sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
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Boxing Day takes place the day after Christmas and is primarily observed in the United Kingdom, where it started, as well as in countries that were once part of the British crown. There are a few possible theories as to how it got started, but its exact origin is unclear.
One theory says it was inspired by Christmas boxes. In seventeenth-century Great Britain, boxes holding a present or gratuity were given to tradesman and workers in service industries for their previous year's work. This went back to an even earlier tradition where servants would wait on and serve their rich masters on Christmas Day and would visit and celebrate with their own families on the day after Christmas. Their rich masters would sometimes give them a box with leftover food, a bonus, or another type of gift.
SU News
Orange Watch: Former Syracuse coach Dick MacPherson deserves more respect - The Juice Online (the juice; Bierman)
Item: We have a BIG quibble with an omission on the list of the Top 150 coaches being celebrated by one large media entity during the sport’s sesquicentennial anniversary.
As a fan of the history of college football, we enjoyed as many of the episodes that we could catch time to watch of ESPN’s season-long series of specialty-themed programs celebrating the 150th anniversary of the sport.
In conjunction with those broadcast programs, ESPN had top lists covering various aspects of the sport’s rich tradition and history, including a detailed and well written piece titled: “The 150 greatest coaches in college football’s 150-year history.”
Understanding the subjective nature of any list, and before beginning to read the story a day after it was published online Dec. 10, we were wondering if we would see the name Dick MacPherson among the Top 150 coaches?
After all, Coach Mac is in the College Football Hall of Fame (2009), contended for a 1987 national championship at Syracuse among his highlights in resurrecting a dormant Eastern power, and had earlier success as head coach at Massachusetts (1971-77) including bowl game and Div. II quarterfinal round playoff appearances.
As we scrolled in the ESPN story order from No. 1. Bear Bryant, down through all the biggest coaching legends in the game, we came upon No. 41 on the list – Ben Schwartzwalder, cited for being hired by Syracuse in 1949 to “revive its struggling program.”
Sound familiar to the mandate given to Coach Mac in Dec. 1980?
Of course, Coach Ben is a worthy Top 50 all-time coaching selection for his strategy and style that produced the Syracuse streak of bowl game seasons in the 1950s culminating in the 1959 national championship, and coaching so many of the sport’s greatest players over his quarter of a century run guiding the Orangemen.
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How Russell Wilson's 2011 grad transfer paved the way for today's stars (ESPN; Adelson)
Russell Wilson still remembers the call. "Like it was yesterday," he says now.
In town that spring to play a minor league baseball game as a second baseman with the Asheville Tourists, Wilson was on the line with his NC State football coach. Wilson had just missed spring practice to play baseball but wanted to return to the football team for his senior season.
Then Tom O'Brien told him he would no longer have his starting job.
A three-year starter at quarterback, Wilson could not accept that. What he did next took quite an emotional toll, but it fueled one of the biggest trends to shake the sport of college football -- the rise of graduate transfers.
Burrow and Hurts are only the most recent examples to use the grad transfer rule and flourish at a second school, taking their teams to the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday (4 p.m., ESPN and ESPN App).
LSU QB Joe Burrow discusses winning the Heisman Trophy, leading the Tigers into the College Football Playoff and making head coach Ed Oregeron cry.
They can thank Wilson for setting the stage. Wilson can thank Greg Paulus.
In 2006, the NCAA passed a rule that allowed graduates to be eligible to play if they transferred to a graduate program at another school regardless of sport and any previous transfer. But many administrators pushed back, believing they had just opened the door to free agency in their biggest sports.
Within nine months, membership overrode the rule. Any graduate in the sports of football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball or men's ice hockey who wanted to transfer would need to go through the waiver process in order to play immediately.
Waivers opened the first door for graduate transfers such as Paulus. In 2009, Paulus made an unprecedented decision to leave the Duke basketball team after graduation and play his final remaining season of eligibility with the Syracuse football team. He got his waiver, and he started for the Orange. Beyond the oddity of switching sports, nothing Paulus did that season pushed him or his team into the national conversation. Syracuse went 4-8, and Paulus went on to coach basketball.
But what Paulus did stuck with Mark Rodgers, who worked as a baseball agent and also represented two-sport athletes -- including Wilson.
