Filed under: Louisville, Syracuse, Big East
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse football has something important to play for in 2010. Unfortunately for the Orange, it just won't be a Big East championship. Coach Doug Marrone stressed from day one, at Big East media day in Newport, R. I. way back in August, his goal was to get his team to a winning record and a bowl appearance.After Saturday, Syracuse is still very much likely to achieve that goal, but along the way a funny thing happened -- it started winning more than is fair share of conference games. First, it took out South Florida. A resurgent Pittsburgh blasted the Orange at home 45-14, but the Orange rebounded with wins over Cincinnati and Rutgers to stay within striking distance of a conference crown.
Suddenly there was a chance to upgrade to loftier ambitions, capturing the Big East and heading to a BCS bowl game. Had it done that, Syracuse would have been the darling of college football.
But then Louisville happened.
The Orange struggled through yet another home game Saturday, hemorrhaging ground yards in falling 28-20 to a Louisville outfit that had been crushed by Pittsburgh the previous week and had lost its starting quarterback and tailback. Syracuse radio hosts not-so-boldly predicted a defensive shutdown ahead of the game. How could 'Cuse lose? Even with an offense prone to fits and starts, Syracuse's defense was gaining in strength in limiting some of the conference's best offenses.
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