Orange Prepare to Host Army
9/18/2023 4:57:00 PM | Football
There are 38 undefeated teams in the FBS this season and Syracuse is one of them thanks to a 35-20 win at Purdue last Saturday. The Orange close out the non-conference portion of their schedule this week against Army with a chance for their first perfect record outside of league play since first joining a conference in 1991.
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"Obviously, excited about the win (at Purdue)," head coach Dino Babers said. "We're excited about our new opponent, playing the Cadets. Coach Monken is someone that I've known for quite a while. It's going to be military appreciation week – we're excited about that as well. We know that we have our hands full. Any time you play an academy you find some of the best men that we have to offer, we're excited about that."
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Syracuse will look to start the season 4-0 for the second-straight year when it takes the field against Army on Saturday. The last time the Orange recorded four-consecutive wins to start the year in back-to-back seasons was 1959 and 1960. The coach for Syracuse during that span was Ben Schwartzwalder, who will be inducted into the school's 'Ring of Honor' during a halftime ceremony on Saturday. It is an honor bestowed upon individuals named one of Syracuse's most outstanding student-athletes or coaches. He joins Jim Boeheim, Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little Roy Simmons Jr. and Dwyane "Pearl" Washington in the elite group, with Dave Bing to receive the honor later this year as well.
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Saturday is Military Appreciation Day at the JMA Wireless Dome. Opening kick is set for 12 p.m. and the game will air on ACC Network. Tickets can be purchased at Cuse.com/tickets. Honoring the men and women who serve our country and those who attend the service academies is near and dear to Babers, who grew up in a military family.
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"It's a prideful thing," Babers said. "I told the guys 'hey, these guys are different'. They're out there protecting us, and we need to give them the respect they deserve. One of the things they would want us to do is play the best game that we can play.  I'm talking about a team that is very capable of beating us. The way they play the game and the way their head coach coaches the game – I tip my hat to them. I have a lot of respect for them."
Other military celebrations on Saturday will feature an enlistment ceremony, Hometown Hero presentation, a military welcome in game, honorary military captain, pregame military tailgate, among other festivities. Schwartzwalder was also a distinguished military officer, which is in part why Saturday's game was chosen for his honoring. He was presented with a Purple Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star, among other accolades, for his distinguished service in World War II that included heroic actions during D-Day. Syracuse Athletics also has a military pass ticket offer for the game. Fans are encouraged to thank a veteran or active military member by sponsoring military tickets for the game as part of Broadview Federal Credit Union's Cuse for the Troops program. Active duty service members and military veterans can receive four complimentary tickets to the game by registering at Cuse.com/Military
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The Orange offense has been one of the most productive in the country thus far this season. Syracuse is averaging 542.7 yards per game, which ranks fifth in the nation. The Orange are 10th in rushing offense (231.7 ypg.) and 18th in passing yards (311.0 ypg.). Additionally, Syracuse is fifth in scoring (49.3 ppg.).
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The Orange have been able to produce even though the offensive line has been without two-year starter Kalan Ellis this season and David Wohlabaugh Jr. suffered a season-ending injury in the win against Western Michigan. Redshirt junior Mark Petry made his first start at Purdue. The group allowed Syracuse to rush for 271 yards against the Boilermakers, which entered the game ranked 11th in the nation against the run, giving up 63.5 yards per game.
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"I think what's going on is the ones that have been there from the very first game are improving," Babers said when asked about the unit's improvement. "Any time you have a new guy that comes in, the other guys have to get a feel for him. Until they have that comradery of playing together for a while, you really don't have that completely gelled unit that you want to have."
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While the offense has been putting up lofty totals, the defense has been quite stingy for the opposition. Syracuse ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 9.0 points per game, and is tied for the top spot in the country in red zone defense, allowing opponents three scores on seven trips to the red zone.
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Both Syracuse and Army are coming off big road wins last weekend. Army improved to 2-1 with a 37-29 victory at UTSA, while the Orange won at Ross-Ade Stadium for the first time, avenging a loss at Purdue in the 2004 season opener. The all-time series with the Black Knights dates back to 1899, the first year of Syracuse football. The Orange have won 11 of the 21 meetings, including the last three. A new chapter will be written on Saturday.
