Saturday, October 29
Louisville, Ky.
12:00 p.m.
Syracuse University
at
Louisville
Syracuse takes the field at Louisville.
Photo by: Charles Wainwright
SU Tangles with Louisville Today
10/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Game Day Central | Live Stats | Orange All Access
Read The Game Notes
After opening its conference schedule with a pair of home games, Syracuse plays at Louisville today in its first BIG EAST road game of 2011 (12:00 p.m., BIG EAST Network). Both clubs earned their first conference victories last Friday. The Orange drubbed nationally-ranked West Virginia at home, 49-23, and Louisville outlasted Rutgers, 16-14, at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
Fans can listen to the game on Syracuse ISP Sports Network (TK-99.5 FM in Syracuse), Orange All Access. For game highlights, head coach Doug Marrone's postgame press conference and student-athlete interviews, sign on to Orange All Access following the game.
Orange Receiving Votes In National Polls
Fresh of its dominating win over West Virginia, Syracuse made its first appearance this season in the national rankings. The Orange received 24 votes in the most recent Associated Press poll, released on Oct. 23, and 10 votes in the USA Today rankings.
It's the second year in a row Syracuse has earned votes in the polls. In 2010, the Orange entered the receiving votes category following its win at West Virginia and remained there for a month before dropping out. Prior to last season, the Orange's last appearance in the national rankings was following a 43-17 triumph at Boston College to close out the 2004 season.
Inching Closer To Bowl Eligibility
Syracuse can become bowl eligible for the second year in row with a win Saturday at Louisville. The Orange is 5-2 and needs one victory in its last five games to secure a spot in the postseason. Last year, the Orange earned a berth in the inaugural New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium and defeated Kansas State, 36-34. The last time the Orange reached bowl games in consecutive years was 1998 (Orange Bowl vs. Florida) and 1999 (Music City Bowl vs. Kentucky).
Syracuse-Louisville Series
The all-time series between Syracuse and Louisville is tied at five wins apiece. In 1989, SU defeated the Cardinals in the Coca-Cola Bowl in Tokyo, Japan, 24-13, representing the only time Syracuse has played outside the United States.
In 2007, SU beat the 18th-ranked Cardinals 38-35 in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Andrew Robinson threw for 423 yards – the second-best in school history behind Marvin Graves' 425 yards against Rutgers in 1992 – and tied a then school record with four touchdown passes. Robinson was 17-of-26 passing, including a 79-yard touchdown pass to Taj Smith on the first play from scrimmage.
In 2008, running back Curtis Brinkley broke the SU single-season record for consecutive 100-yard rushing games with his fifth. SU fullback Tony Fiammetta caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Cameron Dantley with 5:18 remaining in the game.
Offensive Analysis
Breaking down SU's offensive numbers this year shows it has run 457 plays with a near perfect split between run (257 plays) and pass (227 plays). The run game has generated 873 yards (124.7 ypg) for an average of 3.8 yards per carry and eight touchdowns. The aerial attack has totaled 1,571 yards, 16 touchdowns and an average of 10.5 per completion. Combine the two and Syracuse has accumulated 2,444 yards of total offense and 24 touchdowns for an average of 5.3 yards per play and an average of 29.9 points per game.
On Record Pace
Seven games into 2011, Ryan Nassib is on track to have the most prolific passing season in the history of Syracuse football. Nassib is currently 148-of-224 for 1,523 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is on pace for 254 completions, 384 attempts and 2,611 yards. All three numbers would be school records. He is on schedule to set the SU season record for passing touchdowns (26) and to finish second in completion percentage and passing yards per game.
Orange Tied For 15th Nationally Against The Run
Syracuse is tied with Utah for 15th in the country in run defense. The Orange is allowing 99.4 yards rushing per game this season. SU has kept three of its seven opponents (including both of its BIG EAST opponents) to less than 100 yards on the ground this season. Against Rutgers on Oct. 1 at the Carrier Dome, SU surrendered a season-low five rushing yards.
SU BIG EAST's Best On Kickoff Returns
The Orange is first in the BIG EAST and 17th nationally in kickoff return average (25.06). Freshman Jeremiah Kobena is fourth in the BIG EAST in yards per return (24.3). Kobena has run back 27 kicks for 657 yards, including a career-best 79-yard return at Tulane on Oct. 8 that set up Syracuse's first touchdown. His 657 is seventh on the SU single-game record list and is third-highest total by a freshman in school history. Against Tulane, Kobena ran back four kicks for 176 yards (44.0 avg.). His 176 return yards rank fifth on the SU single-game record list and are the second-most by any BIG EAST player in one game this season. Pittsburgh's Buddy Jackson had 178 yards against Utah.
