sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Lumberjack Day!
Lumberjack Day celebrates the archetypal woodsman, the lumberjack. The day was created in 2005 by Marianne Ways and Colleen AF Venable as an excuse to eat pancakes and waffles with friends, and because International Talk Like a Pirate Day comes a week before it, and they wanted to celebrate a different character. Marianne thought it would be better to have a day to talk like a lumberjack as well. It has grown to be celebrated all around the country, with people getting dressed up in plaid shirts and wearing beards, and even having lumberjack parties. In 2013, the day also started being called National Pancake Day, which increased its popularity.
SU News
Film Review: Cohesive offensive line play in 2nd half mitigates slow start from LeQuint Allen Jr. (DO; Alandt)
LeQuint Allen Jr. finished the first half of Saturday’s win over Army with just four rushes for 16 yards. Garrett Shrader, SU’s only other rusher, had two carries for seven yards. The Orange’s lead back didn’t get a carry during their first drive and had just one rush over four yards until his 13-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
It was indicative of Syracuse’s slow first half, marred by incomplete passes and unsuccessful quick drives. Army slowed the game to its speed, and the Orange responded by garnering just six total rushes. But in the second half, head coach Dino Babers said he felt like — even down a possession — SU was right where he felt it needed to be. They stuck to their ground game and opened up holes.
Allen Jr. ended with his second game with more than 100 yards on the ground while scoring a rushing touchdown in the fourth straight game.
“He’s got the ability to be a 200-yard performer,” Babers said after the win. “He’s just that talented.”
Here is what wasn’t working for Syracuse in the first half, and what ultimately led to Allen Jr.’s big day:
One twitchy lineman, and Army stays disciplined
This is a simple blitz that Army applies to Syracuse on its first play of the second quarter. With four down linemen and three linebackers over top, the Black Knights read the play from the start. But key in on Austin Hill, the defensive end lined up opposite right tackle Mark Petry. The senior is undersized compared to Syracuse’s offensive line unit and had to find a way to Allen Jr. any way he could. In what almost looks like a Rocky Long 3-3-5 pre-snap motion attempt, Hill inched his way toward the B gap as Trebor Pena crossed the formation in motion.
He times his movement perfectly with the snap and bolts toward Allen Jr., blowing up the play. Anticipating Hill to come over, center J’Onre Reed uses a cut block to try to take him out of the equation. But Hill scoots around the lineman and is in position to make contact with Allen Jr. before he reaches the line of scrimmage.
The two linebackers blitzed, with one heading to the weak side to cover an attempt at a reverse. The strong side linebacker punches the gap to help out the four defensive linemen smothering Allen Jr.
Even the outside runs get stuffed
Army vs Syracuse FULL GAME - NCAAF Week 4 | College Football season 2023-2024
Army vs Syracuse FULL GAME - NCAAF Week 4 | College Football season 2023-2024
youtu.be
Syracuse’s first rush of the third quarter netted no gain. The run was part of a stretch where Allen Jr. had eight straight rushes of four or fewer yards. Once again, Army had four down linemen. But with four receivers lined up for the Orange, the Black Knights only had two linebackers over the top, with one heading outside right to cover Dan Villari.
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Dino Babers expects Clemson matchup to be as physical as 'Rocky III' (DO; O'Brien)
For the second year in a row, Syracuse takes on Clemson with an undefeated record and looks to prove itself against a team that Dino Babers has beaten only once in eight years.
In the past two seasons, the Orange have taken the Tigers right down to the wire. The last time Clemson came to the JMA Wireless Dome, SU lost 17-14 as Andre Szymt missed a 48-yard field goal in the last minute. Down in Death Valley in 2022, Syracuse’s undefeated record went up in smoke as Garrett Shrader threw a game-ending interception in the red zone, sealing the 27-21 defeat. DJ Uiagalelei struggled, leading to Cade Klubnik coming in and lead a comeback after the Tigers trailed by 11 points in the second half.
Babers said the players who competed against Clemson before are getting excited for Saturday’s matchup. He said he doesn’t need to motivate those players, and needs to focus on the Orange’s newcomers.
“The biggest thing is the guys that are in here that never played before,” Babers said. “And for those guys to figure it out this week that they need to step up their game because they’re playing one of the top teams in the conference.”
Here are some more takeaways from Babers’ weekly presser:
Babers on the team from South Carolina
Even though Clemson lost to No. 17 Duke and No. 5 Florida State, Babers still believes the Tigers are a championship-caliber team. Dabo Swinney’s group has two dominant wins against Florida Atlantic and Charleston Southern and made an Orange Bowl appearance in 2022. When talking about last year’s matchup between the Orange and Tigers, Babers noted the physicality of the game.“The biggest thing was the game is so physical,” Babers said. “The turning point was that (the game) was 15 rounds. We didn’t get the decision at the end and we were beat up.”
Babers also equated the physicality to “Rocky III,” expecting that there will be pain.
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Babers: Syracuse has 'exactly the right attitude' ahead of Clemson game (PS; $; Leiker)
Syracuse football’s history with Clemson, not just in the past year but the past 10, is all the motivation this year’s team needs entering its ACC opener.
Six matchups in the past 10 years have been decided by 10 points or fewer. Only one of those times has the game gone in the Orange’s favor.
There doesn’t need to be any rousing post-practice or locker room speeches, though there likely will be.
Asked how he and his coaching staff will keep players from getting too high or low heading into their ACC opener, SU coach Dino Babers said there shouldn’t be too much heavy lifting.
“I think the team has exactly the right attitude,” Babers said. “The coaches will lay out the game plan. We will do actually almost nothing when it comes to motivation this week. They enjoy playing this team, and we always get the best out of that team when we play ‘em.”
He added the obvious note that there are players on this team who haven’t played Clemson and will need to be brought to speed quickly this week on what to expect in the matchup.
Babers said the common denominator in close games his SU teams have played against Clemson in recent years is physicality, noting that the Tigers are often one of the most physical teams in the conference and referencing 1976′s “Rocky” and saying, “there’s gonna be pain, and you’re gonna have to battle through it.”
