sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Women Rock! Day!
Elvis Presley. Chuck Berry. Jerry Lee Lewis. Little Richard. Buddy Holly. When it comes to rock and roll, it is usually male artists and performers who are first remembered as its architects, innovators, and keepers of the flame. On Women Rock! Day, we remember that women have made an immense contribution to rock and roll as well, and we honor that contribution. The day takes place on the anniversary of the date in 1987 when Aretha Franklin became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame began inducting members in 1986 and has continued to do so each year since. Many women have been inducted since Aretha Franklin, such as The Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, The Shirelles, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Patti Smith, Grace Slick as part of Jefferson Airplane, Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks as part of Fleetwood Mac, Dusty Springfield, and Nina Simone. Still, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame continues to be dominated by men.
SU News
https://www.si.com/college/syracuse...weatherspoon-locks-in-syracuse-official-visit (SI; McAllister)
Howard transfer offensive lineman Da'Metrius Weatherspoon will officially visit Syracuse this week, he tells AllSyracuse.com. Weatherspoon will be on campus January 4th and 5th. He is listed at 6-7, 335 pounds, has also reported offers from Pittsburgh and Charlotte, and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Weatherspoon played tackle for a 6-6 Howard squad that averaged nearly 29 points per game last season. He was a redshirt sophomore this past season, meaning he has two years of eligibility remaining. Weatherspoon was an HBCU All-American this past season and started 11 games.
During the 2023 season, he recorded 765 offensive snaps, the majority of which (644) were at right tackle. Per PFF, he allowed just 12 pressures, eight hurries and two sacks during those snaps. He also spent 110 snaps at left tackle.
As a high school prospect, Weatherspoon signed with Howard out of Clairton High School in Pennsylvania over offers from St. Francis, William & Mary and Lake Erie.
Syracuse has been in the market for experienced help along the offensive line. Weatherspoon would seem to fit that bill. He has a huge frame, experience playing tackle, and has multiple years of eligibility remaining. The Orange has already landed an interior offensive lineman from the portal in Joshua Miller, and would love to add a tackle like Weatherspoon to the roster as well.
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Keeping Up With The 315 1-2-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian Higgins recaps the latest football recruiting news and previews the Duke/Syracuse basketball game to begin the show. Then, a caller gives his thoughts on the wild ending to the College Football Playoff game last night. Lastly, Brian tells you exactly how the Duke game will go tonight in No Wrong Answers.
Syracuse football: DL Dion Wilson Jr. joins influx of transfers (TNIAAM; Ostrowski)
Due to a court ruling, the NCAA’s practice of not allowing immediate second-time transfers is on hold, and players are taking advantage. The newest member of Fran Brown’s incoming crop is one of them.
Dion Wilson Jr, a 6’5”, 300 lbs. defensive lineman who has played for both Arizona and New Mexico State, will join the Syracuse Orange for the 2024 season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Wilson racked up 30 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2023, both career highs, then chose to enter the transfer portal for the second straight year. He also had interest from Rutgers, Texas A&M, and others before committing to ‘Cuse.
Wilson enters as the largest build on the defensive side of the ball, revamping a d-line that has been frequently called “undersized” compared to others. He joins Fadil Diggs as an upperclassmen transfer who will ideally act as a leader for the bulk of younger guys coming in.
SU badly needed interior help, and Wilson can make a strong case to start immediately. He’s an interesting piece to watch once spring camp gets underway and we see what the defensive structure looks like.
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Syracuse Football: 4-star, top-20 QB to release top 6, let’s see if ‘Cuse makes cut (itlh; Adler)
Four-star junior Malik Washington, a consensus top-20 quarterback in the 2025 class who helped lead his high school team to a state title in Maryland, will soon disclose his half-dozen finalists, and he holds a Syracuse football offer.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Washington, a standout at Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Md., who has received a ton of honors for his stellar 2023 season, said via his X page that he plans to release his top six on January 4.
A top-300 national prospect and a top-10 player coming out of Maryland, Washington was initially offered a scholarship from the ‘Cuse in late September, when Dino Babers was the team’s head coach.
