Most talk yesterday at the Syracuse football team’s media day centered on head coach Paul Pasqualoni’s future. So, while most players expectedly stood by their coach, they struggled to explain the contrast between SU’s poor record and keeping Pasqualoni.

Safety Anthony Smith offered the most critical analysis as to why.

‘I don’t think some of the guys here have bought into the program,’ the junior said. ‘They want to do their own thing. Like I said, they don’t want to buy into the program and do what the coaches tell them. Everybody else who follows plays. I’ve had great success following the program. But some guys don’t.’

Does that mean there’s dissension on the Orange?

‘No, we’re not criticizing each other,’ Smith said. ‘We’re all sticking together. Nobody’s talking bad about each other. I just want to see guys play with a little more heart and a little bit more urgency.

‘I didn’t come here to lose. It hurts. My whole life has been winning. And to come here, to a program with 15 straight winning seasons and all of a sudden we start losing, it’s a little bit disappointing.’

Walter Reyes walked up to the microphone with a slightly different look – no sling on his right shoulder.

Reyes, Syracuse’s starting running back, took the sling off Sunday. He hopes to start practicing next week in preparation for Syracuse’s Nov. 27 game at Boston College.

As for whether he’ll play?

‘I’m going,’ Reyes said. ‘Have to. We need to win. If that’s the game that puts us in a bowl, it’s the biggest game of the season. As long as my arm isn’t falling off, I have to go.’

When Reyes talked, he had just received treatment for the shoulder, so he felt sore. But he said his mobility is back. While last week he couldn’t move his shoulder, now Reyes said he could lift his hand over his head.

Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel retired yesterday. And the players could hardly care.

After all, they never interacted with him.

‘I just heard about it a little bit ago,’ Smith said. ‘I never really got to know him, so I don’t know what to say.’

Other players – Tony Jenkins, Walter Reyes and Diamond Ferri – echoed those sentiments.

‘I don’t know what to say,’ said Ferri, a safety. ‘I guess his time has come.’

Then, commenting on Crouthamel’s relationship with Pasqualoni now that Crouthamel is retiring, Ferri said, ‘It’s like Puffy without Ma$e. He doesn’t have his right-hand man now.’

Both Ferri and offensive lineman Adam Terry have roots in New England. Going back to Boston is a homecoming of sorts for them.

‘I have friends and family there,’ Ferri said. ‘People who watched my career during high school will be there. They recruited me. I want to show them what they missed out on.’

Terry, meanwhile, knows BC offensive guard Josh Beekman, whom he played against in the Section 2 final one year in high school.

‘I was recruited by BC,’ Terry said. ‘I know kids there. I’m excited for the game.’

Published on November 17, 2004 at 12:00 pm