A Time to Reflect as the Orange Face the Jayhawks

Fans might remember the last time Syracuse and Kansas played each other.  Just in case you didn’t, or just want to feel happy, take a trip down memory lane with this video…

This Weekend Offers a Little More Meaning for SU’s Dantley

With just two games left to go this season, and with a 2-8 record, there’s not much for the Orange to play for this weekend at Notre Dame, even if the Orange wants to make Syracuse seem like an attractive place for a potential replacement for lame-duck head coach Greg Robinson.

But for quarterback Cameron Dantley, the game this weekend in South Bend will certainly mean something.  Dantley is the son of NBA Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley, who played his college basketball at Notre Dame under current ESPN analyst Digger Phelps. And, while Cameron expects his father to be rooting for him on Saturday, he admits it might be tough.

“He loves Notre Dame,” Cameron said. “It was a big part of his career. He loves the place. He had a great time when he was there and it was a big part of his life. He always has stories to tell about Notre Dame and what they’re doing now.”

Adrian Dantley averaged nearly 26 points a game for the Irish during his career. That is good for second in Notre Dame history behind Austin Carr, who averaged a whopping 34.6 points per contest.

Remember, it can always be worse

So Syracuse slept walk through the first half of last night’s 76-71 victory over Richmond, but the Orange played a decent second half to win a game that, as Jonny Flynn told The Post-Standard, last year’s team wouldn’t have come back to win.

How about what happened late last night in Arizona? Alabama-Birmingham and Arizona played down to the wire…and what transpired is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen in college basketball.

Not once, but twice! Inconceivable.

Arizona is a program in turmoil following legendary head coach Lute Olson’s sudden retirement weeks before the season began. Last night was strike one for interim coach Russ Pennell, who last year, was a TV announcer for Arizona State men’s basketball games.

Maybe he should go back to his old gig.

Count Edsall Out in SU’s Search for a New Coach…Or Should We?

One heavily publicized candidate for the Syracuse football head coaching position has removed his name from consideration. Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall – a Syracuse alum who this past weekend beat his alma mater by 25 – says he is not interested in the opening created by Greg Robinson’s dismissal.

You can read Donnie Webb’s blog for more, but here are some quotes Webb refers to from The (New London, Conn.) Day:

“There has been speculation in various media outlets that I am a candidate for the job. But with all due respect to my alma mater and the people at Syracuse, I am not interested in being a candidate.”

“I just want to continue to coach at the University of Connecticut and prepare my team for this week’s game against South Florida and the rest of our 2008 schedule. I don’t want this to become a distraction to my players or coaching staff as we move forward.”

I agree with Webb’s interpretation of these quotes that it still may be premature to count Edsall out. The quotes – especially the second one – sound like typical coach speak. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him backtrack down the line.

Edsall is a former backup quarterback for the Orange and served as Syracuse’s offensive coordinator from 1980 until 1990. The ties are there, but it will probably come down to money in the end.

Greg Robinson fired; Jim Brown celebrates

Jim Brown played at Syracuse from 1954-56. (Associated Press)

Jim Brown made his displeasure for the Greg Robinson Era at Syracuse public last month when he spoke out against the beleaguered head coach on an ESPN feature.

Well, suffice to say, the former Syracuse legendary running back was thrilled at the news that Syracuse had fired Robinson.

“It’s a great day, because we have an opportunity to start anew and work together with the new coach,” Brown told The Daily Orange.

Brown is just one of many former Syracuse football players to express his anger at the current situation. Rob Konrad wrote a letter to Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross with a suggestion for head coach. Other alumni have done the same.

On Sunday, Gross made the inevitable official, firing Robinson, who is now 9-36 in his four years at Syracuse. It’s the worst four-year stretch in the 117-year football history at SU.

Oh, but don’t worry: Brown likes Robinson as a person.

“He’s a great human being,” Brown said, “but the program is headed nowhere.”

Well, after Sunday’s events, nowhere is somewhere.