sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Guinness World Records Day!
Guinness World Records Day, also called International Guinness World Records Day, is a day for breaking records. It celebrates Guinness World Records, celebrates the book's anniversary in particular, and commemorates the time the book "became the world's best-selling copyright book." Guinness holds events on the day, and new record-breaking attempts are made around the world, with hundreds of thousands of people regularly taking part, many of whom are successful in setting new records. Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records editor, said of participation in the day: "It's clear that being a record breaker is more popular than ever and Guinness World Records Day is our way of acknowledging this testament to people's desire to achieve. Whether you took part individually or as part of a team, the important thing is that you were involved."
SU News
Opponent Preview: What to know about Georgia Tech (DO; Miller)
Syracuse broke a five-game conference skid last weekend when it beat Pittsburgh 28-13 in Yankee Stadium. The injury-riddled offense adopted a wildcat scheme that headlined former Michigan quarterback Dan Villari. He’s now a tight end, but won Atlantic Coast Conference running back of the week for his 154-yard performance last Saturday.
Head coach Dino Babers said SU hasn’t committed to a strategy going forward, and health will dictate the scheme. The Orange will enter a hostile environment in Atlanta, GA, with a chance to clinch a bowl game and collect their second conference win. An offensively-charged Georgia Tech team stands in the way, which can also clinch a bowl game with a win.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Syracuse (5-5, 1-5 ACC) at Georgia Tech (5-5, 4-3 ACC) Saturday night:
All time series
Georgia Tech leads 2-1.Last time they played
Syracuse earned its first-ever win over Georgia Tech in 2020. It was also SU’s only win of the season.In that game, now-New York Giants starting quarterback Tommy DeVito threw for 194 yards and two touchdowns. A 46-yard bomb to Taj Harris put Syracuse up 23-6 in the second quarter and a 43-yard catch-and-run to Nick Johnson secured a two-possession lead entering the fourth.
Sean Tucker dominated on the ground, rushing for 112 yards and two scores on 24 attempts. Both touchdowns were in the first quarter, when SU outscored GT 17-0. The victory brought Syracuse to 1-2, with both of its losses coming to ranked teams. There seemed to be some hope for the rest of the season after that home win over Georgia Tech, but the Orange went 0-8 the rest of the season.
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Isaiah Johnson is a key piece to the SU secondary. However, his greatest skill is his artwork, where he designs his tattoos and creates artwork that has been displayed in the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Cornerback Isaiah Johnson is simultaneously chasing artistic, athletic dreams (DO; Miller)
Isaiah Johnson’s chest and arms are filled with tattoos of his own making, and the design of each piece has a specific meaning. The two on his chest were the first and most significant.
In 2005, when Johnson was 5, his sister Asheley was killed in a car accident coming home from college. She was 21 years old. Right above his heart, Johnson tattooed “MMV,” the roman numeral for 2005, below a crown and surrounded by angel wings to honor his late sister.
Asheley was the oldest of seven siblings and Johnson was the youngest. Their mother, Lynn, said the pair were closest because of the age gap. Although he was just 5 when she passed away, Johnson said he always wanted to remember her.
On his right pectoral, Johnson has “2 Lives” tattooed for his cousin, Desmond Duncan, who was imprisoned years ago and is “like a little brother” to Johnson. It was both of their dreams to become NFL players, so Johnson said he feels like he’s been living for both of them ever since Duncan’s imprisonment.
“It’s kind of my pride to be able to put my art on my skin and have it last forever,” Johnson said.
From a young age, Johnson’s father, Gerald, said he and Lynn noticed their son’s artistic skill. His “provocative” thoughts and abilities drew him to different styles, Lynn said, as he transitioned from line drawing to digital painting. Johnson became an award-winning artist at Detroit Country Day School, and his NFL dream is now accompanied by an artistic one.
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Beat writers agree Syracuse will lose to Georgia Tech (DO; Staff)
Syracuse pulled out all the stops offensively in order to take down Pittsburgh at Yankee Stadium 28-13. SU’s rushing attack garnered 392 yards against a two-win Panthers team. After snapping their five-game losing streak, returning to .500 and notching their first Atlantic Coast Conference win of the season, the Orange head to Georgia Tech to square off against the Yellow Jackets for just the fourth time in program history.
GT’s road to 5-5 has been nearly as windy as Syracuse’s this season. It lost to Louisville and then-No. 17 Ole Miss before beating Wake Forest and losing to Bowling Green at home. Then it upset then-No. 17 Miami in a game that head coach Mario Cristobal should have knelt to secure a victory. Since then, they’ve gone 2-2, upsetting North Carolina at home while losing to Boston College and Clemson.
Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse will fare against Georgia Tech:
Anthony Alandt (8-2)
Georgia on my mind
Georgia Tech 38, Syracuse 24
Syracuse unveiled one of the most unique offensive game plans last week in its 28-13 win over Pittsburgh. I still feel it was one of the most impressive performances by an SU offensive coordinator in recent memory. The offensive line showed out and paved the way for a dynamic rushing attack that will go down as one of Jason Beck’s masterpieces as a play caller. Luckily for the Orange, Georgia Tech allows the most rushing yards per game in the ACC.
Unluckily for Syracuse, the Yellow Jackets also have one of the top offenses in the conference and are much better than Pittsburgh. The Orange haven’t played well on the road this season, furthering a narrative that SU just isn’t conditioned to play against ACC teams away from the JMA Wireless Dome. With continued uncertainty swirling around the health of both Garrett Shrader and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, I can’t see a way the Orange come back from Atlanta with a sixth win and bowl eligibility.
If Beck opts to go with a similar run option-heavy approach on Saturday, he’s going to need to add in even more variation than what we saw against the Panthers. The tape is out, and even a Shrader backflip won’t throw off GT’s defense. I guess we’ll have to see who starts at quarterback. The puzzling season continues, but after a loss, Wake Forest becomes the most pivotal game of head coach Dino Babers’ tenure with the Orange.
Wyatt Miller (9-1)
One trick pony
Georgia Tech 30, Syracuse 17
Alas, I have finally taken a loss in the beat writer predictions. My bid for the first perfect BWP in (recent) Daily Orange history has come to a close, and now it’s time to bounce back. The offense that Syracuse ran on Saturday was effective within the confines of that game. Pittsburgh has struggled on both sides of the ball, and SU hid their cards well. The game plan clearly threw the Panthers off, but now, Syracuse has lost the element of surprise. That offense is a one trick pony, and it won’t work again.
With two banged-up quarterbacks and one QB-turned-tight-end-turned-QB-again, the Orange are in a tough spot. The passing offense has been so silent that Babers felt the need to forgo it completely last game, and that won’t work if Syracuse trails early on. That said, Georgia Tech has the worst run defense in the ACC and it isn’t particularly close, giving up 224 yards per game (35 more than the next-closest team).
The trouble with the Yellow Jackets will be on offense. They have averaged 31.7 points per game in ACC play (ranking third), while the Orange rank last with 12 points per game. The Syracuse offense laid their cards on the table last week, while Georgia Tech still has a sleeve full of wrinkles to unveil. I just don’t see Syracuse winning a road ACC game with their current personnel.
Henry O’Brien (6-4)
One last chance
Georgia Tech 35, Syracuse 13
Both Syracuse and Georgia Tech have five wins and stand in each other’s way of a bowl game appearance. For the Orange, it would be the first time making back-to-back bowl games in a decade. For the Yellow Jackets, it would be the first time they make a bowl game in half a decade. And while both teams will be hungry for a win, Georgia Tech might have extra motivation because the SU game is realistically its last shot to win. The Yellow Jackets still have to play No. 1 Georgia.
On top of intangibles, Georgia Tech has the fourth-best scoring offense in the conference. Two teams above them — Florida State and North Carolina — made mincemeat of Syracuse’s defense. So Haynes King and company should have no trouble running and airing it out deep.
But if Syracuse’s offense can be nearly as efficient on the ground as it was against Pittsburgh, then it should give its defense a chance to make stops. There were times against both the Tar Heels and Seminoles that the Orange’s defense stopped elite offensive talents like Jordan Travis, Keon Coleman and Drake Maye. SU can do that if its offense repeats its astonishing rushing performance. But I have doubts that the anomaly will happen again.
Inside the week Syracuse football reworked its offense: ‘Either we buy in or we lose’ (PS; $; Leiker)
Syracuse football’s 28-13 win over Pittsburgh might go down as one of the most memorable games of Dino Babers’ tenure with the Orange.
Not because it was an upset over a powerhouse or a spectacular showing, but because of the creativity shown in the game planning that left viewers stunned from the first snap.
“I thought the players gave us the opportunity to and allowed us to show ‘em that this could happen differently,” Babers said Monday. “We can do this differently. You got to believe. You gotta have faith. By the time we got to game time, I thought we had that.”
Syracuse.com spoke with six offensive players in the days following the game to piece together what the week leading up to the win looked like and how the Orange was able to install such a unusual game plan with limited practice time.
Before it even got to the field, Babers took the unusual step of dismissing the defensive players from a team meeting so he could speak directly to the offense about the change in strategy.
The decision to switch up the offense came at a time the team was in need of a win and fans clamored for change.
Implementing the new scheme was rocky early in the week, players said. On two separate occasions during practice, a player spoke up to encourage teammates to stick with it.
New faces were in the starting lineup. Multiple players took a snap behind center. Others lined up all over the field.
“You have to be absolutely unselfish, and you have to believe in something greater than yourself,” Babers said.
Syracuse ran more than 70 plays and hardly ever put the ball in the air.
