In late August, Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni sat comfortably in the shade outside of Manley Field House. He spoke uninhibitedly about the upcoming season and about last season’s 4-8 season.

‘In this game, there’s going to be criticism,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘That’s American culture in sport. People are critical. We understand the fans all have high goals. We have high goals, too, but we’re not out there trying to mess it up. People are entitled to their opinion, but I still hope they understand these kids are trying real hard.’

Pasqualoni uttered those words Aug. 22, more than two weeks before SU’s season opener at North Carolina. He cracked a couple smiles as he spoke.

Last Monday, Pasqualoni sat in a cold cafeteria. He looked uncomfortable under the lights of television cameras.

‘Your goals are always very high,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘We have played some good football teams. We have played very hard. We haven’t always played and executed as well as we would like or sometimes you need to. You don’t think about ending the season being 5-6. That doesn’t really cross your mind.’

Certainly, the 5-6 record didn’t cross his mind in late August, but it happened nonetheless. Here’s a position-by-position report card of why it happened.

Quarterback

R.J. Anderson won’t wow you with his talent. In his SU career, he’s 16-13 as a starter.

He’s more likely to pass for 150 yards with a touchdown than throw for 300, but he knows how to run an offense, and he’s consistent, at least this year. Anderson has only thrown five picks this season. As an offense, Syracuse is tied for second in the country for fewest interceptions thrown.

Grade: C+

Running Back

Early this year, ‘Reyes for Heisman’ T-shirts circulated the campus. The junior back even flashed the vaunted pose after his 241 yards rushing against Central Florida. Then, his production tapered. He hasn’t registered a 100-yard rushing game since Sept. 27 against Toledo. Still, he has rushed for 1,158 yards this season and 15 touchdowns.

The good news for SU: Reyes will be back for his senior season, and he should be faster, stronger and a prime candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

Grade: A-

Wide receivers

Other than Johnnie Morant, who at times this season showed flashes of brilliance, the Orangemen lacked a big-play receiver. They would have had one if not for Jamel Riddle’s year-long academic suspension. So SU was forced to make due.

The lack of depth hurt. At 5 feet, 7 inches, Rashard Williams excelled as a third option late in the season after returning to SU following a leave of absence. The corps will be depleted even more next year with the loss of Morant. Junior Andre Fontenette will have to evolve into more than just a one-catch-a-game receiver for SU to succeed.

Grade: C

Offensive line

The O-line was the strongest unit for Syracuse. Reyes showered praise upon the group – led by senior center Nick Romeo and juniors Matt Tarullo and Adam Terry – after every game saying he couldn’t have been productive without them.

He’s right. Though the group will lose two of the key hogs – Romeo and tackle Kevin Sampson – to graduation, the line is left in good hands with Tarullo, Terry and guards Steve Franklin and Jason Greene.

Grade: A

Linebackers

Redshirt freshman Kelvin Smith has made an admirable replacement for the injured Jameel Dumas. After being thrown into the fire in the first game against North Carolina, Smith has had to grow up fast.

The Orangemen will be better prepared for next year after the graduation of Rich Scanlon because of Smith’s quick ascension to the starting outside linebacker position.

Sophomore Kellen Pruitt had a breakout season in his first as a starter, registering 86 tackles, two and a half sacks, three interceptions and a blocked punt.

Grade: B

Secondary

Following the much maligned unit of 2002, this year’s secondary has showed signs of improvement. The group ranks No. 67 in the nation in pass defense, a marked improvement from its last-place finish a year ago. But, after all, the Orangemen had nowhere to go but up from where they stood a year ago. The fact that they almost single handedly lost the West Virginia game, allowing two fourth-quarter touchdowns of 24 and 67 yards, still makes this unit Syracuse’s weak spot.

Grade: C-

Special teams

Before the season, Pasqualoni joked that in practice, freshman Brendan Carney’s punts would hit the roof of the Carrier Dome. While he never achieved that feat in a game, he routinely booted balls out of the end zone on kickoffs. Don’t be surprised if he matures into one of the best punters in the conference.

True freshman punt returner Marcus Clayton is a blur on the field. He filled in nicely for the suspended Riddle, averaging 10 yards per return and ripping off a 56-yard touchdown against West Virginia.

Grade: B+

Intangibles

Let’s start with Pasqualoni’s favorite buzzword, ‘execute.’ It’s usually preceded by the words, ‘we didn’t.’

What is execution? It’s just a magical word that is easily used to deflect blame. In that vein, Syracuse’s execution has been poor this season. The Orangemen may have ‘given 110 percent,’ as Kelvin Smith put it the other day, but they lacked execution to win key games down the stretch – namely against West Virginia and Rutgers – that would have propelled them into a bowl game.

After the season, the extra effort and hustle might not matter. After all, Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel may borrow from the Coach P vocabulary when deciding Pasqualoni’s future. If the Orangemen lose to Notre Dame on Saturday, he may have no choice but to ‘execute.’

Grade: C-

Final grade-point average: 2.7

Michael Becker is an assistant sports editor at The Daily Orange, where his columns appear regularly. E-mail him at mibecker@syr.edu.

Published on December 4, 2003 at 12:00 pm