Syracuse needs to keep momentum up - Big East Blog - ESPN
"We really don't talk a lot about last year," Marrone said. "But I do understand the question about what we're trying to do. Our goal is to be able to compete for a Big East championship. We've talked about that with our players. We want to be a consistent football team and one year doesn’t make you consistent. We haven't produced back-to-back winning seasons since 2001 or back-to-back bowl games since 1999. We haven't won a season opener two years in a row since 2000. There's a lot of things in terms of history because recently we have not been a good football team. This is what we're trying to change."
Notes From Big East Coaches Teleconference - Big East Coast Bias
Marrone insisted that the team's goal has to be to win the Big East. He also reminded the call that Syracuse is 0-8 at home, and 1-12 overall against the ACC since 1998.
Big East Disrespect Begins Before the Season Even Kickoffs - Big East Coast Bias
The Orange return Ryan Nassib at quarterback, four offensive line starters, and two of the team's top three receivers on offense as well. Yes, Wake Forest is experienced, but is the experience any good? Enough to win a road game against a team coming off of a bowl win? Of the two predictions, this one is puzzling, but within the realm of possibility.
Scout.com: Ron Thompson Profile
A matchup problem waiting to happen, Thompson is a tight end-receiver tweener with excellent hands and ball skills. Goes up and gets the ball with the best of them and makes it look easy. Good ability after the catch, although he's not a blazer. Needs to add strength to his game if he's going to be a true tight end and be an inline blocker. Overall effort and conditioning can be improved.
Big East at a glance - The Boston Globe
Syracuse - Keep an eye on senior quarterback Ryan Nassib, who is coming off a solid season - his first as a starter. Nassib set a school record with 202 completions and passed for 2,334 yards with 19 touchdowns. He’ll look to build on that and the momentum generated from the Orange’s eight-win season - including a bowl victory.
It will be a non-traditional year for Big East football in 2011 | syracuse.com
"There is no magic number," he said. "Like I keep saying, we’re a nontraditional conference. We find ways to make things work. So whatever we need to do to ensure our long-term stability we’re going to do. We’ll find a way to make it work."
College GameDay fun facts - ESPN
Syracuse has been involved in two College GameDay games, at Virginia Tech and at Miami. The Orange have been outscored 121-0 in those two games (62-0 and 59-0).
biggest-games-110830 - Big East Blog - ESPN
Syracuse at USC, Sept. 17. The Big East only has three games against ranked nonconference teams this season, so they all are big when you are looking for some national respect. USC is No. 25 in the AP poll, and though the Trojans are suffering through NCAA imposed sanctions, they have some major talent, including quarterback Matt Barkley. A win here would get plenty more love for the job Doug Marrone has done in rebuilding the Orange program.
College football fan prays for kickoff amid NCAA scandals - Andy Staples - SI.com
Lord, please make them kick the damn ball already.
Writers' roundtable -- Our experts answer three big questions - ESPN
I'm going to lean (for now, with the right to change weekly) with Syracuse. The Orange have the perfect complement of solid, veteran returners in Kris Joseph, Brandon Triche and Scoop Jardine, plus instant-impact freshmen like Michael Carter-Williams and Rakeem Christmas. If Christmas, with help from Fab Melo, can help fill the shoes of Rick Jackson (the lone void on the roster), Syracuse will be a beast in the East.
power rankings 082911 - Big East Blog - ESPN
4. Syracuse: It is imperative for the Orange to build on the momentum from last season with an even better year in 2011. I think the offense has a chance to be good with Ryan Nassib back. Antwon Bailey should be fine at running back, and the starting offensive line is one of the best in the league. There are questions on defense without some key starters at linebacker and with an undersized unit that is going to take the field.
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