Orangeyes Daily Articles for Wednesday for Football

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Welcome to Bacon Day!

According to the Bacon Day website, the day was created by Danya Goodman and Meff Leonard. They came up with the day as a way to celebrate bacon and The Simpsons. In The Simpsons episode "I Love Lisa," Homer asks, "Is it Bacon Day?" This is how the creators of the day tied the celebration of two things they love together.

So what's the story of bacon? Bacon is a popular treat cut from the meat of a pig. In the United States, bacon refers to meat from the belly of the pig, known as the pork belly. Bacon from the loin is called Canadian bacon. To make bacon, the pork is cured using salt, and is then dried, boiled, or smoked. The smoking of bacon is often done with hickory, mesquite, or maple wood, and flavors such as brown sugar or maple may be added. More often than not, bacon is pan fried, and it is popular as a breakfast food, in sandwiches like the BLT or club sandwich, as a complement to salads, and in wrapping other foods. "Bacon mania" has swept the United States and Canada since the late 1990's, where there has been a great increase in the amount of bacon being eaten, and in the amount of new bacon recipes. The high sodium and nitrate content of bacon that lower its health benefits has not seemed to much slow down the bacon craze.

SU News

Monday Musings: 10 Transfer Portal Options That Make Sense for Syracuse (SI; McAllister)

The transfer portal is becoming filled with more and more prospects by the day. Having scholarships available to bring in some quality transfers is almost an essential aspect of college football recruiting at this point. Syracuse has needs at a few positions, including offensive line and cornerback as well as potentially defensive tackle, and will look to fill its remaining slots with portal or junior college options.

Here is a look at 10 options Syracuse could take a look at, and make sense based on position.

CB KOREY CHARLES - MISSISSIPPI STATE

Charles played in 17 games over three seasons with the Bulldogs after signing with them over offers from North Carolina, LSU, Miami, Louisville, Florida State, Wisconsin, Clemson, Penn State, Florida and Notre Dame. A once highly coveted prospect, Charles never seemed to be able to crack the starting lineup at MSU. With a vacancy left by Iffy Melifonwu, Syracuse could be an option to give him the chance to do just that.

CB ANTWAN COLLIER - UCF

Collier had some legal troubles that led to him leaving Central Florida. He was arrested in October for carrying a firearm and driving without a license. Prior to that, however, he was an extremely productive defensive back for one of the better non-power five programs in the country. In 38 games, he has 150 tackles, six interceptions and 11 passes defensed. At 6-3, he is a long corner and extremely athletic. He would fill Melifonwu's spot almost perfectly, but Syracuse would first have to do their due diligence regarding the legal issues.

CB DAVION WILLIAMS - MICHIGAN STATE

Another long corner at 6-2, Williams appeared in all seven games for the Spartans this past season after playing in all 13 in 2019. Williams is looking for a new start at a place where he can play a larger role. With three years of eligibility still remaining, could Syracuse take a look? He has experience, size and was a highly regarded prospect out of high school.
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SU FB Recruit Review: LB Malik Matthew – Orange Fizz – Free Syracuse Recruiting News (orangefizz.net; Eads)

Malik Matthew was an instrumental pickup for the Syracuse Football Team when he verbally committed back in May of 2020. Matthew was one of the few prospects that actually got to visit campus back in March which may have been huge in his decision to go Orange.

Dino Babers and Company doubled down on Matthew’s decision by securing his signature two weeks ago during the early national signing day. Obviously, Matthew is a big win for the future of the 3-3-5 defense but it’s even bigger than that.

Syracuse was torched this season in games against teams with several former New York recruits that the Orange missed out on. BC’s Isaiah McDuffie, Pitt’s SirVocea Dennis, and Liberty’s Joshua Mack (although he actually didn’t play against SU) just to name a few. Syracuse can ill-afford to continue to lose these key Northeast recruiting battles to schools like Boston College, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, West Virginia, and I guess Liberty now.

