Orange Nation is fully aware the center position has been iffy all season.¬†The indelible image of the year came in the opener, when Jim McKenzie’s first toss back to Greg Paulus went over the quarterback’s head.
Then McKenzie got injured, and Ryan Bartholomew had to step in. Saturday’s performance made you crave skyward shotgun snaps.
D-Dub even has a feature today on how coach Marrone is¬†schooling Bartholemew one-on-one. (Editor’s Note: Thanks to our friend Mike Waters, who mentioned¬†The Fizz’s exclusive with Trevor Cooney¬†in his blog yesterday. Mike’s always been one of the true good guys around the CNY sports scene.)
And with McKenzie still not practicing, and just two backups for the position, it’s time to wonder what lies ahead in the not-so-distant future of 2010.
There are a couple of options on the horizon, with one signed, and one still out there.
It’s hard to imagine that Coach Mac can still save the day at his advanced age, but it could end up being true. His grandson, Macky MacPherson, was signed to the Orange this past year.
What many may have believed as a homer pick because of a general lack of interest from other teams, and his local schooling at CBA, may end up being important down the road.
He blocked for Fajri Jackson, one of the league’s best runners this year, and has been seen as a guy with potential longsnapping ability.
Coming down the mountain, Chase Lafferty’s a two-star center from Fayetteville High School in West Virginia. No offer from Syracuse yet, but his body has the potential- 6’3″, 280 pounds.
Syracuse is also the only non-Appalachian school recruiting him. So if the kid wants to leave the middle of nowhere, then the Orange might be his “anywhere but here” moment.
