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By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 05:58 p.m. EDT, Oct 23, 2009
Sports talk radio and Internet postings in central New York this week have been full of chatter about the need for the Syracuse football team to avenge an upset loss to the University of Akron last season.
But Orange first-year coach Doug Marrone said his players do not share such motivation as they head to a rematch today in the Carrier Dome.
''I don't sense that at all. We have been focusing on doing a better job of handling ourselves, of executing better,'' said Marrone, who joined Syracuse after three years as offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints. ''We don't look at what has happened in the past.''
Conversely, the Zips want to revel in that particular part of their past. UA scored the game's final 14 points last Sept. 6, also at the Carrier Dome, to win 42-28. It was the second victory ever for UA over a Bowl Championship Series opponent, following one over North Carolina State in 2006.
A third such victory today is a long shot, with the Orange (2-4) being favored by 10 points over the Zips (1-5), who have lost four consecutive games and have been ravaged by injuries.
In part, Syracuse is such a solid favorite because Marrone has changed many of the schemes and had a major roster overhaul. Such moves were needed because the Orange had a 3-25 Big East record in the four years of departed coach Greg Robinson.
''They are a really improved football team, way different,'' UA coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''They are flying around and playing hard. It's a big challenge.''
Syracuse, which was idle last weekend, opened with losses at home to Minnesota (23-20) and at Penn State (28-7). Then came four home games — part of having seven of eight in September and October — and wins over Northwestern (37-34) and Maine (41-24), followed by losses to South Florida (34-20) and West Virginia (34-13).
The Orange are led by familiar names to local sports fans in quarterback Greg Paulus, a four-year starter at point guard for Duke, and tailback Delone Carter, a former Mr. Football in Ohio at Copley High School. But their three best players are receiver Mike Williams, linebacker Derrell Smith and nose guard Arthur Jones.
''I am very impressed with where they are at,'' Brookhart said. ''They have had a very tough schedule to date, so I don't think their record is a reflection of how good they are.''
The Zips will counter with a battered and bruised football team that has only a victory over Football Championship Subdivision Morgan State in six starts.
UA is down to their third quarterback, freshman Patrick Nicely, and lost two valuable starters last week in a 21-17 loss to Buffalo. Receiver Deryn Bowser (broken fibula) and linebacker Aaron Williams (broken arm) are done for the season.
Lost in the shuffle of the Zips' disappointing season has been the play of the defense. UA is in the upper half of the Football Bowl Subdivision (58th out of 120) and in the upper half in the Mid-American Conference (sixth out of 13) by allowing 320.33 yards per game.
That defense will be challenged by Williams (sixth nationally in yards receiving and seventh in catches), Carter (360 yards rushing) and Paulus (1,187 yards passing and eight touchdowns).
''It's a twofold challenge, as it is every week. You have got to contain the run game and you have to prevent the big play,'' Brookhart said. ''It's a balancing act.''
On offense, the Zips will have relative newcomers at three key positions. Nicely (26-of-57 for 298 yards) and redshirt freshman tailback DeVoe Torrence (game-high 90 yards rushing at Buffalo) will make their second college starts. Andre Jones will make his first 2009 start at receiver, replacing Bowser.
Marrone, who has worked with Drew Brees of the Saints and Chad Pennington of the New York Jets in recent years, was impressed with what he has seen of Nicely.
''He is a guy who can throw the football down the field. He can hit the routes,'' Marrone said. ''He has a lot of range in what he can do, using the full field. For a third-string quarterback, he did a great job.''
The Zips continue on the road next Saturday at Northern Illinois before returning home Nov. 7 against Kent State.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Sports talk radio and Internet postings in central New York this week have been full of chatter about the need for the Syracuse football team to avenge an upset loss to the University of Akron last season.
But Orange first-year coach Doug Marrone said his players do not share such motivation as they head to a rematch today in the Carrier Dome.
''I don't sense that at all. We have been focusing on doing a better job of handling ourselves, of executing better,'' said Marrone, who joined Syracuse after three years as offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints. ''We don't look at what has happened in the past.''
