This is Greg Robinson’s time. That’s what the coach said Aug. 10 at his first Media Day before the assembled crowd. He’s been waiting 30 years as an assistant, declining sub-par jobs and missing others because he was working on a Super Bowl or a Rose Bowl, and rules prevented teams from talking to him. He wanted to be a head coach since he started as a football coach and now it’s his time.

It’s hard to say what that means because so little-in fact, nothing-about Robinson’s time is known. Nothing has changed in his story since the time he was hired on Jan. 11. Not until the Orange hits the field and shows whether it returns as one of the finest teams in the country or remains as one stuck in mediocrity will Robinson’s story unfold.

Here’s what we know: Though Syracuse finished 6-6 last year and made a bowl, the program is far from where it was in the late 1990s, when SU made six bowls in seven seasons from 1995-2001, with a Fiesta Bowl and Sugar Bowl appearance. Each year, the Orange has hinged its hope on something new. In 2003, it was R.J. Anderson returning to his past form. In 2004, it was Walter Reyes and a failed run at the Heisman Trophy.

This year, it’s Robinson. That is why more than anything else it’s Greg Robinson’s time.

‘I like to be a person that can anticipate a problem and try to eliminate it,’ Robinson said, ‘or when a problem arises to solve a problem.’

Robinson was talking about unexpected difficulties he might have faced so far as a head coach. But in fact, the biggest problem he’s facing is the state of the Syracuse football program. If he can propel it back to a top 15 team, he will have solved that problem.

In fact, a new head coach-and, more specifically, a (ITALIC!!!!!!!!!!)first-time(ITALIC!!!!!!!!) head coach-has proven fruitful for others. Ralph Friedgen lifted Maryland to the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in his first year, wrestling that title from perpetual champion Florida State. Bob Stoops turned around a decimated Oklahoma program and won a national championship in just his second season.

And so it’s much more important to not tell Robinson’s story, which has yet to be written, but to tell these other coaches’ stories and try to explain how these first-time head coaches have found success.

Because if Robinson emulates their story, SU will find the success that has eluded it recently.

Where to start? First, of course, Robinson must return this program to prominence.

‘(Stoops) got guys like (legendary OU coach) Barry Switzer back and involved. He got ex-players involved. And it’s kind of the same here,’ said quarterback Major Applewhite, who played through a coaching change when Mack Brown replaced John Mackovic at Texas in 1997. ‘I don’t want to say we’ve copied it, but those are all things that are important to a program.’

Robinson brought back former running back Jim Brown to speak this summer. The players also met past lettermen. Re-establishing a sense of pride in the past is something Brown did after being hired at Texas.

‘Some of my greatest days were playing rivalry games and making former lettermen proud that they could put on their t-rings the Saturday after we beat Oklahoma,’ Applewhite said of the honorary ring all UT lettermen receive. ‘Those were my memories, knowing those guys couldn’t play anymore and knowing they were playing through me. So it’s important that we portray that to our players.’

To reach that success, Robinson must realize the difference between being an assistant and a head coach. Robinson has been an assistant coach since 1975, when he worked at his alma mater, Pacific. For 22 of the last 23 years, he has focused exclusively on defense. From 1982-1988, Robinson was the defensive line coach at UCLA. In 1989, he was offensive coordinator for a season and then returned exclusively to defense, jumping from the New York Jets to the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. Last year, he returned to the college game with Texas. The Longhorns finished 11-1 and finished 23rd nationally in total defense, allowing 320.1 yards per game.

After concentrating on one side of the ball for so long, Robinson could struggle splitting his time between defense, offense and special teams. Controlling all aspects of a team isn’t a concept Robinson is accustomed to.

‘The last time I was a head coach was when I was coaching my intramural team at football,’ Robinson joked of his college days. ‘We were good. I can’t remember (our record). It might’ve only been for a day or two.’

That’s another thing. Robinson has proven affable to the press corps. Unlike the assistants, the head coach must deal with the press on an almost daily cycle. During the preseason, Robinson spoke two or three times per week. Every big question about every decision made its way to him. Who was winning the quarterback battle? Who was winning the second-string running back battle? Who was winning the third-string long-snapper battle? Sometimes Robinson forgot the names of his players.

Still, Robinson showed, at least in one way, things had changed from before. Whereas former head coach Paul Pasqualoni was dry and predictable-Pasqualoni often referred to opposing players and his own players by numbers only, ‘Number 15,’ for example-Robinson was serious yet loose at Syracuse Media Day, drawing many laughs.

On how hard he plans to work the players: ‘Oh, I don’t think very hard. I think we’ll be very easy on them.’

On naming starters at positions besides quarterback: ‘I don’t know if anyone will even ask about the other positions, so I don’t think it matters, unfortunately. But … yeah. I haven’t even thought about those guys.’

On his first day as a head coach: ‘Now it’s my time,’- there it is again -‘and it’s a good feeling. It’s great to be out here today, even with all of you (media) here.’

Said safety Anthony Smith: ‘They’re two different philosophies. Coach P is more old-school, which I don’t have a problem with. Coach Robinson is more a new-school kind of guy. Coach Robinson is laid back. He’s energetic. He likes playing with the guys. He’s almost like one of us. Coach P was more business.’

That’s good, because in order to turn around a program, you need a new coaching philosophy and new energy. Those are two vague terms, but Robinson seems to bring them. Pasqualoni ran an option offense, which some said hurt his recruiting of wide receivers. Robinson brings a pro-style West Coast offense, which will rely on quick, sharp routes (see story page TK).

Meanwhile, running back Damien Rhodes, a Manlius native, said he hasn’t seen this much excitement for a season since Donovan McNabb left.

Others agree.

‘I just think that the 18- to 22-year-olds need variation,’ Applewhite said. ‘A new staff coming in, it brings new life, a new energy. It gives the guys something new to learn. Just that alone, sometimes, gets guys working harder. They’ve got a new set of eyes. They’ve got new guys evaluating. So now everything in the past is lost. It’s all been thrown away. Those guys are no longer in the books and recorded. So these guys probably feel like they have a new chance and it makes things better.’

It’s a script that’s already been written, one Robinson now has to follow.

Published on September 18, 2005 at 12:00 pm