sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to World Sjögren's Day!
Today we commemorate Dr. Henrik Sjögren, a Swedish ophthalmologist who was born on today's date in 1899. In 1933, he identified what became known as Sjögren's Syndrome. Sjögren’s (pronounced SHOW-grins) Syndrome is an autoimmune inflammatory disease where white blood cells attack moisture-producing glands. Its main symptoms include dry eyes and mouth, fatigue, and joint pain. It may also cause dysfunction in other organs. Although it is a lesser known disease, which is oftentimes misdiagnosed because symptoms vary, about 4 million American suffer from it. There is not yet a cure for it, but serious complications can be prevented, and quality of life can be improved, by early diagnosis and proper treatment. Besides commemorating Dr. Sjögren, the day is for spreading awareness about the disease, and for recognizing advancements that have been made regarding it. The Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation (SSF) and other Sjögren's organizations are behind the celebrations of the day.
SU News
Orange Watch: For Syracuse football, it’s time to turn post season corner - The Juice Online (the juice; Bierman)
Item: In a conference filled with national title contenders, an array of multi-dimensional head coaches and annual fierce recruiting battles for Power 5 talent, Syracuse football finds itself in an interesting position entering Dino Babers pivotal third season. SU has its most talented, deep, and experienced roster in Babers tenure, now it’s time to piece together the victories.
Charlotte, N.C. – While the point of emphasis about the goal of winning every football game on the schedule was repeated often by the Syracuse contingent at this past week’s 2018 ACC Football Kickoff event, the fact remains that a minimum of six victories is needed to qualify and have the league office ensure the Orange of a landing spot among the 12 potential bowl bids that are already locked in for this season.
Despite the prescience of Florida State and Clemson in September, and the chance to knock off another one of the ACC big boys from their perch, it’s the three non-conference games against Western Michigan, Wagner, and Connecticut that are the must-wins to get halfway to the bowl minimum.
“We’ve had outstanding Septembers, and we’ve had outstanding Octobers to put ourselves into position to make some noise and have a special story when all is said and done, we just haven’t finished strong,” Babers said in Charlotte. “For us to have the success that we want to have at Syracuse, we have to find a way to finish in November.”
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Moe Neal — Meet the 2018 Syracuse Football team - The Juice Online (the juice; Cheng)
Over the summer, The Juice Online will be featuring players on the 2018 Syracuse football team as we countdown to kickoff. Today, The Juice Online looks at running back Moe Neal.
If you compare a photo of Moe Neal from his freshman year in 2016 to how he looks today, you would notice a big difference.
“He came in a little bit small but he’s been really putting on weight,” quarterback Eric Dungey said during ACC Kickoff. “Moe has really transformed his body.”
Neal has been one of SU’s most dedicated players in the gym, and the difference is showing. He arrived in 2016 at a spindly 169 pounds. He’s now listed at 191.
“Every week in the weight room he’s been PR’ing, whether it’s bench squat or hang clean,” Dungey said. “He can do a lot. He’s very fast, very quick, and he’s very savvy.”
In his first two years on campus, Neal has proven himself as one of Syracuse’s most versatile players.
In 24 games, he’s rushed for 845 yards and three touchdowns on 163 carries and has also caught 14 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown. The first rush of his career resulted in a 49-yard score.
In spring practices, Neal lined up at receiver, helping out a group that lacks experience and depth. But he has completed a full transition to running back, where he’s No. 2 on the depth chart behind Dontae Strickland.
The added weight should help keep Neal’s production against the bigger, stronger players in the ACC, especially as the season gets into November.
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This wasn't the 'fun' Iowa-Syracuse game, this was the Orange crushing (thegazette.com; Morehouse)
Three cool things:
1. Oh, finally an in to talk about tight end Tony Moeaki.
Injuries are certainly a part of his story at Iowa. It’s the title of the book, actually. On one play against Wisconsin in 2007, Moeaki suffered a dislocated elbow and broken hand. On the same play. There was a broken left foot that never completely healed and eventually led to hamstring and calf problems. There were concussions. At least two.
Without the injuries, Moeaki probably goes down as one of Iowa’s best tight ends. That’s saying something.
He was a quiet guy and not easy to interview. When it came time to sum up his injury history, he caught my attention.
“I think when I broke my foot, I think for one day I was a little pissed off,” he said. “But I’ve been fortunate. The injuries haven’t been too severe. I think I’ve played in every season. So, it hasn’t been too bad.”
Let’s not dwell on the “could’ve.” Moeaki played seven years in the NFL, playing 11 games with the Falcons in 2015.
He was a Mormon with Tongan heritage strained through the Chicago suburbs. Let’s face it, in Iowa City, Moeaki was a stranger in a strangeland, at least at the beginning.
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NCAA Football 13 Mascot Mashup Gameplay Akron Zips vs. Syracuse Orange
FSU Football: Willie Taggart getting respect from rival ACC coach (chopchat.com; Parker)
FSU football will have a new leader on the sidelines this season, and one of the big name coaches in the conference is singing his praises.
In just over a month (thank goodness it isn’t longer than that), the Willie Taggart era will officially begin for the FSU football program when the new head coach of the Seminoles leads the team in their first game – a Labor Day showdown with the Virginia Tech Hokies that could set the tone for the 2018 seasons as a whole.
