Head Coach Doug Marrone NLI Press Conference Transcript (Feb. 1, 2012)
Opening Statement:
"It's nice to be back in Syracuse after being on the road for such a long period of time. We're excited, just like most people around the country, about this class for a couple reasons. This being our fourth class, this is the tallest class that we've had, and I think that this is the first class where we've done a good job addressing the needs for this football team, obviously with the defensive line.
"We're excited. The players understand that they have a lot of work ahead of them. They've been very successful, whether it is in high school, prep school or junior college, which we have two players from. They've been successful in those areas of their life, and we look for them to continue it here at Syracuse."
On Mark Garrett not signing with the program:
“I'm not allowed to discuss anyone who hasn't signed a National Letter of Intent, so I cannot comment on any player who isn't a part of the team already or has signed a National Letter of Intent. I apologize, and that's NCAA rules.”
On (fullback) Myles Davis, who enrolled at Syracuse in January after initially signing an NLI with Syracuse in 2010:
"I think he's had a very difficult road. He worked extremely hard, and was all set to come and had a very difficult injury. He worked very hard to come back and maintain his eligibility status, obviously with going to prep school. He, along with (quarterback) Ashton Broyld, is enrolled in school right now, so we're excited about that.
"We talked to Myles. He was a very good linebacker and very good fullback in high school, we talked to him about playing fullback, and that's where we expect him to play when Spring ball starts. He should be ready to go."
After (senior defensive end) Chandler Jones declared for the NFL Draft, how important was it for the defensive line to bring in a couple kids from junior college that might be able to play right away?
"The one thing about junior college, for us, we've been very successful. To this point, every junior college player we've brought in has graduated. They've been outstanding citizens for us and done a very good job. They've all contributed in their own way, whether it be on special teams, offense or defense.
"It's very difficult for us to bring in people with size. We've had issues with that trying to find enough players in this area with size. For us to have to go to junior college to get a player like Zian Jones or Markus –Pierce Brewster, people who have been established that have done a very good job is going to help our football team."
On where Devante McFarland will play next season:
"We're meeting with our players now and going through the evaluation process. We have a couple weeks to meet with them. They have to train, lift and run. A lot of these kids are still growing.
"When the freshmen come in in the Fall, we'll reevaluate it again and put them where we need to. The thing about Devante McFarland is, obviously, he's an outstanding athlete. He can play linebacker, safety and running back. Those are the things that we're looking for – diversity in the athletes –then figuring out where they can step in and help us right away. That's the most important thing."
With the move to the ACC, is the impact in recruiting being seen already?
"I think so. A move from a conference, obviously, that can open up some things for you. Parents want to make sure they see their son play in just about every game, so that becomes a factor in some instances when you go into recruiting. For us, we have a good foundation in Georgia since Coach Adkins and I have been down in that state for a long period of time. In the history of Syracuse, we've had some players come from Georgia who have come up here and played right away and they've done well in school and on the field.
"For us to re-open that area opens up a greater recruiting area for us with the players. It's been kind of tough to get into those pockets when you're jumping in and jumping out and trying to go specifically for certain kids. We're starting to see the benefits of our ability to have been down there since we've been here. But now we're in there a little bit harder, and we have a little bit more to sell at the end of the day. We have to sell the ACC, and that’s helped us quite a bit with those players.”
How do you feel you've done in recruiting players from New York?
"Not as well as we'd like to. It's very difficult. Teams come in here to New York and take some kids who have a lot of other offers also. Downstate, we feel very comfortable with. Central New York, we feel comfortable with. We need to continue to do a better job as we expand to Upstate New York. We did a good job in Pennsylvania. We need to do a better job in New Jersey, which we're looking to take advantage of, as well as expanding to California.
"We've been working on the state of Texas; we haven't seen the benefits of that yet. Again, I know a lot of people think that you can go into an area and pull a kid out quickly, but if you don't have any ties, it is hard. You have to work that area and make sure people know who you are and what you believe in and trust. We've been working the Texas area, Coach Adkins has been out in California for 20 years. We know about Florida and Georgia, so we've been working those areas quite a bit.
"At the same time, trying to make sure we do a good job (in New York) because within a 250 mile radius, if it goes back to seeing your son play, then at least you know you're going to see six or seven home games per year, so that's been a big push for us."
Historically, Syracuse has had classes and then had to hold on for dear life as other teams swoop in. Did you sense that this year?
"The classes, from a standpoint of talent and academics, are getting better and better. Are we seeing a drastic change? No. Would everyone like to? Yes, and I'm talking about from a talent level. But as far as the last 72 hours, I'm not going to lie, it was very difficult.
"Having been in some battles where we were on the other side of the fence, and when you come in in the morning and you have been on the phone until 12 or 1 o'clock in the morning, you just hope when you go to bed and wake up, those faxes start coming in. It's good and bad.
