sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
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Welcome to National Teacher Day!
National Teacher Day honors and pays tribute to American educators. It is sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA) and is part of Teacher Appreciation Week. On the day, students, parents, and others give thanks to their teachers, to teachers of their children, and to teachers in their community. Local communities and organizations are encouraged to honor teachers on the day. The day is also used to encourage people to become teachers.
The roots of the day go back to 1944, when Mattie White Woodridge, a teacher from Helena, Arkansas (and later principal at Helena's North End School), began a campaign to start a national day for teachers. She started correspondence with political and education leaders around the United States. At some point, she wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who helped take up her cause, and had a hand in convincing Congress to pass a joint resolution to create the day. Additionally, around 1948, a National Teachers Day Committee was formed. It helped introduce the joint resolution for the day to Congress, and in 1950 it asked the governors in all 48 states to enlist the public to push for the day's creation. Eventually, the 81st Congress, which was in office from January 1949 through January 1951, passed the joint resolution that designated the day to take place on the first Tuesday in March.
SU News
Syracuse Tight End Unit Ranked Top-Five Nationally (orangefizz.net; Aitken)
Historically, Syracuse football is a program known for its running backs. Jim Brown and Ernie Davis are legends, while Sean Tucker has had the biggest profile in recent years. In the past decade, SU has become more known for punters, sending plenty of talent to the NFL. That list includes players like Sterling Hofrichter, Riley Dixon, and Brendan Carney. However, the Orange’s best position group this year isn’t running backs or punters. Instead, it’s tight ends.
This week, On3 released a list of the top tight end units in the nation. Syracuse ranked fourth, behind just Georgia, Michigan, and North Carolina.
This shouldn’t be too surprising. After all, the Orange have Oronde Gadsden on the roster. The 6’5” tight end earned All-ACC honors in 2022 after racking up just under 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Gadsden was then a preseason All-American last year before getting injured.
While Gadsden is likely on his way to another successful season, the depth in SU’s tight end unit helps too.
Dan Villari is a very unique player. Last year, the quarterback-turned-tight end became the starting TE for Syracuse, but also had to take snaps as a QB again. Despite being put in bad spots constantly, he was productive. Between passing, rushing, and receiving, Villari tallied seven total touchdowns.
Beyond Gadsden and Villari, Max Mang provides great blocking with his 6’7” frame. Plus, there’s loads of potential with four-star freshman Jamie Tremble joining the team this fall.
This group should give quarterback Kyle McCord lots of options. He can find Gadsden working up the slot and gaining yards in the middle of the field, hand the ball off to Villari, and get a big block from Mang. That’s without even thinking of Tremble, who could spend the year learning behind such an elite group. That’s not a bad thing at all.
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Syracuse football recruiting: Orange listed as one of four schools off to hot 2026 start (TNIAAM; Wall)
We’re still a few months away from the early signing date for the 2025 class, but Fran Brown and the Syracuse Orange are gaining notice for the 2026 class.
Last week, ESPN listed four schools off to an early hot start in the 2026 football recruiting cycle and the Syracuse Orange were listed along with Florida State, Ohio State and USC.
I know all of us are used to the Orange being included in such lofty rankings, but here’s what Craig Haubert of ESPN had to say:
Yes, we’re a long way from these players being able to put pen to paper and make the commitment binding, but it’s another sign that Brown and staff are making an impression with a different caliber of recruit. Can they hold off the SEC schools for these players? What does early commitments of this stature do for the coaches as they look to build the class? Can Syracuse fans find a healthy balance between “impending doom” and “irrational hysteria”?
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Former Syracuse backup RB commits to transfer to North Texas (PS; Carlson)
Former Syracuse backup running back Juwaun Price announced over the weekend that he had committed to play football at North Texas next year.
Price was the Orange’s primary backup for LeQuint Allen last year, although he didn’t get major opportunities to run the ball in that role given Allen’s effectiveness and the use of both quarterback Garrett Shrader and tight end Dan Villari as ball carriers.
