Orange Focused on Wake Forest
10/29/2018 6:00:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A 6-2 record, nationally-ranked and bowl eligible.
No. 22 Syracuse (6-2, 3-2 ACC) looks to build upon what it has already achieved Saturday, Nov. 3 when it hits the road for the first time in almost a month, traveling to Winston-Salem, N.C. to face ACC Atlantic Division opponent Wake Forest (4-4, 1-3 ACC). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. and the game will be televised on RSN.
The Orange vaulted into the Associated Press Top 25 and Amway Coaches Poll following their 51-41 win over NC State, appearing in the national rankings for the first time 17 years. Last Saturday night's triumph also guaranteed Syracuse's four-year bowl drought will end, giving the Orange the requisite six wins for the first time since 2013.
"I'm excited about where we're at right now," head coach Dino Babers said in his weekly press conference inside the Iocolano-Petty Football Complex Monday. "Our job's not done. We're 2-0 in the second part of our season, and we have an opportunity to be better."Â
The next chance for the Babers and the Orange to improve comes against the Demon Deacons this Saturday. Wake Forest snapped a two-game losing skid with a 56-35 road win at Louisville last time out to pick up its first ACC victory of the year.
"We're looking forward to the game against Wake Forest," Babers said. "They're a fine, fine football team, and they're well-coached. We've had a lot of trouble with them in the past, and we understand that."
While Syracuse leads the all-time series with Wake Forest 4-3, the Deacs have claimed the last two meetings, including a 64-43 victory last season at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse led by as much as 17 in the first half, but Wake Forest exploded for 40 second-half points, gaining 734 yards of offense and 33 first downs in the contest.
"When you look at that offense, it's explosive, it's wide-open, it's very familiar and we're going to have our hands full with it," Babers said. "If you want to beat them, you've got to stop that offense. If you don't stop that offense, you're going to be in for a long day."
Avoiding further trouble against Wake Forest remains Babers' primary goal. Notwithstanding the Orange's accomplishments through the first eight games of the season, a setback on Saturday takes some of the shine off those successes.Â
"I can appreciate it, and I can also recognize that we need to consistently keep doing the things we're doing, or we're not going to be able to be proud about this moment," Babers said. "Yes, we're here, and it's fabulous. But now we need to get ready to play another game on Saturday.
"If we win, it'll get better, and if we don't, it won't, so we need to stay extremely focused."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
No. 22 Syracuse (6-2, 3-2 ACC) looks to build upon what it has already achieved Saturday, Nov. 3 when it hits the road for the first time in almost a month, traveling to Winston-Salem, N.C. to face ACC Atlantic Division opponent Wake Forest (4-4, 1-3 ACC). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. and the game will be televised on RSN.
The Orange vaulted into the Associated Press Top 25 and Amway Coaches Poll following their 51-41 win over NC State, appearing in the national rankings for the first time 17 years. Last Saturday night's triumph also guaranteed Syracuse's four-year bowl drought will end, giving the Orange the requisite six wins for the first time since 2013.
"I'm excited about where we're at right now," head coach Dino Babers said in his weekly press conference inside the Iocolano-Petty Football Complex Monday. "Our job's not done. We're 2-0 in the second part of our season, and we have an opportunity to be better."Â
The next chance for the Babers and the Orange to improve comes against the Demon Deacons this Saturday. Wake Forest snapped a two-game losing skid with a 56-35 road win at Louisville last time out to pick up its first ACC victory of the year.
"We're looking forward to the game against Wake Forest," Babers said. "They're a fine, fine football team, and they're well-coached. We've had a lot of trouble with them in the past, and we understand that."
While Syracuse leads the all-time series with Wake Forest 4-3, the Deacs have claimed the last two meetings, including a 64-43 victory last season at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse led by as much as 17 in the first half, but Wake Forest exploded for 40 second-half points, gaining 734 yards of offense and 33 first downs in the contest.
"When you look at that offense, it's explosive, it's wide-open, it's very familiar and we're going to have our hands full with it," Babers said. "If you want to beat them, you've got to stop that offense. If you don't stop that offense, you're going to be in for a long day."
Avoiding further trouble against Wake Forest remains Babers' primary goal. Notwithstanding the Orange's accomplishments through the first eight games of the season, a setback on Saturday takes some of the shine off those successes.Â
"I can appreciate it, and I can also recognize that we need to consistently keep doing the things we're doing, or we're not going to be able to be proud about this moment," Babers said. "Yes, we're here, and it's fabulous. But now we need to get ready to play another game on Saturday.
"If we win, it'll get better, and if we don't, it won't, so we need to stay extremely focused."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Fran Brown Press Conference | Notre Dame Week
Monday, November 17
Fran Brown Press Conference
Monday, November 17
Highlights | Syracuse at Miami
Saturday, November 08
Sitdown with Coach Brown | Miami Week
Friday, November 07
