It had been a while since Syracuse football fullback Greg Hanoian last saw the end zone. On Saturday, in SU’s 41-31 win over Rutgers, Hanoian did his part in setting up Walter Reyes’ and Damien Rhodes’ four touchdowns.

But Hanoian himself hadn’t crossed the goal line since 1999, as a high school senior at Tabor Academy in Massachusetts.

Finally, on Saturday, Hanoian scored his first collegiate touchdown on a fourth-quarter, 4-yard strike from Perry Patterson. In between that touchdown and his last, Hanoian has been through a multitude of position changes and struggles to finally get on the field.

But it wasn’t even the touchdown that drew the praises of Hanoian’s teammates – they were much more impressed with his big blocks.

‘Greg played his best game by far,’ Rhodes said. ‘I don’t think he did anything wrong.’

Playing a perfect game is far from what Hanoian is used to. He didn’t even step onto a collegiate field until last year. Originally recruited as a fullback, Hanoian moved to linebacker, to tight end, to fullback, back to tight end and finally back to fullback again.

Hanoian attributed his position changes to uncertainty about his size and ability. Fullback wasn’t even a possibility for him the last two seasons with Chris Davis and Thump Belton solidly occupying the spot.

But before this season, it was his job to lose. After getting off to a slow start, he finally emerged as a force against Rutgers. His touchdown catch may have been the highlight on the stat sheet, but his big blocks had all his teammates talking.

‘I actually worked with Coach (Pasqualoni) all week on perimeter blocking,’ Hanoian said.

And it showed. In the second quarter, Rhodes had back-to-back runs of 25 and 44 yards. Hanoian sprung both those runs. Late in the second quarter, Reyes got outside for a 62-yard gain. Again, Hanoian sprung him loose.

In the third quarter, Hanoian set up another 62-yard Reyes run to the outside. That run eventually set up Hanoian’s touchdown.

‘Usually, when you’ve thrown the block, you’re on the ground,’ Hanoian said. ‘For a few seconds, you can’t see anything. You just listen for the crowd cheering.’

The Dome crowd houses several Hanoian fans. Many of his family members travel from Massachusetts for each home game and some road games. His brother-in-law made T-shirts with the phrase ‘G-Train’ on the front and his name and number on the back. His mom, dad, brother and sister are all part of the group.

His father actually played college football at Boston College from 1972-74. Hanoian said he started to play football at the urging of a friend.

‘(My father) didn’t start me out in football,’ Hanoian said. ‘He didn’t force me to do it. He probably has more insight into it than your average fan.’

Though his father played at BC, Hanoian always favored playing for Syracuse. Growing up, he tried to take after former SU and current Miami Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad. Hanoian played halfback during his first three years of high school at Providence Country Day School.

Then at Tabor, Hanoian moved to fullback. He also played basketball in high school and played with and against current Notre Dame standout Torin Francis.

Now that Hanoian is finally getting his chance at Syracuse, he’s made the most of it. Rhodes said running behind Hanoian is similar to running behind Davis and Belton. But Davis and Belton were a little quicker and more agile.

After SU’s running backs – especially Reyes – got off to slow starts this season, perimeter blocking was largely to blame. Now, with SU rushing for 370 yards on Saturday, Hanoian is getting much of the credit for his perimeter blocking.

‘Greg blocked really well downfield,’ wide receiver Andre Fontenette said. ‘People don’t notice fullbacks, but he really showed me something. He’s made up for lost time the last couple of years.’

Published on October 4, 2004 at 12:00 pm