Senior Class Pivotal in Orange Success
11/3/2010 1:58:27 AM | Football
| Week 10: rv/rv Syracuse (6-2 overall , 3-1 BIG EAST) vs. Louisville (4-4, 1-2) | |
| Game Day | Saturday, Nov. 6 | 12:00 p.m. | BIG EAST Network |
| Buy Tickets | 2010 Tickets |
| News and Notes | Read the Game Notes | More Football News |
| Head Coach Doug Marrone | Weekly Press Conference Transcript |
| Whats Next? | 2010 Schedule |
With one of the most senior-dominated rosters in college football this season, second-year head coach Doug Marrone emphasized the importance of the group and the pivotal role they've played in guided the rv/rv Orange to its best start in nine years. Syracuse has 26 seniors on its 2010 roster, which is tied for fourth nationally behind Hawaii, Louisville and TCU.
"It is important to send this senior class out as winners,” Marrone said during his Monday press conference. “It is important for me to do that for these players. I go back to what I've told the players and I've said it publicly, Coach (Dick MacPherson) used to say to us all the time that part of the experience of college is making sure you win. It is going to affect you in your life later on. I believe in that. I want to make sure for the work that this senior class has put in, I can't even put into words how hard they've worked, not only on their own development but the people around them. They deserve it. Now we have to go out and earn it.”
Led by elected captains Ryan Bartholomew, Derrell Smith and Rob Long, the class includes eight seniors on offense, 15 on defense and three on special teams. Four current seniors started all 12 games for the Orange last season, with six current seniors having started every game in which they've played.
“The seniors mean a lot to us, we know that they've gone through a couple tough years and our goal as a team is to send them out as winners,” said sophomore wide receiver Alec Lemon. “That is what we're going to do. This senior class has taken everyone on the team under their wing and showed them the right way to do things, because they've been through a lot and seen things done the wrong way. They're not going to let us go back to that way.”
Not only has the senior class propelled the squad to the most wins since 2004, but the group has built the foundation for changing the culture of Syracuse football both on and off the field. Three current seniors earned BIG EAST All-Academic recognition for the 2009-10 school year, helping the Orange capture the 2009-10 BIG EAST Academic Excellence Award for having the highest GPA among conference teams.
“Derrell (Smith) and Doug (Hogue) are like big brothers to me,” said freshman linebacker Marquis Spruill. “They guide me and try to help me like a big brother would. On the field I'm more productive because of them and off the field I have a better idea of what I need to do and how to get things done in school because of their help.”
Tickets for the three remaining home games are available online, at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B) and by phone (888-DOMETIX).
The three-game, “Third-Down Package,” allows fans to buy one ticket each for any three games for $75 ($45 for Youth 12 and under), a savings of between $5 and $15. The tickets are located in the upper-level corners of the Carrier Dome.
The Tops $44 Family Package includes two adult and two youth tickets, two 'Cuse Kids Club memberships, a seat cushion, a coupon for a Pepsi 12-pack and a Tops Friendly Market sub coupon.
A group of 20-or-more qualifies for special group-sales pricing at a savings of up to 45 percent off of a regular-priced ticket. For questions about Group Sales, please call (315-443-3212).
