SB Nation - Arthur Jones

Arthur Jones, Rob Long Make Big East 1st-Team

Sean Keeley — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:48:41 -0000

Guess we should just be happy someone was paying attention.

The Big East Conference announced its list of postseason honors for 2009 on Wednesday. Syracuse senior nose tackle Arthur Jones and junior punter Rob Long earned first-team All-Big East honors. Orange senior offensive guard Ryan Bartholomew and linebacker Derrell Smith were named to the second team.

Then again, how closely were they watching? All due respect to Art Jones but Smith put up better numbers and became The Bone-carrying leader of the defense before his injury.

Pitt's Dion Lewis is your Big East Rookie and Offensive Player of the Year (first to do so since Michael Vick) while Pitt's Greg Romeus and Mick Williams are co-Defensive Players of the Year. Brian Kelly won his third-straight Big East Coach of the Year award, which as one tweeter put it, will look great on his mantle in South Bend.

Full details and 1st and 2nd-teams here. Did you ever think before this season started that Mike Williams wouldn't end up on one of those lists?

The Ten Best Syracuse Football Games Of The Aughts

Sean Keeley — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:55:03 -0000

via nbcsportsmedia1.msnbc.com

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This one was actually harder than trying to figure out the ten worst games. Not so much because I couldn't find enough good wins, which believe it or not, I did. It was trying to rank them that made it so difficult. So many wins meant different things. Some were just amazing games. Others changed the entire SU season. Others still effected college football as a whole. I'm gonna go ahead and say that even I'm not sure about the rankings as I write this so feel free to chime in with your own top list in the comments. Somewhere in the middle, we'll figure it out.

Honorable Mention

Syracuse 26, Kansas State 3 (2001)
Syracuse's last (and only) bowl victory of the 2000's was all about James Mungro. Mungro wrapped up his career with 112 yards and three touchdowns in the Insight.com Bowl, passing Larry Csonka for second place on Syracuse's career rushing list with 2,981 yards.

Syracuse 40, Wyoming 34 2OT (2006)
The Orange might not have expected to get a game out of the Cowboys but they got all they could handle in the Dome. The Cowboys tied the game up with fifteen seconds remaining and sent it into overtime. A back-and-forth contest all day that featured 17 penalties, the Syracuse defense got it together in the 2nd OT and Jameel McClain stopped RB Joseph Harris on a fourth-and-1 from the 5. That led to a 15-yard Delone Carter TD to give the Orange the victory.

Syracuse 31, Buffalo 0 (2005)
Hey, when you go 1-10, you better appreciate that 1.

Auburn 37, Syracuse 34 2OT (2002)
SU fell short in this one, but any time a Syracuse quarterback puts on a performance in a game that later becomes the basis for a Syracuse sports blog, that game must be documented and appreciated.

Syracuse 22, Virginia Tech 14 (2001)
Virginia Tech entered the game No. 5 in the nation. They would not leave as such. Jamel Riddle's 51- yard punt return for a touchdown on the fourth play of the game set the tone as the Orange jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead. The Hokies rallied in the 2nd half, cutting the lead to 20-14. Thanks to an SU punt that set the Hokies insider their own ten, the defense forced a safety, killing VT's momentum and ending the comeback. It was SU's first win in Blackburg since 1987and their first road win over a ranked team since 1998.

No. 10 - Syracuse 49, North Carolina 47 3OT (2003)

Syracuse trailed the entire game until :27 left in the fourth when Collin Barbar's FG made it 34-34. Syracuse got the ball first in overtime and scored on Water Reyes' five-yard TD run. North Carolina tied it on Darian Durant's four-yard TD run. In the 2nd overtime, Syracuse had an easy chance to win. UNC had failed to score on their drive and Barber lined up for a 27-yard FG...missing wide left. In the 3rd OT, Walter Reyes took the first hand-off and scampered 25 yards for the TD. Since SU had to go for two, they did and they converted. North Carolina scored on the ensuing drive, setting up a game-tying conversion of their own. Dan Orner's conversion pass failed and the Orange escaped Chapel Hill with a thrilling season-opening victory. Reyes finished with 191 yards and 3 touchdowns on 28 carries.

No. 9 - Syracuse 38, Pitt 31 2OT (2004)

The Orange were trying to keep hopes alive for their first bowl game in three years, Pitt was trying to maintain their place among the Big East leaders. SU led 21-13 at the half but Pitt stormed back ahead for a 24-21 lead late. Collin Barber kicked a 27-yard field goal with 71 seconds left in regulation to send the game into OT. In the first overtime, Tyler Palko hit Joe DelSardo with a 9-yard scoring pass for Pitt, but Perry Patterson tied it for Syracuse on a 3-yard run. With starter Walter Reyes out, Damien Rhodes ran the ball six times in seven plays and set up the Orange TD. On Pitt's possession, linebacker Kellen Pruitt and safety Diamond Ferri stopped RB Raymond Kirkley for no gain on fourth down to preserve the win.

No. 8 - Syracuse 31, West Virginia 27 (2000)

I'll let a West Virginia fan who put this loss in his Top 10 WVU Football Games I Will Never Watch Again explain...

We had it in the bag. 27-24 lead AND the ball. Scott McBrien throws a costly interception with less than 3 minutes to go, Syracuse drives all the way down the field and scores the winning TD with 10 seconds left. I broke my stadium seat afterwards. To top the evening's festivities off perfectly, Coach Nehlen announces his retirement after the game. Not a good day in Touchdown City. 31-27 Syracuse

Anytime you can win the Schwartzwalder Trophy on a late score AND cause your rivals' longtime head coach to retire, that's a good win.

