Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Orange Extra: Opening Up
8/29/2018 9:00:00 AM | Football
It is that special time of year again! Football season is finally here. For Syracuse fans, the campaign starter comes in the form of a rare road contest. The Orange are traveling to take on Western Michigan on Friday, Aug. 31 in Kalamazoo, Mich.
OPENING UP . . .
Friday night will mark the 129th season beginner for the Syracuse football program. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Orange and the Broncos.
Here are some other notable numbers from Syracuse season openers:
The Orange have 15 offensive players on the roster who have starter experience and 13 of the 15 enjoyed first-string status at least once in 2017.
Redshirt junior guard Evan Adams has the longest current starter streak on offense with 21 straight to his credit. Close behind is senior tackle Cody Conway (17 consecutive starts). Redshirt sophomore centers Sam Heckel and Airon Servais bring 12-game streaks with each representing every game of 2017. Heckel's time last fall came at guard.
The offensive unit's leader in total starts is senior quarterback Eric Dungey, who has trotted out for the first series in 25 contests.
There is experience in the defensive corps, as well. There are 11 current players who started previously for Syracuse, including 10 who appeared with the first string in 2017. Headlining the list is redshirt senior defensive tackle Chris Slayton, who has made 24 consecutive starts. Slayton's streak includes all 12 games in 2016 and 2017. Redshirt junior cornerback Christopher Fredrick is next with 18 consecutive appearances with the starting unit. Slayton, Frederick and junior safety Evan Foster each made all 12 starts last fall.
The other double-digit streak on defense belongs to junior Alton Robinson. He started the final 10 contests last season.
DUNGEYÂ GETS IT DONEÂ
While much has been said and written about games Eric Dungey has missed due to injury, there's still plenty of material to discuss about what he has accomplished.
Dungey enters the season as the only active FBS quarterback who has accumulated more than 6,000 career passing yards and 1,000 career rushing yards. Dungey has totaled 6,472 yards through the air and 1,239 on the ground during his Syracuse tenure. Duke's Daniel Jones (5,527 yards passing/1,004 yards rushing) and Riley Neal (5,476/1,006) of Ball State are closest to Dungey.
The Syracuse signal-caller has put his name to 12 team records he either owns outright or shares. Many more Orange standards are in his sights.
THOSE DUDES LOOK FAMILIAR
Syracuse fans, even those who just jumped on the Orange train in the last couple of years, are going to recognize some familiar faces on the Western Michigan coaching staff.
It starts at the top where Bronco alumnus Tim Lester resides as head coach. Lester served as quarterbacks coach (2013) and offensive coordinator (2014-2015) at Syracuse. Lester was the primary recruiter for current Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey.
When Lester constructed his staff, he turned to former Syracuse cohorts Tim Daoust and Jake Moreland. Daoust was assistant head coach at Syracuse and guided the defensive line and special teams during a stint that ran from 2011-15. He is the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan. Moreland was Syracuse's tight ends coach in 2015. He is Lester's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach with the Broncos.
But wait! There's more.
Syracuse graduate Drew Robinson is the chief of football staff/director of operations at Western Michigan. Robinson was director of operations at his alma mater for one season.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR BRONCOS!
Friday's encounter is the first in a home-and-home series between Syracuse and Western Michigan. The two teams will meet again, this time in the Dome, on Sept. 21, 2019.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Â
OPENING UP . . .
Friday night will mark the 129th season beginner for the Syracuse football program. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Orange and the Broncos.
Here are some other notable numbers from Syracuse season openers:
- Syracuse improved to 82-42-4 (.656) in campaign beginners by defeating Central Connecticut State in 2017.
- Syracuse has a modest four-game winning streak in season starters. The Orange defeated Villanova (27-26) to start the streak in 2014. Victories against Rhode Island (47-0) and Colgate (33-7) followed. Last fall, the Orange won at home versus Central Connecticut State (50-7).
- Of the 128Â season openers the Orange have played previously, 36Â have been on the road.
