Donor Recruiting Briefing Meeting

[GoSU96]

Call the City, they are awaiting your phone call. Thanks

I am also waiting for you to put a foundation and an enormous slab on grade in place at -10 degree temp. Who wants to pay for that? Do you want to build the huge temporary dome and blow 5-6 huge propane heaters in there, while you make sure your cure and breaks are good and don't forget the 24-7 fire watch that I am sure someone will require and not to mention the cost of the propane to run the heaters for that time. At that temp, heat blankets ain't going to cut it. I am sure the tolerances on the slab on grade aren't very forgiving either. Call me crazy from the outside looking in the job was also probably proposed to have foundations and SOG in place prior to the weather. Yep, because it's really worth the risk of tearing out what would be 1,000 yards of concrete!

Just my 2 cents but nothing I haven't lived through 100 times.

But, but, but...WHY ISN'T IT UP BY NOW???!!!

I demand answers!!!

 

[IthacaBarrel]

But, but, but...WHY ISN'T IT UP BY NOW???!!!

I demand answers!!!

A pour of that size only happens once, sure they don't pour it all at once but just think of the resources that need to put together not that they couldn't do footers, walls first and put the building up before the SOG but that even at these temperatures it's a real problem. One thing to line up a few concrete trucks and pumps on winter days but it's tough when you are talking these quantities. Anyway.

 

[GoSU96]

To add a little perspective to this.

People can believe or not believe what schools report, but the reports made to the USG is all there is to go on. Based on that information for the 2012 year SU did not short change either basketball or football based on what it reported compared to the rest of D-1 either as a proportion of total spending or in actual dollars.

As a proportion of total expenses SU spent more on Basketball than any other D-1 school, 21% of it's expenses where allocated to Men's hoops. For football it was 34% of total department expenses, which was 22nd in D-1.

In dollars SU was third, behind Lville and Duke, just a head of UK. For football expenses incurred SU was 26th, just behind OSU and ahead of Northwestern.

 

[GoSU96]

A pour of that size only happens once, sure they don't pour it all at once but just think of the resources that need to put together not that they couldn't do footers, walls first and put the building up before the SOG but that even at these temperatures it's a real problem. One thing to line up a few concrete trucks and pumps on winter days but it's tough when you are talking these quantities. Anyway.

I get it, it's just funny that people can't look out the window and check the weather channel and understand why the Barn isn't being raised.

 

[oldpinepoint]

I get it, it's just funny that people can't look out the window and check the weather channel and understand why the Barn isn't being raised.

Can't we use the Rutgers dumpster fire to heat the area?

 

[cusefan88]

My friend who lives in Florida and is a big FSU fan said they had a BBQ dinner and reception with the coaches. $40 to get in. Hope SU would consider something like this.

 

[oldpinepoint]

My friend who lives in Florida and is a big FSU fan said they had a BBQ dinner and reception with the coaches. $40 to get in. Hope SU would consider something like this.

Great idea!

 

[cuseinchina]

I get it, it's just funny that people can't look out the window and check the weather channel and understand why the Barn isn't being raised.

To be fair there are a couple people with 'connections' citing politics and money as reasons its not going up, which is why this is being discussed at all.

 

[anomander]

To be fair there are a couple people with 'connections' citing politics and money as reasons its not going up, which is why this is being discussed at all.

that doesn't sound as clever as saying look outside the window

 

[IthacaBarrel]

To be fair there are a couple people with 'connections' citing politics and money as reasons its not going up, which is why this is being discussed at all.

Has nothing to do with that, why get the steel moving and tear up turf if politics and money are still in the way? I am starting to see the results of insane rumor mongering here.

 

[anomander]

Has nothing to do with that, why get the steel moving and tear up turf if politics and money are still in the way? I am starting to see the results of insane rumor mongering here.

The project has already been postponed, and admitted to have some issues. Let's wait until it actually starts without anymore "delays". I'll admit what I heard was a while ago, but it wasn't from someone talking about rumors.

 

[rrlbees]

Call the City, they are awaiting your phone call. Thanks I am also waiting for you to put a foundation and an enormous slab on grade in place at -10 degree temp. Who wants to pay for that? Do you want to build the huge temporary dome and blow 5-6 huge propane heaters in there, while you make sure your cure and breaks are good and don't forget the 24-7 fire watch that I am sure someone will require and not to mention the cost of the propane to run the heaters for that time. At that temp, heat blankets ain't going to cut it. I am sure the tolerances on the slab on grade aren't very forgiving either. Call me crazy from the outside looking in the job was also probably proposed to have foundations and SOG in place prior to the weather. Yep, because it's really worth the risk of tearing out what would be 1,000 yards of concrete! Just my 2 cents but nothing I haven't lived through 100 times.