No. 7 - Syracuse 38, Notre Dame 12 (2003)

There was really nothing at stake for the 5-6 Orange when they took on the 5-6 Irish in the final game of 2003. Even though a sixth win would have made them bowl eligible, they were not expected to go to one. The Irish however would have most certainly gone to a bowl game with the victory. A win for the Irish also would have strengthened the S.O.S. for USC, who was locked in a three-team battle with LSU and Oklahoma for a top spot in the BCS. In front of a national audience, the Orange shut down RB Julius Jones and dominated the heavily-favored Irish from start to finish. The SU win guaranteed Notre Dame's third losing season in five years, might have very well saved Paul Pasqualoni's job and influenced the way the national title picture played out.

No. 6 - Syracuse 37, Northwestern 34 (2009)

The Doug Marrone Era was moving in the right direction two games into its inaugural season. Thanks to a close loss to Minnesota and a well-played game against a superior Penn State, it was evident that the Orange were improved. But they lacked that one thing that they could point to as tangible evidence of improvement...a win. That changed when the Northwestern Wildcats came to town. Having defeated the Orange a year earlier, there was little reason to think they couldn't do it again. But this wasn't the same SU team and they proved it right away, jumping out to a 17-0 first quarter lead. The Wildcats responded however and the Orange lead evaporated to 24-21 at the half. Back and forth the two teams went in the 2nd half, trading leads and scores. Finally, the Orange had the ball with seconds remaining and the score tied 34-34. Walk-on freshman Ryan Lichtenstein walked on to the field to attempt a 41-yard FG as time expired. He did not disappoint:

The Orange won the game and instilled within themselves and their fanbase proof that the Doug Marrone Era would be so much better than the one that preceded it.

No. 5 - Syracuse 24, Notre Dame 23 (2008)

Once again with nothing on the line, the 19.5-point underdog Orange stepped up to play a Notre Dame team desperately in need of a victory. And once again, Syracuse stepped up to the challenge. Perhaps in tribute to lame duck coach Greg Robinson, the Orange played their best game of the season. Led by Cam Dantley, son of Notre Dame great Adrian Dantley, the offense rallied from a 23-10 deficit in the 4th quarter. SU fans were officially introduced to RB Antwon Bailey who ripped off 126 yards and a TD while Arthur Jones anchored the defense with 15 tackles. Note Dame had a chance to win the game as time expired but Brandon Walker's 53-yard kick fell short and the Orange once again upset the Irish on national television.

No. 4 - Syracuse 31, Rutgers 13 (2009)

It wasn't that long ago that a 31-13 win over Rutgers would have been commonplace. In fact, that might have been considered a close game between the two before the mid-2000's, when Rutgers wrested control of the series and tri-state area recruiting from the Orange for the first time. So it was with particular delight that the Orange dominated the Scarlet Knights for the first time in a long time. The win didn't do much for the Orange in the short-term but the long-term effects could be enormous. Much in the same way Rutgers used wins over SU to catapult their position in the Northeastern recruiting war, this win could have a similar effect in reversing that trend. One also gets the distinct feeling that a strong rivalry between the two programs may have just begun.

No. 3 - Syracuse 43, Boston College 17 (2004)

It's odd to see a blowout win among the best wins of the decade when so many of them came in overtime on at the last-second. But it's hard to argue that Syracuse's depantsing of BC in 2004 was one of the most satisfying wins in SU history.

The Eagles were about to leave the Big East, but not before winning the out-right conference crown. All that stood between them and the BCS bid was a 5-6 Syracuse squad. Damien Rhodes scampered for a 69-yard TD but the hero of the day was Diamond Ferri. Due to injuries, Ferri played not only his usual safety spot but also returned kicked and rushed on offense. The result? He rushed 28 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned an interception for a score in the fourth quarter to seal the 43-17 victory. With the win, SU ruined Boston College's chances of a BCS bid or outright Big East title all while gaining a share of the conference crown and becoming bowl eligible themselves.

No. 2 - Syracuse 37, Louisville 34 (2007)

36.5 points. That's how much Louisville was favored by when the lowly Orange came to Papa Johns Stadium that day. So you can imagine it was a bit of a shock when SU QB Andrew Robinson hit Taj Smith for a 79-yard touchdown on the first play of the game. It set the tone for one of the most shocking first half performances in SU history. The Orange led throughout behind Robinson, who threw for a career-high 423 yards and tied a school record with four touchdowns. Louisville began to chip back into the lead in the second half, thanks to two SU turnovers. The comeback fell short and the Orange made national headlines with the upset. For a brief moment, the Big East bottom-dweller was a real football program again.

No. 1 - Syracuse 50, Virginia Tech 42 3OT (2002)

Coming off their upset of the highly-ranked Hokies the year prior, it was too much to ask of the Orange to do it again. But in a game that featured 1,163 yards of total offense, including 907 yards passing, Syracuse did it anyway.

VT jumped out to an early 14-3 lead but the Orange chipped away and kept the rest of the game close. The fourth quarter featured 27 points, a lead change and two ties With the score tied 35-35, Virginia Tech missed a game-winning FG late and the Orange took a knee into overtime.

In the first OT period, neither team was able to score. VT missed another FG and Troy Nunes was intercepted in the endzone. In the second OT, VT got on the board first but Nunes recovered to throw a TD pass, sending the game into a third OT. In it, Damien Rhodes scored the go-ahead TD and mandatory 2-point conversion. Syracuse safety Maurice McClain intercepted a Bryan Randall pass in the endzone, clinching the win for the Orange in front of the home crowd, which stormed the field afterward.

Daily Links - Bid Time For SU Charity Auction

Sean Keeley — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:25:35 -0000

SU Sport Management Club’s fifth annual Charity Sports Auction to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York
The Syracuse University Sport Management (SPM) Club will hold its fifth annual Charity Sports Auction on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Carrier Dome.

Jim Boeheim and Steve Donahue Podcasts | The Axeman - Brent Axe -
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim and Cornell head coach Steve Donahue joined Brent Axe "On the Block" on ESPN Radio 1260 on Monday to talk about their teams and preview the game.

Syracuse University Athletics - McKenzie Earns National Academic All-America Honors
Syracuse football center Jim McKenzie (Springfield, Pa.) is a 2009 CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American.