On December 4, Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown was named the new head coach of the Orange, replacing Babers. Washington said on his X page that he had been re-offered by the Syracuse football coaching staff on December 12.
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Syracuse Football: 4-star CB, top-200 national player with ‘Cuse offer, names top 10 (itlh; Adler)
Onis Konanbanny, a four-star cornerback and a highly rated national prospect in the 2025 class who holds a Syracuse football scholarship offer, has disclosed his top 10.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Konanbanny, who is a native of London, was offered by the Orange back in October, although that offer came from the former ‘Cuse coaching staff.
On December 4, SU Athletics officially introduced former Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown as the new Orange head coach, replacing Dino Babers.
Konanbanny said via his X page that his top 10 consist of Florida State, Tennessee, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, North Carolina and Southern California.
WhereWeGoinnnnnn #AGTG #THEpic.twitter.com/2Smcd3UE8E
— ᴏɴɪs "" ᴋᴏɴᴀɴʙᴀɴɴʏ'25 (@KonanbannyOnis) January 1, 2024
Syracuse football didn’t make the cut for 2025 four-star CB Onis Konanbanny.
Konanbanny attends the Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, S.C. According to his bio on the 247Sports Web site, he has picked up more than 30 offers from a range of high-major programs.When I wrote this article, On3 was most bullish on Konanbanny, rating him at No. 153 nationally, No. 18 at cornerback and No. 1 in South Carolina.
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Nick Williams Added to Orange Football Staff - Syracuse University Athletics (cuse.com)
Nick Williams, a rising defensive coaching star, with prior stops at Colorado, Texas A&M and Georgia has joined the Syracuse football staff to coach the edge.
"It was a dream of mine to work with Elijah Robinson, and Fran Brown was someone that people compared me to and I had heard nothing but great things about before I had the chance to meet him," Williams said. "I'm extremely passionate and joining those two who have the same passion as me was the reason for me coming here. I can't wait to work with them and learn from them. I would have followed them anywhere in the country if they gave me the opportunity."
Spending the last season coaching Colorado's defensive line unit, Williams was a member of Coach Prime's inaugural staff. He helped land a top-30 recruiting class within just two weeks after being hired prior to the first signing period. Williams spent the previous two seasons at Texas A&M, working as a defensive analyst. While with the Aggies, he helped Texas A&M land the nation's number one recruiting class in 2022.
"I think Nick is someone that is very elite when it comes to teaching pass rush," Brown said. "If you go back to his tape and watch him play, he's a tough football player. Everyone down in Georgia loves him and talks about him. I also think he's elite when it comes to recruiting, has great energy and is passionate about what he does."
In his first year working with the A&M defense, the unit finished the season ranked 14th nationally in total defense, a mark that ranks third in the SEC. Every defensive line starter off that 2021 Aggies' squad went on to sign NFL contracts, including DeMarvin Leal (Steelers) and Michael Clemons (Jets) being selected in the third and fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, respectively.
Prior to that, he was on staff at Georgia as a student assistant in 2017 and then as a graduate assistant in 2019-20, working with the Bulldogs' defense. In addition to helping Georgia reach a New Year's Six Bowl in each of his three seasons on staff, Georgia also landed the nation's No. 1 recruiting class in both 2018 and 2020, and No. 2 class in 2019, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
The Bulldogs went 31-7 in his tenure, including a 21-4 mark in the SEC and won back-to-back SEC East Championships.
Georgia led the nation in rushing defense in both of his seasons as a graduate assistant, allowing under 75 yards per game each year. The 2019 squad also led the nation in scoring defense (12.6 points per game) and was third nationally in total defense (275.5 yards per game). The 2020 squad ranked second in the SEC in both categories as well.
Williams worked with some of the Bulldogs' standout NFL talent on defense, including first round defensive line selections Travon Walker (No. 1 pick – 2022), Jalen Carter (No. 9 pick – 2023), Jordan Davis (No. 13 pick – 2022) and Devonte Wyatt (No. 28 pick – 2022) in their Georgia careers.
Williams played at Georgia from 2008-10, seeing action in 32 career games at both safety and linebacker. He transferred to North Alabama and after two redshirt seasons, had a solid senior campaign in 2013 with 62 tackles and two interceptions helping the team to a 10-3 record. He was selected to play in the NFLPA Game after the conclusion of his collegiate career.
