Orange Set to Begin 129th Football Season
8/27/2018 2:30:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – This year's Syracuse football opener is going to be a little bit different. The Orange (0-0) haven't started a campaign with a true road game since the 2010 season, but that's the position they will find themselves in Friday night at Waldo Stadium against the Western Michigan Broncos (0-0). The game begins at 6 p.m. and will be televised on CBS Sports Network.Â
Entering his third season at the helm, head coach Dino Babers is looking to see his program turn the corner and earn bowl-eligibility after two consecutive 4-8 seasons. Syracuse returns 15 starters from last season, including senior quarterback Eric Dungey, who leads all active Atlantic Coast Conference signal callers in rushing yards (1,239), rushing touchdowns (20), touchdown passes (40) and total offense (7,711 yards). The defense returns six of those 15 first-stringers, including redshirt senior defensive tackle Chris Slayton, who is the active team leader in tackles for loss (24.5), sacks (6) and forced fumbles (4).
"It starts with the players in the room," Babers said while addressing the media at his weekly press conference Monday inside the Iocolano-Petty Football Complex. "The hardest thing to do is turn a loser into a winner. It has to do with the physical part of it and the mental part of it. I think we've got enough players to win this year, but we've really got to attack the mental part of it. There's a toughness and focus that has to be carried for 12 football games before you have an opportunity to play 13."
Syracuse's collection of 2018 opponents posted a combined 82-69 (.543) record in 2017, with seven of those teams earning bowl berths. First up is Western Michigan, who, despite winning six games to become bowl-eligible, did not receive an invitation to the postseason.
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Babers, however, knows that a bowl berth does not define a team's talent and ability, and he cautioned against taking the Broncos lightly.
"It's a business trip,"Â Babers said. "We need to go there and have that type of mindset. [Western Michigan] is a very good football team. They've had winning seasons the last three years. They know how to win, and we're trying to get to the common ground where they've been at. We need to take a different attitude toward them.
"This Western Michigan team is really, really talented. You don't win games unless you're talented. Talented football players win games, not the names on the front of the jersey."
The Broncos opened last season 5-3, but stumbled down the stretch without starting quarterback Jon Wassink and finished 6-6. Wassink, who led the team with 1,411 passing yards and 14 touchdowns in eight games last season, returns to oversee the Western Michigan offense. On the ground, the duo of redshirt senior running back Jamauri Bogan and junior running back Levante Bellamy will carry the load. Bogan rushed for 589 yards and three touchdowns last season, while Bellamy contributed 394 yards rushing and three scores.
"I see a team that wants to run the football," Babers said. "They have a tough, tough running back [Bogan] that's very good, and they have an explosive backup tailback [Bellamy]. Their offensive line is big, tough and physical. They want to play a certain style of football, so they're going to come out there and try to run the football. If we're going to win, we're going to have to find a way to stop it."
The Orange will also see a few familiar faces across the field Friday night in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan head coach Tim Lester, offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jake Moreland, and defensive coordinator Tim Daoust are former Syracuse assistants. All three were on the Orange staff in 2015 when the current Syracuse seniors were freshmen.
"I think it's a huge advantage for them that they know our players," Babers said. "They recruited them, they watched them on tape. They should have a good feel for what they can and can't do."
Following their clash with the Broncos, the Orange return home to face Wagner at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8. Season and individual game tickets are on sale online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125 for Syracuse's six home games.
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Single-game tickets start at $20 for Wagner and $25 for the Connecticut game on Sept. 22. For Syracuse's four Atlantic Coast Conference games, tickets are available for as little as $35.
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Entering his third season at the helm, head coach Dino Babers is looking to see his program turn the corner and earn bowl-eligibility after two consecutive 4-8 seasons. Syracuse returns 15 starters from last season, including senior quarterback Eric Dungey, who leads all active Atlantic Coast Conference signal callers in rushing yards (1,239), rushing touchdowns (20), touchdown passes (40) and total offense (7,711 yards). The defense returns six of those 15 first-stringers, including redshirt senior defensive tackle Chris Slayton, who is the active team leader in tackles for loss (24.5), sacks (6) and forced fumbles (4).
"It starts with the players in the room," Babers said while addressing the media at his weekly press conference Monday inside the Iocolano-Petty Football Complex. "The hardest thing to do is turn a loser into a winner. It has to do with the physical part of it and the mental part of it. I think we've got enough players to win this year, but we've really got to attack the mental part of it. There's a toughness and focus that has to be carried for 12 football games before you have an opportunity to play 13."
Syracuse's collection of 2018 opponents posted a combined 82-69 (.543) record in 2017, with seven of those teams earning bowl berths. First up is Western Michigan, who, despite winning six games to become bowl-eligible, did not receive an invitation to the postseason.
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Earn your spot.
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) August 27, 2018
Congrats, Kyle.
Walk-On âž¡ Scholarship pic.twitter.com/JgCR6qZSN1
Babers, however, knows that a bowl berth does not define a team's talent and ability, and he cautioned against taking the Broncos lightly.
"It's a business trip,"Â Babers said. "We need to go there and have that type of mindset. [Western Michigan] is a very good football team. They've had winning seasons the last three years. They know how to win, and we're trying to get to the common ground where they've been at. We need to take a different attitude toward them.
"This Western Michigan team is really, really talented. You don't win games unless you're talented. Talented football players win games, not the names on the front of the jersey."
The Broncos opened last season 5-3, but stumbled down the stretch without starting quarterback Jon Wassink and finished 6-6. Wassink, who led the team with 1,411 passing yards and 14 touchdowns in eight games last season, returns to oversee the Western Michigan offense. On the ground, the duo of redshirt senior running back Jamauri Bogan and junior running back Levante Bellamy will carry the load. Bogan rushed for 589 yards and three touchdowns last season, while Bellamy contributed 394 yards rushing and three scores.
"I see a team that wants to run the football," Babers said. "They have a tough, tough running back [Bogan] that's very good, and they have an explosive backup tailback [Bellamy]. Their offensive line is big, tough and physical. They want to play a certain style of football, so they're going to come out there and try to run the football. If we're going to win, we're going to have to find a way to stop it."
The Orange will also see a few familiar faces across the field Friday night in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan head coach Tim Lester, offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jake Moreland, and defensive coordinator Tim Daoust are former Syracuse assistants. All three were on the Orange staff in 2015 when the current Syracuse seniors were freshmen.
"I think it's a huge advantage for them that they know our players," Babers said. "They recruited them, they watched them on tape. They should have a good feel for what they can and can't do."
Following their clash with the Broncos, the Orange return home to face Wagner at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8. Season and individual game tickets are on sale online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125 for Syracuse's six home games.
Â
Single-game tickets start at $20 for Wagner and $25 for the Connecticut game on Sept. 22. For Syracuse's four Atlantic Coast Conference games, tickets are available for as little as $35.
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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