Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFB | SWAN SONG: Senior Day spoiled as Syracuse routed by UConn
By Andy McCullough
Posted: 11/17/08, 3:35 AM EST Section: Sports
The defense, the unit Flaherty leads, was part of the reason for that. He has never been a standout for Syracuse. He will not win All-American or All-Big East honors this year - most of his accolades are for academics. Flaherty's back often bowed when pulling guards or fullback Anthony Sherman charged through holes to greet him. Blockers tangled him up and shoved him away from the action.
Flaherty whiffed on Jordan Todman in the second quarter as Todman scooted past for a 50-yard touchdown. He was nowhere to be found on Donald Brown's scoring jaunt.
He finished with a team-high seven tackles. But it wasn't enough. It wasn't close. These will be his final mementos of playing at the Dome.
All the seniors were honored before the game. They ran out onto the field and greeted family members waiting for them. Flaherty hugged his mother Joellen and his father Todd. His parents attended every game this year. Todd Flaherty lettered here in 1969 as a linebacker.
His son will finish with four letters, improbable as it may be.
In 2004, Scout.com rated Flaherty the 119th best high school linebacker prospect in the country. He made his bones as a quarterback at Rhode Island's South Kingston High.
But Flaherty bulked up, became a linebacker. He has played in every game of Greg Robinson's tenure, and nearly every down of the last two seasons. He puts his hands on hips in between plays and looks at the sidelines as assistant defensive coordinator Derrick Jackson flashes signals.
That is his role. The team named him one of four captains this season.
"They're my best friends," Flaherty said of his teammates. "I don't know. I'm going to miss them a lot. I'm going to miss going to war with them in the Dome, for sure."
After the game, Flaherty wore his Syracuse warm-ups and spoke with reporters. Beads of water rested in his blonde crew cut. He answered questions for a few minutes, then he was done. He rounded a corner and walked out the Carrier Dome, through the double air-lock doors of stadium control, for the last time as a player.
"It's a huge deal, but, you know, my father and I will continue to come to games here," Flaherty said. "It'll be different, because I'm not suiting up obviously, but we'll still come and embrace the program.
"Someday I might have a son that plays here, too."
ramccull@syr.edu
Flaherty whiffed on Jordan Todman in the second quarter as Todman scooted past for a 50-yard touchdown. He was nowhere to be found on Donald Brown's scoring jaunt.
He finished with a team-high seven tackles. But it wasn't enough. It wasn't close. These will be his final mementos of playing at the Dome.
All the seniors were honored before the game. They ran out onto the field and greeted family members waiting for them. Flaherty hugged his mother Joellen and his father Todd. His parents attended every game this year. Todd Flaherty lettered here in 1969 as a linebacker.
His son will finish with four letters, improbable as it may be.
In 2004, Scout.com rated Flaherty the 119th best high school linebacker prospect in the country. He made his bones as a quarterback at Rhode Island's South Kingston High.
But Flaherty bulked up, became a linebacker. He has played in every game of Greg Robinson's tenure, and nearly every down of the last two seasons. He puts his hands on hips in between plays and looks at the sidelines as assistant defensive coordinator Derrick Jackson flashes signals.
That is his role. The team named him one of four captains this season.
"They're my best friends," Flaherty said of his teammates. "I don't know. I'm going to miss them a lot. I'm going to miss going to war with them in the Dome, for sure."
After the game, Flaherty wore his Syracuse warm-ups and spoke with reporters. Beads of water rested in his blonde crew cut. He answered questions for a few minutes, then he was done. He rounded a corner and walked out the Carrier Dome, through the double air-lock doors of stadium control, for the last time as a player.
"It's a huge deal, but, you know, my father and I will continue to come to games here," Flaherty said. "It'll be different, because I'm not suiting up obviously, but we'll still come and embrace the program.
"Someday I might have a son that plays here, too."
ramccull@syr.edu
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