sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Pi Approximation Day!
Pi Approximation Day celebrates the pi symbol (π) and its importance to mathematics. The symbol is a Greek letter, and it is used in mathematics to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The first digits of this ratio are 3.14159, and the number continues infinitely without a pattern, being an irrational number. It has been calculated to over one trillion digits after the decimal point. The symbol "π" was first used in 1706 by William Jones. It gained in popularity after being used by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in 1737.
Pi can be expressed as the fraction 22/7, which is an approximation of its actual value (hence the word "approximation" in the day's title). Pi Approximation Day is particularly celebrated in countries that write their dates in the date/month format, where today's date would be written as 22 July or 22/7. Those who write their dates in the month/date format are more likely to celebrate Pi Day. However, both holidays can be celebrated no matter where one lives. Pi Approximation Day may have first been celebrated at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.
SU News
Syracuse running back Sean Tucker makes cut for Doak Walker Award watch list (PS; $; Kramer)
Syracuse running back Sean Tucker is one of 82 preseason candidates for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top running back.
Tucker ran for 626 yards in nine games last year, the third-highest total by an Orange freshman. Among freshmen, his 69.6 yards per game average was second to only Syracuse all-time leading rusher Joe Morris.
Ten semifinalists will be named in November. That list will be trimmed to three finalists. The award committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient.
The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-American running back. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
...
Will Taj Harris bring gaudy Syracuse WR production back this fall? (2021 preview) (247sports.com; Bailey)
Syracuse football wide receiver produced two of the gaudiest statistical seasons in program history during the first two years of the Dino Babers era. Maryland transfer Amba Etta-Tawo racked up 94 receptions for 1,482 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2016, essentially re-writing the Orange's single-season record book. The following fall, Steve Ishmael went for 105 receptions -- bumping Etta-Tawo for the top spot -- as well as 1,347 yards and seven scores.
In 2021, junior Taj Harris could have the best chance to chase those figures over the last four seasons. He's been SU's most productive receiver over the last two years, nabbing 58 balls for 733 yards and five touchdowns last year, and has done so despite the program's significant offensive line woes and, in turn, the exposure of Syracuse's thin quarterbacks room.
If a veteran front five can stay healthy this fall, coupled with the addition of Mississippi State transfer quarterback Garrett Shrader, Harris will have an opportunity to rekindle the hype surrounding the team's air attack.
Let's take a look at Harris and the rest of SU's pass catchers as our preseason position preview series rolls on:
Who returns?
Harris is back as well as SU's other starter on the outside, redshirt sophomore Anthony Queeley. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Queeley caught 37 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns in his first year as a starter. The Orange's top slot man from 2020, Nykeim Johnson, has transferred to Kent State.
That leaves a void to be filled for a group of young, promising receivers. Damien Alford, Courtney Jackson, Ja'Vontae Williams, Trebor Pena and Isaiah Jones all have a chance to crack the rotation, as does veteran Sharod Johnson.
...
Conference Realignment Talk is Back, What Does This Mean for Syracuse and the ACC? (SI; McAllister)
Conference realignment talk is back, for better or worse. A report surfaced earlier this week that Oklahoma and Texas approached the SEC about leaving the Big-12 and joining the conference. Such a move would have a tremendous impact on collegiate athletics, including a potential for a ripple effect that impacts Syracuse and the ACC.
First, it is important to point out that it is entirely possible this report goes nowhere. That Oklahoma and Texas both stay with the Big-12. No massive shift. Everything stays as is. As Pat Forde notes, both have flirted before.
"Texas and Oklahoma have been known to find their way to the brink before backing down," Forde writes. "The Pac-12 almost had them back in 2011, and they also batted their eyes in all other Power 5 directions."
That said, what if the report turns out to be true? What if Oklahoma and Texas leave the Big-12 for the SEC? It could be the start of the oft discussed four power conferences with 16 teams each, or even a potential breakaway from the NCAA.
...
