Camp is in session, meaning kickoff is right around the corner, and the Orange are working hard. Syracuse started camp on July 30th, and since then, the position battles are on, the coach rankings are out, and an iconic team tradition returns. Still, even before camp started the Orange announced the retirement of one of its football greats.
Syracuse Camp Update and More
Retiring 45
Just before the players moved in, Syracuse announced the dates for its 2025 fall jersey retirements. College and Pro-Football Hall of Famer Art Monk will get his number 45 jersey retired on Saturday, November 29th, against Boston College to cap off the regular season. Monk will have his jersey retired alongside lacrosse player Alyssa Manley, who will have her number five retired on September 26th.
Monk played for the Orange from 1976 to 1979. Starting as a running back, he ran for over 500 yards in his sophomore and junior years. In his senior season, he would move to receiver, racking in 716 receiving yards. On top of offense, he had 1,105 career return yards. With these stats, Monk was selected 18th overall in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.
Forty years, three Super Bowls, and two Hall of Fame inductions later, Monk will finally see his jersey hang from the Dome. Before Syracuse celebrates Monk’s legacy, the Commanders will retire his iconic 81 on November 2nd versus the Seahawks.
Continuing a Tradition
Just as camp started, Head Coach Fran Brown led the 2025 Syracuse football team in the tradition “The Burning of the Shoe.” Started in the early eighties by former Syracuse Head Coach Dick MacPherson, the Orange burned their cleats to cleanse themselves of previous seasons and mistakes. Before MacPherson got the job, Syracuse had three losing seasons in five years. By the end of MacPherson’s tenure in the Dome, the Orange had two double-digit winning seasons (1987 and 1988).
Now, almost four decades later, Brown continues this tradition, honoring the legacy of MacPherson and all the players who came before his team.
Embracing the Battle
The never-ending quarterback battle that has run since May will soon run its course, but neither guy is giving in. Both Steve Angeli and Rickie Collins have embraced the battle, but who will win?
Both guys understand Brown’s message and philosophy of knowing that your spot and your teammates’ spot are never safe. Still, both guys speak nothing but positively of the other. Collins spoke on the battle after day two of fall camp, “We definitely push each other a whole lot. We learn from each other a lot. We both do things differently, but also the right way.” Both quarterbacks have great respect for each other and show great humility off the field, allowing their on-the-field play to dictate their position battle.
On a side note, Angeli spoke about his decision to come to Syracuse, “I’ve known a lot of these coaches. A lot of these players I’ve grown up playing against in New Jersey. A lot of the coaching staff is from New Jersey.” Lastly, Angeli spoke about how former quarterback Kyle McCord talked to him about the program while Angeli was in the portal.
The battle will see more progress in the coming days and especially in the coming weeks.
Rankings are Out, Sort of
Well, it’s not the AP Rankings, but the AFCA Coaches Poll is out. Only three ACC teams are ranked in the top 25: Clemson, Miami, and SMU. All three of these teams play Syracuse at home in 2025. On top of that, Tennessee and Notre Dame are ranked in the top 25; both play the Orange as well.
Even though they’re outside of the top 25, the Orange received 16 votes, the third most by an ACC team not in the top 25: Louisville with 126 votes and Georgia Tech with 27 votes (who the Orange play on the road). Expect the official AP Poll in two weeks before the college football season kicks off in Dublin.
Sit tight, football fans, we’re almost at kickoff. Stay tuned for everything Orange, including another camp update and a full season preview.
Main Image: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
The post Syracuse Fall Camp Update appeared first on Last Word on College Football.