None of that is why the delays started months ago. The weather wasn't bad when they started delaying it. There are other issues that still have to be worked out even if it was 80 outside. It'll happen eventually but they aren't just waiting on a spring thaw.

 

[GoSU96]

Has nothing to do with that, why get the steel moving and tear up turf if politics and money are still in the way? I am starting to see the results of insane rumor mongering here.

Gross has made multiple and consistent unambiguous statements that it's in process and scheduled to be complete by Sept. If the guy was spinning, he wouldn't be saying the things he is saying about it, and TGD knows how to spin if he needs to.

Permitting and government friction in getting it done doesn't mean there is doubt about if this is going to happen. That's just PITA stuff.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

None of that is why the delays started months ago. The weather wasn't bad when they started delaying it. There are other issues that still have to be worked out even if it was 80 outside. It'll happen eventually but they aren't just waiting on a spring thaw.

Permits, city versus university. Pretty straight forward really. Weather now is a factor but you are right it isn't in September. I don't care about university politics and why delay started originally. I will stick to my info because I know it to be true. This thing will get built.

 

[rrlbees]

Permits, city versus university. Pretty straight forward really. Weather now is a factor but you are right it isn't in September. I don't care about university politics and why delay started originally. I will stick to my info because I know it to be true. This thing will get built.

Not sure I've seen anyone, even those saying there are delays, that it won't get built. It will. Let's hope the issues are resolved before winter is over so more delays don't take place when the weather is fine.

 

[chakka3421]

The project has already been postponed, and admitted to have some issues. Let's wait until it actually starts without anymore "delays". I'll admit what I heard was a while ago, but it wasn't from someone talking about rumors.

Just to be clear the IFP project was originally scheduled to break ground around May of 2013. If it starts up May of 2014, we should be all fine with that because blank happens. My company is going through something similar on a property we own and are now 4 months and counting behind schedule.

As I said before, I keep hearing officially it's Spring 2014 yet...

 

[anomander]

Just to be clear the IFP project was originally scheduled to break ground around May of 2013. If it starts up May of 2014, we should be all fine with that because blank happens. My company is going through something similar on a property we own and are now 4 months and counting behind schedule.

As I said before, I keep hearing officially it's Spring 2014 yet...

No doubt it will get built. The question is when. If it is completed by Fall camp I will be thrilled. I just don't want it to get pushed past that since we have thoroughly covered just how cold it gets in Syracuse in the Winter so that will mean 2015...

 

[Crusty]

I attended the meeting tonight (thanks again mysterious benefactor). Despite the bad weather, the meeting was well attended. Syracuse fans are #hardnosed.

It was held in the big hall at the main entrance to the football wing of Manley. Nice area, lots of SU football trophies and memorabilia everywhere. Hor d'oeuvres were served, the usual cheese, crackers, grapes, shrimp, etc were available and I believe they had an open bar as well. This provided an opportunity to talk to the coaching staff.

Some general comments from the coaches: they were very happy with the incoming class, had a lot of battles with other schools trying to poach our players late. Coach Lea loves the incoming linebackers and says that he rated JT higher than Cabinda. He reminds Coach L of a slighter bigger version of Davis. Says the 3 early commits are everything you want in a football player: tough, smart, hard working, athletic and all are natural leaders. Everyone was still agog over the Duke game, said the recruits loved the atmosphere. They want to recreate it for football soon.

After that, Coach Shafer had everyone ushered into the football meeting auditorium. They started by showing the highlight film from the 2013 season, which got a big ovation from the crowd, and then Coach S showed brief film clips (typically 3 plays) for each member of the incoming class.

Here are some highlights from that talk:

Bennett:

Not the biggest guy but he has great heart and instincts and finds a way to make plays. Extraordinary production (138 tackles) as a senior. First team all state. Great role model for others at his school and team captain.

Cooper:

Smallest WR in the class but he is a terrific athlete, a real playmaker. Makes hard plays look easy. One of his themes with this recruiting class was to find WRs who could make catches while covered. Cooper fits the bill.

Cordy:

3 fer player, meaning he can help on offense, defense and special teams. Tough, physical player even though he is only 175 pounds. Led his team to a state championship as a senior.

