sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
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Constitution Day and Citizenship Day "commemorate the formation and signing on September 17, 1787, of the Constitution and recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens." If September 17 takes place on a weekend or on another holiday, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day are observed on a nearby weekday. On the day, the president traditionally issues a proclamation calling on government officials to display the flag on government buildings, and calls for the day to be observed in schools and other places with appropriate ceremonies. Events and activities take place around the country, and civil and education groups provide citizens with educational resources about the Constitution.
SU News
‘He just knew he was a quarterback’: What Garrett Shrader brings to SU’s offense (DO; Smith)
Tracey Shrader remembers elementary-school age Garrett Shrader approaching him and saying he wanted to play quarterback. Originally when Shrader began playing football at 7 years old, Tracey, a former quarterback, had his son playing center and linebacker to ingrain toughness in him.
Shrader and his dad went to a middle school field in Denton, Texas, where Shrader threw into a target net and worked on footwork. Tracey came home and told his wife, Christie, he was impressed with Shrader’s abilities.
“It’s pretty natural for him,” he recalled saying at the time.
At the end of his fifth grade school year, Shrader’s family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. He developed into one of the top prospects in the state and led Charlotte Christian (North Carolina) School to back-to-back state championships.
After two years playing against Southeastern Conference competition at Mississippi State, Shrader transferred to Syracuse in hopes of becoming a star quarterback like he was in high school, wanting to turn Syracuse around after its 1-10 season. He has been in a battle for the starting position with returning starter Tommy DeVito since arriving at SU. After playing sparingly in the Orange’s week one win over Ohio, Shrader started the second quarter against Rutgers and went 4-for-6 with 42 passing yards. Compared to DeVito, Shrader showed more of a willingness to leave the pocket early and scramble, but he ended up losing yards on his four rushing attempts.
“Does he think he’s capable of starting and being the guy? Yeah, he does. And from an athletic standpoint, I think he’s very capable,” Tracey said.
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Syracuse fans tailgating ahead of SU's football game against Rutgers.
Video: Tailgating Tradition Returns to Manley Parking Lot (DO; video; Levy &
Duerden)
Syracuse fans resume tailgating tradition for the first home football game of the season against Rutgers on Sunday. This is the first time in nearly two years that tailgating has returned to campus, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After two clean punts in his first career start against Ohio, Williams played a larger role against Rutgers as SU’s offense struggled in a 17-7 loss.
James Williams looks to be the next SU punter to play in NFL (DO; Smith)
Early in the second quarter against Rutgers, freshman James Williams’ heels hugged the back of the end zone. After an illegal formation penalty, Syracuse was pushed back to the 4-yard line.
The Scarlet Knights had already blocked one punt earlier in the game, but Williams wasn’t rattled. He handled the clean snap, dropped it and launched the ball 60 yards down the field. It landed a few yards across SU’s 40-yard line but bounced in the air and rolled down the sideline before settling at Rutgers’ 36-yard line. RU’s ensuing three plays moved the ball backwards, and the game remained scoreless heading into halftime.
After two clean punts in his first career start against Ohio, Williams played a larger role against Rutgers as SU’s offense struggled in a 17-7 loss. Williams punted six times for an average of over 40 yards, including the 60-yard kick.
But Syracuse’s special teams unit as a whole struggled in the loss. In addition to the blocked punt, kicker Andre Szmyt missed his only field goal attempt, punt returner Trebor Pena misplayed multiple punt returns, and SU recorded three illegal formation penalties while punting. Williams was briefly replaced by backup Colby Barker, but Barker’s only punt traveled just eight yards.
“There were numerous mistakes in the kicking game,” head coach Dino Babers said postgame. “I thought the kicking game cost us as much as the offense not scoring many points.”
Williams is Syracuse’s next punter in line, following former Syracuse punters Riley Dixon, Sterling Hofrichter and Nolan Cooney — all of whom signed with NFL teams after graduating from SU. Dixon is in his sixth year as a starting punter in the NFL, and Hofrichter appeared in 16 games with the Atlanta Falcons last year. Cooney was waived by the New Orleans Saints, but he received third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after one season as the Orange’s starting punter. But more importantly, he helped mentor Williams last season.
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30 Minutes In Orange Nation 9-16 (ESPN; radio; Orange Nation)
Steve and Paulie talk about the possibility of a split game at QB for SU against Albany. Then, they look ahead to the Syracuse Men’s Basketball schedule with the full ACC schedule coming out tonight at 7. Later, Paulie reacts to Steve’s interview with Coach Dino Babers.
