Syracuse Hosts Colgate to Kick Off 2016

Syracuse (0-0) vs. Colgate (0-0)
Game Details: Friday, Sept. 2 | 7 p.m.
Location: Carrier Dome | Syracuse, N.Y.
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live Stats
Television: ACC Network Extra
Radio: Syracuse IMG Radio Network
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
Colgate Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University football team (0-0) opens the 127th season at the Carrier Dome on Friday, Sept. 2 against FCS opponent Colgate at 7 p.m. Friday's contest marks the first game in the tenure of Syracuse head coach Dino Babers. Heading into his fifth season as a head coach, Babers boasts a 37-16 (.698) overall record. In each of his previous four years as a head coach, Babers has guided his team to the postseason.

The Orange and Raiders will be meeting for the 67th time and it marks the first pairing since the 2010 season, when Syracuse scored a 42-7 victory.

Colgate finished last season 9-5 including a 6-0 record in the Patriot League. The Raiders won two games in the FCS playoffs, advancing to the quarterfinals.

The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra with 1988 SU grad Doug Sherman (play-by-play) and Matt Chatham (analyst) on the call.

BABERS ERA BEGINS
Babers owns more than 30 years of experience in the coaching profession and will begin his first season at the helm of the Orange football program on Friday. At Bowling Green, the Falcons were 18-9 under Babers in 2014-15 and captured two Mid-American Conference East Division titles, won the 2015 MAC Championship, and were victorious in the 2014 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.

Previous to Bowling Green, Babers was the head coach at Eastern Illinois from 2012-13. In that time, the team claimed two Ohio Valley Conference crowns and twice advanced to FCS playoffs.

MARVIN GRAVES BACK AT 'CUSE
The ACC Football Tailgate Tour presented by Lumber Liquidators will be coming to the Carrier Dome for the contest. There will be games, giveaways, and a chance to meet former Orange quarterback Marvin Graves. Fans should head to Gate N at the Carrier Dome from 4-7 p.m. to join in on the fun. Fans are also encouraged to stay in their seats at halftime as Graves is honored by Syracuse out on the field.

A 53-foot tractor trailer is the centerpiece of the tour. Featuring ACC football and Lumber Liquidators graphics and images on the exterior, the inside of the truck will be a mix of Lumber Liquidators and ACC football videos, products, information and equipment. Fans can register to win a Lumber Liquidators room makeover and a trip to the 2016 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game.

SEASON KICKOFF PEP RALLY
The excitement is building for the start of the 2016 Orange football season and Syracuse Athletics is marking the start of the Babers era with a 6 p.m. pep rally on the Quad prior to Syracuse's opener. Fans are encouraged to begin gathering at 5:45 p.m. for the rally, which will feature the "Pride of the Orange," Syracuse University's marching band, as well as the Orange cheerleaders and dance team. Members of the student group "Otto's Army" will also be in attendance to teach Syracuse-themed chants and cheers.

ORANGE IN SEASON OPENERS
Syracuse owns an 80-42-4 overall record in season-opening contests, including a 68-18-4 mark at home. The team has won the past two season's openers, defeating Rhode Island in its first game of the 2015 campaign and beating Villanova two years ago.

The Orange football and men's basketball programs are both starting their seasons versus Colgate in 2016-17. It marks the fifth time in history that both teams will play the same school in their season-opening contests and first time since 1946.

AGAINST FCS FOES
For the third consecutive season, the Orange open the year against an FCS opponent. Syracuse is a perfect 14-0 against FCS foes, formerly Division I-AA, since the separation of major college football programs into two divisions in 1978. The streak also includes a 13-game win streak inside the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome. In total, the team has won its past 32 games against current FCS members. This streak predates the separation into two divisions. The program's last loss to a current FCS team came on Oct. 4, 1958 at Holy Cross, a 14-13 setback.

Following the separation in 1978, Syracuse's first matchup against an FCS opponent was interestingly enough in a bowl game. The Orange were selected as an at-large opponent to play the champion of the Southland Conference, unbeaten McNeese State, in the 1979 Independence Bowl. Behind 155 rushing yards from all-time leading rusher Joe Morris, Syracuse cruised to a 31-7 victory.

ORANGE IS THE NEW FAST
Babers brought his high-octane offensive scheme from Bowling Green to Syracuse and fans can expect an immediate jump in tempo. Bowling Green ran 1,136 offensive plays in 2015 (81.1 per game). In comparison, the Orange totaled 751 offensive snaps and averaged 62.6 plays per contest last season. The Falcons snapped the ball every 20.7 seconds on average, while Syracuse got off a play every 28.1 seconds. Meanwhile, the Oregon Ducks, the perceived standard in up-tempo offense, managed a snap every 21.4 seconds in 2015.

COLGATE AT A GLANCE
Colgate enters its third season under head coach Dan Hunt. In Hunt's first two seasons, the Raiders have gone 14-12 overall and 9-3 in the Patriot League. Hunt has been a member of the coaching staff at Colgate for 21 seasons, serving as an assistant coach under Dick Biddle for 18 years.

The Raiders return nine starters on offense and eight on defense. Senior linebacker Kyle Diener was selected as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in the Patriot League and junior defensive lineman Pat Afriyie was given the same honor by College Sports Madness. Diener paced the squad with 129 tackles a season ago. He alos forced two fumbles. Afriyie registered 49 tackles in 2015 and was a disruptive force in the backfield. He led the team in tackles for loss (17.5) and sacks (9.5).

The Raiders led the Patriot League with 36 sacks last season, mostly coming from Afriyie and fellow defensive linemen Brett Field (8) and Alex Campbell (7.5).

On offense, quarterback Jake Melville compiled 3,625 yards of total offense and led the nation in fewest passes intercepted with two. He did most of his damage with his legs, rushing for 1,073 yards and 11 touchdowns. He threw for 2,552 yards and 11 scores. In addition to Melville, running back James Holland is also back. Holland rushed for 732 yards and a team-high 16 touchdowns in 2015.

Jonn Maddaluna is Colgate's top receiver. He caught 62 balls for 910 yards and two scores last year. He's also a threat in the kicking game. Maddaluna averaged 22.9 yards on 37 kickoff returns in 2015.

SERIES HISTORY
The Raiders hold a slight 31-30-5 edge all-time against Syracuse, but the Orange have won 15 straight in the series dating back to the 1950 campaign. In the last meeting between the two clubs, Delone Carter led Syracuse to a 42-7 victory inside the Carrier Dome on Sept. 25, 2010. Carter rushed for 172 yards and fourth touchdowns to lead SU past its Central New York neighbor.

UP NEXT
Syracuse opens Atlantic Coast Conference play on Friday, Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. when the it welcomes Louisville to the Carrier Dome. The game will air live nationally on ESPN2. Fans are encouraged to wear their orange as the game is being billed as an 'Orange Out.'

For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@Cusepics, @CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.

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