there to really clean up and to get better. We now have the opportunity to come home and we need to make sure we take advantage of that. The idea of having to go out on the road in your opener and play a formidable team, I think was an excellent challenge for us and one we can take a lot from."
While the Orange has never faced Akron, the head coaches are very familiar with each other. Robinson mentored Zips head coach J.D. Brookhart when the Akron coach was getting his start in the coaching field with the Denver Broncos. Robinson was the defensive coordinator and Brookhart was a defensive assistant.
"J.D.'s an outstanding person," Robinson said. "He's an outstanding family man. On top of that, he's a fine football coach. I've known for him for a lot of years. I've worked with him first hand."
Robinson is also familiar with the Zips quarterback Chris Jacquemain, who was 22-of-36 for 227 yards in Akron's season-opening loss to Wisconsin last week.
"Chris Jacquemain does a nice job," Robinson said. "He's a pinpoint passer. He's very accurate and has a quick release. He has a good receiving corps and I'm impressed with their offensive line. I think they were taken out of their running game (against Wisconsin). I like their running backs. I know J.D. and we better not take the running game lightly, because I think they would love to have balance against us and we must make sure we can control all of that."
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.
The Orange kick off a four-game homestand on Saturday, Sept. 6 against Akron (3:30 p.m.). The home-opener against the Zips will mark the first time the teams have faced each other on the gridiron. There will be many celebrations throughout the day for Orange fans to enjoy, including the unveiling of the 2008 Lacrosse National Championship banner, as well as a celebration of Syracuse’s 2008 Olympians and Patriotic Day. At halftime, the men’s lacrosse team and coaches will take the field as the University and the community celebrate the lacrosse program’s record 10th national title with the unveiling of the 2008 Lacrosse National Championship banner.
"It is certainly an opportunity for us to have four home games and really get ourselves in position to make a run at the BIG EAST," said head coach Greg Robinson. "We have a chance to really work ourselves into getting grooved where we need to be. Confidence is part of that. When you play well and win, that helps in building confidence. We have to take advantage of these four games, play better, and find ways to win the football games."
Robinson and the Orange will look to rebound from a season-opening loss at Northwestern.
"I've now had the opportunity to go back and watch (on film) both sides of the ball, and I firmly believe, as a whole, there are so many ways this team can improve, and I mean in a hurry," Robinson said. "I think there are a number of things that were part of that first game syndrome that can happen. There's an opportunity for us there to really clean up and to get better. We now have the opportunity to come home and we need to make sure we take advantage of that. The idea of having to go out on the road in your opener and play a formidable team, I think was an excellent challenge for us and one we can take a lot from."
While the Orange has never faced Akron, the head coaches are very familiar with each other. Robinson mentored Zips head coach J.D. Brookhart when the Akron coach was getting his start in the coaching field with the Denver Broncos. Robinson was the defensive coordinator and Brookhart was a defensive assistant.
"J.D.'s an outstanding person," Robinson said. "He's an outstanding family man. On top of that, he's a fine football coach. I've known for him for a lot of years. I've worked with him first hand."
Robinson is also familiar with the Zips quarterback Chris Jacquemain, who was 22-of-36 for 227 yards in Akron's season-opening loss to Wisconsin last week.
"Chris Jacquemain does a nice job," Robinson said. "He's a pinpoint passer. He's very accurate and has a quick release. He has a good receiving corps and I'm impressed with their offensive line. I think they were taken out of their running game (against Wisconsin). I like their running backs. I know J.D. and we better not take the running game lightly, because I think they would love to have balance against us and we must make sure we can control all of that."
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.
Cheer on the Orange on the Quad
Join the fun on the Syracuse University Quad prior to the football contest. Pre-game activities begin at 12:30 p.m. The 2008 Orange football team Quad Walk will begin at 1:00 p.m. followed by the Syracuse University Marching Band Drum Line performance in front of Hendricks Chapel and the Marching Band Pep Rally to gets fans geared up for kickoff. In addition, members of the 2008 Lacrosse National Championship team will be on hand to sign autographs.
The band, Stroke, will play for fans on the Quad prior to the game. The group includes founder Isreal Hagan on bass and vocals, Buke Babikian on drums, Joe Beccheria on guitar and Bill Barry on keyboards and vocals. During the group’s 25 years, it has shared the stage with many music legends including Robert Cray, B.B. King and Carlos Santana. The band has won 11 Syracuse Area Music Awards (SAMMY’s), including Best R ‘n B Group three times (1993, 1997, 2001).
In addition to the musical entertainment, there will be children’s games and food and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Coolers and/or alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the Quad.
Patriotic Day
SU will celebrate Patriotic Day with a salute to American Services prior to kickoff.
Syracuse Olympians
Syracuse men’s head basketball coach Jim Boeheim and women’s soccer head coach Phil Wheddon will be among the medalists honored in an Olympic Ceremony following the first quarter. Boeheim – an assistant on the US men’s national basketball team – won the gold in Beijing with a team that features former Orange standout Carmelo Anthony. Wheddon – who took the reigns of the Orange soccer program last spring – was the goalie coach for the US women’s national soccer team that won gold this summer.
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