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Football

Babers said Dungey has ‘just an owie’ headed into Week 4 against UConn

Josh Schafer | Sports Editor

Dino Babers, pictured last week, spoke about Eric Dungey's injury at his Monday press conference.

By Josh Schafer

UPDATED: Sept. 17, 2018 at 5:21 p.m.

Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said that starting quarterback Eric Dungey is “OK” after exiting Saturday’s game against Florida State late in the second quarter.

Dungey left the 30-7 win over FSU with what Babers described as “blurred vision.” On Dungey’s last play of the game, he was hit in the head after the whistle, and the play resulted in a Seminoles’ personal foul. After the game Babers suggested Dungey’s eye could’ve been struck with a thumb or finger, adding that “things happen in piles.”

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Babers said Monday he has “no concerns” over the hit to the head on Dungey’s final play of the game.

“His eye is fine, he was up there watching tape a little while ago with me,” Baber said. “He’s OK and his shoulder is just an owie.”



Dungey has been nursing what he described as a “cut” on his shoulder since week one against Western Michigan. When asked if Dungey will play against UConn on Sunday, Babers said, “football players play through owies.”

At Babers’ weekly Monday morning press conference he also discussed the most notable change to the depth chart headed into week four: Co-starters at running back. For the first three weeks senior running back Dontae Strickland was listed as the starter with junior Moe Neal as the backup.

“Those backs are rotating because they’ve got to work through it,” Babers said. “It’s hard to go the whole game with just one guy playing.”

Through three games, Neal has carried the ball 57 times for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Strickland has rushed for 109 yards on 33 carries while tallying five touchdowns.

Freshman running back Jarveon Howard has also gained touches in recent weeks, including a 45-yard scamper against FSU.

“I really don’t like rotating people, I really don’t,” Babers said. “I think if you’re a starter and you have the opportunity to play every snap then go ahead and play as many snaps as you can. When you get tired you owe it to the family to come out.”

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Other notes from the press conference:

  • Babers on second-year UConn head coach Randy Edsall: “He ripped everything apart. They’re playing a lot of young people and when you do that you may not be successful early but in two years you’re going to be really successful.”

  • Normally a fan of heat in the Carrier Dome because of its home field advantage, Babers said “You guys are going to get air conditioning. I think it’s going to be nice and cool in there. I’ll probably go in there and shed some tears…I love the Dome the way it is.”

CORRECTION: In a previous version of this article, Dontae Strickland was misnamed. The Daily Orange regrets this error. 

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