Custis:

SS said he is not supposed to have favorites but whispered that Custis is his favorite in this class. Said he would have been tempted to offer him just based on how well he treated his mother on his official visit. A kid who has grown up with very little but is a great kid who will never get in trouble and will find a way to succeed. Just loves looking at him lined up waiting for the snap. His body and height are so perfect, it greatly pleases him. Says he couldn't believe he was really 6'6 because of how fast and easy he ran in the films he was watching. Says he makes every play look easy, will be a great weapon in the red zone, things he is a special player.

Dawson:

Confirmed he has not been well, said they finally found out it was a virus that was bothering him. Said he will recover and will play at SU but will likely not enroll until the spring semester. Had one of his former players, a Chicago native, check up on him and he told Shafer he was a terrific athlete with great ball skills and that Saint Rita HS DBs hit the bleep out of WRs. Led the state in interceptions as a senior. Shafer has recruited the catholic leagues of South Chicago for years and is very familiar with the high school. Said he and Coach Smith, a Chicago native, had good times recruiting in their old stomping grounds and enjoyed a chicken place so much they were almost late for a home visit.

Dowels:

First team all state, captain of his team as a junior and senior, leader in his school, great kid who is tough as nails. Was a little worried about his height until he saw film and saw him jumping like a jackrabbit. Has fluid, great hips, another 3 fer kid. Shafer is really high on him.

Edouard:

Originally verbaled to Miami but backed off after Miami took a couple of other QBs in his class, making it clear to him he was going to be moved to another position. Shafer says he, like all SU QBs, is a dual threat athlete who can make plays passing and running. Urged fans to go to You Tube to watch him on running plays (he gets his knees above his chest and just can fly out there). Has tremendous game changing speed. Another captain of his team.

Enoicy:

Another captain of his HS team. Same HS as Brisley, same position but Coach Shafer says Enoicy could carry Brisley around in his pocket. Big kid who is great at making catches in traffic, while tightly covered.

Franklin:

Penn State did not offer him initially but came back to him when they got more scholarships. Zaire said no thanks, I am staying loyal to the school that was there for me when you weren't. I believe this is the kid SS said has lost both parents but is the leader for the entire HS, loved by all, great kid, someone SS really admires. Another extremely motivated, really hard worker.

Harvey:

Got involved late with him, could not believe how good his film was. Family drove to SU to meet the staff and see the campus before giving him the okay to go here. SS joked his mom said she wanted to see the buildings but she really wanted to look into my eyes and be sure I was okay. SS sees him playing DT like Bromley, sees a lot of the same ability to be disruptive from Harvey.

Howard:

Was offered early, his speed and athletic ability made him really attractive to SS. Had some growing up to do early in his HS career but has matured and SS likes where he is at now.

Hudson:

Discovered by Coach Lester, who called SS and told him he found the cover CB they were looking for. They love his long arms, his intelligence and his raw athletic ability. They say he is fast now but is going to get even faster when they get him here, get him eating the right food and working on the squat machine (like Eskridge, who has taken his 40 time from 4.7 to sub 4.5 since he got on campus). Captain of his team as a junior and a senior, really smart, will be close to an AA degree before he officially even enrolls at SU. Will have a masters degree by the time he is done at Syracuse.

Ishmael:

Between Coach McDonald and SS, they have recruited about 12 kids from North Miami HS, including Ritchy Desire. He has speed, size, leaping ability and great hands but SS especially loves his ability to make catches while well covered. Just throw the ball in his direction and he will go and get it. Coach McDonald says he has the ability to play immediately.

Long:

Showed him score on a run from about 95 yards. They love his athletic ability, another guy who can run and throw, helped recruit the rest of the class, like KJ, related to Jerrod West.

Moskal:

Was captain of his HS team as a senior, junior and sophomore. SS says when you look in his eyes, you can just see he is a football player. Born to play the MIKE position, great student, unbelievable kid, great attitude, comes from a great family, SS loves him.

Philips:

Another captain. SS says he will start at RB. Loves his ability to make catches out of the backfield. Says he has great hips and outstanding acceleration, a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. Said only 3 players in Connecticut history have more TDs and rushing yards than Ervin.

Prater:

Another kid who might not make it initially academically, SS thought it worth the gamble to take him because he is so special on the football field. Loves kids from East St Louis, says he thinks Treevon will end up playing FS for Syracuse.

