Orange To Open New Meadowlands
4/6/2010 6:16:17 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Syracuse Lacrosse – one of the most recognized programs in the world – will make history again on Saturday, April 10. The two-time defending NCAA champions will play Princeton in the nightcap of the Konica Minolta Big City Classic, the first scheduled sporting event at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Start time is 6:30 p.m. in the sparkling new stadium, which becomes the official home of the NFL's New York Giants and Jets later this year.
“It's great for our program, our players and our fans,” said SU head coach John Desko about his team's involvement in the event. “Old Giants Stadium had so much history and tradition. It will be great to help start that kind of legacy at the new stadium.”
Besides the historical significance, Desko is also excited about what it means for his program and Syracuse Athletics as a whole.
“To play in an event like this is great for recruiting. The exposure – more than 20,000 people in the stands, a national TV audience, an NFL venue – it's impressive for kids thinking about coming to Syracuse to see that,” said Desko. “And with the efforts that (Director of Athletics) Dr. (Daryl) Gross is making in New York City, it just made a lot of sense to do it.”
What Desko is referring to are Gross' initiatives to brand Syracuse University as “New York's College Team.”
It's an effort Gross undertook when he arrived at Syracuse in 2005, and a portion of that branding has been specifically focused on the New York metropolitan area. It started with the “Orange is in the Apple” campaign, which featured a series of strategic partnerships, advertisements and continues with the Orange's participation in events like the Big City Classic.
"Playing the first game in the New Meadowlands Stadium is an honor," Gross said. "It is so fitting that our lacrosse program, which has had legendary success, will inaugurate the new stadium. Being New York's College Team, Syracuse University continues to try to represent the state of New York and the New York metropolitan area with heart, hustle and ultimately success."
Lacrosse's involvement in the Big City Classic is the first in a series of events that will only strengthen Syracuse's presence in the region. It continues with the football program scheduling three games at New Meadowlands Stadium in the coming years. The Orange will face USC there in 2012 and take on Notre Dame at the facility in 2014 and 2016.
The hope is that New Meadowlands Stadium will become a successful home away from home for the football program much like Madison Square Garden is for Jim Boeheim's basketball team.
The basketball program has turned the Garden into a virtual home court. Syracuse draws throngs of rabid fans to the building each season for early-season tournaments as well as the BIG EAST Championship.
In return, those fans have been treated to some of the most memorable moments in program history. Gerry McNamara carried the Orange to the BIG EAST Championship at the Garden in 2006. Three years later, the “City that Never Sleeps” lived up to its nickname when the 2009 BIG EAST quarterfinal between Syracuse and Connecticut lasted into the early morning. It took six overtimes for the Orange to emerge victorious and it will go down as one of the greatest basketball game ever played.
And that's just to name a few.
Now add lacrosse. The New York City area is one of the men's lacrosse program's strongest alumni bases and Desko recruits heavily in Westchester County, Long Island and New Jersey.
Syracuse Lacrosse and Gotham are a perfect match and Princeton is the perfect opponent. The Tigers are ranked in the top five in both national polls and Syracuse-Princeton is always one of the biggest games of the season.
The two teams have waged epic battles, including facing off in four NCAA title games. As a whole, the Orange and Tigers have combined to win 16 of the last 22 national championships so the New York City area is no doubt in for a treat.
Tickets to see the Orange in this historic event are still available. For more information, visit bigcityclassic.com
