sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Kraken Day!
Kraken Day, also known as Myths and Legends Day, is part of International Cephalopod Awareness Days, or Cephalopod Awareness Week, which takes place from October 8-12 each year. Since octopuses have eight arms and squid have eight arms and two tentacles, the holiday week begins on the eighth day of the tenth month. Cephalopods are a class of marine invertebrates. Related to snails and clams, they have arms and tentacles, three hearts, large brains, and blue blood. Today we celebrate cephalopods of myth and legend, especially krakens.
SU News
Film Review: UNC’s shotgun offense breaks apart SU’s defense (DO; O'Brien)
During a commercial break in Syracuse’s 40-7 loss to then-No. 14 North Carolina, the cameras in the stadium panned to Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell. He was the last Tar Heel signal caller to face the Orange.
In 2020, Howell threw for a touchdown and two picks in one of his weaker performances as a sophomore. While future NFL star Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos) scored three fourth quarter touchdowns to seal a UNC victory, SU’s 3-3-5 defense showed promise.
On Saturday, Rocky Long’s scheme was torn apart by North Carolina’s Drake Maye. He went 33-for-47, throwing for 442 yards and three touchdowns. Maye, a projected top 3 NFL draft pick per ESPN, tormented Syracuse with a shotgun-heavy attack — a commonplace formation in today’s NFL.
In their last two contests, the Orange have gone from one of the best scoring defenses in the country to appearing powerless against Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and Maye.
Here’s how the Tar Heels’ shotgun attack led to an easy win over the Orange’s defense:
Checkdowns lead to conversions
In the shotgun offense, the running back stands side-by-side with the quarterback. This allows them to become a dual threat as rusher or pass catcher.
On a 3rd-and-7 just under a minute into the second quarter, North Carolina inserted running back British Brooks instead of leading rusher Omarion Hampton.
On this play, Syraucse fully expected a deep ball. It only brought four rushers. Middle linebacker Marlowe Wax initially stood in the box before stepping back to cover tight end John Copenhaver, even though rover safety Justin Barron seemingly had him marked. With Wax away from the box, Brooks found an open gap and was wide open as a pass catcher.
Maye immediately fired a bullet to Brooks for the first down.
The first of three
Syracuse vs. North Carolina Condensed Game | 2023 ACC Football
No. 14 North Carolina picked up a big win over Syracuse at home, 40-7. Drake Maye led the Tar Heels offensively, as he picked up 4 touchdowns, including 3 th...
youtu.be
On UNC’s first touchdown, Maye scored on a “tush push” to make the score 10-0. On the Tar Heels’ next drive, he showed off his arm in the shotgun set. Maye was alone in the backfield before Derek McDonald beat his offensive lineman, creating an open shot at Maye.
But the Tar Heels’ quarterback looked downfield to spot the 6-inch height discrepancy between SU’s backup cornerback Aman Greenwood and UNC’s tight end Bryson Nesbit.
With a step on Greenwood, Maye dropped a perfect, over-the-shoulder throw to Nesbit in the back of the end zone. The score put North Carolina up by two touchdowns and well out of sight.
Key third down conversions
Syracuse vs. North Carolina Condensed Game | 2023 ACC Football
No. 14 North Carolina picked up a big win over Syracuse at home, 40-7. Drake Maye led the Tar Heels offensively, as he picked up 4 touchdowns, including 3 th...
youtu.be
2026 ATH Matt Sieg reacts to Syracuse offer (247sports.com; Finneral)
Class of 2026 athlete Matt Sieg picked up an offer from Syracuse football last week. Sieg has a lot of respect for Syracuse and was thrilled to earn an offer.
“I think the Syracuse football program is making big steps in the right direction and I look forward to keeping up with them for the rest of my recruitment,” Sieg said. “I was very excited when I received the news from coach Achuff.”
Sieg is a unique prospect who plays both quarterback and safety at Fort Cherry High School in McDonald, Pennsylvania. He has enjoyed his conversations with the Syracuse coaches and is excited to learn more about the football program.
“I really like the coaching staff and I think they are great coaches, who want their players to be great on and off the field,” Sieg said.
Sieg said he is being recruited as a quarterback by the Orange. He has not made any visits to Syracuse, but said he is excited to plan one in the future.
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Jayden Bellamy "The 315" 10-10-23 (espn; radio; The 315)
Fresh off his first start in college, Syracuse DB Jayden Bellamy joins Brian Higgins to chat about his time at SU, transferring from Notre Dame, the Jersey/’Cuse connection growing and much more.
Eric Mac Lain "The 315" 10-10-23 (espn; radio; The 315)
ACC Network’s Eric Mac Lain joins Brian to review the ACC and go over which teams are the true contenders at this point. The two also discuss Syracuse, how NIL has changed the landscape of the sport and Miami’s head-scratching loss to Georgia Tech.
Keeping Up With The 315 10-10-23 (espn; radio; The 315)
Brian opens the show by reacting to the comments Dino Babers made yesterday about the state of NIL at Syracuse and the transfer portal era. Then, he jumps into another week of his “Who’s actually good in the ACC?” power rankings, which includes his take on where Syracuse stands in the conference and why one team remains the definition of frisky.
FSU Syracuse Preview | Seminole Headlines 10-10-23 | FSU Football 2023 | Warchant TV #FSU (youtube.com; podcast; Warchant)
FSU Syracuse Preview | Seminole Headlines 10-10-23 | FSU Football 2023 | Warchant TV
FSU Football | Mike Norvell Interview Syracuse Week Tuesday Practice | Warchant TV #FSU (youtube; video; Warchant)
FSU Football | Mike Norvell Interview Syracuse Week Tuesday Practice | Warchant TV
"Gotta be dominant!" FSU kicks off Syracuse week with back-and-forth practice (tomahawknatkion.com; Silversmith)
“Gotta be dominant!”
Mike Norvell shouted at his special teams unit as they began drills for the first time since Saturday’s debacle. The usual intensity and speed came through for the Seminoles in their opening practice for Syracuse week. The defense had the upper hand early, as they produced two sacks during the first 11-on-11 practice period, but the offense responded later in the day, moving the ball efficiently through the passing game.
