Saturday, September 17
Los Angeles, Calif.
8:00 p.m. (EDT)
Syracuse University
at
Southern California
Head coach Doug Marrone and the Orange square off with USC at 8:00 EDT (FX Network)
Photo by: Charles Wainwright
SU Battles USC On Saturday, 8:00 P.M.
9/16/2011 8:29:24 AM | Football
Live Stats | Read The Game Notes
Orange All Access | Game Day Central
Syracuse football (2-0) heads to the west coast for a battle with USC (2-0) on Saturday, September 17 (8:00 p.m., FX Network). The Orange come into the game with a 2-0 record for the first time since 1999 after wins against Wake Forest and Rhode Island. Fans can listen to the game on Syracuse ISP Sports Network (TK-99.5 FM in Syracuse), Orange All Access. For game highlights, head coach Doug Marrone's postgame press conference and student-athlete interviews, sign on to Orange All Access following the game.
During more than 100 years of football, SU has only visited the state of California eight times, posting a 5-3 record. The last time the Orange played a game in the Golden State was in 1968, losing to Cal, 43-0. The last Syracuse victory in California was the year prior when it knocked off UCLA, 32-14. Saturday's contest features two of college football's winningest programs. SU is 15th on the all-time wins list with 687, while the Trojans' 771 victories place them 10th all-time.
Syracuse-USC Series
Syracuse has never beaten the Trojans, losing 16-0 at the L.A. Coliseum in 1924 and 34-16 in the 1990 Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium. In the most recent meeting, quarterback Todd Marinovich carried the USC to victory, passing for 337 yards and three touchdowns.
2-0 For The First Time Since 1999
After defeating Rhode Island 21-14 last weekend, the Orange enter week three of the season with a 2-0 record for the first time since 1999. SU secured the victory against the upset-minded Rams with 8:24 remaining in regulation when Ryan Nassib threw his third touchdown pass of the day, a 12-yarder to Michael Acchione.
The Orange scored 22 unanswered points to rally back from a 29-14 fourth quarter deficit and beat Wake Forest in its season opener, 36-29, in overtime. Syracuse scored 15 points in the span of 1:19 to tie the game, and receiver Van Chew caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Nassib on the first possession of overtime to provide the winning margin.
During the 1999 campaign, the Orange opened the season with wins at Toledo (35-12) and against Central Michigan (47-7).
Nassib On Three-Game Roll
Senior quarterback Ryan Nassib has been red-hot in SU's last three games. Dating back to the 2010 New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Nassib is 62-of-88 (.706) for 735 yards and nine touchdowns against one interception. His average numbers in that stretch include 20.1 completions, 29.3 attempts, a .686 completion percentage and three touchdowns per contest. Nassib has thrown three touchdown passes in each game, becoming the first Orange quarterback in history to have three touchdown passes in three straight games.
As good as Nassib has been this season, his numbers are even more impressive after halftime. The West Chester, Pa. native is 27-of-32 (.844) in the second half and overtime this season. More importantly, he has guided the Orange to two victories when SU has trailed or been tied in the fourth quarter.
Good Chemistry
The Orange features plenty of experience on the offensive line. All-BIG EAST left tackle Justin Pugh, right tackle Michael Hay, left guard Zack Chibane, right guard Andrew Tiller and center Macky MacPherson have 64 combined starts between them. Pugh, Chibane and Tiller have started every game since the beginning of 2010, while Hay has started all but one. MacPherson is the newcomer to the group. He received his first career starting nod in the season opener against Wake Forest.
Phillip Thomas Earns Weekly Honors
Phillip Thomas became the second player in as many seasons to intercept two passes in a game on Saturday against Rhode Island (Doug Hogue vs. West Virginia in 2010). Thomas is tied for third in the country and second in the BIG EAST with 1.00 interceptions per game and leads an Orange defense that is tied for 11th in the nation with three interceptions. He also added four solo tackles and a pass breakup against Rhode Island, and is tied for 24th in the country with 1.50 tackles for loss per game and leads the conference in passes defended (1.50).
Ruling The Red Zone
Since Doug Marrone took over the program and hired Scott Shafer as defensive coordinator, Syracuse has allowed its opponents to score 81.9 percent of the time in the red zone. However, Orange foes have only come away with touchdowns 55.4 percent of the time. This season, Syracuse has allowed just two touchdowns in seven forays by opponents into the red zone.
