sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Dinosaur Day!
Today we celebrate those large, extinct reptiles: dinosaurs. Scientists believe they first appeared about 245 million years ago, at the beginning of the Middle Triassic Epoch, and existed for about 180 million years, going extinct about 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous Period. The period when they lived is called the Mesozoic Era. During this time they went through many changes, and various species of dinosaurs replaced other species. Some dinosaurs were bipedal, meaning they walked on two legs, and some were quadrupedal, meaning they walked on all fours. Some switched back and forth. Some were covered with feathers, while others had what was almost like body armor. Some ran fast, and others were slow; most were herbivores, but some were carnivores. There were at least 700 species of dinosaurs, and possibly more than 1,000.
There were big biotic changes at the end of the Cretaceous Period, and many other animals and plants died at that time as well. There are many theories as to why dinosaurs died out, including disease, heat waves, cold spells, changing sea levels, a large amount of volcanic activity, the emergence of egg-eating mammals, or from X-rays from an exploding supernova. One other common theory is that an asteroid smashed to earth, spread ash widely, and shifted the earth's climate. However, it is not believed that all dinosaurs died out at the same time. Rather, it is believed they had been declining during the last part of the Cretaceous Period. Scientists also believe that some dinosaurs may have evolved into birds.
SU News
Holy Cross Crusaders — 2019 Syracuse Football preview - The Juice Online (the juice; Cheng)
As we countdown to kickoff in August, we’re going to be doing a team-by-team preview each week over the summer. SU will continue its homestand when Holy Cross comes to the Carrier Dome on Sept. 28.
AN UP-AND-DOWN SEASON
Bob Chesney has a reputation for building programs.
At Div. III Sale Regina, his record improved in each of his three seasons with the Seahawks, going 6-4, 8-3 and 9-2 in 2012, winning the New England Football Conference.
He then took the head coaching position at Div. II Assumption, going 6-5 in his first season before winning seven in his second and 11 in his third year. He stayed five years at Assumption, amassing a 44-16 record and three trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Chesney was hired as the 28th head coach of Holy Cross for the 2018 season, following the dismissal of 14th-year head coach Tom Gilmore after he started 2-5 in 2017.
There was a predictable learning curve for the Crusaders, as they stumbled to a 1-6 start, their lone win over Yale.
But Holy Cross reeled off four wins to close the season against Lehigh, Lafayette, Fordham and Georgetown, and finished tied for second in the Patriot League with a 4-2 conference record.
Given his head coaching track record, the Crusaders figure to improve on their record in 2019, buoyed by a new 64,000-square foot indoor practice facility.
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FSU Football: Fans react to Deondre Francois reportedly going to FAU (chopchat.com; Hunt)
Former FSU football quarterback Deondre Francois apparently has a new home since being dismissed from the program a couple of months ago.
Former FSU football quarterback Deondre Francois will apparently be walking on to play football this fall at Florida Atlantic University according to reports.
Francois was dismissed from FSU earlier this year after a video surfaced that brought to light a possible domestic incident.
It wasn’t the first incident he had experienced off the field and his performance on the field in 2018 left a lot to be desired.
However, everyone deserves an opportunity to get back on track and that’s apparently what FAU head coach Lane Kiffin is providing.
Francois is expected to compete for the starting job among other players currently on the roster.
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Syracuse Football: NCAA football video game is making a comeback (itlh; Esden Jr)
The NCAA video game has passed the first step of a potential comeback. Here’s why you could be playing with the Syracuse football squad soon!
The last time you picked up your video game controller and played with the Syracuse football squad was NCAA Football 14. You probably took it for granted because you assumed that NCAA Football 15 would come out the following Fall, but it didn’t.
“Lawsuits over athlete likeness, including the landmark proceedings of Ed O’Bannon, ended the game’s circulation with the 2014 version. The courts ruled EA Sports had used athlete likeness without permission or compensation. EA Sports eventually paid out $60 million in settlements to athletes who appeared in its games between 2003-14,” per Chris Hummer of 247 Sports.
