The Tricky Trees were 9.5 point dogs and led 13-3 and 21-10 before the Orangemen came roaring back to take the lead 24-23 with 3:13 to play. It wasn't exactly an well-oiled two-minute drill for the "Cardinals". They got out to the Syr 46 but penalties pushed them back to the Stan 44. They were 4th and 9 at the Syr 45 with :37 left. And then on 4th and 9 damn if they didn't convert and get to the Syr 18 on a 27-yard pass with :10 left. They did a QB sneak to the 16 and then argh, a false start penalty pushed the ball back 5 yards to the 21, the difference between a 33-yard FG and a 39-yarder with 3 secs left. The converted with 00:00 on the clock for the win.
It was an aerial circus, with 80 passes combined and a deafening, sell-out crowd went home bitterly disappointed. Syracuse's promising start hit a bump when they were big favorites at home. Stanford got the win it it's first game in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Syracuse faithful, take heart. You played one of the great universities in the land. That is more prestigious than playing Louisville or Clemson. You're now playing STANFORD. That academic prestige becomes you. The newbies to the ACC, Cal, SMU, and now Stanford have held their own and the conference is better for them.
