sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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- Aug 15, 2011
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Welcome to National #2 Pencil Day!
- A good-size tree will make about 300,000 pencils.
- Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star Spangled Banner” in pencil.
- A pencil can write in zero gravity, under water, and upside down
- Pencils were originally painted yellow because the color was associated with royalty and respect
- The #2 pencil is the most common. There is a #1, #2.5, #3 and #4. The numbers are based on hardness and darkness. That’s why most tests are taken with #2 pencils.
- John Steinbeck was an obsessive pencil user and is said to have used as many as 60 pencils a day. His novel East of Eden took more than 300 pencils to write.
- Henry David Thoreau penciled Walden Pond. After all, his father was a pencil manufacturer.
- Thomas Edison had his pencils specially made by Eagle Pencil. Each pencil was three inches long, was thicker than standard pencils and had softer graphite than was normally available.
Remember cupping? Syracuse football using method Michael Phelps did in Olympics (PS; Bailey)
It didn't take long for Syracuse football players to notice large, circular bruises on the backs and necks of their teammates early during preseason camp.
For some, the marks initially raised eyebrows. For others, memories of swimmer Michael Phelps racing in the Olympics last summer came back immediately.
The eyesores are left from the SU training staff's new cupping machine.
"I know Michael Phelps does it in the Olympics so I'm sure it's a good technique," junior linebacker Kielan Whitner said. "I haven't done too much of it, but it's definitely helped me in the times I have done it."
The cupping method has become a unique aspect of recently hired head athletic trainer Tim Pike's rehabilitation approach. The technique is a yin to the yang of traditional muscle soreness treatments. Tools like foam rollers, sticks and even hand massages are compressive in nature, Pike said -- pushing apart tissue that sticks together after exercise.
Cupping is decompressive. By pulling the skin, fascia, fat and muscle into the cup, it creates space, allows for fluid to flow more freely and breaks up adhesions, Pike said.
"It pulls it all up and it separates it as it's sucking it up into the cup," Pike said. "You can see that on an MRI, visually. There's a lot more space when it pulls it out."
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Syracuse football flashback: Maloney gives Archbold Stadium new nickname (PS; flashback; Croyle)
College football coaches often look to employ any number of psychological tricks or gimmicks to get an edge on their opponents.
In 1977, fourth year Syracuse University football coach Frank Maloney was looking for improvement from 1976's disappointing 3-8 record.
Weeks before the start of the new season, Maloney fixed on Syracuse's ancient Archbold Stadium as a possible source for intimidation against the Orange's upcoming opponents.
Post-Standard sportswriter Rob Lawlin wrote that if a "home stadium has anything to do with the outcome of psychological warfare in football, it's no wonder that Penn State and Pittsburgh are emotionally sound in the won-lost column," and Syracuse has the "psyche of a peer-pressured adolescent."
The solution was to turn Archbold, which hosted its first game in 1907, into a fortress.
"It's come to the point where Archbold Stadium can be a great strategical advantage for us," said Maloney, who spent the summer sending a variety of inspirational literature to his players.
One included a mimeographed, gothic-lettered sheet, which included a separate color postcard of "Ancient Archbold" filled to capacity.
The sheet read: "Henceforth be it resolved to all Syracuse Football Program Personnel - - The picture above, formerly representing Archbold Stadium, has been renamed 'THE PIT.' Woe to he who enters the Pit!"
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Which Syracuse football records could fall this season? | Pro Football Spot (profootballspot.com)
For better and worse, 2016 was a record-breaking year for the Syracuse Orange football program. Amba Etta-Tawo set new all-time highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns (tied the previous record). Eric Dungey and Zack Mahoney both broke some single-game records from the quarterback position.
The Pitt shootout occurred, and a ton of marks fell in just that contest alone (including the single-game FBS scoring mark).
So with the offense likely to improve again this year, what records might fall? We take some guesses:
Passing
Eric Dungey moved himself up to eighth on Syracuse’s all-time passing list last year, at 3,977 yards — and he would’ve climbed much higher if not for an injury in the ninth game vs. Clemson. Setting 3,000 yards as a very conservative benchmark this year would get him to fourth place all-time, surpassing Don McPherson.
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ACC Football: SEC columnist takes shots at other Power Five conferences (chopchat.com; Parker)
The ACC is enjoying some of the best football being played in conference history – but one cocky SEC writer doesn’t have much respect for the league
For over half a century, the ACC has been playing college football has the little brothers of the SEC. While that may not be the total truth, that is the way that most people have viewed it -especially those from that conference who won seven national titles in a row, but just four and a half crowns in the previous 26 seasons (a stat they like to forget).
Last season, the younger sibling got the best in their head to head games, going 10-4 against the conference with a four straight win by Florida State over rival Florida, Clemson’s biggest win ever over South Carolina and the Tigers defeating Alabama in the national title game being among those victories.
