sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Apple pie is seen as being very American. Just how American? Well, there is not one but two National Apple Pie Days in a year. And it's almost a certainty you've heard the phrase "as American as apple pie." How ironic it is, then, that apple pies didn't even originate in the United States, nor did apples!
Apples came from Asia, and their seeds and cuttings were brought to the Americas by Europeans during colonial times. Prior to this, only crab apples were grown in the Americas. The first apples brought to the Western Hemisphere were tart and were used for making cider. It wasn't until around 1800 when apples better suited for pies—with a higher acidity and crispness—began being grown in the United States. It was also around this time that Johnny Appleseed began traveling the country and helping solidify the association of the apple with America.
The earliest record of the phrase "American as apple pie" dates to 1924, when it appeared in an advertisement in the Gettysburg Times. The association between apple pie and America became inextricable by World War II when American soldiers would tell journalists they were fighting for "mom and apple pie." This eventually led to the phrase "As American as mom and apple pie." It became a prevalent saying in the United States during the Postwar years.
SU News
Syracuse Orange: CFN College Football Preview 2021 (CFN; Fiutak)
Syracuse Orange College Football Preview 2021: Offense
– It was a brutal run. The offense couldn’t move the chains, there weren’t enough downfield plays, there were too many turnovers, there wasn’t any consistency, and overall, the attack averaged a pathetic 265 yards 18 points per game. There’s one big reason for all of this …
The offensive line hasn’t blocked anyone for a very, very long time. The Orange front five gave up 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss per game – among the most in the country – so …
– The offensive line can’t help but be better, and it should be. The coaching staff gets just about everyone back – for good and for bad – and now it’s going to play around with the puzzle. There’s just enough versatility to try something out, but no matter what the configuration is, the line will be huge, loaded with veterans, and again, better.
Leading rusher Sean Tucker is back after running for 626 yards and four scores as one of the bright spots on the O. 2019 key backs Abdul Adams and Jarveon Howard return after opting out last year – the Orange should have a solid rotation.
– The quarterback situation will be a fight up until the opener at Ohio. Tommy DeVito has been beaten up over the last few years behind the leaky line, but he’s back for another shot. However, Mississippi State transfer Garrett Shrader brings both mobility and 6-4, 221-pound size.
Give the quarterbacks time, and the passing game from early in the Dino Babers era will return. Taj Harris led the team with 58 grabs for 733 yards and five scores.
He’s back to stretch the field from the X, and second-leading target Anthony Queeley is a big target on the other side. Nykeim Johnson left for Kent State, but Courtney Jackson has the upside to become a factor on the inside with a bit more time.
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Transfer portal a key to Syracuse's season - The Juice Online (the juice; Auger)
That eruption emanating from the world of college athletics is the transfer portal taking football and basketball by storm.
Make no mistake, the transfer portal, combined with the one-time transfer waiver allowed to student athletes, will revolutionize college sports.
Basketball teams can instantly go from very good to Final Four caliber simply by adding one player who’s buried on the bench of a blue blood. Football teams can shore up a position or two, including quarterback, that immediately vaults them into the playoff chase.
The transfer portal can also help teams like Syracuse in football too.
Programs like the Orange typically have to recruit and develop players into all-ACC caliber as opposed to teams like Clemson and Florida State (yes, the Seminoles will be back). Those schools, especially Clemson, can choose from plug-n-play recruits.
Syracuse can use the portal to add players who have been in other programs for multiple years and already physically matured to the point that they can step on the field and handle the ACC’s physicality.
Dino Babers has scored his fair share of productive transfers during his Syracuse tenure.
Amba Etta-Tawo and Trishton Jackson both provided legit deep threats in the passing game. Koda Martin was a key cog on the offensive line during the Orange’s 10-3 season in 2018. Abdul Adams is part of a deep running back room after opting out last season. Babers will once again look to some transfers as the Orange hopes to rebound from an abysmal 1-10 campaign.
Here are three positions that transfers can have a significant impact on the upcoming season.
Offensive Line
Trust me, I’m probably as sick of writing about the offensive line woes as you are of reading about them. But unless Babers gets this unit straightened out it is going to be another long season filled with 3-and-outs, quarterback sacks, and a defense that is totally gassed by the fourth quarter.
But there is reason for optimism as Airon Servais, Matthew Bergeron, Carlos Vettorello, and Darius Tisdale all return. Dakota Davis should be back at full strength. That will provide instant help to the running game.
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Syracuse Priority Target Confidential: LB Mani Powell (SI; $; McAllister)
We are launching a new series on All Syracuse, where we take a look at a priority target for Syracuse football or basketball. We will profile the player with the position Syracuse is recruiting them for, other schools in the mix, a scouting report and the latest intel on their recruitment. Te goal will be the post at least five per week during May and June. This will be a subscriber only feature.
