Since the start of training camp, the only outside spectators have been reporters that get 25 minutes per day to watch Syracuse work out the kinks.

On Saturday, the entire Syracuse community can take a peak at FanFest at SU Soccer Stadium, and head coach Scott Shafer is excited for his players experiencing the fans and vice versa.

“It’s a good opportunity to see the maturity levels,” Shafer said of his players. “Some kids when they first get here, they have rabbit ears. They hear everything. Once they get between those white lines, I think it’s just one play at a time.

“But, with that being said, they’ll have a little more juice because they know there’s fans out there watching them, too. That’s fun. That’s what it’s all about.”

The Orange will have a light closed practice in the morning — shorter than the usual two-hour practice, Shafer said — on its usual practice fields, then it will take the field in front of fans at the soccer stadium at about 4:30 p.m.

SU will split sides up and scrimmage, and an autograph session will follow.

“Come out and see the kids and take a look at some of the new kids that are running around. They’ve read about them in recruiting, they were excited to see some of these guys get in,” Shafer said of the fans. “It’s a chance to reintroduce our team…

“This Central New York area, it’s their team. I want them to really embrace it and enjoy having a college football team in their town playing at the highest level.”

Newcomer Phillips continues to impress at running back

Freshman running back Ervin Phillips earned praise from Shafer for the second time in three days on Friday for the progress he’s shown in camp.

Shafer said the “young guys” will receive a good amount of reps at the end of the FanFest scrimmage Saturday. The way Phillips has caught the attention of his coaches thus far, the fans may be next up.

Phillips is listed fifth on Syracuse’s depth chart at running back, behind seniors Prince-Tyson Gulley and Adonis Ameen-Moore, and juniors George Morris II and Devante McFarlane. But as Shafer discussed the way the Orange’s expected reserves are putting pressure on the starters, Phillips was his example.

“He broke off two nice runs (today), so I think Devante and George are looking over their shoulder saying, ‘This is interesting,’” Shafer said. “Competition’s the greatest thing.

“When we first got here, there weren’t too many guys pushing the guy in front of them. Now I think that’s starting to change.”

Published on August 8, 2014 at 10:16 pm

Contact Phil: pmdabbra@syr.edu | @PhilDAbb