The Firing Line: Edsall, Addazio Emerge at Syracuse

“The Firing Line” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on Syracuse Coach Greg Robinson…

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross had hired search consultant Chuck Neinas and had already reached out to Edsall to gauge his interest about succeeding current coach Greg Robinson, who is 8-34 with the Orange. ESPN’s Joe Schad is also reporting that Neinas had made overtures toward Edsall on Syracuse’s behalf. Gross denied the Times story to the Syracuse Post-Standard on Wednesday night and said he had not hired any search firms. Edsall opened his regular Thursday teleconference with Connecticut media by denying the reports. “I don’t deal in speculation and I just want you to know and everybody to know I haven’t been contacted by any college, any university, the NFL, any person or people regarding and jobs,” Edsall said. “End of story.” Edsall did not answer follow-up questions on the issue. – ESPN.com

Greg Robinson, Syracuse: The fit: Steve Addazio, Florida assistant coach. Former SU star Rob Konrad is pushing for Addazio, and at this point, embattled AD Daryl Gross may not have a choice. – Sporting News

The Firing Line: Syracuse Makes First Move to Replace Robinson

“The Firing Line” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on Syracuse Coach Greg Robinson…

 

Syracuse University has taken a tangible step toward firing its football coach, Greg Robinson, enlisting a search firm to help find his replacement. A person with knowledge of the plan said the university was using Chuck Neinas, a veteran consultant and former commissioner of the Big Eight Conference, for assistance in hiring Robinson’s replacement. – New York Times

 

Syracuse University director of athletics Daryl Gross denied Wednesday night a report in The New York Times that he has enlisted a search firm to assist in securing a replacement for embattled Orange football coach Greg Robinson. The Times quoted an unnamed source who said Gross and Syracuse are using consultant Chuck Neinas, the former director of the College Football Association and commissioner of the Big Eight Conference, to help in the process of finding a new football coach. Gross said he has not hired Neinas or any consulting firm. “No, it’s absolutely not true,” Gross told The Post-Standard. “The reality is . . . I haven’t hired anyone and the university hasn’t hired anyone. It’s speculation and it would be inappropriate for me to hire someone (a consulting firm or search firm) at this point.” Gross is under intense pressure to fire Robinson, who is 1-6 this season and 8-34 overall since replacing Paul Pasqualoni after the 2004 season. It’s possible Robinson’s tenure is on a week-to-week basis. – Syracuse Post-Standard

 

Of course, Robinson is still employed despite his 8-34 record. The Orange (1-6) have a bye this week. Schools have found many creative ways of contacting prospective coaches without actually talking to them, using consultants and agents and other layers. So who knows what the truth is here. But if Gross is really interested in finding a successor, he should go ahead and fire Robinson now. – ESPN

Carroll, Kiffin Rumors Swirl

Pete Carroll
USC coach Pete Carroll said Monday he did not want to answer questions about the San Francisco 49ers coaching situation because it would only lead to more questions from the media. The 49ers fired coach Mike Nolan on Monday and assistant coach Mike Singletary is expected to take over for the rest of this season, although no official word has come from the NFL team. Carroll, a former 49ers assistant and Bay Area native, said in 2003 he was offered the job but turned it down. Carroll said five years ago the organization changed from the one he worked for under the late coach Bill Walsh. But speculation immediately rose after Nolan was fired. “There’s no reason to respond,” Carroll said. “I’m even going to respond to anything.” – LA Daily News

Lane Kiffin
Today it feels better to help than to hurt, so today I will help Clemson and Tennessee and Syracuse — well, maybe Syracuse can’t do any better than Lane Kiffin — by telling them to kindly, but swiftly, pull your head out of your ass and understand who Lane Kiffin is. And who he is not. Who he is: A terrible NFL head coach. Bill Callahan, not Bill Cowher. True, the Raiders are poisonous. But Kiffin didn’t do anything to make them better. The Raiders sucked before he got there, and the Raiders sucked while he was there, and the Raiders suck now that he’s gone. Lane Kiffin had no impact. Zero. So if Kiffin’s time with the Raiders was a complete zero, who else is he? He’s a former offensive coordinator at the most talented program in college football. That’s all he is, and if that sounds flippant, good. – CBS Sports

The Firing Line: Addazio in Line for Orange?

