Fan Fest Is This Saturday

All 'Cuse football fans are invited to watch the team in its preparations during the annual Syracuse football Fan Fest on Saturday, August 9! The event kicks off at 3 pm at the SU Soccer Stadium, located on the East Colvin Street side of Manley Field House. The Orange will take the field for practice at 4:30, followed by an autograph session. The Orange will sign the new 2014 Syracuse Football schedule poster.

"I can't wait to see the fans and can't wait to see the kids," said Orange head coach Scott Shafer. "We've had a great group of young kids running around these last few years and I always look forward to seeing them and I know our kids do as well. It's a nice break in the action for our kids to see who they're going to be playing for – the people and the kids of the community. That's who we play for.

"We're going to have a light practice in the morning so the kids are freshened up and we'll liven it up a bit over in the soccer stadium. They've got it lined, I saw it driving in this morning and I was juiced up because I know we're going to do some tackling on Saturday -- (smiling) hopefully not too many missed tackles -- but we're going to do some blocking and tackling and that'll be a blast for the kids."

Admission is free and complementary parking is available in Manley North and South lots.   

The Fan Fest will feature food and refreshments, including complimentary Pepsi and Perry's ice cream (while supplies last),  prizes, various activities on the Wohl Lacrosse Field, including appearances by Orange student-athletes and Otto, inflatable bouncers for kids, a merchandise trailer, and much more.

Tickets for the 2014 season will be available at Fan Fest. Any fan who purchases a Cuse three-game pack will earn purchase priority over the general public for the Orange men's basketball game against Duke.

Syracuse opens the season at home Friday, Aug. 29 against Villanova. Season tickets for 2014, which start at $99, and the three-game package that includes Villanova, Florida State and a third home game in the Dome of the fan's choice ($125 per package) are available now online (www.Cuse.com), by phone (888-DOMETIX), at Destiny USA kiosks and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). In addition, discounted group tickets (20+), with prices as low as $10 each, are available for all home games by calling the Ticket Sales office (443-3212).

Tickets for the 'Syracuse Section' for the 2014 New York's College Classic vs. Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium are on sale now, starting at $80, via www.NYCollegeClassic.com, phone (888-DOMETIX, Option Zero), or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football) and Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball). Check out exclusive videos on Orange All-Access and behind-the-scenes pictures on Instagram (syracuseathletics).

Highlights from Day 6 of Training Camp

Scott Shafer Press Conference:

Top Stories from Aug. 7 on the Orange:

CuseNation Blog: Daoust Breaks Down the Defensive Line

Cuse Confidential: Hunt Leads Syracuse

Syracuse.com: Measurables: Hickey, Estime and Reddish Top the Charts

Daily Orange: Palmer Impresses Offensive Line Coach Adam

Training Camp Day 5: Full Go

The hitting commenced today for the Orange during the first practice session in full pads.

The addition of full pads allowed the coaches to get their first look at live football. Head coach Scott Shafer noted the play of a pair of Syracuse upper-classmen and, as he promised he would do earlier in camp, he talked about some of the squad's newcomers.

"Had a couple skill guys make some plays today, (junior wide receiver) Ashton Broyld made a play in traffic across the middle that was real nice to see. (Junior safety Durell) Eskridge had a couple of real nice interceptions and I was real pleased with the tempo with which we went about our kicking game and into the team period. All-in-all it was a pretty good day's work.

"We had some freshmen do some good things ...
"I'm excited about (running back) Ervin Phillips, I've been very impressed with him. Very few missed assignments for him, especially for a young guy."
"I think (wide receiver) Steve Ishmael has a chance to be a very good player."
"(Wide receiver) Adly Enoicy is one of the sharpest kids I've been around in a long time. He's picked things up really well and is able to move from different positions – inside or outside. I've been real pleased with him."
"(Wide receiver) Jamal Custis is a raw, young guy out there. But it's hard to teach that 6-foot-6, 235 lbs. and he can run, so I'm excited about him."
"On the defensive side, I like our freshmen linebackers – JT (Jonathan Thompson) has made some good plays, Parris Bennett is going to be a good football player."
"(Linebackers) Colton Moskal and Zaire Franklin are just what I thought they'd be – tough, hard-nosed kids who learn well. That whole (linebackers) room learns extremely well."
"The young DBs in general, Rodney Williams, you guys are going to like this guy. Juwan (Dowels) did some nice things."

NOTES FROM PRACTICE:
Winfield moving to defense
Coach Shafer announced that redshirt freshman Corey Winfield is changing sides of the ball, moving from wide receiver to cornerback. He commended the 6-1 St. Louis natives unselfishness in making the move and anticipates him making an impact for the defense.

"The other thing we're doing is we're playing (sophomore) Corey Winfield at corner now," Shafer said. "I think he's too good of an athlete to be a backup or a backup to a backup. I like his length – he's got close to a 40-inch vertical jump – I like his athleticism, and I've had good success (switching wide receivers to cornerback)."

Ishmael settling in
Freshman wide receiver Steve Ishmael says he is getting comfortable with the playbook. He also mentioned Jeremiah Kobena as a veteran that has taken the Miami product under his wing and mentored him.

"He has been real firm on me, telling me to get extra reps when I can," Ishmael said.

Eskridge making plays
All-ACC safety Durell Eskridge led by example on the team's first day in full pads, making two interceptions in practice. The Orange's leader in tackles and interceptions from last season described the plays as ones where her took advantage of his 6-4 length, going up and picking off a pass on a receiver that was trying to go over top of him and the other coming in man coverage where he "attacked the ball at its highest point."

