sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to International Panic Day!
The word panic is derived from the ancient Greek word Pan. Pan was the Greek god of shepherds, woods, and pastures, and when he would awake from a nap he would let out a yell that caused flocks to stampede. Greek authors coined the word "panikon" from this, which meant "sudden fear". Panic is "a sudden sensation of fear, which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason or logical thinking, replacing it with an animalistic fight-or-flight reaction." Panic can happen in an individual or it can happen in large groups. It is not healthy for people to be in a constant panic, as stress levels are raised which can be detrimental to health. This day is dedicated to this sensation of panicking.
SU News
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Rayshon Andrews commits to Syracuse football (247sports.com; McAllister)
Class of 2025 Avon (CT) Old Farms defensive back Rayshon Andrews took an official visit to Syracuse this past weekend and one day later has committed to the Orange. Andrews was scheduled to visit Penn State this weekend but will no longer be doing so. He also held an offer from Boston College. Andrews is the 22nd player to commit to the Orange this cycle.
"The visit was great," Andrews said. "Every time I got up there they try to build the relationship with me and that's a very important piece. One thing I was most excited about was meeting the players because that's the one thing I haven't really gotten to do yet. Going up there this weekend, I got to do that. Pick their mind a little bit, see how they like it with the new coaching staff. That was definitely one of the better parts of the weekend."
One of those players was his player host, Justin Barron. A fellow defensive back from Connecticut.
"JB's a vet," Andrews said. "He's been there five years now. Going from the old staff to the new staff. He definitely feels like they're going in the right direction especially with all the upgrades to the facilities. He actually told me he's a little bit mad he can only have it for six months and not four years or five years. Coming from the same state with the same kind of background, he went to a prep school and this is my first year at a prep school, it was cool to pick his brain a little bit on the whole transition from prep school to going to college.
"He definitely loves it at Syracuse. I don't think that would ever change. One thing he did tell me was with coach Fran, being a DB and him being a DB coach, it's obviously not going to be easy. But if you want to make it far that's what you're going to have to do."
There were also several discussions with the Syracuse coaching staff, including how the 6-4, 180 pounder would be utilized.
"They see me as an athlete right now," Andrews said. "They see me coming in to play corner but obviously I could play safety as well. They could also see me playing their Star position as well. Their message with me is they really believe in my talent. They really want bigger, faster corners. That's part of the game now. That's definitely something I'm excited about."
The upgrades to the facilities, already underway, also caught Andrews' attention.
"The upgrades are great," Andrews said. "Comparing what they had to what they're going to have, those upgrades are next to some of the best I've seen from some of the schools I've been to. Honestly some of the best I've seen at any school in the country. They're definitely appreciative of what they've got and those facilities are going to be a big help."
Syracuse football continues expanding Class of 2025, adds one of Connecticut’s top players (PS; $; Leiker)
Syracuse football’s Class of 2025 added its 23rd member Monday night.
Rayshon Andrews, a 3-star cornerback from Connecticut, announced his commitment via social media. He made an official visit to SU this past weekend.
Andrews also had offers from Penn State, Rutgers and Boston College, which he also made an official visit to, among other smaller programs.
At 6-foot-3.5 and 180 pounds, Andrews is the No. 13 player from his home state and No. 107 cornerback in the class per the 247Sports Composite.
Andrews plays for Avon Old Farms, a prep boarding school in Avon, Connecticut. The team finished 7-3 last season.
The Orange’s 2025 recruiting class is currently No. 15 nationally and No. 2 in the ACC behind Clemson.
Though SU has 10 more commits than the Tigers, 10 of Clemson’s commits are 4-stars compared to just one 4-star currently in Syracuse’s class. The 247Sports Composite rankings weigh both quantity and quality in a class.
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High-upside CB Rayshon Andrews commits to Syracuse (on3.com; Wiltfong)
Avon (Conn.) Old Farms cornerback prospect Rayshon Andrews announced his commitment to Syracuse on Monday.
He returned to the Orange campus this past weekend for his official visit.
“I’ve gone up there three times and this weekend sealed the deal,” Andrews said. He becomes commit No. 23 for first-year head coach Fran Brown and his staff. “I think its the perfect fit to get pushed, not just to develop as a player but as a person too.”
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Andrews chose Syracuse over Penn State, Boston College and Oregon State among others.
“That new staff they got a lot of energy,” Andrews said. “They all come from very good backgrounds and me being a corner Fran is one of the best corner coaches in the country. They have a lot of energy around that team. They have good relationships. It’s like a family and that pours down to the players too.”
Syracuse is pushing for a Top 25 class under Brown.
“It’s not too far from home which is a good thing too,” Andrews said. “Location for me didn’t really matter but it’s not too far from home. You get a lot of kids from your area and you have a closer connection with them as a team and as a family.”
Andrews picked off two passes as a junior and has 10.8 speed in the 100m dash.
Syracuse football recruiting: 2025 DE Quante Gillians commits to Syracuse (TNIAAM; Wall)
Fran Brown has made it a point to keep local talent home to play for his Syracuse Orange squad. Yesterday he got a Father’s Day commitment from Quante Gillians, a 2025 recruit.
Gillians plays tight end and defensive line for Aquainis Institute in Rochester, where he is coached by former Orange wide receiver Maurice Jackson. He is rated a 3-star recruit and is considered a top-5 player in New York by 247 and Rivals. It sounds as though he was recruited by the Orange as a defensive end.
He had offers from Michigan State, Minnesota, Pitt, SMU, and Boston College, but will head down the Thruway to become the 22nd member of Syracuse’s 2025 class, as well as the 8th commit from New York.
Here’s a look at Quante in action:
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SU football 2024 schedule ‘underrated’ but not among 50 toughest (Phil Steele notebook) (PS; $; Leiker)
Compared to recent schedules Syracuse football has faced, its 2024 one presents as easy.
There’s no Clemson, Florida State or North Carolina, a trio of oft conference heavyweights who are collectively 11-0 against the Orange in the past five seasons.
But is the slate of opponents Syracuse is set to face in its first season under the leadership of Fran Brown that much less demanding, especially of a team with many new pieces, than the past few years?
SU’s 2024 schedule is No. 60 — about middle-of-the-pack — on Phil Steele’s ranking of toughest FBS schedules in his annual preview magazine. It’s actually six spots higher than Steele ranked the Orange’s 2023 schedule.
Steele does, though, on the same page list Syracuse’s schedule as one of 37 underrated schedules.
While the Orange misses out on that trio of recently unbeatable opponents, it faces three dark horses for the conference championship this year: Miami, N.C. State and Virginia Tech.
The benefit for SU is it does face both the Hokies and the Hurricanes at home.
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Keeping Up With The 315 6-17-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian Higgins shares a promising observation he’s made regarding the various recruits who have committed to play for Syracuse football, shares how his life intersected with an important moment in history 30 years ago today, and previews NBA Finals Game 5 with Boston in position to close out Dallas tonight.
Adam Friedman "The 315" 6-17-24 (youtube; podcast; The 315)
rankings director Adam Friedman joins Brian Higgins to discuss Fran Brown's early recruiting success with Syracuse football, whether or not the Orange's current ranking will hold up, some players SU has landed that he's intrigued by, and more.
Fran Brown is TAKING OVER… ACC & THE WHOLE COUNTRY…? Syracuse Life and Football (youtube; podcast; Life & Football)
Fran Brown is TAKING OVER… ACC & THE WHOLE COUNTRY…? Syracuse Life and Football
What corporate naming rights could work for the ACC? (TNIAAM; Wall)
As Syracuse Orange fans worry about the direction of college sports and keeping the Orange secure in the P4, a new development emerged from the Big 12 late last week.
It’s certainly a creative way to add revenue (with less risk than private equity) and surely no one will care in five years when the league becomes the State Farm 12 or whatever. Since we don’t think Jim Phillips will be pro-active in this area, we’ve decided to round up some potential corporate sponsors for the ACC.
We start with companies based in Charlotte because we want to make sure Tobacco Road doesn’t feel slighted. Would Bank of America or Bojangles step up? Duke’s Mayo would be a fun choice because every ACC Championship winning coach could get the mayo bath and that’s solid content.
This recommendation is great, but would it also mean no games on Sunday?
