sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Random Acts of Light Day!
Started by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), the world's largest voluntary health agency for blood cancer, Random Acts of Light Day exists to bring light to those suffering from the darkness of cancer. Celebrities often make surprise visits to patients and survivors of blood cancer, to lift them up and bring them a random act of light. Some participants have included baseball star Lance McCullers Jr., and Charles Esten of the television show Nashville. But there is no need for one to be famous in order to participate—anyone can do so!
The day creates awareness and educates the public about the need to fund research for blood cancer so that patients will have access to lifesaving treatments. It is an annual reminder to fight for a world without blood cancers. These cancers are the third most common deadly cancers in the United States, with someone dying in the country from them every nine minutes, or about 160 deaths a day. About 1.3 million people in the country suffer from blood cancer. The three main types are leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood, as well as of marrow, the material inside of bones where blood cells form. There is both acute leukemia, which moves quickly and chronic leukemia, which progresses at a slower pace. Leukemia is the most common cancer of those under 20. However, the disease is most common with people over the age of 60.
SU News
Wyatt Bowman is ranked among the 20 best lacrosse prospects in the Class of 2025, but he's chosen to play college football at Syracuse instead. Courtesy Photo
Will Bowman try to become SU's next 2-sport star? 'That might be hard’ (PS; $; Carlson)
Wyatt Bowman is one of the highest-ranked lacrosse prospects in the country, but when he comes to Syracuse he will be focused solely on football.
Bowman, the football team’s newest verbal commit and a lacrosse midfielder ranked as the No. 20 prospect in the country by Inside Lacrosse, is focused so much on football to begin his college career that he said he turned down a chance to talk with Syracuse men’s lacrosse coach Gary Gait during his recruitment.
A tight end prospect in the Class of 2025, Bowman announced his verbal commitment to the Orange football program on Tuesday. The process included a decommitment phone call to North Carolina where he had to tell the UNC lacrosse coaching staff he was no longer coming to its school.
During a phone call with Syracuse.com on Wednesday, Bowman said he will focus only on football during his first year at Syracuse. He said he doesn’t have plans to join the Orange lacrosse team at any point but acknowledged he could reassess that idea after each season.
“Freshman year I’m going to stick to football,” Bowman said. “Missing spring football puts you at such a huge disadvantage. Maybe, I might try to play sophomore year. But putting on a lot of weight to play tight end, having to put on 20 or 30 pounds, that limits my ability to make rotations. That might be hard. I’ll reevaluate my sophomore year.”
Bowman said he believes his path toward being a two-sport star would be more complicated than others who have made it work, such as Notre Dame’s Jordan Faison did this season.
Wyatt Bowman is one of the highest-ranked lacrosse prospects in the country, but when he comes to Syracuse he will be focused solely on football.
Bowman, the football team’s newest verbal commit and a lacrosse midfielder ranked as the No. 20 prospect in the country by Inside Lacrosse, is focused so much on football to begin his college career that he said he turned down a chance to talk with Syracuse men’s lacrosse coach Gary Gait during his recruitment.
A tight end prospect in the Class of 2025, Bowman announced his verbal commitment to the Orange football program on Tuesday. The process included a decommitment phone call to North Carolina where he had to tell the UNC lacrosse coaching staff he was no longer coming to its school.
During a phone call with Syracuse.com on Wednesday, Bowman said he will focus only on football during his first year at Syracuse. He said he doesn’t have plans to join the Orange lacrosse team at any point but acknowledged he could reassess that idea after each season.
“Freshman year I’m going to stick to football,” Bowman said. “Missing spring football puts you at such a huge disadvantage. Maybe, I might try to play sophomore year. But putting on a lot of weight to play tight end, having to put on 20 or 30 pounds, that limits my ability to make rotations. That might be hard. I’ll reevaluate my sophomore year.”
Bowman said he believes his path toward being a two-sport star would be more complicated than others who have made it work, such as Notre Dame’s Jordan Faison did this season.
Faison was a starter on the Fighting Irish football team last season and a major contributor to a national title in men’s lacrosse. But he was a wide receiver for the Fighting Irish and listed on its roster at 179 pounds
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Syracuse football recruiting: 2025 TE Wyatt Bowman commits to the Orange (TNIAAM; Wall)
The Syracuse Orange added their twenty-first 2025 verbal commitment yesterday when tight end Wyatt Bowman announced his decision.
Bowman is a 6’5 210 pound tight end from Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Maryland. He’s ranked three stars by 247 and had football offers from Delaware, Towson and UMass. However he isn’t just a football player...
Unlike fellow 2025 classmate Joseph Filardi, Bowman isn’t going to play two sports initially at Syracuse. We’ll see if that changes between now and his arrival in Syracuse.
Bowman’s the second tight end in the class, joining Daunte Bacheyie in the group that is now ranked 14th nationally by 247 and 31st by On3. Here’s a look at the newest addition in action from last fall.
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Oronde Gadsden II speaks to local media on the first day of spring practice March 21 after missing most of the 2023 season with an injury. Gadsden is one of 12 Syracuse players named by Phil Steele as top draft eligible players this season. (Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)dnett@syracuse.com
Which SU football players made Phil Steele’s list of top NFL draft-eligible prospects? (PS; $; Leiker)
After a slow year for Syracuse football players getting chances to play pro football, the Orange has the chance to send a handful of players to the league as draftees or undrafted free agents next spring.
In his annual college football preview magazine, Phil Steele lists the top draft eligible players at each position. The number of players listed at each position varies.
Here are the 12 Syracuse players who made Steele’s lists at their respective positions.
Alijah Clark, FS
Steele ranked Clark as the No. 6 draft-eligible free safety this cycle. It’s the highest a Syracuse player landed on their respective position list.Clark was one of the highest-graded players on Syracuse’s defense last year per Pro Football Focus, coming in with the third-highest overall defensive grade (78.4%) and second-highest in pass rush (75.4%) and pass coverage (80.4%).
He had 65 tackles, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups.
Clark is entering his third season as SU’s starting boundary safety. Steele only breaks the safety position down into strong safety and free safety.
Top 5: Malaki Starks (Georgia), Jeremiah Cooper (Iowa State), Billy Bowman Jr. (Oklahoma), Rod Moore (Michigan), Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)
Kyle McCord, QB
McCord jumped from No. 24 as a true junior to No. 9 on Steele’s list of QBs ahead of his senior season.In his sole season starting at Ohio State, McCord threw for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns with a 65.8% completion percentage. He had six interceptions.