- Syracuse is 12-24 (.333) in season-opening contests away from the Salt City.
- The most recent year the Orange started away from the Dome was 2013 when Syracuse lost to Penn State at MetLife Stadium, 23-17.
- Syracuse is 6-4 in its last 10 openers and won six of its last eight opportunities.
- Friday night's matchup represents the seventh occasion since 2000 the Syracuse season has started in August. The Orange are 1-5 in those previous encounters.
- Syracuse has squared off with a current Mid-American Conference foe to begin a year six times. Wins have been earned versus (Ball State (1993), Toledo (1999), Buffalo (2000) and Akron (2010). Two losses have been at the hands of Bowling Green (1973, 1976).
- The Orange began its campaign at home in each season from 1900-55. Syracuse was 48-5-2 (.891) during that stretch of season beginners.
- Syracuse was an unbeaten 41-0-2 for the first 43 openers of that streak.
The Orange have 15 offensive players on the roster who have starter experience and 13 of the 15 enjoyed first-string status at least once in 2017.
Redshirt junior guard Evan Adams has the longest current starter streak on offense with 21 straight to his credit. Close behind is senior tackle Cody Conway (17 consecutive starts). Redshirt sophomore centers Sam Heckel and Airon Servais bring 12-game streaks with each representing every game of 2017. Heckel's time last fall came at guard.
The offensive unit's leader in total starts is senior quarterback Eric Dungey, who has trotted out for the first series in 25 contests.
There is experience in the defensive corps, as well. There are 11 current players who started previously for Syracuse, including 10 who appeared with the first string in 2017. Headlining the list is redshirt senior defensive tackle Chris Slayton, who has made 24 consecutive starts. Slayton's streak includes all 12 games in 2016 and 2017. Redshirt junior cornerback Christopher Fredrick is next with 18 consecutive appearances with the starting unit. Slayton, Frederick and junior safety Evan Foster each made all 12 starts last fall.
The other double-digit streak on defense belongs to junior Alton Robinson. He started the final 10 contests last season.
DUNGEYÂ GETS IT DONEÂ
While much has been said and written about games Eric Dungey has missed due to injury, there's still plenty of material to discuss about what he has accomplished.
Dungey enters the season as the only active FBS quarterback who has accumulated more than 6,000 career passing yards and 1,000 career rushing yards. Dungey has totaled 6,472 yards through the air and 1,239 on the ground during his Syracuse tenure. Duke's Daniel Jones (5,527 yards passing/1,004 yards rushing) and Riley Neal (5,476/1,006) of Ball State are closest to Dungey.
The Syracuse signal-caller has put his name to 12 team records he either owns outright or shares. Many more Orange standards are in his sights.
THOSE DUDES LOOK FAMILIAR
Syracuse fans, even those who just jumped on the Orange train in the last couple of years, are going to recognize some familiar faces on the Western Michigan coaching staff.
It starts at the top where Bronco alumnus Tim Lester resides as head coach. Lester served as quarterbacks coach (2013) and offensive coordinator (2014-2015) at Syracuse. Lester was the primary recruiter for current Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey.
When Lester constructed his staff, he turned to former Syracuse cohorts Tim Daoust and Jake Moreland. Daoust was assistant head coach at Syracuse and guided the defensive line and special teams during a stint that ran from 2011-15. He is the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan. Moreland was Syracuse's tight ends coach in 2015. He is Lester's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach with the Broncos.
But wait! There's more.
Syracuse graduate Drew Robinson is the chief of football staff/director of operations at Western Michigan. Robinson was director of operations at his alma mater for one season.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR BRONCOS!
Friday's encounter is the first in a home-and-home series between Syracuse and Western Michigan. The two teams will meet again, this time in the Dome, on Sept. 21, 2019.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Â
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ FootballBuilt in the 315 | Episode 1: The Foundation
Friday, March 06
Built in the 315 | Episode 1
Friday, March 06
John Wildhack Interview
Wednesday, February 11
Calvin Russell Interview
Tuesday, January 13
