sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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According to Sesame Street's calendar, January 13 marks the birthday of Rubber Duckie, the bathtub toy of Ernie. The day has since become celebrated as Rubber Ducky Day. Rubber Duckie first appeared on Sesame Street Episode 0078, on February 25, 1970; Ernie was in a bathtub in a room that resembled his living room, and sang the song, "Rubber Duckie." The most popular version of the song was sung by Ernie in Episode 0136, on November 16, 1970. This time he was in a bathroom with a plain blue background. Jim Henson was the real voice behind the song, and it went to #16 on the Billboard "Hot 100 Singles" chart in 1970 as well. Ernie, either by himself or with other characters, has sung other songs about his rubber duckie such as "Put Down the Duckie," "D-U-C-K-I-E," and "Do De Rubber Duck."
SU News
Hidden message in hiring Sterlin Gilbert as SU's new OC: Help us evolve (PS; Mink)
His team had just clinched a third losing season in four years, washing out in a cool mist in Louisville, when Dino Babers laid a course for how he planned to fix his program.
“If you don’t evolve, you die," Babers said after a 56-34 loss to the Cardinals, setting up the flurry of staff changes that have come this offseason.
“We need to keep evolving to stay with those type of offenses. We need to keep evolving as an offense so it’s difficult for them to stay with us.”
That, in retrospect, signaled the moves that have transpired over the last 48 hours and those still to come.
That, while everyone on the outside was focused on who the next defensive coordinator would be, meant Babers would also quietly re-evaluate the offensive side of the ball.
The addition of Sterlin Gilbert as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach is the result of that appraisal.
It implies Kirk Martin will not have his contract as quarterbacks coach renewed in 2020. It also raises more questions about how Babers will reconfigure his offensive assistants.
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Axe: Dino Babers hit Syracuse football’s reset button (PS; Axe)
Lost in the euphoria of Syracuse basketball’s big win over Virginia this past weekend was Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers grabbing a sledgehammer and doing a little DIY on his Orange football team.
Babers has delivered on coaching changes promised after Syracuse’s 39-30 win over Wake Forest to close a 5-7 season in 2019.
Syracuse announced the hire of new defensive coordinator Zach Arnett from San Diego State on Saturday.
It was also reported on Saturday that Babers hired Sterling Gilbert from McNeese State as his new offensive coordinator, though that news has not been confirmed by Syracuse as of this writing (expect that to come on Monday.)
Arnett’s hire shows that Babers has hit the reset button on the Orange defense.
It was a needed move.
Syracuse needed a breath of fresh air on defense after giving up 63 points to Maryland, 58 to Boston College (leading to former DC Brian Ward’s firing) and 56 to Louisville during the 2019 season. Syracuse finished 115th in total defense, yielding 464 yards per game.
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Syracuse Football: Top 3 beneficiaries of the DC Zach Arnett hire (itlh; Esden Jr)
Syracuse football has hired a new DC in Zach Arnett. Here are the top three players that will benefit from his new defense in 2020.
After running the “Tampa-2” for years, the Syracuse football team is expected to transition to a hybrid version of the 3-3-5 in 2020.
This news, of course, stems from the formal announcement that the Orange has hired former San Diego State defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to the same position on the hill. Arnett was an understudy to Rocky Long for his entire career.
This will be a completely revamped defense with different concepts and personnel.
Arnett had great success with the Aztecs leading their defense to national prominence in seven different categories:
- Second best rush defense in the country (allowed under 76 yards per game).
- Third best scoring defense in the nation (allowing under 13 points per game).
- San Diego hauled in 18 interceptions as a team which was fourth-best in the country.
- In addition to that, the secondary of San Diego State allowed the team to finish sixth in passing efficiency defense.
- Fourth best in first downs allowed (198) on the season.
- In terms of overall defense, the Aztecs were sixth-best (under 290 yards allowed per game).
- Finally, the team was eight in turnovers gained (27).
Trill Williams, defensive back
In the 3-3-5 defense, one player is responsible for the ‘rover’ role which is a hybrid of a safety and a linebacker that plays closer to the line of scrimmage. Trill Williams can be that guy in this new-look defense.
