Donte Davis has never experienced a postseason game in his four years at Syracuse, but that hasn’t stopped him from dreaming of reaching one this season. With the Orange sitting at 3-6 and just one loss away from being eliminated from bowl eligibility, it has reached the do-or-die point of its season.

‘Each game is definitely like a playoff game,’ said Davis, a starting wide receiver. ‘Either we win or we’re done, so that’s it. We put so much emphasis taking it game by game and that’s all you can do. You can win one game first, and we’re starting with Louisville, and that’s what we are setting out to do.’

Syracuse will try to avoid missing a bowl game for the fifth straight year when it travels to Louisville, Ky., for a noon game against the only other winless team in Big East play. Syracuse (3-6, 0-4 Big East) has beaten the Cardinals (3-6, 0-4) two years in a row. Syracuse has not gone five years without making a bowl game since 1980-84, under head coaches Frank Maloney and Dick MacPherson.

‘Of course, it’s a one-game season right now,’ running back Averin Collier said. ‘We’re taking it one game at a time and are going after each game and attacking it with a winning gameplan and go in to win.’

Syracuse entered this season optimistically, hoping to break the ranks of bowl-bound teams under head coach Doug Marrone after missing out in four seasons under former head coach Greg Robinson.

The Orange started the season 2-2 and needed to continue to play .500 ball for the rest of the season to become bowl eligible. Instead, Big East opponents have been battering SU around.

SU has lost its four Big East games by an average of 20.75 points per game, and now needs to sweep the three teams directly ahead of it in the standings – Louisville, Rutgers, Connecticut – to finish at .500. With two of the three games on the road, it’s not the easiest of tasks.

‘We just go out there and we gotta play real hard and know we got to come out with a victory,’ Davis said. ‘Since we know that we gotta win these three straight games, everybody is real focused, not like we haven’t been focused, but we’re real focused right now and hungry to get a win.’

As important as the game is for SU, Louisville finds itself in the same position, making it an elimination contest for both squads. Louisville will have revenge on its mind, as well.

Syracuse stunned Louisville at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in 2007 with a 38-35 win that played a major role in the Cardinals missing the postseason for the first time in five years. Last season, SU tripped up Louisville in the Carrier Dome, 28-21. Syracuse’s last two Big East wins have come against the Cardinals.

‘I believe they have it out for us because for the past two years they’ve been one of the teams that we’ve had success against,’ defensive tackle Anthony Perkins said. ‘So if I were a betting man I’d say that they would be prepared for us. It’s away and at their place, so I know they’re juiced up to come out and show they can win, too.’

Davis insists the Orange needs to execute better to pick up its first win in Big East play. Perkins thinks the team needs to start the second half stronger, as he said SU sometimes starts to pity itself when it gets down early. Loosening up could be the trick for the team.

Either way, the Orange has little time to fix its problems. One loss and the current crop of seniors will go home without experiencing a bowl game. It starts Saturday, and SU believes it’s up to the task.

‘Unlike last year and teams before, I think this team together is more unified,’ Perkins said. ‘We play for each other and that’s the one thing, since we’re more team-oriented than the past, and I think in the long run that can help us come out on top.’

mrehalt@syr.edu

Published on November 11, 2009 at 12:00 pm