SYRACUSE - Set to begin his fourth year at Syracuse, head coach Greg Robinson says he likes the mystery that always surrounds the season opener.
“You don't have all the data. I think that's what makes the openers always exciting,” Robinson said. “There is that element of the unknown. It can be nerve-racking. It's part of the game. Both sides go through it.”
The season begins Saturday for the Orange with a road game against Northwestern, and every game is likely to be nerve-racking. Robinson has a dismal 7-28 record in his first three years and this is a make-or-break season for him.
Most observers are predicting the latter. The Orange were picked to finish last in the Big East on all 24 ballots cast at Big East media day and Las Vegas oddsmakers don't expect them to win more than two games.
“Having extra motivation being picked last by everybody, that's fine with us,” junior quarterback Andrew Robinson said. “We're perfectly happy being underdogs game in and game out. We feel like maybe some teams will overlook us or look to the next game and we can sneak up and stun some people.”
Andrew Robinson survived 50 sacks and countless brutal hits a year ago to put up some pretty fair numbers - 2,192 passing yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions - despite the worst running attack in the nation (2 yards per carry).
At least he'll line up against the Wildcats with a more experienced line to offer protection. Center Jim McKenzie, guard Ryan Durand, and tackle Corey Chavers return as starters. Newcomers to the first string include tackle Tucker Baumbach and guard Ryan Bartholomew, both sophomores. Jonathan Meldrum, who played in nine games in a solid freshman year, is returning from knee surgery that forced him to miss spring practice and is listed as the backup for both tackle positions.
“I'd like to think we're a little more talented than we've been,” Greg Robinson said. “We've got a number of players who have played a lot of football. A year ago, we were playing with nine freshmen who were involved in ballgames regularly. You add that to your experienced group, and you'd like to think that you'll benefit some from all of that.”
The Orange also welcomes back its top two running backs from two seasons ago - Delone Carter, who missed all of 2007 with a dislocated hip, and Curtis Brinkley, who sat out the final four games last fall with a broken leg. They, along with sophomore Doug Hogue, are on the depth chart for Northwestern. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Hogue started the final four games after Brinkley was injured, gained 251 yards on 77 carries (3.3 yards per carry), and scored once.
Greg Robinson said he still hasn't decided who will start.
“The three have all had very good camps,” Greg Robinson said. “Each in their own way have done good things and we'll kind of figure out how that's going to come about later in the week. We will need all three of those guys to carry their load throughout the season.”
The Orange won't have the top two receivers from a year ago, though. Mike Williams (60 catches for 837 yards and 10 TDs) is out of school because of academic problems and Taj Smith (44 catches for 822 yards and five TDs) gave up his final year of eligibility to give the NFL a shot.
That leaves two Syracuse natives - senior Bruce Williams and junior Lavar Lobdell - and sophomore Donte Davis as the front-runners. Davis is returning from a hand injury that sidelined him two games into last season, while Williams is back on offense for the first time since his freshman year. Redshirt freshman Chaz Cervino is also listed on the depth chart.
The Orange defense is led by nose tackle Arthur Jones, who registered 17.5 tackles for losses last season, most of any player in the Big East. Sophomore Jared Kimmel, who showed glimmers of stardom before a season-ending knee injury last fall, and senior Vincenzo Giruzzi, a linebacker his first three seasons, are listed as the starters at end. Senior Jake Flaherty and sophomores Mike Mele and Derrell Smith are the projected starters at linebacker.
In the secondary, sophomore cornerbacks Da'Mon Merkerson and Nico Scott are battling for the spot opposite sophomore Mike Holmes, while sophomore Randy McKinnon is listed as the surprise starter at free safety over kick return ace Max Suter.
“There's a great anticipation on their part to get going,” Greg Robinson said. “It's been a long time since they've played a real football game.”
The season begins Saturday for the Orange with a road game against Northwestern, and every game is likely to be nerve-racking. Robinson has a dismal 7-28 record in his first three years and this is a make-or-break season for him.
Most observers are predicting the latter. The Orange were picked to finish last in the Big East on all 24 ballots cast at Big East media day and Las Vegas oddsmakers don't expect them to win more than two games.
“Having extra motivation being picked last by everybody, that's fine with us,” junior quarterback Andrew Robinson said. “We're perfectly happy being underdogs game in and game out. We feel like maybe some teams will overlook us or look to the next game and we can sneak up and stun some people.”
Andrew Robinson survived 50 sacks and countless brutal hits a year ago to put up some pretty fair numbers - 2,192 passing yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions - despite the worst running attack in the nation (2 yards per carry).
At least he'll line up against the Wildcats with a more experienced line to offer protection. Center Jim McKenzie, guard Ryan Durand, and tackle Corey Chavers return as starters. Newcomers to the first string include tackle Tucker Baumbach and guard Ryan Bartholomew, both sophomores. Jonathan Meldrum, who played in nine games in a solid freshman year, is returning from knee surgery that forced him to miss spring practice and is listed as the backup for both tackle positions.
“I'd like to think we're a little more talented than we've been,” Greg Robinson said. “We've got a number of players who have played a lot of football. A year ago, we were playing with nine freshmen who were involved in ballgames regularly. You add that to your experienced group, and you'd like to think that you'll benefit some from all of that.”
The Orange also welcomes back its top two running backs from two seasons ago - Delone Carter, who missed all of 2007 with a dislocated hip, and Curtis Brinkley, who sat out the final four games last fall with a broken leg. They, along with sophomore Doug Hogue, are on the depth chart for Northwestern. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Hogue started the final four games after Brinkley was injured, gained 251 yards on 77 carries (3.3 yards per carry), and scored once.
Greg Robinson said he still hasn't decided who will start.
“The three have all had very good camps,” Greg Robinson said. “Each in their own way have done good things and we'll kind of figure out how that's going to come about later in the week. We will need all three of those guys to carry their load throughout the season.”
The Orange won't have the top two receivers from a year ago, though. Mike Williams (60 catches for 837 yards and 10 TDs) is out of school because of academic problems and Taj Smith (44 catches for 822 yards and five TDs) gave up his final year of eligibility to give the NFL a shot.
That leaves two Syracuse natives - senior Bruce Williams and junior Lavar Lobdell - and sophomore Donte Davis as the front-runners. Davis is returning from a hand injury that sidelined him two games into last season, while Williams is back on offense for the first time since his freshman year. Redshirt freshman Chaz Cervino is also listed on the depth chart.
The Orange defense is led by nose tackle Arthur Jones, who registered 17.5 tackles for losses last season, most of any player in the Big East. Sophomore Jared Kimmel, who showed glimmers of stardom before a season-ending knee injury last fall, and senior Vincenzo Giruzzi, a linebacker his first three seasons, are listed as the starters at end. Senior Jake Flaherty and sophomores Mike Mele and Derrell Smith are the projected starters at linebacker.
In the secondary, sophomore cornerbacks Da'Mon Merkerson and Nico Scott are battling for the spot opposite sophomore Mike Holmes, while sophomore Randy McKinnon is listed as the surprise starter at free safety over kick return ace Max Suter.
“There's a great anticipation on their part to get going,” Greg Robinson said. “It's been a long time since they've played a real football game.”
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