Which Way Did He Go, George? Which Way Did He Go??

Remember all that confidence we got from Coach Robinson all summer, and back at BE Media Day less than a month ago. Reading the Axeman's Blog you'd swear it was all a dream. I read the transcript from Danny Parkins' interview with the Head Coach and I must say I'm dumbfounded. It was almost like watching Clinton sidestep the meaning of the word 'sex' all over again. For those of you too lazy to click the link, here is some of it:

Danny Parkins: What would you consider improvement for this year?

Greg Robinson:Well, I'm going to let you people decide all that. I don't think that...I don't know. I don't know what the wins and losses is, but I think you are going to see an improved football team. I think it will be clear the people if it looks improved. I have my own expectations. At the same time, others have their own. I'm not going to try and make predictions and do all that. I'm confident that this football team is going to make their presence felt. I think our community is going to be proud of our football team."

What the fuck?? So we're to decide what improvement is? So since its being left to our imagination and the guy has no clue what the Ws & Ls are, I guess 3 wins is improvement? Sounds more like a load of shit. What the Sam Hell happened to "winning a bowl game"?

Danny Parkins:I have heard you say though that it is a realistic goal to get to a bowl game and win it."
Greg Robinson: "Well, that is our goal. Exactly right. I don't have any problem with that. I made that statement a long time ago. I thought you wanted me to make a new statement."

Oh. My bad. I jumped the gun.

Danny Parkins:"No, that's fine. I was asking about this season, or a player. That is fine, if you think still a goal for this team is to win a bowl game, I think fans are happy to hear that to be honest with you."

Greg Robinson: "Well, that is out there. But tell me the question you asked, Dan."

Danny Parkins:"Well, I guess the first one was..."Fans are going to most impressed with by...what?"

Greg Robinson "Yeah, see. That's...see...I don't know what that is getting to. I don't know. I kind of told you what I think this team is. They are an improved football team. They like each other, they play hard. They do all those things. So, what is most impressive. I don't know what is most impressive. I really don't. And I'm not going to come out and make some kind of statement. I have told you what the goal is for our football team, and you like that, so if that is what you want, put that in there."

"Well, Yeah, So, I don't know" all over the place. Sounds like a more clueless version of Lumberg from "Office Space"

Um..... yyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeah..... so the team looks.... well the team is.... um.... yyyyeah..... doing good. So if they could ..... you know....... win ...... a game....... or two........ this year...... that.........that would ..... that would be great.

Any slight glimmer of optimism I had for the opener just vanished.

Waiting....

(Photo from syracuse.com)

It's been a rough week at work so I'm just getting my dose of Orange for this week. I came across a story which was featured in the Marcus Sales story by Donnie Webb. Webb reports that both the Kansas Jayhawks and Virginia Tech Hokies football teams have gotten the first looks at the highly anticipated film "The Express" on Tues and Wed.

Webb explains further:

Syracuse University athletic department officials were caught off guard when news broke about the Jayhawks and Hokies getting first looks at the movie. One said that Universal Studios "would not agree to screen for our team until the week of the premiere," which is scheduled for the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse on Sept. 12. The plan is to show the film to the Syracuse football team possibly at Carousel Center on the same day but prior to the Landmark event.

So the Football team bearing the name and colors of Ernie Davis' alma mater has to wait until the week of the premiere before getting their first look at the film that SU fans alike have waited a lifetime for? Sounds to me like the AD officials didn't put up much of a damn fight for their boys in Orange. I normally keep it PG on this blog but seriously, what kind of sorry ass shit is that?

Webb quotes Dr Gross:

Daryl Gross said the movie studio is following a marketing strategy by showing it to select teams or markets in order to create word of mouth buzz. He said that Syracuse was still selected for the film's world premiere.

Let me translate. Dr Gross said that Universal Studios laced up a pair of steel toes boots and kicked the football team square in the cajones. Showing the film to 'select teams', one being Syracuse's former arch rival, will get people talking about the film since the trailers we've seen this summer are apparently just a figment of our imaginations. But not to worry, The World Premiere (if you can still even call it that) is still going to be held in Syracuse after everyone including Sasquatch himself has already seen it. Check that. Since ol' Sasquatch has been sighted in upstate NY he'll have to wait quietly with the rest of the football team.

Forgive me for the comparision but do you think it would have sat well with Notre Dame officials if everyone including USC got a first look at "Rudy" before the Irish football team? The answer? An emphatic "Fuck No"

The story continues:

"We want as many people as possible to see the film and see Ernie's inspirational story," said university spokesman Kevin Quinn. "Our team will be seeing the film very soon at a time that fits into their schedule. The fact is Syracuse, New York, is hosting the national Hollywood-level premiere, which will bring a massive concentration of national attention and excitement and spotlight (to) our current football team, former SU sports greats, the University and the entire community."

Sounds like Universal Studios wants as many people as possible to see the film and see Ernie's inspirational story before anyone who plays home games in the Carrier Dome. And what are SU's Athletic Deptartment officials doing about it?

Sugar Coat (v): To cause to seem more appealing or pleasant: a sentimental treatment that sugercoats a harsh reality.

ARob

In an interview with the Axeman, Syracuse starting quarterback Andrew Robinson, 'ARob' as he's known to most Orange fans, discusses everything from the upcoming Northwestern game to the team progress made this summer. Its a good interview. Orange fans need to check it out if they haven't already.

I will say this. He looks bigger than he did a year ago. He looks more confident - a team leader. I'm hoping for big things out of him this season. He was brought in to lead a new and improved passing game for the Orange and I think (if the stars are lined up right) he may open a few eyes on the national level. Perhaps last year's Louisville game was a preview of things to come.
In the interview the Axeman asks him how he likes the name "ARob". He said he's fine with it because he's been called that since high school. I, however, am not. Orange fans we need to figure out a different nickname to call him other than "ARob". Let it be known far and wide that a nickname made up of the first initial follwed by the first three or four letters of the last name is....... LAAAAAAAAAAME. I for one think we should call him 'Red'. Hell, every time I see him his face is beet red. Now I realize "Red" Robinson doesnt have any kind of ring to it. But dammit its a start! C'Mon Orange faithful lets give our QB a new nickname. I'll take suggestions in the comments posted and we'll have a poll in a future post.

Recruiting Update.

What a difference a week makes. Oh, that is if your Rutgers. SU still sits on 2 verbals while the Rutgers total has upped to 20 commits, thats two more than last week when I reminded SU fans of head coach Greg Robinson's imfamous quote "you wait and see".

The truth is that SU is flat out getting its ass kicked by schools who I claim we recruit against now, and always have. That "wall around the state of NY" that GRob claimed was in construction in 2005 has been pole vaulted with Boston College, Rutgers, Penn State and Pitt being the 4 main culprits.

The reason I'm concentrating so heavily on Rutgers is because the players claimed in 1999, after an embarrassing upset, that - and I wish I could remember their exact words- we're their main rival. And it seems like just about everyone is in agreement that SU has pretty much traded places with Rutgers.

There are 2 points to this update.

1. Not only has Rutgers come a long way since having "W E L C O M E" running down their front side, but theyre beating SU regularly on the field and on the recruiting trail as well.

2. GRob may have 'lame duck' tagged on him already. A sucessful season is more important than ever. If things start out bleak and the ship continues to sink, potential talent who may be considering SU will likely head elsewhere.