Rodgers Part Of Elite Group
Rookie Sam Rodgers is one of just nine true freshmen across the country to start for an FBS team at long snapper. Overall, a total of 15 first-year players earned their squad's starting long snapper position, three of whom are redshirts. Rodgers is also one of two BIG EAST players on the list, joining Louisville's Grant Donovan.
Orange All Access | Game Day Central
Syracuse football (2-0) heads to the west coast for a battle with USC (2-0) on Saturday, September 17 (8:00 p.m., FX Network). The Orange come into the game with a 2-0 record for the first time since 1999 after wins against Wake Forest and Rhode Island. Fans can listen to the game on Syracuse ISP Sports Network (TK-99.5 FM in Syracuse), Orange All Access. For game highlights, head coach Doug Marrone's postgame press conference and student-athlete interviews, sign on to Orange All Access following the game.
During more than 100 years of football, SU has only visited the state of California eight times, posting a 5-3 record. The last time the Orange played a game in the Golden State was in 1968, losing to Cal, 43-0. The last Syracuse victory in California was the year prior when it knocked off UCLA, 32-14. Saturday's contest features two of college football's winningest programs. SU is 15th on the all-time wins list with 687, while the Trojans' 771 victories place them 10th all-time.
Syracuse-USC Series
Syracuse has never beaten the Trojans, losing 16-0 at the L.A. Coliseum in 1924 and 34-16 in the 1990 Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium. In the most recent meeting, quarterback Todd Marinovich carried the USC to victory, passing for 337 yards and three touchdowns.
2-0 For The First Time Since 1999
After defeating Rhode Island 21-14 last weekend, the Orange enter week three of the season with a 2-0 record for the first time since 1999. SU secured the victory against the upset-minded Rams with 8:24 remaining in regulation when Ryan Nassib threw his third touchdown pass of the day, a 12-yarder to Michael Acchione.
The Orange scored 22 unanswered points to rally back from a 29-14 fourth quarter deficit and beat Wake Forest in its season opener, 36-29, in overtime. Syracuse scored 15 points in the span of 1:19 to tie the game, and receiver Van Chew caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Nassib on the first possession of overtime to provide the winning margin.
During the 1999 campaign, the Orange opened the season with wins at Toledo (35-12) and against Central Michigan (47-7).
Nassib On Three-Game Roll
Senior quarterback Ryan Nassib has been red-hot in SU's last three games. Dating back to the 2010 New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Nassib is 62-of-88 (.706) for 735 yards and nine touchdowns against one interception. His average numbers in that stretch include 20.1 completions, 29.3 attempts, a .686 completion percentage and three touchdowns per contest. Nassib has thrown three touchdown passes in each game, becoming the first Orange quarterback in history to have three touchdown passes in three straight games.
As good as Nassib has been this season, his numbers are even more impressive after halftime. The West Chester, Pa. native is 27-of-32 (.844) in the second half and overtime this season. More importantly, he has guided the Orange to two victories when SU has trailed or been tied in the fourth quarter.
Good Chemistry
The Orange features plenty of experience on the offensive line. All-BIG EAST left tackle Justin Pugh, right tackle Michael Hay, left guard Zack Chibane, right guard Andrew Tiller and center Macky MacPherson have 64 combined starts between them. Pugh, Chibane and Tiller have started every game since the beginning of 2010, while Hay has started all but one. MacPherson is the newcomer to the group. He received his first career starting nod in the season opener against Wake Forest.
Phillip Thomas Earns Weekly Honors
Phillip Thomas became the second player in as many seasons to intercept two passes in a game on Saturday against Rhode Island (Doug Hogue vs. West Virginia in 2010). Thomas is tied for third in the country and second in the BIG EAST with 1.00 interceptions per game and leads an Orange defense that is tied for 11th in the nation with three interceptions. He also added four solo tackles and a pass breakup against Rhode Island, and is tied for 24th in the country with 1.50 tackles for loss per game and leads the conference in passes defended (1.50).
Ruling The Red Zone
Since Doug Marrone took over the program and hired Scott Shafer as defensive coordinator, Syracuse has allowed its opponents to score 81.9 percent of the time in the red zone. However, Orange foes have only come away with touchdowns 55.4 percent of the time. This season, Syracuse has allowed just two touchdowns in seven forays by opponents into the red zone.
Rodgers Part Of Elite Group
Rookie Sam Rodgers is one of just nine true freshmen across the country to start for an FBS team at long snapper. Overall, a total of 15 first-year players earned their squad's starting long snapper position, three of whom are redshirts. Rodgers is also one of two BIG EAST players on the list, joining Louisville's Grant Donovan.
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