The Syracuse University football Orangemen will participate in the
Kickoff Classic for the third time in the past 11 years. SU will play
Georgia Tech in Kickoff Classic XIX on Sunday, August 26 at 2:00 p.m. at
Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The game will be nationally
televised by ABC Sports.
"Our team, the student-athletes and coaches, are certainly excited
to play again in the Kickoff Classic," said head coach Paul Pasqualoni.
"We have a very high regard and great deal of respect for Georgia Tech.
It should be a terrific game."
In 1997 SU shut out Wisconsin, 34-0, and in 1990 the Orange lost
to Southern California, 34-16. Georgia Tech lost to Penn State, 34-22,
in the 1991 Kickoff Classic in the Yellow Jackets lone appearance in
this event.
"We love playing in this game because it allows us a chance to play
in an area where we have a tremendous fan base and a large alumni
contingent," Pasqualoni said. "In addition, it helps us in recruiting
because our four highest profile areas are the state of New York,
including the boroughs of New York City, New Jersey, New England and
Pennsylvania. This gives us an opportunity to play in an area that is
very important to us in what is essentially another home game."
SU, which finished the 2000 season with a 6-5 overall record and a
4-3 mark in The BIG EAST Conference, is one of just four schools to have
an active streak of 14 winning seasons.
Head coach Paul Pasqualoni will welcome the return of six defensive
starters, including defensive end Dwight Freeney, linebackers Clifton
Smith and JR Johnson, free safety Quentin Harris, strong safety Keeon
Walker and cornerback Willie Ford. On the offensive side of the ball
eight starters will be back, including R.J. Anderson at quarterback,
fullback Chris Davis, receiver Malik Campbell, tight end Graham Manley
and offensive linemen PJ Alexander, Sean O'Connor, Nick Romeo and Joe
Burton. The Orange offense will also get a boost from the return of
fullback Kyle Johnson. Johnson was granted a sixth-year of eligibility
by the NCAA on January 22 after he missed the 2000 season due to an
injury suffered in the season-opener.