sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 25,914
- Like
- 112,661
Welcome to System Adminstrator Appreciation Day!
System administrators, or sysadmins, are IT specialists tasked with making sure computer systems are working properly. Among their many jobs, they get servers and operating systems up and running, make sure network connections are safe and working, fix email if it goes down, and update antivirus software. They are often on call, addressing technology issues at all times of the day and night. System Administrator Appreciation Day gives them recognition for what they do for individuals and businesses. On the day, they are given gifts and public acknowledgment to show that all their hard work and dedication are appreciated. Food, cake, balloons, confetti, cards, gifts, and words of affirmation are regular parts of the day.
This one is for you Tom Emery!
SU News
Transcript: Read Brown’s full comments at ACC media day (PS; $; Carlson)
The ACC held its annual ACC Kickoff this week with coaches and players from each team meeting with media members and doing a battery of interviews on the ACC Network.
Syracuse coach Fran Brown did an interview with ACC Network and also spoke at a podium with reporters from across the league.
Below is the transcript of his session with various reporters.
Q. What has been your experience in terms of how prevalent tampering is with players who are maybe not yet in the transfer portal? How big a concern is that? Do you have any solutions for policing it?
A: I think it’s a big concern. My experience, I mean, I just don’t do it so I don’t have to really worry about it.
You get a lot of kids want to go to the school, they try to reach out. Just try to stay away from those things. That’s something we’re not willing to do, we don’t want to break any rules.
Once they hit the portal, then we can talk. You’re not in the portal, we’re not going to talk to you.
Q. Looking at coming into this team, utilizing the transfer portal as well as true freshman coming in, returning players, family is important to you, living that way. How has this started to come together as a cohesive group?
A: I think what we did when it came to transfers, we only got guys that were truly, there’s a saying I have like DART is our core values, but (after that) I go committed, care and trust. If you look at the guys we (brought) in, they’re truly committed to, not just themselves, but to winning. To the bigger piece of the program. They truly care. Then I can trust them. The teammates can do the same thing.
Us having an opportunity of going to get Kyle McCord and him coming in, an opportunity of getting Fadil Diggs, then we had Justin Barron, Marlowe Wax, LeQuint Allen, all those guys stay there to be able to gel all together. Our family piece is starting to come together.
...
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown speaks during the Atlantic Coast Conference NCAA college football media days, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)Matt Kelley / AP
Camden’s Fran Brown is ‘committed’ to making a splash in his first year at Syracuse (inquirer.com; Jackson)
It took just 22 days from the time Syracuse hired Fran Brown to finalize his first official recruit. Brown, a Camden native, who had two stints as a coach at Temple and most recently was the defensive backs coach at Georgia, is known as one of the nation’s top recruiters. During those three weeks, he landed Syracuse’s highest-ranked recruiting class ever and brought plenty of local talent through the transfer portal to upstate New York.
That extends to his coaching staff, too. Brown hired Elijah Robinson from Texas A&M as his defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Robinson, too, is a Camden native, and the duo paired under Matt Rhule during his time as head coach at Temple and Baylor.
In his first ACC football media day appearance on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., as the Orange’s 31st head coach in program history, Brown revealed his core values, centered on “commitment,” “care,” and “trust.”
“If you look at all the guys that we bring in, I think they’re truly committed to not just themselves, but to winning as the bigger piece of the program,” Brown said. “They truly care. And then I can trust them, and their teammates can do the same thing.”
One thing Brown kept coming back to during his 10-minute podium session: “I just want to win.” Brown won a national championship at Georgia in 2022 and was the co-defensive coordinator for Temple’s last winning season and bowl game in 2019. He has had success at nearly every stop in his coaching career, and he’s ready to replicate it with the Orange.
He cited some of Syracuse’s former greats, like Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Donovan McNabb, and Marvin Harrison, as well as the undefeated 1959 and 1987 teams and emphasized that he wants to “get us back into that same era.”
...
Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord says Orange’s offensive scheme is similar to Ohio State (PS; $; Carlson)
There is still a lot of mystery in what Syracuse football’s offense will look like when the college football season begins.
Offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon comes from the New York Giants, where he was a running backs coach last season. Head coach Fran Brown comes from Georgia, where he worked on the defensive side of the ball.
Syracuse has enough tight ends to utilize heavy formations, a strong running back, a throwing quarterback, a new crop of receivers and questions aplenty on the offensive line.
The hints the team has provided have been limited with descriptions like “pro-style,” and “versatile” and “multiple.”
Quarterback Kyle McCord said during the ACC Kickoff event on Thursday that he feels the offense is similar to the one that he ran at Ohio State, one that was evenly balanced between run and pass plays and operated at a relatively patient tempo, ranking 93rd in the country at 66 plays per game.
