Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFBALL| SU defense defeats offense in 1st unveiling under new staff
By Scott Bisang
Posted: 4/25/05, 12:43 AM EST Section: Sports
For many Syracuse football fans, Saturday's annual Spring Game was the first extended chance to see the new head coach.
They saw him at halftime of a men's basketball game. They watched him on television ads urging them to buy season tickets.
But the place fans really wanted to see Greg Robinson was on the sideline. They finally got their wish Saturday when Robinson roamed the Carrier Dome sidelines. The SU offense played the defense in a scrimmage with the defense dictating play and winning, 34-30, under a modified scoring system.
Syracuse's play didn't keep many of the 6,029 fans in attendance after the game. The coach did.
"I am just proud to be here and be a part of this thing," Robinson said. "I can see with the community and the school working together, it is powerful stuff."
As reporters asked Robinson questions in the end zone after the game, fans kept moving closer. A small circle of security guards kept most of the people away but it didn't stop the fans from trying. They all just wanted to shake Robinson's hand and give him a few words of encouragement.
"We really did appreciate the crowd out here today and the support we have had all spring," Robinson said. "We are going to keep working and I promise you that we are going to have a heck of a football team come this fall."
Robinson wasted no time showing fans how vastly different he is from his predecessor, Paul Pasqualoni.
A staff member handed Robinson a microphone before the game and urged him to use it once and a while. He spoke to the crowd before the game and then forgot about it until the end.
After an offensive penalty negated a Matt Hale touchdown pass late in the second half of the scrimmage, Robinson declined the penalty and pulled out the microphone.
"We don't want the penalty there," Robinson shouted.
A moment later, he announced his intentions for an onside kick. It didn't matter that kickoffs only included two return men and no blockers. Robinson still wanted an onside kick to spice things up. When the two return men then moved closer to field the try, Robinson moved them right back.
They saw him at halftime of a men's basketball game. They watched him on television ads urging them to buy season tickets.
But the place fans really wanted to see Greg Robinson was on the sideline. They finally got their wish Saturday when Robinson roamed the Carrier Dome sidelines. The SU offense played the defense in a scrimmage with the defense dictating play and winning, 34-30, under a modified scoring system.
Syracuse's play didn't keep many of the 6,029 fans in attendance after the game. The coach did.
"I am just proud to be here and be a part of this thing," Robinson said. "I can see with the community and the school working together, it is powerful stuff."
As reporters asked Robinson questions in the end zone after the game, fans kept moving closer. A small circle of security guards kept most of the people away but it didn't stop the fans from trying. They all just wanted to shake Robinson's hand and give him a few words of encouragement.
"We really did appreciate the crowd out here today and the support we have had all spring," Robinson said. "We are going to keep working and I promise you that we are going to have a heck of a football team come this fall."
Robinson wasted no time showing fans how vastly different he is from his predecessor, Paul Pasqualoni.
A staff member handed Robinson a microphone before the game and urged him to use it once and a while. He spoke to the crowd before the game and then forgot about it until the end.
After an offensive penalty negated a Matt Hale touchdown pass late in the second half of the scrimmage, Robinson declined the penalty and pulled out the microphone.
"We don't want the penalty there," Robinson shouted.
A moment later, he announced his intentions for an onside kick. It didn't matter that kickoffs only included two return men and no blockers. Robinson still wanted an onside kick to spice things up. When the two return men then moved closer to field the try, Robinson moved them right back.
