Syracuse Messy Situation Mike Williams, best WR in Big East and Syracuse's only real offensive threat, quit the team yesterday, and line went from Pitt -18.5 to -21. Fair reaction as Williams catches a TD pass every week and he's their only legit BCS Conference level receiver. 3 other players suspended today (2 starters and a guy in the rotation at DE) and line barely budges, with some lagging -21's still available.
Story is casino 30 minutes away is off limits to players and they got into an accident on way back from Turningstone at 5AM Sunday. Marrone suspends them all. Williams quits team. Rumors that he begged his way back to serve one game suspension but not the case yet.
Today's suspension hurt badly. Orangemen were already depth-shy and wear down late in every game. Give great effort but have about 25 guys who were expected to be on the roster in the spring and were either run off, left on their own, injured, quit team, suspended. Big weeding out process from disastrous Greg Robinson era. Marrone and staff are tough, game plan well, but demands didn't sit well with some guys.
Line should continue to rise as people see exactly how thin this club is. Any stat and power rating anlysis is dicey due to 7 home games and only 1 road game so far for SU. 'Cuse will play hard but just don't have the horses. Coaches don't trust QB Paulus without Williams. When Williams was suspended for Akron game Paulus threw only 17 passes to 46 running plays in game that was close throughout. Under probably not the worst idea in the world. Suspensions a big distraction (Marrone 15 minutes late for practice today) and only the second road game of the season for 'Cuse.
Usually like hard trying big dogs late in season. But it'll take a combination of the Wannstead factor and a Lou Holtz Arkansas-Orange Bowl suspension reaction by this undermanned club to stay in this one.
