Friday, September 4
Syracuse, NY
7 pm
Syracuse University
vs
Rhode Island
Orange Hosts Rhode Island to Kick Off 2015
9/3/2015 10:06:00 AM | Football
SYRACUSE (0-0) vs. RHODE ISLAND (0-0)
Game Details:Â Friday, Sept. 4Â | 7 p.m.
Location:Â Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Game Links: Tickets | Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Radio:Â Syracuse IMG Radio Network
Twitter:Â @CuseFootball |Â @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
Rhode Island Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse University football team (0-0) opens its 126th season at the Carrier Dome on Friday, Sept. 4 against FCS opponent Rhode Island (0-0) at 7 p.m. Individual game tickets are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). In addition, discounted group tickets (20 or more) for all home games can be purchased by calling 315-443-3212.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and Doug Sherman (pxp) and Matt Chatham (analyst) will be on the call.
The Orange and Rams are meeting for the third time and it marks the first pairing since the 2011 campaign, when Syracuse scored a 21-14 victory. SU won the first matchup in 2002, recording a 63-17 win.
Head coach Scott Shafer enters his third year at the helm of the Orange. Shafer owns a 10-15 overall record, including a victory in the 2013 Texas Bowl. The Orange returns senior quarterback Terrel Hunt, who ranks 10th in program history in career passing yards (2,621).
In its first season under head coach Jim Flemming, Rhode Island recorded a 1-11 overall record. Its lone win came in the season finale against Towson.
ORANGE IN SEASON OPENERS
Syracuse owns a 79-42-4 mark all-time in season openers, including a 67-18-4 record at home. SU opened its 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.
AGAINST FCS FOES
The 2015 campaign marks the second straight year the Orange will open the season against an FCS opponent. Last year, Syracuse registered a 27-26 victory in double overtime against Villanova.
The Orange is a perfect 13-0 against FCS opponents (formerly Division I-AA)Â since the 1978 separation of major college football programs into two divisions. The streak includes a 12-0 mark against FCS foes in the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome.
Following the 1978 separation, Syracuse's first matchup against an FCS opponent was interestingly enough in a bowl game. The Orange was an at-large selection and invited to play the champion of the Southland Conference, unbeaten McNeese State, in the 1979 Independence Bowl. Behind 155 yards rushing from SU all-time leading rusher Joe Morris, Syracuse cruised to a 31-7 victory.
In total, Syracuse has won its last 31 contests against current FCS members. This streak predates the separation into two divisions. The program's last loss to a current FCS school occurred on Oct. 4, 1958 at Holy Cross, 14-13.
SHAFER'S GETS COACHING START AT RHODY
Head coach Scott Shafer got his start in collegiate coaching at Rhode Island. Following his graduate assistantship at Indiana, Shafer accepted his first full-time coaching position with the Rams and mentored the defensive backs from 1993-95. Rhode Island achieved success during Shafer's time in Kingston. Following two losing seasons in 1993 and 1994, Rhode Island finished 7-4 in 1995 to place first in the New England Division in the Yankee Conference after going 6-2 in league action. It marked the team's best in-conference record since 1985.
That Rhode Island staff featured another ACC head coach -- Pitt's Pat Narduzzi who is in his first season with the Panthers. Syracuse and Pitt square off at the Carrier Dome on Oct. 24.
RHODE ISLAND AT A GLANCE
Game Details:Â Friday, Sept. 4Â | 7 p.m.
Location:Â Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Game Links: Tickets | Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Radio:Â Syracuse IMG Radio Network
Twitter:Â @CuseFootball |Â @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
Rhode Island Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse University football team (0-0) opens its 126th season at the Carrier Dome on Friday, Sept. 4 against FCS opponent Rhode Island (0-0) at 7 p.m. Individual game tickets are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). In addition, discounted group tickets (20 or more) for all home games can be purchased by calling 315-443-3212.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and Doug Sherman (pxp) and Matt Chatham (analyst) will be on the call.
The Orange and Rams are meeting for the third time and it marks the first pairing since the 2011 campaign, when Syracuse scored a 21-14 victory. SU won the first matchup in 2002, recording a 63-17 win.
Head coach Scott Shafer enters his third year at the helm of the Orange. Shafer owns a 10-15 overall record, including a victory in the 2013 Texas Bowl. The Orange returns senior quarterback Terrel Hunt, who ranks 10th in program history in career passing yards (2,621).
