sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to St Nicholas Day!
St. Nicholas Day celebrates St. Nicholas, a popular minor Christian saint in Western and Eastern churches. In the fourth century, he was a bishop in Myra, a Greek town in the ancient district of Lycia, in Asia Minor, near present-day Demre, Turkey. The story of much of his life is not based on historical evidence, but on traditional stories and legends. It is believed that he was born in Patara, a seaport in Lycia, and that he traveled to Palestine and Egypt before coming to Myra. He was imprisoned for his beliefs by Roman Emperor Diocletian but was freed by Constantine the Great. He is believed to have been at the first council of Nicaea, and there are many legends that say he performed miracles for the poor. He was known for giving gifts and putting coins in people's shoes, and this influenced the way he is celebrated, as well as how other traditions during the Christmas season are celebrated.
St. Nicholas was buried in his church in Myra, and over the next few centuries, pilgrims began coming to his shrine. In 1087, his remains were stolen and taken to Bari, Italy. This increased his popularity in Europe, and Bari became a popular pilgrimage site. Most of his remains are still at the Basilica of San Nicola in Bari. His popularity continued to rise during the Middle Ages, but disappeared in most places except the Netherlands during the Reformation. His popularity has come back in Europe, and he has since become the patron saint of many places and people.
SU News
https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/journalnow.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial//fc/ffcd530e-17f5-11ea-9bf2-536062a726af/5de9fc8bec9a4.image.jpg?resize=750%2C402
My Take On Wake film review: A cruel ending, but at least not the final chapter (journalnow.com; O'Neill)
Just a little late on posting this one. Sorry, it’s been a hell of a week.
Here’s what I picked up on while re-watching the game:
• I’m writing this in here now — it’s Friday afternoon. I wish I had been doing film reviews in the 2017 season. The Louisville, Syracuse and N.C. State games would’ve been freaking rollercoasters.
And doing one for the Belk Bowl might’ve set the record for longest film review ever.
• First game of the season, I think, for this broadcasting crew — Tom Werme, James Bates and Kelsey Wingert.
• The Tommy DeVito injury situation … I mean, you can’t even tell what foot was injured, his ankles are taped so heavily. Weird. If I recall, last time Wake Forest was at Syracuse there was some strange situation with Eric Dungey being hurt and possibly playing or not playing.
• Boogie Basham was on the first kickoff coverage unit. I couldn’t believe that.
Boogie Basham is kickoff coverage.
— Conor O'Neill (@ConorONeillWSJ) November 30, 2019
• Clayton Welch’s first throw made me think Wake Forest wasn’t going to allow a first down while he was in the game. It’s a lob on an 8-yard sideline out that’s the easiest PBU in Essang Bassey’s career.
• Nice second-down tackle by Ryan Smenda Jr., who’s now the leading tackler. He has 72, Justin Strnad’s season ended at 69.
• Bates with the jinx, saying Wake Forest doesn’t turn the ball over (five times) or commit penalties (seven for 61 yards, one shy of season-high for number and tied the season high for yardage).
• Sterling Hofrichter is the best punter in the ACC. Don’t get fooled by average distance.
• Really strong 8-yard run by Jamie Newman to start Wake Forest’s first drive.
• The walk-up QB sneak is executed perfectly — at least one of the defensive tackles isn’t even in his three-technique at the snap.
• Great blocking on the edge by Nate Gilliam for Cade Carney’s 8-yard run on first down.
So, back-to-back 8-yard runs on first down. That would’ve been nice to sustain. I’ve got Wake Forest calling 14 designed first-down runs for the rest of the game and gaining 36 yards — about 2.6 yards per play. The only one that went at least 8 yards was a 12-yard run by Kenneth Walker III on the first play of a drive in the second quarter.
“It never felt that we really consistently ran the ball well today,” Coach Dave Clawson said. “It seemed like 3- and 4-yard plays were tough plays for us.”
You wouldn’t have expected that coming off of 334 yards against Duke in the previous game.
• 30-yard pass down the seam from Newman to Jack Freudenthal, and the first thing I notice is how calmly Newman maneuvers the pocket. Syracuse blitzes and he navigates away from pressure/contact, drills Freudenthal down the middle.
• Almost a hell of a catch by Freudenthal for a touchdown, or at least to the 1-yard line, on third-and-8. Newman barely missed the throw.
• Nick Sciba is money.
