The first big news of the Syracuse football program's 2011 season was released Wednesday afternoon, as the Orange will begin regular play hosting the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Sept. 3, at the Carrier Dome. Wake Forest, a program from the Atlantic Coast Conference, will be one of five non-conference opponents (USC Trojans, Toledo Rockets, Tulane Green Wave and Rhode Island) for SU, which hasn't officially announced its upcoming schedule.
"So now we know about Wake (9/3), USC (9/17), Toledo (9/24) and Tulane (10/8),' wrote Sean Keeley of Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magican. "One would assume the Rhode Island game will slot in at 9/10 or 10/1, depending on when the Orange want to work in a bye week. From there we'll just need to know the Big East schedule."
Last season, the Deacons finished 3-9 overall and 1-7, last place, in the ACC's Atlantic Division. In 2006, Wake Forest opened one of the program's most successful season (11-3 and a Orange Bowl berth) by defeating Syracuse, 20-10, Sept. 2.
Last year, SU opened up with 29-3 victory over the Akron Zips. In 2009, SU lost at the Minnesota Gophers, 23-20, in overtime.