Dino Babers "Orange Nation" 9-16 (ESPN; radio; OrangeNation)
Syracuse head football coach Dino Babers, in his first interview since being cleared following a COVID-19 close-contact, explains why he doesn’t enjoy evaluating two quarterbacks so far into the season.
Exit 31 09-16-21 (ESPN; radio; Rain & Spencer)
On today’s Exit 31, Rain and Spencer talk to Kate Callaway from Spectrum, Nate Mink from Syracuse dot com, Erik Columbia from NewsChannel 9 and John Eads with Orange Fizz, plus more!
Listen to Locked On Syracuse - Daily Podcast On Syracuse Orange Football & Basketball on TuneIn (tunein.com; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Dino Babers went on ESPN Syracuse and said he wants to make the QB decision after the Albany game. Is that the right move for the Orange head coach? Plus, Tommy DeVito spoke about the QB battle. Did he subtly throw his teammates under the bus? Also, the guys make their Prop Shop picks for this weekend's matchup against Albany. Tim Leonard and Tyler Aki discuss it all and more on the Friday edition of the Locked on Syracuse Podcast.
Listen to Locked On Syracuse - Daily Podcast On Syracuse Orange Football & Basketball on TuneIn (tunein.com; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Does Garrett Shrader actually give Syracuse a better chance to win? Or does he just give them a different chance to win? Plus, Dino Babers has lost the cute factor with the fanbase. Also, how should the Orange game plan for an FCS opponent in Albany this weekend? Tyler Aki discusses it all and more on the Thursday edition of the Locked on Syracuse Podcast.
Syracuse Orange v. Albany Great Danes Prediction & Preview (9/18/21) - The Juice Online (the juice; Bierman)
Game Information:
- Teams: Syracuse (1-1) v. Albany (0-2)
- Date: Saturday, September 18
- Game Time: 12:00 ET
- Venue: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
- Network: ACC Network
- Spread: Syracuse -23.5
- History: This is the first meeting between Albany and Syracuse in football.
In Albany’s last game: Rhode Island’s C.J. Carrick kicked a 22-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, which proved to be the game-winner as the Rams hold on for a 16-14 win over Albany.
Brad Bierman
Fearless Prediction: Syracuse 40, Albany 7
There’s already been eight games over the three weekends of the 2021 college football season in which an FCS team upset an FBS team, highlighted by Montana stunning Washington Sept. 4, and Jacksonville State shocking Florida State last weekend in Tallahassee. Yes, that’s the same Jacksonville State team that fell to Alabama-Birmingham 31-0 on Sept. 1. Ouch.
Syracuse is 13-0 all-time in games against FCS opponents dating back to 2002, winning by a cumulative score of 42-11. The closest call came in the 2014 season opener against Villanova under head coach Scott Shafer. Tied at 17 with 0:15 left, the Wildcats missed a chip-shot, straight-on 25-yard field goal, so the game went into overtime. It took the ‘Cuse defense stuffing a two-point conversion attempt in the second OT to escape 27-26.
For Syracuse to avoid falling into the same potential upset territory this year when it takes on UAlbany for the first time in football, the team has to be fully attuned to taking care of business early and often, and allowing reserve players to get significant playing time in the second half for future video sessions with the coaching staff to grow their development.
If the game gets one-sided, that likely means two quarterbacks will play against the Great Danes, but not in the same vein as when Tommy Devito and Garrett Shrader alternated in the first half against Rutgers, this time dictated by the game’s outcome on the scoreboard.
The good news for SU, its defense has excelled after two games, and UAlbany has had trouble moving the ball in its two defeats to North Dakota State and Rhode Island (20 total points)
Under Dino Babers, Syracuse has won its four FCS games by an average of 40 points. This one will fall under that average, but put the Orange at 2-1 heading into a critical home game September 24 against Liberty.
Syracuse hosts in-state rival Albany with a lot at stake (AP; Kekis)
Must-win games usually don't happen this early in the season. For Syracuse, Game 3 has that sort of feel to it.
Win, and the Orange (1-1) are back on track. A loss to in-state foe Albany (0-2) on Saturday in the Carrier Dome would be a blow to a team trying to restore a winning mentality after a 10-loss season. The Orange lost their home opener last week to Rutgers, 17-7, a victim of gaffes by special teams and a sputtering offense that doesn't yet have a touchdown pass.
“Obviously, we lost. You hate that feeling, but we can’t go into this week still thinking about the game we just lost," defensive end Josh Black said. "We have to flush it. Let’s get better, let’s see what we need to improve on, and then let’s take it to Albany. Little things, big things, finding ways to improve ourselves so this ultimately doesn’t happen again.”