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Former Syracuse Players in Prime Time in 2021 NFL Schedule (SI; McAllister)
The NFL released the 2021 schedule on Wednesday, and several former Syracuse players will be in action in prime time. For purposes of this article, prime time is defined as Thanksgiving, Thursday night, Saturday night, Sunday night or Monday night football. We also included games in London for reference.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Syracuse players: DE/OLB Chandler Jones, OL Koda Martin, OL Justin Pugh
Prime Time Games
Thursday October 28th vs Green Bay Packers at 7:20 p.m.
Monday December 13th vs LA Rams at 8:15 p.m.
Saturday December 25th vs Indianapolis Colts at 8:15 p.m.
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SWAC Football: Deion Sanders gets ACC transfer Antwan Owens from GT (saturdayblitz.com; Pryor)
Antwan Owens got his degree this spring and is immediately eligible to play this fall for the Tigers after transferring to play SWAC football at Jackson State.
Deion Sanders and the Jackson State Tigers have been active in the portal and in recruiting. The Tigers have signed 16 transfers, all from FBS programs. Of those 16, ten are from Power Five schools.
Sanders has said that to change the culture; you have to change the people. So far, he has done that with this roster. That includes signing two four-star recruits that will play this fall; one of them is Shedur Sanders, his son.
Some signees, like JUCO transfer cornerback De’Jahn Warren, spurned the likes of Alabama and Georgia to sign with Jackson State.
Sanders wants to build the trenches, signing 12 linemen (7 high school signees, five transfers). However, the way the trenches looked this spring, they will need all the help they can get.
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ESPN's FPI projects every ACC team's chances of reaching a bowl game (247sports.com; Marsdale)
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NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK: 81.7%
If quarterback Devin Leary is able to play more often in 2021, and with a boatload of starters returning across the roster, NC State should match its win total in 2021. It'll be difficult to achieve a 10-win season, but if the running game is more consistent with veterans returning (again) in the backfield and the defense continues to improve with leading sacker Daniel Joseph (6.5 sacks) returning, the Wolfpack will be a thorn in the ACC's side in the fall.MIAMI HURRICANES: 93.7%
Miami has quickly rebuilt itself into a contender thanks to the transfer market. Miami went from a team that couldn’t score in a shutout loss to Louisiana Tech just one year ago to being among the most exciting offenses in the country in 2020. The big question will be D’Eriq King’s health after injuring a knee in the bowl game. If he’s healthy and confident, he will have plenty of weapons. Miami needs help on the outside, and the Hurricanes believe they found it with Oklahoma transfer Charleston Rambo in January.WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS: 89.3%
Wake Forest had as big of a rollercoaster season as any program amid the pandemic. The Deacons started the season 0-2, but then reeled off four straight wins before COVID-19 gripped the team and paused activities for two weeks. They finished the season 0-3 over the last two-plus months of the season, which included three canceled games. Sam Hartman returns at quarterback, where he threw only one interception in the regular season before throwing four in 12 plays in the 42-28 loss to Wisconsin in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.VIRGINIA CAVALIERS: 85.9%
Brennan Armstrong returns at quarterback after his first season as starter, and it was clear the Cavaliers were not themselves when he was injured in 2020. He finished with 2,117 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, and also rushed for 552 yards and five touchdowns. The Cavs need to find a new starter at running back and a couple more game-changers at receiver after Tony Poljan and Terrell Jana head to the NFL. They also lose four linebackers. Armstrong could be a rising star in the ACC ranks, but the defense must improve quickly to claw back into contention in the ACC.DUKE BLUE DEVILS: 31.5%
Duke had to make changes after the worst season in David Cutcliffe's career, and so he shifted responsibilities among seven on-field coaches and he hired Ole Miss tight ends coach Calvin Magee to oversee his running backs. Duke heads into its third straight season with a different starting quarterback. Gunnar Holmberg played sparingly last season but is expected to beat three freshmen for the starting job. Running back Mataeo Durant returns after eclipsing last year's starter in production while averaging 6.8 yards per carry.PITTSBURGH PANTHERS: 72.6%
Quarterback Kenny Pickett will be back despite participating in Senior Day activities in 2020. He threw for 2,408 yards despite missing two games with an ankle injury, which resulted in two losses for the Panthers, who some say might have actually surpasses expectations considering the schedule. Picket has thrown for 7,984 yards and 39 touchdowns against 25 interceptions in his career. The Panthers will lean on Pickett to carry the Panthers, who face a bit of a rebuild, particularly on defense.LOUISVILLE CARDINALS: 74.6%
Quarterback Malik Cunningham is back after an up-and-down season that was ultimately 40 points (quarterback rating) worse through the air than 2019, and in the end that might have been the difference in a few games that could have tilted the season toward a .500 finish in 2020. All five starters along the offensive line return, which is a big postive. The defense was went though an awful stretch during the four-game losing streak, but many players on defense leave the team as recruits Satterfield discovered on the rail try to fill their shoes. The linebackers and secondary will be the story for the Cardinals heading into next season.BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES: 79%
