sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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- Aug 15, 2011
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Welcome to Do a Grouch a Favor Day!
Do a Grouch a Favor Day is a day for doing favors for the grouches in our lives. Maybe they are our neighbor, a coworker, part of our family, or a stranger we meet at the store or on the street. Some people are always grouchy, and some people only become grouchy after a lot of stress is placed on them. We probably have all been grouchy at some point. No matter where a grouch is found today, the day is for doing them a favor, with the hope that it will cheer them up, and help their grouchiness subside. It may not help everyone—some people are perennial grouches—but it's worth a try!
SU News
How much better can Garrett Shrader be in Year 2 with Syracuse? (Spring QB preview) (247sports.com; Bailey)
Syracuse football is inching toward its return to the practice field. The players are going through winter conditioning with the typical start to spring practice (date TBA) coming up in March.
We've already taken an early stab at pinning down the Week 1 two-deep depth chart for both the Orange offense and defense. Now let's take a closer look at each position group as it stands this spring, starting with the quarterbacks.
WHO RETURNS?
Garrett Shrader, 4th-year Jr., 6-4, 230Shrader took over the starting job in Week 4 last season and went on to be one of the most productive running signal-callers in the nation. He racked up 781 yards on the ground as well as 14 touchdowns -- both good for second in school history among QBs. Shrader's combination of power and shiftiness proved to be a natural complement to All-American running back Sean Tucker.
In the throwing game, though, he completed 52.6 percent of his passes for 1,444 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions. Before finishing the year with a pair of scoring strikes against Pittsburgh, Shrader went three full games without throwing a TD.
Shrader mentioned during the season that significant growth for SU's passing game would require time. He'll get a chance to work toward that end this spring.
JaCobian Morgan, 3rd-year rFr., 6-4, 225
Morgan played sparingly in two games last season, but saw action four times as a true freshman in 2020. He started twice, completing 31-of-49 passes on the year for 285 yards and two touchdowns, before a concussion at Louisville ended his year.Justin Lamson, rFr., 6-3, 220
SU's Class of 2021 quarterback didn't see the field in Year 1, but has the movement skills to match the schematic shift that Dino Babers and Co. underwent last fall. The spring provides Lamson with a chance to earn significant team reps, but the arrival of another scholarship quarterback has steepened that challenge....
Anthony Birsa 'Excited and Grateful' for Syracuse Offer (SI; McAllister)
Class of 2023 Joliet (IL) Catholic Academy offensive lineman Anthony Birsa was offered by Syracuse on Tuesday. The Orange joins an offer list that includes Akron, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Iowa State, Kent State, Toledo, Western Michigan and others.
"I’ve been in contact with coach Lynch since November and we’ve kept in touch," Birsa said. "Today I called coach after basketball practice and he said coach Schmidt and himself were very impressed with my film and wanted to offer me a scholarship. I am very excited and grateful for this amazing opportunity."
The relationship with assistant Mike Lynch has only grown over the last few months.
"We’ve been in contact multiple times a month," Birsa said. "It is always great talking with coach. Coach told me that he likes my athleticism and the aggression that I play with. It’s a great relationship and I really enjoy talking with coach Lynch. It’s definitely easy to talk to him even if it isn’t about football."
The 6-5, 290 pound lineman says he plans to visit Syracuse either this spring or summer, though nothing has been scheduled yet.
"I am definitely very interested in Syracuse," Birsa said. "Everything I have heard about Syracuse has been great. I have a great relationship with the coaching staff and can’t wait to visit."
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Syracuse Football: Breaking down the Orange 2022 schedule, Notre Dame (itlh; Fiello)
Before the Syracuse football 2022 schedule was released, I said that despite the tough teams on the schedule, I thought this team could still have success and be a bowl team based on what I have seen so far this offseason. And when the schedule came out, it does appear difficult but I still stand by it.
So I sat down and decided that instead of just saying that I believe it again, I wanted to break the games down one by one and give you the information you need to decide for yourself. I will go game by game with fun stats like head-to-head outcomes, players to watch, my way too early rating of difficulty, and a few other notes that might help.
Here are the teams scheduled and links to those that are already published in case you missed one:
Louisville
UConn
Purdue
Virginia
Wagner
Bye Week
NC State
Clemson
Notre Dame
Pittsburgh
Florida State
Wake Forest
Boston College
Let’s take a look at Syracuse football hosting mighty Notre Dame.
