Orangeyes Daily Articles for Monday for Football

[sutomcat]

Welcome to Orange Chicken Day!

Orange chicken, a Chinese-American dish beloved at Chinese restaurants in North America, particularly at Panda Express, where it is believed to have been invented, is celebrated today with Orange Chicken Day. Sometimes known as orange peel chicken, orange-flavored chicken, or tangerine chicken, orange chicken consists of chopped and battered chicken that's fried until it's light and crispy and then coated in a sweet orange-flavored chili sauce that thickens and caramelizes like a glaze. The secret to the sweet and sour taste of the dish—at least when it comes to Panda Express—is a contrast of brown sugar, honey, and oil from orange peels with soy sauce and Chinese black vinegar.

Orange chicken is similar to some sweet and sour dishes in China and is often considered to be a Chinese food in America, but it is not regularly found in China. It may be viewed as a variation of another American-born dish, General Tso's chicken. Chef Andy Kao claims to have developed the recipe for orange chicken at a Panda Express in Hawaii in 1987, as a modification of a bone-in dish the restaurant served. While it's an American creation, it may have been inspired by a tangerine chicken dish from Hunan province, China, that translates to "dried citrus peel chicken." The Chinese dish diverges in preparation and taste from orange chicken, however, and is fresh and spicy instead of sweet and sour. Besides Panda Express, where it is the signature dish, orange chicken is regularly found in school cafeterias, at military bases, and in the frozen meal aisles in supermarkets. It is prepared, enjoyed, and celebrated today, on Orange Chicken Day!

SU News

Delaware State University

Syracuse hires Dimitri Hill as assistant offensive line coach (DO; Girshon)

Syracuse has reportedly hired former Delaware State tight ends coach Dimitri Hill as its new assistant offensive line coach, per Pete Thamel. Dwayne Scott previously held the role but is no longer with the program.

Hill was an offensive lineman at Delaware State from 2012-15 before joining its coaching staff. Under Hill’s tutelage, Hornets tight end EJ Core led the team with 391 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions while his 28 catches were the second most in 2023.

With the Orange, Hill will work alongside new offensive line coach Dale Williams. SU’s offensive line is headlined by left tackle Enrique Cruz Jr., who didn’t allow a sack as a sophomore in 2023.

Oronde Gadsden II Ranked Top 100 In EA Sports College Football 25 (orangefizz.net; Papillo)

College Football 25 is set to release this week, and I think I speak for everyone when I say this game has been long-awaited. Footage of gameplay has started to be released and college football fans have been nothing but impressed. In anticipation of the full release on July 19th, EA Sports released the top 100 players in the game overall, and a member of the Orange made the cut.

While many SU fans might have expected it to be highly touted quarterback transfer Kyle McCord, it’s actually a returning member to the program. Tight end Oronde Gadsden II slots in as the 69th-best player in the entire game, as well as the second-best tight end in the country.

Gadsden, who missed almost all of 2023 with a Lisfranc injury, measures in at a 91 overall in the game. It is also known that Gadsden has 88 speed, 90 acceleration, 70 strength, 93 awareness, and 90 jumping ratings.

This may be a shock to some, but Gadsden’s 2022 campaign proved how dominant he can really be when healthy. The redshirt junior hauled in 61 receptions for 969 yards and six touchdowns, propelling the Orange to as high as #14 in the nation at one point in the season. Those numbers shattered SU’s single-season record for both receptions and receiving yards.

Not only is Gadsden’s high rating a testament to his success but it also could be related to the large amount of buzz surrounding Syracuse football as a whole heading into this fall. For the first time in a while thanks to the arrival of new head coach Fran Brown, there are some expectations this year for the Orange to do big things. We don’t know the team overall for the ‘Cuse just yet in the game, but chances are it’s higher than some may think.
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What is Georgia Tech's Biggest Trap Game in 2024? (SI; Caudell)
When you are trying to find a trap game for Georgia Tech this fall, it is pretty difficult to find one. Georgia Tech faces one of the nation's most difficult schedules and it is hard to label any of their games as "trap games". 247Sports analyst Carter Bahns listed Georgia Tech's early season matchup at Syracuse as their biggest trap game of 2024:

"Georgia Tech has a decent chance of getting back to bowl eligibility, but everything will have to be earned against this formidable schedule. The Week 0 overseas showdown with Florida in Dublin, Ireland and the season-ending battle with Georgia bookend a daunting slate in which the Yellow Jackets could be underdogs in a majority of games — even with their offseason improvements. If one game stands out as winnable, yet just tricky enough for "trap" designation, it is the trip up to Syracuse, where Fran Brown has that program on the rise."

I think this is a fair take. Syracuse is going to be one of the more interesting teams in the ACC this season because of all of the change and new faces they have around their program. This will be the first big test for 1st-year head coach Fran Brown and his new-look team. Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord should be a huge upgrade at quarterback and he has talented skill players around him, like tight end Oronde Gadsden and running back LeQuint Allen.

