Six days ago, 26-year-old Major Applewhite was serving as a graduate assistant, breaking down game film for the Texas Longhorns.

He was a bachelor, living in the college town he once energized, working and serving in the community.

In a span of six days, all that changed. On Tuesday, he became engaged to his fianc Julie. And Sunday, more good news – Applewhite landed his first coaching job.

On Sunday, Applewhite and Steve Russ became the first two pieces of Syracuse football coach Greg Robinson’s new staff, Robinson announced at a press conference in the Syracuse Football Hall of Fame at Manley Field House. And yesterday, Robinson announced Chris White will remain on board, moving from tight ends to wide receivers coach. He will also continue his duties as recruiting coordinator. Robinson also announced Reggie Terry will stay on as Director of Football Operations.

Robinson said he hopes to complete the staff by the week’s end.

Applewhite replaces Steve Bush as quarterbacks coach and Russ replaces Steve Dunlap as linebackers coach.

‘I’m excited to be a part of this tradition and to be a part of this program,’ Russ said. ‘You don’t have to look very far around you today to see what Syracuse University football is all about. I’m very excited about that.’

Each coach starts recruiting soon, as the Feb. 2 national signing day creeps up, and each welcomes back returning starters. Russ will guide the linebacking trio of Jerry Mackey, Kellen Pruitt and Kelvin Smith. Applewhite will coach returning starter Perry Patterson, but added that competition between Patterson, Fields and Hale will be open next spring.

As Applewhite spoke Sunday, Patterson tiptoed past his new coach, trying to avoid interrupting the press conference, the first time the two occupied the same room together.

‘I’m surprised I missed him,’ Applewhite said. ‘I heard he’s a big kid. So I look forward to sitting down with him later.’

As Texas quarterback from 1998-2001, Applewhite set school records with 8,353 passing yards, 60 touchdown passes and 8,059 yards of total offense. He also set records for most completions (611) and attempts (1,065).

Applewhite inherits a position known for its option running attack, which the new staff plans to alter to a more West Coast, pro-style look, much like Applewhite played at Texas.

That probably means good things for Patterson, who is limited by a twice-injured right knee, for which he continues to wear a brace, and bad things for backup Joe Fields. At times last year, coaches inserted Fields for one play at a time, just to run – or fake – an option.

Russ’ job will be just the opposite – disrupting the quarterback.

As a younger coach, and former linebacker, Russ brings knowledge of new-age scrambling quarterbacks, which the Orange has struggled containing in recent years.

Three times last year, SU allowed quarterbacks to surpass 80 yards rushing, and the Orange lost all three games.

‘For me, mobile quarterbacks are the norm,’ Russ said. ‘When you play against a stay-in-the-pocket guy, that’s a rarity, whereas 10 or 15 years ago, it was the other way around.’

Russ played linebacker for the Denver Broncos from 1995 to 2000, winning two Super Bowls while Robinson served as defensive coordinator. He spent one year coaching the outside linebackers at Ohio before coaching inside linebackers for the past three. Last year, he also served as special teams coach for the Bobcats.

After declaring his new assistant coaching hires on Sunday afternoon, Robinson eliminated some speculation Monday afternoon over which of Paul Pasqualoni’s former assistants would remain at Syracuse.

White will remain as recruiting coordinator. Instead of coaching the tight ends and special teams as he did under Pasqualoni, White, a former college quarterback, will serve as wide receivers coach. After five years overseeing the day-to-day operations of the football program, Terry will serve in the same capacity under Robinson.

‘I said the first day I was going to talk to the previous coaching staff, which was very important to me and them,’ Robinson said. ‘I’m very pleased to have them on my staff.’

Both White and Terry said they continued to work while unsure of their current job status until Robinson informed them several days ago that he wanted to keep them. Terry said that many players asked him if he would return.

‘I basically told them, ‘Until they stop telling me to come to work, I’ll be here,” Terry said. ‘And I’m still here.’

Said White: ‘You still are under contract and you have to go to work. I felt obligated to the university to make sure the recruiting class was squared up.’

Robinson said he had another person in mind for Terry’s position, but after speaking with coaches and administrators familiar with Terry, Robinson explored the former Syracuse linebacker more and came away impressed.

The recruiting coordinator is often a holdover from one coaching staff to the next, but Robinson assured White that wasn’t the reason.

White’s close relationship with many of the players and recruits aided his chances of being retained. Robinson also boasted of White’s coaching capabilities and his coaching background.

‘Coach Robinson told me when he hired me he didn’t want to retain me just because I was the recruiting coordinator so I was the holdover guy,’ White said. ‘He wanted to make sure that I fit his profile. I’m evaluating him, too, and I think I do fit his profile. He certainly fits my profile and I can’t wait to work for him.’

While White remained unsure of his future, he continued reassuring recruits. He said that most of the recruits are committed but added that a few players are wavering and want reassurances from Robinson.

‘We’re in pretty good shape,’ White said. ‘We’re just trying to get Coach Robinson out there and make sure they’re all on board. They all want to see (Robinson).’

Published on January 17, 2005 at 12:00 pm