sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Banana Split Day!
National Banana Split Day is dedicated to the popular ice cream treat. The foundation of a banana split consists of a banana cut in half lengthwise in a long dish, also known as a banana boat. Most banana splits then have three scoops of ice cream placed between the banana, one each of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. The vanilla is usually topped with candied pineapple, the chocolate with chocolate fudge, and the strawberry with strawberry sauce. Finally, whipped cream, crushed nuts, and a maraschino cherry top the confection. By most accounts, the banana split was invented by 23-year-old apprentice pharmacist David Strickler in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1904. The price was originally 10 cents per sundae, and they became popular with students at nearby Saint Vincent College, before spreading all over the country. Strickler ended up buying the pharmacy and ran it until 1966, when he sold it. He died in 1971, but the pharmacy operated under other owners until closing down in 2000. Each year the Great Banana Split Celebration now takes place in Latrobe. In 2004, the National Ice Cream Retailers Association presented Latrobe's mayor with a certificate validating that the banana split was first created in city.
SU News
Why did Heritage Hall star Andy Bass commit to OU football? 'The list never really ends' (yahoo.com; Sardis)
Another in-state star has committed to the OU football program.
Heritage Hall senior Andy Bass, a three-star recruit according to 247Sports, announced in his school’s gymnasium Thursday that he’ll play for the Sooners, choosing the program over Kansas State and Syracuse.
Bass held preferred walk-on offers from OU and Kansas State, while Syracuse offered him a full scholarship. However, with the ability to sign name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, Bass said staying in-state to join the Sooners made perfect sense.
A quarterback at Heritage Hall, Bass will likely be a running back or slot receiver at the next level.
He has some unfinished business at Heritage Hall and will try to lead the Chargers to their second straight Class 3A title but is thrilled about his commitment.
“The list never really ends for the Sooners,” Bass said of why he chose OU. “There’s the fan base, the talent, the team, the family aspect, the coaching staff. They all did a great job of kind of putting the team together, and I’m super thankful to be a part of that.”
More: The Oklahoman's Week 0 picks for every high school football game in the state
Brent Venables is recruiting more Oklahoma players than the Sooners’ previous coaches.
Edmond Santa Fe’s Josh Aisosa and Bergin Kysar, Westmoore’s Mykel Patterson-McDonald and Carl Albert’s Xavier Robinson are all seniors who have committed to OU within the past few months.
Bass has a great relationship with Venables, and that played a big role in his commitment.
“He actually FaceTimed me this morning and was talking about kind of his vision for the future and the family he’s trying to build with the in-state guys,” Bass said. “I think that’s going to work out perfectly, and I’m super excited.”
Bass began his high school career at Casady before transferring to Heritage Hall in the spring of his freshman year.
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Sizing up SU football’s 2023 opponents week before season kicks off (PS; $; Leiker)
Syracuse begins its 2023 season against in-state opponent Colgate next Saturday in the JMA Wireless Dome.
With training camp winding down and game week upon us, let’s size up the competition the Orange will be facing this season.
Date: Sept. 2
Time: 4 p.m.; ACC Network Extra
The Syracuse-Colgate series is tied 31-31, but SU has won the last 16 meetings, including the most recent 33-7 victory in 2016.
Colgate finished last season 3-8 with two FBS matchups against Stanford (41-10 loss) and Army (42-17 loss).
The Red Raiders were a balanced offense last year with nearly the same total yardage on the ground (1,734) as through the air (1,735). Quarterback Michael Brescia, who returns in 2023, led the team in both rushing and passing. His top receiving target, Garrett Oakey, is not back this season.
The Colgate defense was throttled through the air last year, allowing 2,837 passing yards by opponents.
That definitely bodes well for SU’s pass-heavy offense, though the Orange should be pretty confident heading into this matchup anyway.
Syracuse is 20-0 against FCS foes (formerly Division I-AA) since the separation into two divisions in 1978.
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What’s college football saying about Syracuse in Week 0? (TNIAAM; Wall)
Each week, we’ll take a look at what other college football media sites are saying about the Syracuse Orange.
Syracuse.com
The season predictions from the local group all have the Orange heading back to a bowl game. There are also some interesting notes on MVPs and surprises for the season so head over and check them out. The TNIAAM staff predictions will be coming to you on Monday.
ESPN
In this week’s SP+ rankings Syracuse starts the year in the 55th spot with the offense 64th while the defense ranks 42nd. The Orange are ranked between Washington State and UTSA.
The Football Power Index has Syracuse in 34th between Minnesota and Pittsburgh. FPI predicts the Orange for 7 wins and gives them an 84% chance of making a bowl game. ESPN has Syracuse projected for either the Military Bowl or Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
ESPN’s ACC columnists Andrea Adelson and David Hale released pre-season power rankings which have Syracuse 10th (Hale) and 11th (Adelson). Both writers say Dino Babers will be on the hot seat if the Orange don’t make a bowl game (he’ll be gone if this happens so yes, that would be a hot seat).
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Axe: What is SU football’s floor and ceiling for 2023 season? (mailbag) (PS; $; Axe)
Axe me your questions and I’ll tell you no lies.
The mailbag was overflowing with inquiries on what channel the Syracuse-Colgate game is on, how good SU football will be in 2023, New York State Fair food and adult beverage options at sporting events.
Let’s get to answering them.
If you want to send an internet correspondence, please do so at baxe@syracuse.com @brentaxemedia on Twitter/X or @brent_axe on Threads.
From I Miss Marek Dolezaj on Twitter/X:
What is the ceiling and floor for SU football this season? Bonus question: Top 5 favorite fair foods
On SU football’s floor and ceiling, I could be a wise guy and say 0-12 and 12-0, but I won’t do that to you.
I think the floor is 4-8 and that’s if disaster strikes in terms of injury or this team just isn’t as good as it appears on paper.
I’ll put the ceiling at 9-3 if injuries are kept at a minimum, the Orange doesn’t stub its toe against teams it should beat (Colgate, Western Michigan, Purdue, Army, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Georgia Tech) and springs an upset or two on the likes of Clemson, UNC and Florida State.
On the wonderful food at the Great New York State Fair, here’s my top 5:
1. Butcher Boys london broil sandwich
2. Grandma’s apple dumpling
3. Pizze Fritte (fried dough)
4. Kettle corn
5. Basilo’s sausage sandwich
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Daily Drop: Season Segments (Syracuse, Miami, UVA, GT, Campbell, & Duke)! (youtube.com; podcast; Tar Heel Illustrated)
THI publisher Andrew Jones talks games 5 through 10 of UNC's schedule, which includes Syracuse, Miami, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Campbell, & Duke.
Syracuse Football: Unflattering forecasts for Orange from national pundits (itlh; Adler)
Two national media outlets have given unflattering projections for Syracuse football ahead of the 2023 season, which begins on Saturday, Sept. 2, when the Orange hosts Colgate at the JMA Wireless Dome.