McCord graded out at a 76.4% overall offensive grade per PFF.
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UNLV Football Game Vs. Syracuse Moved To A Friday For National TV (themw.com)
In what is a final date-change to the 2024 UNLV football schedule, the Rebels’ home game vs. Syracuse has been moved to Friday, October 4 at 6 p.m. PT in order to be televised by FS1.
The move adds to UNLV’s program record with 11 of its 12 games now set for national network television.
The Rebels and Orange of the ACC will meet for the first time in football in what becomes the team’s unprecedented fifth Friday outing of the fall along with vs. Kansas on ESPN, at Utah State on CBS Sports Network, vs. Boise State on CBSSN and at San Jose State on FS1. The program’s previous high for Friday games in a season was three in both 2021 and ’22.
Under the direction of 2023 Mountain West Coach of the Year Barry Odom, the Rebels will kick off their 57th season of football on August 31 by heading to Big 12 Conference member Houston at 4 p.m. PT in the first of four games being shown by FS1.
Time and TV information regarding UNLV’s remaining game – the home-opener vs. Utah Tech – will be announced at a later date.
Season tickets for the six-game 2024 home schedule, which start at $150, are available now by visiting unlvtickets.com or calling (702) 739-FANS (3267). Single-game tickets will go on sale in July.
For information on VIP premium club seats or suites at Allegiant Stadium, contact the Premium Sales office at premiumseating@unlv.edu or by calling (702) 895-0292.
UNLV FOOTBALL 2024 SCHEDULE
DATE DAY OPPONENT TIME TV
Aug. 31 Saturday at Houston 4 pm PT FS1
Sept. 7 Saturday UTAH TECH TBA TBA
Sept. 13 Friday at Kansas+ 4 pm PT ESPN
Sept. 28 Saturday FRESNO STATE* 12:30 pm PT FS1
Oct. 4 Friday SYRACUSE 6 pm PT FS1
Oct. 11 Friday at Utah State* 6 pm PT CBSSN
Oct. 19 Saturday at Oregon State 12:30 or 7:00 pm The CW
Oct. 25 Friday BOISE STATE* 7:30 pm PT CBSSN
Nov. 9 Saturday at Hawai’i* 6 pm PT CBSSN
Nov. 16 Saturday SAN DIEGO STATE* 7:30 pm PT CBSSN
Nov. 22 Friday at San Jose State* TBA FS1
Nov. 30 Saturday UNR* 5 pm PT CBSSN
*Mountain West Game +In Kansas City, KS
(youtube; podcast; Big Tiger)
Syracuse Football The Disrespect is Real. BigTiger Leading The Charge. It's Time To Show The World
Keeping Up With The 315 6-12-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian started off with the 100 Day Fran Brown Countdown. We’re now 60 days out and Brian covered everything from ACC projections to schedule difficulty, and more! Next, He dug a little deeper into Syracuse Football’s upcoming schedule, talking specific dates, one being a change in dates, and more. Finally, Brian ended the show with an hour one Recap, before discussing the ACC-SEC challenge, the ACC Opener, and more!
Troy Clardy "The 315" 6-12-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Stanford Play-by-Play commentator Troy Clardy joins Brian to discuss the transition from PAC-12 to ACC, how teams such as baseball and track among others, and more.
30 Minutes in Orange Nation (ESPN; radio; Orange Nation)
Steve and Paulie discuss Phil Steele’s ACC football projections for the upcoming season before a caller chimes in to discuss his experience getting his Syracuse season tickets. Later, Jordan joins the guys to discuss a big issue with this year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest and the NBA Finals.
Is 7.5 a Fair Win Total For Syracuse Football? (orangefizz.net: Gotkin)
If there’s one thing in Vegas that is usually pretty close to being guaranteed it’s that the house knows everything. Throughout the entire offseason, the debate around how Syracuse football will do next season has taken over. Some fans are incredibly optimistic, saying that the Orange can make the expanded college football playoff. Others are a lot more pessimistic with a first-year head coach. It’s created a discourse that’s very fun to have. We’d all much rather be having the conversation of will Syracuse be decent or great than should the Orange fire their coach again. But again, Vegas usually knows whats going on and doesn’t let teams fly under the radar.
The oddsmakers currently have the Oranges win total over/under at 7.5. (+112/+120/+115) Ask the college football playoff fans and they’d call you crazy. But lets not kid ourselves. The ‘Cuse going over that number would be an astronomical success. Going over 7.5 would of course give SU eight wins. Dino Babers only did that once. Scott Shafer never had eight wins. Syracuse football fans need to keep their expectations in this area. Creating too high of expectations does nothing but hurt the team and get fans disinterested if they don’t live up to this sky high hype.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be invested in what Fran Brown is selling. But you should be pessimistic heading in to the first season. An eight win season for the Orange would be a massive success. Remember, no games in ACC play will be easy for the ‘Cuse. Year after year we get reminded that the ACC is a good college football conference. Syracuse should absolutely win a number of conference games but don’t be shocked when it loses on the road. Don’t be shocked when the Orange are underdogs on the road against UNLV, Pitt or BC. It is hard to win in college football. 7.5 is absolutely a fair line for this upcoming season.
Where might Syracuse football rank in the ACC in Brown’s 1st year? See Phil Steele’s projected order of finish (PS; $; Leiker)
As college football season creeps closer, the preseason projections, predictions and picks continue to pop up.
In his annual college football preview magazine, analyst Phil Steele projects Syracuse football to finish 12th out of 17 teams in the ACC this season.
Syracuse will be under the guidance of first-year head coach Fran Brown and an almost entirely new staff. It adds new talent in quarterback Kyle McCord and edge rusher Fadil Diggs and returns stars from the past few seasons like tight end Oronde Gadsden II, linebacker Marlowe Wax and safety Justin Barron.
“There usually is a learning curve with first year head coaches as they learn the players and the players (get) used to new systems, but they are clearly in the mix of reaching a 3rd straight bowl game,” Steele wrote in his forecast for the Orange’s 2024 season.
While the Orange avoids historical heavyweights Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina — all of which have given it trouble in recent seasons — it does face potential dark horse candidates in the conference this year, Virginia Tech and N.C. State.
Steele projected the Orange to finish 10th in 2023, which ended up being ex-head coach Dino Babers’ final season. It actually finished 11th in the conference after injuries to a handful of critical players, including quarterback Garrett Shrader, limited offensive production.
Three teams are in the running for top of the ACC this year per Steele’s forecast: Clemson, Florida State and Miami.