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2019 Pinstripe Bowl Preview (RX; HM)
2019 Pinstripe Bowl Preview
From FBSchedules:
Friday, Dec. 27 – 3:20 pm EST – ESPN
New Era PINSTRIPE BOWL – Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
MICHIGAN STATE (6-6, Big Ten) vs. WAKE FOREST (8-4, ACC)
The Bowl
First year: 2010
Most appearances: Syracuse (2-0), Rutgers (1-1), Boston College (0-2)
Last year: Wisconsin 35 – Miami Fla. 3
The Teams
Michigan State is 12-16 in bowl action. It fell to Oregon 7-6 in last season’s high-flying Redbox Bowl. Its most recent win came in the 2017 Holiday Bowl when it destroyed then (21) Washington State 42-17.
Wake Forest is 9-4 in bowl play. It edged Memphis 37-34 in last year’s Birmingham Bowl, also it’s third-straight bowl victory.
The Matchup
This is the first-ever football meeting between Michigan State and Wake Forest.
Line: Michigan State -3
When you think of Michigan State in the Mark Dantonio era, you think of stifling defense. While the Spartans are currently ranked No. 15 vs. the run, they’ve struggled – relative to MSU standards – to a No. 44 mark against the pass. Not only does that put them in the bottom half of the Big Ten, it sets up for an intriguing matchup vs. a high-flying Wake Forest offense that’s earned a No. 18 rank in passing yards per game. On the other side of the field, the Spartans have struggled epically to score points (No. 107 nationally) and establish the run (No. 116). The one ray of hope is their No. 60 ranked passing attack. While no where near potent, it may look much improved against Wake Forest’s secondary – ranked No. 97 nationally and No. 10 in the ACC.
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2019 Military Bowl Preview (RX; HM)
2019 Military Bowl Preview
From FBSchedules:
Friday, Dec. 27 – Noon EST – ESPN
MILITARY BOWL – Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
NORTH CAROLINA (6-6, ACC) vs. TEMPLE (8-4, AAC)
The Bowl
First year: 2008
Previous names: EagleBank (2008-09)
Most appearances: Navy (2-1)
Last year: Cincinnati 35 – Virginia Tech 31
The Teams
North Carolina is 14-19 in bowl play. It hasn’t gone bowling since 2016 when it got edged 25-23 by then (16) Stanford in the Sun Bowl, also it’s third-consecutive bowl loss. The most recent win came in the 2013 Belk Bowl, a 39-17 win over Cincinnati.
Temple is 3-5 in bowl action. It lost 56-27 to Duke in last season’s Independence Bowl. Its most recent win came the year before in the 2017 Gasparilla Bowl, a 28-3 victory over FIU. The Owls have only scored a bowl win over a current Power 5 member once in history, besting Cal 28-17 in the 1979 Garden State Bowl.
The Matchup
This is the first-ever football meeting between North Carolina and Temple.
Line: North Carolina -6.5
Neither of these teams have stood out statistically this season, both performing reasonably well across the board. They also share the same strength, throwing the ball – North Carolina is No. 25 in the FBS in passing yards per game while Temple is No. 39. This puts the pressure on each team’s defense. The Owls’ are No. 49 vs. the pass but gave up 363 and 457 air yards respectively in back-to-back games vs. (17) Memphis and at SMU in October (the Tigers are currently No. 26 in passing offense while the Mustangs are No. 12). The Tar Heels are No. 78 vs. the pass, coughing up 383 and 359 passing yards to Virginia and at Pitt in consecutive losses in November (the Cavaliers are No. 37 in passing offense while the Panthers are No. 46).
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2019 Quick Lane Bowl Preview (RX; HM)
2019 Quick Lane Bowl Preview
From FBSchedules.com:
QUICK LANE BOWL – Ford Field, Detroit, Mich. – 8pm EST – ESPN
PITT (7-5, ACC) vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN (6-6, MAC)
The Bowl
First year: 2014
Most appearances: Minnesota (2-0)
Last year: Minnesota 34 – Georgia Tech 10
The Teams
Pitt is 13-21 in bowl action. It got nipped 14-13 by Stanford in last season’s Sun Bowl, also its fourth-consecutive bowl loss. The most recent victory came in the 2013 Little Caesars Bowl, a 30-27 win over Bowling Green.
Eastern Michigan is 1-2 in bowl play. The Eagles fell to Georgia Southern 23-21 in last year’s Camellia Bowl.
The Matchup
Pitt and Eastern Michigan have only played twice previously – in 2007 and 1995 – both were played in Pittsburgh and both were wins for the Panthers. The Eagles have never beaten a current ACC member (0-5).
