Dungey expected back this week
Syracuse is off to a 3-0 start and eyeing another victory Saturday at home against an outmanned Connecticut team, but more important to coach Dino Babers is that quarterback Eric Dungey is eyeing the field fine.
Dungey complained of blurred vision and was taken out of last week’s 30-7 win over Florida State in the Carrier Dome. Babers said in Monday’s press conference that he expects Dungey to be back Saturday against Connecticut, which is 1-2 including blowout losses to Central Florida (56-17 score) and Boise State (62-7).
Babers also said a shoulder injury suffered by Dungey in the season opener against Western Michigan was just “an owie.”
“Football players play through owies,” Babers said.
If Dungey gets banged up again and has to come out, at least Babers can be confident with how backup Tommy DeVito performed against the Seminoles. DeVito was named the ACC Freshman of the Week after he completed 11 of 16 pass attempts for 144 yards and he engineered three second-half touchdown drives.
“It’s not like we needed to have whoever was coming in the game to be outstanding or be Eric Dungey 2,” Babers said. “I just thought if they came in and managed the game, we were going to have a chance. It didn’t mean we were going to win, but we would have a chance.”
DeVito struggled when Dungey had to exit the Western Michigan game because of the shoulder injury, and the Orange’s 34-7 lead was erased in that game before Dungey was forced to return. Dungey led a late surge to give Syracuse the win.
DeVito played more like the Under Armour All-American he was in high school against Florida State.
“He finally played the way he practiced and we’re happy to see that,” Babers said. “We’re happy for him to shake that black cloud over his head, so to speak, and are also looking forward to Dungey coming back and leading our football team.”
