Syracuse University
Rutgers
Watch SU at Rutgers on ESPNU Saturday
11/12/2010 10:02:10 AM | Football
| Week 11: rv/-- Syracuse (6-3 overall , 3-2 BIG EAST) at Rutgers (4-4, 1-2) | |
| Game Day | Saturday, Nov. 13 | 3:30 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Buy Tickets | 2010 Tickets |
| TV | ESPNU (Pam Ward and Danny Kanell) |
| Radio | Syracuse Sports Network (TK99.5 FM, Flagship) |
| Follow the Action | Live Stats | Twitter Updates | SMS Updates |
| News and Notes | Read the Game Notes |
| Head Coach Doug Marrone | Weekly Press Conference Transcript |
| Whats Next? | 2010 Schedule |
Syracuse (6-3 overall, 3-2 BIG EAST) wraps up its regular-season road schedule with a visit to Rutgers (4-4, 1-2) on Saturday, November 13 in Rutgers Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. The Orange, which received votes in the Associate Poll this week, has a 4-1 record in road games this season, while the Scarlet Knights are 2-2 in Rutgers Stadium.
Syracuse-Rutgers Series
Syracuse holds a 29-10-1 advantage in the all-time series with Rutgers, including a 13-6 record since BIG EAST play began in 1991. The series against Rutgers is the sixth oldest in Orange football history, dating back to 1914. Syracuse won the most recent meeting between the two teams, 31-13, in the Carrier Dome last season. In the 2009 victory, linebacker Doug Hogue set a Syracuse record with 6.5 tackles for a loss of yards, earning the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week award and the Orange defense tied a school single-game record with nine sacks, while holding Rutgers to just 130 yards of total offense.
Complete Game Coverage
Fans can listen to the game on Syracuse ISP Sports Network (TK-99.5 FM in Syracuse) and Orange All Access. For game highlights, head coach Doug Marrone's postgame press conference and student-athlete interviews, sign onto Orange All Access following the game.
Orange Defense Ranks 10th Nationally
The SU defense, which is performing at its best level since 1997 allowing 299.0 yards per game, ranks 10th nationally in total defense. Defensive coordinator Scott Shafer has proven he can make defenses better, in addition to the improvement at Syracuse, his 2007 Stanford defense improved in every category from the previous season (2006).
Offense and Defense Produce After Turnovers
The Syracuse offense has turned 11-of-14 turnovers forced by the Orange defense into points this season, including six touchdowns and five field goals. On the other side of the ball, SU's defense has held opponents to zero points on 10-of-14 drives after the Orange offense has committed a turnover, including three touchdowns and a field goal. One SU interception was returned for a touchdown by Pittsburgh's defense.
2010 Orange Posting Best Numbers in Years
Syracuse is 6-3 for the first time since 2001. The last time the Orange began a season with a better record was also 2001 (7-2 through nine games). Syracuse's six wins are the most for an SU team since 2004, when the Orange finished 6-6. The three BIG EAST victories are the most since 2004, when SU finished 4-2 in the conference. SU's three BIG EAST road wins are the most league wins for an Orange team since 2001 when it had three. The Orange has won its first three BIG EAST road games for the first time since 2001.
Through nine games this year SU is performing statistically at levels the program has not had in a while in most categories. The offense is averaging 25.1 points per game, the best since 2003 while the defense is allowing only 299.0 yards per game, the best since 1997. Syracuse's 174.7 yards of pass offense per game are the best since 1989 while the defense is allowing only 18.7 points per game, the best since 1997.
Road Warriors
Syracuse has won four road games this season (at Akron, at South Florida, at #20/19 West Virginia, at Cincinnati). The last time SU won four away games all in the opponents' stadium was 1996 (at Boston College, at West Virginia, at Tulane and at Temple). The last time Syracuse won five road games was 1996 (at Boston College, at West Virginia, at Tulane, at Temple and against Houston in the Liberty Bowl). The last time SU won five games in an opponent's stadium was 1992 (at East Carolina, at Louisville, at West Virginia, at Temple and at Boston College).
Syracuse Earns Votes in National Polls
Syracuse has received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll for the past three weeks. The Orange returned to the national polls after beating #20/19 West Virginia on Oct. 23, receiving eight votes in the AP Poll and three votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll. It marked SU's first time in the polls since 2004 after winning at #17/19 Boston College, 43-17. The last time SU was in the Top 25 was at the end of the 2001 season when it ranked 14th in both polls after finishing the season with a 10-3 record and a 26-3 victory against Kansas State in the Insight.com Bowl. SU received two votes in the AP Poll after its loss to Louisville on Nov. 6.
