Drama. There's plenty of it for this one.
When UConn (6-3, 2-2 Big East) plays Syracuse (2-7, 1-4) tonight at the Carrier Dome, 18 seniors will be playing their final home game for a coach who likely will be ousted after the season. These guys came in with Greg Robinson four years ago and have endured the same 9-34 record as he has at Syracuse.
On the other side of the field will be UConn's Randy Edsall, a Syracuse alum in the middle of speculation that he is the flavor of the month to replace Robinson for the 2009 season.
Would the interest in Edsall, 50, be the same if the Huskies lost to the Orange today? And, as bad as Syracuse has been, is a loss possible?
"You pull out all you have and try to use every different thing you can do to try and take advantage of the situation," Robinson said. "It is what it is. Our job is to see if we can knock them off."
The Huskies haven't won at Syracuse in two tries, and it would be in their best interest to ensure a bowl bid with win No.7. It's not a guarantee at six and the Huskies round out the regular season at South Florida and at home against Pitt, which sits in a three-way tie for the league lead.
The Orange beat a decent Louisville team at the dome Nov. 1. The Cardinals represent one of the Huskies' two conference wins. And it was on the road. And speaking of the road, UConn has a dismal showing there in conference play, 3-12 since joining the Big East in 2004.
More drama?
How about the showcase between Syracuse tailback Curtis Brinkley (107.3 yards a game) needing 34 to surpass 1,000 for the season, and UConn's Donald Brown, the nation's leading rusher (156.2).
Brown will be the focus on offense again ? against one of the nation's worst rush defenses. UConn's quarterback won't be announced until game time, but it's likely Zach Frazer or Cody Endres.
The surest way for UConn to win is to stem tonight's emotional tide, not turn the ball over and slow Brinkley.
"He's a good back, solid, runs with power," said sophomore linebacker Scott Lutrus, the Huskies' leading tackler (72, second in the Big East). "We're going to have our work cut out for us, but as a defense we like these kinds of challenges, and we believe we're up to it."
Edsall said Thursday the Huskies must stop the run to have a chance to win. The Orange are not a pass-happy bunch. In fact, they're not happy at all when it comes to passing. Syracuse will go with a two QB system, with senior Cameron Dantley, son of former NBA great Adrian Dantley, getting the start and junior Andrew Robinson getting some reps, too.
Dantley was 3 of 12 for 19 yards before he left the Rutgers game last week with an ankle injury. Robinson was 2 of 7 for 16 yards in his three series in the 35-17 loss in Piscataway.
When UConn (6-3, 2-2 Big East) plays Syracuse (2-7, 1-4) tonight at the Carrier Dome, 18 seniors will be playing their final home game for a coach who likely will be ousted after the season. These guys came in with Greg Robinson four years ago and have endured the same 9-34 record as he has at Syracuse.
On the other side of the field will be UConn's Randy Edsall, a Syracuse alum in the middle of speculation that he is the flavor of the month to replace Robinson for the 2009 season.
Would the interest in Edsall, 50, be the same if the Huskies lost to the Orange today? And, as bad as Syracuse has been, is a loss possible?
"You pull out all you have and try to use every different thing you can do to try and take advantage of the situation," Robinson said. "It is what it is. Our job is to see if we can knock them off."
The Huskies haven't won at Syracuse in two tries, and it would be in their best interest to ensure a bowl bid with win No.7. It's not a guarantee at six and the Huskies round out the regular season at South Florida and at home against Pitt, which sits in a three-way tie for the league lead.
The Orange beat a decent Louisville team at the dome Nov. 1. The Cardinals represent one of the Huskies' two conference wins. And it was on the road. And speaking of the road, UConn has a dismal showing there in conference play, 3-12 since joining the Big East in 2004.
More drama?
How about the showcase between Syracuse tailback Curtis Brinkley (107.3 yards a game) needing 34 to surpass 1,000 for the season, and UConn's Donald Brown, the nation's leading rusher (156.2).
Brown will be the focus on offense again ? against one of the nation's worst rush defenses. UConn's quarterback won't be announced until game time, but it's likely Zach Frazer or Cody Endres.
The surest way for UConn to win is to stem tonight's emotional tide, not turn the ball over and slow Brinkley.
"He's a good back, solid, runs with power," said sophomore linebacker Scott Lutrus, the Huskies' leading tackler (72, second in the Big East). "We're going to have our work cut out for us, but as a defense we like these kinds of challenges, and we believe we're up to it."
Edsall said Thursday the Huskies must stop the run to have a chance to win. The Orange are not a pass-happy bunch. In fact, they're not happy at all when it comes to passing. Syracuse will go with a two QB system, with senior Cameron Dantley, son of former NBA great Adrian Dantley, getting the start and junior Andrew Robinson getting some reps, too.
Dantley was 3 of 12 for 19 yards before he left the Rutgers game last week with an ankle injury. Robinson was 2 of 7 for 16 yards in his three series in the 35-17 loss in Piscataway.
