Syracuse Shifts Focus to Game Preparation
8/20/2014 7:38:00 PM | Football
The Orange are ramping up preparation for Villanova with the game just nine days away
Related Links: Cuse Football Blog | Tickets | 2014 Depth Chart
The countdown to Villanova has reached single digits.
The Orange will welcome the Villanova to the Carrier Dome in just nine days and the team has shifted from the daily activities from training camp fully to game preparation.
"As we look forward here, we kind of have a break in camp after tonight's meetings," Shafer said. "We'll come back and start to have practices that are a little shorter because we have time to prepare for Villanova. So rather than have practices that are 110 or 120 minutes, we'll have 90-minute type situations once we start the practice itself and we'll go through all the situational things that we've already started to work on with the kids out on the practice field for Villanova."
'Cuse went through a situational scrimmage on Wednesday inside the Carrier Dome, with head coach Scott Shafer putting the team through a number of game-like situations to prepare them for what they might face against the Wildcats.
"We had a good day of work," Shafer said. "We went out and had a mock up scrimmage with no pads on so it was really a mock scrimmage. But it was good we got through a lot of special teams and a lot of transitional stuff that will come up on Friday against Villanova. All-in-all I thought the kids did well. We ran 74 plays and I think I only saw two foul ups so hopefully I can say the same after the Villanova game."
With the majority of preseason behind the Orange, Shafer feels good about the mentality that his group has developed in their time together this summer.
"I like this team," Shafer said. "I think they're an unselfish team. They work hard to take care of one another. I was actually really impressed with the maturity of the captains vote. For our kids to vote a long snapper as one of the captains says a lot about the way they look at each other. Sam Rodgers just snaps the ball – I say just, but he's a very important player for any game we're in – but his level of maturity and his unselfishness, he serves the community probably more than anyone on the team, not just here in town but he's also done missions in Haiti and headed up our Lift-for-Life event. For me, that's the one thing I started to learn about this team is that I think it's a mature team that has a sense of brotherhood for one another."
Syracuse opens the season at home Friday, Aug. 29 against Villanova. Season tickets for 2014, which start at $99, and the three-game package that includes Villanova, Florida State and a third home game in the Dome of the fan's choice ($125 per package) are available now 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 for all home games by calling the Ticket Sales office (443-3212).
Tickets for the 'Syracuse Section' for the 2014 New York's College Classic vs. Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium are on sale now, starting at $45, via www.NYCollegeClassic.com, phone (888-DOMETIX, Option Zero), or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).
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).
The countdown to Villanova has reached single digits.
The Orange will welcome the Villanova to the Carrier Dome in just nine days and the team has shifted from the daily activities from training camp fully to game preparation.
"As we look forward here, we kind of have a break in camp after tonight's meetings," Shafer said. "We'll come back and start to have practices that are a little shorter because we have time to prepare for Villanova. So rather than have practices that are 110 or 120 minutes, we'll have 90-minute type situations once we start the practice itself and we'll go through all the situational things that we've already started to work on with the kids out on the practice field for Villanova."
'Cuse went through a situational scrimmage on Wednesday inside the Carrier Dome, with head coach Scott Shafer putting the team through a number of game-like situations to prepare them for what they might face against the Wildcats.
"We had a good day of work," Shafer said. "We went out and had a mock up scrimmage with no pads on so it was really a mock scrimmage. But it was good we got through a lot of special teams and a lot of transitional stuff that will come up on Friday against Villanova. All-in-all I thought the kids did well. We ran 74 plays and I think I only saw two foul ups so hopefully I can say the same after the Villanova game."
With the majority of preseason behind the Orange, Shafer feels good about the mentality that his group has developed in their time together this summer.
"I like this team," Shafer said. "I think they're an unselfish team. They work hard to take care of one another. I was actually really impressed with the maturity of the captains vote. For our kids to vote a long snapper as one of the captains says a lot about the way they look at each other. Sam Rodgers just snaps the ball – I say just, but he's a very important player for any game we're in – but his level of maturity and his unselfishness, he serves the community probably more than anyone on the team, not just here in town but he's also done missions in Haiti and headed up our Lift-for-Life event. For me, that's the one thing I started to learn about this team is that I think it's a mature team that has a sense of brotherhood for one another."
Syracuse opens the season at home Friday, Aug. 29 against Villanova. Season tickets for 2014, which start at $99, and the three-game package that includes Villanova, Florida State and a third home game in the Dome of the fan's choice ($125 per package) are available now 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 for all home games by calling the Ticket Sales office (443-3212).
Tickets for the 'Syracuse Section' for the 2014 New York's College Classic vs. Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium are on sale now, starting at $45, via www.NYCollegeClassic.com, phone (888-DOMETIX, Option Zero), or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).
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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