Mike's Mailbag: The Orange has a New York spate of wins | Orange Basketball Blog - syracuse.com
Random stat of the day: Syracuse has a record of roughly 697-265 against teams from New York State.

As the Orange was down (and Rutgers was not), we can ask: What's up with the polls? | Bud Poliquin
Don't trust sports experts. They know no more than you do.

Hometown Hero: Greg Paulus' Lasting Effect on the Syracuse Orange | Bleacher Report
No one was surprised when future NFL defensive lineman Arthur Jones received a standing ovation from the 36,000 Orange faithful on Senior Day this past weekend against Rutgers. However, the player with the second most cheers on senior night may have surprised some. It was quarterback Greg Paulus.

Syracuse football roster one of the smallest of any FBS team in the nation | Orange Football Blog - syracuse.com
The injuries and defections have left the Syracuse University football team with a very small roster compared to its counterparts in the Football Bowl Subdivision. That was never more evident than on Saturday during warmups before the Rutgers game at the Carrier Dome.

Three Idiots on Sports: Scoop Jardine is Better That Jonny Flynn (sort of)
Now that I went all Skip Bayless on you and said something outrageous to get your attention, stick with me for a minute and read this post before you start calling me a moron.

Schiano: Team was overconfident against Syracuse - Big East Blog - ESPN
Head coach Greg Schiano said that his players may have been impressed with themselves before going to Syracuse, where they promptly received some come-uppance in the form of a 31-13 humiliation.

Orange::44: Rutgers - Syracuse Postgame Reactions OR Just What We Needed
Syracuse is clearly a mystery. A true mystery in college football.

Rankitude - Cuse Country
So in the aftermath of the win over UNC on Friday night, a chunk of the Cuse Country staff, and some hangers-on, gathered at a local establishment to revel in what we had just witnessed and fantasize about what might be next on the agenda.

Syracuse University Athletics - Johnson Named BIG EAST Player of the Week
Orange junior forward Wes Johnson was chosen as the first BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week for the 2009-10 season

A quick montage of Syracuse Basketball's wins over Cal and UNC and the football team's win over Rutgers.

Here's To You, Andrew Robinson

Sean Keeley — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:42:23 -0000

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Robinson-to-Williams has the potential to become the best tandem in the history of SU football.
-Me, December 4th, 2007

And it was true. All you had to know was two specific games that season, Louisville and Cincinnati, and you would have agreed.

Louisville: Andrew Robinson (423 yards, 4 TDs), Mike Williams (5 catches, 83 yards, TD)

Cincinnati: Andrew Robinson (419 yards, 3 TDs), Mike Williams (9 catches, 160 yards, TD)

At the time, if you had told me that, two years later, one of them would have quit the team after returning from a suspension and the other would be languishing on the depth chart as a back-up tight end, well, I would have stabbed your eyes out with a shrimp fork.

But what would have been even more shocking is if you told me the one who got moved out of their position and demoted to the bottom of the pile never complained, did everything asked of him and became the model student by which all future Syracuse football players should measure themselves.

When the Orange play UConn on Sunday, Andrew Robinson will suit up for the final time in orange and blue. He might get in on some special teams plays but that's about it. Two other guys will be throwing the football. A couple other guys will block and nab some catches from the tight end spot. Through it all Andrew Robinson will not complain and will not pout. He will show up for his teammates and support them. He will be the very definition of senior leadership.

Doug Marrone might point to Greg Paulus as our leader and, as the starting quarterback, he might just be that. All due respect to Doug and Greg, but Andrew Robinson has been this team's compass for three seasons, even if his best games are two years behind him.

Robinson came to SU by way of Maryland where he was honorable mention all-state, first-team All-MIAA, second-team All-Metro and second-team All-Baltimore County as a high school senior. Not bad for a guy who had never played football before ninth grade. That didn't stop then-coach Greg Robinson from recruiting Andrew:

"When I found out, I was like, 'Hmmm,' because I liked his poise," Greg Robinson said. "He has a good football sense to him. I really like him. He's pretty natural about how he learns and pretty intense about trying to get it right. The mind-set is, be the best you can be and get better for us. If he does, he'll be a good quarterback. I believe that."

In his first season, Andrew waited in line behind Perry Patterson, playing sparingly during blowouts. There were quite a few.

In his sophomore season, Robinson took the reigns of the Syracuse offense. It was a bittersweet year for Robinson since his career as a college quarterback was taking off but the Orange were in the midst of another terrible year under Greggers. In his first game, Robinson put up decent stats, 20-for-32 for 199 yards and a touchdown. He had good games and bad games, just like any young QB. Then the Louisville game happened...

Robinson's 423 yard performance was, and still is, the 2nd-best passing day in SU history. His four touchdowns tied the SU mark and earned him the Big East Offensive Player of the Week notice. His 79-yard touchdown pass to Taj Smith, the first SU play from scrimmage, was the longest passing play for SU since 2002. Syracuse was a national story and the image of Robinson jumping for joy became the representation of Syracuse football. Andrew Robinson had arrived.

The Orange quickly came back to Earth and continued to struggle all season long. Every other game or so, Robinson would string together a solid performance. No small feat considering the lack of protection he was getting from his offensive line. He threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns against Miami (OH). 158 yards and a TD against Rutgers. And in the season finale, Robinson once again tantalized SU fans with his potential, throwing for 419 yards and three TDs. His 47 attempts are an SU record and 29 completions tied him with Marvin Graves all-time. Robinson earned Big East Honor Roll accolades that week and, if nothing else, provided Orange fans with a glimpse into a better future. He and fellow sophomore Mike Williams were about to embark on a two-year journey that would rewrite the Syracuse record books.

Something funny happened on the way to Andrew's junior year. Maybe it was the yips. Maybe it was one too-many hits courtesy of the porous offensive line. Maybe it was a Russian gypsy curse. Maybe it was something we'll never know. Whatever it was, Andrew's game betrayed him.