• Kenneth III goes down on the ensuing kickoff and that’s the first injury blow of the half.
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Can SU basketball be fixed? SU football’s offseason plan (video) (PS; video; Axe)
On a new episode of “Orange Weekly,” syracuse.com’s Brent Axe and Mike Waters try to find a fix for Syracuse basketball’s recent issues amid the worst start in the Jim Boeheim era.
Nate Mink joins the show as well to go over the offseason plan for Dino Babers and the Syracuse football team.
You can watch “Orange Weekly” in the YouTube video above.
Syracuse football: 4 offseason questions after SU's dismal 2019 D&C; Johnson)
By ending the season with a 39-30 upset over Wake Forest, Syracuse was able to end its football season on a positive note.
Despite all of the disappointments— such as the blowout loss to a 3-9 Maryland team or the beatdown from Boston College (which just fired its coach)— the 5-7 record the Orange finished with is the program's second best since 2013.
That should tell you all you need to know about the state of the program the latter half of this decade. So even though Syracuse fell from 10 wins to 5, Dino Babers can still sell signs of progress.
Whether or not supporters believe in that will largely depend on offseason moves Babers will have to consider.
This is a very important time for Syracuse. No one in the conference is about to catch Clemson, who could have an all-time recruiting class, but moving up the pecking order in the Atlantic Division is still possible.
However, if Florida State and BC both land solid hires, think James Franklin or Mike Norvell for the Seminoles, then Syracuse's path back from the cellar to the top will only become more difficult.
Here are four questions for Syracuse in the offseason:
Who will be the next defensive coordinator?
Brian Ward was fired as Syracuse University's defensive coordinator/linebackers coach following a loss to Boston College, which rolled up a school-record 691 yards. (Photo: Syracuse Athletics)
Babers made the tough decision to let Brian Ward go after the defense allowed the most rushing yards in school history to Boston College. The Orange defense was opportunistic during the 10-win 2018 campaign as it racked up sacks, turnovers and was solid on third down.
However, this year the unit greatly underachieved despite returning talented playmakers like Andre Cisco, Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman. Coleman and Robinson will be gone, but Cisco, Trill Williams and Ifeatu Melifonwu should be back. In other words, the next defensive coordinator will have talent at his disposal, especially in the secondary.
Interim coordinator Steve Stanard had a solid showing against Duke, but if he's the next choice then it probably means Babers was turned down by his top candidates. NunesMagician— the SB Nation Syracuse team site— suggested Navy's Nate Mink, Buffalo's Brian Borland or UAB's David Reeves could be potential targets.
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Thank You For Everything (soundcloud.com; podcast)
Today I have ended the podcast. I am pursing coaching full time and I need to slowly wind down the pod. It kills me to say, but I loved every minute and I cannot wait to make everyone proud moving forward. I am an orange man and I love the Orange. I can't wait to take the sidelines and climb another mountain.
Behind Enemy Lines: ACC Championship Game Preview with Shakin’ the Southland (streakingthelawn.com; Wiley)
for gbo
In the lead-up to the Virginia Cavaliers’ tilt with the Clemson Tigers in Saturday’s ACC Championship Game, we got a Clemson insider’s perspective from Ryan Kantor of Shakin’ the Southland. Be sure to check out our answers to STS’s questions as well over on their site!
STL: This is Clemson’s fifth straight ACC Championship Game appearance, and sixth in the past nine years. The Tigers enter the game on a 27-game win streak, to boot. What would you say has been the driving factor in Clemson’s consistent dominance the past five years generally, and for the past two specifically?
STS: Within the ACC, Clemson has dominated for a variety of reasons. It starts with culture, which Dabo has carefully crafted. After Clemson’s 6-7 2010 season, then AD Terry Don Phillips told Coach Swinney he was never more confident in him than he was then. They were building a culture. Clemson won their first division title the next season.
The workplace culture for the coaching staff is extremely family friendly. Coaches are encouraged to arrange their schedules to make sure they watch their kids play high school sports. They can bring their young children to the facility at times. Some of the coaches even have kids on the team, including DC Brent Venables who has his son Jake playing and really contributing as an above-average backup linebacker. This culture has helped maintain coaching continuity. That continuity helps recruiting. Clemson has the #2 2020 class per Rivals. No other ACC team is in the top 10. That staff is also really good schematically. Having the best players and coaches in the conference is quite an advantage. It all starts with culture though.
