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WAER works hard to bring you award-winning sports coverage in Central New York. With a Sports staff of more than 20 people, you get comprehensive coverage of Syracuse University Football, Men's Basketball, and Men's Lacrosse. The best play by play on the air combined with regular morning and afternoon sports updates make WAER the source for sports in Central New York. See the legacy video here. See what it's like being in WAER Sports00000176-de2c-dce8-adff-feeff0ff000000000176-de2c-dce8-adff-feeff0ff0003

Syracuse University Football Starts Practice, Hopes for Turnaround Season

Ellen Burr/WAER News

  Syracuse University's Men's Football team began practice this weekend with a clear focus on looking forward not backward.  The team is coming off a 3-9 season in 2014.  That disappointment followed seasons in 2013 and 2012 that both ended in bowl victories.

In 2013, SU defeated Minnesota in the Texas Bowl to cap off a 7-6 season.  In 2012, the season ended with a Pinstripe Bowl victory over West Virginia for a record of 8-5.  

Credit Tyriq Butler/WAER News
SU Head Coach Scott Shafer wants to look forward, not at last seasons's 3-9 record.

  Head Coach Scott Shafer is telling the team to stay focused on the future, not on the past.  He's about to start his third season leading the Orange.  Shafer will be working for the first time under new Athletic Director Mark Coyle, who was hired this past June.

The team will be led on the field by Terrel Hunt, the quarterback who lost most of last season with an injury.  He says he used the time observing the game from the sideline and coaches box, getting different angles and perspectives he believes can help him help others mentally.  

Credit Ellen Burr/WAER News
Quarterback Terrel Hunt is coming off an injury that cut last season short
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WAER's Edward McFarland explains SU's Senior Quarterback Terrel Hunt became more of a student of the game during an injury last year.

He's learning a new offense, which he says is exciting because it will create mismatches with opposing defenses.  

This weekend's first press conference also included linebacker Zaire Franklin.  The sophomore is SU's leading returning tackler.  

Credit Ellen Burr/WAER News
Sophomore Zaire Franklin has emerged as a young leader for the team.

Franklin echoes his coach in not wanting to look back at last season.  Instead he says his class of second year players needs to step up.  

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WAER's Ellen Burr explains Zaire Franklin, still a teenager at 19, has earned a leadership role.

The team starts the season September 4th against Rhode Island in the Carrier Dome to begin 4 straight home games.  The last of that string is against perennial power LSU, September 26th.  ACC league games include Wake Forest, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Florida State, Louisville, Clemson, North Carolina State, and Boston College.

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.