He played one season in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts where his season was cut short with a knee injury. He then played on season in the Arena League for the Tampa Bay Storm.
He attended Bainbridge High School in Bainbridge, Ga., graduating in 2008. He was a quarterback and linebacker and threw for 2,428 yards and 23 touchdowns in his career.
Williams is married to Warda Ali, a Rochester, N.Y. native, and the couple has two children – a five-year-old daughter, Nilah Rose, and a two-year-old son Noah.
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) calls for more crowd noise during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Indianapolis.AP Photo/Zach Bolinger
Ex-Syracuse linebacker sets new Colts record for tackles in a season (SU, CNY in NFL) (PS; Herbert)
Former Syracuse football star Zaire Franklin has set a new Indianapolis Colts record for tackles in a single season.
Franklin, a linebacker, recorded 10 combined tackles and 7 solo tackles in the Colts’ 23-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He now has 170 total tackles this season, breaking his own record of 167 set last season, with one week left to go.
Franklin currently leads the NFL in total tackles and is in second place for solo tackles with 104, despite playing one fewer game this season than current leader Foyesade Oluokun of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Franklin missed one game earlier this season due to injury.
With one week left in the season, Franklin won’t break the all-time NFL records for combined tackles (Hardy Nickerson, 214 in 1993) or solo tackles (Ray Lewis, 156 in 1997), but Franklin is one of the most successful SU alumni in the league today.
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ACC News
Kelly Gramlich and Eric Mac Lain talk ACC football - Gramlich and Mac Lain (M&G; podcast; M&G)
Bowl season has come to an end and it's time to recap what went down. Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech stand out as teams who really impressed in their bowl games. Presented by Ingles Markets.
Clemson football vs Florida State in 2024 gets better with DJ Uiagalelei's latest transfer (greenvilleonline.com; Keepfer)
When Clemson and Florida State renew their rivalry on the football field, it’s typically of keen interest, particularly in ACC circles.
But suffice to say Clemson’s road game at Florida State in 2024 just got considerably more interesting than usual.
Such has a tendency to happen when one of your former players ends up on the roster of your primary conference rival.
Enter former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who announced on Jan. 1 he has committed to Florida State.
We don’t know the date of the 2024 Clemson-Florida State game, but we do know that the game will be in Tallahassee and that Uiagalelei is the apparent replacement for the departed Jordan Travis, the 2023 ACC Offensive Player of the Year.
This phenomenon of facing off against former teammates is occurring with considerably greater frequency now with the transfer portal in full and seemingly unbounded swing, allowing players to change teams with a fluidity heretofore unseen.
Quarterbacks are the darlings of the portal, because everyone needs one or wants a better one or has to replace one.
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Two former Clemson players land on new ACC staff (tigernet.com; Staff)
Duke announced the hirings of former Clemson quarterback Willie Simmons and former Tigers wide receiver Justin Watts for new head coach Manny Diaz's staff recently.
Duke news releases:
Simmons
DURHAM – Duke head football coach Manny Diaz announced Monday that Willie Simmons will join the Blue Devil gridiron program and serve as an assistant coach. Simmons will coach Duke's running backs.
Simmons previously worked with Diaz on staff at the Middle Tennessee State University where the pair spent three seasons (2007-09) together with Simmons as the running backs coach and Diaz as the defensive coordinator.
Simmons comes to Durham after a six-year stint (2018-23) as the head coach at Florida A&M University. While in Tallahassee, Simmons helped the Rattlers to a 45-13 (.776) overall record and a 34-5 (.872) mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play. Under Simmons' guidance, FAMU registered four-straight nine-win seasons, including a 12-1 overall ledger and undefeated season in SWAC action last season. Additionally, Simmons led the Rattlers to two HBCU National Championships (2019 & 2023) and their first SWAC Championship and Celebration Bowl title in 2023.
Simmons received consecutive AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year honors (2022 & 2023) and was tabbed the 2023 SWAC Coach of the Year. The Rattlers finished with four-straight top-25 rankings, including last season when they posted a No. 5 rank in the final FCS poll, to register their highest national ranking since 1998 and their first ten-win season since 1999.
