sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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- Aug 15, 2011
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Welcome to International Kite Day!
International Kite Day started in India, where it takes place in the northwestern state of Gujarat, and is most widely celebrated in the city of Ahmedabad. The festival is known as Uttarayan in the Hindi language, and it is also called Makar Sakranti in parts of India. It celebrates the changing of the seasons from winter to summer, as well the upcoming harvest of winter crops. People come from countries all over the world to celebrate. The kites that are associated with the festival symbolize the spirit of gods awakening after their winter sleep.
Kite flying was originally done by royalty and the wealthy in India; at one time kings hired trained flyers to fly kites for them. Today people of all classes and backgrounds fly kites in India. Many people make kites weeks in advance of the festival, and kites get flown on the weeks surrounding the festival as well. The most common kites are simple, being made of lightweight colored paper with bamboo frames. Besides traditional kites, some have Bollywood stars or social messages on them. Kite strings are often covered with a mixture of rice and ground glass, which helps with "kite fighting". This is a game that takes place during the festival when flyers try to cut each other's strings and knock down their kites. For this reason many people have extra kites as backups, just in case their kite is taken down.
SU News
Freak accident left SU football player paralyzed. He wouldn’t change a thing (PS; $; Mink)
A freak accident left a Syracuse football player paralyzed. He wouldn’t change a thing - syracuse.com
It was going on 9 p.m. when Jim DaRin crashed into a light fixture 15 feet in the air and split his head on a conveyor belt at the Miller brewing plant near Fulton.
An explosion paralyzed DaRin below the collarbone, leaving him with minimal use of his hands and rendering him a quadriplegic at age 20, three months before his third season with the Syracuse University football team.
Told he may be institutionalized for life, his mother kneeled down and whispered in his ear: You still have your mind, Jimbo, you still have your mind. You’ll be thankful for that.
Without his mind, he wouldn’t be hurling himself 44 years later, too stubborn to swap in an automatic chair when he can still get around himself.
Without his mind, he couldn’t prove his life didn’t end June 24, 1977, the night he went to work and got shredded by an exploding beer keg.
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Syracuse Football: Trio of Orange to watch in the NFL Draft (itlh; Lee)
With the end of the college football season teams and players begin to prepare for what is next. For several Syracuse Football players that will be the NFL.
The college football season is over and what was a nightmare year for Syracuse Football is officially being flipped to 2021. A 2020 season that saw a lot of turnover during the term and way of life impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic had several Orange opt-out with a few with sights on the NFL.
Running backs Abdul Adams and Jarveon Howard opted out before the 2020 season. But the Orange lost two talented defensive backs, Andre Cisco and Trill Williams, to injury through the course of the season which lead to high-profile opt-outs and announcements of declaring for the NFL. They were joined in their NFL dreams after the season with corner Ifeatu Melifonwu, who declared on December 18.
All three defensive backs came to Syracuse and produced right away in 2018 and paved the way for talented newcomers on defense like Rob Hanna, Ja’Had Carter, Stefon Thomspon, Garrett Williams, and others.
The trio hopes to keep pushing forward with a path for future Orange NFL talents. Cisco has been on the NFL radar for a while after his first two seasons with the Orange especially after a nation-leading seven interceptions his first year on campus.
ESPN.com continues to give Cisco a second-round grade under best available for the 2021 NFL Draft. Cisco is the third-ranked safety with an 80 grade and 59th player overall.
On Tuesday Melifonwu showed up on The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler’s two-round mock draft. Brugler has Meilfonwu going 60th to the Cleveland Browns and explained the pick as:
“There are several upgrades needed in Cleveland’s secondary, including at outside cornerback. Melifonwu has room to improve his anticipation, but he has the rare physical gifts in his length, speed and fluidity to match up against different types of NFL receivers.” – Dane Brugler, The Athletic
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When could Syracuse football’s 2020 non-conference games be rescheduled for? (tniaam; Cassillo)
Since non-conference schedules were obliterated around the country this past college football season, it seems that at least some teams are looking to just slot those opponents into future open dates instead of cancelling things altogether. For schools that have themselves scheduled out pretty far into the next decade, that can pose a challenge. In the case of the Syracuse Orange and various other programs that decidedly aren’t, it’s potentially easier.