Price finished the year with 166 yards on 47 carries. He carried the ball just eight times for 39 yards the previous year.
Price came to Syracuse from New Mexico State, where he carried the ball 135 times for 692 yards and 10 touchdowns in his sophomore year. He also returned kicks for New Mexico State. This is his final season of college eligibility.
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Syracuse Football on Instagram: "Partnering with another great organization and spending some time in the community with @cff_cny "
210 likes, 3 comments - cusefootball on May 6, 2024: "Partnering with another great organization and spending some time in the community with @cff_cny ".
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ACC News
(youtube; podcast; SG1 Sports)
Projected records for every ACC team for the upcoming 2024 college football season.
Friedlander: Ranking the 5 most difficult ACC football nonconference schedules in 2024 - Saturday Road (saturdayroad.com; Friedlander)
Strength of schedule used to be a big deal in college football.
Not anymore.
With an expanded Playoff and automatic bids to the 5 highest-ranked conference champions, at least for the time being, this year’s ACC champion won’t have to worry about suffering the same fate as Florida State a year ago.
Just win the conference and you’re in.
But that hasn’t stopped conference teams from once again putting together some of the nation’s most challenging schedules.
The league’s 17 teams – yeah, that still sounds strange – will combine to play 26 games against power conference opponents. Including 11 against the SEC and the standard 5 against Notre Dame. Eleven of those 17 teams will play multiple teams from other power conferences.
In all, there are 34 nonconference dates against opponents that played in bowl games last season.
It makes for a tough task for everyone.
Some more than others.
These are the 5 ACC teams that have given themselves the most difficult nonconference tests:
5. Virginia
- Richmond
- Maryland
- At Coastal Carolina
- At Notre Dame
The challenge begins right out of the gate.
True, a home game against Richmond isn’t nearly as imposing as last year’s opener against Tennessee in Nashville. But it’s a rivalry game. And the Spiders beat the Cavaliers as recently as 2016.
Things only ramp up from there with a renewal of an old ACC rivalry against Maryland in Week 3, followed by a road game at Coastal Carolina that will be anything but a day at Myrtle Beach. And then there’s a trip to South Bend, where no ACC team has won since 2016.
4. Louisville
- Austin Peay
- Jacksonville State
- At Notre Dame
- At Kentucky
Their 2 most challenging nonconference tests obviously stand out.
You can bet that Notre Dame will be looking forward to getting another shot at the Cardinals when they come to South Bend on Sept. 28. And then there’s the nightmare that is Louisville’s traditional regular season-ending rivalry with Kentucky. The Wildcats have won 5 straight in the series. And this year’s game is in Lexington.
At least the Cardinals will know what they’re getting into in those 2 games. They’ll have to be much more aware of the competition when they take on Jacksonville State on Sept. 7. The Gamecocks might only be in their 2nd FBS season. But after going 9-3 with a bowl victory in 2023, they’re an incredibly dangerous opponent – especially coming right on the heels of an opener against Austin Peay, the 1 soft touch on Louisville’s schedule,
3. Boston College
- Duquesne
- At Missouri
- Michigan State
- Western Kentucky
Maybe it’s because he took a look at the schedule he would have to face in 2024 and decided to get out while the getting was good.
It starts with a road game at Florida State on Labor Day Monday. Welcome to the ACC, Bill O’Brien. Then comes a more traditional home opener against FCS cupcake Duquesne, a team that lost its 2 FBS guarantee games last season by a combined margin of 122-24.
But then the fun begins. Over the next 3 weeks, O’Brien’s Eagles will travel to Missouri to take on an SEC team that won 11 games and beat Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, return home to play Michigan State and a deceptively dangerous Western Kentucky team that averaged 31 points per game in winning 8 games, including the Famous Toastery Bowl, last year.