During his tenure, Simmons mentored numerous players to All-MEAC and All-SWAC honors, including quarterback Ryan Stanley, who finished his career at FAMU as the school's all-time leader in passing yards (8,424), pass attempts (1,187), pass completions (636) and passing touchdowns (67). Additionally, Stanley graduated second all-time in MEAC history for passing yards and pass completions and was named the 2019 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year. Additionally under Simmons, linebacker Isaiah Land earned the 2021 Buck Buchanan Award Winner, which is given annually to the FCS National Defensive Player of the Year. Land, the 2021 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, led the nation in sacks (19) and tackles for loss (25.5) en route to an All-America caliber season. He later signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys in May 2023.
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NC State All-ACC CB Aydan White Announces He is Entering the Transfer Portal (packinsider.com; Bradham)
NC State All-ACC Cornerback Aydan White announced this evening that he is entering his name into the Transfer Portal.
This is a devastating blow to the Wolfpack’s 2024 secondary. White earned 1st Team All-ACC honors in 2022, and earned 3rd Team honors this year. To be honest, I thought there was a chance that White might forego his final year of collegiate eligibility, and head to the NFL, but I didn’t see this coming.
White ranked 2nd on the team in interceptions this season with 2, and led the Pack with 10 pass breakups. His PFF grade of 72.2 ranked 5th on the Wolfpack defense this season, and his Coverage grade of 71.7 ranked 3rd.
White was a 3-Star prospect in the Wolfpack’s 2020 recruiting class, and 247Sports ranked him as the #16 overall player in the state of North Carolina.
While it hasn’t been made official yet, it looks like NC State might have to replace both of their starting Cornerbacks in 2024.
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Big 12's miserable College Football Playoff record worsens after Texas loss (oklahoman.com; Mussatto)
Big 12 football as we know it is no longer, and the four-team College Football Playoff era is breathing its last. Conferences are shifting and the playoff is expanding.
No Power Five conference fared worse in the four-team playoff than the Big 12, accentuated by Texas’ 37-31 loss to Washington in the Sugar Bowl on Monday.
Here are the College Football Playoff records by Power conference since the format’s inception in 2014:
College Football Playoff record by conference
SEC: 16-6ACC: 6-6
Big Ten: 4-7
Pac-12: 2-2
Big 12: 1-6
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2024 OOC Openings as of Dec 27th (RX; HM)
2024 OOC Openings as of Dec 27th
The 2023-24 ACC football season is over. Time to start thinking about the 2024-25 schedule... and, yes, there IS something holding it up this year!
From the article "FBS college football teams with non-conference openings in 2024" on FBSchedules...
Most college football teams have their non-conference schedules set for the 2024 season, but some still need a game... Conference realignment has, as it usually does, thrown a wrench into future scheduling...
ONE NON-CONFERENCE OPENING
Teams expected to add an FCS opponent:
I'm not worried about these teams - let's face it, you can always find an FCS team willing to sign a contract to play a "buy a win" game!
Teams looking for an FBS opponent:
The obvious solution - just schedule Notre Dame vs Syracuse! - is unlikely to happen because the Irish don't want to play an extra ACC opponent.
OVERSCHEDULED
ARMY
With Army already having 14 games scheduled for 2024, I don't see how they're going to play Notre Dame! So the Irish and the Orange will need to find an FBS opponent somewhere else, and there's really only one other place to look...
__________
The Hawaii Exemption
Of these teams, I'd give UCLA a call. Why? Currently they play Hawaii in Week 1, followed by a bye week... they might want a Week 0 game, and both Notre Dame and Syracuse are available (although the Irish have Texas A&M in Week 1, so they might be a little less interested).
In the end, the Irish and the Orange may both end up playing an FCS team as the 12th game - unless they bite the bullet and decide to play each other?
ACC in 2024 NFL HoF Finalists (RX; HM)
ACC in 2024 NFL HoF Finalists
From the official ACC release of Tuesday, January 2, 2024...
