I Don't Think Jersey Availability Will Be A Problem This Season
by Sean Keeley on Jun 9, 2009 12:11 PM EDT
3 comments
If you don't like the look of the Syracuse football roster, just wait five minutes. It's bound to change.
Donnie Webb was noticeably quiet on the Chaz Cervino news yesterday. Very unlike him. Should have know he was getting ready to drop the hammer today by passing on the news that several more players have left the SU football team. Well played, Don. Well played.
The turnover on the Syracuse University football roster continues. Just received confirmation from SU Athletics that linebacker Parker Cantey, receiver Chaz Cervino, cornerback Nick Chestnut, linebacker Mike Mele, tight end Darnell Pratt, receiver Frank Satterfield and place-kicker Austin Wallis are no longer on the team.
Cervino we obviously knew about, he's off to Hofstra. (and yes, he's officially gone from the roster)
Nick Chestnut had just returned to the Orange after a year away for academic issues. He and Parker Cantey were probably looking at some decent playing time and Cantey was even penciled in as a starter before the spring. Parker might have been miffed about the arrival of JuCo transfer Derek Hines as well as a diminished role.
Mike Mele is probably the most surprising name on the list. A start for all 12 games last season, he's played in all but one game for SU since he arrived. Smart money would be Mele finding out his playing time would be significantly diminished. The concern of course is that the Orange are already thin at linebacker. Oddly, Mele is still listed on the official roster while the others are all gone. Is it a miscue or is his leaving the team not official?
RB/TE Darnell Pratt is a hometown boy from Syracuse but was apparantly too far down the depth chart to expect any on-the-field action. With two players switching to TE this season (Catalina, Robinson), that probably locked him out of a spot.
Frank Satterfield was a non-scholarship WR on the roster and given the talent in front of him, PT was highly unlikely. He appeared in one game last season, the Penn State blowout, but did not record a catch. He did have a 1460 SAT score however, so he should be just fine.
Finally, Austin Wallis. Probably not too hard to understand why he's leaving. Doug Marrone basically called Wallis out this spring and consistently told reporters that the kicking game was in shambles. With Wallis being the only option available, Marrone went out and got Shane Raupers to compete for the job. Looks like the competition is over.
I've lost track of how many players have left the team now but I'm pretty sure it's 20+. I don't really think we should be terribly surprised or worried. Remember who recruited many of these guys in the first place. All due respect to them and I hope they find success elsewhere, but there's a reason most of them were not going to see playing time. I'd much rather Doug went to war with a smaller group of guys he trusts than a larger group that's not up to his standards. Quality not quantity.
Plus, my Get To Know An Orange Man series just got a little easier, so that's something.
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Doug Marrone, “My policy’s been, if someone’s no longer with the team, I’m not going to comment on their issues.”
…yeah…
John Barker, walk-on kicker
-released second day of camp after kicking tryouts. Former scholarship athlete and starter for Orange.
Chris Basile, walk-on defensive end
-academic scheduling conflict with Spring ball. Coaches told him he would not given a chance to compete on the team any longer.
Chaz Cervino, wide receiver
-Left on his own accord after being told by the coaching staff that he wouldn’t get ANY playing time at Syracuse.
Malcolm Conway, punter
-released second day of camp after tryouts. Transferring to play elsewhere.
Nick Chestnut, walk-on cornerback (Started Spring Ball)
-was screwed. Earned starting spot, but was told he would not be given a scholarship.
Trey Fairchild, wide receiver
-released himself from the team to transfer and play around home.
Jerry Harden, running back
-unknown. Hurt during Spring ball, might have been released for missed time due to injury?
Brett Hoffman, walk-on tight end
-signed a release form on his own due to discontent of the coaching staff. Transferring to start at another D-1 college around Ohio.
Michael Kay, offensive guard
-unknown. Possibly left on his own and quit football all together.
David Legree, quarterback
-left on his own accord after being told he wouldn’t being the starter at syracuse
Mike Mele, linebacker
-starter in 2008. signed a release form on his own due to discontent of the coaching staff. Transferring to start at another D-1 college in the Northeast.
Lamar Middleton, defensive end
-was royally screwed. Coaches kicked him off the team for being sick too long. Coaches stated that hospital visit wasn’t real and gave him the boot.
Elon Mitchell, defensive tackle
-quit the team. was no longer interested in playing football-graduated academically.
Ryan Novak, walk-on kicker
-released second day of camp after kicking tryouts. Now a walk-on at Temple.
Niko Rechul: place-kicker
-promised a scholarship for 2009, but taken away from Marrone after telling Niko, “I haven’t reviewed any video of you, but can’t give you a scholarship.” EARNED NFL tryout, but was released because he would take up a scholarship? Lol, oh ego-maniacs.
Dan Sheeran, wide receiver/linebacker
-released himself because coaches wouldn’t let him play receiver.
Austin Wallis, place-kicker (Started Spring Ball)
-released after Spring ball, but before program signed 2009 starter Shane Raupers. Transferring to play D-1 in the Midwest.
Many other players discussed transferring, but were denied help from the coaching staff to help them transfer.
now that you mention it SU is pretty close to breaking the mandatory NCAA rule of meeting the minimum 60 ‘in-use’ (ie 2008 graduated seniors don’t count) scholarships for Fall 2009, am I right?
by notmyown on Jun 9, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Couple things
Chris Basile – also kinda sorta robbed people.
Michael Kay – is playing 1-AA ball.
Niko – I question how much his chosen business ownership had to do with the decision.
Unfortunately for a lot of these guys they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If Marrone flounders I’m sure we’ll look back on these moves and question them but I the guy’s got a plan right now. Hopefully they all land on their feet.
by Sean Keeley on Jun 9, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh and
obviously I’m curious to know how involved you are with the program, but I understand the need for discretion.
by Sean Keeley on Jun 9, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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