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https://www.si.com/college/georgiat...hallenged-on-saturday-by-the-syracuse-offense (SI; Caudell)
What on Earth is Syracuse going to do on offense this weekend?
That is the question that Georgia Tech is trying to prepare for this Saturday when they face the Orange. Due to injuries and other factors, Syracuse had to drum up a brand new offense last week and a big part of that was because quarterback Garrett Shrader had trouble throwing the ball. Dan Villari (a tight end) played quarterback for Syracuse last week in a wildcat type of look and ran for 154 yards. Running back LeQuint Allen also had over 100 yards and it was a running-heavy attack for the Orange.
During his weekly press conference this week, Syracuse head coach Dino Babers did not update the health of Shrader or the backup quarterback Carlos Del-Rio Wilson (who started in a loss to Boston College). That is leaving a lot of mystery as to what the Orange are going to do on Saturday.
When talking with the media this week, Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key was asked about what the Orange did on offense last week and what his team is doing to prepare for the uncertainty:
"There are only so many things you can do to change. The thing we have to do is get set, they are doing a lot of this with tempo as well so it is not like they are coming up there and always waiting and taking the time off the clock. They have been running the plays the last few weeks and playing with mixed tempos, we have to get up and get our cleats set in the ground, we have to get aligned, we have to defeat blocks, we have to cover guys in the back end, some of the shot passes or pop passes they might have off of it but we have to get an edge to ourselves and get down and get ready to play football on Saturday because it is going to be a battle with them coming in on offense."
"You have to adjust. They basically put in an entirely new offense in six days so who is to say they are not going to do that again this week. There is a lot of communication to that this week and a lot of moving parts and our crowd can really have an impact this week."
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What will Syracuse do on offense? Georgia Tech defense preparing for all options (ajc; $; Bishop)
On Saturday at Yankee Stadium, Syracuse beat Pittsburgh 28-13. That was just the tip of the iceberg.
The Orange went to New York City and unveiled a new plan of attack, one which undoubtedly caught Pittsburgh off-guard, but one that helped Syracuse break a five-game losing streak.
Syracuse went almost exclusively to its ground game in the victory. It ran 74 offensive plays, 65 of which were runs. Three backs had at least 14 carries, including sophomore tight end Dan Villari (lining up under center in a Wildcat formation) and quarterback Garrett Shrader. That duo combined to run for 250 yards.
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https://www.si.com/college/syracuse/football/is-dino-babers-saving-his-job (SI; Crawford)
The sweet smell of victory rejoined your Syracuse football in New York City after over a month-long absence from the program. In his post-game speech, in a locker room at Yankee Stadium where success at the highest levels has become normalized and expected, Babers bellowed out a chant that invigorated the troops and turned the locker room into a frantic madhouse.
“But tonight, in New York, it’s WHOSE house? OUR House!”
The question remains, how long will Dino Babers remain head of the house?
Saturday’s win over Pittsburgh officially keeps them out of the ACC cellar and puts less pressure on them to win out to secure bowl eligibility. Even a seven-win season is on the table, which, with everything that’s happened this year, would keep a warm smile on SU fan’s faces through another frigid winter. With all the momentum headed in the wrong direction and this offense looking dead in the face at a Luke MacPhail start, they shook the cobwebs off, got themselves off the canvas before the ten-count, and came ready to fight. For the first time in a long time this season, this offensive line imposed their will and consistently won the line of scrimmage. Dan Villari provided the offensive juice he’s had in his cup since switching positions this offseason. Garrett Shrader threw a touchdown pass with a bum shoulder and cut a flip that would have made Syracuse cheerleaders blush. And most importantly, this Mob defense put together yet another suffocating performance, this time benefiting from the fruits of their labor.
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Massapequa's Dan Villari sets records with 154 rushing yards in Syracuse's big win over Pitt (greaterlongisland.com; Esposito)
It was a record-setting performance by Massapequa’s Dan Villari for the Orange.
Villari on Saturday became the first tight end in Syracuse program history to rush for 154 yards in the team’s victory over Pitt. It was also the most ground yards for a tight end in at least a decade at the FBS level, according to Syracuse.
Villari was given the rock 17 times in the game, including a 27-yard touchdown on a direct snap play early in the fourth quarter.
Cuse went on to win the game 28-13. The matchup was played at Yankee Stadium in front of 17,101 fans.
A transfer quarterback from Michigan now playing tight end, Villari is used to having the ball in his hands.
“I’m used to running the ball wildcat like that. I tried my best to get everybody else on board,” Villari told ESPN after the game.
Villari tore it up on the Long Island high school level as a dual-threat quarterback. Starring at Plainedge High School, he helped lead the team to a perfect 12-0 record and the school’s first Long Island Class III State Championship in 2019. As a starter, he went 23-1, tossing 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns, and rushing for 1,522 yards and 25 scores.
