'Cuse hopes history repeats

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The question caught Syracuse linebacker Derrell Smith a little off-guard, if only because it's one the Orange aren't used to answering.

Asked how he would feel if he was Louisville — whom the Orange have beaten each of the last two seasons — heading into Saturday's game between a pair of programs hoping to escape the Big East cellar, and Smith just shrugged his shoulders.

"I know if a team beat me for two years straight, I would go into the game with a little animosity," he said.

It's a feeling both teams have become all too familiar with over the last few seasons.

The Orange (3-6, 0-4 Big East) have lost 17 of their last 19 conference games, with both of the wins coming against the Cardinals.

A stunning 38-35 upset in Louisville two years ago showed the first cracks in the Cardinals' foundation following a trip to the Orange Bowl in 2006.

Syracuse pulled the trick again last fall, winning 28-21 to blunt Louisville's momentum after a seemingly program-turning victory over South Florida.

The Cardinals (3-6, 0-4) haven't won a conference game since. Neither have the Orange, who admit they're kind of at a loss for why they've managed to do things against Louisville — move the ball, make big plays — they've struggled to do against everyone else.

"I really don't know," said safety Randy McKinnon. "Every week, we go out with the intentions to win each game and play hard. I guess against Louisville for some reason, we just get that edge, like everything goes right that game for some reason. And we always get the win."

Victories are few and far between for both programs, though they have remained largely competitive against the league's elite.

The Cardinals played arguably their best defensive game of the season in a 17-9 loss to West Virginia last week, while the Orange were in the game late against No. 5 Cincinnati two weeks ago.

Yet the improved effort hasn't led to more victories.

"The people who are out there are playing hard," said Syracuse coach Doug Marrone. "Does that equal wins and are we happy with that? No. None of us are. Are we striving for that? Yes."

One team will receive a much-needed confidence boost Saturday afternoon while keeping its flickering hopes for an improbable bowl berth alive. And that, more than ending a perceived "hex" against the Orange, is what is keeping the Cardinals going.

"We can win games, that's why we continue to fight, continue to come out to practice and work hard," said Louisville defensive end Greg Scruggs. "If we keep that drive, we keep that confidence, we will win these last three games."

The Cardinals might have to if they want to salvage coach Steve Kragthorpe's job. While Louisville appears to have made strides this season, fan support for Kragthorpe appears to be eroding. A record-low crowd of just more than 21,000 turned out to watch Louisville edge Arkansas State two weeks ago, and Kragthorpe acknowledges he's not the most popular guy in town.

"I know there's people that don't like me, don't like way I do things," he said. "If they don't want to come support me, that's fine, but I think they need to come and support these players."

Louisville could have quarterback Adam Froman back after missing the last two games with an elbow injury and leading rusher Victor Anderson may return after sitting out against the Mountaineers with a variety of ailments.

Moving the ball, however, hasn't been the problem for the Cardinals. Redshirt freshman Darius Ashley ran for 164 yards against the Mountaineers. Louisville's issue has been translating yards into points. The Cardinals are last in the Big East in points per game (19.0), mainly because of a propensity to turn it over in opponent's territory.

The Orange aren't much better, ranking seventh in the conference in scoring offense and last in total offense, rushing offense and passing offense.

Those ills, however, have disappeared against the Cardinals in recent years.

"We know what to do," McKinnon said. "We already expect this. It's kind of like, now, go out and execute and do the things we have to do to win."