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Nittany Lions Pile On Orange

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The Associated Press

Published: September 14, 2008

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A day after celebrating its glorious past, Syracuse went right back to reminding fans of its dismal present.

With former stars in town for the premiere of a movie celebrating Ernie Davis, No. 17 Penn State renewed the rivalry between the schools with an old-fashioned beating, gaining nearly 400 yards in the first half during a 55-13 win.

Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler each caught a pair of touchdown passes before halftime in the first game between the old rivals in 18 years, giving Joe Paterno his 375th win as Penn State coach.

Fourth-year Syracuse coach Greg Robinson, his job on the line, had his record drop to 7-31.

The lopsided loss before an orange-clad crowd of 45,795 came the day after former stars Jim Brown, Floyd Little, Art Monk, Don McPherson and 40 members of the unbeaten 1959 team attended premiere of "The Express," a movie about Ernie Davis. He was the star of that championship team and in 1961 became the first black player to win the Heisman Trophy, two before he died of leukemia.

The schools met in every season except one from 1922-90, but the series ended when the Big East was formed and Penn State joined the Big Ten. Today, the programs are headed in opposite directions and it didn't take long to see that.

Penn State (3-0) outgained Syracuse 191-5 in the first quarter, and the Orange (0-3) did not get a first down until Cam Dantley hit Grant Mayes for a 26-yard gain early in the second with Syracuse already trailing 28-0.

CONNECTICUT 45,

VIRGINIA 10

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Donald Brown ran for 206 yards and three scores and Connecticut had TDs on its first four drives as the Huskies routed Virginia.

Brown, who carried the ball just 20 times, came into the game as the nation's second-leading rusher, averaging 180 yards. He had 112 yards and two TDs at halftime and didn't play in the fourth quarter.

The Huskies (3-0) scored on first-half drives of 70, 77, 86 and 75 yards.

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