"As a coach, you like to sit here and say, 'We must be on the right kids if all these other teams are coming in.' But in a same sense, you're fighting your butt off and you hope that you laid the groundwork. It's like if you're driving this reliable car, and all of a sudden this brand new car comes up and right away you want to jump in, drive it and buy it.
"It's much harder to hold a kid for a long period of time, and develop that relationship which you think would develop into loyalty, but when something new comes up there's a decision making process. You hear this a lot in the homes, 'Coach, it's his decision.' That wasn't the case with me or with a lot of people who I know. My parents, grandmother and high school coach were heavily involved in my decision making process, not to say, 'This is where you're going,' but 'This is where you're not going.' I think those are challenges of what is going on."
Now that you're in your fourth season, have you noticed that you have more of a presence in New York State?
"Absolutely. We've done that this year. We were able to get the Player of the Year in the state of New York in Alvin Cornelius and one of the highest ranked players in Wayne Morgan. When you do that, then all of a sudden now the next player who's ranked like that and being recruited that way, it gives you a better opportunity.
"We're not changing our stance on how we feel about the state of New York. We have to be able to get the best players out of this state before we can go to another state and try to get one of their best players. That's what has to happen first."
How many of these players do you think will be able to start or play right away?
"I'm hoping quite a few. Competition is important. If you said, 'Which player do you think will come in here and have an immediate impact?' I would say Ryan Norton, the kicker. I think he's going to be the kickoff guy, we've seen that on film. He doesn't have to block, he doesn't have to tackle, and he doesn't have to do a lot of things. All he has to do is what he's been doing his entire life which is kicking the ball into the endzone. When you talk about immediate impact and what it's going to do for you statistically, that's a big difference. That was a major decision that we had to make going through this process. Everyone else, we're excited to bring them in and we're expecting them to compete."
Is there any possibility to signing more players down the line?
"I would say I don't know, right now. There isn't a plan in mind. If there was, I'd share it. As of right now, we just got done with this class, and we want to get back and get started with the team that's here. We spent a couple weeks away from our team where we've seen them on the weekend. I think it's very important for us to get back with our players and starting to focus on the upcoming year."
With the way the season ended and going out on the road, when the faxes started coming in today, where to able to exhale a little bit?
"As a staff when the season was over and there was a dead period around Christmas, that's where we spent a lot of time on the disappointment of the season, and what's gone on, what's been addressed and what we need to do. Obviously the players weren't there, so now we need to get together with the players and look forward to this year and make sure we do all the right things and not make the same mistakes that we made in the past that made us a 5-7 football team."
Coming off this season when you didn't make a bowl game, did recruits inquire about the end of the season stretch?
"When I was in the homes, I told everyone the truth in that we were in a position to do some things and we fell short. I told this to the team during the year, we don't want to learn by losing football games, how learn how to win. Sometimes that happens, and that's not what you want.
"Over the course of the break, I talked to quite a few players on our team, and it was interesting to hear the enthusiasm in their voice in that they were ready to come back to. We had about 55 kids on this team who had not lost until this year. I think there's a good understanding right now about what we have to do to work. I think the thought process is correct, the things everyone is saying are correct, and now it's a point of going out there and executing which means lifting, running, doing all the right things to get prepared for a competitive Spring Football and, obviously, a very competitive Fall."
On being the longest tenured coach in the BIG EAST:
"To me, I think that's a joke. It's all relative. If everyone in this room had $10 million and I had $1 million, I'd be the poorest person in the room. I don't really worry about the rest of the league. I'm in a volatile profession. Coaches are coming and going during the recruiting season, after the season, contracts are shortened and lengthened. I know exactly what has to be done; we're judged by wins and losses. Loyalty, unfortunately for some, is judged by the dollar amount."
Are you getting to the point now where your numbers are good enough where players will struggle to get on the field?
"When your program is going well, that's exactly what happens. It's a rich get richer theory. The better players you have on a team when these players come in and show promise, if they're not going to push for a position to start, then you have a redshirt and one more season and then you move on. Then you're recruiting to make sure the numbers are correct because you have people in place.
"That happened to us a little bit this year for the first time where we felt very good about our numbers in certain situations whereas in years past we would have taken those players. There were some positions where we had to turn away some good players – not who we felt in our minds were difference makers, though, we would never turn those players away. So we're getting to that point.
"When Coach (Bobby) Bowden was at Florida State, they would come in and play as freshman and redshirt the following year so they knew what to do, and they built a pretty darn good football team for a long period of time. But we're not there yet. We're still looking for these players to come in and have an impact whether it's right on the field or at least to push the starter to become a better football player. Competition is the one thing that our football team needs. We talked about that during the break area. I know that when I have somebody right behind me who's working hard, obviously I'm going to work harder to keep that position. When you have that type of program going on, then you have a chance for some pretty exciting things to occur."