He said he expects the offense to be “dynamic” thanks to its array of weapons.
“I think the offense we run here is similar to the one I was in at Ohio State,” McCord said.
McCord carried the ball just 32 times last season, although Brown said he wants McCord to play more freely than he did with the Buckeyes.
“You’re going to move around,” Brown said. “You’re going to run. Since I got to watch him in Little League, I want to see that quarterback. I want to see him run.”
Brown said that even in early conversations he urged McCord to relax.
“When we first started talking, he was giving me the business office talk, ‘Yes Sir,’ ” Brown said. “I was like, ‘Hey Kyle, chill with all that.’ ”
McCord said he is eager to get on the field, especially since his last game was a loss to Michigan that contributed to his exit from Ohio State. It was a rare loss for McCord, who Brown estimated has lost two games as a starting quarterback in his football life.
“I still have a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth from the last time I was on the field against Michigan so I’m eager to get out and start competing,” McCord said.
While Syracuse hopes McCord will play looser than he did at Ohio State he will certainly be called on to use his legs far less than recent quarterbacks like Garrett Shrader, Eric Dungey and, likely, Tommy DeVito.
...
Gadsden to Brown: ‘If you get a quarterback, I’m in. If you don’t, I’m out’ (PS; $; Carlson)
The key to keeping Oronde Gadsden II in Syracuse was quarterback Kyle McCord. Or at least it was new coach Fran Brown finding someone of McCord’s stature to be his first quarterback at Syracuse.
During an interview broadcast on the ACC Network as part of the ACC Kickoff on Thursday, Brown shared the gist of his first interaction with Gadsden. It was the type of no-nonsense conversation that the head coach seems to appreciate.
“The best call was OG just told me, ‘If you get a quarterback I’m here. If you don’t, I’m out,’ ” Brown said. ... “It was straight-forward. If you get a good quarterback I’m here. If you don’t, I’m out.”
Brown shared the anecdote as he discussed how he put together his first roster at Syracuse, an effort that has received high praise as the season approaches because of the way Brown managed to retain the Orange’s best players while adding even more star power from the transfer portal.
The anecdote shows the wisdom of Brown making McCord one of his first priorities after landing the Syracuse job. Brown flew out to visit McCord the same day he held his introductory press conference at Syracuse.
By securing the quarterback early, Brown also kept his star tight end from looking elsewhere — where he would have had plenty of options.
Gadsden was considered a potential NFL draft pick entering his junior year last season. After suffering a Lisfranc injury in the second game of the season, he must prove to scouts that he is back to full-health and his normal production.
A capable quarterback, he knows, is a key part of that equation.
McCord arrives with a strong resume. A former five-star recruit, McCord threw for 3,170 yards last season at Ohio State and had 24 touchdowns against just six interceptions.
Those numbers would warrant hero status in Syracuse. At Ohio State, McCord wasn’t publicly guaranteed the starting job for the Buckeyes’ bowl game following a 30-24 season-ending loss against Michigan. The game, between the league’s two titans, determined which team would advance to the College Football Playoffs.
Brown pointed out that if two plays in that game had gone differently and Ohio State had won, McCord wouldn’t be SU’s quarterback.
...
Overheard at ACC Kickoff: ‘There’s a lot of great history that happened in this conference’ (PS; $; Leiker)
Syracuse football closed out the 2024 ACC Kickoff on Thursday alongside N.C. State, Clemson and North Carolina.
The Orange were represented by coach Fran Brown, running back LeQuint Allen, defensive back Justin Barron, quarterback Kyle McCord and defensive lineman Fadil Diggs spoke at the podium, to local media, in breakout sessions and in TV and radio appearances.
Here’s some of the best of what we heard from them and others at the annual conference media event.
Syracuse RB LeQuint Allen
On his running style:“I think I always ran the same, angry, vision, stuff like that. Reading the defense, the X’s and O’s to it.”
On calling Brown and telling him he wanted to be coach:
“I was talking to Fran. I wanted him to be here. Just knowing where he’s from and stuff like that, that’s where I’m from, too. And just knowing his goals, his end goals, we kind of have the same goals. And just knowing that he’s going to be straightforward in everything and want me to be the best person I can be means a lot.”
On whether he’s viewing this college season as his last:
“I’m not really focused on that. I’m focused on this upcoming season and helping the team win and just creating that bond with Coach Fran and the team and stuff like that and creating a bond with the Syracuse community.”
