Orange Preparing for Top 20 Challenge
10/14/2008 5:45:00 PM | Football
Game Notes
Head Coach Greg Robinson Press Conference Transcript (Oct. 14, 2008)
Another ranked team awaits the 2008 football Orange this weekend. Syracuse will travel to play #19/20 South Florida on Saturday, Oct. 18 (12:00 p.m., BIG EAST Network) in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. USF is the fifth team on Syracuse's schedule that has been ranked in the national polls this season.
“We're getting ready for South Florida and we're hard at work. We're looking forward to to going on the road against a top 20 team, a team that's been as highly ranked as 10th," said head coach Greg Robinson. "It's really a great challenge for our team and I think the team is looking forward to going down there and seeing what they can get done against South Florida.”
Syracuse's schedule is rated the 15th toughtest in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The 11 FBS teams on Syracuse's schedule have a record of 46-20, including the first five opponents that are a combined 23-8.
At West Virginia, quarterback Cam Dantley was 24-of-40 for 204 yards and connected with nine different receivers. Sophomore Donte Davis had a career-best day with seven catches for 62 yards and junior Lavar Lobdell caught three passes for 43 yards, including a twisting 25-yard reception in the first quarter.
Orange placekicker Patrick Shadle continues his climb up the Syracuse career scoring record list. His 161 points ranks 14th in the Orange record book. This season, Shadle is 9-of-10 on field goals, including his record-setting 53-yarder at West Virginia.
“Patrick Shadle came in his freshman year and really did not living up to his own expectations and John Barker beat him out, and then he came back his sophomore year and had a very fine year," Robinson said. "Then, he returned with a lot of attention from his a sophomore season and did not have a good year last year. He really had to what I would term 'grow up'. He's grown up in so many ways. I think his teammates are so happy for him because of what he's accomplishing. He's a very good kicker right now and it really is because of his hard work. He got himself into great condition. I love to talk to him about kicking because he's a scientist in regard to it. He has really studied the game and if he ever wanted to be a coach, he would be an excellent kicking coach.”
Senior running back Curtis Brinkley recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season. He gained 144 yards on a career-high 28 carries. He ranks 22nd on Syracuse's all-time rushing record list with 1,589 yards on 369 carries. His 103.5 yards per game is 19th nationally and fourth in the BIG EAST.
Sophomore punter Rob Long ranks fourth nationally with a 46.26 yards per punt average and the Orange punting unit ranks fifth in the country in net punting.
