Syracuse Feeling Rejuvenated After Much Needed Bye Week
Syracuse, N.Y.-- Players and coaches agreed that Syracuse’s bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. The Orange went undefeated in the non-conference portion of their schedule before starting ACC play. Losses against Clemson, UNC, and Florida State place Cuse at 4-3 on the season and the lone team in the conference without an ACC victory.
But what’s in the past is in the past for this group. With five games remaining in the regular season, Syracuse has one of the easiest remaining schedules in all of college football. During their bye week, Cuse used that extra time to have a mental reset so they could be sharp for the last five games.
The captains came together and took command of how the bye week would operate. When the program returned from Florida State, the entire team watched film together from start to finish as a family. Instead of just splitting the team up by position group to watch the game back, they wanted everyone to be aware of what they could improve upon as a team.
During their limited practices, captains wanted to push the tempo and increase the intensity for a higher overall effort. Defensive back Justin Barron believes it will pay off not just against Virginia Tech but for the rest of the season, too.
“It was a mix of the captains coming together to talk about what we wanted to do, but also instincts. We all just think the same,” Barron said.
Over the weekend, it was up to the players for what they would do during the time off. Regardless of what they decided to do, everyone appeared to be recharged from the first seven games of the year. Players like wide receiver Damien Alford decided to get out of Central New York for a few days.
“I actually went back to Canada and spent some time with my family. Just to get my mind away from football before I came back Sunday. It felt good… it felt like I was away for a while, but it felt good to get back here,” Alford said.
Barron saw the bye week as an opportunity to get closer to his teammates who stayed in Syracuse instead of going home. He saw it as a way to connect with the guys on a deeper level that could pay dividends in the back half of the season.
“I went to a football game with Marlowe at UAlbany to see one of his high school teammates play. It was cool to go watch a game as a fan, and not look at another team for what they are trying to do to beat you. It was cold and rainy, but we wanted to be there because it puts into perspective the love you have for the game,” Barron said.
Quarterback Garrett Shrader said the bye week provided him time to recover from nagging bumps and bruises. Shrader believes that this is the best he’s felt since surgery physically due to the extra time off. But mentally, QB1 is in the proper head space by doing things non-football related to reset.
“I mean, I put out some trail cameras to try and find some deer. I spent some time hanging out with my girlfriend, which is always a joy. But besides that, I didn’t do a whole lot. I just rested, and it was nice,” Shrader said.
Syracuse comes off their bye week Thursday night on the road against the Virginia Tech Hokies. The game will be available nationally on ESPN. Kickoff in Blacksburg is slated for 7:30 p.m.
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