2013 Syracuse Orange football team

American college football season

The 2013 Syracuse Orange football team represented Syracuse University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Orange were led by first year head coach Scott Shafer and played their home games at the Carrier Dome. The season marked their first as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, after their final season in the Big East Conference in 2012. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in ACC play to finish in a tie for third place in the Atlantic Division. They were invited to the Texas Bowl where they defeated Minnesota.

Previous season[edit]

The Orange’s 2012 season was their last as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the year with an 8–5 record, and finished as conference co-champions, with a 5–2 record in Big East play. The Orange capped off their season with a win in the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl over long-time rival West Virginia.

Preseason[edit]

After the conclusion of the season, head coach Doug Marrone was mentioned by several sportswriters as a possible candidate for a head coaching job in the National Football League. On January 6, 2013, Marrone was introduced as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett departed for Buffalo as well, leaving a number of coaching positions open. On January 9, Syracuse announced the promotion of defensive coordinator Scott Shafer to head coach. Shortly thereafter, George McDonald was announced as the new offensive coordinator, and Chuck Bullough was announced as the new defensive coordinator.

Personnel[edit]

Coaching staff[edit]

2012 Coaching staff

Head coach

Offensive coaches

  • Tim Lester – Quarterbacks
  • George McDonald – Offensive Coordinator
  • Rob moore – Wide Receivers
  • Pat perles – Offensive Line
  • DeAndre smith – Running Backs

Defensive coaches

Support staff

  • Bob brotzki – Assistant Athletics Director for Player Development
  • William hicks – Assistant Athletics Director for Athletic Performance
  • Kevin van derzee – Director of Football Operations

Schedule[edit]

Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance
August 31 3:30 pm vs. Penn State* ABC/ESPN2 L 17–23 61,202
September 7 6:00 pm at No. 20 Northwestern* BTN L 27–48 38,033
September 14 4:00 pm Wagner* ESPN3 W 54–0 33,299
September 21 12:30 pm Tulane* ACCN W 52–17 36,128
October 5 3:30 pm No. 4 Clemson ABC/ESPN2 L 14–49 48,961
October 12 3:30 pm at NC State ACCRSN W 24–10 56,639
October 19 12:30 pm at Georgia Tech ACCN L 0–56 45,704
November 2 12:30 pm Wake Forest ACCRSN W 13–0 38,550
November 9 3:30 pm at Maryland ACCRSN W 20–3 37,213
November 16 3:30 pm at No. 2 Florida State ABC/ESPN2 L 3–59 74,491
November 23 12:30 pm Pittsburgh ACCN L 16–17 35,317
November 30 3:30 pm Boston College ACCRSN W 34–31 37,406
December 27 6:00 pm vs. Minnesota* ESPN W 21–17 32,327

[1]

Game summaries[edit]

Penn State[edit]

Syracuse vs. Penn State (New York’s College Classic)
1 2 3 4 Total
Nittany Lions 0 6 7 10 23
Orange 0 3 7 7 17
  • Date: August 31
  • Location: MetLife Stadium
    East Rutherford, NJ
  • Game start: 3:35 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:34
  • Game attendance: 61,202
  • Game weather: Cloudy
  • Referee: Mike Defee
  • Television network: ABC/ESPN2
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
2009 Penn State, 28–7

Penn State Leads Series: 43–23–5

The Orange opened their season by traveling to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ to renew their rivalry with the Penn State Nittany Lions. This was the 71st all-time meeting between the two schools.

Neither offense could get much going in the first half, and the score stood 6–3 in favor of Penn State at the break. The second half proved to be better for the Lions, as quarterback Christian Hackenberg lead the team to a 23–10 lead early in the 4th quarter. A Jerome Smith touchdown late in the game cut the deficit to 23–17, but the potential Orange comeback fell short when quarterback Drew Allen threw his second interception of the game late in the 4th.


Northwestern[edit]

Syracuse at Northwestern
1 2 3 4 Total
Orange 0 7 6 14 27
#20 Wildcats 10 24 0 14 48
  • Date: September 7th
  • Location: Ryan Field
    Evanston, IL
  • Game start: 5:01 PM CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:25
  • Game attendance: 38,033
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C); Wind: E 6 mph (9.7 km/h), Partly Cloudy
  • Referee: Tom McCreesh
  • Television network: Big Ten Network
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
2012 Northwestern, 42–41

Series Tied: 5–5

For the second consecutive season, the Orange lost to the Northwestern Wildcats of the Big Ten Conference.


Wagner[edit]

Wagner at Syracuse
1 2 3 4 Total
Seahawks 0 0 0 0 0
Orange 9 28 17 0 54
  • Date: September 14
  • Location: Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 4:00 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:04
  • Game attendance: 33,209
  • Referee: David Epperley
  • Television network: ESPN3

Syracuse Leads Series: 1–0

The Orange hosted Wagner in their home opener at the Carrier Dome in the first ever meeting between the two universities.

Syracuse’s offense put on a dominating performance and rolled to a 54–0 win, their first of the season.


