Diabate Set for Senior Season

Head Coach Doug Marrone and senior linebacker Siriki Diabate's playing resume's are very similar. Besides representing the Orange on the gridiron, the two both played for and attended Lehman High School in Bronx, N.Y. They also played for the same coach, Carmine Colasanto.

"Once and a while he jokes around and says you can't make Lehman High School look bad," Diabate said. "I have to always be on my p's and q's and make sure that I'm representing that school pretty well and that I'm representing Syracuse and Doug Marrone."

Diabate has done an excellent job representing the Orange on the field, tallying 12 tackles, including nine solo, and one tackle for a loss of one yard so far this season. Diabate worked hard after his first season in the Orange to earn a starting position in 2012.

"As you can see last year, I was not a starter," Diabate said. "I had to earn my way and just keep on working and thank God for the opportunity. We have great linebackers. Every day is a competition. Last Saturday, I might be the starter. This Saturday might be different. Even coach said yesterday, it's open competition."

Diabate transferred to Syracuse from Nassau Community College and enrolled in January 2011. He made an immediate impact, recording 24 tackles, including 17 solo, three tackles for a loss of 13 yards and one sack for a loss of eight yards in 2011.

"Coming in, I knew I only had two years," Diabate said. "You don't have time to slack or time to take off so you have to get to work right now. You have to learn everything as fast as possible and put your work in and help the team."

When the Orange faced No. 2 USC this past Saturday in New York's College Classic, it was somewhat of a homecoming for the Bronx, N.Y. native and some of his teammates.

"It actually felt a lot like home because I had a lot of family members and friends show up to the game," Diabate said. "It was pretty exciting. It was a great feeling to be able to go back home and play in front of your high school friends and family members."

Diabate and the Orange are hard at work preparing for this weekend's game at the Carrier Dome against Stony Brook on Saturday, Sept. 15th (4 p.m.; TWCS/SNY).

"Last week, we were the underdog," Diabate said. "Going out there, we put on a great show and worked very hard. I think Stony Brook is going to do the same thing. So you can't overlook anybody. It's a football game. If we knew who was going to win, we wouldn't play the game. Therefore, you have to come out every single game and give your best. We are going to get the best of every single team."

All children under the age of 12 are welcome to come to the game for free, sponsored by Time Warner Cable. The first 10,000 fans in the building will receive a limited edition New York's College Team bracelet.

Season and individual game tickets are available online, in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX.

Syracuse University Athletics

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