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Robinson's SU career ends with lopsided loss to No. 16 Cincinnati
By John Clayton
Posted: 12/2/08, 3:42 AM EST Section: Sports
CINCINNATI - The celebration carried on behind Greg Robinson; the Syracuse head coach's somber words rendered barely audible by the fans that had flowed onto the field here at Nippert Stadium.
Robinson's Syracuse career had ended minutes earlier, a 30-10 loss to No. 16 Cincinnati that secured the Bearcats an outright Big East championship. Many of the 34,603 who filled the metal bleachers of this 84-year-old stadium poured onto the field to celebrate the school's first BCS bowl berth.
Robinson stood in a tunnel, about 20 yards away from the blissful mob. Behind him, black-shirted players skipped around, hoisting the Big East trophy. These were the sort of joyous moments he was expected to deliver when he was hired as Syracuse head coach in January 2005. The sort of moments that, four miserable years later, never came.
That tenure ended Saturday, in fittingly futile fashion, with a blowout loss to the Big East champs.
"I'm starting to feel the emotions now," said Robinson, who was fired two weeks ago. "I'm trying to block it out.
"It hit me when I got in with the team. There they are. This is the last time I'm going to talk to them in the locker room."
Robinson, 57, ends his SU career with a 10-37 record, 3-25 in Big East play. His .213 winning percentage is the worst among Orange head coaches in the last 100 years.
Saturday's installment wasn't much different than so many of the losses Robinson has overseen. The offense was dismal and the defense ineffective - and the Orange never gained a foothold.
Syracuse was nearly doubled up in yards (412 to 211) and managed only eight first downs. Quarterback Cameron Dantley struggled, finishing with 59 yards on 6-of-23 passing.
He was 1-for-13 after three quarters.
"I wish we could have played better," Robinson said. "We just didn't execute on offense."
Syracuse (3-9, 1-6 Big East) served as the perfect doormat for the Bearcats and their fans, who showed up eager to celebrate Cincinnati's first BCS berth. The Bearcats (10-2, 6-1 Big East) had already punched their BCS ticket, courtesy of Pittsburgh's win over West Virginia Friday. Saturday's win handed Cincinnati the outright Big East crown.
Robinson's Syracuse career had ended minutes earlier, a 30-10 loss to No. 16 Cincinnati that secured the Bearcats an outright Big East championship. Many of the 34,603 who filled the metal bleachers of this 84-year-old stadium poured onto the field to celebrate the school's first BCS bowl berth.
Robinson stood in a tunnel, about 20 yards away from the blissful mob. Behind him, black-shirted players skipped around, hoisting the Big East trophy. These were the sort of joyous moments he was expected to deliver when he was hired as Syracuse head coach in January 2005. The sort of moments that, four miserable years later, never came.
That tenure ended Saturday, in fittingly futile fashion, with a blowout loss to the Big East champs.
"I'm starting to feel the emotions now," said Robinson, who was fired two weeks ago. "I'm trying to block it out.
"It hit me when I got in with the team. There they are. This is the last time I'm going to talk to them in the locker room."
Robinson, 57, ends his SU career with a 10-37 record, 3-25 in Big East play. His .213 winning percentage is the worst among Orange head coaches in the last 100 years.
Saturday's installment wasn't much different than so many of the losses Robinson has overseen. The offense was dismal and the defense ineffective - and the Orange never gained a foothold.
Syracuse was nearly doubled up in yards (412 to 211) and managed only eight first downs. Quarterback Cameron Dantley struggled, finishing with 59 yards on 6-of-23 passing.
He was 1-for-13 after three quarters.
"I wish we could have played better," Robinson said. "We just didn't execute on offense."
Syracuse (3-9, 1-6 Big East) served as the perfect doormat for the Bearcats and their fans, who showed up eager to celebrate Cincinnati's first BCS berth. The Bearcats (10-2, 6-1 Big East) had already punched their BCS ticket, courtesy of Pittsburgh's win over West Virginia Friday. Saturday's win handed Cincinnati the outright Big East crown.
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