Syracuse University Head Coach Greg Robinson Quotes
#14/15 Iowa vs. Syracuse
Carrier Dome
Syracuse, N.Y.
September 9, 2006
Fourth and one, why did you go with Paul Chiara?
“We made choices. If we get it done, it’s a great decision and if we don’t, then you question it. We had a plan by changing the formation and using different personnel. We changed the motion and the ground play had been good to this point. They did a good job and give them credit. I’m not big on thinking all that we could have done. We could have a run sneak down there too but we decided not to. So, believe me, we had all the chances.”
Why didn’t you sneak with Perry Patterson down there?
“We didn’t feel good about it. We felt that the way they were set up and the way they were lined up, they were sitting there waiting for us. We figured we would set it up and go with the momentum and we did.
Does it make it easier that a lot of things went right?
“You know I really like what our players did as far as their fortitude, perseverance and overcoming their adversity. We are here to win and I believed in my heart that it was going to look better. We need to win and this football team needs to win. We need it, they need it, and they need it so bad. They didn’t get it. Until they win, it is going to be hard, it is going to be hard on them.”
What was the emotional toll to lose this game?
“We lost. Do you think it is going to get to us out and wear us out? I’d like to go right back out there again. Our guys will play all day. We’re a very strong-minded football team. It’s very tough. It’s is just one of the things you have to deal with. When you lose it, it’s a tough one. You have to come back and we will. I don’t question this football team. We will come back. What we have to do is get better this week. We have to go again and get better.”
Was this an offensive line breakdown on the final possession?
“No, it was just unfortunate. I give them credit. They whipped us. They whipped us on ABC. They won in the trenches right there.”
Is it a point where the team can’t win?
“If there is something to it, then I need to help them. That is coaching then and I have to teach them how to win.”
Can you talk about the Joe Fields’ tackle?
“Huge play. I wish he was a little more inside on the coverage to start with. The fact of the matter is, it was a great effort and that guy can run. Joe made a saving tackle right there and it was a huge play.”
Can you talk about Perry Patterson’s play?
“I think you can see what I am talking about. This guy has the ability to play well and I think it will only get better and the others around continue to. He is improving. Is he different than he was a year ago? Absolutely. I like the way he played the game. I thought he played well and he did a number of good things. I thought he provided leadership but I also thought that the people around him improved and that is why Perry is only going to get better.”
Is there a reason why Curtis Brinkley wasn’t in there at the end?
“I really don’t know. How it happened, I don’t know. We were trying to get personnel and it turned out it was Paul (Chiara). Paul has got to score. He got the handoff and he has to score.”
What other option did you have? What was being discussed?
“I am not going to say that I wish I would have done something else. I wish we would have executed what we did. I wish when we had the option play and Perry went out we would have scored. I wish that Tony Fiammetta would have scored and I thought he was pretty close to scoring. Obviously, he didn’t. If we would have blocked a little bit better then Tony would have gone over the line. We didn’t need to run a different play, we needed to block better.”
The pass protection was pretty good today, wasn’t it?
“I think that is fair to say that. That is exactly right. I think that we are solid. Against a hard-nosed defensive line, I thought we battled in there for the most part. And all-in-all, they are improving. No questions.”
In short yardage position, do you have to rethink personnel?
“We might have to. You have to evaluate and access what you did well and what you didn’t do well. We might have to do something different.”
Hold on the tying field goal, was Brendan Carney pretty clutch?
“It was a great job by Brendan and a great job by Patrick (Shadle).”
Did you have any indication that Iowa quarterback Drew Tate wasn’t going to play?
“No.”
How much did that throw you off guard?
“It was tough. We had to make some changes. He (Iowa quarterback Jason Manson) competed very hard. He’s a senior and he acts like a senior. We didn’t know about it until kickoff.”
Since the breaks went your way, does that make it harder to accept?
“No. I’d like to believe the tide is turning. You create your breaks. I believe that. Last year, we had dozens more. What could go wrong, went wrong. I think that it is starting to turn our way.”
On that fake punt, was there any pass option?
“No, we should have gotten out of it. We called it off. When we decided to call if off, we didn’t see the signal.”
Has the team proved it can compete with a big-time team?
“We just have to keep getting better. We competed with Notre Dame and Louisville last year. We can compete with anybody, we just have to win. Some days, we don’t play as well with others but we keep building and getting better.”
Are there moral victories?
“No, there are not moral victories. This team needs to win. They need to be in that locker room and taste what it is like to win.”