We’re not counting on Food Lion or the Greater Greensboro Tourism Board to step up, but how about a noted college football sponsor?
They already use Coach K as a spokesperson and we can swap Saban and Sanders for Dabo and Fran Brown.
Could Stanford help land that sweet Silicon Valley capital? The Google Ai Coast Conference could respond to every search about the best teams/conference/players by listing the ACC first in the results.
Maybe SMU can earn their television revenue back if they bring someone from Dallas to the table? There’s a lot of possibilities and if it upsets the stuffed shirts in Durham or Charlottesville, oh well.
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Syracuse football: an opportunity to own a piece of Orange history (TNIAAM; Wall)
Syracuse Orange fans have an opportunity to own a unique piece of history during a current Lelands auction.
Currently up for bid until June 29th is a game-worn Ernie Davis Syracuse jersey from the 1960-61 season, which is described by the auction house this way:
During the 1960 season the junior running back ran the ball 112 times for 877 yards (a career best 7,8 yards per carry) and 8 touchdowns. Davis also caught 11 passes for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Orange finished 7-2 on the season and ended up ranked 19th in the AP poll.
Maybe the winning bidder will allow this piece of Syracuse history to be displayed in a prominent location for future Orange generations to enjoy.
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ACC News
Florida State returns to court vs. the ACC, here is what you need to know for the 3rd hearing (tallahassee.com; Rooney)
Florida State returns to Leon County Court for its ongoing lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference.
After a May case management conference call, Leon County Circut Judge John C. Cooper scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, June 18, at 9 a.m. in Leon County courtroom 365B.
This will be the third hearing between FSU and the ACC in Leon County.
The first two hearings resulted in the ACC's motion to stay in Florida being denied, something they have since appealed, with Judge Cooper ordering FSU to file an amended complaint and state it's argument regarding jurisdiction with more 'clarity.'
The school filed its amended complaint on May 16, and the Tuesday hearing will rule on the conference motion to dismiss the case as it continues its multi-state legal battle against FSU.
Tallahassee Democrat sports reporter Liam Rooney will be in the courtroom on Tuesday providing updates.
Here is what you need to know about the status of FSU's heavyweight legal fight with the ACC as we look to enter the final rounds of hearings in Leon County.
How did FSU's legal battle with the ACC start?
The root of the lawsuit stems from FSU's frustration with the ACC's revenue-sharing plan and the school's belief that the conference isn't providing the proper financial support to its schools in comparison to the BIG 10 and SEC. At the center of the legal fight is the conference media contracts, grant of rights and agreement with ESPN.
Things came to a boil when FSU was snubbed from the College Football Playoff on Dec. 3, and the school's board of trustees approved a lawsuit against the conference on Dec. 22, a day after the conference sued the school.
The ACC sued FSU in a North Carolina court in order to gain jurisdiction in the case by being the first to file, something that has been highly debated in Leon County court.
In the Mecklenburg County business court, Judge Louis A. Bledsoe ruled the North Carolina case could proceed and also denied FSU's motion to stay the case. He did rule in favor of FSU on one count, dismissing the ACC's claims that the school breached its fiduciary duties to the conference.
In Leon County Court, Judge Cooper has currently denied the conference's motion to stay and has yet to rule on a motion to dismiss, leading to the third hearing on Tuesday.
What is the current status of the lawsuits in Florida, North Carolina?
In May FSU filed a nearly 600-page complaint in North Carolina asking for the state's supreme court to review the April decision given by Judge Bledsoe. The petition asks for a writ of certiorari, a formal request for a state supreme court to review a case for error or violation.
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ACC football final record predictions, order of finish for 2024 season (247sports.com; Hughes)
The new ACC is here. ACC coaches had good things to say about the conference heading into 2024, and four teams project to hit the 10-win mark with another seven reaching bowl eligibility.
It will be a new-look ACC next season in more ways than one. A year after debuting a division-less format, the conference added three new programs in Cal, Stanford, and SMU, bringing the total number of member schools to 17. We've already looked at the toughest non-conference games for the new-look ACC this season.
Florida State faces Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl in the latest 247Sports College Football Playoff projections, and there's room for more ACC teams to join the Seminoles in their hunt for a national championship next season.
Here's a look at every ACC team's projected final record in 2024 and where they finish in the new-look conference standings:
Losses: at Wake Forest, Maryland, Louisville, at Clemson, North Carolina, at Pittsburgh, at Notre Dame, SMU, at Virginia Tech
Virginia finished with the second-worst record in the conference record last season and could be in line for another stinker in 2024. Richmond and Coastal Carolina are the easiest games on the Cavaliers' schedule, but both are losable. Then there's a brutal five-game stretch that features Louisville, Clemson, UNC and Notre Dame.
Losses: TCU, at Syracuse, at Clemson, Virginia Tech, at Notre Dame, SMU, at North Carolina State, Louisville, at California
Newcomer Stanford finished 3-9 in the Pac-12 last season and is expected to post a similar record with one of the ACC's toughest schedules next season. Clemson, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and SMU comprise a brutal four-game stretch. The Cardinal gets a breather against Wake Forest before two more tough matchups against NC State and Louisville.
Losses: at Florida State, at Missouri, Michigan State, at Virginia Tech, Louisville, Syracuse, at SMU, North Carolina, Pittsburgh
Bill O'Brien brings longterm potential to Boston College. However, all signs point towards a rebuilding year in Boston, and the Eagles didn't get any favors with their schedule. Boston College gets smacked in the face early with trips to Florida State and Missouri. It doesn't let up much after, either.
Losses: at Northwestern, North Carolina, at Georgia Tech, Florida State, SMU, at Miami, at North Carolina State, Virginia Tech
Duke is a candidate to start the season 3-1 in non-conference play before hosting rival UNC in an intriguing ACC opener. The Blue Devils' conference slate is the toughest in the ACC next season, and there's potential for them to stumble down the stretch. Duke faces seven of the ACC's top 10 teams in our preseason power rankings in the last eight weeks of the season.
Losses: Ole Miss, at North Carolina State, Clemson, at Stanford, at North Carolina, at Miami, Duke
Wake Forest finished with the worst record in the conference last season (1-7) and is unlikely to drastically move from that mark in 2024. The Demon Deacons could push for a bowl game thanks to non-conference matchups against North Carolina A&T, UConn and Louisiana. However, don't expect a big finish with games against NC State, Clemson and Miami later in the season.
Losses: West Virginia, at North Carolina, California, Syracuse, at SMU, Clemson, at Louisville
Pitt finished 3-9 last season but might get back to bowl eligibility against a mediocre schedule next fall. A weak non-conference schedule is a big help, but the Panthers likely need an upset win at UNC or at home against Cal or Syracuse to make the postseason.
Losses: at Auburn, at Florida State, Miami, North Carolina State, Syracuse, at SMU
Cal has the talent to make back-to-back bowl games for just the second time during Justin Wilcox's eight years at the helm and is a dark horse candidate in the ACC. The trip to Auburn will be tough. So will the stretch against Florida State, Miami, Pittsburgh and NC State. Fortunately for Cal, the schedule loosens up from there.
Losses: Georgia Tech, at North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, Miami
The trip to UNLV on Oct. 5 could prove dicey. Fran Brown has a chance to lead the Orange to its first eight-win season since 2018 thanks to it's soft non-conference slate but it'll need to win tough conference matchups against Pittsburgh, Boston College and Cal.
Losses: Florida State, Notre Dame, at Georgia, Miami, North Carolina State
This is one of the best Georgia Tech teams in years, but it faces an uphill battle for bowl eligibility against an absolute gauntlet in 2024. The Yellow Jackets project to win toss-ups against Louisville, UNC and Virginia Tech. However, Brent Key's crew faces CFP contenders in the first five weeks and hits several ACC title contenders in Miami and NC State shortly after. Georgia Tech is the only ACC team in our toughest overall schedule ranking, and it ranks No. 6 overall.
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Updated ACC Football Recruiting Rankings (6/17) (SI; Caudell)
Another weekend has come and gone in the ACC and there was not much movement in the recruiting rankings.