Tickets for SU football games go on sale today (spectrumlocalnews.com; Staff)
We're a little more than a month away from the college football season kicking off and that means SU football will be heading back into the Loud House.
Starting Thursday, fans can start getting their tickets for single games.
The Orange are slated to hold seven home football games this year.
This is the first time the Orange has hosted seven home games since the 2017 season when the Orange beat the defending National Champions at the time, Clemson.
Syracuse University announced tickets will be dynamically priced, which means the price is determined by the number of seats remaining and the fair market value at the specific time.
Fans also have the chance to purchase a three-game partial season plan for $90.
SU fans can also buy the same seat for three of this year's top games that includes home games against Rutgers, Clemson and Pittsburgh.
The Carrier Dome is expected to return to full capacity this season, but the university is continuing to communicate with the Onondaga County Health Department and the New York State Department of Health to monitor for and implement changes.
...
Three things commissioner Jim Phillips said at ACC football media days: NIL, vaccinations and football first (PS; $; Carlson)
The ACC kicked off its annual football media days on Wednesday, with commissioner Jim Phillips holding his first in-person address with reporters since taking over the position in December.
Phillips touched on a number of the hot-button issues in college sports during the league’s annual press event/pep rally, discussing the impact of name, image and likeness, the league’s vaccination protocols and the need for the league to prioritize football.
Phillips continued in the tradition of former commissioner John Swofford, offering mostly moderate opinions on the day’s trendy topics, with relatively few of his comments likely to make national news or generate much surprise.
...
ACC Media Day Preview: Virginia Tech – Orange Fizz – Daily Syracuse Recruiting News & Team Coverage (orangefizz.net; Bonaparte)
Make sure to check out our content hub where you can find all of the Fizz’s coverage from ACC Media Kickoff.
2020 Record: 5-6
All-time series: 10-8 Syracuse
Last Meeting: 10/15/16, 31-17 Syracuse
What to Know About the Hokies:
It’s not often that Syracuse and Virginia Tech face off on the gridiron, just 18 times since 1964. Neither of these programs have met expectations as of late. With plenty of hot seat conversation flooding the media regarding HC Justin Fuente, 2021 is undoubtedly a pivotal year for the 6th year coach. The Hokies lost some talent to the NFL draft and as a result, have some question marks. DB Caleb Farley, OL Christian Darrisaw, DB Divine Deablo, and RB Khalil Herbert are all off to bigger and better things. Though there are some things to be on the lookout for, most notably the first full season of Oregon-transfer Braxton Burmeister at the QB position.
Head Coach – Justin Fuente, 6th year, 38-26 at Virginia Tech
...
2021 ACC Media Days takeaways: Miami QB D'Eriq King impresses, new commissioner calls for NCAA review (cbssports.com; Patterson)
The national media days schedule brought our attention to the ACC on Wednesday, as day one of the two-day event featured the coaches and players from the seven Coastal Division teams. While the day featured star quarterbacks and two highly-touted teams expected to be the top challengers to Clemson, some of the most notable headlines came from new commissioner Jim Phillips.
Phillips opened the ACC Football Kickoff with the commissioner's forum, a tradition which can serve many purposes depending on the conference and the commissioner but essentially can serve as a "state of the union" with an extended question-and-answer opportunity for reporters. After plowing through an opening statement that highlight all of the championships won in all of the many sports where the ACC competes and dominates, Phillips eventually turned the focus to the matter at hand -- the upcoming college football season.
Unlike the SEC and the Big 12, the ACC is not yet ready to commit to a stance on whether games will be postponed because of COVID protocol or will be ruled as forfeits should a team not meet the standards to play. Both SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby delivered firm messages to their constituents, while Phillips said the league will wait a few weeks to gather more information on the current state of COVID spread before making a ruling for the season.
He also stressed that there will be no vaccine mandate across the ACC, instead allowing the individual schools to make that decision, noting that seven schools have a COVID mandate to even be a student. So, the starting point for the league is half the conference having a 100% vaccination rate on the roster. Several more programs are "on the cusp" of meeting an 85% vaccinated threshold, Phillips said, but there would be no ruling from the ACC requiring vaccinations in order to compete in 2021.
