Syracuse Notes
Syracuse vs. South Florida
The Carrier Dome
Syracuse, N.Y.
November 12, 2005
At halftime of the game today, Syracuse University retired the #44, one of the most storied numbers ever associated with any college football program. Twenty-five players have worn the number for the Orange, including legends Jim Brown (1954-56), Ernie Davis (1959-61) and Floyd Little (1964-66). Brown and Little were on hand for the retirement ceremony, as was Marie Fleming, Davis’ mother and other former #44s Rob Konrad (1995-98), Michael Owens (1987-89), Bill Schoonover (1962-63) and Tom Stephens (1957-58). Gifford Zimmerman (1921) was the first player to wear #44 and Konrad was the last.
Brown is a member of the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame. He led the NFL in rushing eight times and many still point to him as the greatest running back of all time. Among his many accomplishments at SU was setting the NCAA single-game record with 43 points against Colgate.
Davis became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, taking home the award in 1961. He was the starting halfback on SU’s 1959 national championship team. Davis signed with the Cleveland Browns and was set to join Brown in Cleveland’s backfield, but it never came to pass. Davis died of leukemia in 1963. He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Little was a three-time All-American and the greatest kick returner in school history. In addition to breaking the records of Brown and Davis, he led the nation in all-purpose yards in 1965, averaging 199 per game. He went on to win back-to-back rushing titles with the Denver Broncos in 1970 and 1971. He too, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Today was the final home game for SU’s 21 seniors. Cory Brooks, Eugene Brown, Christopher Calderon, Kader Drame, Kurt Falke, Steve Franklin, Steve Gregory, Tommy Harris, Kevin Kopko, Joe Kowalewski, DeAndre LaCaille, Ryan LaCasse, Joe Neumann, Quinn Ojinnaka, Justin Opalenski, Kellen Pruitt, Damien Rhodes, Alex Shor, Anthony Smith, Thomas Whitfield and James Wyche all made their final Carrier Dome appearance this afternoon and the entire senior class was named game captains for the contest.
Senior tailback Damien Rhodes rushed for 91 yards in the final home game of his career. He passed Kyle McIntosh (2,250 yards) on SU’s career rushing list and now ranks 10th on with 2,336 career rushing yards.
Sophomore Jameel McClain registered the first sack of his career in the second quarter versus the Bulls.
Senior safety Anthony Smith intercepted his 14th career pass to end a South Florida second quarter drive and moving him into sole possession third place on SU’s career list. It was his sixth pick of the year, bettering his previous season-best of five set in 2003. Smith’s six picks is the most by an SU player since Kevin Abrams intercepted six passes in 1995 and his season interception total is tied with nine other Orange defenders for sixth on the school’s single-season interceptions ledger.
Junior Brendan Carney punted 10 times against South Florida. He now ranks third in career punts with 184 boots. His 2,902 punting yards in 2005 ranks second on SU’s single-season list. Carney has punted 67 times this season, tied with Jim Goodwill and Jim Fox for the fourth-highest single-season total in Orange history.
Freshman Bruce Williams returned his first career punt for 13 yards against South Florida. In the fourth quarter he tallied a career-long punt return of 20 yards.
Freshman Curtis Brinkley established a new career-best with five carries versus the Bulls.
Redshirt freshman Paul Chiara recorded a career-long run of 21 yards in the fourth quarter.
The last time the Orange was shut out in a game was the 2004 season opener, 51-0, at Purdue. The last time SU was blanked at the Dome was on Nov. 8, 2000 against Miami, 26-0.
South Florida’s Andre Hall rushed for 222 yards. He is the first back to rush for more than 200 yards in game versus the Orange in eight years. Oklahoma’s De’Mond Parker is the last player to run for more than 200 yards against SU, rushing for 239 versus the Orange on Sept. 6, 1997.
