TAMPA, Fla. – Entering the game, Syracuse fans were eager to see what Greg Robinson would do with his freshman quarterback, Andrew Robinson. The story of SU’s 27-10 loss to South Florida on Saturday was in fact a freshman quarterback, but he wasn’t on the Orange.

The story was South Florida freshman quarterback Matt Grothe, who had the best game of his young career. Grothe completed 25-of-35 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 45 yards. His passing yards set a school record as he continues to build an impressive resume in just his first season.

Grothe unseated long-time senior starter Pat Julmiste in the second game of the season. Since then, Grothe’s become one of the hottest stories in the Big East.

‘He’s a good football player; I told you that,’ Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson said after the game. ‘He’s had moments where he’s been (that efficient). I was impressed by him.’

Syracuse also toyed with the idea of switching in a freshman quarterback early in the season. The difference is Grothe was inserted because of talent and not as a concession of the season.

Syracuse defensive end Jameel McClain was left with the task of trying to chase down the elusive Grothe, who actually was not even the top quarterback recruit in USF’s class two years ago. (Grothe redshirted the 2005 season.) McClain has another year of chasing Grothe; SU has three more.

‘He’s a good player, and he’s going to learn and get better through time,’ McClain said. ‘Just his ability to be able to run. He’s got some good receivers around him and they have an OK offensive line.’

It was a different story after the game for the other freshman quarterback, though.

There were just under seven minutes remaining when Andrew Robinson was inserted into game. The score was already 27-10. The game was out of reach, barring an un-Orange-like miracle.

He wasn’t mixed into the game in the first half or after any of SU’s three forced turnovers in the third quarter. And when Robinson did play, his most frequent responsibility was handing off to the tailback and getting out of the way. His second pass of the game was intercepted.

Robinson had two forgettable drives. He was 0-for-3 with an interception and a fumble. He wasn’t playing with SU’s normal offense, though. Injuries to receivers Donte Davis and Tim Lane forced SU to insert backup kicker John Barker at receiver late in the game just to run the routes. Punt returner Max Meisel also lined up at receiver.

‘It was evident at 27-10 that it was pretty much out of reach,’ Greg Robinson said. ‘We wanted to get Andrew in there and get him another series. Getting plays is important to him. At the same time, we have to hold up around him, too.’

After Syracuse’s embarrassing 17-3 loss to Cincinnati on Oct. 28 and the idle weekend that followed, speculation surrounded the tight-lipped Greg Robinson about whether he would play Andrew Robinson more against USF. Greg Robinson said during the week that 70 percent of the practice snaps were going to Perry Patterson and the other 30 were going to Andrew Robinson.

Now that SU is eliminated from bowl contention, the speculation surrounding Andrew Robinson won’t go away. But the situation is different than South Florida’s. And Patterson has provided Greg Robinson no reason to bench him, despite the record.

‘When I still see (Patterson) in the third quarter on third down-and-15, stepping up in that pocket and gunning it in there for a first down, that says it all,’ Robinson said. ‘I feel for him. Sometimes I do feel for him. But he’s a tough son-of-a-gun.

‘I give him credit for everything he’s accomplished, and that I feel he has accomplished. I tell kids like him all the time, you can’t build your esteem on wins and losses. You build it on what you have accomplished. And this young man has grown tremendously.’

Published on November 11, 2006 at 12:00 pm