Actually the analogy is factually incorrect for a number of reasons.
In no particular order.
Pasqualoni was fired one week following a late December bowl game - after having been promised another season at the helm.
For that reason, the process of securing coaches was significantly delayed.
With Robinson it was announced that he would not return before the ND game - with two games remaining in the season. For that reason there was a great deal of time to secure coaches.
- What does the announcement have to do with securing coaches? There was no head coach. Without a head coach, you cannot have assistants. And now there is a reference to a timeframe, as if Robinson had no chance and that he was a random hire (without doing due diligence). Think that is unfair to Dr. Gross.
Second, Marrone actually had enough time to recruit a very decent class in 2009. That classs included Shamarko Thomas, Philip Thomas, E. J. Carter, Brandon Sharpe, Andrew Tiller, Torrey Ball and I think R'Shard Anderson amongst others. He also brought in a guy named Greg Paulus. It was a relatively strong effort.
- That is retroactive. At the time, people were not that excited about the incoming players. In 2005, for example, Robinson recruited Curtis Brinkley, Arthur Jones (maintained commitment) and Lavar Lobdell. People were FAR more excited about that class then Marrone's.
Third, Marrone was a Syracuse guy with close HS contacts in the NYS area and down south where he had been a very strong recruiter. Also, he brought on board John Anselmo and Bob Casullo who had strong local recruiting contacts. As opposed to Robinson who had few if any NE contacts, Marrone had many strong ones.
- Your post # 3 was in regards to him not having ties. What close HS ties did Marrone have when he took the job? He may have rekindled relationships (just like G-Rob did), but when he took the job, he was fairly unknown to most HS coaches in the region. Casullo was hired after signing day. And, why is Robinson given a free pass for hiring assistants when you say Marrone brought in good assistants (including one after signing day)? This seems a bit forgiving of Robinson and is a poor reason.
With respect to infrastructure, Dr. Gross determined early in Robinson's tenure that the football infrastructure was lacking. He added field turf to the Dome and to the practice facilities and improved fund raising. By 2009 - as opposed to 2004 - the problems had been identified and the process of fixing it had begun.
- Again, what does this have to do with Robinson failing during his tenure as coach? Again, you say by 2009, the problems had been identified, but Syracuse is still far behind the curve (especially when compared to their new ACC brethren). Not sure how this excuses anything Robinson did (especially since coaching - not recruiting- was G'Rob's problem).
Marrone was well aware of where SU Football stood when he took over, having applied for the job when P was fired, having continued his close relationship with Coach Mac and of course having gone to SU and having retained his close NYS coaching contacts.
- So, under this reasoning, should Robinson have not applied for this job? And, what close NYS coaching contacts did Marrone maintain over the course of at least 7 years (assuming he kept these contacts while coaching in the South, which he probably did not judging by the number of Northern players on those rosters he coached at)
You're correct - Marrone had a solid NFL coaching career, though nowhere near as long or as successful as that of Robinson.
So, in that respect, your post is accurate in a strict sense, but probably misses the true measure of Robinson's pro successes.
- How many times did Robinson's defenses rank in the top 10 (yards per game) of the NFL? 3 times. Of 9 seasons as a defensive coordinator. Not sure how else to define NFL success unless you count Super Bowl rings (which Marrone and Robinson probably had equal impact on their teams winning).
Other than what is noted above, your post is a nice attempt at irony, though it is pretty much way, way off target.
Notice the lack of condescension in my response? Take off the Robinson-colored glasses and you will see your are evaluating him about as soft as you can evaluate someone.
If you evaluate Marrone based off of this, there is no way Marrone should ever be fired. Also find it interesting that you think Syracuse (based off your comments) was left in a better position by Robinson then by Pasqualoni.
But thank you for playing!![/quote]
