Game Notes
Head Coach Greg Robinson's Press Conference Transcript
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The football Orange are in the midst of preparations for the West Virginia Mountaineers in an effort to bring the Schwartzwalder Trophy back to Upstate New York. Syracuse travels to Morgantown for a 12:00 p.m. game on Saturday, October 11 (ESPNU). Syracuse has played West Virginia 55 times and holds a 30-25 advantage in the series. The winner of the annual Syracuse-West Virginia football game receives the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy. Schwartzwalder coached Syracuse from 1949-73, accruing 153 victories in his quarter century, the most in SU history. He was also a graduate of West Virginia. Schwartzwalder was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
Through five games in 2008, Syracuse is a perfect 12-of-12 in the red zone in 2008. The Orange is one of four FBS teams to have scored every time inside an opponent's 20-yard line.
Syracuse ranks seventh nationally and third in the BIG EAST with a 41.4 punting average. Sophomore Rob Long ranks fourth among NCAA punters and is first in the BIG EAST with a 46.6 net punting average.
Several Orange student-athletes are climbing the Orange record lists this season.
Senior running back Curtis Brinkley has three 100-yard rushing games. The Philadelphia, Pa. native is averaging 95.4 yards per game which ties him for 34th in the NCAA and positions him fourth in the BIG EAST. Brinkley's 477 yards this season is third in the conference. He has 1,445 career rushing yards, which ranks 25th in Syracuse history.
Senior kicker Patrick Shadle has converted seven-of-eight field goals this season for the second highest field goal percentage in the BIG EAST (87.5). Shadle is also second in field goals per game (1.4) and third in kick scoring (6.6 ppg) throughout the conference.
Sophomore linebacker Mike Mele has a team-high 37 tackles thus far which ties him for sixth in the BIG EAST with 7.4 tackles per game.
Sophomore Mike Holmes' 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Pittsburgh is tied for the 13th longest return in the nation this year. In Syracuse's last contest, Holmes returned seven kicks for 207 yards to set an SU single-game record, eclipsing teammate Max Suter's record of 198 he set against Rutgers in 2007. Holmes is ranked second in the BIG EAST with 26.3 yards per return and 28th in the country.