Captains Bruce Williams (15), Patrick Shadle (42), Jake Flaherty (45) and Tony Fiammetta (43) will lead the Orange into the Carrier Dome in the senior finale on Nov. 15.
Seventeen Seniors Prepare for Dome Finale
11/9/2008 7:33:44 PM | Football
Head Coach Greg Robinson Press Conference Transcript
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Seventeen Syracuse football seniors will be honored prior to their final home game in the Carrier Dome game this Saturday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m. when the Orange host Connecticut (7:00 p.m., ESPNU). Team captains Tony Fiammetta (Walkersville, Md.), Jake Flaherty (Wakefield, R.I.), Patrick Shadle (Morgantown, W. Va.) and Bruce Williams (Syracuse, N.Y.) will lead the Orange in the Dome for the final time.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Seventeen Syracuse football seniors will be honored prior to their final home game in the Carrier Dome game this Saturday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m. when the Orange host Connecticut (7:00 p.m., ESPNU). Team captains Tony Fiammetta (Walkersville, Md.), Jake Flaherty (Wakefield, R.I.), Patrick Shadle (Morgantown, W. Va.) and Bruce Williams (Syracuse, N.Y.) will lead the Orange in the Dome for the final time.
“We have a really good group of seniors,” said head coach Greg Robinson. “They have worked extremely hard and I think they're very well respected by the underclassmen. To maintain the focus, that's part of it. It's a BIG EAST opponent. It's Connecticut. I think our guys want to end the last home game with a win. I also think there are a lot of different things that you can find motivation for. And we need to.”
Record-setting running back Curtis Brinkley (Philadelphia, Pa.) will seek to continue his outstanding senior campaign. He has gained 966 yards on the ground, which ranks 14th on the Orange single-season rushing list. He has amassed six 100-yard rushing games, including a school-record five in a row. His 107.3 rushing yards per game is 19th nationally. Brinkley is 18th on Syracuse’s career rushing record list with 1,934 yards on 422 carries (4.4 yards per rush).
Strong safety A.J. Brown (Bealton, Va.) has 105 tackles and six interceptions in his four-year tenure with the Orange. In 2008, Brown recorded a career-best 11 tackles, including five solo, at Northwestern. He earned BIG EAST Conference Weekly Honor Roll accolades for his performance against the Wildcats.
Offensive tackle Corey Chavers (Jamesville, N.Y.) has started 27 games for the Orange, including nine this season as a part of a front line that has helped pave the way for the Orange's 151.8 rushing yards per game by blocking for the right side of SU's line. Chavers has also helped Syracuse cut back on its allowed sacks, giving up only 19 through nine contests.
Free safety Paul Chiara (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) moved to safety prior to 2008 Spring practice after lining up as a running back for the Orange during his first three seasons. Chiara has played in all 44 games since his freshman year. He is a two-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection and has been named to the 2005 Fall, 2007 Spring and 2007 Fall Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Guard Ryan Durand (Leominster, Mass.) has been protecting the Orange quarterback in 30 of the last 31 contests. Syracuse is averaging 151.8 yards rushing per game, which is tied for 57th nationally and is ranked fifth nationally in tackles for loss allowed per game (3.94). Durand earned a spot on the 2008 EPSN the Magazine Academic All-District Team, marking his second consecutive selection to that team. Durand has also made the Athletic Director's Honor every semester and is a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree.
Fullback Tony Fiammetta (Walkersville, Md.) has blocked, run the ball and caught passes for the Orange this season. He is the Orange's fifth-leading receiver (14 catches for 110 yards) and he forced his first career fumble against Penn State at the Dome. Fiammetta has played in 41 games for Syracuse.
Linebacker Jake Flaherty (Wakefield, R.I.) has made the second most tackles for Syracuse this season with 60. Flaherty made his first career interception this at Rutgers and he ranks ninth in the BIG EAST with 6.7 tackles per game. Flaherty has played in every single game since his freshman season, starting the last 21 games at middle linebacker. Durand earned a spot on the 2008 EPSN the Magazine Academic All-District Team, marking his second consecutive selection to that team. Flaherty is also a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree.
Defensive end Vincenzo Giruzzi (Utica, N.Y.) closes out his six-year SU career as a two-year starter with the defense. He was granted an extra year of eligibility after breaking his leg in 2004 preseason camp. Giruzzi is eighth on the team with 38 tackles. He was a 2007 BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection.
Cornerback Ryan Howard (Carson, Calif.) has played in 14 games as a punt returner and cornerback in his two seasons at Syracuse. Against Pittsburgh, Howard posted a career-high four tackles.
Tight end Ben Maljovec (Warren, Pa.) has played in 41 contests for the Orange at tight end, linebacker and on special teams. He has one catch for seven yards as a tight end and has played in every game on special teams. Maljovec is a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection.
Defensive end Nick Santiago (Utica, N.Y.) has played in 41 total games, including starts in all nine games this year. He is second on the team in tackles for loss with eight for 32 yards and 13th in the BIG EAST with 0.83 tackles for loss per game. He has 59 career tackles, including 26 this season.
Kicker Patrick Shadle (Morgantown, W. Va.) , a 2008 semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award for the nation’s best kicker, is the Syracuse record holder for field goal accuracy, connecting on 38-of-47 (80.1 percent), which is also 12th-best among active kickers in the Football Bowl Subdivision. His 38 career field goals rank seventh on the SU career record list and his 63 PATs is eighth. Shadle has 174 career points, which is 13th best in the SU record book. He is a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection.