The Great Danes play in the Football Championship Subdivision, Division I's second level, and face a tall task against their Football Bowl Subdivision foe in the first game between the teams. Syracuse has 17 straight wins in the Carrier Dome against FCS teams and coach Dino Babers has been at the helm for the past four. However, this season FCS teams already have eight wins over FBS programs, including Montana’s 13-7 victory over then-No. 20 Washington and Jacksonville State's stunning triumph over Florida State on the game's last play.
“I don't think in a million years I would have ever thought you would ever utter the words Jacksonville State beat Florida State,” Albany coach Greg Gattuso said. “It's an inconceivable thought that that could happen, but it can. There's a lot more parity. FCS teams are pretty good. We have talent. If we can play well, we can get yah."
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How much is SU football paying Albany for Saturday’s game? (PS; Curtis)
Syracuse University agreed to pay the University at Albany a guarantee of $360,000 for Saturday’s football game at the Carrier Dome, an Albany team spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.
The game is considered a “buy game” or a “guarantee game,” a one-time occurrence between schools in which the bowl subdivision school writes a check to the visiting lower-level school for what’s usually a blowout.
Those games are imperative to several Football Championship Subdivision schools, such as Albany, that don’t have big budgets like the Power Five schools.
It’s another nice chunk of change for Albany after the program reportedly received $250,000 for its season-opening loss at North Dakota State, according to the Times Union.
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Syracuse football vs. Albany: TV, time, how to watch FREE live stream (PS; Axelson)
Syracuse football hosts the UAlbany Great Danes at the Carrier Dome for their third game of the 2021 football season on Saturday, September 18 (9/18/2021).
The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network, and can be live streamed on fuboTV, Sling and other live TV streaming services.
Syracuse dropped their home opener 17-7 against Rutgers last weekend at the newly renovated Carrier Dome, and head coach Dino Babers had big concerns about his team’s offensive performance.
“It bothers me that we can play that well on defense and we can’t help,” the sixth-year head coach told syracuse.com. “It frustrates me, and I don’t get frustrated easily.”
Quarterbacks Tommy DeVito and Garrett Shrader are expected to keep jockeying for the position full time as the team takes on UAlbany on Saturday. The Great Danes are 0-2 to start the season, coming off a 16-14 loss to Rhode Island.
Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET. Here are the local channel numbers for the ACC Network in Central New York:
- Spectrum: Channel 388 (SD & HD)
- Verizon Fios: Channel 571 (HD) and 71 (SD)
- DirecTV: Channel 612 (SD & HD)
- Dish Network: 402 (SD & HD)
- New Visions: Channel 780 (HD) and 80 (SD)
Syracuse Football: My spirited pep talk for the Orange hosting Albany (itlh; Fiello)
Our football guru gives his pep talk to the Syracuse football team ahead of the Albany home game.
If Orange Chuck were the head coach of Syracuse football, this is how he would address this team before the Albany game.
Men,
I stand in front of you a humble man! I stand before you as your leader who wishes last week we had done better for you. I stand here right now believing we are a better team than what many are saying about us after that last game and what happened on this very field last week.
Today is a new day though and a new opportunity to show exactly who we are and who we think we can be and take it out on our opponents today. There are people outside these doors who are already condemning you and I to failure and saying that we as a team are failures. They are expecting this team to walk onto that field and stumble our way through this season. I am here to tell you that they are wrong and that I believe we may have stumbled but we will not fail.
I will not take our opponent lightly today but I will tell you this, I want you to go out there and prove who we really are and that one game will not define us. I want you to go out there and prove you are as good as you are.
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Axe: Dino’s QB1 choice, first thoughts on SU hoops (quick takes) (PS; $; Axe)
Some quick takes on Dino Babers trying to find a quarterback and first thoughts on the 2021-22 Syracuse basketball schedule while wondering if there will be any apples left on the trees in Central New York after this weekend.
Who is QB won?
Perhaps sensing the audience is getting restless with all the flirting, Syracuse quarterback Dino Babers is ready to hand out a rose and make a commitment to a starting quarterback after Saturday’s game against Albany at the Carrier Dome.“I don’t enjoy doing this at all,” Babers said. “I don’t like splitting reps with the starting quarterback and I don’t like playing people on a schedule. I want to play the guy that is really the best to me.”
Tommy DeVito has the arm, resume and potential but hasn’t quite grabbed the job by the throat.
Garrett Shrader has the benefit of upside, intrigue and a gift to make things happen with his feet. He has every opportunity to grab the starting job as we’ve seen the DeVito show so many times you can quote the best lines from memory by now.