Dorian Graham has served as a nice complement to Kobena. Graham has seven returns for 204 yards (29.1 ypr), including a 98-yard return for a touchdown against West Virginia, SU's first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2008.
Read The Game Notes
After opening its conference schedule with a pair of home games, Syracuse plays at Louisville today in its first BIG EAST road game of 2011 (12:00 p.m., BIG EAST Network). Both clubs earned their first conference victories last Friday. The Orange drubbed nationally-ranked West Virginia at home, 49-23, and Louisville outlasted Rutgers, 16-14, at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
Fans can listen to the game on Syracuse ISP Sports Network (TK-99.5 FM in Syracuse), Orange All Access. For game highlights, head coach Doug Marrone's postgame press conference and student-athlete interviews, sign on to Orange All Access following the game.
Orange Receiving Votes In National Polls
Fresh of its dominating win over West Virginia, Syracuse made its first appearance this season in the national rankings. The Orange received 24 votes in the most recent Associated Press poll, released on Oct. 23, and 10 votes in the USA Today rankings.
It's the second year in a row Syracuse has earned votes in the polls. In 2010, the Orange entered the receiving votes category following its win at West Virginia and remained there for a month before dropping out. Prior to last season, the Orange's last appearance in the national rankings was following a 43-17 triumph at Boston College to close out the 2004 season.
Inching Closer To Bowl Eligibility
Syracuse can become bowl eligible for the second year in row with a win Saturday at Louisville. The Orange is 5-2 and needs one victory in its last five games to secure a spot in the postseason. Last year, the Orange earned a berth in the inaugural New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium and defeated Kansas State, 36-34. The last time the Orange reached bowl games in consecutive years was 1998 (Orange Bowl vs. Florida) and 1999 (Music City Bowl vs. Kentucky).
Syracuse-Louisville Series
The all-time series between Syracuse and Louisville is tied at five wins apiece. In 1989, SU defeated the Cardinals in the Coca-Cola Bowl in Tokyo, Japan, 24-13, representing the only time Syracuse has played outside the United States.
In 2007, SU beat the 18th-ranked Cardinals 38-35 in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Andrew Robinson threw for 423 yards – the second-best in school history behind Marvin Graves' 425 yards against Rutgers in 1992 – and tied a then school record with four touchdown passes. Robinson was 17-of-26 passing, including a 79-yard touchdown pass to Taj Smith on the first play from scrimmage.
In 2008, running back Curtis Brinkley broke the SU single-season record for consecutive 100-yard rushing games with his fifth. SU fullback Tony Fiammetta caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Cameron Dantley with 5:18 remaining in the game.
Offensive Analysis
Breaking down SU's offensive numbers this year shows it has run 457 plays with a near perfect split between run (257 plays) and pass (227 plays). The run game has generated 873 yards (124.7 ypg) for an average of 3.8 yards per carry and eight touchdowns. The aerial attack has totaled 1,571 yards, 16 touchdowns and an average of 10.5 per completion. Combine the two and Syracuse has accumulated 2,444 yards of total offense and 24 touchdowns for an average of 5.3 yards per play and an average of 29.9 points per game.
On Record Pace
Seven games into 2011, Ryan Nassib is on track to have the most prolific passing season in the history of Syracuse football. Nassib is currently 148-of-224 for 1,523 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is on pace for 254 completions, 384 attempts and 2,611 yards. All three numbers would be school records. He is on schedule to set the SU season record for passing touchdowns (26) and to finish second in completion percentage and passing yards per game.
Orange Tied For 15th Nationally Against The Run
Syracuse is tied with Utah for 15th in the country in run defense. The Orange is allowing 99.4 yards rushing per game this season. SU has kept three of its seven opponents (including both of its BIG EAST opponents) to less than 100 yards on the ground this season. Against Rutgers on Oct. 1 at the Carrier Dome, SU surrendered a season-low five rushing yards.
SU BIG EAST's Best On Kickoff Returns
The Orange is first in the BIG EAST and 17th nationally in kickoff return average (25.06). Freshman Jeremiah Kobena is fourth in the BIG EAST in yards per return (24.3). Kobena has run back 27 kicks for 657 yards, including a career-best 79-yard return at Tulane on Oct. 8 that set up Syracuse's first touchdown. His 657 is seventh on the SU single-game record list and is third-highest total by a freshman in school history. Against Tulane, Kobena ran back four kicks for 176 yards (44.0 avg.). His 176 return yards rank fifth on the SU single-game record list and are the second-most by any BIG EAST player in one game this season. Pittsburgh's Buddy Jackson had 178 yards against Utah.
Dorian Graham has served as a nice complement to Kobena. Graham has seven returns for 204 yards (29.1 ypr), including a 98-yard return for a touchdown against West Virginia, SU's first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2008.
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