Brown is a fantastic defensive coach and bringing former Texas A&M coach Elijah Robinson is a huge win for them. There is a chance that Syracuse takes a nice step forward on defense this season with more talent and an upgrade in coaching.

Texas A&M transfer Fadil Diggs should help bring a pass rush to a unit that struggled to rush the passer well last year. West Virginia transfer James Heard should make an impact as well. Dion Wilson Jr (New Mexico State) and Isaiah Hastings (Alabama) will likely see plenty of playing time on the interior. King Joseph Edwards and Rashard Perry are two other names to know.

Marlowe Wax led Syracuse with over 100 stops last season and is back in the middle of the defense. Derek McDonald and Anwar Sparrow are likely going to be the other two starters at linebacker. Brown did not bring any transfers at the linebacker spot, which should tell you that he likes what he has there.
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Why Syracuse Football Has High Expectations This Season. (itlh; Nutting)

Syracuse football, in late August, will begin its 2024 season when the Orange is set to host Ohio. Orange fans are excited for the upcoming season, when first-year head coach Fran Brown and his assistants guide a talented roster that includes returnees, transfers and incoming high school seniors.

In this column, I take a look at what the expectations for Brown and the Orange could entail in the upcoming season.

Here are some key questions to consider as we detail the 2024 season for Syracuse football.
What can we expect from Fran Brown this year as head coach?
Fran Brown was the former defensive backs coach for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he won a national championship with the team back in the 2022 season. Brown brings a champion's view to this Orange team that is looking to make a name for themselves this season.

He will look to bring a new attitude and a new atmosphere that the Orange have been lacking for some time now. Even though Syracuse has made it to bowl games its past two seasons, Brown is looking to rebuild this team in his image, which is a team that can make a run for the top 25 rankings and even make a run for the ACC title and high hopes to make it to the College Football Playoff.

He looks to build a team that can not only run the ball, but also make high-caliber passes and play tough, no-nonsense defense on the other side as well.

What new additions to the Orange will stand out?
Coach Brown has been busy this off-season and made some moves that bring a lot of promise to this Orange team that is now looking like a revamped team with a lot of promise behind it. Kyle McCord, a quarterback transfer from Ohio State, was one of the biggest moves Syracuse has made this year.

The former starter at Ohio State looks to bring his arm and field vision to the Syracuse Orange this fall, as he looks to bring a solid passing game, which will work well with offensive stars like tight end Oronde Gadsden II and running back LeQuint Allen Jr., to a Syracuse team that has been a little run heavy the past few seasons.

Brown would also help bring back a fan favorite in Duce Chestnut, who transferred from Syracuse to LSU back in 2022. Chestnut's speed, pass coverage and ball awareness are much-needed keys to this solid Syracuse defensive unit that has been revamped with stars like defensive back Justin Barron, linebacker Marlowe Wax Jr., and more.
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4-star edge who listed SU football as finalist intends to sign with ACC foe (PS; Carlson)

Four-star defensive edge and former Notre Dame commit CJ May verbally committed to Louisville on Saturday after listing Syracuse as one of four finalists in his college recruitment.

May revealed his decision at his high school during a live stream on 247Sports’ YouTube channel by sliding on a red Louisville hat.

May said relationships with the coaching staff and the Cardinals’ projected depth chart factored into his decision. He said he told the coaching staff on his official visit that he will commit.

“I’ve known it’s been Louisville for a month or month and a half,” May said.

His other finalists included Washington and Auburn, but Louisville appeared to be the favorites to land May in the weeks leading up to Saturday’s announcement. 247Sports’ national recruiting analyst, Tom Loy, logged a prediction on June 24 for May to pick the Cardinals. Loy moderated the live stream.
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Syracuse football's 10 best linebackers of all-time per ChatGPT (247sports.com; McAllister)

Linebacker has been a position of strength for Syracuse throughout its history. In part seven of our ChatGPT series on the best players in Syracuse history at each position, linebacker is up next.

PREVIOUS CHATGPT LISTS:

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight End

Offensive Line

Defensive Line

Simply doing our ranking of the 10 best players at a specific position is too stale. It has been done a million times, and so we are doing so with a little twist to make it more fun. We are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to come up with the list.

That's right. We asked ChatGPT who the 10 best players in Syracuse history at each position to come up with the list. We used the phrase (Syracuse football's 10 best [Position]), and will display the results here. Some are straightforward and expected. They make perfect sense and fit in line with what most Syracuse fans would have. Some results, however, are quite the opposite. It makes for an entertaining list that will provoke thoughts and laughter alike.

We count backwards from 10 all the way up to the top spot. We also include players that were omitted but deserved consideration. Note that we displayed the results exactly as ChatGPT produced them, not correcting for errors or duplicates.

10. DOUG HOGUE​

Player: Doug Hogue
Years: 2007-2010
Stats: 169 tackles, 26.5 TFL, 12.5 sacks, 3 INTs
ChatGPT Comments: Played from 2007 to 2010 and was a productive linebacker for Syracuse, known for his speed and tackling ability.
Our thoughts: Doug Hogue spent his first two seasons at Syracuse as a reserve running back before switching to linebacker for his final two seasons. He was really good on the defensive side of the ball during those two years, especially as a junior when he had 9.5 sacks. Hogue parlayed that into a shot in the NFL, spending two seasons in the league with the Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers. Her certainly deserved to be considered for this list and therefore is fine being at 10.