Of Clemson, which finished .500 in conference last season but 9-4 overall and returns much of its roster, Steele wrote: “I view their lack of using the portal as a sign they have solid talent and maybe the best team unity in the country.”
First place isn’t the only spot in the ranking with ties, though. Steele also has four teams tied in fourth place, three tied in 12th (Wake Forest and Boston College alongside SU) and two tied in 16th.
It indicates that, to some degree, the conference is wide open this season and is a reminder of the importance of conference wins over nonconference ones.
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Syracuse Football Talk w/ DT & Rob Drummond from Mother’s (youtube; podcast; WakeUpCallDT)
Dan Tortora (DT) welcomes Rob Drummond, Janesville-DeWitt, Syracuse Orange, NFL, & CFL alum, to share their take on the upcoming 2024 Syracuse Football season after breaking bread together at Syracuse Staple Restaurant Mother’s Cupboard on 3709 James St, Syracuse, NY…
Who are the New Syracuse Football 2024 Defensive Backs? (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Football's 2024 defensive backs are deeper and more experienced. Fran Brown brought in four transfers: Darian "Duce" Chestnut, Devin Grant, Clarence Lewis, and Marcus Washington. The Orange also retained 2023 starters: Alijah Clark, Justin Barron, and Jayden Bellamy.Jackson Holzer discusses the Cuse Football defensive backs for next season on this edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.
Syracuse at Boston College - Week 11 Simulation (2024 Rosters for NCAA 14) (youtube; simulation; SG1; Sports)
Boston College hosts Syracuse in this week eleven 2024 college football simulation on NCAA 25. (NCAA Football 14 with updated rosters for the upcoming 2024 college football season)
Get to Know Your Orange Man: #73, OL Joshua Miller (TNIAAM; Ostrowski)
It’s time to start preparing for the 2024 Syracuse Orange football season. We’re going through the roster to take a look at each Syracuse player as we get to know a lot of new faces to kick off the Fran Brown Era.
Up next is…
Name: Joshua “Doogie” Miller
Position: Offensive Line
Year: Redshirt Freshman
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 300 lbs.
Hometown: Chesterfield, VA
High School: Life Christian Academy
Previous College: Georgia
2023 stats: Miller did not appear in any games with the Bulldogs during his redshirt year.
2024 projections: At the end of spring camp, OL Coach Dale Williams said that Miller was battling with Enrique Cruz for a starting spot. Miller got a lot of reps with the 1s at left guard, and judging by those comments, he also practiced at left tackle. While Miller wasn’t with the top unit in the Spring Game, don’t be surprised if he keeps gaining traction over summer and into the fall.
How’d he get here?: Josh originally signed with the Dawgs over offers from Penn State, Clemson, Florida State, Kentucky, and others. He entered the transfer portal shortly after Fran was hired by SU, and just a few days later, he joined the Orange.
What’d recruiting sites say?: Consensus three-star prospect ranked in the 50s at his position nationally and in the teens out of all Virginia recruits in the 2023 Class.
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Tim Cross Named Director of Football Recruiting - Charlotte Athletics (charlotte49ers.com)
No stranger to the Carolinas, Charlotte Football has named Tim Cross as the program's next Director of Recruiting.
Cross comes to the 49ers with 20-plus years of collegiate coaching experience, including spending the past five seasons leading the defensive line in Chapel Hill. Over that span, Cross has helped develop 56 players for the NFL during stops at North Carolina, Air Force, Texas, Minnesota, and Syracuse.
At North Carolina, Cross most recently developed defensive end Kaimon Rucker who posted 8.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and earned second-team all-conference honors in 2023. In his second year, Cross' defensive line tallied 36 sacks, the most for the Tar Heels since 2000, and tied for fifth-most nationally. The scoring defense, total defense, and rushing defense all ranked in the Top 35 nationally of teams that played at least 10 games.
Before Chapel Hill, Cross led the defensive line at Air Force while also serving the final two seasons as the program's Assistant Head Coach. In 2018, his defensive line helped Air Force rank No. 16 nationally in rushing defense at 119.8 yards per game, and his 2016 group finished No. 10 in the same category at 114.2 yards per game. In 2014, the Falcons improved in scoring, rushing, passing and total defense, including having one of the nation's most improved scoring defenses with an average of 24.2 points per game, a nearly 16 point-per-game improvement. The defense ranked among the conference leaders in each category in 2015, despite being one of the youngest units in the nation with just one returning starter.
Alex Hansen was a two-time All-Mountain West performer, including a first-team selection in 2015. Jordan Jackson earned second-team honors in 2018, while Ryan Watson led the MW in sacks en route to first-team honors in 2016.
A native of Clarksville, Tenn., Cross attended Gateway High School in Aurora, Colorado and got his coaching start in the state at Thomas Jefferson High School where he was able to produce 14 high school All-Americans, 20 all-state selections, and two consecutive Gold Helmet Award winners, awarded to all state players who show success on and off of the field. He was also able to help develop two first-round draft picks while at Thomas Jefferson High School, Andre Woolfolk (Tennessee Titans) and Daniel Graham (New England Patriots).
Following his time in Colorado, Cross led the defensive lines at Syracuse (2005-06) and Minnesota (2007-10) where he also served as the Associate Head Coach.
Cross was a four-time letterman and all-North Central Conference linebacker at Northern Colorado where he graduated in 1990. Cross and his wife, Natalie, have four children Keira, Keion, Mariah, and Tiana.
THE CROSS FILE
Born: June 13, 1965
Hometown: Clarksville, Tenn.
Family: Wife – Natalie; Daughters – Mariah, Tiana; Son – Keion
Education: Northern Colorado, '90
Playing Experience
Northern Colorado, linebacker (1986-89)
Coaching Experience
1996: Thomas Jefferson HS (CO) (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
1997-00: Thomas Jefferson HS (CO) (Head Coach)
2001-04: Texas (Strength and Conditioning)
2005-06: Syracuse (Defensive Line)
2007-10: Minnesota (Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line)
2011-13: Texas (Strength and Conditioning)
2014-16: Air Force (Defensive Line)
2017-18: Air Force (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line)
2019-23: North Carolina (Defensive Line)
2024: Charlotte (Director of Recruiting)
ACC News
Ranking Every ACC Team To Use in NCAA 25 Dynasty Mode #shorts #collegefootball (youtube; podcast; The Waterboy)
Ranking Every ACC Team To Use in NCAA 25 Dynasty Mode
https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/college/acc/clemson-university/article289190049.html (hearaldonline.com; $; Fowler)
On March 19, Clemson took the historic and dramatic step of suing the Atlantic Coast Conference over its strict “grant of rights” agreement and an “exorbitant” exit fee. For Clemson, a founding member of the ACC that has competed in the conference for 71 years, it was a clear indication the school wants a new, more financially lucrative conference for its powerful football program and the rest of its sports.