On a back-and-forth day on both sides, the Seminole head coach seemed content with the work put on the field Tuesday.
“I thought today was a good work day...I thought both sides of the ball had good moments at practice, but at the end of the day, it’s just that constant challenge that we’ve got to embrace ourselves.”
Reflecting on the day’s action, three storylines rose above the rest during Tuesday's practice.
Jared Verse
The rest of the country needs to watch out — Jared Verse has refound his form. He is starting to unleash himself after calling himself a “civil servant” by creating double teams and forcing teams to account for him in protection.“They’re doing a lot of max protect this year,” said Verse on Saturday night after the VT game, “ [I’m} getting a lot of double teams as a D-line, as a unit, but it felt good to finally get my plays, make some.”
If Saturday’s game indicated that he is coming alive, then Tuesday’s practice put the country on notice that this version of Jared Verse will be staying for the rest of the season. During the first set of 11-on-11 drills, he used his hands violently to swat away the offensive tackle’s attempt to get extended on him then contorted his hips around the edge, producing his patented bend to get a whistle from Norvell and a “sack” on Jordan Travis. On the ensuing play, he burst through a whole of the field goal protection unit and elevated his paw for a hand to block the Ryan Fitzergald field goal attempt.
Verse continued to wreak havoc throughout the morning by bull-rushing opposing linemen during 1-on-1 drills and blowing up run plays. The duo of Verse and his running mate Patrick Payton are starting to elevate their game, which could spell trouble for Syracuse and beyond.
Jaheim Bell
After practice, Norvell said that they knew heading into the Virginia Tech game that the South Carolina transfer would be limited at best....
FSU football: A glance at Syracuse by the numbers (chopchat.com; Hunt)
FSU football will look to continue its winning ways when they host the Syracuse Orange on Saturday at noon ET. The Noles enter the contest as -17.5 betting favorites, with a points total of 56.5. Those odds imply a 37-19 win for the Noles.
The Orange are coming off a 40-7 beatdown against North Carolina and a hard-fought loss against Clemson the week before. Syracuse beat one Power5 team (Purdue) before entering conference play, with all their other wins against Colgate, Western Michigan, and Army.
Here’s how they stack up by the numbers:
- 33 ppg
- 19 ppg allowed
- 6.09 ypp
- 4.79 ypp allowed
- 4.50 ypc
- 3.04 ypc allowed
- 49.38 percent third downs converted
- 39 percent third downs converted allowed
-Defensive FEI (opponent adjusted with garbage time removed): No. 52 nationally
Thoughts
Syracuse is a different team against legitimate competition. Their two games against Clemson and North Carolina are light years different than the first four. They averaged 3.10 yards per rush in their two conference games, granted Clemson’s defense is among the best nationally.Garrett Shrader completed 59 percent of his passes, two touchdowns, and three interceptions in those two games. He has completed 64.6 percent on the season The Syracuse offensive line has allowed 16 sacks and 34 tackles for a loss through six games.
FSU has allowed six sacks and 17 tackles for a loss through five games.
Defensively, Syracuse allows 3.95 yards per rush and 164 rush yards per game. The defense has allowed opposing offenses to complete 65 percent of their passes for five touchdowns and zero interceptions.
They have allowed an average of 352 yards through the air in two conference games, granted one of those quarterbacks was Drake Maye at North Carolina. One thing they do well is create tackles for a loss. They had 13 against Clemson and six against North Carolina.
If FSU stays in front of the chains offensively and limits Shrader, they should be fine. We’ll delve into more film and tendencies as the week progresses.
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https://247sports.com/college/flori...s-fsus-tuesday-practice-217845956/(247sports; video; Nee)
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell recaps his team's Tuesday practice and preparation for Syracuse. He discussed offensive line depth, including younger players like Julian Armella and Jaylen Early, as well as freshman linebacker Blake Nichelson. Complete video follows:
https://www.si.com/college/fsu/foot...esday-practice-observations-for-the-seminoles (SI; Lewis)
The Seminoles were back on the practice fields on Tuesday morning to continue working towards a sold-out home game against the Syracuse Orange. There was no lack of energy or focus throughout the session as the team looked up to the challenge issued by head coach Mike Norvell and the rest of the staff.
It felt like a competitive practice where both sides were able to flash at different times. Following the session, head coach Mike Norvell seemed pleased overall with the day as the team moves deeper into game week.
NoleGameday was in attendance for the entire session and jotted down some observations from the day.
— The Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, and Jacksonville Jaguars had representatives viewing practice from the sidelines.
— It wasn't a good kicking day for the Seminoles. Ryan Fitzgerald had a 39-yard attempt blocked by Jared Verse while missing from 31 yards and 43 yards out. Tyler Keltner made his attempts from 31 and 43 yards.
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Syracuse Football: Are the Orange’s NIL hurdles real, or are they excuses? (itlh; Fiello)
Recently, I wrote about how I think sometimes bad calls can impact the outcome of a game, and in this case, it was the Syracuse football loss at North Carolina last Saturday.
Last season many, including myself, thought the amount of injuries adding up led to Syracuse football struggling later in the season, and it looks like this season that might be an issue, too.
And in his weekly press conference before the Florida State road game, Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers was asked about depth by Syracuse.com’s Brent Axe. His response certainly got reactions on social media.
After some shared his response, there were some who agreed, some who seemed shocked he said it, and some who said he’s just making excuses.
And then there were former Syracuse players who shared their two cents on the topic as well…two of them are former leaders of this program and voices most fans and players respect.
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Fizz Five 10/10: SU Football is Falling, Preseason Basketball Time, and a Men's Soccer Check-Up (orangefizz.net; podcast; Frank)
Fizz Five 10/10: SU Football is Falling, Preseason Basketball Time, and a Men’s Soccer Check-Up
FSU football has experienced turnaround since time last Syracuse was in town | The NoleBook (yahoo.com; Kassim)
The situation for Florida State football was completely different than it is now the last time Syracuse made the trip to Tallahassee.
The Seminoles were sitting at 0-4 and questions persisted about the future of head coach Mike Norvell.
The script has flipped in the past two seasons, as No. 4 FSU (5-0, 3-0 ACC) has rattled off 11 straight wins and has gone 25-6 since. That stretch began with a 33-30 victory over the Orange. Starting quarterback Jordan Travis threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns and added 113 rush yards in that game.