...
New ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips wants Notre Dame as a full-time football member (AP; Reed)
New Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips made it clear he wants Notre Dame to join the conference as a full-time football member after what he described as a “beautiful and beneficial relationship” during an unusual 2020 season.
Phillips knows that remains largely up to Notre Dame.
“The old kind of quip is, Notre Dame loves two things: one is being Catholic, second is independence. Sometimes those things get in reverse order. Sometimes they like independence even more than being Catholic,” joked Phillips, who has a son and daughter who attend Notre Dame.
Speaking at his first public forum at the ACC Kickoff media days, Phillips addressed the Notre Dame independence issue while Notre Dame’s logo was shown alongside the ACC’s 14 member schools on the backdrop behind the podium.
“They know the ACC’s interest,” Phillips said. “It’s been less than bashful. It’s been less than bashful since I’ve been here. But I also respect where they’re at. Our concentration right now is on our 14 schools. Who knows where the future’s going to go?”
Last season, Notre Dame played as a temporary member of the ACC because of COVID-19 rules and went undefeated during the regular season before losing to Clemson 34-10 in the ACC championship game.
“They had a chance to play a fantastic schedule,” Phillips said. “They had a chance to vie for a national championship and compete in the CFP. We have a real-life example of what that could look like.”
Notre Dame, an independent for years that nonetheless has five ACC teams on this year’s schedule, has given no indication it is interested in joining the ACC in football.
...
Half of the ACC football teams have reached vaccination threshold :: WRALSportsFan.com (wralsportsfan.com; Giglio)
Seven ACC schools will require students to be vaccinated to return to campus, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said on Wednesday at the league’s media kickoff event in Charlotte.
Half of the ACC’s 14 football teams have reached the 85 percent vaccination rate threshold, Phillips said, which will help with more lenient contact-tracing and testing protocols.
Phillips said the league will encourage and educate players on the vaccinate but it would not be a mandate.
“It would break my heart, as it did this summer, for any of our student-athletes or coaches who continue to work so hard on their sports, to have to miss a game due to a positive test or contact-tracing,” Phillips said, in a reference to NC State’s exit from the College World Series.
...
Virginia Tech-Notre Dame football game moved to ACC Network, as league pressures Comcast to add channel (richmond.com; Barber)
Calling increased distribution “critical,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips indicated Tuesday that progress is being made to getting the ACC Network to Comcast/Xfinity customers, a group that includes nearly 20 million subscribers nationwide, including many in Virginia.
Those homes spent the last season unable to watch Virginia and Virginia Tech games on the league’s television network, which does have carriage agreements with Cox, Charter Spectrum and Verizon Fios, plus Dish Network, DirectTV, Hulu and YouTube TV, among other cable alternatives.
“It’s one of the top priorities I’ve had,” Phillips said. “Distribution is critical for us. … Those frustrations are real. We’ll never be the conference that we need to be until we get some of those issues taken care of.”
Phillips said Tuesday that Virginia Tech’s Oct. 9 game against Notre Dame, as well as Clemson’s Oct. 2 game against Boston College, would also air on ACC Network. Both are marquee matchups.
Phillips noted that Comcast’s current contract with Disney — which owns ESPN and the ACC Network — is coming up for renewal and indicated that could provide an opportunity to add ACC Network to its lineup.
The current deal runs out in September, according to sources.
“I think we have a great plan coming up,” Phillips said. “A lot of the carriers and providers, including Comcast, renewals coming up this late summer and into the fall.
“I think we’re making tremendous progress with them.”
The provider is the cable source for more than 20% of television viewers nationwide.
The commissioner said the league’s channel is available in about 70 million homes across the country.
...
It also appears that the ACCN has some marquee games which specifically target parts of the Comcast coverage footprint - the last big cable provider not already signed up with the ACC Network.
Those areas are all Comcast cable strongholds, but there's more where that comes from (see map):
...
