Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFB | Tailback Bailey unlikely hero for Syracuse against Notre Dame
By John Clayton
Posted: 11/22/08, 10:35 PM EST Section: Sports
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - There was a time this summer when Antwon Bailey thought he would spend his true freshman season redshirting. A time when the trio of Curtis Brinkley, Delone Carter and Doug Hogue looked like it would be toting all the carries for Syracuse this year.
The prospect of being the star figure of a Syracuse victory seemed far off to Bailey. But that's exactly what happened at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday, when the 5-foot-8 tailback breathed life into the Orange offense during SU's 24-23 victory over the Fighting Irish. He ran for a game-high 126 yards and a touchdown in relief of an ineffective Curtis Brinkley, 98 of those yards coming in a fourth quarter in which he single-handedly propelled the Syracuse offense down the field.
For a Syracuse offense that has lacked any sort of spark the last two weeks, Bailey was a revelation. He was an unlikely hero in an even more unlikely win.
"Coming into camp, I was probably about fourth or fifth on the depth chart," Bailey said. "I was way behind. I pretty much had to work my way out of a redshirt year. I definitely didn't expect this though."
Bailey had worked his was into Syracuse's tailback rotation early in the season, eventually surpassing Carter and Hogue. He was a quick, shifty compliment to Brinkley, SU's senior workhorse. "He's not a surprise," SU head coach Greg Robinson said of Bailey. "… He's a talented young football player."
Early Saturday, it looked like Bailey's main role against the Irish would be as the point man for Syracuse's version of the 'Wildcat' offense. The formation is a version of the spread, in which the tailback takes a direct snap and either hands the ball off to another back or keeps it himself.
"We put it in last week," offensive coordinator Mitch Browning said. "The guy that kept pounding the table was (offensive line coach) Chris Wiesehan. He kept pounding the table saying we should do it. Somehow, someway when things aren't going good, you need to find ways to manufacture offense."
The prospect of being the star figure of a Syracuse victory seemed far off to Bailey. But that's exactly what happened at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday, when the 5-foot-8 tailback breathed life into the Orange offense during SU's 24-23 victory over the Fighting Irish. He ran for a game-high 126 yards and a touchdown in relief of an ineffective Curtis Brinkley, 98 of those yards coming in a fourth quarter in which he single-handedly propelled the Syracuse offense down the field.
For a Syracuse offense that has lacked any sort of spark the last two weeks, Bailey was a revelation. He was an unlikely hero in an even more unlikely win.
"Coming into camp, I was probably about fourth or fifth on the depth chart," Bailey said. "I was way behind. I pretty much had to work my way out of a redshirt year. I definitely didn't expect this though."
Bailey had worked his was into Syracuse's tailback rotation early in the season, eventually surpassing Carter and Hogue. He was a quick, shifty compliment to Brinkley, SU's senior workhorse. "He's not a surprise," SU head coach Greg Robinson said of Bailey. "… He's a talented young football player."
Early Saturday, it looked like Bailey's main role against the Irish would be as the point man for Syracuse's version of the 'Wildcat' offense. The formation is a version of the spread, in which the tailback takes a direct snap and either hands the ball off to another back or keeps it himself.
"We put it in last week," offensive coordinator Mitch Browning said. "The guy that kept pounding the table was (offensive line coach) Chris Wiesehan. He kept pounding the table saying we should do it. Somehow, someway when things aren't going good, you need to find ways to manufacture offense."
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