SB Nation - Andrew Robinson

The Ten Best Syracuse Football Games Of The Aughts

Sean Keeley — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:55:03 -0000

This one was actually harder than trying to figure out the ten worst games. Not so much because I couldn't find enough good wins, which believe it or not, I did. It was trying to rank them that made it so difficult. So many wins meant different things. Some were just amazing games. Others changed the entire SU season. Others still effected college football as a whole. I'm gonna go ahead and say that even I'm not sure about the rankings as I write this so feel free to chime in with your own top list in the comments. Somewhere in the middle, we'll figure it out.

Honorable Mention

Syracuse 26, Kansas State 3 (2001)
Syracuse's last (and only) bowl victory of the 2000's was all about James Mungro. Mungro wrapped up his career with 112 yards and three touchdowns in the Insight.com Bowl, passing Larry Csonka for second place on Syracuse's career rushing list with 2,981 yards.

Syracuse 40, Wyoming 34 2OT (2006)
The Orange might not have expected to get a game out of the Cowboys but they got all they could handle in the Dome. The Cowboys tied the game up with fifteen seconds remaining and sent it into overtime. A back-and-forth contest all day that featured 17 penalties, the Syracuse defense got it together in the 2nd OT and Jameel McClain stopped RB Joseph Harris on a fourth-and-1 from the 5. That led to a 15-yard Delone Carter TD to give the Orange the victory.

Syracuse 31, Buffalo 0 (2005)
Hey, when you go 1-10, you better appreciate that 1.

Auburn 37, Syracuse 34 2OT (2002)
SU fell short in this one, but any time a Syracuse quarterback puts on a performance in a game that later becomes the basis for a Syracuse sports blog, that game must be documented and appreciated.

Syracuse 22, Virginia Tech 14 (2001)
Virginia Tech entered the game No. 5 in the nation. They would not leave as such. Jamel Riddle's 51- yard punt return for a touchdown on the fourth play of the game set the tone as the Orange jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead. The Hokies rallied in the 2nd half, cutting the lead to 20-14. Thanks to an SU punt that set the Hokies insider their own ten, the defense forced a safety, killing VT's momentum and ending the comeback. It was SU's first win in Blackburg since 1987and their first road win over a ranked team since 1998.

No. 10 - Syracuse 49, North Carolina 47 3OT (2003)

Syracuse trailed the entire game until :27 left in the fourth when Collin Barbar's FG made it 34-34. Syracuse got the ball first in overtime and scored on Water Reyes' five-yard TD run. North Carolina tied it on Darian Durant's four-yard TD run. In the 2nd overtime, Syracuse had an easy chance to win. UNC had failed to score on their drive and Barber lined up for a 27-yard FG...missing wide left. In the 3rd OT, Walter Reyes took the first hand-off and scampered 25 yards for the TD. Since SU had to go for two, they did and they converted. North Carolina scored on the ensuing drive, setting up a game-tying conversion of their own. Dan Orner's conversion pass failed and the Orange escaped Chapel Hill with a thrilling season-opening victory. Reyes finished with 191 yards and 3 touchdowns on 28 carries.

No. 9 - Syracuse 38, Pitt 31 2OT (2004)

The Orange were trying to keep hopes alive for their first bowl game in three years, Pitt was trying to maintain their place among the Big East leaders. SU led 21-13 at the half but Pitt stormed back ahead for a 24-21 lead late. Collin Barber kicked a 27-yard field goal with 71 seconds left in regulation to send the game into OT. In the first overtime, Tyler Palko hit Joe DelSardo with a 9-yard scoring pass for Pitt, but Perry Patterson tied it for Syracuse on a 3-yard run. With starter Walter Reyes out, Damien Rhodes ran the ball six times in seven plays and set up the Orange TD. On Pitt's possession, linebacker Kellen Pruitt and safety Diamond Ferri stopped RB Raymond Kirkley for no gain on fourth down to preserve the win.

No. 8 - Syracuse 31, West Virginia 27 (2000)

I'll let a West Virginia fan who put this loss in his Top 10 WVU Football Games I Will Never Watch Again explain...

We had it in the bag. 27-24 lead AND the ball. Scott McBrien throws a costly interception with less than 3 minutes to go, Syracuse drives all the way down the field and scores the winning TD with 10 seconds left. I broke my stadium seat afterwards. To top the evening's festivities off perfectly, Coach Nehlen announces his retirement after the game. Not a good day in Touchdown City. 31-27 Syracuse

Anytime you can win the Schwartzwalder Trophy on a late score AND cause your rivals' longtime head coach to retire, that's a good win.

No. 7 - Syracuse 38, Notre Dame 12 (2003)

There was really nothing at stake for the 5-6 Orange when they took on the 5-6 Irish in the final game of 2003. Even though a sixth win would have made them bowl eligible, they were not expected to go to one. The Irish however would have most certainly gone to a bowl game with the victory. A win for the Irish also would have strengthened the S.O.S. for USC, who was locked in a three-team battle with LSU and Oklahoma for a top spot in the BCS. In front of a national audience, the Orange shut down RB Julius Jones and dominated the heavily-favored Irish from start to finish. The SU win guaranteed Notre Dame's third losing season in five years, might have very well saved Paul Pasqualoni's job and influenced the way the national title picture played out.

