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The Daily OrangeFB | ROCK BOTTOM: Syracuse defense torched in 42-28 home defeat to Akron
By Andy McCullough
Posted: 9/6/08, 6:47 PM EST Section: Sports
The door opened in the back of the press room and Greg Robinson walked in, a man with no answers, fresh off perhaps the worst loss of his four-year career at Syracuse, a 42-28 home defeat to Akron. For the head coach who has won seven games in his time at SU and lost 30, this may have been the abyss.
Robinson's hands gripped the podium as he spoke, his cheeks shining under the camera lights and his polo shirt unbuttoned and askew. He spoke for nine minutes but could give no reason why his defense, his program, had fallen so far. Why the Orange (0-2) had been unable to stop the Zips (1-1). Why his team lost at home to a Mid-American Conference team for the first time since 1976 - and gave up 478 yards and six touchdowns in the process.
"If I knew that," he said, "I would have fixed it."
If Robinson knew what was wrong, he might have prevented Saturday's defensive debacle, a haze of missed tackles and blown assignments witnessed by 31,808 at the Carrier Dome.
If Robinson knew, his team might have stopped Akron quarterback Chris Jacquemain, who threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns on 20-26 passing - a clinic on how to run the no-huddle, spread offense out of the shotgun against an undersized, overwhelmed opponent.
If Robinson knew, the Zips might not have sliced for 218 yards on the ground with draws and inside traps, buoyed by the tailback tandem of Alex Allen and Dennis Kennedy.
But Robinson did know what went wrong. He blamed himself. He blamed his coaching staff.
"There's no excuses for it," he said. "I just think that really, we like to think we were prepared. Obviously we weren't."
The bleakness of the defense overshadowed an awakening from the offense. Cameron Dantley - named the starter this week in place of the struggling Andrew Robinson - managed the game and converted 65 percent of his passes, a safe collection of check-downs and dump-offs. He tossed three touchdowns, two to tight end Mike Owen.
Robinson's hands gripped the podium as he spoke, his cheeks shining under the camera lights and his polo shirt unbuttoned and askew. He spoke for nine minutes but could give no reason why his defense, his program, had fallen so far. Why the Orange (0-2) had been unable to stop the Zips (1-1). Why his team lost at home to a Mid-American Conference team for the first time since 1976 - and gave up 478 yards and six touchdowns in the process.
"If I knew that," he said, "I would have fixed it."
If Robinson knew what was wrong, he might have prevented Saturday's defensive debacle, a haze of missed tackles and blown assignments witnessed by 31,808 at the Carrier Dome.
If Robinson knew, his team might have stopped Akron quarterback Chris Jacquemain, who threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns on 20-26 passing - a clinic on how to run the no-huddle, spread offense out of the shotgun against an undersized, overwhelmed opponent.
If Robinson knew, the Zips might not have sliced for 218 yards on the ground with draws and inside traps, buoyed by the tailback tandem of Alex Allen and Dennis Kennedy.
But Robinson did know what went wrong. He blamed himself. He blamed his coaching staff.
"There's no excuses for it," he said. "I just think that really, we like to think we were prepared. Obviously we weren't."
The bleakness of the defense overshadowed an awakening from the offense. Cameron Dantley - named the starter this week in place of the struggling Andrew Robinson - managed the game and converted 65 percent of his passes, a safe collection of check-downs and dump-offs. He tossed three touchdowns, two to tight end Mike Owen.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 20
An Alum
posted 9/06/08 @ 9:15 PM EST
As an alum, I am DISGUSTED that Cantor didn't fire Gross and Robinson last season. She has managed to support people who have ruined our football program. (Continued…)
Bernard Tarver '82
posted 9/06/08 @ 9:16 PM EST
Tell me again why they fired Paul Pasqualoni?
Manoj
posted 9/06/08 @ 9:34 PM EST
Oh My God. I dared to dream when we pulled level at 28, but this was ABYSMAL.
I get it when people who argue for stability, but we're stable at rock bottom. (Continued…)
Josh
posted 9/06/08 @ 9:48 PM EST
Can we fire Robinson now? Please? Before we lose to Northeastern?
Cisco
posted 9/06/08 @ 10:17 PM EST
Everyone was quick to yell fire Pasqualoni, but Pasqualoni was nowhere near as bad as this bum. Get him out of here!
Steve Dye
posted 9/06/08 @ 10:20 PM EST
I grew up on SU football. My dad was one of the coaches with Ben Schwartzwalder and retired as A.D. It makes me sick to see what has become of the football program he was so proud of. (Continued…)
Dominic
posted 9/06/08 @ 10:48 PM EST
I can't believe I'm driving 5 hours to see the game next weekend.
sick of losing
posted 9/06/08 @ 11:03 PM EST
If SU loses to Northeastern, which is certainly possible, then Robinson may get fired or "resign" before completing his final season as SU's coach. No matter how bad things were with Coach P. (Continued…)
Orange44man
posted 9/06/08 @ 11:31 PM EST
I just cancelled my trip to homecoming weekend.
Gene
posted 9/07/08 @ 3:34 AM EST
This team is so bad Appalachian State wound roll over the Orange.If the coach takes the blame , then we accept his explanation. Fire this coach and most of his coaching staff !!!!Paul Pasqualoni would seem like Vince Lombardi next to this clown. (Continued…)
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