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The Daily OrangeFB | Robinson says goodbye at final press conference
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 12/3/08, 1:45 AM EST Section: Sports
Greg Robinson faced the media for the last time as Syracuse's head football coach with a story to tell. Shortly into his farewell press conference Tuesday afternoon, Robinson pulled out a piece of paper, and started to read a synopsis of the children's book "The Little Engine That Could." The tale, Robinson said, was a metaphor for the Orange football program during his tenure.
After a few minutes, he paused in his narration and asked a reporter in the attendance to recite the famous line the engine used to will itself up the mountain: "I think I can."
"Well you know what?" Robinson responded. "I still think I can. I do."
With that message, Robinson's tumultuous four-year tenure with the Orange officially ended. Of course, he will never have the chance to prove if he actually can. He was fired two weeks ago and leaves Syracuse with a lifetime record of 10-37 in four seasons.
Outwardly, he was his usual chipper self Tuesday, bantering with reporters and trying to remain composed. But his voice wavered, his face flushed, and tears rushed to his eyes, especially while reading from the book and talking about the current seniors.
Robinson arrived at the Iocolano-Petty Football Complex wearing a brown-checkered button-down shirt and dark pants - not a speck of Syracuse in his attire, for a change.
He spoke for almost 33 minutes, including a 16-minute, unprompted opening statement, about his love for the program and regret about what has transpired.
He spoke about his undying optimism and hope for the program he is about to depart, using the Little Engine as a symbol of how his own dreams and expectations at SU will now never be fulfilled.
"My stomach is sick. I need relief," Robinson said. "I need a pill, because I'm sick to my stomach that it's done. That's what I hate. It's what's in my gut. Shoot. That's the biggest regret. Pulling boxes into my office. That's ugly. It is."
Robinson fielded questions about what went wrong these past four years, which he answered cautiously, careful not to make excuses or criticize former coach Paul Pasqualoni. Still, he emphasized the players on the team are better now than when he took over before the 2005 campaign.
After a few minutes, he paused in his narration and asked a reporter in the attendance to recite the famous line the engine used to will itself up the mountain: "I think I can."
"Well you know what?" Robinson responded. "I still think I can. I do."
With that message, Robinson's tumultuous four-year tenure with the Orange officially ended. Of course, he will never have the chance to prove if he actually can. He was fired two weeks ago and leaves Syracuse with a lifetime record of 10-37 in four seasons.
Outwardly, he was his usual chipper self Tuesday, bantering with reporters and trying to remain composed. But his voice wavered, his face flushed, and tears rushed to his eyes, especially while reading from the book and talking about the current seniors.
Robinson arrived at the Iocolano-Petty Football Complex wearing a brown-checkered button-down shirt and dark pants - not a speck of Syracuse in his attire, for a change.
He spoke for almost 33 minutes, including a 16-minute, unprompted opening statement, about his love for the program and regret about what has transpired.
He spoke about his undying optimism and hope for the program he is about to depart, using the Little Engine as a symbol of how his own dreams and expectations at SU will now never be fulfilled.
"My stomach is sick. I need relief," Robinson said. "I need a pill, because I'm sick to my stomach that it's done. That's what I hate. It's what's in my gut. Shoot. That's the biggest regret. Pulling boxes into my office. That's ugly. It is."
Robinson fielded questions about what went wrong these past four years, which he answered cautiously, careful not to make excuses or criticize former coach Paul Pasqualoni. Still, he emphasized the players on the team are better now than when he took over before the 2005 campaign.
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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