Out for revenge: Louisville looks to break three-game losing streak against SU, earn first Big East victory
It’s not often Big East teams cringe at the name of Syracuse football. Yet for Louisville, playing Syracuse the past two seasons has meant two upset losses, something no other Big East team can claim.
As the Cardinals prepare for a very different SU team this weekend, they are hoping the third time truly is the charm.
‘I think the fact that they beat us the past two years definitely adds fuel to the fire,’ Louisville sophomore defensive end Greg Scruggs said.
In 2007, the 18th-ranked Cardinals fell to the Orange, the 37-point underdogs, in a 38-35 shocker. It was SU’s first win of the season and only Big East win of the year.
Then-quarterback Andrew Robinson threw for a career-best 423 yards, completing 17-of-26 passes and throwing for four touchdowns. Taj Smith had four receptions for 173 yards and two scores, and the Orange offense exploded for 474 yards. The 38 points were the most Syracuse had scored until its 41-24 win over Maine this season.
The following season, two wins and 13 losses later, the Orange again dominated Louisville in a 28-21 victory at the Carrier Dome, once again marking the only Big East win for Syracuse on the season.
The Orange had another record-setting game at the hands of the Cardinals. Running back Curtis Brinkley rushed for 166 yards, breaking a single-season record with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
That loss for the Cardinals set in motion a nine-game Big East losing streak, which Louisville hopes to bring to an end this weekend.
‘What hurt us a lot last year was not executing our assignments,’ Scruggs said. ‘Really not doing our jobs, people not hitting their gaps, not executing blitzes, hesitations, things like that. I think we’ve fixed that and put ourselves in a pretty good position, and that’s against every opponent.’
This time around, the two teams that seemed so different from each other the last two seasons now have identical records at 3-6 overall and 0-4 in the Big East. They will match up at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium Saturday (noon, TW26).
Syracuse is reeling from the recent losses of star wide receiver Mike Williams and defensive stalwart Art Jones, which give Louisville an advantage. But the additions of quarterback Greg Paulus and head coach Doug Marrone to the mini-rivalry could make for an even more interesting game.
Scruggs noted the need to respect Paulus even though he’s relatively new to the scene, while Cardinals head coach Steve Kragthorpe indicated Paulus will add a different dynamic than what Louisville has faced in the past from Syracuse.
‘I’m very impressed with him,’ Kragthorpe said. ‘I’m one of the guys that when he first decided to play football I was like, ‘Wow, how is this guy going to do this?’ But he’s been very, very impressive and he’s a great competitor. He’s a great field general, and he understands what they’re trying to do offensively.’
Yet Kragthorpe may have a special appreciation for Paulus as he tries to figure out his own quarterback controversy. Kragthorpe is working with a quarterback-by-committee ensemble of juniors Adam Froman and Justin Burke, and redshirt freshman Will Stein. The trio has provided the Cardinals’ offense with an inconsistent core, and Louisville currently sits last in the Big East in scoring with 19 points-per-game, not much better than the 20 points-per-game for Syracuse.
Froman and Burke have received a majority of time in the pocket, each throwing for three touchdowns – Froman with 751 passing yards and Burke with 654 yards. But neither has been able to provide a consistent playmaker for the Cardinals.
While the Cardinals are 3-1 at home, they have yet to defeat a Big East team this season. Kragthorpe, who owns a 14-19 record in his three years at Louisville, denies a sense of urgency for Saturday’s game.
The game will prove to be an important match for both sides, as Louisville will face tough competition in No. 24 South Florida next week and finish out the season at home against Rutgers.
‘We’ve got a lot of players, too, that haven’t played this game before, so we’re approaching it just like any other Big East game,’ said Kragthorpe.
Kragthorpe will rely on running backs Bilal Powell and Victor Anderson for consistency and scoring. The pair has compiled nine of the team’s 20 touchdowns this season, combining for a total of 186 carries and 852 yards.
Anderson, who suffered a shoulder injury two weeks ago against Arkansas State, will be available for the game Saturday, posing a threat to the Orange. Anderson is Louisville’s leading rusher with 480 yards.
As a freshman last season, Anderson rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown in the loss at Syracuse. He won Big East Rookie of the Year honors at the end of the season for his 1,047 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
If Anderson can come back from his injury and pull off a similar game, the Orange will be in trouble, and Louisville might just get its chance against Syracuse.
‘Each week, we’re just trying to approach with what we know,’ Scruggs said. ‘We can’t change the way we prepare, we can’t change our mindset. I mean, granted, they beat us the past couple years, but we still can’t change our mindset, the way we prepare, how hard we prepare, how hard we’re working on in practice, it’s all the same.’
