Shafer Preview's Final Home Game of 2014
11/6/2014 12:26:00 PM | Football
Orange Hosts Duke on Saturday at 12:30
As Syracuse gets ready to play its final game in the Carrier Dome this season, it's preparing for a high-powered Duke offense that is averaging over 35 points per game.
"Duke is a very good football team with an excellent quarterback in Anthony Boone," said head coach Scott Shafer. "He's played a lot of football for them. He's a bright young man who really does a great job running that offense. He's also got some weapons, Crowder on the outside has made some exceptional plays on the outside. We'll have a great challenge with those guys as well as an offensive line that's played a lot of football together and they really mesh well. We'll have our challenges on both sides of the ball, but I really think it's key that we do a great job containing those players on offense."
The Orange may be without quarterback AJ Long, who started the last three games, due to an injury.
"AJ Long has a little issue with his upper body – he's got a bit of a nerve issue in his upper arm so he's going to be highly doubtful for Saturday," Shafer said. "We want the team to understand as quickly as possible that we need to move forward and get ready for the next guy to step up and do his job."
With the senior class to be honored on Saturday prior to kickoff, Shafer talked about the how tight knit the entire team is, including the family atmosphere inside of the locker room.
"We had a great talk the other day, someone asked me a question about despite all the difficulties how the kids maintained their focus and kept fighting through it," Shafer said. "For me, it's that they truly have a sense of brotherhood for one another. We get beat by NC State, everybody is down in the locker room as you can only imagine. As you sit in there and see all these guys who are on crutches and can't play are sitting there and they wish they could help and there's all these excuses laying around the room. I remember that Ritchy Desir stepped up and said, 'no matter what, we're a family.
"That's who these kids are. You guys will think I'm crazy, but this is actually one of the most fulfilling seasons for me as a coach because of who the kids that sit in this room are. They are unselfish and they don't make excuses. All I told them all week long was don't change, don't change who you are. It's easy to be a front runner when things are going great, the balls bouncing our way and things are really rolling, but true character is shown when things aren't good. That's the thing I've been most proud of is that they haven't made excuses and they keep coming back to work."
For more of what coach Shafer had to say, watch his press conference on Cuse TV: Coach Shafer Press Conference
Tickets are available online (www.Cuse.com), by phone (888-DOMETIX), at Destiny USA kiosks and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). In addition, discounted group tickets (20+), with prices as low as $10 each, are available by calling the Ticket Sales office (443-3212).
Â
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 (cusepics).
"Duke is a very good football team with an excellent quarterback in Anthony Boone," said head coach Scott Shafer. "He's played a lot of football for them. He's a bright young man who really does a great job running that offense. He's also got some weapons, Crowder on the outside has made some exceptional plays on the outside. We'll have a great challenge with those guys as well as an offensive line that's played a lot of football together and they really mesh well. We'll have our challenges on both sides of the ball, but I really think it's key that we do a great job containing those players on offense."
The Orange may be without quarterback AJ Long, who started the last three games, due to an injury.
"AJ Long has a little issue with his upper body – he's got a bit of a nerve issue in his upper arm so he's going to be highly doubtful for Saturday," Shafer said. "We want the team to understand as quickly as possible that we need to move forward and get ready for the next guy to step up and do his job."
With the senior class to be honored on Saturday prior to kickoff, Shafer talked about the how tight knit the entire team is, including the family atmosphere inside of the locker room.
"We had a great talk the other day, someone asked me a question about despite all the difficulties how the kids maintained their focus and kept fighting through it," Shafer said. "For me, it's that they truly have a sense of brotherhood for one another. We get beat by NC State, everybody is down in the locker room as you can only imagine. As you sit in there and see all these guys who are on crutches and can't play are sitting there and they wish they could help and there's all these excuses laying around the room. I remember that Ritchy Desir stepped up and said, 'no matter what, we're a family.
"That's who these kids are. You guys will think I'm crazy, but this is actually one of the most fulfilling seasons for me as a coach because of who the kids that sit in this room are. They are unselfish and they don't make excuses. All I told them all week long was don't change, don't change who you are. It's easy to be a front runner when things are going great, the balls bouncing our way and things are really rolling, but true character is shown when things aren't good. That's the thing I've been most proud of is that they haven't made excuses and they keep coming back to work."
For more of what coach Shafer had to say, watch his press conference on Cuse TV: Coach Shafer Press Conference
Tickets are available online (www.Cuse.com), by phone (888-DOMETIX), at Destiny USA kiosks and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). In addition, discounted group tickets (20+), with prices as low as $10 each, are available by calling the Ticket Sales office (443-3212).
Â
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 (cusepics).
Players Mentioned
SS
/ Football
Built in the 315 | Episode 1: The Foundation
Friday, March 06
Built in the 315 | Episode 1
Friday, March 06
John Wildhack Interview
Wednesday, February 11
Calvin Russell Interview
Tuesday, January 13