No. 6 - Syracuse 37, Northwestern 34 (2009)

The Doug Marrone Era was moving in the right direction two games into its inaugural season. Thanks to a close loss to Minnesota and a well-played game against a superior Penn State, it was evident that the Orange were improved. But they lacked that one thing that they could point to as tangible evidence of improvement...a win. That changed when the Northwestern Wildcats came to town. Having defeated the Orange a year earlier, there was little reason to think they couldn't do it again. But this wasn't the same SU team and they proved it right away, jumping out to a 17-0 first quarter lead. The Wildcats responded however and the Orange lead evaporated to 24-21 at the half. Back and forth the two teams went in the 2nd half, trading leads and scores. Finally, the Orange had the ball with seconds remaining and the score tied 34-34. Walk-on freshman Ryan Lichtenstein walked on to the field to attempt a 41-yard FG as time expired. He did not disappoint:

The Orange won the game and instilled within themselves and their fanbase proof that the Doug Marrone Era would be so much better than the one that preceded it.

No. 5 - Syracuse 24, Notre Dame 23 (2008)

Once again with nothing on the line, the 19.5-point underdog Orange stepped up to play a Notre Dame team desperately in need of a victory. And once again, Syracuse stepped up to the challenge. Perhaps in tribute to lame duck coach Greg Robinson, the Orange played their best game of the season. Led by Cam Dantley, son of Notre Dame great Adrian Dantley, the offense rallied from a 23-10 deficit in the 4th quarter. SU fans were officially introduced to RB Antwon Bailey who ripped off 126 yards and a TD while Arthur Jones anchored the defense with 15 tackles. Note Dame had a chance to win the game as time expired but Brandon Walker's 53-yard kick fell short and the Orange once again upset the Irish on national television.

No. 4 - Syracuse 31, Rutgers 13 (2009)

It wasn't that long ago that a 31-13 win over Rutgers would have been commonplace. In fact, that might have been considered a close game between the two before the mid-2000's, when Rutgers wrested control of the series and tri-state area recruiting from the Orange for the first time. So it was with particular delight that the Orange dominated the Scarlet Knights for the first time in a long time. The win didn't do much for the Orange in the short-term but the long-term effects could be enormous. Much in the same way Rutgers used wins over SU to catapult their position in the Northeastern recruiting war, this win could have a similar effect in reversing that trend. One also gets the distinct feeling that a strong rivalry between the two programs may have just begun.

No. 3 - Syracuse 43, Boston College 17 (2004)

It's odd to see a blowout win among the best wins of the decade when so many of them came in overtime on at the last-second. But it's hard to argue that Syracuse's depantsing of BC in 2004 was one of the most satisfying wins in SU history.

The Eagles were about to leave the Big East, but not before winning the out-right conference crown. All that stood between them and the BCS bid was a 5-6 Syracuse squad. Damien Rhodes scampered for a 69-yard TD but the hero of the day was Diamond Ferri. Due to injuries, Ferri played not only his usual safety spot but also returned kicked and rushed on offense. The result? He rushed 28 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned an interception for a score in the fourth quarter to seal the 43-17 victory. With the win, SU ruined Boston College's chances of a BCS bid or outright Big East title all while gaining a share of the conference crown and becoming bowl eligible themselves.

No. 2 - Syracuse 37, Louisville 34 (2007)

36.5 points. That's how much Louisville was favored by when the lowly Orange came to Papa Johns Stadium that day. So you can imagine it was a bit of a shock when SU QB Andrew Robinson hit Taj Smith for a 79-yard touchdown on the first play of the game. It set the tone for one of the most shocking first half performances in SU history. The Orange led throughout behind Robinson, who threw for a career-high 423 yards and tied a school record with four touchdowns. Louisville began to chip back into the lead in the second half, thanks to two SU turnovers. The comeback fell short and the Orange made national headlines with the upset. For a brief moment, the Big East bottom-dweller was a real football program again.

No. 1 - Syracuse 50, Virginia Tech 42 3OT (2002)

Coming off their upset of the highly-ranked Hokies the year prior, it was too much to ask of the Orange to do it again. But in a game that featured 1,163 yards of total offense, including 907 yards passing, Syracuse did it anyway.

VT jumped out to an early 14-3 lead but the Orange chipped away and kept the rest of the game close. The fourth quarter featured 27 points, a lead change and two ties With the score tied 35-35, Virginia Tech missed a game-winning FG late and the Orange took a knee into overtime.

In the first OT period, neither team was able to score. VT missed another FG and Troy Nunes was intercepted in the endzone. In the second OT, VT got on the board first but Nunes recovered to throw a TD pass, sending the game into a third OT. In it, Damien Rhodes scored the go-ahead TD and mandatory 2-point conversion. Syracuse safety Maurice McClain intercepted a Bryan Randall pass in the endzone, clinching the win for the Orange in front of the home crowd, which stormed the field afterward.

Through The Statistical Looking Glass - Syracuse QBs In The Aughts

Sean Keeley — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:17:17 -0000

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How many more times will Syracuse football be played in the 00's? None. None more times. Therefore, it's officially time to arbitrarily begin comparing and contrasting the various players and statistics from the last ten years in order to come up with argumentative lists that validate the importance of why we care in the first place.

Whew.