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ACC Football Week 3: Preview and Scoreboard (SI; Newton)
The ACC was much improved in week two as a whole, turning in an 11-3 record in 14 non-conference games. The conference looks to continue that momentum in week three, as eight ACC teams play non-conference opponents and six ACC teams play conference games this weekend. Read on for a preview of the 11 ACC football games taking place this weekend and make sure to come back to this page for updates on all the action from around the conference.
Friday, 7:30pm: Central Florida at Louisville (ESPN)
Preview: After getting their first win over Eastern Kentucky 30-3 last week, the Cardinals face a tough test as they host a very good 2-0 UCF team that already boasts an impressive victory over Boise State.Prediction: Central Florida 28, Louisville 24
Saturday, 12pm: No. 15 Virginia Tech at West Virginia (FS1)
Preview: The Hokies have gotten off to a very strong start to the 2021 season, defeating North Carolina and Middle Tennessee at home. In week three, Virginia Tech faces a tough road test at West Virginia in the battle for the Black Diamond Trophy, which has been in the Hokies’ possession since the two teams last met as Big East rivals in 2003.Prediction: Virginia Tech 27, West Virginia 24
Saturday, 12pm: Michigan State at No. 24 Miami (ABC)
Preview: The Spartans and Hurricanes meet for the first time since 1989. Michigan State’s offense has been impressive thus far, putting up 38 points in a victory over Northwestern before defeating Youngstown State 42-14 last week. Miami won a hard-fought 25-23 game against Appalachian State to rebound after a blowout loss against Alabama in week one....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/09/16/virginia-tech-acc-contender-west-virginia/ (washingtonpost.com; $)
The Virginia Tech football team began this season with Coach Justin Fuente’s long-term job security in question after two losing records over the past three years and amid uncertainty that the Hokies could reclaim their perch as a regular ACC power.
Those conversations are on hold, at least for the time being, following a win against then-No. 10 North Carolina in the opener and a victory over Middle Tennessee this past Saturday, both coming at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg.
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ACC Football News & Notes: A Better Week 2 for the League (ngscports.com; Doucette)
After stumbling out of the gate to begin the season in week one, the Atlantic Coast Conference rebounded rather nicely in Week 2. They went 11-3 in non-conference matchups. The eleven wins tied a mark set twice by the league in 2014 and 2019. The 18 total wins in non-conference play is second among power-5 conferences. This week, the ACC will play eight non-league games with six of them versus FBS schools, and two against FCS programs. Here is a look at what else is going on in the league.
The #15 ranked Virginia Tech Hokies have scored in 335 consecutive games. It is the third-longest streak in the nation among FBS programs. It also ranks as the sixth-longest streak in FBS history. This week, Virginia Tech hits the road for a game in Morgantown, West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers. West Virginia (1-1) has had the edge in this series all-time at 28-23-1. However, the Hokies (2-0) won the last meeting back in 2017 by a 31-24 score.
A team that is now in must-win mode could be the Florida State Seminoles (0-2). Last week’s home loss to Jacksonville State by a 20-17 score should be viewed as an embarrassing loss for everyone associated with the program. The good news for the Seminoles is this week they are in league play against Wake Forest (2-0). The reason why this could be a good thing is that Florida State has won seven of the last eight meetings and 23 of 28 between the two schools. Florida State is 9-4 on the road in this series which is where they will be on Saturday. For Wake Forest, this will be the last game of a three-game homestand to get the season started. It also starts a stretch of four straight conference games for the Demon Deacons.
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Demon Deacons host struggling Seminoles to start ACC play (usatoday.com; AP)
Wake Forest and Florida State are in very different positions heading into Saturday's meeting to open Atlantic Coast Conference play.
The Demon Deacons (2-0) didn’t face much of a test in either of its first two wins against overmatched opponents, offering little insight as to how they will respond in a close game. Yet that’s far better than what faces the Seminoles (0-2), who are just trying to win a game after last weekend’s stunning loss to a lower-division opponent.
“We’ve got to go out there and play at an extremely high level,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said. “We cannot have the lapses, we can’t put ourselves in challenging situations because against well-coached football teams, teams that have those type of playmakers, you’ll get exposed.”
The loss on a final-play touchdown to Jacksonville State already did that. A week after taking highly ranked Notre Dame to overtime, the Seminoles lost for the first time in 27 matchups against Championship Subdivision teams, this one to an opponent that had lost 31-0 to UAB in its opener.
Now FSU is facing the possibility of the program’s first 0-3 start since the late Bobby Bowden’s first season in 1976. It comes as the Seminoles begin a 30th season of play in a league it used to dominate.
Those memories are why Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said that he still considers FSU “one of the iconic brands of college football.”
“In my mind,” he said, “Florida State is still Florida State.”