Syracuse lost three of their four non-conference games in 2020, only retaining the Liberty matchup (/gnashes teeth). The other three include road dates at Rutgers and Western Michigan, plus an additional home game against Colgate.
As an FCS team, Colgate should be fairly easy to slot in somewhere in the near future. Syracuse may not even “have to” replace them, really, since the Patriot League cancelled the fall schedule, so that would seemingly void any contractual obligations for the Orange. However, since they’re a nearby opponent with significance to our history, you’ll see the Raiders on the slate again soon.
The soonest year that can happen would seem to be 2023, when SU already has three FBS opponents (WMU, at Purdue, Army) and just needs an FCS to finish things off. If not there, 2024 has room as well with just two teams (Ohio, at Army) set so far.
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2021 College Football Transfer Portal (247sports.com)
Quarterback Pos Prediction Eligible Transfer
Garrett Shrader 6-4.5 / 215 0.9106 (HS) DUAL
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Rx: How to "Fix" ACC Football
You say you didn't realize it was broken? Read on!
Based on a Reddit post: How to Fix ACC Football
Back in the first decade of the 21st century, the ACC football often had several teams ranked in the top 25 each year, usually with a bunch of 10-2 or 9-3 records. None of them could ever rank high enough to play for - much less win - a national championship.
This last decade, the conference had three national champions, but with the opposite problem: some times only one or two other teams were ranked. Add to that the fact that the ACC is being lapped by the SEC and the Big Ten in terms of television revenue and you have a problem that needs fixing! What can the new ACC commissioner do?
A while back a user posted his solution for How to Fix ACC Football on Reddit. In that post he outlined 5 steps he would take to fix the conference:
- Marketing
- Commissioner
- Stadiums
- Divisions
- Recruiting
Marketing.
The SEC and Big Ten rule college football because “it just means more” so "dream B1G". ESPN and Fox push those conferences relentlessly. The ACC tried this with "bring your A game" - not bad, but not great, either.
Alumni of SEC and Big Ten schools often work in media jobs and, not surprisingly, promote their former schools and conferences. Now the ACC has Syracuse in the fold with its army of broadcasting graduates, but most of them are still pre-ACC, so their emotional tie to the new conference home of the Orange is tenuous at best.
One group I'd like to hear more from is former ACC players, especially those who are in various Halls of Fame. It would also be nice if the ACC could make the connection a little clearer. For example, most people still know names like Lawrence Taylor and Michael Jordan, but do young fans realize they both played sports at UNC?
The ACC seems to miss out on too many obvious promotional opportunites. They need to do better.
Commissioner.
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State of the Orange Bowl - 1/12/21 (RX; HM)
State of the Orange Bowl - 1/12/21
We told you when the details of the Orange Bowl contract were first released that we didn't like it - the ACC gave too much to the Big Ten and, especially, to the SEC. Now "the chickens have come home to roost", so to speak...
Opponent Selection Rules
- In general, the opponent will be the highest-ranked team available from the SEC, Big Ten, or Notre Dame, but with restrictions.
- The SEC and Big Ten are each guaranteed 3 selections in 12 years.
- Notre Dame is not guaranteed any number of picks and in fact is capped at a maximum of 2 selections.
- In order for Notre Dame to be selected it must be ranked higher than the best available SEC or Big Ten team and is itself available (i.e. not in the 4-team playoff).
Contract Payouts
When the opponent is from the SEC or Big Ten, the ACC splits the $55 million payout 50/50 with the visitor ($27.5 million each). If the opponent is ever Notre Dame, the split would be $41.25 million for the ACC and $13.75 million for Notre Dame. That represents the biggest bowl payout possible for either the ACC or for Notre Dame, but it's beginning to look less and less likely based on the rules above. Consider the games already played:
| Date | ACC/Host | Visitor | Note |
| December 31, 2014 | #10 Georgia Tech | #8 Mississippi St | SEC |
| December 31, 2015 | #1 Clemson | #4 Oklahoma | CFP |
| December 30, 2016 | #10 Florida State | #6 Michigan | B1G |
| December 30, 2017 | #11 Miami | #6 Wisconsin | B1G |
| December 29, 2018 | #1 Alabama | #4 Oklahoma | CFP |
| December 30, 2019 | Virginia | #6 Florida | SEC |
| January 2, 2021 | #14 N Carolina | #5 Texas AM | SEC |
From this we see that the SEC has already met their guaranteed 3-game minimum, and the Big Ten has 2 of their 3. That also means that if the SEC plays in any more Orange Bowls during non-playoff years, they will be taking Notre Dame's potential slots (and if they play in this bowl in 2022 and 2023, the Big Ten would be guaranteed the spot in 2025).
