Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFB | Robinson's assistants facing uncertain future at Syracuse
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 11/20/08, 1:56 AM EST Section: Sports
If not, the job search begins again, which Jackson said could be exciting.
"In some cases, people look at it an opportunity to travel to an area you haven't been to before" Jackson said. "I wasn't happy when I was let go at Michigan State, but it gave me an opportunity to come to Syracuse University, a place I grew up and respected a ton as a young man."
Jackson admitted he may have it a little easier than some of his colleagues. He has no children, and he and his wife are flexible enough to pack up and move without much trouble. For coaches with bigger families, the situation is a bit more daunting.
With that in mind, all three coaches said they are trying not to think beyond the next two games. Like Robinson has maintained all week, this group is still the staff of Syracuse's football program and will not tolerate being treated otherwise.
White acknowledged that it is "human nature to speculate about the future," but that practice has been no different than any other week. If anything, it has been better, with Syracuse's players gearing up to play on national television against Notre Dame.
Still, the unpleasant truth can only be pushed aside for so long. Eventually, this season will end.
"After that, I'll have the chance to take a deep breath, think about what my options may or may not be," Jackson said. "Obviously, you'd love the opportunity to stay at the university, but at the end of the day, this is part of the profession."
The plight of Syracuse's assistant coaches is not unique. Six other Division I programs have fired their coaches this season, and the staffs at those programs are facing the same uncertainty.
Jackson said the key is keeping a good attitude through the process. No one gets into coaching for its stability.
"If you look at it as though you're untouchable," Jackson said, "you're probably not a very smart individual."
jediamon@syr.edu
"In some cases, people look at it an opportunity to travel to an area you haven't been to before" Jackson said. "I wasn't happy when I was let go at Michigan State, but it gave me an opportunity to come to Syracuse University, a place I grew up and respected a ton as a young man."
Jackson admitted he may have it a little easier than some of his colleagues. He has no children, and he and his wife are flexible enough to pack up and move without much trouble. For coaches with bigger families, the situation is a bit more daunting.
With that in mind, all three coaches said they are trying not to think beyond the next two games. Like Robinson has maintained all week, this group is still the staff of Syracuse's football program and will not tolerate being treated otherwise.
White acknowledged that it is "human nature to speculate about the future," but that practice has been no different than any other week. If anything, it has been better, with Syracuse's players gearing up to play on national television against Notre Dame.
Still, the unpleasant truth can only be pushed aside for so long. Eventually, this season will end.
"After that, I'll have the chance to take a deep breath, think about what my options may or may not be," Jackson said. "Obviously, you'd love the opportunity to stay at the university, but at the end of the day, this is part of the profession."
The plight of Syracuse's assistant coaches is not unique. Six other Division I programs have fired their coaches this season, and the staffs at those programs are facing the same uncertainty.
Jackson said the key is keeping a good attitude through the process. No one gets into coaching for its stability.
"If you look at it as though you're untouchable," Jackson said, "you're probably not a very smart individual."
jediamon@syr.edu
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