Don't look now, but the Syracuse Orange football team took a major step toward gaining back some of the respect the program once had.

Last night's 49 spot they hung on then 15th ranked West Virginia, while not making them title contenders, at the vet least served notice to the college football world that the arrow is indeed pointed up.

Orange QB Ryan Nassib completed 75% of his passes and threw for four touchdowns while running for another. While he hasn't always looked this good, the question has to be asked: how much did this kid get hurt by sitting behind Greg Paulus last year?

Last night was an opportunity for the Orange to make a statement. All that was needed was to hang tight with a top 25 team. They did much more than that..

And while Syracuse prepares to move into rougher football weather in the ACC next year, the timing couldn't be better. Nassib will be gone and the next test for head coach Doug Marrone and his staff is to ensure the momentum is not lost.

Marrone seems up to the task. If anyone can exorcise the ghosts that exist in the Carrier Dome since the graduation of Donovan McNabb, it's him.