They all walked in together, as a group, for the first time this season. Every other week at the Syracuse football team’s Tuesday interview session, the players pop into the cafeteria at different times, arriving when they’re ready.

This week, though, things were different. A small group of players arrived in a pack, all clad in their traditional orange polo shirts.

When the media began asking questions, their answers matched their arrival. Everyone was asked a series of questions about the recent departure of wide receiver Mike Williams, who quit the team Monday. Everyone took the same stance: They had nothing to say.

The players were tight-lipped about Williams quitting the team at the first media opportunity since Monday’s announcement by head coach Doug Marrone.

Marrone announced Tuesday through a press release that running back Antwon Bailey, defensive end Torrey Ball and offensive guard Andrew Tiller have been suspended for Saturday’s game because of a violation of team rules. Williams, Bailey, Ball and Tiller were all involved in a car accident early Sunday morning.

‘Coach has rules and guidelines and those are the things that this team is going to do,’ quarterback Greg Paulus said. ‘Coach always talks about doing things together and doing things as a family, and he sets the standard through his example.’

Paulus was the most candid about Williams, but he did not mention Williams’ name in any answer. Other players were a lot less open in their responses.

Safety Mike Holmes said he didn’t read too much into Williams’ departure, saying it was ‘probably personal stuff,’ and after several questions about Williams said he did not want to talk about it.

Wide receiver Donte Davis was more blunt. His response to the first question about Williams was, ‘I really don’t want to talk about that situation right now.’ He answered questions pertaining to the Orange’s offense and how it will respond without its best weapon.

In Syracuse’s one game without Williams this season, a 28-14 win over Akron, Syracuse quarterbacks Paulus and Ryan Nassib threw for a season-low 105 yards. With two-thirds of the season now complete, the offense will have to adjust to fill the void left by Williams.

Williams had 49 catches for 746 yards and six touchdowns on the year. The next closest receiver, Davis, only has 18 catches for 184 yards and one touchdown.

‘We still got to go out there and play on Saturday. I know as a receiving group we’ll see more opportunities, so people just need to step up our game on offense and play hard,’ Davis said. ‘Basically, the receivers as a whole have to go out there and make more plays. Not just receivers. The whole offense has to come together as a team.’

Needing to win three of its last four games to qualify for a bowl game, Syracuse’s road to postseason play has become that much harder without Williams. Still, the players are not blaming Williams for abandoning the team.

When asked if Williams let the team down in light of his decision to leave the program, Paulus showed no signs of bitterness.

‘It’s a team, it’s about the guys in the locker room, doing it for one another and that’s what we’re going to do and we’re going to continue to be about,’ Paulus said. ‘Whether it’s one person or two people, the team is going to be together as a unit and fighting the best we can in order to do things the right way and keep trying to win games.’

PAULUS RESPONDS TO MARRONE’S SUPPORT

One day after Marrone began his press conference by praising Paulus for his effort and what he has meant to the Syracuse program, the quarterback returned the favor. Paulus applauded Marrone’s character during his media session.

‘That’s the kind of guy coach is,’ Paulus said. ‘He’s very passionate about what he does and passionate about his players, and I feel very lucky and fortunate to have the opportunity to not only to be around, but to play for coach Marrone. And I think everyone understands how good a coach he is and how great a person he is.’

Marrone said Monday that he has never seen any athlete work as hard mentally and physically as Paulus, and his accomplishments have been ‘extraordinary.’

Paulus appreciated his coach’s comments, which came two days after Paulus was booed in the second half during SU’s loss to Cincinnati.

‘I think coach’s track record speaks for himself, but once you get to know him, he’s a special guy,’ Paulus said. ‘A lot of people talk about all the things he’s done, but I always tell people he’s a better person then he is a coach, and he’s that type of guy you want to be a part of and associate yourself with.’

McKenzie returns; Kimmel out for season

Starting center Jim McKenzie will return for Syracuse’s game against Pittsburgh Saturday, according to a statement released by SU Athletics Tuesday afternoon. McKenzie has missed the last three games with a hand injury.

The statement also said that defensive end Jared Kimmel will have season-ending knee surgery to repair the same knee that was surgically reconstructed in 2007. Kimmel said he felt pain in his left knee during the Cincinnati game last weekend.

mrehalt@syr.edu

Published on November 3, 2009 at 12:00 pm