Orange Host Villanova to Kick Off the Season Friday

SYRACUSE (0-0) vs. VILLANOVA (0-0) GAME DAY CENTRAL PAGE
Date & Time	Friday, Aug. 29, 7:30 p.m.
Location	Carrier Dome
Tickets	Box Office
Watch	ESPN3
Radio	Syracuse IMG Sports Network \| TuneIn
Game Notes	Syracuse \| Villanova
Live Audio	Cuse.com
Live Stats	Cuse.com
Cuse Social Media	Follow @Cuse (for score updates) Facebook \| Instagram
Football Social Media	Follow @CuseFootball (for frequent in-game updates) Facebook
Hashtags	Tweet #OrangeNation Tweet #CUSEvsNOVA

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse football team will open its 2014 campaign on Friday when it welcomes Villanova to the Carrier Dome.

GAME OVERVIEW
• Syracuse opens its 125th college football season at the Carrier Dome Friday, Aug. 29 against FCS opponent Villanova at 7:30 p.m. The game is the earliest home opener in school history and it can be seen live on ESPN3.Dave Popkin (pxp) and Al Groh (analyst) have the call.
• While the Orange and Wildcats have played 71 times on the basketball hardwood, Friday's game is just the fourth meeting between the schools on the gridiron and the first since 1975.
• Orange head coach Scott Shafer enters his second season on the bridge after posting a 7-6 record and guiding Syracuse to a 21-17 victory over Minnesota in the Texas Bowl last year. The Orange returns 14 starters and 46 letterwinners from the 2013 club.
• Villanova was 6-5 in 2013. The Wildcats bring back 33 letterwinners and 15 starters from last year's outfit. Villanova is 12th in the preseason Sports Network rankings and 13th in the FCS Coaches' Poll.

ORANGE IN SEASON OPENERS
• Syracuse is 78-42-4 all-time in season openers, including a record of 66-18-4 at home.
• The 2014 season marks the third time the Orange has opened the year against Villanova. SU topped the Wildcats, 28-6, to start the 1954 campaign and 24-17 to begin the 1975 season.
• SU opened the season at home every year from 1900-55. During the 55 straight home openers, the team went 48-5-2, including a 41-0-2 record from 1900-42. No opener was played in 1943. The season was suspended due to World War II.
• In last year's campaign starter, the Orange lost to Penn State, 23-17, at MetLife Stadium in Scott Shafer's head coaching debut.

ORANGE IN HOME OPENERS
• Syracuse is 86-32-4* all-time in home openers and 17-17 in home openers at the Carrier Dome.
• The program's longest unbeaten streak in home openers was 49 games from 1894-1942 (47-0-2).
• The Orange has won three of its last four home openers, defeating Maine (2010), Wake Forest (2011) and Wagner (2013).

THE VILLANOVA SERIES
• The Orange holds a 2-1 series lead versus the Wildcats and has won the last two pairings, including a 24-17 victory in the 1975 season opener, the last time the two sides met.
• SU is 2-0 at home against Villanova, winning in 1954 and 1975 at Archbold Stadium.
• The Wildcats claimed the first series meeting, 14-13, at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

PROMOTIONS CENTRAL
• Orange Nation Night: The first 10,000 fans get a 2014 Syracuse football schedule magnet.
• Bike Night: Special ticket offer for fans that ride motorcycles (Call 1-888-DOMETIX for details).
• Texas Bowl Celebration: A special video tribute will honor the Orange's Texas Bowl victory over Minnesota.

A WIN AGAINST VILLANOVA WOULD …
• Be SU's 706th all-time victory, the 16th-most among FBS schools.
• Extend the Orange's winning streak against current FCS teams to 31 games (streak pre-dates 1978 NCAA separate on into two divisions).
• Improve the Orange's record to 12-0 all-time against FCS opponents in the Carrier Dome.
• Mark the fourth time in the last five years Syracuse has won its home opener.
• Make the Orange 66-19-4 all-time in season-opening games played in Syracuse.
• Extend SU's winning streak against Villanova to three games and make the Orange 3-0 versus the Wildcats at home.

Syracuse University Athletics

Orange Host Villanova to Kick Off the Season Friday

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