Although one month still remains in the Syracuse football team’s season, the Orange wraps up its home schedule Saturday against Pittsburgh. SU will celebrate Senior Day at the Carrier Dome before the noon kickoff.

Fourteen SU seniors, including captains Walter Reyes, Julian Pollard and Matt Tarullo, will play the last game of their SU career in the Carrier Dome.

‘This is my last game in the Dome so I’m going to play my heart out,’ senior O’Neil Scott said. ‘It is always tough to make a change in your life. I’m going to fight through it and play as hard as I can because it’s my last game.’

Last year’s Syracuse Senior Day was Dec. 6, when the Orange faced Notre Dame on national television. The game drew more than 48,000 fans. The Orange is 8-2 in its last home game of the season since 1994.

‘It’s a big day for the seniors and their parents,’ SU head coach Paul Pasqualoni said. ‘The commitment and work that they have put into their careers make it a special day. We just hope and pray that it can be a successful day for them.’

Perhaps no other Syracuse senior class has gone through as much turmoil – not to mention losing – in its SU career. It’s played through a 20-17 record and rumblings of Pasqualoni losing his job.

‘This group of seniors has persevered,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘They are an outstanding group of kids. Most importantly, they’re all going to leave with their degree.’

The Orange ends its season with two road games for the first time since 1997, when SU played its Senior Day on Nov. 6.

 

 

Pasqualoni said he is ‘encouraged’ with cornerback DeAndre LaCaille’s progress from a separated right shoulder he suffered Oct. 21 against West Virginia. LaCaille and Pasqualoni hoped he could participate last week against Connecticut, but the junior dressed without pads and didn’t play.

After limited activity in Tuesday’s practice, LaCaille and Pasqualoni said LaCaille would be more involved yesterday. LaCaille said his condition is at 85 percent.

‘I’m ready to get back,’ said LaCaille, who sat out last week with stiffness in his shoulder.

LaCaille’s return means Anthony Smith will return to free safety. Smith filled in for LaCaille last week at cornerback. The move will likely force Scott out of the starting lineup.

Kellen Pruitt is recovered from a twisted ankle that caused him to leave last week’s game against Connecticut temporarily. He missed three games with a knee injury before returning last week. Pruitt limped off the field and collapsed on the sideline with 7:29 left in the second quarter last week. He returned later in the game.

Pasqualoni said the injury was unrelated to Pruitt’s previous knee problems, and Pruitt will play Saturday.

 

 

Syracuse leads the all-time series with Pittsburgh 29-27-3. The Panthers have won two straight games against the Orange. … Defensive end James Wyche was named Big East co-Defensive Player of the Week and Brendan Carney was named Big East Special Teams Player of the week for their performances against Connecticut.

Published on November 3, 2004 at 12:00 pm