 |
 |
|
| | Tuesday, August 15 Syracuse closing the gap on Miami, Va. Tech | |||||
| By Bill Doherty Special to ESPN.com Syracuse Orangemen 1999 record: 7-5 (3-4 Big East) Coach: Paul Pasqualoni Returning starters: 12 (5 Offense, 7 Defense) Outlook Quite good, if Pasqualoni can retool his offensive line and settle on one quarterback (returnees Troy Nunes and Madei Williams are battling JUCO transfer Chad Elliott for the starting nod). The defense should be superb, thanks to the return of linebackers Morlon Greenwood (91 tackles in 1999) and Clifton Smith (61 tackles), pass rushing end Duke Pettijohn (10-1/2 sacks) and head-hunting safety Quentin Harris (97 tackles). Keep an eye on ... Junior tailback James Mungro. Mungro, the MVP of Syracuse's Music City Bowl win over Kentucky, is quickly moving up the depth charts. He's now listed as the co-starter at tailback, along with senior Dee Brown. Mungro (537 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs) possesses breakaway speed and a nose for the end zone. It's a good season if ... Pasqualoni's team can make it out of September with at least a 3-1 record. The Orangemen open the 2000 campaign with a pair of cupcakes in Buffalo (winless in 1999) and Cincinnati (3-8 a year ago). Then comes a pair of tests to end the month, a Sept. 23 road trip to East Carolina and a Sept. 30 home date with BYU. Win all four of those September games and at least eight or nine wins seem certain. Go 3-1 and a mid-tier bowl is likely. Lose to both East Carolina and BYU and there could be problems. Bill Doherty covers Big East football for ESPN.com |
ALSO SEE 'Canes looking to reclaim Big East | |||||