Syracuse Football To Host Three Games At Meadowlands Stadium

SU Hopes Meadowlands Games Will Help Broaden Recruiting

Syracuse Univ. (SU) will host three football games at the new Meadowlands Stadium, according to David Cassilo of NEWSDAY. SU will play USC on September 8, 2012, and the school will host Notre Dame on September 27, 2014 and on September 3, 2016. Talks between SU and Meadowlands officials began "about a year ago," and there is a "possibility that future games will be scheduled at the venue." SU AD Daryl Gross: "We are the BCS school in the state of New York. We really feel it is a responsibility of ours to represent this area not just in Syracuse, but all of New York and the metropolitan area." SU hopes that the games "will help broaden their recruiting to areas around New York City." Meanwhile, Cassilo notes the new Meadowlands Stadium is already scheduled to host a game between Notre Dame and Navy in '10 and discussions are "underway about the [possibility] of bringing a bowl game to the stadium" (NEWSDAY, 8/19). Meadowlands Stadium Co. President & CEO Mark Lamping: "We think Syracuse is a natural because of their proximity and the huge alumni base they have here" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/19). In Syracuse, Bud Poliquin wrote, "I do understand the potential financial gains to be enjoyed by moving three marquee Orange home football games some 200 miles." But there "can be little question here that Gross ... has disappointed a fair amount of those local and loyal fans -- a dwindling number, for sure -- by exporting" the games. Poliquin: "I believe that some things just shouldn't be up for bid. And chief among them, I think, is selling the majesty, the buzz, the pride of SU's taking to the Carrier Dome field against" USC and Notre Dame (SYRACUSE.com, 8/18). In Rochester, Bob Matthews writes the games "will be an inconvenience for fans in western and central New York, but at least a lot more people will be able to attend the games" (Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 8/19).

SCHOOL TIES: NFL Giants President & CEO John Mara said that there "have been conversations with several other programs to bring more" college football games to the Meadowlands. Mara said that there is "'no limit' to the amount of college games the stadium could host, though 'several per year' would be successful" (NJ.com, 8/18). In New Jersey, Andrew Gross cites sources as saying that Rutgers Univ. (RU) is "close to signing a deal to play at the Meadowlands in 2010 and the agreement should be announced prior to the start of this season." All indications are the opponent "will be Army." Lamping: "We're talking to a lot of schools that want to have a major game at the stadium, games that have great local interest. If you think about that criteria, there's no question Rutgers fits in real nicely. But we have nothing to announce." Meanwhile, RU football coach Greg Schiano Monday denied a report that the team and UCLA "were negotiating to play the 2010 season opener" at the Meadowlands. Army in July announced it is hosting RU at Yankee Stadium on November 12, 2011 (Bergen RECORD, 8/19).