Stay of Execution?
The Executioner must wait
Well, well, well. The Syracuse University Orange won a football game last night, defeating the Louisville Cardinals 28-21. The win improved the Orange to 2-6 on the season and kept slim hopes alive for a post season bowl game.
The game was also a likely stay of execution for Greg Robinson, as it has been talked about ad naseaum that his firing is not a question of if but a question of when. But while Greg may have survived the axe this week, there appear to be some new targets this week for executioner in the Big East.
With a loss this week to Cincinnati, South Florida coach Jim Levitt should find himself directly in the cross hairs of the exectioner. How in the world does a team that was predicted by many to represent the Big East in the BCS bowl game, fall to 1-3 in conference and tied with you know who for LAST PLACE in the Big East? While he should be given credit for rising the profile of South Florida football from backwater to BCS, the alarming losses the last two years should be a sign that Levitt is merely a good coach and not a great one. How long should he last at USF?
Another Coach on the hot seat is Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe. The locals have been screaming about his performance since day one, when a supposed Top 25 team was rendered neutered at 6-6 last season, with nauseating losses to in state rival Kentucky and gulp, Syracuse. Now Kragthorge has rolled snake eyes again, by repeating the same feat this season. And if you think the citizens of the Derby City are happy, you need only read the comments from yesterday’s game recap at the CJ where Card fans and Kentucky Wildcat fans tag in for a festival of smack.
Not to be outdone, Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannestadt is also in a bit of trouble. With the conference clearly down, Dave goes out and blows his opener to Bowling Green State, also impales himself to Syracuse and then allows 6 touchdown passes to inept Mike Teel and Rutgers last week. He staved off total rebellion this week by squeaking by Notre Dame, but even though he is pulling in another good recruiting class, how long will it be before the exectioner comes calling for Wanny?
Tell the exectioner to shove it!
What I liked from the game:Overall I was pretty impressed with the aggressive posture that the offense took the entire game. I’m not sure why we waited until the brink of elimination but it was nice to see. I actually made fun of the opening bomb to Lobdell, because it reeked of trying to repeat last year’s upset formula. But I have to tip my cap to the gutsy call on 4th and 2 with the perfectly executed pass to Da’Mon Merkerson. Why in the world he ever moved to defense is beyond me, it looked great at WR, giving us a deep threat that has been lacking all season. The flea flicker wasn’t a bad call either, just not executed well. But overall I liked the go for the gusto mentality.
Boy you just have to love Curtis Brinkley don’t you? I sure do. Another big performance, this time 166 yards against the supposed number 5 ranked rushing defense. You could just tell that the Orange was going to pop of a big gainer and it came when Antwon Bailey busted 39 yards for a score. There were stretches where Louisville’s tackling was reminscient of the woeful display that occurs on our side of the ball.
And how about the play of Nick Santiago and Anthony Perkins! They seemed to be all over the ball today and pressuring Louisville quarterback Hunter Cantwell into a ton of mistakes.
The not so good:
Again the defense had its moments, and if not for a few penalties that helped us out and a horrible drop of sure TD by Troy Pascley, we could easily be talking about another demoralizing loss. The draw play is still foreign concept to our defense. I’m wondering if they ever try to defend against in practice, but we are just inept when it comes to stopping it.
The special teams was nothing to write home about. Our kick coverage has been mediocre at best at it was horrible Saturday. Bruce Williams botched a punt, but came back with the game clinching interception so he gets a pass in my book. Overall there is improvement to be made on special teams.
But all in all, how can a win starved Orange fan complain too much about Saturday. This Louisvillian certainly isn’t.
Oh and for the record, my neighbors are nowhere in sight. And the polo shirts are all lined up to wear into work this week.