Over the next couple days I'm going to throw out some breakdowns from the key positions from The Syracuse Football Decade That Shall Not Be Named. Then we'll get into some of the bests and worsts of the last ten years. To start off slow before we get into the opinions, let's look at the cold, hard facts...starting with the QBs.

Thought it would be interesting to look at the top five Syracuse QBs overall from the decade (which is pretty much all of them) and then break out the top five statistical seasons therein. Perhaps there's a surprise or two in there? Eh...probably not. But let's look anyway. First up, the Top Five Overall Syracuse QBs from the Aughts! (Note: only seasons within 2000-2009 were counted, sorry Troy!)

Quarterback	Comps	Atts	Yards	Pass TDs	INTs	Rush TDs
Perry Patterson ('04 - '06)	456	862	5,160	25	25	6
R.J. Anderson ('00 - '03)	358	679	4,698	21	23	13
Troy Nunes ('00 - '02)	267	457	3,347	21	27	3
Andrew Robinson ('06 - '08)	175	345	2,344	14	11	0
Greg Paulus ('09)	193	285	2,025	13	14	1

You could probably argue that R.J. deserves to on the top of the list given his rushing prowess and the fact that he competed directly with Nunes during that time. But I'm giving it to Perry based on his overall passing numbers just being a little bit better in every category. And yes, Cam Dantley had a much better TD/INT ratio that Paulus but when you factor in Paulus' completion percentage and yardage, he gets the nod. Not bad for one season of work.

Take from this what you will...Ryan Nassib came in 7th.

Now, onto the Top Five Syracuse QB Single-Season Performances...(Again, apologies to Troy Nunes, who had his best statistical season in 1999).

Quarterback	Comp	Att	Yards	Pass TDs	INTs	Rush TDs
R.J. Anderson, 2003	186	310	2,164	10	8	5
Greg Paulus, 2009	193	285	2,205	13	14	1
Andrew Robinson, 2007	154	292	2,192	13	7	0
Perry Patterson, 2006	158	300	1,865	12	4	0
Perry Patterson, 2004	168	289	1,851	7	10	3

Trying to pick that fifth one was like picking the leastest of two evils. Cam Dantley had a much better TD/INT ratio in 2008 (11/5) but, having followed last season so closely, I couldn't bring myself to put that in over a 2004 when at least Patterson did well enough to lead the Orange to a bowl.

Picking Anderson's 2003 season over Paulus's 2009 was tough. Paulus set all sorts of single-season records. But those INTs really stand out. And Anderson added much more the game on the ground that season. I think what he lacked on a slightly less efficient passing attack he makes up for in scoring.

How'd I do?

The Greg Paulus Experiment: Success Or Failure?

Sean Keeley — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:52:06 -0000

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Say this of Bud Poliquin...from day one he championed the idea of Syracuse bringing back golden son Greg Paulus to quarterback the football team in 2009. When Paulus was contacted by Michigan about his services, Bud wondered aloud what was keeping SU from extending the same courtesy?

The only question is fairly obvious: How is it that Michigan beat SU to the punch here? Lord knows, the Orange not only needs a quarterback, but a reason for fans to purchase tickets. And in Paulus, one of our town's all-time signature athletes, it would have gotten both -- player and attraction. Still could, I suppose.

Like many SU fans, my response to the matter was abrupt and full of disgust.

Bud likens it to a carnival attraction of sorts and that's exactly what it would be. Not to mention it would be at the expense of Ryan Nassib's on-the-job training. Thanks but no thanks, we'll stick with the guys who wanted to come play at Syracuse University. I'm sure he's a wonderful, well-mannered guy but we're in no position to take a chance on a guy who hasn't touched a football in four years.

Yeah! Tell'm Steve-Dave!

Well, take a chance we did. Greg Paulus returned to Syracuse with the intention of helping put the Orange back on the path to success.

"Each place was unique, but in my heart, I just felt that Syracuse was the place for me," Paulus told FOXSports.com. "It's a chance to go home and make a difference."

"I'm excited about trying to re-energize the Syracuse program," he added. "It's a pretty neat thing."

Neat-o! For Syracuse fans, Paulus represented a chance for the Orange to take not just a step but a giant leap in the right direction. National championships, Big East titles and probably even bowl games would remain out of reach but the expectation levels had been raised to the point where everyone expected Syracuse to be relevant on the football field again.

So...did The Greg Paulus Experiment succeed? Bud Poliquin certainly thinks so, but then again you already knew that. Kudos to the Three Idiots for boiling down Bud's column to its basic form...a Wordle Cloud. Let's look at it from a few different angles.

1. Did Greg Paulus perform at the position of quarterback.

The biggest question heading into the season as far as Paulus was concerned...can he still play? Furthermore, can he re-learn on the job while college football defenses are swarming all around him. From a statistical standpoint, Paulus acquitted himself very well. Here's his season stats, and as a frame of reference, the stats for his predecessors:

Paulus - 193-of-285, 2,025 yards, 67.7% completion pct, 13 TDs, 14 INTs, 132.62 QB Rating.

Cam Dantley (2008) - 121-of-251, 1,298 yards, 48.2% completion pct, 11 TDs, 5 INTs, 102.12 QB Rating.

Andrew Robinson (2007) - 154-of-292, 2,192 yards, 52.7% completion pct, 13 TDs, 7 INTs, 125.70 QB Rating.

