Head coach Scott Shafer and the Orange officially got the 2014 season underway on Saturday after taking questions from the media before hitting the field for the team's first practice.
"It's always my favorite part of the day to be able to get back on the field and do a little coaching," Shafer said. "I'm excited to see these kids running around, I'm anxious to see these young kids that everyone has been talking about. I've seen them run, but they're just running and doing drills. I'm looking forward to seeing them run routes, cover each other and block people. Two of the three things I just mentioned are going to happen today, the blocking won't happen because we don't have pads on, but we'll be able to get a lot of work done through repetition and seven-on-seven type drills."
The Orange were officially back on campus Friday, with
student-athletes, coaches and staff reporting for meetings, but their first
football activities didn't take place until Saturday afternoon.
Shafer shared his excitement to get back on the field with
the team, but also his coaching staff that he's developed great familiarity
with over the years.
"I'm really lucky," Shafer said. "It's great to look up and down that table and see so many guys that I have familiarity with. It makes you feel great as a coach to have guys that you really look at as brothers. So we're enjoying it, so many of us end up all over the place in this career and to come back and be able to look around the room and know where they've been and know their children is so great. I look forward to it, this is the best time. We get into a situation where we're grinding. We're definitely doing that, it's long hours, it's 6:30 to maybe midnight, but there's something you love about it."
Syracuse is coming off its third bowl victory in the last
four seasons with a 21-17 win over Minnesota in the 2013 Texas Bowl.
More Interviews from the opening of training camp:
Terrel Hunt speaks on entering camp as the starter:
Quarterbacks coach Tim Lester on the entering camp with a starter already determined:
Julian Whigham talks about returning from last year's scary injury at Florida State:
Isaiah Johnson talks about following up a successful freshman year:
Top Articles from 8/2 on the Orange:
CuseTV: Training Camp Day 1 Highlights
Syracuse.com: Wayne Williams Talks About Getting Into Shape
Newshouse: Media Day Kicks Off 2014 Season
More Interviews from the opening of training camp:
Terrel Hunt speaks on entering camp as the starter:
Quarterbacks coach Tim Lester on the entering camp with a starter already determined:
Julian Whigham talks about returning from last year's scary injury at Florida State:
Isaiah Johnson talks about following up a successful freshman year:
Top Articles from 8/2 on the Orange:
CuseTV: Training Camp Day 1 Highlights
Syracuse.com: Wayne Williams Talks About Getting Into Shape
Newshouse: Media Day Kicks Off 2014 Season
