When the buses carrying the Syracuse football team rolled back onto campus after the Orange’s upset over No. 18 Louisville, an estimated crowd of about 30 Syracuse students greeted the team with cheers and applause.

A week ago, the team was booed out of the Carrier Dome. Now the Orange faithful was willing to wait for the team to complete its chartered plane ride from Kentucky to show its approval.

It only goes to show what a difference one game can make. Sure, the result of a major win shows immediately in the locker room and in the Big East standings. Yet the most drastic changes as a result from Louisville’s win came from the Syracuse fans.

Entering this weekend, the football squad felt the pressure coming from a fan base infuriated about the direction of the program and in disbelief over the 37-point spread Syracuse faced heading into Louisville.

Now after the Orange’s 38-35 win over No. 19 Louisville at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the excitement – instead of contempt – has returned to the football team.

‘That’s why I don’t let a lot of that stuff in,’ said SU head coach Greg Robinson in regards to the spread and the local Louisville paper’s prediction of a 70-7 Cardinal win. ‘I really don’t – because what does it matter?’

The most die-hard of Orange fans who attended the matchup in Louisville were rewarded with a salute from the players after the victory. The team members paraded in front of the couple hundred fans in the Syracuse section at the stadium, slapping high-fives and shaking hands with supporters.

Back in Central New York, the result of the Syracuse game sent a roar through the throng of spectators watching the third round of a professional golf tournament at Turning Stone Resort and Casino. Football fans who turned into golf fans for the day suddenly and unexpectedly changed back into football junkies when they learned Syracuse held a fourth-quarter lead.

Robinson mentioned at a press conference Sunday he went to Mass earlier that morning and sensed a friendlier atmosphere than from the past few weeks.

‘Sometimes, I (felt) like people (looked) at me like I got three eyes,’ Robinson joked.

As a result of one game and one awesome passing attack, Robinson is starting to receive more positive glances from those around the community. For at least one week, the thrill for the Syracuse football has been restored, and the team hopes to keep that enthusiasm going.

‘Our fans were so excited for us,’ said SU defensive end Jameel McClain about the reaction of the fans in Louisville. ‘And to me, that’s great. It’s great for the fans. Thanks for hanging in there. And hopefully we can keep it rolling.’

No longer offensive

It wasn’t necessarily a breakout performance for the offensive live. However, it was not the typical breakdown Syracuse fans have come to expect from the line. That alone made the offensive line’s performance a step in the right direction.

The Orange front five allowed a season-low two sacks against Louisville. The line permitted quarterback Andrew Robinson enough time to throw darts to his receivers again and again.

Robinson still dealt with hurries from the defense. A few of his nicest passes ended with Robinson taking a hit while standing in the pocket, including the 60-yard touchdown pass to Taj Smith.

Nonetheless, the offensive line offered the best protection it has given all season as Robinson picked apart the Louisville secondary for 423 yards.

‘I was definitely off the ground a lot more today than I’d ever been this season,’ Robinson said. ‘I give a lot of credit to the offensive line; they protected their butts off the entire time.’

(BOLD)Kimmel injured

After a strong start, SU redshirt freshman defensive end Jared Kimmel’s season looks in doubt after he suffered a leg injury in Syracuse’s win over Louisville.

‘We’ll know more tomorrow,’ SU head coach Greg Robinson at his Sunday press conference. ‘He hurt his knee. They are going to take an MRI tomorrow to check it out. I just know this – for Jared Kimmel to be helped off the field worries me.’

Kimmel was one of several rookies earning playing time on the Orange defense. His best play came Saturday when he caused a forced fumble by U of L running back Anthony Allen at midfield, which SU linebacker Ben Maljovec recovered. Kimmel also had a tackle and a pass deflection in the game.

‘Jared Kimmel is going to be a real fine football player here,’ Robinson said. ‘Let me tell you something, he’s rare. I think it’s in the blood because he is different – his body is different.’

Published on September 23, 2007 at 12:00 pm