The negative that stands out the most is obviously interceptions. Paulus had some crucial, back-breaking ones over the course of the season. But if you take into account he's a guy who hasn't played football in four years, that's to be expected. That said, it's surprising to note that he actually matched Andrew Robinson's TD total and almost matched his yardage from two years ago. And he did it while splitting time with Ryan Nassib who threw for 422 yards and 3 TDs himself.

Of course the real difference is evident in the completions (most ever), completion percentage, the highest ever in a Syracuse single-season, and the QB rating. At the end of the day, Paulus was an extremely efficient quarterback. And if you take into account that he was basically a freshman, that's impressive. He wasn't the guy to put up huge numbers consistently. He wasn't the guy to take SU 99 yards in two minutes to win the game. He wasn't even the guy to put the team on his back and will them to victory. But he was the guy that could manage the offense, and considering that's all we asked of him, he seemed to have succeeded.

Now, it's a bit of revisionist history not to mention that there was a stretch during the middle of the season that most SU fans wanted Paulus' tushy planted on the bench. Whatever patience we swore we would keep up during the season had evaporated. Maybe it was that feeling that SU was on the cusp of bowl eligibility and we needed to strike now. In retrospect, it was a little silly to ask so much of these guys, especially Paulus. And was Ryan Nassib the answer that would have pushed us over the edge? Doesn't look like it.

You could argue fairly that Paulus' play prevented the Orange from a couple wins. But you'd be hard pressed to convince me that Ryan Nassib would have done that much better. Based on what was available, Paulus handled himself as best he could and proved he still could play.

2. Did Greg Paulus become the experienced leader that we were told he would be?

I think you have to say yes. What I appreciated about Paulus now but never really noticed before is his humility. I mean, I know that people said he was humble and didn't make it about himself but, seriously, can you remember one moment all season when Greg Paulus did something in an interview or off-the-field that you questioned? Dude was a boy scout. Not to say that's what you need to be as a quarterback, but in this situation where SU had enough distractions to last ten seasons, Paulus never added to them despite being the biggest potential distraction of all.

Dude did his work. He never pouted when things went wrong. He owned up to his mistakes. He promised improvement. He showered teammates with respect and adulation. He weathered the many storms that rolled in. He was a classy guy.

Not to say Ryan Nassib isn't but the kind of experience and life lessons that Paulus brought with him obviously influenced the way he lead this team. Like Coach K said, Greg left his DNA on this program. He left it all over the program. He dropped a load of DNA on us. So much so you had to wipe it away from your face just to see straight. (Okay, I'm done).

Point is, I think Ryan Nassib and Charley Loeb will be better QBs for having played with Greg Paulus for a season. Ultimately, that's a benefit SU can hold onto.

3. Did Greg Paulus return Syracuse to the spotlight?

Absolutely. Remember when Paulus first committed? It was a national spotlight the likes of which SU hasn't seen in years. Not even from The Express. At first, at least, Paulus' every throw and every decision were scrutinized ad nauseum. That dissipated as folks realized Paulus could at least hold his own and eventually folks got back to dismissing SU until they won. Greg couldn't work miracles and turn SU into a nightly discussion topic, but he did help put SU back in the arena.

Conclusion:

Yes, you have to deem The Greg Paulus Experiment a success. Not the kind of success you can look at on paper and realize. But the kind you'll really notice two years from now when the Orange are challenging for bowl games and playing at a respectable level week in and week out. We don't owe it all to Paulus, but I think he will be remembered for being the leader on a team that set the tone for years to come.

Of course, Greg isn't done dropping his DNA on SU just yet. He's going to help out the basketball team in some kind of grad assistant capacity. If he puts the same amount of effort into that gig that he did into being the quarterback, he should be able to make an even bigger lasting impression on Syracuse.

Thanks Greg, we'll take it from here. But we appreciate it.

Poll

What do you think?

The Experiment was a tremendous success from this standpoint.

211 votes

The Experiment fell short and didn't deliver.

41 votes

The Experiment had no real effect one way or the other.

92 votes

344 votes | Poll has closed

Here's To You, Andrew Robinson

Sean Keeley — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:42:23 -0000

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Robinson-to-Williams has the potential to become the best tandem in the history of SU football.
-Me, December 4th, 2007

And it was true. All you had to know was two specific games that season, Louisville and Cincinnati, and you would have agreed.

Louisville: Andrew Robinson (423 yards, 4 TDs), Mike Williams (5 catches, 83 yards, TD)

Cincinnati: Andrew Robinson (419 yards, 3 TDs), Mike Williams (9 catches, 160 yards, TD)

At the time, if you had told me that, two years later, one of them would have quit the team after returning from a suspension and the other would be languishing on the depth chart as a back-up tight end, well, I would have stabbed your eyes out with a shrimp fork.

But what would have been even more shocking is if you told me the one who got moved out of their position and demoted to the bottom of the pile never complained, did everything asked of him and became the model student by which all future Syracuse football players should measure themselves.

When the Orange play UConn on Sunday, Andrew Robinson will suit up for the final time in orange and blue. He might get in on some special teams plays but that's about it. Two other guys will be throwing the football. A couple other guys will block and nab some catches from the tight end spot. Through it all Andrew Robinson will not complain and will not pout. He will show up for his teammates and support them. He will be the very definition of senior leadership.

