The Dome-Opener is Saturday. Be There!
9/13/2010 5:02:13 PM | Football
Head Coach Doug Marrone's Press Conference Transcript
Depth Chart vs. Maine
Game Notes vs. Maine
2010 Tickets | 2010 Schedule
The Dome will finally be home for the 2010 football Orange this weekend as Syracuse will host Maine on Saturday, Sept. 18 (7:15 p.m.). Second-year head coach Doug Marrone and his team have their sights set on Maine and improving their record to better than .500. Tickets are available online and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOME-TIX). Season tickets start at $100.
"I love playing in the Carrier Dome, I've made no bones about it," Marrone said. "The Dome is a tremendous advantage for our football team. We're welcoming the fact that we're home now. Starting off on the road the first two games is a challenge. We're happy to come home. We're happy to come back to our fans and our stadium. I love our fans. I guarantee you we'll have a louder crowd in this game than we will any games on the road.”
Fans are invited to begin their Syracuse football game day experience on the University Quad beginning at 6:00 p.m. where 2010 Professional Football Hall of Fame inductee Floyd Little will sign autographs. The Orange All-American will also be honored during a halftime ceremony. The Quad is the place to be prior to every Orange home game. Activities on the Quad for the home opener also include performances by the band Meatballs, a band that provides quality interactive entertainment for children, the SU Marching Band, Syracuse cheerleaders, including Otto the Orange, and dance team.
In addition, the game is 'Patriotic Day' and 'Youth and Senior Citizen Day'. Tickets will be discounted for military groups and youth ages 12 under and for those age 60 and over. Prior to the game soldiers will display the American flag on the field for the National Anthem.
The Youth Day celebration includes are Pop Warner cheerleaders performing prior to kickoff and area Pop Warner football players welcoming Little onto the field for the halftime ceremony.
Orange head softball coach Leigh Ross and the 2010 team will be honored for their outstanding season. The squad made history when it won the BIG EAST Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time.
The contest against Maine will be the second in the series. Last year Syracuse beat Maine, 41-24, in the Carrier Dome. Running back Delone Carter led all rushers with 72 yards on 19 carries and scored three touchdowns, while linebacker Derrell Smith was the game's leading tackler with 10 stops, including eight solo.
Dome Openers
Syracuse has a 14-16 record in home openers since the Dome opened in 1980 … The Orange won seven Dome openers in a row from 1987 through 1993 … Since overtime was instituted in college football in 1997, three Dome openers have been decided in extra periods, including 1997 (32-31 loss to North Carolina State), 2006 (20-13 loss to Iowa) and 2009 (23-20 loss to Minnesota) … In Carrier Dome openers, SU averages 24.4 points compared to opponents' 20.1.
And, Home Openers
SU is 83-31-4* all-time in home openers (* Does not include 1889 when the season consisted of one away game or 1979 when SU played all its games on the road) … SU'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 at home every year from 1900-55 and had a 48-5-2 record in those games (except 1943 when the season was suspended due to the war).
Multiple Targets for Nassib
Junior quarterback Ryan Nassib has connected with eight different receivers in SU's first two games in 2010. Junior Van Chew is the leading receiver (9 receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown), while sophomore Alec Lemon has seven receptions for 83 yards and senior receiver Aaron Weaver has six catches for 88 yards. Chew had a career day at Washington, catching six passes for 83 yards … He is SU's leading receiver in 2010 with nine catches for 162 yards and one touchdown. Lemon and Weaver both have touchdown receptions, as well. Junior running back Antwon Bailey has six receptions for 41 yards, while tight ends Nick Provo (four receptions for 52 yards) and Jose Cruz (two catches for 19 yards) are also a part of the Orange air attack. Fullback Adam Harris and running back Delone Carter each have one reception.