In Rocky Long’s version of this defense, Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher thrived in that role (prior to him bulking up and playing middle linebacker in the NFL).
McKinley Williams, defensive tackle
It’s bittersweet that McKinley Williams is even available to be an option. 2019 was supposed to be his senior season, but injuries derailed that possibility. So he was able to successfully redshirt and now 2020 he’ll be back with vengeance in a new scheme. He’s not a big sack guy (1.5 career sacks), but in this scheme, the defensive line needs to open up lanes for the linebackers.
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McFarling: Hopeful ACC watches Clemson through 2 black eyes (roanoke.com; McFarling)
Happy trails, you big bully.
Good luck on the other side of the tracks.
That has to be the attitude of every other ACC football team, right? Clemson just spent three-plus months handing out beatdowns in this league yet again, spawning frustration, jealousy and unpleasant introspection.
But now the Tigers are somebody else’s problem — LSU’s, to be specific.
All right, then.
Go, Dabo, go!
Because Monday night’s national title game is the one we’ll all remember. Not those eight ACC regular-season games that Clemson won by an average margin of 35.8 points. Not the ACC championship game that turned into a predictable bloodletting. And not even Clemson’s 29-23 victory over Ohio State in the semifinals — a game that felt like it was played about 32 years ago.
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Ten ACC football players primed for breakout seasons in 2020 (247sports.com; Stepien)
While the College Football Playoff national championship game is yet to be played, it can be said that all eyes are already on the 2020 season.
In the year-round sport that college football has become, the NCAA transfer portal and National Signing Day has served as the bridge to spring camp. And in just three months after that, media days arrive before fall camp revs up.
As the forward-thinking discussion begins, expectations come with it. And from way-too-early rankings to Heisman Trophy contenders, the ACC — with Clemson leading the charge — will be right back in the discussions for each.
The likes of Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence are already known nationally as full-blown stars. Who else might join that discussion when the 2020 campaign kicks off?
On top of the two players from the conference that were recognized by 247Sports as the top 10 national names primed for breakout seasons, scroll through the following to see who else cracks the conversation for the ACC.
Levi Jones, NC State LB
247Sports' Take: Remember Levi Jones? If not, the ACC — and country — is about to receive a reminder. A four-star recruit as the 247Sports Composite's No. 93 overall prospect, No. 6 outside linebacker and No. 13 player in Texas for the 2017 class, the Austin Westlake product signed with USC out of high school.
As a freshman with the Trojans in 2017, Jones logged all 14 games and recorded 15 tackles while backing up at inside linebacker. But after recording 13 tackles (three for loss) and three pass breakups through eight games in 2018, Jones got dismissed from the program Nov. 13. Following a violation of team rules, Jones departed from USC and landed with NC State.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder's return to the field comes at an opportunistic time after the Wolfpack saw starting linebacker Brock Miller to the transfer portal as a graduate transfer. Jones is expected to fill the void as a starter alongside sophomore Payton Wilson, who was also a four-star recruit as the 247Sports Composite's No. 79 overall prospect and No. 4 outside linebacker for the 2018 class.
Micale Cunningham, Louisville QB
247Sports' Take: To a point, Micale Cunningham already broke out in as the full-time starter in 2019. As Louisville's starter, he accounted for 28 touchdowns (22 passing, six rushing) while completing 62.4 percent of his passes and totaling 2,543 yards (2,061 passing, 482 rushing) in 12 games. Under the direction of head coach Scott Satterfield, the Cardinals went 8-5 overall and 5-3 against ACC play, but a bigger season is in store for Cunningham. The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder was the 247Sports Composite's No. 501 overall prospect, No. 33 athlete and No. 24 player in Alabama as a three-star recruit for the 2017 class. As he enters his fifth and final season in the program, but only Year 2 at starting quarterback, could the ceiling still be higher for the Montgomery (Ala.) Park Crossing product?
Jake Bobo, Duke WR
247Sports' Take: Supposed to be a breakout choice for 2019, Jake Bobo had his production delayed when he suffered a broken right clavicle during practice in August. Remarkably, he recovered in time to log eight games, but his contributions were limited. Bobo caught 10 passes for 122 yards and no touchdowns, but Duke's coaching staff remains high on him and with good reason. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder is long and the big-bodied target that the Blue Devils need to truly open up the offense. Set to be a junior in 2020, the upcoming season is crucial for Bobo, who arrived with high upside as a three-star recruit out of Belmont (Mass.) Hill.
