Syracuse football has a pre-season schedule that includes summer work-outs, walk-through practices and then fall camp.
Syracuse football remains hopeful that its 2020 campaign will take place amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, and the NCAA has approved a plan for the Orange and other teams in the sport to conduct their pre-season initiatives.
The NCAA’s Division I Council has passed a model for summer athletic activities and pre-season practices that assumes a particular squad’s first game is on Saturday, Sept. 5.
The ‘Cuse, as it turns out, is slated to open its 2020 term by traveling to Chestnut Hill, Mass., to face Boston College on Friday, Sept. 4, so when Syracuse is permitted to conduct various pre-season efforts shifts by one day.
As a result, the Orange is able to conduct its summer weight training, conditioning and film review with players from July 12-22.
From July 23 through Aug. 5, the ‘Cuse can hold weight training and conditioning, walk-through practices (which include using a football but without pads), film study, and other meetings. Per the NCAA, players must have a minimum of two days off during this 14-day span.
Syracuse football may begin padded practices in the first week of August.
Nate Mink of Syracuse.com writes, “A traditional fall training camp with padded practices would start the first week in August, 29 days before a team’s first contest. That means Syracuse would be allowed to start fall camp Aug. 6, since its season opener is scheduled for a Friday night, Sept. 4, at Boston College.”
Last week, roughly 65 Orange football players returned to the Hill for voluntary work-outs and underwent testing for COVID-19. Dozens of additional coaches, football staff members, and athletics department personnel also received tests.
For now, players are being put into small pods, but over time they will get placed into larger pods. Eventually, by when the walk-through practices are supposed to commence, the goal is of course to have the entire team together.