It started innocently. Robinson was designated the first-string quarterback but not named the starter right away. How could this be? How could a guy who threw for 400 yards on two different occasions not automatically get the nod over a collection of unproven QBs?

By the time the Northwestern game came around to start the season, there was no denying it...Andrew Robinson had regressed. Or at least, he was not the same. As if he already knew this going in, Greg Robinson immediately announced that Cameron Dantley would be the new starting quarterback for the Orange the following week. Robinson played in three more games that year, all either in garbage or injury time.

This past season, his senior year, there was little expectation that Robinson would be able to regain his old job. Dantley returned for his senior year and redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib was waiting in the wings. By the fifth spring practice it became official that Nassib would end up being the starter (later replaced by transfer Greg Paulus). What was truly unexpected was what happened to Robinson...he was moved to tight end.

Tight end? TIGHT END? Have you seen this guy? He's not beanpole but he's no Arthur Jones either. It was the kind of move that makes players up and quit, and given the kind of upheaval the Orange's roster has gone through, it would not have been strange had Robinson decided this just wasn't for him. Of course, Robinson made the kind of decision we've come to expect from him...he decided to grind it out.

He bulked up. He learned the skills necessary. He put his head down. Most of all, he never ever complained.

Robinson was never really able to make much of a dent on the tight end depth chart. Originally slated as a 4th-string TE, Robinson was able to help the team more through special teams, be it as a holder or on coverage. Because of that, he played in every game unlike last season. And because of his commitment off the field to doing well, he was named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy which recognizes "an individual for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership." Sounds like him.

Despite only playing one full season at QB, Robinson leaves behind quite a few records and notable performances. His two 400-yard games are the 2nd and 3rd best single SU passing performances of all time. He ranks fifth on Syracuse’s career passing yards per game list (138.3 yards per game). He holds the record for most attempts in a game (47) and is tied for most completions (29). His 2007 season was among the best in SU history in terms of passing yards (2,192 yards, ranks fifth), completions (154, sixth), passing yards per game (199.3, fifth), touchdown passes (13, ninth), and pass attempts (292, third).

Doug Marrone does not use the word "tremendous" lightly. Okay, actually he uses it extremely lightly. He pretty much works it into every sentence. But if you think of it in terms of how important that word is to him, then it should be no surprise at all to know that Marrone calls Andrew "a tremendous, tremendous person." There is no greater praise you can receive from the big man.

It's funny that Robinson and Mike Williams were linked on the field because the way they handled themselves off the field is intrinsically linked as well. Andrew had every right to last out and be bitter with the way things ended up, yet he never did. Mike Williams had every reason to be on top of the world and yet he'll be remembered almost as much for his pouting and how he quit on his teammates and himself.

If Andrew Robinson got angry and emotional about his treatment on the SU team, that wouldn't have been unexpected.

If Andrew Robinson posted messages on his Facebook alluding to the fact that he was unhappy, no one would have blamed him.

If Andrew Robinson consistently broke team rules, we'd know why.

If Andrew Robinson quit the team, we would have understood.

But it was Mike Williams, the team's super-duper star, who did all of that while Robinson quietly went about his business. Andrew will graduate and he will never play professional football. Williams will go on to play professional football and probably become a millionaire. Not saying that's wrong or unfair, it's just the way the cards have been dealt.

Five years from now, Mike Williams will probably be something of a known quantity around the country. At the very least, he'll be a name on a fantasy football add/drop list. Andrew Robinson will have disappeared from the nation's consciousness long before then, probably already has. But I guarantee you that, five years from now, if you see both of them walking on the Syracuse quad, you'll shake Andrew's hand first.

We appreciate what Mike Williams did at SU, but we admire Andrew Robinson. And we always will.

Donnie Webb Talk With Andrew Robinson

Just Like Old Times: Syracuse Dominates Rutgers 31-13

Sean Keeley — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:17:11 -0000

More photos » by Heather Ainsworth - AP

25 days ago: Syracuse University football players The Canadian Press, left, and Shamarko Thomas celebrate Thomas's tackle against Rutgers' Tom Savage, as teammate Andrew Lewis, right, looks on during an NCAA college football game at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Syracuse won 31-13. (AP Photo/Heather Ainsworth)

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...and all is right in the world.

Before this past Saturday's Syracuse-Rutgers game, most folks (including me) were predicting that one side would beat the other fairly easily. Well, we got it half right. Out-manned, out-gunned and without a reason to care, the Syracuse Orange proved to anyone watching that the Doug Marrone Era is going to be a very good one by whipping the pants off of No. 25 Rutgers 31-13 on Senior Day.

Antwon Bailey, Averin Collier and Delone Carter each ran for a touchdown, as Syracuse upended 25th-ranked Rutgers, 31-13, to pick up its first Big East victory of the season.

The Orange (4-7, 1-5 Big East) racked up 213 yards on the ground in a balanced attack that also saw Greg Paulus throw for 142 yards and a score on 13-of-16 completions. Ryan Nassib completed four passes for 69 yards, as Syracuse snapped a three-game slide.

"I don't look at it as a breakthrough win," Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone

said. "I think it means a lot that we won a game and we won a game in the Big East. That's how I look at it. We won a game and the direction of this football team is heading the right way."

It's my fault. I should have realized The Inverse Theory Of Syracuse Winnatude, which states:

With two games remaining in the season, with nothing left to play for and against an opponent they really shouldn't be able to beat, the Syracuse football team will play to the fullest extent of it's potential. (See: Notre Dame 2008)

It's science, you guys. Don't fight it.

Yes, the offense was in rare form. Greg Paulus all-but-assured himself of that passing percentage record everyone keeps yapping about by going 13-16 for 142 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Nassib also got in on this high-passing percentage thing, going 4-6 for 69 yards.

The running game was once again solid but unlike previous games, this time it wasn't just Delone Carter. The Orange were instead a three-headed monster. Along with Carter (67 yards, TD), Antwon Bailey actually led the Orange with 77yards and TD while Averin Collier notched his best performance of the year with 66 yards and a TD.