Syracuse DB Justin Barron
On the feeling around the new era of Syracuse football:“I’m going on my fifth year here now. This is the most support that we’ve been able to feel from the city. Maybe that’s because we’re doing more for the city than we ever have before, being out in the community. Being able to feel the energy and support from the city, it makes us more excited to play, go out there and train harder. It makes us more focused, right? There’s so much more energy for us.”
...
Keeping Up With The 315 7-25-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian recaps Syracuse’s day at ACC Media Day and a caller chimes in with his opinions of the transfer portal.
Matt Josephs "The 315" 7-25-24 (ESPN; radio; the 315)
ESPN Radio Richmond host Matt Josephs joins Brian to recap ACC Media Days, discuss the perception of the ACC, and more.
Justin Barron "The 315" 7-25-24 (ESPN;.radio; The 315)
Senior Syracuse Football defensive back Justin Barron joins Brian Higgins as he & the squad prepare for the new season. Justin discusses the transition to new head coach Fran Brown, the new faces joining the team, expectations, NCAA College Football 25, and more!
Kyle McCord got to learn from ‘one of the best’ this summer in Peyton Manning. What advice did he take to heart? (PS; $; Leiker)
Syracuse football quarterback Kyle McCord took his first trip to “the real deep South” this summer to work the Manning Passing Academy.
“It was a really fun time,” McCord said Thursday at ACC Kickoff. “There’s not many opportunities like that to be surrounded by 50 college quarterbacks who share the same experiences as you... And then obviously picking the brains of the Manning brothers and Archie (Manning) as well, just talking to them, hearing some of their stories, it was a fun time.”
The camp took place June 27-30 on Nicholls State’s campus in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
College quarterbacks primarily serve as coaches for the attendees, who span in age from 8th grade to high school seniors, but get to compete some on their own, too.
They also, as McCord said, get to learn from some of the best quarterbacks the NFL has seen in Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Archie Manning.
For McCord, the biggest takeaway came from Peyton Manning, who talked about how to gain the trust of teammates when transitioning teams based on his experience leaving the Indianapolis Colts after 13 seasons and joining the Denver Broncos.
McCord said Manning’s biggest point of emphasis was making sure to show new teammates that you’re putting the work in.
“That was obviously something I took to heart coming from another school to a new team,” McCord said. “The most important thing is that the team needs to see you out in front, needs to see you doing the work, the extra hours in the film room, on the field, whatever the case may be.”
...
McCord on Brown's visit to meet him upon entering portal: 'Crazy sequence of events' (PS; $; Leiker)
Two of the most pivotal moments in Syracuse football’s offseason happened the same day, Dec. 4.
At 10 a.m., Fran Brown was formally introduced in-person as the program’s new head coach, six days after the university announced he’d earned the job.
Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord had entered the transfer portal around 7 a.m.
Brown called him within a few hours, either right before or right after his opening remarks to the Syracuse community.
“I should be there around 8 (p.m.) or so,” McCord recalled Brown telling him.
“Where?” he asked.
“Ohio,” Brown responded. “I’m coming to see you.”
Brown was there by evening and spent so long at McCord’s house, he said, that the program’s private jet nearly missed its latest possible takeoff time – 1:45 a.m.
“Just kind of a crazy sequence of events to put my name in and then talking with him that same day,” McCord told syracuse.com Thursday at ACC Kickoff.
...
Syracuse coach Fran Brown not letting new facility get in the way of football | ESPN Charlotte (espn; Mitchell)
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown isnt letting the excitement of their new football operations center get in the way of football. “If they coming just for the building, I don’t really want those kids that want to come just for the building.” “Syracuse is a great community, it’s a great campus. For us to have just different dorms and different facilities and everything going up, I think it’s always great for the school. I don’t really care about the buildings, to be honest. I’m happy it’s going up. Means a lot. I’m just trying to play, to be honest. I just want to coach football, play football, so I can watch these guys have an opportunity to go out and show who they are, how hard they’ve been working.” Coach Brown said when asked about how the new complex will factor into how he builds his team.
After breaking ground last fall the complex will include weightlifting equipment, locker rooms, lounges, eating spaces, offices and areas where student athletes can perform schoolwork and receive academic assistance.
“Being able to feel the energy and support from the city, it makes us more excited to play, go out there and train harder. It makes us more focused, right? There’s so much more energy for us.” Syracuse defensive back Justin Barron said when asked about the excitement around this team.
The Facility is expected to open this December.
Brown has bubbly response to Giants coach taking dig at McCord on ‘Hard Knocks’ (PS; $; Carlson)
Syracuse football coach Fran Brown didn’t sound bothered by the viral “Hard Knocks” clip in which a New York Giants coach dared NFL prospect Marvin Harrison Jr. to criticize former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord.
