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- Aug 28, 2011
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Fran Brown Bounce-Back
– Brown has established a culture where his teams don’t let one loss turn into two. He’s 4-0 after a defeat as a head coach, and the guys rally around him. That resilience is contagious and gives SU an edge in games like this. You have to go back to 2021 as an assistant coach to find a time he lost back to back game.
Special Teams Edge
– Stonehouse is one of the best punters in the country, averaging nearly 47 yards a boot. He flips the field and forces opponents to drive 70–80 yards. Woody has been steady on field goals (6/7). In a tight game, that hidden yardage and reliable kicking could be the difference.
Willis Workload
– Yasin Willis is averaging 74 yards per game and 4.7 yards a carry, but he’s only getting about 11 carries. When he gets touches, he breaks tackles and forces defenses to creep up. More Willis means keeping SMU honest, setting up play action, and wearing down their front.
Emerging WR Depth
– Emmanuel Ross is finally healthy and showing flashes. With him alongside young talent stepping up, defenses can’t key on a single receiver. The more weapons SU has available, the less predictable the offense becomes — and that’s critical against an aggressive SMU secondary.
Deslauriers Disruption
– Freshman LB Antoine Deslauriers has already turned heads. Last game he recorded 5 tackles, a TFL, and a sack, showing he can make plays at every level. He’s got the speed to spy a QB and the energy to blitz effectively, which can be a big problem for SMU’s offense.
Penalty Advantage
– SMU is averaging 8 penalties a game, one of the sloppier marks in the nation. Syracuse, meanwhile, has been more disciplined. In a game where every possession matters, that could mean SU getting an extra 30–40 free yards just by playing clean.
Time of Possession
– Syracuse is built to control the ball. With Willis pounding inside and short passing to keep chains moving, SU can shorten the game and keep SMU’s veteran QB on the sidelines. Fewer possessions mean more pressure on SMU to capitalize when they do have the ball.
1-0 vs. SMU All-Time
Posted in memory of our friend, carrying on the tradition.
Go Orange!
– Brown has established a culture where his teams don’t let one loss turn into two. He’s 4-0 after a defeat as a head coach, and the guys rally around him. That resilience is contagious and gives SU an edge in games like this. You have to go back to 2021 as an assistant coach to find a time he lost back to back game.
Special Teams Edge
– Stonehouse is one of the best punters in the country, averaging nearly 47 yards a boot. He flips the field and forces opponents to drive 70–80 yards. Woody has been steady on field goals (6/7). In a tight game, that hidden yardage and reliable kicking could be the difference.
Willis Workload
– Yasin Willis is averaging 74 yards per game and 4.7 yards a carry, but he’s only getting about 11 carries. When he gets touches, he breaks tackles and forces defenses to creep up. More Willis means keeping SMU honest, setting up play action, and wearing down their front.
Emerging WR Depth
– Emmanuel Ross is finally healthy and showing flashes. With him alongside young talent stepping up, defenses can’t key on a single receiver. The more weapons SU has available, the less predictable the offense becomes — and that’s critical against an aggressive SMU secondary.
Deslauriers Disruption
– Freshman LB Antoine Deslauriers has already turned heads. Last game he recorded 5 tackles, a TFL, and a sack, showing he can make plays at every level. He’s got the speed to spy a QB and the energy to blitz effectively, which can be a big problem for SMU’s offense.
Penalty Advantage
– SMU is averaging 8 penalties a game, one of the sloppier marks in the nation. Syracuse, meanwhile, has been more disciplined. In a game where every possession matters, that could mean SU getting an extra 30–40 free yards just by playing clean.
Time of Possession
– Syracuse is built to control the ball. With Willis pounding inside and short passing to keep chains moving, SU can shorten the game and keep SMU’s veteran QB on the sidelines. Fewer possessions mean more pressure on SMU to capitalize when they do have the ball.
1-0 vs. SMU All-Time
Posted in memory of our friend, carrying on the tradition.
Go Orange! 