And how bout those wide receivers? Sure, the Orange have no way to replace the home-run aspect lost by Mike Williams but SU found a balance they have lacked, as four different receiverscaught three balls, including Bailey (47 yards), Marcus Sales (44 yards) and Alec Lemon (40 yards). Carl Cutler caught one ball for one yard but it was also the one passing touchdown on the day. (Full boxscore)

But how bout that defense? The Orange sacked Rutgers' QB Tom Savage nine times. NINE TIMES! How many times?

Nine times sound bite Ferris Bueller's Day Off sound bites

Linebacker Doug Hogue, who broke the SU record with tackles for loss in a game (6 1/2) and owned 3 1/2 of those sacks gives the defense the kind of accolade only a Doug Marrone could love:

"From a defensive standpoint, everybody was doing their jobs," Hogue said. "They allow me to wiggle loose and I did what I did."

And Jesus Christ, Rutgers. What the hell happened to you? I know we've been kidding you all season about your schedule but you really might want to consider scheduling a couple more high schools. You know we lost to Louisville two weeks ago, right? LOUISVILLE! Shame on you. Not that I'm complaining, you finally gave SUAthletics.com a reason to put the score of the game into their recap. Thanks.

So where the hell did this come from? Without it's three best players and dozens more, Syracuse played out of their mind. Who could have possibly seen this coming?

Doug Marrone, that's who.

"People may not have seen this coming, or whatever they want to say, on the outside," Marrone declared. "But I can’t stand here today and say that I did not see this coming. I really can’t. And I won’t do that because I’m not going to discredit what this team has been working so hard for, and building, and trying to get done for this community and for this university."

"All the things that we’ve been preaching, all the things that we’ve been trying to get done with our players . . . I said the last thing that’s going to happen in our program -- unfortunately, and without sour grapes -- was wins. Now, you can see what we can do when we execute at a level and play the way we should play."

If you want to nitpick there was still plenty to nitpick. Nothing stands out more than the special teams unit which once again provided the lowlights on the day. Bob Casullo's unit had a lot to answer for after the game. Had it been a closer one, they might have been the reason the Orange lost.

Two blocked punts, one through the back of the end zone for a safety. A blocked field-goal attempt with the outcome hanging in the balance. A 50-yard kickoff return. A recovered onside kick attempt to set up a touchdown.

That No. 25 Rutgers was able to produce that bevy of big plays on special teams and still lose by 18 points shows how thoroughly it was dominated everywhere else Saturday by the underdog Syracuse University football team.

Thank God for the other dominating units. More game links and recaps below. Enjoy this one, folks. What a great send-off for the seniors who will not have to say they never beat Rutgers. It wasn't long ago a four-year SU senior expected to beat the Scarlet Knights all four times. For now, we're extremely happy with this one. And we're looking forward to getting the next one sooner than later.

Oh and by the way think about what this just did for recruiting. All we heard last week was how NY-area recruits shunned SU for Rutgers because of the way the Knights dominated the Orange in every aspect. Me thinks the tide will be turning...

Orange sends its senior class out with a 31-13 smackdown of Rutgers...Donnie Webb

SU-Rutgers Recap...Brent Axe

UP FROM THE ASHES: Syracuse pummels Rutgers en route to first Big East win...Tyler Dunne

Defensive minded Syracuse sacks Rutgers...Matt Ehalt

Notebook: Shoes optional for Bailey in running over Rutgers...Donnie Webb

The Syracuse Orange's Domination of Rutgers Signals a Return to Normalcy...Dan Kelley

Crushed-gers...Three Idiots on Sports

Cue the... KIDS AND PUPPIES!...Orange44

Stunning weekend continues...CuseOrange

Syracuse Aftermath: Shades of New Hampshire...Rutgers Fan Zone

Knightmare At The Dome...Protect R Turf

After collapse against Syracuse, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano blames himself...NJ.com

Syracuse is determined to make Rutgers a rivalry...Brian Bennett

Worst loss in years...Bleed Scarlet

Speaking of Mr. Keeley, I always thought the ironic part of his infamous "Quest for Toronto" series of posts was that, because of how awful the Big East’s bowl tie-ins are, it’s actually disturbingly difficult to land a half decent bid. Even when UConn is doing their part for the conference against Notre Dame (which I now cannot enjoy). Well, Sean may just end up getting his wish, albeit not in a way that he may have originally intended. On the day, a Syracuse victory may just have ended up sending a team to Toronto for the holidays.

Believe me, sir, it's bittersweet.

Syracuse Football Officially De-Boned

Sean Keeley — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:10:07 -0000

Courtesy of media.syracuse.com

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If Chef Gordon Ramsay was in charge of Syracuse Football, he'd tell us to SHUT IT DOWN, YOU F***ING DONKEYS!

Derrell Smith will miss final two games with torn lateral meniscus. ...Wow.

Wow is right, sirs. Derrell Smith was the best player on Syracuse's defense all season long, leading the team in tackles, sacks and Bones. Smith held on to Scott Shafer's Bone (nh) more often than anyone else this weekend thanks to his hard hitting.

So to get you up to speed, Derrell joins Arthur Jones and the rest of the 22 scholarship players who began the year on the SU roster but whom will not be dressed when the Orange suit up for the final time in two weeks. Here's what I said last week when Art Jones went down for the count:

Alright...who's next? Can we freeze Derrell Smith, Doug Hogue and Shamarko in carbonite during the week to prevent any further injuries or mishaps?

I'm not kidding. I want Doug Hogue propped up in Jabba's Lair by 8pm or I swear to God... Is it possible to ban players who have a lateral meniscus? They seem like such flimsy things to have.

Alright, I'll say it. Let's end this football season already. It's time. The Football Gods are not messing around. Message received.