Six of 15 NFL Hall of Fame Finalists from the ACC
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) — Six of the 15 finalists for the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame class hail from an Atlantic Coast Conference school. The 2024 finalists include multi-time finalists Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, and Dwight Freeney, as well as first-time honoree Julius Peppers.
- Dwight Freeney, DE/OLB (Syracuse) — 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions
- Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR (Miami) — 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-2015 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens, 2016 Seattle Seahawks
RPI 2024 Jan 2 (RX; HM)
RPI 2024 Jan 2
There's more data for the computers to analyze...
RPI combines results of all games to find relationships between teams (A is 2 points better than B, which is 3 points better than C, etc.). Think of RPI as a more advanced transitive property of football. Now that the bowls have been played, let's update the RPI rankings with new data:
| Rank | School | W-L | RPI | Conf. | W-L |
| 1 | Michigan | 14-0 | 46.64 | Big10 | 10-0 |
| 2 | Georgia | 13-1 | 45.82 | SEC | 8-1 |
| 3 | Washington | 13-0 | 45.7 | Pac12 | 9-0 |
| 4 | Florida St. | 13-1 | 44.58 | ACC | 9-0 |
| 5 | Alabama | 12-2 | 44.56 | SEC | 9-0 |
| 6 | Ohio St. | 11-2 | 44.02 | Big10 | 8-1 |
| 7 | Oregon | 12-1 | 43.92 | Pac12 | 8-1 |
| 8 | Texas | 12-2 | 43.45 | Big12 | 7-1 |
| 9 | Missouri | 11-2 | 41.99 | SEC | 6-2 |
| 10 | Mississippi | 11-2 | 40.94 | SEC | 6-2 |
| 11 | Penn St. | 8-3 | 40.31 | Big10 | 6-2 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 10-3 | 39.13 | Big12 | 4-2 |
| 13 | LSU | 9-3 | 38.93 | SEC | 6-2 |
| 14 | Louisville | 8-4 | 38.52 | ACC | 6-2 |
| 15 | Arizona | 10-3 | 37.4 | Pac12 | 7-2 |
| 16 | Notre Dame | 10-3 | 37.35 | Ind | 0-0 |
| 17 | Iowa | 9-2 | 36.86 | Big10 | 6-2 |
| 18 | Liberty | 12-1 | 36.44 | Cusa | 1-0 |
| 19 | Oregon St. | 8-5 | 36.21 | Pac12 | 5-4 |
| 20 | Tulane | 11-3 | 36.13 | Amer | 3-1 |
Monday Results 2024 Jan 1st (RX; HM)
Monday Results 2024 Jan 1st
The G5 rep is humiliated; the Big Ten loses every bowl except the one that counts.
see also: 2023-24 Bowl Records by Conference.
Other
Back-to-back storms headed for Upstate NY as winter kicks into gear (PS; Coin)
A pair of storms is expected to barrel across the country and up the East Coast over the next week, potentially bringing heavy snow and a wintry mix to snow-parched Upstate New York.
The first storm, which the National Weather Service says is likely to bring moderate to heavy snow to much of Upstate New York, is expected to hit Saturday into Sunday. The next storm is likely to arrive Tuesday or Wednesday, although temperatures will be warmer and so that second storm could bring a mix of rain and snow.
The latest forecasts for the weekend storm have shifted its center to the east, reducing the chances that Central New York and the Finger Lakes will get heavy snow. The biggest Impacts from the storm are likely to be felt in the Southern Tier and Capital Region now.
“A low pressure system tracking up the East Coast has the potential to bring widespread accumulating snow to the region Saturday evening into Sunday,” the weather service said in issuing a hazardous weather outlook for much of Upstate New York. “Details such as exact snowfall amounts are still uncertain at this time.”
The odds of getting at least 4 inches of snow this weekend are about 25% in Syracuse and 50% in Albany, according to weather service projections.
The mid-range forecasting arm of the weather service, the Weather Prediction Center, is hinting at a “major winter storm” that would hit next Tuesday through Thursday. The center says that because of the warmer temperatures, that storm is likely to bring heavy rain to the coast and Western New York. In between, however, could be a strip of heavy snow from the southern edge of West Virgnia to northern Maine, with Central New York lying in the thickest section of that strip.
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