Post by rainman on Oct 2, 2007 5:57:47 GMT -5
‘We have a chance’
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Is Syracuse, 1-4 overall and 1-0 in the Big East, afraid of No. 13 West Virginia (4-1, 0-1)?
Perish the thought!
The Orangemen admittedly and eagerly are anticipating the Big East Game of the week match-up at noon on Saturday in the Carrier Dome.
“I think it’s a game that everybody in town is looking forward to and our team is, too,” Coach Greg Robinson said Monday on the Big East’s weekly media teleconference.
“It’s a big game. The key is to minimize the big plays. Last year we really didn’t do that (in a 41-17 loss at WVU).
“There were five plays that made a big, big difference in the game because they were for long yardage. And that’s where everybody involved it takes 11 guys to do it the right way.”
The third-year head coach thinks his players have a better understanding of how to prevent those haymakers. “But now we have to go out and do it,” Robinson said.
After winning a high-scoring shootout at Louisville, a 36-point favorite, Syracuse was upset at Miami of Ohio, 17-14, on Saturday.
“I wasn’t pleased with our first-half performance,” Robinson said. “We didn’t take advantage of some situations and were down 14-0 at half.
“It really didn’t have to be that way. We could have played better. We had opportunities.
“The second half we came back and did some good things, scoring 14 points to 3.”
However, he said losing to Miami wasn’t a plus in regards to possibly bouncing back and playing West Virginia with a shot at winning.
“I don’t think like that,” he said. “But West Virginia is in the Big East, and I think our guys look forward to playing them.
“It’s always a conference and hard-hitting game. And I think our team is looking forward to it.
“I would rather have won at Miami. But I don’t think it’s going to be (a factor) one way or the other. I think our preparation will be good for West Virginia.”
Robinson doesn’t think his team was looking past Miami to WVU. He just thought it didn’t play the first half like he wanted.
Asked whether he thinks SU has a chance to beat the Mountaineers, he replied:
“Absolutely! Two ways to look at it. Their backs are to the wall. That’s part of it.
“The other is I don’t really worry much about how they are. I worry about us.
“But, yeah, I think we have a chance. Absolutely!”
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Is Syracuse, 1-4 overall and 1-0 in the Big East, afraid of No. 13 West Virginia (4-1, 0-1)?
Perish the thought!
The Orangemen admittedly and eagerly are anticipating the Big East Game of the week match-up at noon on Saturday in the Carrier Dome.
“I think it’s a game that everybody in town is looking forward to and our team is, too,” Coach Greg Robinson said Monday on the Big East’s weekly media teleconference.
“It’s a big game. The key is to minimize the big plays. Last year we really didn’t do that (in a 41-17 loss at WVU).
“There were five plays that made a big, big difference in the game because they were for long yardage. And that’s where everybody involved it takes 11 guys to do it the right way.”
The third-year head coach thinks his players have a better understanding of how to prevent those haymakers. “But now we have to go out and do it,” Robinson said.
After winning a high-scoring shootout at Louisville, a 36-point favorite, Syracuse was upset at Miami of Ohio, 17-14, on Saturday.
“I wasn’t pleased with our first-half performance,” Robinson said. “We didn’t take advantage of some situations and were down 14-0 at half.
“It really didn’t have to be that way. We could have played better. We had opportunities.
“The second half we came back and did some good things, scoring 14 points to 3.”
However, he said losing to Miami wasn’t a plus in regards to possibly bouncing back and playing West Virginia with a shot at winning.
“I don’t think like that,” he said. “But West Virginia is in the Big East, and I think our guys look forward to playing them.
“It’s always a conference and hard-hitting game. And I think our team is looking forward to it.
“I would rather have won at Miami. But I don’t think it’s going to be (a factor) one way or the other. I think our preparation will be good for West Virginia.”
Robinson doesn’t think his team was looking past Miami to WVU. He just thought it didn’t play the first half like he wanted.
Asked whether he thinks SU has a chance to beat the Mountaineers, he replied:
“Absolutely! Two ways to look at it. Their backs are to the wall. That’s part of it.
“The other is I don’t really worry much about how they are. I worry about us.
“But, yeah, I think we have a chance. Absolutely!”