For Taggart, it will be a chance to live out his lifelong dream to be a Seminole – while, at the same point, prove critics wrong that look at his 47-50 overall record and say he may be in over his head after just one season at a Power Five program from spending 2017 as the head coach of the Oregon Ducks.
While some may not be sold on what Taggart has been able to do (basically turn every place he has coached around to a winning program in very little time at all), that is not a problem with those in the ACC who will face FSU football this season – including the winning coach of the last three conference champs.
During ACC Kickoff last week, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney had plenty of praise for the coach he will battle on October 27th inside Doak Campbell Stadium.
“Obviously with Florida State, with Willie coming in there, I think he’s a great fit for Florida State, and he’s a winner. He’s won everywhere he’s been. No real reason to think that he’s not going to get them going. This is a job where he’s got really all the resources to be successful, and I don’t have any doubt he will. They’ve always got players, always got talent. So very, very difficult.”
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Sapakoff: Venables' cash, Saban’s big board and more SEC, ACC takeaways (postandcourier.com; Sapakoff)
Ten takeaways from SEC Media Days and ACC Football Kickoff with just six weeks to go before the first Saturday of actual college football:
1. Clemson’s Brent Venables deal is ridiculous, and shrewd. So the going rate for a top-notch defensive coordinator is a record-$11.6 million over five years? Absurd, considering Clemson, lacking room for students to live on campus, pushes them into expensive off-campus leases while they (or their parents) are saddled with the tuition debt young people (or their parents) must grapple with for decades.
And Venables might be the most valuable assistant coach in college sports.
2. Nick Saban has another big board. Of course, the detail-obsessed Saban makes sure Alabama has a thorough recruiting analysis system. But Saban in Atlanta also revealed he keeps a list of active college coaches, tracking “who are the best people developing at every position out there regardless of what level they are coaching at in terms of their ability to coach players, teach players, have success in leadership roles, whether it’s offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, whatever it might be. And who are the best recruiters.”
Saban has six new assistant coaches this season.
3. Larry Fedora wins the Preseason Idiot Award. Football “under attack” as America declines? Questioning CTE data? Sure, the sport has contributed much to society: work ethic, teamwork, meritocracy, entertainment … And some of what Fedora said about continuing safety efforts made sense.
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One-stop shopping for ACC Kickoff coverage (dailypress.com; Teel)
The annual ACC Kickoff is information overload. Over two days, 28 players, 14 head coaches and commissioner John Swofford endure a media carwash that would test anyone’s patience.
But for those invested in ACC football, the event is invaluable, providing insight and occasional humor regarding the season at hand. Lest you missed any of our coverage, here’s a one-stop shopping opportunity, with stories and columns from our team.
Norm Wood is entering his 19th season covering Virginia Tech football for the Daily Press; David Hall began chronicling Virginia for the Virginian-Pilot, our sister outlet in Norfolk, last season.
Me? I just tried to stay out of their way. So without further ado, links to our Kickoff coverage (see what I did there?):
Safe to say, Josh Jackson, the Hokies’ incumbent quarterback, has had a curious offseason, and Norm found him as calm and confident as ever.
Virginia senior Chris Peace, a graduate of Newport News’ Denbigh High, led ACC linebackers last season with 7½ sacks, but Cavaliers coach Bronco Mendenhall wants more this season: leadership.
“He does not want the spotlight, he does not want to speak in front of people and he doesn’t want to be out front,” Mendenhall said. “But he’s learning — at least for this team, this program, at this time — if he doesn’t, who else? And we need him to, so this is part of his training.”
David wrote the story.
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Other
'SNL' star Pete Davidson does surprise standup comedy show for CNY charity (PS; Herbert)
Live from Central New York, it's Saturday night!
"Saturday Night Live" star Pete Davidson performed at a surprise standup comedy show at the former A.V. Zogg Middle School in Liverpool, N.Y., to benefit a local charity. The event was announced just hours in advance through social media: A "free pop-up show" Saturday night at the school, which is now the home of Syracuse Studios and the setting for a new movie that Davidson is filming under the production company American High.
Two people who attended the show told syracuse.com that a huge crowd turned out for the show, which featured three standup comedians: Dave Sirus, Joey Gay and Davidson. Attendees were not allowed to bring in cell phones, and no photography or media was allowed.
Admission for the show ended up costing $10 per person, with proceeds going to benefit Regan's Acts of Kindness, which aims to spread kindness and smiles. Mark and Kelly Shetsky began the charity last year after Regan, their 3-year-old daughter, was hit and killed by a car in the parking lot of her Syracuse nursery school.
A film producer told one of the attendees who spoke with syracuse.com that the fundraiser was put together quickly after Davidson suggested a pop-up show. The Shetskys' house in Liverpool is being used for the film production.
"Pete was really touched by Regan's story. Pete's dad was a FDNY firefighter who died on 9/11 and Mark is a Syracuse firefighter. He also realized that Regan died on his dad's birthday. Our interaction was profound...touching for all of us," Regan's Acts of Kindness wrote on Instagram. "Pete proudly wore Regan's Be Kind shirt and said his fiancee Ariana Grande will love her shirt... Truly amazing."
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