Georgia Tech did not have the weekend that they did last weekend, but the Yellow Jackets still find themselves in the top 25 of the national rankings and No. 5 in the ACC. Duke is the team that took a bit of a leap into the rankings, going from 6th in the ACC to now being 4th. Can Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils stay in the top half of the ACC or is this just some early momentum that fades? That is going to be something interesting to watch.
Georgia Tech did get one commitment this weekend and it was three-star edge Carrington Coombs.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Coombs is a three-star player, the No. 625 player in the country, the No. 68 linebacker in the country, and the No. 69 player in the state of Georgia.
Other offers that Coombs held were Boston College, Kansas State, Liberty, Virginia, Oklahoma State, USF, and App State, among others. Here are some other news and noteworthy stats about Coombs courtesy of 247Sports:
Also plays basketball.
2023: Two-way snaps for Dacula (Ga.) Hebron Christian Academy, helping lead the Lions to a 6-5 record and first round berth in the GHSA 3A playoffs. Totaled 41 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble as a junior along with two catches for 23 yards on offense.
Georgia Tech is off to a really good start to the month and they should only be getting better. Brent Key has done a great job of getting guys on campus and being able to land them. I think they could still rise in the recruiting rankings.
One thing to watch in the coming weeks is the battle between Georgia Tech and Florida State for five-star offensive tackle Josh Petty. Florida State recruiting reporter Zach Blostein put a 247Sports Crystal ball in last week in favor of Florida State.
Last month, On3 Sports recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong put in a recruiting prediction for Florida State to land Petty. Based on these two predictions, it seems to be trending that way. A crystal ball does not mean that it is certain though and until Petty commits (and even after), Georgia Tech could still be in it. Let's see what happens.
Just recently, Georgia Tech made the cut in Petty's final five schools along with Stanford, Tennessee, Ohio State, and Florida State. According to 247Sports, Petty is the No. 14 prospect in the country, the No. 2 offensive tackle in the country, and the No. 4 player in the state of Georgia. Petty plays at Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, GA. He is one of the elite prospects in the country and whoever lands him is going to be getting a player who will be ready to step in and compete for playing time right away. While Florida State and Miami both are in the back of the rankings, they are in the mix for a lot of highly rated players that will boost them up.
Updated ACC Recruiting Rankings (6/17)
1. Clemson
2. Syracuse
3. Stanford
4. Duke
5. Georgia Tech
6. Wake Forest
7. SMU
8. Virginia
9. Louisville
10. North Carolina
11. Pitt
12. Boston College
13. Cal
14. Miami
15. NC State
16. Virginia Tech
17. Florida State
ACC mailbag: What's realistic for Georgia Tech? Can Bill O'Brien get it done at BC? (nytimes; $; Raynor & Navarro)
Welcome to Part 2 of our ACC mailbag. In Part 1, published last week, we tackled questions on Virginia, Virginia Tech, Pitt and Duke as well as the transfer portal. Thanks, as always, for so many good questions.
What are the key areas Brent Key and the Yellow Jackets have to improve upon to move up in the conference? Is a top-25 ranking a realistic goal? — Glenn B.
If you read what I wrote about Virginia Tech’s run defense in last week’s mailbag, you can copy and paste it for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets gave up an average of 245 yards per game and 5.8 yards per rush last season against FBS winning teams, last in the ACC.
Like Kyron Drones at Virginia Tech, Haynes King is a top-five quarterback in the league in my mind. He has plenty of assets around him and four starting offensive linemen back from a team that finished fourth in the league in scoring (31.1 points per game) and third in yards per play (6.34).
But you can’t be 131st against the run and expect to be a top-25 team. Key needs to upgrade the talent on the defensive line and at linebacker if he wants to become a contender. There are only three blue-chippers on the roster: rush end Kevin Harris, a 2021 Alabama transfer; USC transfer Romello Height; and senior linebacker Trenilyas Tatum. Recruiting talented big men on defense in the Southeast shouldn’t be this hard at a program like Georgia Tech. Get a few at least. — Manny Navarro
How long will it take Bill O’Brien to turn BC around? Why won’t Father Leahy retire sooner? 2026? Gimme a break! — Brian C.
I feel your frustration, Brian. BC has a long way to go to climb up the ladder, but I wouldn’t place blame only on Father Leahy’s shoulders. It takes money to win big in college football. Lots of it. The second-most important factor is your head coach. O’Brien left a comfy offensive coordinator job at Ohio State where he was well positioned to win a national championship to take on a much tougher challenge back home. No, O’Brien, 54, didn’t play for the Eagles. But he’s a Boston native and highly motivated not to screw this up. That’s a start.
The problem for BC is money — specifically name, image and likeness money. In this Boston Magazine piece from last year, the Friends of the Heights collective talked about its big win in keeping former star receiver Zay Flowers from leaving for another school. It goes on to mention how the collective has about $1 million in assets that it raised from donors. By comparison, the best programs in the country are raising more than $20 million to compete in the NIL/marketing space.
I have no doubt O’Brien is going to recruit his butt off and work the portal hard, and he did a fine job upgrading the roster right away. I have BC listed under ACC transfer portal winners this offseason. But, the bottom line is you don’t compete for championships without some money to pay the players. O’Brien will squeeze six, seven or as many as eight or nine wins a year with his coaching. He’s better than Jeff Hafley. But you need thoroughbreds to win a race. — Navarro
Thoughts on how many games Fran Brown and Syracuse will win this year? — Peter G.
Syracuse is the wild card in the ACC heading into 2024. BetMGM has the Orange’s over/under at 7.5 wins, which feels about right to me — although I’m not sure anything will surprise me.
The argument for Syracuse winning at least eight games stems from what the Orange did this offseason. Brown was one of the more exciting hires of the coaching carousel, and the Orange dipped into the transfer portal to grab an experienced quarterback, Kyle McCord. Throw in the fact Syracuse avoids Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Louisville on the schedule this season, and I can talk myself into Brown’s first year starting with a splash.
The hype around the Orange, though, gives me a bit of pause. For as much buzz as Brown has brought into the program with his recruiting efforts, this is still a team that finished with the nation’s No. 99 offense and No. 67 defense in 2023. This is still a program that has had only two winning seasons since 2013. And Syracuse has just the ninth-best odds to win the ACC, per BetMGM, behind Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Louisville, NC State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and SMU.
If we assume the Orange should be able to handle Ohio, Holy Cross, UNLV and UConn, that’s four wins right there. I’d take the Orange over Boston College and Cal, as well. But it’s a toss-up against Georgia Tech, Stanford and Pitt. NC State, Virginia Tech and Miami would be tough. Give me eight wins: seven in the regular season plus a bowl game. — Grace Raynor
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ACC quarterbacks ranked worst to first heading into 2024 (usatoday.com; Turri)
Though the start of the 2024 college football season is still a while away, it’s never too early to start looking ahead.
Today, we’re delving into the ACC’s starting quarterbacks for 2024, updating our post-spring rankings as summer begins and opinions continue to shift. Things can change fast, and that’s why we update rankings. While not all teams have officially named their starting quarterbacks, our rankings are based on current projections and what we’ve seen from the program.
The ACC is evolving with new programs and fresh faces joining the conference. With these new programs come new quarterbacks, with one, in particular, being one of the best in the ACC right out of the gate.
Remember, these rankings are subjective, so take them with a grain of salt! Here are our rankings of the ACC starting quarterbacks heading into the 2024 season.
2023 Stats: 58.8%, 2,247 pass yds, 11 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 296 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
Stanford has a tough road in the ACC in 2024. They should be toward the bottom of the conference, but with projected starting quarterback Ashton Daniels having a great spring, there’s a chance they surprise people.
16 Nate Yarnell
Team: Pittsburgh Panthers
2023 Stats: 66.1%, 595 pass yds, 4 passing touchdowns, 1 interceptions, -13 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdowns
We currently project Yarnell as the starter, but Eli Holstein is competing hard for the job. Yarnell was more than solid in his appearances in 2023, with a lot of room to grow
15 Hank Bachmeier
Team: Wake Forest Demon Deacon
2023 Stats: 67.7%, 2,058 pass yds, 10 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions, -26 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdown
Bachmeier would have ranked much higher if this were a ranking heading into the 2023 season. His career has been very up and down, with the quarterback hoping the Demon Deacons can unlock his potential.
