Coach Shafer and Syracuse Sidelines host Mark Larson will breakdown the Northwestern offense during the show on Time Warner Cable Sports.
SU Ready to Take On Northwestern
9/5/2013 4:15:00 PM | Football
Read the Game Notes | 2013 Football Blog
Head coach Scott Shafer and the SU football team are looking forward to getting back on the gridiron this Saturday against #19 Northwestern after starting the season off with a loss in a close contest with Penn State. The team will head to Evanston, Ill. to take on the Wildcats on Saturday at 6 p.m. (Big Ten Network).
"I'm looking forward to getting to game number two and to competing. We've got a great Northwestern team that's ranked 19th in the country that we'll have our hands full with. The kids have worked hard, the coaches have worked hard and we're looking forward to improvements going into number two."
Despite the tough losses in personnel at the end of last season, Shafer sees many positives in the performance of this year's squad.
"We went from having a record-setting quarterback with a cast of wide receivers that broke records. We had Alec Lemon, Ryan Nassib and the 19th pick of the NFL Draft, Justin Pugh as a lineman next to them. I anticipated things to be what they were at times. I was very pleased that the kids got Penn State to a fourth quarter game and gave ourselves a chance but all those areas that were obvious problems are areas we have worked hard on. It's going to be key to win the first down battle. It's important that we get four yards or more on first down. Our goal is doing that sixty percent of the time, which is lofty but it is something that we have really worked on and the kids have done a good job."
Northwestern, coached by Pat Fitzgerald, comes into the week with a 1-0 record, defeating California 44-30 last Saturday and brings consistency in each position.
"They are a well-disciplined team. Coach Fitzgerald has done a good job recruiting kids that fit the system and when you look at this year's Northwestern team compared to years past, what I see is consistency and not a big drop-off from one back-up to another."
Fans can listen to a live audio broadcast online on Orange All Access or on the radio with Syracuse IMG Sports Network. Check for your local radio affiliate on SUathletics.com.
Shafer will be featured on 'Syracuse Sidelines' tonight at 6:30 to discuss the Penn State game and follow it up with his live radio show at 7:00 p.m. on Syracuse IMG Sports Network. Fans are invited to join Coach Shafer at Red Robin to listen to his thoughts on the season.
After Syracuse's game at Northwestern, the Orange opens the home portion of the 2013 schedule against Wagner on September 14 in the Carrier Dome. All Syracuse fans are invited to participate in 'Take a Kid to the Game Day', an opportunity for a free youth ticket for every adult ticket purchased. The game kicks off at 4:00 p.m. Season ticket holders are also eligible for free youth tickets. Call 1-888-DOMETIX for assistance in obtaining youth tickets.
Season and single-game tickets can be purchased online, in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX.
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football) and Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball). Check out exclusive videos on Orange All-Access and behind-the-scenes pictures on Instagram (syracuseathletics).
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Head coach Scott Shafer and the SU football team are looking forward to getting back on the gridiron this Saturday against #19 Northwestern after starting the season off with a loss in a close contest with Penn State. The team will head to Evanston, Ill. to take on the Wildcats on Saturday at 6 p.m. (Big Ten Network).
"I'm looking forward to getting to game number two and to competing. We've got a great Northwestern team that's ranked 19th in the country that we'll have our hands full with. The kids have worked hard, the coaches have worked hard and we're looking forward to improvements going into number two."
Despite the tough losses in personnel at the end of last season, Shafer sees many positives in the performance of this year's squad.
"We went from having a record-setting quarterback with a cast of wide receivers that broke records. We had Alec Lemon, Ryan Nassib and the 19th pick of the NFL Draft, Justin Pugh as a lineman next to them. I anticipated things to be what they were at times. I was very pleased that the kids got Penn State to a fourth quarter game and gave ourselves a chance but all those areas that were obvious problems are areas we have worked hard on. It's going to be key to win the first down battle. It's important that we get four yards or more on first down. Our goal is doing that sixty percent of the time, which is lofty but it is something that we have really worked on and the kids have done a good job."
Northwestern, coached by Pat Fitzgerald, comes into the week with a 1-0 record, defeating California 44-30 last Saturday and brings consistency in each position.
"They are a well-disciplined team. Coach Fitzgerald has done a good job recruiting kids that fit the system and when you look at this year's Northwestern team compared to years past, what I see is consistency and not a big drop-off from one back-up to another."
Fans can listen to a live audio broadcast online on Orange All Access or on the radio with Syracuse IMG Sports Network. Check for your local radio affiliate on SUathletics.com.
Shafer will be featured on 'Syracuse Sidelines' tonight at 6:30 to discuss the Penn State game and follow it up with his live radio show at 7:00 p.m. on Syracuse IMG Sports Network. Fans are invited to join Coach Shafer at Red Robin to listen to his thoughts on the season.
After Syracuse's game at Northwestern, the Orange opens the home portion of the 2013 schedule against Wagner on September 14 in the Carrier Dome. All Syracuse fans are invited to participate in 'Take a Kid to the Game Day', an opportunity for a free youth ticket for every adult ticket purchased. The game kicks off at 4:00 p.m. Season ticket holders are also eligible for free youth tickets. Call 1-888-DOMETIX for assistance in obtaining youth tickets.
Season and single-game tickets can be purchased online, in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX.
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football) and Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball). Check out exclusive videos on Orange All-Access and behind-the-scenes pictures on Instagram (syracuseathletics).
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