From USAToday: Are Texas and Oklahoma trying to join the SEC? Officials say 'no comment' on possible discussions
Obviously this could be a total game-changer. I plan to find out a little more about this before writing about it, probably Thursday night/Friday morning. Stay tuned for more!
__________
We told you already, because of the pandemic and automatic 5th year eligibility, there are going to be some matchups of teams with little/no experience vs. teams loaded with 4th and 5th year seniors in 2021 - which could lead to some spectacular upsets...
...
Other
Ryan Benz, of Redev CNY, shows renderings of a planned redevelopment of the ShoppingTown mall in DeWitt on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. He is standing in the mall, which closed in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and never reopened.Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com
ShoppingTown mall to be turned into housing, entertainment, retail space and more (PS; $; Moriarty)
Onondaga County has selected a team of four Central New York companies to redevelop the closed ShoppingTown mall for multiple uses, including housing, entertainment, restaurants, hospitality, retail and office space.
County Executive Ryan McMahon today said OHB Redev LLC will purchase the mall from the county for $8 million and invest at least $300 million redeveloping the site.
OHB Redev is a joint venture of Redev CNY, Hueber-Breuer Construction, DalPos Architects and Housing Visions.
Their plan for the project, known as DISTRICT EAST, focuses on turning the property into five distinct, but blended areas that include housing, entertainment, restaurants, hospitality, retail and office space. The housing component includes a goal of serving different income brackets, McMahon said.
Approximately 400 construction jobs will be created over the course of the redevelopment and another 1,400 full-time permanent jobs are projected once the redevelopment is completed.
“We could not be more excited to celebrate this new chapter for the ShoppingTown mall site,” McMahon said. “With the selection of OHB to redevelop this site, our community can finally look forward to reading about grand openings, job openings and progress instead of tax evasion and closures.”
...
Pi Approximation Day celebrates the pi symbol (π) and its importance to mathematics. The symbol is a Greek letter, and it is used in mathematics to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The first digits of this ratio are 3.14159, and the number continues infinitely without a pattern, being an irrational number. It has been calculated to over one trillion digits after the decimal point. The symbol "π" was first used in 1706 by William Jones. It gained in popularity after being used by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in 1737.
Pi can be expressed as the fraction 22/7, which is an approximation of its actual value (hence the word "approximation" in the day's title). Pi Approximation Day is particularly celebrated in countries that write their dates in the date/month format, where today's date would be written as 22 July or 22/7. Those who write their dates in the month/date format are more likely to celebrate Pi Day. However, both holidays can be celebrated no matter where one lives. Pi Approximation Day may have first been celebrated at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.
SU News
Syracuse running back Sean Tucker makes cut for Doak Walker Award watch list (PS; $; Kramer)
Syracuse running back Sean Tucker is one of 82 preseason candidates for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top running back.
Tucker ran for 626 yards in nine games last year, the third-highest total by an Orange freshman. Among freshmen, his 69.6 yards per game average was second to only Syracuse all-time leading rusher Joe Morris.
Ten semifinalists will be named in November. That list will be trimmed to three finalists. The award committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient.
The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-American running back. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
...
Will Taj Harris bring gaudy Syracuse WR production back this fall? (2021 preview) (247sports.com; Bailey)
Syracuse football wide receiver produced two of the gaudiest statistical seasons in program history during the first two years of the Dino Babers era. Maryland transfer Amba Etta-Tawo racked up 94 receptions for 1,482 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2016, essentially re-writing the Orange's single-season record book. The following fall, Steve Ishmael went for 105 receptions -- bumping Etta-Tawo for the top spot -- as well as 1,347 yards and seven scores.
In 2021, junior Taj Harris could have the best chance to chase those figures over the last four seasons. He's been SU's most productive receiver over the last two years, nabbing 58 balls for 733 yards and five touchdowns last year, and has done so despite the program's significant offensive line woes and, in turn, the exposure of Syracuse's thin quarterbacks room.
If a veteran front five can stay healthy this fall, coupled with the addition of Mississippi State transfer quarterback Garrett Shrader, Harris will have an opportunity to rekindle the hype surrounding the team's air attack.
