If the University of Louisville football program is to attain its first 10 wins ever without a loss, it must get past Syracuse.

No program is more worthy of being the extra notch than Syracuse, a school leaving the Big East after this year to join the Atlantic Coast Conference. Syracuse has had one foot out the door ever since UofL, Cincinnati, South Florida, DePaul and Marquette joined the conference in 2004.

Actually Syracuse was included among the original three schools proposed to join the ACC in 2003, along with Boston College and Miami. But the Virginia Legislature got involved, using its muscle and the University of Virginia’s vote to ensure that Virginia Tech was picked over Syracuse.

The Syracuse fan base resented being shut out the first time around, thinking the conference had been weakened, assuming a superiority complex, believing it was deserving of better company in the conference, and jumping at the very first opportunity. SU joins the ACC next season after achieving a $7.5 million Big East exit fee.

This will probably be the final game between the two teams for a while. Louisville holds a 6-5 edge in the series.

The Louisville game is also the center piece of Homecoming and Senior Day for Syracuse so emotions will be sky high. Syracuse is an improved team, with a high power offense rushing and passing and a 4-5 record overall and 3-2 in the Big East. Two more wins would make the program bowl eligible, with only two games remaining after Saturday.

Sorry, Syracuse, but you’re in the way.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

One thought on “Syracuse in the cross hairs”
  1. This was Coach Strong’s worst coached game since he has been here. He did not have the team prepared for game at all. Special teams have been a complete failure all season.

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