As the Orange Prepare to Kickoff 2014 Season, Head Coach Scott Shafer Only Willing to Talk About Opener Against Villanova

By Julia Morris

Syracuse Head Football Coach Scott Shafer Speaks About Season Opener

Syracuse football head coach Scott Shafer is entering his second year as the leader of the Orange with a schedule that includes an away game at Clemson, a road trip to MetLife Stadium to face Notre Dame, and a match up with defending national champion Florida State. However, right now the only opponent Shafer will discuss is the Villanova Wildcats, who will meet the Orange for their season opener on Friday night.  Shafer says he wants to take each day as it comes, an idea that was reinforced during a recent conversation with his son Wolfgang, who is a quarterback at Ithaca College.

“I try not to look too far forward…I just try to win every single day and just get a little bit better…I was talking to my son…I said to him, 'What’s it looking like? Where do you think you’ll be? Did you make the travel team?' And he goes, 'Dad, I’m just trying to get better tomorrow.' And I was like, 'Damn right, Wolfgang.'" 

Although Villanova is a non-FBS opponent, Shafer is not taking the Wildcats lightly.  Villanova finished last season with a 6-5 record overall and a 5-3 record in the Colonial Athletic Association.  Shafer says he started practices two days earlier than in the past to prepare his team for Villanova’s uncharacteristic style of play.

"We’ll see trick plays inside and out, all over the place.  I’m sure we’ll have more creative blitzes against us where they’re really aggressive on defense.  They run some untraditional looks on defense so we’re going to have to be on point, keep things sharp and concise as we move in on our game plan."

Shafer also speaks highly of Villanova's head coach Andy Talley, who has won over 200 games throughout his 29 year career as the leader of the Wildcats.

"He’s one of the best football coaches in the NCAA… He’s got a 62 percent winning percentage…this guy can flat out coach."

In addition to making sure his team stays sharp against Talley and the Wildcats on Friday night, Shafer also plans to keep an eye on his young players who will be experiencing college football for the first time.  Shafer says he will encourage his players to take the game one play at a time to make sure that they continue to play at a high level even if they make a mistake.

"With some of those young guys we have to do a great job of seeing what they’re looking like before the game...and try to get them to that happy place where there’s...calm controlling their emotions, controlling their spirit, and also controlling their mentality to say, 'What is my job for the next three to six seconds on each play?' If they falter a little bit, we have to do a good job getting their mindset back to where they can succeed on the next play."

The Orange's 2014 season will officially kick off at the Carrier Dome at 7:30pm.  Shafer says he is excited for football to finally begin.

"We’ll have a great challenge, good opportunity, everything we signed up to do is right on our table…and I’m looking forward to getting to Friday night."