sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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- Aug 15, 2011
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Welcome to Ash Wednesday!
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, observed in many Western Christian denominations. It takes place forty-six days before Easter, and may take place anytime between February 4 and March 10. Depending on denomination, it is observed with religious services, a ritual with ashes, and fasting.
In ancient times, ashes were used to express grief. The sprinkling of ashes on heads takes place in numerous places in the Bible. Christians continued the tradition as a sign of repentance. Christians in Western Europe were receiving ashes on the first day of Lent by the tenth century, although not yet in the Catholic Church. In 1091, the Catholic Church joined the ritual, after Pope Urban II ordered ashes should be given in Rome. The day soon came to be called Ash Wednesday. Some denominations stopped giving out ashes after the Reformation, sometime around 1600, but still observed Ash Wednesday as the first day of Lent.
SU News
Syracuse football DB Isaiah Johnson lands 2024 NFL Combine invite (PS; $; Leiker)
For the second straight year, Syracuse football has a player invited to the NFL Combine.
Defensive back Isaiah Johnson was among the scouting event’s 321 invited prospects announced Tuesday morning. The combine will take place Feb. 26-March 4.
Johnson started all 12 of the Orange’s regular games at cornerback, anchoring the position group that has produced some of the program’s biggest stars in recent memory.
He made 62 tackles — fifth-most on the team — and had six pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.
Pro Football Focus graded Johnson at an 80.5% for overall defense on the season, 83% for run defense, 83.3% for tackling and 78.1% for pass coverage.
Receivers Johnson covered were targeted 51 times, according to PFF, and caught just 34 of those targets.
Sixty-six other defensive backs were invited to the combine. Eight other ACC DBs made the cut, including Nate Wiggins (Clemson), M.J. Devonshire (Pittsburgh) and Malik Mustapha (Wake Forest).
Notable SU players who’ve announced intentions to pursue NFL careers who did not receive invites include quarterback Garrett Shrader, defensive lineman Caleb Okechukwu and offensive lineman Chris Bleich.
The Orange will likely host a pro day in March after the combine.
...
Syracuse Football: Fran Brown's comments on the upcoming spring game have fans excited (itlh; Adler)
Word recently came out that the Syracuse football 2024 spring game is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, and the Orange is slated to begin spring practices on Thursday, March 21.
I'm stoked for the team to start practicing, and I think the annual spring game is going to prove a lot of fun. New 'Cuse head coach Fran Brown has commented more than once in recent interviews that he can't wait for the program to commence its spring practices, and he also recently made some interesting comments about the upcoming spring game.
Brown, most recently the defensive backs coach at Georgia, was officially introduced by SU Athletics as the Syracuse football head coach in early December of last year, replacing Dino Babers. Brown, in just over two months, has assembled a high-quality staff and secured a strong 2024 recruiting class that includes multiple high school seniors and college transfers who are rated four stars.
Of course, Brown has yet to coach an official game with the Orange, and he's also a first-time head coach. Still, his level of confidence, his focus on details, his work ethic, and his overall swagger have many 'Cuse fans feeling more optimistic about the program's direction than they have in many years.
...
Goodacre family on signing day. Photos by Greg Hammer and Denton ISD Communications
Guyer Football Players Sign for College (guyerwire.wordpress.com; Pascual)
Guyer athletes Josiah Martin, Willie Goodacre, and Eli Bowen worked hard to sign for colleges on Dec. 20 such as the University of California , Syracuse University, and the University of Oklahoma.
One of the most important days for senior athletes took place at the auditorium, the signing day. The three football players were excited about the first big decision of many.
“I’m feeling good, it’s a lot, everybody is super excited, I’m excited, I’m ready to get going with the football,” Josiah Martins said.
Many people do not know all the hard work that the players do during their high school years, and it takes a lot of time to become one of the chosen players among all the great football players on the team.
“Willie started his high school football career playing defensive Line as a freshman. He moved over to offensive line the summer between his freshman and sophomore year. He started for us on the offensive line as a sophomore and never missed a snap the rest of his high school career. He started getting looks his sophomore year because of his size and athletic ability. His junior year was when the offers started rolling in,” Coach Gallegos said.
Willie Goodacre
Willie Goodacre is a great example of hard work as a left tackle. He first loved Brigham Young University, but after his visit to Syracuse, he loved the staff and committed pretty quickly.
“Syracuse has a new staff now that Willie has visited with and likes as well. It will be fun to watch his development- he has only been playing offensive line for three years,” Coach Gallegos said.
