After nine months of waiting and three weeks of training camp, Syracuse football finally has an opponent to prepare for.

It’s a game week for the Orange, and the ever-important opener is on Saturday against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C. (6:30 p.m., ESPN360). With the bitter taste of a 1-10 finish in 2005 behind him, head coach Greg Robinson is ready to finally prepare for someone besides his scout team.

‘Our intent is to start preparing for Wake Forest,’ Robinson said Sunday. ‘That doesn’t mean that there still isn’t some time in there, that instead of the scout team work we will go the offense versus the defense. It’s just getting good work against each other at a high rate of speed.’

That preparation started during Sunday’s practice. Robinson gave the Orange off on Monday, the first day of classes for students. Practice resumes on Tuesday.

Leading up to Saturday, the anticipation for the opener is different than last season’s opening week. The Orange was taking on rival West Virginia at home on national television in Robinson’s debut along with a new offensive philosophy.

This season, expectations aren’t as high and the opening opponent isn’t as familiar to Orange fans. The game is not on national or local television and falls under the radar of the rest of college football’s weekend slate.

Nonetheless, it’s the opening game and a win or a loss could dictate the momentum – especially considering the following two games are against Big Ten opponents Iowa and Illinois.

‘I think that it’s a good challenge for our team, one that I think our players are looking forward to,’ said Robinson. ‘Our intent is to get on that plane Saturday night with a victory.’

Injuries not a factor

Syracuse has the rest of the week to decide pending roster battles across the field, from running back to offensive line to the secondary.

But Robinson can consider himself lucky to escape training camp without any major injuries – so far. In the week leading up to last season’s opener against West Virginia, starting receiver Landel Bembo broke his leg. But right now, no one is seriously injured and Robinson doesn’t expect any lingering injuries affecting Saturday’s game.

‘We’re in good shape,’ Robinson said on Monday’s Big East teleconference. ‘We will have everybody ready to play Saturday. That’s a good thing.’

Big East media deal

The Big East is expected to announce a major media agreement with ESPN today at the ESPN Zone in New York City. The announcement will be streamed live on ESPN360 at noon.

Published on August 28, 2006 at 12:00 pm