As far as on-the-field dominance and specific tactical advantages, I’d point to QB play. We’ve had some of the best QB play in the conference since 2012 and we run a spread system that takes advantage of that. With Trevor Lawrence and the weapons around him, it’s been on hyperdrive in recent years.
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Clemson vs. Virginia: 10 Things to Watch in the ACC Championship (247sports.com; Hickey)
Here are the logistics surrounding No. 3 Clemson's (12-0, 8-0 ACC) ACC Championship Game matchup against Virginia (9-3, 6-2 ACC) followed by 10 things to watch.
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Charlotte, N.C. (Bank of America Stadium -- 75, 412)
TELEVISION: ABC (Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Todd McShay, Maria Taylor)
RADIO: Clemson Tigers Network (Don Munson, Tajh Boyd, Tim Bourret, Reggie Merriweather), ESPN Radio (Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones, Ian Fitzsimmons), Sirius 81, XM 81
LINE: Clemson -28.5 (opened Clemson -24.5)
WEATHER: Partly Cloudy, High of 52/low of 33, 10 percent precipitation, NE winds at 8 mph
THREE ITEMS OF NOTE
1) This week, Clemson can become the first team in the conference championship game era to win five consecutive conference championship games. Clemson and Oklahoma can become the first programs since 1971-75 Alabama to win five straight outright conference titles.
Clemson is attempting to surpass the 1993-96 Florida Gators (four straight) to become the first team to win five consecutive conference championship games.
2) Dabo Swinney will attempt to earn his sixth career ACC title this week, which would tie Frank Howard’s school record and match Howard and Duke’s Bill Murray for the second-most in ACC history.
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What Virginia coaches and players are saying about Clemson ahead of Saturday's game (greenvilleonline.com; Keepfer)
for gbo
Here's a sampling of what Virginia coaches and players are saying about Clemson this week ahead of Saturday night's Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game in Charlotte, N.C.:
► “We’re going to have a huge test ahead of us. Clemson is obviously one of the best teams in the country, have been for a while now. With that O-line, Travis Etienne, they are very, very capable, very, very good. We’ve got a tall order ahead of us.” – Senior defensive tackle Eli Hanback
► “He’s a fantastic quarterback. He’s going to be playing in the NFL one day. He’s one of the best doing it right now.” – Hanback on Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence
► “Opportunities like this don’t happen every day. To go up against the reigning national champs, ACC champs, it’s a great opportunity. You’re not going to find better talent than this in the country.” – Junior linebacker Charles Snowden
'The most annoying winner': Clemson coach Dabo Swinney responds to Paul Finebaum's comments
► “Just in terms of being a college football fan, it’s hard not to have seen them play because they’ve been in the national championship the last I think four years now. I have a sense of what they like to do, their style of play, their tempo, their culture.” – Snowden
► “They’re great at causing havoc, getting pressure. One way or another, they’ll blitz this side and then they’ll blitz this side. It’s always making teams uncomfortable, making quarterback uncomfortable in the backfield. They do a great job of causing havoc.” – Quarterback Bryce Perkins
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Stout defenses could play role in outcome of ACC title game (wcfcourier.com; AP; Kurz)
The offenses are deservedly getting a lot of attention heading into Saturday night's clash between Clemson and Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
But the defenses shouldn't be overlooked. They are mong the league’s best and will play a role in who walks off the field with the title in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The defending national champion Tigers (12-0) lead the ACC in scoring (45.3 points per game) and in numerous defensive categories, including scoring (10.1 points per game). The Cavaliers (9-3) also feature a stout defense; they are second in scoring (33.7 ppg) and fourth in scoring defense, allowing 23.5 ppg.
In any winner-take-all game, defenses can provide a turning point because mistakes can be magnified.
While Virginia is a program on the rise, Clemson is already one of the nation's elite programs.
The Tigers have won two of the last three national championships and have the kind of roster Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall is trying to build in his fourth season. Clemson's program is one where departures are not so much a cause for concern because there are replacements ready to go.
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FB CCG Coverage, ACCN vs SECN (RX; HM)
FB CCG Coverage, ACCN vs SECN
Well now we can compare apples-to-apples since the ACC has its own network, just like the SEC. So, how does coverage compare in terms of the conference championship games?
The SEC Network’s coverage of the 2019 SEC Championship Game includes more than 12 hours of programming from Atlanta, originating from the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) and the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS).
