Last year, the Syracuse Orange football team collapsed under the weight of its many injuries and issues. Thankfully the 2012 version has already clinched a bowl appearance because they're pretty banged up as well.

On his weekly Big East conference call, Doug Marrone laid the facts out there...

"We have 11 out of our 22 starters on the injured list – that’s a fact."

Marrone didn't go into specifics about player names or injuries, though it's assumed that both Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley are among them.

Nolan Weidner speculates that the others include Jay Bromley, Marcus Sales, Ritchy Desir, Sean Hickey and Macky MacPherson.

Not having Smith and Gulley on hand is a daunting thought. That would make Ashton Broyld, who is coming off an injury of his own, the starter with Adonis Ameen-Moore on standby. Both guys are great in their spots but I don't know if we can count on them to carry the bulk. Of course, there's always Steve Rene too.

We'll see who makes it to Friday when the team lines up against the Temple Owls. Getting a seventh win should be a huge goal for the team and program but it might be harder to come by than expected.