The video game never said you were playing with Ryan Nassib, but we all knew you were. His name may have been “Douglas Rogers” on the video game but he had the same height, weight, and specific garments of Nassib.
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Syracuse Basketball: NCAA must allow name, image and likeness options (itlh; Adler)
The NCAA absolutely has to let student-athletes at Syracuse and other schools around the country profit off their name, image, and likeness.
Take note, Syracuse basketball student-athletes and others: the NCAA, an organization criticized often by many folks including yours truly, have formed a group that will “examine issues highlighted in recently proposed federal and state legislation related to student-athlete name, image, and likeness,” according to a press release from the NCAA.
While I imagine that we’re still nowhere close to student-athletes at Syracuse and academic institutions elsewhere in the United States actually having the ability to receive compensation from their name, image, and likeness, I guess that this NCAA “working group” is a small step in the right direction.
I should act in an upfront manner as it pertains to this topic. Number one, I believe that the NCAA is a joke of an organization. Secondly, it’s absolutely ridiculous, in my humble opinion, that student-athletes can’t presently make money off their name, image, and likeness.
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100 Greatest Plays In Miami History: #95-Sean Taylor Fake-punt Touchdown Against Syracuse In 2002 (stateofhteu.com; Thomas)
Sean Taylor was one of the greatest ever to put on a Miami Hurricanes jersey, and for three seasons he gave us some of the most memorable moments in UM history.
One of those moments came towards the end of the 2002 season. Taylor and the number-one ranked Hurricanes were running roughshod over everyone in their path, and a November matchup brought Miami to upstate New York to take on Syracuse.
The game was over pretty much from the start, and the Orangemen were simply overwhelmed by the defending national champions from Coral Gables.
With under six minutes to go and up 35-7, Canes punter Freddie Capshaw lined up on a 4th-and-21, with everyone in attendance expecting a Miami punt. However, Capshaw faked the kick, and threw a slant to Taylor over the middle, who then took it the distance for a touchdown.
pic.twitter.com/l7pqdFC51A
— Caleb Smith 2019 All Star (@hurricanesmarsh) May 20, 2019
While the Syracuse fans greeted the play with a chorus of boos, us as Miami fans will always look at this highlight and smile.
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College football's 10 biggest wildcard teams in 2019 (247sports.com; Crawford)
Three months away from the start of college football season, there's still time to opine on potential sleepers and unexpected letdown teams within the Power 5.
The onslaught of preseason polls since January have already provided an early glimpse at which teams make up the title contenders and the others just outside the top-tier who could be a few breaks away from being difference-makers down the stretch.
But what about those teams not on the tip of everyone's tongues during talking season?
Here's a look at 10 programs — some ranked in the preseason polls and others not — who could surprise or just as easily disappoint this fall:
WISCONSIN
The Badgers could toss a wrench in the College Football Playoff race if they can bounce back from last season's disappointing 8-5 finish by program standards. FBS leading rusher Jonathan Taylor returns as the leading Doak Walker candidate and potential Heisman darkhorse, but he'll go for the 2,000-yard mark behind an offensive line featuring four new starters and be expected to take some of the pressure off first-year starter Jack Coan at quarterback. Wisconsin only leaves Madison once before mid-October and that slate includes matchups vs. Michigan and Michigan State. We'll know if Paul Chryst's team is legitimate Top 20 material by the midseason point prior to a showdown at Ohio State on Oct. 26.
SYRACUSE
After being picked to finish last in the preseason media poll in 2018, the Orange went went 9-3 before winning their 10th game in the postseason to finish second behind Clemson in the ACC's Atlantic Division. Once again, Syracuse played the Tigers tough and this time around, get Dabo Swinney's team inside the Carrier Dome in a Week 3 prime-time affair. Weapons surround new starting quarterback Tommy DeVito, but this team's strength comes along the defensive line where nearly every major contributor returns including Kendall Coleman and Alton Robinson — who combined for 20 sacks last season. The Orange recorded a program-record 43 sacks last season, which ranked seventh-most in college football.
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Los Angeles Chargers undrafted rookie spotlight: Koda Martin (boltbeat.com; Wakeman)
The Los Angeles Chargers tried to bring in as many options for the offensive line as they could.
In addition to drafting Trey Pipkins, the team brought in three undrafted free agents. One of those players was Koda Martin, a well-traveled football player.
Born in Texas, Martin went to Texas A&M to play football for the Aggies. While there, he met and entered into a relationship with Jazzmin Babers, who was a player on the Texas A&M volleyball team. She is also the daughter of Dino Babers, head coach at Syracuse.
Prior to his senior year, Martin transferred to Syracuse after Babers hired his father to be the quarterbacks coach for the Orange. Jazzmin came along to make it a true family affair.
Martin actually started his college career at tight end before being transitioned to the offensive line. He played both left tackle and right tackle and in his lone year at Syracuse, he started every game at right tackle.
He comes to a Chargers team that will be looking for quality depth along the offensive line. He likely projects best at the next level as a guard. Most teams usually like to keep around eight offensive linemen on the 53-man roster. If the Chargers keep eight, Martin could easily be in the mix.
Chance to make final roster (1-10 scale): 4
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History proves that Miami’s path to greatness begins in Chapel Hill, not Orlando (stateoftheu.com; Forrest)
The return to glory for the University of Miami’s football program won’t stem from knocking out the heavyweights on its schedule, it begins by surviving the upset bids of the basketball schools inside the ACC’s Coastal Division.
Not so long ago, The U was on the verge of greatness under head coach Mark Richt, who in his first season at the helm guided his alma mater to its first bowl game victory in a decade. The Richt-era continued to make tremendous strides in year-two with the birth of the Turnover Chain, 10-straight victories and a No. 2 ranking. The 2017 campaign peaked with losing-streak halting victories at Florida State and vs Notre Dame, but big picture-wise, those rivalry wins were simply window-dressing on the Canes’ ultimate goal: A return to national prominence.
Pitt ends the Mark Richt honeymoon phase
With an undefeated regular season 60 minutes away, Lady Luck departed the Orange and Green in a 24-14 loss on a chilly afternoon in Pittsburgh. Eight days later, injuries and an inconsistent offense reared its head against a superior Clemson squad during an ugly loss in Charlotte. Fast-forward three weeks to the Capital One Orange Bowl where the Canes were unable to slow Wisconsin and its inconsistent quarterback, Alex Hornibrook, who resembled his in-state NFL counterpart, Aaron Rodgers, while equaling a career-high with four touchdown passes in a 34-24 victory, ending Miami’s season on a three-game skid and relegating its starving fan base into finger-pointing-mode, reminiscent of the previous three coaching regimes.
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What if everything had gone according to plan? (RX; HM)
GUEST ARTICLE: What if everything had gone according to plan? by MSTiger
According to BigEastCoastBias, Virginia Tech took Syracuse's spot in 2003. As in, they literally took their spot in the conference and division alignment. This is something I'm sure all VT fans have considered. I've just always been glad the conference added more football oriented schools at each expansion step.
Just like UofL was inserted for Maryland, it seems that the division setup was already decided and VT was just inserted for Syracuse when plans changed.
So if expansion went as planned at each phase you would have had Cuse, Miami, and BC in the first round for these divisions.
ACC
FSU - Miami
Clemson - GT
NC State - UNC
Wake Forest - Duke
BC - Syracuse
Maryland - UVA
This seems like the intended zipper from the very beginning. You might say, "Oh ok well then VT and Pitt would have been next on the list". NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND! Remember, this was all about TV markets - and the ACC already had Virginia. For this reason, the league would likely never have considered VT as a primary target. So what was the plan and how would it have panned out?
I believe VT was (and probably still is) a target for the SEC. VT and NC State have been rumored targets for a long time. I contend that VT could be in the SEC right now over Missouri had Virginia politics not gotten involved back in 2003. Here is what the SEC would look like.
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Links, News and Rumors - 5/21/19 (RX; HM)
The future of the College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff hits middle-age this season. Where does it go from here?
On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, ESPN's Heather Dinich joins AP's Ralph Russo to discuss the future of the postseason system used to crown a champion. The four-team playoff turns six this season, reaching the halfway point of a 12-year contract with ESPN.
Expansion seems inevitable, but when? And why?
Dinich explains the many obstacles to expansion and the array of logistics that would need to be worked out by conference commissioners to grow the playoff field. Plus, why the toughest part might be getting university presidents to sign off on any changes.
Also, are there any dark horses to break into the field this year?
Listen at PodcastOne: AP Top 25 College Football Podcast
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Clarification on ACC RSNs (RX; HM)
Ugh. The incompetent production, the clueless announcers and Mellow Mushroom commercials are going to be around a while longer...
Clarification on ACC RSNs
Ok, things are coming together a little more now...
ACC RSN games are going to stick around thru 2026-27. That athletic year became the end of the ACC rights deal when it was extended due to the additions of Pitt & Syracuse. When ACCN was announced, ACC rights agreement added 10 more years, but the RSN agreement wasn't extended. https://t.co/OGvNQLFRK5
— Matt Sarzyniak (mattsarz) May 17, 2019
Raycom will still handle the production of the RSN telecasts
Raycom takes new role as ACC Network plans to debut Raycom takes new role as ACC Network plans to debut via @NewsandRecord
— Josh Strickland (@StrickIand) May 17, 2019
So the RSN contract runs through 2026-27 and ESPN farmed out production of those games to Raycom (that makes a little more sense!)
Ownership of two high-end production trucks along with its longtime relationship with the league and ESPN made it the perfect partner to continue working behind the scenes
From Raycom Takes On a New Role
I don't know about you, but this makes me feel a little better about the whole deal.
Syracuse University Receives $1 Million from Lilly Endowment to Develop Faith Leaders for the Contemporary Era (syr.edu)
Syracuse University has received a five-year, $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry. The program is a collaboration with Le Moyne College and is part of Lilly Endowment’s Thriving in Ministry Initiative. Additional information for the program, including application for potential participants, can be found at parttime.syr.edu/fellowship-for-emerging-leaders-in-ministry/.
The Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Ministry program will be led by the Rev. Brian E. Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University, and the Rev. David McCallum, S.J., vice president for mission integration and development at Le Moyne College. The program will strive to spark innovation and transformation through a diversity of mission-driven faith communities in Central New York and beyond by helping leaders—both clergy and lay—to have a greater impact.
The goals of the program are to provide knowledge and skills for innovative leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, team building and community building; to nurture self-awareness and ongoing spiritual development; to increase effectiveness and a sense of accomplishment; to share educational and other relevant resources; and to raise the level of vocational fulfillment.
“Emerging leaders from an assortment of denominations are often filled with energy and excitement, yet later find themselves at a difficult crossroads, and in turn seek clarity around their personal and professional trajectory,” Konkol says. “This fellowship program will not only bring together a diverse collection of ministry leaders, but as an expression of our mission at Syracuse University, our collective intention is to cultivate innovation and transform the communities in which these leaders serve.”
Lilly Endowment is making more than $70 million in grants through its Thriving in Ministry Initiative. Syracuse University is one of 78 organizations nationwide to receive a grant through the initiative. “Syracuse University and Le Moyne College are uniquely positioned to support the ministry of emerging faith leaders,” says McCallum. “This program speaks directly to Le Moyne’s vision of enhancing its service to the wider community and represents yet another strong and meaningful collaborative partnership between the two institutions.”
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Other
Jason Alexander throws out first pitch at Syracuse Mets game