2023 Stats: 63.0%, 1,708 pass yds, 14 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 86 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
This is an interesting one. At first, I would have told you there’s a 0% chance transfer Chandler Rogers doesn’t win this quarterback battle, but it seems Mendoza is running away with the job. If he’s holding off Rogers, there’s a good chance he flies up these rankings once the season starts.
13 Anthony Colandrea
Team: Virginia Cavaliers
2023 Stats: 62.6%, 1,958 pass yds, 13 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 225 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns
Anthony Colandrea has his work cut out for him. This UVA team shouldn’t be much better in 2024 than they were in 2023, though it doesn’t mean he can’t improve. If he takes the next step, this Cavaliers offense could be far better than people expect.
2023 Stats: 62.1%, 1,452 pass yds, 9 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 27 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
After a solid start to his career in 2021 with LSU, Johnson lagged behind when he moved on to Texas A&M. Can he turn things back around with the Tar Heels?
Team: Duke Blue Devils
2023 Stats: 56.3%, 477 pass yds, 3 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions, -18 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns
Murphy is the most challenging placement on this list. He’s in the top 5 from a potential standpoint, but this isn’t only about potential. The talk from spring ball is that Murphy struggled, which makes it tough to move him up these rankings.
2023 Stats: 57.3%, 2,248 pass yds, 15 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 1,113 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns
Speaking on potential, Castellanos is oozing it. If he cleans up his turnover issues, he could contend for the best quarterback in the ACC. If he doesn’t, he could contend for the worst. There’s a wide range of outcomes at Boston College.
2023 Stats: 65.8%, 3,170 pass yds, 24 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, -65 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns
McCord dropped a considerable amount since the end of spring football. He hasn’t been the quarterback I expected at Ohio State, and at Syracuse, he could break out. I’ve just tempered my expectations with McCord.
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Links, News and Rumors 2024 June 16 (RX; HM)
Links, News and Rumors 2024 June 16
First, an update from the College World Series:
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From ESPN's "Recruiting progress report: How new coaches are faring on the trail", here's the one ACC coach mentioned...
Fran Brown, Syracuse Orange
From GobblerCountry, "Virginia Tech football: 1999 Hokies named one of the most influential teams ever", here's a brief quote (note: I added the italics):
Other
Wegmans is asking the town of Clay to rezone about 24 acres it owns just north of its store near the former Great Northern Mall. The land in blue is the parcel that would be rezoned.Source: Onondaga County
Wegmans asks to rezone big piece of land behind store near Micron site for ‘future development’ (PS; $; Doran)
Wegmans is asking the town of Clay to rezone a piece of the land the supermarket chain owns behind its store near the former Great Northern Mall on Route 31.
The land was home to the Clay Golf Dome and when it collapsed Wegmans bought the property, said Evelyn Ingram, speaking for Rochester-based Wegmans.
Wegmans paid $1 million for the land in 2008.
The property is still zoned recreational. Wegmans wants it changed to regional commercial, in line with the current zoning on the Great Northern supermarket property. The application reads that Wegmans is seeking the zone change “to allow for future development” on the land.
There are no specific plans at this time for it to be redeveloped if the zone change request is approved, Ingram said. There are also no plans at this time to expand the Great Northern Wegmans store.
“The reason we are doing this is to allow for uses on that land,” Ingram said.
Clay planning and development officials said the land could be used for a shopping center or other business if is rezoned.
A public hearing on the zone change proposal will be held Monday night at Clay Town Hall.
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Owera Vineyards, 5276 E. Lake Road, Cazenovia.Syracuse.com | File photograph
Owera Vineyards in Cazenovia reopens tasting room. What about weddings and events? (PS; $; Cazentre)
Owera Vineyards has re-opened its tasting room on East Lake Road in Cazenovia for the first time since last fall.
And the 11-year-old winery is still hoping town officials will approve a plan for a new building that will allow it to resume hosting weddings, parties and other events. Last fall, Owera cancelled all its scheduled weddings and events for 2024 as part of an ongoing battle with some of its neighbors and town officials.
“Our longstanding goal has been to finalize our site plan with a year-round venue to market our wines and host events,” co-owner Peter Muserlian Jr. said in an email to syracuse.com. “Once completed, it will mitigate the concerns a few neighbors have expressed over the years.”
Pending approval from the town, he said, the winery hopes to host some limited events this year and bring back a “full event schedule” next year.
Neighbors of the winery at 5276 E. Lake Road have complained since it opened in 2013 that weddings and other events, held in a tent on the property, created noise, bright lights at night, increased traffic and other nuisances.
The town cited the winery for those issues several times in 2013 and initially blocked a proposal for a permanent event building.
Owera received approval in 2015 from the town for a 6,300-square-foot building but the town Planning Board limited the hours of operation, set noise levels, restricted the number of events per week and required music be acoustic, according to syracuse.com archives.
The winery sued the board in State Supreme Court but almost all of the requirements were ultimately upheld. That building was never constructed.
But Owera submitted new plans for a building last year. The most recent review of the plans came at a Town Planning Board meeting on June 6. The proposal includes noise level monitoring, light mitigation and an agreement for guests to leave no later than 10 p.m. on weekends and earlier on weeknights. It also includes an outdoor veranda with a pergola, or covering, that would be used for such things as wedding ceremonies.
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Heat wave, already underway in Upstate NY, kicks into high gear today (PS; Coin)
After a record-breaking Monday, the early season heat wave in Upstate New York ramps up today as temperatures and humidity increase.
The high temperature Monday hit 94 degrees in Syracuse, a record for June 17. Temperatures are expected to reach at least 96 degrees in Syracuse today through Thursday, something that hasn’t happened in June since records began in 1903, according to the National Weather Service.
Onondaga County is keeping beaches open later, county case managers are checking in with older people most vulnerable to the heat, and, in a first for some, schools are closing early to keep kids out of stuffy and overheated classrooms.
A heat wave isn’t all that unusual in Syracuse, one of the nation’s snowiest cities. Syracuse gets an average of one heat wave a year, defined as at least three consecutive days of 90 or greater.
But what’s different this time is, well, the timing. These sweltering days are coming just after Father’s Day, before schools are out and even before most of the city’s pools have opened.
The Syracuse City School District, which had just one snow day this school year, will dismiss most of its students early because of heat on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. (Schools are already scheduled to close Wednesday for Juneteenth.)
High schools are going ahead with Regents exams, though some students were being moved to rooms with air conditioning.
Syracuse is seeing more 90-degree days during the span of the school year, from early September to late June, than in the past.
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https://www.syracuse.com/music/2024/06/luke-bryan-performing-at-2024--open-at-endicotts-en-joie-golf-club-how-much-are-tickets.html (PS; Kemeny)
Luke Bryan will perform at DICK’s Open PGA golf tournament in Endicott, NY at the En-Joie Golf Course on Friday, June 21 (6/21/2024). The concert starts at 9:00 p.m.
The show is part of his 2024 “Mind of a Country Boy Tour” in support of his latest compilation album of the same name, which was released on June 14 and can be streamed on Apple Music (free trial).
In addition to old favorites like “Play It Again,” “Country Girl (Shake It for Me),” “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” the album features two new singles, “Mind of a Country Boy” and “Love You, Miss You, Mean It.”
The tour kicked off on June 13 in Jacksonville, FL and will conclude on September 28 in Smithton, PA.
Here’s a look at the best prices available:
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The word panic is derived from the ancient Greek word Pan. Pan was the Greek god of shepherds, woods, and pastures, and when he would awake from a nap he would let out a yell that caused flocks to stampede. Greek authors coined the word "panikon" from this, which meant "sudden fear". Panic is "a sudden sensation of fear, which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason or logical thinking, replacing it with an animalistic fight-or-flight reaction." Panic can happen in an individual or it can happen in large groups. It is not healthy for people to be in a constant panic, as stress levels are raised which can be detrimental to health. This day is dedicated to this sensation of panicking.
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Rayshon Andrews commits to Syracuse football (247sports.com; McAllister)
Class of 2025 Avon (CT) Old Farms defensive back Rayshon Andrews took an official visit to Syracuse this past weekend and one day later has committed to the Orange. Andrews was scheduled to visit Penn State this weekend but will no longer be doing so. He also held an offer from Boston College. Andrews is the 22nd player to commit to the Orange this cycle.