“The Firing Line” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on Syracuse Coach Greg Robinson…

Don’t be shocked if Florida offensive line coach Steve Addazio becomes a player for the Syracuse job, if it opens. Addazio coached at Syracuse from 1995-98 under Paul Pasqualoni and understands how the university and region operate. Even more vital: He would come relatively cheap and has numerous ties in the Northeast. Connections to high school coaches in the region haven’t been strong under Greg Robinson. When the Orange was a power, it lured many blue-chippers from the region. Now, most of the top talent goes elsewhere. – Rivals.com

Who would’ve guessed a month ago that Tommy Bowden, not Greg Robinson or Ty Willingham, would be the first coach canned this season? Expect a bunch more moves to follow, probably continuing with Robinson and Willingham and Wyoming’s Joe Glenn. Two other juicy names that are now also in the mix: Tommy Tuberville and Phil Fulmer. – ESPN

The Firing Line: Focus on Greg Robinson

“The Firing Line” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on Syracuse Coach Greg Robinson…

The Orange will leave town later this week with this baggage in tow: – Tickets for the Northeastern game sold for $3.50 on the Internet. — The 27,549 turnout for the Pitt game was the lowest attendance for a home game since 1986. — Callers continue to vent on talk radio and online message boards rage with calls for Robinson to be fired and at least two former players have suggested their own man to replace Robinson. — Three Syracuse University seniors have been selling T-shirts with a list of this season’s game dates and locations on the back that read “Greg Robinson Farewell Tour. — And former coach Paul Pasqualoni, the man who was fired to make way for Robinson, is excelling as defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins along with his longtime trusted assistant George DeLeone. Robinson, in his fourth season, has landed only a handful of commitments for next year’s class, and this season he has benched the first quarterback he recruited (Andrew Robinson) in favor of a former walk-on (Cam Dantley), who was lured to Syracuse by Pasqualoni. The Pitt game might have sealed Robinson’s fate for good. He has one more year left on his contract, and a victory to start the Big East schedule would have put the Orange in first place and done wonders for the team’s psyche. Instead, the Orange squandered a nice lead and Robinson was saddled with much of the blame after electing to punt on a fourth-and-1 play in the first quarter from the Pitt 38 with Syracuse up 14-3. Instead of showing faith in his offense — the Orange were averaging 7 yards per carry at that point in the game — he gave the ball back to Pitt, not to mention a big dose of confidence for the Panthers defense. – AP

The coaching landscape soon will begin shifting - as coaches leave, get fired, resign or quit - and one name to remember when it comes to filling jobs is recently fired Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin is known to have interest in the coaching jobs at Syracuse and Washington, should they come open. – Rivals.com

Scoop: Syracuse, Virginia, Memphis, Washington & ECU Updates

Memphis: There’s considerable pressure on Memphis Coach Tommy West. Early names: Former Southern Miss Coach Jeff Bower, current Florida DC Charlie Strong…

Syracuse: AD Daryl Gross’ ties to former Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin and USC OC Steve Sarkisian make them popular guesses. Illinois OC Mike Locksley has been working behind the scenes for months to position himself to take over. Syracuse alum and current UConn Coach Randy Edsall is probably the most-sure fire hire – if Gross can lure him away. Saints OC Doug Marrone also figures to be a player…

Virginia: There are a lot of boosters who believe ECU Coach Skip Holtz is the answer…

East Carolina: If Skip Holtz lands another job (likely), there are several names being floated to replace him. Illinois OC Mike Locksley, South Carolina DC Ellis Johnson and South Carolina State Head Coach Buddy Pough are the most popular at the moment…

Washington: The early favorite to replace the soon to be fired Washington Coach Tyrone Willingham is Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel. Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham’s name is also being floated.

