The Daily Orange

By Jared Diamond Staff Writer TAMPA, Fla. - Greg Robinson didn't try to pinpoint or explain why Matt Grothe was so dominant against Syracuse. Frankly, he didn't have to. "Grothe's Grothe, man," said Robinson, Syracuse's head coach. "He's a good football player.

TAMPA, Fla. - I don't have to explain why Cameron Dantley should not be the starting quarterback for Syracuse anymore. He did that himself. "I'm good at times, and then there are times I'm really bad," Dantley said after the game Saturday, a 45-13 loss to No.

TAMPA, Fla. - Finally, for the first time all afternoon, it looked like Syracuse's defense was finally starting to settle down. Trailing by only eight points at halftime, the Orange managed to hold South Florida dormant for two consecutive drives, first forcing a fumble, then a punt.

TAMPA, Fla. - No matter how bad things get for Syracuse, Curtis Brinkley keeps on chugging. For the second straight game, the senior tailback was the lone bright spot for the Orange in its disappointing 45-13 loss to No. 19 South Florida Saturday. Brinkley rushed for 112 yards - 106 in the first half - on 20 carries, including a 24-yard score for Syracuse's lone touchdown.

Carmelo Anthony sat on the floor next to the Denver Nuggets bench, sheathed in a yellow practice shirt and seemingly impervious to the chants of "We want 'Melo!" emanating from the Carrier Dome crowd. Anthony, Syracuse's iconic former national champion, had played 24 minutes during his Denver Nuggets' NBA exhibition contest against the Phoenix Suns at the Dome Friday.

Hours before the opening tip, long before the Carrier Dome would open to the public, fans peered over the Gate B balcony overlooking the back entrance to the stadium, anticipating the Denver Nuggets' team bus to arrive. Thursday's headlines caught Shaquille O'Neal in tabloid-like hourly updates - he ordered waffles on Marshall Street and popcorn at the Carousel Center? But who was he with? - and, in the greater NBA universe, perhaps Allen Iverson, Steve Nash and Grant Hill have better Q ratings as bonafide basketball celebs.

Scoop Jardine kept playing last year, even as Syracuse's season wound down and the pain in his left shin sharpened. How could he stop? With the Orange basketball roster already pared down by injuries, Jardine's presence in the backcourt was essential. Now, it looks like Jardine's toughness will cost him the entire 2008-09 season.

His coach could not be serious. Jonny Flynn stared at the reporter blankly, stepped back and then gave a "Pssh…" wave of his wrist. "Twenty minutes?! Nah…nah…nah." About 30 minutes earlier at his press conference, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim suggested that the Orange's depth this season could allow him to platoon players similar to how he did with Team USA at the Beijing Olympics this past summer.

By Andy McCullough Enterprise Editor Syracuse senior midfielder Dan Hardy was arrested Oct. 4 for driving while intoxicated, a Syracuse athletics official confirmed Saturday. Hardy, an honorable mention All-American last season, was charged with driving with a blood-alcohol level more than 0.

Spencer Schomaker pumped his arms over his head. There were still four seconds on the clock, but with the ball in DePaul's end, Schomaker felt confident enough to start his celebration of Syracuse's 1-0 win over the Blue Demons a few seconds early. Why not? In what was a must win for the Orange after going winless in its last four, SU rode midfielder Tom Perevegyencev's 86th-minute goal to a narrow win in front of 746 fans Saturday at a chilly SU Soccer Stadium.

Robert Cavicchia found himself pretty much relegated to a spectator during the SU men's soccer team's game against DePaul Saturday night. He saw five shots the entire night, only one of which was on goal. One shot. One save. It was like he didn't even need to show up.

It was a position Syracuse hadn't found itself in this year. With one minute remaining in the first half, losing by one goal, Orange head coach Ange Bradley was forced to throw everything she had at No. 9 Connecticut. Clenching her fists, the coach screamed "Lets Go!" as she paced the sidelines, putting the No.

If Maggie Befort could point to where she and the rest of the Syracuse field hockey team could have evened things Saturday afternoon, it would begin on the field's end line - a penalty corner. If there was a chance to tie Connecticut's one-goal lead Saturday afternoon at J.

Syracuse head coach Ange Bradley had trouble sleeping Saturday night following SU's first loss of the season to No. 9 Connecticut. Fortunately, she didn't have much time to dwell on it. "I was still too mad last night honestly to be able to look at film," Bradley said.

After Friday night's two-goal reprieve against Seton Hall, there was reason to believe Syracuse's goal-scoring drought was finally over. Not quite. Despite the pent-up energy that accompanied the Orange's senior day, the final scene of Sunday's matchup with No.

Casey Ramirez stood in front of the Seton Hall goal as the clock ticked away in overtime. Then, Ramirez's chance came. The ball ricocheted off players from both teams, then landed at her foot. Syracuse's freshman midfielder poked the ball in the back of net and was instantly mobbed by her teammates.