After injuring himself for the second straight year against North Carolina on Saturday, Syracuse defensive end Josh Thomas will miss this week’s game against Louisville, SU coach Paul Pasqualoni said Monday.

Linebacker Jameel Dumas will join Thomas on the sideline after injuring his left leg. Pasqualoni said Dumas will miss at least this week and ‘may be (out) a few weeks,’ while Thomas is expected to return in two weeks, in time for the game against Central Florida.

Dumas missed spring practice after withdrawing from the university for personal reasons. He is the leading returning tackler from last year.

Thomas played just two series Saturday. Still, the loss of the 6-foot-7 defensive end is a blow for a team that allowed 166 rushing yards.

‘We’re gonna miss him,’ defensive tackle Louis Gachelin said. ‘But we got a game to play against Louisville that we’re concentrating on.’

‘You can’t replace guys like that,’ defensive end Julian Pollard said.

It’s Pollard’s job to try. He’ll take over for Thomas with support from sophomore Ryan LaCasse. Against UNC, Pollard, a junior, recorded four tackles and recovered a key fumble in the third quarter, which he returned for 36 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Tommy Harris and freshman linebacker Kelvin Smith, who made the game-winning tackle in triple overtime against North Carolina, will split time to replace Dumas.

Safety Diamond Ferri, who appeared to injure his shoulder Saturday, should be ready for the Louisville game, Pasqualoni said.

Riddle still a question

Punt returner Jamel Riddle, who missed the first two weeks of preseason due to academic issues, didn’t make the trip to Chapel Hill, N.C. He is still not officially eligible, Pasqualoni said.

‘We are working through the certification issue of his eligibility,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘I am very optimistic, and it looks good. He will practice (Monday). Hopefully he will be ready to go.’

Because of Riddle’s absence, Pasqualoni thrust freshman Marcus Clayton into the punt return role. Clayton returned two punts for 10 yards.

Gachelin reunion

When Gachelin takes the field Saturday against the Cardinals, he’ll face his younger brother Elvis Dumervil, a sophomore defensive end.

‘I gotta come up with a lot of tickets,’ Gachelin said. ‘My family will probably be rooting for Syracuse seeing that I’m a senior and I’m older. But everyone’s coming to the game dressed half-and-half. Half red, half orange.’

Swami Thump

Last week fullback Thump Belton announced he ‘doesn’t lose at home,’ in reference to his hometown of Charlotte, N.C.

After squeezing out a two-point win before trailing by as much as 17, did he ever have a doubt?

‘Nah,’ he said. ‘The confidence level of the offense was if we got the ball, we’d score. We had a very good offense.’

Then, as he walked off smiling, Belton added, ‘I told you I don’t lose at home. And I don’t.’

Kelvin scale

Smith may have saved the game for SU, but he still felt lost on the field earlier.

‘I was making some mistakes,’ Smith said. ‘(Linebacker) Richie (Scanlon) was yelling at me like he was my father out there.’

Still, with just one tackle, Smith salvaged a shaky defense looking to recapture its name after ranking last in the NCAA in passing last season.

‘I feel a lot more a part of the team after that play,’ Smith said. ‘Guys are coming up to me, congratulating me. People are giving me high five’s that I’ve never met before.’

This and that

Syracuse is 0-5 all-time in the week following an overtime game. … Running back Walter Reyes was named co-Offensive Player of the Week by the Big East after gaining 191 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Receiver Johnnie Morant earned Special Teams Player of the Week after returning four kicks for 131 yards. … Morant’s 291 yards of total offense was third best in school history. … Syracuse has played in three of four three-overtime contests in Big East history. … SU’s 49 points were the most in an opener since a 58-6 win over Clarkson in 1942.

Published on September 8, 2003 at 12:00 pm