2008 Syracuse Orange football team

Last updated

2008 Syracuse Orange football
Syracuse Orange logo.svg
Conference Big East Conference
Record3–9 (1–6 Big East)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMitch Browning (1st season)
Offensive scheme Multiple
Defensive coordinatorDerrick Jackson (1st season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Carrier Dome
Seasons
  2007
2009  
2008 Big East Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 17 Cincinnati $  6 1   11 3  
Pittsburgh  5 2   9 4  
No. 23 West Virginia  5 2   9 4  
Rutgers  5 2   8 5  
Connecticut  3 4   8 5  
South Florida  2 5   8 5  
Louisville  1 6   5 7  
Syracuse  1 6   3 9  
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 Syracuse Orange football team represented Syracuse University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Orange were coached by Greg Robinson and played their home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York.

Contents

Before the season

The Orange lost its leading receiving from the 2007 season, Mike Williams. Williams was suspended from the team due to academic reasons. The most recent report says that Williams is not enrolled in classes for the fall semester.FB | Leading receiver Williams suspended from school - Sports Williams led the team with 60 catches for 837 yards in 2007. He finished the season on a school-record streak of nine games with a touchdown reception. That mark stands nine short of Larry Fitzgerald's record of 18 consecutive games.

Syracuse's number two receiver, Taj Smith, declared himself eligible for the NFL draft. Smith was not drafted, but did sign as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers. Smith recorded 44 catches for 822 yards in 2007.

Recruiting

Syracuse landed the nation's No. 50 recruiting class, which featured three 4-star recruits and five 3-star recruits. [1] The class was headlined by Churchville, NY tailback Averin Collier, Syracuse, NY receiver Marcus Sales and New Berlin defensive end Romale Tucker. [2]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3012:00 pmat Northwestern * ESPN2 L 10–3020,015
September 63:30 pm Akron *Time Warner SportsL 28–4231,808
September 133:30 pmNo. 17 Penn State *
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
ABC L 13–5545,745
September 203:30 pm Northeastern *Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
Time Warner SportsW 30–2134,694
September 2712:00 pm Pittsburgh
Big East NetworkL 24–3427,549
October 1112:00 pmat West Virginia ESPNU L 6–1758,133
October 1812:00 pmat No. 19 South Florida Big East NetworkL 13–4551,384
November 17:00 pm Louisville
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
ESPNUW 28–2132,917
November 812:00 pmat Rutgers ESPNUL 17–3542,172
November 157:00 pm Connecticut
ESPNUL 14–3928,081
November 222:30 pmat Notre Dame * NBC W 24–2380,795
November 2912:00 pmat No. 16 Cincinnati Big East NetworkL 10–3034,603
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

[3]

Game summaries

Northwestern

1234Total
Orange307010
Wildcats0914730

Syracuse opened the 2008 football season with a 30–10 defeat at the hands of Northwestern. The Orange marched the ball 63 yards on its opening drive, settling for a 36-yard field goal. SU's defense kept Northwestern at bay until late in the second quarter, but the offense provided the Wildcats first points. Syracuse quarterback Andrew Robinson was called for intentional grounding in his own end zone, resulting in a safety. Northwestern closed out the first half with 16-yard touchdown pass.

The Orange took advantage of a Tyrell Sutton fumble to open the second half. The ensuing touchdown run from back Curtis Brinkley gave the Orange its second lead of the game 10–9. Brinkley would finish with 49 yards on nine carries. He was joined by Delone Carter and Doug Hogue in the backfield. Neither broke 50 yards, though Carter's long rush of 32 yards was longer than any carry the Orange had in the 2007 season.

Northwestern closed the game on a 21-point run. One of those touchdowns came off an interception. From the opening drive on, the Orange had only one possession that went longer than 40 yards. The drive resulted in a missed field goal, as kicker Patrick Shadle hit the upright from 51 yards out.

The season opening loss was the Orange's fifth straight.

Akron

1234Total
Zips141401442
Orange0147728

Syracuse lost its fourth straight home opener and second straight game to a MAC opponent with a 42–28 loss to Akron. The Zips set the pace early, taking the ball 65 yards down the field for a touchdown. Akron scored again in the first quarter. The 79-yard drive was capped off with a 35-yard run by Dennis Kennedy.

The Orange found the endzone for the first time in the second quarter. Quarterback Cam Dantley connected with tight end Mike Owen for a 32-yard touchdown pass, his first career touchdown reception. Akron and Syracuse would then exchange touchdowns on one-yard runs. The Orange's score came from Curtis Brinkley, who set a career-high with 143 yards. The Zips would score again on a one-yard carry heading into halftime.