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Allen returned to field with some words for the Pitt defender who tried to ‘dig out’ eye (PS; $; Leiker)
LeQuint Allen showed off one of his battle scars from a physical Syracuse football win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
He had a small, dark mark on the center of his left eyelid from when, on SU’s second offensive possession of the game, Pittsburgh linebacker Brandon George had stuck his fingers through Allen’s face mask while he was stuck at the bottom of a pile.
“He tried to dig out my left eye,” Allen said.
The moment came short of viral Saturday, overshadowed by Garrett Shrader’s backflip and tight end Dan Villari’s impressive rushing numbers, but was called out in Syracuse circles online.
Allen got up from the pile and had his eyes squeezed shut, wincing in pain and talking to himself, as he headed to the sideline where he met SU’s head trainer.
It wasn’t immediately apparent what had happened on the play.
ACC Network’s broadcast crew, Chris Cotter and Mark Herzlich, went back to watch the play after a commercial break.
“Look at him. [George’s] doing an eye gouge. That’s not cool,” Herzlich said.
“Dirty. Dirty deeds,” Cotter replied.
The pair went on to discuss that while it’s not uncommon for unsavory things to happen at the bottom of piles, George’s move crossed a line.
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Wes Durham "The 315" 11-15-23 (ESPN; radio; the 315)
ACC Network play-by-play man Wes Durham joins Brian Higgins to preview Syracuse’s game against Georgia Tech this weekend with bowl eligibility at stake and to touch on the start of the ACC men’s basketball season a bit.
Chris Bleich "The 315" 11-15-23 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Syracuse football offensive lineman Chris Bleich joins Brian Higgins coming off the team’s 28-13 win over Pittsburgh to discuss that game, the upcoming matchup with GT, and much more.
ORANGE ZONE: BOWL BERTH on the line @ Georgia Tech (cnycentral.com; podcast; Orange Zone)
So you're saying there's a chance? Syracuse football took a step towards salvaging an otherwise dismal season with their first ACC win of 2023 over Pitt on Saturday. Now they need just one more to have become eligible for a bowl game.
The Ostrom Avenue Podcast Episode 159: Syracuse Storms Back Against Colgate, Babers' Bunch Finally Get a Win (waer.org; podcast; The Ostrom Avenue Podcast)
Ethan Frank and Jordan Leonard recap Syracuse football's 28-13 win over Pittsburgh at Yankee Stadium and all of the storylines surrounding how Dino Babers' squad snapped its five-game losing streak. Then, the guys talk about Syracuse men's basketball's stunning comeback win over Colgate and how SU was able to get back into the game. Plus, Mike Waters from syracuse.com joins the show to talk about how the Orange came back against the Raiders, some big storylines through three games, and how the team might fare through the rest of the nonconference schedule. Jordan and Ethan then close the show with an Ostrom Picks update and delve into further how upcoming matchups on the gridiron and the hardwood might fare for SU.
Syracuse faces road test against Georgia Tech (cbssports; video; Finneral)
247Sports' James Finneral discusses Syracuse's upcoming game against Georgia Tech as the Orange look to make bowl game for the second straight year.
(youtube; podcast; The Loyal Sons)
Welcome back to The Loyal Sons Show: a safe, sun-shiney place for your Pitt Athletics fix.
Syracuse vs. Georgia Tech: TV/streaming, time, odds, history & more (TNIAAM; De Guzman)
Teams: Syracuse Orange (5-5, 1-5) vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-5, 4-3)
Day & Time: Saturday, November 18, 8:00 pm ET
Location: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
Line: The line has stayed steady since it opened with Georgia Tech favored by 6.5 points, according to DraftKings.
TV/Streaming: ACC Network, WatchESPN
Radio: Cuse.com, TK 99/105, WAER 88.3, Sirius/XM 383
Rivalry: 3-1, Georgia Tech
Current Streak: 1, Syracuse
First Meeting: The first meeting between these two teams didn’t come until 2001 when the programs faced off in the Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It wasn’t a classic, with the then No. 10 Yellow Jackets winning a defensive battle 13-7. The lone touchdown for Syracuse came via a quarterback rush by some guy named Troy Nunes.
Last Meeting: Hey remember the 2020 season? This was Syracuse’s only win that year. Syracuse forced Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims into four interceptions to help seal a 37-20 win, including the lateral touchdown between Ja’Had Cater and Trill Williams. Also of note, two future NFL running backs ran for over 100 yards in this game. Sean Tucker made his first start for Syracuse with 112 rushing yards. On the other side, Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 105 yards before heading to Alabama.
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5 Things to Know: 'Cuse at Georgia Tech - Syracuse University Athletics (cuse.com)
Syracuse travels to Georgia Tech on Saturday for the road finale. Here's five things to know about the matchup:
1. A Rare Trip to the ATL
Syracuse visits Georgia Tech for just the second time since joining the conference in 2013. 'Cuse hosted the Yellow Jackets in 2020.