For the FSU players, the fact of where the program was and where it is now is not forgotten.
The No. 4 Seminoles take on the Orange (4-2, 0-2) at noon Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium. (Broadcast: ABC).
"That is wild,” FSU running back Lawrance Toafili said following Tuesday's practice. “It’s totally the opposite. It’s a blessing to be a part of it.”
At the time of the Syracuse matchup, Norvell was just 3-10 in his first two seasons in charge and the team was less than a month removed from an embarrassing loss to then FCS Jacksonville State at home.
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Garrett Shrader says Orange need to 'start hot' against Florida State - Saturday Road (saturdayroad; Bicker)
Garrett Shrader is ready to go to war with Florida State, insisting that Syracuse need a strong start to the game.
Shrader was interviewed Tuesday and emphasized how important it is that the Orange start hot. Syracuse was stifled on offense against North Carolina, not scoring until the second half.
“I don’t think preparation is as much of an issue. We feel like we’re pretty prepared going into every week, so the big thing is just coming out and starting hot, making plays and executing,” said Shrader. “That’s what it comes down to. If we do that we can go out and put ourselves in position to get a win.”
Beating Florida State will be no easy task for Syracuse. The last time the Orange beat the Seminoles was in 2018.
The thing that stands out for Shrader about Florida State is the experience of the team as a whole.
“I mean they’ve got a talented group. They’re an older squad. It’s their third year in this program, this system,” said Shrader. “We’ve just gotta try and go out and attack them. We’ve done some good stuff so far, so we’ll be excited to continue to work on that, rep that and we’ll be ready to go.”
Syracuse and Florida State meet at noon ET on ABC.
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Locked On Syracuse - Daily Podcast On Syracuse Orange Football & Basketball: Orange United, SU's Newest Collective, Says Its Primary Goal Right Now Is Retaining Current Athletes on Apple Podcasts (apple.com; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Orange United, SU's Newest Collective, Says Its Primary Goal Right Now Is Retaining Current Athletes
SU football bowl watch: Believe it or not, poor performances haven’t hurt Orange’s odds much (PS; Carlson)
Syracuse fans might be feeling a little bit pessimistic about the Orange’s bowl chances following an ugly loss at North Carolina. But at least one metric says the team’s chances have barely changed.
ESPN’s Football Power Index still gives the Orange a 98.1% chance to finish with at least six wins, down less than 2% from before Syracuse began its two-game losing streak against Clemson and North Carolina. The metric still thinks SU’s most likely outcome is winning eight games.
The rationale is fairly obvious. Losing to two of the ACC’s better teams was expected by most, and the season ends with a stretch of games against ACC foes that have failed to impress this year.
Syracuse’s final five games all come against teams that look like they will join the Orange in trying to claw their way above .500. Wake Forest is the only team currently above that mark. Georgia Tech and Boston College have split their first six games. Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh are already running out of room to lose.
Receiving a bowl bid simply for finishing .500 against a soft schedule would be a rather unfulfilling result for the Orange following a 4-0 start, but even that unimpressive milestone would mark the school’s first back-to-back bowl appearances since 2012 and 2013.
The two losses have bumped the Orange from consideration for the league’s more prestigious options in the projections, all of which are located in the South. Instead, everyone has the Orange headed to the West Coast.
The ACC, meanwhile, remains in a strong position to send a team on to the College Football Playoff.
The league still has three unbeatens after Week 6, a collection that includes Florida State, North Carolina and Louisville. The Cardinals were the league’s biggest movers thanks to their win over Notre Dame.
None of the unbeaten teams play each other during the regular season, meaning a tiebreaker could be used to determine which team doesn’t get to compete in the ACC title game.
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Syracuse football: is it really the transfer portal? (TNIAAM; Wall)
After the blowout loss to North Carolina, Syracuse Orange Head Coach Dino Babers can’t be feeling good. You can understand his frustration, but as he’s been prone to do, Dino seems to be looking to explain away the Syracuse troubles by talking about NIL.
He’s not the only P5 Head Coach who did that yesterday, but let’s take a second and deconstruct that. Syracuse lost starters Duce Chestnut, Ja’Had Carter, Jatius Geer and Steve Linton from last year’s defense. There’s no denying that all of those players would be major contributors this year. It should also be pointed out that the Orange also started transfers Jayden Bellamy, Isaiah Johnson, Jason Simmons and Alijah Clark this week with Jaeden Gould and Braylen Ingraham in the rotation.
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Syracuse football: Dino Babers’s Florida State Week Updates (TNIAAM; Chiappone)
Syracuse Orange football (4-2, 0-2) was handed its second consecutive ACC loss in a 40-7 road defeat this past Saturday against the then-#14 North Carolina Tar Heels. The going only gets tougher from here — Syracuse will head south down to Tallahassee to take on Mike Norvell, Jordan Travis and the #4 Florida State Seminoles.
Before the Orange head down to the Sunshine State, let’s check in with coach Dino Babers to kick off this week:
Keeping it real with NIL
And on boy, did Babers come out on fire with some comments on name, image and likeness as well as the transfer portal.
Babers tackled each topic on two fronts. He addressed the Orange’s concerns with depth by saying how it is “gone” via last off-season's transfer portal — and added that “they’re schools like us, we’re not going to have a lot of depth because it gets bought away.”
The comments drew some attention on Twitter, most notably from former Orange defensive stud Mikel Jones:
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Only 1 Syracuse alum is still undefeated so far this season (SU, CNY in NFL) (PS; Herbert)
Only one Syracuse football alumnus is still undefeated so far this NFL season.
Matt Patricia, a Central New York native and a former assistant coach at SU, has helped the Philadelphia Eagles to a 5-0 start as a senior defensive assistant after joining Philly’s coaching staff this year. The Eagles are in first place in the NFC East (ahead of the 3-2 Dallas Cowboys, 2-3 Washington Commanders and 1-4 New York Giants) and one of only two teams off to a perfect start: The San Francisco 49ers are also 5-0.
