Syracuse selected for bowl at Yankee Stadium

Former Central Islip High School football star Andrew Tiller was lifting weights Thursday when a teammate approached him with the big news: Their Syracuse football team had been invited to play in the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

"It was like a dream come true,'' the 6-5, 338-pound senior offensive tackle said by phone. "Who wouldn't want to play in their hometown?''

Syracuse's opponent will come from the Big 12. Pending tomorrow's final regular-season games, it could be Kansas State.

Syracuse accepted the invitation to the Dec. 30 game in a New York minute. In a release, it immediately proclaimed itself "New York's college team,'' even though the campus is 190 miles from the Bronx.

"This is great,'' said Syracuse assistant coach John Anselmo, who is in his second season with the Orange after a long career as head coach at Nassau Community College, where he developed players such as Tiller into Division I transfers. "It's great for recruiting. It was win-win.''

Anselmo said Syracuse coach Doug Marrone, who is from the Bronx, was especially touched by the selection because "his grandfather was an usher at the old Yankee Stadium.''

Syracuse has not been in a bowl game since 2004 and, in the larger picture, has not been a factor on the national scene for years. A 7-5 record (4-3 in the Big East) and the promise of a big gate from the vast alumni in the metropolitan area added enough juice to make Syracuse the popular choice.

"The Syracuse brand is very strong in New York City,'' Big East associate commissioner Nicholas Carparelli Jr. said. "We expect a great home-field advantage for the Orange.''

The recent game between Notre Dame and Army at Yankee Stadium only buoyed the hopes of a big turnout for the first bowl game in the Bronx since 1962, when Nebraska played Miami in the Gotham Bowl.

"Army-Notre Dame gave everybody great confidence in the type of event that college football can be in Yankee Stadium,'' Carparelli said. "Not that anybody doubted it, but until you see it in action, it's hard to envision.''

Anselmo said Syracuse's selection more than made up for the disappointment of losing to Connecticut, which could be headed to the Fiesta Bowl if it wins the Big East title. Given the New York media market and the Yankee Stadium venue, Syracuse is likely to receive more publicity for the Pinstripe Bowl. "We were just ecstatic,'' Anselmo said.

Tiller said he is not a Yankees fan but "I will be for that day. You are like, 'Wow, we are playing where the Yankees play.' ''

What could be more exciting?

"To win the game," Tiller said.