Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/380743
GAME PREVIEW: SYRACUSE BY ANDREW OWENS A fter former head coach Doug Marrone left Syracuse follow- ing the 2012 season to accept the same position with the NFL's Buffalo Bills, the Orange pro- moted then-defensive coordinator Scott Shafer to continue the program's momentum. During Syracuse's maiden voyage in the ACC last season, he did exactly that. The Orange finished 7-6 follow- ing its third bowl victory in four sea- sons, but Shafer and company are no longer satisfied with the status quo. "From the end of spring practice and into the preseason, they stated they'd like to win eight games this season, not to say that if they get to eight wins that's all they're gunning for," said Nate Mink, who covers the Orange for The Post Standard. "They want to essentially improve upon what they were able to do last year. They're look- ing at it as they won seven last year and eight would be the next step in moving the program forward and im- proving upon last year in year two here." Those preseason expectations nearly absorbed a major blow Aug. 30 when Syracuse needed two overtimes to de- feat Football Championship Subdivi- sion foe Villanova 27-26. During the second quarter, senior quarterback Terrel Hunt was ejected after punching a Wildcats player. With its second-year starter sidelined, Syra- cuse surrendered a 10-point lead and allowed Villanova to force overtime. "It's funny — they're not necessarily using the word 'alarmed' by it, but it's very apparent they're not happy with the effort they put out in that week one game, just in terms of the effort they played with and how they tackled, their focus play to play," Mink said. "Obviously, personnel-wise you lose Facts & Figures NOTRE DAME VS. SYRACUSE Game Info Date: Sept. 27, 2014. Site: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (85,566). Kickoff: TBA. Television: TBA. Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129). Series Facts: This is the seventh meeting be- tween Notre Dame and Syracuse. The all-time series is tied 3-3. Coaches: Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (40-15, fifth season); Syracuse — Scott Schafer (9-6, second season). Noting Syracuse: Notre Dame has lost three of four in the series against Syracuse after win- ning in 1914 and 1961 … The most recent Irish loss came on Nov. 22, 2008, when Orange quar- terback Cameron Dantley — the son of former Notre Dame basketball great Adrian Dantley — led a game-winning drive for a 24-23 Syracuse win … This marks the second matchup in the se- ries played at an off-campus site … Notre Dame is one of eight teams that made a bowl game last season that Syracuse faces in 2014 … The Orange is one of 16 programs to reach the 700-win pla- teau, a feat achieved last September … Shafer served as the team's defensive coordinator for four years before he was hired as the head coach following the 2012 season.