Here are the future Orange Bowl game dates:
| Season | Date | Day |
| 2021* | December 31, 2021 | Friday |
| 2022 | December 30, 2022 | Friday |
| 2023 | December 30, 2023 | Saturday |
| 2024* | December 28, 2024 | Saturday |
| 2025 | December 30, 2025 | Tuesday |
BOTTOM LINE:
If Notre Dame is ever going to get that $13.75 million payout (and if the ACC is ever going to get the $41.25 million to split 14 ways), it had better happen in 2022 or 2023. Ideally, you'd like to see the Irish in this bowl in 2022 and again in 2025, with the Big Ten facing the ACC in 2023 for some variety.
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Final ACC Power Rankings for the 2020-21 football season - The Juice Online (the juice; Vescovi)
1. Clemson (10-2)
It was not the ending the Clemson wanted in the College Football Playoff, but they blew the door’s off Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Game and reclaimed the top spot in the power rankings. Clemson has a lot to replace next year with Trevor Lawrence and Travis Ettiene leaving, but they have more than enough talent to get the job done.
2. Notre Dame (10-2)
Notre Dame claimed the regular season title but gave a lack luster performance in Charlotte for the ACC Championship game. They followed this up with a disappointing, but familiar performance in the CFP against Alabama. Notre Dame exits the ACC and returns to independent status. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya on the way out.
3. North Carolina (8-4)
UNC destroyed Miami then got destroyed by Texas A&M in the Orange Bowl. It was a successful year for Mack Brown and the boys. With Sam Howell coming back, the Tar Heels will be a darkhorse ACC pre-season pick.
4. Miami (8-3)
The blowout loss to UNC was a big disappointment, but losing D’Eriq King in the bowl game was the lowest moment of the season for the Hurricanes. Ideally he comes back healthy for fall camp because with him Manny Diaz has a national championship caliber team. Without him, they are a 7-win team.
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Clemson football: ACC should work to lock down Notre Dame long-term (rubbingtherock.com; Spencer)
Could Clemson football have some more competition in the ACC moving forward?
It’s easy for Clemson football fans to look at Notre Dame and the way the Tigers manhandled the Irish in the ACC Championship game and to utter two simple words: ‘Good riddance.’
Notre Dame has made it clear- at least so far- that the 2020 season was just a one-time thing and that they are moving back to their status of an ‘Independent’ for the foreseeable future.
However, if you’re the ACC, this offseason should be filled with negotiations and tactics to attempt to get the Irish to join the league on a full-time basis.
Clemson football would benefit from ACC locking down Notre Dame long-term as full member
Outside of the CFB Playoff- where viewership was actually down this year– do you know what the two most-watched games of the 2020 season were?
It was Clemson-Notre Dame on Nov. 7 followed by Clemson-Notre Dame on Dec. 19. The viewership for those two games were more than Georgia-Alabama, Alabama-Florida, Ohio State-Northwestern, Oklahoma-Texas, Georgia-Florida, etc.
More viewership leads to more money and that’s exactly why Clemson football- and the rest of the ACC- would benefit from Notre Dame joining the league on a full-time basis.
It would be a beneficial move for the Fighting Irish, as well, who aren’t going to have near the amount of clout moving forward with the CFB Playoff committee after another embarrassing elimination from the semifinals. Plus, believe it or not, Notre Dame would actually generate more revenue by getting shares of the ACC Network during football season and sharing NBC money than by just getting the NBC money, believe it or not.
Not only is money a major factor, but it’s also an added boost to perception.