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Transfer Portal (update 1/11/20) (RX; HM)
Transfer Portal (update 1/11/20)
There are a bunch of Blue Chip (4-star) players still in the transfer portal [source: 247Sports]. I've compiled a list here of those who are either (a) uncommitted, (b) committed to an ACC team, or (c) transferring from an ACC team. Here's the list:
QBs
Justin Rogers, TCU → ?
K J Costello, Stanford → ?
Phil Jurkovec, Notre Dame → BC
Jack Allison, WVU → ?
Joey Yellen, Arizona St → Pitt (sitting one)
Dillon Sterling-Cole, Arizona St → ?
RB
Lorenzo Lingard, Miami → Florida
Mychale Salahuddin, Pitt → NCA+T
Amir Rasul, FSU → ?
Jerome Ford, Alabama → ?
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Trio of Clemson Football Hype Videos (RX; HM)
for gbo
Trio of Clemson Football Hype Videos
Three Clemson videos from the ACCDN...
Clemson Tigers Dominance:
Last 5 Years By The Number
The Clemson Tigers have had one the best five year runs in college football history with four trips to the National Championship Game and will have a chance to add a third national championship in four years when they play LSU. Over the last five seasons, the Tigers have averaged 38.8 points per game while only giving up 15.7, and have only lost 4 times in a span of 73 games. Clemson will be riding a 29 game win streak as they go for their 2nd consecutive CFP National Championship Monday 13, 2020 in New Orleans.
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2020 CFP Finals Preview: Clemson vs LSU (RX; HM)
2020 CFP Finals Preview: Clemson vs LSU
Monday night's national championship game is a matchup of the #1 scoring offense (LSU) vs. the #1 scoring defense (Clemson). It's the classic irresistible force meets the immovable object... SOMETHING has to give!
Here are some stats from Many Believe Clemson's Defense Has No Shot at Stopping LSU posted on The Clemson Insider:
| LSU Offense | Statistic | Clemson Defense |
| 1st | points per game | 1st |
| 1st | yards per game | 2nd |
| 60th | rushing ypg | 16th |
| 2nd | passing ypg | 1st |
| 2nd | yards per play | 2nd |
| 25th | interceptions | 3rd |
| 2nd | red zone | 1st |
All my life I've heard it said that "defense wins championships". When the SEC was winning consecutive BCS championships, that was their calling card - and the media made sure to talk it up. Now that the shoe's on the other foot, I'm not hearing that old wisdom parroted by the sports media.
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Other
Hidden Gems of CNY: Down-home cooking to take home with you (PS; Miller)
When you walk into Joe’s To Go, you’re always greeted with a big “Welcome to Joe’s!” It’s like the greeting you get at Moe’s Southwest Grill, the chain Mexican restaurant ... only this one is more genuine.
Same goes with the food.
Here, you’re going to get a meal made from scratch by a family that loves to cook.
Joe’s To Go is in its eighth month. It sits a block outside of downtown Syracuse on West Onondaga Street. It’s close enough for city workers to grab a lunch, and it’s an easy stop to pick up dinner on the way home.
The crowded two-page menu features some southern dishes like cheese grits and fried catfish. It also has burgers, wings, pasta, seafood, baked mac and cheese, empanadas and plenty of sandwiches.
So, who’s Joe?
“I’m Joe,” said owner Phyllis Moore. “Joe represents everyone we cook for, and we cook for everyone.”
Phyllis had worked in the Syracuse City School District for 37 years, first as a sixth-grade teacher and ultimately as a vice principal. Her family and friends urged her to have a plan for when she retired. That day finally came in 2014.
She comes from a family that cooks. It could be something as simple as a neighborhood barbecue, or it could be as big as catering cast parties for the kids’ school plays. Whatever it was, people raved about the food.
Her family runs a tax preparation business, and the clothing store/barbershop next door had just become vacant, so she bought it.
After five-plus years of planning and a good year of government red tape, Joe’s to Go finally became Phyllis’ post-retirement career.
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