Penn State Preview: This Week's Coverage Leading Up to the Season Opener

Coach Shafer's Press Conference (8/29/13)

A chance to go to the Meadowlands and see Penn State come running out and see our Syracuse boys come running out is what it is all about. For me, it's a dream come true," Shafer said earlier today. "There are going to be highs and lows and ugly things and pretty things but at the end of the day that's the fight that we all love as coaches and players. It's the grind and the fight that you love. Saturday will be a great challenge and a great opportunity for us to see what we can do against a good football team and we're going to know a heck of a lot about ourselves after that game."

Check out this week's media coverage leading up to Saturday:

• SUathletics.com - Excitement Builds for Season Opener | Syracuse Kicks Off Season at MetLife
• Syracuse.com - The Syracuse football team is about to take on its obstacles or its challenge
• Syracuse.com - Syracuse wide receiver Quinta Funderburk remains amystery, buried on depth chart
• DailyOrange.com - On the run: Smith brings diverse background to Syracuse
• DailyOrange.com - True grit: Shafer implements ‘hard-nosed’culture at Syracuse in 1st year
• PennLive.com - Pittsburgh-bred Syracuse OL Sean Hickey has endured thanks to Steelers surgeon 
• PennLive.com - Syracuse RB Jerome Smith learned value of patience from his grade-school sister
• Scout.com - George Morris Ready to Make an Impact
• Scout.com - Flemming Confident in Receiving Corps

Shafer Preparing for Coaching Debut

Coach Shafer's Press Conference

Syracuse leader Scott Shafer makes his head coaching debut on Saturday, August 31 when the Orange takes the field against Penn State at MetLife Stadium (3:30 p.m., ABC).  With the focus on his first game as Syracuse's head coach, the veteran gridiron mentor reflected on his most vivid first experience as a coach in addition to other memorable moments in his career.

My first college job was a graduate assistant position for Bill Mallory at Indiana," Shafer said. "We opened up the season against a real good Notre Dame team and the head coach there was Lou Holtz. When I looked at those two guys, both from Ohio, where I am from, and coaching at the higest level, what I remember the most was during pre-game warmups Coach Holtz yelled at me for being on the wrong part of the field. I remember thinking, getting kind of pissed at him, thinking, alright we are in someone's backyard now and it's on. All the stuff I read about him went down the drain and I realized that it's on.

Read the full article on SUathletics.com.

SU Holds First Practice in the Dome

Coach Shafer's Press Conference

 

The SU football team headed to the other side of campus for its first practice in the Carrier Dome this season. Coach Shafer formatted the practice as a mock-game, giving the team a variety of situations they may face this season.

Good practice in the Dome today,” Coach Shafer said. “It was good because it was really hot. What we did was we had a mock-game today. We tried to throw as many situations as we could at the kids. We had a lot of personnel changes and made up injuries. We were trying to create a mock-game and I think they did pretty good with it.

Read the full story on SUathletics.com here.

Two Days Left Until End of Preseason Camp

Coach Shafer's Comments Following Practice

Preseason camp is winding down with just two more days until the SU football team begins its preparations for Penn State. The Orange will begin regular season practices on Thursday.

The next two or three days are important,” Coach Shafer said. “We’re going to mimic a Tuesday and Wednesday regular season practice, which are the hardest days of the week. Then we will start moving forward and get into mock-situations where we think about everything and anything that could come up and then we will start to taper off with some of the contact.

Check out the full coverage of today's practice:

• SUathletics.com - Camp Winds Down, Penn State on the Horizon
• Daily Orange - Syracuse Names Four Captains for 2013

Day One Recap of Fort Drum

Coach Shafer's Press Conference

Player's Reaction to Lunch with Soldiers

The SU football team held its first day of preseason camp at Fort Drum today. Due to the rain the Orange did not participate in the Military Physical Training with the soldiers this morning but had a sunny afternoon of practice.

The team made the most of the morning, taking a long lunch to interact with soldiers and bond as a team before gearing up for practice later in the day. Fans of SU and personnel on post came out to watch the Orange practice at Sligh Field.

"The best thing about the day was having 30 military personnel come join us at lunch," Shafer said. "It was great to see our kids and their kids immerse themselves together and share some time together."

Read the full coverage of the first day:

• SUathletics.com - Fort Drum Fosters Togetherness
• Syracuse.com - Syracuse Walk-on Hernz Laguerre Delivers Poem

Fanfest a Success

The Orange football team enjoyed its first practice in full pads in front of nearly 2,500 fans at Manley Field House on Friday. Fans enjoyed the action on the field, which culminated in an offense vs. defense controlled scrimmage.

After practice the players and coaches met with the fans for autographs and photos, and even demonstrated some skills while playing with the kids that came out for the event.

Check out the links from Fanfest:

• Fanfest Recap - SUathletics.com
• Photo Gallery
• Purchase Tickets

Coach Shafer's Press Conference

Fanfest Highlights

Coach Shafer Press Conference - 8/7/13

Watch Coach Shafer's press conference following day 3 of preseason camp on Wednesday:

Orange Takes the Field for First Practice

The Syracuse Orange 2013 football season got underway on Monday with the first official practice of the season under first-year head coach Scott Shafer. Watch highlights from opening day of preseason camp below and see what Coach Shafer had to say about it!

Day One Highlights

Coach Shafer's Press Conference

Orange Meets with Media

Syracuse football's 2013 preseason camp kicked off on Sunday as head coach Scott Shafer and student-athletes met with the media. Follow all the action of preseason camp with our new blog. Use it as your one-stop shop for all things SU football this preseason!

"I'm looking forward to getting out there, everyone is going to be excited on day one," Shafer said. "Coaches, players, managers, everyone included, is going to be ready to go but we're going to set the tone, focus in on our initial objectives which are to work extremely hard and prove daily and start to gel as a team."

Check out the links and videos below from Sunday's media opportunity.

• SUathletics.com - Football Kicks Off 2013 Preseason Camp
• SUathletics.com - Preseason Depth Chart
• SUathletics.com - 2013 Football Season Preview

Coach Shafer Opening Press Conference

Players Begin Camp