Hogue Excels On and Off The Field
8/16/2010 5:08:34 PM | Football
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The Orange jumped back into preseason practice with its first double session on Monday. Head coach Doug Marrone opened the morning practice by announcing to the team that linebacker Doug Houge had aced his statistics final. Hogue was one of five student-athletes selected by Marrone to attend BIG EAST Media Day in Newport, R.I. earlier this month, but the senior decided to stay in Syracuse to prepare for his final. The team celebrated with Hogue just prior to him being chosen to lead the team stretch. SUAthletics.com sat down with Hogue after the morning session. Watch the interview free on Orange All-Access.
“It was a good announcement," Marrone said "What had happened was during BIG EAST Media Day, Doug Hogue was scheduled to go, but he had a big test coming up. It was a tough call. We wanted to make sure that he went to class and we wanted to make sure that he passed his test and would be able to graduate. It's a tough class and Doug understood that. He wound up really doing well on the final and getting a passing grade in the class and that is a credit to Doug. I just wanted to make sure that was rewarded because that was a tough situation. He really wanted to go to media day but he knew he couldn't miss the class and he made the decision to stay here for the class, which was the right decision to make. That is what you need to do as a student-athlete. He made the right decision and it paid off. I believe that Doug Hogue will graduate.”
Hogue moved from running back to linebacker during 2009 Spring practice and started all 12 games for the Orange last season. Hogue's .79 sacks per game tied for 21st nationally and ranked second in the BIG EAST while his 1.33 tackles for loss per game led the BIG EAST and tied for 20th nationally.
“Being in my second year (at linebacker) it brings a little bit more confidence to the table,” Hogue said. “I've been working on understanding the game, understanding how the offense is run, using my hands more and using my drops more.”
Syracuse kicks off the 2010 season at Akron on Saturday, September 4 (6:00 p.m., ESPN3). SU opens at home against Maine on September 18 at 7:15 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Tickets are available online (click here) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOME-TIX). starting at $100.
