Football Friday - Maine

The Orange football team play the second contest in a six-game homestand.  Saving on travel costs?  Genius, Dr. Gross.

MIKE WILLIAMS: Nice to see Coach Marrone and his staff listened during last week’s Football Friday.  Halftime Snack pleaded and pleaded to get Williams involved earlier in the offense.  The result:  11 catches, 209 yards and two touchdowns (all career-highs) on Saturday vs. Northwestern, the ensuing Big East Offensive Player of the Week award.  Lots of talk about drops all week motivated M-Dubz:  “I’m a receiver, drops gonna happen.  If I drop it, I’m gonna catch the next ten.” 

1959: Syracuse sees another opponent lose top player to injury before facing Hillmen:  Holy Cross quarterback Dick O’Brien’s kidney is removed mid-week.  Needless to say, SU rolls over Crusaders, 42-6, after piling up 485 yards of offense.  This big win should push the Hillmen higher than their No. 8 ranking by the skeptical Associated Press.

ANIMAL RIGHTS:  The Orange welcome the Maine Bears to the Carrier Dome, the largest animal is a run of dangerous mascots in the opening weeks. 

SU has faced Gophers (the Golden ones can ruin a society) and cats, large (Nittany) and wild (Northwestern).  Take a second and consider what you could due to fight off a bear attack.  If you run, the bear will chase you down.  If you climb a tree, the bear will come up the tree.  If you engage the bear with your little stick, well, the bear will take the stick and then turn you into a bunch of little sticks.

THEY SAID IT:  “"My first shot is going to bless the court," Carmelo Anthony, before sinking a 10-footer in a tight-cut flannel button open while baptizing the $19 million basketball facility Thursday afternoon.

SLICES:

            Syracuse 24, Maine 7 – Coach Marrone pulls the reigns even tighter this week, not wanting to give away trick plays and formations.  He will also    look for a chance to play reserves and keep from running up the score on Maine and its SU-based coaching staff.

            Game of the Week – Texas Tech at No. 17 Houston – Halftime Snack can’t pick a score, there are not enough digits on the number pad.  Everything is bigger in Texas, including the high-powered offenses.  Look for Uncle Mike Leach to squash the Cougars early-season dreams.

            Media changes – In 1959, WAER brought out the “Orange Spotlight,” a show featuring campus athletes discussing current controversial subjects.  Sue Edson in SU Athletic Communications, if your listening could we get a show like this added to Orange All Access?  Imagine Andy Rautins giving his thoughts on the public option in health care or Maggie Befort contemplating the candidacy of Stephanie Miner for Syracuse mayor.