Boston College was 247Sports' pick to finish last in the ACC. Instead, Jeff Hafley took over the program and finished with a winning season. He not only exceeded expectations, but he has set sights on a breakout year for the program in 2021. Phil Jurkovec is one of the best quarterbacks in the conference and receiver Zay Flowers returns after nearly hitting 1,000 yards last season.GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS: 39.5%
At quarterback, former four-star Jeff Sims had a solid true freshman season, averaging 237.3 yards per game last season. If he can get some help from fellow 2020 recruit Jahmyr Gibbs (460 yards), cut down on penalties (8.9 per game, tied for the worst among Power 5 teams) and improve on defense, a better win total should be expected. But it all starts with Sims, who really has the potential to flourish in year two.NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS: 97.9%
North Carolina returns a Heisman contender at quarterback (Sam Howell), and as we saw in the bowl loss to Texas A&M, the Tar Heels are ready to play against the big boys. For all of the record-breaking numbers Howell puts up, examine his performances in the fourth quarter. He led the nation over the last two seasons with 19 touchdown passes against zero interceptions in the fourth quarter. The Tar Heels lose their top two running back (Michael Carter and Javonte Williams), receiver (Dyami Brown) and tackler (Chazz Surratt) from last season, but we were provided a sneak preview of what that will look like in the Orange Bowl when the foursome sat out the 41-27 loss to the Aggies. Simply put, North Carolina will be fine, but can it stay ahead of Miami for the No. 2 spot in the ACC, and challenge Clemson?SYRACUSE ORANGEMEN: 17.2%
(Photo: Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire, Getty)
The good news for Syracuse is it can't get much worse than 2020. Several players who had to sit out the final weeks of the season, including quarterback Tommy DeVito, will be back. DeVito will even have competition, as Dino Babers and Co. were able to land former Mississippi State signal-caller Garrett Shrader.
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Jim Phillips Hints To Potential ACC Network Start Date on Comcast (SI; Black)
One of the biggest gripes about the ACC Network has been the inconsistent availability amongst cable providers. According to an article by David Teel, it appears that new ACC commissioner Jim Phillips is working on finding a fix for this.
This is big news for Xfinity/Comcast subscribers who have been locked out of the network. If the timing in the report is correct, these subscribers should have the channel in time for the 2021 college football season. As of 2019 Comcast/Xfinity has been noted as the second leading cable subscriber in the United States.
Cross your fingers these negotiations continue to progress, as there are many ACC fans that have been without the channel.
Top Virginia Tech target lists Hokies among 7 finalists (gobblercountry.com; Manning)
The Virginia Tech Hokies haven’t done a great job keeping some of the state’s top running backs from leaving in recent years. Fortunately for the Hokies, it hasn’t hurt them too badly as most of those backs who left the state didn’t have standout careers elsewhere. However, there are obviously some exceptions.
Now, the Hokies have another chance at one of the state’s top running backs. Ramon Brown is a four-star running back from Manchester High in Midlothian, Virginia. On Wednesday, Brown released his top seven schools, and he had the Hokies in the top group.
Also listed in Brown’s top schools were Penn State, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland. The 5-foot-11, 202-pound Brown is certainly keeping his recruiting regional with his top schools.
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Links, news and rumors - 2021 May 13th (RX; HM)
Links, news and rumors - 2021 May 13th
I missed this from last week (from BCSNN):NC State Defensive End Taken in First Round of the CFL Draft, Chooses to Play for Wolfpack
Toronto, Ontario native and Wolfpack "Super Senior" defensive end Daniel Joseph, who led NC State in sacks last season, was the fourth overall selection in the 2021 Canadian Football League draft - but he still plans to suit up for the Wolfpack this fall. He was drafted by the BC Lions.
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From "The 7 best first-ever matchups in college football in 2021" by Amy Daughters, FBSchedules, here are the ACC-related matchups:
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Could it be OK to lose 4 teams? (RX; HM)
Could it be OK to lose 4 teams?
What if the Big Ten and the SEC took two ACC teams each? Would that destroy the ACC? That depends on which teams they took...From CSNBBS user JRSEC:
The highest possible numbers for a 16 team conference would be obtained by Virginia and Pitt leaving for the Big Ten, Duke and North Carolina leaving for the SEC, and Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Kansas, and Baylor joining the ACC while Wake Forest drops to everything but football. That way Notre Dame could join and Louisville would switch west and you would have this [first cut, see below - HM]:
That conference would have a worth of a little over $5.7-$5.8 billion with an average team payout of around $57 million - give another possible $2 to $3 million more for scheduling, etc. So roughly $58-$59 million per team. That makes you competitive. Actually both N.C. State and Virginia Tech have more football value than UNC and UVa. And Pitt is on the lower end with Duke.