Willie chose Syracuse for many reasons.
“It’s a place I can play, a place where I feel confident being around people. I think it’s the best choice for my future,” Goodacre said.
Next to sign, Eli Bowen, one of the cornerbacks on the Guyer football team, after choosing between a lot of good colleges will be join his brother Peyton at the University of Oklahoma.
...
Newhouse after Noon 2-13-24 (ESPN; radio; Newhouse after Noon)
Jacob Kaye, Michael Ostrowski, and Jackson Holzer start today’s Newhouse after Noon podcast discussing Damien Alford’s dismissal from the Syracuse football team and how things got so messy. Then, Dylan Beyer, Connor McGahan, and James Wildhack preview tonight’s Syracuse men’s basketball game against UNC and take a call from a listener in New Jersey about the team.
Syracuse football: which Orange are likely to be selected in 2024 and 2025 NFL Drafts? (TNIAAM; Tomaiuolo)
We’re over two months out from the 2024 NFL Draft, but it’s never too early to check out where Syracuse Orange might be selected. This year’s draft class is relatively small, so let’s toss in prospects for 2025 as well.
...
What to Make of Damien Alford's Dismissal (orangefizz.net; Frank)
Less than a week after Benny Williams was dismissed from the Syracuse basketball team, Damien Alford has met the same fate from the football team. Pete Thamel of ESPN reported Monday that the receiver was dismissed from the team and that he would not return in 2024:
“Alford,” Thamel wrote, “who caught 33 passes for a team-high 610 yards and three touchdowns during his junior season, plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer, according to a source. He averaged 18.5 yards per catch last season. In 2022, he averaged 21.5 yards a catch on 20 receptions. Overall, he played in 42 games and totaled 67 catches for 1,291 yards. Alford had considered entering the portal after Syracuse’s bowl game this year before ultimately returning this spring, in part to graduate, a source said. He is expected to have a strong market for his services, considering his production in recent seasons. The departure of Alford is part of a significant roster shake-up at Syracuse under first-year coach Fran Brown.”
The move continues to clear up more room in the receiver group for Syracuse head of Brown’s first season in Central New York, as he is clearly putting his stamp on things and making the changes he feels necessary, as Thamel pointed out in his story.
“There have been 37 departures from Syracuse roster since the end of last season, including walk-ons and players who have exhausted their eligibility. Brown has brought in 34 new players via the portal and recruiting,” the ESPN college football insider said.
...
Syracuse Football: ‘Cuse misses out on top 5 of 4-star linebacker from Georgia (itlh; Adler)
Syracuse football didn’t make the recently disclosed top five of 2025 four-star linebacker Mantrez Walker from Georgia.
Walker is listed at 6-foot and 215 pounds on the 247Sports Web site. He is a standout at Buford High School in Buford, Ga., near Atlanta.
In a recent post on his X page, the nationally ranked prospect in the junior class said that his top five consists of Southeastern Conference schools LSU and Ole Miss, Atlantic Coast Conference member Miami, Penn State out of the Big Ten Conference, and Colorado, which is in the Pac-12 Conference but is moving to the Big 12 Conference.
Throughout his recruiting process, Walker has amassed more than two dozen offers from a range of high-major programs.
...
(youtube; podcast; WakeUpCallDT)
Wake Up Call with Dan Tortora brings you the FIRST-EVER Interview w/ NEW Bryant & Stratton College Bobcats - SYR Esports Head Coach Connor Carroll, followed by going 1-ON-1 w/ Nick Monroe, former Syracuse Football Asst Coach & current Minnesota Football Co-Defensive Coordinator & CBs Coach, concluding w/ Dennis Hennigan, Supervisor of Instant Replay for Big 12 Football speaking on calls during the Chiefs vs Niners & officiating football in today's world & the "Ingredients to Success", Proudly Presented by Avicolli's Restaurant!
2024 SEC Win Totals | New UCLA Football Coach | Syracuse, Florida, and More (youtube; pocast; Campus 2 Canton)
In Episode 5 of Good Morning College Football with Nicholas Ian Allen, we dig into the early 2024 SEC season win totals from FanDuel . UCLA hired Deshaun Foster as its new head coach, Syracuse lost its top receiver, Florida lost a key staff member, and other news and notes from across the country.
Report: Penn State Football To Rehire Syracuse Analyst Khalil Ahmad (onwardstate.com; Doebler)
Penn State football re-hired recruiter and analyst Khalil Ahmad, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Ahmad spent the 2023 season with Penn State as the team’s recruiting coordinator for personnel and recruitment before leaving for Syracuse in early December.
