Orange Struggles Continue

by Ben Glidden

AP Photo/Steve Jacobs

The Syracuse Orange (2-0) pulled out the victory tonight against the Rhode Island Rams (0-1), but it isn't one of those victories to be proud of. I accepted the fact that the Orange allowed Wake Forest to stay in the game for so long last week because it was the first game of the year. We needed to dust the cobwebs off and get back to playing football. So, what happened tonight?

The Defense: Last game our defense certainly struggled. Our young linebackers were clearly having a problem and our secondary kept getting beat. Tonight, the D definitely improved, however, we were playing an FCS team. Phillip Thomas stayed true to his promise to Orange Slice Sports and improved dramatically from the Wake Forest game. He registered two interceptions, one of them coming at the end of the game, crushing Rhode Island's last hopes of tying the game.

Rhode Island quarterback Steve Probst did seem to have the defense's number tonight. He threw for 154 yards but more importantly, rushed for 46 yards on 15 carries. When the Orange locked down his receivers, he'd simply run take the ball himself past the first down marker. It was a frustrating night for the Orange defense.

The Offense: Ryan Nassib put together another respectable performance. He completed 29 of his 37 passes for a career-high 318 yards and three touchdowns. He completed passes to eight different receivers, which says a lot about the Orange wide receiving core. Van Chew earned the bulk of the yards with 134 and Alec Lemon got the bulk of the receptions with 10 for 94 yards. Both Chew and Lemon had touchdown receptions but the most important TD reception came from senior walk-on Michael Acchione.

The problem with the offense today was the running game and offensive line. The O-Line just doesn't look comfortable yet and it's affecting the entire offense. The part affected most is the running game. Antwon Bailey went for just 43 yards and then Marrone tried to mix it up by running Prince-Tyson Gulley. That didn't really work either.

The Lesson: The Orange aren't as good as we thought they were. The team still has a lot to work on, especially with USC being next week. I'm not saying they can't improve, it's definitely a possibility. The team has looked great in the final ten minutes of each game so far, but once conference play starts, were going to have to start playing before the fourth quarter in order to have a chance to win.

The good news is that the Orange have started out 2-0 for the first time since 1999 and that is certainly something to be happy about. Now lets buckle down, have a good week of practice, and beat the Trojans next week in sunny Southern California.

Syracuse-Rhode Island Game Preview

By Matt Appel

Courtesy of Alexander_O

Syracuse (1-0, 0-0) vs. Rhode Island (0-0, 0-0) (FCS)

For the faithful Orange fans who stayed all 4 quarters and overtime last week against Wake Forest (I’ll embarrassingly admit, I was not one of them), it will be a game that you will probably never forget. Neither will any of the players that played in that memorable game. And rightfully so; outside of last year’s Pinstripe Bowl, it is probably the most exciting Syracuse football game in quite some time. With that being said, it is pivotal that Marrone & Co. do not look past Rhode Island in anticipation of their west coast trip to USC next week. Easier said than done?

When Syracuse has the ball: It was very apparent that during the first 45 minutes of last weeks game that the Orange didn’t have the best offensive flow. That’s because, according to the coaches post-game, nothing they saw in tape of Wake Forest from last year was anywhere close to what they showed on the field. The Demon Deacons are going with a 3-4 defense this year, as opposed to the 4-3 they played in whatever tape the Orange had of them. Luckily, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett picked up on it in time to salvage the game. Do not expect 3 quarters of stagnant offensive this week. Rhode Island lost at home to Maine last year; the same Maine team that lost to the Orange 38-14 at the Dome. Last week, we saw the weapons that the Syracuse offense will so heavily rely upon this year: over 100 yards from Antwon Bailey, an efficient 20-28 performance from Ryan Nassib with 3 touchdowns, and huge catches from #1 receiver Van Chew down the stretch during that comeback.  Last time the Orange played an FCS opponent, Nassib set the SU record with 5 touchdowns in a game. Expect more of the same this time. Willie McGinnis, a senior defensive end who is the best player on the URI defensive unit, will do his best to make noise in the back field, but shouldn’t be able to do too much.

When Rhode Island has the ball: Basically, don’t expect a whole ton. The Rams’ lone playmaker on offense is senior QB Steve Probst, who led the team in passing and rushing yards last year. The Rams featured an average offense in the CAA last year, ranking 6^th out of ten teams in terms of points scored. One thing URI has going for it is the Syracuse defense is somewhat banged up. It does not sound like Chandler Jones, the anchor of the defensive line, will play on Saturday, as he injured his knee (we think, the Orange have been very hush-hush about the injuries) during the game last week. With that said, the Orange should be able to run out a whole string of backups, and still be ok (which will most likely happen by the second half, depending on the score).

Prediction: Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. This has all the makings of a trap game. Syracuse has a big game next week; they’re coming off of a very dramatic win, and are playing a far inferior team this week. Yup, this qualifies as a trap game.  Rhode Island did something ‘Cuse couldn’t do last year: Beat Nova (sure, it might have been in football, but you get the point). 

