Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni hinted last Monday there could be a change at the place-kicker position. It turns out the decision to change was already made the week before. Punter Brendan Carney replaced his buddy Collin Barber as the place-kicker against Connecticut on Saturday.

As well as kicking field goals and extra points, Carney resumed his duties on kickoffs and punts. Meanwhile, Barber, a senior, knelt most of the game on the sideline, watching his best friend take his job.

‘(Pasqualoni) told the both of us the weekend after West Virginia that I would be kicking, but it’s going to be competitive,’ Carney said.

Barber lost his job, and his confidence, last Thursday when he missed two field goals, an extra point and had a field goal blocked against West Virginia.

Against UConn on Saturday, Carney missed a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter, but made all five of his extra-point attempts.

‘Collin’s one of my really good friends,’ Carney said. ‘It’s tough; he has to sit there while one of his buddies is taking his job. He’s been good about it. He’s been a good team player.’

Carney said a decision hasn’t been made as to who will start at place-kicker next week against Pittsburgh, but he said he predicts Pasqualoni will stick with him.

 

Junior Anthony Smith also switched positions this week against UConn. The free safety played cornerback on Saturday, filling in for DeAndre LaCaille, who separated his right shoulder against West Virginia last week.

Smith said it wasn’t difficult to make the change, despite having not played the position since he was a sophomore in high school.

‘You’re out there by yourself,’ Smith said of the difference between corner and safety. ‘You can’t give up a big play.’

Senior O’Neill Scott replaced Smith at free safety.

‘Anthony has excellent cover skills and he could be a corner,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘It’s tough for him to do in one week, but all things considered, I think Anthony did well.’

Smith recorded four solo tackles and an interception return for a touchdown. Scott had four tackles as well.

 

Pasqualoni said earlier last week he was scared of UConn quarterback Dan Orlovsky. On Saturday, Orlovsky showed why that fear was warranted. He passed for 445 yards and three touchdowns on 39-of-51 passing. He set a UConn record for most completions in a game.

‘No. 7 (Orlovsky). He’s the truth,’ said SU quarterback Perry Patterson. He’s going to the league. I really like the way their offense is playing off of him. He’s a great guy and a great leader.’

‘None of us play this game to be individuals,’ Orlovsky said. ‘I’ve said it every week – I could throw for however many touchdowns, however many yards, but if we lose, it’s not what we go out to do.’

 

A number of SU players recorded ‘firsts’ on Saturday against the Huskies. Senior captain Julian Pollard notched the first sack of his career in the third quarter.

‘It was definitely a great feeling,’ Pollard said. ‘I finally got my opportunity. It’s something you think about. It was a great moment for me.’

The soft-spoken Pollard finally let out a little emotion after the sack. ‘I did a couple screams here and there,’ he said. ‘A lot of people up there heard me.’

Fullback Breyone Evans ran for his first-career touchdown, a 22-yard scamper in the second quarter. Evans replaced fullback Greg Hanoian, who was out with an injured hand.

Andre Fontenette’s Hail Mary grab was the first touchdown of his Syracuse career.

‘It’s my first touchdown since high school,’ he said. ‘It’s been four or five years now; I was due.’

Jameel McClain also recovered the first fumble of his career.

 

Pasqualoni said free safety Reggie McCoy will have shoulder surgery and will be out for the year. … Freshman quarterback Joe Fields entered for one play in the third quarter. He ran an option for zero yards. … Wide receiver Steve Gregory’s six catches were a career high.

Published on October 31, 2004 at 12:00 pm