Georgia Tech (four) is the opponent that Syracuse has played least all-time among conference foes, and has the second-fewest matchups with since joining the conference.
The Orange faced Miami in 2017, the only team they have not played multiple times in ACC play, but the two programs have a long history dating back to BIG EAST play. SU has also only faced Virginia twice as ACC foes.
Syracuse is 1-3 vs. the Yellow Jackets all-time, winning the most recent meeting 37-20 in the JMA Dome. The team lost the lone meeting at Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2013. The teams met on neutral fields in 2001 and 2004, both Tech wins.
2. Three's Company
Syracuse had three players cross the century mark on the ground in their win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. Dan Villari led the way with a career-high 154 yards, followed by Garrett Shrader (105) and LeQuint Allen (102).
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It's the first time Syracuse had three 100-yard rushers in the same game since a 1997 meeting with Miami, when Kyle McIntosh (136), Dee Brown (117) and Donvan McNabb (100) accomplished the feat.
Villari is just the second non-QB/RB to lead an ACC team in rushing this season. NC State wideout KC Concepcion led the Wolfpack on the ground in their win over Clemson earlier this year.
3. Ground Game
Syracuse is coming off its best rushing game since the 1996 Liberty Bowl. The Orange ran for 392 yards on the ground, four shy of the 1996 Liberty Bowl total.
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Syracuse Football: Up on deck, the Orange is set to face Georgia Tech (itlh; Fiello)
This Saturday, the Syracuse football team will face off with Georgia Tech. The game will be televised at 8 pm on the ACC Network.
Both teams are 5-5 overall and the winner is officially bowl eligible while the losing team will only have one more game to attempt to be eligible. Georgia Tech will play Georgia and SU has Wake at home to finish the regular season so both go into this one looking to secure it as early as possible.
It does seem like most gambling experts have Tech favored by around a touchdown, but that shouldn’t be too surprising. They have more in conference wins and played a closer game against North Carolina than Syracuse.
Syracuse football travels to Georgia Tech on Saturday night.
In fact, the Yellow Jackets have had a crazy season. Here is their record so far:
Lost to ranked Louisville 39-34
Beat South Carolina State 48-13
Lost to ranked Mississippi 48-23
Beat Wake Forest 30-16
Lost to Bowling Green 38-27
Beat Miami 23-20 (Miami was ranked at the time)
Beat Boston College 38-23
Lost to North Carolina 46-42
Beat Virginia 45-17
Lost to Clemson 42-21
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King is a portal transfer from Texas A&M. He’s had a good season so far though against Clemson he struggled throwing 13-31 for 129 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. But that is Clemson and sometimes even the best players have a rough game so I wouldn’t go into this thinking he’s not going to try to bounce back. And also watch out for Georgia Tech running back Jamal Haynes, who did rush for over 100 yards against Clemson.
And one advantage the new-look Syracuse football offense might have is that Georgia Tech is currently ranked 129th in rushing defense in the country. Syracuse is likely still going to have to find a way to pass at least some to keep the defense honest but could this be an opportunity for LeQuint Allen Jr., Dan Villari and Garrett Shrader to do what they did against Pitt (who is ranked 83rd against the rush but also had no film on the new look)? Or will we see another option mixed in like a different quarterback or maybe utilizing a receiver with speed like Donovan Brown?
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Syracuse Bounces to Beat Pittsburgh 28-13 at Yankee Stadium (defianttakesonfootball.com; Malloy)
Crazed fans packed Yankee Stadium for a special 100th anniversary of the first football game ever played at the original Yankee Stadium back in 1923.
It also marked the 76th meeting between Pittsburgh and Syracuse and fortunately for the Cuse they won, 28-13. It also snapped a 5-game losing streak for their team.
The Pittsburgh/Syracuse Game
The game was crazy from start to finish, with Syracuse (QB) Garrett Shrader back from his ACL injury. It had an old-school vibe, as Syracuse only called two pass plays the entire game.They also ran the ball from the ‘“wildcat formation” with (TE) Dan Villari lined up as the wildcat quarterback. It gave them a unique advantage, as Pittsburgh wasn’t exactly sure what was coming at them.
Villari is a transfer from Michigan, a former quarterback converted into a tight end. The Orange felt that Shrader was not healthy enough with his shoulder to throw the ball and found an old-school way to win the game for at least one game.
The wildcat worked against Pittsburgh, as they could not stop it in the second half, despite knowing it was coming their way. The Orange took a 13-7 halftime deficit and scored 21 unanswered points despite barely throwing the football.
Shrader was split out wide while running the ball from his original quarterback position. He wasn’t able to show if his shoulder was actually healthy enough to throw any passes.