The Tigers are specifically taking aim at the ACC’s grant of rights, a legal document that binds them to the conference through 2036. If a school were to leave the ACC under that agreement, it would owe the conference roughly $140 million and forfeit its media rights (the revenue generated from televising its home games) to the conference through 2036 as well. The total cost of departure has been estimated at $572 million.
Clemson is suing the ACC in an attempt to reduce or completely eliminate that cost, which would clear the way for the university to accept a potential invitation from another conference (such as the SEC or the Big Ten) in the coming years. Nearly three months later, how are things progressing?
The short answer: slowly.
One day after Clemson filed the suit, the ACC filed a countersuit against the university — and there have been almost weekly filings, amendments and/or motions in both cases, by both sides, ever since. As the cases roll on, The State checked in with three lawyers who aren’t connected to the case but have been following it closely to answer a number of frequently asked questions, including the big one: Who ends up winning?
WHAT’S THE CURRENT STATUS OF CLEMSON’S LAWSUIT?
As of this week, the Clemson vs. the ACC lawsuit in Pickens County, SouthCarolina and the ACC vs. Clemson in Mecklenburg County, Charlotte (where theconference’s Charlotte headquarters are located) remain active and ongoing.
After filing its original lawsuit March 19 in South Carolina, Clemson filed anamended complaint against the ACC on April 17, which is a standard move.
The amended complaint was longer with more pointed language and added anew “slander of title” allegation to its original requests for a court to rule the ACC’s “exorbitant” $140 million exit fee unenforceable; and to rule that Clemson’smedia rights granted to the ACC via contract would not apply to any home games if and when they exit the league (a move that would require another league’s invitation).
The ACC has filed a motion to dismiss that case in South Carolina, and Clemson, in turn, has filed a motion to dismiss the ACC’s case against it in North Carolina.
A July 2 “case management conference” in Mecklenburg County Court, ordered in May by the North Carolina judge presiding over the case, is the next major event on the docket and will be a critical step on where the case will be heard.
Clemson on May 31 also filed a motion in Pickens County court requesting a summary judgment — essentially, a pretrial ruling on the facts at hand by the court — that could potentially speed up the case and produce a quicker ruling.
The university requested a summary judgment hearing on or by July 12.
It’s to be determined if that motion gets granted, though.
WHERE WILL THE CASE BE HEARD?
In his experience, New York-based corporate lawyer Irwin A. Kishner said the issue of venue is “usually settled pretty quickly up front” since most contracts specifically say (or make very clear) where any potential lawsuits should happen.
David McKenzie, an intellectual property lawyer based in North Carolina, agrees. The Clemson-ACC lawsuit, he predicted in an interview, “ultimately will go to Charlotte.” There’s indeed a legal concept called the “first to file” rule that can grant perceived home-field advantage to the first party, but that’s only one factor.
“It’s more likely, especially in a contract situation, you’d want to look at where all the common nucleus of facts, as we say in the law, reside — and that is unequivocally North Carolina,” McKenzie said of the grant of rights agreement that ACC schools signed in 2013 and re-signed in 2016. “The negotiations, the discussion, the signatures, all of that happened in North Carolina.”
Clemson, in its amended lawsuit, has laid out an argument of sovereign immunity: The precedent that a state or one of its agencies or “arms” can only be sued in that state. But McKenzie said sovereign immunity is “never applied in contract cases.”
After Maryland announced it was leaving the ACC for the Big Ten in 2012, the university and the ACC sued each other in parallel cases regarding exit fees.
A Maryland judge ultimately halted those proceedings and deferred to North Carolina court to resolve the case. And Florida State’s parallel lawsuit against the ACC (filed in December 2023) appears to be headed to North Carolina, too.
“I think that’ll apply to Clemson as well,” McKenzie said.
CAN CLEMSON BREAK THE GRANT OF RIGHTS?
Although Clemson’s lawsuit was tighter and more direct in its wording than Florida State’s, lawyers still foresee a tough legal battle ahead for the Tigers.
In challenging the ACC’s grant of rights, Clemson made the distinction that it’s not seeking a complete nullification of the contract, only a declaration from a court that “the media rights Clemson granted to the ACC did not include any Clemson games that are played after Clemson ceases to be a member of the ACC.”
But to McKenzie, that request still more or less amounts to a “complete escission” of the grant of rights Clemson initially signed and later re-signed which, he emphasized, is a “challenging position” for any court to rule favorably toward
In contract disputes, McKenzie said, a court’s No. 1 task is determining the intent of the parties at the time of signing. A court can indeed completely undo acontract, but that’s limited to “extreme” cases of fraud and duress — essentially,one party engaging in something illegal or pushing through a deal that’s “egregiously unfair” — or a lack of “sophistication” among parties agreeing to acontract.
There’s an infamous example taught in law school, McKenzie said, in which an 81-year-old woman with poor vision signed a contract to pay $35,000 for 15 one hour dance lessons. That was a valid case of a “substantive unconscionability” —or unreasonable.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard a premier athletic program saying substantive unconscionability after getting hundreds of millions of dollars from anagreement,” he said. “It may be a bad deal, but it certainly doesn’t render itunconscionable.”
Kishner added that Clemson also has a weak argument when it comes to “procedural unconscionability,” another contract defense that focuses on the “sophistication” of the parties at the time of signing. (In this case, that would bethe ACC’s leadership in 2013 and Clemson’s leadership in 2013.)
Essentially: Was one party far more knowledgeable and educated than the other?
Clemson’s president at the time of the original grant of rights was James F. Barker, a well-regarded leader and former dean of architecture at the school. He signedthe ACC’s agreement with the support of university leadership, including thenathletic director Dan Radakovich, and the school’s legal counsel. Given those details, Kishner and McKenzie see the “sophistication” argument as a no-go.
“You can make a credible argument that both sides were represented by very sophisticated legal advisors,” Kishner said. “You would’ve thought the issuewould’ve been studied to a certain extent, right? Ultimately, I think it’s a toughbattle to wage.”
WHAT ABOUT A DAMAGES CLAIM?
