sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Election Day!
Election Day in the United States is the day set by law for the general elections of public officials. Election Day is on "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November." [1] The earliest possible date is November 2, and the latest possible date is November 8 (as it will be for the 2016 election).
For federal offices (President, Vice President, and United States Congress), Election Day occurs only in even-numbered years. Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, in which electors for President and Vice President are chosen according to the method determined by each state. Elections to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate are held every two years; all Representatives are elected to serve two-year terms and are up for election every two years, while Senators serve six-year terms, staggered so that one third of Senators are elected in any given general election. General elections in which presidential candidates are not on the ballot are referred to as midterm elections. Terms for those elected begin in January the following year; the President and Vice President are inaugurated ("sworn in") on Inauguration Day, which is usually on January 20.
SU News
Syracuse Football: One score doesn’t tell the whole story (TNIAAM; Keeley)
Man, we’ve been all over the map this season, haven’t we?
We came into the 2016 Syracuse Orange football season mostly thinking that it was a lost one. We figured we were going to sit through a lot of bad losses with the hope that we come out the better for it in 2017.
After the Louisville and Notre Dame games, we realized “oh my god this is going to be so much worse than we thought.”
Then we beat Virginia Tech and all of a sudden so many things seemed possible. Everything we thought we knew about this team seemed wrong. We were suddenly so close to achieving bowl eligibility that some were poo-pooing the very idea, as if we have that right.
And then we went to Clemson and, good lord, we’re right back where we started.
The really crazy part is that the path to a bowl game is still pretty clear (assuming Eric Dungey is still around to be a part of it). NC State is decent but inconsistent. Pitt is Pitt, falling short of lofty expectations (i.e., Pitt-ing).
Depending on a slew of factors, this Syracuse team could still end up 6-6. Of course, it could easily end up 4-8 as well.
What did I learn from the Clemson game? Aside from the realization that the talent gap between the two schools is astronomical, it was that you’ll drive yourself crazy basing how you feel about this team on a weekly basis. I saw people on Twitter who had been praising Dino and the program after the VT and BC wins calling the program a disaster after the Clemson loss.
It’s good to feel good when SU wins and understandable to feel bad when we lose, but this season just continues to remind us that staying close to the middle is the way to go about it. For now, at least.
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Syracuse would kill for N.C. State’s brand of mediocrity (TNIAAM; Keeley)
When the Syracuse Orange and North Carolina State Wolfpack meet this Saturday, they’ll both be bringing 4-5 records with them. There is a bit of a difference, however, in how both teams arrived at this destination.
Syracuse has had two basic types of games this year. The first, ugly slugfest with occasional offensive outpouring (see: UConn, BC, Wake Forest). The second, obliteration (see: Louisville, Notre Dame, Clemson).
NC State has had it’s share of games that meet that criteria as well. They got the same treatment from Louisville (though to be fair most opponents have). They inexplicably lost to Boston College a few weeks ago, which still requires an explanation. But in terms of shared opponents, they’ve got a leg up on the Orange. They topped Notre Dame 10-3 (man, SU would love to play that game again...). They lost to Clemson by a mere touchdown. They’re also coming off a loss to FSU by just four points in a game they could have won. Some are calling NC State unlucky. Others are taking it further and saying there might be a curse at play.
“We’ve lost a lot of heartbreakers,” said Hines, who finished with a career-high 11 catches for 124 yards. “Every week it seems we’re in a game, and we just keep finding ways to lose instead of winning.”
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Orange Watch: The amazing one season story of Syracuse football's Amba Etta-Tawo - The Juice Online (the juice; Bierman)
Item: While quarterback Greg Paulus may have been the first “name” player to take advantage of the graduate transfer rule to return home in 2009 to join the Syracuse football program for a season while pursuing his Master’s degree at the Newhouse School, following a four year career as a Duke basketball guard, there’s no comparing Paulus’s impact compared to Etta-Tawo’s contributions in his nine games to date of the 2016 schedule. Paulus helped Doug Marrone’s first team significantly with a college veteran’s prescience while Ryan Nassib developed, and completed 68% of his passes for 2,025 yards and 13 touchdowns as the Orange finished 4-8. All Etta-Tawo has done since arriving from Maryland late last spring to finish his eligibility and enroll in the School of Education is catch a 43 yard scoring pass on the first ball Eric Dungey threw his way against Colgate midway through the first quarter of the season opener Sept. 2, and built off that performance in each successive week to already shatter the two most prestigious single season school reception records with three games to play.
Even though it was Ervin Phillips who tied Art Monk’s nearly 40 year ‘Cuse record with 14 catches against the Raiders that steamy Sept. evening in Dino Babers fast-paced offensive debut on The Hill, Etta-Tawo was right behind with 12 receptions that night and he hasn’t let up.