Thomas Looks to Improve on Last Week's Performance

Photo via zimbio.com

We all know that Phillip Thomas is an athletic specimen. Him and Shamarko rule the secondary for the Orange, punishing opponents with hard hits. But Phil has admittedly had a tough off-season, mainly because of his broken jaw. Because of this and an unexperienced linebacker core, I was unsure how Thomas would play against Wake Forest.

I asked Thomas if he was happy with his performance against Wake and he simply answered, "no."

"I got burned," he said. And I agreed with him because there were definitely times where Thomas got beat by Wake Forest receivers. While you can blame some of that on the linebackers missing assignments, Phil realizes that he was off his game.

Thomas said his jaw bothered him most of the game and the leg injury in the third quarter that forced him to the locker room didn't help either. He made five tackles, one being for a loss, but says he can play "a million times better."

Phil told me he is going to have a better game against Rhode Island. He has been watching film "day and night" and scouting his opponent tirelessly. He even added a Rhode Island wide receiver on Facebook in order to get in his head. Thomas is making all the stops.

The thing that bothered Thomas most about last Thursday's game against Wake Forest had nothing to do with what happened on the field. It was all about the fans.

We've seen on the news and on blogs everywhere that the fans at the Syracuse game left early. And no one was more disappointed than Phillip Thomas.

"I was pissed," he said. "Either you're with us till the finish, or not with us at all. I remember every face that stayed with us that night."

If you left that game early, Phillip knows. And he isn't the type of person you want on your bad side. He says players from other Big East schools have made fun of him, saying that would never happen at their schools.

So stick around this Saturday to see an improved Phillip Thomas. He is determined and ready to play.

Back to the Dome: Syracuse Football vs. Wake Forest

By Conor Hurley

Photo by Jason Rostkowski

The Syracuse University community is buzzing about the football team’s season and home opener vs. Wake Forest this Thursday.

Wait… buzzing about… football???

Yes. For the first time in awhile, there is significant hope and excitement for SU football. Coming off a 7-5 record and a win in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Ryan Nassib and company are looking to start off their season with a statement win vs. the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Fortunately for the Orange, the football Demon Deacons do not have the same pedigree as their basketball counterparts.

WF finished last in the ACC with a 3-9 2010 campaign, going 1-7 in the division. They do return starters Tanner Price, Josh Adams and Chris Givens on offense at QB, RB and WR, all coming off good seasons. They had the 110^th ranked defense though, giving up 35.8 points per game.

Nassib, coming of a stellar season which included over 2,300 yards passing and 19 TD’s, will look to exploit the holes in the demon deacon defense. And he will not be alone in that quest.

Despite Delone Carter’s departure for the NFL, Antwon Bailey was much more than an adequate backup last season, and is looking to have a breakout 2011 campaign. Wide receivers Van Chew and 

Alec Lemon will also be back and will look to improve on their impressive 2010 seasons.

And you already know Phillip Thomas, Chandler Jones and the rest of the SU defense will do their absolute best to keep the Deacs off the scoreboard.

One outstanding negative for SU football last season was their play in the Dome, disappointingly going 3-4. They were young, fairly inexperienced, and may have not been ready for the big stage and hype in front of the ruckus SU faithful.

This year, I expect the Orange to do much better in the Dome, and tomorrow, I expect the Orange to win 24-3. 

A Facebook Page Every Syracuse Fan Should "Like"

Via Sportsapalooza

Ever since Big East Media Day, Cuse Nation has been buzzing about one hairy fixture on the face of an enthusiastic Syracuse Football player. That player is Mikhail Marinovich and that hairy fixture is his new, sleek, manly mustache.

People are calling it "Mustache Mania" and I personally can't wait to see that bad boy take the field this fall. So many people are latching on to this frenzy that a "Mikhail Marinovich's Mustache" Facebook page has recently been created to promote the furry masterpiece that'll strike fear into the hearts of quarterbacks everywhere.

Marinovich is a defensive end for the Orange. Last season he earned three sacks and recovered a fumble. He made ten solo tackles and assisted on 20. There is one reason why those numbers will improve this season. Many people say that when you cut your hair, you become weaker. This is the reverse effect. Due to Marinovich's new mustache, he will become stronger, faster and a better overall football player.

Do you support the stache? There are a few ways you can show it. One way is the like the Facebook Page. Another way is to buy the "Mustacheovich" t-shirt from Sportsapalooza. The final way is to show up to Syracuse University football games and cheer on the team. I know Mikhail will appreciate it.

Syracuse Orange Fantasy Football Draft

By Ben Glidden

Last weekend, I participated in a fantasy draft for the upcoming NFL season. While choosing from the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Hakeem Nicks, I got thinking. Who would be the number one pick in a Syracuse Orange Fantasy Football Draft?

Photo by Jason Rostkowski

There are many options for a number one overall selection. First, you would have to figure out what position you'd like to draft first.

