When Kelvin Smith returns home, the stink of the Syracuse football team’s past two seasons trails closely behind, leaving a stench of distress no one can ignore.

His New Hempstead neighbors are always pestering him. And it annoys him the more he hears it.

‘I hear things from my best friends who are asking me, ‘What’s going on with Syracuse football?’ ‘ Smith said. ‘It’s upsetting. I didn’t come here to play like we did last year. I think we have to get this right.’

Syracuse gets its first chance to do just that Sunday, when SU travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to play No. 24 Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium. The game is being televised on ABC at 1:30 p.m.

And while Smith may get the most flack, he’s not alone. Everyone is feeling pressure.

‘Every road has its bumps in it,’ center Matt Tarullo said. ‘There’s gonna be setbacks. But we have to change things. I’m a senior. There’s no other way to do it than to win.’

Syracuse’s place among the top football programs in the country has significantly diminished the past two seasons, with a 4-8 record in 2002 and a 6-6 record last year. Such disappointment has fueled debate of coach Paul Pasqualoni’s job security.

Another offshoot of the disappointment: SU is discarded as a football power, as football magazines and Web sites rate Syracuse at the bottom of the Big East – and the country.

The Orange also has no Associated Press Top 25 votes.

‘Magazines?’ Tarullo said after asked about SU’s decline. ‘I don’t read magazines. I don’t let it play a part of me.’

Even so, the Orange is trying to focus on Purdue, refusing to even acknowledge a game beyond Sunday.

‘We’re looking to go to Purdue and play a very good team,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘My picture is Sunday. I’m not looking any further than that.’

Probably for good reason. A win at Purdue would start undoing two years of mediocrity.

But the biggest story will be how freshman Joe Fields performs at quarterback. Pasqualoni named Fields the starter Aug. 26 at a team meeting. Although Pasqualoni hasn’t publicly announced his decision, it was confirmed by Perry Patterson’s high school coach, Scott Feldman.

Fields can run an effective option offense, perhaps factoring into the decision. And with a strong arm, he offers SU hope to bounce out of its disappointing spiral.

But compared to Purdue’s quarterback, Kyle Orton, he’s merely a wide-eyed youngster.

Orton is a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. Last season, he completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 2,885 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

But Syracuse appears more worried about the senior’s running ability.

‘One thing that sticks out to me is that he’s much more mobile than you might think,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘You know, you think of Purdue and you think of a dropback quarterback. He doesn’t seem to fit that mold exactly. Because he can run around a bit. He can run for a first down.

‘He’s excellent at recognizing the blitz. And he knows where he wants to go with the ball.’

Meanwhile, Syracuse hopes to erase two years of distress. Or, at least start sweeping it away.

‘Winning this game would be a step in the right direction,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘I don’t know how big. Just winning one game against a big team might not erase everything. But you do the best you can do.’

Published on September 2, 2004 at 12:00 pm