ACC a big challenge for new-look Syracuse
Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer speaks to the media at a news conference during the Atlantic Coast Conference college football media day in Greensboro, N.C. Credit: AP
New head coach, new quarterback, almost new staff, and new conference. Any way you cut it, the Syracuse Orange have a lot of challenges entering their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Doug Marrone's departure to become the coach of the Buffalo Bills in January left Scott Shafer, his successor, in somewhat of a bind. Whether the staff Shafer has assembled can keep the Orange on the upswing -- Syracuse has won the Pinstripe Bowl twice in the past three years -- is a big question.
"Work hard, improve daily, start to gel as a team," Shafer said. "Nothing's changed, other than we've got a bunch of new faces out there. Nothing's changed as far as who are going to be our players. Looking forward to those kids competing, showing us what they're all about."
The competition will get tougher this season, too. In the Atlantic Coast Conference, Syracuse is in the same division as Clemson and Florida State.
The Orange are again spending time in the preseason at Fort Drum, an Army post about an hour's drive north of campus, to work on small group leadership, hoping that will help produce team chemistry. No cell phones and no internet should help.
Five things to watch for from Syracuse:
way. The secondary loses just one starter, but he was awfully big. Strong safety Shamarko Thomas was the top tackler in 2012 and now is a rookie on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jay Bromley anchors the defensive line. Syracuse had just nine interceptions last season and allowed 378.8 yards offensively per game.
