Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFB | Robinson says goodbye at final press conference
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 12/3/08, 1:45 AM EST Section: Sports
He said if he could have one do-over, he would have pushed the administration harder to bring quarterback Colt Brennan to Syracuse. Brennan planned to join the Orange but was not allowed to enroll at SU because of outstanding legal charges. He ended up at Hawaii, where he set the NCAA Division record for most touchdown passes in a single-season (58) in 2006.
Though Robinson tried not to blame anyone but himself for his team's poor performance, he referenced Syracuse's tough schedule, which is ranked eighth-toughest in the nation.
Robinson also discussed the difficulty of losing receivers Taj Smith (NFL Draft) and Mike Williams (academic suspension) before this season to explain some of the offense's struggles.
But Robinson kept the tone positive, often gushing about both the university and the city. He said he expects to be back in coaching next season, but it doesn't mean he's ready to leave.
"It's a great place, it's a great school," Robinson said. "It really is. It has some uphill battles, but you know what? That's Central New York at times, too. That's what I hate. I don't want to quit the fight. I want to keep fighting."
At one point, a reporter asked Robinson what will keep him up at night in the future, looking back on what he could not accomplish at Syracuse. To that question, Robinson delivered probably his most impassioned and heartfelt response of the afternoon. It was about his disappointment that he did not win with the Orange, that he could not deliver on Director of Athletics Daryl Gross' vision of Big East titles and even national championships.
Perhaps most importantly, his response focused on his insatiable desire for a fifth season, almost pleading for one more shot he knows will not come.
"It isn't what I didn't get done. It's that it's not finished,"
Robinson said. "It's not finished. We can always go back to a play or this or that. No. It's just not finished. It's not finished. I'd like that last year. I'd like that last year. It's just a work in progress.
"It's right there. I think I can. I do. I can show you."
But he will have to leave that job for somebody else. Gross is already in full-swing looking for Syracuse's next coach. And after waxing poetic about the past four years for more than half an hour, Robinson left the auditorium for the final time, knowing he will not be able to complete what he believes he started.
jediamon@syr.edu
Though Robinson tried not to blame anyone but himself for his team's poor performance, he referenced Syracuse's tough schedule, which is ranked eighth-toughest in the nation.
Robinson also discussed the difficulty of losing receivers Taj Smith (NFL Draft) and Mike Williams (academic suspension) before this season to explain some of the offense's struggles.
But Robinson kept the tone positive, often gushing about both the university and the city. He said he expects to be back in coaching next season, but it doesn't mean he's ready to leave.
"It's a great place, it's a great school," Robinson said. "It really is. It has some uphill battles, but you know what? That's Central New York at times, too. That's what I hate. I don't want to quit the fight. I want to keep fighting."
At one point, a reporter asked Robinson what will keep him up at night in the future, looking back on what he could not accomplish at Syracuse. To that question, Robinson delivered probably his most impassioned and heartfelt response of the afternoon. It was about his disappointment that he did not win with the Orange, that he could not deliver on Director of Athletics Daryl Gross' vision of Big East titles and even national championships.
Perhaps most importantly, his response focused on his insatiable desire for a fifth season, almost pleading for one more shot he knows will not come.
"It isn't what I didn't get done. It's that it's not finished,"
Robinson said. "It's not finished. We can always go back to a play or this or that. No. It's just not finished. It's not finished. I'd like that last year. I'd like that last year. It's just a work in progress.
"It's right there. I think I can. I do. I can show you."
But he will have to leave that job for somebody else. Gross is already in full-swing looking for Syracuse's next coach. And after waxing poetic about the past four years for more than half an hour, Robinson left the auditorium for the final time, knowing he will not be able to complete what he believes he started.
jediamon@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Marc LeVine
posted 12/03/08 @ 10:02 AM EST
If all you do for a living results in failure, you have a right to be embarrassed. And, if you want to keep doing it, you need to avoid looking defeated or no one else wil take a chance on you. (Continued…)
John '06
posted 12/03/08 @ 10:07 AM EST
Hmm. I feel for the guy, I really do, but his arguments would have been a lot stronger if they had beaten, or at least made it interesting against, Cincinnati. (Continued…)
Thomas Haley
posted 12/03/08 @ 10:17 AM EST
Dr. Gross thinks this is USC, and is not. I have follow SU Football for a long time and we need a class man like Coach Robinson. We are talking about these kids, not NFL players. (Continued…)
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