Patricia is a Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School graduate who studied aeronautical engineering at RPI in Troy. He worked at Hoffman Air & Filtration Systems in East Syracuse before landing a job as an assistant coach at Syracuse University, eventually working his way up to the NFL and winning three Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, plus a job as head coach for the Detroit Lions from 2018-2020. He joined Philadelphia in April.
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ACC News
ACC Power Rankings: Week Six (tarheelblof.com; Valentine)
Through another week of football in the ACC, the conference looks as wide open as ever. Florida State keeps winning but they don’t look invincible and Clemson remains in the middle of the pack. Meanwhile, North Carolina and Louisville picked up solid wins to continue their respective undefeated seasons. Without further ado, here are your week 6 ACC power rankings:
1. Florida State (5-0, 3-0 ACC)
Last week: 39-17 win over Virginia TechAfter two straight close road wins against Boston College and Clemson, FSU returned home to put together a dominating performance against the Hokies. While they haven’t done anything to justify losing the top spot, this ACC is as wide open as it’s been in a while. It will be interesting to see how the Noles fare against a Syracuse team that the Tar Heels just eviscerated.
This week: Saturday vs. Syracuse
2. North Carolina (5-0, 2-0 ACC)
Last week: 40-7 win over SyracuseIf you’re a Carolina fan, this past Saturday was probably one of the most enjoyable days of football you’ve had in a while. Not only did Tez Walker finally get to make his UNC debut, but the Heels were clicking on both sides of the ball as well as they have all season. Drake Maye turned in a Heisman-level performance as the defense held a team averaging 38.2 points per game to just seven. Though they remain at two, the Heels are shortening the distance to that top spot.
This week: Saturday vs. Miami
3. Louisville (6-0, 3-0 ACC)
Last week: 33-20 win over Notre DameLouisville had perhaps the most impressive showing of the weekend with a convincing victory over the Irish. Though they still have things left to prove, we at least know now that the Cardinals’ perfect start is no fluke after two consecutive solid wins.
This week: Saturday at Pitt
4. Duke (4-1, 1-0 ACC)
Last week: ByeThe Blue Devils stayed put while on a bye week. Though they put up a good fight against Notre Dame a couple Saturdays ago, they’ll look to get back in the win column at home against NC State.
This week: Saturday vs. NC State
5. Miami (4-1, 0-1 ACC)
Last week: 23-20 loss to Georgia TechAfter some wildly questionable coaching down the stretch, the Hurricanes suffered a devastating loss to Georgia Tech in the final seconds. While demoralizing, Miami has no time to ruminate as they travel to Chapel Hill in what becomes an even more important game for them.
This week: Saturday at North Carolina
6. Clemson (4-2, 2-2 ACC)
Last week: 17-12 win over Wake ForestIt wasn’t the prettiest, but Clemson got the job done against the Demon Deacons. The offense has been inconsistent but Dabo Swinney still has one of the more talented groups in the country. They’ll have the week off to regroup for the second half of the season.
This week: Bye
7. NC State (4-2, 1-1 ACC)
Last week: 48-41 win over MarshallThey managed to escape with a win, but the Wolfpack struggled to put away Marshall in what turned into a shootout. With both of their two losses having come against ranked opponents, NC State will try to secure a ranked win against the Blue Devils.
This week: Saturday at Duke
8. Syracuse (4-2, 0-2 ACC)
Last week: 40-7 loss to North CarolinaVery little went right for the Orange on Saturday as they got throttled by the Tar Heels. Coming off two consecutive losses, the road doesn’t get any easier for Cuse as they travel to take on FSU.
This week: Saturday at Florida State
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https://www.si.com/college/louisville/football/acc-power-rankings-2023-week-seven (SI; McGavic)
We're approaching the halfway mark of the 2023 college football season, and the battle for the Atlantic Coast Conference is starting to get interesting.
Following Miami's stunning loss, we're now left with three teams left in the league that are undefeated both overall and in conference play. Considering that Florida State, North Carolina and Louisville don't play each other this season, the race to get to Charlotte has the potential to get wild. Don't count out teams like Duke and Miami to make a push for a spot in the ACC Championship, either.
So where do things currently stand in the conference following the first five weeks of football? Check out our week seven ACC power rankings below:
1. Florida State Seminoles
Record: 5-0, 3-0 ACCLast Week's Ranking: No. 1
Week 6 Result: W, 39-17 vs. Virginia Tech
Over the first view weeks of the season, one of Florida State's biggest weaknesses was a somewhat stagnant ground game. 200 yards and two scores from RB Trey Benson certainly helped the Seminoles in that regard. Not to mention that he helped FSU get back on track after Virginia Tech made it a one score game right out of halftime on their kickoff return touchdown.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
Record: 5-0, 2-0 ACCLast Week's Ranking: No. 2
Week 6 Result: W, 40-7 vs. Syracuse
Now *this* was the Drake Maye we came to expect heading into the season. The North Carolina QB was stellar all afternoon long, accounting for four touchdowns, and that UNC offense continues to look deadly with all the weapons they have - which now finally includes Tez Walker. Plus, their defense also came through, and kept a good Syracuse offense off the field.
3. Louisville Cardinals
Record: 6-0, 3-0 ACCLast Week's Ranking: No. 5
Week 6 Result: W, 33-20 vs. Notre Dame
The ACC's long losing streak to Notre Dame is finally over. It's one thing the beat the Irish, it's another thing to beat them at their own game. Louisville was flat out the more dominant, physical and aggressive team that night. They not only held ND in check on the ground, but they turned Sam Hartman into a turnover machine. Plus, RB Jawhar Jordan bounced back and ran all over them.
4. Duke Blue Devils
Record: 4-1, 1-0 ACCLast Week's Ranking: No. 4
Week 6 Result: Bye Week
Thankfully, it sounds like QB Riley Leonard might be back sooner than we expected following his ankle injury. We shall see.
5. Miami Hurricanes
Record: 4-1, 0-1 ACCLast Week's Ranking: No. 3
Week 6 Result: L, 23-20 vs. Georgia Tech
My goodness, Miami. It's bad enough that Mario Cristobal lacks all common sense to the point where this is now his *second* loss after refusing to take a knee. But the Canes shouldn't have even been in that position. Their defense actually had a good game, but their offense and their five lost turnovers held them back from blowing the Jackets out of the water.
