Syracuse head football coach Greg Robinson announced Monday that junior Perry Patterson has been chosen as the starting quarterback for the 2005 campaign.

Patterson, who started nine games last season for the Orange, beat out sophomores Joe Fields and Matt Hale for the starting position.

Listed at 6 feet, four inches and 249 pounds, Patterson will look to improve on the Orange's 6-6 season (4-2 Big East). He had a completion percentage of 58.1 (168 of 289) and threw for 1,851 yards.

He tossed seven touchdown passes and threw 10 interceptions playing in all 12 games last season. He averaged just more than 154 yards passing per game.

On the ground, Patterson gained 143 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Fields, who started the first three games of the 2004 season, will be the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart.

He completed 44.8 percent of his passes (13 of 29) and threw just one touchdown while getting picked off three times in seven total games in 2004. He threw for 192 yards.

Patterson, who has an extra year of experience coming into the 2005 season, will lead the Orange against West Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 4 at the Carrier Dome. Opening kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.