2013 ACC Football Kickoff: Day 1 Recap

Orange All Access: Macky MacPherson | Jay Bromley | Syracuse Press Conference
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GREENSBORO, N.C. – It was all about the student-athletes on Day 1 of the 2013 ACC Football Kickoff. Twenty-eight players, two from each of the conference's 14 football-member schools, met with local, regional and national media Sunday at the Grandover Resort.

Senior C Macky MacPherson and senior DT Jay Bromley represented Syracuse. The pair held court in the writers' room, visited with the ACC Digital Network, participated in a press conference, several additional one-on-one interviews and worked radio row. They answered a variety of questions. Everything from "what happens at the bottom of the pile?' to "who's going to be the starting quarterback?" There was also an ice cream social in the afternoon to break up the media grind.

After nearly six hours of interviews Bromley and MacPherson offered some final thoughts on their ACC Kickoff experience:

Bromley: "I think it went well. We got our point across to the ACC about what we bring to the table and what we can do as a football team in 2013. It was long, everything that comes along with all the interviews, but Macky and I handled it like champs."

Bromley's favorite part of ACC Kickoff: "The ice cream."

MacPherson: "I enjoyed all of it. I can't pretend that I didn't. It was a lot of fun. It was good to get a solid introduction to the ACC and find out what people think about us and let people know what Syracuse is all about."

MacPherson's favorite aspect: "Getting to know the other players from the other teams and learning what they are like. No one has pads on. This is off-the-field stuff. It was nice to get to know what they are about. They're people just like us."

Here are some other noteworthy observations from the first day of the league's annual media gathering:

BIG TURNOUT
According to ACC Associate Commissioner for Football Communications Mike Finn, 410 media members registered for this year's event. That's up from approximately 360 attendees last year. Finn said ACC Football Kickoff attendance has grown every year and this year's media number is a record.

SOME LOVE FOR THE LINEMEN
Three of the 14 teams brought linemen to represent the offense. In addition to Syracuse's MacPherson, Georgia Tech OL Will Jackson and Virginia OT Morgan Moses were in attendance.

Bromley was one of two defensive tackles representing his school. Aaron Donald of fellow conference newcomer Pittsburgh was the other.

Syracuse, Virginia and Georgia Tech had linemen representing them on both sides of the ball.

MORGAN MOSES IS A BIG DUDE
At 6-6, 335 pounds Virginia's Morgan Moses is hard to miss. He was easily the biggest player there Sunday. Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas is also listed at 6-6, but Thomas tips the scales at "only" 257 pounds. Tech's Will Jackson is a 295-pound player. That's some 40 pounds shy of the weight Moses carries.

Even though the Orange won't face the Cavaliers this season, Bromley said the way to beat a guy the size of Moses is to get into his body.

"He's a tall guy. He has long arms so therefore I would get into him and drive him back," Bromley said. "I would use his high pad level to my advantage."

TAJH BOYD IS EXCITED TO VISIT SYRACUSE
One of the most sought after interview subjects Sunday was Clemson QB Tajh Boyd. The Heisman hopeful was voted the ACC Player of the Year last season by both the media and coaches. Boyd is well aware the Orange's first ACC game is against his Tigers on Oct. 5 and he his looking forward to playing in the Carrier Dome.

Said Boyd: "Going to play in a place like that (the Carrier Dome) is legendary. We got the Doak Campbells (Florida State) and the Lane Stadiums (Virginia Tech) and now we get the Carrier Dome to add to it. It's going to make it that much more fun. I was talking to the Syracuse guys earlier and there is going to be way too much orange in that stadium.

"I grew up a Donovan McNabb fan and just all the tradition and pageantry that comes with that team is special. Syracuse is a great addition to the conference."

ROUND 2
On Monday, the ACC head coaches will be on the media hot seat. Coach Scott Shafer's press conference will be streamed live on theacc.com at 3:55 p.m. Fan's can follow all the SU ACC Kickoff happenings on Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football) and Instagram (syracuseathletics).

Syracuse University Athletics

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