At quarterback, of course, is Ryan Nassib. Last season, Nassib completed 202 passes for a total of 2,334 yards. His completion percentage was right around 50 percent. He threw 19 touchdown passes but he also tossed eight interceptions. He didn't lose much of his receiving core, with the exception of Marcus Sales, so it looks like he'll have some solid targets downfield. If he displays the confidence we saw from him in the Pinstripe Bowl, he'll have a great season.

Antwon Bailey will get the start this season in the backfield. This pick would come with all kinds of question marks. Bailey didn't start last season but he got a considerable amount of carries behind Delone Carter. He rushed for 554 yards on just 114 attempts. He averaged around five yards a carry and scored a pair of touchdowns. But how will Bailey do when he is getting the bulk of the carries? Can he step up as a starter? The good thing about Bailey is that he catches the ball very well. He had more receptions last year than many of the wide receivers. He caught 35 passes for just over 300 yards. But running back is an injury prone position. If your number one overall draft pick goes down early in the season with an injury, you'll be in trouble.

At the wide receiver position, there are a couple different options. I definitely wouldn't draft Sales, lets get that out of the way. My number one option at this position would be Van Chew. He had 41 receptions for 661 yards last season. He found the end zone just five times but averaged about 15 yards per reception. Another option could be Alec Lemon. He dropped a few crucial passes last season so hopefully he improves this year. He caught 32 passes for about 400 yards and four touchdowns last year.

Nick Provo would be the obvious choice if you were going for a tight end. He stepped up big for the Orange in 2010 and will be a big target for Nassib in 2011. Look for him to improve on his 365 yards receiving from last season.

You don't usually draft a kicker first round of a fantasy draft, but if you did, Ross Krautman would be the obvious selection. As a freshman last season, he kicked six field goals that were over 40 yards. Coming back for his Sophomore year, he will look to improve on those numbers. If you want a kicker first round, go Krautman.

After considering all of this information, I'm ready to make my selection.

With the first pick of the 2011 Syracuse Orange Fantasy Football Draft, I select Ryan Nassib. We know he can perform, so rather than taking a risk, I'm going with the obvious pick. Nassib's productivity this season will definitely get me first place in this fake fantasy football league.

Who would you first pick be? Tell us by commenting or tweeting us @OSliceSports

The Five Greatest Running Backs in Syracuse Football History

By Ben Glidden

Long ago, Syracuse University was the hot spot for All-American running backs. Some of the best backs in NCAA history lived on the hill and played at Archibold Stadium under coaching greats like Ben Schwartzwalder. So I thought it would be good to look back at the five greatest of all-time on the eve of football season. Maybe we can muster up some of the magic these guys brought to the field so long ago.

Ernie Davis Legends Field at Syracuse University: By Jason Rostkowski

5) James "Big Jim" Nance - Like so many others in Syracuse history, Jim Nance was good in more sports than just one. In 1963 and 1965, Nance was the NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion and an All-American. On the gridiron, Nance was just as good. He led the team in rushing in 1964. During that season, he scored in ten straight games and is highly regarded as one of the best backs in Syracuse history.

4) Larry Csonka - From 1965-1967, Csonka was one of the most feared backs in the nation. In just three seasons, he rushed for 2,934 yards, averaging about five yards a carry. During his final year, he was ranked fifth in the nation in rushing. He rushed for at least 100 yards 14 different times and currently holds a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame.

3) Floyd Little - In his three years on the field at Syracuse University, Little did what no other Syracuse player ever did. He was an All-American all three years he suited up. In his career he had 2,704 rushing yards and over 500 receiving yards. He rushed for 35 touchdowns, caught four passes for touchdowns, threw a touchdown pass and took four punt returns to the house. He could do it all.

2) Jim Brown - When thinking about SU football, Jim Brown is always one of the first names that comes to mind. In 1956, Brown averaged 6.2 yards per carry and set records for most touchdowns and most points in one game. The record breaking game was against Colgate when Brown scored six touchdowns and accounted for 43 points in a game SU won 61-7. In his three years on the field at SU, Brown rushed for over 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. He played on defense also, tallying eight interceptions in his three seasons. He is currently a member of both the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame.

1) Ernie Davis - This is one of the most iconic names in college sports history. Just hearing his name gives me chills. He has a statue on campus that overlooks the quad and the field inside the Carrier Dome is named in his memory. His nickname was "The Elmira Express" and was the first African-American football player to be awarded the Heisman Trophy. He rushed for 2,386 yards and scored 32 touchdowns in his three years at SU. He also led the team to its first and only National Championship in 1959. In that Cotton Bowl vs. Texas, Davis was named the Most Valuable Player. He was an All-American in both 1960 and 1961 and was eventually inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Davis never got a chance to stretch his legs at the pro level. He died of leukemia on May 18, 1963 at the age of 23.

These men were an entirely different breed of player during an era of college football unlike any other. Syracuse was known for its incredible backfield and all the evidence is here to support that.