Ahmad started his career coaching at the high school level, becoming an offensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator at Passaic High School in New Jersey.
The Montclair, New Jersey, native began his college career at Rutgers as a player development assistant before coming to the Nittany Lions ahead of the 2023 season.
Ahmad was an important part of the recruiting staff at Penn State and spent just two months at Syracuse before returning to Happy Valley.
...
ACC News
Late Kick: Who are the top contenders in the ACC? (cbssports.com; podcast; Late Kick Live)
In this excerpt from Late Kick Live, Josh Pate reveals his tier one programs in the ACC for 2024.
Who will lead the ACC in 2024? | ACC Football Tier Rankings (youtube; podcast; Crowded Booth)
Who will lead the ACC in 2024? | ACC Football Tier Rankings
BREAKING: Pac-12 Bowls for 2024 and 2025 (RX; HM)
BREAKING: Pac-12 Bowls for 2024 and 2025
It's going to be weird for a couple of years...
From Action Network: Former Pac-12 Schools Likely to Still Play in Bowls With Pac-12 Tie-Ins
- Brett McMurphy
So, assuming Cal and/or Stanford are bowl-eligible in the next two seasons, they would be assigned to a Pac-12 bowl rather than an ACC bowl...
ESPN Extends CFP TV Contract 6 Yrs (RX; HM)
ESPN Extends CFP TV Contract 6 Yrs
You've probably heard by now that ESPN and the CFP have agreed to an extension of the TV rights contract which will give ESPN exclusive rights to the 12-team College Football Playoffs through the 2030-31 football season. Here's a quick summary of the deal...
6-year extension for 11 games/year at $7.8 billion total, which works out to $1.3 billion/year, or an average of $118M/game.
ESPN will have exclusive rights to all 11 games, but is allowed (nay, even encouraged!) to sublicense some of them.
The 12-team playoffs is already set to begin in the 2024 season, and the schedule is known.
...
2024 Neutral Site Games (RX; HM)
2024 Neutral Site Games
The ACC came a bit late to the neutral site party, but they seem to be having a good time!
Week 1 - Is Clemson a national title contender? Find out in Week 1.
Week 2 - Are the Wolfpack ready for Prime Time with the Big Boys?
Week 8 - Walking distance of campus, but technically a neutral site.
BONUS: Week 9 - We need the Irish to win to keep up our OOC SoS!
...
Happy 12th Anniversary! (RX; HM)
Happy 12th Anniversary!
This blog began on February 14th, 2012.
https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-blog-is-about-ACC-football
Since then we've posted nearly 12,000 articles, approved over 3,100 fan comments, and been visited over 4 million times! Here are links to some of our best articles over the years... ENJOY!
2012 : ACC Strenghts In Football Part 5
2012 : ACC Strengths In Football Part 1
2012 : ACC Strengths In Football Part 2
2012 : ACC Strengths In Football Part 3
...
Other
The New York State Department of Transportation has proposed a new roundabout on Brighton Avenue at the exit from what is now Interstate 481.NYS DOT
It’s time for Central NY drivers to get used to roundabouts. Here’s how they work (video) (PS; $; Breidenbach)
Central New Yorkers, it’s time to get used to driving in roundabouts.
New York state has a “roundabout first” policy that requires state highway designers to consider roundabouts as the preferred alternative, if the conditions are right, when they build a new intersection.
That’s why the contractors working on the Interstate 81 project suggested the state build some into the $2.25 billion Syracuse project. There are two new roundabouts proposed for Brighton Avenue, near the southern intersection of I-81 and Interstate 481.
A third roundabout will be the first thing I-81 drivers encounter when they enter downtown Syracuse from the south. That’s the spot where the elevated highway will be removed and traffic will enter the city at ground level. That roundabout will be at Van Buren Street, just down the hill from the JMA Wireless Dome.
There could be more roundabouts as future phases of I-81 project. There are sure to be more roundabouts on other state highways in Central New York in the future.
...
Wind chills, lake effect snow return to Central NY this week (PS; $; Coin)
Central New York’s abrupt return to winter this week will bring lake effect snow and much colder temperatures than we’ve been used to recently.
Just days after record-breaking warmth, we’ll once again be talking about wind chill.
