Joe Dailey didn’t need to watch.

As he rode to a football game Saturday afternoon in Jersey City, N.J., with Rick Hansen, his coach at St. Peter’s Prep, Dailey could only listen to the car radio.

Dailey, a quarterback who’s verbally committed to play at Syracuse, clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as the Orangemen fell apart in a 48-24 loss against Pittsburgh.

‘He laughed a couple times at some things,’ Hansen said, ‘shook his head, covered his eyes at some things.’

Dailey was the first of eight high-schoolers to verbally commit to SU. At least three of those eight – Dailey, running back Breyone Evans and linebacker Vincenzo Giruzzi – will honor their commitments despite Syracuse’s 1-4 start, its worst since 1986.

‘I don’t think it’s a thing of having second thoughts,’ said Doug Pina, Evans’ coach at Bristol (Conn.) Central. ‘Next year will be next year.’

Of course, Pina’s a bit partial since he played at SU from 1982-85. The Orangemen went 2-9 his freshman season for their worst finish in the last 20 years.

‘(Evans) has made a commitment to go there,’ Pina said. ‘And they’ve made a commitment to him. I don’t think that’s going to change because of one year.’

Hansen said Dailey, who on June 28 became SU’s first verbal commitment of the 2003 recruiting class, feels a strong connection to Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni and offensive coordinator George DeLeone, who recruited Dailey. But if either Pasqualoni or DeLeone are let go, ‘I can’t say for certain he’ll be as comfortable,’ Hansen said.

Jake Crouthamel, SU’s director of athletics, said Monday that he hasn’t considered any coaching changes.

When asked how SU’s 1-4 start could affect recruiting, Crouthamel said, ‘Yes, it’s a poor start. But is that kid playing for us at this point in time? Every kid who comes in here says, ‘I can turn this program around.’ That’s the exciting thing about recruiting.’

Giruzzi, a 6-3, 220-pounder who committed July 1, said last week that he’s still coming.

‘With the reputation (SU’s) built,’ said Bob Campese, who coaches nearby Henninger High, ‘I don’t think (a 1-4 start) will have anything to do with (recruiting). You look at a program for a program. Just because they have one bad year isn’t going to matter.’

But the Orangemen still have a laundry list of prospects they’re looking to nab before national signing day in February.

One of those, Sam Johnson, a tight end from Bergen (N.J.) Catholic, witnessed SU’s debacle against Pittsburgh. And Johnson, who stayed with linebacker Rich Scanlon, can sympathize with the Orangemen since Bergen Catholic got wrecked, 47-16, in its Sept. 28 game against rival Don Bosco Prep.

After the Pitt game, Johnson tried to console Pasqualoni.

‘I know exactly what you’re going through,’ Johnson told the coach.

Apparently, so do two potential recruits from Florida.

Defensive back Marcus Clayton and wide receiver Landel Bembo of Amos P. Godby High in Tallahassee, Fla., are still seriously considering SU, Godby coach Shelton Crews said. The pair will visit Syracuse on Dec. 13 and 14, dates SU receivers coach Dennis Goldman set up two weeks ago when he visited Tallahassee.

‘I haven’t heard them say anything (about crossing SU off their lists),’ Crews said. ‘I know they both want to go somewhere where they feel they can step in and play.’

Clayton, who will visit North Carolina on Dec. 6 and 7, is regarded more highly than the 5-foot-8 Bembo. Clayton likely will visit Tennessee, Florida, Clemson, Iowa and Florida State, Crews said. Bembo’s getting more looks from Conference USA schools.

At least one SU recruit, Ofa Mohetau, from Trinity High in Euless, Texas, has canceled his official visit. But Trinity coach Steve Lineweaver said it wasn’t because of SU’s poor start. Instead, Mohetau – a top-100 offensive lineman, according to recruiting guru Tom Lemming – will likely focus on schools closer to home, Lineweaver said.

‘(Starting) 1-4 certainly has a chance not to help recruiting,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘But if you’re in it long enough, and you understand it, you know that every once in a while, this kind of thing happens.’

Published on October 8, 2002 at 12:00 pm