Here is the SECN TV schedule as it relates to the SEC CG [LINK]:
Friday 12/6/19 (6.5 hours)
1:30 PM - SEC Now: SEC CG Press Conference
3:00 PM - Paul Finebaum Show
7:00 PM - SEC Now
Saturday, 12/7/19 (4.0 hrs + 1.5 hrs post-game)
12:00 PM - Marty & McGee
1:00 PM - SEC Nation
4:00 PM - SEC CG (on CBS)
(post-game) - SEC Now
7:30 PM - SEC Now
That all adds up to 12 (6.5 + 4.0 + 1.5) hours of SEC CG coverage.
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2019 ACC CG Factoids (RX; HM)
2019 ACC CG Factoids
From FBSchedules...
(3) CLEMSON (12-0) vs. (23) VIRGINIA (9-3)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. – 7:30 pm EST – ABC
The Teams
- Clemson has won 18 ACC titles including capturing the last four, beating four different Coastal division opponents along the way – North Carolina in 2015, Virginia Tech in 2016, Miami in 2017 and Pitt last season.
- Virginia has only won the ACC twice – first in 1989 and most recently in 1995. This is the Cavaliers’ first-ever appearance in the ACC championship game.
The Matchup
Clemson leads the all-time series 38-8-1 and has won three-straight. Virginia’s most recent win came in 2004. This is the first-ever postseason meeting between the two.
Line: Clemson -28.5
At least on paper, Clemson is one of the most complete teams in the nation – ranked No. 4 in scoring offense and No. 1 in scoring defense. The Tigers’ biggest major category “weakness” is a pass offense ranked No. 25. It makes Virginia – a team with no overwhelming facet on its resume – look like the most outmatched team this weekend. The common thread in each of the Cavaliers’ three losses this season is rushing yards, losing on three of the only four occasions when they rushed for fewer than 100 yards. While achieving this goal looks like no problemo for Clemson’s No. 11 ranked rush D, crazier things have happened.
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Links - Head Coaches Edition - 12/6/19 (RX: HM)
Links - Head Coaches Edition - 12/6/19
CBS Sports gave out grades for first year football head coaches. Here are the P5 coaches, with analysis for ACC teams (if you want to read the analysis for the others, or if you want to see the grades for the G5 rookie coaches, click this link):
Four new ACC head coaches: one A- (and Coach-of-the-Year honors), one B+, one C and one (better get crackin', Coach Diaz - you're already on the hot seat by some accounts!)
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Two former CBA football stars earn All-Conference honors in Big Ten, ACC (PS; Weidner)
A pair of former Christian Brothers Academy football players earned post-season honors in Power Five conferences.
Phoenix native John Phillips, a fifth-year offensive lineman at Boston College, was named to the first team in the Atlantic Coast Conference this week.
The 6-foot-6, 305-pound graduate student at BC was a first-team, all-state selection at CBA, graduating in 2015. The Eagles went 6-6 this season, including a 58-27 win over Syracuse University.
Indiana sophomore Stevie Scott III earned second-team All-Big Ten honors following his second season with the Hoosiers.
...
Other
Peppino’s loses food and beverage contract at State Fair’s Expo Center (PS; Moriarty)
The state has terminated Peppino’s contract as the exclusive provider of food and beverage services at the new Exposition Center at the New York State Fairgrounds, a little more than a year after the Syracuse restaurant and catering group won what was initially a five-year deal.
The move comes three months after Peppino’s owner John Vigliotti paid more than $184,000 in back wages and damages to settle allegations that his three Syracuse restaurants -- Peppino’s Neapolitan in Armory Square, Honey Cafe at Destiny USA and Peppino’s Pizzeria on Grant Boulevard -- violated federal minimum wage and overtime rules.
However, state officials said the decision to terminate the contract was unrelated to the wage law violations.
Peppino’s got the contract just in time for the 2018 State Fair. It was supposed to run for five years, but it was later reduced, with Vigliotti’s consent, to a three-year deal due to expire Sept. 30, 2021. But the state Department of Agriculture and Markets said this week it has terminated the contract early under a standard clause that allowed either party to end the agreement with notice.
It said it took the action so it could rewrite and refine the contract based on what it had learned in the first year of the Expo Center’s operation.
Some potential users of the center wanted to hire their own caterers, while others wanted to have multiple food vendors for their events, both of which were not allowed under Peppino’s contract, according to the department. The restrictions threatened to affect the growth of business for the new center, the department said.
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St. Nicholas Day celebrates St. Nicholas, a popular minor Christian saint in Western and Eastern churches. In the fourth century, he was a bishop in Myra, a Greek town in the ancient district of Lycia, in Asia Minor, near present-day Demre, Turkey. The story of much of his life is not based on historical evidence, but on traditional stories and legends. It is believed that he was born in Patara, a seaport in Lycia, and that he traveled to Palestine and Egypt before coming to Myra. He was imprisoned for his beliefs by Roman Emperor Diocletian but was freed by Constantine the Great. He is believed to have been at the first council of Nicaea, and there are many legends that say he performed miracles for the poor. He was known for giving gifts and putting coins in people's shoes, and this influenced the way he is celebrated, as well as how other traditions during the Christmas season are celebrated.
St. Nicholas was buried in his church in Myra, and over the next few centuries, pilgrims began coming to his shrine. In 1087, his remains were stolen and taken to Bari, Italy. This increased his popularity in Europe, and Bari became a popular pilgrimage site. Most of his remains are still at the Basilica of San Nicola in Bari. His popularity continued to rise during the Middle Ages, but disappeared in most places except the Netherlands during the Reformation. His popularity has come back in Europe, and he has since become the patron saint of many places and people.
SU News
https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/journalnow.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial//fc/ffcd530e-17f5-11ea-9bf2-536062a726af/5de9fc8bec9a4.image.jpg?resize=750%2C402
My Take On Wake film review: A cruel ending, but at least not the final chapter (journalnow.com; O'Neill)
Just a little late on posting this one. Sorry, it’s been a hell of a week.
Here’s what I picked up on while re-watching the game:
• I’m writing this in here now — it’s Friday afternoon. I wish I had been doing film reviews in the 2017 season. The Louisville, Syracuse and N.C. State games would’ve been freaking rollercoasters.
And doing one for the Belk Bowl might’ve set the record for longest film review ever.
• First game of the season, I think, for this broadcasting crew — Tom Werme, James Bates and Kelsey Wingert.
• The Tommy DeVito injury situation … I mean, you can’t even tell what foot was injured, his ankles are taped so heavily. Weird. If I recall, last time Wake Forest was at Syracuse there was some strange situation with Eric Dungey being hurt and possibly playing or not playing.
• Boogie Basham was on the first kickoff coverage unit. I couldn’t believe that.
Boogie Basham is kickoff coverage.
— Conor O'Neill (@ConorONeillWSJ) November 30, 2019
• Clayton Welch’s first throw made me think Wake Forest wasn’t going to allow a first down while he was in the game. It’s a lob on an 8-yard sideline out that’s the easiest PBU in Essang Bassey’s career.
• Nice second-down tackle by Ryan Smenda Jr., who’s now the leading tackler. He has 72, Justin Strnad’s season ended at 69.
• Bates with the jinx, saying Wake Forest doesn’t turn the ball over (five times) or commit penalties (seven for 61 yards, one shy of season-high for number and tied the season high for yardage).
• Sterling Hofrichter is the best punter in the ACC. Don’t get fooled by average distance.
• Really strong 8-yard run by Jamie Newman to start Wake Forest’s first drive.
• The walk-up QB sneak is executed perfectly — at least one of the defensive tackles isn’t even in his three-technique at the snap.
• Great blocking on the edge by Nate Gilliam for Cade Carney’s 8-yard run on first down.
So, back-to-back 8-yard runs on first down. That would’ve been nice to sustain. I’ve got Wake Forest calling 14 designed first-down runs for the rest of the game and gaining 36 yards — about 2.6 yards per play. The only one that went at least 8 yards was a 12-yard run by Kenneth Walker III on the first play of a drive in the second quarter.
“It never felt that we really consistently ran the ball well today,” Coach Dave Clawson said. “It seemed like 3- and 4-yard plays were tough plays for us.”
You wouldn’t have expected that coming off of 334 yards against Duke in the previous game.
• 30-yard pass down the seam from Newman to Jack Freudenthal, and the first thing I notice is how calmly Newman maneuvers the pocket. Syracuse blitzes and he navigates away from pressure/contact, drills Freudenthal down the middle.
• Almost a hell of a catch by Freudenthal for a touchdown, or at least to the 1-yard line, on third-and-8. Newman barely missed the throw.
• Nick Sciba is money.
• Kenneth III goes down on the ensuing kickoff and that’s the first injury blow of the half.
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Can SU basketball be fixed? SU football’s offseason plan (video) (PS; video; Axe)
On a new episode of “Orange Weekly,” syracuse.com’s Brent Axe and Mike Waters try to find a fix for Syracuse basketball’s recent issues amid the worst start in the Jim Boeheim era.
Nate Mink joins the show as well to go over the offseason plan for Dino Babers and the Syracuse football team.
You can watch “Orange Weekly” in the YouTube video above.
Syracuse football: 4 offseason questions after SU's dismal 2019 D&C; Johnson)
By ending the season with a 39-30 upset over Wake Forest, Syracuse was able to end its football season on a positive note.
Despite all of the disappointments— such as the blowout loss to a 3-9 Maryland team or the beatdown from Boston College (which just fired its coach)— the 5-7 record the Orange finished with is the program's second best since 2013.
That should tell you all you need to know about the state of the program the latter half of this decade. So even though Syracuse fell from 10 wins to 5, Dino Babers can still sell signs of progress.
Whether or not supporters believe in that will largely depend on offseason moves Babers will have to consider.
This is a very important time for Syracuse. No one in the conference is about to catch Clemson, who could have an all-time recruiting class, but moving up the pecking order in the Atlantic Division is still possible.
However, if Florida State and BC both land solid hires, think James Franklin or Mike Norvell for the Seminoles, then Syracuse's path back from the cellar to the top will only become more difficult.
Here are four questions for Syracuse in the offseason:
Who will be the next defensive coordinator?
Brian Ward was fired as Syracuse University's defensive coordinator/linebackers coach following a loss to Boston College, which rolled up a school-record 691 yards. (Photo: Syracuse Athletics)
Babers made the tough decision to let Brian Ward go after the defense allowed the most rushing yards in school history to Boston College. The Orange defense was opportunistic during the 10-win 2018 campaign as it racked up sacks, turnovers and was solid on third down.
However, this year the unit greatly underachieved despite returning talented playmakers like Andre Cisco, Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman. Coleman and Robinson will be gone, but Cisco, Trill Williams and Ifeatu Melifonwu should be back. In other words, the next defensive coordinator will have talent at his disposal, especially in the secondary.
Interim coordinator Steve Stanard had a solid showing against Duke, but if he's the next choice then it probably means Babers was turned down by his top candidates. NunesMagician— the SB Nation Syracuse team site— suggested Navy's Nate Mink, Buffalo's Brian Borland or UAB's David Reeves could be potential targets.
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Thank You For Everything (soundcloud.com; podcast)
Today I have ended the podcast. I am pursing coaching full time and I need to slowly wind down the pod. It kills me to say, but I loved every minute and I cannot wait to make everyone proud moving forward. I am an orange man and I love the Orange. I can't wait to take the sidelines and climb another mountain.
Behind Enemy Lines: ACC Championship Game Preview with Shakin’ the Southland (streakingthelawn.com; Wiley)
for gbo
In the lead-up to the Virginia Cavaliers’ tilt with the Clemson Tigers in Saturday’s ACC Championship Game, we got a Clemson insider’s perspective from Ryan Kantor of Shakin’ the Southland. Be sure to check out our answers to STS’s questions as well over on their site!
STL: This is Clemson’s fifth straight ACC Championship Game appearance, and sixth in the past nine years. The Tigers enter the game on a 27-game win streak, to boot. What would you say has been the driving factor in Clemson’s consistent dominance the past five years generally, and for the past two specifically?
STS: Within the ACC, Clemson has dominated for a variety of reasons. It starts with culture, which Dabo has carefully crafted. After Clemson’s 6-7 2010 season, then AD Terry Don Phillips told Coach Swinney he was never more confident in him than he was then. They were building a culture. Clemson won their first division title the next season.
The workplace culture for the coaching staff is extremely family friendly. Coaches are encouraged to arrange their schedules to make sure they watch their kids play high school sports. They can bring their young children to the facility at times. Some of the coaches even have kids on the team, including DC Brent Venables who has his son Jake playing and really contributing as an above-average backup linebacker. This culture has helped maintain coaching continuity. That continuity helps recruiting. Clemson has the #2 2020 class per Rivals. No other ACC team is in the top 10. That staff is also really good schematically. Having the best players and coaches in the conference is quite an advantage. It all starts with culture though.
As far as on-the-field dominance and specific tactical advantages, I’d point to QB play. We’ve had some of the best QB play in the conference since 2012 and we run a spread system that takes advantage of that. With Trevor Lawrence and the weapons around him, it’s been on hyperdrive in recent years.
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Clemson vs. Virginia: 10 Things to Watch in the ACC Championship (247sports.com; Hickey)
Here are the logistics surrounding No. 3 Clemson's (12-0, 8-0 ACC) ACC Championship Game matchup against Virginia (9-3, 6-2 ACC) followed by 10 things to watch.
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Charlotte, N.C. (Bank of America Stadium -- 75, 412)
TELEVISION: ABC (Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Todd McShay, Maria Taylor)
RADIO: Clemson Tigers Network (Don Munson, Tajh Boyd, Tim Bourret, Reggie Merriweather), ESPN Radio (Sean Kelley, Barrett Jones, Ian Fitzsimmons), Sirius 81, XM 81
LINE: Clemson -28.5 (opened Clemson -24.5)
WEATHER: Partly Cloudy, High of 52/low of 33, 10 percent precipitation, NE winds at 8 mph
THREE ITEMS OF NOTE
1) This week, Clemson can become the first team in the conference championship game era to win five consecutive conference championship games. Clemson and Oklahoma can become the first programs since 1971-75 Alabama to win five straight outright conference titles.
Clemson is attempting to surpass the 1993-96 Florida Gators (four straight) to become the first team to win five consecutive conference championship games.
2) Dabo Swinney will attempt to earn his sixth career ACC title this week, which would tie Frank Howard’s school record and match Howard and Duke’s Bill Murray for the second-most in ACC history.
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What Virginia coaches and players are saying about Clemson ahead of Saturday's game (greenvilleonline.com; Keepfer)
for gbo
Here's a sampling of what Virginia coaches and players are saying about Clemson this week ahead of Saturday night's Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game in Charlotte, N.C.:
► “We’re going to have a huge test ahead of us. Clemson is obviously one of the best teams in the country, have been for a while now. With that O-line, Travis Etienne, they are very, very capable, very, very good. We’ve got a tall order ahead of us.” – Senior defensive tackle Eli Hanback
► “He’s a fantastic quarterback. He’s going to be playing in the NFL one day. He’s one of the best doing it right now.” – Hanback on Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence
► “Opportunities like this don’t happen every day. To go up against the reigning national champs, ACC champs, it’s a great opportunity. You’re not going to find better talent than this in the country.” – Junior linebacker Charles Snowden
'The most annoying winner': Clemson coach Dabo Swinney responds to Paul Finebaum's comments
► “Just in terms of being a college football fan, it’s hard not to have seen them play because they’ve been in the national championship the last I think four years now. I have a sense of what they like to do, their style of play, their tempo, their culture.” – Snowden
► “They’re great at causing havoc, getting pressure. One way or another, they’ll blitz this side and then they’ll blitz this side. It’s always making teams uncomfortable, making quarterback uncomfortable in the backfield. They do a great job of causing havoc.” – Quarterback Bryce Perkins
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Stout defenses could play role in outcome of ACC title game (wcfcourier.com; AP; Kurz)
The offenses are deservedly getting a lot of attention heading into Saturday night's clash between Clemson and Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
But the defenses shouldn't be overlooked. They are mong the league’s best and will play a role in who walks off the field with the title in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The defending national champion Tigers (12-0) lead the ACC in scoring (45.3 points per game) and in numerous defensive categories, including scoring (10.1 points per game). The Cavaliers (9-3) also feature a stout defense; they are second in scoring (33.7 ppg) and fourth in scoring defense, allowing 23.5 ppg.
In any winner-take-all game, defenses can provide a turning point because mistakes can be magnified.
While Virginia is a program on the rise, Clemson is already one of the nation's elite programs.
The Tigers have won two of the last three national championships and have the kind of roster Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall is trying to build in his fourth season. Clemson's program is one where departures are not so much a cause for concern because there are replacements ready to go.
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FB CCG Coverage, ACCN vs SECN (RX; HM)
FB CCG Coverage, ACCN vs SECN
Well now we can compare apples-to-apples since the ACC has its own network, just like the SEC. So, how does coverage compare in terms of the conference championship games?
The SEC Network’s coverage of the 2019 SEC Championship Game includes more than 12 hours of programming from Atlanta, originating from the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) and the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS).
Here is the SECN TV schedule as it relates to the SEC CG [LINK]:
Friday 12/6/19 (6.5 hours)
1:30 PM - SEC Now: SEC CG Press Conference
3:00 PM - Paul Finebaum Show
7:00 PM - SEC Now
Saturday, 12/7/19 (4.0 hrs + 1.5 hrs post-game)
12:00 PM - Marty & McGee
1:00 PM - SEC Nation
4:00 PM - SEC CG (on CBS)
(post-game) - SEC Now
7:30 PM - SEC Now
That all adds up to 12 (6.5 + 4.0 + 1.5) hours of SEC CG coverage.
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2019 ACC CG Factoids (RX; HM)
2019 ACC CG Factoids
From FBSchedules...
(3) CLEMSON (12-0) vs. (23) VIRGINIA (9-3)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. – 7:30 pm EST – ABC
The Teams
- Clemson has won 18 ACC titles including capturing the last four, beating four different Coastal division opponents along the way – North Carolina in 2015, Virginia Tech in 2016, Miami in 2017 and Pitt last season.
- Virginia has only won the ACC twice – first in 1989 and most recently in 1995. This is the Cavaliers’ first-ever appearance in the ACC championship game.
The Matchup
Clemson leads the all-time series 38-8-1 and has won three-straight. Virginia’s most recent win came in 2004. This is the first-ever postseason meeting between the two.
Line: Clemson -28.5
At least on paper, Clemson is one of the most complete teams in the nation – ranked No. 4 in scoring offense and No. 1 in scoring defense. The Tigers’ biggest major category “weakness” is a pass offense ranked No. 25. It makes Virginia – a team with no overwhelming facet on its resume – look like the most outmatched team this weekend. The common thread in each of the Cavaliers’ three losses this season is rushing yards, losing on three of the only four occasions when they rushed for fewer than 100 yards. While achieving this goal looks like no problemo for Clemson’s No. 11 ranked rush D, crazier things have happened.
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Links - Head Coaches Edition - 12/6/19 (RX: HM)
Links - Head Coaches Edition - 12/6/19
CBS Sports gave out grades for first year football head coaches. Here are the P5 coaches, with analysis for ACC teams (if you want to read the analysis for the others, or if you want to see the grades for the G5 rookie coaches, click this link):
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Four new ACC head coaches: one A- (and Coach-of-the-Year honors), one B+, one C and one (better get crackin', Coach Diaz - you're already on the hot seat by some accounts!)
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Two former CBA football stars earn All-Conference honors in Big Ten, ACC (PS; Weidner)
A pair of former Christian Brothers Academy football players earned post-season honors in Power Five conferences.
Phoenix native John Phillips, a fifth-year offensive lineman at Boston College, was named to the first team in the Atlantic Coast Conference this week.
The 6-foot-6, 305-pound graduate student at BC was a first-team, all-state selection at CBA, graduating in 2015. The Eagles went 6-6 this season, including a 58-27 win over Syracuse University.
Indiana sophomore Stevie Scott III earned second-team All-Big Ten honors following his second season with the Hoosiers.
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Other
Peppino’s loses food and beverage contract at State Fair’s Expo Center (PS; Moriarty)
The state has terminated Peppino’s contract as the exclusive provider of food and beverage services at the new Exposition Center at the New York State Fairgrounds, a little more than a year after the Syracuse restaurant and catering group won what was initially a five-year deal.
The move comes three months after Peppino’s owner John Vigliotti paid more than $184,000 in back wages and damages to settle allegations that his three Syracuse restaurants -- Peppino’s Neapolitan in Armory Square, Honey Cafe at Destiny USA and Peppino’s Pizzeria on Grant Boulevard -- violated federal minimum wage and overtime rules.
However, state officials said the decision to terminate the contract was unrelated to the wage law violations.
Peppino’s got the contract just in time for the 2018 State Fair. It was supposed to run for five years, but it was later reduced, with Vigliotti’s consent, to a three-year deal due to expire Sept. 30, 2021. But the state Department of Agriculture and Markets said this week it has terminated the contract early under a standard clause that allowed either party to end the agreement with notice.
It said it took the action so it could rewrite and refine the contract based on what it had learned in the first year of the Expo Center’s operation.
Some potential users of the center wanted to hire their own caterers, while others wanted to have multiple food vendors for their events, both of which were not allowed under Peppino’s contract, according to the department. The restrictions threatened to affect the growth of business for the new center, the department said.
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