Spring Break
The Daily OrangeRobinson fired after 4 seasons, will coach final 2 games of year
By John Clayton
Posted: 11/17/08, 3:28 AM EST Section: Sports
Robinson said he learned of his dismissal during a meeting with Gross Sunday morning. Robinson told his team later in the day, then faced the media in the afternoon.
"It's difficult for me to stomach that a good coach and a good person in Coach Robinson will be gone," Syracuse senior tailback Curtis Brinkley said. "But I guess it's the part of the business. And the business part, the players don't have any control."
For Gross, the focus now turns toward the future. He said the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
"I think we have to put an end to speculation, to rumor, to uncertainty," Gross said during a press conference in his office Sunday afternoon. "We want to put the community at rest. We want to give our players the chance to play Notre Dame and focus on that and not worry about our coach's status that over the weeks seems to turn into a volcano of uncertainty. So it ends all that speculation."
Gross faces a make-or-break hire. Upon his arrival in December 2004, he made the decision to fire 13-year head coach Paul Pasqualoni after a 6-6 season. With less than a month to conduct a coaching search, Gross settled on Robinson, then a co-defensive coordinator at Texas.
Gross will have ample time to find a successor this time around.
"To say that we feel we're ahead of the game is an understatement," Gross said. " ... If I could have gotten it done yesterday, I would. But we want to get it done the right way and be really smart about it and figure out every angle so we can win."
Four years ago, Robinson seemed primed to be that guy. He brought to Syracuse a pair of Super Bowl rings, won during his stint as defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos. He was an energetic optimist who boasted 14 years of NFL service.
Robinson promised to deliver an attacking defense. He also adhered to a pro-style West Coast offense - a breath of fresh air from the Orange's archaic, option attack.
Robinson's tenure never got off the ground. Syracuse lost its 2005 opener, 15-7, to West Virginia. Things spiraled downhill from there. The Orange finished 1-10 in Robinson's first season, weighed down by the third-worst offense in the country.
"It's difficult for me to stomach that a good coach and a good person in Coach Robinson will be gone," Syracuse senior tailback Curtis Brinkley said. "But I guess it's the part of the business. And the business part, the players don't have any control."
For Gross, the focus now turns toward the future. He said the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
"I think we have to put an end to speculation, to rumor, to uncertainty," Gross said during a press conference in his office Sunday afternoon. "We want to put the community at rest. We want to give our players the chance to play Notre Dame and focus on that and not worry about our coach's status that over the weeks seems to turn into a volcano of uncertainty. So it ends all that speculation."
Gross faces a make-or-break hire. Upon his arrival in December 2004, he made the decision to fire 13-year head coach Paul Pasqualoni after a 6-6 season. With less than a month to conduct a coaching search, Gross settled on Robinson, then a co-defensive coordinator at Texas.
Gross will have ample time to find a successor this time around.
"To say that we feel we're ahead of the game is an understatement," Gross said. " ... If I could have gotten it done yesterday, I would. But we want to get it done the right way and be really smart about it and figure out every angle so we can win."
Four years ago, Robinson seemed primed to be that guy. He brought to Syracuse a pair of Super Bowl rings, won during his stint as defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos. He was an energetic optimist who boasted 14 years of NFL service.
Robinson promised to deliver an attacking defense. He also adhered to a pro-style West Coast offense - a breath of fresh air from the Orange's archaic, option attack.
Robinson's tenure never got off the ground. Syracuse lost its 2005 opener, 15-7, to West Virginia. Things spiraled downhill from there. The Orange finished 1-10 in Robinson's first season, weighed down by the third-worst offense in the country.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 11
Marc LeVine
posted 11/17/08 @ 9:34 AM EST
This truly good news is certainly overdue and the decision to keep this coach around another two weeks is just plain disgusting. I've spent thirty years in human resources management and I've gotta tell ya - they guy needed to box up his stuff and get otta there after the Connecticut loss. (Continued…)
Fred Steitz '66
posted 11/17/08 @ 9:36 AM EST
Gross should be tne next to go but Dr. Cantor does not have the guts to fire him.
Bernard Tarver '82
posted 11/17/08 @ 9:58 AM EST
The firing was long overdue, but I don't understand keeping him around another two weeks. Either you fire him at the end of the season or you make him leave immediately. (Continued…)
Orange 3:16
posted 11/17/08 @ 10:40 AM EST
They should have fired him last year! This football program has been no more than a damn joke for the past 7 years! I hope they hire Randy Edsell from UConn, or someone WITH head coaching experince, to clean up this football program, and get it back to it's prime that it had in the 90's, not to mention get us a winning season for the first time since 2001. (Continued…)
Orange Parent
posted 11/17/08 @ 12:22 PM EST
Hire Larry Coker or Lane Kiffen
ryan
posted 11/17/08 @ 2:22 PM EST
Turner Gill, made UB a bowl team... imagine what he could do at SU! Also was a Heisman runner up, and won big games.
Mike Locksley, great recruiter, vast offensive knowledge and will bring back the discipline and blue collar work ethic that turned SU into one of the top NFL factories. (Continued…)
FINALLY!
posted 11/17/08 @ 3:36 PM EST
Attention Chancellor Cantor:
Now that Mr. Robinson is FINALLY out the door, it is time for YOU to do YOUR job and FIRE Dr. Gross!!! He allowed this nightmare to go on far too long!!!!
And if you don't - then YOU need to be fired!!!
Scott McNealus
posted 11/17/08 @ 5:25 PM EST
I couldn't agree more w/FINALLY!
The life and death of Div 1 sports now is - like it or not - TV revenue. SU has two sources of this money - FB and BB. (Continued…)
Barry L. Wells For Head Coach
posted 11/17/08 @ 6:48 PM EST
Daryl Gross with his $500,000 salary needs to go too!!! But wait, let's hire Barry L. Wells!!! I mean, come on. He was not qualified to be a SENIOR Vice President, but he did that job for like 10 years. (Continued…)
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