Wide Recievers Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator Chris White Press Conference Transcript
January 17, 2005
Opening Statements:
"I am just really thankful to be staying on. This is really the third coach here at Syracuse who I have been with. In 1990, I was with Coach MacPherson as a graduate assistant for one year. It got me into coaching and I was hooked from there. Coach MacPherson had the opportunity to go to the Patriots and then I was able to spend my second year with Coach Pasqualoni as a graduate assistant and I got my master's degree. I am a graduate of Syracuse and I love Syracuse.
I am thrilled to be here with Coach Robinson. I had five great years with Coach Pasqualoni. The man is a tremendous person and a tremendous coach and I hope we honor him the right way before it is all said and done. Now we are in a different regime and I can't tell you the energy level that is going into this program right now. I think everyone can feel it around here. I have never seen so much media in my life here, and I have been here a long time, and this man is bringing that back. You are going to be in for a shock because our kids are going to be fired up and play with the level of enthusiasm that he brings to the table and this coaching staff brings to the table and I can't tell you how excited I am to be a part of this. I want him to know that I can't wait to get working with you Coach. I'm fired up and can't wait. Be ready for big things to happen here and I think you are going to enjoy it."
On being the only on-field assistant to be staying on with the new staff:
"There is mixed emotions. Obviously, it has been very difficult for all the assistant coaches. I learned early in coaching, my second year I was at UNLV and we were fired there, and I learned very early about this whole process. If you understand going into it that this is going to happen or may happen eventually, you have a better perspective. Just watching some of these coaches clean out their offices, having to sell their house and having little kids, is a tremendous thing and people don't understand that. As coaches, you have to understand that and be ready to do that. When you fire a head coach, you fire a lot of people. There is a lot that goes into that and the emotions are there."
On how important it is for a new staff to have a link to the former staff:
"I am not sure if it is absolutely crucial at some programs, but I think that here at Syracuse it's important just because of the way we operate and I think it is a little bit different than a lot of schools, with our family atmosphere of a smaller school. I think what I can bring to the table immediately is pointing them in the right direction, along with Reggie, and getting to the players. I think I have a good feel for the players because I have been the recruiting coordinator and the special teams coordinator, so I know the defensive players a little bit, as well. They are going to figure it out and evaluate everyone, as well, but I can kind of get them in the right direction and I think that's the way I can help immediately. I think one thing that Coach Robinson told me when he hired me was, and I appreciate this, is that he didn't want to retain me just because I was the recruiting coordinator to be a holdover guy. He wanted to make sure that I fit his profile. I am evaluating him, too, and I think I do fit his profile and he certainly fits my profile. I can't wait to work for him."
On the last couple of weeks not knowing about his future:
"The not knowing part is probably the most difficult on your family. Having gone through this one time before, I learned that you have to approach it that you are going to stay. If you got fired and you just cleaned out your office and you let go of all the recruiting, then you wouldn't have a chance to stay. I wanted to stay here, I wanted to be a part of Syracuse football and a part of this community. My approach was that I was staying and I was going to convince him that I was going to stay and I think I did that."
On why he wanted to stay:
"I just love it here. I am from Boston and it is close to home. I got my master's degree from here. I think this is a special university and I really love our players to be honest. I have been fortunate to recruit a bunch of these kids and I have really gotten close and attached to them. This year's senior class will be the first class to graduate since I have been here. I am looking forward to seeing the younger guys play."
On coaching the wide receivers:
"I am real excited about the young guys we have. We have some good young players, including Rice Moss, J.J. Bedle, Quinton Brown, Timothy Lane, Landel Bembo, and we have some freshmen coming in. There is some talent there now. I have no idea what the philosophy is. I don't care what position I am coaching to be honest, I just want to coach here."
His thoughts on keeping his job:
"There were a lot of emotions, relief is one of them and excitement is the next one. Just meeting with Coach Robinson, you get a feeling of how passionate he is about football and how much he cares about players. I think our players are really going to enjoy playing for him and I am going I enjoy coaching with him."
On how things are going with recruiting:
"It has been interesting. For the most part, the kids have been resilient and hanging in there with us. I think that is a testament to the program and really the University. Most of these kids, their parents as well, made a decision to come to Syracuse because of the education. For the most part, the kids are still onboard and we still have a couple we need to go out and see immediately, and believe me we are working on it and we will be out there tonight working at it."
On if recruiting is the toughest part of the transition:
"Absolutely, coaches are piranhas. When a coaching staff leaves and you have verbal commitments, they will jump right into the fray. There have been a couple of those coaches but that is part of it, that's competition. Honestly, that is why I like recruiting. I don't play the game anymore, so I compete when I recruit."
On how important it is for the players to have a familiar face when they come back:
"I can't tell you how many phone calls I have had form the kids. They are coming back today and one of the first things they do is come in and see if they know anyone. They come to me and I am trying to find their position coach if the guy is here. They're nervous. They are kids and they need guidance and direction. I think it is important that at least one coach is held over, and thankfully it's me."
