PINSTRIPE : Marrone not only member of SU experiencing homecoming
NEW YORK –– Much has been made of Doug Marrone’s return home, but the Syracuse head coach is far from the only one from Syracuse with New York City ties. Several key players hail from the tri-state area and will join Marrone in coming home for SU’s first bowl game since before any of them ever arrived on campus.
For that group, representing Syracuse at Yankee Stadium in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl is something that couldn’t have been scripted any better. Especially for the seniors, who will finish their collegiate careers in a city with a lot of familiarity.
‘It’s like a dream,’ said senior linebacker Doug Hogue, a Yonkers, N.Y., native. ‘It’s just a great feeling. When I was home for Christmas, I had all my family telling me, ‘I can’t wait to come to the game,’ and my friends were all telling me, ‘I’ve got my tickets.’ It’s just a great feeling having this game here close to home.’
Hogue isn’t the only player with an opportunity to play close to home, either. Nearly a third of SU’s roster hails from the tri-state area. Others are just a few short hours away. All of them will have a rare opportunity against Kansas State on Thursday.
And with all the distractions that have been keeping the players busing this week, that continues to be the silver lining heading into Thursday’s game.
Said Hogue: ‘To top off my career at Syracuse University in front of my family would be the best feeling I’ve had since I began playing football.’
