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Thursday, October 17, 2002

By Shelly Anderson, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Temple's game this week at Connecticut (2-4) is a grudge match. Connecticut (2-4) is scheduled to replace the Owls, 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the Big East, in the conference in 2005. The future of Temple's football program beyond 2004 is murky.

"It means a lot to our kids and our coaches because of our situation with the Big East," Owls Coach Bobby Wallace said of the matchup.

"They're coming in and we're going out. There's no way to avoid [the emotions]."

Temple might also be buoyed by its first win against Syracuse since 1983. Quarterback Mike McGann threw for a career-high 340 yards, the third-highest total in Owls history, and was named Big East offensive player of the week.

"I told our players this was a big win over Syracuse, but I hope it will mean more than just a win and that it will give us the confidence to go on and have a good season," Wallace said.

Temple walloped Connecticut, 56-7, last year.

New territory

This is new and unwelcome territory for Syracuse.

The Orangemen are 1-5, 0-2 and have yet to beat a Division I opponent. Their win came against Division I-AA Rhode Island a month ago.

It is Syracuse's worst record at this point in the season since a 1-5 start in 1986.

Saturday, the Orangemen lost at Temple, 17-16, on a missed extra point. They play this week at West Virginia (4-2, 1-0) and still have games remaining against No. 1 Miami and No. 3 Virginia Tech.

"Obviously, we haven't been here in this situation in the 16 years I've been here," Coach Paul Pasqualoni said.

He is not giving up, though.

"I still believe we've got good talent and I still believe that we have a chance to win every game," Pasqualoni said.

"So that's the way we're going to approach it. We're not going to say, well, we'll wait till next year, you know? Uh-uh."

Pasqualoni said he remains loyal to his 11 seniors.

"We're not going to say, well, we're 1-5, let's play a younger guy for the future," he said.

"For those seniors and this team and the program, we will do everything we can do every week, [try] to go down to West Virginia this week and win a big game."

Syracuse last year was 10-3, including a win against Kansas State in the Insight.com Bowl.

That makes this year's collapse even more difficult.

"It hurts," senior receiver David Tyree said, "but at the same time, I still see light at the end of the tunnel with the teams left on our schedule."

Injuries hurting BC

Injuries have sunk their teeth into Boston College.

The Eagles lost cornerback Peter Shean earlier this year because of a torn knee ligament. Last week, two starting defensive linemen were lost for the rest of the season with injuries.

Senior end Antonio Garay came away from a 28-23 loss to Virginia Tech with a broken leg and needed surgery. Junior tackle Doug Goodwin has a broken hip.

Boston College Coach Tom O'Brien said Garay was accidentally leg-whipped by a teammate and Goodwin jammed his hip and cracked the socket when he locked his leg to try to keep himself from falling.

"They're both freakish things, but life goes on," O'Brien said.

The Eagles, 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the Big East, play at Navy (1-5) this week, the big rivalry game every year for O'Brien, who was a starter for the Midshipmen from 1968-70.

Youth serves at Tech

This wasn't supposed to be one of Virginia Tech's most dominant seasons because of a lot of turnover in personnel, but the Hokies (6-0, 1-0) are ranked third going into a home game against Rutgers and are in the national championship picture.

"I don't think many people would have picked us to be here," Coach Frank Beamer said. "We're playing 10 true freshmen and 13 redshirt freshmen. It is a young football team, but some people have stepped up."

Quote of the week

Greg Schiano, Rutgers Coach, who believes his team has a lot of character despite being 1-5, 0-2:

"Thank God I do. Otherwise, I'd probably be pulling my hair out."