Let's take a look at Harris and the rest of SU's pass catchers as our preseason position preview series rolls on:
Who returns?
Harris is back as well as SU's other starter on the outside, redshirt sophomore Anthony Queeley. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Queeley caught 37 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns in his first year as a starter. The Orange's top slot man from 2020, Nykeim Johnson, has transferred to Kent State.
That leaves a void to be filled for a group of young, promising receivers. Damien Alford, Courtney Jackson, Ja'Vontae Williams, Trebor Pena and Isaiah Jones all have a chance to crack the rotation, as does veteran Sharod Johnson.
...
Conference Realignment Talk is Back, What Does This Mean for Syracuse and the ACC? (SI; McAllister)
Conference realignment talk is back, for better or worse. A report surfaced earlier this week that Oklahoma and Texas approached the SEC about leaving the Big-12 and joining the conference. Such a move would have a tremendous impact on collegiate athletics, including a potential for a ripple effect that impacts Syracuse and the ACC.
First, it is important to point out that it is entirely possible this report goes nowhere. That Oklahoma and Texas both stay with the Big-12. No massive shift. Everything stays as is. As Pat Forde notes, both have flirted before.
"Texas and Oklahoma have been known to find their way to the brink before backing down," Forde writes. "The Pac-12 almost had them back in 2011, and they also batted their eyes in all other Power 5 directions."
That said, what if the report turns out to be true? What if Oklahoma and Texas leave the Big-12 for the SEC? It could be the start of the oft discussed four power conferences with 16 teams each, or even a potential breakaway from the NCAA.
...
Tickets for SU football games go on sale today (spectrumlocalnews.com; Staff)
We're a little more than a month away from the college football season kicking off and that means SU football will be heading back into the Loud House.
Starting Thursday, fans can start getting their tickets for single games.
The Orange are slated to hold seven home football games this year.
This is the first time the Orange has hosted seven home games since the 2017 season when the Orange beat the defending National Champions at the time, Clemson.
Syracuse University announced tickets will be dynamically priced, which means the price is determined by the number of seats remaining and the fair market value at the specific time.
Fans also have the chance to purchase a three-game partial season plan for $90.
SU fans can also buy the same seat for three of this year's top games that includes home games against Rutgers, Clemson and Pittsburgh.
The Carrier Dome is expected to return to full capacity this season, but the university is continuing to communicate with the Onondaga County Health Department and the New York State Department of Health to monitor for and implement changes.
...
Three things commissioner Jim Phillips said at ACC football media days: NIL, vaccinations and football first (PS; $; Carlson)
The ACC kicked off its annual football media days on Wednesday, with commissioner Jim Phillips holding his first in-person address with reporters since taking over the position in December.
Phillips touched on a number of the hot-button issues in college sports during the league’s annual press event/pep rally, discussing the impact of name, image and likeness, the league’s vaccination protocols and the need for the league to prioritize football.
Phillips continued in the tradition of former commissioner John Swofford, offering mostly moderate opinions on the day’s trendy topics, with relatively few of his comments likely to make national news or generate much surprise.
...
ACC Media Day Preview: Virginia Tech – Orange Fizz – Daily Syracuse Recruiting News & Team Coverage (orangefizz.net; Bonaparte)
Make sure to check out our content hub where you can find all of the Fizz’s coverage from ACC Media Kickoff.
2020 Record: 5-6
All-time series: 10-8 Syracuse
Last Meeting: 10/15/16, 31-17 Syracuse
What to Know About the Hokies:
It’s not often that Syracuse and Virginia Tech face off on the gridiron, just 18 times since 1964. Neither of these programs have met expectations as of late. With plenty of hot seat conversation flooding the media regarding HC Justin Fuente, 2021 is undoubtedly a pivotal year for the 6th year coach. The Hokies lost some talent to the NFL draft and as a result, have some question marks. DB Caleb Farley, OL Christian Darrisaw, DB Divine Deablo, and RB Khalil Herbert are all off to bigger and better things. Though there are some things to be on the lookout for, most notably the first full season of Oregon-transfer Braxton Burmeister at the QB position.
