sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 25,283
- Like
- 109,230
Welcome to Save the Eagles Day!
Save the Eagles Day is commemorated on the 10th of January every year to save the eagles from extinction. The eagles were once in extinction in the later part of 20th Century, but as on June 2007, the Bald Eagle- national bird of the United States, was removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, due to the assiduous work of scientists and good stewards of both public and private lands.
There are more then 70 species of eagles throughout the world; except Hawaii, where the bird never resided. Other species of birds are not so fortunate as the Bald Eagle because of the threat caused due to habitat loss, poaching, and pesticides.
Throughout history, eagle appeared in both mythology and heraldry, and has been recognized as a symbol of power, courage, freedom and immorality since the antediluvian times. It is believed in some religions that a high-soaring eagle touches the face of God. Legends of Mexico's Aztecs so honored the bird that they built their capital, Tenochtitlan, at the spot where an eagle roosted on a cactus to raven a snake.
SU News
Clemson beats Bama by being Bama (espn.com; Maisel)
Really, a team coached by Dabo Swinney couldn't have won a national championship any other way.
The Clemson coach's life story could have been written by Horatio Alger, the guy who invented the classic American success story, if Alger had a drawl and ever said, "Bring your own guts."
Swinney, the former walk-on wide receiver, won his first national championship against his alma mater -- the team that denied him a year ago, the monolithic defending national champion Alabama -- with 1 second to play, on a throw to a former walk-on wide receiver.
Hunter Renfrow, a sophomore who turned down a scholarship offer from FCS Appalachian State to pay for the chance to play for Swinney, caught the winning 2-yard touchdown pass from the greatest player ever to wear a Clemson uniform.
His name is Deshaun Watson, and the combination of his will and his right arm drove the Tigers to overcome two deficits in the final five minutes for a 35-31 victory on Monday night with a second to spare.
A year ago, Clemson lost the playoff final to Alabama, 45-40, despite Watson throwing for four touchdowns and gaining 478 yards of total offense. This time, the Tide throttled Watson for most of the first half. Yet he came out of halftime a different guy, and he finished with four touchdowns (one rushing, three passing) and 463 yards of total offense. So the Tide's defense is making progress.
Watson gave a performance reminiscent of what Texas quarterback Vince Young did to defending national champion USC in the Rose Bowl 11 years ago. Watson, like Young, finished second in the Heisman Trophy. And Watson, like Young, made the Heisman voters want to petition for a recount after winning a national title.
...
Jacksonville expands claim to be "Syracuse South" (TNIAAM; Wall)
With the football world focused on Tampa and tonight’s College Football Playoff Championship, the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to wrap up their head coach search. According to Adam Shefter’s sources, the Jaguars are promoting former Syracuse Orange head coach Doug Marrone to fill their opening. Marrone will be joined by another Syracuse alum, as Shefter is also reporting that Tom Coughlin will be named Executive VP of Football Operations for the Jags.
This marks the second time in the last year that a team in Jacksonville has turned to a pair of Syracuse alums to lead them, following the lead of the Jacksonville University lacrosse team. Now Marrone and Coughlin can’t match the playing resumes of Galloway and Powell, but they do have a history of improving the teams they coach. Marrone was 25-25 during his Syracuse career, but in restoring the program from the depths of the Greg Robinson era, he grades a lot higher than a .500 coach. With Coughlin back, the Jaguars hope for a return to the AFC Championship appearances that the franchise achieved back in 1996 and 1999.
The last time Marrone took a NFL head coaching position, he took a lot of the Syracuse staff with him. While you might think the Orange are safe this time, don’t be surprised if former Marrone standout and current GA Macky MacPherson is tabbed for a position with the Jaguars. If that happens, it’s a good thing. The more Syracuse connections there are in the NFL means the more opportunities for Orange players to be seen.
...
Alabama, Florida State lead Way-Too-Early 2017 Top 25 (espn; Schlabach)
1. Alabama
2016 record: 14-1, 8-0 SEC
Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense, 1 special teams
Key losses: TE O.J. Howard, DE Jonathan Allen, DE Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Tim Williams, LB Ryan Anderson, LB Reuben Foster, S Eddie Jackson
Outlook: The Crimson Tide might have as many as six players selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft, which would tie the record set by Miami in 2004, so coach Nick Saban will have some work to do. Several seniors from a menacing defense played their last game for the Tide in Tampa, and it's likely that underclassmen such as OT Cam Robinson and CB Marlon Humphrey will leave early for the NFL. But Alabama reloads better than anyone else in the country, and there are plenty of former five-star recruits waiting to step forward. Quarterback Jalen Hurts should be better in his second season as a starter, and former Washington and USC coach Steve Sarkisian takes over as the Tide's offensive coordinator. Alabama opens the 2017 season against Florida State in Atlanta's Georgia Dome, and its most difficult road games might be at Texas A&M and Auburn.