Do you think someone else should have made the list? Let us know by commenting or tweeting at us @OSliceSports

The Top Five Most Valuable Players for the 2011-2012 Football Season

By D.E. Connors

Photo by Jason Rostkowski

There are now only 14 days until the Orange kickoff versus Wake Forest and begin the highly anticipated 2011 campaign. For SU to play up to its potential as a Big East title contender, its role players and stars will have to play well on a consistent basis. Strong safety Shamarko Thomas, receivers Van Chew and Alec Lemon and the offensive line are all a big part of the Orange’s success this year. However, these five players are the the most valuable on the 2011-2012 Syracuse football team.

#1 Antwon Bailey - Although Nassib is the QB, the offense will be heavily reliant on the production of Bailey. Bailey played Robin to Delone Carter’s Batman, but still managed 569 yards and a couple touchdowns. This year, Bailey will be the biggest offensive threat with his breakaway speed and shifty feet. His ability to open the field and wear down the opponents’ defense will dictate how successful the Orange will be.

#2 Ryan Nassib - Antwon Bailey can only do so much. Last year, Nassib eased into the lead position by providing stability, but he rarely had to make tough throws. This year, he’ll have more responsibility and freedom to create offense. If he can’t make the necessary throws, defenses will key into the running game.

#3 Chandler Jones - Jones could be the key to for the Orange defense. With the return of the Bash Bros (Phillip and Shamarko Thomas), coverage shouldn’t be the biggest issue. If Jones could penetrate through the backfield and pressure the opponents’ QB, the SU defense could be dominant.

#4 Phillip Thomas - Thomas has high aspirations for himself and his team. Despite a slight step back in the form of a broken jaw, Thomas will return in time and wreak havoc as a ballhawk. He simply makes plays. SU will need his athleticism and tackling ability to make a good run in the wide open Big East.

#5 Nick Provo - Provo had 33 receptions last year, good for third on the Orange, but wasn’t particularly effective in the red zone. Without the bruising Delone Carter, a new player will have to become the big touchdown threat. Provo, a 6’4” and 250 TE can be just that for the SU offense. 

Orange Slice Sports' Big East Preseason All-Conference Selections

Here are our selections for Preseason Big East All-Conference:

Photo Courtesy of Jason Rostkowski

Offense:

QB: Geno Smith - West Virginia
RB: Ray Graham - Pitt
RB: Isaiah Pead - Cincinnati
WR: Mark Harrison - Rutgers
WR: Tavon Austin - West Virginia
WR: D.J. Woods - Cincinnati
TE: Nick Provo - Syracuse
TE: Ryan Griffen - UConn
OL: Mike Ryan - UConn
OL: Justin Pugh - Syracuse
C: Moe Petrus - UConn
OL: Lucas Nix - Pitt
OL: Jeremiah Warren - USF

Defense:

DL: Brandon Lindsey - Pitt
DL: Kendall Reyes - UConn
DL: Bruce Irvin - West Virginia
DL: Chandler Jones - Syracuse
LB: Sio Moore - UConn
LB: Max Gruder - Pitt
LB: J.K. Schaffer - Cincinnati
CB: Keith Tandy - West Virgina
CB: Quenton Washington - USF
S: Hakeem Smith - Louisville
S: Phillip Thomas - Syracuse

Special Teams:
K: Dave Teggart - UConn
K: Ross Krautman - Syracuse
P: Pat O'Donnell - Cincinnati

Syracuse Selections:

Nick Provo - Provo came on strong last season and will be a crucial part of the Syracuse offense this season. He caught 33 passes for 365 yards last year. Expect him to be a big target for Ryan Nassib this season.

Justin Pugh - Pugh was an All-Big East second team selection last season and played a huge role on the line for the Orange. He was probably the biggest surprise for the team last season and enters this year with high expectations. During the off-season he has bulked up to about 300 pounds and looks to help pave the way for Antwon Bailey like he did for Delone Carter last year.

Chandler Jones - Jones was another All-Big East second team selection for the Orange last season. He will be a crucial part of the defensive line this year and will look to put pressure on the opposing quarterback. He had just four sacks last season but look for that number to skyrocket this season.

Phillip Thomas - Thomas recently broke his jaw and is out of practice because of that. But while he hasn't been at practice, he has been getting into the weight room bulking up. A broken jaw can be tough to come back from, but expect Thomas to have a breakout season. He will be a leader on defense and will put fear into the eyes of whatever team he faces.

Ross Krautman - This young kicker was a huge asset last season. He missed just one field goal and his season-long was 48 yards. This season, he has been named to the Lou Groza Award watch list, an award given to the nation's best kicker. A solid kicker will greatly help the Orange this season.

Do you agree with this list? Who would you add or remove?

