Syracuse’s starting quarterback for Sunday’s game at Purdue has been decided, but SU head coach Paul Pasqualoni declined to publicly announce the starter.

Pasqualoni said the starter could be announced by the end of the week, but he may wait until before Sunday’s game to make the decision public.

Joe Fields, Perry Patterson and Xzavier Gaines have all been in competition for the job since spring practice. SU’s depth chart for this week lists only Fields and Patterson, but Pasqualoni said that doesn’t mean Gaines isn’t still a possibility.

‘It provides something of a scouting report for our opponent,’ Pasqualoni said of not announcing the decision early. ‘We don’t have to announce it and it’s in our best interest not to.’

Pasqualoni added that he hoped whoever starts will make it through the entire game. But, he said, if the starter struggles, he wouldn’t hesitate to replace him.

‘We’ve seen the rotating thing before with R.J. (Anderson) and Troy (Nunes),’ senior center Matt Tarullo said. ‘Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. In the end I think it will be one guy.’

No. 44 for Reyes?Walter Reyes tried desperately to hide his delight at the possibility of wearing No. 44. He said how he loved the No. 39 he now wears and how he wanted to distinguish himself from the greats who’d worn No. 44.

But then seconds later, he contradicted himself, saying what a great honor it would be to wear the legendary number and how it would be difficult to pass it if given the chance.

Ultimately, he gave the impression that if offered, he’d accept the number swap.

‘It’s a hard decision,’ Reyes said. ‘I said when I got here I wanted to make my own number. But on the other side, 44 is the most prestigious number.’

As of last Wednesday, Pasqualoni had yet to approach Reyes about changing numbers, Reyes said.

At yesterday’s press conference, Pasqualoni hinted that he might soon discuss the number change with Reyes.

‘I don’t have a scheduled meeting with him about it,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘But I certainly feel Walter’s in that cut of cloth. I would certainly sit down and talk to him about it.’

If Reyes landed No. 44, he’d join the company of 11 past SU football players, including Ernie Davis, Jim Brown and Floyd Little. Rob Konrad was the last player to wear the number in 1995.

Empty seatsAny number of things can be blamed for SU’s troubles over the last two seasons. Poor recruiting and on-field struggles are mostly at fault, but senior kicker Collin Barber said sparse home crowds haven’t helped either.

‘(Fans) should be there regardless,’ Barber said. ‘If they’re good fans they should show up.’

Last season’s average attendance slipped to 41,452. Out of seven home games, not a single one sold out. The season finale against Notre Dame drew a season-high 48,170, but it was still more than a thousand fans short of a sellout.

EA Sports NCAA 2005 ranked the Carrier Dome as the 20th hardest place to play in the country. But Barber said the ranking must be based on the past.

‘There’s nothing like playing in front of a sold-out crowd,’ Barber said. ‘You saw the way we pulled together against Notre Dame when there were tons of people there.’

Published on August 30, 2004 at 12:00 pm