However, this is a good example so let’s stay positive. The Orange actually beat out Rutgers head to head for Matthew. The Bronx, NY native a 6-foot-3, 210 lb. linebacker prospect and had several Northeast powers vying for his services. Rated a 3-star by 247sports.com, Matthew had 6 offers including BC, Buffalo, Pitt, Temple, Rutgers, and Kent State.
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Syracuse Offers Grad Transfer Defensive Tackle (SI; McAllister)

Syracuse football has extended an offer to graduate transfer defensive tackle Lamonte McDougle, a source told All Syracuse. McDougle is transferring from Washington State and has two years of eligibility remaining despite being a grad transfer. He is listed at 6-0, 291 pounds on the Washington State Athletics website.

McDougle did not play in 2020 after electing to transfer prior to the start of the PAC-12 season. Washington State lost its head coach, Mike Leach, to Mississippi State during the offseason. McDougle transferred to Washington State from West Virginia prior to the 2018 campaign.

During his one season at West Virginia, McDougle was a Freshman All-American after recording 23 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during the 2017 season. He sat out 2018 due to NCAA transfer rules and played in all 13 games, with one start, for Washington State in 2019. McDougle had 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one blocked field goal.

Syracuse recruited McDougle out of Deerfield Beach High School in Florida, as did several other power five programs. He signed with the Mountaineers over offers from Arkansas, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Penn State, Purdue, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas Tech and Washington State in addition to Syracuse.
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Mailbag: Which OL should Syracuse target in transfer portal? (247sports.com; Riverso)

Chris Riverso is focusing on football analysis and film breakdown in his role at SyracuseOn247. Riverso interned in the Syracuse football operations department in 2019. He's also spent time at Miami, FIU, and high schools in downstate New York (Hendrick Hudson) and Miami (Christopher Columbus).

Introducing the first edition of the Syracuse football mailbag. I'll be taking your questions as Syracuse transitions into its offseason and sharing insight every week or two. If you have a question, feel free to send it to me via direct message. I may also pull them from other places on the forum.

On tap for today: special teams success, offensive linemen in the transfer portal, the potential of SU's young wideouts and Airon Servais' future.

I’d be interested to hear a little about the SU special teams and what makes them elite. It’s a lot more than just having a talented kicker/punter. On top of that, do you think Lustig’s time spent with the special teams has a negative effect on the development of our wide receivers?

One thing to know about special teams is that unlike other aspects of football, scheme rarely has a lot to do with it, with the exception of a few trick plays here and there. There are only so many ways you can run 11 guys down the field for a tackle or return a kicked ball. It comes down to putting the right guys on the field who take the kicking game seriously, and who have the will and the athleticism to accomplish their assigned role.
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Miami football recruiters dominate ACC rankings (caneswarning.com; Rubenstein)

There of the top four recruiters in the 2021 signing class in the ACC came from the Miami football program as the Hurricanes dominated.

The Miami football staff dominated the ACC with three of the top four and four of the top 10 recruiters in the 2021 signing class. Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was second, tight ends coach Stephen Field was second, defensive line coach Todd Stroud was third and co-defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda was second.

The Miami football program has the 11th ranked signing class nationally and second in the ACC in 2021. The Hurricanes were one of five programs nationally with two five-star signees. Miami had two five-star signees for the first time since 2008 with defensive tackle Leonard Taylor and safety James Williams.

The Hurricanes dominated Florida. Miami had 11 four and five-star blue chip signees in the Class of 2021 Florida was second in-state with five blue-chip signees. If Manny Diaz and his staff can continue to sign in-state blue-chip prospects, the Hurricanes will continue to improve their roster.

The blue-chip ratio for Miami in the 2021 signing class for the Hurricanes 62.9 percent. Miami signed 13 four and five-star players out of the 21 they signed in 2021. Blue-chip ratio is the number of players on a college football roster that were four and five stars coming out of high school.
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A Look Back at 2020 ACC Football (cardiachill.com; HM)

Before the season began, the big question was whether there would even be an ACC football season. Now that it’s all over but a few post-season games, we can look back and be impressed by what the coaches, players, and yes, the team doctors were able to accomplish.

An Uncertain Start.

