No. 3 Clemson proves to be too much for the Orange to handle

Text, Photos and Videos by Ethan Joyce

Syracuse coach Scott Shafer asked Orange Nation to fill the Carrier Dome when the third-ranked Clemson Tigers came to town on Saturday.

Syracuse fans delivered, packing over 48,000 people in to the place. The team, however, failed to take advantage of crowd, falling to Clemson, 49-14.

Clemson quarterback and Heisman-hopeful Tajh Boyd threw for 455 yards and five touchdowns, one of which was a 91-yard pass to wide receiver Sammy Watkins with 40 seconds left in the third quarter. That was Boyd’s last play of the game, taking all the wind out of Syracuse’s sails.

Shafer said he was happy to see the fan’s enthusiasm throughout the game. But, he was upset his team could not reciprocate.

“To be honest with you: I think the fans did a better job out there than we did today,” Shafer said after the game. “And we owe them more, and we are going to give them more.

“And I just want to make sure that everyone understands that I am so happy and proud of this community.”

Syracuse team captains (from left: Jay Bromley, Marquis Spruill,
Jerome Smith and Macky MacPherson) get ready for the coin toss.

For a fan base that thought the Orange had a shot to win, the outcome seemed clear from the start. On the third play of the game, Boyd threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Adam Humphries. Humphries had two touchdowns and 118 yards in the game on only three receptions.

Syracuse cornerback Julian Whigham said the quick scores confirmed what he knew about Clemson: it could score quickly.

“When they score fast—like, whoa—they are as good as we thought they were,” Whigham said. “We just kept trying to play our game.

“That is on us. Come Sunday, [we will] improve when the film comes around.”

Syracuse’s defense forced Boyd to throw two interceptions, his first and second of the season. But, neither seemed to faze the Tiger quarterback as he continued his aerial assault.

“We got beat by a dog-gone good football team today,” Shafer said. “There is a reason they are top-three in the country, maybe higher.

Clemson cornerback Bashaud Breeland
celebrates after deflecting a pass.

“We just got to refocus and move forward to this North Carolina State game.”

Syracuse quarterback Terrel Hunt threw for only 52 yards and no touchdowns. Hunt had thrown for three and four touchdowns, respectively, in his first two starts of the season.

“We just got to execute a lot better,” Hunt said. “I didn't do my part today, I messed up, and it showed on the field today.

“Just as a whole, as a team, we weren’t together.”

Syracuse halfback Jerome Smith rushed for 125 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He led a rushing attack that ran for a total of 323 yards and accounted for both Syracuse scores.

The fans at least witnessed the unveiling of former Syracuse quarterback Don McPherson’s jersey in the rafters of the Carrier Dome. McPherson, who won both the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards during his time at Syracuse, said this honor was not something he achieved alone.

Don McPherson (center, in tan sweater) poses for photos with
 former teammates, coaches and his mother.

"How many Syracuse University players does it take to get a jersey that high?” McPherson asked while surrounded on the field by his former teammates. “All of them. These are the guys; this is the reason.”

Syracuse's next game will be against N.C. State in Raleigh, N.C. The Orange doesn’t play in The Dome again until Nov. 2 against Wake Forest.