9. ANTWON BAILEY​

Player: Antwon Bailey
Years: 2008-2011
Stats: 454 att, 2,138 yards, 11 TDs, 92 rec, 706 yards, 4 TDs
ChatGPT Comments: Played from 2008 to 2011 and was a versatile linebacker who contributed significantly to Syracuse's defense.
Our thoughts: Antwon Bailey was a good running back at Syracuse who began his career as a backup but became the primary ball carrier as a senior. He averaged nearly five yards per carry for his career and topped 1,200 scrimmage yards during his lone season as the main back. Bailey showcased his versatility throughout his career as a really good pass catcher out of the backfield. He had at least 27 catches in each of his last three seasons despite being a reserve in two of those years. However, he was never a linebacker and therefore does not belong on this list.

8. JERRY HOLMES​

Player: Jerry Holmes
Years: 1978-1979
Stats: 175 tackles
ChatGPT Comments: Played in the late 1970s and was a standout linebacker known for his toughness and leadership.
Our thoughts: Jerry Holmes did not play at Syracuse nor play linebacker. He was a defensive back at West Virginia who played two seasons for the Mountaineers after transferring in from a junior college. He then spent 12 seasons in the NFL as a player and started coaching in 1999. That is all well and good but Holmes does not belong on this list for two reasons. Wrong school and wrong position. This is a failure by ChatGPT.

7. CLIFTON SMITH​

Player: Clifton Smith
Years: 1999-2002
Stats: 405 tackles, 36 TFLs, 6 sacks, 3 FFs, 2 FRs, 1 INT
ChatGPT Comments: Played from 1985 to 1988 and was a key linebacker for Syracuse during his career.
Our thoughts: Clifton Smith was a Freshman All-American, two time All-Big East First Team selection and one time All-Big East Second Team selection. He ranks fifth on Syracuse's career tackles list. Smith was very good during his time at Syracuse as a key starter for the last three seasons of his career. He got a shot in the NFL after that, spending a few years in the league primarily as a reserve. He deserves to be included on this list.

6. DERRELL SMITH​

Player: Derrell Smith
Years: 2007-2010
Stats: 270 tackles, 24.5 TFLs, 9.0 sacks, 2 INTs, 8 FFs, 5 FRs
ChatGPT Comments: Played from 2006 to 2010 and was a productive linebacker for Syracuse, earning All-Big East honors.
Our thoughts: Derrell Smith was a key player during the transition from Greg Robinson to Doug Marrone. He was the quarterback of the defense that helped turn Syracuse around from a laughing stock to a respectable squad. Smith was another linebacker who started as a running back before changing positions. He was a two time All Big East Second Team selection. He left Syracuse second on the all-time forced fumbles list. Smith's selection on this list is deserved.

5. DWAYNE JOSEPH​

Player: Dwayne Joseph
Years: 1991-1993
Stats: 7 INTs
ChatGPT Comments: Played from 1987 to 1990 and was known for his playmaking ability and tackling prowess.
Our thoughts: Dwayne Joseph was known for his playmaking ability, but not as a linebacker. Joseph played cornerback at Syracuse and briefly in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. In addition to getting the position wrong, ChatGPT also got the timeframe wrong as he played from 1991-1993 at Syracuse not 1987-1990. Close but no cigar. Following his playing career, Joseph has been in the front office of several NFL franchises and is currently with the Raiders as Director of Pro Scouting. He does not belong on this list, however, due to playing the wrong position.
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2024 Syracuse Preview/Prediction (youtube; podcast; American Football Network)

2024 Syracuse Preview/Prediction

2024 Syracuse Preview/Prediction (youtube; podcast; Shady Sports)

2024 Syracuse Preview/Prediction

Keeping Up With The 315 7-12-24 (soundcloud; radio; the 315)

Brian started things out today with 100 Days to Fran Brown in which we are 50 days away where he went over some recruiting news. Next, Brian brought in The Man Who Sort of Knows to give his sports picks for this weekend! Finally, Brian wrapped the show up with AI Friday where AI hosts Alfy & Alayna came in to breakdown Syracuse Football's defense going into the new season.

Checking in on Syracuse Football's 2025 Recruiting Class | Syracuse Orange Podcast (toutube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)

Syracuse Football's 2025 recruiting class has 28 total commits. That's second in the country only behind Rutgers. All of Fran Brown's commits are rated three stars on 247sports. The Cuse recently secured a commitment from three-star offensive lineman Jayden Mann.Jackson Holzer gives you a quick check-up on the Cuse's 2025 recruiting class.

Syracuse Football Recruiting Suffers a TOUGH BLOW - Fran Brown Fails to Land 2025 Four-Star CJ May (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)

Syracuse Football was in 2025 four-star edge rusher CJ May's final four schools alongside: Louisville, Auburn, and Washington. May is a top-150 national prospect on 247sports, and would've been the top recruit in Fran Brown's 2025 class. Ultimately, May went to Louisville as Tom Loy and many analysts expected.Jackson Holzer is bummed the Cuse couldn't secure May on this edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.

