'Cuse Spring Practice Report: March 30

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – As this weekend's open scrimmage nears, the Orange football team held its last morning practice of the spring on Wednesday at the Ensley Athletic Center.

Head coach Dino Babers has been impressed so far with the desire of his team to get better, and as the players' knowledge of the offense and defense grows, he believes those two factors together will yield positive results.

"Knowledge is power," Babers said. "They're on a giant quest for knowledge and that hungriness is going to pay off for them because they have a lot of techniques and fundamentals that they need to be proficient in if we are going to win in the fall."

Due to Thursday night's student practice and Saturday's scrimmage, Wednesday's workout included just two short team periods, only one of which was live.

The defense held its own during the first team session, forcing multiple three-and-outs. The offense bounced back in the second team period with a pair of long touchdowns. After a sack by Marqez Hodge, receiver Brisly Estime slipped behind the secondary and quarterback Zack Mahoney hit him in stride for a 60-yard touchdown.

A few players later, freshman Moe Neal took a handoff and went 90 yards up the middle for a score.

The Orange have one more practice before the 2016 Syracuse Football Spring Scrimmage on Saturday, April 2 at the Carrier Dome. Start time for the scrimmage is 11 a.m. and admission is free. All lower-level gates (A, B, C, D, E, F) open at 10 a.m.

Syracuse will hold a 'Select-A-Seat' event Saturday. Fans will have the opportunity to walk the Dome and choose the best available seat locations for 2016 season tickets. A sampling of available seats will be marked in each section and members of the Carrier Dome Box Office staff will be on hand to assist with the selection process and answer any questions.

After the scrimmage, fans will be invited on the field for selfies with their favorite Syracuse players. In addition, kids in eighth grade or younger will have the opportunity to participate in a free clinic conducted by a group of Syracuse football alumni. Former players expected to be in attendance for the clinic include Chandler Jones, Jay Bromley, Jameel McClain, Rob Long and Delone Carter.

The 2016 season gets underway Friday, Sept. 2 at home against Colgate. This year's schedule features six home dates, including conference games against Louisville, Virginia Tech, NC State and Florida State.

Season tickets are on sale now online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Tickets start at $99 ($16.50 per game) with lower-level seats in the end zones available for as little as $125.

NOTES: Babers selected safety Antwan Cordy to break the team down at the end of practice.

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Syracuse University Athletics

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Antwan Cordy

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