PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Three Syracuse football players were involved in an altercation in the Rutgers Stadium stands Saturday after SU’s 24-7 loss to Rutgers.

Most Syracuse players had already entered the tunnel and were heading for the locker room following R.J. Anderson’s incomplete pass to Rashard Williams that ended SU’s 24-7 loss to Rutgers.

For a few Orangemen, though, all the frustration – of most likely missing a bowl game, dealing with 40 mph wind, a three-game losing streak and losing to lowly Rutgers – caught up with them.

For unknown reasons, linebacker Rich Scanlon, running back Walter Reyes and safety Anthony Smith were involved in an altercation in the stands behind the Syracuse bench following SU’s loss to the Scarlet Knights. None of the players will be suspended for their actions. Pasqualoni said Rutgers officials informed him there were no problems with the incident.

Both Pasqualoni and Scanlon declined comment on the reason for the altercation. Scanlon would not say why he entered the stands.

‘It was a personal matter that I had to deal with,’ Scanlon said. ‘I had to deal with it in a way that I felt was appropriate. I’m not gonna go into the details of what happened. That’s the bottom line.’

After Scanlon, Reyes and Smith entered the stands, a few other players remained on the sidelines and watched the altercation. Several coaches and Orangemen assistants tried to maintain order and entered the stands along with Rutgers Stadium security, which tried to break up the altercation. After several moments, the three players emerged and left the bleachers to the jeers of Rutgers fans.

Scanlon said he did not make contact with anyone, and he had already discussed the matter with his teammates.

‘I just turned around and saw Rich in the stands,’ punter Brendan Carney said. ‘Some fans might have been heckling him, and he takes everything to heart. I was going to (go into the bleachers), but one of the coaches told me not to.’

Said Pasqualoni: ‘You are always disappointed, but it is the emotion of the minute. We are very emotional, competitive people. Unfortunately, sometimes those things happen. It’s not unique to us. It happens. There were some ugly incidents in some other games last weekend.’

Published on December 1, 2003 at 12:00 pm