Head Coach Greg Robinson Press Conference Transcript (1/17/05)
Press Conference on Director of Football Operations Reggie Terry and Wide Recievers Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator Chris White
January 17, 2005
Greg Robinson’s Comments on Reggie Terry
“I would like to announce that a couple more members of the staff who I’m excited about getting ready to work with. Most of you are very familiar with them. First of all, I would say that as we began the search for the coaching staff, I mentioned on the first day that I was going to talk with the previous coaching staff which was very important to me and obviously very important to them. At this time, there are two of these people who we are going to retain on the staff who I am very pleased to have on my staff. First all, in talking about the position of Director of Football Operations, I will tell you that, quite frankly, I had another person in mind who I thought would be a wonderful fit for the position. But after many recommendations from people within the administration and the coaches and all throughout the Syracuse community, I really wanted to make sure that I got to know this person - Reggie Terry. After really spending quality time with him and realizing how valuable he can be to me and how valuable he has been to this program, I was very pleased to decide to bring him on board with us on the new staff. He brings a lot to the table. He fits all the criteria of the things that I have talked about for our staff. The way that he handles himself, it’s exciting to me that he is going to guide me along. That’s the most important thing.“
Greg Robinson’s Comments on Chris White
“Next I’d like to mention in the same vane, as I was searching through the staff, another person who came highly recommended by coaches on this staff, administrative staff and again, the Syracuse community, a person who has made an impact in his own way with the program. As so many people have said, hard work, dedication and again, he’s another person who I like to say fits the profile of what we are looking for on our staff here at Syracuse. He is a person who I think is going to bridge the gap for the entire coaching staff, obviously in the area of recruiting, but also, along with Reggie Terry, in the areas of helping us get to know the student-athletes who we will be working with. Just as important, I have been very impressed with his football coaching abilities. I think he has a strong background in football. We are going to move him from the tight end position to the wide receiver position. His background as a quarterback and all of his areas of coaching expertise are going to help us at that position. I know that just talking to different players that his relationship as a coach and the way that he is respected by many of the student-athletes within the program, he is going to be a great addition to our staff. As I mentioned about Reggie, I think that he is a very qualified young person who is going to really help me in so many ways. He already has. So I look forward to the continuing growth and development of my own world here.”
Will Chris White continue to serve as the recruiting coordinator?
“We are going to continue to have Chris be our recruiting coordinator.”
You retained two coaches who are a link to the current players and future recruits. Was that important to you to have that link in those two areas?
“I don’t know that. That wasn’t reason for selecting these two people. I think they best fit. Maybe that was the reason. But it is more about them. I feel very good about them. I feel like they fit where I feel like I’m heading and this group is heading.”
How do you go about recruiting now and you have a team meeting tomorrow, what is your schedule?
“Recruiting has been going on since Tuesday. We are pecking away. We’re trying to approach some people who maybe had not shown as much interest as maybe we were hoping they had, as well as the people who are committed to the program. I want to make sure that we touch base with them. We are making home visits. We have already begun that process and we’ll continue to do that. We are going to take time tomorrow, the first day of school back (from vacation), I think it is critical, as I mentioned to you early last week, the first thing I want to do is recruit this football team and let them know what this program is going to be about and go from there.”
Have you had a chance to talk with Paul Pasqualoni?
“I haven’t had a chance. I did catch Coach (Dick) MacPherson and got to visit briefly with him and his wife, Sandra. He was wonderful.”
Did Coach MacPherson’s recommendations have anything to do with Reggie Terry and Chris White being retained on the coaching staff?
“No, we really didn’t get into all of that. It was more about the program. It was just some feelings that are really personal to me right now.”
Do you think it is easier for the players to have at least a few familiar faces on the coaching staff?
“I think so. I think both Chris and Reggie, as well as our strength and conditioning staff, I’ve done enough checking in that area to know they have done a wonderful job and have a great relationship with these young people and have had great success with them, as well as our training staff and our student services staff. So there are a lot of people who the players can touch base with. I’m just glad these two people are still in contact with this football team.”
What are your emotions getting ready for your first team meeting?
“I’m not so in tune with my emotions as much as I am in tune with my message. I really look forward to it. It’s paramount to me. It’s a day I’m looking forward to it.”
Have you had the chance to meet more of the players as they return to campus?
“Yes, I have gotten to meet several of them. I’m not surprised by the type of young people who I am meeting. It is really what I was expecting – good, young people who have extended themselves. I think that is good.”
Youth seems to be the theme of the coaches you have added to your staff. Will we see more veterans come aboard?
“I suspect that there will be some with the same color hair as mine down the road. I believe youth can be very good if the right qualities go along with it. When I went to UCLA I was 29 years old. These guys are well into their 30s, some closer to their 40s. I have no problem with energy and enthusiasm. I think they are skilled. I look forward to watching them work.”
