Shaking Off Delusions: Syracuse 28, Louisville 21

You just know the intensity level dropped after Louisville’s 93-yard touchdown drive on the first series of downs and Syracuse’s subsequent three-and-out. Some key Louisville participants relaxing a bit, expecting to coast the rest of the way.

Big mistake. From that point forward, the Cards played down to Syracuse’s level, making a team with a 1-6 won-lost record look powerful on offense and defense

— A bummer after the first series of plays, Syracuse the most depressing location for a football game in the conference, even worse if you have to watch the game on ESPNU with its four-minute TV commercial timeouts for cheap products.

— A three-and-a-half-hour infomercial for Rust Belt U football, complete with a former SU quarterback in the broadcast booth for the entire first half, a “little person” SU student playing big time announcer on the sidelines, and a history lesson on No. 44’s.

— You know it’s bad when you have to wake your spouse for the beginning of the second half.

— The game-ending interception should have been ruled pass interference. UofL’s Doug Beaumont was knocked out of the play, no real chance to catch the ball. Flags were strangely absent.

— Never was a ball more perfectly thrown than the one thrown by Hunter Cantwell that should have been a sure touchdown, right in the breastplate of Troy Pascley.

— Just when you think it will be a while before you see Pascley again, there he is in the end zone pulling one in for six.

— Where was Brock Bolen most of the night, the bruiser who has been used early to soften up the defense to allow Victor Anderson to run through them? Anyone see him hurt? Never mind. Just chalk it up to another mysterious disappearance.