Sports

Marrone apologizes to Syracuse players

blog by S.J. Velasquez • January 09, 2013 @ 9:38am

In an email to Syracuse University’s football team, Doug Marrone apologized for accepting the Bills coaching gig without first consulting the Orange he leaves behind.

The letter was obtained by the Daily Orange, Syracuse University’s student-run newspaper.

In that letter, addressed “To my players,” Marrone explained that everything “happened very quickly when I was not in Syracuse,” and when his players were not in Syracuse.

“I will explain everything in depth when I meet with you in-person this weekend,” he said.

In the email, he stressed how difficult the decision to take the Bills gig had been for him, emphasizing that coaching the Syracuse team was a dream job he’d never really intended on leaving.

“I have learned so much from each of you. I do not have the words to express the satisfaction and the joy that coaching you has given me,” Marrone said to his players. “I have never considered leaving Syracuse for another university. But the fact is, when the Buffalo Bills called and offered to make me their head coach, I said yes because I am excited by the challenge.”