"The visit was great," Andrews said. "Every time I got up there they try to build the relationship with me and that's a very important piece. One thing I was most excited about was meeting the players because that's the one thing I haven't really gotten to do yet. Going up there this weekend, I got to do that. Pick their mind a little bit, see how they like it with the new coaching staff. That was definitely one of the better parts of the weekend."
One of those players was his player host, Justin Barron. A fellow defensive back from Connecticut.
"JB's a vet," Andrews said. "He's been there five years now. Going from the old staff to the new staff. He definitely feels like they're going in the right direction especially with all the upgrades to the facilities. He actually told me he's a little bit mad he can only have it for six months and not four years or five years. Coming from the same state with the same kind of background, he went to a prep school and this is my first year at a prep school, it was cool to pick his brain a little bit on the whole transition from prep school to going to college.
"He definitely loves it at Syracuse. I don't think that would ever change. One thing he did tell me was with coach Fran, being a DB and him being a DB coach, it's obviously not going to be easy. But if you want to make it far that's what you're going to have to do."
There were also several discussions with the Syracuse coaching staff, including how the 6-4, 180 pounder would be utilized.
"They see me as an athlete right now," Andrews said. "They see me coming in to play corner but obviously I could play safety as well. They could also see me playing their Star position as well. Their message with me is they really believe in my talent. They really want bigger, faster corners. That's part of the game now. That's definitely something I'm excited about."
The upgrades to the facilities, already underway, also caught Andrews' attention.
"The upgrades are great," Andrews said. "Comparing what they had to what they're going to have, those upgrades are next to some of the best I've seen from some of the schools I've been to. Honestly some of the best I've seen at any school in the country. They're definitely appreciative of what they've got and those facilities are going to be a big help."
Syracuse football continues expanding Class of 2025, adds one of Connecticut’s top players (PS; $; Leiker)
Syracuse football’s Class of 2025 added its 23rd member Monday night.
Rayshon Andrews, a 3-star cornerback from Connecticut, announced his commitment via social media. He made an official visit to SU this past weekend.
Andrews also had offers from Penn State, Rutgers and Boston College, which he also made an official visit to, among other smaller programs.
At 6-foot-3.5 and 180 pounds, Andrews is the No. 13 player from his home state and No. 107 cornerback in the class per the 247Sports Composite.
Andrews plays for Avon Old Farms, a prep boarding school in Avon, Connecticut. The team finished 7-3 last season.
The Orange’s 2025 recruiting class is currently No. 15 nationally and No. 2 in the ACC behind Clemson.
Though SU has 10 more commits than the Tigers, 10 of Clemson’s commits are 4-stars compared to just one 4-star currently in Syracuse’s class. The 247Sports Composite rankings weigh both quantity and quality in a class.
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High-upside CB Rayshon Andrews commits to Syracuse (on3.com; Wiltfong)
Avon (Conn.) Old Farms cornerback prospect Rayshon Andrews announced his commitment to Syracuse on Monday.
He returned to the Orange campus this past weekend for his official visit.
“I’ve gone up there three times and this weekend sealed the deal,” Andrews said. He becomes commit No. 23 for first-year head coach Fran Brown and his staff. “I think its the perfect fit to get pushed, not just to develop as a player but as a person too.”
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Andrews chose Syracuse over Penn State, Boston College and Oregon State among others.
“That new staff they got a lot of energy,” Andrews said. “They all come from very good backgrounds and me being a corner Fran is one of the best corner coaches in the country. They have a lot of energy around that team. They have good relationships. It’s like a family and that pours down to the players too.”
Syracuse is pushing for a Top 25 class under Brown.
“It’s not too far from home which is a good thing too,” Andrews said. “Location for me didn’t really matter but it’s not too far from home. You get a lot of kids from your area and you have a closer connection with them as a team and as a family.”
Andrews picked off two passes as a junior and has 10.8 speed in the 100m dash.
Syracuse football recruiting: 2025 DE Quante Gillians commits to Syracuse (TNIAAM; Wall)
Fran Brown has made it a point to keep local talent home to play for his Syracuse Orange squad. Yesterday he got a Father’s Day commitment from Quante Gillians, a 2025 recruit.
Gillians plays tight end and defensive line for Aquainis Institute in Rochester, where he is coached by former Orange wide receiver Maurice Jackson. He is rated a 3-star recruit and is considered a top-5 player in New York by 247 and Rivals. It sounds as though he was recruited by the Orange as a defensive end.
He had offers from Michigan State, Minnesota, Pitt, SMU, and Boston College, but will head down the Thruway to become the 22nd member of Syracuse’s 2025 class, as well as the 8th commit from New York.
Here’s a look at Quante in action:
SU football 2024 schedule ‘underrated’ but not among 50 toughest (Phil Steele notebook) (PS; $; Leiker)
Compared to recent schedules Syracuse football has faced, its 2024 one presents as easy.
There’s no Clemson, Florida State or North Carolina, a trio of oft conference heavyweights who are collectively 11-0 against the Orange in the past five seasons.
But is the slate of opponents Syracuse is set to face in its first season under the leadership of Fran Brown that much less demanding, especially of a team with many new pieces, than the past few years?
SU’s 2024 schedule is No. 60 — about middle-of-the-pack — on Phil Steele’s ranking of toughest FBS schedules in his annual preview magazine. It’s actually six spots higher than Steele ranked the Orange’s 2023 schedule.
Steele does, though, on the same page list Syracuse’s schedule as one of 37 underrated schedules.
While the Orange misses out on that trio of recently unbeatable opponents, it faces three dark horses for the conference championship this year: Miami, N.C. State and Virginia Tech.
The benefit for SU is it does face both the Hokies and the Hurricanes at home.
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Keeping Up With The 315 6-17-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian Higgins shares a promising observation he’s made regarding the various recruits who have committed to play for Syracuse football, shares how his life intersected with an important moment in history 30 years ago today, and previews NBA Finals Game 5 with Boston in position to close out Dallas tonight.
Adam Friedman "The 315" 6-17-24 (youtube; podcast; The 315)
rankings director Adam Friedman joins Brian Higgins to discuss Fran Brown's early recruiting success with Syracuse football, whether or not the Orange's current ranking will hold up, some players SU has landed that he's intrigued by, and more.
Fran Brown is TAKING OVER… ACC & THE WHOLE COUNTRY…? Syracuse Life and Football (youtube; podcast; Life & Football)
Fran Brown is TAKING OVER… ACC & THE WHOLE COUNTRY…? Syracuse Life and Football
What corporate naming rights could work for the ACC? (TNIAAM; Wall)
As Syracuse Orange fans worry about the direction of college sports and keeping the Orange secure in the P4, a new development emerged from the Big 12 late last week.
It’s certainly a creative way to add revenue (with less risk than private equity) and surely no one will care in five years when the league becomes the State Farm 12 or whatever. Since we don’t think Jim Phillips will be pro-active in this area, we’ve decided to round up some potential corporate sponsors for the ACC.
We start with companies based in Charlotte because we want to make sure Tobacco Road doesn’t feel slighted. Would Bank of America or Bojangles step up? Duke’s Mayo would be a fun choice because every ACC Championship winning coach could get the mayo bath and that’s solid content.
This recommendation is great, but would it also mean no games on Sunday?
We’re not counting on Food Lion or the Greater Greensboro Tourism Board to step up, but how about a noted college football sponsor?
They already use Coach K as a spokesperson and we can swap Saban and Sanders for Dabo and Fran Brown.
Could Stanford help land that sweet Silicon Valley capital? The Google Ai Coast Conference could respond to every search about the best teams/conference/players by listing the ACC first in the results.
Maybe SMU can earn their television revenue back if they bring someone from Dallas to the table? There’s a lot of possibilities and if it upsets the stuffed shirts in Durham or Charlottesville, oh well.
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Syracuse football: an opportunity to own a piece of Orange history (TNIAAM; Wall)
Syracuse Orange fans have an opportunity to own a unique piece of history during a current Lelands auction.
Currently up for bid until June 29th is a game-worn Ernie Davis Syracuse jersey from the 1960-61 season, which is described by the auction house this way:
During the 1960 season the junior running back ran the ball 112 times for 877 yards (a career best 7,8 yards per carry) and 8 touchdowns. Davis also caught 11 passes for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Orange finished 7-2 on the season and ended up ranked 19th in the AP poll.
