Brinkley finished the season on Saturday with 1,164 yards. With 16 carries for 60 yards in a 30-10 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday, Brinkley moved past Walter Reyes and Larry Csonka and into fifth place among Syracuse single-season rushers.

Brinkley declined to discuss the game against Cincinnati, though he was clearly frustrated by an offense that could not stay on the field or take pressure off the running game with the pass.

"I'm frustrated, very frustrated," Brinkley said. "The game didn't end up the way I wanted to end up. I didn't reach my goal. It's very frustrating for me."

He was also sad about the way his senior season played out with the Orange finishing 3-9.

"It's unfortunate," Brinkley said. "We haven't been winning and this team's got a lot of talent. They just have to stay together and stop trying to be selfish."

Gross interviewed Kiffin

Syracuse University director of athletics Daryl Gross confirmed before the game that he interviewed former Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin for the vacant head coaching job of the Orange. Gross declined to offer comment or details, only that he spoke to Kiffin more than any other candidate during his search to replace Greg Robinson, who coached his final game against Cincinnati.

ESPN.com reported on Friday that Kiffin would be named the head coach at the University of Tennessee on Monday.

So what happened with Syracuse, which probably could have gotten Kiffin a month ago? It's likely there was too much opposition within the Syracuse family and too much pressure on Gross to tap another coach from the USC fraternity. Kiffin is a former offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator with the Trojans. It's also where Gross worked as an associate director of athletics before coming to Syracuse. Having gone to the Pete Carroll well to hire Robinson, there is some dissent among SU folks that Gross cannot go that route again.

Bengals coach meets Gross

You can add the name of Paul Alexander, 48, to the list of folks who have discussed the now-open head-coaching vacancy with the Orange.

Alexander, the assistant head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals , watched Saturday's game with SU's athletic director in Gross' private box at Nippert Stadium. It is understood that they discussed Alexander's potential candidacy as a replacement for Greg Robinson.

A native of Rochester, Alexander was an Academic All-American at Cortland State where he played on the offensive line in the early 1980s. Since leaving the Red Dragons, he has served on the staffs of Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions, Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines and Herb Deromedi's Central Michigan Chippewas.

He served two years with the New York Jets and has spent the last 14 1/2 seasons with the Bengals. Married with three daughters, Alexander has a summer home in Skaneateles and is a long-time admirer of the Orange Football program.

Holmes does his part

Syracuse sophomore Michael Holmes intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble in a losing effort. His interception of Tony Pike bounced off teammate Kevyn Scott, who was on the ground, was batted in the air by teammate A.J. Brown, then picked clean just before stepping out of bounds.

Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly challenged the ruling on the field. But replays showed Holmes got the ball and a foot in bounds for the interception.

"Being in the right spot at the right time," Holmes said.

Holmes also had seven kick returns for 161 yards. He has 55 returns over his two years at Syracuse and is now fifth in career returns at SU.

Bud Poliquin contributed to this report.