SYRACUSE -- Syracuse University is optimistic it will draw more fans to the Carrier Dome this fall for the second season under head football coach Doug Marrone.

Single game tickets went on sale to the general public Wednesday morning at the Dome and online. The Athletic Department is not releasing exact numbers, but they say the expect to surpass last year's average game attendance of 39,000.

The team finished 4-8 last season in Marrone's rookie campaign as a head coach.

Jeremiah Maher is the assistant athletics director for ticket operations at Syracuse University. He said, "We've set a goal to get to a bowl game this year. Once we produce on the field the fans will come out to support it. Hopefully, we'll get a sellout in the next few years."

Last season the Orange opened with a full house for the debut of hometown quarterback Greg Paulus against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. That's the same type of crowd the university is hoping to attract to several big games this year. That type of atmosphere charges up the team and the fans.

"It's about the loudest place you'll find inside the Dome for a college football game with 50,000 people in here" says Maher.

Syracuse's home opener is September 18th against Maine. That's just 38 days away.