Syracuse Football: Analyst prediction arrives for 4-star WR with 'Cuse in his top 8 (itlh; Adler)

Daylyn Upshaw, a 2025 four-star wide receiver from Alabama who has Syracuse football in his top eight, is receiving some analyst buzz for one of his finalists from the Sunshine State.

This week, On3 vice president of national college football recruiting and the transfer portal Steve Wiltfong logged a prediction in the direction of fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Miami in Upshaw's recruitment.

It's the first analyst forecast I've come across for the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Upshaw, and I'll certainly keep an eye out for others. Wiltfong is one of the country's top recruiting experts, by the way.

In early June, via X, Upshaw disclosed a top eight of the Orange, Miami, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Penn State.

An ACC rival has some buzz for Syracuse football 2025 4-star WR target Daylyn Upshaw.

Upshaw, a standout rising senior at Central High School in Phenix City, Ala., took a visit to the 'Cuse in April, per his X page. Around that time, he landed a scholarship offer from the Syracuse football staff, which is led by head coach Fran Brown.

According to recruiting services, throughout his recruitment, Upshaw has landed more than 20 offers from a range of programs. As a junior during the 2023 term for Central, Upshaw caught 59 passes for 1,185 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns, per MaxPreps.
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x.com

ACC News

How One Word Might Determine Clemson’s ACC Fate (SI; Postins)

Clemson and the Atlantic Coast Conference are involved in two different lawsuits right now — one in Pickens County (S.C.) and one in Mecklenburg County (N.C.).

For the past week the two sides have fought over whether their jurisdictions should be where the case is ultimately heard. Clemson is in South Carolina, while the ACC’s home offices are in Charlotte, N.C.

Well, for now, both cases will continue on parallel tracks. But, new documentation emerged that shed some light on how Clemson might strategize its way out of the conference, if that is its ultimate goal.

It might just come down to one word.

The Post and Courier published a story on Sunday that examined additional information from documents that were part of Clemson’s suit against the ACC in South Carolina. These documents, which were part of the filing on April 17, were redacted due to what the ACC considered “trade secrets.”

Well, some of that information is now unredacted, and the Post and Courier reported that it gave further light to a strategy that Clemson might use.

Per the publication, one of Clemson’s argument is that “…ESPN conveyed the broadcast rights to games played by a ‘conference institution.’ That is defined in the ESPN contract as a ‘college, university or other institution that is a member of the ACC.’

That seems like perfectly normal contractual language. But that’s not the whole argument. Clemson is putting an emphasis on the word “is.” Why?

The Post and Courier explained it like this:

If the Tigers left the ACC, they wouldn't be a "conference institution" in the present tense — "is" — as written in the ESPN deal. According to Clemson's lawyers, the ESPN contract doesn't speak to a school that "was" a member.

It’s a minute word choice, but one that it hopes helps their argument. If ESPN’s contract doesn’t specify what happens to a school’s rights if it is no longer a member, it’s possible a judge might see that as running counter to the ACC’s grant of rights, which is theoretically irrevocable and binds the league together through the life of their television deal.
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EVERY Team's Stadium Entrance in College Football 25 (youtube; podcast; Spruce_)
This video is presented by the EA Creator Network.EA Sports College Football Tips channel:‪@SpruceGooseCFB
‬00:00 Intro
0:14 Air Force
1:02 Akron
1:45 Alabama
2:35 Appalachian State
3:19 Arizona
4:02 Arizona State
4:51 Arkansas
5:36 Arkansas State
6:20 Army
7:07 Auburn
7:50 Ball State
8:33 Baylor
9:17 Boise State
10:03 Boston College
10:46 Bowling Green
11:29 Buffalo
12:16 BYU
13:02 California
13:45 Central Michigan
14:27 Charlotte
15:11 Cincinnati
15:53 Clemson
16:39 Coastal Carolina
17:21 Colorado
18:08 Colorado State
18:50 Duke
19:37 East Carolina
20:20 Eastern Michigan
21:02 Florida
21:44 Florida Atlantic
22:31 Florida International
23:13 Florida State
24:01 Fresno State
24:44 Georgia
25:33 Georgia Southern
26:18 Georgia State
27:00 Georgia Tech
27:48 Hawaii
28:31 Houston
29:15 Illinois
29:56 Indiana
30:38 Iowa
31:24 Iowa State
32:11 Jacksonville State
32:53 James Madison
33:34 Kansas
34:16 Kansas State
35:02 Kennesaw State
35:44 Kent State
36:30 Kentucky
37:22 Liberty
38:05 Louisiana
38:46 Louisiana Tech
39:29 Louisville
40:14 LSU
41:00 Marshall
41:42 Maryland
42:27 Memphis
43:08 Miami (FL)
43:50 Miami (OH)
44:32 Michigan
45:20 Michigan State
46:16 Middle Tennessee State
46:57 Minnesota
47:42 Mississippi State
48:25 Missouri
49:21 Navy
50:11 NC State
51:04 Nebraska
52:01 Nevada
52:44 New Mexico
53:26 New Mexico State
54:08 North Carolina
54:50 North Texas
55:34 Northern Illinois
56:18 Northwestern
56:59 Notre Dame
57:46 Ohio
58:31 Ohio State
59:28 Oklahoma
1:00:16 Oklahoma State
1:01:02 Old Dominion
1:01:44 Ole Miss
1:02:27 Oregon
1:03:19 Oregon State
1:04:02 Penn State
1:04:57 Pittsburgh
1:05:44 Purdue
1:06:38 Rice
1:07:22 Rutgers
1:08:03 Sam Houston State
1:08:46 San Diego State
1:09:28 San Jose State
1:10:12 SMU
1:10:54 South Alabama
1:11:37 South Carolina
1:12:27 Southern Miss
1:13:11 Stanford
1:13:54 Syracuse
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Welcome to the ACC, Cal Football (pittsburghsportsnow.com; Ludwig)

