In news that comes as little surprise to those who know Syracuse football but turns some heads nationally, Greg Robinson will be back as Syracuse's Head Coach in 2008.
The move has less to do with anybody's pleasure with Robinson's performance in his three years at Syracuse (at 7-28, 2-19 in the Big East, how can it be?) but rather a reluctance to buyout Robinson's contract (a buyout was projected at $3 million, a little steep for a private school but it could've been done) and a greater reluctance to give Athletic Director Daryl Gross the autonomy to head another football coaching search.
There is also a sentiment that Robinson has been a victim of timing from the day he was hired and that his young team should improve in 2008.
Still, the empty seats in the Carrier Dome and the emergence of football powers throughout the Big East are making Robinson's Pollyanna act at Syracuse wear thin and another losing season will seal his fate undoubtedly in 2008.
Showing posts with label Syracuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Syracuse. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Syracuse beats Louisville: Five Thoughts
In what is being coined "The Biggest Upset in Big East History" by those that saw it. Syracuse upset Louisville 38-35. Luckily for me the game was carried locally here on the abc station. I guess us New England Orange alum still have some pull. Onto the five thoughts:
1) Syracuse could not stop any pass in between the linebackers and secondary. Why Louisville ran the ball or passed up the sidelines is beyond me especially late in the game. I am sure Steve Kragthorpe is going to get torched locally in Louisville.
2) As an alum, I was proud to get the win but Syracuse did everything they could to give this game away, including Andrew Robinson doing his best Jerome Bettis impression in the Louisville red zone when the game was set to be iced.
3) The announcers were right, it was unrealistic to hope for a national championship from a team with a secondary like Louisville's. If I played Fantasy College Football I'd start whatever quarterback played them each week. South Florida especially should whoop on them too.
4) "The Ville" is a lame nickname for a city, especially when so many towns and cities end in "ville". KFC buys advertising at Papa John's stadium. I don't know what the obesity rate is in Louisville but I'm guessing its above the national average.
5) Syracuse football is newsworthy for the first time since switching nicknames to "The Orange". So it'll be fun to see what media outlets are slow to come around. Espn.com has already screwed this up (Update: ESPN has figured out their error, less likely from this blog, more likely from the 1500 alumni who work there)
As you can imagine the people at Card Chronicle aren't taking it well and my friends at Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician are taking it probably too well
1) Syracuse could not stop any pass in between the linebackers and secondary. Why Louisville ran the ball or passed up the sidelines is beyond me especially late in the game. I am sure Steve Kragthorpe is going to get torched locally in Louisville.
2) As an alum, I was proud to get the win but Syracuse did everything they could to give this game away, including Andrew Robinson doing his best Jerome Bettis impression in the Louisville red zone when the game was set to be iced.
3) The announcers were right, it was unrealistic to hope for a national championship from a team with a secondary like Louisville's. If I played Fantasy College Football I'd start whatever quarterback played them each week. South Florida especially should whoop on them too.
4) "The Ville" is a lame nickname for a city, especially when so many towns and cities end in "ville". KFC buys advertising at Papa John's stadium. I don't know what the obesity rate is in Louisville but I'm guessing its above the national average.
5) Syracuse football is newsworthy for the first time since switching nicknames to "The Orange". So it'll be fun to see what media outlets are slow to come around. Espn.com has already screwed this up (Update: ESPN has figured out their error, less likely from this blog, more likely from the 1500 alumni who work there)
As you can imagine the people at Card Chronicle aren't taking it well and my friends at Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician are taking it probably too well
Monday, August 6, 2007
Projected Postseason Top 25: #25 Syracuse
Just as Steve Spurrier casts his 25th place vote for the school that gave him his first head coaching job every year. I give mine to the school that gave me my education and three-quarters of my sexual partners. In case you see this as a sign to dismiss this blog entirely, please don’t go. I start covering the good teams tomorrow. Just allow me to preview my Orange, even if they are and may be for years, a perennial bottom feader.
Projected Record: 5-7
Who they’ll beat: Washington (Home), Miami OH (Road), Buffalo (Home), Connecticut (Road), Cincinnati (Home)
Who’ll beat them: Iowa (Road), Illinois (Home), at Louisville (Road), West Virginia (Home), Rutgers (Home), Pittsburgh (Road), South Florida (Home)
When they Pass: Head Coach Greg Robinson finally has the jockey for his horse. After two years of eleven step drops and sailing overthrown passes which labeled the Perry Paterson era at Syracuse, true Sophomore Andrew Robinson (no relation) takes over. “A-Rob” is a much better fit for the West Coast Offense than Patterson, although just about anybody would be. It’s a lot for him to ask to take the Orange anywhere on his own. If receivers Mike Williams, Rice Moss and Taj Smith stay healthy the passing offense should bring some excitement to the Carrier Dome, which desperately needs some.