Doug Marrone might point to Greg Paulus as our leader and, as the starting quarterback, he might just be that. All due respect to Doug and Greg, but Andrew Robinson has been this team's compass for three seasons, even if his best games are two years behind him.

Robinson came to SU by way of Maryland where he was honorable mention all-state, first-team All-MIAA, second-team All-Metro and second-team All-Baltimore County as a high school senior. Not bad for a guy who had never played football before ninth grade. That didn't stop then-coach Greg Robinson from recruiting Andrew:

"When I found out, I was like, 'Hmmm,' because I liked his poise," Greg Robinson said. "He has a good football sense to him. I really like him. He's pretty natural about how he learns and pretty intense about trying to get it right. The mind-set is, be the best you can be and get better for us. If he does, he'll be a good quarterback. I believe that."

In his first season, Andrew waited in line behind Perry Patterson, playing sparingly during blowouts. There were quite a few.

In his sophomore season, Robinson took the reigns of the Syracuse offense. It was a bittersweet year for Robinson since his career as a college quarterback was taking off but the Orange were in the midst of another terrible year under Greggers. In his first game, Robinson put up decent stats, 20-for-32 for 199 yards and a touchdown. He had good games and bad games, just like any young QB. Then the Louisville game happened...

Robinson's 423 yard performance was, and still is, the 2nd-best passing day in SU history. His four touchdowns tied the SU mark and earned him the Big East Offensive Player of the Week notice. His 79-yard touchdown pass to Taj Smith, the first SU play from scrimmage, was the longest passing play for SU since 2002. Syracuse was a national story and the image of Robinson jumping for joy became the representation of Syracuse football. Andrew Robinson had arrived.

The Orange quickly came back to Earth and continued to struggle all season long. Every other game or so, Robinson would string together a solid performance. No small feat considering the lack of protection he was getting from his offensive line. He threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns against Miami (OH). 158 yards and a TD against Rutgers. And in the season finale, Robinson once again tantalized SU fans with his potential, throwing for 419 yards and three TDs. His 47 attempts are an SU record and 29 completions tied him with Marvin Graves all-time. Robinson earned Big East Honor Roll accolades that week and, if nothing else, provided Orange fans with a glimpse into a better future. He and fellow sophomore Mike Williams were about to embark on a two-year journey that would rewrite the Syracuse record books.

Something funny happened on the way to Andrew's junior year. Maybe it was the yips. Maybe it was one too-many hits courtesy of the porous offensive line. Maybe it was a Russian gypsy curse. Maybe it was something we'll never know. Whatever it was, Andrew's game betrayed him.

It started innocently. Robinson was designated the first-string quarterback but not named the starter right away. How could this be? How could a guy who threw for 400 yards on two different occasions not automatically get the nod over a collection of unproven QBs?

By the time the Northwestern game came around to start the season, there was no denying it...Andrew Robinson had regressed. Or at least, he was not the same. As if he already knew this going in, Greg Robinson immediately announced that Cameron Dantley would be the new starting quarterback for the Orange the following week. Robinson played in three more games that year, all either in garbage or injury time.

This past season, his senior year, there was little expectation that Robinson would be able to regain his old job. Dantley returned for his senior year and redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib was waiting in the wings. By the fifth spring practice it became official that Nassib would end up being the starter (later replaced by transfer Greg Paulus). What was truly unexpected was what happened to Robinson...he was moved to tight end.

Tight end? TIGHT END? Have you seen this guy? He's not beanpole but he's no Arthur Jones either. It was the kind of move that makes players up and quit, and given the kind of upheaval the Orange's roster has gone through, it would not have been strange had Robinson decided this just wasn't for him. Of course, Robinson made the kind of decision we've come to expect from him...he decided to grind it out.

He bulked up. He learned the skills necessary. He put his head down. Most of all, he never ever complained.

Robinson was never really able to make much of a dent on the tight end depth chart. Originally slated as a 4th-string TE, Robinson was able to help the team more through special teams, be it as a holder or on coverage. Because of that, he played in every game unlike last season. And because of his commitment off the field to doing well, he was named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy which recognizes "an individual for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership." Sounds like him.

Despite only playing one full season at QB, Robinson leaves behind quite a few records and notable performances. His two 400-yard games are the 2nd and 3rd best single SU passing performances of all time. He ranks fifth on Syracuse’s career passing yards per game list (138.3 yards per game). He holds the record for most attempts in a game (47) and is tied for most completions (29). His 2007 season was among the best in SU history in terms of passing yards (2,192 yards, ranks fifth), completions (154, sixth), passing yards per game (199.3, fifth), touchdown passes (13, ninth), and pass attempts (292, third).

Doug Marrone does not use the word "tremendous" lightly. Okay, actually he uses it extremely lightly. He pretty much works it into every sentence. But if you think of it in terms of how important that word is to him, then it should be no surprise at all to know that Marrone calls Andrew "a tremendous, tremendous person." There is no greater praise you can receive from the big man.

It's funny that Robinson and Mike Williams were linked on the field because the way they handled themselves off the field is intrinsically linked as well. Andrew had every right to last out and be bitter with the way things ended up, yet he never did. Mike Williams had every reason to be on top of the world and yet he'll be remembered almost as much for his pouting and how he quit on his teammates and himself.

If Andrew Robinson got angry and emotional about his treatment on the SU team, that wouldn't have been unexpected.