Free safety Bruce Williams (Syracuse, N.Y.) played in 38 games as a free safety, wide receiver and punt returner. He has 56 career tackles, including 40 this year. Against Louisville, Williams had a fourth-quarter interception that sealed SU’s victory and he had a career-high 11 tackles at Rutgers.
Tight ends Roland Burke (Cicero, N.Y.) and Ryan Donnelly (East Syracuse, N.Y.) and defensive tackle Dan Pena (New York, N.Y.) earned their spots on the team as walk-ons and will be part of the senior ceremony on Saturday. Burke joined the team at the beginning of the 2007 season, while Donnelly and Pena made the team prior to the 2006 campaign. Senior manager Steve Castello (Goode, Va.) will also be recognized for his contributions to the program.
It will be Fan Appreciation Day, presented by Steiner Sports, on Saturday when the Orange hosts Connecticut. Throughout the game prizes will be awarded to Syracuse fans. The first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive Steiner Sports gift cards valued at $25. Two random cards will have a value of $1,000. Fans can look up the value of their cards online (www.Steinersports.com) to see their worth.
Record-setting running back Curtis Brinkley (Philadelphia, Pa.) will seek to continue his outstanding senior campaign. He has gained 966 yards on the ground, which ranks 14th on the Orange single-season rushing list. He has amassed six 100-yard rushing games, including a school-record five in a row. His 107.3 rushing yards per game is 19th nationally. Brinkley is 18th on Syracuse’s career rushing record list with 1,934 yards on 422 carries (4.4 yards per rush).
Strong safety A.J. Brown (Bealton, Va.) has 105 tackles and six interceptions in his four-year tenure with the Orange. In 2008, Brown recorded a career-best 11 tackles, including five solo, at Northwestern. He earned BIG EAST Conference Weekly Honor Roll accolades for his performance against the Wildcats.
Offensive tackle Corey Chavers (Jamesville, N.Y.) has started 27 games for the Orange, including nine this season as a part of a front line that has helped pave the way for the Orange's 151.8 rushing yards per game by blocking for the right side of SU's line. Chavers has also helped Syracuse cut back on its allowed sacks, giving up only 19 through nine contests.
Free safety Paul Chiara (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) moved to safety prior to 2008 Spring practice after lining up as a running back for the Orange during his first three seasons. Chiara has played in all 44 games since his freshman year. He is a two-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection and has been named to the 2005 Fall, 2007 Spring and 2007 Fall Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Guard Ryan Durand (Leominster, Mass.) has been protecting the Orange quarterback in 30 of the last 31 contests. Syracuse is averaging 151.8 yards rushing per game, which is tied for 57th nationally and is ranked fifth nationally in tackles for loss allowed per game (3.94). Durand earned a spot on the 2008 EPSN the Magazine Academic All-District Team, marking his second consecutive selection to that team. Durand has also made the Athletic Director's Honor every semester and is a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree.
Fullback Tony Fiammetta (Walkersville, Md.) has blocked, run the ball and caught passes for the Orange this season. He is the Orange's fifth-leading receiver (14 catches for 110 yards) and he forced his first career fumble against Penn State at the Dome. Fiammetta has played in 41 games for Syracuse.
Linebacker Jake Flaherty (Wakefield, R.I.) has made the second most tackles for Syracuse this season with 60. Flaherty made his first career interception this at Rutgers and he ranks ninth in the BIG EAST with 6.7 tackles per game. Flaherty has played in every single game since his freshman season, starting the last 21 games at middle linebacker. Durand earned a spot on the 2008 EPSN the Magazine Academic All-District Team, marking his second consecutive selection to that team. Flaherty is also a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree.
Defensive end Vincenzo Giruzzi (Utica, N.Y.) closes out his six-year SU career as a two-year starter with the defense. He was granted an extra year of eligibility after breaking his leg in 2004 preseason camp. Giruzzi is eighth on the team with 38 tackles. He was a 2007 BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection.
Cornerback Ryan Howard (Carson, Calif.) has played in 14 games as a punt returner and cornerback in his two seasons at Syracuse. Against Pittsburgh, Howard posted a career-high four tackles.
Tight end Ben Maljovec (Warren, Pa.) has played in 41 contests for the Orange at tight end, linebacker and on special teams. He has one catch for seven yards as a tight end and has played in every game on special teams. Maljovec is a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection.
Defensive end Nick Santiago (Utica, N.Y.) has played in 41 total games, including starts in all nine games this year. He is second on the team in tackles for loss with eight for 32 yards and 13th in the BIG EAST with 0.83 tackles for loss per game. He has 59 career tackles, including 26 this season.
Kicker Patrick Shadle (Morgantown, W. Va.) , a 2008 semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award for the nation’s best kicker, is the Syracuse record holder for field goal accuracy, connecting on 38-of-47 (80.1 percent), which is also 12th-best among active kickers in the Football Bowl Subdivision. His 38 career field goals rank seventh on the SU career record list and his 63 PATs is eighth. Shadle has 174 career points, which is 13th best in the SU record book. He is a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection.
Free safety Bruce Williams (Syracuse, N.Y.) played in 38 games as a free safety, wide receiver and punt returner. He has 56 career tackles, including 40 this year. Against Louisville, Williams had a fourth-quarter interception that sealed SU’s victory and he had a career-high 11 tackles at Rutgers.
Tight ends Roland Burke (Cicero, N.Y.) and Ryan Donnelly (East Syracuse, N.Y.) and defensive tackle Dan Pena (New York, N.Y.) earned their spots on the team as walk-ons and will be part of the senior ceremony on Saturday. Burke joined the team at the beginning of the 2007 season, while Donnelly and Pena made the team prior to the 2006 campaign. Senior manager Steve Castello (Goode, Va.) will also be recognized for his contributions to the program.
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