Syracuse Orange vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Saturday, October 29, 2022 (time and viewing options TBD)
Location: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY (no not Yankees Stadium or MetLife or whatever)
Last season head to head: Did not play last season. Last played in 2020 in South Bend which Notre Dame won 45-21. Winsipedia says that Notre Dame has won 7 of their previous meetings and Syracuse has only won 3. The last time Syracuse football beat Notre Dame was in 2008 when Greg Robinson was already on his way out but led the team to a win with only 42 seconds left in the game. This is also a fun opportunity to say the name of one of my favorite running backs, Antwon Bailey, who was a freshman at the time and ran for 126 yards and a TD in that one.
Opponent’s overall record last season: Notre Dame went 11-2 last season and I thought should have been a playoff team. Instead, they lost to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl 37-35.
Stats from their last face-off: Per usual, I consulted ESPN for their game break down to help refresh my memory. Cooper Lutz was huge with 114 yards rushing including an 80-yard TD run. Rex Culpepper was the Orange QB for this game and had 185 yards passing, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Current Orange WR Anthony Queeley had the only TD reception for Syracuse football. Linebacker Geoff Cantin-Arku, who is transferring to Memphis next season, had 2 sacks.
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National website projects Miami football could win 2022 ACC (caneswarning.com; Rubenstein)
The Miami football program is projected to win the ACC as one of “five crazy things that could happen next season” by Mike Farrell of . There will be high expectations for the Miami football program in 2022 with the hiring of new head coach Mario Cristobal and the return of starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke.
Miami returns seven starters each on defense and offense plus kicker Andres Borregales and punter Lou Hedley. The Hurricanes will have to replace their entire defensive line. Miami returns three starters returning on the offensive line. The Hurricanes also lost starting wide receivers, Mike Harley and Charleston Rambo.
The defensive and offensive lines, linebacker and wide receiver are the biggest areas of concern for Miami entering the 2022 season. Miami hired Kevin Steele who is expected to coach LBs. Joe Salave’a is the new DL coach and Alex Mirabal is coaching the OL. All of those changes are expected to upgrade production.
Miami has gotten a few mentions for early preseason top 25s. The return of Van Dyke is an important foundation. Miami will be deep at the skill positions on offense. Cristobal and Mirabal should be able to improve the play on the OL. Farrell compared Miami to the 2021 surprise team in the NFL.
Cincinnati had playmakers on offense that returned from its 2020 team and drafted former LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase. Miami returns playmakers in 2022 and adds transfers, RB Henry Parrish from Mississippi and WR Frank Ladson from Clemson. Cristobal hired a nearly new coaching staff.
The additions of defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis could infuse more confidence to the Miami football program. Steele is an experienced DC who has been successful throughout his career. Gattis will change the culture of the Miami offense to make it more physical.
Miami could be one of the favorites to win the ACC Coastal Division entering the 2022 season. Winning the ACC will likely depend on how improved Clemson is from what was a down season with a 10-3 record for them in 2021. The projection from Farrell does not seem as unlikely as it might have been in past seasons.
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https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article258420608.html (news-observer.com; Pope IV)
The next few months are critical when it comes to the futures of NFL prospects.
The NFL Combine starts in Indianapolis on March 1. After that, it will be Pro Days at various campuses. On April 28, the 2022 NFL Draft starts.
Between now and the end of April, scouts, coaches and general managers will watch countless hours of film, evaluating thousands of players.
Former North Carolina Central University quarterback Jordan Reid will be one of those scouts pouring over film. In November, Reid, who also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, accepted a position as an NFL Draft and college football analyst with ESPN. Reid has worked with the biggest draft gurus — Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay — since taking the position.
Reid, a High Point native, took time to talk with News & Observer writer Jonas Pope IV about some of the top local prospects ahead of the draft.
Jonas Pope IV: Is there anything between now and the draft that N.C. State lineman Ikem Ekwonu can do to move up to No. 1 overall?
Jordan Reid: I don’t think there’s anything necessarily that he can do. It’s just a matter of him just matching what a lot of people have seen on his tape, which is a very athletic player, probably going to run in the 4.9, low 5.0 area, which would be good for him. The big thing for him is just the measurables. I think he was listed at 6-foot-4, 320 (pounds), so as long as those measurables are true and come to fruition at the combine, I think he’ll be fine. I don’t think he gets outside of the top 10, I don’t see that happening at all. It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes No. 1 to the Jaguars, either. I think that’s something you’re probably going to see a little more as we get closer to the combine.”
JPIV: Does he need to go to the combine and do all the drills, or does his tape and body of work speak for themselves?