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TV Guesses for 2021 Week 1 FB (RX; HM)
TV Guesses for 2021 Week 1 FB
Matt Sarzniak gives us one more revised "best guess" before the real schedule is released...2021, Week 1
Thursday
7:30pm ACCN: USF at NC State
Friday
7pm ACCN: Old Dominion at Wake Forest
8pm ESPN: North Carolina at Virginia Tech
Saturday
12pm ESPNU: Syracuse at Ohio
12pm ACCN: Colgate at Boston College
12:30pm ACC RSN: Northern Illinois at Georgia Tech
3:30pm ABC: Alabama vs. Miami (FL)
4pm ACCN: William & Mary at Virginia
7pm CBSSN: Duke at Charlotte
7:30pm ABC: Georgia vs. Clemson
7:30pm ACCN: UMass at Pitt
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Teel: Gratitude the prevailing theme as ACC teams wrap spring football (richmond.com; $; Teel)
Many themes apply to the spring football practices that recently concluded around the ACC. Established quarterbacks abound, but for the first time since 2013, no league team returns a 1,000-yard rusher. The ACC is the lone Bowl Subdivision conference without coaching turnover, yet its 2020 coach of the year no longer works in the league.
But the prevailing theme, without question, was gratitude — cue the title track of Earth Wind & Fire’s classic double album.
One year after COVID-19 wiped out spring workouts, and less than six months after the most irregular season on record, players and coaches treasured the return to routine. Oh, there were virus-related delays at Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh and Duke, but each of the conference’s 14 programs completed the 15 practices allotted by the NCAA.
“I’ve always loved not just the value of spring but the tone of spring,” Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente said. “It’s about teaching, it’s about development. It’s about good versus good.
“You don’t have scout teams. You get guys a chance to go try and play. For the guys who have been redshirted and running other people’s plays all fall, they get a chance to run your system and get out there and compete for jobs. So not only is it incredibly valuable for our players and our coaches, it’s the most enjoyable time of the year.”
Losing that player-development piece last year affected every team, none more than those transitioning to a new head coach and/or coordinators. This spring’s teaching sessions should do wonders, then, for the second-year big whistles at Florida State (Mike Norvell) and Boston College (Jeff Hafley), plus second-year coordinators such as Virginia Tech’s Justin Hamilton (defense), Miami’s Rhett Lashlee (offense) and N.C. State’s Tim Beck (offense).
Spring games/scrimmages also afforded several schools the opportunity to host more fans than during the 2020 season. Virginia’s crowd of approximately 5,000 for Saturday’s final spring scrimmage was five times larger than was permitted for the Cavaliers’ 2020 home dates.
“And the number of tickets that were available, they were all gone,” UVA coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “… I was so appreciative of that, my team was. … It speaks volumes to us as a team and a staff, and we’re so thankful. … It’s also different playing in front of fans than not. It’s hard to even remember what that’s like right now, but it does make a difference in terms of the energy.
“It does make a difference in terms of other people seeing you, right? … Kind of holding you accountable for your preparation, right? That makes a difference. And then, it’s just more fun. I would love to say it’s the same with or without — it’s not even close.”
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Other
At giant warehouse in Clay and across U.S., Amazon remakes how it ships millions of little things (PS; $; Moriarty)
When plans emerged in 2019 for a mammoth distribution center in Clay, it was revolutionary: a unique 3.8-million-square-foot, five-story structure to handle the booming sales of Amazon.
Over time, Amazon has announced plans for nearly identical buildings in at least 11 other towns across America: Pflugerville, Texas; Detroit; Mount Juliet, Tennessee; and others. New ones are made public almost every month. In just the past few days, Amazon disclosed plans to build similar buildings in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Savannah, Georgia.
The Clay project is no longer unique, but it will be on the leading edge of a multibillion-dollar drive by Amazon to get merchandise to customers’ doorsteps quickly and cheaply.
Business is soaring for the e-tailer. Sales jumped 38% to $386 billion last year and profits rose 84% to $21.3 billion as the coronavirus drove more people to shop online. And they’re not slowing down. In the first quarter of this year, Amazon’s profits tripled to $8.1 billion.
The e-commerce giant is building a bigger distribution network to handle all that business. It disclosed in February that it expanded the square footage of its fulfillment and logistics network by 50% in 2020. It had 402 million square feet of space in its network at the end of the year.
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