Tough Times
Brian Proctor only bought tickets to one football game this year.
Like many SU students, Proctor learned the drill. As a freshman, he decked himself out in orange for multiple home games – beaming with optimism. But the buzz quickly faded, his interest quickly waned and attending football games became a chore.
Now he buys tickets for other reasons.
‘I just got tickets to the Penn State game. I’ll see how well they do and maybe buy some more tickets,’ said Proctor, a junior sports management major who lives 30 minutes from Happy Valley, Pa. ‘I’m kind of scared to watch them play Penn State because I’m a huge Penn State fan.’
Over the past three seasons, Syracuse has gone 7-28. The average home attendance has fallen by more than 8,500 fans since 2004, slipping to a 22-year low last season (35,009). But heading into a new season produces optimism by default.
After an offseason gone haywire, though, it’s more of a curtailed, wait-and-see optimism. De facto excitement that could gain a head of steam.
‘I’ve noticed the past couple years that the number of fans that have shown up has really dwindled,’ Proctor said. ‘I think that if we get a couple wins under our belt, you’ll see more than just freshmen in the crowd.’
For the second straight year, the Orange enters the season without its top returning offensive weapon. Last year it was the injured Delone Carter, who’s back. This year, wide receiver Mike Williams was suspended by the university for academic reasons. For salt in the wound, Brandon Gilbeaux was also deemed ineligible for the same reason and has since transferred to the University of Delaware.
The future is also in peril. The school’s dwindling recruiting power took a big blow when four-star rated cornerback Darrick Scott de-committed from Syracuse this summer in favor of Central Michigan. The Orange currently has the fewest recruits (four) of any Big East school for the 2009 season, according to Scout.com. Still, Dave Jacobs, who’s been at the pulse of the program for three decades, couldn’t be more excited for Aug. 30 when the Orange kicks off its season at Northwestern.
Jacobs is the longtime president of Shirt World on Marshall Street and was the kicker for Syracuse from 1975-78. He said sales haven’t dropped the past few years and the student body is buzzing for this season.
His voice skips and stutters with excitement. To him, the Orange is on the verge of busting out.
‘I have a great feeling, I just do,’ Jacobs said. ‘I think they’re going to play every game like (former SU star) Floyd Little use to say. Every time he carried that ball, he said he carried it like it was his last carry… We have great talent and just have to put it together. I can’t wait. I haven’t been so fired up in a long time.’
One reason for Jacobs’ spiked enthusiasm is the new blood infused into the team this season.
If nothing else, the offense’s philosophy will change, as Mitch Browning takes over as offensive coordinator. With Minnesota, Browning set a Big Ten record for total offense (6,430 yards) in 2003 behind a pounding rushing game and a complementary passing game.
This season also features Robinson’s best recruiting class to date – highlighted by the two highest-rated players in New York in the 2008 class (per Scout.com), running back Averin Collier and wide receiver Marcus Sales. Running backs Carter and Curtis Brinkley return from season-ending injuries to join Doug Hogue in a full backfield. New faces – although unproven and unknown – are still new. A replenished cast of characters from the bunch that wilted into college football futility last year should at least freshen up the program.
Particularly, Carter could spearhead Browning’s ball-control offense that produced NFL starters Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney. Two years ago, Carter rushed for 713 yards on 156 carries as a freshman.
‘The running back situation can be as strong as it’s been at Syracuse in a number of years,’ head coach Greg Robinson said. ‘I think the depth and different types of talent that come out of that running back position can be a positive.’
In the end, the kaleidoscope will naturally be focused on Robinson. In his three seasons, Syracuse has won two conference games. For a school with a rich football tradition – SU ranks 14th all-time in wins – such an abrupt crash into the national basement could make this fall a make-or-break campaign for Robinson.
‘I think that’s the problem right there,’ Proctor said. ‘Greg Robinson isn’t motivating the guys enough.’
And now, television cameras capture more and more steel benches than fans.
‘As far as the games being a waste of money – from my point of view – it is nowadays, until they get back on their feet,’ Proctor said.
Still, a contingent of students has trucked to the Carrier Dome through the past three seasons of wipeouts. Charlie Marsh, a senior history major, has purchased season tickets in each of his years at SU. His wait-and-see approach doesn’t have a stop sign.
‘Have to support them,’ he said. ‘Eventually, it’s going to turn around.’
Jacobs believes the turnaround will happen with Robinson on board and that the coach will be a mainstay at Syracuse.
‘I wish I could throw my spikes on and kick for a guy like him,’ Jacobs said of Robinson. ‘He’s a player’s coach, and I just hope the fans understand that (wins) are going to happen. He’s the guy and is doing a great job.’
He’s the guy, for now. The decision to keep the head coach on board cued a series of ‘Fire Robinson’ chants at the ensuing Syracuse men’s basketball game back in November.
Such jeers would almost certainly hit their highest pitch if the losing continues in year four of the Robinson regime. There is an abnormal sense of urgency for this time of the year. With a team full of his own recruits, the pressure has never cooked this high on the embattled Robinson and the program searching for answers.
‘Another losing season and he won’t be coach anymore,’ Proctor said.
Published on August 24, 2008 at 12:00 pm
