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The Daily OrangeFB | WIN ONE FOR THE GREGGER: Syracuse stuns Notre Dame in South Bend
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 11/22/08, 7:52 PM EST Section: Sports
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At the 15-yard line, the mass unexpectedly stopped in its place, unabashed by the increasingly hostile environment. The frigid temperatures and the Fighting Irish marching band playing the school Alma Mater suddenly meant nothing. Not even the barrage of snowballs the sellout crowd of 80,795 sent flying from the stands ever since the clock struck zero on Syracuse's shocking 24-23 victory Saturday evening could convince the players to move any further.
They weren't leaving. Not without their coach, Greg Robinson, who was busy giving an interview for the national audience watching the upset on NBC. When he was ready, they were ready. He had gone through so much in one long week. Losing his job Sunday, leading his much-maligned Syracuse team to an improbable win at the most heralded venue in college football six days later.
Saturday was the most jubilant day of Robinson's four-year tenure. The Orange (3-8 overall, 1-5 Big East) won a game with the entire country watching. Never before had Notre Dame (6-4) fallen to an eight-loss opponent. It was a remarkable showcase for a program desperate for something to grasp onto. This was the bowl game Robinson was never able to bring to Syracuse.
"For us to rally around him, it means a lot to him, and he means a lot to us," said SU quarterback Cameron Dantley, who went 13-of-25 for 122 yards and a touchdown. "That's why we stayed out there."
Dantley provided the game-winning toss, finding wide receiver Donte Davis over the middle for an 11-yard touchdown with 42 seconds left. Notre Dame was able to position itself for one final desperation field goal. But Brandon Walker's 52-yard attempt fell short, and the SU players sprinted onto the field in celebration.
It was the kind of game the Orange had lost so many times these past four years. Syracuse had a 10-6 lead late in the second quarter. The defense was hanging tough, and the offense was doing just enough.
Then Jimmy Clausen hit Golden Tate with a 35-yard touchdown bomb down the left sideline with two seconds left before halftime to give Notre Dame the lead. SU fans had seen this show before: A good first half giving way to a pitiful second half, leading to another blowout loss.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 12
JOSH
posted 11/22/08 @ 10:44 PM EST
Whats sad is that it took Robinsons job for the SU team to get fired up enough to get him a win. SU FOOTBALL is down way down and they used Robinson as an escape goat I would hope D. (Continued…)
nomadofthehills
John Vanek
posted 11/22/08 @ 10:57 PM EST
Hey Josh, its scapegoat, not "escape goat."
Kaylen Thorpe
posted 11/23/08 @ 12:42 AM EST
Hey John, it's "it's", not "its".
Kaylen Thorpe
posted 11/23/08 @ 12:45 AM EST
So they can win the game if they put their heart into it...
I give them credit for a game well-played and a victory hard-earned, but this is also just highlights the fact that they can win games when they truly want to. (Continued…)
Marc Le Vine
posted 11/24/08 @ 9:35 AM EST
OK. No one saw this one coming. Not even the Fighting Irish! They were bushwhacked looking past a doormat during their own mediocre season. That's a big no-no and problematic for coach Charlie Weis (wouldn't want to be him this morning!)
Listening to the game on XM radio, it was just amazing hearing the commentators go nuts, calling our win "Historic. (Continued…)
Andrew
posted 11/24/08 @ 12:40 PM EST
The sad thing about this game was it came against a struggling Notre Dame squad, yet G-Rob said it was his biggest victory since coming to Syracuse. Not only have the Irish not beaten a team with a winning record since last season, but they couldn't run the football against the lowly Orange defense, either. (Continued…)
alumjohnnyJ
posted 11/29/08 @ 11:12 AM EST
you MUST be joking. SU football is a joke. THis is no time to celebrate anything. GET RID OF ROBINSON and LAMEO ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND THE LAME ASS CHANCELLOR THAT THINKS IT IS FINE TO SUCK AT SPORTS. (Continued…)
number1fan
number1fan
posted 12/01/08 @ 6:35 PM EST
Coach Robinson, I feel that he has good coaches now,. Money is not issues, its the team he cares about. God Bless Robinson. These kids love him, and these are kids, not NFL players making big money. (Continued…)
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