Update: Dave Rahme has the meniscus-y details:

SU sent out an email this afternoon stating that an MRI revealed a tear in the lateral meniscus in Smith's left knee. Following last week's 10-9 loss at Louisville, Smith reported increased soreness in his knee, prohibiting further activity. Surgery, which will be performed by Dr. Irving Raphael, and rehabilitation will sideline Smith for the rest of season.

Honoring Seniors & Freshmen Alike

Sean Keeley — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:19:39 -0000

via media.syracuse.com

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12-34

That's the W-L record the graduating four-year seniors on the Syracuse football team. If they're a fifth-year senior, that record balloons to 13-44. Not exactly the record of excellence, or even mediocrity, they were expecting when they decided to play football at Syracuse. By all accounts, folks expect Syracuse to improve over the next few years. That means that this class and the one that preceded it will be intrinsically linked with SU's point in the modern era. Sorry about that, guys.

Assuming they are four-year players, they will have never beaten Pittsburgh, West Virginia, South Florida or Cincinnati. A loss this weekend will add Rutgers to that list as well. If these guys needed any extra incentive to play, the threat of being a class that never defeated Rutgers should be extremely present in their minds as they practice.

As far as who will be honored this weekend, it's slightly unclear exactly who should actually be honored and who shouldn't. The folks who will hear their names called include:

Ryan Bartholomew, Tucker Baumbach, Cam Dantley, Donte Davis, Arthur Jones, Max Leo, Lavar Lobdell, Jim McKenzie, Mike Owen, Greg Paulus, Dalton Phillips, Andrew Robinson, Nico Scott, Derrell Smith and Mike Stenclik

Now, six of those players have another year of eligibility (a confusing situation that stems from Coach Marrone's decision to switch the designation from actual year rather than eligibility year).

And then there's Delone Carter, Anthony Perkins and Andrew Lewis, all of whom are listed as seniors but will not walk as they have another year of eligibility as well.

Whatever, as long as everyone actually makes it to the game without getting injured, they can be whatever they want.

It's not just about the seniors on Saturday. It's also a time to look to the future of Syracuse football. A future that looks bright when you notice two freshmen who have stepped up their game so much, so fast. The Thomases...Philip and SHAMARKO.

Both Thomases started for Syracuse last week in the Orange’s 10-9 Big East Conference loss at Louisville. Shamarko Thomas started at strong safety. Phillip Thomas started at cornerback.

Injuries played a part in their quick ascension but both have played as well as true freshmen defensive backs can be asked to play. Besides, we shouldn't be surprised. They certainly weren't.

"I’m a hard worker," said Shamarko Thomas. "I push. I push hard. I’m fast. I come to deliver hits and I’m a play-maker."

"I feel like a sophomore or even better," said Phillip Thomas. "I’ve gotten more playing time as a freshman. I feel like I’ve graduated from a freshman."

SHAMARKO comes to deliver hits. He leaves having delivered them.

Syracuse football is in rough shape. The graduating seniors had about as tough a situation as one could walk into in college. But they leave the groundwork for The Thomases, the other freshmen and the incoming players to build in.

"All the freshmen, we’re tight," said Phillip Thomas. "This program is going to be better. We’re going to have more winning seasons and be in bowl contention."

"This freshman class and the other freshmen that are coming in, we’re going to change the whole program," said Shamarko Thomas. "We’re going to start winning more games."

2010 prospect watch (DT edition) - Nov. 17th

3k — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:12:25 -0000

More photos » by Gerry Broome - AP

Marvin Austin is a microphone magnet. Once he gets improved tutelage and less focus from opposing offensive lines, NFL quarterbacks could be Marvin Austin magnets.

Browse more photos »

There were a couple lessons to be learned from Sunday's game against the Saints; IMO, one of the most important was that our defensive front is unable to pressure QBs on their own. As to whether that is mainly due to the defensive ends or tackles is a fair debate. What's not open to debate is the fact that there are some very talented DT prospects in the 2010 NFL draft. While there's not too many games left for some of these future professionals, there's enough time for some fluctuation among each other and on big boards as a whole.

For reference, here's my QB board from Oct. 6th and my most recent mock draft. Here's how my DT board looks in mid-November (* denotes underclassmen, parenthetical links are for scouting reports):

1 - Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (ESPN)

First, I feel I have to help out Van here - it's en-dom-ah-ken soo. Of course, if you would rather call him damn-you-Kong!, feel free. Name aside, Suh is an absolute terror. He's stronger than his 6'3"-295 lb. frame suggests, and he's incredibly quick. Less than two weeks ago, the Cornhuskers faced off against Oklahoma; Suh made the most out of one of the bigger stages he's played on. He anchored a line that brought pressure on OU QB Landry Jones all day, resulting in a Cutleresque 5 picks. For good measure, he blocked a FG too.

Next notable evaluation: Nov. 27 at Colorado , 3:30pm ET (ABC)

Rest of the board after the fold.

2 - Gerald McCoy*, Oklahoma (ESPN , MTD)

McCoy has been disrupting offenses for three years, missing just one game due to a hand injury two years ago. I've seen him at the top of many a DT board, and it's hard to argue; he explodes out of his stance. Once he does so, he's got a full menu of moves that he executes very well: swim, power rip, spin, and even his power rush, though that last one still needs some work. Really, that's his one flaw is raw power, and juxtaposed against Suh, it's even more evident. Still, he's been a model student-athlete at Oklahoma, acting as president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as a team captain, and avoiding the kind of off-field troubles that many of his peers seem to enjoy.

Next notable evaluation: Nov. 28 vs. #12 Oklahoma St., 12:30pm ET

3 - Marvin Austin*, North Carolina

Austin heads up the second tier of DTs right now, IMO. He's got a great skill set that applies to both run and pass defense, but he's part of a very funky D-line, that includes two other solid DTs (Cam Thomas & Aleric Mullins) and a 375-lb. DE (Earl Wilson). I think that he could be a great pick in a 4-3 or even as a 3-4 DE. His biggest flaw is his technique; he's still a bit raw, but with a coach to mentor him (Spagnuolo?), he could be very successful in the NFL.

