|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Syracuse Orangemen Natives restless for another breakthrough
'99: 7-5, 3-4 Big EastCoachPaul Pasqualoni (10th season, 75-31-1; 109-48-1 overall)Key offensive playersDee Brown, RB, Sr.Brown, finally relieved of sharing quarterback duties, must lift the Orangemen rushing attack, which was down in 1999.
Kyle Johnson, FB, Sr.
P.J. Alexander, C, Jr.
Key defensive playersDuke Pettijohn, DE, Sr.Pettijohn, who had 10.5 sacks last season, leads what could be a dominant defensive line.
Greenwood, who has started 37 straight games, could shed his "underrated'' tag with a big season. Key newcomerJohnnie Morant, WR, Fr.At 6-5 and 225 pounds, Morant has fans in Syracuse dropping names like Randy Moss and Rob Moore. Throwback playerP.J. Alexander, an offensive lineman who doesn't care where he plays. As long as he plays. 21st century playerSpeed receiver Maurice Jackson, back from junior college, has been electronically timed running the 40-yard dash in 4.18 seconds. Fast factSyracuse is one of only four teams in the nation to record a winning record in each of the last 13 seasons. BYU, Florida State and Nebraska are the others.OutlookThere was a lot of handwringing in Syracuse when the Orangemen lost four of their last five regular season games in 1999. A win in the Music City Bowl over Kentucky gave Pasqualoni a slight reprieve, but pressure abounds, despite SU bowl appearances in 11 of the last 13 seasons. The key will be Pasqualoni's work with the quarterback position. Troy Nunes and Madei Williams haven't reminded anyone of Donovan McNabb. Defensively, the front seven should be strong enough. Senior cornerback Will Allen will need some help in the secondary.-- Mitch Vingle
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