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Video: Clemson players talk reset for game at Syracuse dome (goupstate.com; video; Ruinard)
Video: Clemson quarterback says remembering what winning feels like is what "we're chasing this week," plus looking forward to game at Syracuse dome
Keeping Up With The 315 9-25-23 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian opens the show discussing his takeaways from Syracuse’s odd win over Army and one thing the Orange offense did that might be a key the rest of the season. Then, he has an update on Clemson tickets and gets into what that update might mean for the potential crowd size on Saturday. Finally, Brian chats with a caller about the tough stretch of games coming up and goes over the gambling picks from the weekend.
Adam Terry "The 315" 9-25-23 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Radio color analyst Adam Terry joins Brian to react to the win over Army and look ahead to the match-up against Clemson. The two also discuss all the major story lines with the team, including the big game from Damien Alford, importance of LeQuint Allen going forward and offensive line play.
Syracuse Football Is Still Undefeated + Completes The 2023 Non-Conference Sweep! (youtube.com; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Football grabs its fourth straight win of the season against Army with a 29-16 victory. The win brings the Orange to 4-0 on the season. On your Locked On Syracuse Monday episode, Owen Valentine details the big takeaways of the game, plus a look to Twitter for your reactions.
Takeaways from Syracuse football's 2023 non-conference slate, plus a look ahead to ACC play (cnycentral.com; Hodges)
For the second consecutive season Syracuse football has come through their slate of non-conference games unscathed. At times the Orange (4-0, 0-0 ACC) looked like world-beaters, utterly dominant in all three phases. At others we saw signs of the team that had an up-and-down season in 2022.
Yet despite some less-than-perfect plays the Orange are just one of 27 Division I FBS programs that remain undefeated. Now they enter conference play alongside five other ACC who are looking to stay undefeated. Before we get to that though how about some takeaways from the Cuse's opening act of 2023?
Tommy Sladek's Takeaways:
You must be proud of the Orange if you're Dino Babers. Syracuse has outscored its opponents 177-43, Garrett Shrader looks as confident as ever and is playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC. Shrader told us after the win over Army that one of his receivers should be hitting 100+ receiving yards every game. Damien Alford was the man in the win over the Black Knights and SU needs to have big games from Alford, Umari Hatcher and Donovan Brown to compete in this tough stretch of ACC matchups over the next month (especially with the news Isaiah Jones could be out for a while with an injury and Oronde Gadsden II already out for the season).
Defensively, Rocky Long's unit has made mid-game adjustments just about as good as you could ask for through the first four games. There's no argument in saying this is one of the best defenses in the country right now. Clemson will be a big, big test.
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Ring of Honor | Ben Schwartzwalder (youtube; video; Syracuse Orange)
Syracuse football's legendary coach and war hero takes his place in the JMA Dome's Ring of Honor.
Syracuse football: Game four grades vs Army (TNIAAM; De Guzman)
This is gonna be weird, so let’s strap in.
The Syracuse Orange turned around a lethargic first half performance into a 29-16 victory over the Army Black Knights. The Orange squad we saw in the first half was nowhere close to the Orange squad we saw in the second half. As you could probably imagine, trying to attribute grades for a game-wide performance is difficult.
With that being said, let’s give it the old college try:
Quarterbacks: B
This was a different looking Garrett Shrader than last week. It shows what happens when teams, or Shrader himself, turn the Syracuse QB into a passer rather than a runner. Shrader grew more comfortable and settled into a rhythm, but his accuracy continues to be all over the place. He also needs to diversify how much he runs versus how much he throws once he escapes the pocket. It seems like it’s always one or the other in games, which makes him predictable. Against Army the decision was to pass more, which ended up working in the second half. But this was one of his shakier performances.
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Clemson Football: ESPN FPI favors Syracuse this weekend (rubbingtherock.com; Chancey)
Clemson Football is 2-2 on the 2023 season. Fans are disappointed after offseason hopes of going back to the College Football Playoff.
While the team played poorly at Duke, they played an overall good game against Florida State. Many feel this is a good team that has slipped up against good competition.
Florida State is currently 5th in the AP Top 25, and Duke is ranked 17th.
When the spread was released for this game on Monday, Clemson was favored by about a touchdown on most books.
The most curious thing is that (as of Monday) ESPN favors Syracuse this Saturday. ESPN Analytics gives the Orange a 55.1% of winning the game.
ESPN’s FPI ranks Clemson 17th. It ranks Syracuse 20th. With the game happening in New York, ESPN apparently thinks the home-field advantage gives the Orange an edge over the Tigers.
Like a lot of other metrics, the FPI is often criticized when the variables used in the algorithm deliver unusual results. For example, Clemson was 17th last week as well. This means they did not drop following their home loss to Florida State. FSU also remained unchanged at 10th. Essentially, the FPI is saying what happened Saturday was exactly what should have happened and these teams are exactly what it thought they were.
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https://www.si.com/fannation/colleg...icks-predictions-college-football-week-5-game (SI; Parks)
Coming off the second loss of its season and slipping out of the playoff conversation, unranked Clemson goes on the road against undefeated Syracuse in a battle of ACC rivals as college football's Week 5 action kicks off on Saturday.
That costly, second loss came at home against Florida State, which broke a seven-game losing skid in the series, and moved into pole position in not only the ACC conference title race, but also the College Football Playoff hunt. Cade Klubnik is a 66 percent passer for Clemson, which averages 474 total yards per game.
Syracuse posts over 507 yards on offense each time out behind a balanced attack that averages 213 rushing yards per game and boasts a road win against a Power Five opponent after defeating Purdue by 15 points two weeks ago.
What do the experts think of the matchup? Let's see how the College Football Power Index computer prediction model projects the game.
Clemson vs. Syracuse picks, predictions
Syracuse odds: The computers are predicting an upset as the Orange have the projected 55.1 percent chance to win, according to the computers that simulate games 20,000 times to pick winners.
Clemson odds: Conversely, the Tigers are forecasted to win the game in 44.9 percent of the simulations, according to the latest models.
Point spread: The bookies take a different view, naming Clemson as the 7 point favorites against Syracuse, according to the lines at SI , which set the total at 52.5 points.
