Orange Extra: Tough Test, Great Opportunity
9/12/2018 4:47:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse faces a huge test and greets a great opportunity hosting Florida State in the Carrier Dome on Saturday. The Orange welcome one of college football's true powerhouse programs with the chance to go 3-0 for the first time during Dino Babers' tenure as coach.
BACK WHEN FLOYD LITTLE PLAYED ...
Way back when – when Syracuse was building its reputation as "Running Back U," the Orange encountered Florida State for the first time. The initial pairing of the two teams on the gridiron occurred on Nov. 12, 1966 in Archbold Stadium. It happened in a season that saw the Orange lose their first two games and then rattle off a winning streak that reached six games prior to the matchup with the Seminoles.
One of the more successful "44's" in a program known for its "44's" excelled that afternoon. Floyd Little ran for 193 yards and three touchdowns and Syracuse defeated Florida State, 37-21. The victory catapulted the Orange from unranked to the No. 17 spot in the weekly UPI poll.
THE REST OF THE ORANGE VS. SEMINOLES STORY
Following the dramatic victory earned by the Orange in 1966, the two teams did not square off again until 1978. The Seminoles delivered a 28-0 blanking of Syracuse in that one. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who went on to lead the program to two national championships, was in just his third season at the helm. It was the start of 10 straight Seminole victories over the Orange.
Two home-and-home series followed. The first was a 1989 contest in the Dome and a 1991 outing in Tallahassee. In 2004, the Orange put up a fight before losing in the Dome, 17-13. The 2005 return game in Tallahassee was claimed by Florida State, 38-14.
The relationship between the two programs became "closer" when the Orange joined the Atlantic Coast Conference. Syracuse found itself in the conference's Atlantic Division, alongside Florida State, among others.
Since 2013, Syracuse and Florida State have met each year. While the Seminoles continued to dominate the series with five more wins, the Orange came close to reversing that trend a year ago in Doak Campbell Stadium. Syracuse trailed 14-0 and then 21-7 in the second quarter before clawing its way back into the contest. A fourth-quarter touchdown run by Eric Dungey pulled the Orange within three points 27-24 with 2:55 left. On the ensuing possession, Syracuse forced Florida State to punt, giving Dungey one more series to work with. He maneuvered the Orange from the 18-yard line to the Florida State 25, but a last-second, 43-yard field goal attempt by Cole Murphy was blocked.
QUARTERBACK SPOTLIGHT
Two of the more prolific active yard-gainers in college football will lead their respective teams in the Dome this Saturday. Syracuse's Dungey ranks third among active players in career total offense yards per game (298.5). Deondre Francois, the Seminole signal-caller, is seventh (268.1).
Michigan's Shea Patterson (301.9) and West Virginia's Will Grier (299.5) are the only two active players ahead of Dungey.
POTENT POINT PRODUCTION
Coach Babers has had his "Orange Is the New Fast" offense humming in the first two games of 2018. Syracuse posted 55 points in a season-opening victory at Western Michigan and then exceeded that number with 62 points versus Wagner in the Dome opener.
That scoreboard production is a first in the "modern era" of Syracuse football, which began following World War II. The last time Syracuse exceeded 50 points in each of its first two games was in 1929 when the Orange opened with a 77-0 win against Hobart and a 55-0 blanking of St. Lawrence.
The 62 points versus Wagner represents the highest total under Babers. In that victory, the Orange also tied the school mark for points in a half with 45 in the opening two quarters.
In addition to the lofty point totals, Syracuse has been moving at a lightning-quick pace. Seventeen of the team's 18 scoring drives have been under three minutes in length. The Orange are averaging 20.7 seconds of possession time per play.
DUNGEY AND DONOVAN
Two of Syracuse's most prominent quarterbacks in team history will be on the same field Saturday. In addition to Dungey, former standout Donovan McNabb will be on hand as part of the celebration of the program's three straight BIG EAST Conference championship teams from 1996-98.