First record to fall in last Saturday’s blowout loss at Clemson was Marvin Harrison’s 1995 season yardage record (1,131) on a 17 yard completion from Austin Wilson in third quarter, and Etta-Tawo now has 1,158 yards through nine games tops in the ACC.
Later, the Biletnikoff Award candidate grabbed his sixth pass against the vaunted Tigers defense to move past the underrated Alec Lemon’s 2012 mark of 72 catches in a season, and after nine receptions versus Clemson he has 75, also leading the conference.
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Sean McDonough on 'MNF' ratings and how Syracuse taught him to handle a tough spot (PS; Axe)
ESPN's Sean McDonough faced a unique challenge when broadcasting a recent Monday Night Football game between the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.
McDonough's brother, Terry, is an executive with the Cardinalsand McDonough had to avoid showing any favoritism for the team he roots for to win in any other circumstance.
McDonough could certainly turn to his 'MNF' partner Jon Gruden for advice on how to handle that. Gruden's brother, Jay, is the head coach of the Washington Redskins and ESPN has done several games with one Gruden in the booth broadcasting the game and one on the field coaching it.
When asked about handling the challenge during a recent interview on ESPN Radio Syracuse ahead of Monday Night's Buffalo Bills-Seattle Seahawks game, McDonough said he was ready for it given the experience the Syracuse University alum has had in broadcasting SU games for ESPN.
"One of the things that is helpful in that regard is doing Syracuse games over the years," McDounough said. "I certainly love Syracuse and want to see the Orange succeed all the time. But when you do one of their games, you have to put that to the side. I think that was good practice for what we did the night of the Arizona Cardinals game."
It also during that Oct.17 Jets-Cardinals game when McDonough had the stand-out moment in his first season as the voice of 'MNF' when he strongly criticized the officiating.
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What we learned from Pack's loss to Florida State (techicianonline.com; Candeloro)
Saturday was the epitome of NC State football over the last four years: play well against a top-tier team just to find a way to lose in the end. The Wolfpack was tantalizingly close against Florida State, falling in heartbreaking fashion 24-20, as the Seminoles scored the game-winning touchdown with just over three minutes left in the game.
The loss drops the Wolfpack to 4-5 (1-4 ACC), as the team lost its fourth-straight game. Here's what we learned from another disappointing result.
1. The offense was inconsistent
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Finley is what he is: a game managing quarterback with a weak arm that will limit mistakes but won't make many big plays. Finley showed his weak arm strength with a poorly thrown jump ball in the red zone that was intercepted on NC State's first possession of the game.
Finley rebounded well to distribute the ball efficiently and effectively over the next two quarters as the Wolfpack offense led the team out to a two-score lead.
Senior running back Matt Dayes was terrific, rushing for 104 yards. Dayes ran hard and protected the football, and he made several plays happen where it seemed he had no running room.
Junior Jaylen Samuels reminded us what happens when he touches the ball, scoring a touchdown on a reverse to put the Pack up 20-10. After that touchdown, however, the Pack offense retracted into its den and disappeared; it couldn't punch it in at the end when it needed to the most.
The Wolfpack scored just six points on three red zone trips which was probably the difference in winning and losing the game.
2. NC State found its kicker
After sophomore kicker Kyle Bambard missed yet another field goal, a 31-yarder in the second quarter, Doeren made the decision to give graduate transfer Connor Haskins another opportunity to win the job. Haskins did not waste the opportunity, making both of his field goal attempts on the day.
‘It’s football’ -- not being dirty (thetasndd.com; Lentz)
Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware walked over to the awaiting media and asked a rhetorical question of himself: “So, what’s it like to be the dirtiest player in the country?”
In Saturday’s 54-0 victory over the Syracuse Orange, Boulware was flagged for a suplex-esque tackle of Syracuse wide receiver Dontae Strickland — in which Boulware grabbed Strickland from behind, picked him up and threw Strickland to the ground in an over-the-shoulder move.
Boulware, however, felt like the takedown — that would have made Ric Flair smile — was completely legal.
“I didn’t think it was illegal,” Boulware said. “It’s football. I’m trying to get him down. That’s why Coach (Dabo) Swinney was so mad. I’m trying to tackle him, and the way that I tackled him people are going to freak out about, but he’s trying to get extra yards and I’m not going to allow him to get extra yards.
“He was trying to get extra yards, and I’m behind him. I’m not just going to let him go. I’ve got to get him down in some way, and I’m behind him, so I’m trying to pull him back.”