Clemson predictions: The index forecasts that Clemson will be 14.1 points better than an average opponent and estimates it will win 6.8 games this season, with a meager 1.8 percent chance of winning out.
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2025 kicker Marcus Trout recaps Syracuse game day visit (247sports.com; Finneral)
Class of 2025 kicker Marcus Trout was in the JMA Wireless Dome for Syracuse’s win over Western Michigan a few weeks ago. Trout had an awesome experience on his visit.
“I really enjoyed the game day visit and everything they did for me,” Trout said. “I had a great time.”
Trout plays at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Melbourne, Florida. He was very impressed with the game day atmosphere at Syracuse.
Class of 2025 kicker Marcus Trout was in the JMA Wireless Dome for Syracuse’s win over Western Michigan a few weeks ago. Trout had an awesome experience on his visit. “I really enjoyed the game day visit and everything they did for me,” Trout said. “I had a great time.”
Trout plays at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Melbourne, Florida. He was very impressed with the game day atmosphere at Syracuse. “The Dome is an amazing experience with the noise, the look and just the feel of the whole Dome,” Trout said.
Trout has a significant tie to Syracuse as his father Nathan used to kick for the Orange and ranks highly in multiple kicking statistics in program history.
Naturally, Trout has admired the Syracuse football program for a long time. “Syracuse is definitely the school I am most interested in because I grew up being a fan because my dad kicked there in ‘95-99,” Trout said.
“I love the football program at Syracuse. It has some of the best facilities I've seen and the coaches are amazing.” Trout does not have an offer from Syracuse yet, but he said it has been his ‘dream school’ since he was a kid and he hopes to earn an offer in the future.
He has grown to enjoy Syracuse outside of just the football program. “Syracuse is an interesting option for me because I love the north and the whole atmosphere of the Syracuse.
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New Syracuse football commit, Buffalo state champion, puts up huge stats (itlh; Adler)
Syracuse football has landed its 18th verbal commitment in its solid 2024 class, with media reports indicating that star athlete Ja’Meer Thomas from Buffalo, N.Y., has verbally pledged to the Orange.
First of all, a huge congrats to Ja’Meer. The Buffalo News first reported the news of Thomas verbally committing to the ‘Cuse, and SyracuseOnSI publisher Mike McAllister also confirmed this development.
Thomas is a standout at Bennett High School in Buffalo. As a junior during the 2022 season, he put up massive statistics and won state and regional accolades in helping lead Bennett to a state title in New York.
Per his X page, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Thomas received a scholarship offer from the Orange on September 19. His X page also notes offers from Akron, Stony Brook, Merrimack and Maine.
Syracuse football has boosted its 2024 recruiting cycle.
A season ago, in early December, Bennett won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA championship by defeating the Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, N.Y., by a final score of 42-8 at the JMA Wireless Dome. Per reports, Thomas scored multiple touchdowns in that game.
By the way, if you want to check out how Bennett and Thomas, a senior, are faring in the current 2023 stanza, you can find various results and stats on the MaxPreps Web site.
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Syracuse football depth chart shows some changes for matchup with Clemson (TNIAAM; Haller)
Another week, another depth chart. This time we get to see the Syracuse Orange purported two deep against the Clemson Tigers this Saturday. Coming off of the 29-16 victory against Army, Syracuse looks to expand on their first undefeated out-of-conference schedule since 1959 and match up with the 2-2 Tigers at the JMA Wireless Dome.
This week the wideouts are the movers and shakers. Our numbers are dwindling as Isaiah Jones officially leaves the depth chart this week. Note: Syracuse’s top two options heading into this year by the Week 1 depth chart are now both injured, as well as their two biggest targets. In his stead, Umari Hatcher moves to the top spot on the depth chart.
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No, Syracuse Won’t Be Ranked If It Beats Clemson (orangefizz.net; Aitken)
The hype for Syracuse, now 4-0, is growing with every win. In the most recent AP Poll, the Orange received a season-high eight points. SU was even ranked as high as 22 in Seattle Times writer Mike Vorel’s poll.
Before the season, if you told Syracuse fans that the team went 5-0 with a win over Clemson to start the season, they’d assume that SU was ranked. However, it’s becoming pretty realistic that the Orange will be on the outside looking into the top-25 even if they beat the Tigers.
There are several reasons for this. Firstly, this isn’t the dominant Clemson that college football fans know and love (or hate). The Tigers are 2-2, including an upset loss to Duke. While Clemson is still favored betting-wise, it actually sits behind Syracuse in the most recent AP Poll. A win over the Tigers would still be impressive, but it wouldn’t turbo-boost the Orange’s resume like in years past.
The group just outside of the top-25 is also very crowded. Kansas State, Kentucky, Colorado, Louisville, UCLA, Maryland, TCU, and Tulane are all unranked, but still have more points than Syracuse. It’s unrealistic to expect SU to leapfrog eight teams just for beating Clemson.
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TV announcers, channel for Clemson-Syracuse (tigernet.com; Crumpton)
Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Tom Luginbill (sideline reporter) will call the television broadcast.
Don Munson, Tim Bourret, and Reggie Merriweather will broadcast the game on the Clemson Athletic Network.
The Tigers opened as a -9 point road favorite against the Orange. The Tigers fell to 0-2 in ACC action with a 31-24 loss to No. 4 Florida State on Saturday.
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Syracuse Football: SU in top 20 nationally per ESPN’s football power index (itlh; Adler)
Through week four, Syracuse football remains in the top 20 across the country, according to ESPN’s football power index (“FPI”).
The Orange, though, did fall four spots to No. 20 overall, per the FPI. This past Saturday afternoon, the ‘Cuse moved to 4-0 in the 2023 season after storming back in the second half to defeat fellow New York state team Army, 29-16, inside the JMA Wireless Dome.
The FPI, per the ESPN Web site, is “a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season.”
Interestingly enough, Clemson is at No. 17 nationwide in the FPI, despite the Tigers being 2-2 overall. Clemson will come to the Hill for an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown this Saturday afternoon.
ESPN’s FPI continues to be high on Syracuse football.
Within the ACC, according to the FPI, Florida State sits at No. 1, followed by Miami, Clemson, North Carolina and then the Orange at No. 5.
