DeFilippo wonders: Last in a series?

He'd like to schedule more games vs. Orange

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff, 10/19/2003

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Boston College's visit to the Carrier Dome may have been the last for the Eagles, who accepted an invite last Sunday to become the Atlantic Coast Conference's 12th member. If that proves to be the case, it would bring about the end of a series between Big East rivals.

"I'd be very, very surprised if this is the last time Boston College played here," said BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo at halftime of yesterday's 39-14 loss to the Orangemen. "Syracuse and Boston College have a long tradition together [as old Eastern Independent and Big East rivals]. From our standpoint, we'd like to continue the tradition. Whether Syracuse does or not is up to them."

Syracuse AD Jake Crouthamel, who kept his distance from DeFilippo yesterday (although DeFilippo sought him out after the game) seemed non-committal about the Eagles as a nonconference opponent. "I haven't thought about it," Crouthamel said. "I've got more important things to think about than BC."When asked if there would be a sense of loss if the series were to end, with the Eagles now rumored to be jumping as early as next season, Crouthamel said, tersely, "We can't think of it in those terms. We've got to think about our future, and BC's not in our future by their choice. We've got to go with our future, whatever that is." With a tough ACC schedule awaiting, BC would have to weigh whether it would want to beef up its nonconference schedule -- one that already includes a series with Notre Dame that extends through 2013 with a break in 2005-06 -- by adding a formidable Big East opponent.

"Scheduling is always done when it's mutually beneficial, and I think it would be beneficial for Boston College to continue playing Syracuse," DeFilippo said. "You always make room for tradition and history."

Off day for Knight

Derrick Knight, the nation's leading rusher, was stymied in his bid to become the first in the nation to break the 1,000-yard mark when he was held to 51 yards on 19 carries, well below his average of 147.7. "They were blitzkrieg-ing us the whole game," said Knight, who has 937 yards on the season and 2,947 for his career, 28 shy of William Green (2,974, 1999-01) for third place on BC's all-time list. In last week's 38-13 romp at Temple, Knight had 100 yards by his sixth carry. Yesterday he had 18 yards after six rushes . . . BC's offensive line, which entered having allowed seven sacks on the season, allowed a season-high five. "Their D-line got after us all game long," said BC quarterback Quinton Porter. "Give them credit because we have a real good O-line. But they stuffed our run game and got after us in the passing game." . . . After erupting for a season-high 648 yards of total offense last week, the Eagles were held to 319 yards against Syracuse, which amassed 407 . . . BC had 11 penalties for 88 yards, making the Eagles the most penalized team in the conference, with 69 for 544 yards. Earlier in the week, BC coach Tom O'Brien made comments perceived to be critical of Big East officiating. John Soffey, the director of Big East officiating, said he discussed the comments with O'Brien yesterday morning. "He didn't mean it in that vein at all," Soffey said. "Tom knows the officials aren't after him. Tom's a terrific guy, he didn't mean it with any malice." . . . Syracuse quarterback R.J. Anderson (20 of 27, 215 yards passing, 3 TDs; 73 yards rushing, 1 TD) and BC defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka (nine tackles) were recipients of the Orrie T. Scarminach Award, given to the MVP of each team in the BC-Syracuse game . . . Punter Jeff Gomulinski was demoted midgame when Rob Leuffen was deployed in the third quarter only to have his first attempt blocked and recovered by Anthony Smith for a score.