Robinson Begins Working Toward 2008

Read the Final Season Release
Read Head Coach Greg Robinson's Press Conference Transcript

The 2008 football Orange return eight starters on both sides of the ball in addition to the starting kickers and kick returners. Before the squad begins off-season conditioning head coach Greg Robinson is focusing on assessment of the 2007 campaign and the program and the 2008 recruiting class.

"I've begun the process of preparing for the 2008 season," Robinson said. "One of the first things was to to assess where we are heading toward the 2008 season. There are a number of returning starters on offense and defense, and specialists returning in the kicking game. To me it's encouraging. I think that is a good thing. We are full steam ahead in the recruiting process for the class of 2008. I think we are putting ourselves in a position to put together another fine recruiting class. I think that when you couple it with the other two classes, I think this group is one that can be very strong again. When I say strong, it's those people who I think really fit the profile of what we are looking for."

Wide receivers Mike Williams, and Taj Smith, who enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history, return to anchor the receiving corps. Williams set the school standard with nine consecutive games with a touchdown grab and tied Kevin Johnson's 1998 school record of 60 receptions in a season. The sophomore has 14 career touchdown catches, which is only eight away from the SU record of 22 held by Rob Moore (1987-89). Smith, who set the Syracuse record for receiving yards by a junior with 822 yards, had 44 catches, including five for touchdowns. The pair produced one of the most dangerous receiving tandems in the BIG EAST. Both players averaged 65 receiving yards per game, while combining for 1,659 total receiving yards and 104 out of 202 SU receptions. They are just the sixth Orange duo since 1990 to top 500 individual receiving yards in a season.

Syracuse's return game also provided explosive plays. True freshmen Max Suter and Mike Holmes combined to lead the Orange kicking game that set BIG EAST and Syracuse kick return records. The Orange, which averaged 24.8 yards per return, which is third in Syracuse history, amassed 1,709 total kick return yards. Sutger established the NCAA, BIG EAST and Syracuse single-season record for kick return yards with 1,299 yards. His 25.5 yards per return is fifth on Syracuse's single-season and career record lists. Holmes averaged 39.3 yards per return against West Virginia, which is fifth on the Orange single-game record list.

The defense also grabbed headlines. Sophomore defensive tackle Arthur Jones disrupted opponents backfields, registering 17.5 tackles for loss, the third-best season total in school history, while senior Joe Fields paced the Orange defense and tied for seventh in the BIG EAST with 8.1 tackles per game. He also had four interceptions. Senior Jameel McClain closed his Orange career in the seventh spot on the Syracuse record list for tackles by a down lineman (177) and tied for 11th on the career tackles for a loss list (21.5). Junior linebacker Jake Flaherty was Syracuse's second-leading tackler, with 95 stops, in his first year as a starter.

"I like the talent level of our football team," Robinson said. "There is talent in the program. There was a lack of experience. There are two different things that come into having success. I think when you couple talent with experience, there are a number of people who have been a part of this program now and have begun to experience a lot of different things and have been on that football field that they, collectively, will be able to make a move so that we can be a successful program."

Syracuse University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos