Legends of the Pen
10/14/2010 2:19:32 PM | Football
John Fox's Legends of the Pen Archives: Sept. 23
Among Pitt-Syracuse football games of his experience, Doug Marrone's favorite undoubtedly remains the 1984 victory that halted the Panthers' series-record 11 consecutive wins. Marrone was a 20-year-old starting tackle in the stirring 13-6 success at the Dome, which is also among my own favorites in that series.
Coach Doug's No. 1 pick will surely change on Saturday, however, if his game plan succeeds in extinguishing the five straight recent seasons that already are Pitt's second longest streak in the rivalry. Didn't his warriors recently extinguish another of those 0-for-5-years, while 1,100 miles from home?
In 1984, it was Marrone classmate Tim Green's duel against returning All-America tackle Bill Fralic that became center-stage. Pitt coaches moved Fralic from his normal mano a mano left-side position to RT to take on Green -- but in the end, settle for second place. By coincidence, each became Atlanta's first selection in the next two NFL drafts.
Suburban-Liverpool recruit Green's jubilant post-game proclamation: "This is why I came to Syracuse, to see us beat teams like Pitt some day."
The outcome was uncertain until the final play, after Orange kicker Don McAulay missed his try for an insurance third 40-yd.-plus field goal with 1:21 remaining. Pitt drove to the SU 20 but a fling to the corner of the end zone was knocked away as time expired.
Pitt could have begun its current streak a year earlier had not SU defenders stuffed a second-overtime 4th-and-1 run after Damien Rhodes opened the period with a 4-yard TD run. It was a repeat of two-overtime 2000 and David Tyree's second TD catch from Troy Nunes -- next-to-last in former coach Paul Pasqualoni's record-equaling 11 straight over the you-know-whos in his first 11 years as head coach.
My first Pitt-Syracuse game, Archbold's 1955 season opener, wasn't memorable despite being the Orange's first regular-season telecast. NBC's selection of it no doubt because of the hosts' touted junior halfback, Jim Brown. However, In the 22-12 defeat, Brown gained only 28 yards on 12 carries ("nor," wrote this reporter, "ran with much gusto after the first quarter") and missed point-after kicks after Ed Albright's two touchdown passes.
The 1956 rematch at Pittsburgh supplied nothing to improve Big Jim's fifth-place Heisman Trophy finish: Just 14-for-52 rushing in the 14-7 outcome that was the Orange's only regular-season defeat.
The 1956 rematch at Pittsburgh supplied nothing to improve Big Jim's fifth-place Heisman Trophy finish: Just 14-for-52 rushing in the 14-7 outcome that was the Orange's only regular-season defeat.
No matter, the mid-1950s resumptions reversed a long void into an unbroken tradition.
Prior to 1955, Syracuse hadn't scored against Pittsburgh in 30 years -- not particularly significant since in the last 28 of the 30, the two institutions weren't scheduling each other. This week is the 56th meeting without interruption.
Whose decision brought the now-forgotten halt, I've never learned. Giving Syracuse authorities the benefit of the doubt, the reason at this end can't have been Ogden Nash's whimsical rhyme:
"....If called by a panther,
Don't anther."
Nash was all poet, not "football know-it."
Dwight Freeney at FRANCHISE Coaches Clinic
Monday, March 30
Donovin Darius at FRANCHISE Coaches Clinic
Monday, March 30
John Scott Jr. Press Conference | Spring Ball Day 5
Saturday, March 28
Juan Castillo Press Conference | Spring Ball Day 4
Wednesday, March 25