Head Coach – Justin Fuente, 6th year, 38-26 at Virginia Tech
...
2021 ACC Media Days takeaways: Miami QB D'Eriq King impresses, new commissioner calls for NCAA review (cbssports.com; Patterson)
The national media days schedule brought our attention to the ACC on Wednesday, as day one of the two-day event featured the coaches and players from the seven Coastal Division teams. While the day featured star quarterbacks and two highly-touted teams expected to be the top challengers to Clemson, some of the most notable headlines came from new commissioner Jim Phillips.
Phillips opened the ACC Football Kickoff with the commissioner's forum, a tradition which can serve many purposes depending on the conference and the commissioner but essentially can serve as a "state of the union" with an extended question-and-answer opportunity for reporters. After plowing through an opening statement that highlight all of the championships won in all of the many sports where the ACC competes and dominates, Phillips eventually turned the focus to the matter at hand -- the upcoming college football season.
Unlike the SEC and the Big 12, the ACC is not yet ready to commit to a stance on whether games will be postponed because of COVID protocol or will be ruled as forfeits should a team not meet the standards to play. Both SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby delivered firm messages to their constituents, while Phillips said the league will wait a few weeks to gather more information on the current state of COVID spread before making a ruling for the season.
He also stressed that there will be no vaccine mandate across the ACC, instead allowing the individual schools to make that decision, noting that seven schools have a COVID mandate to even be a student. So, the starting point for the league is half the conference having a 100% vaccination rate on the roster. Several more programs are "on the cusp" of meeting an 85% vaccinated threshold, Phillips said, but there would be no ruling from the ACC requiring vaccinations in order to compete in 2021.
...
New ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips wants Notre Dame as a full-time football member (AP; Reed)
New Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips made it clear he wants Notre Dame to join the conference as a full-time football member after what he described as a “beautiful and beneficial relationship” during an unusual 2020 season.
Phillips knows that remains largely up to Notre Dame.
“The old kind of quip is, Notre Dame loves two things: one is being Catholic, second is independence. Sometimes those things get in reverse order. Sometimes they like independence even more than being Catholic,” joked Phillips, who has a son and daughter who attend Notre Dame.
Speaking at his first public forum at the ACC Kickoff media days, Phillips addressed the Notre Dame independence issue while Notre Dame’s logo was shown alongside the ACC’s 14 member schools on the backdrop behind the podium.
“They know the ACC’s interest,” Phillips said. “It’s been less than bashful. It’s been less than bashful since I’ve been here. But I also respect where they’re at. Our concentration right now is on our 14 schools. Who knows where the future’s going to go?”
Last season, Notre Dame played as a temporary member of the ACC because of COVID-19 rules and went undefeated during the regular season before losing to Clemson 34-10 in the ACC championship game.
“They had a chance to play a fantastic schedule,” Phillips said. “They had a chance to vie for a national championship and compete in the CFP. We have a real-life example of what that could look like.”
Notre Dame, an independent for years that nonetheless has five ACC teams on this year’s schedule, has given no indication it is interested in joining the ACC in football.
...
Half of the ACC football teams have reached vaccination threshold :: WRALSportsFan.com (wralsportsfan.com; Giglio)
Seven ACC schools will require students to be vaccinated to return to campus, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said on Wednesday at the league’s media kickoff event in Charlotte.
Half of the ACC’s 14 football teams have reached the 85 percent vaccination rate threshold, Phillips said, which will help with more lenient contact-tracing and testing protocols.
Phillips said the league will encourage and educate players on the vaccinate but it would not be a mandate.
“It would break my heart, as it did this summer, for any of our student-athletes or coaches who continue to work so hard on their sports, to have to miss a game due to a positive test or contact-tracing,” Phillips said, in a reference to NC State’s exit from the College World Series.
...
