Orange Prepping for First Road Test
9/19/2016 10:06:00 PM | Football
Syracuse visits Connecticut for the first time since 2011
Syracuse is a quarter of the way into the season and sits at 1-2 after back-to-back losses to Louisville and USF. The Orange played well for stretches in both games, particulary in the first quarter Saturday versus USF when it jumped out to a 17-point lead.
"We're in the beginning stages because of where we started from," SU head coach Dino Babers said Monday when asked to evaluate his team after the first three games. "I said that out of all the places I've been, this is going to be the toughest transition I've ever had because of what was taught previously before we got here.
"It does not mean that what they were teaching was wrong. It just means that that was the 'Z' and we're operating from the A-side of the alphabet. It's a huge transition, so as we grow together we'll get better and better at it."
The Huskies emerged with a 13-10 decision against Virginia in their last outing. All three of their games have been decided by four points or less. UConn placekicker Bobby Puyol hit what proved to be the game-winning field goal with 1:33 to play against the Cavaliers. His counterpart, UVa's Alex Furbank, missed a 20-yard chip shot as time expired that would have forced overtime. Connecticut's only loss was a 24-21 defeat in Week 2 against Navy when time ran out with the Huskies on the Mids' 1-yard line.
"A very, very experienced football team on defense. Some outstanding players on offense," Babers said of the Huskies. "They have a 2-1 record with their only loss being to Navy on a controversial play at the end where they had a chance to be 3-0."Â
In addition to trying to even their season record, the Orange are looking for their second straight win against Connecticut. Syracuse won the last meeting between the two teams 40-10 at the Carrier Dome in 2012.
Saturday's game kicks off at 1 p.m. from Rentschler Field. It will air live nationally on the CBS Sports Network. Â
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