Syracuse Orange Football: Bad News Continues with Alec Lemon and Keon Lyn

The 2012 football season for the Syracuse Orange was already shaping up to be a challenge for coach Doug Marrone. With only one Big East home win in the last two season, depleted talent at key positions and a five game losing streak, it is enough to make all Orange fans cringe.

Today, more bad news was released as two key players' futures for next season are in doubt. Keon Lyn made it very vocal on Twitter that he was undergoing shoulder surgery. What was not exactly known was the state of wide receiver Alec Lemon.

According to a Syracuse press release, Lyn had successful surgery in Annapolis, Md. while Lemon had successful surgery in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Lemon was voted first team All Big East while setting a team record with 68 catches for 834 yards. Lyn had 23 tackles as a cornerback.

While the successful surgery is good news, the press release goes on to say that both Lemon and Lyn will miss all of 2012 spring football practice for the Orange. This has to mean that the beginning of next season must also be in doubt. 

Having a starting corner and wide receiver miss that much practice would be an issue for any team, but for a Syracuse team needing to sure up their secondary and lacking offensive weapons, this is a huge blow. 

Both young men have shown a professionalism that should not worry fans about their production by the end of the season, but for Syracuse, the early seasons struggles may be dooming. The Orange are scheduled to play Minnesota, Northwestern and USC in the NYC to start of the season, a step up from Toledo, Tulane and Rhode Island.

Overall, next season is not looking good for Syracuse. West Virginia's convincing bowl win showed that the Big East may not be dead after and Syracuse is definitely taking a step back talent wise next season. Hopefully, some good news will come and help balance out underclassmen leaving and these injuries.