Syracuse, Irish head in different directions

Both teams went 6-6 last season, but this year's been a different story.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Charlie Weis and Greg Robinson both have years of success as NFL assistant coaches and Super Bowl rings to dazzle high school recruits.
They both took over teams that were 6-6 last season. Weis, a longtime offensive coordinator, took hold of the Irish offense and improved it dramatically. Robinson, a longtime defensive coordinator, runs the defense for Syracuse, and it has improved dramatically.
That's where the similarities end.
Weis has turned Notre Dame back into a dominating team, while Syracuse (1-8) appears headed for the first 10-loss season in the school's history.
Still, Robinson tries to remain optimistic.
"Our kids are going to come out and they're going to battle," Robinson said. "Can we execute and play the way we need to play? That's what we're working on."
Different stories
Just about everything has gone right for Weis since he took over at his alma mater. He won another Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots, rebuilt the Irish offense behind the passing of Brady Quinn and has sixth-ranked Notre Dame (7-2) poised for its first BCS berth in five years.
Just about everything has gone wrong for Robinson. The Orange haven't been able to run the West Coast offense effectively, they've had 23 turnovers and lost seven games in a row -- with their lone victory coming against Buffalo.
When the two meet today, Notre Dame will be favored by nearly five touchdowns -- the biggest point spread for the Irish in nine years.
"We've got our work cut out for us," Robinson said.
Robinson thinks one of the major differences between the Orange and the Irish is that Weis inherited a better situation. Weis took over an Irish program that ran the West Coast offense -- although ineffectively -- for three years under Tyrone Willingham.
Robinson believes the change from Willingham's offense to Weis' wasn't a major overhaul.
"But they've just taken it and taken it to another level," he said.
Robinson, meanwhile, took over an option offense similar to the one Willingham inherited when he arrived at Notre Dame. Just like Notre Dame then, Syracuse has struggled to adjust to the West Coast offense.
Weis concedes he walked into a better fit offensively, since Quinn was already an adequate passer. He didn't have to try to transform an option quarterback.
"I think if I had an option quarterback, he'd be playing another position," Weis said.
There were changes, though. The Irish had to learn different schemes and terminology.
"They had the concepts down, but schematically, we're talking night-and-day difference," Weis said.
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