Virginia Tech-Notre Dame football game moved to ACC Network, as league pressures Comcast to add channel (richmond.com; Barber)
Calling increased distribution “critical,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips indicated Tuesday that progress is being made to getting the ACC Network to Comcast/Xfinity customers, a group that includes nearly 20 million subscribers nationwide, including many in Virginia.
Those homes spent the last season unable to watch Virginia and Virginia Tech games on the league’s television network, which does have carriage agreements with Cox, Charter Spectrum and Verizon Fios, plus Dish Network, DirectTV, Hulu and YouTube TV, among other cable alternatives.
“It’s one of the top priorities I’ve had,” Phillips said. “Distribution is critical for us. … Those frustrations are real. We’ll never be the conference that we need to be until we get some of those issues taken care of.”
Phillips said Tuesday that Virginia Tech’s Oct. 9 game against Notre Dame, as well as Clemson’s Oct. 2 game against Boston College, would also air on ACC Network. Both are marquee matchups.
Phillips noted that Comcast’s current contract with Disney — which owns ESPN and the ACC Network — is coming up for renewal and indicated that could provide an opportunity to add ACC Network to its lineup.
The current deal runs out in September, according to sources.
“I think we have a great plan coming up,” Phillips said. “A lot of the carriers and providers, including Comcast, renewals coming up this late summer and into the fall.
“I think we’re making tremendous progress with them.”
The provider is the cable source for more than 20% of television viewers nationwide.
The commissioner said the league’s channel is available in about 70 million homes across the country.
...
ACCN Reeling in Comcast
ESPN and the ACC have decided to place two marquee football games on the ACC Network:In addition to that quality, there's also plenty of quantity. The ACCN has 5 football games in week #1, 5 more in week #2, and at least 3 in week #3.
It also appears that the ACCN has some marquee games which specifically target parts of the Comcast coverage footprint - the last big cable provider not already signed up with the ACC Network.
| Game participants | Comcast area |
| Virginia at North Carolina | Virginia |
| Boston College at Clemson | Massachusetts/New England |
| Notre Dame at Virginia Tech | Virginia, Indiana, Chicago area |
...
Links, news and rumors - 2021 July 22nd (RX; HM)
Links, news and rumors - 2021 July 22nd
From USAToday: Are Texas and Oklahoma trying to join the SEC? Officials say 'no comment' on possible discussions
Obviously this could be a total game-changer. I plan to find out a little more about this before writing about it, probably Thursday night/Friday morning. Stay tuned for more!
__________
We told you already, because of the pandemic and automatic 5th year eligibility, there are going to be some matchups of teams with little/no experience vs. teams loaded with 4th and 5th year seniors in 2021 - which could lead to some spectacular upsets...
...
Other
Ryan Benz, of Redev CNY, shows renderings of a planned redevelopment of the ShoppingTown mall in DeWitt on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. He is standing in the mall, which closed in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and never reopened.Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com
ShoppingTown mall to be turned into housing, entertainment, retail space and more (PS; $; Moriarty)
Onondaga County has selected a team of four Central New York companies to redevelop the closed ShoppingTown mall for multiple uses, including housing, entertainment, restaurants, hospitality, retail and office space.
County Executive Ryan McMahon today said OHB Redev LLC will purchase the mall from the county for $8 million and invest at least $300 million redeveloping the site.
OHB Redev is a joint venture of Redev CNY, Hueber-Breuer Construction, DalPos Architects and Housing Visions.
Their plan for the project, known as DISTRICT EAST, focuses on turning the property into five distinct, but blended areas that include housing, entertainment, restaurants, hospitality, retail and office space. The housing component includes a goal of serving different income brackets, McMahon said.
Approximately 400 construction jobs will be created over the course of the redevelopment and another 1,400 full-time permanent jobs are projected once the redevelopment is completed.
“We could not be more excited to celebrate this new chapter for the ShoppingTown mall site,” McMahon said. “With the selection of OHB to redevelop this site, our community can finally look forward to reading about grand openings, job openings and progress instead of tax evasion and closures.”
...
