SU vs. Minnesota in the Opener
9/4/2009 5:34:06 PM | Football
Read the Game Notes (PDF)
The Doug Marrone Era begins this Saturday, Sept. 5 when the Orange plays host to the Minnesota Gophers at 12 p.m. (ESPN2). The season-opener marks the third meeting of the schools in a series dating back to 1995. Tickets are available online and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOME-TIX), including discounted Minnesota game tickets for all military personnel ($23 for adults, $15 for youth).
Syracuse-Minnesota Series
The series is tied, 1-1, with each team having won in their home stadium. in 1995, the Orange defeated the Gophers, 27-17, inside the Carrier Dome in the first meeting between the schools. SU quarterback Donovan McNabb was 11-of-16 for 216 yards. Minnesota evened the series one year later with a 35-33 home victory, securing the victory on a field goal drive with 3:45 minutes remaining.
Orange Outlook
Eleven starters are projected to make their collegiate debut on Saturday. On offense, receiver Marcus Sales and Alec Lemon, tackles Nick Speller and Jonathan Meldrum, and Greg Paulus will make their first career start, while ends Mikhail Marinovich and Chandler Jones, tackle Andrew Lewis and linebackers Doug Hogue and Ryan Gillum will start for the first time in their Syracuse career on defensive side.
Jones Draws National Attention
Nose tackle Arthur Jones, who is a pre-season candidate for the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Outland Trophy, the Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Award, earned 2008 All-BIG EAST First Team honors. He ranks sixth on SU's career tackles for loss record list (31.5), including 13.0 in 2008. His 126 career tackles is 13th on SU's all-time list for tackles by a down lineman. In 2007, Jones ranked ninth nationally with 17.5 tackles for loss en route to earning second-team All-BIG EAST and ECAC All-Star honors. His 17.5 tackles for loss is the third-best single-season total in Syracuse history.
Previewing the Offense
The season-opener will be the first time quarterback Greg Paulus will make his Syracuse debut, returning to the Dome for the first time since his state championship run with Christian Brothers Academy in 2005. He led theSyracuse-area high school to a 42-3 record during his four years, and last appeared in the Carrier Dome for the NYSPHAA Class AA championship in 2005. Senior receiver Mike Williams has an active streak of nine games with a touchdown catch, which is the longest active streak in the FBS.
The Offensive Backfield is Deep
Lead by veteran Delone Carter, the running back corps includes sophomore Antwon Bailey, who played as a true freshman in 2008 (221 yards on 33 carries and two touchdowns), and sophomores Mike Jones and Averin Collier. Carter earned The Sporting News Freshman All-America honors in 2006 after leading the team in rushing (713 yards on 156 carries and four touchdowns). He missed the 2007 season with a hip injury and played in just five games in 2008 while battling a hamstring injury.
Scouting the Gophers
Minnesota finished with a 7-6 record in 2008, earning a bid to the Insight Bowl where they lost to Kansas, 21-42. The Gophers return 19 starters, including sophomore running back DeLeon Eskridge, who led the team with 678 yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 184 carries, junior quarterback Adam Weber (255-of-410 for 2,761 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2008) and senior receiver Eric Decker, who had 84 catches for seven touchdowns and 1,074 yards.
The 2009 Zunic Award Winners
Syracuse University football letterwinners and highly-decorated United States Military veterans Bill Coghill, who will be honored posthumously, and Norm Mordue will be honored with this year's Zunic award on Friday, Sept. 4 at a dinner and at halftime of the Orange game on Saturday, Sept. 5. The Zunic Award originated in 2001 in memory Mike '81 and Judy Zunic, who died tragically on July 19, 1989 in a plane crash. The award pays tribute to friends of SU football who showcase the courage and spirit of Mike and Judy and have overcome some of life's tough plays.
Orange in Home Openers
Syracuse is 83-30-4 all-time in home openers, and 14-15 in home openers since the Carrier Dome opened in 1980. The program's longest unbeaten streak in home openers is 49 games from 1894-1942 (47-0-2), including a string of 43 consecutive victories in home openers from 1900-42 (41-0-2). SU opened the season at home every year from 1900-55. During the 55 straight home openers the team went 48-5-2. No season opener was played in 1943 as the season was suspended due to the war.