A strong coastal storm dropping heavy snow today on southern New York and New Jersey today bypassed Central New York, but will drag cold air across the Great Lakes starting tonight. Parts of Central New York could see several inches of lake effect snow overnight. The most likely spots for up to 4 inches of snow are Oneida and northern Onondaga counties, according to the National Weather Service. Oswego County could get 6 inches.
There’s another chance for snow Thursday night into Friday as a clipper system crosses from the west, generating a few more inches of lake effect. From tonight to Friday, Syracuse could see a total of 8 inches of snow, if the narrow lake effect bands line up just the right way.
Wind gusts will pick up this week, too, sharply reducing visibility at times and making driving difficult. Winds gusts could peak at 30 mph tonight and 45 mph Friday morning.
...
youtu.be
Best pizza cities in America list includes Syracuse and other NY destinations (PS; Hernandez)
New York City may get all the accolades, but it’s not the state’s only city for great pizza.
A new list of the best cities in America for pizza has been released by Pizzello, a seller of pizza ovens and fire pits, and two Upstate New York cities made their top 250 city ranking.
Pizzello’s ranking is based on the average calculation of pizzeria Google review scores per city. They also carried out an online panel survey of 1,000 adults based on age, gender, and geography. Here’s the deep dish on what they found out:
Schenectady came in at number 53 on Pizzello’s list, ahead of Santa Fe and San Francisco. The “Electric City” scored a 4.5 out of a potential 5 average Google score.
There are plenty of pizza shops in the Capital Region, but Schenectady has some must-eat pies, such as More Perreca’s which was ranked one of the best pizzas places in America as well as a high ranking on our best pizza of Upstate New York tour.
Another local favorite is Marino’s Pizza & Restaurant, which was also ranked by Yelp as one of the best in the country. Recently Dave Portnoy, founder of the Barstool Sports media company, gave his “One Bite Review” of Marino’s cheese pizza.
...
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, observed in many Western Christian denominations. It takes place forty-six days before Easter, and may take place anytime between February 4 and March 10. Depending on denomination, it is observed with religious services, a ritual with ashes, and fasting.
In ancient times, ashes were used to express grief. The sprinkling of ashes on heads takes place in numerous places in the Bible. Christians continued the tradition as a sign of repentance. Christians in Western Europe were receiving ashes on the first day of Lent by the tenth century, although not yet in the Catholic Church. In 1091, the Catholic Church joined the ritual, after Pope Urban II ordered ashes should be given in Rome. The day soon came to be called Ash Wednesday. Some denominations stopped giving out ashes after the Reformation, sometime around 1600, but still observed Ash Wednesday as the first day of Lent.
SU News
Syracuse football DB Isaiah Johnson lands 2024 NFL Combine invite (PS; $; Leiker)
For the second straight year, Syracuse football has a player invited to the NFL Combine.
Defensive back Isaiah Johnson was among the scouting event’s 321 invited prospects announced Tuesday morning. The combine will take place Feb. 26-March 4.
Johnson started all 12 of the Orange’s regular games at cornerback, anchoring the position group that has produced some of the program’s biggest stars in recent memory.
He made 62 tackles — fifth-most on the team — and had six pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.
Pro Football Focus graded Johnson at an 80.5% for overall defense on the season, 83% for run defense, 83.3% for tackling and 78.1% for pass coverage.
Receivers Johnson covered were targeted 51 times, according to PFF, and caught just 34 of those targets.
Sixty-six other defensive backs were invited to the combine. Eight other ACC DBs made the cut, including Nate Wiggins (Clemson), M.J. Devonshire (Pittsburgh) and Malik Mustapha (Wake Forest).
Notable SU players who’ve announced intentions to pursue NFL careers who did not receive invites include quarterback Garrett Shrader, defensive lineman Caleb Okechukwu and offensive lineman Chris Bleich.
The Orange will likely host a pro day in March after the combine.
...
Syracuse Football: Fran Brown's comments on the upcoming spring game have fans excited (itlh; Adler)
Word recently came out that the Syracuse football 2024 spring game is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, and the Orange is slated to begin spring practices on Thursday, March 21.
I'm stoked for the team to start practicing, and I think the annual spring game is going to prove a lot of fun. New 'Cuse head coach Fran Brown has commented more than once in recent interviews that he can't wait for the program to commence its spring practices, and he also recently made some interesting comments about the upcoming spring game.
Brown, most recently the defensive backs coach at Georgia, was officially introduced by SU Athletics as the Syracuse football head coach in early December of last year, replacing Dino Babers. Brown, in just over two months, has assembled a high-quality staff and secured a strong 2024 recruiting class that includes multiple high school seniors and college transfers who are rated four stars.