6. Clemson Tigers
Record: 4-2, 2-2 ACCLast Week's Ranking: No. 6
Week 6 Result: W, 17-12 vs. Wake Forest
Clemson might not be in position to get back to the College Football Playoff, but their elite defense continues to make them a really good team. Whether it was through the air on on the ground, they made Wake Forest very uncomfortable. As for their offense? Well, it certainly left some to be desired. Especially QB Cade Klubnik, who seemed to be making progress.
7. NC State Wolfpack
Record: 4-2, 1-1 ACCLast Week's Ranking: No. 8
Week 6 Result: W, 48-41 vs. Marshall
Maybe a quarterback switch was exactly what NC State needed. New QB M.J. Morris might have thrown three picks, but that also came with four scores and a season-high in points for the Wolfpack. They also got diced through the air in the process, but did limit Marshall's star tailback in Rasheen Ali. So there's that.
8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Record: 3-3, 2-1 ACCLast Week's Ranking: No. 11
Week 6 Result: W, 23-20 at Miami
Even if they didn't benefit from one of the worst coaching blunders in college football history, Georgia Tech put up an impressive performance. Their defense, while they did let Miami put up a fair amount of yardage, bent but didn't break and forced five turnovers to keep them in the game. Then their offense, which had been stifled all night, made plays when they absolutely had to make them.
9. Syracuse Orange
Record: 4-2, 0-2 ACCLast Week's Ranking: No. 7
Week 6 Result: L, 40-7 at North Carolina
Again, it bares repeating that maybe Syracuse's 4-0 start was more so a byproduct of an easy schedule. UNC has made opposing defenses look really foolish over the last few years, but Drake Maye had been up and down up to this point, and the Orange were his get-right game. Plus Cuse's offense and their respective weapons couldn't even stay on the field long enough to even put up points.
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ACC Football Power Rankings - Week 6 (backingthepack,com; PW)
1. Florida State (last week: 39-17 W vs Virginia Tech)
Just kept on keepin’ on out of the bye week. Jumped out to a 22-0 first quarter lead, and even though Virginia Tech cut it to 22-17 after returning the second half opening kickoff for a TD, it felt like the Hokies never really threatened. FSU scored just two plays after that kickoff return TD and never looked back. Next up for the Noles is a home tilt with Syracuse.
2. Louisville (last week: 33-20 W vs Notre Dame)
A week after looking massively overrated in a close win against NC State, the Cardinals showed that they might be for real. Granted, they field goaled the Fighting Irish to death, but a win is a win and that was a good win. Louisville’s defense is impressive, having kept Notre Dame to under 300 yards of total offense and allowing only 3-of-15 conversions on 3rd and 4th down combined. Up next is a dangerous road game at Pitt... not because the Panthers are good, but because Pat Narduzzi loves nothing than to ruin a good season for someone else.
3. Duke (last week: Bye)
Who knows how good Duke is without Riley Leonard at QB, but we’re about to find out on Saturday night when the Blue Devils host the Wolfpack. Even without Leonard, this is the most complete Duke team that I can remember.
4. North Carolina (last week: 40-7 W vs Syracuse)
I’ll be the first to trumpet the weak schedule argument around UNC this year, but that was an impressive win they put together against Syracuse. The defense held the Orange to 221 yards of offense while the offense put up 644 yards on their own. Maybe UNC is legit after all. We’ll know more after this week against Miami. Win that one, and the Tar Heels will be 9-0 heading into their 11/11 game against Duke. Easy schedule and all that.
5. NC State (last week: 48-41 W vs Marshall)
I’m really not trying to put too much stock in a win over a Sun Belt team, but NC State’s defense played better than Marshall’s 41 points on the scoreboard would lead you to believe, and the offense showed some serious signs of life. The Thundering Herd defense is no pushover, so the lively display by the Wolfpack offense carries merit. M.J. Morris showed poise in addition to some expected rust, and there’s hope again for the season in Raleigh. Next up is a date in Durham with Duke.
6. Clemson (last week: 17-12 W vs Wake Forest)
The Tigers continue to have issues on offense and special teams. A fumbled punt return, another fumble on offense, not being able to punch in on a 1st-and-goal from the Wake 2 yardline. There are issues that Clemson needs to answer. The Tigers defense, however, is strout, as usual. Wake Forest managed just 239 yards of offense and converted just 2-of-13 3rd and 4th downs in the game. This might be the latest in a season that Clemson has been at .500 in ACC play in a long time. Next up: a bye week.
7. Wake Forest (last week: 12-17 L @ Clemson)
Well, if Clemson’s 6, then Wake is 7. The Demon Deacons defense has now held all five opponents to 24 or fewer points. That trend is likely to continue with VT and Pitt up next for Wake. Hard to get too worried about the offense given that they were playing defense, but if Clemson exposed some fatal flaws, the finishing kick of Wake’s schedule could be brutal with Pitt, FSU, Duke, NC State, and Notre Dame all sporting defenses that can shut down opponents.
8. Virginia (last week: 27-13 W vs William & Mary)
Well, the Wahoos won, so they’re no longer sporting a goose egg in the ‘W’ column. That’s cool. This is not the 8th best team in the conference, but they did win this week, and it’s more a statement about the next two teams on the list. Virginia has a bye week before heading to Chapel Hill.
9. Georgia Tech (last week: 23-20 W @ Miami)
Credit to GT for putting together a 4-play, 74 yard TD drive when they absolutely had to do it... but, wow, talk about a gift of a win. The Yellow Jackets are not a bad team, but they are not a good team, and they are certainly going to go lose against Boston College next week because that’s just the craziness that this GT team is about. Had Miami not allowed GT to get the ball back, the Jackets offense wouldn’t have broken 200 yards in the game.
10. Miami (last week: 20-23 L vs Georgia Tech)
I should put Miami last this week for running the ball with 33 seconds left on a 3rd & 10 play and Georgia Tech having no timeouts left, but the fact is that the team put themselves in a position to win it and the coaching staff lost it for them. I’ll not sully the player’s efforts too much on that. The Hurricanes didn’t look good by any means, but that should have been a gritty, grind-it-out win for them. However, you can’t turn the ball over 5 times in a game and expect to win. Hopefully the loss motivates the Canes and they come out and get a measure of revenge against North Carolina next week.
