The Daily OrangeDunne: Marrone using discipline to fix Robinson's mess
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 11/9/09, 3:28 AM EST Section: Sports
PITTSBURGH - Two rows back sat the man who hired him. As Doug Marrone tried to conceptualize Syracuse's 37-10 loss to Pittsburgh, Daryl Gross held the stat sheet like it was contaminated. His eyebrows rose at the numbers bleeding off the page.
Three interceptions, six sacks allowed, five punts, 3-of-13 on third down, a partridge and a pear tree. Nothing new. Five years in, Syracuse's athletics director is probably immune to this. But midway through Marrone's postgame press conference, Gross' eyes perked up to his new hire.
And SU's first-year head coach provided the brutal truth.
"Obviously, we don't have a lot of depth on our football team," Marrone said. "But again, that's a problem we have now, and I don't see this as a problem at all for the future of this program."
So enough hysteria. Yes, this past week was a low point for Marrone, punctuated by Saturday's beat down. But more than anything, the implosion is raw proof of the mess Marrone inherited. Since the spring, Marrone has tried to relentlessly undo the carefree culture former head coach Greg Robinson created.
Rather than grip desperately to his minimal talent, Marrone uprooted the Robinson regime. Anybody expecting a Midas touch is foolish. The flaws were too engrained.
Marrone must rehabilitate the program at its most fundamental level - attitude.
It was 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 1. Mike Williams, Antwon Bailey, Andrew Tiller and Torrey Ball were in the midst of an all-nighter. And not the HST 401 kind, either. The four were driving near Turning Stone Casino - draw your own conclusions - when their car was hit. Marrone refused to turn the other cheek. He fought off the typical impulse in collegiate athletics.
Before a likely suspension, Williams bailed. The other three were suspended. And the quit count soared to 21.
After leaving, Mike Williams complained on his Facebook page about not being wanted. Tough. These coaches aren't into pampering. The contrast between Robinson and Marrone is billboard-obvious.
Three interceptions, six sacks allowed, five punts, 3-of-13 on third down, a partridge and a pear tree. Nothing new. Five years in, Syracuse's athletics director is probably immune to this. But midway through Marrone's postgame press conference, Gross' eyes perked up to his new hire.
And SU's first-year head coach provided the brutal truth.
"Obviously, we don't have a lot of depth on our football team," Marrone said. "But again, that's a problem we have now, and I don't see this as a problem at all for the future of this program."
So enough hysteria. Yes, this past week was a low point for Marrone, punctuated by Saturday's beat down. But more than anything, the implosion is raw proof of the mess Marrone inherited. Since the spring, Marrone has tried to relentlessly undo the carefree culture former head coach Greg Robinson created.
Rather than grip desperately to his minimal talent, Marrone uprooted the Robinson regime. Anybody expecting a Midas touch is foolish. The flaws were too engrained.
Marrone must rehabilitate the program at its most fundamental level - attitude.
It was 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 1. Mike Williams, Antwon Bailey, Andrew Tiller and Torrey Ball were in the midst of an all-nighter. And not the HST 401 kind, either. The four were driving near Turning Stone Casino - draw your own conclusions - when their car was hit. Marrone refused to turn the other cheek. He fought off the typical impulse in collegiate athletics.
Before a likely suspension, Williams bailed. The other three were suspended. And the quit count soared to 21.
After leaving, Mike Williams complained on his Facebook page about not being wanted. Tough. These coaches aren't into pampering. The contrast between Robinson and Marrone is billboard-obvious.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
SU and Wolverine parent
posted 11/09/09 @ 10:20 AM EST
Our oldest was a SU freshman in 2004 We watched Robinson make the football mess at SU during our oldest son's undergrad years. Now we have freshmen students at both SU and University of Michigan. (Continued…)
g33k
g33k101
posted 11/09/09 @ 11:46 AM EST
yes ive heard that too actually. Greg Robinson has successfully turned michigans defensive unit into an appropriate mess. The guy is scum...i just dont get why they allow him to defile programs like that. (Continued…)
somecallmetim
posted 11/09/09 @ 1:27 PM EST
With or without Robinson, Mr. Dunne is right. Good Riddance, Mike Williams. I hope he enjoys future in the CFL, having effectively killed his NFL draft prospects. (Continued…)
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