Greg Robinson Press Conference (September 29, 2007)
"I'm really looking forward to getting back out on the practice field today get going again to see if we can make some strides to improve and get ready for a ball game against Miami (OH)."
On former Syracuse head coach Dick MacPherson:
"We have coach Mac here. I think it's important that you know that it's important to me that Coach Mac is around all the time. I saw him sitting on the sidelines talking to my old head college coach Chester Caddas last week at the ball game. I appreciated it and I know that coach Caddas did too. He's (Coach Mac) just always there. I hear his voice early in the morning as pops around the building and he doesn't know I hear all the time, but I hear him. I think it's important that he knows that for the last two years, and up to this point this season, we've definitely appreciated his support."
On the importance of the captains Jameel McClain and Taj Smith at Louisville:
"In Jameel McClain's case, I really thought it might have been the best defensive effort by an individual since I've been here. He did so many things well and that's the beauty of Jameel is that he can think on his feet. He really can. He can absorb and do a lot of different things for us, which really helps us. He was strong in the running game from a linebacking positions as well as the defensive line position. His pass coverage, his tackling caused a fumble. He blocked a pass and intercepted a pass. He got a sack and a couple of hurries. It really was a tremendous effort.
"In Taj's case, just more of the same. Obviously, it was a well designed play – his big touchdown catch. The one were he caught the screen is a lot of Taj; not a lot of everybody else, really. But it goes beyond that – he's is down field blocking – he does it all, he really does. He plays at a high rate of speed. He practices at a high rate of speed. I was just asked a question on the teleconference just a while ago and I have mentioned of it from the first day he even got here, his presence has been felt. It isn't so much what he has to say, I go back and say, his action speak so loudly we can hardly hear him talk.
"So both of them have really been outstanding leaders all fall. People ask me, 'How do you keep your team together?' Well it's real good leadership and there are more than just those two, but those are the two who were the unanimous choices to be the captains. I knew we had two great guys selected. I was just glad that their peers saw the same things in them that I did."
"So both of them have really been outstanding leaders all fall. People ask me, 'How do you keep your team together?' Well it's real good leadership and there are more than just those two, but those are the two who were the unanimous choices to be the captains. I knew we had two great guys selected. I was just glad that their peers saw the same things in them that I did."
On how important it is to keep the momentum going:
"I don't know if it's really about that. I think it's improving. And about the country and all of those things, it's really about us. I really see things that way and I think the focus is that way. I know this, this is a very hungry football team – I said to you last week. They are a hungry football team and I think they want to get better. To do that you have to go out and work and if they go out and work and keep improving and displaying they are improving, I think others are going to see that and that's great. It's really as much for them as it is for anybody else. That's the challenge you have as a football team and as an individual – can you get yourself to go out week in and week out no matter how high you are or how down you are, whatever the situation is, you just keep working to improve. Again I say, it's about us and not about the opponent – it's really about our improvement. The rest of it will take care of itself."
On how much the offensive line improved at Louisville:
"There was quite a bit of improvement, but there is plenty to still work on. We had a couple of procedure penalties that didn't have to be and we can eliminate those. We need to eliminate those. We had a couple of plays in the running game where we didn't hit our targets properly and I look forward to the day when we are totally consistent and hit our targets in the running game to give ourselves a chance to be successful. That's a challenge, but I've seen improvement, there's no doubt. The protection was improved and we can go from there."
On what the win at Louisville does psychologically for the team:
"The victory is done and it was a great boost for our team. We know we are 1-0 in the BIG EAST and we're tied for first place. That in itself is motivation to, every day, have it on your brain, go out and work hard to get better. That's really what it's all about."
On how much the win helps the team's confidence:
"I don't know that – I really don't. Those are very nebulous things. You're confident until you're not confident. I think you just keep working to get better and the more you improve – that's confidence. The more that you trust yourself and what you're doing that's developing the confidence. I think it's inner-strength. People did some things well, but let's see if we can build on it. If we build on it and continue to grow and be more confident and trust ourselves and trusting of those next to us, then that's when you get good."
On Miami (Ohio):
"This is a program and a team that has great pride. This program has done a lot. If you go back to the history and I think they have a thing they call 'tomahawk games'. I suspect this is a 'tomahawk game' from them. I've know the history of this program and those things are posted on the wall. When they can win a 'tomahawk game,' it's something that's important. If that's what we are, then I know where their minds are.