Both names are on the majority of the statistical record lists for the program. Both players are in the top five in career pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards and touchdown passes.
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
BACK WHEN FLOYD LITTLE PLAYED ...
Way back when – when Syracuse was building its reputation as "Running Back U," the Orange encountered Florida State for the first time. The initial pairing of the two teams on the gridiron occurred on Nov. 12, 1966 in Archbold Stadium. It happened in a season that saw the Orange lose their first two games and then rattle off a winning streak that reached six games prior to the matchup with the Seminoles.
One of the more successful "44's" in a program known for its "44's" excelled that afternoon. Floyd Little ran for 193 yards and three touchdowns and Syracuse defeated Florida State, 37-21. The victory catapulted the Orange from unranked to the No. 17 spot in the weekly UPI poll.
THE REST OF THE ORANGE VS. SEMINOLES STORY
Following the dramatic victory earned by the Orange in 1966, the two teams did not square off again until 1978. The Seminoles delivered a 28-0 blanking of Syracuse in that one. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who went on to lead the program to two national championships, was in just his third season at the helm. It was the start of 10 straight Seminole victories over the Orange.
Two home-and-home series followed. The first was a 1989 contest in the Dome and a 1991 outing in Tallahassee. In 2004, the Orange put up a fight before losing in the Dome, 17-13. The 2005 return game in Tallahassee was claimed by Florida State, 38-14.
The relationship between the two programs became "closer" when the Orange joined the Atlantic Coast Conference. Syracuse found itself in the conference's Atlantic Division, alongside Florida State, among others.
Since 2013, Syracuse and Florida State have met each year. While the Seminoles continued to dominate the series with five more wins, the Orange came close to reversing that trend a year ago in Doak Campbell Stadium. Syracuse trailed 14-0 and then 21-7 in the second quarter before clawing its way back into the contest. A fourth-quarter touchdown run by Eric Dungey pulled the Orange within three points 27-24 with 2:55 left. On the ensuing possession, Syracuse forced Florida State to punt, giving Dungey one more series to work with. He maneuvered the Orange from the 18-yard line to the Florida State 25, but a last-second, 43-yard field goal attempt by Cole Murphy was blocked.
QUARTERBACK SPOTLIGHT
Two of the more prolific active yard-gainers in college football will lead their respective teams in the Dome this Saturday. Syracuse's Dungey ranks third among active players in career total offense yards per game (298.5). Deondre Francois, the Seminole signal-caller, is seventh (268.1).
Michigan's Shea Patterson (301.9) and West Virginia's Will Grier (299.5) are the only two active players ahead of Dungey.
POTENT POINT PRODUCTION
Coach Babers has had his "Orange Is the New Fast" offense humming in the first two games of 2018. Syracuse posted 55 points in a season-opening victory at Western Michigan and then exceeded that number with 62 points versus Wagner in the Dome opener.
That scoreboard production is a first in the "modern era" of Syracuse football, which began following World War II. The last time Syracuse exceeded 50 points in each of its first two games was in 1929 when the Orange opened with a 77-0 win against Hobart and a 55-0 blanking of St. Lawrence.
The 62 points versus Wagner represents the highest total under Babers. In that victory, the Orange also tied the school mark for points in a half with 45 in the opening two quarters.
In addition to the lofty point totals, Syracuse has been moving at a lightning-quick pace. Seventeen of the team's 18 scoring drives have been under three minutes in length. The Orange are averaging 20.7 seconds of possession time per play.
DUNGEY AND DONOVAN
Two of Syracuse's most prominent quarterbacks in team history will be on the same field Saturday. In addition to Dungey, former standout Donovan McNabb will be on hand as part of the celebration of the program's three straight BIG EAST Conference championship teams from 1996-98.
Both names are on the majority of the statistical record lists for the program. Both players are in the top five in career pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards and touchdown passes.
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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