The ACC welcomed three new members to the conference on July 1, and one of those was new members is the Cal Golden Bears.

It’s particularly notable considering the Bears were one of the first members of the Pac-12 and spent every non-independent season in the Pac-12. But now the Bears are in the ACC, and they’re flying to Pittsburgh this season as part of a world tour — or rather, flying all over the United States for the 2024 season.

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So, let’s take a look at the first of the three ACC newcomers.

History

The Golden Bears have been playing football since the 1880s, but after early success in the 1900s, including four straight claimed titles in the early 1920s, it’s been tough sailing since the 1950s.

The Golden Bears have won 694 games all time (good for 37th all-time), and with a 694-571-51 record, their .547 win percentage is 62nd all-time.

There are five claimed national titles (1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1937), but the Bears have never finished No. 1 in an end-of-season AP or Coaches’ Poll.

The Bears were independent until 1915, joining the Pacific Coast Conference (which knew many names before becoming the Pac-12) in 1916.

Cal is coming off four consecutive losing seasons, going 6-7 (4-5 Pac-12) last season.

Coaching Staff

Justin Wilcox has served as the head coach at Cal since the 2017 season, leading the Golden Bears to a 36-43 (21-37 Pac-12) record.

It’s a difficult job in Berkeley, Cal., but it’s been an up-and-down tenure. Cal finished the 2018 and 2019 seasons with bowl eligibility (winning eight games, including the Redbox Bowl against Illinois in 2019), and didn’t make it back to bowl eligibility until last season.

Wilcox is a defensive-minded coach, and while his Cal teams have put together some strong defenses, the last two seasons have been a step back.

Outlook

Cal is entering its first season in the ACC, after jumping off the sinking ship that was the Pac-12, and the Golden Bears are set to travel 29,000 miles in 2024, according to CBS Sports’ Josh Pate. The Bears should have a solid offense, led by Pac-12 leading rusher Jaydn Ott, but the defensive performance (traditionally a strength under Wilcox) slipped last season. The Bears return 66% of their production from last season.

Pitt is 1-2 all-time against Cal, but all three meetings came before 1970. The last meeting was a 30-15 win for the Golden Bears in Berkeley, Cal.
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(youtube; podcast; Saturday Glory)

Which teams in the ACC feel like they can win the conference crown? And which games will decide who does and doesn't win? Garrett Searight will tell you.

Ranking Mt Rushmores 2024 (CBS) (RX; HM)

Ranking Mt Rushmores 2024 (CBS)

CBS Sports Ranked college football's Mount Rushmores based on NFL success.

Five of the top seven teams are in the ACC, including #1-ranked Pitt and #3 Miami.

...I decided to compile, then rank, each of college football's Mount Rushmores based on its most successful NFL players... Below is the criteria used when putting the ranking together:

• Individual career records, achievements
• Inclusion in the Hall of Fame/NFL 100 All-Time Team
• Lasting impact on the game

If a player attended multiple schools, they were considered only at the school where they made the most significant contribution... The names listed under "honorable mentions" are Hall of Fame inductees who didn't make the cut on the team's Mount Rushmore.

1. Pittsburgh​

Mount Rushmore: QB Dan Marino, WR Larry Fitzgerald, DL Aaron Donald, RB Tony Dorsett
Honorable mentions: CB Darrelle Revis, TE Mike Ditka, OL Jimbo Covert, OL Russ Grimm, LB Ricky Jackson, RB Curtis Martin, LB Joe Schmidt, DL Chris Doleman
Marino and Donald were slam-dunk choices to make Pitt's Mount Rushmore, with Fitzgerald being a fairly easy choice, too. It was a tough call, however, when it came to choosing the final spot that came down to Ditka, Dorsett and Doleman.
All three players have compelling cases. Ditka was a record-setting tight end who led the Bears to the 1963 NFL title. Doleman enjoyed an incredible 15-year career that included eight Pro Bowl nods, 150.5 sacks and a jaw-dropping 44 forced fumbles.
Dorsett's sparkling career, however, was impossible to ignore. The first player to win a national title, Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl over a two-year span, Dorsett compiled a whopping 16,293 total yards and 90 touchdowns during his Hall of Fame career. He forever etched his name in the history books when he ran for a 99-yard touchdown run in 1983 (Derrick Henry tied his record in 2018).

