Orange Opens Up BIG EAST Play Against Pittsburgh
9/26/2008 8:38:05 AM | Football
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange kick off BIG EAST play this Saturday, Sept. 27, against the University of Pittsburgh at the Carrier Dome (12:00 p.m., BIG EAST Network). The 63-year series against the Panthers is SU’s longest with any BIG EAST opponent and it is the third-longest rivalry in the history of the program.
“This is our oldest rivalry in the BIG EAST, all the way back to 1916,” said head coach Greg Robinson. “The series is tied at 30-30, so we have a rubber match coming on Saturday. On top of that, it’s the first game in the BIG EAST which is exciting for our football team. It’s one that we’re looking forward to and I really hope we can get our community to come on out and support this team. This team can use all the support they can gather up and I think it will be a great football game.”
All 2008 tickets are available online and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOMETIX). Individual game tickets for Pittsburgh, Louisville and Connecticut are $36 for adults and $18 for youth (ages 12 and under).
Syracuse rushed for more than 200 yards for the second time this season in the 30-21 victory against Northeastern. The Orange gained 271 total yards on the ground, marking the highest rushing total for the team since Sept. 10, 2005 when it compiled 348 yards against Buffalo. It is the first time since 2004 Syracuse registered two 200 yard rushing games in a season. It was also the 16th game in which the team has rushed or passed for more than 200 yards during Robinson’s term as coach.
Senior Curtis Brinkley gained a career-high 145 yards on 24 carries and a three-yard touchdown against the Huskies. The Philadelphia, Pa. native is 43rd nationally and third in the BIG EAST with 89.5 yards per game.
The offensive line has performed well this season in helping contribute the success of the offense. Syracuse is averaging 165.0 rushing yards per game, an increase of more than 100 yards from 2007.
“I think it (the offensive line play) has been good. I’ve seen steady improvement,” Robinson said. “Against Penn State, they went against a formidable defense and weren’t as successful as a result. I thought at Northwestern, they did some good things. Against Akron, they were very good and last week (against Northeastern) they were good. I think a lot (of the credit) should go to Mitch (Browning) and to Chris (Wiesehan). I also give credit to our players. Ryan Durand and Corey Chavers have been around quite awhile and I look at those other young players in (Tucker) Baumbach and Bart (Ryan Bartholomew). Jim McKenzie has brought himself so far to where he is right now. Those players deserve a lot of credit for their hard work and development. I do think the coaches have done a nice job of working with them.”
Brinkley ranks 25th on Syracuse’s career rushing record list with 1,326 yards. Placekicker Patrick Shadle is also among the leaders in his specialty. His 32 field goals ranks seventh on Syracuse’s career field goals made record list, while his 149 career points is 15th.
Johnson is the Honorary Captain
Former Orange two-time captain Kyle Johnson will serve as the honorary captain for the Orange. As honorary captain, Johnson will participate in all activities with the team beginning the night before the game. He will address the team, participate in the Quad Walk and accompany 2008 Orange captains Tony Fiammetta, Jake Flaherty, Patrick Shadle and Bruce Williams for the pre-game coin toss.
Johnson played fullback for the Orange from 1997 to 2001. He was given a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA following a season ending injury in the 2000 season opener. In 2001, as a senior captain, Johnson led the Orange to a 10-3 record and a victory in the Insight.com Bowl. He gained 223 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns and caught seven passes for 80 yards and had a receiving touchdown. As a junior captain in 2000, he was the team’s third-leading rusher with 157 yards on 32 carries.
Johnson, who earned his bachelor’s degree in electronic arts in 2000 and his MBA in 2008, played six years in the NFL with the Denver Broncos after being selected in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. The first two-time team captain at SU since Joe Morris in 1980 and 1981, Johnson was named the 2001 BIG EAST/Aéropostale Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was a 2001 Verizon Academic All-District I Team selection. In 2002, he was awarded the SU Athletics Department Soladay Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a Syracuse student-athlete.
Monk to Receive Courage Award
Orange All-American and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Monk will be presented with the Syracuse Eight Courage Award. Established in 2006, the award is presented annually to a current or former student-athlete who has overcome a socially, economically or otherwise disadvantaged background or serious injury and has demonstrated uncommon bravery or highly principled behavior in the face of adversity. Monk, who was named to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees in 2007 and is involved with the Orange athletics program, was instrumental in the recognition of the Syracuse Eight during the 2006 football season. The University honored members of the 1970 football squad for their extraordinary courage and commitment by calling for the equal treatment of student-athletes and a diverse coaching staff. These men stood up for the principles of fairness and equality.
Monk is an active member of the Washington, D.C. community he calls home. He helped found The Good Samaritan Foundation with his Washington teammates Charles Mann, Tim Johnson and Earnest Byner. The foundation, based on the strong commitment of its founders to "prepare youth for leadership in the community and the workplace," provides youth with the environment needed to equip them with the skills, training and resources necessary to compete successfully in society through the Student Training Opportunity Program (STOP). The program serves more than 50 high school students, four days a week during the school year and five days a week during the summer providing after-school programs, tutoring and mentoring.
A four-year SU letter winner (1976-79), Monk led the Orange in receiving in 1977, 1978 and 1979. He still ranks in the top 10 on several Orange career record lists, including career receptions (sixth), all-time receiving yards (seventh) and receiving yards per game (ninth). In 1980, the Washington Redskins selected Monk with the 18th overall pick in the NFL Draft.
During his 16-year NFL career, Monk played 14 seasons with the Redskins before joining the New York Jets for the 1994 campaign and playing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995. Monk played for the Redskins Super Bowl XVII, Super Bowl XXII and Super Bowl XXVI teams. He also won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the team in Super Bowl XVII, but did not play due to injury. Monk finished his NFL career with 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns, along with 332 rushing yards. He was the first to eclipse 900 receptions. He was named to the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team.
Cheer on the Orange on the Quad
Pre-game activities on the Syracuse University Quad begin at 9:00 a.m. The 2008 Orange football team Quad Walk will begin at 9:50 a.m. followed by the Syracuse University Marching Band Drum Line performance in front of Hendricks Chapel and the Marching Band Pep Rally to gets fans geared up for kickoff.
Almostfest will be held on the Quad prior to the game. The FabCats and Storm Front will entertain the crowd. The FabCats are Syracuse, NY’s only SAMMY (Syracuse Area Music) Award-nominated Beatles band. The Fabs mix over 200 songs with a combined 125 years of performing experience to present a unique variety of songs and styles. A Billy Joel tribute band, Storm Front first hit the stage in the summer of 2007. The band, which is based in Albany, includes of six musicians who grew up loving and playing the music of Billy Joel.
In addition to the musical entertainment, there will be children’s games and food and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Coolers and/or alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the Quad.
