When the Miami football team lost to Tennessee, 10-6, on Saturday, it marked the first time since 1999 the Hurricanes lost consecutive football games. Syracuse will feel the aftermath first hand.

When Syracuse travels to the Orange Bowl on Saturday for a noon game, the Hurricanes will start Derrick Crudup at quarterback for the first time this season over usual starter Brock Berlin. Miami head coach Larry Coker informed the two quarterbacks Sunday that Crudup would start because of a turnover-plagued offense.

‘We’re going to get both quarterbacks ready to play,’ Coker said. ‘We were concerned about interceptions that have been happening lately, so we’re going to give Derrick Crudup an opportunity. It’s a tough decision, but it’s probably the right decision for our football team.’

For Miami, the quarterback switch means desperation. For SU, it means preparation. The Orangemen will have to prepare for Crudup, who’s more of a running quarterback than the strong-armed Berlin.

‘Now you have to get ready for two quarterbacks and the style of two quarterbacks,’ SU head coach Paul Pasqualoni said. ‘Brock Berlin has a great arm. Derrick is probably a little bit more mobile, probably a little faster and probably more dangerous with the run.’

Though Berlin has more experience, Crudup received valuable time last season when an injury to then-starter Ken Dorsey thrust him into the spotlight in the national championship game against Ohio State.

Berlin has thrown for 1,981 yards and nine touchdowns, but his downfall came in the 14 interceptions he threw.

Despite Crudup having a different style than Berlin, the quarterback switch won’t bother Syracuse.

‘I’ll play against anybody,’ SU linebacker Rich Scanlon said. ‘It’s really not a big deal. We’ve played against multiple quarterbacks before.’

It’s a Wash

It’s easy to overlook Tim Washington. Not only does he stand 5 feet, 9 inches, but he’s got two offensive giants in front of him on the depth chart – Walter Reyes and Damien Rhodes.

In SU’s 41-17 win over Temple on Saturday, Washington finally began to stand out. He ran for 41 yards and his first career touchdown on five carries. On the season, the redshirt freshman has rushed for 87 yards on 18 attempts.

Though Washington didn’t play much – most of his carries and his touchdown came late in the fourth quarter – he received his most meaningful snap this season. On third-and-two inside the SU 10-yard line, Washington took an option pitch and barreled ahead three yards, sustaining a drive that would result in a 99-yard touchdown march.

While Rhodes has sat out four games this season with an injured left ankle, Reyes has carried a large load at running back. If Rhodes can’t return, Washington could be called on as the season wears on to spell Reyes.

‘He plays a big role on our team,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘When we feel we have to put him in to give Walter a break, we’ll put him in. You saw a little bit more of what we’ve seen Tim Washington do over the last year on Saturday. Hopefully, you will get to see a little bit more of it.’

Mouthing off

Miami tight end Kellen Winslow made headlines this weekend – for the wrong reason.

In the locker room after Miami’s loss to Tennessee, Winslow spouted about a play in which he injured a Volunteer. He said he didn’t care what happened because they were going for his legs, too. He continued with his rant, calling himself a ‘soldier.’

On Sunday, he apologized for what he said in a official statement. According to some Orangemen, there was no need to for the apology.

‘I got no beef with what he said,’ Anderson said. ‘He’s the only one who knows what’s going on out there. Somebody probably asked him a dumb question, and he went off.’

‘It got blown out of proportion because he’s a college football player,’ Scanlon said. ‘He’s a kid. He’s not a professional athlete. It’s kind of strange to see a college player do that. It’s right after a game and it’s an emotional comment.

‘It’s a battle out there,’ Scanlon said. ‘You don’t want to call it a war, but it’s a battle out there.’

Safety Anthony Smith wears a tattoo down his left arm that reads ‘SOLIDER.’

‘He’s right,’ Smith said of Winslow’s war comparison. ‘And I’m gonna knock him down on Saturday and show him (my tattoo).’

Winslow is not being made available for comment this week.

This and that

In its last four meetings with SU, Miami has outscored Syracuse, 179-20. Does that intimidate the Orangemen as they head to the Orange Bowl? ‘Nah, you got the wrong team,’ Syracuse quarterback R.J. Anderson said. ‘This is not the type of team that gets intimidated.’ … Pasqualoni said the status of Rhodes and injured outside linebacker Jameel Dumas is unclear. He’ll know more Wednesday, he said.

Published on November 10, 2003 at 12:00 pm