By the end of Saturday’s game, Greg Robinson’s status as Syracuse head coach was more tenuous than ever. By losing its seventh game of the season, the Orange became ineligible for a bowl game for the fourth consecutive year, likely ending Robinson’s chances to return as head coach next season.

Robinson said before the season his goal for Syracuse was to make a bowl game – something he has not done during his tenure as head coach. It had been speculated that Robinson’s future with the team was based on whether or not the Orange reached the postseason.

After Saturday’s game, Robinson was asked about his job security. He remained defiant, as he has all season, trying to remain positive despite all the criticism.

‘I don’t think like that, I don’t think like that at all,’ Robinson said. ‘That is not something in my control, but my job is to get this football team back on track and get them to play better than they did today.’

Later in the press conference, a reporter pressed further, asking if Director of Athletics Daryl Gross had spoken with Robinson about the future. That’s when Robinson put a moratorium on questions about his job.

‘You know what, we are going to quit talking about all this,’ Robinson said. ‘I am not going to talk anymore about that stuff. Get off of it.’

At his weekly Sunday press conference, the subject was broached again. A reporter asked if Robinson still controlled his own destiny now that a postseason game is out of reach. Robinson again refused to take any other questions about the subject.

‘My destiny is in my hands, I believe that,’ Robinson said. ‘…I said yesterday, I’ve done enough talking about all that stuff.’

Brink of Doom

Rutgers did something Saturday no other Big East team has been able to do this season: Stop Curtis Brinkley.

Syracuse’s tailback rushed for 67 yards on 18 carries, snapping his record-setting streak of five consecutive games with at least 100 rushing yards. Brinkley could not get anything going against the Scarlet Knights, often getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage. His longest run of the day was 14 yards.

After the game, Brinkley refused to comment on his own stats and his streak.

‘No thoughts about that,’ Brinkley said. ‘I’m more concerned about the loss. But it isn’t over. We still have three more games.’

Let’s play two

Andrew Robinson saw his first game action in nearly two months Saturday, playing the fourth quarter after starter Cameron Dantley suffered an ankle injury.

Robinson looked rusty, going 2-for-7 for 16 yards. Many of his passes were well off target.

Greg Robinson said Sunday that Dantley’s ankle was ‘alright.’ But the head coach also said he would think about playing both his junior quarterbacks when SU hosts Connecticut on senior day Saturday at the Carrier Dome.

‘I’m going to consider playing both of them,’ Robinson said. ‘It’s not something that I’m big on, but I do think that Andrew deserves a chance to go into the game preparation where he knows he has a chance to go into the game. … It’s not locked in, but I think it’s worth consideration.’

Replay, anyone?

With the score tied at 14-14 in the second quarter, Syracuse had a 2nd-and-5 from its own 32. Brinkley ran to the right sideline and appeared to pick up the first down, but the ball was spotted about a half-yard short. Television replays suggested Brinkley may have picked up the first down.

A reporter asked Robinson at his press conference Sunday if he considered challenging the play. His response was nothing short of a stumper.

‘I don’t know if I could challenge that thing,’ Robinson said. ‘I don’t know that. I suspect I should have.’

jediamon@syr.edu

Published on November 9, 2008 at 12:00 pm