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ACC News
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article281908823.html (charlotteobserver.com; Zietlow)
Jim Phillips has seen a lot in his short tenure as ACC commissioner — from the relocation of the conference’s headquarters to Charlotte, to the expansion of the conference’s membership out West, and more. It’s a product of today’s “get busy” or perish times. And perishing? “That was not going to happen in our league,” Phillips explained in Charlotte on Wednesday. “It just wasn’t.”
As the special guest at a meeting with the Hood Hargett Breakfast Club in Charlotte, the commissioner addressed what has gone right in his two-year tenure, and what the future holds for a conference finding its way during a transformative time in college athletics.
Here are four things of note he discussed.
LATEST ON SMU, CALIFORNIA, STANFORD JOINING ACC
For those needing a recap:
ACC presidents and chancellors voted in September to add Stanford, California and Southern Methodist to the conference starting in the 2024-25 school year. That brought the conference to 18 members — and punctuated a dramatic few months of debate between two factions in the league: those who wanted more schools and guaranteed vitality (read: the disintegrating Pac 12), and those who sought more revenue in a world where competitive advantages in football are found in pocketbooks as much as they’re found in philosophy. Phillips explained to the crowd on Wednesday that the league made this move for a few reasons.
“One is stability of the league,” he said. “The Big 10’s at 18 schools. The SEC is at 16. The Big 12 is at 16. We’ll be at 18. The landscape of media contracts coincide with movement in the expansion area, and so when you saw the SEC expand, and when you saw the Big 10 expand, it was because their media deals were coming up.
“And so these three schools that are going to be really good additions for us, from now and into the future, we feel like we have the best grouping of academic and athletic schools in the country.”
Conferences have historically been based on geography. Rivalries live in regions. So do institutional identities — and the country’s best conference have adopted those virtues and benefited from them for decades.
Bringing schools from Texas and the West Coast to the Atlantic Coast Conference dilutes this premise. It also adds the headache of more travel for college athletes, detractors say.
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No. 11 Louisville takes its bid to land an ACC championship game spot to Miami (apnews; Iocobelli)
Things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 12:
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 11 Louisville (9-1, 6-1 ACC, CFP No. 10) at Miami (6-4, 2-4), noon ET (ABC)The Cardinals can continue an amazing debut season under coach Jeff Brohm with a win against the Hurricanes to lock up a spot against No. 4 Florida State in next month’s ACC championship game.
Louisville has won its past three games by a combined score of 88-27, but have never won in Miami (0-6-1). It would be the Cardinals’ first 10-win season since 2013 and their first with seven ACC victories since Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson led them to a 7-1 mark. It has been an unexpected surprise for Louisville in coach Jeff Brohm’s first season taking over his alma mater after leaving Purdue.
Miami has had a confounding season in coach Mario Cristobal’s second year. It was ranked early in the year and won a double-overtime game after trailing Clemson in the fourth quarter. But the Hurricanes have dropped their past two games after that win, including a 27-20 defeat to the rival Seminoles last week.
BEST MATCHUP
No. 22 North Carolina at Clemson.This game once looked like one that would have significant ACC title game implications. Instead, the Tar Heels (8-2, 4-2 ACC) are holding on by their fingertips at a shot to play for the crown . The Tigers (6-4, 3-4), the defending champions favored to win again, are out of contention with four defeats in a season for the first time since 2010.
North Carolina, which lost 39-10 to Clemson last December, are mathematically alive, but would need a lots of help including a Louisville loss to try for the championship this year.
The Tar Heels have lost five straight to the Tigers, including two ACC title games (2015, 2022). North Carolina’s passing game, led by quarterback Drake Maye and receiver Demontez Walker, has the team scoring more points (39.9 per game) than anyone in the ACC.
LONG SHOT
Syracuse (5-5, 1-5) has lost five of its past six since starting 4-0 and is a 6 1-2-point underdog, according to FanDuel , at Georgia Tech (5-5, 4-3).The Orange have lost their three previous ACC road games by a combined score of 119-20 and scored just two touchdowns in those three games. The Yellow Jackets struggled to their ninth straight loss to Clemson, 42-21, last week, but have been a potent offense for much of this season. They are third in the ACC with 444.2 yards a game and fourth with 32 points a game.
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Risky plays expanding in popularity with varying degrees of success among ACC programs (apnews; Kurz Jr)
Plays that once seemed in vogue only with the most daring college coaches — going for it on fourth down or faking a punt in your own half of the field — seem to be expanding in popularity. Others, like kickoff and punt returns, seem less attractive.
In the Atlantic Coast Conference, the league’s 14 teams have converted 55.3% of 235 fourth down tries. The team with the most attempts and conversions, by far, is Boston College (6-4, 3-3 ACC). The Eagles have cashed in 25 times in 33 tries, or 75.8%.
That’s not only the top conversion rate in the conference, but the 25 successful fourth down tries are also more than any other team has even attempted.