Maybe the winning bidder will allow this piece of Syracuse history to be displayed in a prominent location for future Orange generations to enjoy.
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Florida State returns to court vs. the ACC, here is what you need to know for the 3rd hearing (tallahassee.com; Rooney)
Florida State returns to Leon County Court for its ongoing lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference.
After a May case management conference call, Leon County Circut Judge John C. Cooper scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, June 18, at 9 a.m. in Leon County courtroom 365B.
This will be the third hearing between FSU and the ACC in Leon County.
The first two hearings resulted in the ACC's motion to stay in Florida being denied, something they have since appealed, with Judge Cooper ordering FSU to file an amended complaint and state it's argument regarding jurisdiction with more 'clarity.'
The school filed its amended complaint on May 16, and the Tuesday hearing will rule on the conference motion to dismiss the case as it continues its multi-state legal battle against FSU.
Tallahassee Democrat sports reporter Liam Rooney will be in the courtroom on Tuesday providing updates.
Here is what you need to know about the status of FSU's heavyweight legal fight with the ACC as we look to enter the final rounds of hearings in Leon County.
How did FSU's legal battle with the ACC start?
The root of the lawsuit stems from FSU's frustration with the ACC's revenue-sharing plan and the school's belief that the conference isn't providing the proper financial support to its schools in comparison to the BIG 10 and SEC. At the center of the legal fight is the conference media contracts, grant of rights and agreement with ESPN.
Things came to a boil when FSU was snubbed from the College Football Playoff on Dec. 3, and the school's board of trustees approved a lawsuit against the conference on Dec. 22, a day after the conference sued the school.
The ACC sued FSU in a North Carolina court in order to gain jurisdiction in the case by being the first to file, something that has been highly debated in Leon County court.
In the Mecklenburg County business court, Judge Louis A. Bledsoe ruled the North Carolina case could proceed and also denied FSU's motion to stay the case. He did rule in favor of FSU on one count, dismissing the ACC's claims that the school breached its fiduciary duties to the conference.
In Leon County Court, Judge Cooper has currently denied the conference's motion to stay and has yet to rule on a motion to dismiss, leading to the third hearing on Tuesday.
What is the current status of the lawsuits in Florida, North Carolina?
In May FSU filed a nearly 600-page complaint in North Carolina asking for the state's supreme court to review the April decision given by Judge Bledsoe. The petition asks for a writ of certiorari, a formal request for a state supreme court to review a case for error or violation.
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ACC football final record predictions, order of finish for 2024 season (247sports.com; Hughes)
The new ACC is here. ACC coaches had good things to say about the conference heading into 2024, and four teams project to hit the 10-win mark with another seven reaching bowl eligibility.
It will be a new-look ACC next season in more ways than one. A year after debuting a division-less format, the conference added three new programs in Cal, Stanford, and SMU, bringing the total number of member schools to 17. We've already looked at the toughest non-conference games for the new-look ACC this season.
Florida State faces Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl in the latest 247Sports College Football Playoff projections, and there's room for more ACC teams to join the Seminoles in their hunt for a national championship next season.
Here's a look at every ACC team's projected final record in 2024 and where they finish in the new-look conference standings:
17. VIRGINIA: 2-10 (0-8)
Wins: Richmond, at Coastal CarolinaLosses: at Wake Forest, Maryland, Louisville, at Clemson, North Carolina, at Pittsburgh, at Notre Dame, SMU, at Virginia Tech
Virginia finished with the second-worst record in the conference record last season and could be in line for another stinker in 2024. Richmond and Coastal Carolina are the easiest games on the Cavaliers' schedule, but both are losable. Then there's a brutal five-game stretch that features Louisville, Clemson, UNC and Notre Dame.
16. STANFORD: 3-9 (1-7)
Wins: Cal Poly, Wake Forest, at San Jose StateLosses: TCU, at Syracuse, at Clemson, Virginia Tech, at Notre Dame, SMU, at North Carolina State, Louisville, at California
Newcomer Stanford finished 3-9 in the Pac-12 last season and is expected to post a similar record with one of the ACC's toughest schedules next season. Clemson, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and SMU comprise a brutal four-game stretch. The Cardinal gets a breather against Wake Forest before two more tough matchups against NC State and Louisville.
15. BOSTON COLLEGE: 3-9 (1-7)
Wins: Duquesne, at Virginia, Western KentuckyLosses: at Florida State, at Missouri, Michigan State, at Virginia Tech, Louisville, Syracuse, at SMU, North Carolina, Pittsburgh
Bill O'Brien brings longterm potential to Boston College. However, all signs point towards a rebuilding year in Boston, and the Eagles didn't get any favors with their schedule. Boston College gets smacked in the face early with trips to Florida State and Missouri. It doesn't let up much after, either.
14. DUKE 4-8 (1-7)
Wins: Elon, Connecticut, at Middle Tennessee State, at Wake ForestLosses: at Northwestern, North Carolina, at Georgia Tech, Florida State, SMU, at Miami, at North Carolina State, Virginia Tech
Duke is a candidate to start the season 3-1 in non-conference play before hosting rival UNC in an intriguing ACC opener. The Blue Devils' conference slate is the toughest in the ACC next season, and there's potential for them to stumble down the stretch. Duke faces seven of the ACC's top 10 teams in our preseason power rankings in the last eight weeks of the season.
13. WAKE FOREST: 5-7 (2-6)
Wins: North Carolina A&T, Virginia, Louisiana, at Connecticut, CaliforniaLosses: Ole Miss, at North Carolina State, Clemson, at Stanford, at North Carolina, at Miami, Duke
Wake Forest finished with the worst record in the conference last season (1-7) and is unlikely to drastically move from that mark in 2024. The Demon Deacons could push for a bowl game thanks to non-conference matchups against North Carolina A&T, UConn and Louisiana. However, don't expect a big finish with games against NC State, Clemson and Miami later in the season.
12. PITTSBURGH: 5-7 (2-6)
Wins: Kent State, at Cincinnati, Youngstown State, Virginia, at Boston CollegeLosses: West Virginia, at North Carolina, California, Syracuse, at SMU, Clemson, at Louisville
Pitt finished 3-9 last season but might get back to bowl eligibility against a mediocre schedule next fall. A weak non-conference schedule is a big help, but the Panthers likely need an upset win at UNC or at home against Cal or Syracuse to make the postseason.
11. CALIFORNIA: 6-6 (3-5)
Wins: UC Davis, San Diego State, at Pittsburgh, Oregon State, at Wake Forest, StanfordLosses: at Auburn, at Florida State, Miami, North Carolina State, Syracuse, at SMU
Cal has the talent to make back-to-back bowl games for just the second time during Justin Wilcox's eight years at the helm and is a dark horse candidate in the ACC. The trip to Auburn will be tough. So will the stretch against Florida State, Miami, Pittsburgh and NC State. Fortunately for Cal, the schedule loosens up from there.
10. SYRACUSE 8-4 (4-4)
Wins: Ohio, Stanford, Holy Cross, at UNLV, at Pittsburgh, Boston College, California, ConnecticutLosses: Georgia Tech, at North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, Miami
The trip to UNLV on Oct. 5 could prove dicey. Fran Brown has a chance to lead the Orange to its first eight-win season since 2018 thanks to it's soft non-conference slate but it'll need to win tough conference matchups against Pittsburgh, Boston College and Cal.
9. GEORGIA TECH: 7-5 (5-3)
Wins: Georgia State, VMI, Duke, at Louisville, UNC, at Syracuse, at Virginia TechLosses: Florida State, Notre Dame, at Georgia, Miami, North Carolina State
This is one of the best Georgia Tech teams in years, but it faces an uphill battle for bowl eligibility against an absolute gauntlet in 2024. The Yellow Jackets project to win toss-ups against Louisville, UNC and Virginia Tech. However, Brent Key's crew faces CFP contenders in the first five weeks and hits several ACC title contenders in Miami and NC State shortly after. Georgia Tech is the only ACC team in our toughest overall schedule ranking, and it ranks No. 6 overall.
