OrangePA
Living Legend
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2011
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The schizophrenic characterizations of Marrone as the greatest coach since Lombardi following the win against WVU and calls for his dismissal following yesterday's loss are really misguided in my judement.
There are many examples of coaches taking a few years to build a program. Frank Beamer took years to develope Va Tech. I just watched a piece on Tom Landry who took six years to win in Dallas. Coach Mac arrived in 1981 and didn't really have any noticeable success until 1985 and even after that season had a losing year that prompted the "Sac Mac Pac."
What we saw last year - an 8-5 season with a bowl win - was rare and remarkable. To discard that kind of success and what it reflects, after a couple of frustrating losses, is not realistic or fair.
The fact is that quick success on the field is rare. More often the work of the succesfful coach occurs behind the scenes.
I think that is what is occurring with the Syracuse program. If you listen to Marrone, he understands very well, every aspect of running a successful program. Every aspect of our program has been studied. Every component has been addressed. Every deficiency recognized. And every public and privatae word carfully considered before utterred.
In less than three years he has improved the talent level on the team. In less than three years Syracuse University football is no longer a punch line. And during that short period of time he has marketed both the program, the University and the community better than anybody I have witnessed during my lifetime.
His success so far has raised expectations - too much so in my view. But that seems to be the way it is with fans - especially Syracuse fans.
Nearly forty years ago George Steinbrenner essentially created the "fire the coach as the solution to poor play" mentality. Talk radio, sports columns and the internet have raised the "fire the coach" discussion to almost an art form. Now casual fans who know nothing about the nuts and bolts of football or any other sport announce who should be fired from week to week. The "decision" to fire somebody comes after a single game or single play these days. I have always found it silly.
Anybody who truly thought that we would make a significant jump this year - in terms of record - was just not being realistic.
Lets remember that on defense we lost the heart of our ability to stop the run - Tribbey, Hogue, Smith, Perkins, Lewis, Suter. We also lost Rob Long - maybe our best player on the field, Delone Carter - the real key to our offense and Ryan B. We also lost Marcus Sales, who made clear in Yankee Stadium, what a factor he can be.
I was really crushed by that awful loss to Rutgers and really disapointed in the poor showing at Louisville. And yesterday I could not believe that we didn't win that game agains UConn - the defensive showing in the second half was god awful.
But with some time to reflect, I feel better. I know we are getting better - that a foundation has been laid - that Marrone knows what has to be done and that he is the kind of person that parents will trust with their kids.
Doug Marrone is the right man for the job and is building what we all want regardless of how some might judge a particular game or particular play.
There are many examples of coaches taking a few years to build a program. Frank Beamer took years to develope Va Tech. I just watched a piece on Tom Landry who took six years to win in Dallas. Coach Mac arrived in 1981 and didn't really have any noticeable success until 1985 and even after that season had a losing year that prompted the "Sac Mac Pac."
What we saw last year - an 8-5 season with a bowl win - was rare and remarkable. To discard that kind of success and what it reflects, after a couple of frustrating losses, is not realistic or fair.
The fact is that quick success on the field is rare. More often the work of the succesfful coach occurs behind the scenes.
I think that is what is occurring with the Syracuse program. If you listen to Marrone, he understands very well, every aspect of running a successful program. Every aspect of our program has been studied. Every component has been addressed. Every deficiency recognized. And every public and privatae word carfully considered before utterred.
In less than three years he has improved the talent level on the team. In less than three years Syracuse University football is no longer a punch line. And during that short period of time he has marketed both the program, the University and the community better than anybody I have witnessed during my lifetime.
His success so far has raised expectations - too much so in my view. But that seems to be the way it is with fans - especially Syracuse fans.
Nearly forty years ago George Steinbrenner essentially created the "fire the coach as the solution to poor play" mentality. Talk radio, sports columns and the internet have raised the "fire the coach" discussion to almost an art form. Now casual fans who know nothing about the nuts and bolts of football or any other sport announce who should be fired from week to week. The "decision" to fire somebody comes after a single game or single play these days. I have always found it silly.
Anybody who truly thought that we would make a significant jump this year - in terms of record - was just not being realistic.
Lets remember that on defense we lost the heart of our ability to stop the run - Tribbey, Hogue, Smith, Perkins, Lewis, Suter. We also lost Rob Long - maybe our best player on the field, Delone Carter - the real key to our offense and Ryan B. We also lost Marcus Sales, who made clear in Yankee Stadium, what a factor he can be.
I was really crushed by that awful loss to Rutgers and really disapointed in the poor showing at Louisville. And yesterday I could not believe that we didn't win that game agains UConn - the defensive showing in the second half was god awful.
But with some time to reflect, I feel better. I know we are getting better - that a foundation has been laid - that Marrone knows what has to be done and that he is the kind of person that parents will trust with their kids.
Doug Marrone is the right man for the job and is building what we all want regardless of how some might judge a particular game or particular play.