Robinson, Gross, Cantor roasted by fans

If you ever wanted to the know the true definition of the word "vitriolic" – you probably don’t but maybe you should – just take a look at the blog comments on a certain Central New York newspaper’s Web site in regard to the Syracuse University football program.

 

The pure hatred for head coach Greg Robinson in the wake of Saturday’s 55-13 (and it could have been much worse) horsewhipping at the hands of Penn State is something to behold. It’s officially gone beyond the level of what was directed at Paul Pasqualoni four years ago. The fans also don’t spare athletic director Daryl Gross – booed lustily at halftime yesterday – and chancellor Nancy Cantor.

 

It’s understandable, I guess, considering the state of the program. Everyone wants to be part of a winning team, but, you know, these people haven’t committed any crimes that I know of. It’s football. It’s important, for sure, but do we really need to be so shrill and so personal? Really, so many of us – fans, broadcasters, sportswriters – are more demanding than we have a right to be. I’d like to see everyone ask themselves a question before we contribute to blogs, write columns or comment on radio shows – would I say this in this way to the guy’s face? That might moderate the tone somewhat. Of course, it isn’t going to happen. I guess if you are a coach or administrator, you’d better have a very thick skin.

 

Of course, this is a program that is in a bad way. I have no idea if the Orange can recover this season, and to be honest, I wouldn’t bet 10 bucks on SU against Northeastern Saturday. The Orange have to prove they can win against … anyone.

 

The eventual outcome of yesterday’s game was obvious very early. It was painful to watch, but since misery loves company, you might also shed a tear for:

 

Ohio State fans (the No. 5 Buckeyes suffer a brutal 35-3 loss to No. 1 Southern Cal); Washington fans (the one-time very strong Huskies are blown out by Oklahoma, 55-14); Arizona State fans (the No. 15 Sun Devils have a field goal blocked in overtime and lose to UNLV, a team that had won just seven of its previous 37 games, 23-20); UCLA fans (a 59-0 loss, the Bruins’ worst in 75 years, to No. 18 BYU, a team that defeated the aforementioned Washington by a point on a blocked extra point the week before.

 

The most startling score of the day, though, might have been No. 9 Auburn 3, Mississippi State 2. That simply doesn’t happen in college football any more, but it did yesterday in Starkville, Miss.