One week after the Pinstripe Bowl, many people might think back on Delone Carter's MVP performance, the perfect "swan song" for his career. Others might think about that excessive celebration penalty surrounding that K-State salute, one that may have botched their opportunity to make a game of it. But it's safe to say those who have attended CBA, or currently attend CBA, are thinking fondly back at how one of their own overcame adversity with a statement game.
Marcus Sales broke an Orange Bowl record with three touchdown catches in SU's 36-34 win over Kansas State, the perfect answer to a season of struggles and eventual success. Sales was originally left of Head Coach Doug Marrone's depth chart, while reports surfaced that his performance in practice was not up to standards. But that "tough love" may have been the best thing that could have happened to him, and SU fans for that matter. His former High School Football coach was pleased to see the the lessons he tried to instill at CBA had apparently rubbed off.
"One of the things you have to learn how to do is overcome adversity," says CBA head football coach Joe Casamento, "and deal with it, face it, figure it out, and overcome, and I was very proud of the way he handled himself."
Casamento says he called Sales in the second week of the football season to see if he was o.k., and that Sales assured him at the time that he would overcome his adversity on the field.
"I don't think it happened as fast as he would have liked, but he got there, and when the opportunity presented itself, I think he made the most of it. And I think any kid watching that can see that just because you're not out there and you're not the player and you're not the star, if you work hard and keep doing the right things, an opportunity is going to present itself, and when it does you have to make the most of it."