"I can tell you that they have some good football players. They definitely have some very good football players. On the offensive side of the ball, I like both of the quarterbacks. (Mike) Kokal is the player we played most of the game against last year and I was impressed by him. (Daniel) Raudabaugh came in on the last series and was in there on that last drive against us and performed very well. Both of those players this year have flashed and I'm impressed with them. The receiving corps, (Armand) Robinson and (Dustin) Woods are guys who have made plays – they have done some things. The running back situation, (Austin) Sykes, I think, is their guy; he has a build. I like their offensive line. They are athletic football players. I've watched their center and he did a nice job against the University of Cincinnati.
"I look at the defensive side of the ball and (Joe) Coniglio – I like him. He played well against us last year. The linebacker, (Caleb) Bostic, he's playing well. The kid who came back from the injury has been a leader in their defense. They have players. Their safety is a good player, one of their corners is a guy I remember from last year. I know their mindset and they are going to give us their very best shot. I know in this day and age, in the top five there are some real good talented teams and after that it's all up in the air. We're going into their place and we better be ready to play."
On if there is such a thing as a feeding frenzy with the wide receivers, where at Louisville difficult catches seemed to be contagious and against Illinois dropped passes seemed to be contagious:
"(smiling) It all sounds good. I don't really think that way. I was a receiver and when you drop a ball it makes you sick. You expect yourself to catch the football. For whatever reason we drop balls, I don't know, but we need to improve it. Sometimes it has to do with the accuracy of the throws, the velocity in which it comes, the consistency in your play, your focus. As receivers, as a runner, as a tackler, as all of those things, the consistency is what you're looking for. I'm not looking for a feeding frenzy one time. I would like to see us consistently get better and work our techniques."
On if the Louisville game is more representative of what they should be doing:
"I think we are capable of catching the football and I think we are capable of running the football. I think we are capable of getting turnovers and on-and-on."
On (linebacker) Jack Flaherty's performance at Louisville
"Jake did a good job. He managed in there well and let the game come to him. Maybe earlier in the year Jake was trying to make it all happen and trying to be everything for everybody. Jake just went out there and played football and focused on his job – that's really what I felt. I liked the way he played. Jake's a good tough football player."
On (defensive end) Jared Kimmel's knee injury update:
"It doesn't look good. I believe that is the case (that he tore his ACL) I haven't spoken to the doctor, but I've spoken to the trainers and, unfortunately, Jared has a serious injury. Time will tell when, and if, surgery will be done."
On if he believes in the concept of a trap game:
"All of those things are possible. A trap game meaning we played Louisville and we won, we won a big game and now this is a non-conference opponent and we're going on the road. Absolutely, those can be traps if you let them be. I am determined not to let that happen to our football team, but it still comes down to the preparation – and that's the name of the game. I'm not going to sit there and say everything is negative – I'm not going to be that way either. You have your choices: it's either the fires of hell or the gates of heaven. You make your choice about how you want to go about things. Maybe sometimes its both if need be. I know this, if I'm a football player right now at Syracuse University, I'm excited to get my fanny out to football practice and get going again and get better. If somebody has lost focus then it's my job to find him and let him know that is wrong. You can tell I get a little fired up about it because we have so much at stake and so much we are fighting for and trying to get better – that's really the key. If this team can continue to get better than good things are going to happen to it."
On how good of a game offensive coordinator Brian White called against Louisville:
"You people (the media) make that assessment. I think it was fine. Play calling gets overrated sometimes in the sense that when it's executed, it's great. If on that second play it's second and 10 or it's intercepted, then it's a bad call. Brian works his tail off every week. That guy works his fanny off to do the very best he can do – as does the rest of the coaching staff. I like our coaches and I like the way they work and they've worked hard to get this team right. There have been some real good calls that didn't work."
On Miami's quarterbacks:
"They both have played and they both have played and started this year, so I don’t know how it’s going to come out. I see different styles, but I think they’re both capable. I think that Colorado kind of got on them. It was one of those things, they got out on them and all of the sudden it was uphill for them."
On if the victory at Louisville did anything for his mind set:
"I’m glad to see that our offense truly produced when it needed to, our defense truly produced when it needed to and special teams truly produced. I always did feel that time was going to come – I just couldn’t tell you when. But I think we have a chance to improve on where we were. When you have a young football team in a lot of cases – when there are a number of them infused – it takes some time to get it stable. I think because sometimes it’s up, sometimes it’s not, sometimes they’re uncertain. You have to just keep working away. There’s a sign in our building over there that says, 'The road to the championship is always under construction' and that’s really what we are – we are a work-in progress. We’re under construction. The focus is on Tuesday, today, and getting ready for Miami of Ohio."