Instead, Brown told ESPN’s David Hale that he ought to send the New York Giants coaching staff a gift thanking them for the attention they brought to the SU program.
“Social media helps,” Brown told Hale. “I’m happy they did that. We should send them a bottle of champagne because it’s more attention on us.”
Hale also asked McCord about the episode, where Harrison Jr. exhibited professionalism by refusing to criticize his quarterback (likely the exact response the franchise was looking for).
...
Syracuse football coach Fran Brown says his wife helped Orange land former Ohio State QB Kyle McCord (dispatch.com; Leuzzi)
Kyle McCord got the keys to the offense of one of college football's most prestigious programs last season at Ohio State after sitting behind C.J. Stroud for two seasons.
On paper the 6-foot-3 gunslinger's first year under center for the Buckeyes looked to be a successful one as he went 11-1 alongside his former St. Joe's Prep teammate and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is now with the Arizona Cardinals. But at a program like Ohio State that has national championship aspirations and beating "that team up north," it wasn't. This led McCord to enter the transfer portal in December before the Cotton Bowl.
He committed to Syracuse and Fran Brown on Dec. 17, a landing spot that surprised some within college football.
So how did a first-time coach at a school that has underachieved in the ACC in recent years — as Syracuse has finished below .500 in four of the last five years — land a top 10 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class per his 247Sports Composite rankings?
Brown said he got a little help from his wife, Teara, who worked at a hospital with McCord's dad, former Rutgers quarterback Derek McCord.
"My wife did that. Her and his father worked together at the hospital. My wife was in school and her clinical was becoming an RN before she became a nurse anesthetist and he worked there also," Brown said Thursday on the ACC Network at ACC Football Media Day. "And she kept telling me about this kid that was really good in middle school. ... One day I got a chance to go and watch him play Little League Football and I was like, 'Oh snap. He can actually play.'
"And you know everyone hear's who going to hit the portal, who's going to hit it. And I (told) our staff, that was the mission if he hit the portal, tell me. And as soon as he hit the portal, he told me, I called him, 'What's up? Where are you at?'"
...
The Juice Online - Rapid Reaction: Syracuse football at the 2024 ACC Kickoff (r1vals.com; Bierman)
The Syracuse football contingent of head coach Fran Brown, and players LeQuint Allen, Justin Barron, Fadil Diggs, and Kyle McCord made their ACC media debut Thursday, the fourth and final day of the 2024 Kickoff preseason event in uptown Charlotte, N.C.
RAPID REACTION
It was a very business-like Coach Fran who made his first appearance at the annual media extravaganza. The event was spread out over four days for the first time and held this year at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Brown joined BC's Bill O'Brien and Duke's Manny Diaz as the trio of new head coaches welcomed into the league this season, and the media on hand was inquisitive about the '24 Orange.Brown, who rarely elicited a smile while on the press conference stage, kept his message simple.
"I just want to win. I want to make sure that Syracuse gets back to where they belong, where it was, where football kind of started at, in my opinion," Brown said when asked about the sense of immediacy in how he handles his job.
"It's like a non-stop race for us to make sure we actually continue to go and try to accomplish greatness," he continued. "To just have these young men have an opportunity to show the country who they are football-wise."
Among the players, and in a conference chock full of great quarterbacks, it's obvious that McCord will have the biggest spotlight all season. His demeanor echoed that of his head coach, it's all about winning right out of the gate.
"I'm not one to stand up here and make predictions or whatever," McCord explained, "but I'm confident in my game. I'm confident in the players around me."
"So more than anything, I'm excited to play," McCord continued. (I) still have a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth from the last time I was on the field against Michigan. I've been eager to get back out on the field and start competing. Now I think we have an opportunity to go out and have a fast start, win some games."
Syracuse football: What would a hypothetical close-proximity schedule look like? (TNIAAM; Fowler)
Most of the miles listed are overstated, And you forgot Charlottesville (UVa).
Continuing the conference re-alignment trend. It’s no surprise our TNIAAM staff was pitched this idea from a reader: “You should do an article on what their basketball schedule would be if they played the 31 closest teams once each based on geography.”
Check out Dominic’s ’close-proximity’ basketball schedule here.
That being said, this is the Syracuse Orange football’s ‘close-proximity’ schedule.
Now, because there are only so many FBS teams in the Northeast, we had to get creative. Instead of creating a schedule purely on the schools closest geographically to Syracuse University, this hypothetical slate of games is filled with only the power-five teams closest to Syracuse. Plus, Colgate and UConn as ‘non-conference’ games.