Still, it’s only eighth-best in the country.
The second- and third-best teams in converting on fourth down, Virginia Tech (13-21, 61.9%) and Virginia (10-17, 58.8%) could chalk up some of their attempts to late-game desperation, but it seems familiarity with the task impacts doing it well.
In all, nine of the ACC’s 14 teams have converted at least 50% on fourth down.
Defensively, league programs are better, allowing a 46.8% conversion rate (118-252) with Miami (6-4, 2-4) pacing the field, allowing just two conversions in 11 tries (18.2%).
Duke (6-4, 3-3) and Clemson (6-4, 3-4) not only converted four times each on fourth down last week, but they also both tried a fake punt in their own territory with mixed success.
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https://www.si.com/college/louisville/football/acc-power-rankings-2023-week-12 (SI; McGavic)
The matchup for the ACC Championship Game is very nearly set in stone.
Florida State wrapped up ACC play with an undefeated mark this past weekend with a win over Miami, while Louisville inched closer to punching their ticket with a comeback win against Virginia. They haven't officially wrapped up a berth yet, but it would take a minor miracle for them not to.
Behind them, it's a battleground. Several teams are very much jockeying for position not only in the ACC standings, but to secure a better postseason draw.
So where do things currently stand in the conference with just two weeks left in the regular season? Check out our week 12 ACC power rankings below:
1. Florida State Seminoles
Record: 10-0, 8-0 ACCLast Week's Ranking: No. 1
Week 11 Result: W, 27-20 vs. Miami
Florida State might not have played their most efficient football, especially offensively, but a win is still a win. And this win not only clinched a third-straight victory their rival, but it capped off an undefeated mark in ACC play. Considering the Seminoles have left some to be desired over their last two games, a tune-up against North Alabama ahead of their matchup at Florida is much needed. It might be necessary if they are to crack the College Football Playoff.
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2023 Preview: "The Big Game" (RX; HM)
2023 Preview: "The Big Game"
According to Give 'em the Axe! - Stanford 125,
This is a trophy game, with the trophy being called "the Stanford Axe."
Cal has won the last 2 games (2021-22) and 3 of the last 4, but prior to that Stanford won 9 years in a row from 2010 to 2018. However, one play will forever represent this series in the minds of many. It's hard to believe that it's been 41 years since "The Play"...
Cal Bears Football 82: The Play
Cal Bears Football 82: The Play...
On 2nd thought: Jimbo or FSU? (RX; HM)
On 2nd thought: Jimbo or FSU?
In 2017, Texas A&M drained the bank account to hire Jimbo Fisher away from Florida State. The thinking was that Fisher was the reason for the Seminoles' 2013 national championship, and he would do the same for the Aggies.
However, six years and 25 losses later, Texas A&M decided to cut ties with the coach. The Aggies are on the hook for more than $77 million, not including whatever buyouts are owed to assistant coaches who are not retained.
Meanwhile, Florida State is 10-0, has clinched a spot in the ACC Championship Game, and is3just 3 wins away from the College Football Playoffs. Poetic justice!
Clearly, it was the school more than the coach that produces national titles.
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2023 BC at Pitt Preview (RX; HM)
2023 BC at Pitt Preview
Boston College Eagles at Pitt Panthers
Thursday at 7:00 pm on ESPN
Pitt leads series 17-15; BC won last 2 games.
These teams are not hundred year rivals, as you can see from the fact that they've only played each other 32 times. In fact, their series really just got going in the Eighties, in the Big East years. BC and Pitt have been in opposite divisions for most of their time in the ACC, but now they are set to face off every year - at least for the next seven.
Other
An IPA from Young Lion Brewing Co. on the lakefront in Canandaigua, N.Y. SYR
One of America’s best known craft brewers adds a second location in the Finger Lakes (PS; Cazentre)
In major Upstate New York beer news, Brooklyn-based Other Half Brewing Co. is buying and taking over the Young Lion Brewing Co. on the lakefront in Canandaigua.
The transaction is expected be complete by January, according to a news release from Young Lion CEO Jen Newman.
The move will create Other Half’s eighth location, and its second in the Finger Lakes. Other Half, founded in 2014, is already among the biggest and best known craft beer makers in the country.
It took over a former brewery location in East Bloomfield, about 10 miles west of Canandaigua, in 2018, and has attracted large and enthusiastic crowds there since then.
Other Half, best known for its New England-style hazy IPAs, has locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and outlets in Buffalo, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. It plans to open a location in Chicago this month.
Young Lion has built its own reputation since it opened on Lakeshore Drive in Canandaigua in 2017. It is one of the largest breweries in the Rochester / Finger Lakes area. In the past, it has used its capacity to make some beers under contract for Other Half.
