PHILADELPHIA – After last week’s 38-31, double-overtime win over Pittsburgh, most figured Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni had at least temporarily silenced his critics.

Almost no one figured that the silence would last such a short time.

The Syracuse football team’s 34-24 loss to Temple on Saturday once again put Pasqualoni’s job in question. Only this time, Pasqualoni’s hole may be too deep for him to dig out of.

The loss nearly guaranteed a third straight season without a bowl game. And even if Syracuse beats Boston College on Nov. 27 and becomes bowl eligible, it may not be enough to save Pasqualoni.

‘I understand everything that’s out there,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘My focus is try to do what I can to help this team win. I just wish I could’ve done a little more.’While the Orange appeared well prepared the previous two weeks against Connecticut and Pittsburgh, Syracuse looked sluggish at the start Saturday.

SU is 15-19 the last three seasons and has missed a bowl game in three of the last four. Attendance has also bottomed out, as SU averaged a paltry 37,068 fans this year. Last year, SU averaged 41,167 fans per game. Pressure has increased to bring in a new coach.

Pasqualoni also faced a firestorm last season. With a chance to clinch bowl eligibility, Syracuse fell to Rutgers on the road, 24-7. The Orange rebounded the next week with a 38-12 victory over Notre Dame.

Following the Notre Dame game, SU Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel called a press conference, at which he would later announce Pasqualoni would stay. Crouthamel didn’t guarantee how long Pasqualoni would stay for, though. With the possibility of another losing season on the horizon, Pasqualoni’s security doesn’t look good.

‘It’s not my decision,’ wide receiver Andre Fontenette said. ‘I don’t know if it’s him or us. I don’t know what Jake’s going to do.’

Fontenette did say that the Orange’s misplays on the field could only be blamed on the players.

‘Coach P is very respected by the players,’ kicker Collin Barber said. ‘He’s done a lot for me. I would’ve loved to give him a winning season.’

Former Orange and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb visited the Orange on Saturday. He stopped in the locker room at halftime and stood on the SU sideline during the second half.

McNabb, who’s also on SU’s board of trustees, discussed Pasqualoni’s job situation. Last season, McNabb called Pasqualoni’s radio show to voice his support. But this year, McNabb’s comments were more guarded.

‘You have to do what’s best for the university,’ McNabb said. ‘I’d love to see Coach P stay, but you have to do what’s best for the university.’

Barber returned to Philadelphia for the first time since his missed extra point cost Syracuse a victory over Temple in 2002.

While some still bring up Barber’s miss, the senior said he had put it behind him long ago. On Saturday, Barber missed his first field goad attempt, a 34-yarder. Barber later connected on a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter. He also connected on all three of his extra-point attempts.

In 2002, Barber kicked in Veterans Stadium. On Saturday, he played for the first time in Lincoln Financial Field.

‘It hasn’t been an issue,’ Barber said of his 2002 miss. ‘It’s over. We lost the game. I’m not happy with that.’

Again, Syracuse struggled offensively in the red zone Saturday. But, SU also started a new trend – defensive red-zone problems.

Temple converted on all four of its red-zone opportunities, three of them for touchdowns. Owls quarterback Walter Washington proved particularly problematic, scoring on touchdown runs of 1, 4 and 19 yards.

Offensively, SU struggled in the first half. On its second drive of the game, the Orange drove to the Temple 17-yard line, only to have Barber miss a 34-yard field goal. The next drive, SU stalled at the Temple 13-yard line, and Barber booted a 30-yard kick. Late in the second quarter, Syracuse turned the ball over on downs at the Owls’ 15-yard line.

Overall, SU drove in to Temple territory four times in the first half, yet it scored just three points.

‘We just couldn’t finish drives,’ center Matt Tarullo said. ‘You can’t leave points on the field.’

Published on November 14, 2004 at 12:00 pm