Syracuse Orange Football News Continues to Take a Turn for the Worse

News remained bleak for the Syracuse Orange football squad this week. Along with Phillip Thomas' suspension, Freshman nose guard Eric Crume and second year freshman Micah Robinson are both done for the year with injuries. 

While the loss of Crume and Robinson may not be immediately felt, they both provided depth along the defensive line and with the struggles the Orange have had against the run, depth within the front seven is very valuable. 

As for Thomas, no one is sure what he has been suspended for and Doug Marrone will not say. What Marrone will say is that Thomas "played that position well for us" and that the replacements will have to step up. Right now the safety rotation includes Olando Fisher (who filled in for Shamarko Thomas earlier this year), Jeremi Wilkes and Ritchy Desir. 

In more unfortunate news, Nick Provo—on pace to shatter most if not all Syracuse Tight End records—was left off the finalist list for the John Mackey Award. Provo has had a terrific season and would be considered by many to be the best player on the Orange offense. 

Provo has been a consistent target, rarely dropping passes and a safe option for Ryan Nassib. Two finalists attend ranked schools (Georgia Tech and Georgia) while the third attends Notre Dame. Cue the Orange conspiracy theorists who beleive Provo was left out because the Orange are not ranked. 

Regardless, Syracuse athletics has not had the best week and news like this only further covers a season with despair that once had so much hope.