Damien Rhodes will not play Saturday for the fourth straight week when the Syracuse football team plays Miami, SU head coach Paul Pasqualoni said. The sophomore running back has been sidelined since injuring his left ankle at Virginia Tech on Oct. 11. Since then, he has worn a protective boot on his left foot.

Rhodes has played only four games this season, rushing for 123 yards and no touchdowns. He also missed the game against Central Florida on Sept. 20 with a different left ankle injury.

‘I’d love to have my buddy in the backfield with me,’ Syracuse running back Walter Reyes said. ‘He’s one of the other weapons, so I’ve got to prepare myself for a workload with Damien hurt.’

When Rhodes was healthy, Reyes simply had to tap his helmet when he was tired and he would be taken out of the game. Now, rest isn’t an option for the No. 8 rusher in the country.

‘When you get tired,’ Reyes said, ‘you just have to suck it up. You know you’re going to get hit anyway, so you just have to do it.’

Pasqualoni said yesterday that linebacker Jameel Dumas is day-to-day and that he would decide later this week as to his playing status for Saturday. Dumas hasn’t played since injuring his left knee against North Carolina on Sept. 6.

Hurtin’ Hurricanes?

With Miami coming seemingly unglued this week – with a replacement at quarterback, a benched star tight end and six offensive starters at new positions – one would think turmoil would have an adverse effect their play.

Of course, with Miami’s depth, all of those problems shouldn’t matter.

Earlier this week, Miami head coach Larry Coker announced he wouldn’t start tight end Kellen Winslow because of questionable on-field actions. Winslow punched a Virginia Tech player two weeks ago and took his helmet off on the field last week against Tennessee, both incidents drawing 15-yard penalties.

After the Tennessee game, Winslow spat an expletive-laced tirade to reporters, and called himself a soldier. Coker said the tirade was not the reason for the benching.

‘They won’t keep Winslow out for very long,’ SU punt returner Marcus Clayton said. ‘They may take him out just a series or something, just to say they took him out.’

Miami has a bevy of talent at the skill positions. It helps that it doesn’t have to go very far to recruit it. Having the powerhouse reputation of the Hurricanes helps a bit, too.

‘That’s Miami,’ SU fullback Thump Belton said. ‘First of all, the environment will pull recruits out the gate. It’s January, you can go to the beach and see girls in bikinis and thongs. Good gracious, who’s gonna turn that down?

‘You come up here, you see girls from August to October, then it seems like they just leave ’till May. You don’t see them no more.’

One-trick pony?

It happens every game, sometimes even twice. Clayton will line up at wide receiver, start in motion, then take a handoff from quarterback R.J. Anderson.

The end-around is quickly becoming the staple of his repertoire. The only problem? It’s the only thing he’s known for.

‘I’m satisfied with reverses and end-arounds,’ Clayton said. ‘But I wouldn’t mind a quick hitch or a long pass.’

Clayton, who has occasionally lined up at receiver since being moved from cornerback, has yet to make a reception

Clayton has 24 rushing yards this season, including a 10-yard gain last week against Temple.

‘As long as I’m getting the ball, I’m happy,’ Clayton said. ‘I look for that every game. At least one or two. Last week, I got four so I was pretty happy. I’m surprised they kept going with it. They trust me so I keep getting the ball more.’

Said Belton: ‘It’s just not Marcus’ time right now (to catch passes). He’s still learning. Remember, he was still in high school at this time last year. That’s a big transition.’

This and that

Saturday is Homecoming for Miami. Syracuse has played in two other homecoming games this season, excluding its own, losing to Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. … The Hurricanes have won the past three meetings with Syracuse by a 137-7 margin. We’ll do the math for you – the Canes have outscored SU by 130 points in that span.

Published on November 11, 2003 at 12:00 pm