The Daily OrangeHOPELESS: Syracuse eliminated from bowl contention after heartbreaking loss to Louisville
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 11/14/09, 5:10 PM EST Section: Sports
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jim McKenzie sat at the interview table on the verge of tears. The senior center, normally cheerful and outgoing, appeared devastated. Just 30 minutes prior, he had watched Louisville escape with a come-from-behind win over Syracuse in the last two minutes of a game SU seemed to have wrapped up. He couldn't stomach that result.
"It's a heart breaker," McKenzie said. "They pulled it out at the end, it's unfortunate. It's a part of football. You got to play all four quarters, all 60 minutes."
In a devastating loss that eliminated Syracuse from bowl contention, the Orange couldn't hold off Louisville in the final minutes as the Cardinals beat SU, 10-9, in front of 33,223 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY Saturday afternoon. Louisville's go-ahead touchdown with 1:24 left proved to be the winning score as Syracuse had missed its extra point on its lone touchdown, one of the Orange's many plays where it failed to execute.
"It hurts, that's all I can say really," running back Delone Carter said. "We had it, we had it in the bag and it slipped away from us."
After struggling to find any offensive rhythm throughout Saturday's game, Syracuse (3-7, 0-5 Big East) stood one good punt coverage and defensive stand away from victory with a 9-3 lead with just under four minutes to go. At that point, it seemed like a pretty good option as Louisville hadn't looked particularly impressive through 56 minutes, managing only 112 yards of total offense up to that point.
The punt, though, is what ultimately doomed the Orange. Earlier in the game, Louisville's Trent Guy had returned a punt 94 yards to the house for a touchdown that had appeared to tie the game. Instead, he was ruled down by contact at the Louisville 6-yard line. This time, he took his punt 44 yards to Syracuse 45-yard line and galvanized his Louisville squad.
"I feel like we have players on the field who have to make that play. It's part of their responsibility," Marrone said. "Just like it is for everyone on a football team, and they're responsible to go down there and make the play. And, at times, we got knocked out of our lanes. It's just people not executing well."
"It's a heart breaker," McKenzie said. "They pulled it out at the end, it's unfortunate. It's a part of football. You got to play all four quarters, all 60 minutes."
In a devastating loss that eliminated Syracuse from bowl contention, the Orange couldn't hold off Louisville in the final minutes as the Cardinals beat SU, 10-9, in front of 33,223 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY Saturday afternoon. Louisville's go-ahead touchdown with 1:24 left proved to be the winning score as Syracuse had missed its extra point on its lone touchdown, one of the Orange's many plays where it failed to execute.
"It hurts, that's all I can say really," running back Delone Carter said. "We had it, we had it in the bag and it slipped away from us."
After struggling to find any offensive rhythm throughout Saturday's game, Syracuse (3-7, 0-5 Big East) stood one good punt coverage and defensive stand away from victory with a 9-3 lead with just under four minutes to go. At that point, it seemed like a pretty good option as Louisville hadn't looked particularly impressive through 56 minutes, managing only 112 yards of total offense up to that point.
The punt, though, is what ultimately doomed the Orange. Earlier in the game, Louisville's Trent Guy had returned a punt 94 yards to the house for a touchdown that had appeared to tie the game. Instead, he was ruled down by contact at the Louisville 6-yard line. This time, he took his punt 44 yards to Syracuse 45-yard line and galvanized his Louisville squad.
"I feel like we have players on the field who have to make that play. It's part of their responsibility," Marrone said. "Just like it is for everyone on a football team, and they're responsible to go down there and make the play. And, at times, we got knocked out of our lanes. It's just people not executing well."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
zetabeta5
posted 11/15/09 @ 6:19 PM EST
Although I thought Paulus was a welcome addition early in the season, his performance has deteriorated over the season, especially after the loss of Williams. (Continued…)
Alan
posted 11/16/09 @ 2:02 PM EST
I don't know what was worse : watching SU Football or paying to see "Paranormal Activity". How sad to see such a fine program with great tradition come to this. (Continued…)
scott mc
posted 11/16/09 @ 4:42 PM EST
SU was officially eliminated from bowl contention for at least five years when the Right Rev. Darryl Gross hired Greg Robinson.
Gross had one - and only one - decision to make when he was hired. (Continued…)
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