Undeniably, there's a buzz in the air among the Orange fan base as it pertains to the Syracuse football program. The team's full 2024 schedule is out, and some national and Atlantic Coast Conference experts are prognosticating that the 'Cuse can make some noise in the ACC and nationally in the upcoming term.
Of course, Brown has yet to coach an official game with the Orange, and he's also a first-time head coach. Still, his level of confidence, his focus on details, his work ethic, and his overall swagger have many 'Cuse fans feeling more optimistic about the program's direction than they have in many years.
...
Goodacre family on signing day. Photos by Greg Hammer and Denton ISD Communications
Guyer Football Players Sign for College (guyerwire.wordpress.com; Pascual)
Guyer athletes Josiah Martin, Willie Goodacre, and Eli Bowen worked hard to sign for colleges on Dec. 20 such as the University of California , Syracuse University, and the University of Oklahoma.
One of the most important days for senior athletes took place at the auditorium, the signing day. The three football players were excited about the first big decision of many.
“I’m feeling good, it’s a lot, everybody is super excited, I’m excited, I’m ready to get going with the football,” Josiah Martins said.
Many people do not know all the hard work that the players do during their high school years, and it takes a lot of time to become one of the chosen players among all the great football players on the team.
“Willie started his high school football career playing defensive Line as a freshman. He moved over to offensive line the summer between his freshman and sophomore year. He started for us on the offensive line as a sophomore and never missed a snap the rest of his high school career. He started getting looks his sophomore year because of his size and athletic ability. His junior year was when the offers started rolling in,” Coach Gallegos said.
Willie Goodacre
Willie Goodacre is a great example of hard work as a left tackle. He first loved Brigham Young University, but after his visit to Syracuse, he loved the staff and committed pretty quickly.
“Syracuse has a new staff now that Willie has visited with and likes as well. It will be fun to watch his development- he has only been playing offensive line for three years,” Coach Gallegos said.
Willie chose Syracuse for many reasons.
“It’s a place I can play, a place where I feel confident being around people. I think it’s the best choice for my future,” Goodacre said.
Next to sign, Eli Bowen, one of the cornerbacks on the Guyer football team, after choosing between a lot of good colleges will be join his brother Peyton at the University of Oklahoma.
...
Newhouse after Noon 2-13-24 (ESPN; radio; Newhouse after Noon)
Jacob Kaye, Michael Ostrowski, and Jackson Holzer start today’s Newhouse after Noon podcast discussing Damien Alford’s dismissal from the Syracuse football team and how things got so messy. Then, Dylan Beyer, Connor McGahan, and James Wildhack preview tonight’s Syracuse men’s basketball game against UNC and take a call from a listener in New Jersey about the team.
Syracuse football: which Orange are likely to be selected in 2024 and 2025 NFL Drafts? (TNIAAM; Tomaiuolo)
We’re over two months out from the 2024 NFL Draft, but it’s never too early to check out where Syracuse Orange might be selected. This year’s draft class is relatively small, so let’s toss in prospects for 2025 as well.