11. Boston College (last week: 27-24 W @ Army)
BC beat Army in a game where the Eagles attempted fewer passes than the Black Knights completed in the game. Maybe Jeff Hafley just really wanted to beat a team at their own game, but... I just don’t buy that this BC team is any good. Sitting at 3-3, though, and with GT, UConn, Syracuse, VT, and Pitt up next, we’re probably looking at a bowl team. #goacc
12. Virginia Tech (last week: 17-39 L @ Florida State)
Credit the Hokies for not giving up and getting back in it at the start of the 2nd half, but VT was no match for FSU. No shame in that, though, as this year’s FSU team is good. Next up is Wake.
13. Pittsburgh (last week: Bye)
Pitt had a bye, but the Panthers haven’t offered much in the way of confidence this year to put them anywhere higher than 13th. The Panthers host Louisville this coming Saturday.
14. Syracuse (last week: 7-40 L @ North Carolina)
Orange, your effort... woof!
ACC Power Rankings updated after Week 6 of college football (on3.com; Staff)
It was another wild weekend in the ACC, which included arguably the craziest ending of the 2023 college football season.
Georgia Tech pulled off a stunning 23-20 win at Miami, scoring in the final seconds after it appeared as though the game was over. Meanwhile Louisville proved that it is a legit contender to win the league, beating Notre Dame to improve to 6-0 (3-0).
Florida State and North Carolina joined the Cardinals in remaining undefeated, as the top teams in the ACC continue to jockey for position. Here’s a look at the full ACC Power Rankings after Week 6 of the college football season:
1. Florida State Seminoles (5-0)
Florida State didn’t lose any momentum during its bye week. After getting a week off, the Seminoles cruised to a 39-17 win over Virginia Tech to remain unbeaten on the year.Quarterback Jordan Travis was efficient, passing for 170 yards and two touchdowns — both of which went to star receiver Johnny Wilson. In a good sign for Florida State, the Seminoles got their running game going as Trey Benson had 200 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Up next, FSU will host Syracuse.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels (5-0) (+1)
Drake Maye had his best game of the season against Syracuse, passing for 442 yards and three touchdowns. Maye also rushed for a score as he showed why he is expected to be a first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft.North Carolina completely dominated a Syracuse team that entered the game with a 4-1 record. With Tez Walker now eligible, Maye has plenty of playmakers and the Tar Heels are a dangerous team in the ACC race.
3. Louisville Cardinals (6-0) (+1)
Arguably the most impressive team in the ACC over the weekend was Louisville. The Cardinals controlled the game against a Notre Dame team that entered 5-1, with only a last-second loss to Ohio State.Louisville had played a fairly easy schedule prior to this past weekend. However, they showed against Notre Dame that they are for real. Jawhar Jordan in particular had a great game, rushing for 143 yards and two scores against the Irish.
4. Duke Blue Devils (4-1) (+1)
Duke had a much-needed bye over the weekend, as quarterback Riley Leonard continues to try to recover from an ankle injury he suffered late in the Notre Dame game. The Blue Devils needed the week off to get healthier and recover from a mental standpoint, too, after being just a play away from upsetting the Irish.It seems unlikely that Leonard will be available for this weekend’s game against NC State. Still, the Blue Devils are favored by four points. This would be a huge win for Duke to get back on track and show that it can win big ACC games without Leonard.
5. Clemson Tigers (4-2) (+1)
Clemson didn’t have the dominant performance it was hoping to against Wake Forest, but the defense certainly did its part. The Tigers held Wake Forest to only 239 yards of offense and had eight tackles for loss, including four sacks.The offense continues to lack consistency, though. Clemson has a bye week this week, and the Tigers are hoping they can get healthy and gain some confidence ahead of the second half of the season.
6. Miami Hurricanes (4-1) (-4)
Miami didn’t play well against Georgia Tech, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Still, the Hurricanes had the game won before a costly mistake. All Miami had to do in the final seconds was take a knee and the game was over.Instead, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson called a running play, Donald Chaney Jr. fumbled, and two plays later Georgia Tech pulled off a stunning win. Miami doesn’t have much time to recover as the Hurricanes will play at North Carolina on Saturday. The biggest challenge will likely be getting ready to play mentally. Miami is still very much in the ACC title race but it can’t afford another loss.
7. Wake Forest (3-2) (+1)
It was a nice bounce-back performance by Wake Forest, even in a loss. The Demon Deacons were competitive from start to finish at Clemson and had chances to pull off the upset.If the Demon Deacons can continue to play like the team that nearly beat Clemson and beat Vanderbilt earlier this year, then they can have a strong finish to the season. However, if they play like the team that lost by two scores at home to Georgia Tech, it could be a tough second half of the year.
8. NC State (4-2) (+1)
New NC State starting quarterback MJ Morris got off to a rough start. Morris threw a pair of interceptions in the first quarter, including a pick-six, as Marshall built an early lead against the Wolfpack.Morris ended up throwing three interceptions overall. However, he also tossed four touchdown passes to help NC State hand Marshall its first loss of the season. The Wolfpack have a tough challenge this week playing at rival Duke.
9. Georgia Tech (3-3) (+2)
Yes, Miami made mistakes late to allow Georgia Tech to have a chance to win. But the Yellow Jackets still had to make clutch plays in the final seconds to take advantage, and they did.Georgia Tech forced five Miami turnovers and improve to 2-1 in the ACC with the win. Their only loss in league play came to an undefeated Louisville team. The Yellow Jackets now have a bye week, before getting a chance to improve to 3-1 in the ACC against Boston College on Oct. 21.
10. Syracuse Orange (4-2) (-3)
Garrett Shrader (Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports)
After getting off to a 4-0 start, Syracuse has come crashing back down to earth the past couple of weeks. The Orange have been blasted by Clemson and North Carolina the past two Saturdays, losing by a combined 50 points.
It doesn’t get any easier for Syracuse this weekend, as the Orange have to play an undefeated Florida State team in Tallahassee. The second half of the schedule is much more manageable, and a bowl game is still possible for the Orange.
