sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
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Welcome to International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is the 11th day of February, by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on 22 December, 2015. The day recognizes the critical role women and girls play in science and technology
SU News
Dungey’s XFL debut: SU fans flood Twitter clamoring for QB (PS; Mink)
The relaunch of the XFL debuted this past weekend, and the biggest draw for Central New Yorkers was former Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey returning to the field.
Dungey still is perhaps the most popular football player in CNY, but those who tuned in for the Dallas Renegades’ 15-9 loss to St. Louis on Sunday hoping to catch Dungey in action were left flooding Twitter, clamoring for the Renegades to bench starting quarterback Philip Nelson in favor of their guy.
Syracuse’s all-time passing leader got on the field during one series, but did not record any statistics.
Not giving Eric a chance when you couldn’t sniff the end zone was unreal.
Dungey was slowed by a minor leg issue throughout training camp, putting Nelson in position to earn the start in Sunday’s opener while presumed starter Landry Jones heals up.
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Top-3 ACC Coastal newcomers to watch this spring (stateoftheu.com; Dottavio)
Last spring, I wrote about the 5 ACC Newcomers for the 2019 season (read more here). Of the five I covered only one, Sam Howell, turned out to be worth the watch. Tate Martell, was a complete dud for the Miami Hurricanes while UVA’s Alex Gellerstedt missed the season with an knee injury and the Hokies J.R. Walker and Duke’s Tony Davis redshirted. UNC’s Howell threw for over 3,000 yards (8.6 yards per attempt) with 40 total touchdowns and only seven interceptions in Phil Longo’s offense.
This season hopefully I am a better predictor of success than a year ago.
D’Eriq King, Miami, Quarterback
Last year I said Tate Martell was a big signing because he could shake up the QB room in Coral Gables... boy was I wrong. King is an entirely different situation, thankfully. D’Eriq King has proven ability at kick returner, wide receiver, and more importantly the quarterback position. In 2018, King was a lights out talent and over his career he’s thrown 50 touchdowns, ran 28 and caught three, while also returning one kick off back for a touchdown.
More importantly than his ability is his documented work ethic. King has been lauded by quarterback gurus like Kendal Briles, Lincoln Riley and Major Applewhite as a hard worker who can lead the ‘Canes offense. A play-making quarterback who can lead the team? King checks all of the boxes. Miami just has to hope he can get back that magic from his 2018 season before his injury.
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Links, news and rumors - 2/11/20 (RX; HM)
Links, news and rumors - 2/11/20
From ESPN: CFP National Championship: LSU-Clemson Audience Grows to 27.3 Million Viewers with Out of Home and Full Nielsen Reporting Available
The numbers just keep going up...
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What Kind of School? (RX; HM)
What Kind of School?
What is your school's sports identity? Packer and Durham discussed it on their ACCN show one morning and had a hard time classifying a few schools - though some were pretty easy, of course. So that gave me an idea: how would I classify the 15 schools of the ACC? Here are my picks...
#1 Sport: Football
Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame*, Pitt, Virginia Tech
(arguably Georgia Tech and NC State as well)
Other good sports
Clemson: Baseball
Florida State: Baseball, Basketball, Women's Sports
Georgia Tech: Golf, Baseball
Miami: Baseball
NC State: Basketball, Baseball
Notre Dame: Women's Basketball, Ice Hockey
Pitt: Soccer, Wrestling
Virginia Tech: Men's Basketball, Wrestling
#1 Sport: Men's Basketball
Duke, Louisville, Syracuse, UNC and UVA
Other good sports
Duke: Lacrosse
Louisville: Football, Baseball
Syracuse: Football, Lacrosse
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ACC 2020 NFL Scouting Combine Players (RX; HM)
ACC 2020 NFL Scouting Combine Players
I meant to post this earlier, but forgot...
From the NFL: 2020 NFL Scouting Combine: Invited prospects, by school
Boston College
AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College
Clemson
Tremayne Anchrum, OL, Clemson
Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Tanner Muse, DB, Clemson
Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
John Simpson, OL, Clemson
A.J. Terrell, DB, Clemson
K'Von Wallace, DB, Clemson
Duke
(none)
Florida State
Cam Akers, RB, Florida State
Stanford Samuels, DB, Florida State
Georgia Tech
(none)
Louisville
Mekhi Becton, OL, Louisville
Miami
Trajan Bandy, DB, Miami
DeeJay Dallas, RB, Miami
Jonathan Garvin, DL, Miami
Trevon Hill, DL, Miami
K.J. Osborn, WR, Miami
Michael Pinckney, LB, Miami
Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami
Jeff Thomas, WR, Miami
North Carolina
Charlie Heck, OL, UNC
Jason Strowbridge, DL, UNC
NC State
Larrell Murchison, DL, North Carolina State
James Smith-Williams, DL, North Carolina State
Notre Dame
Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
Jalen Elliott, DB, Notre Dame
Chris Finke, WR, Notre Dame
Alohi Gilman, DB, Notre Dame
Tony Jones, RB, Notre Dame
Khalid Kareem, DL, Notre Dame
Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
Julian Okwara, DL, Notre Dame
Troy Pride, DB, Notre Dame
Pittsburgh
Dane Jackson, DB, Pittsburgh
Syracuse
Kendall Coleman, DL, Syracuse
Sterling Hofrichter, P, Syracuse
Trishton Jackson, WR, Syracuse
Alton Robinson, DL, Syracuse
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PSA: Sling Special through 2/11/20 (RX; HM)
PSA: Sling Special through 2/11/20
It's not too late yet...