Class of 2024
OL Christopher Bleich
After a six-year college career, the offensive guard declared for the draft in late January. At 6’6” and 323 pounds, he’s got the frame for the next level. Bleich was Syracuse’s highest-graded offensive lineman last year and thrives in run-blocking against man coverage. An area of improvement would be improving his blitz recognition. The guard is most likely going undrafted but can make a name for himself with a solid performance at the NFL Scouting Combine in a few weeks.DL Caleb Okechukwu
Syracuse’s former edge rusher is in the same boat as his offensive lineman counterpart, projected to go undrafted. Okechukwu finished his Orange career with 13.5 sacks across 50 games, but early draft projections expect him to have little success at the professional level. According to NFL Draft Buzz, the defensive lineman has the physicality for the NFL but needs to be more explosive as a pass rusher. Like Bleich, Okechukwu can improve his draft stock drastically at the combine, but expect him to sign as a free agent after day three. If all else fails, Okechukwu still left the Dome with one memorable moment.DB Isaiah Johnson
Johnson could benefit from the success of former Orange defensive backs Andre Cisco and Iffy Melifonwu. The 6’3” corner offers good size and experience and could hear his name called this spring. Johnson participated in the East West Shrine Bowl where he made three tackles, but more importantly it gave him an opportunity to work with NFL coaches and make an impression on scouts.Class of 2025/2026
QB Kyle McCord
Now, this is where things get fun. Currently projected as a fourth-round pick, McCord comes to the 315 looking to boost his stock further. The gunslinger only has one year of eligibility left, so he’ll need to make the most of every opportunity. McCord excels in the pocket and has shown accuracy on all three levels of the field. Having Oronde Gadsden II back as his primary target is huge, as the pair will most certainly help improve each other’s draft ratings. With a lighter schedule on tap for next year, McCord can easily jump into day two of the 2025 draft.TE Oronde Gadsden II
Speaking of Gadsden, he’ll return for a fourth season following a season-ending foot injury early last year. It was almost a foregone conclusion that the tight end would leave for this year’s draft, but only playing in two games changed that. He’s projected as a fourth-round pick per NFL Draft Buzz, and a good year with McCord should only boost his stock. Gadsden’s family tree only further predicts finding time with an NFL team, as his father played six seasons with the Miami Dolphins.DL Fadil Diggs
Another incoming transfer, Diggs was the second biggest get for Fran Brown behind McCord. A four-star recruit out of high school, the edge rusher compiled 75 tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles in four years at Texas A&M. He was initially thought of as a second or third-round pick by 247sports, but recent projections have him going a little later. With one year of eligibility remaining, it should only help that Diggs follows former A&M d-line coach Elijah Robinson to the Salt City.DB Duce Chestnut
Things didn’t work out for the cornerback in Baton Rouge, who transferred back to Syracuse after one season at LSU. Chestnut took a redshirt year with the Tigers, giving him two more years of eligibility in the 315. He’d go undrafted to this point, but a connection with new defensive backs coach Joe Schaefer could propel him into a day-three pick in the 2026 class.DB Alijah Clark
The safety made the most of his junior year in orange and blue, finishing fourth on the team in tackles with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2023. However, NFL Mock Draft Database has him trending in the wrong direction, having Clark well out of range in this year’s draft. We’ll have to see how Clark fares in Robinson’s defensive scheme next season before he enters the 2025 draft.LB Marlowe Wax
After a solid junior season that earned him All-ACC Second Team honors, Wax will return to the Orange for his fifth year in 2024. Likewise, there hasn’t been much draft buzz surrounding Wax. He had a chance of getting drafted this year but clearly thinks he can bolster his resume in Robinson’s system. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Wax drafted in 2025, but at the very least, he’ll get signed as a UDFA, just like former teammate Mikel Jones.RB LeQuint Allen
Another 2023 All-ACC Second Team member, Allen’s early collegiate success potentially allows him to be the first Orange running back selected since Delone Carter in 2011. With two years of eligibility left and no real competition at the position, Allen has a prime opportunity to finish his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons. If he can finish his career injury-free, expect NFL teams to consider selecting Allen in the 2026 draft....
What to Make of Damien Alford's Dismissal (orangefizz.net; Frank)
Less than a week after Benny Williams was dismissed from the Syracuse basketball team, Damien Alford has met the same fate from the football team. Pete Thamel of ESPN reported Monday that the receiver was dismissed from the team and that he would not return in 2024:
“Alford,” Thamel wrote, “who caught 33 passes for a team-high 610 yards and three touchdowns during his junior season, plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer, according to a source. He averaged 18.5 yards per catch last season. In 2022, he averaged 21.5 yards a catch on 20 receptions. Overall, he played in 42 games and totaled 67 catches for 1,291 yards. Alford had considered entering the portal after Syracuse’s bowl game this year before ultimately returning this spring, in part to graduate, a source said. He is expected to have a strong market for his services, considering his production in recent seasons. The departure of Alford is part of a significant roster shake-up at Syracuse under first-year coach Fran Brown.”
The move continues to clear up more room in the receiver group for Syracuse head of Brown’s first season in Central New York, as he is clearly putting his stamp on things and making the changes he feels necessary, as Thamel pointed out in his story.
“There have been 37 departures from Syracuse roster since the end of last season, including walk-ons and players who have exhausted their eligibility. Brown has brought in 34 new players via the portal and recruiting,” the ESPN college football insider said.
...
Syracuse Football: ‘Cuse misses out on top 5 of 4-star linebacker from Georgia (itlh; Adler)
Syracuse football didn’t make the recently disclosed top five of 2025 four-star linebacker Mantrez Walker from Georgia.
Walker is listed at 6-foot and 215 pounds on the 247Sports Web site. He is a standout at Buford High School in Buford, Ga., near Atlanta.