If Andrew Robinson posted messages on his Facebook alluding to the fact that he was unhappy, no one would have blamed him.

If Andrew Robinson consistently broke team rules, we'd know why.

If Andrew Robinson quit the team, we would have understood.

But it was Mike Williams, the team's super-duper star, who did all of that while Robinson quietly went about his business. Andrew will graduate and he will never play professional football. Williams will go on to play professional football and probably become a millionaire. Not saying that's wrong or unfair, it's just the way the cards have been dealt.

Five years from now, Mike Williams will probably be something of a known quantity around the country. At the very least, he'll be a name on a fantasy football add/drop list. Andrew Robinson will have disappeared from the nation's consciousness long before then, probably already has. But I guarantee you that, five years from now, if you see both of them walking on the Syracuse quad, you'll shake Andrew's hand first.

We appreciate what Mike Williams did at SU, but we admire Andrew Robinson. And we always will.

Donnie Webb Talk With Andrew Robinson

The Battle For New York City's Heart And Eyeballs

Sean Keeley — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:43:17 -0000

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Just put together my weekly College Football Buffet feature on SBNation.com and when I was compiling this weekend's games and TV listings, the SU-Rutgers game wasn't even listed. Had I not been an SU fan I probably would have just missed it altogether. The Battle For Who Could Care Less might be more apt, apparently.

Look, you want facts about tomorrow's game against Rutgers? Doug Marrone will give you facts.

"We’re playing a Rutgers team that’s a good football team," Doug Marrone said earlier this week. "Coach (Greg) Schiano has been there for nine years. He’s done a good job of building that program."

FACTS!

Let's get the scary stuff out of the way first. The Orange are walking wounded, they're without their two best defensive players, their best offensive player and there's no telling how many more players could be lost between now and then. Plus, there's this stuff:

Rutgers will enter the game with the nation’s best turnover margin at plus-21 (29 forced, eight committed). It boasts a run defense that allows only 98.2 yards per game, a physical offensive line and one of the conference’s elite deep threats in Tim Brown, who averages 21.5 yards per reception.

Well, let's shift focus, shall we? I think we can all agree that we've officially tuned out football season anyway. So let's take some time to worry about honor the seniors so we can get them on their way and move forward. Like Lavar Lobdell, Andrew Robinson and Mike Stenclik.

Lavar Lobdell. Andrew Robinson. Mike Stenclik. Each arrived determined to lead SU to Big East championships and big-time bowl games. Each will run through the tunnel and onto the Carrier Dome turf for the final time shortly before 3:30 p.m. Saturday having tasted neither.

In that regard they failed, but don’t dare call them failures. Or losers. Or quitters. Each has endured coaching changes. Each has suffered injuries. Each has experienced broken dreams of stardom. And each is still here, playing in a reduced role for love of the game and loyalty to teammates, coach and school.

"Lobdell appeared to be headed to Miami." Wow.

I definitely think Robinson in particular deserves his own post and I'll get to that next week, but despite their efforts we do say thanks to the seniors for their efforts. They got dealt a crap hand and they made the best of it...those that are still here.

As for predictions...

Brian from Orange44:

This game should still be won through the air by Rutgers, in what will be an ugly game not in terms of the score, but it terms of how anemic Syracuse will probably be, and how tragic some breaks will go. Rutgers over Syracuse in this one, 31 to 13.

Brian Bennett at ESPN:

Rutgers 27, Syracuse 7: The Orange have totaled 19 points in their last two games since Mike Williams quit. Now they're going up against a defense that has hit its stride and is adept at creating turnovers. That's not a good matchup for interception machine Greg Paulus. Rutgers wins easily to continue its late-season run.

CuseOrange.com's Staff:

LVO prediction: Rutgers 27 Syracuse 10

Reyes39 prediction: Rutgers 27 Syracuse 14

As for myself, I have to believe that the Scarlet Knights are peaking and the Orange are dropping off a cliff. I have no doubt the SU players, what's left of them, will bust their asses and the seniors will do their best. But it's just not going to be enough. And unfortunately, I don't think Schiano will take his foot off the gas as well. Something about that guy...he doesn't like us.

Rutgers 38, Syracuse 13

Poll

The outcome of the Syracuse-Rutgers game will be...

Rutgers wins by 20+ points

48 votes

Rutgers wins by 10-19 points

34 votes

Rutgers wins by 1-9 points

13 votes

Syracuse wins

89 votes

184 votes | Poll has closed

Honoring Seniors & Freshmen Alike

Sean Keeley — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:19:39 -0000

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12-34

That's the W-L record the graduating four-year seniors on the Syracuse football team. If they're a fifth-year senior, that record balloons to 13-44. Not exactly the record of excellence, or even mediocrity, they were expecting when they decided to play football at Syracuse. By all accounts, folks expect Syracuse to improve over the next few years. That means that this class and the one that preceded it will be intrinsically linked with SU's point in the modern era. Sorry about that, guys.

Assuming they are four-year players, they will have never beaten Pittsburgh, West Virginia, South Florida or Cincinnati. A loss this weekend will add Rutgers to that list as well. If these guys needed any extra incentive to play, the threat of being a class that never defeated Rutgers should be extremely present in their minds as they practice.