In recent days, both CBS Sports and ESPN came out with their preseason prognostications for the Atlantic Coast Conference, and each media outlet believes, by and large, that the ‘Cuse will finish toward the bottom half of the league in the 2023 campaign.
Eight CBS Sports panelists provided their forecasts on the ACC. Syracuse football got one vote at No. 8, one vote at No. 9, five votes at No. 10 and one vote at No. 11. The ACC has 14 members in football, with Notre Dame being an independent.
Over at ESPN, Andrea Adelson has the Orange at No. 11, while David Hale places the ‘Cuse at No. 10. A separate ESPN article projects that the ‘Cuse will finish at 7-5 overall (4-0 in the non-conference and 3-5 in ACC games).
Syracuse football, I think, will finish higher in the ACC than some national pundits predict.
In 2022, the Orange raced out to a 6-0 start and was ranked in the top 15 of the major polls. But the ‘Cuse slumped down the stretch, finishing at 7-6 overall while making a bowl game.
This coming term, I do believe that Syracuse football will make a bowl game for a second year in a row, and several national experts have included the Orange in their super early 2023 bowl projections.
Earlier this year, noted college football expert Phil Steele said that he thinks the ‘Cuse is primed to have a “good year.” The ACC’s preseason media poll, released at the beginning of August, had Syracuse football at No. 10 in the conference race, while CBS Sports, in its preseason national rankings, put the Orange at No. 56 across the country.
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Keeping Up With The 315 8-24-23 (soundcloud.com; radio; The 315)
Brian Higgins begins the show explaining why adding Stanford, Cal and SMU to the ACC might not really do much to satisfy FSU and Clemson. Then, a friend of the show calls with a Syracuse basketball question and Brian goes over some interesting comments from Joe Girard today. Finally, a familiar caller poses an interesting question about Syracuse football's schedule to Brian.
Locked On Syracuse - Daily Podcast On Syracuse Orange Football & Basketball: Is Adding Stanford, Cal + SMU To The ACC A Long-Term Solution Or A Temporary Fix? on Apple Podcasts (apple.com; radio; Locked on Syracuse)
Is Adding Stanford, Cal + SMU To The ACC A Long-Term Solution Or A Temporary Fix?
Episode 432- Syracuse Football: Conference Chaos! (youtube.com; radio; Cuse Militia)
This is a segment from our show last night (E.431). I decided to make it a stand alone because I didn't want it to get buried at the end of a two hour plus show. In that show we talk everything Syracuse Football! Luke, a listener on Twitter/X spaces started listening at the right time when Joe had just saw a tweet as we were ending the show. Take a listen!
Damien Alford is Primed for a Breakout Year (orangefizz.net; Simone)
A year ago, conventional wisdom said that if Syracuse was going to have a breakout receiver that would differentiate himself as the number one option in the passing game, it would be Damien Alford. He was coming off a 2021 season where he flashed. He caught a 70 yard touchdown early in the year against UAlbany, and then of course his game winning touchdown against Virginia Tech.
The 6’6 210 pounder from Montreal has tremendous size and showed a strong ability to go get the football. To make it a cliche, with Alford, 50-50 balls are 80-20 in his favor. But, it was instead Oronde Gadsden who developed into Garrett Shrader’s favorite target. Gadsden was an all-ACC performer who racked up nearly 1,000 yards, while Alford had less than half that amount.
Still, though, Alford’s 20 catches for 429 yards were both career highs. He averaged about 21 yards per reception, which shows you his explosiveness, but also his one dimensional nature as a receiver.
He continued to do his damage in the vertical passing game. Not necessarily with his speed, there aren’t many corners Alford will run past, but with his size. That’s a tremendous skill and one that not many receivers around the country are gifted with, but it’s one element.
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Undrafted Sean Tucker has put himself in position to make the Bucs’ roster (PS; Carlson)
After going unselected during the NFL Draft because of a medical condition, running back Sean Tucker is reportedly putting himself into position to make the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ roster and become a steal for the franchise.
Tucker received rave reviews following Tampa Bay’s most recent preseason game, a 13-6 win over the New York Jets during Week 2 of the NFL’s preseason.
Tucker rushed for 37 yards on seven carries, with Tampa Bay media members stating that he was making his case to be the team’s backup running back despite getting a delayed start. Tucker also caught three passes for 18 yards.
Tucker has said little about the medical condition but longtime NFL reporter Bob McGinn, who currently writes for GoLongTD.com, reported it was a heart issue. Tucker was unable to participate in the team’s offseason workouts but was medically cleared for the start of Tampa Bay’s training camp.
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How Texas Tech football continues to build anticipation for new edge rusher Steve Linton (lubbockonline.com; Williams)
With the inflammatory stuff Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire said Wednesday at the Red Raider Club kickoff luncheon, other topics covered during the preseason powwow received little attention by comparison.
That was the case nationally, at least. McGuire said something else that made people take notice locally, though.
McGuire mentioned in passing that Steve Linton wreaked havoc in the Red Raiders' closed scrimmage Saturday, stoking more anticipation for the edge rusher who transferred from Syracuse.
"He's an absolute freak. So explosive," McGuire said before a crowd of 1,200 at the Memorial Civic Center. "As good as our offensive line was, he had four sacks the other day in the scrimmage. He's just extremely explosive."
Now, those likely were quick-whistle, touch sacks, the kind where the play is blown dead when a defender gets near the quarterback. Linton will have to finish those plays once the real games start.
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Kevin Wall "Orange Nation" 8-24-23 (soundcloud.com; radio; Orange Nation)
NunesMagician editor Kevin Wall joins Steve and Paulie to break down the possibilities for the Syracuse football season as a part of their series on how the Orange could finish with records ranging from 4-8 to 9-3 this year.
ACC News
Which ACC team will come out on top in 2023? - ESPN Video (ESPN; video)
Billy Connelly crunches the numbers for the contenders in the ACC title race ahead of the 2023 college football season.
Report: ACC progressing toward westward expansion with Stanford, Cal, SMU potential targets (nbcsports.com; AP)
https://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/cal-stanford-acc-football-reports-18328806.php (sfgate.com; Young)
Cal and Stanford don’t have to get ready to play football in the NESCAC just yet.
After the California schools' last-ditch campaign to join the ACC appeared to have stalled out earlier this month, a flurry of reports Wednesday evening suggested they could be headed to the Atlantic Coast after all.
Twelve of the conference’s 15 schools have to approve new members. As of last week, there had been four reported holdouts: North Carolina, NC State, Clemson and Florida State. The rest of the conference and its leadership were apparently on board with adding the Bay Area duo (plus maybe SMU).
It’s not clear which of the four schools is flipping its vote, but all reporting Wednesday evening was pointing in the same direction.
The Associated Press had the conference “making progress toward an expansion that could grab Stanford and California.” Yahoo Sports had the move as a “legitimate possibility” while also providing the clearest financial picture. Stanford and Cal, desperate for a major conference, offered to take shares that are just 30% of what existing members get, while SMU, which has deep-pocketed boosters, is offering to play for free, according to Yahoo.
If the ACC wants to add Stanford and Cal, it has all the leverage. After the collapse of the Pac-12, the Bay Area schools have frantically tried to find a major conference that would provide anything close to the tens of millions of dollars in football money both were accustomed to. Even at 30% shares, being in the ACC would be a better deal than reforming the Pac-12 with lesser powers or just swallowing their pride and joining the Mountain West or American.
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Top 5 Thoughts on ACC Expansion | FSU | Clemson | SMU | ESPN | Conference Realignment (youtube; podcast; 365 Sports)
Paul Catalina’s Top 5 Thoughts on ACC Expansion
ACC expansion update: Unpacking latest on Stanford, Cal, SMU and impact for Clemson (greenvilleonline.com; Long)
The Atlantic Coast Conference is making progress toward an expansion that could grab Stanford and California from the sinking Pac-12, a person with direct knowledge of the ACC’s potential move told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the conference was not making its internal discussions public.
“It’s gaining momentum,” the person said about the possibility of expansion being approved.
Two weeks ago, the ACC got so far as to gather its entire board of university leaders twice in three days to consider adding Stanford, Cal and possibly SMU, the Dallas-based American Athletic Conference school. They never took an official vote, knowing they would not have had the necessary 12 of 15 votes for expansion to be approved.
How new revenue generated by adding members to the conference would be distributed has been a sticking point for several schools, among them Florida State, Clemson and North Carolina.
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https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/acc-cal-stanford-football-hoops-only (SI; Curtis)
Multiple reports indicate the Atlantic Coast Conference is considerably closer to adding Cal, Stanford and SMU to its conference.
Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News quoted a source saying "It looks like it's happening"
Wilner's story indicated it is not a done deal and momentum for adding Cal and Stanford could still disappear.
And he added this excerpt:
The key matter may be that Cal, Stanford and SMU would accept a reduced revenue percentage (less than a full share), according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo. Here is an excerpt:
Stanford and Cal's move to the ACC--with SMU--might happen soon l Pac-12 Podcast (youtube.com; podcast; Locked on PAC-12)
Momentum appears to be shifting towards Stanford and Cal joining the ACC along with SMU, a move that they recently came up one vote shy of achieving. The move would almost certainly end the league and send Oregon State and Washington State to the Mountain West or American Conference.
How the ACC could get two teams in College Football Playoff (on3.com; Connolly)
Last season the Big Ten had two teams reach the College Football Playoff, while the previous year the SEC had a pair of teams in the Final 4. On3’s J.D. PicKell believes it’s possible it could be the ACC’s turn to accomplish that feat in 2023.
PicKell isn’t predicting two ACC teams will be in the Final 4 come December, but he also isn’t ruling it out.
“I think we have to get aligned on the idea that there is potentially going to be two teams from the ACC that could find their way into the College Football Playoff,” PicKell said Thursday on The Hard Count.
Those two teams would be Clemson and Florida State as both open the season in the top 10 and are viewed as legit College Football Playoff contenders.
The Seminoles return a loaded roster and added an excellent transfer portal class this offseason, while Clemson also returns plenty of talent and added arguably the best offensive coordinator in college football to its staff in January in TCU‘s Garrett Riley.
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ACC expansion update: Unpacking latest on Stanford, Cal, SMU and impact for Clemson (greenvilleonline.com; Long)
Conference realignment isn't finished yet, and ACC expansion is at the center of the latest rumblings.
About two weeks ago, the presidents of ACC member schools held a "straw poll" regarding the possibility of adding Stanford, Cal and/or SMU, according to multiple outlets. The unofficial vote failed, with Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and NC State the four schools saying no to expansion, according to Yahoo Sports and others.
The addition of those three schools is apparently still on the table, with the potential new members, the league and the member schools negotiating to determine a path forward. Reports differ on how expansion could happen: Yahoo Sports reported that it could be just SMU, just the two California schools or all three; Sports Illustrated reported that it's all three or none.
Here's what to know about what's going on in the ACC.
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BOZICH | Are you ready for an 18-team, 12-state, 3-time zone ACC? (wdrb.com; Bozich)
This is how many times the University of Louisville has played Stanford in football:
Zero.
This is how many times the Cardinals have played the California Bears:
Zero.
This is how many times U of L has played SMU in football:
Not zero.
The answer is 2.
Zero is how many times that Louisville has defeated SMU, losing back to back games to the Mustangs during their pre-Death Penalty days in the mid-80s.
The next blast of ACC expansion will not affect Louisville’s schedule during Rivalry Week.
The drumbeat keeps growing that ACC commissioner Jim Phillips and his allies are gaining momentum in their push to grab one more vote and convince either North Carolina, North Carolina State, Clemson or Florida State to join the ACC members eager, ready and willing to add Stanford, California and SMU to the league that made its reputation on Tobacco Road.
If Phillips gets that vote, the ACC will grow from 15 to 18 teams, except in football where it will be a 17-team extravaganza with Notre Dame permitted to talk the talk of being an ACC member without actually committing to playing a complete ACC schedule. (Google Jack Swarbrick for details.)
But that’s another column.
This column is about my thoughts on the ACC adding two schools from California and another from Texas to a league with its heart and soul stuck in North Carolina.
My first reaction is no reaction or overreaction. Do it. Get it over with. Then prepare to do it again next summer. You know we will.
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Report: ACC Could Earn Significant Money From Expansion (pittsburghnow.com; Ludwig)
What’s it going to take to convince the ACC schools against expansion to flip their potential votes? Money, money and money.
As the ACC renewed expansion efforts kicked into high gear Wednesday afternoon, with a few ACC Presidents meeting to discuss revenue models surrounding expansion, those financial numbers have come out.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the ACC could earn just about $72 million in new money by adding Cal, Stanford and SMU to the conference.
“The ACC’s television contract with ESPN includes a pro-rata clause requiring the network to increase the value of the deal by one Tier 1 share for every new member — believed to be about $24 million a share, or about 70% of a full ACC share, which includes Tiers 1-3,” Dellenger wrote.
He further reported that Cal and Stanford have agreed to take roughly 30% of the $24 million share, and after those shares and travel costs are factored in, the ACC could earn at least $30 million in revenue to be distributed via incentive pools based on athletic success. Those incentives are likely to be weighted heavily toward football success — championships, bowl assignments and end-of-the-year rankings.
SMU, which is currently a member of the AAC, would reportedly propose taking no revenue for the first seven years of its ACC membership.
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Ranking the most penalized teams in the ACC across the past 5 seasons - Saturday Road (saturdayroad.com; Stone)
Penalty numbers are an underrated aspect when it comes to analyzing a football team.
More than anything, penalties especially hurt teams when they come at the wrong time. The last thing you want is an offsides on 3rd and 1 when you need a score.
Disciplined teams win college football games; undisciplined teams… just ask 2019 Ole Miss and Elijah Moore.
We decided to rank all 14 ACC programs by the amount of penalties accrued across the past 5 seasons. Keep in mind, these rankings are based on an average of total penalty yards/total games played, so the results don’t skew in favor of those playing less games. It also includes all games, including CFP matchups and bowl games.
All stats found via CFB Stats.com.
Florida State earns the top spot with an average of 68 penalty yards per game across the past 5 seasons with over 20 more penalty yards than the Demon Deacons.
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Best/Worst P5 Uniforms (RX; HM)
Best/Worst P5 Uniforms
Here's Big Game Boomer's take on the 50 best uniforms...
Here are the P5 teams whose uniforms didn't make BGB's Top 50:
One more thought on Calford+SMU (RX; HM)
One more thought on Calford+SMU
RE: What’s Going On With Stanford And Cal? - here's a comment from a Florida State fan:
Agreed. This is a very reasonable pro-Seminole position to take.
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Two SI links 2023 Aug 24 (RX; HM)
Two SI links 2023 Aug 24
From the SI:AM email of Aug. 24th:
The crux of these discussions (like most things in college sports these days) is money. With the ACC falling behind in the financial race with the SEC and Big Ten—and big brands such as Florida State and Clemson unhappy with the current arrangement—the pressure is on ACC commissioner Jim Phillips.
SMU would be willing to join the ACC without being paid a TV revenue distribution for multiple years, while Stanford and Cal would come at a reduced rate (potentially as little as 25% of the league’s standard distribution). That would leave a large portion of the new TV revenue created by the three added schools to be dished out in other forms, and the league is reportedly currently reviewing different financial models.
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Other
The Chick-n-Cone at Charlie's Famous Steak Pit at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Day 3 at the NYS Fair: Today’s handpicked menu and schedule (PS; Miller)
Over two days we experienced two totally different State Fairs. Wednesday’s clear skies and 80-degree temperature lured more than 70,000 people to the New York State Fairgrounds. Yesterday’s drizzle and sweater weather kept many away.
That’s fine: More food and fewer lines for those of us who put on a jacket and kept an umbrella handy. At the end of the day, vendors said it was better than most weekdays last year, and it was oh-so-much better than any day during the 18-day Fair two years ago.
Today will be much warmer with the potential for rain early. So what? We will eat and drink regardless. Here are some suggestions:
In a meeting to plan our State Fair coverage, my boss lifted a line from the classic movie “Animal House” as a parental-like suggestion: “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, Charlie.” To which I replied, “Why not? It’s the Fair.” After all, I write about food and drinks for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard, and I rely on readers to tell me what’s good. That’s what I do at the Fair too. If you find something that makes your belly smile, text me at 315-382-1984 and I’ll give it a shot. I might join you for a meal or drink and pick up the tab if I write about it.
Mid-afternoon snack: It’s hard to escape the Barbie craze, even at the State Fair. Tommy Centore, the owner of Charlie’s Famous Steak Pit in the Colonnade near Chevy Court, even jumped on the pink bandwagon.
One of his new menu items this summer is the Chick-N-Cone. Basically it’s a half dozen meaty chicken tenders stuffed inside a waffle ice cream cone (sans the ice cream). You choose the flavor: barbecue, Buffalo, ranch, bang bang or cinnamon maple.
The chicken is normally served in a regular brown waffle cone for $8. You can upgrade your cone to pink for an extra dollar. I bought the cinnamon maple chicken, so I figured it would only make sense to be extra sweet.
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youtu.be
Watch the NYS Fair Midway come to life on opening day (video) (PS; video; Trimble)
While 53,000 fairgoers were singing along with rising country music star Lainey Wilson in Suburban Park Wednesday night - breaking the record for the largest concert crowd in New York State Fair history - a camera attached to the New York State Police repelling tower captured the final hours of the first day of the fair.
The time-lapse shows the Midway coming to life after dark, rides tossing fairgoers left and right, as a fireworks display takes over the western view at the conclusion of the concert.
Soon enough, the lights of the Midway shut off, and cleaning crews reset the fair for day two.
Photojournalist N. Scott Trimble also captured drone footage as the fairgrounds opened up for more than 70,000 visitors Wednesday, which was just short of an attendance record.
The fair continues through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4. The midway is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day of the fair except for Labor Day when it closes at 9 p.m.
‘Roller skating is back’: Indoor rink to open near Syracuse (PS; $; Doran)
At 6 years old, Carly Halsey started roller skating. She took lessons and soon became an accomplished speed skater while also perfecting her jumps and spins.
She was born into it: For years, Halsey’s parents operated a roller skating rink in Westvale called Skate-N-Place Roller Rink on West Genesee Street. Halsey said she remembers going there after school nearly every day to work on her skating skills.
Now 50 and a private-day nurse with three children, Halsey had decided to follow her lifelong dream and open her own roller skating rink. She is naming it Skate-N-Place, after her parents’ business.
Halsey is renting the former Aspen Athletic Club building at 8015 Oswego Road (Route 57) in the Seneca Mall in Clay. She plans to convert the 18,000-square-foot former gym into a rink with skate rentals, a snack bar and room for birthday parties. She hasn’t set her rates yet. She plans to open in November.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” Halsey told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. “It’s been my dream, and I want my kids and other kids to experience skating like I did.”
Halsey said she’s been working on finding a space for nearly a year. Mark Cardone of Rooftop Realty helped her find a spot to rent. When he posted about Halsey’s plans on social media, the response was overwhelming.
“I couldn’t believe how many people were excited,” Halsey said. “Roller skating is back. Rinks in other areas are doing well. It’s a family activity, and a place where kids can hang out, skate and be safe.”
She plans on playing music for all ages, and will incorporate some themed nights, such as ‘80s night, country music night and others.
Jim McMahon, executive director of the Indianapolis-based International Roller Skating Association, said there’s no question roller skating has made a comeback in a big way. He said attendance is up by about 50% now over 2019.
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National Banana Split Day is dedicated to the popular ice cream treat. The foundation of a banana split consists of a banana cut in half lengthwise in a long dish, also known as a banana boat. Most banana splits then have three scoops of ice cream placed between the banana, one each of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. The vanilla is usually topped with candied pineapple, the chocolate with chocolate fudge, and the strawberry with strawberry sauce. Finally, whipped cream, crushed nuts, and a maraschino cherry top the confection. By most accounts, the banana split was invented by 23-year-old apprentice pharmacist David Strickler in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1904. The price was originally 10 cents per sundae, and they became popular with students at nearby Saint Vincent College, before spreading all over the country. Strickler ended up buying the pharmacy and ran it until 1966, when he sold it. He died in 1971, but the pharmacy operated under other owners until closing down in 2000. Each year the Great Banana Split Celebration now takes place in Latrobe. In 2004, the National Ice Cream Retailers Association presented Latrobe's mayor with a certificate validating that the banana split was first created in city.
SU News
Why did Heritage Hall star Andy Bass commit to OU football? 'The list never really ends' (yahoo.com; Sardis)
Another in-state star has committed to the OU football program.
Heritage Hall senior Andy Bass, a three-star recruit according to 247Sports, announced in his school’s gymnasium Thursday that he’ll play for the Sooners, choosing the program over Kansas State and Syracuse.
Bass held preferred walk-on offers from OU and Kansas State, while Syracuse offered him a full scholarship. However, with the ability to sign name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, Bass said staying in-state to join the Sooners made perfect sense.
A quarterback at Heritage Hall, Bass will likely be a running back or slot receiver at the next level.
He has some unfinished business at Heritage Hall and will try to lead the Chargers to their second straight Class 3A title but is thrilled about his commitment.
“The list never really ends for the Sooners,” Bass said of why he chose OU. “There’s the fan base, the talent, the team, the family aspect, the coaching staff. They all did a great job of kind of putting the team together, and I’m super thankful to be a part of that.”
More: The Oklahoman's Week 0 picks for every high school football game in the state
3️ QB/ATH Andy Bass of Heritage Hall picks Oklahoma!
Bass chose OU over Kansas State and Syracuse. He’s listed at 6-0, 200 pounds. pic.twitter.com/YJaL101oym
— The REF (@KREFsports) August 24, 2023
Brent Venables is recruiting more Oklahoma players than the Sooners’ previous coaches.
Edmond Santa Fe’s Josh Aisosa and Bergin Kysar, Westmoore’s Mykel Patterson-McDonald and Carl Albert’s Xavier Robinson are all seniors who have committed to OU within the past few months.
Bass has a great relationship with Venables, and that played a big role in his commitment.
“He actually FaceTimed me this morning and was talking about kind of his vision for the future and the family he’s trying to build with the in-state guys,” Bass said. “I think that’s going to work out perfectly, and I’m super excited.”
Bass began his high school career at Casady before transferring to Heritage Hall in the spring of his freshman year.
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Sizing up SU football’s 2023 opponents week before season kicks off (PS; $; Leiker)
Syracuse begins its 2023 season against in-state opponent Colgate next Saturday in the JMA Wireless Dome.
With training camp winding down and game week upon us, let’s size up the competition the Orange will be facing this season.
Colgate (home)
Date: Sept. 2
Time: 4 p.m.; ACC Network Extra
The Syracuse-Colgate series is tied 31-31, but SU has won the last 16 meetings, including the most recent 33-7 victory in 2016.
Colgate finished last season 3-8 with two FBS matchups against Stanford (41-10 loss) and Army (42-17 loss).
The Red Raiders were a balanced offense last year with nearly the same total yardage on the ground (1,734) as through the air (1,735). Quarterback Michael Brescia, who returns in 2023, led the team in both rushing and passing. His top receiving target, Garrett Oakey, is not back this season.
The Colgate defense was throttled through the air last year, allowing 2,837 passing yards by opponents.
That definitely bodes well for SU’s pass-heavy offense, though the Orange should be pretty confident heading into this matchup anyway.
Syracuse is 20-0 against FCS foes (formerly Division I-AA) since the separation into two divisions in 1978.
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What’s college football saying about Syracuse in Week 0? (TNIAAM; Wall)
Each week, we’ll take a look at what other college football media sites are saying about the Syracuse Orange.
Syracuse.com
The season predictions from the local group all have the Orange heading back to a bowl game. There are also some interesting notes on MVPs and surprises for the season so head over and check them out. The TNIAAM staff predictions will be coming to you on Monday.
ESPN
In this week’s SP+ rankings Syracuse starts the year in the 55th spot with the offense 64th while the defense ranks 42nd. The Orange are ranked between Washington State and UTSA.
The Football Power Index has Syracuse in 34th between Minnesota and Pittsburgh. FPI predicts the Orange for 7 wins and gives them an 84% chance of making a bowl game. ESPN has Syracuse projected for either the Military Bowl or Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
ESPN’s ACC columnists Andrea Adelson and David Hale released pre-season power rankings which have Syracuse 10th (Hale) and 11th (Adelson). Both writers say Dino Babers will be on the hot seat if the Orange don’t make a bowl game (he’ll be gone if this happens so yes, that would be a hot seat).
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Axe: What is SU football’s floor and ceiling for 2023 season? (mailbag) (PS; $; Axe)
Axe me your questions and I’ll tell you no lies.
The mailbag was overflowing with inquiries on what channel the Syracuse-Colgate game is on, how good SU football will be in 2023, New York State Fair food and adult beverage options at sporting events.
Let’s get to answering them.
If you want to send an internet correspondence, please do so at baxe@syracuse.com @brentaxemedia on Twitter/X or @brent_axe on Threads.
From I Miss Marek Dolezaj on Twitter/X:
What is the ceiling and floor for SU football this season? Bonus question: Top 5 favorite fair foods
On SU football’s floor and ceiling, I could be a wise guy and say 0-12 and 12-0, but I won’t do that to you.
I think the floor is 4-8 and that’s if disaster strikes in terms of injury or this team just isn’t as good as it appears on paper.
I’ll put the ceiling at 9-3 if injuries are kept at a minimum, the Orange doesn’t stub its toe against teams it should beat (Colgate, Western Michigan, Purdue, Army, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Georgia Tech) and springs an upset or two on the likes of Clemson, UNC and Florida State.
On the wonderful food at the Great New York State Fair, here’s my top 5:
1. Butcher Boys london broil sandwich
2. Grandma’s apple dumpling
3. Pizze Fritte (fried dough)
4. Kettle corn
5. Basilo’s sausage sandwich
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Daily Drop: Season Segments (Syracuse, Miami, UVA, GT, Campbell, & Duke)! (youtube.com; podcast; Tar Heel Illustrated)
THI publisher Andrew Jones talks games 5 through 10 of UNC's schedule, which includes Syracuse, Miami, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Campbell, & Duke.
Syracuse Football: Unflattering forecasts for Orange from national pundits (itlh; Adler)
Two national media outlets have given unflattering projections for Syracuse football ahead of the 2023 season, which begins on Saturday, Sept. 2, when the Orange hosts Colgate at the JMA Wireless Dome.
In recent days, both CBS Sports and ESPN came out with their preseason prognostications for the Atlantic Coast Conference, and each media outlet believes, by and large, that the ‘Cuse will finish toward the bottom half of the league in the 2023 campaign.
Eight CBS Sports panelists provided their forecasts on the ACC. Syracuse football got one vote at No. 8, one vote at No. 9, five votes at No. 10 and one vote at No. 11. The ACC has 14 members in football, with Notre Dame being an independent.
Over at ESPN, Andrea Adelson has the Orange at No. 11, while David Hale places the ‘Cuse at No. 10. A separate ESPN article projects that the ‘Cuse will finish at 7-5 overall (4-0 in the non-conference and 3-5 in ACC games).
Syracuse football, I think, will finish higher in the ACC than some national pundits predict.
In 2022, the Orange raced out to a 6-0 start and was ranked in the top 15 of the major polls. But the ‘Cuse slumped down the stretch, finishing at 7-6 overall while making a bowl game.
This coming term, I do believe that Syracuse football will make a bowl game for a second year in a row, and several national experts have included the Orange in their super early 2023 bowl projections.
Earlier this year, noted college football expert Phil Steele said that he thinks the ‘Cuse is primed to have a “good year.” The ACC’s preseason media poll, released at the beginning of August, had Syracuse football at No. 10 in the conference race, while CBS Sports, in its preseason national rankings, put the Orange at No. 56 across the country.
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Keeping Up With The 315 8-24-23 (soundcloud.com; radio; The 315)
Brian Higgins begins the show explaining why adding Stanford, Cal and SMU to the ACC might not really do much to satisfy FSU and Clemson. Then, a friend of the show calls with a Syracuse basketball question and Brian goes over some interesting comments from Joe Girard today. Finally, a familiar caller poses an interesting question about Syracuse football's schedule to Brian.
Locked On Syracuse - Daily Podcast On Syracuse Orange Football & Basketball: Is Adding Stanford, Cal + SMU To The ACC A Long-Term Solution Or A Temporary Fix? on Apple Podcasts (apple.com; radio; Locked on Syracuse)
Is Adding Stanford, Cal + SMU To The ACC A Long-Term Solution Or A Temporary Fix?
Episode 432- Syracuse Football: Conference Chaos! (youtube.com; radio; Cuse Militia)
This is a segment from our show last night (E.431). I decided to make it a stand alone because I didn't want it to get buried at the end of a two hour plus show. In that show we talk everything Syracuse Football! Luke, a listener on Twitter/X spaces started listening at the right time when Joe had just saw a tweet as we were ending the show. Take a listen!
Damien Alford is Primed for a Breakout Year (orangefizz.net; Simone)
A year ago, conventional wisdom said that if Syracuse was going to have a breakout receiver that would differentiate himself as the number one option in the passing game, it would be Damien Alford. He was coming off a 2021 season where he flashed. He caught a 70 yard touchdown early in the year against UAlbany, and then of course his game winning touchdown against Virginia Tech.
The 6’6 210 pounder from Montreal has tremendous size and showed a strong ability to go get the football. To make it a cliche, with Alford, 50-50 balls are 80-20 in his favor. But, it was instead Oronde Gadsden who developed into Garrett Shrader’s favorite target. Gadsden was an all-ACC performer who racked up nearly 1,000 yards, while Alford had less than half that amount.
Still, though, Alford’s 20 catches for 429 yards were both career highs. He averaged about 21 yards per reception, which shows you his explosiveness, but also his one dimensional nature as a receiver.
He continued to do his damage in the vertical passing game. Not necessarily with his speed, there aren’t many corners Alford will run past, but with his size. That’s a tremendous skill and one that not many receivers around the country are gifted with, but it’s one element.
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Undrafted Sean Tucker has put himself in position to make the Bucs’ roster (PS; Carlson)
After going unselected during the NFL Draft because of a medical condition, running back Sean Tucker is reportedly putting himself into position to make the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ roster and become a steal for the franchise.
Tucker received rave reviews following Tampa Bay’s most recent preseason game, a 13-6 win over the New York Jets during Week 2 of the NFL’s preseason.
Tucker rushed for 37 yards on seven carries, with Tampa Bay media members stating that he was making his case to be the team’s backup running back despite getting a delayed start. Tucker also caught three passes for 18 yards.
Tucker has said little about the medical condition but longtime NFL reporter Bob McGinn, who currently writes for GoLongTD.com, reported it was a heart issue. Tucker was unable to participate in the team’s offseason workouts but was medically cleared for the start of Tampa Bay’s training camp.
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How Texas Tech football continues to build anticipation for new edge rusher Steve Linton (lubbockonline.com; Williams)
With the inflammatory stuff Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire said Wednesday at the Red Raider Club kickoff luncheon, other topics covered during the preseason powwow received little attention by comparison.
That was the case nationally, at least. McGuire said something else that made people take notice locally, though.
McGuire mentioned in passing that Steve Linton wreaked havoc in the Red Raiders' closed scrimmage Saturday, stoking more anticipation for the edge rusher who transferred from Syracuse.
"He's an absolute freak. So explosive," McGuire said before a crowd of 1,200 at the Memorial Civic Center. "As good as our offensive line was, he had four sacks the other day in the scrimmage. He's just extremely explosive."
Now, those likely were quick-whistle, touch sacks, the kind where the play is blown dead when a defender gets near the quarterback. Linton will have to finish those plays once the real games start.
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Kevin Wall "Orange Nation" 8-24-23 (soundcloud.com; radio; Orange Nation)
NunesMagician editor Kevin Wall joins Steve and Paulie to break down the possibilities for the Syracuse football season as a part of their series on how the Orange could finish with records ranging from 4-8 to 9-3 this year.
ACC News
Which ACC team will come out on top in 2023? - ESPN Video (ESPN; video)
Billy Connelly crunches the numbers for the contenders in the ACC title race ahead of the 2023 college football season.
Report: ACC progressing toward westward expansion with Stanford, Cal, SMU potential targets (nbcsports.com; AP)
https://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/cal-stanford-acc-football-reports-18328806.php (sfgate.com; Young)
Cal and Stanford don’t have to get ready to play football in the NESCAC just yet.
After the California schools' last-ditch campaign to join the ACC appeared to have stalled out earlier this month, a flurry of reports Wednesday evening suggested they could be headed to the Atlantic Coast after all.
Twelve of the conference’s 15 schools have to approve new members. As of last week, there had been four reported holdouts: North Carolina, NC State, Clemson and Florida State. The rest of the conference and its leadership were apparently on board with adding the Bay Area duo (plus maybe SMU).
It’s not clear which of the four schools is flipping its vote, but all reporting Wednesday evening was pointing in the same direction.
The Associated Press had the conference “making progress toward an expansion that could grab Stanford and California.” Yahoo Sports had the move as a “legitimate possibility” while also providing the clearest financial picture. Stanford and Cal, desperate for a major conference, offered to take shares that are just 30% of what existing members get, while SMU, which has deep-pocketed boosters, is offering to play for free, according to Yahoo.
If the ACC wants to add Stanford and Cal, it has all the leverage. After the collapse of the Pac-12, the Bay Area schools have frantically tried to find a major conference that would provide anything close to the tens of millions of dollars in football money both were accustomed to. Even at 30% shares, being in the ACC would be a better deal than reforming the Pac-12 with lesser powers or just swallowing their pride and joining the Mountain West or American.
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Top 5 Thoughts on ACC Expansion | FSU | Clemson | SMU | ESPN | Conference Realignment (youtube; podcast; 365 Sports)
Paul Catalina’s Top 5 Thoughts on ACC Expansion
ACC expansion update: Unpacking latest on Stanford, Cal, SMU and impact for Clemson (greenvilleonline.com; Long)
The Atlantic Coast Conference is making progress toward an expansion that could grab Stanford and California from the sinking Pac-12, a person with direct knowledge of the ACC’s potential move told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the conference was not making its internal discussions public.
“It’s gaining momentum,” the person said about the possibility of expansion being approved.
Two weeks ago, the ACC got so far as to gather its entire board of university leaders twice in three days to consider adding Stanford, Cal and possibly SMU, the Dallas-based American Athletic Conference school. They never took an official vote, knowing they would not have had the necessary 12 of 15 votes for expansion to be approved.
How new revenue generated by adding members to the conference would be distributed has been a sticking point for several schools, among them Florida State, Clemson and North Carolina.
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https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/acc-cal-stanford-football-hoops-only (SI; Curtis)
Multiple reports indicate the Atlantic Coast Conference is considerably closer to adding Cal, Stanford and SMU to its conference.
Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News quoted a source saying "It looks like it's happening"
Wilner's story indicated it is not a done deal and momentum for adding Cal and Stanford could still disappear.
And he added this excerpt:
Mike Silver reported that the ACC is considering adding the three schools as football and basketball members only, although other reports indicate Cal, Stanford and SMU would be added to the ACC in all sports.
The key matter may be that Cal, Stanford and SMU would accept a reduced revenue percentage (less than a full share), according to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo. Here is an excerpt:
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Stanford and Cal's move to the ACC--with SMU--might happen soon l Pac-12 Podcast (youtube.com; podcast; Locked on PAC-12)
Momentum appears to be shifting towards Stanford and Cal joining the ACC along with SMU, a move that they recently came up one vote shy of achieving. The move would almost certainly end the league and send Oregon State and Washington State to the Mountain West or American Conference.
How the ACC could get two teams in College Football Playoff (on3.com; Connolly)
Last season the Big Ten had two teams reach the College Football Playoff, while the previous year the SEC had a pair of teams in the Final 4. On3’s J.D. PicKell believes it’s possible it could be the ACC’s turn to accomplish that feat in 2023.
PicKell isn’t predicting two ACC teams will be in the Final 4 come December, but he also isn’t ruling it out.
“I think we have to get aligned on the idea that there is potentially going to be two teams from the ACC that could find their way into the College Football Playoff,” PicKell said Thursday on The Hard Count.
Those two teams would be Clemson and Florida State as both open the season in the top 10 and are viewed as legit College Football Playoff contenders.
The Seminoles return a loaded roster and added an excellent transfer portal class this offseason, while Clemson also returns plenty of talent and added arguably the best offensive coordinator in college football to its staff in January in TCU‘s Garrett Riley.
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ACC expansion update: Unpacking latest on Stanford, Cal, SMU and impact for Clemson (greenvilleonline.com; Long)
Conference realignment isn't finished yet, and ACC expansion is at the center of the latest rumblings.
About two weeks ago, the presidents of ACC member schools held a "straw poll" regarding the possibility of adding Stanford, Cal and/or SMU, according to multiple outlets. The unofficial vote failed, with Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and NC State the four schools saying no to expansion, according to Yahoo Sports and others.
The addition of those three schools is apparently still on the table, with the potential new members, the league and the member schools negotiating to determine a path forward. Reports differ on how expansion could happen: Yahoo Sports reported that it could be just SMU, just the two California schools or all three; Sports Illustrated reported that it's all three or none.
Here's what to know about what's going on in the ACC.
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BOZICH | Are you ready for an 18-team, 12-state, 3-time zone ACC? (wdrb.com; Bozich)
This is how many times the University of Louisville has played Stanford in football:
Zero.
This is how many times the Cardinals have played the California Bears:
Zero.
This is how many times U of L has played SMU in football:
Not zero.
The answer is 2.
Zero is how many times that Louisville has defeated SMU, losing back to back games to the Mustangs during their pre-Death Penalty days in the mid-80s.
The next blast of ACC expansion will not affect Louisville’s schedule during Rivalry Week.
The drumbeat keeps growing that ACC commissioner Jim Phillips and his allies are gaining momentum in their push to grab one more vote and convince either North Carolina, North Carolina State, Clemson or Florida State to join the ACC members eager, ready and willing to add Stanford, California and SMU to the league that made its reputation on Tobacco Road.
If Phillips gets that vote, the ACC will grow from 15 to 18 teams, except in football where it will be a 17-team extravaganza with Notre Dame permitted to talk the talk of being an ACC member without actually committing to playing a complete ACC schedule. (Google Jack Swarbrick for details.)
But that’s another column.
This column is about my thoughts on the ACC adding two schools from California and another from Texas to a league with its heart and soul stuck in North Carolina.
My first reaction is no reaction or overreaction. Do it. Get it over with. Then prepare to do it again next summer. You know we will.
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Report: ACC Could Earn Significant Money From Expansion (pittsburghnow.com; Ludwig)
What’s it going to take to convince the ACC schools against expansion to flip their potential votes? Money, money and money.
As the ACC renewed expansion efforts kicked into high gear Wednesday afternoon, with a few ACC Presidents meeting to discuss revenue models surrounding expansion, those financial numbers have come out.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the ACC could earn just about $72 million in new money by adding Cal, Stanford and SMU to the conference.
“The ACC’s television contract with ESPN includes a pro-rata clause requiring the network to increase the value of the deal by one Tier 1 share for every new member — believed to be about $24 million a share, or about 70% of a full ACC share, which includes Tiers 1-3,” Dellenger wrote.
He further reported that Cal and Stanford have agreed to take roughly 30% of the $24 million share, and after those shares and travel costs are factored in, the ACC could earn at least $30 million in revenue to be distributed via incentive pools based on athletic success. Those incentives are likely to be weighted heavily toward football success — championships, bowl assignments and end-of-the-year rankings.
SMU, which is currently a member of the AAC, would reportedly propose taking no revenue for the first seven years of its ACC membership.
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Ranking the most penalized teams in the ACC across the past 5 seasons - Saturday Road (saturdayroad.com; Stone)
Penalty numbers are an underrated aspect when it comes to analyzing a football team.
More than anything, penalties especially hurt teams when they come at the wrong time. The last thing you want is an offsides on 3rd and 1 when you need a score.
Disciplined teams win college football games; undisciplined teams… just ask 2019 Ole Miss and Elijah Moore.