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ACC Power Rankings: Week 7 (stateoftheu.com; Picaro)
If you change one or two plays, the Miami Hurricanes football team is sitting comfortably in the top three or four of these power rankings. But bad choices, bad execution, and bad calls from referees completely change how we view this team.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has three remaining undefeated teams after Miami dropped an infuriating game to Georgia Tech. The Hurricanes are one of two teams with a single loss though. Their record says one thing while how everyone feels is a completely different thing.
1. Florida State Seminoles (5-0)
Week Six Result: Win over Virginia Tech, 39-17Once again, Florida State handles business and beats up on a team they are much better than. Their toughest games remaining on the schedule are Duke and Miami, both played at home. Unless they sleepwalk through a game, the Seminoles are on their way to an undefeated regular season.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels (5-0)
Week Six Result: Win over Syracuse, 40-7North Carolina is starting to hit their stride right as they get set to host Miami. They absolutely dominated a Syracuse team that was undefeated two weeks ago. They do have to face the Hurricanes the week following an embarrassing loss, though, which could have the team more focused than ever or on the verge of falling apart.
3. Louisville Cardinals (6-0)
Week Six Result: Win over Notre Dame, 33-20Jawhar Jordan and the Louisville Cardinals went on a 26-3 run in the second half to hand Notre Dame their second loss of the season. They have to go on the road to play Pittsburgh this weekend, but then get a bye week before playing Duke, Virginia, and Virginia Tech all at home.
4. Duke Blue Devils (4-1)
Week Six Result: Bye WeekAfter losing to Notre Dame last week, Duke is in a tough position with quarterback Riley Leonard uncertain for their matchup against NC State. They also play Florida State, Louisville, and North Carolina in three of their next four games after that.
5. Clemson Tigers (4-2)
Week Six Result: Win over Wake Forest, 17-12After losing two of their first four games, Clemson has now won their last two games. It hasn’t been in dominating fashion, but wins are wins. They get a bye week before traveling to Coral Gables to play the Hurricanes.
6. NC State Wolfpack (4-2)
Week Six Result: Win over Marshall, 48-41A 20-3 stretch in the second half for NC State gave the Wolfpack a bounce-back win against Marshall. They handed the Thundering Herd their first loss of the season thanks to MJ Morris throwing four touchdown passes. They go on the road to play Duke before getting their bye week.
7. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-2)
Week Six Result: Loss to Clemson, 17-12After starting the season with three wins, Wake Forest has lost two consecutive games. They have two games against some of the bottom teams in the Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh conferences. They follow that up with games against Duke and Florida State.
8. Syracuse Orange (4-2)
Week Six Result: Loss to North Carolina, 40-7For the second consecutive year, Syracuse jumped out to a good record just to go on a losing streak. Last season, it was a six-game winning streak turned into a six-game losing streak. This season isn’t as extreme yet, but winning four just to lose two is still tough. Especially since they lost those by a combined 50 points.
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SMU & ACC College Football Conference Realignment: Mustangs Are Now A Power Five Program (herosports.com; Pool)
SMU is among three teams which are reportedly going to join the ACC in 2024. It is yet another school which leaves the Group of Five conferences and heads to the Power Five.
Here’s a look at SMU’s situation and what it means for the college football realignment landscape.
Cal, Stanford, And SMU Moving To The ACC
ACC school presidents voted to add SMU, Stanford, and Cal to the conference in 2024. All three schools reportedly won’t receive full ACC revenue shares for nine years.SMU will likely have to pay more than $10 million to the AAC as an exit fee, according to CBS, as SMU intends to leave in 27 or fewer months.
AAC commissioner Mike Aresco has contingency plans if SMU were to leave and is prepared to compete with an odd number of programs if necessary, according to Yahoo Sports. The AAC is no longer thinking about adding Oregon State or Washington State, according to multiple reports. Instead, the AAC is reportedly exploring the possibility of adding Army.
SMU Football Fundraising
SMU announced it raised $100 million in just seven days to help support its transition to the ACC.That money will prove critical because of the funds it’s losing out on as the athletic department makes the transition to its new league. The program also publicized that media coverage of the ACC move produced over $163 million in advertising revenue in a mere three days.
“This is an unprecedented financial commitment from a core group of donors who have understood from the beginning that moving to the ACC will be transformational for our university on both athletic and academic levels,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said in a press release. “While there is still much work to be done, the ability to rally this kind of support in just one short week demonstrates that SMU and Dallas recognize the excellence of this opportunity and are stepping up to support it.”
SMU-ACC Football Record
SMU is 16-17 all-time against the teams which are currently in the ACC.Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, N.C. State, North Carolina, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest are the teams in the ACC this year.
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Friedlander: Preseason ACC takes and predictions I'd like to have back - Saturday Road (saturdayroad.com; Friedlander)
I received an email recently from a Florida State fan I’ll call Travis. Attached was a link to the preseason “25 Bold Predictions for the 2023 ACC football season” column.
“You missed big,” he wrote. “Been saving this since August. Go Noles.”
Travis is obviously referring to my predictions concerning his favorite team. And he’s right, I whiffed big-time on picking Clemson, not FSU, to win the ACC and get to the College Football Playoff.
But here’s something to remember.
First and foremost, there are more important things in life than the preseason prognostications.
And second, preseason predictions are educated guesses, not psychic prophecies. If they were, I’d change my name to Jeane Dixon and have them published in the National Enquirer.
Surprisingly enough, I’ve actually hit or still have a chance at hitting more than I missed with those 25 bold predictions.
Jeff Brohm has, in fact, made an immediate impact at Louisville. North Carolina did beat South Carolina in the opening game in Charlotte. Gene Chizik’s influence has brought about a significant improvement in the Tar Heels’ defense. And an ACC team has finally beaten Notre Dame.
And yet, there are still plenty of picks I’d like to have back.
Now that we’ve reached the midway point in the season, it’s as good a time as any to look back and own up to my misses (especially the one about Travis’ Seminoles).
Oronde Gadsden II will break his school records for catches and receiving yards
The Syracuse star was poised for even bigger things this season after catching 61 passes for 969 yards in 2022, the highest totals in program history and the most nationally by a tight end.