As far as who will be honored this weekend, it's slightly unclear exactly who should actually be honored and who shouldn't. The folks who will hear their names called include:

Ryan Bartholomew, Tucker Baumbach, Cam Dantley, Donte Davis, Arthur Jones, Max Leo, Lavar Lobdell, Jim McKenzie, Mike Owen, Greg Paulus, Dalton Phillips, Andrew Robinson, Nico Scott, Derrell Smith and Mike Stenclik

Now, six of those players have another year of eligibility (a confusing situation that stems from Coach Marrone's decision to switch the designation from actual year rather than eligibility year).

And then there's Delone Carter, Anthony Perkins and Andrew Lewis, all of whom are listed as seniors but will not walk as they have another year of eligibility as well.

Whatever, as long as everyone actually makes it to the game without getting injured, they can be whatever they want.

It's not just about the seniors on Saturday. It's also a time to look to the future of Syracuse football. A future that looks bright when you notice two freshmen who have stepped up their game so much, so fast. The Thomases...Philip and SHAMARKO.

Both Thomases started for Syracuse last week in the Orange’s 10-9 Big East Conference loss at Louisville. Shamarko Thomas started at strong safety. Phillip Thomas started at cornerback.

Injuries played a part in their quick ascension but both have played as well as true freshmen defensive backs can be asked to play. Besides, we shouldn't be surprised. They certainly weren't.

"I’m a hard worker," said Shamarko Thomas. "I push. I push hard. I’m fast. I come to deliver hits and I’m a play-maker."

"I feel like a sophomore or even better," said Phillip Thomas. "I’ve gotten more playing time as a freshman. I feel like I’ve graduated from a freshman."

SHAMARKO comes to deliver hits. He leaves having delivered them.

Syracuse football is in rough shape. The graduating seniors had about as tough a situation as one could walk into in college. But they leave the groundwork for The Thomases, the other freshmen and the incoming players to build in.

"All the freshmen, we’re tight," said Phillip Thomas. "This program is going to be better. We’re going to have more winning seasons and be in bowl contention."

"This freshman class and the other freshmen that are coming in, we’re going to change the whole program," said Shamarko Thomas. "We’re going to start winning more games."

Daily Links - Halloween Time

Sean Keeley — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:14:05 -0000

Halloween in the Big East - Big East - ESPN
Greg Paulus' Halloween Costume: Orange devil. To commemorate his career at both Duke and Syracuse.

Orange Fizz: Syracuse Orange Sports Blog, Recruiting and Podcasts.
Looking for any last-minute costume ideas, why not try a rather chubby, adolescent-looking Syracuse sportscaster from the late-80s who went on to do some other low-level stuff.

Orange Fizz: Syracuse Orange Sports Blog, Recruiting and Podcasts.
Beyond his stats, Williams gives Doug Marrone even more: A name on draft day.

Scouting Cincinnati with Da'Mon Merkerson - Sports
Here's what Da'Mon Merkerson had to say about his position switch and preparing for Cincinnati's high-octane passing attack.

onegreatseason - One Great Season - UC Comes Close, But 12-0 Won't Be Enough
Bearcat fans are understandably perplexed to see their favorite squad fall three spots in this week's BCS rankings.

Orangecast: Football Edition - Previewing Cincinnati | Orange Football Blog - syracuse.com
Sportswriter Dave Rahme says Syracuse University will have to play turnover-free football -- and perfect in other ways, too -- to beat nationally ranked Cincinnati on Saturday.

King Ottos World - Cuse Cast
KingOtto and Cuseman recap the Akron game, preview the Cincy game, and talk some SU hoops.

Andrew Robinson had record-setting game game against Cincinnati in 2007 | Orange Football Blog - syracuse.com
It was only two years ago that Andrew Robinson was setting passing records against Cincy. Alas...

Fight back: After offseason surgery, Onuaku looks to lead Orange frontcourt - Sports
After undergoing surgery for chronic knee tendonitis following the 2008-2009 season, Onuaku spent nearly the entire summer off, away from basketball and working on rehabbing his sore joints.

The "Average" Fans of Big East Teams - Casual Hoya
The "Average" Big East Fan for each of the Big East basketball schools.

YouTube - College Basketball: Big East Preview
Gary Parrish and his fauxhawk joins Jason Horowitz to breakdown the Big East.

SU sophomore forward Kris Joseph gave a brief synopsis of what's happening in SU's practices since the Orange scrimmaged last Sunday. He also shows us his "nose-holding" technique for broadcasting.

SU Sophomore Forward Kris Joseph

E.J. Carter Ready To Hit Someone. Possibly You.

Sean Keeley — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:20:56 -0000

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Three weeks ago, Doug Marrone suspended freshman linebacker E.J. Carter for the dreaded "violation of team rules." And so he has waited. And waited. And waited for a chance to play again. He gets that chance this weekend as he has been officially reinstated and will be in the line-up against Cincinnati.

Carter will return to Syracuse for Saturday’s game against No. 5 Cincinnati. While not pinpointing exactly why he was suspended, Carter did say he needed to improve academically. In general, the balancing act with school and football became "frustrating."

"I looked at my time off as an opportunity for me to get ahead," Carter said. "Now I’m ahead in some classes and feel like I’m better prepared…I guess I needed that growing pain."

Carter was not allowed to practice with the team and that will likely affect the way he's used this weekend. Though if Derrell Smith continues to have issues with his undisclosed injury, that could move Carter back into the spotlight.