2. Georgia Tech
- Georgia State
- VMI
- Notre Dame
- At Georgia
But the Bulldogs aren’t the only obstacle standing between Tech and continued improvement in Brent Key’s 2nd season on the job. There’s also a home game against Notre Dame on Oct. 19.
The most pivotal game on the Yellow Jackets’ schedule, however, could turn out to be a Week 2 date against Georgia State – a team coming off a bowl victory that like Bowling Green a year ago, could be easily overlooked.
At least they have VMI to look forward to.
1. Clemson
- Georgia (at Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
- Appalachian State
- The Citadel
- South Carolina
No matter what happens at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Clemson can’t afford to take a deep breath. Its 2nd game is at home against Appalachian State – a program that has been to 8 consecutive bowl games and has a storied history of pulling off improbable upsets.
Fast forward to the end of the schedule where after an obligatory layup against The Citadel, the Tigers close the regular season out in traditional fashion with a Palmetto Bowl showdown against South Carolina – which despite being 1-sided in Clemson’s favor over the past decade is still a rivalry game.
One the Tigers can’t afford to take for granted.
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College Football Teams That Improved Most This Spring (SI; Parks)
The first major hurdle of the long offseason is over and now, as college football teams across the country put a wrap on spring practice and the annual scrimmage, it's time to get a good look what their rosters look like heading into the summer.
It's a time for overreaction and extreme optimism, but also one of real pressure as major programs embark on historic moves when conference realignment becomes official, and looking ahead to the expanded College Football Playoff this year.
What teams made the most of the spring preseason and are in the best position to take a big leap forward in 2024?
Ole Miss
Lane Kiffin, the self-proclaimed king of the transfer portal, made out with another strong class of additions, but we'll see if any make up for the loss of tailback Quinshon Judkins.The return of quarterback Jaxson Dart, the addition of wideout Juice Wells, and some key defensive prospects make the Rebels a genuine contender in the playoff chase.
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Clemson Brief asks for Dismissal of ACC Case (theclemsoninsider.com; Vandervort)
Clemson University filed a brief in support of a motion to dismiss in Mecklenburg County, N.C., on Monday requesting the court to support the motion of dismissal of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s claim Clemson should not be allowed out of the Grant of Rights agreement or escape the league’s exit fee.
The Clemson Insider also learned that the South Carolina Court has set an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) date for Oct. 15 of this year. This means if the case cannot be settled prior to Oct. 15, the court is going to ask a mediator or an arbitrator to come in and try to settle the case.
ADR provides alternatives to lawsuits and trials.
Clemson’s brief, in support of a motion to dismiss, on Monday is the latest in the university’s on-going civil suit against the ACC, which began on March 19 when Clemson filed a complaint against the conference that challenges the Grant of Rights (GOR) and exit fee.
In its March 20 countersuit, the ACC said it seeks a declaration that the withdrawal payment is a “valid and enforceable” contract term applicable to Clemson. Also, it is a declaration that the plain language of the GOR means what it says, and that Clemson’s GOR is exclusive and irrevocable through the term, regardless of whether Clemson remains in the ACC or not.
On Monday, Clemson asked the court to dismiss the case because there is no issue to argue. Clemson is not arguing the GOR are not enforceable, only that it is not enforceable after it leaves the league.
Clemson is asking the court to tell it what the contract says because the ACC and Clemson cannot agree, which is why Clemson filed for a request for Declaratory Judgement.
Last week, Clemson University claimed the ACC made false claims about its scope of the (GOR), in an amendment to its original complaint on March 19. Last Friday, a Pickens County judge ordered the ACC to show Clemson University its ESPN Agreements.
The school is also seeking punitive damages against the ACC, as the damages incurred to remedy the damage to Clemson’s intangible property rights caused by the ACC’s misstatements about the GOR.
“Clemson is entitled to, and the Court should enter judgement in Clemson’s favor and award Clemson damages in an amount to be established at trial for all injuries suffered as a result of the ACC’s slander of title,” the civil suit reads.
