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 [12] 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 [15] (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 [16] 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 [17].
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 [18] 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 [19] giving his thoughts on the public option in health care or Maggie Befort [20]contemplating the candidacy of Stephanie Miner for Syracuse mayor.