So, where were we? No, we’re not talking about Kyle McCord and the additional four-star recruits Fran Brown is bringing to the hill in 2024. Interim head coach Nunzio Campanile and SU’s 2023 roster have unfinished business against an old Big East foe.
Syracuse football (6-6, 2-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference) takes on the University of South Florida (6-6, 4-4 American Athletic Conference) in the Boca Raton Bowl on Thursday.
After a 4-0 start to the year, the Orange’s woes against ACC competition continued from last season with a four-game losing streak in 2023. Following an additional 31-22 loss to Georgia Tech on the road, former Syracuse head coach Dino Babers was fired. SU rebounded with a 35-31 win over Wake Forest to claim bowl eligibility on its last chance.
It’s unclear how the Orange will look on offense following Garrett Shrader’s announcement that he will miss the bowl game to get shoulder surgery.
Quarterback Garrett Shrader underwent successful surgery at the conclusion of the regular season and will not play in Thursday’s bowl game.
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) December 18, 2023
He had been playing with a tear in his shoulder since October. pic.twitter.com/tkGRC6sc73
“I’ve been so impressed with Garrett… He was banged up all year and continued to compete and fight for the guys,” Campanile said before the announcement. “There’s no way we’re here if he doesn’t play in that last game.”
In the most recent game without Shrader against Georgia Tech, Syracuse tight end Dan Villari was the leading passer for SU, completing all 14 of his throws.
If Villari is under center for the ‘Cuse, running back LeQuint Allen should continue to shoulder a heavy workload. The sophomore has carried the rock at least 28 times in each of the last three games, which he’s converted into 122.3 rush yards per game.
LISTEN: The @CuseFootball offense responded to a @WakeFB score with a 13-yard TD pass to tight end Dan Villari. @Jackgordon10_ was on the call as the redshirt sophomore secured his third touchdown in the last three contests.
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 25, 2023
🎙️@waer883, https://t.co/BG0Q3sGXTn pic.twitter.com/yQmrd8zkzu
While Campanile has been the interim head coach for SU over the past couple weeks, Fran Brown has attended practice and observed SU’s current players.
“Coach Brown has been around a little bit…he’s had the opportunity to see what these guys can do which definitely raises the intensity level,” Campanile said at the introductory press conference for the Boca Raton Bowl.
LISTEN: @Zach_Goldman4 and @TheDannyTow marvel over how Syracuse football has changed since the hiring of HC Fran Brown.
— WAER Sports Talk (@WAERSportsTalk) December 16, 2023
LISTEN: https://t.co/rgSgQL2ISS
CALL: 315-443-2011 pic.twitter.com/NQ8W4FM5Rd
Over to the other sideline, USF couldn’t have asked for a much better location for this game. The Bulls hail from Tampa which is just a couple hundred miles away from Boca Raton.
“It’s been a phenomenal two and a half weeks of bowl practice. It’s helped recruiting being able to practice on campus”, South Florida head coach Alex Golesh said.
On offense, USF is led by dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown. The freshman's versatility allowed South Florida to average 30.8 points per game and 455.3 yards per game. He’s also only one of two players in the country to throw for 3,000 yards and run for 700 yards; Heisman trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU was the only other player to do so.
Brown isn’t the only player putting up historic numbers for the Bulls. Wideout Sean Atkins needs 39 yards to become USF’s first single-season 1,000-yard receiver.
Game time is set for 8 p.m. and WAER’s coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Kickoff.