Back to the Dome: Syracuse Football vs. Wake Forest

By Conor Hurley

Photo by Jason Rostkowski

The Syracuse University community is buzzing about the football team’s season and home opener vs. Wake Forest this Thursday.

Wait… buzzing about… football???

Yes. For the first time in awhile, there is significant hope and excitement for SU football. Coming off a 7-5 record and a win in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Ryan Nassib and company are looking to start off their season with a statement win vs. the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Fortunately for the Orange, the football Demon Deacons do not have the same pedigree as their basketball counterparts.

WF finished last in the ACC with a 3-9 2010 campaign, going 1-7 in the division. They do return starters Tanner Price, Josh Adams and Chris Givens on offense at QB, RB and WR, all coming off good seasons. They had the 110^th ranked defense though, giving up 35.8 points per game.

Nassib, coming of a stellar season which included over 2,300 yards passing and 19 TD’s, will look to exploit the holes in the demon deacon defense. And he will not be alone in that quest.

Despite Delone Carter’s departure for the NFL, Antwon Bailey was much more than an adequate backup last season, and is looking to have a breakout 2011 campaign. Wide receivers Van Chew and 

Alec Lemon will also be back and will look to improve on their impressive 2010 seasons.

And you already know Phillip Thomas, Chandler Jones and the rest of the SU defense will do their absolute best to keep the Deacs off the scoreboard.

One outstanding negative for SU football last season was their play in the Dome, disappointingly going 3-4. They were young, fairly inexperienced, and may have not been ready for the big stage and hype in front of the ruckus SU faithful.

This year, I expect the Orange to do much better in the Dome, and tomorrow, I expect the Orange to win 24-3. 

The Top Five Most Valuable Players for the 2011-2012 Football Season

By D.E. Connors

Photo by Jason Rostkowski

There are now only 14 days until the Orange kickoff versus Wake Forest and begin the highly anticipated 2011 campaign. For SU to play up to its potential as a Big East title contender, its role players and stars will have to play well on a consistent basis. Strong safety Shamarko Thomas, receivers Van Chew and Alec Lemon and the offensive line are all a big part of the Orange’s success this year. However, these five players are the the most valuable on the 2011-2012 Syracuse football team.

#1 Antwon Bailey - Although Nassib is the QB, the offense will be heavily reliant on the production of Bailey. Bailey played Robin to Delone Carter’s Batman, but still managed 569 yards and a couple touchdowns. This year, Bailey will be the biggest offensive threat with his breakaway speed and shifty feet. His ability to open the field and wear down the opponents’ defense will dictate how successful the Orange will be.

#2 Ryan Nassib - Antwon Bailey can only do so much. Last year, Nassib eased into the lead position by providing stability, but he rarely had to make tough throws. This year, he’ll have more responsibility and freedom to create offense. If he can’t make the necessary throws, defenses will key into the running game.

#3 Chandler Jones - Jones could be the key to for the Orange defense. With the return of the Bash Bros (Phillip and Shamarko Thomas), coverage shouldn’t be the biggest issue. If Jones could penetrate through the backfield and pressure the opponents’ QB, the SU defense could be dominant.

#4 Phillip Thomas - Thomas has high aspirations for himself and his team. Despite a slight step back in the form of a broken jaw, Thomas will return in time and wreak havoc as a ballhawk. He simply makes plays. SU will need his athleticism and tackling ability to make a good run in the wide open Big East.

#5 Nick Provo - Provo had 33 receptions last year, good for third on the Orange, but wasn’t particularly effective in the red zone. Without the bruising Delone Carter, a new player will have to become the big touchdown threat. Provo, a 6’4” and 250 TE can be just that for the SU offense. 