After the ‘Cuse hosts the Tigers, Syracuse football will hit the road to play both North Carolina and Florida State away from Central New York. If somehow, someway, the Orange can get at least one win over that brutal three-game stretch, that would prove huge as Syracuse football aims for a bowl-game appearance for the second year in a row.
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Army football lineman Andre Miller discharged from Syracuse hospital, back at West Point (recordonline.com; McMillan)
Army junior lineman Andre Miller was released from a Syracuse hospital and is back at West Point on Sunday, per the athletic communications department.
"Andre continues to be in the care of our amazing medical staff and support team,'' the release said, quoting a Tweet by the Army Football account. "We thank you for all your thoughts and prayers over the last 24 hours.''
Miller was injured early in the fourth quarter in Saturday's loss at Syracuse University. On the play, SU quarterback Garrett Shrader rushed for a 6-yard gain. Army linebacker Trey Sofia rushed in to make the stop and bounced off Shrader. Miller was coming from another angle and took the brunt of a helmet-to-helmet clash with Sofia. Miller took a step backward and fell to the turf, face down.
Medical personnel from both teams tended to Miller on the field for about 10 minutes while members of both teams kneeled nearby. Miller was placed on a backboard and placed atop a motorized cart - at that point, players from both teams approached him and extended their well wishes. In the post-game press conference, Army head coach Jeff Monken said Miller could communicate and felt a tingling sensation in his extremities.
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Raiders place Chandler Jones on NFI list, sign replacement (Syracuse, CNY in NFL) (PS; Herbert)
Former Syracuse football star Chandler Jones has been placed on the NFI (non-football illness) list after weeks of off-field issues with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jones, a Rochester native who played football at Union-Endicott High School and Syracuse University, was listed as inactive during the first two weeks of the season amid an ongoing public clash with head coach Josh McDaniels and team owner Mark Davis. Earlier this month, Jones accused the team of sending a crisis response team to his house and fired off more allegations online; last Sunday, he claimed he was “hacked” after his social media account claimed Davis is “holding a huge secret that only I know.”
ESPN reports the Raiders placed Jones on the NFI list this week, which means he will miss at least four more games while he works out what the team has called “personal issues.”
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Business Made Social: An Evening with Syracuse University's Athletics Department (greaterrochesterchamber.com)
Thursday, October 5, 2023 (4:30 PM - 6:30 PM) (EDT)
Description
*In-Person Event*You are invited to an exclusive Business Made Social networking event hosted by Greater Rochester Chamber and its board of directors. Join us at the Oak Hill Country Club on October 5 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm for networking with key team members of Syracuse University Athletics. Complimentary light appetizers and cash only bar will be made available.
This event promises to strengthen the bonds between the Greater Rochester business community and the world-renowned athletic programs of Syracuse Athletics. We are honored to have John Wildhack, Director of Athletics for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and Felisha Legette-Jack, Women’s Basketball Head Coach, share insights on Syracuse Athletics' standing in the ACC Conference and on the national stage.
Due to the limited capacity, the registration limit is up to TWO members per company. However, for organizations seeking to maximize their brand awareness and elevate their presence leading up to the event, we are offering sponsorship opportunities:
Corporate Sponsorship ($1000 per company - Limited to TWO Organizations):
- Receive up to 5 tickets to the event.
- Secure a 2-minute speaking role at the event.
- Company logo and brand recognition as the event sponsor leading up to the event
- Company logo on TV signage at the event
- Receive up to 2 tickets to the event.
- Name listing and verbal recognition at the event.
- Name listing on TV signage at the event.
Register today to secure your spot as an attendee or sponsor this event as space is limited. This event promises to be an evening of networking and collaboration. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with industry leaders and like-minded professionals on October 5th at Oak Hill Country Club.
ACC News
The uncomfortable purgatory that is Clemson football in 2023 (ESPN; Hale)
Cade Klubnik was battered and defeated, his pants splattered with blood stains, his arms covered in cuts and scrapes and scratches. He'd been hit -- hard and repeatedly -- by Florida State's defense, including a sack that turned into a game-defining fumble recovery for a touchdown, but what he kept thinking about was that one decision in overtime, to check out of a run call and into a doomed screen pass.
"We're really, really good but two tough breaks," Klubnik said. "We've just got to finish that game. We were so close."
A sizable cut spanned half of Xavier Thomas' bottom lip, but his words after Clemson's 31-24 overtime loss to the Seminoles were clear.
"It sucks," Thomas said. "It came down to a couple plays in a game we know we should've won. We gave it to them."
Coach Dabo Swinney arrived at the podium postgame dressed, as usual, in a neatly pressed suit, and gave a beleaguered postscript that has felt entirely too common lately.
"That, honestly, was probably as tough a loss as I've ever been a part of," Swinney said, only a slight diversion from his epilogue following the Duke loss, suggesting it was the "strangest game I've ever been a part of."
This is the aftermath of a game that felt so much bigger, so much more meaningful than the final score suggested.
On paper, it was a nail-biter, and inside Clemson's locker room, the consensus was that this was a win the Tigers let slip through their fingers.
In the grander scheme of the college football hierarchy, however, Saturday felt like an official changing of the guard, the moment when Florida State's ascendancy intersected with Clemson's slow decline.
It's possible it was both. Or neither. Perhaps it doesn't matter. Perhaps the point is that the conversation is happening at all.
"We're not entitled to win the ACC each year," Swinney said. "We didn't win it in '21, and a lot of y'all said we were done. We came back and won it last year." Then, adding sarcastically, "I think. Didn't we win it last year?
"We don't sit around acting like we're the top team. We've just got to compete, show up, do our best to represent this university with class. Today wasn't our day. I don't look at it as a referendum. I just look at it as we lost the game."
Here's where Clemson stands, four weeks into the 2023 season:
The Tigers are 2-2 for the second time in the past three years.
They're 0-2 in ACC play for the first time since 2010, Swinney's second year on the job and the prelude to a decade of consecutive 10-win seasons.
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ACC only conference to sport six undefeated teams (yahoo.com; Jensen)
“The ACC is just a basketball conference! College football’s best teams and players belong in the SEC!”