2. USC​

Mount Rushmore: S Ronnie Lott, LB Junior Seau, OL Anthony Munoz, RB O.J. Simpson
Honorable mentions: RB Marcus Allen, S Willie Wood, WR Lynn Swann, S Troy Polamalu, RB Frank Gifford, OL Bruce Matthews, OL Ron Mix, OL Tony Boselli, OL Ron Yary, E/DE Morris Badgro

3. Miami (FL) ​

Mount Rushmore: LB Ray Lewis, DL Warren Sapp, S Ed Reed, WR Michael Irvin
Honorable mentions: DL Ted Hendricks, RB Edgerrin James, QB Jim Kelly, WR Andre Johnson, DL Cortez Kennedy, OL Jim Otto, WR/KR Devin Hester
Few college programs have churned out NFL talent like the Hurricanes have since the 1980s. At the top of that list are three players who are considered to be among the greatest at their position in Lewis, Sapp and Reed. As teammates, Lewis and Reed helped the Ravens win their second and most recent Super Bowl at the end of the 2012 season. You could argue that Andre Johnson deserves Irvin's spot, but "The Playmaker" got the nod for a couple of reasons despite having weaker career numbers. Irvin was a vital part of the '90s Cowboys dynasty, and his physicality helped revolutionize the receiver position. He was also a highly productive player in his own right. In 1995, nearly half of Troy Aikman's passing yardage was completed to Irvin, who put up big numbers despite playing inside a run-first offense.

4. Alabama​

Mount Rushmore: OL John Hannah, WR Don Hutson, QB Bart Starr, LB Derrick Thomas
Honorable mentions: QB Joe Namath, QB Ken Stabler, OL Dwight Stephenson, TE Ozzie Newsome

5. Syracuse​

Mount Rushmore: RB Jim Brown, WR Marvin Harrison, TE John Mackey, OL Jim Ringo
Honorable mentions: RB Larry Csonka, RB Floyd Little, WR Art Monk, DE Dwight Freeney
It's hard to top this Mount Rushmore. It's headlined by Brown, who is on the short list of the greatest players in league history. In his nine seasons, Brown led the NFL in rushing eight times. He retired with a whopping 5.2 yards-per-carry average and a per-game rushing average of 104.3 yards. Ringo managed to make the cut over Monk on the strength of his 10 Pro Bowls and six All-Pro selections as a valued member of the 1960s Packers. Along with being an incredible player, Ringo possessed unreal durability as he missed just one start (while playing in each of Green Bay's 182 games) from 1954-67.

6. Florida State​

Mount Rushmore: DB Deion Sanders, WR Fred Biletnkoff, OL Walter Jones, LB Derrick Brooks
Honorable mention: S LeRoy Butler
While he's often not mentioned when the greatest linebackers of all time are discussed, Brooks isn't overlooked on this list. An 11-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, Brooks played an integral role on the Buccaneers' dominant defense in the late '90s and early '00s. Brooks was especially good when it came to his ability to neutralize then-division rival Michael Vick, one of the most electric quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. In 2002 (Vick's breakout year as well as the Buccaneers' first championship season), Vick ran for a scant 10 yards on seven carries in two games against Tampa Bay (which were both losses) with Brooks following his every move.

7. SMU​

Mount Rushmore: WR Raymond Berry, RB Eric Dickerson, OL Forrest Gregg, RB Doak Walker
We can't talk about SMU football without talking about Dickerson, the star of the "Pony Express" and one of the greatest backs in college and NFL history. Dickerson followed in the footsteps of Walker, who followed up his decorated career at SMU by leading the Lions to back-to-back NFL titles in the early 1950s. Dickerson quickly emerged as the NFL's best running back during the 1980s. He set the rookie rushing record in 1983, and a year later set the still-standing single-season rushing record with 2,105 yards.

8. Penn State​

Mount Rushmore: RB Franco Harris, LB Jack Ham, RB Lenny Moore, DL Dave Robinson
Honorable mentions: OL Mike Michalske, OL Mike Munchak

9. Notre Dame​

Mount Rushmore: QB Joe Montana, DL Alan Page, WR Tim Brown, LB Nick Buoniconti
Honorable mentions: RB Jerome Bettis, TE Dave Casper, LB George Connor, RB Paul Hornung, E Wayne Millner, OL George Trafton, DL Bryant Young

10. Ohio State​

Mount Rushmore: OL Orlando Pace, WR Cris Carter, WR Paul Warfield, OL Jim Parker
Honorable mentions: OT/K Lou Groza, WR Dante Lavelli, DB Dick LeBeau, DL Bill Willis, LB Randy Gradishar

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Are there enough TV slots? (RX; HM)

Are there enough TV slots?

How much exposure can the ACC really hope to get, and how much content does ESPN want?

