Countdown to Kickoff: Orange Special Teams
8/18/2004 9:33:12 AM | Football
Barber and Carney each earned second-team All-BIG EAST honors. Barber was also a member of the ECAC Division I-A Football All-Star squad, while Carney was named to The Sporting News BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. Barber connected on 75 percent of his field goals attempts and his 6.3 points per game ranked third in the BIG EAST by a kicker. Carney established the SU freshman records for punts (60), punting yards (2,581), and punting average (43.0).
Just three players in the history of The BIG EAST Conference have earned a player of the year award and been named All-BIG EAST First Team at two positions. All three of those individuals – Marvin Harrison, Quinton Spotwood and Kevin Johnson – played for the Orange.
Syracuse has had four special teams players earn All-America honors. Kicker Gary Anderson was the first to accomplish the feat. In 1981, Anderson connected on 18 of 19 field goals for a .947 percentage, which is a former NCAA record.
Qadry Ismail was the first return specialist to achieve All-America status. In 1991, Ismail had a 25.0 kick return average, including a 95-yard touchdown return against Florida State. In 1995, Marvin Harrison became the third special teams standout to earn All-America honors, while also being named the BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year. Harrison broke the BIG EAST record for longest punt return when he brought one back 94 yards against Minnesota. He averaged 16.7 yards per punt return and scored two touchdowns.
Kevin Johnson’s special teams contributions earned All-America honors and BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year laurels. He broke the SU record for kick return touchdowns in a season with two and the SU and BIG EAST record for highest kick return average (30.0). His 100-yard kickoff return against Miami in 1999 tied a SU and BIG EAST record. His 28.7 career average is second all-time for a Syracuse player.
In addition, David Tyree, who was known for his special teams play and his punt blocking ability, was drafted by the New York Giants in the 2003 NFL Draft.
Syracuse begins the season on Sunday, September 5 at Purdue. The game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ABC. SU then plays at Buffalo on September 11 at 6:00 p.m. The Orange kicks off the home portion of the schedule on Saturday, September 18 against Cincinnati at 12:00 p.m. SU will also host Rutgers (Oct. 2 at 12:00 p.m.), Florida State (Oct. 9), Connecticut (Oct. 30) and Pittsburgh (Nov. 6).
For ticket information and prices, call the Carrier Dome box office at 1-888-DOMETIX. Tickets are available at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), by telephone (888-DOMETIX) or on the Internet www.dometix.com