Good News: Thomas Should Be Okay

Photo Courtesy of Phillip Thoams

The Syracuse University football team suffered a minor setback yesterday. In its morning practice, senior free safety Phillip Thomas broke his jaw. According to Thomas, he will be “resting up until the opener,” but “may get a couple of practices” in before the Orange host Wake Forest on September 1st.

Last night, Thomas had surgery to repair the broken bone. The surgery was deemed a success by the star senior. Thomas claimed he’s “good as gold now.”

Although he can’t eat or drink for the time being, Thomas remains optimistic.

“If someone can bust my jaw on offense it’s going to be a great year,” Thomas joked.

Big East Football Preview

With the college football season just around the corner, OSS went to Peter Legrand, a Mizzou Journalism student and writer for Mizzou Sportswriting who has developed his own football simulation, for predictions and projections on the upcoming season.

Photo Courtesy of Jason Rostkowski

Projected Standings
1. West Virginia 6-1 (10-2)*
2. Pittsburgh 5-2 (8-4)*
3. USF 4-3 (8-4)*
4. Cincinnati 3-4 (7-5)*
5. Rutgers 3-4 (8-4)*
6. Connecticut 3-4 (8-4)*
7. Louisville 2-5 (5-7)
8. Syracuse 2-5 (6-6)*
* represents bowl eligibility


1. West Virginia: With new head coach Holgorsen, the offense should be one of the best in the nation - potentially making Geno Smith into one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. 4 returning starters on defense is a major concern, but three of those players are 1st team all-conference players in my mind, with SS Terence Gavin making my 2nd team.
Best Case: 12-0 Worst Case: 6-6 Projection: 10-2

2. Pittsburgh: Another team with a new head coach, Pitt should also improve drastically on offense with Todd Graham's wide open spread installed. I question their ability to transition as quickly as West Virginia to their new system because they are a built around power running, which should cause some hiccups early in the season. The defense brings back 8 starters, making it a formidable presence.
Best Case: 10-2 Worst Case: 4-8 Projection: 8-4

3. USF: Coach's in their second seasons often experience breakout campaigns, and many see USF finally breaking through and winning the conference. New RB Darrell Scott is a huge addition to the offense, which should also be helped by QB BJ Daniels continued progression. The defense brings back 6 from a mediocre 2010 squad, but they should be steady enough to keep them in most games.
Best Case: 10-2 Worst Case: 4-8 Projection: 8-4

4. Cincinnati: After a disappointing 2010, the '08 and '09 Big East champs should be back to their winning ways in 2011. Stars like Zach Collaros, Isiah Pead, and DJ Woods return to the offense, and although the offensive line loses three regular starters, two of the replacements saw significant action last year. The defense is loaded with experience, returning 10 starters from last season and seventeen of their top eighteen tacklers from the 2010 campaign. I strongly believe they can contend for the title this year, and don't forget, it's Butch Jones second season here.
Best Case: 11-1 Worst Case: 4-8 Projection: 7-5

5. Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights struggled mightily last year, going 4-8 and missing the postseason for the first time since 2003. Look for them to return this year behind the strong arm of sophomore Chas Dodd, who is surrounded by a plethora of weapons. The defense is suspect, but Rutgers will be greatly helped by four Big East home games and new freshman running back Savon Huggins, who could have a Ray Rice type impact for Rutgers.
Best Case: 11-1 Worst Case: 3-9 Projection: 8-4

6. Connecticut: After their first ever Big East championship, the Huskies have great expectations for their 2011 campaign, even with a new head coach. I am not expecting a repeat performance from the Huskies, although reaching the 8 win total from last year is certainly attainable. Sixteen returning starters brings hope, as does four home games in conference play, but the loss of their quarterback and stud running back leads me to believe they will drop down in the conference standings.
Best Case: 9-3 Worst Case: 2-10 Projection: 8-4

7. Louisville: Charlie Strong finally helped right the sinking Louisville football ship, as they went from the strongest program in the Big East under Bobby Petrino to a punching bag with head coach Steve Kragthorpe. Although only 3 offensive starters return, 7 are back on D and they brought in vaunted dual-threat QB recruit Teddy Bridgewater to run the offense. They should start 5-3, but face a difficult schedule and getting back to a bowl will require some luck, but this is a program headed in the right direction.
Best Case: 8-4 Worst Case: 3-9 Projection: 5-7

8. Syracuse: The Orange had a great season under Doug Marrone last year, making the postseason for the first time since 2004. QB Ryan Nassib returns after a spectacular sophomore campaign, with senior RB Antwon Bailey looking to step up and continue Syracuse's success on the ground. The defense only returns 5 and loses their top two tacklers, which is a major concern. The schedule is unfavorable, even though they get 4 home games in Big East play, because their most winnable games are on the road. They can make it back to a bowl, but it will be hard to match the 8 wins of last year.
Best Case: 8-4 Worst Case: 3-9 Projection: 6-6

Football Schedule Analysis

Photo Courtesy of Jason Rostkowski

The Syracuse football season kicks off in just 22 days with Wake Forest coming into town. With the expectations high and the anticipation even higher, OSS asked a couple SU players (we'll call them "Players X") about each of their games this season. We wanted to see how they really viewed the upcoming campaign. Here's what they had to say as well as Ben Glidden's added analysis:

9/1 SU vs. Wake Forest - 8:00 - ESPN3

OSS - This game should be an easy start for the Orange, especially since Wake won just 3 games last season. It’s a Thursday night game and the Carrier Dome will be packed, which will help out tremendously.

