Orangeyes Daily Articles for Thursday for Football

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Welcome to Squirrel Appreciation Day!

Taking place in the dead of winter, when food for squirrels and other animals can be scarce, Squirrel Appreciation Day acknowledges the role of squirrels in nature and encourages people to put out nuts, seeds, or other food for them. It was created in 2001 by Christy Hargrove, now Christy McKeown, who at the time was a freshman at UNC-Asheville, a wildlife rehabilitator affiliated with the Western North Carolina Nature Center, and runner of the now-defunct Squirrels R Us website. She wrote that people could simply "celebrate by putting out extra food for the squirrels."

Squirrels gather food for the winter during the fall. They plant nuts and seeds, even aerating lawns in the process. As winter drags on, they may find that the food they stored earlier is not enough, or that food that is found around them is limited. They likely could use an extra treat today. Squirrels are often known to be a nuisance when looking for food. They are aggressive at bird feeders, often tipping them over and spilling seeds, and are also known to destroy pumpkins on porches and dig up flower bulbs. Giving them food as a gift means there's a better chance the birds can eat in peace and your flowers will come up in the spring.

SU News

Syracuse Football: Top 5 Plays Of The 2020 Season (msn.com; video)

Before starting to look ahead to the 2021 season, we take one look back at the Syracuse Orange's 2020 season. Check out the top 5 plays from the Syracuse Orange's 2020 football season.

Syracuse Football: Future looks bright with several freshman stars (itlh; Adler)

Syracuse football endured a really rough 2020 campaign, but there are some encouraging signs as the Orange tries to move forward in a positive direction.

The team’s 2021 recruiting class is solid, even if it’s not super highly ranked by the main recruiting Web sites. Several players who could have wrapped up their careers on the Hill are coming back for another season (although a few guys are departing Central New York, too).



An exciting, talented quarterback in Garrett Shrader has elected to transfer to the ‘Cuse from Mississippi State. Additionally, there are media reports out there that the Orange could add some other guys via the transfer market.

Sure, the secondary is losing a trio of elite players, likely to the professional ranks, but the Syracuse football defense also boasts multiple really, really good freshmen, which bodes well for the team’s future.

The Orange, we all know, did go 1-10 in this past stanza. The fan base is frustrated, but from my perspective, the only place that the ‘Cuse can go is up.

And it’s phenomenal that, despite a dismal 2020 term, three Orange players have received inclusion on freshmen All-American squads, according to announcements from cuse.com.

Defensive back Ja’Had Carter got named a freshman All-American by Rivals. During the recently concluded campaign, Carter, a true freshman, suited up in all 11 games and started 10 of them at safety.
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Alabama hires former Syracuse, Bills coach Doug Marrone as offensive line coach (PS; $; Herbert)

Former Syracuse football coach Doug Marrone has a new “dream job,” according to a new report.

A source told AL.com Wednesday that Alabama football coach Nick Saban is adding Marrone to his staff as the Crimson Tide offensive line coach.

Marrone was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach the last four seasons in the NFL. He also was head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2013 to 2014 and at Syracuse University from 2009 to 2012.



Marrone led the Jags to the AFC Championship in his first season as the Jaguars head coach, but followed it up with three losing seasons in a row. He was fired by Jacksonville owner Shad Khan after losing 15 games in a row during the 2020 season, and replaced by Urban Meyer.

Multiple reports this week said Marrone was a “serious candidate” to join Saban’s staff in Alabama, along with former Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien, who will be the Tide’s new offensive coordinator.

Marrone replaces former OL coach Kyle Flood, who followed Steve Sarkisian to the University of Texas at Austin.

Marrone, 56, played college football at Syracuse and returned to SU as a coach in 2009, leading the Orange to the Pinstripe Bowl twice. He then moved on to the NFL, leading the Bills to their first winning season in a decade in 2014. He called the Buffalo job “another dream come true,” but opted out of his contract and joined Jacksonville as an assistant coach before being named head coach.
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Best 2021 OOC Games (RX; HM)

Best 2021 OOC Games​

The website FBSchedules.com has their annual post "10 non-conference college football matchups to look forward to in 2021" in which they happily point out "…the 2021 season kicks off in 220 days." Here are the three ACC-related non-conference games in their top 10:

