While Greg Robinson avoided the axe, the rest of the Syracuse football coaching staff still needs to be watching their necks. When the blade finally descends – and it should this winter – it’s the assistant coaches who should feel the brunt of the blow.

With Syracuse Director of Athletics Daryl Gross announcing Wednesday that Robinson will stay, the biggest source of culpability for the football program’s downfall has been given a year reprieve. In a prepared statement, the head coach stated that he takes ‘full responsibility’ for the team failing to meet expectations.

However, Robinson won’t take the fall. And if it’s not the head coach, then it’s his staff that needs to be held responsible for the 7-28 three-year record.

There’s reason to believe the SU Athletic Department is already sharpening its cutlery. Gross seemed to suggest firings are on the way in a statement he made Wednesday.

‘(Robinson) has agreed to seriously consider all options and changes that would improve the team’s performance and show significant progress next season,’ Gross said in the press release.

Those changes Gross insinuates probably will hit the coaching staff. If that’s not what he’s implying – well, Gross should be.

There’s 119 Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I) programs. Syracuse ranks close to 119th in every statistic that matters – offensively and defensively. Take a look at these stats, and let your jaw hit the floor:

      – Points allowed per game (34.8) – 103rd, the worst ever in SU history.

      – Points per game (16.4) – 116th.

      – Sacks allowed (54) – 118th

      – Sacks (9) – 118th

      – Yards per carry (2.01) – 119th, only nine teams averaged fewer than three yards per carry

Gross and Robinson have noted that the team has been hampered by injuries, stung by youth and forced to persevere with less-than-stellar upperclassmen left behind by former coach Paul Pasqualoni.

But no matter how poor the recruits that the assistant coaches had to work with, the offensive and defense units should not be putting up stats worse than perennial losers like Duke, Baylor and Florida International. When athletes can spend the majority of a season looking lost on the football field, it’s the coaching that’s not bringing it all together.

There’s no justification for those stats, exhibiting a team that looks like it is about the worst in the nation.

A few coaches stand out as glaring candidates who ought to be cut right away. The easiest way to placate the fan base would be axing the two coaches second in command to Robinson – offensive coordinator Brian White and defensive coordinator Steve Russ.

Third-year coach Russ looks like the most conspicuous choice to warrant a pink slip. After Saturday’s 52-31 loss to Cincinnati, Russ denied being worried about his job security.

Russ took the reigns as defensive coordinator from Robinson this season, and the defense has rarely shown any signs of life for the third-year assistant. Not that it looked any better under Robinson – who achieved most of his success as a defensive coordinator before becoming SU’s head coach.

If Robinson’s not the problem, firing Russ provides the only way to show accountability for an absolutely wretched defense. Then again, an entire house cleaning might be necessary for the defensive coaches. From veteran defenders to newcomers, the defense gave up huge plays consistently throughout the season, and nothing Russ nor anyone else has done could stop the bloodletting.

White remains a tougher call. The offense showed flashes and wrapped up the season with one of its best performances of the year against Cincinnati. Nevertheless, the playcalling has been shoddy all year (though there’s no telling when it’s him and when it’s Robinson calling the plays), and if Gross wants to show liability on offense, White’s the best and possibly only logical candidate to boot.

Gross’s decision to keep Robinson might not sit well with SU supporters. Still, the director of athletics acknowledges there are problems – substantial problems with the SU football team.

In his brief statement about the decision to maintain Robinson as head coach, Gross mentioned ‘disappointment’ three times. Most fans likely would use harsher words. But the point remains – to end the frustration, changes must be made.

In that case, it needs to be open season on Robinson’s coaching staff.

Matt Levin is an assistant feature editor at The Daily Orange, where his columns appear occasionally. He can be reached at mrlevin@syr.edu.

Published on November 28, 2007 at 12:00 pm