While many bowl teams are spending their Christmases at home with family, Syracuse is down in Houston preparing for Friday’s Texas Bowl.

Some players, like linebacker Cameron Lynch, quarterback Drew Allen and running back Prince-Tyson Gulley, have relatives in the Longhorn State. But for most, this Yule-tide holiday experience was a new one.

“Really different,” quarterback Terrel Hunt said. “I’m used to staying home, waking up, opening presents and going to my grandma’s house.

“But being with these guys isn’t that bad.”

The Orange spent Christmas in Houston this year, holding its last practice of the season at Rice University on Wednesday, two days before taking on Minnesota in Reliant Stadium on Friday. SU head coach Scott Shafer called it a business holiday.

It was slow toward the end, Hunt said, but a strong final preparation to complete a near month-long layoff from live action.

“It kind of feels like just yesterday I left home for camp and now it’s over, basically, on Friday,” left tackle Sean Hickey said. “A good year. A lot of good experiences and a fun time. The only thing we need to do is cap it off on Friday with this win.”

But before the Orange started its practice, head coach Scott Shafer delivered a gift. He brought in SU-turned-Houston Texans wide receiver Alec Lemon to speak to the team.

“I’m 0-2 against Minnesota,” Lemon said with a big smile, “so it would be nice to see y’all give Minnesota hell out here so I can finally get a win.”

Hunt said the offense keyed in on prepping for the Gophers’ aggressive defensive front in practice while cornerback Brandon Reddish talked about Minnesota’s power run game, headed by junior David Cobb.

There were no new surprises or significant adjustments to make. Just the last batch of repetitions before a day off Thursday as a team manager’s Santa hat was one of the only signs of Christmas on the practice field.

“It actually was going a little slow toward the end,” Hunt said, “but it’s crazy that it’s here. Now we have to just go out here and win that trophy.”

Published on December 26, 2013 at 9:45 am

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