Since the end of the 2016 season, the ACC has not been shy about placing a claim as the best conference in college football. It’s a claim that has also been made by the Big Ten (a conference who lost all three of their New Years Six games), the SEC (who is still living off Alabama’s success) and the other two Power Five conferences, the Pac 12 and Big 12, for some reason.
WELL…some of those who cover the SEC are not happy at all that anyone would question what they believe is their birthright to be the best conference. Chris Wright, a columnist for Saturday Down South, recently posted a piece saying why the ACC and the other Power Five conferences not named the SEC might not make the College Football Playoff:
For such big talk about being the unquestioned best conference in America, the ACC had just two teams in the Coaches preseason top 15. Both programs could be in serious trouble after the second Saturday of the season.
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Shamarko Thomas got break he was looking for (Syracuse Football) (itlh.com; Esden Jr)
The New York Jets just had a spot open up on their depth chart. That’s good news for former Syracuse football star, Shamarko Thomas. We discuss
High expectations were set when Shamarko Thomas left the Syracuse football squad for the NFL. To think those expectations could be set even higher is even more unfathomable.
Although that’s exactly what happened when Thomas got drafted by the legendary and historic Pittsburgh Steelers. Thomas was immediately projected to be the heir to the steel curtain throne. One of the greatest safeties to ever grace a football field was Troy Polamalu.
Unfortunately despite opportunities, things didn’t work out in the steel city. Thomas played out his rookie contract and hit free agency after an uneventful four seasons. Then a new opportunity presented itself with the New York Jets.
It was a bit crowded of a situation at safety especially considering the Jets drafted back-to-back members of the secondary with their first two selections. The first time that happened in franchise history.
Fast forward a few months and we’re in the thick of preseason action. There was a good news vs
bad news scenario in the Jets’ first preseason game.
One of six safeties on the roster, Doug Middelton was starting to impress as a backup/rotational safety. That all changed near the end of the contest when he tore his pectoral muscle, per head coach Todd Bowles.
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How Does Eric Dungey Stack Up With Other ACC QBs? – Orange Fizz – Free Syracuse Recruiting News (orangefizz.net; Aki)
Once a laughing stock amongst Power Five football conferences, the ACC has risen to college football supremacy. 2016 certainly sealed the envelope on that. The conference had the nation’s best team (Clemson) and best player (Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson). Somewhere in the middle of all of it lies Syracuse. The Orange hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2013, which is also the last time SU won more than two conference games. But that does not mean Syracuse has lacked talent, even at the skill positions. This year, Dino Babers expects his team to make a great leap and it will start with the quarterback. Eric Dungey enter his third year under center and he stacks up pretty well amongst his ACC competition.
Looking at the landscape of the conference’s quarterbacks, there are plenty of returning stars, but there is also a lot of fresh blood. With the departures of Deshaun Watson, Mitchell Trubisky and Brad Kaaya to the NFL, some of the conference’s elite teams are reloading with their signal callers. However, the return of Jackson and Florida State’s Deondre Francois lock down the conference’s top two quarterbacks.
The top spot in tier two in the conference is up for grabs. If (and a big “if” at that) Dungey can stay healthy, his numbers could be the best amongst the ACC and even contend as the conference’s most valuable quarterback. Barring an absolute breakout performance from a first year starter, Dungey’s tier includes NC State’s Patrick Finley, Duke’s Daniel Jones and Pitt’s Max Browne.
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The Miami Hurricane Defense Is Legit | Videos (theacc.com; video)
MIAMI HURRICANES: AFTER A 2016 SEASON THAT SAW THE MIAMI HURRICANES' RANK 12TH IN THE NATION IN SCORING DEFENSE, MARK RICHT'S DEFENSIVE UNIT IS READY TO BE UNLEASHED THIS FALL. WITH OUTSTANDING PLAYMAKERS RETURNING IN SHAQUILLE QUARTERMAN, JOE JACKSON AND MICHAEL PINCKNEY, THE CANES' DEFENSE WILL BE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH ON SEPTEMBER 2.
Other
NYS Fair 2017 concert guide: Choose Chevy Court acts to see, plus fair pairings for every show (PS; Tulloch)
After three concert cancellations earlier this month, the New York State Fair has not yet announced who will replace Post Malone, DJ Khaled and Tinashe this summer at Chevy Court.
While we wait for that news, here's a rundown of what shows to see when you hit the fairgrounds in the upcoming weeks.
We paired each concert with NYS Fair foods, drinks or activities to try.
Robert Randolph, 2 p.m., Aug. 23
Who he is: Rolling Stone listed Robert Randolph, a steel guitar master, on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists ever. Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, The Roots, and Jack White have all collaborated with Randolph on stage and in the studio. Randolph and his Family Band first gained national attention with their 2002 debut album, "Live at the Wetlands."
Pair it with: A visit to see the Hollywood Racing Pigs. In honor of Randolph's song "Lickety Split," head over to the Coronas Circus to watch small swine dash to the finish line near the Youth Building. Daily show times are at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
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