Players X - "Sorriest team in the ACC."

9/10 SU vs. Rhode Island - 4:30

OSS - This team is one of the better in its conference. RI had a few solid wins last season but the Orange are just on a different level and should come away with the easy victory.

Players X - "Good thing this ain't hockey or we would lose."

9/17 SU @ USC - 8:00 (EDT) - FX

OSS - This is the first real challenge in the schedule for the Orange. USC has always been regarded as a BCS powerhouse. With its success on the road last season, Syracuse may give the Trojans a run for their money, but the Orange will probably be handed its first loss of the season.

Players X - "Players got no motive to win!"

9/24 SU vs. Toledo - 12:00 - Big East Network

OSS - The Rockets might be an unexpected challenge for the Orange. Last season, Toledo won eight games and found itself in a bowl, but the team wasn’t really challenged by anyone. This season, before playing Syracuse, they face off against Boise State and Ohio State, two powerhouses. After coming off those two loses, Toledo might steal one from the Orange.

Players X - "We going all the way to Mexico for this one!!!"

10/1 SU vs. Rutgers - 12:00 - Big East Network

OSS - The Scarlet Knights gave the Orange a bowl birth last season after a thriller that took place in New Jersey. This season, I don’t expect the game to be as close. Rutgers only won one in-conference game last season and I expect a similar performance this season.

Players X- "Rutgers girls are jersey shore girls, nuff said."
"This one gonna be a battle."

10/8 SU @ Tulane - 8:00 (EDT)

OSS - This is simply an unimpressive team. This will be a nice vacation to New Orleans for the Orange. Unless we play like Rutgers did against Toledo last season (terribly), we will earn an easy W.

Players X - "Maybe they can beat us in calculus."

10/21 SU vs. West Virginia - 8:00 - ESPN/ESPN2

OSS - The Mountaineers are the front-runners in the Big East this season. This is going to be an extremely tough game for Syracuse, but it’s at home on ESPN in front of what should be a huge crowd. If the Orange can carry some momentum from wins against Rutgers and Tulane into this game, the game could be close. Expect an overtime thriller.

Players X - "Gonna be a good game, we're both good."

10/29 SU @ Louisville - TBD

OSS - Last season, SU finished in front of the Cardinals in the Big East but they still beat us at home by eight. Louisville isn’t expected to get much better, but they have had our number the past couple seasons. Syracuse hasn’t beaten Louisville since 2008. The Orange will be on upset watch for this game.

Players X - "Spanking!"
"Just like the Cardinals in the MLB, all the players are injured or doo-doo."

11/5 SU @ Connecticut - TBD

OSS - UConn won the Big East last season and embarrassed the conference in the BCS bowl. The Huskies beat us pretty handedly last season but are expected to significantly decline in talent. The Orange also may be trying to clinch a bowl bid at this point in the season, which may give us the extra boost we need.

Players X - "Most respectable team in the Big East."
"R.I.P Jasper Howard."

11/11 SU vs. USF - 8:00 - ESPN2

OSS - The Bulls are expected to be one of the most improved teams in the Big East. BJ Daniels is dangerous at the quarterback position, both in the air and on foot. It will be a tough game for the Orange defense and USF should come out on top.

Players X - "Shark Week!"
"They are so sorry"

11/26 SU vs. Cincinnati - TBD

OSS - The Orange beat the Bearcats easily last season and it’ll be a similar game this season.

Players X - "Yawn"
"Crickets"

12/3 SU @ Pittsburgh - 8:00 - TBD - ABC/ESPN/ESPN2

OSS - This is the season finale and it’ll be a great one. Two of the better teams in the conference will face off on ESPN in Pittsburgh. Last season, the Panthers destroyed the Orange. In fact, the Orange hasn’t beaten Pitt since 2004. But this season, the Panthers will be coming off the backyard brawl against West Virginia and could be vulnerable the next week against the Orange.

Players X - "I hope it snows so I can throw snowballs at their sorry asses"
"This is were we finish the perfect season!

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Syracuse Football Players Disappoint in Lobster Eating Contest

By Ben Glidden

Today is Big East Media Day, which can only mean one thing. Last night was the Big East clambake. Every year, the best football players from the Big East go head-to-head the night before they address the media. Who ate the most lobsters?

This year's crown went to USF's Jeremiah Warren who put back a record-tying seven lobsters. Let me just repeat that, he ate SEVEN lobsters. Warren is a 327-pound offensive lineman and now has the title of lobster king. He probably would have broken the record but the event actually ran out of lobsters.