And, after a bit of troubleshooting on Apple Maps, here’s how it shapes up:
**Mileage calculated via the air distance between schools**
- Colgate* (34 miles)
- Penn State (178 miles)
- UConn* (203 miles)
- Rutgers (229 miles)
- Pitt (236 miles)
- Boston College (257 miles)
- Maryland (260 miles)
- West Virginia (308 miles)
- Michigan (396 miles)
- Ohio State (412 miles)
- Michigan State (422 miles)
- Virginia Tech (461 miles)
x.com
twitter.com
Get to Know Your Orange Man: #2, WR Trebor Pena (TNIAAM; Chiappone)
It’s time to start preparing for the 2024 Syracuse Orange football season. We’re going through the roster to take a look at each Syracuse player as we get to know a lot of new faces to kick off the Fran Brown Era.
Next up is...
Name: Trebor Pena
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Redshirt Junior
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 184 lbs
Hometown: Ocean Township (NJ)
High School/Previous College: Ocean Township High School
2023 stats: Pena only appeared/started in one game (against Army, where he returned two punts for nine yards). Injuries derailed Pena’s 2023 season, but that allowed him to redshirt in hopes of a bounce back. The year prior, he actually led the ACC and finished sixth in the country in kickoff return average.
2024 projections: A comeback season should hopefully be in line for Pena, another potential weapon who could help take the pressure off of Oronde Gadsden and return back to the “Freaks List” as both receiver and kick returner on special teams. With Syracuse looking like it will adopt more of a passing offense with Kyle McCord under center, expect Pena to be one of the key x-factor players on offense.
How’d he get here?: Pena committed to the Orange in November 2019 over offers from Air Force, Albany, Army and Bryant.
...
Syracuse Football DB Justin Barron at Atlantic Coast Conference Media Days on making the switch from WR to DB earlier in his collegiate career (via... | By College Football DawgsFacebook
Syracuse Football DB Justin Barron at Atlantic Coast Conference Media Days on making the switch from WR to DB earlier in his collegiate career (via...
www.facebook.com
x.com
twitter.com
x.com
twitter.com
Syracuse Quarterback Kyle McCord discusses transfer from Ohio State football
Syracuse QB Kyle McCord shares with Tim Donnelly the reason why he transferred from Ohio State football, playing with NC State WR Noah Rogers, and the upcomi...
www.youtube.com
Syracuse Football 2024 Season Preview | Schedule Prediction
Syracuse Football 2024 Schedule PredictionFran Brown takes over the Syracuse Program heading into the 2024 colelge football season. With Kyle McCord at QB an...
www.youtube.com
Syracuse Football 2026 Recruiting Class | Izayia Williams, Demetres Samuel Jr. & D'Antae Sheffey
Syracuse football currently has three four-star commits in its 2026 class: Izayia Williams, Demetres Samuel Jr., and D'Antae Sheffey. Fran Brown will face st...
www.youtube.com
Ohio vs Syracuse Week 1 Simulation (College Football 25)
Welcome to Its Vikk Simulations – your one-stop destination for thrilling Madden simulations and a whole lot more gaming content! I appreciate you tuning in ...
www.youtube.com
EA Sports College Football 25 - Penn State Nittany Lions vs Syracuse Orange
In this NCAA College Football Rivalry Game Drew Allar and the Penn State Nittany Lions are at JMA Wireless Dome in The Salt City of Syracuse, New York taking...
www.youtube.com
ACC Kickoff | Syracuse Press Conference
Head Coach Fran Brown and players field questions from the media at ACC Kickoff in Charlotte.
www.youtube.com
Syracuse at #6 Oklahoma | NCAA Football 06 Syracuse Orange Dynasty | S3:E4
Dynasty Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsx0IY5rNiD739AhAcggxszF9Qych2r83&si=bccou8OfiV4a808gPlaybook Gamer: https://playbookgamer.com/NCAA Footba...
www.youtube.com
ACC News
NC State football coach Dave Doeren talks expectations, transfer portal at ACC media day (fayobserver.com; Baxley)
NC State football coach Dave Doeren discussed expectations, maintaining momentum and the Wolfpack's additions from the transfer portal on Thursday at ACC Kickoff, the league’s preseason media event.
Coming off a 9-4 overall record, including a 6-2 mark in the ACC, the Wolfpack welcomes back several starters and a highly-touted group of players from the transfer portal.
NC State will start its 12th season under Doeren on Thursday, Aug. 29, against Western Carolina at Carter-Finley Stadium before a big-time matchup against Tennessee in Charlotte as part of Duke’s Mayo Classic.
Here are the highlights from Doeren’s press conference at ACC Kickoff.