Laguerre on the field
Junior walk-on linebacker Hernz Laguerre practiced for the first time this training camp. Senior wide receiver Franklin Santos chose to pursue opportunities outside of football, which opened up a spot on the 105-man training camp roster.

"He was out there today getting practice number one," Shafer said. "He'll have to go through five before he's full-go. You're saddened with one guy leaving, but you're excited with Hernz having the opportunity to be back in."

Top Articles from Aug. 6 on the Orange:
CuseTV: Durell Eskridge Interview
CuseTV: Terrel Hunt Interview
Orange Fizz: Running Backs and Linebackers Have Most Depth
CuseNation: Ishmael Learning from the Vets
Syracuse.com: 'The Sky is the Limit' for West in 2014
Daily Orange: Eskridge Stands Out on Day 5

Training Camp Day 4: Inside the Tight End and Offensive Line Meeting Rooms

Offensive line coach Joe Adam and tight ends coach Bobby Acosta talk about what it's like inside their respective meeting rooms.

More from Day 4 of Training Camp:

Day 4 Practice Highlights:

Coach Shafer's Press Conference: 

Top Articles from Aug. 5 on the Orange

CuseConfidential.com: Davis Embraces Leadership Role

CuseNation: Reed Sees Depth in the Secondary

Syracuse.com: Prince-Tyson Gulley's Goal is Matching Workload from 2012 Season

Daily Orange: Coach Smith Hopeful Ameen-Moore Can Provide Downhill Running

CuseNation: Acosta Likes Potential of Tight Ends

Training Camp Day 3: Protecting the Orange

When the Orange took the field for day three of preseason camp, the team wore shoulder pads for the first time. The addition of shoulder pads also means protective headgear on top of the student-athlete's helmets in the hopes of protecting them from concussions.

The Orange began wearing the Guardian Caps in spring practice and donned them for the first time this preseason Monday.

"I just feel like it's better to be safe than sorry," said head coach Scott Shafer. "You don't hear that cracking of the helmets in practice, which I'd imagine has to be a good thing."

The Guardian Cap is a removable soft shell layer that covers the exterior of a student-athlete's helmet. It is designed to reduce the impact the head takes.

"We're in an era where you have to be careful and have to protect the player's head," said head equipment manager Kyle Fetterly. "This piece does a very good job of that and that's something we're conscious of."

Senior linebacker Dyshawn Davis echoed Shafer's sentiments, hoping that the padding will help keep the Orange on the field.

"Protection and safety are always first," Davis said. "We've had a lot of guys go down in the past with concussions, the pads are protecting us so if that can help us prevent injuries while playing this game then I'm all for it."

According to senior wide receiver Jarrod West, the protective padding has no effect on the student-athlete's abilities in practice, only limiting the feeling to the head when making contact.

"It definitely takes the shock off and it doesn't do anything [to you]," West said. "It doesn't get in my vision when I'm catching balls or anything like that."

Top Articles from Aug. 4 on the Orange:
Cuse.com: Hunt Among ACC's Top-25 to Watch
Syracuse.com: Ryan Norton 'I want to be as good as I can be for myself and for this team'
Time Warner Cable News: Orange Roster Features Plenty of Wide Receiver Depth
Orange Fizz: Estime is SU's Most Exciting Player
ESPN.com ACC Blog: Eskridge a Breakout Candidate in 2014

Leaders Emerging in Preseason Camp

Leadership is the theme for 'Cuse football. Head coach Scott Shafer complimented several veterans for their willingness to step up on Syracuse's second day of preseason camp, while five former Orange captains will take the field tonight in the NFL Hall of Fame game (8 pm, NBC).

"I thought we had a very spirited practice today albeit no pads," Shafer said. "I'm really looking forward to putting some uppers on and slowly working our way to full pads in the next few days. I've been pleased with the way Terrel (Hunt) has taken charge of the offense and have been really pleased with Cam Lynch, Dyshawn Davis and Durell Eskridge on the defensive side. They are really stepping up and taking charge of the way we're practicing out there."

'Cuse will get its first opportunity to put on shoulder pads on Monday and its first practice in full pads is Wednesday.

Five former Orange team captains, including New York Giants Jameel McClain (2007), Ryan Nassib (2012), Justin Pugh (2012) and Jason Bromley (2013) and Buffalo Bills Macky MacPherson (2013) will battle tonight on the NFL playing field. The teams are lead by former Orange standouts Doug Marrone, who is in his second year as the Bills head coach, and Tom Coughlin, the Giants 11-year leader.

"I was concerned after last season going into spring and summer with who our next Macky MacPherson or our next Jason Bromley, Marquis Spruill, Ryan Nassib or Justin Pugh, were going to be. I was thinking about the next guys who were going to represent Syracuse the way that those guys did," Shafer said. "How awesome is it that those guys are going out there with coach (Doug) Marrone and coach (Tom) Coughlin going head to head (tonight). I'm fired up to take a look at that.

"They are the type of people who we're trying to develop with the next man up in the program and I'm starting to see that out of some guys."

Top articles from Aug. 3 about the Orange:

Syracuse.com: Whigham Has Put Injury in Rearview Mirror
Syracuse.com: Dixon and Kelly Most Likely to Fill Holder Position
Time Warner Cable News: Orange Football is Back to Work

Orange Open 2014 Training Camp

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