Warren tied former Syracuse Orange Football player Ryan Durand who ate seven lobsters a few years back. Durand's success in the contest translated to NFL success as he is now a guard with the Tennessee Titans.

I'm extremely impressed with Warren but disappointed with the performance from the Syracuse football team. Here are the results:

Mikhail Marinovich - Three Lobsters

Antwon Bailey - Two Lobsters

Chandler Jones - One and a Half Lobsters

Ryan Nassib - One Lobster

C'mon guys. A combined seven and a half lobsters? At the media day Jones said he put on 20 pounds during the off-season. He had the opportunity to put on a few more today and passed it up. His goal was "seven, maybe eight" lobsters but he fell way short of that mark.

"I feel like I let you guys down, but I promise you I wont let you down this fall," Jones said to Cuse Nation.

Syracuse Football is ranked fourth in the Big East Media poll that was released today. It looks like the team needs to put down the footballs and pick up the butter and start training for next year's contest.

Rob Long is Heading to Cleveland

                        Via Twitter

Congratulations to Rob Long for getting the opportunity to work out with an NFL team. He deserves this after all the hard work put in during his time on the Syracuse football team. We wish him the best of luck!

Chris Williamson: The Pursuit of a Dream

By Ben Glidden

Chris Williamson is a typical Syracuse University student. Williamson, 19, is a rising sophomore as a Broadcast and Digital Journalism major in the Newhouse School of Public Communications. He likes to read, hang out with friends and he even writes for a sports blog about golf, basketball and football.

But one thing sets Chris apart. When he isn’t writing, hanging with friends, or reading, Chris is working hard to reach a goal that not many Syracuse students have the talent to reach.

“My goal is to make the [Syracuse Football] team,” Williamson said.

Williamson not only wants to make the team but he wants to contribute. He said he doesn’t want to be “some walk-on who enjoys just being on the team.” Williamson wants to play.

“C-Dub,” as his friends call him, tried out for the team last fall. After a few days of conditioning, the Orange coaching staff told Chris he needed to get stronger and faster and to come back in the spring.

The journey began there.

From that point on, Chris worked day and night to become strong and fast enough to make the squad. But in the spring, a major obstacle stood in his way.

“I didn't try out during spring semester because I got pneumonia over break so when tryouts started I was in no shape to tryout,” Williamson said.

Chris runs four times a week and follows the workout plan that his high school linebacker coach wrote out for him. He is trying to improve his 40-yard dash and is on a high-calorie diet to build muscle. When the time for a tryout comes, he will be ready.

“I want this really bad,” he said. “I'm going to shock my future teammates because they don't want it as bad as I do.”

Will Drugs Tear Apart a Tight Knit Syracuse Football Family?

By Ben Glidden

Photo Courtesy of Jason Rostkowski

As you've all probably heard by now, Syracuse football player Marcus Sales was arrested this weekend on a wide array of drug charges.

According to The Post-Standard, the police found Marijuana, Lortab Tablets and a few digital scales in his car. Sales was also reportedly drinking alcohol at the time he got pulled over for running a red light.

WHEC.com reported this morning that Sales has now been released from jail, so what happens next? Doug Marrone already released a statement that said the matter was being handled internally. So where does that leave the fans? Will Sales play this season or will he get the boot?

Last night I talked with a current Syracuse Football player. For privacy reasons, the name of this player will not be released. This player told me "I think he'll be fine to play" and "He's gonna get out of it." I'm not sure if this player knows something that we don't, or if he is just being confident. But this players confidence may be a good sign.

The next question is, do we really want Sales back on the team after this? After a breakout performance in last season's Pinstripe Bowl, Orange Nation expected Sales to have a great year. But after an incident like this, is it worth it? Marrone always preaches about tradition and family and this goes against everything Syracuse Football stands for.

What is more important to Syracuse football, production or pride?

The NFL Adds More Tints of Orange

By Darius Joshua

Photo Courtesy of Jason Rostkowski

The phrase ‘Back to Football’ has been on NFL Network all week. That phrase means a lot to five orange players who went undrafted in April. Former SU players Mike Holmes, Derrell Smith, Ryan Bartholomew, Andrew Lewis and Da’Mon Merkerson signed contracts with the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals, respectively.

They joined former Orange players Doug Hogue and Delone Carter in the NFL. Hogue was drafted to the Detroit Lions and Carter was drafted to the Indianapolis Colts.

The terms and lengths of contracts for Smith and Bartholomew have not been reported yet. Carter and Hogue have come to agreements with their teams on four-year contracts. The terms of their contracts haven't been disclosed yet.

Mike Holmes proved himself for the Orange during the 2010 season. As a punt returner, he averaged over 10 yards per attempt and on defense he was no slouch either. His 271 career tackles puts him fifth in ‘Cuse history for most tackles by a defensive back.

The 2010 defensive captain Smith made his mark while at SU as well. He had 114 tackles last season. He is ranked 10th in the SU record books for his career 24.5 tackles for a loss.