Dave Doeren on NC State football’s transfer portal activity
The Wolfpack is 18th nationally in the transfer portal rankings, according to 247Sports. Jordan Waters (Duke), Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) and Noah Rogers (Ohio State) were among the Wolfpack’s key additions via the portal.
“I think year to year for us it's just another method of adding talent, adding the key ingredients to the roster. It's all based on need, where you may have a void,” Doeren said.
“. … That's the biggest thing. When you want talent, that's one thing. Being here 12 years now, I'm not going to take a risk on the culture with that talent. You have to find guys that fit what we're all about. It's earned, not given. It's guys that want to work, enjoy the brotherhood of the game, that are willing to sacrifice for the cause.”
Dave Doeren on NC State football being ‘different’ in 2024 season
Because of its returners and additions from the portal, expectations are high for N.C. State. The Wolfpack has won at least eight games in four straight seasons for the first time in program history. The next step? Competing for an ACC championship.
“I think every day we're out there it's a measuring stick, it is. … With that being said, we want to win a championship. So different is that. It's taken the program from the second-most wins since 2020 to winning the league. That is different,” Doeren said.
...
Pitt football notebook: Panthers project strength at ACC Kickoff (PG; Thompon)
The 2023 season was unusually — and at times comically — poor for Pitt, but its confidence has not been dampened. A more extensive recent history of higher-quality play was what the Panthers wanted to focus on as they greeted the league and its three new members at the ACC Kickoff event in Charlotte, N.C.
And the ACC will gladly welcome a return to normalcy for the Panthers as they face an uncertain future and peer conferences that are taking significant steps ahead. Pitt believes it's not just part of a deepening middle class in this league but one of its elite and hopes to remind the public of that this season.
One confident head coach
There are two ways the Pitt Panthers could have approached ACC media days. In recent years, they have arrived in style, carrying the kind of swagger that 20 wins over two years, consecutive ranked finishes and a league title gives a team.
But 2024 is a very different case. Coming off a 3-9 campaign, the program’s worst since 1998, they could enter the new season with some humility, an acknowledgement that they lost a lot both in terms of games and personnel and will be rebuilding from a very low point.
Or they could project strength, dismiss 2023 as an anomaly and look forward to a 2024 season more on par with what the Panthers have been for the eight seasons prior to their latest campaign.
Pitt chose the latter.
There was clearly some soul searching done at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex this offseason, but after cleaning out 60% of his assistant coaching staff, filling the gaps with some youth and transfer portal additions, turning the offensive philosophy around 180 degrees and reloading the roster, that period of self-reflection has been left behind in favor of a confident, optimistic outlook.
The Panthers — and head coach Pat Narduzzi in particular — believe the 2023 season didn’t say anything about the foundation of his program. The bones of Pitt football are still strong in his opinion, and that’s why he’s aiming for not just an improved record but a return to the top of the league.
State of the league
The ACC has made some substantial gains in leaguewide revenue over the past year that commissioner Jim Phillips was delighted to share with the attending media during his opening remarks, which demonstrated the kind of attitude that many within the league were looking for.Phillips’ previous remarks about realignment and the ACC’s place in a new college sports landscape that is becoming increasingly dominated by the wealth of the Big Ten and SEC had been less direct.
...
WATCH: Bill O’Brien and Boston College Football Players at the ACC Media Kickoff (bcinterruption.com.; Flannery)
On Wednesday, Bill O’Brien and a few key members of the Boston College football team (Thomas Castellanos, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Drew Kendall) flew down to North Carolina to take part in the ACC Media Kickoff. They spoke with media members from all over the country about their expectations for the season and why they are confident that Boston College is in a great position to succeed this year. Here are the highlights.
First off, it’s been really interesting to hear from new head coach Bill O’Brien as he starts to get a firmer grip on the BC football program. It’s clear that he’s bringing a breadth of experience to the program that has been lacking in recent years and it should give fans confidence that we’re in capable hands.
x.com
twitter.com
For the folks looking forward to what BOB will immediately bring to BC football next season, look no further than Thomas Castellanos. Tommy Touchdowns is obviously very confident in himself now that he’s been able to work with such an experienced offensive mind, and O’Brien has clear vision as to what TC can do for the Boston College offense.
On the more personal side of things, we heard from Drew Kendall as he talked about what it means to follow in his father’s footsteps to play football at Boston College.
If you want to see more, including the full press conference with defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku, you can watch the full video with all four of these Eagles here on ESPN’s website if you have an ACC Network subscription.
...
Clemson Star ‘Definitely Looking Forward’ to Facing Uiagalelei (theclemsoninsider.com; Oliver)
Star Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter has kept in touch with DJ Uiagalelei since the latter transferred away from the Tigers’ program following the 2022 season.
