RUNNING MAN
SYRACUSE, N.Y. » Syracuse coach Dino Babers is facing Senior Day on Saturday with a lot of pent-up emotion on his mind because he’ll be losing several key players to graduation and the Orange won’t be playing in the postseason.
Among the seniors who will play in their final college game are linebackers Zaire Franklin and Parris Bennett, and their contributions have been significant. Franklin, only the second three-time captain in program history, has 303 career tackles and Bennett has eclipsed 100 tackles two straight seasons to bring their combined total for career tackles to 562.
“I think about Zaire and Parris and the people who are on this football team and what they have gone through,” said Babers, who replaced Scott Shafer two years ago. “They’ve been a big part of this transition, and they’re going to be part of the success that we’re going to have in the future. Hopefully, we can send them out the right way.”
If that’s not enough emotion for Syracuse (47, 2-5 ACC), the season finale comes against longtime foe Boston College (65, 3-4). Eagles coach Steve Addazio, already assured of a fourth bowl game in five years, was an Orange assistant for two seasons in the 1990s under his current defensive line coach, Paul Pasqualoni, who’s the second-winningest coach in Syracuse history.
“It’s all about one thing, Boston College,” Addazio said. “I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you ... I always have a fond place for Syracuse University, without a doubt. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Syracuse in my background.”
Other things to know when Boston College meets Syracuse in the Carrier Dome on Saturday:
BC’s AJ Dillon has twice topped the 200-yard rushing mark in a game, only the second freshman in ACC history to do so . He ranks fourth in ACC history with 1,239 rushing yards by a freshman. The Orange are coming off consecutive lopsided losses to Wake Forest and Louisville in which they allowed 120 points and a whopping 782 yards rushing. Not a good omen.
“Boston College probably runs the ball better than the last two opponents we just played,” Babers said. “That’s not good for us, and it’s really good for them.”