Young Lion is known for award-winning lagers and IPAs, and its beers have been available at more than 1,000 locations in Western and Central New York, including Wegmans, Tops, and Walmart.
“It was important for us to see our facilities’ next occupant be a prestigious company such as Other Half Brewing,” Newman said in the news release. “We firmly believe they are the best steward for the community moving forward as they continue to build on the excitement Young Lion has fostered on Lakeshore Drive.”
The sale includes the Young Lion brewing system and taproom, but not the brand, the name or other intellectual property. Newman said she and her partners will be “exploring creative solutions for its exciting future.” She provided no further details.
Other Half’s owners could not be reached for comment.
New York state now has more than 500 craft breweries, but the industry here, as in other pats of the country, has seen plenty of openings, closings and other changes in the past year or so.
Paul Leone, executive director of the New York State Brewers Association, said the Other Half purchase of Young Lion “shouldn’t set off an alarm bells” about the health of the state’s beer industry.
“Knowing Jen Newman, I know that she is an entrepreneur who made the best decision for her business,” Leone said. “This is where we are in the brewing industry. Some (breweries) are going to open, some are going to close, some will expand and some will retract. That’s just the business.”
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Syracuse entrepreneur, fueled by self-redemption, reviving long-vacant South Side site
(PS; Boyer)
When Johnny Pertillar decided to put his construction skills into his own business about 15 years ago, he came up with the name Ra-Menes Home Repair.
It was a nod to something he enjoyed studying — ancient Egypt under Menes, the pharoah credited with forming that civilization’s first dynasty by uniting multiple kingdoms. It also reflected his long-term goal of becoming an entrepreneur who could lift up his community and leave a lasting mark.
Pertillar, 49, grew the home repair company, and in 2013, added a home inspection business with the same Ra-Menes name. In 2019, he started a Ra-Menes trucking company, teaching himself to drive a manual transmission so he could attend trucking school and get his commercial license. Now he has a small fleet of dump trucks that serve construction sites and has plans to eventually start a truck driving instruction program.
For his next venture, Pertillar is focused on a long-vacant commercial property on the city’s South Side, just a few blocks from where he lived most of his childhood on South State Street. A former auto repair and gas station at 900 South Ave. is on track to be the future home of Ra-Menes Food and Gas, a Sunoco-branded gasoline station and full-service convenience store.
The project fills a need in the neighborhood — there is no gas station in that part of the city — but it also serves as an inspiration for residents because of the person doing it, said Rita Paniagua, economic development coordinator with Jubilee Homes of Syracuse Inc.
“When you have a person from the community who succeeds in this way, he’s a model,” she said.
Pertillar’s $2 million project is one that neighbors of the South Avenue corridor have wanted for several years and that city officials identified as a key goal in a government study released in 2018.
The project took a major step forward recently when the Greater Syracuse Land Bank board of directors approved selling the site to Pertillar for $5,000. The land bank will also spend up to $51,500 to have old fuel storage tanks removed in order to eliminate any potential environmental concerns at the property.
Pertillar, now a North Side resident, is excited about the new business.
“My thing is the community is asking for it,” he said.
Pertillar is working with Sunoco and Syracuse-based Rich & Gardner Construction on site plans, and he hopes to have the business opened by the end of 2024. The existing garage building will be gutted and rebuilt into the store. There will be two aisles of gasoline pumps, with eight fueling stations total. He expects to employ four people and have the business open daily from about 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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ESF professor Dr. William Powell in 2018, surrounded by genetically modified American chestnut seedlings he worked more than 30 years to create in order to save the iconic tree from extinction. Last year Powell was diagnosed with terminal cancer, just as federal agencies are set to approve release of the tree to the public.Photo Stephen Schweitzer
ESF scientist who brought American chestnut tree back from the brink of extinction has died (PS; Featherstone)
Dr. William “Bill” Powell, 67, died Sunday, Nov. 12, at his home with his family by his side.
Powell was a biology professor at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where he and his colleague, Charles Maynard, founded the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project in 1989.
Over more than three decades, Powell led a team that pioneered genetic engineering techniques to bring the iconic American chestnut tree back from the brink of extinction.
“I’m really hoping that we can get through this regulatory process,” Powell told Syracuse.com in June, adding that he wanted “to see these trees planted while I’m here.”
Powell was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer 15 months ago. His death comes just as federal regulators are set to approve Darling-58, the world’s first transgenic chestnut tree, for public release.
“We are greatly saddened by the passing of Dr. William Powell,” said ESF President, Joanie Mahoney. “We mourn not only the departure of a brilliant mind and dedicated educator but also the passing of a beloved colleague whose groundbreaking research will forever shape the American landscape.”
A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at Grace Covenant Church, 5300 NY 31, Clay, NY. Burial will be private. A complete obituary is available at New Comer Funeral Home. Powell requested people dress casually: blue jeans, flannel shirts, and white socks are appropriate.
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