Ashwini Jayaratnam, a New York-based business litigation lawyer, has argued that the path forward for Florida State and Clemson could be through a damages claim: The idea that the ACC’s total withdrawal penalty (ballparked at $572 million per school, when you include media rights through 2036) is meant to dissuade breaking the contract, as opposed to the actual damages the ACC would incur from a school leaving.
Jayaratnam argued that zeroing in on the actual “price” of, say, Clemsondeparting the ACC could be a more feasible path toward the school’s ultimate goal— a smaller exit fee, or no exit fee at all — as opposed to challenging the grant ofrights contract.“
It could be that a court says, ‘There’s no way it’s $570 million to leave,’”Jayaratnam told The State in January. “But the court could say, ‘But it is $130 million,’ which I think (schools) would be willing to pay.”
The ACC, she wrote in a May 9 legal analysis covering both the Clemson and FSU cases, has argued that framing its exit fee as a penalty is “improper” because the fee is not triggered by a breach of contract (a requirement for a damages provision).
The conference has instead claimed that, under North Carolina law, its total exit fee is an “alternative means” for a school to perform its obligations under the grant of rights.
As Jayaratnam points out, though, that’s at odds with ACC’s own constitution. Thatdocument specifically refers to the exit fee as a form of “liquidated damages.”“
Aware of this, the ACC argues that labels aside, the fee, in substance, operates asan alternative means of performance,” Jayaratnam wrote.
Added Kishner: “It’s a very fact-specific case, and you certainly can make a credible argument (in Clemson’s favor), which is: This is without a rational relationship to the damages one suffers, and therefore it is a penalty and is not valid.”
McKenzie, though, cautions that such an argument could end up further benefiting the ACC, which he already sees as having a clear legal upper hand. A full analysis and accounting of actual damages could solidify or even boost the ACC’s current exit fee, given how lucrative college football media rights have become (the most recent SEC-ESPN deal was valued at $3 billion).“
I think from the ACC perspective, you’d have to ask yourself, ‘What’s the value ofthese media rights going forward for us to 2036?’” he said. “And then, ‘What’s thediminution of value to the entire conference as a result of Clemson’s departure?’”
“That can be an astronomical number.”
SO … DOES CLEMSON WIN THE CASE?
Here’s where legal opinions vary dramatically.
Kishner usually refrains from predictions since every case in his field of sportsmedia law is unique and fact-specific. In an initial review of the Clemson vs. ACC case, though, he said it’s a bit of a “coin flip.” If he had to pick a side? It’s the ACC.“
I think my emotion says: ‘You did sign a deal, and you did have sophisticated parties,’” Kishner said of Clemson. “Now, were you duped? Were you misled during the process? If there’s evidence of that, I’d feel differently.”
Jayaratnam, in her legal analyses, has been more optimistic about Florida State and Clemson’s chances of winning their cases — or at least “winning” their argument specific to actual damages, as outlined earlier.
“Clemson’s lawsuit provides an avenue through which the North Carolina court could uphold the Grant of Rights, yet avoid the significant revenue forfeiture to members upon exit,” Jayaratnam wrote, referencing Clemson’s argument that the ACC’s grant of rights wouldn’t apply to home games played post-ACC departure.
If a court decides that’s the “proper interpretation” of the grant of rights, “then both FSU and Clemson could live happily under the agreement” and pay a one time exit fee (which would still be in the millions, of course) if they chose to leave the ACC.
The main appeal of that argument: The grant of rights stay intact, and the ACCstill recoups a large exit fee. But that’s no guarantee, Jayaratnam added, andwould significantly hamstring the conference in future realignment cycles.
The ACC’s grant of rights may not be 100% bulletproof — as one lawyer put it tothe (Charleston) Post & Courier, “better contracts than these have holes found inthem” — but it’s a remarkably strong document. It’s been called “ironclad” for areason.
Strip away all the additional noise surrounding the case, McKenzie said, and that’s what Clemson’s argument comes down to: a direct challenge of a document it willingly signed.
“Ultimately, what Clemson wants is a reading of the contract that basicallyrenders it void,” McKenzie said. “A court cannot do that absent of fraud orduress.”
An outspoken critic of Clemson’s legal strategy so far, McKenzie did say in a poston X (formerly Twitter) that “strategically, I have to give a thumbs up to the Tigers” for the university’s recent request for a summary judgment and pretrialruling.
McKenzie has been a proponent of a summary judgment in the Clemson and FSU lawsuits for months, he said, because the facts of the cases and contract law precedent point to a clear outcome in favor of the ACC.
Clemson’s case is “weak,” he said, and will be ruled on as such, whether that’s through a motion to dismiss or a motion for summary judgment, which the university has requested. In that situation, a court “steps outside” the originalcomplaint and makes a fact-based judgment on the claims.
At that point, McKenzie said, if you’re the judge “you really don’t have to go muchfarther than sitting James Barker down and asking him, ‘Is this your signature?’ And then ask the next question: ‘Did you receive money under this agreement?’”
“And the answer to those questions are definitely yes."
2024 ACC OT Rankings Led by FSU's Darius Washington (CFN; Fragoza)
As the 2024 college football season approaches, the ACC is set to showcase some of the best offensive tackles in the nation. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, here are the linemen poised to dominate the trenches this year in the 2024 ACC OT Rankings.
ACC 2024 OT Rankings
10) Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, Syracuse Orange
Did somebody order raw beef? At 6’7″ and 335 pounds, Da’Metrius Weatherspoon is a massive human. He plays to his size in the ground game, moving opponents at will. Getting depth on his pass sets isn’t an issue either, and his length suffocates smaller defenders. With an HBCU All-American nod on his résumé, Weatherspoon is gunning for All-ACC honors in 2024.9) Jalen Rivers, Miami Hurricanes
Last year was Jalen Rivers’ first starting at tackle, as he spent 2021 and 2022 at left guard. Impressively, it was arguably his best season thus far, as he created rushing lanes with ease and was rarely penalized. Quicker edge rushers can give him issues due to his foot speed and length, but Rivers is patient and has a powerful lower half to anchor against bull rushes.8) DeVonte Gordon, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Returning for his fourth season as a starting tackle for the Demon Deacons, DeVonte Gordon could have saved his best for last. He’s improved in each of the last two seasons, even when splitting time at left and right tackle in 2023. With stability and health on his side in 2024, Gordon could play his way into the All-ACC team this season.7) Francis Mauigoa, Miami Hurricanes
In 2023, Miami landed the top recruit in the ACC: five-star OT Francis Mauigoa. He started right out of the gate at right tackle, and although he took his lumps, he still earned All-ACC honorable mention recognition.On a loaded roster, Mauigoa will be tasked with keeping QB Cameron Ward clean and paving lanes for RB Damien Martinez. With a year’s worth of experience under his belt, neither should be an issue.