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Updated ACC Football Recruiting Rankings (6/17) (SI; Caudell)
Another weekend has come and gone in the ACC and there was not much movement in the recruiting rankings.
Georgia Tech did not have the weekend that they did last weekend, but the Yellow Jackets still find themselves in the top 25 of the national rankings and No. 5 in the ACC. Duke is the team that took a bit of a leap into the rankings, going from 6th in the ACC to now being 4th. Can Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils stay in the top half of the ACC or is this just some early momentum that fades? That is going to be something interesting to watch.
Georgia Tech did get one commitment this weekend and it was three-star edge Carrington Coombs.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Coombs is a three-star player, the No. 625 player in the country, the No. 68 linebacker in the country, and the No. 69 player in the state of Georgia.
Other offers that Coombs held were Boston College, Kansas State, Liberty, Virginia, Oklahoma State, USF, and App State, among others. Here are some other news and noteworthy stats about Coombs courtesy of 247Sports:
Also plays basketball.
2023: Two-way snaps for Dacula (Ga.) Hebron Christian Academy, helping lead the Lions to a 6-5 record and first round berth in the GHSA 3A playoffs. Totaled 41 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble as a junior along with two catches for 23 yards on offense.
Georgia Tech is off to a really good start to the month and they should only be getting better. Brent Key has done a great job of getting guys on campus and being able to land them. I think they could still rise in the recruiting rankings.
One thing to watch in the coming weeks is the battle between Georgia Tech and Florida State for five-star offensive tackle Josh Petty. Florida State recruiting reporter Zach Blostein put a 247Sports Crystal ball in last week in favor of Florida State.
Last month, On3 Sports recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong put in a recruiting prediction for Florida State to land Petty. Based on these two predictions, it seems to be trending that way. A crystal ball does not mean that it is certain though and until Petty commits (and even after), Georgia Tech could still be in it. Let's see what happens.
Just recently, Georgia Tech made the cut in Petty's final five schools along with Stanford, Tennessee, Ohio State, and Florida State. According to 247Sports, Petty is the No. 14 prospect in the country, the No. 2 offensive tackle in the country, and the No. 4 player in the state of Georgia. Petty plays at Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, GA. He is one of the elite prospects in the country and whoever lands him is going to be getting a player who will be ready to step in and compete for playing time right away. While Florida State and Miami both are in the back of the rankings, they are in the mix for a lot of highly rated players that will boost them up.
Updated ACC Recruiting Rankings (6/17)
1. Clemson
2. Syracuse
3. Stanford
4. Duke
5. Georgia Tech
6. Wake Forest
7. SMU
8. Virginia
9. Louisville
10. North Carolina
11. Pitt
12. Boston College
13. Cal
14. Miami
15. NC State
16. Virginia Tech
17. Florida State
ACC mailbag: What's realistic for Georgia Tech? Can Bill O'Brien get it done at BC? (nytimes; $; Raynor & Navarro)
Welcome to Part 2 of our ACC mailbag. In Part 1, published last week, we tackled questions on Virginia, Virginia Tech, Pitt and Duke as well as the transfer portal. Thanks, as always, for so many good questions.
What are the key areas Brent Key and the Yellow Jackets have to improve upon to move up in the conference? Is a top-25 ranking a realistic goal? — Glenn B.
If you read what I wrote about Virginia Tech’s run defense in last week’s mailbag, you can copy and paste it for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets gave up an average of 245 yards per game and 5.8 yards per rush last season against FBS winning teams, last in the ACC.
Like Kyron Drones at Virginia Tech, Haynes King is a top-five quarterback in the league in my mind. He has plenty of assets around him and four starting offensive linemen back from a team that finished fourth in the league in scoring (31.1 points per game) and third in yards per play (6.34).
But you can’t be 131st against the run and expect to be a top-25 team. Key needs to upgrade the talent on the defensive line and at linebacker if he wants to become a contender. There are only three blue-chippers on the roster: rush end Kevin Harris, a 2021 Alabama transfer; USC transfer Romello Height; and senior linebacker Trenilyas Tatum. Recruiting talented big men on defense in the Southeast shouldn’t be this hard at a program like Georgia Tech. Get a few at least. — Manny Navarro
How long will it take Bill O’Brien to turn BC around? Why won’t Father Leahy retire sooner? 2026? Gimme a break! — Brian C.
I feel your frustration, Brian. BC has a long way to go to climb up the ladder, but I wouldn’t place blame only on Father Leahy’s shoulders. It takes money to win big in college football. Lots of it. The second-most important factor is your head coach. O’Brien left a comfy offensive coordinator job at Ohio State where he was well positioned to win a national championship to take on a much tougher challenge back home. No, O’Brien, 54, didn’t play for the Eagles. But he’s a Boston native and highly motivated not to screw this up. That’s a start.
The problem for BC is money — specifically name, image and likeness money. In this Boston Magazine piece from last year, the Friends of the Heights collective talked about its big win in keeping former star receiver Zay Flowers from leaving for another school. It goes on to mention how the collective has about $1 million in assets that it raised from donors. By comparison, the best programs in the country are raising more than $20 million to compete in the NIL/marketing space.
I have no doubt O’Brien is going to recruit his butt off and work the portal hard, and he did a fine job upgrading the roster right away. I have BC listed under ACC transfer portal winners this offseason. But, the bottom line is you don’t compete for championships without some money to pay the players. O’Brien will squeeze six, seven or as many as eight or nine wins a year with his coaching. He’s better than Jeff Hafley. But you need thoroughbreds to win a race. — Navarro
Thoughts on how many games Fran Brown and Syracuse will win this year? — Peter G.
Syracuse is the wild card in the ACC heading into 2024. BetMGM has the Orange’s over/under at 7.5 wins, which feels about right to me — although I’m not sure anything will surprise me.
The argument for Syracuse winning at least eight games stems from what the Orange did this offseason. Brown was one of the more exciting hires of the coaching carousel, and the Orange dipped into the transfer portal to grab an experienced quarterback, Kyle McCord. Throw in the fact Syracuse avoids Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Louisville on the schedule this season, and I can talk myself into Brown’s first year starting with a splash.
The hype around the Orange, though, gives me a bit of pause. For as much buzz as Brown has brought into the program with his recruiting efforts, this is still a team that finished with the nation’s No. 99 offense and No. 67 defense in 2023. This is still a program that has had only two winning seasons since 2013. And Syracuse has just the ninth-best odds to win the ACC, per BetMGM, behind Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Louisville, NC State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and SMU.
If we assume the Orange should be able to handle Ohio, Holy Cross, UNLV and UConn, that’s four wins right there. I’d take the Orange over Boston College and Cal, as well. But it’s a toss-up against Georgia Tech, Stanford and Pitt. NC State, Virginia Tech and Miami would be tough. Give me eight wins: seven in the regular season plus a bowl game. — Grace Raynor
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ACC quarterbacks ranked worst to first heading into 2024 (usatoday.com; Turri)
Though the start of the 2024 college football season is still a while away, it’s never too early to start looking ahead.
Today, we’re delving into the ACC’s starting quarterbacks for 2024, updating our post-spring rankings as summer begins and opinions continue to shift. Things can change fast, and that’s why we update rankings. While not all teams have officially named their starting quarterbacks, our rankings are based on current projections and what we’ve seen from the program.
The ACC is evolving with new programs and fresh faces joining the conference. With these new programs come new quarterbacks, with one, in particular, being one of the best in the ACC right out of the gate.
Remember, these rankings are subjective, so take them with a grain of salt! Here are our rankings of the ACC starting quarterbacks heading into the 2024 season.
17 Ashton Daniels
Team: Stanford Cardinal2023 Stats: 58.8%, 2,247 pass yds, 11 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 296 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
Stanford has a tough road in the ACC in 2024. They should be toward the bottom of the conference, but with projected starting quarterback Ashton Daniels having a great spring, there’s a chance they surprise people.
16 Nate Yarnell
Team: Pittsburgh Panthers
2023 Stats: 66.1%, 595 pass yds, 4 passing touchdowns, 1 interceptions, -13 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdowns
We currently project Yarnell as the starter, but Eli Holstein is competing hard for the job. Yarnell was more than solid in his appearances in 2023, with a lot of room to grow
15 Hank Bachmeier
Team: Wake Forest Demon Deacon
2023 Stats: 67.7%, 2,058 pass yds, 10 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions, -26 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdown
Bachmeier would have ranked much higher if this were a ranking heading into the 2023 season. His career has been very up and down, with the quarterback hoping the Demon Deacons can unlock his potential.