Bartholomew, a Maryland native, was part of the 2010 offensive line that opened the holes for Carter on his way to 1,260 yards. That same O-line was second in the Big East for converting on chances in the Red Zone.

Lewis finished his career with 61 tackles, 28 of them coming in his senior season. Merkerson lead the team in interceptions last year and finished his career with 63 tackles, 42 of which were solo after making the switch to DB in 2009.

Now that Carter signed his contract, there are seven players in the NFL from last years Syracuse football team.

Can Rob Long make it eight?

New DE to Join the Orange

By Darius Joshua

From sunny Orlando to snow covered Syracuse; that will be the journey for the newest recruit to commit to the Orange next year. James Washington, a 6-2 220 pound defensive end from Winter Park high school in Orlando, verbally committed to Syracuse on Thursday.

His decision was influenced by several factors, including teammate linebacker Bobby Van Warner possibly attending Syracuse as well.

“Bobby’s parents went there and they had good things to say about the school…And I’ve always liked Syracuse in basketball and football just because of the atmosphere they have up there," he said in an Orlando Sentinel article.

One factor that didn’t deter his decision was the Syracuse snow.

Temperatures often below freezing and average snowfalls reaching over 100 inches a year not to mention the length of the winters, starting as early as October and extending into April and sometimes even May, according to city-data.com.

The cold weather doesn’t worry Washington, though, he said.

In April, however Washington didn’t know where he would end up. He only had offers from Duke and Cincinnati, not much else.

Then the schools came, he now has 17 offers, including South Carolina, Illinois, and some other Big East schools like Pittsburgh and West Virginia. The lack of attention worried him and he thought he wasn’t working hard enough.

“…When they started coming in, I felt kinda relieved and so then I started wanting to work harder,” Washington said.

Syracuse coaches certainly noticed as thy visited him twice.

Last season he had 15 sacks and an average of 6 tackles per game. Washington can help out a Syracuse team whose defense was the strong suit of the team last year. The Orange lost several key players, including Doug Hogue (Detroit Lions) and Derell Smith. He can also help replace Des Mikhail Marinovich and Chandler Jones after they graduate.

Washington prides himself on his pass rushing abilities but wants to improve his ability to stop the run.

He plans to make a trip to the Syracuse campus sometime next week.

“I‘m pretty sure I’ll fall in love with the school once I get up there.”

Thomas Uses Past To Fuel Success

By D.E. Connors

On the gridiron, Phillip Thomas provides the Syracuse Orange defense with a hard-hitting, emotional leader.

This past season, Thomas ranked ninth among Big East defenders with 92 tackles and started all 13 games.

His leadership and intensity changed the attitude of Syracuse football - an improving program coming off its best season since before the Greg Robinson era.

But it’s what he has experienced off the field that makes Phillip Thomas a special person and athlete.

When he was 5, his mother died. Only two years later, his father, who never played a prominent role in his life, passed away.

Growing up in the rough neighborhoods of Miami, Florida without parents was tough for Thomas. Without a father figure or caring mother, Thomas struggled in school. He was constantly getting in trouble and didn’t attain good grades.

School was the least of his problems, though. At some points in his early life, Thomas faced homelessness.

For the kids in his area under similar circumstances, there were only two ways out of the tough city - the military or college, according to Thomas’ childhood friend, Alexis Moore.

With this in mind, Thomas changed his ways. By the end of junior year at Miami Edison Senior High School, Thomas had turned a complete 180. He improved his GPA, behaved in school and fielded football scholarship offers from Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Colorado State and Syracuse.

At Syracuse, Thomas, a soon to be junior, has completed his transformation from his days as a troublemaker without a home.

“Thomas has come a long way from running the streets, skipping school, and hanging with the wrong crowd,” Moore said.

Thomas has keyed many big plays for the Orange secondary, and was recently called the seventh best player in the Big East, according to the National Football Authority.

He has also continued to improve in the classroom. Thomas now earns mostly B’s and is dedicated to his Child and Family Studies major.

Thomas has spent many weekends working with charities across the Northeast, including the Association to Benefit Children, the Coalition for the Homeless, St. John’s Community Services and the Volunteers of America.

“I really like helping out kids that were in the same situation I was in - homeless and fighting to live,” Thomas said. “ I will do anything for anyone not to live how I did growing up.”

Most people with such a humbling and troublesome past would put it behind them once they sniff success. But not here, not Phillip Thomas.

The past is his motivation; it’s what keeps him going. He knows what success is like, his mentors, Philadelphia Eagles’ Michael Vick and Desean Jackson, have given him a glimpse of the NFL life.

But for now, Thomas is focused on the season ahead and the lofty goals he has set for himself and his team.

“I’m ready to make a bigger name of Syracuse Football and myself,” Thomas said. “Don’t call me cocky when I say we’re going 12-0, but I predict a perfect season.”

Photo Given to us by Phillip Thomas.