JR: I think his tape speaks for itself, but I think just the competitor in him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he does end up doing everything, but I don’t think he has to do anything. The tape speaks for itself. JPIV: Is he locked in as a tackle or will some teams switch him to guard?
JR: I can’t really speak for teams, but for me, I think he’s a tackle for sure based on what he put on film this year. He does lack height and I think his arm length might be a little bit lower than some metrics for some teams, but as far as what he’s put on tape at left tackle, he’ll be fine there. I think he’ll be a Day 1 starter. There are going to be some teams that do have him as a guard because of some deficiencies he does have in his pass set. He does something called over-setting, which is letting some people get underneath him as far as that inside shoulder. Having people on either side of him if he was at guard eliminates that, so that’s probably why some people like him a little better at guard.
JPIV: How much did Zonovan Knight improve his stock by showing his ability as a kick returner?
JR: It helps him out a lot, especially when you’re talking about running back, a position that really is disposable. You rarely see those guys go in the first round anymore. You see some go in the first round every now and then, but with the success these later round backs are having in the NFL, now you’re seeing teams really wait until Day 3, that fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh round to take guys. I think that’s probably the range he’s probably going to go. He’s going to be a Day 3 guy. Him being able to wear more hats, showing that he can be a return specialist, that definitely can help him out a lot, especially if he goes to a team that has a running back that gets a lot of carries. He can find himself on the field quicker, just because he is a return specialist. Also, he’s going to be required to play special teams.”
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ACC 2022 NFL Scouting Combine Players (RX; HM)
ACC 2022 NFL Scouting Combine Players
The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine begins in two weeks. Which ACC alumni have been invited?From NFL.com: 2022 NFL Scouting Combine: Invited prospects, by school
Here are the ACC players who were invited to the 2022 NFL Combine:
Boston College
- Isaiah Graham-Mobley, LB
- Zion Johnson, OL
- Alec Lindstrom, OL
Clemson
- Andrew Booth, DB
- Mario Goodrich, DB
- Justyn Ross, WR
- Baylon Spector, LB
Florida State
- Jashaun Corbin, RB
- Jermaine Johnson II, LB
Georgia Tech
- Juanyeh Thomas, DB
Louisville
- Qwynnterrio Cole, DB
Miami
- Bubba Bolden, DB
- Jonathan Ford, DL
- D'Eriq King, QB
- Charleston Rambo, WR
N. Carolina
- Ty Chandler, RB
- Joshua Ezeudu, OL
- Jeremiah Gemmel, LB
- Sam Howell, QB
- Marcus McKethan, OL
N.C. State
- Ickey Ekwonu, OL
- Trenton Gill, P
- Bam Knight, RB
Notre Dame
- Kevin Austin Jr., WR
- Jack Coan, QB
- Kyle Hamilton, DB
- Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, DL
- Kyren Williams, RB
Pittsburgh
- Cal Adomitis, LS
- Damarri Mathis, DB
- Kenny Pickett, QB
Virginia
- Jelani Woods, TE
Virginia Tech
- Amaré Barno, DL
- James Mitchell, TE
- Lecitus Smith, OL
- Luke Tenuta, OL
- Tré Turner, WR
- Jermaine Waller, DB
Wake Forest
- Zach Tom, OL
2022 First Year ACC FB Head Coaches
From 247Sports "College football first-year coaches: Projecting success levels in 2022", here are the ACC coaches (click the link to read about the rest), along with my own "way too early" Win-Loss projections:Mike Elko, Duke
Success projection: Elko fell into Duke's lap after the Blue Devils and David Cutcliffe politely ended their marriage. Jimbo Fisher hated to see his top assistant leave Texas A&M, but it's understandable from Elko's viewpoint. He's a head coach now after stints as an assistant as similar elite-academic schools Notre Dame, Wake Forest and Penn. He's going to be compared to Cutcliffe at his best, but Elko needs to put his own stamp on the program. That happens in Year 1 with a five-win season.ACCFootballRx way-too-early projection: 2-10
Brent Pry, Virginia Tech
Success projection: If you had Brent Pry on the Virginia Tech's initial tic-tac-toe board following the firing of Justin Fuente, Brent Pry probably would not have been on it. Many inside the industry assumed Pry's first head-coaching opportunity would come in the Group of Five ranks, but Virginia Tech was impressed by Pry's history on James Franklin's staffs at Vanderbilt and Penn State and proceeded to bring him back to his alma-mater. The ACC Coastal is wide open this season, but with Miami's expected push under Mario Cristobal, Pry and the Hokies need to get the ball rolling quickly in the rebuild and transfer quarterbacks Grant Wells (Marshall) and Jason Brown (South Carolina) add talent to the room.ACCFootballRx way-too-early projection: 8-4