In a recent post on his X page, the nationally ranked prospect in the junior class said that his top five consists of Southeastern Conference schools LSU and Ole Miss, Atlantic Coast Conference member Miami, Penn State out of the Big Ten Conference, and Colorado, which is in the Pac-12 Conference but is moving to the Big 12 Conference.
Throughout his recruiting process, Walker has amassed more than two dozen offers from a range of high-major programs.
...
(youtube; podcast; WakeUpCallDT)
Wake Up Call with Dan Tortora brings you the FIRST-EVER Interview w/ NEW Bryant & Stratton College Bobcats - SYR Esports Head Coach Connor Carroll, followed by going 1-ON-1 w/ Nick Monroe, former Syracuse Football Asst Coach & current Minnesota Football Co-Defensive Coordinator & CBs Coach, concluding w/ Dennis Hennigan, Supervisor of Instant Replay for Big 12 Football speaking on calls during the Chiefs vs Niners & officiating football in today's world & the "Ingredients to Success", Proudly Presented by Avicolli's Restaurant!
2024 SEC Win Totals | New UCLA Football Coach | Syracuse, Florida, and More (youtube; pocast; Campus 2 Canton)
In Episode 5 of Good Morning College Football with Nicholas Ian Allen, we dig into the early 2024 SEC season win totals from FanDuel . UCLA hired Deshaun Foster as its new head coach, Syracuse lost its top receiver, Florida lost a key staff member, and other news and notes from across the country.
Report: Penn State Football To Rehire Syracuse Analyst Khalil Ahmad (onwardstate.com; Doebler)
Penn State football re-hired recruiter and analyst Khalil Ahmad, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Ahmad spent the 2023 season with Penn State as the team’s recruiting coordinator for personnel and recruitment before leaving for Syracuse in early December.
Ahmad started his career coaching at the high school level, becoming an offensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator at Passaic High School in New Jersey.
The Montclair, New Jersey, native began his college career at Rutgers as a player development assistant before coming to the Nittany Lions ahead of the 2023 season.
Ahmad was an important part of the recruiting staff at Penn State and spent just two months at Syracuse before returning to Happy Valley.
...
ACC News
Late Kick: Who are the top contenders in the ACC? (cbssports.com; podcast; Late Kick Live)
In this excerpt from Late Kick Live, Josh Pate reveals his tier one programs in the ACC for 2024.
Who will lead the ACC in 2024? | ACC Football Tier Rankings (youtube; podcast; Crowded Booth)
Who will lead the ACC in 2024? | ACC Football Tier Rankings
BREAKING: Pac-12 Bowls for 2024 and 2025 (RX; HM)
BREAKING: Pac-12 Bowls for 2024 and 2025
It's going to be weird for a couple of years...
From Action Network: Former Pac-12 Schools Likely to Still Play in Bowls With Pac-12 Tie-Ins
- Brett McMurphy
So, assuming Cal and/or Stanford are bowl-eligible in the next two seasons, they would be assigned to a Pac-12 bowl rather than an ACC bowl...
...
ESPN Extends CFP TV Contract 6 Yrs (RX; HM)
ESPN Extends CFP TV Contract 6 Yrs
You've probably heard by now that ESPN and the CFP have agreed to an extension of the TV rights contract which will give ESPN exclusive rights to the 12-team College Football Playoffs through the 2030-31 football season. Here's a quick summary of the deal...
6-year extension for 11 games/year at $7.8 billion total, which works out to $1.3 billion/year, or an average of $118M/game.
ESPN will have exclusive rights to all 11 games, but is allowed (nay, even encouraged!) to sublicense some of them.
The 12-team playoffs is already set to begin in the 2024 season, and the schedule is known.
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2024 Neutral Site Games (RX; HM)
2024 Neutral Site Games
The ACC came a bit late to the neutral site party, but they seem to be having a good time!
2024 ACC-Related Neutral Site Games
Week 0 - kickoff the season in Ireland!
| Aer Lingus CFB Classic: Florida State vs. Georgia Tech Aug. 24, 2024, Aviva Stadium – Dublin, Ireland |
Week 1 - Is Clemson a national title contender? Find out in Week 1.
| AFLAC Kickoff Game: Clemson vs. Georgia Aug. 31, Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA |
Week 2 - Are the Wolfpack ready for Prime Time with the Big Boys?
| Duke’s Mayo Classic: NC State vs. Tennessee Sep. 7, Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC |
Week 8 - Walking distance of campus, but technically a neutral site.
| Mayhem at MBS: Notre Dame at Georgia Tech Oct. 19, Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA |
BONUS: Week 9 - We need the Irish to win to keep up our OOC SoS!
| Notre Dame/Navy Rivalry Game: Notre Dame vs. Navy Oct. 26, 2024, MetLife Stadium – E. Rutherford, NJ |
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Happy 12th Anniversary! (RX; HM)
Happy 12th Anniversary!