6) Monroe Mills, Louisville Cardinals
Oklahoma State had Monroe Mills sit on their bench for two years, only for him to become one of the best OTs in the Big 12 while at Texas Tech. Now, Mills is spending his fifth and final collegiate season with the Cardinals and is slated to protect fellow Red Raider transfer Tyler Shough’s blindside.His 6’7″ and 315-pound frame generates displacement in the ground game and quickly gains depth in pass pro to deal with smaller/faster EDGEs.
5) Anthony Belton, North Carolina State Wolfpack
There’s a lot to like with Anthony Belton. Despite checking in at 6’6″ and 336 pounds, he’s an easy, explosive mover who stays low in his stance and overwhelms defenders in a phone booth.Following in the footsteps of fellow NC State linemen Ikem Ekwonu (2022), Chandler Zavala (2023), and Dylan McMahon (2024), Anthony Belton is one more dominant season away from hearing his name called in the NFL Draft.
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Tennessee football lands four-star edge rusher Jayden Loftin (knoxnews.com; Sparks)
Tennessee football continued its success recruiting edge rushers with the commitment of four-star prospect Jayden Loftin on Wednesday.
He will be a senior at Somerville (New Jersey) High School.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Loftin chose Tennessee over Wisconsin, Penn State and Syracuse. He is ranked the No. 27 edge rusher and the No. 344 player overall in the 2025 class by 247Sports Composite.
Loftin is the 11th commitment in Tennessee’s 2025 class.
He joins five-star quarterback George MacIntyre, four-star defensive lineman Ethan Utley, four-star wide receiver Radarious Jackson, four-star tight end Jack Van Doreselaer, three-star running back Justin Baker, three-star safety Sidney Walton, three-star offensive tackle Antoni Kade Ogumoro, three-star cornerback Dylan Lewis, three-star Joakim Dodson and three-star cornerback Tyler Redmond.
Vols keep adding elite edge rushers
Meanwhile, Loftin’s commitment continues Tennessee’s trend of landing talented edge rushers under coach Josh Heupel and defensive line coach Rodney Garner, who has produced dozens of NFL players.
James Pearce and Joshua Josephs were four-star signees in the Vols’ 2022 class. Pearce was a first-team All-SEC performer last season, and he’s projected as a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Caleb Herring and Chandavian Bradley were four-star signees in the 2023 class. Jordan Ross was a five-star signee in the 2024 class.
All five of those edge rushers will play together on Tennessee’s talented defensive line in the 2024 season.
Also, edge rusher Byron Young played under Heupel and Garner from 2021-22 after committing to Tennessee at the end of former coach Jeremy Pruitt's tenure. Young was a first-team All-SEC performer and made the 2023 NFL All-Rookie team with the Los Angeles Rams.
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Can ACC get 2+ teams in the CFP? (RX; HM)
Can ACC get 2+ teams in the CFP?
From CSNBBS: ACC Playoff Hopes (Pre-Season), posted by user Crayton, a Florida fan...
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Best States for CFB in 2024? (RX; HM)
Best States for CFB in 2024?
Which states are best for college football this Fall? This X user thinks he knows:
How about that -- 9 ACC schools made his list!
- SMU
- FSU
- Miami
- NC State
- UNC
- Duke
- GT
- Clemson
- Cal
ACC Has 2 Of CFB's Most Underrated Teams? | Miami Leadership Change | Will McCord Silence Doubters? (youtube; podcast; Locked on the ACC)
Pro Football Focus considers Virginia Tech and SMU of the ACC to be two of the four most underrated college football teams for the 2024 season. People are starting to take notice of the Hokies, who return a higher percentage of their production than any other team in the ACC. Virginia Tech and SMU both have relatively easy strengths of schedules. Can Kyron Drones lead the Hokies to double digit wins? Can SMU, in their first season in a power conference, turn heads? The Fanduel win total for VT is over/under 8.5 while SMU is over/under 7.5.
Could NC State Football Make The ACC Championship? (youtube; podcast; Ruffino & Joe)
Joe DeLeone and Blake Ruffino share their 2024 NC State Football Preview, discussing if Grayson McCall can help the Wolfpack reach the ACC Championship
https://athlonsports.com/college-fo...acc-football-war-2024-college-football-season (athlonsports.com; Bricker)
Greg McElroy cannot wait to watch and see how the ACC unfolds in 2024. He explained how excited he was on the latest edition of Always College Football.
The SMU Mustangs, Stanford Cardinal, and California Golden Bears are joining the conference this season. McElroy talked about how tight the title race could be at the top.
"...Like we've talked about before, the ACC is deep, man," McElroy said. "It's really deep. Especially at the top, I think there's six or seven teams that are very dangerous in that league."
He thought the Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes, and Clemson Tigers would be in the running at the end of the year, however. He used one word to describe the conference for 2024. War.
"But the three that I anticipate being there at the end are Miami, Florida State, Clemson," McElroy said. "Whatever order you have them finishing, it's gonna be a war, in what I think is an improved league here in 2024.
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The Case for Notre Dame to Join the ACC as a full member (onefootdown.com; Boomer)
With summer upon us and any number of conference-realignment shenanigans possible in the college football landscape, I thought I would take some time over the next few weeks to survey all the different possible long-term destinations for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and see if I could talk myself, and possibly some of you, into them. These options will include the Irish maintaining the status quo of independence along with alignment to all of the remaining major conferences: the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, and even the SEC. I’ll do my best to not tip my hand as to my own opinion during this process and just adopt the perspective of someone arguing for this, and in return I’ll ask that we keep the feedback from getting too personal.
We’ve examined what it would look like for the Irish to remain independent, and we’ve considered terra incognita in the SEC and Big 12. Now let’s look at some familiar territory and try to make the case for the Irish to #goacc on a full-time basis.
Uniquely among potential destinations, this one has actually been given a test run. The Irish temporarily became an ACC member during the 2020 season in order to avoid being left out of the sport for a year. The trial run was by all marks successful: the Irish enjoyed an undefeated (albeit abbreviated) regular season, including an upset of the then-#1 Clemson Tigers in South Bend, and earned a playoff berth despite being defeated in a rematch with a fully armed and operational Clemson in the conference championship game.
