Orange Pride Evident at 'No Huddle Tour' Stops

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The 2016 'No Huddle Tour' rolled through Western New York on Tuesday.

Featuring key Syracuse Athletics staff members, including first-year head football coach Dino Babers and Hall of Fame men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim, the tour made stops at Chef's Restaurant in downtown Buffalo and the Monroe Golf Club for the 57th annual Syracuse University Rochester Alumni Club Awards Banquet.

During lunch at Chef's, head equipment manager and resident Orange historian Kyle Fetterly hosted a Q&A with Babers. The two-time Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year touched on a variety of topics, including recruiting, the Carrier Dome, the No. 44 jersey and a 2016 schedule that's been ranked among the most difficult in college football by ESPN.com.

"It's a blessing," Babers said of this year's slate, which includes the likes of Notre Dame, Florida State and Clemson. "I love challenges. All it gives us is a great opportunity to let everybody understand what is going on at this fine institution."

One of those exciting institutional developments is the West Campus Project, which was announced earlier this week. The plan includes the construction of a permanent roof for the Carrier Dome as well as additional stadium enhancements.

The news of the Dome upgrades has Babers grinning from ear to ear.

"The No. 1 recruiting asset Syracuse University has is the Carrier Dome," Babers told the crowd. "We're the only Division I school, Power-Five school with a dome. All the other domes are at FCS schools. I think that it's the biggest home-field advantage in college football.

"[The renovation] shows how committed the University is to athletics, and I think that any time you can take something that's as historic as that place is and make it better, it's only going to make the University and athletics look better."

Following the luncheon, Babers hit the road for the Monroe Golf Club where he linked up with Boeheim. The duo held a joint news conference in the clubhouse lobby and participated in a meet-and-greet with Orange alumni and donors before adjourning for dinner.

After the meal Floyd Little, who just received an honorary doctorate from the University at last weekend's commencement exercises, joined the two coaches on stage for a panel discussion moderated by 'Voice of the Orange' Matt Park.

Like Babers, Boeheim spoke highly of the future Dome renovations and said he is pleased his team will have an on-campus home for the foreseeable future.

"I think it's a great project," Boeheim said. "You want to have a building on campus. You don't want to go someplace else."

The 40-year Orange coaching legend also said that the overall outlook for the Syracuse Department of Athletics has never been brighter.

"The future is great, Boeheim said. "It's obvious from the year that we've had [collectively]. I don't think the athletic department has ever been in a better position than it is now."

The 'No Huddle Tour' continues tomorrow with a stop in Binghamton. Babers and Boeheim will throw out the first pitch at NYSEG Stadium prior to the 6:35 p.m. game between the Binghamton Mets and Altoona Curve. In addition, the coaches will take part in a meet-and-greet with fans along the right-field line beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Season tickets for Syracuse football 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.

Single-game tickets for all home games except Florida State go on sale June 21. Tickets to watch the Orange and Seminoles are tentatively scheduled to go on sale July 26. Tickets start at $20 for non-conference games, $25 for the Louisville and NC State games, and $30 for the Virginia Tech and Florida State contests.

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Syracuse University Athletics

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