Syracuse preseason camp begins in a little over a week -- Aug. 4 to be exact -- so it's time to take a peek in the mailbox. Beat writers Michael Cohen and Nate Mink are taking a page out of Mike Waters' book and introducing the mailbag segment to the football page. They will answer readers' questions about the Orange, the Atlantic Coast Conference and college football in general.
To submit a question, email Mike at mcohen@syracuse.com or Nate at nmink@syracuse.com. You can also reach them on Twitter: @Michael_Cohen13 and @MinkNate.
How do you think the move to the ACC will affect Dome attendance?
-- Patrick Kelly
Syracuse played five games in the Carrier Dome last season, winning four. After falling to Northwestern in the season opener, the Orange knocked off Stony Brook, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Louisville.
But despite the successful record, attendance fell by more than 2,000 fans per game on average. In 2011, an average of 40,504 fans attended each game. Last year that number dipped to 38,212.
The move to the ACC, though, should provide a nice boost. Syracuse opens conference play on Oct. 5 against Clemson, a team picked to win the conference and a quarterback picked to win the league's preseason Player of the Year award. That combination -- first ACC game, big-time national opponent -- should have the place filled.
The remaining three ACC games are dates with Wake Forest, Pittsburgh and Boston College -- all teams that SU fans have seen in the Carrier Dome recently. Boston College came to Syracuse in 2010, Wake Forest in 2011 and Pittsburgh is the other Big East school that moved to the ACC along with the Orange.
Pittsburgh and Boston College should draw nice crowds due to the ongoing and renewal of rivalries between those schools and the Orange. And Wake Forest, the next home game after Clemson, could draw a nice crowd if SU pulls another upset at home, just as it has done in each of the last two seasons (Louisville in 2012, West Virginia in 2011).
What's the football team's schedule while at Fort Drum?
-- @RonWhitingH2O via Twitter
Syracuse will return to Fort Drum for a week in August, just as the team did last year under head coach Doug Marrone. The Orange will head north from Aug. 13-16, taking part in both football and military activities. The goal will be to improve both on the football field and off of it, with an emphasis on team bonding and cohesion.
- 11:15 a.m. to noon -- Activity with Syracuse football student-athletes and military personnel
- 4:15-6:25 p.m. -- Practice
- 11:15 a.m. to noon -- Activity with Syracuse football student-athletes and military personnel
- 4:15-6:25 p.m. -- Practice
- 5-5:30 p.m. -- Syracuse football instructional clinic for children of military personnel
- 5:30-7:20 p.m. -- Practice
- 8:45-10:45 a.m. -- Activity with Syracuse football student-athletes and military personnel
Tuesday, Aug. 13
Wednesday, Aug. 14
Thursday, Aug. 15
Friday, Aug. 16
Do you know if head coach Scott Shafer is going to have open practices like Doug Marrone did his first couple of years?
-- @richsufan via Twitter
The annual Orange Fan Fest is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 9, on the practice fields adjacent to Manley Field House. The event runs from 4-7 p.m., during which time fans can watch the football team practice and partake in a number of other activities. (In years past there have been inflatable bounce houses, among other things.)
Practice is scheduled to run from 4:30-6:40 p.m., and afterwards fans can get autographs from players and coaches.
We will be sure to let you know if any more open practices are announced.
Follow Michael Cohen on Twitter at @Michael_Cohen13.
Source: http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2013/07/syracuse_football_mailbag_will.html
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