Syracuse, NY -- Sorry I couldn't get to the open practice on Saturday. I had a long-standing commitment to take my son to a day-long hockey tryout yesterday in Ithaca. I got the call from SU about the open spring football practice Friday afternoon. At that point, I couldn't change my plans. Why the school or head coach decided to switch its practice policy on a Friday afternoon makes you wonder about their motives. The Lord, I was told growing up in the Bible Belt, works in mysterious ways.

Based on the practice reports over on Syracusefan.com, Doug Hogue jumped off the field and dominated the live work. Quarterback Andrew Robinson and receiver Mike Williams apparently had their share of good moments, too. I read another report from a fan who mused the linebackers look bad.

Meanwhile, Greg Robinson's old pal Pete Carroll has a wide-open policy for fans and media at USC practices. In fact, so many folks flock to see the Trojans, Carroll spends lots of time moving fans back from the sidelines in fear that someone will get hurt. It's an issue, so would Carroll ever consider closing the workouts? He tells The Los Angeles Times:

"Never say never. If it's the right thing to do we would, but we still enjoy sharing practices with our fans."

One other bit of news from Syracusefan.com, the Orange has gotten a verbal commitment from cornerback Darrick Scott (5-10, 180) of Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, Md.

- Donnie Webb
dwebb@syracuse.

Piscataway, NJ -- The Syracuse University men's lacrosse team, powered by Dan Hardy's career-high four goals, extended its victory streak to eight games with a 17-9 victory over Rutgers here at Yurcak Field. Junior attackman Kenny Nims added two goals and four assists, and senior Mike Leveille had three goals and three assists. The Orange seemed to lose its focus, albeit breifly, during an eight-minute stretch late in the third and early in the fourth quarter, allowing RU to score four goals and close its deficit to 13-9, but Nims scored into the empty net a few minutes later after RU was forced to take its goalie out of the net and use him to double team in an effort to get the ball back. SU cruised from there.

Other than that eight-minute stretch, which was understandable considering it was SU's third game in eight games, it was another all-around dominating performance by the Orange, which extended its victory streak to eight games.

Piscataway, NJ -- Well, after you only counted the last minute or so of the period, Rutgers would be leading this game 3-0. Unfortunately for the young Knights, all 15 count, which is why the Syracuse University men's lacrosse team appears to be safely on the way to its eighth consecutive victory here at Yurcak Field. Dan Hardy has three goals and an assist to lead the Orange. Three of RU's five goals came near the end of each period, with Tad Stanwick scoring with 1:145 left in the first, Kory Kelly scoring with 53 seconds left in the second and Henninger High's Taylor Botar scoring with 4 seconds left in the third.

Piscataway, NJ -- A 5-0 run over the first 8 minutes of the second quarter has put the top-ranked Syracuse University men's lacrosse team in command vs. Rutgers here at Yurcak Field.
Mike Leveille, a top-10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior Class Award, has a goal and two assists for the Orange. Greg Niewieroski and Dan Hardy have two goals, and Steven Brooks and Kenny Nims have a goal and an assist.

Technically, Rutgers is still in the game, although the Orange is dominating a team that has only 14 upperclassmen. SU leads in shots 23-12 and has won 9 of 13 faceoffs. It has a huge edge in time of possession.

Piscataway, NJ -- The Syracuse University men's lacrosse team has gone on a 5-0 tear over the first eigtht minutes of the second quarter to take control of the game. Greg Niewieroski and Dan Hardy have two goals for SU, and Mike Leveille has a goal and two assists.

Piscataway, NJ -- Rutgers is playing a sagging 3-3 zone defense, but Syracuse is being patient and picking its spots. The Orange took a 3-0 lead on goals by Greg Niewieroski, Steven Brooks and Kenny Nims, but RU just answered with one by Justin Pennington and then a cheapie on a bad decision by SU goalie John Galloway. He vacated his net to chase a ball that had dribbled behind, but waiting there was Galloway's former teammate Collin Donahue, son of SU assistant coach Kevin Donahue. As Galloway skidded to his knees Donahue picked up the ball and sent it out front to Tad Stanwick, who flicked it into the open net. SU has dominated time of possession but only leads by a goal.