Conversely, the Zips want to revel in that particular part of their past. UA scored the game's final 14 points last Sept. 6, also at the Carrier Dome, to win 42-28. It was the second victory ever for UA over a Bowl Championship Series opponent, following one over North Carolina State in 2006.
A third such victory today is a long shot, with the Orange (2-4) being favored by 10 points over the Zips (1-5), who have lost four consecutive games and have been ravaged by injuries.
In part, Syracuse is such a solid favorite because Marrone has changed many of the schemes and had a major roster overhaul. Such moves were needed because the Orange had a 3-25 Big East record in the four years of departed coach Greg Robinson.
''They are a really improved football team, way different,'' UA coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''They are flying around and playing hard. It's a big challenge.''
Syracuse, which was idle last weekend, opened with losses at home to Minnesota (23-20) and at Penn State (28-7). Then came four home games — part of having seven of eight in September and October — and wins over Northwestern (37-34) and Maine (41-24), followed by losses to South Florida (34-20) and West Virginia (34-13).
The Orange are led by familiar names to local sports fans in quarterback Greg Paulus, a four-year starter at point guard for Duke, and tailback Delone Carter, a former Mr. Football in Ohio at Copley High School. But their three best players are receiver Mike Williams, linebacker Derrell Smith and nose guard Arthur Jones.
''I am very impressed with where they are at,'' Brookhart said. ''They have had a very tough schedule to date, so I don't think their record is a reflection of how good they are.''
The Zips will counter with a battered and bruised football team that has only a victory over Football Championship Subdivision Morgan State in six starts.
UA is down to their third quarterback, freshman Patrick Nicely, and lost two valuable starters last week in a 21-17 loss to Buffalo. Receiver Deryn Bowser (broken fibula) and linebacker Aaron Williams (broken arm) are done for the season.
Lost in the shuffle of the Zips' disappointing season has been the play of the defense. UA is in the upper half of the Football Bowl Subdivision (58th out of 120) and in the upper half in the Mid-American Conference (sixth out of 13) by allowing 320.33 yards per game.
That defense will be challenged by Williams (sixth nationally in yards receiving and seventh in catches), Carter (360 yards rushing) and Paulus (1,187 yards passing and eight touchdowns).
''It's a twofold challenge, as it is every week. You have got to contain the run game and you have to prevent the big play,'' Brookhart said. ''It's a balancing act.''
On offense, the Zips will have relative newcomers at three key positions. Nicely (26-of-57 for 298 yards) and redshirt freshman tailback DeVoe Torrence (game-high 90 yards rushing at Buffalo) will make their second college starts. Andre Jones will make his first 2009 start at receiver, replacing Bowser.
Marrone, who has worked with Drew Brees of the Saints and Chad Pennington of the New York Jets in recent years, was impressed with what he has seen of Nicely.
''He is a guy who can throw the football down the field. He can hit the routes,'' Marrone said. ''He has a lot of range in what he can do, using the full field. For a third-string quarterback, he did a great job.''
The Zips continue on the road next Saturday at Northern Illinois before returning home Nov. 7 against Kent State.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Canton, OH
Posted 10:03 PM, 10/23/2009
I wanna piece of the ' Cuse. . .
WHY ARE WE PLAYING IN THE CARRIER DOME 2 YEARS IN A ROW ????
Is that maroon, " Dome Ranger ", still running amok on the " ' Cuse sideline ?? That dude needs to get a life. . .
FEAR THE ' ROO. . . .
akron, oh
Posted 10:29 PM, 10/23/2009
Is this article meant to be posted on Friday or Saturday.
For the sake of clarity . . . . the football game will be played on SATURDAY at 3:30PM in Syracuse
rmk/akron
Twinsburg, Oh
Posted 09:27 AM, 10/24/2009
The Zips will pull it out somehow someway!!
Posted 09:28 AM, 10/24/2009
The master bard strikes again! EEK? A little common sense and you could FIGURE IT OUT!?!?!?
Highland Square, OH
Posted 12:55 PM, 10/24/2009
JD is pretty much a lame duck already, but if he loses this one, you can pretty much start the search for a new head coach now.
