Coach Greg Robinson Quotes
Coach Greg Robinson Quotes
Carrier Dome
Syracuse, N.Y.
November 18, 2006
How does that first BIG EAST win feel?
“It’s really great. It really is. We finally got a BIG EAST win.”
How does it feel on senior day?
“It’s great. It really is. Some of those seniors played really, really well so this makes it even better. I know just in that locker room that feeling for those seniors is special.”
How much has the BIG EAST-losing streak weighed on you and the team?
“It’s really about this year and winning. That’s really what it is. Now that we have won this game, it is darn good. If you remember on Sunday, somebody asked how do you think your team is going to respond because you were out of bowl contention? I said ‘I can say all I want but it really doesn’t mater.’ I said ‘the proof is in the pudding and let’s wait and see on Saturday.’ Last Thursday, we went into that Dome in full pads and started the practice scrimmaging. Right then is when I knew that our football team would be ready because they didn’t blink and they got it on and I am proud of them. They responded the way I thought they would and then they came out and played the game and really did a great job.”
Why did you think you needed that scrimmage?
“I don’t know. I don’t know that but I just wanted to find out. You guys asked the question on Sunday and I wanted to know before Sunday. It was loud and clear. As we say always, ‘our actions speak so loudly they can hardly hear us talk.’”
What did you see in that scrimmage that impressed you?
“I saw 22 guys line up and get it on. That’s what it was and they didn’t blink.”
What did you think of the defensive performance?
“I really liked it. I have told you for a couple of weeks that I feel like our defense is improving and I thought that they continued today. This is a good offense, obviously, with what they have done over the past two weeks. They flew around. They hit. They did all of those things but they also executed and played real good football.”
Can you talk about that first drive?
“It was good. I liked it. We came to win and we also wanted to make sure to let them know that we were going to try and throw it. They do a good job. I thought that it was very good and it was a great drive.”
Were the secondary blitzes to keep a faster player always on (Connecticut quarterback) D.J. Hernandez?
“It was a mixture now. We are always going to bring some pressure. We are always going to play coverage. We really mixed it. The key is to never let a quarterback get rhythm. That was our intent and I thought that we had him out of rhythm for a good period of time, really, until the last drive and he made a couple of great throws.”
How much of an impact did having the lead in the third quarter have?
“That was great. It was timely and it was about time. All of a sudden now, they are little more one-dimensional. That is what you are always striving to do is to make the other team a one-dimensional football team.”
Can you assess why this win is so big for your football team?
“I don’t know about so big. It is our fourth win. It is our first BIG EAST win but really it’s our fourth win. We have a chance to get five. Going past all of that, I can’t really put some value on it other than I am just happy for that group of young men because they have worked hard. They have clawed and scratched and had some disappointments and frustrations. I like the way that they hung tough. That is what this was all about. This game was about Sunday’s question: How would your team respond? Believe me, I haven’t forgotten that question all week. I have reminded them of it all week. That is the significance of the win.”
Can you talk about the third quarter when they get the ball inside the 30-yard line and you hold them to a field goal attempt and they miss it?
“It was kind of a critical time in the game. All of a sudden, there was adversity thrown at us and I thought that we dealt with it well. I thought that we really dealt with a situation right there that maybe we could build on that momentum right there by doing that.”
Can you talk about the screen pass to Curtis Brinkley?
“We had been practicing it for a couple of weeks or longer than that. I think that (Syracuse offensive coordinator) Brian (White) thought it was appropriate.”
Can you discuss your feelings toward the seniors?
“First of all, this is not their last game. They do have another game down at Rutgers. It is their last one in the Dome. I see that you have (quarterback) Perry (Patterson) here right now. Perry gets a little embarrassed when I talk about him. The fact of the matter is that I am very proud of Perry because he has done everything that he can possibly do to make himself the best he can be. On top of that, when the adversity was coming at him, even back in the Wake Forest game, he didn’t blink and he just kept going. I am very, very proud of him and I am proud of all of those guys. We still have one more to go (at Rutgers). I am happy for them because they got to win a game in the Dome, but I would like them to win one on the road too. That is what I really would like.”
