Syracuse accepts bid to Pinstripe Bowl

Syracuse has accepted a bid to play in the inaugural New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 30 (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.), the Yankees and the school announced on Thursday.

"This is truly exciting for our football program, the athletics department and the University. We are proud to be part of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in its inaugural year,” Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross said in a statement. “The Yankees are a class organization with tremendous history and we are excited about participating with them at Yankee Stadium. This is a fabulous opportunity for our institution as many alums live in the area and our fans can descend upon New York City for the holidays. We continue to want to represent as New York's College Team as we are the only BCS school in the state of New York and plan to paint the city Orange.
 
"We are very proud of head coach Doug Marrone and his team as they have the program headed in a championship direction. We are elated he can go home to the Bronx to lead his team in his first bowl game as head coach and continue the history of Syracuse football playing at Yankee Stadium."

Syracuse is 7-5 overall and 4-3 in the Big East in Marrone's second season as head coach. Syracuse was 6-2 at one point this season, before dropping three of four to end the season. The Orange has had some quality wins this season, including at South Florida and at West Virginia. Syracuse hasn't appeared in a bowl game since 2004.

Getting Syracuse for the game is obviously good news for the bowl organizers since it's a home state school and there are plenty of alums in the New York City area.

“We are thrilled to have the Syracuse Orange representing the BIG EAST Conference in the inaugural New Era Pinstripe Bowl,”  Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “It is exciting for us to feature such a respected academic institution from the great state of New York in the first year of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.  We expect the historic backdrop of Yankee Stadium and the many attractions of New York City to create a one-of-a-kind bowl event for the athletes participating and the legions of Syracuse fans that will have the opportunity to watch their team play in person.”

Syracuse was 5-1 in old Yankee Stadium, including a 3-0 win over Pittsburgh in 1923 in the first college football game played there.

Syracuse's opponent could end being Kansas State (7-5, 3-5) of the Big 12, which has been widely speculated over the past few weeks.