Both are statements that, if you’re a college football fan, have likely heard over the years.
Through four weeks of the 2023 college football season, the SEC has three undefeated teams – none of which are Alabama. Instead, the undefeated are: Georgia, Kentucky and Mizzou.
Outside of Clemson, the ACC isn’t great in football, right?
Completely false. Ironically enough, Clemson is actually at .500 after four weeks.
The ACC sports a nation-leading SIX, undefeated 4-0 teams after four weeks in college football – Florida State, Louisville, Miami, Syracuse, Duke and – who would’ve ever thought – UNC. This is also the most, single-season 4-0 teams in ACC history.
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North Carolina football: Stock report following dominant win in ACC opener - Saturday Road (saturdayroad.com; Friedlander)
North Carolina crushed Pitt 41-24 in its ACC opener in Week 4. The game was close before the Tar Heels started to pull away towards halftime and they didn’t let go of the lead.
Mack Brown has his team at 4-0 to start the year. After going into halftime up 28-17 the offense slowed down a little, outscoring the Panthers 13-7 in the second half. The defense held their own and kept Pitt out of the game.
North Carolina faces Syracuse in Chapel Hill in Week 6 after a bye week of rest. Before that game kicks off, here’s how North Carolina’s stock looks:
Player of the Week: Drake Maye
Drake Maye learned how to take care of the football in Week 4. He finished with 296 yards passing with 3 total touchdowns and no turnovers. Maye scored with his arms and legs on Saturday....
FSU football: ACC Power Rankings after week 4(2023) (chopchat.com; Hunt)
I had FSU football at the top half of my preseason ACC Power Rankings, and so far so good after four weeks.
FSU football overcame Clemson at home to end a seven game losing streak to the Tigers. That loss likely eliminates Clemson from making the ACC Championship game unless something crazy happens.
NC State squeaked by Virginia on the road in Thursday night play. North Carolina handled Pittsburgh on the road easily, and Duke made easy work of UConn. Miami handled another cupcake, and Syracuse had to come from behind to defeat a bad Army team.
FSU’s next opponent, Virginia Tech, lost to Marshall, and Louisville handled Boston College. Georgia Tech upset Wake Forest at home!
Anyways, here are my updated rankings after week four:
- FSU football
- Duke
- Miami
- North Carolina
- Louisville (+1)
- Syracuse (-1)
- Clemson
- Georgia Tech (+4)
- Wake Forest (-1)
- NC State
- Pittsburgh (-1)
- Boston College (+1)
- Virginia (+1)
- Virginia Tech (-2)
Stayin' Alive: That's the path to success for Florida State football, ACC's five other unbeatens (greenvilleonline.com; Keepfer)
The ACC just can’t get any respect.
Florida State wins at Clemson – one of the nation’s most difficult venues for visiting teams – for the first time in a decade and drops a spot from No. 3 to No. 4 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. Clemson loses to the Seminoles in overtime after outperforming them statistically and drops from No. 23 to the eighth team listed under the dreaded “others receiving votes.”
Oh well, solace may be sought in the fact that the ACC has six teams off to 4-0 starts, which is the most of any FBS conference this season and ties the SEC in 2012 for the most teams in a Power 5 conference to start 4-0 since 1936.
Three of the ACC’s six unbeatens have open dates on Saturday, so there may not be much shuffling near the top of next week’s power rankings. Game of this week? How about Notre Dame at Duke.
Here’s a look at how they stack up heading into Week 5:
1. Florida State (4-0, 2-0 ACC)
Last week: 1This week: Open
What to know: With a two-point victory and an overtime win in its first two ACC games, "Stayin’ Alive" should be the Seminoles’ theme song.
2. North Carolina (4-0, 1-0)
Last week: 2This week: Open
What to know: Ambidextrous QB Drake Maye tossed a left-handed TD pass last week for the Tar Heels, who have won their first four games for the first time since 1997.
3. Duke (4-0, 1-0)
Last week: 3This week: vs. Notre Dame
What to know: The Blue Devils’ next victim? Might as well be the Fighting Irish.
4. Miami (4-0, 1-0)
Last week: 4This week: Open
What to know: The Hurricanes are 4-0 for the first time since 2017, which was the only time Miami advanced to the ACC Championship Game.
5. Louisville (4-0, 2-0)
Last week: 6This week: at N.C. State
What to know: Without Florida State, North Carolina or Clemson on the schedule, the high-scoring Cardinals may have the easiest path to the ACC title game.
6. Clemson (2-2, 0-2)
Last week: 5This week: at Syracuse
What to know: “We can still be a hell of a team,” says Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. Perhaps, but the Tigers better get started pretty soon.
7. Syracuse (4-0)
Last week: 7This week: vs. Clemson
What to know: The Orange are 4-0 in consecutive seasons for the first time in 64 years, but it might not be wise to bet on Syracuse to go to 5-0. Clemson has knocked the Orange from the unbeaten ranks twice in the past five years.
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Week 5 ACC football power poll (dailyprogress.com; Madia)
The two preseason favorites in the ACC met on Saturday, and the encounter was a back-and-forth bout, requiring overtime for Florida State to escape at Clemson with a victory.
The Seminoles scored on the second play of the extra period when quarterback Jordan Travis delivered a 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keon Coleman, and then their defense held up during Clemson’s possession. FSU’s win keeps it unanimously atop this week’s Lee Enterprises ACC Power Poll.
This season’s voters are: Mike Barber and David Teel (Richmond Times-Dispatch), Greg Madia and John Shifflett (Charlottesville Daily Progress), Damien Sordelett (Roanoke Times) and John Dell (Winston-Salem Journal).