A few Sunday nights ago, we quoted a statement from MattSarzSports blog in our Links, News and Rumors:

I'll be curious to see if ESPN's noon Eastern telecast window becomes less of a SEC window and more of a Big 12 or ACC window... How often the ACC and Big 12 appear in primetime on ABC over the course of the season will be of interest...

This essentially raises the question: are there enough time slots for ACC football, now that the SEC has gotten so big?

How many TV slots are available?​

On any given Saturday, ESPN broadcasts 4 games per week. So does ABC, ESPN2, and ESPNU. ESPN has an additional one game per week (on average) on Thursday and/or Friday. That's a total of 4 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 1 = 14 games/week, which are divided between the ACC, SEC, Big XII, and some other leagues.

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Saturday TV slots
Network	Noon	3:30	Prime	Late
ABC	====	====	====
ESPN	====	====	====	====
ESPN2	====	====	====
ESPNU	====	====	====
SECN		====	====
ACCN	====	====	====
CW		====

Last season the Big XII averaged roughly 2 games per week on Disney networks, not counting ESPN+, leaving 14 games per week. The various G5 conference combine for about 5 games per week on some combination of ABC/ESPN/2/U, with leaves 9 games per week for the ACC and SEC to share.
There are other conference-specific platforms as well. For instance, the SEC Network (SECN) usually carries 2 SEC games per week (3:30pm and prime time). The ACC Network typically has 3 ACC games per week, and the CW carries another ACC game, so that's 4 games per week from the ACC. More on those slots in a bit.

How many ACC and SEC Games are there?​

I'll examine this 2 ways. First, using pure math, then, counting actual games from the schedule.
The Mathematical method: each ACC or SEC team has 4 conference home games and 4 non-conference games, one of which is typically a road game, so call it a total of 7 home games per school. However, since one of those is usually against an FCS or low-level G5 opponent, let's say 6 games fit for tv.
Given the number of ACC (17) and SEC (16) teams, that works out to 198 tv games per season. Divide that by 14 weeks and you get 14.1 games per week on television, or about 7 each for the ACC and SEC.
The counting method: while it varies from week to week, the maximum number of ACC+SEC games occurs in Week #1 (32 games in 2024), followed by Week #2 (29 games). This includes Texas and Oklahoma in the SEC, as well as Cal, Stanford, and SMU in the ACC.
As mentioned above, many of those games are against FCS teams and will end up on ESPN+/SECN+ (3 in Week 1, 4 in Week 2), or ACCNX (4 each in Weeks 1 and 2). A more typical number is 13 to 16 games per week combined (14 falls in that range), or about 7 to 8 games per conference. Also, it looks like weeks when the ACC has 8 games the SEC usually has 7, and vice versa.

How many tv slots does each conference need?​

If we start with 7 to 8 SEC games per week and subtract the 2 on the SEC Network, we get 5 to 6 games for ABC + ESPN + ESPN2 + ESPNU.
With the ACC, we start with 7 to 8 games and subtract 4, leaving 3 to 4 games for the Disney sports channels. Either 5+4 or 6+3 gives us a total of 9 games per week.

Bottom Line​

There are about 9 ACC+SEC games fit for television every week, and there are 9 available slots on ABC + ESPN + ESPN2 + ESPNU, combined. So, yes, there are exactly enough tv slots to show all of the games (it's almost like they planned it that way, huh?)
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Underrated 2024 ACC FB Games (RX; HM)

Underrated 2024 ACC FB Games

Everybody circles the marquee games like Clemson/Georgia, Florida/Miami, Tennessee/NC State, and Pitt/West Virginia as big games, but are there other, low-key, underrated games worth watching as well? You betcha! Here are a dozen ACC football games that may be flying under your radar...

9/7: Duke at Northwestern​

Neither one of these schools is winning a national championship this season, but it will be a hard fought game between two well-matched teams.

9/14: Boston College at Missouri​

This is a revenge game for Mizzou, but BC could be even better than they were last year.

9/14: San Diego State at Cal​

SDSU is one of the potential "next up" teams for realignment, and they'll be trying to prove it - but Cal has a few things to prove, too!

9/14: Virginia Tech at Old Dominion​

Believe it or not, the Hokies have never won at ODU (this will only be their 3rd try), so this game is very important for Brent Pry's squad.

9/21: TCU at SMU​

This game comes with a trophy - the Iron Skillet - and it has a lot of local rivalry flavor (Dallas vs Fort Worth).

9/21: Rutgers at Virginia Tech​

The Hokies lost in New Jersey last year, so they'll be looking for revenge in Blacksburg!

9/28: Stanford at Clemson​

These teams have only met once before, in a bowl game, in 1986. Clemson won a close game then - will it be close again this time?

10/5: Pitt at N. Carolina​

Pitt has performed well in the ACC, with one quirky exception: they've struggled to beat UNC.

10/17: Boston College at Virginia Tech​

BC vs VT always brings back memories of Mattie Ice. That brings chills to my spine!

