Orange Tight End Corps is Deep
8/20/2009 8:14:48 PM | Football
As the Orange wind down on its second week of preseason camp, the preparations for the season opener are in full swing. Syracuse faces Minnesota on Saturday, September 5 (12 p.m., ESPN2) for its home opener. After naming graduate student Greg Paulus the starting quarterback on Monday, head coach Doug Marrone put his focus on other position battles, including tight end.
"In my mind Mike Owen is one of the most improved players from the spring,” Marrone said. “I think he's done a tremendous job. To be able to put a true 'Y' on the field who can stretch the field vertically is a bonus. I think we have at least two of those players in Mike and Nick Provo."
A returning starter, Owen was SU's second-leading receiver in 2008 (19 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns). Provo caught four passes for 70 yards and found the endzone once in last season. In addition to Owen and Provo, the tight end group includes junior Cody Catalina, senior Andrew Robinson, and sophomores Carl Cutler and Thomas Trendowski.
"Cody and Andrew both have good hand-eye coordination skills,” said Marrone of the pair of tight ends who are making the transition from quarterback. “I've seen them coming along well. I know this, I'm very happy with Andrew Robinson. I'm a big fan of him. I don't know if that's going to lead to playing time for him, but he's the type of player that I love. He does everything he possibly can for the program. I will always respect Andrew Robinson. When he leaves here, and I've said this before, he will be a very successful person. I love that kid. He's a tremendous person."
For Thursday's practice, Marrone scaled back the script and will have light practice on Friday before turning up the intensity for an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday.
"Today was the first day I chose to back off," said Marrone. "The players have been putting forth good effort and they looked a little sluggish. During our competitive period we brought them up to the competition level we wanted and then we cut two periods at the end. We cut conditioning today. Today was really the first time we haven't run. Today was really the first day we backed off, so I'm not disappointed. It's something you prepare for as a coach as you see the players come out. You have to know when to back off. You have to know when to give the players a break and we backed off today and this way we'll see how they recover tomorrow.
"We're going to go out on Saturday and do it full speed and that's really the final check. I'm big on not having a lot of distractions. I like to be able to focus on the game. A lot of people have asked me, 'Hey Coach, how's it going to be the first time you come on the field playing?' It's the same. It's business. I'm going to walk out onto the field and I'm going to be ready to win a football game. That's how I've always approached it. Saturday's are fun."
The Orange begin the 2009 campaign against Minnesota on Saturday, Sept. 5 in the Carrier Dome (12:00 p.m., ESPN2). Tickets for the 2009 season are available online and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOME-TIX).
Season tickets start at $100 for the 2009 season. Adult Individual game tickets for all eight home games are $38 each. Youth tickets (ages 12 & under) for seven home games are $18 each. For the game against Maine on September 26, Youth & Senior Citizen day, all youth and Senior Citizens (ages 60 & over) tickets will be $15 each. Family Packs are available for all home games when purchased in advance, with the exception of games against Maine and Akron. A $99 Family Pack, which is a $28 savings, includes two adult tickets, two youth tickets (12 and under), $5 concession coupon and a $10 parking pass.
The Minnesota Two-Game Pack offers fans the opportunity to purchase a ticket to Syracuse's home-opener, which is Marrone's Dome debut, and any other home game of their choice ($66 adult/$26 youth). Fans are invited to save up to 40% on the ticket price by purchasing tickets in groups of 35 or more and 100 or more. For questions about Group Sales, please call (315-443-3212).
For further questions and details call the Carrier Dome Box Office during business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-888-DOMETIX,