As late as August, none of us were sure if there would even be a 2020 ACC football season. Indeed, in the very first weekend three games had to be canceled or postponed, and one non-conference opponent had to be replaced. That theme was repeated numerous times throughout the season, but despite those difficulties, most of the games were played eventually.

ACC Teams Ranked.

Big wins in the first week of ACC football led to five conference teams* being ranked in the second week (officially college football week #3): #1 Clemson, #7 Notre Dame, #12 UNC, #17 Miami, and #25 Pitt. By the following week, two more ACC teams had joined the top 25 - #20 Virginia Tech and #24 Louisville - and Pitt had risen to #21, which resulted in a top 25 showdown at Heinz Field between the #24 Louisville Cardinals and the #21 Pittsburgh Panthers. Pitt won that game but fell three spots as Big Ten teams joined the AP ranking. Unfortunately for the Panthers, that’s the week they also lost their first game - to an NC State Wolfpack team which was unranked at the time but would eventually finish in the top 25.
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Preview: 2020 Duke's Mayo Bowl (RX; HM)

Preview: 2020 Duke's Mayo Bowl

From the ACC's Weekly Press Release:

DUKE’S MAYO BOWL
Wake Forest (4-4, 3-4 ACC) vs. Wisconsin (3-3, 2-3 Big Ten)
When: Wednesday, December 30, Noon on ESPN

Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

Series: First meeting

Head Coaches: Wake Forest - Dave Clawson (40-44 in seventh year at Wake Forest; 130-124 in 21st season overall); Wisconsin - Paul Chryst (55-19 in sixth year at Wisconsin; 74-38 in ninth year overall)

Notes:

• The Demon Deacons will be making their school-record fifth consecutive bowl appearance under head coach Dave Clawson as they face Wisconsin for the first time in program history
• It will be the 15th overall postseason game for Wake Forest, which has won three of its four most recent bowl games
• Wake Forest has played two previous bowl games at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium with memorable results

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2020 Cheez-It Bowl Results (RX; HM)

2020 Cheez-It Bowl Results

UPDATED 12/30/2020 7:52 AM

Oklahoma State 37, Miami 34

The Canes spotted the Cowboys 21-0, then stormed back to tie the game, but they never led. Miami's defense shut down the Oklahoma State rushing attack (only 2.6 yards per carry) and reasonably contained the Cowboy's passing as well. The problem for Miami, as it has been for many years now, came down to the offense (despite scoring 34 points!). The Hurricanes lost two fumbles and failed on two fourth down attempts as well, and those four possessions were more than enough to account for the three-point margin.

Perhaps part of the Canes offensive woes were due to the fact that D'Eriq King had to leave the game with a right knee injury with 4:06 remaining in the first half. His backup, N'Kosi Perry, performed pretty well in relief, throwing for 228 yards and two touchdowns. However, Perry also missed on six of his last nine pass attempts (and his receivers didn't help, dropping numerous passes), and his 6-yard pass completion on fourth-and-9 shut the door for his team.

This is the fourth bowl loss in a row for the Hurricanes, and 10th loss in their last 11 bowl appearances. We wrote about Miami's bowl-game futility last year - it's worth a quick read, too!

Bottom Line:
This was one of the bowls the ACC was favored to win, which means the conference is starting in a hole of sorts. Let's pull for Wake Forest to upset Wisconsin Wednesday afternoon in Charlotte to get things back on track!
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Other

‘Major storm’ to ring in new year in Upstate NY with freezing rain, ice (PS; $; Coin)

First, flooding rains arrived on Christmas Eve. Now a messy mix of ice and rain is headed for Upstate New York just in time for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

“Another major storm system arriving on a holiday,” the National Weather Service in Binghamton noted.

This storm won’t be conveying nearly as much water as the Christmas storm, so there won’t be the same widespread flooding threat. The New Year’s storm could still be treacherous for anybody on the roads for the holiday, however.

The weather service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Central and eastern New York. A messy mix of freezing rain and sleet could spread over the area Thursday night and continue into Friday before turning into rain Friday afternoon.

“Icy roads will be possible,” the outlook said, “especially New Year’s morning.”
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