10/19: Virginia at Clemson​

For the longest time, the Tigers owned the Cavaliers in football. Then, from 1990 to 2004, UVA went 8-7 against Clemson. They haven't won since.
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Are Florida State and Clemson leaving ACC for Big 12? What happened to Big 10 rumors? (tallahassee.com; Rorabaugh)

EA Sports releases the highly anticipated College Football 25 next week, but Florida State football is wrapped up in another game: the conference realignment rumor mill.

This time, there's talk around FSU and Clemson leaving the ACC for the Big 12. Yes, that would mean the Seminoles would be conference rivals with Colorado and its head coach, FSU legend Deion Sanders.

The Big 12 might not be as big a prize as the SEC or Big Ten, a favorite for college football forecasters and fans to place the two schools. But as they wage a legal battle with the ACC over its media rights deal, FSU and Clemson might see new reasons to consider the ever-expanding conference, especially if it acquires the private equity funding that could be the schools' answer to the price of exiting the ACC.

Here's what we know about the Big 12 rumors and the Florida State and Clemson lawsuits against the ACC:

What are the rumors of FSU and Clemson joining the Big 12?
On July 9, Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger released a report from Big 12 football media day about the conference's expansion so far and what might come next. The conference went from 10 teams in 2022 to 16 in 2024, but after losing Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, Commissioner Brett Yormark said it's not over yet.

Dellenger put it this way in his story: "'I guess you could say we are still open for business,' he said with a smile. 'This is not time to press pause.'"

Dellenger went on John Kurtz's YouTube channel afterward and discussed Florida State's and Clemson's options, saying he thinks "there's been at least early conversation between the Big 12 and those schools."

The discussion also brings up the Big 12's attempt to bring private equity money into the mix, possibly allowing FSU and Clemson to pay the hefty fee it would cost to exit the ACC's contracts if it comes to that.

"If it comes to adding blueblood football powers that you need, maybe there's a shot," Dellenger said.
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Rumor: Four ACC schools finalizing joining FSU and Clemson in the Big 12 (glorycolorado.com; Hughes)

Four ACC schools are reportedly finalizing a deal to join FSU and Clemson in the Big 12 according to long-time college football radio host Greg Swaim -- who claimed that the Big Ten and SEC won't be adding new members anytime soon.

"Working to verify a report from two staffers that at least four ACC schools have agreed in principle to join Clemson and FSU in their exit, and likely to the Big12," Swaim prefaced before saying, "Also continuing to hear unanimously that the B1G and SEC will not be adding anytime soon."

Swaim has previously reported that every new prospective Big 12 team, including FSU and Clemson, will get the same pay as the rest of the conference because of what Texas and Oklahoma did to them despite getting special privileges.

"As we've said for a year, FSU and Clemson will not get a B1G offer, due to neither being AAU accredited," Swaim prefaced before saying, "But from Vegas the talk is the SEC has now turned the pair down. With new sponsorship the B12 probably won't pay quite what the other two do, but with those two they'll pay double what the ACC does.

Colorado, Utah, ASU, Arizona, UCF, Cincinnati, Houston and BYU came to Big 12 at the right time

Things couldn't have worked out better for all the incoming Big 12 teams in 2023 (UCF, Cincinnati, BYU, Houston) especially, and to a lesser degree, the Four Corners schools (Colorado. Utah, ASU, Arizona), in getting next-level Big 12 pay.

Not long ago, the conference was fading into the background of the Power 5, and now it's going to be the Power 3 counterpart to the Big Ten and the SEC.

Things changed quickly to make this happen. Especially in recent days.

But the Big 12 is the place to be once this massive coup of the ACC becomes finalized.
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Other

Today's heat index -- the combined effect of heat and humidity -- is likely to be in the 90s across much of Upstate New York. A heat advisory is in effect for about 20 counties.National Weather Service

Central NY’s hottest start to summer continues with heat advisory, storm alert (PS; Coin)

Syracuse’s hottest summer on record will continue this week with more high temperatures and thunderstorms.

A heat advisory is in effect for about 20 counties across Upstate New York, including Onondaga County, for today and Tuesday. The heat index, which calculates the effect of heat and humidity on the human body, will soar into the upper 90s in Syracuse, the National Weather Service says.

Scattered but strong thunderstorms are possible, too, as the atmosphere heats up this afternoon. The weather service says most of Upstate New York has a 15% to 40% chance of storms strong enough to cause damage.

“These thunderstorms may produce damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall,” the weather service said.

Storms will move through quickly, the weather service said, so there’s little chance of flooding.

So far, this has been the hottest summer in Syracuse since official records began in 1903. Since June 1, the average temperature has been 73.6 degrees. The previous record for the period was 73.3, in 2005.

This summer has been about 5 degrees above normal. For record-keeping, the weather service defines summer as the months of June, July and August.

Through Sunday, 2024 is the warmest year on record in Syracuse. Every month this year has been well above normal, which climatologists attribute to a strong El Nino and the background effects of climate change.

A cold front will move across Upstate in the middle of the week, bringing high temperatures down in to the upper 70s and low 80s. The normal high this time of year is 82 degrees.
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