By comparison, the Demon Deacons have been able to ease into Clawson’s eighth season.
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Rivalry Games, Week 3 (RX; HM)
Rivalry Games, Week 3
Even though it's only the third week of the season, there are several bona fide rivalry games in the ACC this weekend. Here are some notes from ACC Weekly Press Release, plus a few comments from yours truly:North Carolina vs. Virginia (aka "The South's Oldest Rivalry")
(125 times; UNC leads series, 63-58-4; Last meeting: UVA, 44-41 in 2020)
2021 Football RPI Week 3 (RX; HM)
2021 Football RPI Week 3
I've been busy this week, so didn't get around to looking at this updated Football RPI Computer Rankinguntil today. The Good News: Four ACC teams are in the top 25, along with Notre Dame. The Bad News: Four other teams are ranked 117th or lower...
| NCAA Men's Football - Team Power Rankings (2021-2022) | ||||
| Rank | School | Index | SOS | Conf. |
| 1 | Alabama | 43.7 | 51.94 | Sec |
| 2 | Texas A&M | 42.57 | 52.73 | Sec |
| 3 | Georgia | 41.96 | 53.28 | Sec |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 40.16 | 45.9 | Big12 |
| 5 | Cincinnati | 39.48 | 44.91 | Aac |
| 6 | Ohio St. | 39.31 | 60.23 | Big10 |
| 7 | Notre Dame | 38.98 | 44.92 | Indp |
| 8 | Iowa | 38.76 | 49.55 | Big10 |
| 9 | Clemson | 38.66 | 54.08 | Acc |
| 10 | Florida | 37.64 | 47.2 | Sec |
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2021 Week 3 - Stiff TV Competition! (RX; HM)
2021 Week 3 - Stiff TV Competition!
P5 conference fans like to brag about TV media rights fees, and ACC fans want to be able to answer those boasts proudly. However, "if you want to be the man, you have to beat the man..." Here are the games the ACC has to try to beat this weekend.__________
Nebraska at #3 Oklahoma, Noon, Fox
Michigan State at #24 Miami, Noon, ABC#15 Virginia Tech at West Virginia, Noon, FS1
prognosis: Nebraska/Oklahoma has the advantage of pent-up demand (although to be fair, so does VT/WVU), but I think the two big ACC non-conference games hold their own in this time slot.
__________
#1 Alabama at #11 Florida, 3:30 pm, CBS
Georgia Tech at #6 Clemson, 3:30 pm, ABCWake Forest at Florida State, 3:30 pm, ESPN
prognosis: Alabama/Florida is likely the biggest game of the day. Under the 2024 SEC TV contract, that game would likely be on ABC. Clemson will draw some audience and so will Florida State - but let's be honest, the ACC won't win this slot.
__________
#22 Auburn at #10 Penn State, 7:30 pm, ABC
Virginia at #21 North Carolina, 7:30 pm, ACCNSouth Carolina at #2 Georgia, 7:00 pm, ESPN
prognosis: Auburn/Penn State has all of the ingredients needed to beat Bama/Florida in the ratings - it's an intersectional, non-conference matchup between two brands which are both ranked. If that leaves any college football fans in South Carolina and Georgia, they can tune in to ESPN. Against that competition, UVA/UNC will find it tough going.
__________
BOTTOM LINE:
This weekend features a stellar lineup of games in other conferences, but only a decent schedule in the ACC. I don't expect huge ratings....
Other
An Amazon worker demonstrates the robotic delivery system with some of the more than 100,000 mobile storage pods that will be used in the company's new fulfillment center under construction in Clay. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com)
Amazon to hire 1,500 in Clay, up from 1,000 as e-commerce business soars (PS; Moriarty)
Amazon is planning to hire 1,500 people, 500 more than it originally estimated, to operate its giant fulfillment center under construction in Clay.
Yet the center -- dubbed SYR1 by Amazon -- may not open as quickly as originally planned.
Maciej Curlej, assistant general manager of the Clay center, said Thursday the company will begin hiring for warehouse associate jobs within two to three weeks. Those jobs are the majority of positions at the facility.
Amazon has already begun hiring for leadership and technical positions at the center, which is expected to open sometime this winter.
Amazon originally had planned to employ 1,000 people full-time at the center, which is under construction at the site of the former site of Liverpool Public Golf and Country Club on Morgan Road.
Verena Gross, a spokesperson for Amazon, said the growth in e-commerce since the project was first announced two years ago means the center will be handling more business and will need the additional workers to pick, pack and ship merchandise.
Amazon was already growing rapidly when the coronavirus pandemic struck the world in 2020. The pandemic has sent online purchasing soaring even more.
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