Soldiers of the 427th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) display the U.S. flag during the patriotic day pregame events at the Syracuse Carrier Dome on Saturday, September 15, 2007. The Central NY Citizen Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan in 2008 as part of Task Force Pheonix, the senior headquarters for training Afghan army and national police forces. Col. Gary Yaple, Deputy Commander of the Syracuse-based 27th Brigade Combat Team presided over the coin toss as Syracuse University Athletics saluted the American armed forces during the Syracuse University football game against Illinois on Saturday, September 15 at the Carrier Dome. Patriotic Day at the Dome. The "Fighting Illini" beat the Syracuse Orange, 41-20.