Syracuse University football players, coached and fans saw the season schedule get upended Wednesday by an announcement from the Atlantic Coast Conference to play a mostly conference-only schedule. Each team in the conference will play 10 games against conference opponents, plus one other against a non-conference team.
The full schedule has not been released but opponents have. Syracuse will play home games in the newly-renovated Dome against Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State and Wake Forest. The road contests will include Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and a trip to Clemson.
The ACC announcement included other Olympic sports in the fall, with competition beginning on or after September 10th.
SU Chancellor Kent Syverud is Chair of the ACC Board of Directors.
“As we look ahead to the fall, the safety of our students, staff and overall campus community continues to be our top priority,” said Syverud. “Today’s announcement outlines a specific path for ACC fall sports to return to intercollegiate athletic competition using comprehensive protocols put forward by our ACC Medical Advisory Group. As a league, we understand the need to stay flexible and be prepared to adjust as medical information evolves in conjunction with local and state health guidelines.”
SU Athletic Director John Wildhack says the announcement clears up at least some confusion about the preparation for fall sports.
"We appreciate and are thankful for the dedicated efforts of so many people which resulted in today's announcement. I'm particularly pleased for our student-athletes who have a clear path toward competing this fall and continuing their academic pursuits. It is incumbent upon all of us in the Syracuse Athletics Department to strictly adhere to the protocols we and the ACC have in place."
SU officials are still waiting to see whether they’ll be allowed to have fans inside the Dome when home football games begin. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week that all fall collegiate sports will take place without fans. But SU has asked for further consideration on the issue, taking into account health data at the time.
WAER is making plans to carry SU Football games, pending health and travel decisions by the league, the university and each state in which games are held.