Saturday, Sept. 4​

#4 GEORGIA vs. #1 CLEMSON (at Charlotte, NC)
The only potential Top 10 matchup on our list, all eyes will be on this blockbuster to see which team makes an early claim on a CFP bracket slot. Georgia and Clemson share lots of history, meeting 64 times previously including three games when both shared membership in the Southern conference (1921, 1927 and 1932). The two haven’t played since 2014, the Bulldogs lead the all-time series 42-18-4 and have won six of the last seven. They are scheduled to meet again in 2024 (in Atlanta) and then in a pair of home-and-home series booked for 2029/30 and 2032/33.
#2 ALABAMA vs. #25 MIAMI (FL) (at Atlanta, Ga.)
These two haven’t clashed since the 1992/93 Sugar Bowl (also the first National Championship under the Bowl Coalition), a 34-13 win for Alabama. Prior to that, the two met in the 1989/90 Sugar Bowl, a 34-13 win for Miami that earned it the third of its five national titles. The Crimson Tide lead the all-time series 14-3 and have won 11 of the last 12. The Hurricanes haven’t beaten Alabama during the regular season since 1955 and haven’t beaten a Top 5 opponent since destroying then (3) Notre Dame 41-8 in 2017.

Saturday, Oct. 30​

#7 NORTH CAROLINA at #15 NOTRE DAME
The Tar Heels and Irish played each other consistently in the 1950s and 60s, clashing 14 times from 1949-66. After meeting twice in the 1970s, the couple took a break until 2006 and have met three times since including last season. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 18-2, UNC’s only wins coming in 2008 (which was vacated in 2011) and 1960. The Tar Heels have never won in South Bend (0-12). The pair currently have four other meetings booked – 2022 and 2026 in Chapel Hill, and 2030 and 2036 in South Bend.
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Links, news and rumors - 1/21/21 (RX; HM)

Links, news and rumors - 1/21/21​

From AthlonSports: ACC Football: 10 Players Who Will Replace NFL Draft Early Entrants in 2021

Like all the Power 5 leagues, the ACC has their fair share of early draft entrants that need to be replaced. Here's a list of 10 juniors — or redshirt sophomores — that will be heading off to the NFL and the players that being eyed as their successor...
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From SouthernPigskin: 2021 Clemson Defense Will be Nation’s Best
Clemson ranked in the top 15 in total defense, led the nation in sacks, ranked second in tackles for loss, fourth in turnovers forced and tenth in third down percentage this past season. Coordinator Brent Venables and the Tigers just had one of the best defenses in all of college football yet again. Remarkably, every single starter is set to return...
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D.J. Uiagalelei has some big shoes to fill for Clemson following Trevor Lawrence's departure​

ACC Football: 10 Players Who Will Replace NFL Draft Early Entrants in 2021 (athlonsports.com; Kinne)

Clemson​

Gone: Trevor Lawrence, QB

What more can be said about Lawrence's tenure at Clemson? He came to school as a once-in-a-decade talent and departs with three College Football Playoff appearances, a national title, and a second-place finish in the Heisman voting. The likely top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft exceeded his immense hype.

In: D.J. Uiagalelei, rising sophomore

In the middle of the season, we all saw the future for Clemson at the quarterback position. And the future looks very bright indeed. Uiagalelei is a huge specimen with a powerful arm. But more than that, he has a feel for the game that belies his age. For at least the next two years, the Tigers will be perfectly fine at this position.

North Carolina​

Gone: Javonte Williams, RB

The Tar Heels are losing two dynamic stars at running back. Michael Carter's Carolina career is over after four years and Williams decided to test the NFL waters after a 1,140-yard, 19-touchdown junior season. Williams brought more power to the table thanks to his size (5-10, 220) but that didn't prevent him from teaming with Carter as a viable receiving threat out of the backfield.

In: Ty Chandler, graduate transfer

British Brooks and Josh Henderson had 21 combined carries in the Orange Bowl after Carter and Williams opted out of the game. But it will be the Tennessee transfer that gets the first crack at the starting spot. In four years in Knoxville, Chandler rushed for 2,046 yards and 13 touchdowns, giving him a far better resume than Brooks and Henderson combined. Four-star true freshman Kamarro Edmonds may be the future, but he will most likely be groomed behind Chandler next fall.
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CFN 2021 ACC Football Rankings: Pre-Spring (CFN; Staff)

2021 ACC Rankings: Pre-Spring​

ACC Atlantic Division​

1. Clemson Tigers​

Why To Be Happy: At the moment, the defense gets all 11 starters back after leading the ACC in total and scoring D. This was a young group up front, and now all the stars return. Linebackers James Skalski and Baylon Spector announced they’re returning for another year, corner Derion Kendrick is back, and on and on and on. Oh yeah … the offense did this last year without a few key receivers who’ll be back.

What To Work On: Turnovers were a bit of a problem – especially fumbling – and the running game wasn’t its normal killer self. Travis Etienne is done, but the veteran O line has to be better at pounding away.

Bottom Line: It’s Clemson. It lost a transcendent NFL QB prospect in Trevor Lawrence, the most productive ACC running back ever in Etienne, and it’s going to be even better.

