Syracuse @ Akron preview
Rubber Bowl
Last Meeting ( Oct 24, 2009 ) Akron 14, Syracuse 28
Once upon a time, Syracuse's football team overpowered opponents, went to bowl games and produced future NFL stars.
If that seems like awhile ago, there's a good reason. It has been awhile, especially for Syracuse fans who are weary of watching their once-proud program become a bottom feeder on a national scale.
Syracuse has finished in the Big East Conference basement in each of the last five seasons, going 14-45 overall. The Orange went 1-6 in the league and 4-8 overall under new coach Doug Marrone last season.
The poor showing on the field has led to empty seats at the Carrier Dome, which has added to the pressure on Marrone to get the program turned around, even if he is entering just his second season on the job.
Syracuse starts the season with a trip to Akron on Saturday night. A loss to a team that finished near the bottom of the Mid-American Conference last season will not play well at all with the Orange faithful. The teams met at the Carrier Dome last season with Syracuse winning 28-14.
Injuries have already hit Syracuse, with several players done for the season. Nose tackle Ollie Haney, defensive end Jared Kimmel and cornerback Ri'Shard Anderson are out on defense. Fullback Carl Cutler, tight end Cody Catalina and receiver Jarrod West are out on offense.
Sophomore Ryan Nassib will start at quarterback while Delone Carter, who gained 1,021 yards last season, is Syracuse's best running back.
Akron is coming off a 3-9 season that cost coach J.D. Brookhart his job. The Zips are expected to finish at the bottom of the MAC East under Rob Ianello, who has already made several changes in his first year on the job.
The Zips will run a pro-style offense instead of the spread preferred by Brookhart and the defense has been changed from an unorthodox 3-3-5 alignment to a more traditional 4-3 scheme.
Ianello has settled on Patrick Nicely, who struggled as a freshman, to be the starting quarterback. Just how long Nicely hangs on to the job remains to be seen.
The Zips must get production from running backs Alex Allen and Nate Burney for the new offensive approach to work. While the front seven on defense should be solid, the inexperienced secondary will likely get picked on by Nassib.
A win would be a positive start for a Syracuse program that hasn't come close to meeting expectations in recent years.
This will mark the third straight season the teams have played. The Zips won 42-28 in 2008.