Syracuse, N.Y. -- Former Syracuse kicker Dave Jacobs has an official position on the school’s football staff as a volunteer kicking coach, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said on Monday.
Jacobs has been around the program throughout training camp and was on the SU sideline on Saturday in a team-issued polo shirt.
“We’ve got Mr. Jacobs with us,” Brown said. “We’re excited about that. That helps us in the kicking game. ... He’s a pro at it, understands it. He brings a lot of expertise.”
Jacobs has been helping Fran’s son, Franny, develop his skills as a long-snapper since the summer.
Franny, who transferred to SU this offseason, recently won the job as SU’s short-snapper despite just starting to learn the skill this offseason.
Syracuse brought on Ricky Brumfield as a special teams coach this offseason.
The majority of special teams coaches across the country do not have substantial technical knowledge of kicking.
That setup means players often rely on personal coaches who utilize video to help them make corrections.
Having Jacobs on SU’s staff gives the Orange a coach who played multiple seasons in the NFL after being drafted 325th overall in the 1979 draft.
During an interview earlier this month, Jacobs said that a lot of advice that he gives Syracuse’s specialists is not technical but revolves around having a good mental approach.
Syracuse’s kickers struggled last season, with three different players rotating through the job. The Orange’s 13-of-22 (.591) ranked last in the ACC.
Syracuse has made two of its three field-goal tries so far this season.
“At this level it’s mostly understanding them mentally, emotionally,” Jacobs said last month. “Physically they all come in such great shape. I analyze their movements but I don’t really change anything.”
Jacobs, 68, has trained special team specialists locally for and operated Shirt World on Marshall Street for years before closing the shop in 2024.
The store, started by his parents, opened in 1976 and had a run of nearly 50 years as a staple for T-shirts and other SU merchandise.
During that time, Jacobs said he never attended a game in the Carrier (now JMA Wireless) Dome.
Part of that was because game days were busy at the store but, like many former SU players over the past year, Jacobs said he felt compelled to re-connect with the program because of the enthusiasm that Brown has brought to the program.
“The only reason I’m back involved is because of Fran Brown himself,” Jacobs said. “Since I retired from the clothing end, I feel like he gave me a feeling to live another full life.”
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