“Scoop” posted on FRM is gathered from around the country from numerous sources within the coaching community…

Hanging by a Thread: Eight Coaches Who May Not Return in 2009

By our count, there were at least eight coaches Saturday who exponentially increased their chances of joining the unemployment line. Let’s cover them one by one:

 

Al Groh – Virginia:  Groh led his Virginia team to a 9-4 mark last year, winning several games by single digits.  This season, it seems thing are back to business as usual in Charlottesville.  The Cavaliers are 1-3 following a 31-3 trouncing by… (drum roll, please)… DUKE!  The Blue Devils ended their 25 game ACC losing streak.  We think it’s only a matter of time for Groh.  He has not endeared himself with prominent boosters.  Most power brokers around the football program do not like him.  It will take a near-miracle for Groh to return in 2009.

 

Phillip Fulmer – Tennessee:  The Vols couldn’t beat Auburn, who in eight possessions in the second half managed six punts, one turnover and one kneel down.  Tennessee is 1-3 with Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt remaining on the schedule.  7-5 looks like a best case scenario, as we can’t see how the Vols can stay on the same field with the Tide and Bulldogs.  Throw in another loss and Fat Lady can begin warming up her vocals.

 

Joe Glenn – Wyoming:  After the 5-7 finish last season, Glenn’s Cowboys are off to a 2-3 start after being blown out Saturday 45-16 by Bowling Green. The heat is rising and we think there’ll be a new sheriff in Laramie very soon.

 

Kirk Ferentz – Iowa:  The Hawkeyes are 3-2 after losing to Northwestern Saturday.  Ferentz was widely respected when he took over the Iowa program coming from the NFL.  He had an immediate impact, but the luster is long gone as the Hawks have fallen to the middle of the pack (6-6 last season).  Ferentz should have taken another job long ago.  Now, with the program engulfed in turmoil with several arrests over the past year, we think a change in leadership is very likely.

 

Greg Robinson – Syracuse:  The Orange lost to Pitt Saturday in a competitive game.  However, it really doesn’t matter at this point.  Robinson can’t save his job.  Every coach in American knows this one is only a formality.

 

Tommy Bowden – Clemson:  Clemson is a difficult spot and Bowden has done an admirable job – even though he has yet to win an ACC title.  However, the Tigers are 3-2 after a loss at home to Maryland.  Bowden just signed a long-term extension – and we think he deserves to return.  Nevertheless, the natives are restless.

 

Stan Brock – Army:  The Knights were 3-9 last season and are currently 0-4 following a valiant effort against Texas A&M.  It’s clear Brock is not getting the job done.  A change is likely.

 

Tyrone Willingham – Washington:  At the time of publication, the Huskies were trailing to Stanford 21-14 in the second quarter.  However, we included him in our list because Tyrone Willingham is in the same situation as Greg Robinson at Syracuse:  he can’t save his job.  It’s not if, but when.  Washington will have new coach in 2009. 

A “Lock” at Syracuse?

Sources tell Football Rumor Mill that, while Syracuse would like its next coach to have head coaching experience, Athletic Director Daryl Gross could very well look to an assistant to take over when he fires the embattled Greg Robinson.

 

The top two assistants thought to be under consideration are USC Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian and Illinois OC Mike Locksey.  Sarkisian has a previous relationship with Gross having worked with him at USC.  Locksley has very solid support and has been quietly working behind the scenes since early last season in order to position himself to take over the Orange. 

 

If Gross decides to go with head coaching experience, he could tab current Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin, who could to be relieved of his current duties at any second.

First to be Fired?

Saturday’s game between Pitt and Syracuse could turn out to be survival of the fittest. Both head coaches are on the firing line. A loss for Dave Wannstedt could be the beginning of the end, while a loss for Greg Robinson could mean a trip to the unemployment line before season’s end…

Syracuse’s Greg Robinson and Pitt’s Dave Wannstedt were hired after the 2004 football season and are defense-minded head coaches with extensive backgrounds in the NFL. The hope was that they would restore the Orange and Panthers to glory. For that reason, the two are linked in the Big East, but they also are linked because neither has had a winning season or led his team to a bowl game. The two have a combined record of 22-52 against Division I-A competition (Wannstedt is 15-21; Robinson is 7-31). Fans’ criticism of Robinson is similar to criticism of Wannstedt — too conservative and too much of an NFL mentality. – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette