Harris ready to end Syracuse curse

The numbers speak for themselves. Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni is 11-0 in games… The numbers speak for themselves. Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni is 11-0 in games against Pitt. Pitt head coach Walt Harris is 0-5 against Syracuse. Pitt hasn’t beaten Syracuse since 1989 (0-11-1), and it hasn’t won in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse since 1982.

“We can’t worry about what happened in the past,” Harris said. “We need to score more points then them. We’ve had battles. They’ve just done a better job finishing games.”

Pasqualoni agreed with Harris.

“We have been fortunate in many of those contests,” he said. “This is one of the great rivalries in eastern football. The only thing that matters is now.”

Now the Panthers have a 4-1 record after beating Toledo 37-19 on Saturday. There are still a few questions that remain on the offensive front, but according to Harris, this was the best overall game Pitt has played so far this season.

“I’m pleased with the victory,” Harris said. “The offense kept their eye on the bull’s-eye. Larry [Fitzgerald] and Lamar [Slade] made big plays.”

Through five games, the running back position has had three different starters in Brandon Miree, Raymond Kirkley and Marcus Furman. On Saturday, Kirkley started and he will also start against Syracuse, but the running game still has not seen one person step up and take the leading role.

“We are still searching for a running back that can do all the things at that position,” Harris said.

At times against Toledo, fullback Lousaka Polite lined up as the tailback to run the ball. Harris says that he will continue to do this against the Orangemen.

“We have a lot of confidence in Lou [Polite],” Harris said. “We thought he finished his runs really well.”

As for the Orangemen, they are coming off a 37-34 triple overtime loss to Auburn. The game lasted long into the night, and the loss dropped Syracuse to 1-3 for the year. During the game the Orangemen were forced to go to their backup quarterback Troy Nunes after starting quarterback R.J. Anderson went down with a mild concussion.

“Our state of mind is disappointment after that game,” Pasqualoni said. “We anticipate [Anderson] will be ready to start Saturday.”

However, the length of the game didn’t stop Harris from staying up late Saturday night to scout the Orangemen and their two quarterbacks.

“I stayed up until 1:15 a.m. to finish watching that game,” Harris said. “[Syracuse] played tremendous. We will have to prepare for both of their quarterbacks. Troy [Nunes] has always played well against us.”

The game begins Saturday at noon and will be televised on ESPN.