DEADLINE TUESDAY: Sling TV’s Anniversary Deals Benefit Everybody, Even Existing Subscribers
What’s better than... discounts to new and returning subscribers? When the company hands out freebies to existing users too. Sling TV is now five years old, and it wants to celebrate with good deals and free channels.
...From February 7th to February 11th, existing users can watch Comedy Extra, Kids Extra, Lifestyle Extra, News Extra, and Sports Extra (if you don’t already have those channels through the Total TV deal). It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.
If you’re not a current Sling TV subscriber, the discounts are better. From now until February 11th you can sign up and get your first month of basic Sling TV service for $5 instead of the usual $30. Unfortunately, Sling TV’s options are a little convoluted. Basic plans come in Blue or Orange, and each features access to different channels (with some overlap).
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Ranking every ACC team's toughest game in 2020 (247sports.com; Marsdale)
We are just over seven months out from the college season, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead at big games on the schedule that will define a team’s season. For ACC teams, there are quite a few that will have Clemson circled on the calendar.
The Tigers have made it to the College Football Playoff in five straight seasons, and are the class of the ACC by a wide margin. Aside from a narrow one-point win at North Carolina in September, no team came close to giving them a run for their money.
“It was a gut punch, for sure. Down for a couple of days,” Dabo Swinney said of Clemson’s National Championship loss. “But it’s a decision in how you respond to the win, respond to the loss and our team has been amazing, our leadership, it’s been good for me to be able to see that.”
It’s worth asking if anyone will be able to realistically challenge the Tigers for the ACC Title next season. They will once again be heavy favorites, but not every team in the conference will play Clemson next season.
The ACC did a good job at scheduling out of conference for 2020. ACC teams will play 29 games against non-conference opponents that participated in bowl games last season, the most of any Power 5 conference. The conference also has 19 games scheduled against Power 5 competition (including Notre Dame), with that stat also being the leader among Power 5 conferences.
Sifting through the 2020 schedule across the conference, we've picked out the toughest game for each program, one that could make or break the season:
Georgia Tech (at Georgia, Nov. 28) -- Georgia projects to be one of the top teams in the country and this one likely will be a “can’t lose” for the Bulldogs if they are to reach the College Football Playoff. Geoff Collins is doing a fantastic job on the recruiting trail for the Yellow Jackets, but it’s going to take a lot to pull the upset in Athens.
NC State (at Clemson, Oct. 17) -- Following two straight 9-4 seasons, the Wolfpack took a steep step back in 2019, going 4-8. That included a 55-10 drubbing at home against Clemson in a game that was 42-0 at halftime. With the game in Death Valley this season, it’s worth asking if the Pack will even compete in this one.
(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
Syracuse (at Clemson, Oct. 24) -- The last time Syracuse was at Clemson, the Orange gave the Tigers their biggest scare of the 2018 season one year after shocking the world and pulling the upset at Syracuse. Last year at home wasn’t the same story, as Clemson rolled to a 41-6 win. The Tigers have a bye and a home game against Liberty leading up to this contest. How prepared will they be?
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Clemson Football: Dabo Swinney might be the best boss ever (rubbingtherock.com; Spencer)
for gbo
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney is more than just a great coach and mentor, he has to be one of the best bosses in the game.
The Clemson football program was built from the bottom-up by Dabo Swinney.
More than a decade after taking over the program, Swinney has transformed Clemson football into a powerhouse. The Tigers have won two of the last four National Championships, made five-straight CFB Playoff appearances and don’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
While we focus on the success of Swinney on the football field quite often, we shouldn’t forget one important characteristic about the Head Coach: He’s a great boss, as well.
There’s a reason that Clemson assistants don’t want to leave the program. It’s not just because they’re enjoying winning football games and building relationships with young players, either.
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Michigan State football: Five coaching candidates after Luke Fickell said no (fltimes.com; Sabin)
A coaching search that seemed on a its way toward a quick resolution took a sudden turn Monday morning when Luke Fickell turned down the opportunity to become Mark Dantonio's replacement at Michigan State football.