Syracuse tied the game in the fourth quarter, thanks to two touchdown passes from Dantley. One went for four-yards to Owen; the other was a 15-yard pass to redshirt freshman Nick Provo. Dantley finished 13-of-20 with 135 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception. Akron put the game out of reach with back-to-back touchdowns.

Penn State

1234Total
Nittany Lions211710755
Orange067013

Syracuse renewed its historic rivalry with Penn State with a 55–13 defeat. The teams last played in 1990.

Each of Penn State's three quarterbacks threw touchdown passes. Daryll Clark finished 10 of 21 for 163 yards and two touchdowns, Pat Devlin was 8 of 13 for 130 yards and two touchdowns, and Paul Cianciolo was 2 of 4 for 51 yards and a score. Receivers Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler both had over 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns apiece.

The Nittany Lion defense held the Orange offense without a first down until early in the second quarter. [4]

Northeastern

1234Total
Huskies0701421
Orange10014630

Syracuse defeated Football Championship Subdivision Northeastern, 30–21, behind a combined 245 yards and two touchdowns from tailbacks Doug Hogue and Curtis Brinkley.

Quarterback Cam Dantley completing 14 of 17 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown in his third straight start for the Orange. [5]

Pittsburgh

1234Total
Panthers31031834
Orange1437024

Pittsburgh tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Conor Lee kicked four field goals, and Pittsburgh scored 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally past Syracuse 34–24. [6]

West Virginia

1234Total
Orange33006
Mountaineers0701017

Playing without starting quarterback Pat White, West Virginia turned to tailback Noel Devine, who rushed for a career-high 188 yards and a touchdown, in a West Virginia 17–6 win.

Although Syracuse outgained West Virginia 346–268, and SU tailback Curtis Brinkley rushed for 144 yards, the Orange (1–5, 0–2) didn't register a touchdown for the first time in the season. [7]

South Florida

1234Total
Orange3100013
Bulls147141045

South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as South Florida crushed Syracuse, 45–13. Grothe finished with 72 yards on the ground and went finished 19-for-26 in the air for 248 yards. [8]

Louisville

1234Total
Cardinals707721
Orange777728

Syracuse tailback Curtis Brinkley set a Syracuse single-season record Saturday night with his fifth consecutive 100-yard game as Syracuse upset Louisville for the second year in a row, 28–21.

The win was just head coach Greg Robinson's third Big East Conference win. After the game, Robinson had accumulated a 3–22 overall in four seasons against the Big East. [9]

Rutgers

1234Total
Orange1403017
Scarlet Knights01414735

Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel threw three touchdown passes and Rutgers overcame a 14-point deficit to beat Syracuse 35–17. The loss made the Orange ineligible to compete in a bowl game for the fourth straight year under coach Robinson. [10]

Connecticut

1234Total
Huskies31917039
Orange0140014

Connecticut tailback Donald Brown rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown, Jasper Howard scored on a 69-yard punt return and Robert McClain delivered a 37-yard interception return for a score as Connecticut defeated Syracuse 39–14. Connecticut broke the game open after struggling to hold on to a 22–14 second half lead. [11]

Notre Dame

1234Total
Orange3701424
Fighting Irish31010023

A week after Syracuse announced that it was firing its head coach at the conclusion of the season, Syracuse delivered the biggest win under the Robinson era, stunning the Irish in South Bend, 24–23. QB Cameron Dantley's 11-yard touchdown pass to Donte Davis with 42 seconds left proved to be the game winner, as the Irish lost to an eight-loss team for the first time in its school's storied history.

The victory allowed Syracuse (3–8) to avoid a third 10-loss season in four years under Robinson. [12]

Cincinnati

1234Total
Orange030710
Bearcats7610730

The Greg Robinson era came to an end against the Bearcats as the Orange was dominated by the Bearcats. Cincinnati QB Tony Pike threw for 274 yards on 28-of-44 passes while kicker Jake Rogers connected from 45, 38 and 45 yards. Syracuse went 10–47 in coach Greg Robinson's four seasons, including 3–25 in the Big East. [13]

Rankings

PollPreWk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Final
AP
Coaches
HarrisNot released
BCSNot released

Coaching staff

Statistics

Team

SUOpp
Scoring217392
  Points per Game18.132.7
First Downs164270
  Rushing88127
  Passing64132
  Penalty1211
Total Offense32424974
  Avg per Play4.75.9
  Avg per Game270.2414.5
Fumbles-Lost13–913–8
Penalties-Yards54–46071–649
  Avg per Game38.354.1
SUOpp
Punts-Yards66–289848–1857
  Avg per Punt43.938.7
Time of Possession/Game27:1532:45
3rd Down Conversions45/156 29%85/166 51%
4th Down Conversions8/20 40%9/11 82%
Touchdowns Scored2548
Field Goals-Attempts14/17 82%17/21 81%
PAT-Attempts25/25 100%47/47 100%
Attendance200,844287,102
  Games/Avg per Game33,47447,850

Scores by quarter

1234Total
Syracuse57675241217
Opponents7212099101392

Offense

Note: These lists are not complete. Only the leaders are included.

