Ryan Gleed didn’t pay much attention to Syracuse football last year. In fact, he didn’t even attend one home game all season. Disappointed at what had become of the SU football program, the lifelong football fan simply lost interest. But the situation is a little different this year, he said. ‘I think having a new coach definitely changes things,’ said Gleed, a graduate student in the School of Information Studies. ‘If [former SU head coach] Greg Robinson was still here, people would be bored of the team and wouldn’t have the same expectations. So change is what most of us were looking for.’ For Gleed, the optimism started when Robinson was fired in November, just before completing a fourth losing season in as many years. During his four years at the helm, Robinson’s record was a dismal 10-37, the worst four-year stretch in Syracuse football history. Enter new head coach Doug Marrone, who guided the top-ranked offense in the NFL in 2008 while offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints. Marrone is the first SU alumnus to serve as head football coach in 51 years (Reeves H. Baysinger was at the team in ’47 and ’48). Marrone, a Bronx native and member of the class of 1991, knows the recruiting region and is likely to use his NFL experience to lure the top-caliber recruits in the Northeast. With his NFL experience, ties to the program and New York City roots, it appears Marrone would be an ideal candidate to lead the Orange into the next era of Syracuse football. At the very least, Marrone’s arrival brings a level of hope and a clean slate to the program. The average home attendance (33,474) at the Carrier Dome continued its downward spiral in 2008. It was the worst season of home attendance at the 49,250-seat Dome since the stadium opened in 1980. A coaching change and the addition of a hometown hero could certainly go a long way toward bringing fans back to the place once known as ‘The Loud House.’ It’s going to take more than just that to bring them back. Gleed notices a buzz around campus. For the first time, he believes Syracuse football has a chance to remove itself from the basement of college football. ‘Personally, I think Marrone and (new quarterback Greg) Paulus will have a lot to do with attendance spiking due to curiosity,’ Gleed said. ‘But I think a few wins could ignite something even bigger.’Matthew Roth and Kyle Russell, both freshmen in the School of Information Studies, were not on campus during Robinson’s tenure. That doesn’t mean they don’t know the history of the last four years. ‘I think there is definitely potential to have a good year this year and change some opinions about Syracuse football,’ Russell said. The hype machine is churning without a doubt, but some fans aren’t exactly sold. Team supporters are expecting results before building up expectations for the Orange in its first year under Marrone. And though Russell bought a season ticket package, Roth said he’s taking a wait-and-see approach. ‘If your team is winning, they’re obviously going to get more fans,’ Roth said. ‘But nobody wants to spend 50 bucks to watch their team get their ass kicked.’ In its 12 games last season, SU averaged a paltry 270.2 yards of total offense per game. Only five of the 119 teams in Division I fared worse. The Orange averaged only 18.1 points per game in 2008 as well, making it four consecutive seasons with the worst scoring offense in the Big East. But Marrone gained two players (Paulus and wide receiver Mike Williams – who rejoined the team after being suspended in 2008) during the spring that have the potential to make a huge difference on the offensive side of the ball for the Orange this season. Paulus, the former Duke point guard, was brought in to compete for the starting quarterback position. After only the first week of practice, he impressed Marrone enough to be named the starter, and Saturday was named a team captain. It’s been nearly five years since Paulus played competitive football; he was the 2004 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year following his senior year at Christian Brothers Academy and was a coveted recruit. Paulus received interest from Notre Dame and Miami (Fla.) before choosing to play basketball at Duke instead.

‘I think people are concerned that it was so long ago that he played football,’ Russell said. ‘But give him some time, and I’m sure it will come back. I’m sure it’s come back already in practice.’ Perhaps even more importantly, Marrone will also have the services of Williams. The wide receiver was an All-Big East Second Team selection after collecting 60 receptions for 837 yards with 10 touchdowns in 2007. His current streak of nine games with a touchdown reception is a program record and the longest active streak in Division I.

‘I think with a new quarterback and a new coach, they have a chance to earn a new reputation,’ Russell said.

Despite the hope that abounds, the fact remains that Syracuse has not posted a winning season since 2001 and is looking at Marrone to start rebuilding the program from the ground up. It may be unreasonable to expect Marrone and his staff to revive a program that has hit rock bottom in just one season.

Regardless, a new era in Syracuse football begins on Saturday at the Dome, when the Orange takes on Minnesota (noon, ESPN2). And until given a reason to believe otherwise, the buzz will remain optimistic.Russell: ‘There’s really only one way to go from here, and that’s up.’

aljohn@syr.edu

Published on August 30, 2009 at 12:00 pm