Orange Gridders Preparing for Encounter with Scarlet Knights on Saturday

Game Notes (PDF)

Read Head Coach Greg Robinson's Press Conference Transcript

The football Orange will travel to play at Rutgers on Saturday, November 8 (12:00 p.m., ESPNU). Syracuse holds a 28-9-1 edge in the all-time series, including a 12-4 record in games played at Rutgers. Senior running back Curtis Brinkley (Philadelphia, Pa.) will seek to extend his streak of five consecutive 100-yard rushing games. He set the school record with his fifth straight 100-yard performance in SU’s 28-21 victory against Louisville (166 yards on 33 carries). He has six 100-yard games in his career, which ties for third on the Orange career record list.

"Curtis is much more confident and he knows where these holes are forming now,” said head coach Greg Robinson of Brinkley’s successful senior campaign. “He knows where to look. He has a much better understanding of his to find his line holes. To do what he did against Louisville, to have his best career-rushing game since he's been here and to go over 100 yards for the fifth game in a row and to be the first back to ever do that in one season here, is quite a statement when you think about think about the running backs that have come through Syracuse. It's a credit to him.”

Brinkley’s 899 rushing yards is the 15th-best single-season total in SU history. Brinkely is 15th nationally and is fourth in the BIG EAST in rushing with 112.4 yards per game, which ranks fourth on Syracuse’s single-season record list. Brinkley, who is one of two backs in the BIG EAST to have six 100-yard games this season, is 18th in the Orange record book with 1,867 career rushing yards.

In 2008, 11different players have scored touchdowns, including five who have found the endzone for the first time. Against Louisville, fullback Tony Fiammetta (Walkersville, Md.) and running back Antwon Bailey (Landover, Md.) joined the group.

The Orange gained 207 yards rushing against a Louisville defense that had ranked fifth nationally in rush defense (75.1 yards per game). The defense held a Cardinal team that had been averaging 30 points per game to 21 and allowed an offense that had been averaging 393.4 yards per game to 351.

“Defensively, Nick Santiago and Arthur (Jones), they were truly a force throughout that game,” Robinson said. “I thought that Jared Kimmel showed up a number of times and caused a big fumble there late in the ball game. Vinny (Giruzzi) was flying around. From the first play, you felt his presence. Derrell Smith is one who shows so many different things that we do. He rushes the passer, he drops, he covers the wide receiver, he covers the running back, and he's making tackles all over the field. It's great to see his development. For the game to end with Bruce (Williams), our local guy, to make the big, big play on the interception, and it was an incredible interception, was great. There are always others, but I thought those people really stood out. It took a lot of people to get the effort we were able to put out."

Through eight games in 2008, 58 players who have taken the field for the Orange this season, including 35 players with less than two years of collegiate experience. Robinson will use the positive energy from the victory to continue to develop his young team.

"I think the best thing is you gain confidence when you see the film and you see things happening the right way,” Robinson said. “That's what's important. Confidence is knowing that you've truly done it right. That's the thing we like to build everything on is confidence in that we know what we are doing and we can do it."

Syracuse University Athletics

Orange Gridders Preparing for Encounter with Scarlet Knights on Saturday

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