Third down: Threat level Orange

One week ago I spent the day with the Syracuse Orange and third-year head coach Doug Marrone. I'll write more about them next week, but the turnaround there is nothing shy of stunning. Yes, their August has been riddled with injuries, and no, I don't expect them to duplicate last year's eight-win season. They're too young and their schedule is stacked up all wrong.

However, for anyone who ever attended a Cuse practice under Greg Robinson and then attends a practice under Marrone, the difference in the direction that the program is headed is very obvious very quickly.

"We're not there yet by any means," said Floyd Little, still-new Pro Football Hall of Famer and now full-time legend-in-residence. "But the battleship is being turned."

I'll have more on Syracuse and other schools that are getting closer to former glory next week.