Head Coach Greg Robinson Press Conference Transcript (December 7, 2007)
Opening statement introducing new offensive coordinator Mitch Browning:
"I found it was important to try to work through this as quickly as I can. It's a time of the year when some many things are important, including recruiting. Once I knew what I wanted to do, I didn't think there was any reason to procrastinate in any way. Our new offensive coordinator is Mitch Browning. Mitch comes by way of University of Minnesota and I suspect many of you have done your homework on Mitch's background.
"I've known Mitch for a long time and we worked together years ago at North Carolina State. I have followed his career very closely. Quite frankly, I will tell you that he was the first person whoI ever talked to about hiring when I got this job (in 2005). It wasn't able to be worked out at that time. I have great regard for him as a coach. He has come up through the ranks. He has coached on the offensive side of the ball and on the defensive side of the ball. On the offensive side when I was at North Carolina State, he came in as a graduate assistant and was rapidly moved up to be halfway between a G.A. and a fulltime coach as a position coach, coaching the wide receivers. He coached the wide receiver Mike Quick, who went on to be a high pick by the Philadelphia Eagles and had a great career there. He has coached quarterbacks and was an offensive coordinator early in his career. He has coached tight ends and offensive line. He's been on the defensive side of the ball, coaching in the secondary and coaching linebackers, which I think is valuable. It wasn't just a brief stint. He spent years on that side of the ball. I think he has a good feel for those things."
"He spent many years with (21-year collegiate head coach) Glenn Mason. He left North Carolina State and went to Ohio State where he was a G.A. for Mason working with wide receivers. Then he traveled with Glenn for many years. He's been a part of rebuilding programs. At Kent State, they did a rebuilding program there and did a fine job. They went onto Kansas and did a great rebuilding job there. Then, obviously, went on to Minnesota and did outstanding things."
"As a coordinator, Mitch has done some very impressive things. As you read his background, you can see that they were very productive in just about every way you can be on offense at Minnesota. When you look at what he has accomplished as a position coach there, he coached the tight ends, one of his tight ends (Ben Utecht) is with the Indianapolis Colts right now and is one of the favorite targets for Peyton Manning. He also coached the John Mackey award winner (Matt Spaeth) just two years ago. In 2003 he was honored as one of the finalist for the assistant coach of the year, the Frank Broyles Award. When you look at what they've done as far as a running team and a passing team, it speaks for itself."
"I'm excited about bringing Mitch in and I know what he's all about. I think he is going to be a real fine addition to our program."
On if he wanted Browning to be the offensive coordinator when Robinson first arrived at Syracuse:
"No. As a matter of fact, he was going to be assistant head coach. We went round and round and round. We went back and forth and back forth. I thought he was going to come, but it didn't work out. Glen (Mason) won, but that's okay."
On if the evaluation process continues after Browning arrives:
"As far as what we are doing on offense, Mitch is going to determine. You'll be able to feel what Mitch is about and what he would like to accomplish when you talk to him."
On Browning's philosophy:
"You see his quotes (in the press release) and that's what Mitch is about. It isn't so much what you do, it's how you do it. I think there is going to be efficiency. He is a very demanding coach. He is a detail person. But to say what the specific things are – I think Mitch says it and I agree with it – he is going to come in and evaluate the talent and then utilize the talents to the best of his abilities."
On selling Browning to come to Syracuse:
"Mitch is excited about coming. He has watched us from afar. He even came down to our Iowa game. Glen Mason was doing the game (for the Big Ten Network) and he came down for the game. He has had a chance to see us. I like the enthusiasm that I feel from Mitch right now. That doesn't surprise me because I know what he is about. I know that he is genuinely enthused to jump in here, get going and make his presence felt."
On the student-athletes having to adjust to the third defensive coordinator in four years:
"For some of them it is that way. For others it hasn't been so much that way because many of them are young. I just know that we need to get adjusted and we will get adjusted. I'm not going to take that lightly like that's just part of the deal. I don't find it that way. I'm going to make sure that our team gets adjusted properly, gets the message and gets going."
On bring Browning in after he left Minnesota (in January, 2006):
"We did talk and, really, at that time – I think it was mid January – he was unsettled. He wasn't really certain what he should do. We went a different route and I'm pleased with the addition of (offensive line coach) Chris Wiesehan. It was a tough time for Mitch to be able to assess what he needed to do."
