SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Greg Robinson learned to bleed Orange. New Syracuse coach Doug Marrone already has that part down
"When I went into coaching, I always prepared myself for this," the Bronx-born Marrone said Friday after being hired to replace Robinson as football coach. "This has been the job I have always wanted."
The offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints since 2006, Marrone is returning to the school where he played to try to resurrect a program that hasn't had a winning season since 2001. Robinson was fired in November after going 10-37 in four seasons.
"Not a lot of times in your life can you actually accomplish your dream," said Marrone, a three-year letterman at Syracuse under former coach Dick MacPherson in the mid-1980s. "Today is the greatest day of my life. This is my school and these are my people. You're going to be proud, and we're going to win football games."
Terms of Marrone's contract were not revealed. Robinson had one year left on a deal that paid $1.1 million per season.
Money wasn't on Marrone's mind as he contemplated working two jobs for a while.
"We need everyone to believe," he said. "We need the alumni, we need the fans. I love the people here."
The 44-year-old Marrone was selected by a football search committee that included former Syracuse players Tim Green, Art Monk, Don McPherson and Floyd Little, as well as MacPherson.
CHIZIK CANDIDATE FOR AUBURN JOB: Iowa State coach Gene Chizik is in the running for the Auburn job, Cyclones athletic director Jamie Pollard said Friday.
Pollard acknowledged that Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs recently contacted him to speak with Chizik about the Tigers vacancy. Pollard said in a statement released Friday that his understanding is that Chizik — the Tigers defensive coordinator from 2002-04 — has met with Auburn officials and is a serious candidate for the job.
"Auburn's interest in Gene speaks to his (Chizik's) reputation," Pollard said in a statement. "We saw that same potential in Gene two years ago. He is an outstanding football coach, tremendous recruiter and inspiring leader. When your organization has talented staff members, other schools express interest in their services."
Chizik and Pollard were unavailable for further comment Friday.
Under Chizik in 2004, the Tigers allowed a national-low 11.3 points per game en route to an unbeaten season.
ARMY FOOTBALL COACH BROCK FIRED: Army football coach Stan Brock was fired Friday, six days after the Black Knights were soundly beaten by archrival Navy.
"I was disappointed with the results on the field, with the Rutgers game and the game against Navy," athletic director Kevin Anderson said. "That was an eye-opening experience. I thought that we had made progress. I thought we had narrowed the gap between the talent levels."
The Black Knights lost 34-0 to Navy, ending a trying season that included a 30-3 drubbing at the hands of Rutgers.
Brock was 6-18 record in two years, going 3-9 each season.