Whether he plays one down or all of them, Carter has a goal in mind for the game. The kind of goal that lets you know you probably shouldn't sneak up on him for the remainder of the week.

"I’m ready to hit," Carter said. "That’s all I want to do. I want to hit somebody else."

If E.J. is fortunate enough to achieve his goal, he might even get rewarded for it with The Bone, Scott Shafer's weekly award for the hardest hit each game. Someone will walk away with it after the Cincy game but until then, the Bone belongs to Chandler Jones for his work against Akron:

"It was a quarterback lead play and the quarterback pulled the ball out and I came off the line and just threw my whole body into him. We watched the film. We kept rewinding it. I was the bone winner. I still walk around, bragging about it. I've got it in my locker right now. I wish I would have brought it."

I really think that "I was the bone winner" could catch on in some capacity. I'd like to be the bone winner. We all would.

Oh and, in case you were wondering why Andrew Robinson is wearing a cast on his right hand, it's because he broke his thumb. As such, he can no longer perform the duties of holder, of which he was 2nd string. Just one of those years for Andrew...

Akron May Or May Not Have A Quarterback On Saturday

Sean Keeley — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:27:10 -0000

We noted earlier this year that Akron has dismissed starting quarterback Chris Jacquemain from the team for a violation of team policy (which we came to learn stemmed from a fight). It was a crushing blow for the Zips considering Jacquemain was a senior and had tons of experience.

Turns out, this was simply the beginning of Akron's woes this season:

Afterwards, sophmore Matt Rodgers took over the reigns only to suffer an ACL tear on October 10th. This now leaves the offense in the hands of freshman Patrick Nicely. His backups are fellow freshman Jared Wackerly and Student Coach Tim Zetts. Zetts played for the Zip's in 2005 before transferring to Saginaw Valley State. He was injuried at SVS has one semester remaining on his eligibilty. Finally, it was reported yesterday that senior reciever Deryn Bowser would be out with a broken leg and sophomore linebacker Aaron Williams would be out with a broken arm. Both are out for the season. All in all Akron is missing 13 scholarship players for the season. This is a nightmare if you are a fan of the Zip's.

Luckily, there is no such thing as a fan of Akron football.

So, down to the scraps at the quarterback position and coming up against the vaunted, stout defense of Syracuse, Akron did about the only thing they could think of. They took out an ad for someone, anyone, to play quarterback for them in the student paper.

My fear? That during warm-ups, Andrew Robinson emerges from the locker room like he normally would, walks over to Greg Paulus to shake his hand, hits him over the head with a chair, rips off his Syracuse jersey to reveal an Akron jersey and begins taunting the Syracuse Orange from the other side of the field with his new manager, Professor Death.

This is my fear.

H/T: Thunder Treats & Hot Clicks

As Far As Doug Marrone Is Concerned, Greg Robinson Doesn't Exist

Sean Keeley — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:18:17 -0000

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If Greg Robinson's existence became an issue for the legal system and Doug Marrone was called to the stand and asked to verify if Greg was actually Syracuse's football coach in the four years previous to his arrival, Doug would politely yet tersely say, "I have no recollection of that, Senator." Hopefully there would be a Senator present.

Syracuse has lost seven straight to West Virginia, including last year's game in which Noel Devine led a late charge to secure a 17-6 Mountaineer win. But when asked about his feelings on last year's game before he was coach at Syracuse, Doug Marrone has no idea what the hell you're talking about.

"I watched this year's games. I'm sorry. I didn't watch last year's games."

Lucky him. A lot of Syracuse players know what it's like to lose to West Virginia and they're sick and tired of it, like former starting QB Cam Dantley:

"Opportunities like that," Dantley said, "we were real close at the end, it kind of sticks in your gut for awhile just knowing, hey, we could have got that win, especially in a rivalry like West Virginia and being the underdog like we were."

Speaking of Cam, he's talking for the first time about what's it's like to be low man on the QB totem pole after being the team's starter for most of the last year.

SU Senior Quarterback Cameron Dantley

Greg Paulus might not have been here for any of the previous losses to West Virginia but he knows the pain of losing to the Mountaineers in a big game.

In 2008, the West Virginia basketball team upset Duke and Paulus 73-67 in the NCAA basketball tournament. On one side, you had McDonald's All-American blue bloods. On the other, you had, well, the Mountaineers.

There was quite a bit of mocking the Blue Devils by the Mountaineers after the game including a memorable lilne by West Virginia reserve Cam Thoroughman. He asked if Duke point guard Greg Paulus was one of the eight McDonald’s all-Americans on the Blue Devils team just ousted from the tournament. When told yes, Thoroughman said: "Oh my God. Are you kidding?"

Revenge is a dish best served cold, Gregory.

Finally, the tight end situation has become a bit of a concern for Syracuse recently. With so many TEs injured, Coach Marrone is going to have to think outside the box on this one. He's holding an open audition of sorts as multiple players on the team are getting looks at the spot. Marrone declined to say who might play the "U" position or even which players are practicing there, though there are some obvious options to start with:

In addition to senior co-captain Mike Owen, the tight end pool is left with former starting quarterback Andrew Robinson, former fullback Carl Cutler and walk-on Thomas Trendowski of Westhill High School in Syracuse. Robinson has a hand injury and is playing with a cast. Marrone said Robinson will be able to play against West Virginia on Saturday if called upon.