James Vollono (ST coordinator)

[Jake]

We attempted 37 punts this year. Only successfully kicked 33 of them.

That means 11% of them got blocked or worse. I’m not going to do the research, but I’ll assume that’s the highest pct in FBS football.

Also had at least one FG blocked. And nobody kicking the ball was reliable.

It was a disaster, and unsurvivable for the ST coach.

 

[djcon57]

Glad to see Fran doing the right thing.

 

[tep624]

Had to be done

Yeah this one was inevitable. Special teams was a liability most of the year. And we regressed in most areas as well.

 

[Orangefizz]

Looks like Vollono is gone. Jackson Kennedy’s mom seems to confirm it here:

View attachment 248235
View attachment 248236

If this is true, this is DART in action. Players and coaches should all be held accountable. Vollano was the worst ST coach I have ever seen at Syracuse

 

[rocklloyd]

If this is true, this is DART in action. Players and coaches should all be held accountable. Vollano was the worst ST coach I have ever seen at Syracuse

Even worse than when we didn’t have one.

 

[ezbeezy214]

Had to happen

 

[kingtidge]

Yeah this one was inevitable. Special teams was a liability most of the year. And we regressed in most areas as well.

Not surprised by any means. Need a major overhaul and some better kickers.

 

[BKCuse]

Glad to see Fran wasting no time in doing what has to be done. Vollano will get another gig. These coaches always seem to land on their feet.

Wish him and his family nothing but the best.

 

[Jasoncuse]

Had to be done

 

[Cheriehoop]

Wonder why such an experienced ST coach had such horrible issues here? Just strange and sad how badly our special teams were this year.

Vollono Hired as Special Teams Coordinator - Syracuse University Athletics

James Vollono is joining Syracuse's football staff as the Special Teams Coordinator, bringing 20 years of coaching experience to the Orange staff.

cuse.com

 

[tep624]

Wonder why such an experienced ST coach had such horrible issues here? Just strange and sad how badly our special teams were this year.

Vollono Hired as Special Teams Coordinator - Syracuse University Athletics

James Vollono is joining Syracuse's football staff as the Special Teams Coordinator, bringing 20 years of coaching experience to the Orange staff.

cuse.com

The blocking assignment issues were just bizarre. I can’t remember a worse punt blocking unit at Syracuse than ours this year.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Wonder why such an experienced ST coach had such horrible issues here? Just strange and sad how badly our special teams were this year.

Vollono Hired as Special Teams Coordinator - Syracuse University Athletics

James Vollono is joining Syracuse's football staff as the Special Teams Coordinator, bringing 20 years of coaching experience to the Orange staff.

cuse.com

In hindsight his experience was mainly as a STs analyst.

 

[All4SU]

I don’t wish to pile on the guy, but what stood out to me were our punt and kick return units. Pena is a really good returner, but we were unable to spring him all season. And we were consistently better off if we didn’t even attempt a KO return. So odd.

With a new ST coach next season, Pena may be rediscovered as a leading PR guy.

 

[TexanMark]

In hindsight his experience was mainly as a STs analyst.

Fran if he has P5 level pay to offer should be able to grab a VG candidate.

 

[Dcuse]

We did have a nice punt and kickoff return in the bowl game.But, as you guys mentioned, the punt team is the major reason this guy is gone. I don't fault ST coaches for kickers that suck. If the unit is snapping, holding and blocking acceptably then he's doing his job. But Jake mentioned above that 11% of our punts were blocked this year? That has to rival an NCAA record. Totally unacceptable.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

We attempted 37 punts this year. Only successfully kicked 33 of them.

That means 11% of them got blocked or worse. I’m not going to do the research, but I’ll assume that’s the highest pct in FBS football.

Also had at least one FG blocked. And nobody kicking the ball was reliable.

It was a disaster, and unsurvivable for the ST coach.

Believe it or not, Nebraska has had 10 punts / FGs / PATs blocked this year. I think that’s at least 2 more than us.

Maybe it’s a Rhule thing?

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I don't think we will ever see Fran fire a coach mid-season unless it is for misconduct. He realizes that other than cover his own arse it doesn't do the program any good.

Agree 100%, won’t happen. Fans also get carried away with this stuff. There‘s a lot that goes jnto just firing a special teams coordinator mid season, like who would actually do the job if said coach was fired

 

[TexanMark]

We did have a nice punt and kickoff return in the bowl game.But, as you guys mentioned, the punt team is the major reason this guy is gone. I don't fault ST coaches for kickers that suck. If the unit is snapping, holding and blocking acceptably then he's doing his job. But Jake mentioned above that 11% of our punts were blocked this year? That has to rival an NCAA record. Totally unacceptable.

FG and XP Kicks getting blocked not an issue?

 

[Dcuse]

FG and XP Kicks getting blocked not an issue?

Of course. Did I say that?

 

[NKR1978]

Wonder why such an experienced ST coach had such horrible issues here? Just strange and sad how badly our special teams were this year.

Vollono Hired as Special Teams Coordinator - Syracuse University Athletics

James Vollono is joining Syracuse's football staff as the Special Teams Coordinator, bringing 20 years of coaching experience to the Orange staff.

cuse.com

I hope he lands on his feet and for whatever reason just couldn't get it together here.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

We did have a nice punt and kickoff return in the bowl game.But, as you guys mentioned, the punt team is the major reason this guy is gone. I don't fault ST coaches for kickers that suck. If the unit is snapping, holding and blocking acceptably then he's doing his job. But Jake mentioned above that 11% of our punts were blocked this year? That has to rival an NCAA record. Totally unacceptable.

Wasn’t the punt return our base D with Pena back?

 

[Sudano]

Glad to see Fran doing the right thing.

He's the one who hired him too... just sayin.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

He's the one who hired him too... just sayin.

Ok wasn’t aware

 

[GoSU96]

Who else on the D side has experience calling games

The guy from UB .

 

[SUforme]

It had to be done and glad it is getting done. Terrible, terrible year for special teams.