In its first season under head coach Jim Flemming, Rhode Island recorded a 1-11 overall record. Its lone win came in the season finale against Towson.
ORANGE IN SEASON OPENERS
Syracuse owns a 79-42-4 mark all-time in season openers, including a 67-18-4 record at home. SU opened its 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.
AGAINST FCS FOES
The 2015 campaign marks the second straight year the Orange will open the season against an FCS opponent. Last year, Syracuse registered a 27-26 victory in double overtime against Villanova.
The Orange is a perfect 13-0 against FCS opponents (formerly Division I-AA)Â since the 1978 separation of major college football programs into two divisions. The streak includes a 12-0 mark against FCS foes in the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome.
Following the 1978 separation, Syracuse's first matchup against an FCS opponent was interestingly enough in a bowl game. The Orange was an at-large selection and invited to play the champion of the Southland Conference, unbeaten McNeese State, in the 1979 Independence Bowl. Behind 155 yards rushing from SU all-time leading rusher Joe Morris, Syracuse cruised to a 31-7 victory.
In total, Syracuse has won its last 31 contests against current FCS members. This streak predates the separation into two divisions. The program's last loss to a current FCS school occurred on Oct. 4, 1958 at Holy Cross, 14-13.
SHAFER'S GETS COACHING START AT RHODY
Head coach Scott Shafer got his start in collegiate coaching at Rhode Island. Following his graduate assistantship at Indiana, Shafer accepted his first full-time coaching position with the Rams and mentored the defensive backs from 1993-95. Rhode Island achieved success during Shafer's time in Kingston. Following two losing seasons in 1993 and 1994, Rhode Island finished 7-4 in 1995 to place first in the New England Division in the Yankee Conference after going 6-2 in league action. It marked the team's best in-conference record since 1985.
That Rhode Island staff featured another ACC head coach -- Pitt's Pat Narduzzi who is in his first season with the Panthers. Syracuse and Pitt square off at the Carrier Dome on Oct. 24.
RHODE ISLAND AT A GLANCE
Rhode Island enters its second season under head coach Jim Flemming. In Flemming's first season at the helm, the Rams posted a 1-11 overall record. Rhode Island's lone victory in 2014 came in the season finale against Towson, 13-7. Safety Tim Wienclaw led the way with a game-high 13 tackles.
Senior kick returner Myles Holmes was the lone Ram on the 2015 Preseason All-CAA Team. Holmes, a third-team All-CAA honoree in 2014, averaged 21.8 yards per kick return last season.
The Rams are expected to start junior college transfer Paul Mroz under center against the Orange. Mroz threw 26 TDs at Victor Valley Community College in California.
Sophomore tight end Charlie McKeeman was the only player to catch at least one pass in all 12 games last season. McKeeman hauled in 28 receptions for 265 yards and three scores.
Junior linebacker Adam Parker is the team's leading returning tackler, recording 102 stops in his second season on campus. Parker ranked ninth in the CAA in tackles for the 2014 campaign.
UP NEXT
Syracuse will open Atlantic Coast Conference play next Saturday Sept. 12 at 12:30 p.m. when the Orange welcomes Wake Forest to the Carrier Dome. The game will air live on the ACC Network. Fans are encouraged to wear their orange as the game is being billed as an 'Orange Out.' In addition, Syracuse University will recognize legendary head coach Dick MacPherson and his family in between the first and second quarters.
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange& Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
Senior kick returner Myles Holmes was the lone Ram on the 2015 Preseason All-CAA Team. Holmes, a third-team All-CAA honoree in 2014, averaged 21.8 yards per kick return last season.
The Rams are expected to start junior college transfer Paul Mroz under center against the Orange. Mroz threw 26 TDs at Victor Valley Community College in California.
Sophomore tight end Charlie McKeeman was the only player to catch at least one pass in all 12 games last season. McKeeman hauled in 28 receptions for 265 yards and three scores.
Junior linebacker Adam Parker is the team's leading returning tackler, recording 102 stops in his second season on campus. Parker ranked ninth in the CAA in tackles for the 2014 campaign.
UP NEXT
Syracuse will open Atlantic Coast Conference play next Saturday Sept. 12 at 12:30 p.m. when the Orange welcomes Wake Forest to the Carrier Dome. The game will air live on the ACC Network. Fans are encouraged to wear their orange as the game is being billed as an 'Orange Out.' In addition, Syracuse University will recognize legendary head coach Dick MacPherson and his family in between the first and second quarters.
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange& Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
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