Sources told the Free Press that the committee in charge of finding Dantonio's successor met Monday to discuss the next steps. Here is a list of candidates they could pursue in alphabetical order:
Bret Bielema
The former Wisconsin and Arkansas coach has "definite" interest in the opening at Michigan State, according to a source with knowledge of his thinking. Bielema's stock plummeted after a failed stint at Arkansas, where he went 29-34 before he was dismissed at the end of 2017. But at one point, he was among the hottest names in college football after guiding the Badgers to three straight conference titles from 2010 to 2012 and posting a 68-24 record in seven seasons in Madison. Word is Bielema, 50, who serves as an outside linebackers coach and senior assistant with the New York Giants, is looking to get back into college football, and particularly the Big Ten.
Chris Creighton
Creighton would be a hard sell to MSU fans based on his record at Eastern Michigan. The Eagles have gone 28-47 during his six-year tenure in Ypsilanti. But Creighton, 51, has fared well at a job that seemed a lost cause not too long ago. Creighton has led the Eagles to three bowls in the last four years – a remarkable feat considering that Eastern Michigan had made one postseason appearance at the Division I level before his arrival.
Jim McElwain
Based on track record, proximity and direct ties to Michigan State from his days as an assistant, McElwain has appeal. The 57-year-old Central Michigan coach has won wherever he has been. He guided both Colorado State and Florida to 10-win seasons and negotiated a dramatic turnaround in Mount Pleasant this past season. The Chippewas went 8-6 in 2019 after winning only one game the year before. McElwain has worked at MSU before, serving as assistant head coach under John L. Smith from 2003-05. He was Michigan's wide receivers coach in 2018.
Pat Shurmur
Shurmur, a Michigan State grad who is the Denver Broncos' offensive coordinator, has been mentioned as name to watch by sources close to the program. Shurmur has been the head coach with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants - posting a 9-23 record at each stop. The 54-year-old Dearborn native has a wealth of experience. But he hasn't coached in the college ranks since 1998 and there are questions about how fare on the recruiting trail.
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Column: Shame on college football for lack of black coaches (startribune.com; Newberry)
A review of all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision schools found shockingly low numbers, with blacks still largely shut out of head coaching positions and, to an even greater degree, the prime coordinator spots.
While the NFL has come under fire for its lack of minority coaches, the situation appears more dire at the college level.
Frankly, there's little reason to believe the sport will ever become more inclusive beyond the field, even though roughly half the players are African-Americans.
"College coaches are expected to fund-raise and schmooze with alumni as well as coach," said Mark Naison, a professor of African American Studies and History at Fordham University. "The rich alumni, most of whom are white, feel more comfortable with people who look like them. So long as alumni dollars drive college football funding, white coaches will have a huge hiring advantage. "
This much is clear:
— Blacks are less likely to be hired as a head coach, offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator.
— Blacks rarely get a chance to shine at the most prominent schools.
— Blacks generally get a shorter time-frame to prove their coaching skills.
— Blacks find it more difficult getting a second chance if things don't work out in their initial jobs.
At college football's top level, there are 13 African-American head coaches at FBS schools, down from 15 two years ago and roughly in line with the NFL's puny numbers (three out of 32).
The rates are downright alarming when it comes to offensive and defensive coordinators, who make up the prime pool of candidates for future head coaching jobs.
Only seven FBS schools have an African-American running the offense, while four others have black coaches who carry the co-coordinator title. Those numbers are especially troubling in today's world of high-scoring spread offenses, which means those calling the plays are often the hottest coaching prospects.
The minority numbers are higher on the defensive side of the line, but still show an appalling lack of diversity. There are 16 African-American coordinators, with another six black coaches listed as co-coordinators (including job-sharing between two coaches of color at both Arizona State and Charlotte).
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Other
Here’s what caused 2M Spectrum customers to lose TV and internet service (PS; Moriarty)
Two million Spectrum customers across the Northeast found themselves without cable television and internet services for hours this weekend, leaving many to wonder what could have caused such a major interruption.
Spectrum said Monday that ice and heavy snow took down its fiber optic lines in multiple locations in the Northeast starting Friday night and continuing Saturday.
Not only did the storm damage the company’s main lines, it also brought down backup lines that normally provide “critical redundancy,” the company said.
Making matters worse, repair crews were delayed getting to the downed lines by road closures caused by fallen trees and downed power lines, the company said.
Spectrum said safety is a “priority consideration” for its repair crews following a large-scale weather event.
“For example, in one location, there were live power lines down, along with trees, right next to damaged fiber,” the company said in a statement. “Our field teams are not allowed to access impacted areas until the area is deemed ‘clear’ by utility providers.”
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