This blog began on February 14th, 2012.
https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-blog-is-about-ACC-football
Since then we've posted nearly 12,000 articles, approved over 3,100 fan comments, and been visited over 4 million times! Here are links to some of our best articles over the years... ENJOY!
ACCFootballRx
2012 : This Blog Is About ACC Football2012 : ACC Strenghts In Football Part 5
2012 : ACC Strengths In Football Part 1
2012 : ACC Strengths In Football Part 2
2012 : ACC Strengths In Football Part 3
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Other
The New York State Department of Transportation has proposed a new roundabout on Brighton Avenue at the exit from what is now Interstate 481.NYS DOT
It’s time for Central NY drivers to get used to roundabouts. Here’s how they work (video) (PS; $; Breidenbach)
Central New Yorkers, it’s time to get used to driving in roundabouts.
New York state has a “roundabout first” policy that requires state highway designers to consider roundabouts as the preferred alternative, if the conditions are right, when they build a new intersection.
That’s why the contractors working on the Interstate 81 project suggested the state build some into the $2.25 billion Syracuse project. There are two new roundabouts proposed for Brighton Avenue, near the southern intersection of I-81 and Interstate 481.
A third roundabout will be the first thing I-81 drivers encounter when they enter downtown Syracuse from the south. That’s the spot where the elevated highway will be removed and traffic will enter the city at ground level. That roundabout will be at Van Buren Street, just down the hill from the JMA Wireless Dome.
There could be more roundabouts as future phases of I-81 project. There are sure to be more roundabouts on other state highways in Central New York in the future.
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Wind chills, lake effect snow return to Central NY this week (PS; $; Coin)
Central New York’s abrupt return to winter this week will bring lake effect snow and much colder temperatures than we’ve been used to recently.
Just days after record-breaking warmth, we’ll once again be talking about wind chill.
A strong coastal storm dropping heavy snow today on southern New York and New Jersey today bypassed Central New York, but will drag cold air across the Great Lakes starting tonight. Parts of Central New York could see several inches of lake effect snow overnight. The most likely spots for up to 4 inches of snow are Oneida and northern Onondaga counties, according to the National Weather Service. Oswego County could get 6 inches.
There’s another chance for snow Thursday night into Friday as a clipper system crosses from the west, generating a few more inches of lake effect. From tonight to Friday, Syracuse could see a total of 8 inches of snow, if the narrow lake effect bands line up just the right way.
Wind gusts will pick up this week, too, sharply reducing visibility at times and making driving difficult. Winds gusts could peak at 30 mph tonight and 45 mph Friday morning.
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Barstool Pizza Review - Marino's Pizza & Restaurant (Schenectady, NY) presented by Rhoback
Dave stops by Marino's, a place owned by a certified hater raised by a certified hater.Use code "PIZZA" for 20% off your first order for the next week at htt...
youtu.be
Best pizza cities in America list includes Syracuse and other NY destinations (PS; Hernandez)
New York City may get all the accolades, but it’s not the state’s only city for great pizza.
A new list of the best cities in America for pizza has been released by Pizzello, a seller of pizza ovens and fire pits, and two Upstate New York cities made their top 250 city ranking.
Pizzello’s ranking is based on the average calculation of pizzeria Google review scores per city. They also carried out an online panel survey of 1,000 adults based on age, gender, and geography. Here’s the deep dish on what they found out:
Schenectady came in at number 53 on Pizzello’s list, ahead of Santa Fe and San Francisco. The “Electric City” scored a 4.5 out of a potential 5 average Google score.
There are plenty of pizza shops in the Capital Region, but Schenectady has some must-eat pies, such as More Perreca’s which was ranked one of the best pizzas places in America as well as a high ranking on our best pizza of Upstate New York tour.
Another local favorite is Marino’s Pizza & Restaurant, which was also ranked by Yelp as one of the best in the country. Recently Dave Portnoy, founder of the Barstool Sports media company, gave his “One Bite Review” of Marino’s cheese pizza.
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