When Morgantown High graduate Patrick Shadlewent to Syracuse two summers ago, he did so with a scholarhip and with hopes he’d win the competition to be the team’s regular placekicker. He did not and instead lost out to another true freshman, walk-on John Barker.

“He ended up going 8-for-12 on field goals and three of his misses hit the uprights,” Shadle said Wednesday, “so that’s a pain in the (posterior).”

Shadle was 0-for-1 that season. He and Barker were two of six true freshmen to play in 2005. Now Shadle is the kicker and Barker, who has since earned a scholarship, is the holder.

Believe it or not, the two are also roommates.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to live with him two years ago, I’ll tell you that right now. There wasn’t a lot of good blood between us back then. We both wanted the job and we were both fighting our butts off to win it. But now we’re the best of pals. We’ve got a great relationship. We actually golf two or three times a week. It couldn’t have worked out any better.”

If only it wasn’t too late for Mitch Cozad…