Orange Slice Sports' Big East Preseason All-Conference Selections

Here are our selections for Preseason Big East All-Conference:

Photo Courtesy of Jason Rostkowski

Offense:

QB: Geno Smith - West Virginia
RB: Ray Graham - Pitt
RB: Isaiah Pead - Cincinnati
WR: Mark Harrison - Rutgers
WR: Tavon Austin - West Virginia
WR: D.J. Woods - Cincinnati
TE: Nick Provo - Syracuse
TE: Ryan Griffen - UConn
OL: Mike Ryan - UConn
OL: Justin Pugh - Syracuse
C: Moe Petrus - UConn
OL: Lucas Nix - Pitt
OL: Jeremiah Warren - USF

Defense:

DL: Brandon Lindsey - Pitt
DL: Kendall Reyes - UConn
DL: Bruce Irvin - West Virginia
DL: Chandler Jones - Syracuse
LB: Sio Moore - UConn
LB: Max Gruder - Pitt
LB: J.K. Schaffer - Cincinnati
CB: Keith Tandy - West Virgina
CB: Quenton Washington - USF
S: Hakeem Smith - Louisville
S: Phillip Thomas - Syracuse

Special Teams:
K: Dave Teggart - UConn
K: Ross Krautman - Syracuse
P: Pat O'Donnell - Cincinnati

Syracuse Selections:

Nick Provo - Provo came on strong last season and will be a crucial part of the Syracuse offense this season. He caught 33 passes for 365 yards last year. Expect him to be a big target for Ryan Nassib this season.

Justin Pugh - Pugh was an All-Big East second team selection last season and played a huge role on the line for the Orange. He was probably the biggest surprise for the team last season and enters this year with high expectations. During the off-season he has bulked up to about 300 pounds and looks to help pave the way for Antwon Bailey like he did for Delone Carter last year.

Chandler Jones - Jones was another All-Big East second team selection for the Orange last season. He will be a crucial part of the defensive line this year and will look to put pressure on the opposing quarterback. He had just four sacks last season but look for that number to skyrocket this season.

Phillip Thomas - Thomas recently broke his jaw and is out of practice because of that. But while he hasn't been at practice, he has been getting into the weight room bulking up. A broken jaw can be tough to come back from, but expect Thomas to have a breakout season. He will be a leader on defense and will put fear into the eyes of whatever team he faces.

Ross Krautman - This young kicker was a huge asset last season. He missed just one field goal and his season-long was 48 yards. This season, he has been named to the Lou Groza Award watch list, an award given to the nation's best kicker. A solid kicker will greatly help the Orange this season.

Do you agree with this list? Who would you add or remove?

Syracuse Football Players Disappoint in Lobster Eating Contest

By Ben Glidden

Today is Big East Media Day, which can only mean one thing. Last night was the Big East clambake. Every year, the best football players from the Big East go head-to-head the night before they address the media. Who ate the most lobsters?

This year's crown went to USF's Jeremiah Warren who put back a record-tying seven lobsters. Let me just repeat that, he ate SEVEN lobsters. Warren is a 327-pound offensive lineman and now has the title of lobster king. He probably would have broken the record but the event actually ran out of lobsters.

Warren tied former Syracuse Orange Football player Ryan Durand who ate seven lobsters a few years back. Durand's success in the contest translated to NFL success as he is now a guard with the Tennessee Titans.

I'm extremely impressed with Warren but disappointed with the performance from the Syracuse football team. Here are the results:

Mikhail Marinovich - Three Lobsters

Antwon Bailey - Two Lobsters

Chandler Jones - One and a Half Lobsters

Ryan Nassib - One Lobster

C'mon guys. A combined seven and a half lobsters? At the media day Jones said he put on 20 pounds during the off-season. He had the opportunity to put on a few more today and passed it up. His goal was "seven, maybe eight" lobsters but he fell way short of that mark.

"I feel like I let you guys down, but I promise you I wont let you down this fall," Jones said to Cuse Nation.

Syracuse Football is ranked fourth in the Big East Media poll that was released today. It looks like the team needs to put down the footballs and pick up the butter and start training for next year's contest.