Next notable evaluation: Nov. 21 at Boston College, 12:00pm ET (ESPN2)

4 - Arthur Jones, Syracuse (ESPN, MTD)

Jones is the first real injury plagued prospect on this board. He tore a chest muscle working out this spring, and he injured his knee in the Pittsburgh game earlier this month. Still, what he was able to prove in his 4+ seasons at Syracuse was plenty to go off of. He's a very good run-stopping DT who competes every play. and he succeeded from time to time facing double teams. He's not a strong pass rusher, but that shouldn't hurt his draft stock. Plenty of teams would love to get his run stuffing skills on their lines.

Next notable evaluation: N/A

5 - Terrence Cody, Alabama (ESPN)

Terrence Cody is large human being. At 6'3" and anywhere from 370-400 lbs., he obviously presents a huge roadblock for offensive lines to deal with. Since transferring to Bama last year, he's been a fan favorite for obvious reasons. Still, you have to wonder if he can play anything but a 3-4 NT in the NFL. He's slow (in NFL terms. For his size, he's blazing fast. Try and find someone around 400 lbs. who can A.) run and B.) run anywhere near as fast as Cody), and he's sloppy. His technique revolves around the power rush, and that includes his stints on the offensive side of the ball as a FB or RB where Alabama has used him from time to time. The bottom line is, a body this big will be in demand, especially for 3-4 defenses who need a true NT.

Next notable evaluation: Dec. 5 vs. Florida (SEC Championship - neutral site), 4:00pm ET (TBD)

6 - Jared Odrick, Penn St. (ESPN)

Next notable evaluation: Nov. 21 at Michigan St., 3:30pm ET (ABC)

7 - Vince Oghobaase, Duke (ESPN)

Next notable evaluation: Nov. 21 at Miami, 12:00pm ET (ESPNU)

8 - Brian Price*, UCLA

Next notable evaluation: Nov. 28 at USC, 10:00pm ET

9 - Dan Williams, Tennessee

Next notable evaluation: Nov. 21 vs. Vanderbilt, 7:00pm ET (ESPNU)

10 - Geno Atkins, Georgia (ESPN)

Next notable evaluation: Nov. 21 vs. Kentucky, 7:45pm ET (ESPN2)

Poll

Vote for the next big board position...NOW!

QB (v2.0)

58 votes

WR

59 votes

TE

5 votes

OT

6 votes

DE

42 votes

OLB

20 votes

CB

10 votes

200 votes | Poll has closed

#BeatTheVille

Sean Keeley — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:14:32 -0000

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By the way, the hashtag for today is #BeatTheVille Hate it? Too fucking bad.

IT IS NOT A LOSS IF A GREG ROBINSON COACHED TEAM BEAT YOU, ITS JUST NOT A WIN REMEMBER THAT #BeatTheVille

ITS NOT AN UPSET IF YOUR FAVORED BY 37 AND U LOSE TO CUSE ITS NOT BEING RATED PROPERLY REMEMBER THAT #BeatTheVille

Louisville plays in a horseshoe. No good football teams play in horseshoes. #BeatTheVille

IN LOUSIVILLE YOUR NOT A SEX OFFENDER YOUR JUST KINKY REMEMBER THAT! #BeatTheVille

Churchill Downs would only be interesting if it doubled as a glue and dog food factory. #BeatTheVille

#BeatTheVille - because if Greg Robinson can do it, anyone can

Louisville: A second-class city in a 12th-class state. #BeatTheVille

Brian Brohm isn't walking through that door #BeatTheVille

Steve Kragthorpe's playbook is written in crayon #BeatTheVille

To correctly pronounce "Louisville," remember to stuff your mouth with marbles first. #BeatTheVille

Your moonshine still is not high technology. #BeatTheVille

University of Louisville: Where research entails wondering how Santa can deliver presents through the pot belly stove. #BeatTheVille

"Dentists r fur queers." #BeatTheVille

Browning Nagle is not walking through that door #BeatTheVille

#Shamarko could have went to Louisville - he didn't. Sharmarko knows all. #BeatTheVille

Canada may have invented the denim tuxedo, but Kentucky perfected it. #BeatTheVille

Steve Kragthorpe isn't a terrible head coach as much as he's an excellent mannequin. #BeatTheVille

I was going to trash notable Louisville alumni, but there are none #BeatTheVille

Kentucky: Making West Virginia feel good about itself since forever. #BeatTheVille

"Convoy" has won "Best Picture" at the Kentucky Arts & Talking Pictures Festival for the last 30 years. #BeatTheVille

Louisville's playbook: Failed draw to the left; Failed draw to the right; Interception to the safety; Bourbon Time! #BeatTheVille

A "Triple-Double" in Louisville is banging two chicks in a Chili's while your three buddies cheer you on. #BeatTheVille

Population 713,877. Percentage of population that is literate: 0.0007004% #BeatTheVille

NASA discovers water on the moon. Still no intelligent life in Louisville. #BeatTheVille

Frankfort, Lexington, Louisville: These all sounds like excellent venues for arson. #BeatTheVille

Named after some French guy. Says it all, really. #BeatTheVille

ITS NOT FAILING IF YOU HIRE STEVE KRAGTHORPE ITS GETTIN WHAT YOU PAID 4 REMEMBER THAT #BeatTheVille

#BeatTheVille because even our backup tight end has thrown for over 400 yards in a single game against you guys

#BeatTheVille because Arthur Jones thinks it is so much of a realty, they don't even need him and has chosen to sit out and rest his knee

because baby jesus hates you #BeatTheVille

Louisville isn't even a top 3 city in Kentucky. Congrats Lexington! #BeatTheVille

Louisville, where you can have a major sex scandal and still be employed! #BeatTheVille

#BeatTheVille because I got lost and ended up in Louisville once, it made the movie Wrong Turn look like a documentary.

