Perhaps the Syracuse football team overestimated the importance of its seniors a little.

The secondary, led by four seniors — cornerbacks Will Hunter and Latroy Oliver and safeties Keeon Walker and Maurice McClain — was supposed to be a strong point. Instead, the group became the most dismal unit in a dreadful 4-8 season.

SU’s opponents totaled 3,645 passing yards, placing Syracuse’s pass defense last in the Big East. Virginia Tech, next worst, has allowed 1,000 fewer yards.

‘Lots of little things hurt us this year,’ Walker said. ‘That was basically the story of our secondary. You think that you’ve got a lot of seniors back there. It should be exciting.’

The secondary was missing two key cogs — Walker and McClain — to start the year. McClain broke his leg in spring practice, while Walker missed the opener with an injured hamstring.

The secondary’s remaining senior members failed to mesh with replacements Steve Gregory and O’Neil Scott.

Syracuse will lose four starters on offense and five on defense next year. Quarterback Troy Nunes, wide receiver David Tyree, fullback Chris Davis and offensive lineman Erik Kaloyanides depart from the offense, while Hunter, Oliver, McClain, Walker and middle linebacker Clifton Smith leave the defense.

Smith is the only Orangeman who will definitely be selected in the National Football League draft. Tyree believes he can make it at the next level — likely on special teams — while Nunes and Hunter will probably call it a career.

‘I was never given a chance when I first came in here,’ Nunes said. ‘People are gonna remember me the way they want to, and I’ll get over it. I’m gonna move on.’

***

The fall of Troy

Nunes is used to taking hits. He’s been knocked out of numerous games with injuries. He’s been a starter, a backup and a starter again.

But late in the fourth quarter, one final hit ended his college career. As Nunes released a pass, he was sandwiched by a pair of Hurricanes. As one defender held his ankle, defensive lineman Thomas Carroll bent Nunes backwards, twisting his knee.

‘I didn’t hear anything pop. It just hurt something fierce when it happened,’ Nunes said. ‘They think it’s just twisted or sprained.’

Nunes didn’t place any pressure on the knee and was immediately taken for X-rays, which were negative. He appeared for postgame interviews with a brace on his leg. He was scheduled to have an MRI yesterday.

While Nunes said he wasn’t sure if Carroll’s hit was legal, a number of Orangemen took exception to the blow. Tight end Joe Donnelly confronted Carroll after the game.

‘He was the first kid I went up and talked to, and I wanted to know what his intentions were,” Donnelly said. “And if he didn’t give me the truth, maybe I was going to put a late hit on him. That was just uncalled for.’

***

Double trouble

Besides dealing with opponents all season, Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey and running back Willis McGahee have been battling each other for the Heisman Trophy.

While the media has tried to pit the players against each other, Miami appears to be having none of it.

Both candidates made their cases against Syracuse. McGahee rushed 14 times for 134 yards but was upstaged by Dorsey, who was 16 of 25 for 345 yards and two touchdowns.

‘We were outstanding on offense,’ Miami coach Larry Coker said. ‘Ken threw the ball extremely well. Willis wasn’t as consistent as we’d like him to be, but he had a couple big runs.’

Still, everyone except the Hurricanes seems to have an opinion about the Heisman Trophy.

‘I’m not picking sides,’ Coker said. ‘If you look at it career-wise, you have to give it to Ken. I just hope they don’t split the votes and end up giving it to someone else.’

Someone else could include Iowa’s Brad Banks, Marshall’s Byron Leftwich, Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingsbury or Colorado’s Chris Brown.

But, according to Dorsey’s roommate, lineman Sherko Haji-Rasouli, even if the quarterback wins, it won’t matter to Dorsey.

‘I’m the one who has to dust (his trophies),’ Haji-Rasouli said. ‘Dorsey just wants to leave them in boxes in a closet. I’m the one who takes them out. He’s more interested in wins than trophies.’

***

This and that

Syracuse honored former tight end John Mackey before the game by creating the John S. Mackey Endowed Football Scholarship. Mackey played 10 seasons in the NFL, reaching two Super Bowls. He has been called the best tight end in NFL history. After hearing his name announced, Mackey, donning a black cowboy hat, high-stepped into the end zone. Mackey’s nephew, Jerry, plays linebacker for the Orangemen. He is redshirting this season. … Miami still remembers Donovan McNabb. Haji-Rasouli said the Hurricanes still have memories of the 66-13 loss to SU in 1998 ‘tucked into the back of their heads.’… With the win, Coker pushed his record to 23-0 as a head coach. Walter Camp holds the Division I record for the best career start with 28 wins. … The win also extended Miami’s unbeaten streak to 33 games, the nation’s longest.

Published on December 2, 2002 at 12:00 pm