2. NC State Wolfpack​

Why To Be Happy: The defense loses the main man Asim McNeill from the middle of the line, but everyone else of note appears to be back. Throw in a few key transfers – especially at safety – and the Pack should be nasty on that side of the ball.

What To Work On: Most of the offensive skill parts are back – helped by the return of leading receiver Emeka Emezie – but the production has to come. The O was fine, but it wasn’t explosive enough and there were too many turnovers.

Bottom Line: NC State was great at beating the teams it was supposed to, and the experience will be there to repeat the decent level of success of 2020, but big-time playmakers have to emerge.

3. Boston College Eagles​

Why To Be Happy: It was a strong first season under head coach Jeff Hafley, and he gets the pieces back for the offense to be even more dangerous. The backfield of QB Phil Jurkovec and RB David Bailey will be great if …

What To Work On: The running game has to start working again. It wasn’t a function of the offensive style, but with all five offensive linemen expected to return to pave the way for Bailey, there’s no excuse for being 118th in the nation in rushing again.

Bottom Line: Just about everyone returns on offense, and the defense that needs a little reworking needs to start getting behind the line more. The Eagles will be stronger.

4. Florida State Seminoles​

Why To Be Happy: There needs to be a whole lot of work and a whole lot more production, but almost all of the entire starting offensive 11 from the end of last season is expected to be back. The defensive side loses several key parts, but instant help appears to be on the way from the transfer portal.

What To Work On: Yeah, the offense. The defensive side has to generate some semblance of a pass rush, but the O has to be more efficient throwing the ball and has to figure out how to move the chains.

Bottom Line: 2020 couldn’t have been any worse for head coach Mike Norvell and the national title-level program. There’s experience, there’s a reset mindset, and … there’s a lot of work to do.

5. Wake Forest Demon Deacons​

Why To Be Happy: The offense should be even more explosive and more dangerous. The offensive line returns almost intact, the receiving corps is loaded, and Sam Hartman – bowl meltdown against Wisconsin aside – is a terrific triggerman to run it all. There’s more than enough talent back on D to be fine, but …

What To Work On: Losing star end Carlos Basham matters. The pass rush was a problem for the Demon Deacons with him, and now it’s going to take a whole lot of work to get even more out of the D that has to work to hold serve.

Bottom Line: It’ll be more of the same. Dangerous, fun, explosive offense that should be able to keep up with just about everyone, but questionable defense that should have enough issues to make every game a shootout.

6. Louisville Cardinals​

Why To Be Happy: The offense is going to be interesting with Georgia Southern option wizard QB Shai Werts transferring in to add another option. Expect more consistency and production from a team that should be able to keep up with just about everyone.

What To Work On: The receiving corps loses Dez Fitzpatrick and Tutu Atwell to the next level, and the linebacking corps has to replace almost all the starting linebackers along with nose tackle Jared Goldwire.

Bottom Line: Coming off a 4-7 season, the Cardinals have to bounce back quickly despite a slew of key departures compared to the rest of the Atlantic Division. Improvement on the O line and limiting the turnovers are a must.

7. Syracuse Orange​

Why To Be Happy: The Orange have almost everyone back on offense and on the defensive front seven, and the arrival of Garrett Shrader from Mississippi State should help the quarterback room. The experience is there on both sides of the ball, but …

What To Work On: The secondary loses its top playmakers, and losing receiver and return man Nykeim Johnson to Kent State hurts, and … offensive line, offensive line, offensive line. The Orange have GOT to figure out how to block after not doing enough of it over the last few years.

Bottom Line: We know it’s possible for Syracuse to win – we all saw it a few years ago – but after a lost year with horrible play on both lines, the program has to get the infrastructure right.

Other

Destiny USA is losing another anchor store (PS; $; Moriarty)

Destiny USA is losing another anchor store - syracuse.com
Best Buy says it will close its store at Destiny USA in April, the latest anchor store to exit the giant Syracuse mall.

Best Buy disclosed its plan in a notice to the state under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining (WARN) Act. It said the store will close permanently on April 17, 2021.

In a letter to Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Best Buy Vice President Michael Hiltner said the store’s 70 employees will be laid off when the store closes. However, he said some employees may obtain other jobs at other Best Buy locations before the closing through internal transfers.

The closing will leave one Best Buy store in Onondaga County. It is at 3401 Erie Blvd. E. in DeWitt.

The electronics retailer closed its store in Clay in 2018.

The company cited “economic” as the reason for the closing, without offering further details. However, customer traffic at Destiny USA and many other shopping centers around the country has fallen significantly during the coronavirus pandemic, and Best Buy has said it is relying more on e-commerce sales.
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