Rushing

NameGP-GSAttGainLossNetAvgTDLongAvg/G
Curtis Brinkley12–1123711932911644.974597.0
Doug Hogue11–23523202326.6282*21.1
Antwon Bailey8–03322762216.723927.6
Delone Carter4–02314141376.003234.2
Tony Fiammetta 12–1056606613.20585.5
Rob Long12–012402424.00242.0
Andrew Robinson4–112352870.6091.8
Cam Dantley11–114198154-56-1.4020-5.1
Total12392201823417844.61182148.7
Opponents12454250423122735.01892189.4

Passing

NameGP-GSEfficAtt-Cmp-IntPctYdsTDLngAvg/G
Cam Dantley11–11102.12121–251–548.212981138118.0
Andrew Robinson4–151.3118–45–340.013201833.0
Total1294.91141–299–847.214581138121.5
Opponents12141.14242–384–863.027012755225.1

Receiving

Note: This is not a complete list.

NameGP-GSNo.YdsAvgTDLongAvg/G
Donte Davis12–102931210.823426.0
Mike Owen12–11191759.223214.6
Tony Fiammetta12–10161277.911910.6
Marcus Sales11–01416011.412814.5
Curtis Brinkley12–1114815.80176.8
Lavar Lobdell12–101316512.702613.8
Doug Hogue11–2111089.81379.8
Da'Mon Merkerson12–069515.81387.9
Nick Provo7–047017.512710.0
Van Chew12–045614.01364.7
Chaz Cervino11–133712.30233.4
Dan Sheeran2–023115.512515.5
Grant Mayes10–212626.00262.6
Total12141145810.31138121.5
Opponents12242270111.22755225.1

Defensive Leaders

Note: This list includes only defensive leaders. Click 2009 Football Statistics (0-2) for a complete list.

NameGP-GSTacklesSacksPass DefenseInterceptionsFumblesBlkd
Kick
SoloAstTotalTFL-YdsNo-YdsBrUpQBHNo.-YdsAvgTDLongRcv-YdsFF
Jake Flaherty12–124437814.0–91.0–5141–22021
Derrell Smith12–123637735.0–231.0–9211–44041
Mike Mele4–4101626
Mike Holmes4–41652111
Derrell Smith4–4912211.5–611–44.0041
A.J. Brown4–297161–11.001
Art Jones4–467134.0–171.0–711–0
Randy McKinnon3–385131.5–411–00.000
Bruce Williams4–384120.5–11–99.0091–01
Nick Santiago4–45492.5–81.5–711
Anthony Perkins4–06392.5–161.0–10211–0
Total416113629719–694–25834–143.5094–450
Opponents414810825612–575–34863–268.713–040

Special teams

NamePuntingKickoffs
No.YdsAvgLongTBFCI20BlkdNo.YdsAvgTBOB
Rob Long66289843.97251615014343.001
Nico Rechul50325565.130
Patrick Shadle14040.000
Total66289843.97251615052333864.231
Opponents48185738.75922226276474562.421
NamePunt ReturnsKick Returns
No.YdsAvgTDLongNo.YdsAvgTDLong
Mike Holmes4194123.0190
Max Suter199.0092654721.0038
Ryan Howard750.70425527.5029
Bruce Williams2126.0012
Total11494.521273160922.0190
Opponents3132810.616947117124.9069

References

  1. "2008 Football Scout Team Rankings".
  2. "CuseNation.com - Syracuse Orange Football Recruiting". 247Sports. Retrieved December 10, 2022.[ dead link ]
  3. "SUathletics.com – Sports Schedules". Archived from the original on April 12, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
  4. "Nittany Lions Thump Syracuse, 55–13". Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. September 13, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
  5. "Northeastern vs. Syracuse - Game Recap - September 20, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on March 3, 2017.
  6. "Pittsburgh vs. Syracuse - Game Recap - September 27, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on August 27, 2018.
  7. "Syracuse vs. West Virginia - Game Recap - October 11, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on March 16, 2017.
  8. "Syracuse vs. South Florida - Game Recap - October 18, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 30, 2018.
  9. "Louisville vs. Syracuse - Game Recap - November 1, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 30, 2018.
  10. "Syracuse vs. Rutgers - Game Recap - November 8, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 30, 2018.
  11. "Connecticut vs. Syracuse - Game Recap - November 15, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on December 30, 2018.
  12. "Syracuse vs. Notre Dame - Game Recap - November 22, 2008 - ESPN". Archived from the original on September 26, 2017.
  13. "Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos". Yahoo Sports.