Tony Elliott, Virginia
Success projection: It was a matter of team before Tony Elliott landed a program he could call his own after 11 seasons as an ace recruiter and offensive mastermind at ACC power Clemson. One of Dabo Swinney's right-hand guys with the Tigers, Elliott was an obvious star as a developer of several All-American quarterbacks and will try and do the same with the Cavaliers. That'll take time, though. Brennan Armstrong's return for 2022 could make this offense extremely dangerous, but there are holes to fill elsewhere. We've mentioned the unpredictability of the ACC Coastal next season and Virginia might be a contender.ACCFootballRx way-too-early projection: 6-6
Mario Cristobal, Miami
Success projection: It took two months for Mario Cristobal to fill both coordinator roles on staff with the Hurricanes, but the Miami coach made it worth the wait with the addition of Kevin Steele on defense and Michigan's Josh Gattis to lead play-calling duties on the other side of the football. Coupled with Miami's red-hot end to its 2022 recruiting efforts and this ACC Coastal program has to be excited about the opportunity to potentially win big in Year 1 under their new regime. Expect Miami to be a preseason top-25 team, rightfully so with Tyler Van Dyke returning at quarterback and the nation's reigning assistant of the year calling the shots.ACCFootballRx way-too-early projection: 9-3
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Another Look at the 3 Rivals (RX; HM)
Yuck. Worse than Marks...
Another Look at the 3 Rivals
GT fan LeeNobody has an alternative to my "Rx: Which 3 Rivals in Divisionless Scheduling":| Team | Opponent 1 | Opponent 2 | Opponent 3 |
| Boston College | Pittsburgh | Virginia | Syracuse |
| Clemson | Georgia Tech | Florida State | NC State |
| Duke | North Carolina | Miami | Wake Forest |
| Florida State | Miami | Georgia Tech | Clemson |
| Georgia Tech | Clemson | Florida State | Virginia Tech |
| Louisville | Wake Forest | Pittsburgh | Syracuse |
| Miami | Florida State | Duke | Virginia Tech |
| North Carolina | Duke | NC State | Virginia |
| NC State | Wake Forest | North Carolina | Clemson |
| Pittsburgh | Boston College | Louisville | Syracuse |
| Syracuse | Pittsburgh | Louisville | Boston College |
| Virginia | North Carolina | Boston College | Virginia Tech |
| Virginia Tech | Georgia Tech | Miami | Virginia |
| Wake Forest | Louisville | Duke | NC State |
MY COMMENTS:
Is this really better? Will Clemson vs. NC State (his) really get better ratings than Clemson vs. Miami (mine)? You can make an argument for Miami vs. Virginia Tech, but why Duke? Shouldn't Duke be playing NC State, which is just a few miles away?I'll try to be open-minded - and, to be honest, when the schools get involved, they may end up doing something like this in real life. Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to ACC football. That said, I still think it's best to play the closest schools 99% of the time.
Other
The Wild Animal Park's owners are planning a $10 million expansion. A rendering of what one of the buildings will look like.
CNY park plans $10 million expansion into weddings, glamping (PS; $; Doran)
The owner of The Wild Animal Park in Madison County is planning a $10 million-plus expansion that would include a wedding venue and a high-end campground surrounded by exotic animals.
Jeff Taylor, who founded and opened the zoo in 2010, now is planning a multi-faceted expansion on property he owns less than a mile away.
The current park, which is set on 14 acres just north of the village of Chittenango, would expand into 117 acres on New Boston Road in the town of Sullivan. Taylor said he purchased the former farm several years ago.
Taylor’s project centers around a high-end campground, but with a lot of unusual animal-related amenities. Think of a wedding venue where a trained penguin serves as ringbearer. A treehouse you can sleep in that overlooks giraffes. A cabin with a hot tub and glass window overlooking a lion or wallaby enclosure.
Toss in a little axe throwing, some mini golf, a brew pub and motorized golf carts? That’s Taylor’s vision for The Wild Camping Resort.
Taylor said he hopes to break ground in March, and open the expanded venue possibly as early as July. He said there is no public money involved, that he is securing financing on his own.
The town of Sullivan has agreed to the zone change needed for the park, and has approved his plans for the project, said Jeff Martin, a town councilman. Taylor just has to complete the approval process by securing permits from the state’s departments of Environmental Conservation and Health.
“This is a big deal for our town,’' Martin said. “We haven’t had a project like this before and we think it will be good for the town. He has our approval. He just has to complete the process.”
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