Photo by: Sara D. Davis, theACC.com
Orange Make the Rounds at ACC Kickoff
7/19/2018 7:09:00 AM | Football
CHARLOTTE – Orange head coach Dino Babers, senior quarterback Eric Dungey, and redshirt senior defensive tackle Chris Slayton represented the Syracuse football team at the annual Atlantic Coast Conference Football Kickoff on Thursday at the Westin Charlotte Hotel. The trio participated in nearly seven hours of interviews with the more than 500 television, radio, print, and online media members in attendance.
The Orange have shown flashes of good they can be the past two seasons with home victories over Coastal Division champion Virginia Tech in 2016 and College Football Playoff semifinalist Clemson in 2017. Now entering his third year, Babers is looking for more consistency from a team that lost five games by 10 points or less last season.
"You can't settle for just being close, and I don't think that we settled last year, but I think that was the bridge that we were on," Babers said. "So we've been close, and now it's time to get over the hump and get on the other side of that bridge and find a way to win those games and finish out the season."
Dungey, who ranks fourth in ACC history in total offense per game, leads a Syracuse offense that welcomes back eight starters. Of the three departures, two were All-ACC wideouts Steve Ishmael and Ervin Philips. Ishmael and Philips combined for a conference record 194 receptions last season, but Dungey believes there's plenty of talent in the receiving corps to fill the void left by the duo.
"I'm seeing a lot of young guys with potential," Dungey said. "We've got four or five guys in my mind that I think could be those next guys. Obviously, somebody is going to catch the ball, so we've just got to wait and see who it is."
Defensively, Syracuse was one of the most improved teams in the country last season through the first nine games. Allowing 40 points or more over the last three outings put a damper on things and has served as motivation for the unit, which has the most depth along the front line and in the secondary since Babers arrived.
"You know, going back to last season, we obviously didn't finish strong, as strong as we would have liked," Slayton said. "But that's been the whole focal point for this offseason, just starting off strong and then just continuing to fight and finishing the season off strong."
Syracuse begins preseason camp Thursday, Aug. 2 in preparation for the Aug. 31 opener at Western Michigan.  The Orange's first home game is Saturday, Sept. 8 versus Wagner.
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Season and individual game tickets for Orange football are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125.Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
The Orange have shown flashes of good they can be the past two seasons with home victories over Coastal Division champion Virginia Tech in 2016 and College Football Playoff semifinalist Clemson in 2017. Now entering his third year, Babers is looking for more consistency from a team that lost five games by 10 points or less last season.
"You can't settle for just being close, and I don't think that we settled last year, but I think that was the bridge that we were on," Babers said. "So we've been close, and now it's time to get over the hump and get on the other side of that bridge and find a way to win those games and finish out the season."
Dungey, who ranks fourth in ACC history in total offense per game, leads a Syracuse offense that welcomes back eight starters. Of the three departures, two were All-ACC wideouts Steve Ishmael and Ervin Philips. Ishmael and Philips combined for a conference record 194 receptions last season, but Dungey believes there's plenty of talent in the receiving corps to fill the void left by the duo.
"I'm seeing a lot of young guys with potential," Dungey said. "We've got four or five guys in my mind that I think could be those next guys. Obviously, somebody is going to catch the ball, so we've just got to wait and see who it is."
Defensively, Syracuse was one of the most improved teams in the country last season through the first nine games. Allowing 40 points or more over the last three outings put a damper on things and has served as motivation for the unit, which has the most depth along the front line and in the secondary since Babers arrived.
"You know, going back to last season, we obviously didn't finish strong, as strong as we would have liked," Slayton said. "But that's been the whole focal point for this offseason, just starting off strong and then just continuing to fight and finishing the season off strong."
Syracuse begins preseason camp Thursday, Aug. 2 in preparation for the Aug. 31 opener at Western Michigan.  The Orange's first home game is Saturday, Sept. 8 versus Wagner.
Â
Season and individual game tickets for Orange football are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125.Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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