Roberts:

Really likes how he stays low and keeps leverage when he blocks. Consistently finishes his blocks 'off the screen' meaning he blocks his man so far he disappears off the screen. Expected to play guard at SU. Shafer has recruited a lot of kids from De La Salle, another Chicago catholic HS on the south side. Smith helped recruit him as well.

Samuels:

SS says Coach Daoust couldn't believe this kid was not going to a BCS school when he got a look at the film on him. Stays low, is very strong, disrupts inside consistently.

Slayton:

Says he reminds him of Chandler Jones. 6'5, looks really skinny but weighs 270 pounds. Another kid from the Chicago area, Crete is a little south of the city. Terrific athlete, has potential to be a great pass rusher. Really quiet, a challenge to have a phone conversation with him.

Thomas:

His mom is from Africa. Grew up playing soccer. His gym teacher saw him in gym class out performing his football players (comes from a great football program) and convinced him to come out for football as junior. Great athlete who can really run. Very similar story to Diet Tab, who is a GA for the football team now and had a 4.0 GPA last semester. Another kid who has work to do in the class room and who may or may not be eligible for fall ball. If not then, he will be ready for January. SS sees him as a slightly bigger version of Dyshawn Davis and will play his position for SU.

Ward:

Was measured at 6 feet 7 1/2 inches and 307 pounds when he visited Syracuse. Team captain as a junior and a senior, led his team to a city chamionship both years. Quality kid. Future leader.

Do you have like a tape recorder in your head? How do you remember all that?

 

[Full_Rebar]

I'm not saying it's not getting built, since it's too far along in the process to be stopped completely. However, it's interesting to me that the only work done on the project site was the removal of the turf field in the days following the publishing of Carlson's story in November - http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2013/11/post_26.html.

It was from that story that this was said

"There's steel and metal being constructed," Giansante said...Giansante said he did not know the specifics of what work was being done by what companies, or if all the bidding processes had been completed"

I understand delays from permits, politics, etc, but I am going by what is being said by the SU Ath Dept and what I hear from people at SU, which doesn't match up with the public statements coming from Manley.

As a fan and supporter of the program, I feel this project needs visible progress when recruits are on campus for summer camps starting in June. Completion can be next Fall, but we can't have coaches showing drawings and renderings for 2-3 recruiting classes.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Not sure I've seen anyone, even those saying there are delays, that it won't get built. It will. Let's hope the issues are resolved before winter is over so more delays don't take place when the weather is fine.

It will get built starting very soon, how is that. When the weather breaks. I believe Chaka Kahn and anomander were alluding to it being built in a few years.? No/ yes

Easy big fella, quite the contrarian these days. Winter got you grumpy?

 

[rrlbees]

It will get built starting very soon, how is that. When the weather breaks. I believe Chaka Kahn and anomander were alluding to it being built in a few years.? No/ yes

Easy big fella, quite the contrarian these days. Winter got you grumpy?

Contrarian about what? It could be 80 right now and it wouldn't start yet. That's all anyone is saying but you seem to be disagreeing. But, having said that, the issue could get resolved tomorrow for all I know.

 

[anomander]

That was amazing. So who is an academic question mark? Thomas, Prater and Phillips? Add in Dawson and we could potentially have (4) casualties?

I didn't see where Tom mentioned Erv, and I specifically asked about him since he was being discussed yesterday, and was told he wasn't brought up as any academic concern.

I am very confident he will be here in the Fall.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Contrarian about what? It could be 80 right now and it wouldn't start yet. That's all anyone is saying but you seem to be disagreeing. But, having said that, the issue could get resolved tomorrow for all I know.

Has a lot to do with weather, and when it starts in 4-5 weeks it won't be a coincidence. Sure there are issues but I believe people are working on at least getting the sitework and foundation started. FWIW. I love the drama though. THEY ARE GOING TO WAIT 3 YEARS!!!!

Somebody should say something to the A/E firms and contractors as they are spending time on it everyday. Apparently, there seem to be people seem to be dialed right into the University. I guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[atcar]

Do you have like a tape recorder in your head? How do you remember all that?

Wish I could do that. Maybe we need to drink more ginger ale

 

[Rocco]

The IPF is going to happen. When? Ask Punxsutawney Phil...

Ok folks, let's get back to the 2014 recruiting class already, hence the actual subject of the thread.

Way more enjoyable talking about some of these studs and how they might translate on the field at SU.

Great job, sutomcat. A little more detail might be nice next time.