Time to Honor the Senior Gridders
11/16/2009 6:18:36 PM | Football
Game Notes (PDF)
Read Head Coach Doug Marrone's Press Conference Transcript
Nineteen seniors, including 15 student-athletes and four team managers, will take center stage prior to the Orange football team's final home game of the season on Saturday, November 21. The Orange will kick off against #25 Rutgers at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN360.com). Tickets are available online and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOME-TIX).
"We're playing a Rutgers team that's a good football team,” said head coach Doug Marrone. "Coach Schiano has been there for nine years. He's done a good job of building that program. We have to go out there and play well and we have to get a win. It's our last home game and it's important for us to put a good showing for our fans. It's important for us to make sure it's a special day for our seniors, who have endured quite a bit through this program.”
Each of the senior honorees is scheduled to earn his degree by May, 2010. The group of 15 student-athletes includes, Ryan Bartholomew, Tucker Baumbach, Cam Dantley, Donte Davis, Arthur Jones, Max Leo, Lavar Lobdell, Jim McKenzie, Mike Owen, Greg Paulus, Dalton Phillips, Andrew Robinson, Nico Scott, Derrell Smith and Mike Stenclik. The four senior student managers are head manager Mike Kravec, Joe Meyer, Jeremiah Standifer and Edwin Dei.
"We're going to have a senior day very familiar to the one that I was involved in as a player,” Marrone said. “It's a big day for the players, so we have a set event for the seniors on the team. We'll have a banquet prior to the spring game that honors the whole team, but specifically a lot of the seniors. We have a tremendous tradition in the awards that we hand out in this football program."
The Orange will be without two contributors on Saturday because of injuries sustained by Phillips and sophomore Mike Jones. Phillips sustained a concussion with a loss of consciousness at Louisville and was hospitalized following the game. He was released the afternoon of November 16 and is experiencing post concussive syndrome. As a result of the severity of the concussion and the aftermath, Phillips will not return for the rest of the season. Jones reported some soreness in his left hip prior to the Louisville game and reported an increase soreness after the contest. An MRI revealed a tear in his left hip flexor muscle and, as a result of the rehabilitation process, Jones will not return for the final two games of the season.
Running back Delone Carter recorded his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and the fifth of his career at Louisville (129 yards on 28 carries). He moved into the 22nd spot on Syracuse's career rushing yards record list with his 1,702 yards in 27 games. He has earned three BIG EAST weekly honors for his performances at Pittsburgh, against Maine and against Akron. He ranks 44th in the nation and fourth in the BIG EAST in rushing average (84.2 yards per game).
"He's always done a very good job of yards after contact," Marrone said. "I think the reason why he's getting more yardage is the offensive line is doing a better job than they were at the beginning of the year. Now the yards after contact are occurring six or seven yards down the field from the line of scrimmage. We're able to get him to the secondary more than we could in the beginning of the year."
Sophomore defensive end Chandler Jones earned BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll recognition for his team-leading 10 tackles, including one sack and 2.5 tackles for a loss of seven yards, at Louisville. He was a part of the defensive unit that had 11 tackles for a loss of 44 yards at Louisville, which is the most since the defense had 12 tackles for loss against Miami (OH) in 2006. The defense has 26 sacks this season, the highest single-season total since 2006 when SU had 34 sacks.
Junior punter Rob Long is one of 10 Ray Guy Award semifinalists. The honor is awarded annually to the nation's top collegiate punter. The nominees are evaluated on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Long's 43.3 yards per punt average ranks third in the BIG EAST and 22nd nationally this year. He has landed 22-of-53 punts inside the 20 and 38 punts have not been returned. He has averaged 42.9 yards per punt in his career, which ranks fourth among active kickers in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is second on SU's career list. Long is one of four 2009 team captains, as voted on by his teammates.
A limited number of the special $15 individual game tickets in 'Touchdown Town' are available. Fans are invited to save up to 40% on the ticket price by purchasing tickets in groups of 35 or more and 100 or more. For questions about Group Sales, please call (315-443-3212). For further questions and details call the Carrier Dome Box Office during business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-888-DOMETIX.