1. Florida State (4-0, No. 1 last week): Not only did Florida State’s victory improve the Seminoles to 4-0 this season, it extended their winning streak to 10 in a row dating back to last year and that’s the fourth longest streak in the country. Keon Coleman and fellow wide receiver Johnny Wilson were difference-makers, combining for 10 catches for 180 yards and two scores against the Tigers. This week: Idle
t-2. Miami (4-0, No. 2 last week): There was no messing around for Miami during its trip to Philadelphia over the weekend. QB Tyler Van Dyke threw for three scores and RB Henry Parrish rushed for two touchdowns in a dismantling of Temple. The Hurricanes have outscored their opponents 175-50 through the first third of the campaign. This week: Idle
t-2. Duke (4-0, t-3. last week): Similar to Miami, Duke took care of business on the road at Connecticut while limiting the Huskies to 203 total yards in an impressive defensive performance. The Blue Devils racked up eight tackles for loss and smothered UConn. This week: vs. Notre Dame, Saturday
4. North Carolina (4-0, t-3. last week): Quarterback Drake Maye threw for 296 yards, rushed for two touchdowns and wowed the spectators in Pittsburgh by throwing a left-handed touchdown while fighting off Pitt pass rushers with his dominant right hand. The 7-yard TD throw to Kobe Paysour extended the Tar Heels’ lead to 11 points and it only grew from there in an easy victory. This week: Idle
5. Louisville (4-0, No. 5 last week): Cardinals running back Jawhar Jordan rushed for at least 100 yards for the third straight game for the seventh time in his last nine games going back to last year. Jordan leads the ACC and is eighth nationally for rushing yards as new coach Jeff Brohm has continued to feature Jordan. This week: at N.C. State, Friday
t-6. Clemson (2-2, No. 6 last week): There was plenty Clemson did right on Saturday, like holding FSU to 22 rushing yards and 1.1 yard per carry, but offensively, particularly late, there were play-calling issues, like throwing a screen pass that went nowhere on third-and-1 in overtime during a game in which the Seminoles struggled to slow running back Will Shipley. This week: at Syracuse, Saturday
t-6. Syracuse (4-0, No. 7 last week): It took until the second half, but Syracuse found its groove and scored 26 straight points from the third quarter into the fourth quarter to knock off a good Army team and improve to 4-0. This week: vs. Clemson, Saturday
8. N.C. State (3-1, No. 9 last week): The Wolfpack escaped their ACC opener victoriously, thanks in part of their ability to take advantage of three costly Virginia penalties in the final minute. Julian Gray’s 35-yard kickoff return along with three positive-gain runs for QB Brennan Armstrong combined with the penalties set up Brayden Narveson’s winning field goal as time expired. This week: vs. Louisville, Friday
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ACC football power rankings after Week 4: Florida State cements place atop the conference, Clemson drops (usatoday; Turri)
The ACC looks very different this season, with Florida State taking down Clemson 31-24 in overtime as they cemented their spot atop the conference.
As Florida State held onto the top spot in the ACC, Clemson fell further down the rankings as they failed to take advantage of a huge opportunity. The ACC looks stronger than many expected heading into this season, and in a shocking turn, the Tigers are not among the top tier of this conference through four weeks.
Buy Tigers Tickets
There is a lot of season left for his to change, but right now, the conference looks far different than many would have expected. Here are our ACC football power rankings following Week 4 action.
14 Virginia Tech
Record: (1-3, 0-0 ACC)
Week 4: Loss, 24-17 at Marshall
Week 5: vs. Pittsburgh, Saturday, 8:00 p.m.
13 Virginia Cavaliers
Record: (0-4, 0-1 ACC)
Week 4: Loss, 24-21 at NC State
Week 5: at Boston College, Saturday, 2:00 p.m.
12 Boston College Eagles
Record: (1-3, 0-2 ACC)
Week 4: Loss, 56-28 at Louisville
Week 5: vs. Virginia, Saturday, 2:00 p.m.
11 Pittsburgh Panthers
Record: (0-1, 1-3 ACC)
Week 4: Loss, 41-24 vs. North Carolina
Week 5: at Virginia Tech, Saturday, 8:00 p.m.
10 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Record: (0-1, 3-1 ACC)
Week 4: Loss, 30-16 vs. Georgia Tech
Week 5: BYE
9 NC State Wolfpack
Record: (3-1, 0-0 ACC)
Week 4:Win, 24-21 at Virginia
Week 5: vs. Louisville, Friday, 7:00 p.m.
8 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Record: (2-2, 1-1 ACC)
Week 4: Win, 30-16 at Wake Forest
Week 5: vs. Bowling Green, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
7 Syracuse Orange
Record: (4-0, 0-0 ACC)
Week 4:Win, 29-16 vs. Army
Week 5: vs. Clemson, Saturday, Noon
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Worst for last...
ACC Football Power Rankings - Week 4 (backingthepack.com; PW)
1. Duke (last week: 41-7 W @ UConn)
Just another week of the Blue Devils taking care of business. Duke was 12 seconds shy of a pitching a shutout of the Huskies. UConn managed just 203 yards of total offense; they had 295 yards punting. Duke hosts Notre Dame on Saturday night in Durham.
2. Miami (last week: 41-7 W @ Temple)
Like Duke, Miami just continues to take care of business, this week destroying Temple in the Manny Diaz Bowl. The Hurricanes have been balanced on offense while the defense suffocated the Owls, including holding them to 11 yards on 16 carries. Miami hits a bye week before opening ACC play against Georgia Tech on Oct. 7th.
3. Florida State (last week: 31-24 W @ Clemson)
If you missed this game, you missed one of the two best games of the weekend (Notre Dame vs Ohio State being the other), and you should probably go back and watch it. FSU did not look like the better team for the majority of this game, but they made the big plays they had to and survived Death Valley with an OT win. QB Jordan Travis was clearly banged up, but still led his team to victory. The ACC looks like a three-team race right now at the top.
4. Clemson (last week: 24-31 L vs Florida State)
As mentioned, the Tigers looked like the better team for the vast majority of Saturday’s tilt, but ultimately ended up falling to 0-2 in ACC play on the season. RB Will Shipley is a great player, but the Clemson offense runs through him far too often. Shipley accounted for 1⁄3 of the Tigers offensive plays on Saturday. Unless Garrett Riley’s offense can start spreading the ball around a bit more, defenses are going to continue to have a slightly easier time being able to key on a single player.
