He dodged the question like Rutgers runners dodged Syracuse’s defense Saturday.

Paul Pasqualoni slouched at his weekly press conference yesterday, bombarded with questions surrounding his job status.

When asked if he would be surprised if this was his last game coaching at SU, Pasqualoni said, ‘I would rather just talk about this game and what we feel we have to do to win this game. That is exactly where the focus should be. This should be a great week for us. It should be a week where we have some fun getting ready and fun playing in a big-time game.’

With a loss, Syracuse would endure its second straight losing season, finishing at 5-7. Syracuse finished 4-8 last season, including a 17-16 loss to Temple, the first time SU lost to the Owls since 1983.

Last year, Syracuse Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel issued a mid-year vote of confidence to Pasqualoni, saying his job was secure through the end of 2002. This season, though, Crouthamel made no such decree, making this year’s cries for a coaching change perhaps the most serious in Pasqualoni’s tenure.

‘My mood is get ready to play Notre Dame,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘Have a great game and try to get the sixth win. Notre Dame is a great football team. That is why we are here, really to talk about the upcoming game.’

Players shared Pasqualoni’s attitude. Reporters asked two questions to quarterback R.J. Anderson about his thoughts on Pasqualoni’s job status. Each time he responded, ‘Next,’ moving on to the next question.

Later, Anderson said, ‘He’s not going anywhere. So I’m not gonna talk about it.’

Linebacker Rich Scanlon defended the staff.

‘All I know is that the coaching staff works its ass off,’ he said. ‘They work harder than anyone can possibly imagine. I don’t think the public does a good job of realizing how hard they do work, how many hours they put in and how much they try. But when you’re not winning, there’s always pressure on players and coaches.’

Last request

Anderson’s bipolar relationship with the fans took another turn yesterday when he talked about wanting support in the Carrier Dome against Notre Dame on Saturday.

‘We need you to come out and not dog us all week. I know (the media) gotta do what you gotta do to, but just support us this week. Let’s try the fans coming out and getting behind us. I mean, you want the top recruits? Support us. Spend some money. That’s all.’

Anderson challenged the fans after SU’s 51-7 loss to Virginia Tech on Oct. 11, too, saying, ‘I like Virginia Tech fans. If I had played for Virginia Tech, it’s an awesome atmosphere. Because no matter what, they’re for your team. If a kid makes a bad play, they’re still on your side. If you lose a game, they’re still on your side. It’s like they’re a part of you. I don’t feel that sometimes here. I think when stuff is going good, yeah, they’re with us. When stuff is going bad, they’re definitely not with us. And then people wonder why we don’t get top recruits sometimes. People dogging them for no reason.’

Anderson’s up-and-down dealings with the fans rivals only that of his play. Anderson led SU to a 10-3 record in 2001, then was benched for ineffectiveness in 2002. This season, Anderson has played brilliantly at times and hurt SU at others.

‘I’ve had so many ups and downs here,’ Anderson said. ‘I don’t think I’m the player I could’ve been, but by no means am I disappointed by the way I’ve turned out. I came here as a boy, and now I’m a man.’

Bowling alley

Syracuse’s bowl chances may be nearly non-existent, but the Orangemen could still have a role in the Bowl Championship Series.

Syracuse faces Notre Dame, which faced BCS No. 2 USC. If Notre Dame loses, it would affect the Trojans’ strength of schedule. It is the only chance LSU, which is No. 3 in the BCS, has at making the championship game.

According to ESPN.com, though, if SU wins, LSU still has mathematical hope of leapfrogging USC in strength of schedule, though its unlikely. With a Notre Dame win, though, LSU’s hopes hinge mostly on Oregon State, which faces USC on Saturday.

This and that

Syracuse has scored first in each of its last three games – Miami, West Virginia and Rutgers – yet has lost all those games. SU also jumped on top of Pittsburgh on Oct. 25, but lost that game, 34-14. … Syracuse faces Notre Dame for the first time since 1963, when it lost, 14-7, at Yankee Stadium. … Anderson needs three more completions to set SU’s single-season record. He currently has 169 and is shy of Marvin Graves’ record, set in 1993. … Running back Walter Reyes, once the nation’s leading rusher, hasn’t reached the 100-yard plateau since Big East play began. Reyes last ran for more than 100 yards against Toledo on Sept. 27.

Published on December 1, 2003 at 12:00 pm