"It's nice to be back in Syracuse after being on the road for such a long period of time. We're excited, just like most people around the country, about this class for a couple reasons. This being our fourth class, this is the tallest class that we've had, and I think that this is the first class where we've done a good job addressing the needs for this football team, obviously with the defensive line.
"We're excited. The players understand that they have a lot of work ahead of them. They've been very successful, whether it is in high school, prep school or junior college, which we have two players from. They've been successful in those areas of their life, and we look for them to continue it here at Syracuse."
On Mark Garrett not signing with the program:
“I'm not allowed to discuss anyone who hasn't signed a National Letter of Intent, so I cannot comment on any player who isn't a part of the team already or has signed a National Letter of Intent. I apologize, and that's NCAA rules.”
On (fullback) Myles Davis, who enrolled at Syracuse in January after initially signing an NLI with Syracuse in 2010:
"I think he's had a very difficult road. He worked extremely hard, and was all set to come and had a very difficult injury. He worked very hard to come back and maintain his eligibility status, obviously with going to prep school. He, along with (quarterback) Ashton Broyld, is enrolled in school right now, so we're excited about that.
"We talked to Myles. He was a very good linebacker and very good fullback in high school, we talked to him about playing fullback, and that's where we expect him to play when Spring ball starts. He should be ready to go."
After (senior defensive end) Chandler Jones declared for the NFL Draft, how important was it for the defensive line to bring in a couple kids from junior college that might be able to play right away?
"The one thing about junior college, for us, we've been very successful. To this point, every junior college player we've brought in has graduated. They've been outstanding citizens for us and done a very good job. They've all contributed in their own way, whether it be on special teams, offense or defense.
"It's very difficult for us to bring in people with size. We've had issues with that trying to find enough players in this area with size. For us to have to go to junior college to get a player like Zian Jones or Markus –Pierce Brewster, people who have been established that have done a very good job is going to help our football team."
On where Devante McFarland will play next season:
"We're meeting with our players now and going through the evaluation process. We have a couple weeks to meet with them. They have to train, lift and run. A lot of these kids are still growing.
"When the freshmen come in in the Fall, we'll reevaluate it again and put them where we need to. The thing about Devante McFarland is, obviously, he's an outstanding athlete. He can play linebacker, safety and running back. Those are the things that we're looking for – diversity in the athletes –then figuring out where they can step in and help us right away. That's the most important thing."
With the move to the ACC, is the impact in recruiting being seen already?
"I think so. A move from a conference, obviously, that can open up some things for you. Parents want to make sure they see their son play in just about every game, so that becomes a factor in some instances when you go into recruiting. For us, we have a good foundation in Georgia since Coach Adkins and I have been down in that state for a long period of time. In the history of Syracuse, we've had some players come from Georgia who have come up here and played right away and they've done well in school and on the field.
"For us to re-open that area opens up a greater recruiting area for us with the players. It's been kind of tough to get into those pockets when you're jumping in and jumping out and trying to go specifically for certain kids. We're starting to see the benefits of our ability to have been down there since we've been here. But now we're in there a little bit harder, and we have a little bit more to sell at the end of the day. We have to sell the ACC, and that’s helped us quite a bit with those players.”
How do you feel you've done in recruiting players from New York?
"Not as well as we'd like to. It's very difficult. Teams come in here to New York and take some kids who have a lot of other offers also. Downstate, we feel very comfortable with. Central New York, we feel comfortable with. We need to continue to do a better job as we expand to Upstate New York. We did a good job in Pennsylvania. We need to do a better job in New Jersey, which we're looking to take advantage of, as well as expanding to California.
"We've been working on the state of Texas; we haven't seen the benefits of that yet. Again, I know a lot of people think that you can go into an area and pull a kid out quickly, but if you don't have any ties, it is hard. You have to work that area and make sure people know who you are and what you believe in and trust. We've been working the Texas area, Coach Adkins has been out in California for 20 years. We know about Florida and Georgia, so we've been working those areas quite a bit.
"At the same time, trying to make sure we do a good job (in New York) because within a 250 mile radius, if it goes back to seeing your son play, then at least you know you're going to see six or seven home games per year, so that's been a big push for us."
Historically, Syracuse has had classes and then had to hold on for dear life as other teams swoop in. Did you sense that this year?
"The classes, from a standpoint of talent and academics, are getting better and better. Are we seeing a drastic change? No. Would everyone like to? Yes, and I'm talking about from a talent level. But as far as the last 72 hours, I'm not going to lie, it was very difficult.
"Having been in some battles where we were on the other side of the fence, and when you come in in the morning and you have been on the phone until 12 or 1 o'clock in the morning, you just hope when you go to bed and wake up, those faxes start coming in. It's good and bad.