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Let’s not take what Clemson Football has accomplished for granted (theclemsoninsider.com; Vandervort)
Though Clemson fell short of winning another national championship in 2020, the Tigers are still the King of the Mountain in the ACC, and let’s not lose perspective on what kind of an accomplishment that is.
Remember, before 2011 the Clemson football program had not won an ACC Championship in 20 years. In fact, the Tigers really did not even sniff a league title for much of those two decades until Dabo Swinney’s first team in 2009 advanced to the ACC Championship Game.
However, the Tigers have won seven ACC Championships since 2011, including a current run of six straight. Even adding Notre Dame to help in a pandemic year could not stop Clemson Football’s reign over the conference.
And though some Clemson fans may take the Tigers’ seven ACC Championships in 10 seasons for granted, Swinney does not. To him, each championship has been special in its own way.
“That’s like asking me which one of my three boys are my favorite. You know, I love all three of my sons, and all these teams,” Swinney said with a smile. “We have six in a row and then the ‘11 team. So, all seven of them are special, and they’re like your children. They’re all special. They’re all unique and different challenges.”
During its current six-year rule over the ACC, Clemson has dominated the conference like few ever have. Since the start of the 2015 season, the Tigers are 52-3 against ACC competition, including six wins in the conference championship game.
Clemson won 28 straight games against ACC competition from 2017-’20 before Notre Dame upset the Tigers on Nov. 7 in a double-overtime thriller in South Bend. However, the Tigers exacted revenge on the Irish in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 19 with a 34-10 rout in Charlotte.
The ACC Championship win over Notre Dame wrapped up another league title that Swinney believes no Clemson team has ever deserved more.
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WATCH: 2021 ACC Football Way-too-early Top 5 (tiger.net; Crumpton)
Video Description: The 2020 season is behind us and it is time to turn the page and look to next season...way too early. The Clemson Tigers will be looking for their 7th consecutive ACC title and will have loads of talent to get the job done. The Tar Heels, the Wolfpack and others will have a lot to say before that is decided
TechSideline.com (sportswar.com)
I got a kick out of this... -- HokieNoMaterWhat 01/13/2021 11:02AM
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ESPN Radio Syracuse host Seth Goldberg is leaving, taking job with the NBA (PS; $; Carlson)
ESPN Radio Syracuse host and producer Seth Goldberg will be leaving the radio station to take a job with the NBA.
Goldberg announced the change on Tuesday, telling Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that the opportunity allows him to be closer to his family and take on a new behind-the-scenes challenge with the world’s pre-eminent basketball league.
Goldberg said he will be a broadcast assistant with the NBA and, while he isn’t completely sure what his day-to-day duties will look like, he expects it will involve analyzing and assessing the NBA’s various broadcasts and trying to ensure the league’s television partners stay on the cutting edge of industry best practices.
“I think a lot of it will be sharing best practices, what works and helping each broadcast be the best that it can,” Goldberg said. “The pandemic makes you think about some things. I spent some time with my family over the summer and was enjoying that part of it. The idea of looking at broadcasts and how to shape things intrigues me. I’ve always been someone who fascinated by TV production and how games get made and put on the air.”
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Other
How gamers and pandemic are driving a 150-job explosion at TCGplayer; see its openings (PS; $; Moriarty)
How gamers and pandemic are driving a 150-job explosion at TCGplayer; see its openings - syracuse.com
TCGplayer, the company that took the trading card market online, is rapidly expanding its footprint and hiring in downtown Syracuse, thanks in large part to the coronavirus pandemic’s positive impact on the gaming industry.
Founder and CEO Chedy Hampson said the company has grown its workforce from 221 in February 2020 to 312. In addition, he said the company has 50 open positions “with many, many more coming.”
The company lists available jobs and accepts applications online at careers.tcgplayer.com/job-openings. Among the openings are jobs in tech and its fulfillment center.
In March, the company will expand its office space at The Galleries of Syracuse, taking 30,000 square feet of space on the third floor, he said. It now occupies 45,000 square feet in the downtown office complex.
The pandemic has badly hurt many businesses, but not TCGplayer. With people spending more time at home, many are turning to video games and trading card games for entertainment, providing a sales “tail wind” for the company, Hampson said.
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