2. Florida State
2016 record: 10-3, 5-3 ACC
Returning starters: 7 offense, 9 defense, 2 special teams
Key losses: RB Dalvin Cook, WR Kermit Whitfield, WR Jesus Wilson, G Kareem Are, DE DeMarcus Walker, CB Marquez White
Outlook: Since Clemson is losing star quarterback Deshaun Watson and a boatload of other starters, Florida State might be primed to retake the ACC in 2017. Star tailback Dalvin Cook will be sorely missed, but quarterback Deondre Francois was sensational in his first season as a starter. FSU's workhorse back next season could be sophomore Jacques Patrick or incoming freshman Cam Akers, who is enrolling early. Junior OT Roderick Johnson has yet to decide if he will return for his senior season or declare for the NFL draft. Most of the Seminoles' defensive starters will be back, including safety Derwin James, who missed much of 2016 with a knee injury, but FSU will really miss DeMarcus Walker's pass-rushing skills (16 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss). FSU opens the season against Alabama in Atlanta and plays Clemson on the road in ACC play, but Louisville and Miami will travel to Tallahassee next season.
3. USC
2016 record: 10-3, 7-2 Pac-12
Returning starters: 6 offense, 8 defense, 2 special teams
Key losses: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Darreus Rogers, OT Chad Wheeler, OT Zach Banner, G Damien Mama, NT Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, SS Leon McQuay III
Outlook: After nearly being run out of Hollywood early in the season, coach Clay Helton produced quite a turnaround. After a 1-3 start, the Trojans won their last eight regular-season games and had a thrilling comeback in a 52-49 win over Penn State in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual. Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Darnold directed the rebound, and he'll be back with at least five other starters on offense. After throwing for more than 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns in 10 starts, Darnold might be the Heisman Trophy favorite heading into 2017. The Trojans will miss junior JuJu Smith-Schuster and Darreus Rogers, their top two receivers, as well as starting tackles Chad Wheeler and Zach Banner. DB/KR Adoree' Jackson has yet to announce his NFL intentions. USC will play one of the most difficult nonconference schedules in the FBS in 2017, including home games against Western Michigan and Texas and a road trip to Notre Dame.
...
Here’s a way-too-early look at the 2017 ACC football season (newsobserver.com; Giglio)
...
An early snapshot of what the league standings might look like come December:
Atlantic Division
1. Florida State (10-3, 5-3 in 2016): The Seminoles’ defense will be bolstered by the return of safety Derwin James. The offense will lose running back Dalvin Cook but will only get better in sophomore quarterback Deondre Francois’ second season.
2. Louisville (9-4, 7-1): The Cards flopped down the stretch and cost themselves some hype for next year. There will be some key exits on the defensive side, notably tackle DeAngelo Brown, and the offensive line must improve, but Jackson is a dynamo.
3. Clemson (14-1, 7-1): The Tigers have won the league two years in a row and Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence will be terrifying on the defensive line but they have to replace Watson and the guts of their high-powered offense.
4. N.C. State (7-6, 3-5): The Wolfpack will have the advantage of continuity, with as many as 16 starters back, but it has to figure out a way to win more close games.
5. Wake Forest (7-6, 3-5): The schedule helped the Demon Deacons start quickly last year. With a tricky game at Appalachian State, visit to Notre Dame and ACC crossover at Georgia Tech, it could be difficult to continue the momentum from 2016.
6. Syracuse (4-8, 2-6): The health of quarterback Eric Dungey will be key for the Orange in Year 2 under coach Dino Babers, who needs more time to add talent, but has the offense going in the right direction.
7. Boston College (7-6, 2-5): The return of Fayetteville’s Harold Landry at defensive end will help the Eagles on defense but they’re starting over (again) at quarterback and on offense.
...
ACC Football: Chop Chat’s Final ACC Power Rankings (chopchat.com; Hunt)
...
13. Syracuse (4-8, 2-6 ACC)
The Dino Babers era is underway and the season didn’t end the way he wanted with four consecutive losses. Babers is an offensive minded coach and I think the offense will be fine for Syracuse.
However, their defense in dire need of an upgrade in talent and execution as they gave up more points than anyone in the ACC this season.
Syracuse did have a win over ACC Coastal champ Virginia Tech and Boston College in league play.
Baber’s has 22 commitments for the 2017 class that’s ranked No. 10 in the league and No. 50 nationally.
...
Other
A wintry mess of snow, sleet and rain to sweep across Upstate NY Tuesday (newyorkupstate.com' Coin)
Tuesday will bring a messy mixture of snow, sleet and rain to Upstate New York.
Winter weather advisories have been issued from Buffalo to Binghamton to Watertown to the Adirondacks, as several inches of snow could fall, topped by a thin layer of ice.
The storm will move west to east across the state, dumping snow in Buffalo in time for the morning commute and reaching Syracuse about 11 a.m. and Albany in the early afternoon.
Snowfall accumulations will be low, about 1 to 3 inches, but, combined with freezing rain, it could make driving difficult.
"The snow and freezing rain will result in very slippery conditions on untreated roads and sidewalks, creating hazardous travel conditions," the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.
High winds will also create problems Tuesday. The weather service has also issued wind advisories for Tug Hill and Western New York, where gusts coming off lakes Ontario and Erie could reach 50 mph.
Temperatures will warm up and the snow and freezing rain will eventually turn to all rain Tuesday night -- again, from west to east across the state.
...
Last edited:
