Head Coach Greg Robinson (2005 NLI Signing Day Transcript)
Head Coach Greg Robinson
National Letter of Intent Signing Day Press Conference
February 2, 2005
Opening Statement
“When we got started about three weeks ago there were goals that we set out to attain in terms of recruiting. To begin with was to honor the commitments made by the University to the student-athletes who were recruited by Coach Paul (Pasqualoni) and the previous staff, and that was quite a number. I think it was probably 20 commitments at that time. If I’m not mistaken we were able to hold about 18 of those commitments. It was a lot of work, racing around over a little less than a three week period of time, but I like the way our coaches got involved in it. Especially as they were coming on board hitting the ground running.
"There was some conversation about certain students in regards to qualifications academically. Let me tell you that there are a number of student-athletes that are still in at risk status and they must meet qualifications that they are aware of for University admissions. Quite frankly, I think it’s important that we work hard to reduce the number of at risk students and work to have a real balance in the recruiting class.
"The next point that we wanted to do was get out as best we can and work to identify then to pursue some of the top notch student-athletes in our area that maybe at one time did not have a strong interest in Syracuse University. We were fortunate, specifically here locally with a few student-athletes who we will obviously talk about, and quite frankly I wish we could have had a little bit more time because there were two or three others that expressed to us that they wished the process could have been a little longer.
"The next goal was to set the stage for what I would term our first recruiting class that we as a Syracuse football staff together get to go through the full cycle and reap the benefits of having that period of time. I really felt like we did a very good job. We went from the tip of Long Island to the City from Buffalo to Albany and several other areas. There were several positive comments made to me. I was out of state and got a phone call one day from a high school high school coaches talking in very high regard for our assistant coaches who had been to his school. Since then I’ve had others that says that these coaches have made what they term good inroads with specific schools. We did get out and try to meet as many of the coaches and to establish a relationship so that this spring when we go back out or when we go to the state coaches convention we can continue to pursue the area of keeping our instate student-athletes strongly considering Syracuse University and eventually deciding to stay here.
"There was some conversation about certain students in regards to qualifications academically. Let me tell you that there are a number of student-athletes that are still in at risk status and they must meet qualifications that they are aware of for University admissions. Quite frankly, I think it’s important that we work hard to reduce the number of at risk students and work to have a real balance in the recruiting class.
"The next point that we wanted to do was get out as best we can and work to identify then to pursue some of the top notch student-athletes in our area that maybe at one time did not have a strong interest in Syracuse University. We were fortunate, specifically here locally with a few student-athletes who we will obviously talk about, and quite frankly I wish we could have had a little bit more time because there were two or three others that expressed to us that they wished the process could have been a little longer.
"The next goal was to set the stage for what I would term our first recruiting class that we as a Syracuse football staff together get to go through the full cycle and reap the benefits of having that period of time. I really felt like we did a very good job. We went from the tip of Long Island to the City from Buffalo to Albany and several other areas. There were several positive comments made to me. I was out of state and got a phone call one day from a high school high school coaches talking in very high regard for our assistant coaches who had been to his school. Since then I’ve had others that says that these coaches have made what they term good inroads with specific schools. We did get out and try to meet as many of the coaches and to establish a relationship so that this spring when we go back out or when we go to the state coaches convention we can continue to pursue the area of keeping our instate student-athletes strongly considering Syracuse University and eventually deciding to stay here.
"It’s important to talk about, as we continue to grow here, the profile of the student-athlete that we’re looking for and about the class itself. You have to have balance. We want to attract several of what we would term above average student-athletes. Then you can always have your midrange student-athletes. You might then, and will have, what we term at-risk student-athletes. The thing that I think is most important when you talk about at-risk student that there’s that thread that runs through them that they show that they are achievers. There have been many who have had great success at Syracuse and many other institutions that were at one time at-risk and overcome that because of the make-up of the type of people that you are dealing with. I believe that there are several of those in our class this year. That I have confidence after being with them that they are going to overcome any academic difficulties that they may have had. The rest is about balance. Those people who are strong athletically, but they are also taking care of business socially and they are also taking care of business academically. I know, and I have expressed this to you in the media, that I feel strongly about our staff and how well they will be able to identify the profile of the people and the student-athletes that belong at Syracuse University.”
On the recruiting process:
“I think the word recruiting is a misnomer. After 14 years in the NFL I have learned that the process is about evaluation. It takes a lot of time to properly evaluate a student-athlete. Coaches need time to analyze academic standing, social standing, athletic standing, and motivational skills. There are many things that are part of the evaluation process.”
On getting commitments from Christian Brothers Academy wide receivers Lavar Lobdell and Bruce Williams:
“We are very proud to be bringing Lavar and Bruce into our program. They truly stand for everything that we are talking about. They are very impressive in every way: socially, academically, athletically. Secondly, they are local student-athletes and state champions who know about winning. They know the sacrifices that have to be made to be successful. We are very proud and very excited. I know that the Syracuse family looks forward to embracing them in our program.”
On Christian Brothers Academy wide receiver Bruce Williams:
“When you talk to teams that played against Christian Brothers Academy they all talk with great respect for Bruce. That’s something that gets your attention. When you hear people who have been competing against a person like Bruce compliment him and you see that he has the things that fit the profile of the ideal recruit going after him is not a hard decision.”
On whether Lobdell and Williams will help attract other in-state student-athletes:
“I don’t want to use them as poster boys. I would like to think that they will help attract other local players. I think that our University, program, and staff are what will continue to attract in-state football players.”
On how difficult it was to sign Lobdell and Williams:
“It was uphill. Lavar was highly touted, but once I met them I believed we had a chance. I could see what the two of them were about and they fit our profile. I believed that if we could deliver our message, not just as football coaches, but as people who are here to help these young men in their development we could appeal to them. They extended themselves as well by coming to campus. They came to campus on their own to further investigate the program which gave us an opportunity to let them get a feel for what we are all about.”
On Saddleback Community College quarterback Colt Brennan:
“When I initially got the job I was informed about a talented junior college quarterback in California. I worked to get information about him, then contacted him and let him know that we were evaluating him. I made him aware of our knowledge of his skills as a football player, his success as a student, and his past problem at the University of Colorado. As time went on we continued the evaluation process, met his family, and did a lot of things to continue to gather information. We brought him to campus because when you talk about a situation where there are extenuating circumstances it goes beyond a head football coach, and I wanted to make sure that everyone who needed to be part of the situation was involved. After a thorough evaluation, we decided it was not our place to offer him a scholarship. At the same time I wish him great success in his challenge to rebuild his name. I have confidence in him that he will re-establish himself as someone who people respect. I wish him well in his football career.”