Louisville is an anagram for U IS EVIL LOL #BeatTheVille

#BeatTheVille If Louisville were an ice cream flavor, it'd be Shit Ripple

Louisville, where Greg Robinson has a winning record. Boom. Discussion over. #BeatTheVille

In Louisville checking the stability of the table before nailing the waitress is considered safe sex #BeatTheVille

#BeatTheVille , because in the battle of nicknames Krags can't beat HCDM, or his ability to crush gum.

because a search for Louisville and incest turns up 227,000 pages on google. #BeatTheVille.

because a search for Louisville and Beastiality turns up 1.8 million pages on Google. #BeatTheVille.

What does Syracuse have in common with Ken Whisenhunt's boss? We both own football teams called the Cardinals. #BeatTheVille

The Knicks, Celtics and a Louisville waitress are examples of people who didn't win while under Rick Pitino #BeatTheVille

The Replacements was based on a L'ville QB. Of course he wasn't good enough to just make the NFL. #BeatTheVille

#beattheville because its not tremendous, its expected

last year our coach was crazy enough to read the little engine that could at a presser. however he was still sane enough to #beattheville

Syracuse vs. Louisville Predictions

Sean Keeley — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:50:00 -0000

More photos » by Colin E. Braley - AP

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Brian over at Orange44 gets us rolling with a positive prediction.

I’m saying this; Syracuse should win this game despite being a shell of its former team just mere weeks ago. Syracuse is just north of Louisville in terms of offensive talent. Additionally, Syracuse is currently better at the quarterback position, even though it is a close race. That is also knowing that Greg Paulus and Ryan Nassib will split time. It would seem to be that Louisville’s rookie quarterback is just too inconsistent to be able to exploit the sub-par secondary of Syracuse. Therefore, if Syracuse can stop giving up too much through the air via the long ball, Syracuse should win the game. Syracuse over Louisville yet again 24 to 17.

Russionator paints this one in a much more painful, Colts-Jets-In-The-80's-Kinda-Way.

This game is not going to be pretty, and outside of small pockets in Kentucky and Central New York, it isn't going to be watched. For Steve Kragthorpe there are two positives, his wily silver-haired nemesis Greg Robinson is gone and his team is at home. That's enough for Steve to get his first - and most likely last - win versus the Orange. Final Score: Louisville 6, Syracuse 3

Brian Bennett at ESPN sees Kraggers eeking out the moral victory as well:

Louisville 17, Syracuse 14: For most of the year, I would have said Syracuse was the better team and would beat Louisville for a third straight year. But given all of the Orange's roster depletions -- losing start defensive tackle Arthur Jones was the latest blow -- I have to give the edge now to the Cardinals, who pushed West Virginia to the wire last week on the road. This won't be a pretty game or one that many people will want to watch, but it could be the last chance for an '09 victory for either school.

Me? I refuse. REFUSE. To live in a world where a Steve Kragthorpe-coached team beats Syracuse. I will not allow it. And I sent my good intentions out into the universe so that they may be converted into positive energy that the Syracuse football team can use to defeat Louisville. Besides, it's not like any Louisville fans will be there to offset it.

It's going to be hard for the Orange to score points from here on out. With no ability to stretch the field the Orange are even more one-dimensional than they were before. That said, Delone Carter is in a zone and SU will ride his musculature all day long (nh). Greg Paulus has a chance to really settle in and, God willing, avoid mistakes. And Ryan Lichtenstein! is ready, willing and able to kick that ball through the uprights when the Orange are unable to close the deal.

THE QUEST FOR TORONTO LIVES TO BE QUESTED ANOTHER DAY!

Syracuse 19, Louisville 17

Poll

The outcome of the SU-L'ville game will be...

Syracuse wins by 10+ points

29 votes

Syracuse wins by 1-9 points

61 votes

Louisville wins by 1-9 points

39 votes

Louisville wins by 10+ points

16 votes

145 votes | Poll has closed

SB Nation - Arthur Jones

Arthur Jones, Rob Long Make Big East 1st-Team

The Ten Best Syracuse Football Games Of The Aughts

Honorable Mention

No. 10 - Syracuse 49, North Carolina 47 3OT (2003)

No. 9 - Syracuse 38, Pitt 31 2OT (2004)

No. 8 - Syracuse 31, West Virginia 27 (2000)

No. 7 - Syracuse 38, Notre Dame 12 (2003)

No. 6 - Syracuse 37, Northwestern 34 (2009)

No. 5 - Syracuse 24, Notre Dame 23 (2008)

No. 4 - Syracuse 31, Rutgers 13 (2009)

No. 3 - Syracuse 43, Boston College 17 (2004)

No. 2 - Syracuse 37, Louisville 34 (2007)

No. 1 - Syracuse 50, Virginia Tech 42 3OT (2002)

Daily Links - Bid Time For SU Charity Auction

Here's To You, Andrew Robinson

Just Like Old Times: Syracuse Dominates Rutgers 31-13

Syracuse Football Officially De-Boned

Honoring Seniors & Freshmen Alike

2010 prospect watch (DT edition) - Nov. 17th

1 - Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (ESPN)

2 - Gerald McCoy*, Oklahoma (ESPN, MTD)

3 - Marvin Austin*, North Carolina

4 - Arthur Jones, Syracuse (ESPN, MTD)

5 - Terrence Cody, Alabama (ESPN)

6 - Jared Odrick, Penn St. (ESPN)

7 - Vince Oghobaase, Duke (ESPN)

8 - Brian Price*, UCLA

9 - Dan Williams, Tennessee

10 - Geno Atkins, Georgia (ESPN)

Vote for the next big board position...NOW!

QB (v2.0)

WR

TE

OT

DE

OLB

CB

#BeatTheVille

Syracuse vs. Louisville Predictions

The outcome of the SU-L'ville game will be...

Syracuse wins by 10+ points

Syracuse wins by 1-9 points

Louisville wins by 1-9 points

Louisville wins by 10+ points

2 - Gerald McCoy*, Oklahoma (ESPN , MTD)