Coach Dino Babers and new offensive coordinator Jason Beck spent the offseason scheming to find new ways of getting him the ball in what figured to be his draft year. Those plans were dashed, however, when Gadsden suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2 against Western Michigan.
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Potential 2023 ACC Tiebreaker Chaos (RX; HM)
Potential 2023 ACC Tiebreaker Chaos
What happens if the ACC regular season ends in a tie?
From Sports Illustrated (SI.com):
Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 Could Provide Some Serious College Football Playoff Chaos
As the OP states, it's "unlikely" that even two ACC teams finish undefeated, much less three - but it's not impossible. If that happens, then what? Continuing in the SI article...Florida State
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Next Wave of ACC Expansion? (RX; HM)
Next Wave of ACC Expansion?
By now we all know that the ACC will be welcoming three new member schools: Cal, Stanford, and SMU. That takes the conference up to 18 voting members, 17 for football. Is that the end of expansion for the ACC, or will there be another wave(s)?
Why would the ACC expand further?
By July 1st, 2024, the SEC will have 16 members and the Big Ten and Big XII will both have 18 (the names of those conferences notwithstanding). One possibility is that the SEC and ACC both expand to 18 to match, and while that certainly could happen, that might not be the main reason for expansion....
JHowell's Picks 2023 Week 7 (RX; HM)
JHowell's Picks 2023 Week 7
JHowell.net has posted projections for Week #7 of the 2023 season. Below are JHowell's ACC football game projections through the games of 10-14-23 (including future ACC teams), followed by some commentary of my own; let's see if his computer can pick the "dogs"...
Thursday, October 12, 2023
#57-Southern Methodist (-7.5) @ #103-East Carolina (TP=53 Odds=.622)Friday, October 13, 2023
#69-Colorado (-18) vs. #122-Stanford (TP=59 Odds=.744)Saturday, October 14, 2023
#8-Louisville (-18.5) @ #90-Pittsburgh (TP=53 Odds=.781)#9-Notre Dame (-7) vs. #15-Southern California (TP=62 Odds=.596)
#12-Florida State (-13) vs. #47-Syracuse (TP=56 Odds=.692)
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Remaining 2023 OOC games (RX; HM)
Remaining 2023 OOC games
This is an excellent post on CSNBBS by an FSU fan on the ACC bulletin board who goes by Garrettabc:
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CFB insider claims FSU and Clemson leaving ACC will impact Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC's member count in latest conference realignment (sportskeeda.com; Yusuf)
The future of Florida State and Clemson continues to hang in the balance as both universities intensify their push to leave the Atlantic Coast Conference. This is expected to have a significant impact on the entire college football landscape.
According to college football insider Greg Swaim, the exit of Florida State and Clemson will lead to the departure of several other teams from the ACC. While the number of schools that could leave is unknown, it is believed that many members want to end their association with the ACC.
This will lead to a situation where the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and Big 12 will have over 20 members each. In such a scenario, the conferences might need to consider dividing themselves into subdivisions or pods to effectively manage the larger number of teams.
According to college football insider Greg Swaim, the exit of Florida State and Clemson will lead to the departure of several other teams from the ACC. While the number of schools that could leave is unknown, it is believed that many members want to end their association with the ACC.
This will lead to a situation where the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and Big 12 will have over 20 members each. In such a scenario, the conferences might need to consider dividing themselves into subdivisions or pods to effectively manage the larger number of teams.
2024 College Football Recruits: Future Stars!
View Full Rankings
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Other
A Central New York craft brewery is closing. ‘It was challenging and rewarding,’ owners say (PS; Cazentre)
A brewery and taproom that opened in North Syracuse during the height of the craft beer boom in 2016 is closing this fall.
Full Boar Craft Brewery and Taproom will close Nov. 22, owners Eric Petranchuk and David Marchant announced today on social media. The brewery / taproom is located in a plaza at 628 S. Main St. (Route 11) just north of Taft Road.
“In our final month we invite you to come have one last beer with us and celebrate the legacy of Full Boar,” the owners said in the social media message to their customers. “Use your gift cards, grab some Full Boar merchandise, and share your favorite memories of the brewery. ... In the words of the Dropkick Murphys, we are ‘going out in style!’ ”
Upcoming events include a Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 14. The closing date will come as the brewery’s lease expires.
“It wasn’t an easy decision or one that was made lightly, but we both agree that it is time,” the owners’ Facebook message said.
Full Boar is one of nearly 20 brewery and/or taprooms operating in Onondaga County. The number has been in flux recently, with more than 20 before the Covid pandemic. Another craft brewer in the North Syracuse area, IBU Brewery, closed in 2020.
Full Boar offers a full range of beer styles, from IPAs and fruit beers, to Irish-style stout, wheat beers, Belgian-style and more. It produced more than 190 different beers over the years. It was also known for its use of a gadget called a Randall, in which some beers are filtered through a bed of hops or other flavorings at the tap.
The taproom, located in the south end of shopping plaza and not far from the North Syracuse schools offices, was a gathering place, featuring live music, trivia and many public and private events.
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Glens Falls Firefighters rushed to a home on Sanford Street in Glens Falls, N.Y. on Sept. 30, 2023, for a report of a "confirmed structure fire". They quickly discovered it was part of a spookily realistic Halloween display. Photo: Screenshot from video shared by Glens Falls Firefighters IAFF Local 2230
See wild Halloween display called in as real fire in Upstate NY (video) (PS; House)
Firefighters called to a “confirmed structure fire” rushed to an Upstate New York house, preparing to put out a blaze.
When they arrived on a dark September night, the windows of the Glens Falls home glowed nightmarishly with flickering, floor-to-ceiling orange and yellow flames. But there was no smoke...and no danger: The fire was part of a wildly realistic Halloween display.
The Glens Falls Firefighters IAFF Local 2230 shared a video of the spooky set-up after responding to the Sanford Street home on Sept. 30 in the Capital Region.
“To our surprise, this was an amazing Halloween decoration,” the fire department wrote.
The video Glens Falls Firefighters posted on Facebook has been viewed nearly 2 million times, as of Tuesday morning. The story of the display has been shared in national media, including by USA Today and NPR.
The public can catch the display — full of visual tricks and treats — on Sanford Street from now through Halloween.