14 Fernando Mendoza
Team: Cal Golden Bears2023 Stats: 63.0%, 1,708 pass yds, 14 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 86 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
This is an interesting one. At first, I would have told you there’s a 0% chance transfer Chandler Rogers doesn’t win this quarterback battle, but it seems Mendoza is running away with the job. If he’s holding off Rogers, there’s a good chance he flies up these rankings once the season starts.
13 Anthony Colandrea
Team: Virginia Cavaliers
2023 Stats: 62.6%, 1,958 pass yds, 13 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 225 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns
Anthony Colandrea has his work cut out for him. This UVA team shouldn’t be much better in 2024 than they were in 2023, though it doesn’t mean he can’t improve. If he takes the next step, this Cavaliers offense could be far better than people expect.
12 Max Johnson
Team: North Carolina Tar Heels2023 Stats: 62.1%, 1,452 pass yds, 9 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 27 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
After a solid start to his career in 2021 with LSU, Johnson lagged behind when he moved on to Texas A&M. Can he turn things back around with the Tar Heels?
11 Maalik Murphy
Team: Duke Blue Devils
2023 Stats: 56.3%, 477 pass yds, 3 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions, -18 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns
Murphy is the most challenging placement on this list. He’s in the top 5 from a potential standpoint, but this isn’t only about potential. The talk from spring ball is that Murphy struggled, which makes it tough to move him up these rankings.
10 Thomas Castellanos
Team: Boston College Eagles2023 Stats: 57.3%, 2,248 pass yds, 15 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 1,113 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns
Speaking on potential, Castellanos is oozing it. If he cleans up his turnover issues, he could contend for the best quarterback in the ACC. If he doesn’t, he could contend for the worst. There’s a wide range of outcomes at Boston College.
9 Kyle McCord
Team: Syracuse Orange2023 Stats: 65.8%, 3,170 pass yds, 24 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, -65 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns
McCord dropped a considerable amount since the end of spring football. He hasn’t been the quarterback I expected at Ohio State, and at Syracuse, he could break out. I’ve just tempered my expectations with McCord.
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Links, News and Rumors 2024 June 16 (RX; HM)
Links, News and Rumors 2024 June 16
First, an update from the College World Series:
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From ESPN's "Recruiting progress report: How new coaches are faring on the trail", here's the one ACC coach mentioned...
Fran Brown, Syracuse Orange
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From GobblerCountry, "Virginia Tech football: 1999 Hokies named one of the most influential teams ever", here's a brief quote (note: I added the italics):
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Other
Wegmans is asking the town of Clay to rezone about 24 acres it owns just north of its store near the former Great Northern Mall. The land in blue is the parcel that would be rezoned.Source: Onondaga County
Wegmans asks to rezone big piece of land behind store near Micron site for ‘future development’ (PS; $; Doran)
Wegmans is asking the town of Clay to rezone a piece of the land the supermarket chain owns behind its store near the former Great Northern Mall on Route 31.
The land was home to the Clay Golf Dome and when it collapsed Wegmans bought the property, said Evelyn Ingram, speaking for Rochester-based Wegmans.
Wegmans paid $1 million for the land in 2008.
The property is still zoned recreational. Wegmans wants it changed to regional commercial, in line with the current zoning on the Great Northern supermarket property. The application reads that Wegmans is seeking the zone change “to allow for future development” on the land.
There are no specific plans at this time for it to be redeveloped if the zone change request is approved, Ingram said. There are also no plans at this time to expand the Great Northern Wegmans store.
“The reason we are doing this is to allow for uses on that land,” Ingram said.
Clay planning and development officials said the land could be used for a shopping center or other business if is rezoned.
A public hearing on the zone change proposal will be held Monday night at Clay Town Hall.
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Owera Vineyards, 5276 E. Lake Road, Cazenovia.Syracuse.com | File photograph
Owera Vineyards in Cazenovia reopens tasting room. What about weddings and events? (PS; $; Cazentre)
Owera Vineyards has re-opened its tasting room on East Lake Road in Cazenovia for the first time since last fall.
And the 11-year-old winery is still hoping town officials will approve a plan for a new building that will allow it to resume hosting weddings, parties and other events. Last fall, Owera cancelled all its scheduled weddings and events for 2024 as part of an ongoing battle with some of its neighbors and town officials.
“Our longstanding goal has been to finalize our site plan with a year-round venue to market our wines and host events,” co-owner Peter Muserlian Jr. said in an email to syracuse.com. “Once completed, it will mitigate the concerns a few neighbors have expressed over the years.”
Pending approval from the town, he said, the winery hopes to host some limited events this year and bring back a “full event schedule” next year.
Neighbors of the winery at 5276 E. Lake Road have complained since it opened in 2013 that weddings and other events, held in a tent on the property, created noise, bright lights at night, increased traffic and other nuisances.
The town cited the winery for those issues several times in 2013 and initially blocked a proposal for a permanent event building.
Owera received approval in 2015 from the town for a 6,300-square-foot building but the town Planning Board limited the hours of operation, set noise levels, restricted the number of events per week and required music be acoustic, according to syracuse.com archives.
The winery sued the board in State Supreme Court but almost all of the requirements were ultimately upheld. That building was never constructed.
But Owera submitted new plans for a building last year. The most recent review of the plans came at a Town Planning Board meeting on June 6. The proposal includes noise level monitoring, light mitigation and an agreement for guests to leave no later than 10 p.m. on weekends and earlier on weeknights. It also includes an outdoor veranda with a pergola, or covering, that would be used for such things as wedding ceremonies.
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Heat wave, already underway in Upstate NY, kicks into high gear today (PS; Coin)
After a record-breaking Monday, the early season heat wave in Upstate New York ramps up today as temperatures and humidity increase.
The high temperature Monday hit 94 degrees in Syracuse, a record for June 17. Temperatures are expected to reach at least 96 degrees in Syracuse today through Thursday, something that hasn’t happened in June since records began in 1903, according to the National Weather Service.
Onondaga County is keeping beaches open later, county case managers are checking in with older people most vulnerable to the heat, and, in a first for some, schools are closing early to keep kids out of stuffy and overheated classrooms.
A heat wave isn’t all that unusual in Syracuse, one of the nation’s snowiest cities. Syracuse gets an average of one heat wave a year, defined as at least three consecutive days of 90 or greater.
But what’s different this time is, well, the timing. These sweltering days are coming just after Father’s Day, before schools are out and even before most of the city’s pools have opened.
The Syracuse City School District, which had just one snow day this school year, will dismiss most of its students early because of heat on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. (Schools are already scheduled to close Wednesday for Juneteenth.)
High schools are going ahead with Regents exams, though some students were being moved to rooms with air conditioning.
Syracuse is seeing more 90-degree days during the span of the school year, from early September to late June, than in the past.
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https://www.syracuse.com/music/2024/06/luke-bryan-performing-at-2024--open-at-endicotts-en-joie-golf-club-how-much-are-tickets.html (PS; Kemeny)
Luke Bryan will perform at DICK’s Open PGA golf tournament in Endicott, NY at the En-Joie Golf Course on Friday, June 21 (6/21/2024). The concert starts at 9:00 p.m.
The show is part of his 2024 “Mind of a Country Boy Tour” in support of his latest compilation album of the same name, which was released on June 14 and can be streamed on Apple Music (free trial).
In addition to old favorites like “Play It Again,” “Country Girl (Shake It for Me),” “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” the album features two new singles, “Mind of a Country Boy” and “Love You, Miss You, Mean It.”
The tour kicked off on June 13 in Jacksonville, FL and will conclude on September 28 in Smithton, PA.
Where to buy Luke Bryan tickets:
Ticketmaster has limited standard admission available for Luke Bryan’s concert at the En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott, NY on Friday, June 21, but greater availability and deals are offered by Vivid Seats, SeatGeek or StubHub.Here’s a look at the best prices available:
- Vivid Seats: Starting at $122
- SeatGeek: Starting at $153
- StubHub: Starting at $126
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