“Not really much smack talk going on – just catching up, nothing too crazy,” Carter said Thursday at the 2024 ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte.
But will there be some smack talk between the two across the line of scrimmage when Carter and Clemson square off against Uiagalelei and Florida State this fall?
“Maybe a little bit,” Carter said, smiling.
Of course, Uiagalelei will be Florida State’s starting quarterback in 2024 after transferring to Tallahassee this offseason following one season at Oregon State in 2023 and three years at Clemson from 2020-22.
Carter is taking things one game at a time, and right now, he’s focused on Clemson’s Aug. 31 season opener against Georgia.
However, he’ll certainly be amped up to play against Uiagalelei when the Tigers travel to take on the Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Oct. 5.
Carter, who is entering his senior season, was teammates with Uiagalelei from 2021-22.
“Definitely gotta take it week by week, so whenever the Florida State week comes up, I’m definitely going to be super excited for that,” Carter said. “But having played with DJ for two years and just getting to compete with him every single day, it was super fun.”
A former five-star prospect, Uiagalelei went 22-6 as a starter during his time with the Tigers. Overall, in 36 career games at Clemson, the California native completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 5,681 yards and 36 touchdowns with 17 interceptions, to go with 913 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
Carter has plenty of respect for Uiagalelei and sees success ahead for him as a Seminole.
“He’s a great player, great competitor, and he’s going to do great down there,” said Carter, a 2022 All-American and 2023 All-ACC selection. “But I’m definitely looking forward to that game, playing in Tallahassee and just competing with my brother again. But definitely looking forward to playing against DJ and seeing what they’re about.”
...
99.9 The Fan on Instagram: "Some predictions on the upcoming ACC football season! What are your first thoughts when you think of these teams? Let us know in the comments⬇️ Coverage of ACC Kickoff is supported by Wilkinson Auto"
999thefan on July 25, 2024: "Some predictions on the upcoming ACC football season! What are your first thoughts when you think of these teams? Let us know in the comments⬇️ Coverage of ACC Kickoff is supported by Wilkinson Auto".
www.instagram.com
Pitt Football | ACC Kickoff Recap
Subscribe to now for more Pitt coverageyoutube.com/pittlivewire | www.pittsburghpanthers.com | @Pitt_ATHLETICS
www.youtube.com
ACC Tiers: Miami, Clemson, Florida St. and then WHO? | Always College Football
The ACC has a lot of questions heading into the 2024 season - and we are only talking ON the field. McElroy breaks down the tier’s of ACC teams and tells yo...
www.youtube.com
Syracuse's Fran Brown, "I Just Wanna Win"
While it would not be surprising that new Syracuse Head Coach Fran Brown told the media at the 2024 ACC Kickoff that he wants to win, but Brown spoke about g...
www.youtube.com
2022-23 ACC Payouts, by School (RX; HM)
2022-23 ACC Payouts, by School
While we wait on some real ACC football news, let's take a quick look at the total ACC payout to each school for the fiscal year that ended in June, 2023 (i.e. the 2022-23 season):
| ACC School | 2022-23 Share |
| University Of N. Carolina | $46,850,044 |
| Clemson University | $46,549,033 |
| University Of Pittsburgh | $45,677,735 |
| Duke University | $45,485,338 |
| Florida State University | $45,235,737 |
| University Of Louisville | $45,208,128 |
| Syracuse University | $44,696,708 |
| Nc State University | $44,693,428 |
| Wake Forest University | $44,516,141 |
| University Of Virginia | $43,919,757 |
| Boston College | $43,775,117 |
| University Of Miami | $43,767,525 |
| Virginia Tech | $43,698,647 |
| Georgia Institute Of Tech | $43,294,354 |
| University Of Notre Dame | $22,104,978 |
To put this into context for you, let me remind you what happened that fiscal year:
...
Virginia Tech Football: 3 takeaways from ACC media days (fightinggobbler.com;. Roche)
Four days of ACC Football Media Days are in the books in Charlotte and now all 17 teams have headed back home to begin preparations for the 2024 season. Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry and three players, Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Kyron Drones, and Dorian Strong all spoke with the media on Tuesday about the upcoming season.
With the week behind us and teams back on campus getting ready for the 2024 campaign, here are three takeaways from the week in North Carolina.
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips opens up about the conference
As everyone knows by now, Florida State and Clemson are looking to get out of the ACC at some point. Things have got somewhat ugly between the schools and the conference and Phillips spoke about all schools either being all in or not.