We decided to rank all 14 ACC programs by the amount of penalties accrued across the past 5 seasons. Keep in mind, these rankings are based on an average of total penalty yards/total games played, so the results don’t skew in favor of those playing less games. It also includes all games, including CFP matchups and bowl games.
All stats found via CFB Stats.com.
- Florida State: 68.4 per game
- Pitt: 66.67 per game
- Syracuse: 63.8 per game
- Louisville: 61 per game
- UNC: 60.3 per game
- Miami: 59.5 per game
- NC State: 58.1 per game
- Virginia Tech: 50.3 per game
- Georgia Tech: 50 per game
- Boston College: 49.7 per game
- Virginia: 49.6 per game
- Duke: 48.4 per game
- Clemson: 47.5 per game
- Wake Forest: 43.04 per game
Florida State earns the top spot with an average of 68 penalty yards per game across the past 5 seasons with over 20 more penalty yards than the Demon Deacons.
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Best/Worst P5 Uniforms (RX; HM)
Best/Worst P5 Uniforms
Here's Big Game Boomer's take on the 50 best uniforms...
...which, of course, begs the question: which are the worst?
Here are the P5 teams whose uniforms didn't make BGB's Top 50:
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One more thought on Calford+SMU (RX; HM)
One more thought on Calford+SMU
RE: What’s Going On With Stanford And Cal? - here's a comment from a Florida State fan:
Agreed. This is a very reasonable pro-Seminole position to take.
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Two SI links 2023 Aug 24 (RX; HM)
Two SI links 2023 Aug 24
From the SI:AM email of Aug. 24th:
The latest on ACC expansion
The ACC is once again strongly considering adding Stanford, Cal and SMU to its conference. The move, which once appeared one vote short after an initial push following the Pac-12’s collapse, now seems to have new life and conversations are “gaining momentum,” sources told Sports Illustrated on Wednesday evening.The crux of these discussions (like most things in college sports these days) is money. With the ACC falling behind in the financial race with the SEC and Big Ten—and big brands such as Florida State and Clemson unhappy with the current arrangement—the pressure is on ACC commissioner Jim Phillips.
SMU would be willing to join the ACC without being paid a TV revenue distribution for multiple years, while Stanford and Cal would come at a reduced rate (potentially as little as 25% of the league’s standard distribution). That would leave a large portion of the new TV revenue created by the three added schools to be dished out in other forms, and the league is reportedly currently reviewing different financial models.
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Other
The Chick-n-Cone at Charlie's Famous Steak Pit at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Day 3 at the NYS Fair: Today’s handpicked menu and schedule (PS; Miller)
Over two days we experienced two totally different State Fairs. Wednesday’s clear skies and 80-degree temperature lured more than 70,000 people to the New York State Fairgrounds. Yesterday’s drizzle and sweater weather kept many away.
That’s fine: More food and fewer lines for those of us who put on a jacket and kept an umbrella handy. At the end of the day, vendors said it was better than most weekdays last year, and it was oh-so-much better than any day during the 18-day Fair two years ago.
Today will be much warmer with the potential for rain early. So what? We will eat and drink regardless. Here are some suggestions:
Today’s Menu
In a meeting to plan our State Fair coverage, my boss lifted a line from the classic movie “Animal House” as a parental-like suggestion: “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, Charlie.” To which I replied, “Why not? It’s the Fair.” After all, I write about food and drinks for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard, and I rely on readers to tell me what’s good. That’s what I do at the Fair too. If you find something that makes your belly smile, text me at 315-382-1984 and I’ll give it a shot. I might join you for a meal or drink and pick up the tab if I write about it.
Mid-afternoon snack: It’s hard to escape the Barbie craze, even at the State Fair. Tommy Centore, the owner of Charlie’s Famous Steak Pit in the Colonnade near Chevy Court, even jumped on the pink bandwagon.
One of his new menu items this summer is the Chick-N-Cone. Basically it’s a half dozen meaty chicken tenders stuffed inside a waffle ice cream cone (sans the ice cream). You choose the flavor: barbecue, Buffalo, ranch, bang bang or cinnamon maple.
The chicken is normally served in a regular brown waffle cone for $8. You can upgrade your cone to pink for an extra dollar. I bought the cinnamon maple chicken, so I figured it would only make sense to be extra sweet.
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Time-lapse shows NYS Fair Midway coming to life after dark
A time-lapse video shows the New York State Fair Midway in all its glory as it transitions from day to night on opening day August 23, 2023. Video by N. Scot...
youtu.be
Watch the NYS Fair Midway come to life on opening day (video) (PS; video; Trimble)
While 53,000 fairgoers were singing along with rising country music star Lainey Wilson in Suburban Park Wednesday night - breaking the record for the largest concert crowd in New York State Fair history - a camera attached to the New York State Police repelling tower captured the final hours of the first day of the fair.
The time-lapse shows the Midway coming to life after dark, rides tossing fairgoers left and right, as a fireworks display takes over the western view at the conclusion of the concert.
Soon enough, the lights of the Midway shut off, and cleaning crews reset the fair for day two.
Photojournalist N. Scott Trimble also captured drone footage as the fairgrounds opened up for more than 70,000 visitors Wednesday, which was just short of an attendance record.
The fair continues through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4. The midway is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day of the fair except for Labor Day when it closes at 9 p.m.
‘Roller skating is back’: Indoor rink to open near Syracuse (PS; $; Doran)
At 6 years old, Carly Halsey started roller skating. She took lessons and soon became an accomplished speed skater while also perfecting her jumps and spins.
She was born into it: For years, Halsey’s parents operated a roller skating rink in Westvale called Skate-N-Place Roller Rink on West Genesee Street. Halsey said she remembers going there after school nearly every day to work on her skating skills.
Now 50 and a private-day nurse with three children, Halsey had decided to follow her lifelong dream and open her own roller skating rink. She is naming it Skate-N-Place, after her parents’ business.
Halsey is renting the former Aspen Athletic Club building at 8015 Oswego Road (Route 57) in the Seneca Mall in Clay. She plans to convert the 18,000-square-foot former gym into a rink with skate rentals, a snack bar and room for birthday parties. She hasn’t set her rates yet. She plans to open in November.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” Halsey told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. “It’s been my dream, and I want my kids and other kids to experience skating like I did.”
Halsey said she’s been working on finding a space for nearly a year. Mark Cardone of Rooftop Realty helped her find a spot to rent. When he posted about Halsey’s plans on social media, the response was overwhelming.
“I couldn’t believe how many people were excited,” Halsey said. “Roller skating is back. Rinks in other areas are doing well. It’s a family activity, and a place where kids can hang out, skate and be safe.”
She plans on playing music for all ages, and will incorporate some themed nights, such as ‘80s night, country music night and others.
Jim McMahon, executive director of the Indianapolis-based International Roller Skating Association, said there’s no question roller skating has made a comeback in a big way. He said attendance is up by about 50% now over 2019.
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