The Daily OrangeRunning on fumes: More injuries strike Orange heading into home finale
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 11/19/09, 11:12 PM EST Section: Sports
Doug Marrone was flabbergasted. On his mid-week teleconference before Syracuse's game at Louisville a week ago, SU's head coach searched for some explanation. There had to be some reason for all these injuries.
He paused and tried to conjure something.
"Someone's getting back at me," Marrone joked. "I told my wife, 'What have I done?' I've given more money to the Catholic Church than I ever have before. I'm a good husband, a good father. Someone in this family did something that we have to figure out and I asked the coaches what they had done.
"That's how you feel sometimes."
Since then, it has only gotten worse. This week, three more players were shelved for the season.
Heading into Saturday's Senior Day game in the Carrier Dome against No. 25 Rutgers (7-2) (ESPN360.com, 3:30 p.m.), Syracuse is sorely undermanned. Topping the list is middle linebacker Derrell Smith, who will miss Syracuse's final two games with a left knee injury. Running back Mike Jones and long snapper Dalton Phillips also joined the walking wounded in SU's 10-9 loss at Louisville last weekend.
The big loss is Smith, who had emerged as possibly the best linebacker in the Big East. Through 10 games, he led the conference with 61 solo tackles and four forced fumbles. Smith exited Syracuse's win over Akron on Oct. 24 with what he called "cramps." He played through it and played well. Apparently, it was something worse. After the Orange's loss at Louisville, the junior linebacker reported soreness in his knee.
A MRI revealed a tear in the lateral meniscus on Smith's left knee. He needs surgery and will miss the rest of the season rehabbing. Nothing new in these parts. Just another crushing blow to a team that can't seem to find a break.
In a span of three weeks, the Orange (3-7) has lost its best offensive weapon (Mike Williams), a possible first-round defensive tackle (Art Jones) and now the tackling-machine Smith. Seven players in all have been lost for the season in the last two weeks - starting strong safety Max Suter, starting right tackle Jonathan Meldrum, starting tight end Cody Catalina, Art Jones, Mike Jones, Phillips and Smith.
He paused and tried to conjure something.
"Someone's getting back at me," Marrone joked. "I told my wife, 'What have I done?' I've given more money to the Catholic Church than I ever have before. I'm a good husband, a good father. Someone in this family did something that we have to figure out and I asked the coaches what they had done.
"That's how you feel sometimes."
Since then, it has only gotten worse. This week, three more players were shelved for the season.
Heading into Saturday's Senior Day game in the Carrier Dome against No. 25 Rutgers (7-2) (ESPN360.com, 3:30 p.m.), Syracuse is sorely undermanned. Topping the list is middle linebacker Derrell Smith, who will miss Syracuse's final two games with a left knee injury. Running back Mike Jones and long snapper Dalton Phillips also joined the walking wounded in SU's 10-9 loss at Louisville last weekend.
The big loss is Smith, who had emerged as possibly the best linebacker in the Big East. Through 10 games, he led the conference with 61 solo tackles and four forced fumbles. Smith exited Syracuse's win over Akron on Oct. 24 with what he called "cramps." He played through it and played well. Apparently, it was something worse. After the Orange's loss at Louisville, the junior linebacker reported soreness in his knee.
A MRI revealed a tear in the lateral meniscus on Smith's left knee. He needs surgery and will miss the rest of the season rehabbing. Nothing new in these parts. Just another crushing blow to a team that can't seem to find a break.
In a span of three weeks, the Orange (3-7) has lost its best offensive weapon (Mike Williams), a possible first-round defensive tackle (Art Jones) and now the tackling-machine Smith. Seven players in all have been lost for the season in the last two weeks - starting strong safety Max Suter, starting right tackle Jonathan Meldrum, starting tight end Cody Catalina, Art Jones, Mike Jones, Phillips and Smith.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Gene Tinelli
posted 11/20/09 @ 6:17 AM EST
There is something to be gained in building the foundation of SU football success in the future by following the motto of the late Al McGuire, the Marquette basketball coach who always told his team to "Play hard, have fun". (Continued…)
Debbie
posted 11/20/09 @ 9:39 AM EST
My high school coach had a similar motto that we lived by except it added a crucial part that I think the Cuse lacks..."Play Hard, Play Smart, Have Fun. (Continued…)
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