Syracuse Orange football bowl bound for the first time since '04

It's time to turn the page in Syracuse football history.

It is officially the Doug Marrone Era.

With a 13-10 win over Rutgers, November 13, 2010 in Piscataway, NJ, the Syracuse Orange become bowl eligible for the first time since 2004, back when Syracuse Athletics first dropped the "Men" in "Orangemen" to be known simply as the Syracuse Orange.

With 1:07 on the clock, Syracuse freshman Ross Krautman nailed a 24 yard field goal to seal the win. It was the Orange's fourth Big East victory, also for the first time since '04, when the Orange team was run by a man by the name of Paul Pasqualoni. Second year head coach for the Orange Doug Marrone is the former offensive coordinator for last year's NFL Super Bowl champs the New Orleans Saints.

A straight shooter with no time for nonsense, Marrone was determined to bring back to Syracuse the winning football organization that was developed under Pasqualoni. And boy did he deliver! Proving that football is truly a "game of inches" and that it is of utmost importance to master the realm of "small ball" such as special teams and basic offensive and defensive football fundamentals, Marrone has lit a fire under this Syracuse Orange team that doesn't appear to be going out anytime soon. It has even been rumored that Marrone demanded the players show up early to practice, make it to every class on time when able, (excluding time taken off for games) and to be clean-cut and ready to play football each and every day.

And what a difference the coaching style of Doug Marrone has brought to this team! Not sure of what bowl they may be headed to, QB Ryan Nassib is quoted as saying, "We're very excited! We're not concerned about what bowl we go to, we're just happy to be able to make it to one."

Along with the 24 yard winning field goal, Syracuse kicker Krautman also booted a career-long 48 yard field goal in the game for the Orange, who go into bowl eligibility 7-3 on the season and 4-2 in Big East Conference standings. Nassib has been the face of the Orange's newly aggressive offense, but let's not forget it's the little things that win games and send teams to higher places, in this case a field goal clinched the win.

Ryan Nassib threw for 214 total yards including a short four yard touchdown pass to Antwon Bailey. RB Delone Carter as well as Bailey rushed for decent field position to set up Krautman for the winning field goal.

Head coach Doug Marrone has brought his team to 7-3 overall, with four wins on the road in the Big East Conference. Marrone has achieved five true road wins on the season for the Orange (one in Akron) last achieved in 1992 under Pasqualoni.

Marrone now has more wins with (11) in less than two seasons than previous Syracuse Orange coach Greg Robinson had in four years with (10) wins (ESPN Stats and Information).

Rutgers, with a touchdown and a field goal in the match up, tried to employ a wildcat offense towards the end of the game out of sheer desperation. Unfortunately for Rutgers, a 12 yard run by Mohamed Sanu and a six yard run by Jeremy Deering to put Rutgers within field goal range proved to be too little too late for this year's outstanding Syracuse Orange defense.

The Orange, Marrone, and Nassib wait with baited breath to assume their rightful bowl position in this exciting 2010 Syracuse football season.

-C.T. Minardi

The Terps are back!

It's official. The Maryland Terrapins are back in action this year. On Saturday 10/30/10, against Wake Forest in College Park, Maryland, the scene started out like any other college football game. What ensued was proof that the Terrapins (now 6-2, 3-1 ACC standings) are in great shape and in contention for the ACC Atlantic Division Title.

Right out of the gate, the Terps grabbed two interceptions and returned them for touchdowns.

The score more than tripled to 48-7 Terps by 9:15 left in the 3rd quarter. Where is Chris Berman from ESPN to say "WWWWhaaaatt!!"

This exponential increase in points happened in the blink of an eye after the score was 10-7 Maryland, as the Terrapins scored 38 points in 18:15 following the second pick returned for a touchdown. Not only did Maryland close the day with two defensive touchdowns, the mighty Terps also blocked two punts!

In a flash, it was........

Danny O'Brien (#5, QB for Maryland) to LaQuan Williams in the end zone for a touchdown.

Ralph Friedgen, head coach for Maryland, looked like he was watching a game of pong as the Terps bounced from end zone to end zone.

2nd string QB for the Terps, #11 Robinson, finishes out the game and continues to put the hurtin' on Wake Forest.

With Jamarr Robinson in control, RB Davin Meggett makes it 54-7 Maryland with a little less than 3:00 minutes in the 3rd!

At this point, every touchdown was scored by a different Terp.

After the extra point, making the score 55-7, Maryland, Wake Forest tries to muster up some steam with a 40+ yard punt return. Wake Forest's starting quarterback Taylor Price was given decent field position with a fighting chance to chip away at the Terps score. Wake Forest is winless on the road, with all of their away games shut-outs, however, none quite like this. Price is backed to pass and.. what's this!? Maryland defensive back Antwine Perez comes up with the Terp's 4th sack of the game!

It's 3rd and 19 with one minute left in the 3rd quarter. Taylor Price for Wake Forest is backed to pass.... however, cannot convert on this crucial 3rd down.

Wake Forest decides to go for it on 4th down.... and scores! Via a pass from Price to WR Terrence Davis to break a 45 point scoring streak by Maryland to make the score 55-14 Terps. This long overdue touchdown pass was Davis's first collegiate career touchdown.

However, the Terps turn around and score again with about 7:00 minutes remaining in the game, making the score an unbelievable 62-14, as D.J. Adams, a redshirt freshman from Florida, rushes for the touchdown. At this particular point, 8 different Terps had scored TD's without ANY of them repeating.

Wake Forest, who's name (believe it or not) is the "Demon Deacons" fall to 1-4 ACC and 2-6 overall, while Maryland sports almost the exact opposite at 3-1 ACC and 6-2 overall.

Wake Forest loses their 6th consecutive game, as the Terps match their highest score ever in an ACC game. Go Terps!

The Maryland Terrapins will play the Miami Hurricanes this Saturday at Miami.

-C.T. Minardi