Tulane[edit]

Tulane at Syracuse
1 2 3 4 Total
Green Wave 10 7 0 0 17
Orange 21 21 7 3 52
  • Date: September 21
  • Location: Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 12:30 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:29
  • Game attendance: 36,128
  • Referee: Steve Barth
  • Television network: ACCRSN
 
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
2011 Syracuse, 37–34

Syracuse Leads Series: 7–1

Tulane visits the Carrier Dome for the first time since the 1999 season. This is the second meeting in three years between the two teams.


Clemson[edit]

Clemson at Syracuse
1 2 3 4 Total
#3 Tigers 21 14 7 7 49
Orange 0 7 7 0 14
  • Date: October 5
  • Location: Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 3:36 EST EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:24
  • Game attendance: 48,961
  • Referee: Pat Garvey
  • Television network: ABC/ESPN2
 
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
1996 Syracuse, 41–0

Syracuse is Tied in Series: 1–1

The Orange’s first conference game as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference was a matchup against the 3rd ranked Clemson Tigers. This was the second all-time meeting between Clemson and Syracuse, with the first ending in a 41–0 victory for the Orange in the 1996 Gator Bowl.

Clemson evened the overall series with a 49–14 victory behind a career night by Tajh Boyd who went 20 for 27 for 455 yards and 5 touchdowns.[2]


NC State[edit]

Syracuse at NC State
1 2 3 4 Total
Orange 0 7 3 14 24
Wolfpack 0 7 0 3 10
  • Date: October 12
  • Location: Carter–Finley Stadium
    Raleigh, NC
  • Game start: 3:30 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:20
  • Game attendance: 56,639
  • Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C); Wind: NNW 6 mph (9.7 km/h), Overcast
  • Referee: Ron Cherry
  • Television network: ACCRSN
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
1998 NC State, 38–17

NC State Leads Series: 6–1

Syracuse traveled to Raleigh, NC for a game against the NC State Wolfpack.


Georgia Tech[edit]

Syracuse at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Orange 0 0 0 0 0
Yellow Jackets 14 14 21 7 56
  • Date: October 19
  • Location: Bobby Dodd Stadium
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game start: 12:30 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:05
  • Game attendance: 45,704
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C); Wind: SW 7 mph (11 km/h), Overcast
  • Referee: J. Magallanes
  • Television network: ACCN
 
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
2004 Georgia Tech, 51–14

Georgia Tech Leads Series: 2–0

Syracuse looked to avenge a 51–14 drubbing at the hands of Georgia Tech in their last meeting, which was the 2004 Champs Sports Bowl.


Wake Forest[edit]

Wake Forest at Syracuse
1 2 3 4 Total
Demon Deacons 0 0 0 0 0
Orange 0 0 13 0 13
  • Date: November 2
  • Location: Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 12:30 PM EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:33
  • Game attendance: 38,550
  • Referee: Walt Davenport
  • Television network: ACCRSN
 
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
2011 Syracuse, 36–29 OT

Series Tied: 1–1

The last meeting between the two schools occurred in the 2011 season, with the Orange winning in a thrilling overtime affair.


Maryland[edit]

Syracuse at Maryland
1 2 3 4 Total
Orange 7 3 3 7 20
Terrapins 0 0 3 0 3
  • Date: November 9
  • Location: Byrd Stadium
    College Park, MD
  • Game start: 3:30 PM EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 37,213
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C); Wind: SSW 11 mph (18 km/h), Clear
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • Television network: ACCRSN
 
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
1994 Syracuse, 21–16

Syracuse Leads Series: 18–14–2

This was the only conference matchup between these two teams, as the Terrapins will be joining the Big Ten Conference for the 2014 season.


Florida State[edit]

Syracuse at Florida State
1 2 3 4 Total
Orange 0 0 0 3 3
Seminoles 28 10 21 0 59
  • Date: November 16
  • Location: Doak Campbell Stadium
    Tallahassee, FL
  • Game start: 3:30 PM EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:11
  • Game attendance: 74,491
  • Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C); Wind: SSE 5 mph (8.0 km/h), Mostly cloudy
  • Referee: Jeff Flanigan
  • Television network: ABC/ESPN2
 
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
2005 Florida State, 38–14

Florida State Leads Series: 5–1

The Orange made their last road trip of the season to take on the Florida State Seminoles. This was their first game as conference opponents.


Pittsburgh[edit]

Pittsburgh at Syracuse
1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 0 10 7 0 17
Orange 6 3 7 0 16
  • Date: November 23
  • Location: Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 12:30 PM EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:28
  • Game attendance: 35,317
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • Television network: ACCN
 
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
2012 Syracuse, 14–13

Pittsburgh Leads Series: 34–31–3

The Orange hosted familiar rival Pittsburgh in their first meeting as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. This matchup was designated as a protected inter-division crossover game that will be played annually.


Boston College[edit]

Boston College at Syracuse (rivalry)
1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 7 7 7 10 31
Orange 0 21 3 10 34
  • Date: November 30
  • Location: Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 3:30 PM EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:35
  • Game attendance: 37,406
  • Referee: David Epperley
  • Television network: ACCRSN
 
Previous Meeting Previous Winner
2010 Boston College, 16–7

Syracuse Leads Series: 28–18

Formerly Big East Conference rivals, Syracuse and Boston College played their first game as conference opponents to close out the regular season. The 2013 edition was a must-win for the Orange in order to be bowl-eligible.


References[edit]