Orange Has USF Bulls in its Sights

Game Notes
Head Coach Greg Robinson Press Conference Transcript

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange football team turns its attention to the #19/20 University of South Florida Bulls for a game on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 12:00 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium (BIG EAST Network). Several members of the Orange are returning home, including sophomores Mike Holmes (Jacksonville) and Randy McKinnon (Jacksonville), redshirt freshmen Nick Provo (West Palm Beach) and Kevyn Scott (Tamarac) and freshmen Dorian Graham (Plantation) and Jerry Harden (Fort Lauderdale).

Syracuse and South Florida meet for the fourth time. USF leads the series 3-0. Last season Orange quarterback Cameron Dantley (Silver Spring, Md.) was 21-of-38 for 276 yards in his first career start. Placekicker Patrick Shadle (Morgantown, W. Va.) had a 50-yard field goal and receiver Mike Williams caught eight passes for 99 yards.

At the midway point of the 2008 campaign senior tailback Curtis Brinkley (Philadelphia, Pa.) has already surpassed his previous season-best rushing totals. He has 621 yards on 112 carries (5.5 yards per carry). As a sophomore in 2006 he gained 571 yards on 139 carries in 12 games.

The Orange offense is averaging 154.2 yards rushing per game, which ranks 56th nationally, and is nearly triple it’s 2007 yards per game average. SU has gained more than 200 yards rushing in three games. The last time SU recorded three 200-yard rushing games in a season was 2004.

Brinkley moved into the 22nd spot on SU's career rushing record list following his 144-yard performance at West Virginia, recording his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season. He is the first Orange runner to have four 100-yard games in a season since 2004. Brinkley is 19th nationally and fourth in the BIG EAST in rushing yards with 103.5 yards per game.

In addition to opening up holes for Brinkley and his backfield mates, the Orange offensive line has protected the quarterback. Syracuse has given up six sacks for 41 yards in the trenches this year, compared to 25 sacks for 120 yards through the first six games last season.

In Saturday’s 17-6 loss to West Virginia, the Orange defense held the Mountaineer offense that had been averaging 357 yards per game to 268 yards. Sophomore Derrell Smith (New Castle, Del.) had eight tackles, including a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss, while senior A.J. Brown (Bealton, Va.) also had eight tackles, including four solo and one for a loss of yards.

The Orange kicking game has been consistent all season. Syracuse ranks fifth nationally and third in the BIG EAST with a 40.15 punting average. Sophomore Rob Long (Downingtown, Pa.) is fourth among NCAA punters and first in the BIG EAST with a 46.3 net punting average.

At West Virginia, Shadle hit a career-long 53 yard field goal to set a Mountaineer Field record. The field goal is tied for fourth on Syracuse’s longest field goals record list (Sean Reali vs. Rutgers, 1994). Shadle's career scoring total is at 161 points, which ranks 14th in Syracuse history and his 35 career field goals rank seventh on the Syracuse career record list. He currently holds the Syracuse record for field goal accuracy (.814) and ranks eighth on Syracuse’s career field goals attempted record list (43).

Syracuse University Athletics

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