Before the season, a self-assured R.J. Anderson publicly pondered why national polls ignored his Syracuse football team.

‘We just get a lack of respect,’ Anderson said in early August. ‘They don’t think we have a lot of talent. They don’t think I have a lot of talent. But we’ll show them.’

Two months, three losses, six interceptions and a mild concussion later, Anderson and Syracuse (1-3) have yet to prove anything. Still, Anderson’s confidence remains intact.

On the verge of Syracuse’s Big East opener against Pittsburgh (4-1) tomorrow at noon at the Carrier Dome, Anderson still plans to prove himself an effective starting quarterback. But he knows time may be running out.

‘It’s higher expectations for me this year,’ Anderson said after Monday’s practice. ‘Things aren’t going the way I want. But I’m a confident guy.

‘The way I’ve been playing, most guys probably would have been pulled. But the coaches have a lot of confidence in me. They’re giving me a chance to turn it around.’

It seemed Anderson might not get that chance midway through the fourth quarter of Syracuse’s 37-34 loss to Auburn last Saturday.

After completing just 5-of-18 passes and throwing three interceptions in 53 minutes, Anderson yielded to backup Troy Nunes.

Nunes drove Syracuse 80 yards – completing 7-of-8 passes and throwing a touchdown – to send the game to overtime.

On Monday, Anderson said he’d left the game because of a minor concussion, and head coach Paul Pasqualoni affirmed Anderson as the team’s starter.

‘Robin is going to start the game because he’s the staring quarterback,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘Robin, from a technique and fundamental standpoint, is playing pretty well.’

‘It’s great to know the people around you have confidence in your ability,’ Anderson said. ‘That keeps my confidence high. It’s funny because Troy and I were in the same situation at the start of last year, but he was starting. Now it’s reversed.’

So it will be Anderson who faces a difficult Pitt defense this weekend. The Panthers return seven starters from a defense that ranked seventh in the nation last year. This season, Pitt gives up just 14 points a game.

Linebacker Gerald Hayes leads the Panthers with 49 tackles, including eight for a loss. Shawntae Spencer tops the Big East with three interceptions, helping Pitt gain a plus-8 turnover advantage.

The Syracuse defense likely will have just as tough a time as the offense. Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford ranks second in passing yards per game among Big East signal-callers, one spot above Miami’s Ken Dorsey. Rutherford’s already thrown for more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, spreading the ball to a trio of talented receivers.

Wideout Lamar Slade leads the Big East in receptions with 22 for 288 yards. Larry Fitzgerald, the other starter, leads the conference in receiving yards with 299 on 20 catches. Pitt’s third receiver, Roosevelt Bynes, has 219 yards receiving – more than any SU player other than Jamel Riddle, who’s listed probable after injuring his eye last week.

While Pitt leads the conference in time of possession, Syracuse is last.

‘You can’t say Pitt’s team is based on living off its defense,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘They’re a formidable team. Rod Rutherford makes big plays and has been playing very well.’

If Syracuse has one thing on its side, it’s history. The Panthers haven’t defeated the Orangemen in 11 games and haven’t won at the Dome in 20.

‘That happened in the past and you cannot worry about that,’ Pitt coach Walt Harris said. ‘We need to concentrate on this football team, this group of guys and their chemistry.

‘I know the job (Pasqualoni’s) done with their football team. (Last year), they lost a couple games early and then won eight in a row. I’m sure (SU’s start) is disheartening, no question about it. But now they’re playing us at home. We’re not preparing for a team that will be down.’

Probably a smart move because Syracuse doesn’t seem down. Even Anderson, after a month’s worth of bad breaks and bad decisions, has kept his confidence and a positive outlook.

‘A bounce here and there and we could be 4-0 and in the top 10,’ Anderson said. ‘We have that confidence. Nobody is hanging their head or staying down.

‘The bottom line is, we have nothing to show for working our ass off. This is the biggest game of the year. This is the game where we have to turn it around.’

Published on October 3, 2002 at 12:00 pm