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"Obviously, excited about the win (at Purdue)," head coach Dino Babers said. "We're excited about our new opponent, playing the Cadets. Coach Monken is someone that I've known for quite a while. It's going to be military appreciation week – we're excited about that as well. We know that we have our hands full. Any time you play an academy you find some of the best men that we have to offer, we're excited about that."
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Syracuse will look to start the season 4-0 for the second-straight year when it takes the field against Army on Saturday. The last time the Orange recorded four-consecutive wins to start the year in back-to-back seasons was 1959 and 1960. The coach for Syracuse during that span was Ben Schwartzwalder, who will be inducted into the school's 'Ring of Honor' during a halftime ceremony on Saturday. It is an honor bestowed upon individuals named one of Syracuse's most outstanding student-athletes or coaches. He joins Jim Boeheim, Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little Roy Simmons Jr. and Dwyane "Pearl" Washington in the elite group, with Dave Bing to receive the honor later this year as well.
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Saturday is Military Appreciation Day at the JMA Wireless Dome. Opening kick is set for 12 p.m. and the game will air on ACC Network. Tickets can be purchased at Cuse.com/tickets. Honoring the men and women who serve our country and those who attend the service academies is near and dear to Babers, who grew up in a military family.
Â
"It's a prideful thing," Babers said. "I told the guys 'hey, these guys are different'. They're out there protecting us, and we need to give them the respect they deserve. One of the things they would want us to do is play the best game that we can play.  I'm talking about a team that is very capable of beating us. The way they play the game and the way their head coach coaches the game – I tip my hat to them. I have a lot of respect for them."
Other military celebrations on Saturday will feature an enlistment ceremony, Hometown Hero presentation, a military welcome in game, honorary military captain, pregame military tailgate, among other festivities. Schwartzwalder was also a distinguished military officer, which is in part why Saturday's game was chosen for his honoring. He was presented with a Purple Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star, among other accolades, for his distinguished service in World War II that included heroic actions during D-Day. Syracuse Athletics also has a military pass ticket offer for the game. Fans are encouraged to thank a veteran or active military member by sponsoring military tickets for the game as part of Broadview Federal Credit Union's Cuse for the Troops program. Active duty service members and military veterans can receive four complimentary tickets to the game by registering at Cuse.com/Military
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The Orange offense has been one of the most productive in the country thus far this season. Syracuse is averaging 542.7 yards per game, which ranks fifth in the nation. The Orange are 10th in rushing offense (231.7 ypg.) and 18th in passing yards (311.0 ypg.). Additionally, Syracuse is fifth in scoring (49.3 ppg.).
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The Orange have been able to produce even though the offensive line has been without two-year starter Kalan Ellis this season and David Wohlabaugh Jr. suffered a season-ending injury in the win against Western Michigan. Redshirt junior Mark Petry made his first start at Purdue. The group allowed Syracuse to rush for 271 yards against the Boilermakers, which entered the game ranked 11th in the nation against the run, giving up 63.5 yards per game.
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"I think what's going on is the ones that have been there from the very first game are improving," Babers said when asked about the unit's improvement. "Any time you have a new guy that comes in, the other guys have to get a feel for him. Until they have that comradery of playing together for a while, you really don't have that completely gelled unit that you want to have."
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While the offense has been putting up lofty totals, the defense has been quite stingy for the opposition. Syracuse ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 9.0 points per game, and is tied for the top spot in the country in red zone defense, allowing opponents three scores on seven trips to the red zone.
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Both Syracuse and Army are coming off big road wins last weekend. Army improved to 2-1 with a 37-29 victory at UTSA, while the Orange won at Ross-Ade Stadium for the first time, avenging a loss at Purdue in the 2004 season opener. The all-time series with the Black Knights dates back to 1899, the first year of Syracuse football. The Orange have won 11 of the 21 meetings, including the last three. A new chapter will be written on Saturday.
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