"As a coach, you like to sit here and say, 'We must be on the right kids if all these other teams are coming in.' But in a same sense, you're fighting your butt off and you hope that you laid the groundwork. It's like if you're driving this reliable car, and all of a sudden this brand new car comes up and right away you want to jump in, drive it and buy it.
"It's much harder to hold a kid for a long period of time, and develop that relationship which you think would develop into loyalty, but when something new comes up there's a decision making process. You hear this a lot in the homes, 'Coach, it's his decision.' That wasn't the case with me or with a lot of people who I know. My parents, grandmother and high school coach were heavily involved in my decision making process, not to say, 'This is where you're going,' but 'This is where you're not going.' I think those are challenges of what is going on."
Now that you're in your fourth season, have you noticed that you have more of a presence in New York State?
"Absolutely. We've done that this year. We were able to get the Player of the Year in the state of New York in Alvin Cornelius and one of the highest ranked players in Wayne Morgan. When you do that, then all of a sudden now the next player who's ranked like that and being recruited that way, it gives you a better opportunity.
"We're not changing our stance on how we feel about the state of New York. We have to be able to get the best players out of this state before we can go to another state and try to get one of their best players. That's what has to happen first."
How many of these players do you think will be able to start or play right away?
"I'm hoping quite a few. Competition is important. If you said, 'Which player do you think will come in here and have an immediate impact?' I would say Ryan Norton, the kicker. I think he's going to be the kickoff guy, we've seen that on film. He doesn't have to block, he doesn't have to tackle, and he doesn't have to do a lot of things. All he has to do is what he's been doing his entire life which is kicking the ball into the endzone. When you talk about immediate impact and what it's going to do for you statistically, that's a big difference. That was a major decision that we had to make going through this process. Everyone else, we're excited to bring them in and we're expecting them to compete."
Is there any possibility to signing more players down the line?
"I would say I don't know, right now. There isn't a plan in mind. If there was, I'd share it. As of right now, we just got done with this class, and we want to get back and get started with the team that's here. We spent a couple weeks away from our team where we've seen them on the weekend. I think it's very important for us to get back with our players and starting to focus on the upcoming year."
With the way the season ended and going out on the road, when the faxes started coming in today, where to able to exhale a little bit?
"As a staff when the season was over and there was a dead period around Christmas, that's where we spent a lot of time on the disappointment of the season, and what's gone on, what's been addressed and what we need to do. Obviously the players weren't there, so now we need to get together with the players and look forward to this year and make sure we do all the right things and not make the same mistakes that we made in the past that made us a 5-7 football team."
Coming off this season when you didn't make a bowl game, did recruits inquire about the end of the season stretch?
"When I was in the homes, I told everyone the truth in that we were in a position to do some things and we fell short. I told this to the team during the year, we don't want to learn by losing football games, how learn how to win. Sometimes that happens, and that's not what you want.
"Over the course of the break, I talked to quite a few players on our team, and it was interesting to hear the enthusiasm in their voice in that they were ready to come back to. We had about 55 kids on this team who had not lost until this year. I think there's a good understanding right now about what we have to do to work. I think the thought process is correct, the things everyone is saying are correct, and now it's a point of going out there and executing which means lifting, running, doing all the right things to get prepared for a competitive Spring Football and, obviously, a very competitive Fall."
On being the longest tenured coach in the BIG EAST:
"To me, I think that's a joke. It's all relative. If everyone in this room had $10 million and I had $1 million, I'd be the poorest person in the room. I don't really worry about the rest of the league. I'm in a volatile profession. Coaches are coming and going during the recruiting season, after the season, contracts are shortened and lengthened. I know exactly what has to be done; we're judged by wins and losses. Loyalty, unfortunately for some, is judged by the dollar amount."
Are you getting to the point now where your numbers are good enough where players will struggle to get on the field?
"When your program is going well, that's exactly what happens. It's a rich get richer theory. The better players you have on a team when these players come in and show promise, if they're not going to push for a position to start, then you have a redshirt and one more season and then you move on. Then you're recruiting to make sure the numbers are correct because you have people in place.
"That happened to us a little bit this year for the first time where we felt very good about our numbers in certain situations whereas in years past we would have taken those players. There were some positions where we had to turn away some good players – not who we felt in our minds were difference makers, though, we would never turn those players away. So we're getting to that point.
"When Coach (Bobby) Bowden was at Florida State, they would come in and play as freshman and redshirt the following year so they knew what to do, and they built a pretty darn good football team for a long period of time. But we're not there yet. We're still looking for these players to come in and have an impact whether it's right on the field or at least to push the starter to become a better football player. Competition is the one thing that our football team needs. We talked about that during the break area. I know that when I have somebody right behind me who's working hard, obviously I'm going to work harder to keep that position. When you have that type of program going on, then you have a chance for some pretty exciting things to occur."