5. North Carolina (last week: 41-24 W @ Pittsburgh)
UNC continues their easy scheduling jaunt through severely flawed opponents. This week, they played a Pitt team that is apparently seeing just how far a team can go while barely fielding an offense. Despite losing their starting QB in the 2nd quarter and their starting RB in the 4th quarter, the Panthers managed to top 300 yards of offense against an FBS team for the first time this year. That’s not a good look for UNC. Next up for the Tar Heels is a bye week, followed up by a home game against Syracuse, which conveniently for UNC will be coming fresh off a game against Clemson’s five-star laden roster.
6. Louisville (last week: 56-28 W vs Boston College)
The Cards currently sit atop the ACC standings with Florida State. Louisville’s offense continues to impress, this week posting 582 yards of offense and putting up a 56-spot on a Boston College team that pushed FSU to the wire last week. The defense has its flaws, but is plenty good enough, especially if the Cards’ offense produces the way it did this week.
7. Georgia Tech (last week: 30-16 W @ Wake Forest)
Yeah, I didn’t see this one coming. The Yellow Jackets had played better than their 1-2 record heading into the game indicated, but they were in control of this one pretty much from start to finish. Even Wake’s brief 3-0 lead saw the GT defense bow up to keep the Deacs out of the endzone early. That turned out to be a tone-setter for the win. This isn’t a great GT team, but they’re showing improvement. Three of the next five are clearly winnable games (Bowling Green, Boston College, @ Virginia), so the Jackets should - or at least could - be on the doorstep of bowl eligibility with three weeks to play.
8. NC State (last week: 24-21 W @ Virginia)
Even more than the season opener at UConn, this was a Wolfpack win that didn’t quite feel like it. NC State did just about everything it could to lose on Friday in Charlottesville, and truth be told, they probably should have lost. This is a very flawed State team right now with a fairly daunting ACC schedule ahead of them. With injuries stacking up, especially in the secondary, and continued erratic play from the QB position, the Wolfpack have a lot to clean up and little time to do it should they accomplish what they intend to this year.
9. Syracuse (last week: 29-16 W vs Army)
After a game-opening 75-yard TD drive by Army, Syracuse’s defense bowed up and allowed less than 200 yards the rest of the game. The Orange offense was the issue, tallying just 77 yards of offense and 3 points in the 1st half. They did come alive in the 2nd half, though. With Clemson up next, this coming Saturday’s game will likely mark the 4th straight week of the Syracuse offense scoring fewer points than the week before. The good news is that after that, they play UNC, whose defense - while improved, no doubt - is a funhouse mirror that makes opposing offenses look mightier than they really are.
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https://www.si.com/college/georgiatech/football/acc-football-predictions-for-every-week-five-game (SI; Caudell)
Week four is now in the books and it is full steam ahead to the final weekend in September.
Last week, Florida State got the biggest win in the conference against Clemson and the Seminoles left no doubt about who the top team in the conference is currently. FSU is now off before they hit the stretch run of their season while Clemson has to make a tricky trip to Syracuse.
The action in the conference is going to get started on Friday night when Louisville travels to NC State to take on the Wolfpack. Both teams won last week, but Louisville was far more impressive against Boston College than NC State was against Virginia.
The big game this week will match No. 17 Duke against No. 11 Notre Dame, where College Gameday will be in town for the first time ever. This is going to be one of the biggest games in school history and a chance for Mike Elko and his program to announce themselves as more than a contender in the ACC.
It has been a perfect two weeks for me on the picks and I am up to 38-6 for the season after going 8-0 last week.
Note: I will have a full breakdown and preview of Georgia Tech vs Bowling Green
So who wins this week?
Friday, Sept. 29th
Louisville (-3) at NC State (7:00 p.m. ESPN)This is going to be one of the most interesting games in the conference this weekend. Louisville is coming off of a 56-28 beatdown they put on Boston College and Jack Plummer threw for nearly 400 yards and five touchdowns. NC State is 3-1, but they have to have a truly impressive performance, especially on offense. The defense is still playing at a high level, but Brennan Armstrong has been unable to get things going behind a shaky offensive line.
I think I trust the Louisville offense the most out of any unit in this game. Cardinals coach Jeff Brohm is one of the best playcallers in the country and I think Plummer and Jamari Thrash will connect on a few touchdowns to keep Louisville undefeated.
Final Score: Louisville 34, NC State 24
Saturday, Sept. 30th
Clemson (-7) at Syracuse (12:00 p.m. ABC)This is a tricky game to try and predict. On paper, Clemson is the better team, but they are coming off of a tough loss at home to Florida State and are already out of the college football playoff picture at 2-2. The Orange on the other hand are 4-0, but have not faced a tough schedule and will be without their top receiving option in Oronde Gadsdon.
Clemson still has issues, but they are a much better team than Syracuse in my opinion. The defense will give them fits and Cade Klubnik will make enough big plays to get the Tigers a convincing victory.
Final Score: Clemson 35, Syracuse 17
Virginia at Boston College (-3) (2:00 p.m. CW Network)
Speaking of hard matchups to predict, Boston College vs Virginia is a must win for both teams who are trying to not finish in last place this season. UVA almost pulled off the upset against NC State last Friday and still seem to be playing hard under Tony Elliott. BC on the other hand got destroyed by Louisville and that was a disappointing follow-up to the near upset of Florida State the week before.
This could go either way, but I will take Virginia in a close one.
Final Score: UVA 27, Boston College 24
No. 11 Notre Dame (-5.5) at No. 17 Duke (7:30 p.m. ABC)
This is the big one.
Notre Dame is coming off of a heartbreaking loss to No. 4 Ohio State at the end and the Fighting Irish have to get off the mat quickly because Duke is going to be ready for them.
The Blue Devils have been flying under the radar since they beat Clemson, but they have been dominant. This is going to be a test to see if there is another level this team can hit or if they are just a nice story in the ACC. Quarterback Riley Leonard is playing well and the defense has been lights out all year.
This is likely to be a low-scoring game and I think Notre Dame has the better defense and running game, but the passing attack has to be better than it was last week against the Buckeyes.
Final Score: Notre Dame 24, Duke 14
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Looking Ahead to 2023 Oct 7th (RX; HM)
Looking Ahead to 2023 Oct 7th
From the official ACC release of Monday, Sept. 25, 2023...
