Norton set to start for Syracuse after suspension; Morris returns to practice
Ryan Norton returned to the Syracuse football team this week and will start against Maryland on Saturday. Norton was suspended after being charged with resisting arrest and underage possession of alcohol. Sam Maller | Asst. Photo Editor
Ryan Norton will start at kicker in Syracuse’s game against Maryland on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., head coach Scott Shafer announced Wednesday during the weekly Atlantic Coast Conference coaches’ teleconference.
Norton was suspended last week after being charged with resisting arrest and underage possession of alcohol, and did not play in SU’s 13-0 win against Wake Forest last Saturday.
When asked why he issued a one-week suspension to Norton after dismissing Markus Pierce-Brewster and Davon Walls following felony burglary and misdemeanor petit larceny charges in March, Shafer offered a second straight short response.
“It’s just my policy,” Shafer said.
Regardless of circumstance, Norton may be one of as many as three players to bolster the Orange roster when it travels to College Park, Md.
Shafer said nose tackle Eric Crume, who was a game-time decision against the Demon Deacons and finished with only nine snaps, looked sharp in practice Tuesday, and running back George Morris II returned to practice as well.
Shafer said Crume probably could have played more against Wake Forest, but the Okie package was thriving without him and it seemed smartest to let him rest.
“I think our training staff’s done a great job getting him back,” Shafer said. “I think he’s close to being at 100 percent.”
Morris, who hasn’t played since the Clemson game on Oct. 5, appears on the mend as well.
“He had a good practice, kind of had to knock the rust off, but nice to see him back out there,” Shafer said. “We’ll kind of take it day by day.”