Considering the 2020 composition of the conference remains mostly intact with only a few updates (Clemson appears to have abdicated its seat as the conference king, and there are of course three new teams that have arrived from nowhere near the Atlantic Coast), there’s no reason to think that Irish teams in the years to come wouldn’t be able to replicate or exceed these results. The argument for joining the ACC thus comes to resemble the ones we made earlier for both independence and Big 12 membership - it would place the Irish at or near the top of the pecking order and provide them a clear and relatively easy path to the college football playoff in most years, including a potential first-round bye via conference title.
There are a few other things to consider here. First, unlike moving to the Big 12 or SEC, this is not a move that would upset the apple cart of college football given the precedent for it. Beyond the fact that the Irish have already played a season in the ACC, they are also - for now - legally obliged to choose the ACC as their football conference should they decide to join one. The move to the ACC is thus less likely to burn bridges between the Irish and the rest of college football, which is good news if you want to see the Irish preserve their rivalries in the Big 10.
Speaking of rivals, while most of Notre Dame’s most important and traditional rivals reside in the Big 10, the Irish do have a handful of little-r rivalries in the ACC with Miami, Pitt, Boston College, and now Stanford all calling the conference home. Notable history also exists with Clemson and Florida State. No, none of them are exciting as the Big 10 rivalries, but they are familiar opponents that would ease the transition into conference life.
Relatedly, joining the ACC as opposed to an entirely new conference would also create the least disruption to Notre Dame’s scheduling. This is simple math - the Irish would have only have to slot in a few more conference games in each year to come as opposed to creating entirely new slates. This would make it more likely that the Irish keep their currently scheduled dates with the likes of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Gators, Michigan Wolverines and other opponents who would be out of conference in this scenario.
For all of these reasons as well as just unnameable but definitely real vibes, this move feels like a decent one if you are a fan of stability. That is, except for one potentially fatal flaw, which is that all of this ceases to matter in the very possible event of the ACC going the way of the Pac-12.
The demise of the Conference of Champions™ showed that conference disintegration follows Hemingway’s Law of Bankruptcy: it happens gradually, then suddenly. Behind the scenes, things had been headed south for over a decade and rumors seemed to always swirl in the offseason. But from an outsider’s perspective it all seemed very far out and hypothetical until July of 2022, when USC and UCLA shocked the world by announcing their departure. Suddenly the impossible was no longer, and over the next year and a half all but two schools in the conference had followed suit. All it took was those first two schools with the nerve to cross the Rubicon for the entire institution to break.
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On3's Andy Staples | Big 12 College Football Chaos in 2024, Plus a Big 12-ACC Merger? (youtube; podcast; Heartland College Sports)
On3's Andy Staples joins Heartland College Sports' Pete Mundo to talk about the chaos coming to the Big 12 during the 2024 college football season, the Four Corner schools joining this summer, Deion Sanders' appeal, and why a future Big 12-ACC merger might be something worth watching down the road.
Virginia Tech Football: 2 Hokies' 2024 opponents tabbed as 'Cinderella' teams to make CFP (fightinggobbler.com; Roche)
Going into the 2024 college football season, the College Football Playoffs expands from four teams to 12 teams. This opens to the door for more teams that suffer a loss, especially early on as there are going to be some monster matchups in September that will play a big role in how things shake out for the 12-team field.
With a lot of retainment, Virginia Tech is one team that if they stay healthy and pick up where they left off in the 2023 season, they could find themselves in the mix come November. That is a huge month schedule-wise for Brent Pry’s crew, who play Syracuse and Duke on the road, sandwiched around a home game with Clemson on Nov. 9.
As we move closer to the 2024 campaign, there are two teams currently on the Hokies schedule that one national college football writer believes are “Cinderalla” teams for sneak into the CFP in 2024.
NCFB writer thinks Syracuse and Rutgers are “Cinderella” teams that could get into the CFP
Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports listed some teams that could be considered “Cinderella” teams this upcoming fall that could crash the CFP and two Virginia Tech opponents, Syracuse and Rutgers were two of the teams he listed.
Hopes are high in New York for the Orange under first-year coach Fran Brown, who brought in Ohio State transfer quarterback Kyle McCord to lead the offense, which should be able to put up points. Factor in a very favorable schedule, the Hokies' early November visit to Syracuse could have a lot riding on the line for both teams.
The other team that was considered a “Cinderella” on the Hokies schedule is an early-season foe, Rutgers, who visits Blacksburg in September. The Scarlet Knights return a lot of pieces for head coach Greg Schiano, including running back Kyle Monangai, however, QB Gavin Wimsatt transferred and Minnesota transfer Athan Kaliakmanis is the new signal caller in New Jersey for Rutgers.
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Schools that Duke fans would love to see kicked out of the ACC (balldurham.com; Conner)
Every family has those members that you wish you could swap out for someone else. Of course, college athletics are no different.
To think about kicking teams out of a major conference might seem like a bad idea, though. Given the volatile nature of the NCAA landscape due to conference realignment, it might seem like now is the best time ever to circle the wagons and find a way to add to your ranks, not subtract.
That's why Duke fans and others across the ACC might not want to see some disliked schools hang around. For instance, even though Clemson and Florida State are openly trying to get out of their ACC grant of rights deals, Duke and other ACC institutions need those schools to hang around to prevent the ACC from going the way of the PAC 12.
Similarly, Duke fans should want their in-state rivals like North Carolina or NC State to remain in the same conference as the Blue Devils so that those rivalries are preserved. After all, college sports are driven by hatred and rivalries that generate tons of interest.
Still, there are some ACC schools that no one would miss if they were forced to find other conferences to call home. So let's look at five schools that should be kicked out of the conference.
SMU adds little value to the ACC
Though the ACC's addition of SMU, Stanford, and Cal seemed to help stabilize the league, at least temporarily, the reality is that none of those schools add much in the way of intrigue or prestige. At least Stanford and Cal have been long-time members of a major conference, though.SMU, on the other hand, is stepping up from the Group of 5 level to the ACC. What they bring with them is a huge bag of nothing.
Sure, SMU calls Dallas, Texas home. Thus, they put the ACC into one of the largest television markets in the country.
However, SMU is nothing but an afterthought in their own city. The Dallas market is ruled by Big 12 and SEC fans. Schools such as Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Baylor, and TCU all have massive followings in the Dallas area and each carries far more weight in that market than SMU.
For proof, just consider that the Mustangs constantly struggle to fill their tiny 32,000-seat stadium on campus. In a metro area of around 7 million people, it should be easy to sell out a facility of that size but because bigger in-state schools have tremendous followings in Dallas/Fort Worth, SMU is perhaps the sixth or seventh most popular team in their own city.