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Links, News and Rumors 2024 May 7th (RX; HM)
Links, News and Rumors 2024 May 7th
I haven't blogged about this yet, but it's potentially a VERY big deal...
From AP: Settlement could cost NCAA nearly $3 billion; plan to pay athletes would need federal protection
The obvious impact: this will eat up much of the recent financial gains for power conferences like the CFP-12 money, but it could force some G5 teams to get out of the game completely. It could level the playing field in terms of player talent, especially if there is a collective bargaining agreement with things like salary caps and rookie scales, but it will probably exert some downward pressure of what have been ever-increasing coaches salaries (not necessarily a bad thing, tbh).
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From WSOC tv (Charlotte): New bill would require some NC colleges to play each other every year
State lawmakers want to require the largest schools in the state to play each other in college football and men’s and women’s basketball.
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Miami football and FSU only ACC teams with top 12 recruiting and transfer classes (caneswarning.com; Rubenstein)
The Miami football program signed the 12th-best 2024 transfer class and the fourth-best recruiting class nationally. Florida State, which has the sixth-best transfer class and the 12th-ranked recruiting class, is the only other ACC program to rank in the top dozen nationally in both.
Miami has the top recruiting class and third-best transfer class in the ACC. Florida State has the ACC's third-best recruiting class and top transfer class. Clemson signed the second-best recruiting class in the ACC. Louisville has the second-best ACC transfer class.
Cam Ward is the 14th-ranked transfer nationally, the top transfer in the ACC and the fourth quarterback. Miami also has the highest-ranked freshman signee in the ACC. Five-star defensive tackle Justin Scott is ranked 11th nationally and the third-best defensive lineman in the 2024 class.
Cornerback Marcus Harris, who transferred from Idaho to California, is the highest-ranked defensive transfer in the ACC. Clemson wide receiver T.J. Moore is the highest-ranked 2024 ACC offensive freshman signee. California signed the fourth-best transfer class entering its inaugural season in the ACC.
Houston wide receiver Sam Brown, Martinez and Ward potentially provide Miami with the best, QB, RB, and WR transfer trio nationally. All three can become impact players for Miami in 2024. Miami has added five offensive transfers to its 2024 roster and eight on defense.
Miami has balanced their 2024 recruiting and transfer classes by signing players who can make an impact immediately and recruits who will develop for the future. Freshman WRs Ny Carr and JoJo Trader are other players to watch for Miami who can make impacts in 2024. Miami has done an excellent job upgrading its 2024 roster talent.
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South Carolina court orders ACC to provide Clemson with ESPN agreements - ABC Columbia (abccolumbia.com; AP)
A South Carolina court has ordered the Atlantic Coast Conference to turn over documents about its agreements with ESPN that Clemson has requested in its lawsuit against the conference.
The interim confidentiality order was released on Friday. It said the ACC has seven days to produce unredacted documents about its TV deal with ESPN to Clemson. The order also provides safeguards to keep the requested documents from being released publicly.
The order bars Clemson, a public university, from complying with any Freedom of Information Act requests unless the ACC gives written permission or the school is forced to do so by another court with “competent jurisdiction.”
Clemson sued the ACC in March — filed in South Carolina — and claimed the ACC’s $140 million exit fee is “unconscionably high” and “unenforceable.” The school also says the grant of rights only applies if Clemson is part of the conference and that if a school exits the league it retains control of the media rights to its home sporting events.
An amended Clemson complaint released by the court asked the ACC for unspecified punitive damages for the league’s “willful and malicious conduct” for its assertion that it should receive TV revenue from Tigers’ games even if they were part of another conference.
Florida State was the first ACC member to sue the league in December.
SMU Insider Makes Stunning Admission on FSU & CLEMSON and Conference Realignment | Mustangs (youtube; podcast; College Football Addiction)
Pony Up! The college football landscape is shifting, and an SMU insider spills the tea on realignment rumors! Will the AAC finally crumble? How will SMU adjust to life in the ACC? Could the powerhouse programs of Clemson and FSU be on the move, and what does it mean for the Mustangs' future? Dive in for insider intel on potential conference shakeups and how SMU might rise to the challenge in a brand new era of college football!