When they Run: Exciting Freshman Tailback Delone Carter suffered a season-ending hip injury and its possible his career at Syracuse may never be the same. If Curtis “Boonah” Brinkley 1/3 as good in real life as he is in NCAA Football ’08 than he is more than adequate Running Back but he also has health concerns. The Offensive Line is still woeful however, they will need to play a lot better if the Orange are going to make a run at even the International Bowl, which might as well be in Baghdad for as many SU fans who would travel to Toronto in early January for a bowl game.
When their Opponents Run: When your conference has Ray Rice, Steve Slaton and even LaRod Stephens-Howling, its a scary thought to start three new linebackers. This could mean some ugly losses to the Big East elite. The experienced line which features best player and token NFL prospect Jameel McClain could keep the Orange in games against the rest of the schedule.
When their Opponents Pass: While the safeties including converted quarterback Joe Fields are solid, the corners are shaky. A lot will be counted on McClain and the pass rush, which was outstanding last season to help in the passing game.
When they Kick: Patrick Shadle made 16 of 18 Field Goals last year but he was never asked to kick anything crowd-wooing. Team MVP Brendan Carney has graduated leaving the punting in the hands (or is it feet, or foot) of Freshman Rob Long. If Robinson can’t get the offense going you will bet teams will come after a Freshman punter.
When they call Timeout: Syracuse hiring Greg Robinson because he reminded people of Pete Carroll is like Republicans voting for Mitt Romney because he reminds them of Ronald Reagan. You can decide which error is more egregious. This is year 3 of Robinsons “reconstruction” at Syracuse, and while I don’t feel he’ll ever be on the “hot seat” before his contract ends (anyone who’s familiar with Syracuse AD Daryl Gross doesn’t see him as the “My Bad, I F-ed up” type) the Orange will have to win at least 4-5 games before the fanbase, including yours truly becomes impatient.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The Banner
The banner you see on top is my own creation using my very novice Photoshop skills.
From Left to Right:
Ernie Davis, Syracuse's only Heisman Trophy winner wearing the trademark '44' jersey which Syracuse used to give to only an elite group of Running Backs before throwing away the tradition and any kind of recruiting leverage it could have had by retiring the number in 2005. Syracuse is my alma mater and I will write my first team post about SU before focusing on programs in college football which are actually relevant.
Script Ohio, Ohio State's classic ritual of it's "Best Damn Band in the Land" to spell out "Ohio" with a tuba player dotting the i. Ohio State is my brother's alma mater, he invites me once a year to Columbus to watch REAL college football. It is only the school I know of where the band members have a decent chance of getting laid. Traditions like this are part of the "Pageantry" that lures me to college football as much as the game itself.
Florida Quarterback Chris Leak holding the BCS National Championship Trophy, this one hurts my brother and hurts me too but Florida is the king of our mountain going into 2007. The controversial system which the trophy Leak is holding up represents is always on the mind of anyone who covers college football and rightly belongs in the center of everything.
Georgia Quarterback Matthew Stafford holding an Empty Keg as if it WAS the National Championship Trophy, some may take this to represent the difference in goals between the Gators and the Bulldogs. That is unintentional. This mildly controversial picture of Stafford represents the sort of harmless and humorous news that will come on this blog from time to time providing amusement to all fans nationwide.
Ian Johnson taking the Statue of Liberty to Beat Oklahoma, the end to the Greatest College Football Game of All-Time. Yes, I'll say it. Not just for the trick plays and miracle comeback but for what it represented. The endless possibilities that arise every Thursday or Saturday when two teams representing universities get together.
From Left to Right:
Ernie Davis, Syracuse's only Heisman Trophy winner wearing the trademark '44' jersey which Syracuse used to give to only an elite group of Running Backs before throwing away the tradition and any kind of recruiting leverage it could have had by retiring the number in 2005. Syracuse is my alma mater and I will write my first team post about SU before focusing on programs in college football which are actually relevant.
Script Ohio, Ohio State's classic ritual of it's "Best Damn Band in the Land" to spell out "Ohio" with a tuba player dotting the i. Ohio State is my brother's alma mater, he invites me once a year to Columbus to watch REAL college football. It is only the school I know of where the band members have a decent chance of getting laid. Traditions like this are part of the "Pageantry" that lures me to college football as much as the game itself.
Florida Quarterback Chris Leak holding the BCS National Championship Trophy, this one hurts my brother and hurts me too but Florida is the king of our mountain going into 2007. The controversial system which the trophy Leak is holding up represents is always on the mind of anyone who covers college football and rightly belongs in the center of everything.
Georgia Quarterback Matthew Stafford holding an Empty Keg as if it WAS the National Championship Trophy, some may take this to represent the difference in goals between the Gators and the Bulldogs. That is unintentional. This mildly controversial picture of Stafford represents the sort of harmless and humorous news that will come on this blog from time to time providing amusement to all fans nationwide.
Ian Johnson taking the Statue of Liberty to Beat Oklahoma, the end to the Greatest College Football Game of All-Time. Yes, I'll say it. Not just for the trick plays and miracle comeback but for what it represented. The endless possibilities that arise every Thursday or Saturday when two teams representing universities get together.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)