Syracuse to salute troops with practices at Fort Drum

Orange coach Doug Marrone wants to see more toughness from his team and will test his players by moving a portion of preseason camp to the nearby army base.

By Matt Rybaltowski

Jul 31, 2012 at 2:03 pm ET • 2 min read

In efforts to instill toughness into a team that ranked 95th in FBS in rushing and 64th in total defense last season, Syracuse coach Doug Marrone has moved a portion of preseason camp to nearby Fort Drum.

Orange players will sleep in the barracks on the reservation, practice on Sligh Field and scrimmage in front of a large contingent of soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division. Marrone also has plans to incorporate some aspects of Army Physical Training into the practice sessions and will hold team meetings on the base’s Army Battalion Headquarters. Syracuse opens preseason camp on Aug. 6 and will hold camp at Fort Drum from Aug. 12-18.

“We have a great appreciation for what the military does,” Marrone said at Tuesday’s Big East Media Kickoff. “There’s a mentality about them and a work ethic about them (I admire).”

Syracuse must find a way to replace former DE Chandler Jones’ speed off the edge. Jones, a first-round pick of the New England Patriots, and Mikhail Marinovich combined for 10.5 tackles for loss last season. The Orange also lost 2011 leading rusher Antwon Bailey.

“We have to become a tougher football team and a better football team,” Marrone said. “I wanted to change the environment.”

There are more than 19,000 active duty members of the military at Fort Drum, according to its website. Members of the light infantry unit have been deployed at Operation Restore Hope in Somalia (1992-94), Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti (1994-95), Task Force Eagle in Kosovo (1995-96), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-present) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-present).

Pugh out for camp

Left tackle Justin Pughwill miss the entire preseason camp due to an upper body injury, according to Marrone. Pugh said Tuesday that he will be re-evaluated by doctors in August. If cleared, Pugh hopes to return at some point in September.

Pugh, a 2011 All-Big East First Team performer, started the last 25 games for the Orange.

Marrone told Syracuse.com that QB Terrel Hunt, WR Alec Lemon and LB Marquis Spruillwill all participate in fall camp. Hunt was suspended by Marrone for a reported shoplifting incident at a local Syracuse mall in January. Lemon (shoulder) and Spruill (lower body) were sidelined by injuries during spring practice.

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