Double Fries No Slaw: Florida State, ACC Lawsuit, How Good are the Noles, DJ Uiagalelei for Heisman? (youtube; podcast; Clemson Football Live)
Double Fries No Slaw: Florida State, ACC Lawsuit, How Good are the Noles, DJ Uiagalelei for Heisman?
Other
A new version of Labatt Blue available exclusively in the Syracuse-area market: Labatt Blue & Orange is flavored with blood orange extract. Photo shot at the Orange Crate Brewing Co. bar near Marshall Street. (Don Cazentre photo).
Genesee Brewery announces expansion that will add Labatt’s Blue to its Rochester portfolio (PS; Cazentre)
The Genesee Brewery will undergo a $50 million modernization project that will support its recent move to start brewing some Labatt’s Blue and Blue Light beers at its plant near downtown Rochester.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the plans — and a $7 million state contribution to the project — in a news release today. The project is expected to improve canning and innovation capabilities, add tanks and upgrade equipment, and will allow the brewery to add about 57 jobs to its current payroll of about 500 workers.
It’s the largest upgrade at Genesee since a $50 million revitalization of the plant in 2018.
The first packages of the Canadian brands Labatt’s Blue and Blue Light were to be shipped today from the brewery on St. Paul Street just north of downtown Rochester. They will be distributed across New York state and Pennsylvania, to supplement the availability of those beers in the United States. Labatt’s operates several breweries in Canada.
That marks the first time Blue and Blue Light have been been brewed in the United States, though some other Labatt’s brands have been made in Rochester for about a decade.
Genesee is New York’s oldest brewery, established the banks of the Genesee River in 1878. For more than a century, it was owned by the Whele family. It was taken over in an employee buyout in 1999, then purchased in 2009 by investors who renamed its parent company North American Breweries. That’s also when Genesee and Labatt’s were combined under the same parent company.
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Rendering shows the black paint scheme proposed for Syracuse's round hotel, the Crowne Plaza, as part of the building's conversion into apartments. QPK Design
See dramatic new look for Syracuse’s round hotel after conversion to apartments (PS; $; Moriarty)
Syracuse’s iconic round hotel will change color when it is converted into studio apartments under a proposal that the city’s planning board unanimously approved Monday night.
Spandrel panels on the Crowne Plaza -- technically a hexadecagon but known as the “round hotel” since its construction as a Holiday Inn in 1969 -- are painted tan.
But redevelopment plans filed with the city include a rendering that shows the exterior panels painted black.
The new color will make the 20-story building at the corner of East Genesee and Almond streets stand out more in the city’s skyline. In addition, architectural trim with vertical LEDs for accent lighting will be fitted to the top and bottom of the building.
The hotel is owned by TJM Properties, of Clearwater, Florida. A partnership led by Buxton Development Group, a Charleston, South Carolina-based real estate development and investment firm, is proposing to convert the hotel’s 279 pie-shaped rooms into 287 fully furnished studio apartments.
Work is scheduled to start in June, with completion targeted for the fall of 2025, said Mills Buxton, principal of Buxton Development Group.
The Syracuse Planning Board voted 4-0 Monday night to approve Buxton’s site plan, but not before it heard Danny Liedka, president of Visit Syracuse, the area’s tourism agency, speak against it.
The Crowne Plaza is one of Syracuse’s largest hotels. Liedka told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard last week that the loss of 276 hotel rooms could be “devastating” to the city’s convention business.
Liedka told the Planning Commission that, among other things, his agency will lose any chance of attracting the U.S. Bowling Congress Open Championship back to the city if the Crowne Plaza’s hotel rooms are lost. The event, which draws 30,000 bowlers from around the country, was last held in Syracuse in 2018, and Visit Syracuse recently began an effort to bring it back to the city, he said.
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