By Dave Cooperman

Bill Simmons, in his Book of Basketball, devotes a chapter to “what if” scenarios that could have potentially changed the history of the NBA.  It is fascinating to look back and wonder just what might have been.  I decided to take a look at 4 recent events in Syracuse history and play out a few what if scenarios.

What if Syracuse had not hired Greg Robinson and instead hired the person everyone expected them to hire, Bo Pelini?

I’ll give you that the jury may still be out on Pelini at Nebraska but I can assure you it is trending in the right direction, as they appear to be back as a top 25 program.   The Robinson era was an epic disaster that has left the program in shambles.  No need to rehash the brutal details, but how about we revisit why Gross hired Robinson and not Pelini.

Pelini was the co-defensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 2004 after a brief stint as Nebraska’s interim head coach.  That Oklahoma team played for the national title and Pelini at 37 was seen as a fast riser in the coaching ranks.  Adding more intrigue to his candidacy, he was considered a Pete Carroll disciple after Carroll hired him for his New England Patriots staff.  As we have heard countless times from Gross himself, he was responsible for recommending Carroll for the top job at USC.

Robinson had his season at Texas on his resume and a long history as a successful NFL defensive coordinator and that was enough to seduce Gross who was looking to replicate his Carroll discovery.

Pelini was a true college coach and would have been able to make an easier transition at Syracuse than Robinson did who never had it in him to discipline 18 year old kids.  Pelini at 37 and from blue collar Ohio would have an easier time recruiting his home state and Pennsylvania than Robinson ultimately ended up having.

Anyone compared to Robinson would have been a better choice, but Pelini could have been an outstanding choice.  Pelini could have left shortly after to take any of the high profile jobs that opened up including the one at his current employer, but that would have been a risk worth taking as the tragic downfall of Syracuse football never would have happened on the tough, disciplined watch of Bo Pelini.

What if Julius Hodge committed to Syracuse?

Julius Hodge is a forgotten man in Syracuse these days though a flashback to the spring of 2001 paints a completely different picture.  During those few months the fans of the Orange were on the edge of their seats waiting for Hodge to commit to the program.  Hodge was a top five player nationally and he was our potential Carmelo before Carmelo became the actual Carmelo.

As the story goes, with Syracuse a strong favorite through most of the process, Hodge decides to spurn Boeheim and sign with N.C. State.  Fans are outraged even going as far as suggesting Adidas had somehow gotten into Hodge’s head through luxury seats at Yankee Stadium and steered him to N.C.  State.  People just weren’t thinking clearly at that moment.

Hodge goes on to have a very good career at State and gets drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft. 

Boeheim has to turn around on the fly and with an unexpected scholarship to offer finds a fringe top 100 player from Philly who is all potential but nothing else.  This kid was so raw that the Big 5 schools hardly paid him any mind and he lived in their backyard.  That kid was Hakim Warrick who not only goes on to play a key role in a National Championship season, but also becomes of the best players in the history of the program.  Warrick does not wear Orange if Hodge commits.

That is simple but the next domino is Carmelo Anthony.  It is hard to imagine Melo coming to Syracuse if Hodge was the big man on campus.  If Melo never shows up on campus there is no title, the Gerry McNamara legend born out of 6 threes against Kansas in the first half ceases to exist, the monkey is still on Boeheim’s back, there is no Melo Center which is a showcase for the future stars that seem to be lining up for a chance to play in Syracuse.  Always be thankful that Hodge picked the Wolfpack.

What if Michael Vick followed Donovan McNabb?

It was a foregone conclusion that Michael Vick, a prolific quarterback from Virginia, with out of this world speed would be the heir apparent to Donovan McNabb at Syracuse.  Naturally that never happens.

If Vick shows up, Syracuse has the most electric player in the game who had the star power and skills to change the perception of a program and attract kids to the school.  Syracuse gets the number 1 pick in the draft, a Heisman hopeful and the pre dog-fighting buzz of having been Vick’s alma mater.

The QB position post McNabb and without Vick has been a nothing short of disastrous.  Vick would have stabilized the program and position and under that scenario likely rejuvenates Paul Pasqualoni’s career and recruiting efforts and I don’t think it’s far fetched to say that Pasqualoni might still have his job since the collection of players would have immediately started to improve.

On the other side, Virginia Tech with Vick goes from consistently decent program to a national power and hands down the dominant team in their state, running away from Virginia.  When the ACC calls a few seasons’ later politicians in Virginia insist that Tech s included instead of Syracuse to bring Virginia and Virginia Tech into the same conference.  Had Michael Vick gone to Syracuse you have to wonder if Tech gets the boost and the love from the locals and perhaps those same politicians never get involved and Syracuse is a member of the ACC today.

What if on Greg Robinson’s first day he picked up the phone and called Ray Rice?

The Robinson era got off on the wrong foot almost immediately when Ray Rice took a step back from his commitment and ultimately ended up signing with Rutgers.  Rice committed to Pasqualoni and even though Robinson was going to face an uphill battle to retain him, it appears that the battle was never even waged.  Offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers and running backs coach David Walker had already left the program and Robinson obviously didn’t have a clue what to do with the current recruits.

Rice becomes an elite player at Rutgers and basically a difference maker for the entire Rutgers program.  He delivers defensive backs Courtney Greene and Glen Lee, also from New Rochelle.  Greene becomes one of the best defensive players on bowl winning teams.

It is hard to say if Rice would have single handedly kept Syracuse off the mat given how inept Robinson ended up being, but it is not hard to say that he is the foundation that the success of Rutgers was built upon.  If Rice signs anywhere else then Rutgers likely continues to be mired in mediocrity, Schiano never becomes a real presence on the recruiting trail, their stadium never expands since their “die hard” fans wouldn’t be showing up for games and you could forget about potential Big Ten expansion.  Rice was the player that convinced so many others that you could go to Rutgers and win, become a star and end up in the NFL.  That type of career was previously unheard of there.