Football Game Times & Networks for Oct. 7 Announced
CHARLOTTE, NC (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference and its television partners announced the following football game times and networks for Oct. 7.
What we know:
There will definitely be two ACC games on ABC that Saturday, and one of them will be Notre Dame at Louisville in prime time. We just aren't sure which 3:30 game will be on ABC and which will be on ESPN.
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Good Wins / Bad Losses 2023 Sep 25 (RX; HM)
Good Wins / Bad Losses 2023 Sep 25
First a reminder of our definitions: a good win is a win over another P5 conference (or Notre Dame); a bad loss is a loss to any other non-conference opponent (i.e. not ND or in a P5). Here are the good wins and bad losses through the first four weeks of 2023, in order of number of "good wins":
| ACC (8-3) | |
| Good Wins | Bad Losses |
| B1G: Duke 38, Northwestern 14 | SBC: Virginia 35, James Madison 36 |
| Louisville 21, Indiana 14 | Virginia Tech 17, Marshall 24 |
| North Carolina 31, Minnesota 13 | MAC: Boston Coll 24, Northern Illinois 27 |
| Syracuse 35, Purdue 20 | |
| SEC: Florida St 45, LSU 24 | |
| North Carolina 31, South Carolina 17 | |
| Miami (FL) 48, Texas A&M 33 | |
| Wake Forest 36, Vanderbilt 20 | |
| Pac-12 (7-2) | |
| Good Wins | Bad Losses |
| B1G: Colorado 36, Nebraska 14 | MWC: Arizona St 0, Fresno St 29 |
| Washington St 31, Wisconsin 22 | FCS: Stanford 23, Sacramento St 30 |
| Washington 41, Michigan St 7 | |
| SEC: Utah 24, Florida 11 | |
| XII: Colorado 45, TCU 42 | |
| Utah 20, Baylor 13 | |
| Oregon 38, Texas Tech 30 |
Other
Henry Rollins performs at the 9th annual "Home for the Holidays" benefit concert at The Novo on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
Inner Harbor Festival, Dropkick Murphys, Westcott Street Cultural Fair: 15 things to do this week in Central NY (PS; Croyle)
No matter what you are interested in, chances are there is something for you around Central New York during this last week of September. Music fans have performances by the Dropkick Murphys, a concert from Symphoria, and a KPOP night filled with music and dancing. “Mean Girls” brings a taste of Broadway to the Landmark Theatre and Henry Rollins is bringing his one-man show to the Oncenter. Local festivals and fairs continue with the debut of the Manlius Swan Fest and Syracuse Inner Harbor Festival and longtime favorites the Westcott Street Cultural Fair, CNY Pumpkin Festival in Oswego, and Cazenovia Art Trail all return for another year. Local history buffs should check out a Jerry Rescue commemoration at the Onondaga Historical Association on its 172nd anniversary. There is even a ukulele open house for anyone who ever wanted to learn to play the instrument.
Know of an event you would like to see on this list? Email us at least two weeks in advance at features@syracuse.com.
Tuesday
“Mean Girls”
Direct from Broadway to Syracuse’s historic Landmark Theatre comes “Mean Girls.” The hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including Tina Fey, tells the story of Cady Heron who grew up on the African savanna not prepared for the “vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois.” Performances are scheduled all week at 7:30, except for Saturday when there are two shows, at 2 and 8. Get your tickets at landmarktheatre.org/event/mean-girls/. Recommended for ages ten and up.Where: 362 South Salina Street, Syracuse
When: Tuesday-Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.
How much: Tickets start at $39.70, plus fees.
Wednesday
Henry Rollins: Good to See You
Singer, writer, and actor Henry Rollins’ “Good to See You” show arrives at the Oncenter Carrier Theater on Wednesday. In his intimate show, he faithfully recounts the events of his life over the past few years around the pandemic. “It’s been an interesting time to say the least and he’s got some great stories to tell.” Doors open at 7 p.m.; show starts at 8. Tickets can be purchased at www.asmsyracuse.com/events/2023/henry-rollinsWhere: 411 Montgomery Street, Syracuse
When: Wednesday at 8 p.m.
How much: Tickets start at $47.45, plus fees.
Thursday
The Everson Social
The Everson Museum of Art is hosting “the party of the year” on Thursday. The Everson Social is a special, one-night-only celebration and opening reception for their newest exhibition, “Pepe Mar: Magic Vessel.” The evening celebrates Mar’s artistic inspiration of his Miami home and starts with performances by Drag artists produced by Breadcrumbs. There will be an exclusive afterparty at Wunderbar. Purchase your tickets at everson.org/connect/thesocial/. Proceeds support the Everson’s exhibition and education programs....
The new Restaurant Depot is ready to open in the town of Salina (Photo courtesy of Justin LaBarre)
New restaurant supplier and wholesaler in Salina sets opening day (PS; Doran)
A members-only wholesale distributor and retailer that sells food and supplies mainly to restaurants has announced its opening day.
Restaurant Depot plans to open Wednesday morning. The 49,000-square-foot business is located at 1308 Buckley Road and will be open seven days a week.
Memberships to shop at Restaurant Depot are free. Membership is limited to businesses, but the public can shop with a day pass, company officials have said.
This is the first Restaurant Depot in the Syracuse area; there is one in Rochester. The company first proposed coming to Salina in December 2021.
Restaurant Depot sells food, service equipment and supplies. It serves to restaurant owners or operators, caterers, institutional food service providers and not-for-profit organizations. Its target audience is smaller, independent restaurants, officials have said.
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$10 million in federal funding awarded to 2 Central NY defense manufacturing consortiums (PS; Moriarty)
Two Central New York consortiums will receive a total of $10 million in federal grants to support defense manufacturing in the state.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-NY, said Monday the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded $5 million grants to the New York State Microelectronics Defense Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Workforce Consortium (Upstate Defense) project, and Cornell University’s New York Consortium for Space Technology Innovation and Development.
They are among six consortiums around the nation that have been awarded funding under the Defense Manufacturing Community Support program, which provides grants to promote defense industry manufacturing.
