SU Football Reports To Preseason Camp

Syracuse football preseason camp got underway on Thursday as the 2011 Orange squad returned to campus to begin preparations for the upcoming season. The SU student-athletes, who have been training throughout the summer, attended preliminary meetings during the afternoon before the first team practice is held on Friday.

"There's been so much hard work that's gone into this offseason," said senior defensive end Mikhail Marinovich. "The summer conditioning and weight program that we have been on has really helped, and I think everyone has improved immensely and we can't wait to get together and see what kind of team we have."

Prior to the team's first practice of the season on Friday, SU will hold its media day for local members of the media. Fans can watch Coach Doug Marrone's press conference, which begins at 3:45 p.m., live on Orange All Access free of charge. Fans can also tune in to Orange All-Access for interviews with coaches and student-athletes from media day and throughout the preseason.

Currently in his third season at the helm of the Orange, Marrone led SU to its first winning season since 2001 last year, including the team's first bowl game appearance since 2004, and hopes to continue the trend in 2011.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us," Marrone said. "You can't say today 'Syracuse University is back and they're a consistent team right now.' We've done it once. One of the messages that I'll be talking to the team about is that we have to prove ourselves. We can't rest on the world with what we did last year. So I think we're not where we want to be yet."

During Tuesday's BIG EAST Media Day in Newport, R.I., the league's preseason media poll slated the Orange to finish fourth in the conference behind West Virginia, Pittsburgh and South Florida, who were ranked first through third, respectively. Syracuse finished last season with a 4-3 mark in BIG EAST play.

"When the helmets come on, it's a whole different mindset," said senior quarterback Ryan Nassib, who set the Syracuse single season record for completions (202) in 2010. "You can go out there by yourself with nobody watching and leave room for error, but when people are watching and the cameras are on you, that's when it's time to perform."

Senior defensive end Chandler Jones, an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection last season, says that preseason camp will allow the Orange players to get to know their teammates who play around them.

"A lot of people say that they are ready for camp, but there's still a phase of development that you have to go through," Jones said. "These days are going to be key. Every day you're going to learn the about the person next to you, and you should know where they are going to be on the field at every point in time."

Syracuse will play four of its first five games at home in the Carrier Dome, beginning on September 1 against Wake Forest at 8 p.m. The Labor Day weekend matchup will be just the second time that SU and the Demon Deacons have ever squared off, with the only other meeting coming in 2006 in Winston-Salem. Other Orange home games during the opening five weeks of the season include Rhode Island (Sept. 10), Toledo (Sept. 24) and Rutgers (Oct. 1). Individual and season tickets are available online or by calling the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOME-TIX).

Syracuse University Athletics

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