Unfortunately, the ACC's financial payouts to its institutions lag behind what the other Power 4 conferences can offer their universities. Thus, having SMU in the mix to eventually lessen the share of the pie that each ACC team will get makes no sense.
Sure, SMU won't get any money from the ACC media deal for nine years but
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3 teams the Miami Hurricanes would kick out of the ACC in a heartbeat (caneswarning.com; Fariss)
How nice would it be for your favorite team to be able to kick out their least favorite opponents from the conference they share?
Can you imagine how fun it would be for the Hurricanes to clear their path to the ACC title simply by removing a few of their most hated rivals?
From long-lived rivals to dominant foes, there are always games that teams dread, fear, or wish they could just pass over with an easy win, and with zero ramifications to their conference standing.
So, if a college program could rearrange its own conference, which teams would Miami love to see removed from the ACC?
3 Clemson Tigers
- Record: 7-7
- Most recent matchup: W, 28-20 (2OT), Oct. 21, 2023
While the Tigers have taken a dip in their success rate over the past few years, it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for the Canes when they play against Clemson.
If Clemson could simply be kicked out of the ACC and taken out of Miami's path, Hurricane players and fans could rest easy. The Tigers and Hurricanes are not scheduled to play in 2024.
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Other
Spoons of scallop served with kizami wasabi and Ikura house sauce at Hidden Fish in Skaneateles (Pucci)
Hidden Fish in Skaneateles is worth finding (Dining Out Review) (PS; Pucci)
Located in the bottom level of a medical office building a couple blocks off the main strip of downtown Skaneateles, Hidden Fish is a restaurant that more than lives up to its name.
From its downstairs lodging and relatively small footprint — the restaurant seats up to 50 diners — Hidden Fish feels exclusive, yet still intimate and approachable.
Of those seats, nearly half are situated around the L-shaped bar in the center of the dining room, where diners can watch Chef Joseph Tran and his team prepare artful sushi rolls and fresh sashimi presentations.
But before any of that, we were greeted at our seats with Fortune Teller Miracle Fish, the flat, red plastic fish toy that purportedly can read one’s emotions simply from the palm of their hand. The seven potential results, which vary from “in love” to “dead one”, lend their names to the restaurant’s signature cocktails, many of which feature sake, plum wine, yuzu and other Japanese elements. It’s both fun and a great way for indecisive cocktail drinkers to let their fortune-telling fish make their decisions.
From the restaurant’s extensive sake menu, our server suggested the Nigori ($5 glass/$30 bottle) a budget-friendly unfiltered sake with bready notes that was a departure from the usual clear, dryer sakes. It was the first of our server’s many excellent suggestions that evening as she guided us through the menu.
I didn’t need a toy fish to tell me that our fortunes were looking up after our crispy tuna rice starter ($15) arrived. On days when I’m craving casual sushi takeout, a basic shrimp tempura roll is always a must. Of course, it tastes good, but it’s the contrast of temperatures and textures that makes it a favorite.
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CNY anglers net some terrific tigers (trout and muskie) (PS; Featherstone)
Ryan Fontaine, of Angelica, had a great day of trout fishing on a stretch of the Genesee River from Yorks Corners to Belmont Falls in late May. He caught bunch of 17-20-inch browns nymphing, throwing wet hackle and dry flies.
Then he landed an unusual catch from the lower lip of the falls that gobbled a size 18 mayfly: a rare 15-inch tiger trout. “I was quite shocked,” Fontaine said.
Fontaine wondered how the tiger trout ended up there—was it stocked or wild? Did it journey from Pennsylvania? The fish’s fins didn’t show wear and tear from living in a concrete stock run, but Fontaine still doesn’t believe it was a wild specimen.
“While I understand there are sections on the Genesee River where trout can naturally spawn and reproduce, the odds of browns and brook char making this is extremely low,” he said. “Also, the fact that another angler just caught one in Wellsville makes it very fishy.”
Fontaine, who uses barbless hooks, released all his fish that day, including the tiger trout, “so other anglers can also have the opportunity and memories,” he said. “I would also like to encourage packing in and packing out your garbage while enjoying the Genesee River.”
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Micron’s concrete dilemma: Building the vast complex in Clay conflicts with green promises (PS; Coin)
To build its massive chipmaking complex in Central New York, Micron Technology would have to pour six times more concrete than it took to build the Pentagon.
Micron would also use four times more steel than is in the Golden Gate Bridge.
The eye-popping amounts of concrete and steel needed to build Micron’s four fabrication plants, or fabs, underscores challenging contradictions both in chipmaking and in the company’s long-term pledge toward carbon-neutral emissions.
Micron has pledged to release net zero greenhouse gases by 2050. Yet buildings the size of NFL stadiums are needed to produce the essential fingernail-sized computer chips essential to modern life.
And erecting those buildings takes staggering amounts of concrete and steel, two materials whose production ranks among the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world.
“Just making concrete and steel has released 15% of all of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,” said Paul Crovella, a professor of construction management and sustainability at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
For now, there’s no other way to make gigantic buildings that can guarantee the near-absolute stability needed to make the tiny and powerful computer chips.
The concrete and steel industries pledge to make their processes more climate-friendly, but in the meantime they emit five times more carbon dioxide, the biggest contributor to global warming, than the entire global shipping industry.
In 2050, Micron says, it will reach net zero emissions in both its operations and the energy it buys. Net zero means that greenhouse gases are reduced, but those that are emitted are offset elsewhere.
At the same time, Micron’s most recent sustainability and climate change reports never mention the words “concrete” or “steel.”
The initial agreement between Micron and New York state, signed in 2022, doesn’t require Micron to use low-carbon emissions steel or concrete to build its complex in the town of Clay. That agreement, which laid the groundwork for Micron to receive up to $5.5 billion in state taxpayer dollars, requires Micron only to “encourage contractors to utilize, to the extent they are reasonably available, suitable, and cost-effective, low-carbon construction vehicles and equipment and incorporate low-carbon building materials.”
The agreement did not specify what “green” meant, and Micron did not mention this in an email response to syracuse.com.
The absence of those requirements shows the reality of building a factory complex bigger than Syracuse University’s main campus while aiming to lessen adverse environmental effects.
And it’s not just Micron: All of the world’s leading chipmakers are building massive new plants across the country and the world as the demand for chips soars with the burgeoning artificial intelligence and data center industries. The $500 billion global chip industry is expected to top $1 trillion in a few years.
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