"This is a really important time for the conference,'' Phillips said. "Either you believe in what’s been signed or you don’t. We’re going to do everything we can to protect and fight for the league."
...
Other
The Galaxi Burger ($16) from The Lake House at Sylvan Beach.Jacob Pucci
Review: Betting on good food and great views at The Lake House at Sylvan Beach (PS; $; Pucci)
In Sylvan Beach, the secret ingredient is often nostalgia.
The same amusement park rides have entertained Central New Yorkers every summer for generations. The carousel first spun in 1896. Laffland has been scaring guests since 1954 — even if those frights these days come less from the jump scares and flashing lights and more from the creaky rails of this ancient ride.
When it comes to eating in Sylvan Beach, it’s not so much the hot dog, burger or fried fish sandwich itself that’s important, it’s eating only steps away from the beach as the crank of the roller coaster sounds in the background, a trip down memory lane many relive every summer. Like Thanksgiving dinner, sometimes we want the same meal year after year.
Enter The Lake House at Sylvan Beach. Opened by the Oneida Indian Nation in 2020, it’s an adult-only establishment that’s part restaurant, part casino, and a veritable infant by Sylvan Beach standards, yet feels right at home at the beach. Perhaps it’s the 50-foot-tall lighthouse?
We were quoted a 20- to 30-minute wait for an outdoor table for lunch on a recent weekday afternoon. Within 15 minutes, we were seated at the patio, the glass barrier between the beach and patio allowing for uninterrupted views of the lake. There were a few available tables indoors, as well as seats at the bar that wraps around from the main lobby into the casino, but it seemed a pity to waste a summer’s day on the beach.
The menu is pretty straightforward and built for warm-weather dining: sharable starters, burgers, sandwiches, salads and about a half-dozen entrees only available at dinner, most of which are grilled meats and seafood.
...
‘It’s Always Sunny’ star Charlie Day visits Syracuse restaurant - cue the spaghetti jokes (PS; Herbert)
“What is your spaghetti policy here?”
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star Charlie Day visited Pastabilities on Wednesday while in town for a new movie. The Syracuse restaurant posted a photo of the comedy actor with Natalie Morales, who both have roles in “Summer of ‘69,” a new teen comedy currently in production with Liverpool-based film studio American High.
Fans were quick to make a series of spaghetti jokes based on Day’s “It’s Always Sunny” character, Charlie Kelly. In one famous episode, Charlie confuses a “spa day” with “spaghetti day” and tries to bring a plastic bag filled with spaghetti into a spa, as well as an aluminum plate of pasta into a movie theater.
“Whats ur spaghetti policy?” one Instagram user commented.
“Did he order the milksteak?” another wrote.
“But where is the waitress?” a Facebook user joked, referencing another “It’s Always Sunny” character (played by Day’s real-life wife Mary Elizabeth Ellis).
Actors Charlie Day and Natalie Morales pose for a photo with Pastabilities at the Syracuse, N.Y., restaurant on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Day and Morales are in town filming a new movie, "Summer of '69," for American High. (Provided photo)Provided
It appears to be Day’s first visit to the Armory Square eatery, famous for its spicy hot tomato oil and stretch bread. Morales, on the other hand, previously directed “Plan B” for American High in the Syracuse area and one of the film’s stars, Victoria Moroles, said Pastabilities was one of their favorite stops during filming in late 2021.
“It was so much fun,” Moroles told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. “We had some Pastabilities. That’s probably a classic thing, but we did it.”
Morales (who is not related to Moroles) and Day will both have on-screen roles in “Summer of ‘69,” directed and co-written by Jillian Bell (“Brittany Runs a Marathon”).
...
Central NY town scraps plan for apartments, citing traffic-jammed intersection as concern (PS; $; Doran)
More than 60 residents showed up Wednesday night to protest a proposed mixed-use development with apartments off North Burdick Street in the town of Manlius.
But their opposition wasn’t necessary. Even before the first person spoke, the Manlius Town Board had already decided to reject the proposal.
Brolex Development wanted a zone change from the town to allow for a mixed-use development with 150 apartments on the site of Materials Direct, which was formerly known as Doow Lumber. The six-acre parcel is at 5912 N. Burdick St., near The Links at Erie Village.
But opponents said they already had frustrations about traffic problems in the area, specifically when getting out of the Fremont Hills neighborhood and Erie Village off North Burdick Street.
Also, the intersection at at North Burdick Street and Route 290, right by where the project would have been, backs up at rush hour, residents said.
“We realized we have a problem already on that road and that intersection,” Manlius Town Supervisor John Deer said.
Introducing a high-density development there at this time doesn’t make sense after listening to the public’s concerns, Deer said.
...
Last edited:
