Senior running back Antwon Bailey is pleased with the way Spring practice has helped the team bond.
Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Focus Narrows as Spring Game Nears
4/12/2011 7:43:10 PM | Football
2011 Spring Practice Schedule | 2011 pre-Spring Depth Chart
2011 Syracuse Schedule | 2011 Season Tickets
Entering his final Spring practice season in preparation for his last year on the Syracuse football team, running back Antwon Bailey established goals. His focus is to continue to build on what the 2010 New Era Pinstripe Bowl champions achieved during his junior year.
“This has been a great Spring for my final go round,” Bailey said. “We have come together as a team, building chemistry on and off the field. This has definitely brought us closer which will help us in our games this year.”
The Orange have one more Spring practice before the annual Spring game, which is Saturday, April 16 in the Carrier Dome. During the first 13 sessions the coaches have worked the practice scripts from overall installation to specific situations. Tuesday the focus was short yardage situations and the two-minute drill.
“Today we worked on goal line, short yardage, and two minute,” said head coach Doug Marrone. “We had a lot of different situations today. We're going along with the plan. We're going to get a good day in on Thursday, then we're going to split the teams up and get ready for Saturday (the Spring game). But, I want to keep Saturday where it is not a distraction for the players.”
The excitement surrounding this year's Spring game is about the format of the game. For the first time in about 20 years the coaches will split the squad into two teams and play a game. The game will feature four 12-minute quarters, with limited special teams.
“We're going to split the team up,” Marrone said. “The two coordinators will be the head coaches for each team, we will have the assistant coaches calling the plays and I think that this is important for professional development in our profession. I told the players we will follow a format, but I didn't tell them anything else because we still have two days of practice left and I need to keep them focused.
“One thing we need to keep in mind about the Spring is that you are going against the same person, the same type of competition every time and there is not a lot of mixing in of the different players because your team is limited. I think a sign of a good football player is a player who can go in there week in and week out against different types of competition and perform at a winning level. There will be some guys going against each other who haven't yet, so you might just find someone step up and get after it.”
Syracuse will continue its Spring practice season on Thursday, April 14 at 4:20 p.m. All Spring practices are free and open to the public.
The Spring game event begins at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the Dome with the 'Select-A-Seat' program for fans to walk around the Dome to choose their location for the 2011 season from all available seating, which will be marked with special signage. The Box Office will be open and staff will be available around the Dome to assist with the selection process and answer questions. Admission and parking are free. Fans should enter the Carrier Dome through the Dome's lower level gates (A,B,C,D,E and F). The event will be broadcast on 97.7 FM Syracuse.
During the game, 2011 SU football posters will be available at Gate A, fans can experience Club 4•4 at no charge and concession stands will be open. At halftime one lucky fan will have the opportunity to participate in a 'Field Goal Kick' contest to win either $100 or a $250 cash card from Empower Federal Credit Union.
Following the game, the Orange football team will host an autograph session on the Carrier Dome field.
Tickets for the 2011 season are available online (click here) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOMETIX).
2011 Syracuse Schedule | 2011 Season Tickets
Entering his final Spring practice season in preparation for his last year on the Syracuse football team, running back Antwon Bailey established goals. His focus is to continue to build on what the 2010 New Era Pinstripe Bowl champions achieved during his junior year.
“This has been a great Spring for my final go round,” Bailey said. “We have come together as a team, building chemistry on and off the field. This has definitely brought us closer which will help us in our games this year.”
The Orange have one more Spring practice before the annual Spring game, which is Saturday, April 16 in the Carrier Dome. During the first 13 sessions the coaches have worked the practice scripts from overall installation to specific situations. Tuesday the focus was short yardage situations and the two-minute drill.
“Today we worked on goal line, short yardage, and two minute,” said head coach Doug Marrone. “We had a lot of different situations today. We're going along with the plan. We're going to get a good day in on Thursday, then we're going to split the teams up and get ready for Saturday (the Spring game). But, I want to keep Saturday where it is not a distraction for the players.”
The excitement surrounding this year's Spring game is about the format of the game. For the first time in about 20 years the coaches will split the squad into two teams and play a game. The game will feature four 12-minute quarters, with limited special teams.
“We're going to split the team up,” Marrone said. “The two coordinators will be the head coaches for each team, we will have the assistant coaches calling the plays and I think that this is important for professional development in our profession. I told the players we will follow a format, but I didn't tell them anything else because we still have two days of practice left and I need to keep them focused.
“One thing we need to keep in mind about the Spring is that you are going against the same person, the same type of competition every time and there is not a lot of mixing in of the different players because your team is limited. I think a sign of a good football player is a player who can go in there week in and week out against different types of competition and perform at a winning level. There will be some guys going against each other who haven't yet, so you might just find someone step up and get after it.”
Syracuse will continue its Spring practice season on Thursday, April 14 at 4:20 p.m. All Spring practices are free and open to the public.
The Spring game event begins at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the Dome with the 'Select-A-Seat' program for fans to walk around the Dome to choose their location for the 2011 season from all available seating, which will be marked with special signage. The Box Office will be open and staff will be available around the Dome to assist with the selection process and answer questions. Admission and parking are free. Fans should enter the Carrier Dome through the Dome's lower level gates (A,B,C,D,E and F). The event will be broadcast on 97.7 FM Syracuse.
During the game, 2011 SU football posters will be available at Gate A, fans can experience Club 4•4 at no charge and concession stands will be open. At halftime one lucky fan will have the opportunity to participate in a 'Field Goal Kick' contest to win either $100 or a $250 cash card from Empower Federal Credit Union.
Following the game, the Orange football team will host an autograph session on the Carrier Dome field.
Tickets for the 2011 season are available online (click here) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOMETIX).
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