On if Browning will deal with the offensive line:
"He has experience coaching all parts of the offense. Other than coaching running backs, he has coached everything else. He has great expertise for the line play. Obviously, his tight ends have done well and I think he did a good job of coaching (former Philadelphia Eagles star receiver) Mike Quick early in his career (at North Carolina State). I think the timing for Mitch is really good because we need a lot of attention in that area. It's good for Chris Wiesehan to feel he has some added support there."
On if he will switch Browning and Wiesehan's responsibility:
"No. I think Mitch feels very comfortable with his position (tight ends) because he can get into the line and work the running game and the protection game. You work that running game, but you're also in the passing game. I think it keeps you balanced pretty well."
On if there was a search for the job:
"There were people who were considered in my mind, but I didn't spend too much time, obviously. There are some qualified people who had interest, but I'm not going to go into all the details of that."
On everything lining up to make this happen:
"I could see there was an opportunity to get somebody of the quality of Mitch Browning and I jumped on it."
On if there is going to be a domino effect and there will be more staff changes:
"No. I made the statement to you that I'm going to methodically go through the evaluation of our program. Any changes that are made. And, when I say changes it doesn't always have to be a position coach change. That's a process that goes over time and I'm going to make sure to continue the process. This isn't the end of the line of evaluating where we are. As a matter of factor, I think Mitch states that very clearly (in the press release) that the evaluation process for him is just beginning. He wants to see where we stand talent-wise in every phase and how to best utilize the talent, how to best utilize our coaches and all of those things."
On Browning's recruiting responsibilies:
"We haven't really discussed that yet. Mitch is an outstanding recruiter and his presences has been felt in Ohio for a long time – when he was at Kent State, Kansas, as well as Minnesota. He also went into St. Louis. The meat of his recruiting has come out of Ohio and he knows that state well. Ohio has been good to us."
On the recruiting process since the season ended:
"I feel very good about our recruiting. We are pushing hard and we have a big weekend this weekend. We have 16 prospects in this weekend and we have some more coming in next weekend. I like where we're heading. We are battling and we are in the fight with a number of people who can make a difference down the road."
On having an earlier start with a new offensive coordinator (than in 2005 when he hired his first offensive coordinator Brian Pariani):
"I haven't really thought about it that way, but it is true. I think it is real good and I know Mitch will get after it. He's going to be very thorough in his evaluation process and getting into the flow of what he'll be doing."
On if there is a certain confidence level with Browning:
"I really feel like I know the person well, although that isn't the only reason he was hired. He has proven to be a good coach. The extra that I know about him makes me excited about having him here. I know Mitch will do a good job. With that said, having the experienced and knowledge of what he's about is important."
On if he is confidence that Browning will correct the pass protection:
"I'm going to go by history. I knew he had done a good job at Minnesota, but when I hear something like 60 sacks (allowed) in five years and one year there were only three sacks allowed, it's obvious to me that it is important to Mitch to keep those numbers down. It's obvious statistically that it is a priority."
On Browning's year off (after leaving Minnesota in January, 2007):
"He was living in Minnesota and watching a lot of football. He came down and watched us (at Iowa) and I think he went to some other college games. I know that he is chomping at the bit to get going. (smiling) I don't know that he recommends to anybody to take a year off. Mitch is going to be Mitch, but at the same time I can feel that he is about ready to come through the phone. It excites me because I think he is really looking forward to getting back on that field again."
On if Browning has been to Syracuse:
"He came in last winter. He spent a couple of days with us then."
On if he shared anything while at the Iowa game:
"We talked recently (about our team) and there are people who have impressed him. He mentions that there are some young talented playmakers (in his statement in the press release). I think that is exciting to him. We didn't go into great detail about the Iowa game per say. I do know that he has watched us. He talked about it."
On if he was at the Iowa game because he thought there was this opportunity:
"No. He came down as a guest of mine and the staff. The staff really enjoyed Mitch. All of our offensive coaches did when he came in here (last January) and it was a game he could get to. With Glen being down there to do the game (for television), it made it a good fit."
