There’s no specific formula to the Syracuse football team’s success, only one player. Look at the stats. Ask the coaches, the players. When quarterback R.J. Anderson plays well, SU wins. If it’s a tough day for the senior, the Orangemen usually falter. It’s happened without fail this season.

It happened again Saturday.

Anderson’s 16 of 20 effort propelled Syracuse over Temple, 41-17, in the Carrier Dome. He passed for 221 yards and one touchdown while throwing an interception. It was about as solid a game as he’s had all season.

The correlation has held true in two of the three SU losses this year. Against Pittsburgh on Oct. 25, Anderson threw for 49 yards and two interceptions. Against Virginia Tech two weeks earlier, he completed eight passes for 91 yards.

But in the wins, he’s been stellar. Three touchdowns against Boston College, 17-of-23 passing against Toledo and 288 yards against North Carolina have all produced victories.

‘If I play bad, we lose,’ Anderson said. ‘It’s evident. When I play good, we have a real good chance of winning. When you play quarterback, that’s how your mind-set should be. If you play good and protect the ball, you have a good chance of winning. If you play bad and don’t protect the ball, you will lose. It’s as simple as that.’

Priority No. 1 in a quarterback’s job description is to lead. Signal callers are expected to carry the team. But in Anderson’s case, in all but one game, against Louisville, his success or failure has defined SU’s performance.

Running back Walter Reyes may be the most dangerous threat on the Orangemen. His 120.7 yards per game ranks him No. 8 in the country. But he ran for 55 yards against Boston College in a Syracuse win. Similarly, Reyes has run for at least 90 yards in two SU losses.

Certainly, the All-American-type numbers from Reyes don’t hurt Anderson’s case.

‘Knowing Walt can get us out of a jam,’ SU wide receiver Andre Fontenette said, ‘that takes a little pressure off (Anderson).’

Said Anderson: ‘(Reyes) is a main cog in this offense. I’m going to drive the car, but Walter is going to take us places.’

That may be so, but Anderson has his foot on the pedal while Reyes is sitting shotgun with the map. They both do their parts, but ultimately, it’s Anderson who’s going to get Syracuse to the postseason.

‘That’s how it is for any football program,’ Fontenette said. ‘(His play) has definitely affected us. I don’t think he had such a great year last year. That’s been the biggest difference in our offense this year.

‘He’s been a little more patient in the pocket. He only scrambles when he absolutely has to. His accuracy? He worked on it all winter, he lost a couple pounds and he’s been a little bit more agile when he’s had to scramble. It’s been a little more effective for him.’

Against Temple, Anderson’s play was similar to that which he displayed in SU’s wins. He made mid-yardage completions on slants to wideout Rashard Williams, screens to Reyes and outs to wide receiver Johnnie Morant.

Then, he threw deep when he had to. Anderson completed a perfectly thrown 43-yard pass to Williams. He threw only 20 times Saturday, but when he did, it was usually on target. Anderson’s 80 percent completion percentage was his best of the season.

In 2001, Anderson took over for now-graduated Troy Nunes two games into the season, and led the Orangemen to a win in the Insight.com Bowl against Kansas State. Then, a year ago, he threw four touchdowns and eight interceptions in SU’s 4-8 season before losing the job back to Nunes.

‘The quarterback gets too much of the blame and too much of the credit,’ Anderson said. ‘But I enjoy that. I like that responsibility.’

Published on November 10, 2003 at 12:00 pm