HOUSTON - One day before his team takes on Minnesota in the Texas Bowl, Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer said the game is a great opportunity and achievement for the program.
“At the beginning of the season we had a lot of work to do,” Shafer said. “Just to be playing a game after Christmas is great. It makes me proud.”
And the players, including senior defensive tackle Jay Bromley are ready to get on the field after three weeks of preparation.
“We’re ready to get out there and show what we do,” he said.
As for what the defense has specifically prepared for, Bromley said both teams know the game will be run heavy, so they must force stops.
“Both of our teams, ours and Minnesota are not good throwing the ball, some of the last in the nation, so we know what’s going to happen,” Bromley said. “If you don’t stop the run on either side of the ball you’re going to have a long day.”
The Syracuse defense has yet to let an opponent have a 100-yard rusher, including Doak Walker Award winner Andre Williams from Boston College. That trend, Bromley said, is something the defense wants to continue against Minnesota.
“If we get through tomorrow without giving up a 100-yard rusher, we went an entire season not giving up a 100-yard rusher and even some of the top teams in the nation, like Alabama, can’t say that,” he said.
Minnesota ended its season with back-to-back losses, while Syracuse is coming off a 34-31 win over Boston College on Nov. 30.
Senior center Macky MacPherson said the Orange came up with, in his opinion, a “really good game plan” during the last three weeks.
“We just have to go out there and execute to the best of our abilities,” he said. “We’re ready to stop hitting ourselves and start hitting someone else.”
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