The flag that was thrown was for “unsportsmanlike conduct.” But had it not been for a reputation that has been placed on Boulware through the first eight games of the season, the penalty may have not been called.
Boulware first received the unfavorable moniker of being a “dirty” player following the Louisville game, during which replay cameras showed him appearing to choke quarterback Lamar Jackson after making a tackle.
Boulware disputed the claim after the game. “I was just trying to pull him down. If he thought it was a dirty play, I definitely apologize. I was just trying to get him down.”
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Clemson Shuts Out Syracuse: 1st Quarter Film Review (shakinthesouthland.com; Craft)
Military Appreciation Day is the best game of the year, no matter the opponent. I can even stomach the purple for it (but still won’t wear it myself, hate all you want). I had never seen/heard A-10s in person and to hear those engines at the conclusion of the anthem was the highlight of my day...only to be outdone by the skydiving Tiger mascot minutes later. A beautifully done production from start to finish.
Finally, a game which proceeded as it should have! No drama, plenty of reps for backups, and no serious injuries...barely. The one critique on the entire day is of course the decision to run a wildcat package for Kelly Bryant in the first half. A year ago against Syracuse, a Bryant carry and fumble turned a quick 14-0 lead into a close game. This year, two Bryant no-gainers result in a 3rd & 10 when Deshaun Watson goes back in at quarterback, who then has to scramble for a first down and ultimately hurts his throwing shoulder on a hard tackle.
I’m all for Bryant getting reps, but save it for the second half. There’s no need to get cute like that in the first half when your Heisman hopeful is playing the best game of his season, and frankly, needs big stats to catch up with Lamar Jackson (if possible) in the race. Luckily the injury wasn’t serious and Watson could’ve returned, but there’s still no reason to 1) show it on film against Syracuse or 2) take Watson away from the quarterback position before his day is done. This was the best Watson looked all season, and it’s a shame his day was cut shorter than it otherwise would’ve been.
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ACC football power rankings: Week 11 (tomahawknation.com; Weiler)
Week 10 proved to be full of chalk in the Atlantic Coast Conference as the favored team won in each of the conference’s seven matchups over the weekend. How did the lack of upsets affect this week’s power rankings? Let’s take a look to find out:
1.Clemson (9-0, 6-0, no change from last week)
To say it was a cakewalk may be an understatement as the Tigers steamrolled the visiting Syracuse team 54-0. Quarterback Deshaun Watson did not play in the second half after suffering a shoulder injury in the first half but he was confident after the game that he will be ready to go come Saturday.
Next up: Clemson stays at home this week, this time welcoming in a Pitt team looking to pull the upset in Death Valley.
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9. NC State (4-5, 1-4, up two spots from last week)
NC State is a missed chip-shot field goal and a dropped interception away from being 6-3 with wins over Clemson and Florida State. Instead, the Wolfpack is on a four-game losing streak and is behind the eight ball in its pursuit of the ever-important six wins.
Next up: NCSU faces an intriguing test this weekend as the Pack travels to New York for a matchup with Syracuse, another team on the verge of six wins.
10. Syracuse (4-5, 2-3, down one spot from last week)
Bad news: Syracuse put up absolutely zero resistance in a 54-0 trouncing at the hands of Clemson.
Worse news: Cuse starting QB Eric Dungey left the loss with an injury and his status for this week remains unknown at this point.
Next up: The Orange will look to get back to .500 at home this weekend when NC State, a fellow 4-5 team, comes to town.
Other
Barnes Hiscock Mansion hosts 'Nightmare B4 Xmas' feast for foodies, fashion lovers (PS; Tulloch)
Halloween may be over, but the creative chefs and fashionistas of Central New York aren't ready to give up their penchant for horror just yet.
This weekend, Syracuse Fashion Week will host "Nightmare B4 Xmas," a fashion show, fundraiser and five-course dinner at the historic Barnes Hiscock Mansion.
The feast will be paired with local or regional wine and beer selections, to complement the seasonal dinner courses. Each course will be cooked by a different chef from Central New York: Jason Jessmore, Kevin Gentile of Georgio's Village Cafe, Matt Riddett of Empire Brewing Company, Dick Benedetto of Smoke Incorporated BBQ and Michael Speach of Speach Family Candy.
Models will wear couture fashions inspired by the iconic 1993 film "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Danielle Bianco, a committee member of Syracuse Fashion Week, said the costumed characters will mingle with guests, in character.
Expect to see Jack the Pumpkin King (Jack Skellington), Sally the rag doll, Doctor Finklestein, the Mayor of Halloween Town, Oogie Boogie and more.
"We're dragging out Santa in a sack, just like the movie," said Bianco.