Line: Pitt -10.5
Pitt has struggled epically to score points this season, averaging 20.1 points per game earning it a No. 115 rank nationally and a No. 13 mark in the ACC. The upside is, the Panthers have been successful defensively, currently ranked No. 31 in the FBS and No. 3 in the conference in scoring. This matchup is the story of two teams who’ve not played well offensively but who both have been more successful through the air than on the ground – Pitt is No. 46 in passing yards per game (compared to No. 121 in rushing) while EMU is No. 29 (vs. No. 119 in rushing). This puts the pressure squarely on the two pass defenses – the Panthers are No. 20 vs. the pass while the Eagles are No. 65.
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How Old Were Recruits When...? (RX; HM)
How Old Were Recruits When...?
Got this idea from BannerSociety... How old were high school seniors the last time your team won a national championship? Did it happen in their lifetimes? What about their parents' lifetimes?
Team | Last National Championship | Recruit's Age |
| Clemson | 2018 | 17 |
| Alabama | 2017 | 16 |
| Ohio State | 2014 | 13 |
| Florida State | 2013 | 12 |
| Auburn | 2010 | 9 |
| Florida | 2008 | 7 |
| LSU | 2007 | 6 |
| Texas | 2005 | 4 |
| USC | 2004 | 3 |
| Miami | 2001 | 0 |
So if you're a fan of Clemson you're in great shape, and FSU ain't bad... Miami barely makes the cut.
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Cord Cutting Guide - 12/25/19 (RX; HM)
Cord Cutting Guide - 12/25/19
Well you've spent your money, you've got some time off from work, and you may be thinking "what's the cheapest way for me to stream ACC sports on my portable device while I'm visiting family?" If so, here's your guide...
From "An Analysis of TV OTT Platforms" on CSNBBS.com, here's the latest update on pricing for streaming television packages as of 12/23/2019 - from a sports fan perspective (does not include any temporary promotional prices):
$8/month - Fanatiz - BEIN Sports, BEIN Espanol, BEIN Sports Connect Online Channels, Gol TV English and Spanish, TYC Sports International, Nuestre Tele International
An affordable soccer focused streaming service. [DOES NOT INCLUDE MOST ACC SPORTS].
$10/month - Sling World Sports - BEIN Sports, BEIN Sports Connect Online Channels, Outside TV, Willow TV, Willow TV Extra, Nautical Channel
An easy way to add BEIN if your main provider doesn't carry it or if BEIN is all you want. Willow is a cricket network too. [DOES NOT INCLUDE MOST ACC SPORTS].
$30/month - Sling Orange - ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 content, TBS, TNT, Stadium
The cheapest price point available to get ESPN/2, TBS, and TNT. Also includes easy access to Stadium. [Includes some ACC sports, but not the ACC Network or ESPNU].
$30/month - Sling Blue - FS1, NBCSN, Local FOX/NBC affiliate and NBC RSN (if available), TBS, TNT, TruTV, NFL Network, Stadium
The cheapest price point available to get FOX/NBC/Turner/NFL Network. Also includes easy access to Stadium. [DOES NOT INCLUDE MOST ACC SPORTS].
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Other
Polar Vortex at possible record strength, but it doesn’t mean what you think (PS; Torregrossa)
The Polar Vortex is going to get really strong in the next few days. There is some indication the center of the Polar Vortex might be as “strong” as we’ve seen in quite some time. But a strong Polar Vortex actually means something very different from what you might think.
One method we meteorologists gauge the strength of the Polar Vortex is by looking how high in the atmosphere a certain pressure level is located. The stronger a storm system, or the Polar Vortex in this case, the lower in the atmosphere this key layer is positioned. In other words, a cold upper atmosphere is really compressed.
Here’s the Polar Vortex over the next few days. Look at the gray circle near Alaska. That’s the strong Polar Vortex.
The gray circular area at the top of the image is a very deep Polar Vortex.
The numbers you see on the right are the height of the 500 millibar pressure level. Sorry, I know it’s technical. So when you see the darkest gray number of 474, it means the 500 millibar pressure level is 4740 meters high, or about 15,500 feet high. Compare that to our area now, where the 500 millibar surface is currently almost 19,000 feet up in the air.
So you are thinking here we go again- the Polar Vortex. But a strong Polar Vortex usually stays in its normal location- around the polar region. It’s when the Polar Vortex weakens considerably that it breaks up and can drop south into far southern Canada.
The strong Polar Vortex in the next few days actually means the opposite of what you think- warmer than normal temperatures in the Lower 48.
If you are waiting for heavy snow and bitter cold, you’ll want to watch the Polar Vortex weaken and split up into pieces. Right now there is now sign of such an action for at least the next week.
