Orange Gearing Up for Homecoming Tilt Against North Carolina
10/15/2018 4:00:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Home sweet home.
With two consecutive road games and the bye week behind them, the Orange (4-2, 1-2 ACC) return to the Carrier Dome for the first time since Sept. 22 to play host to Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division foe North Carolina (1-4, 1-2 ACC) during Orange Central/Homecoming Weekend. Kickoff is set for 12:20 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 and the game will be televised by Raycom Sports.
"Homecoming this week," head coach Dino Babers said to open his weekly press conference inside the Iocolano-Petty Football Complex Monday. "How cool is that? We get an opportunity to have all the alumni come back and it's going to be exciting."
It's a much-anticipated return to the Dome for the Orange, as well, after dropping back-to-back games at Clemson and Pittsburgh prior to the hiatus. Syracuse led both games heading into the fourth quarter, but wasn't able to close out either contest. Clemson scored the winning touchdown with less than a minute to go and the Pitt game was decided in overtime.Â
For Babers and the team, the setbacks served as a reminder that nothing comes easy in college football.
"We're 4-2," Babers said. "We had an opportunity to be 6-0. It's hard to win a college football game. All it is is one play or two plays or a string of three little plays that turn into one big play, and it's important for [our players] to realize how hard it is. It's important they understand how hard winning is and what they're willing to sacrifice."
The team's first foe in the season's second half is UNC and Babers is looking forward to getting back in front of the Orange faithful.
"I hope [the Carrier Dome's] electric," Babers said. "I hope it's filled. It gives our alums an opportunity to get back, and all of us know how important Homecoming is. You get to see old friends, and you're excited. It's going to be fun, and hopefully, it'll be electric and loud in there.
"The community will be right there with us, and we're going to need everybody. We've had a home-field advantage, and we want to keep ours because we think ours is the best in the ACC."
North Carolina, like Syracuse, has lost two in a row, most recently falling 22-19 to Virginia Tech. The Hokies went 98 yards in 18 plays against the Tar Heels last Saturday night to score the winning touchdown with 19 seconds left.
Babers watched the game and said he didn't see a team in disarray. Rather, he saw a team that is starting to find its footing after a slew of lineup changes. Though winless on the road this season, the Tar Heels have won at the Carrier Dome twice previously.
"They looked like they should've won the game," Babers said. "They're rotating 14 guys or something in and out of games, messing with their various lineups where they can't get used to each other on offense and defense. They're not truly jiving with each on offense and defense, and you have the record that you have.
"Now, you've got those guys coming back, and they're getting their starting lineup back in. They're going to be the freshest team going down the stretch, so we're going to have our hands full. This is a really, really good football team."Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
With two consecutive road games and the bye week behind them, the Orange (4-2, 1-2 ACC) return to the Carrier Dome for the first time since Sept. 22 to play host to Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division foe North Carolina (1-4, 1-2 ACC) during Orange Central/Homecoming Weekend. Kickoff is set for 12:20 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 and the game will be televised by Raycom Sports.
"Homecoming this week," head coach Dino Babers said to open his weekly press conference inside the Iocolano-Petty Football Complex Monday. "How cool is that? We get an opportunity to have all the alumni come back and it's going to be exciting."
It's a much-anticipated return to the Dome for the Orange, as well, after dropping back-to-back games at Clemson and Pittsburgh prior to the hiatus. Syracuse led both games heading into the fourth quarter, but wasn't able to close out either contest. Clemson scored the winning touchdown with less than a minute to go and the Pitt game was decided in overtime.Â
For Babers and the team, the setbacks served as a reminder that nothing comes easy in college football.
"We're 4-2," Babers said. "We had an opportunity to be 6-0. It's hard to win a college football game. All it is is one play or two plays or a string of three little plays that turn into one big play, and it's important for [our players] to realize how hard it is. It's important they understand how hard winning is and what they're willing to sacrifice."
The team's first foe in the season's second half is UNC and Babers is looking forward to getting back in front of the Orange faithful.
"I hope [the Carrier Dome's] electric," Babers said. "I hope it's filled. It gives our alums an opportunity to get back, and all of us know how important Homecoming is. You get to see old friends, and you're excited. It's going to be fun, and hopefully, it'll be electric and loud in there.
"The community will be right there with us, and we're going to need everybody. We've had a home-field advantage, and we want to keep ours because we think ours is the best in the ACC."
North Carolina, like Syracuse, has lost two in a row, most recently falling 22-19 to Virginia Tech. The Hokies went 98 yards in 18 plays against the Tar Heels last Saturday night to score the winning touchdown with 19 seconds left.
Babers watched the game and said he didn't see a team in disarray. Rather, he saw a team that is starting to find its footing after a slew of lineup changes. Though winless on the road this season, the Tar Heels have won at the Carrier Dome twice previously.
"They looked like they should've won the game," Babers said. "They're rotating 14 guys or something in and out of games, messing with their various lineups where they can't get used to each other on offense and defense. They're not truly jiving with each on offense and defense, and you have the record that you have.
"Now, you've got those guys coming back, and they're getting their starting lineup back in. They're going to be the freshest team going down the stretch, so we're going to have our hands full. This is a really, really good football team."Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Thursday, September 10
Monday, September 07
Monday, September 07
Saturday, September 05
