SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Syracuse coach Doug Marrone is still blaming himself for the team's poor start.
The Orange (1-3) went into the off week fresh from a 17-10 loss at Minnesota, where the Orange committed four turnovers and 10 penalties before a sellout crowd at rowdy TCF Bank Stadium that relished each mistake.
Though the offense has displayed some decent power, Syracuse has lost five of eight fumbles and recovered one of two it's forced. Not the sort of turnover margin that breeds success.
The Orange's Big East opener is Friday night against Pittsburgh (2-2, 0-1 Big East). Syracuse hasn't beaten a Football Bowl Subdivision team in nearly a year - its shocker over 11th-ranked West Virginia last Oct. 21 in the Carrier Dome. That 49-23 triumph featured zero turnovers by the Orange and remains the signature victory for Marrone, who's in his fourth year at his alma mater.
