sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Lighthouse Day!
National Lighthouse Day celebrates lighthouses and the commitment and service of those who tend to them. On April 28, 1988, Senator John H. Chafee [R-RI] introduced a resolution that would designate August 7, 1989, as National Lighthouse Day. It was cosponsored in the House of Representatives by William J. Hughes [D-NJ]—who had introduced his own version of the resolution in the House. Senate Joint Resolution 306 was adopted in the Senate and House and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on November 5, 1988, becoming Public Law 100-622. On June 19, 1989, President George H.W. Bush issued Presidential Proclamation 5993. It reads as follows:
SU News
Syracuse Football Fall Camp Days 3 and 4 Recap -- Braylen Ingraham, (youtube; podcast; Syracuse Orange)
Emily Leiker and Chris Carlson go over the first two days of Week 2 of fall camp, touching on Braylen Ingraham's injury, the linebacking corps, offensive scheme install and more.
Syracuse football’s O-line could make or break its talented offense. Here are key questions, answered (PS; $; Leiker)
J’Onre Reed had to catch his breath while answering the question.
“My bad. I’m tired,” he said. “Out of breath. A little winded. Just got done snapping.”
The Syracuse football starting center had been putting in extra post-practice work Monday inside the humid Ensley Athletic Center.
That’s been a trend for the Orange offensive line entering a season where it could truly determine the success of an offense stacked with talent around it.
Coaches and players alike have lauded the unit for the extra work its put in on the field, in the weight room and elsewhere this offseason and into fall camp.
“They’ve taken this offseason as an opportunity to take the next step,” quarterback Kyle McCord said at ACC Kickoff. “Now I think they realize, ‘Okay, we have a legit chance to win.’ They’ve maximized the time.”
Will it be enough? Is this the year that, as Reed said he hopes, Syracuse’s O-line could be Joe Moore Award contenders?
Here are some key questions about the O-line, answered.
Has depth gotten better?
Just a glance toward whatever far corner O-line coach Dale Williams has taken the offensive line to during practice will tell you yes.
The numbers don’t express quite as drastic a change as the visual feels like there has been, but there is an uptick.
The Orange has 20 offensive linemen this season, an increase from 17 last year and 16 in 2022.
It added four transfers, four scholarship freshmen and one walk-on.
When considering depth beyond just the base “number of bodies” definition, Syracuse got better, too.
Seven players off last year’s depth chart return, including three of five starters.
Three of the four transfers were starters at their previous institutions. The fourth, Josh Miller, was just a freshman at Georgia last fall.
Is everyone healthy?
For the time being, yes. Or at least, no one was sitting out of practices with injuries or in no-contact jerseys during the first three days of camp.David Wohlabaugh, the only returning player in the unit who suffered a major injury last year, is on a rep count through fall camp but participating.
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Syracuse football’s Trebor Peña named to Paul Hornung Award watch list (PS; Carlson)
Syracuse football’s Trebor Peña was named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list when it was announced last week.
The award honors the country’s most versatile high-level performer. Peña was one of 48 players named to the watch list and one of eight nominees from ACC teams. This is the second consecutive season that Peña has made the list.
The award is presented annually by the Louisville Sports Commission. It includes a fan voting component.
The watch list was created based on the recommendations of college sports experts and school sports information directors.
Peña was limited to one game last season due to injury. His absence for the majority of the year, along with the absence of Oronde Gadsden II, hindered Syracuse’s ability to throw over the middle of the field.
Over the course of his career at Syracuse, Peña has worked as a slot receiver, returned kickoffs and returned punts.
During his last healthy season, Peña finished sixth nationally in kickoff return average and 19th in punt returns. He also caught 22 passes for 204 yards.
He has battled injuries over the course of his career, suffering a season-ending injury in two of his four seasons.
The other ACC players named to the watch list included Boston College receiver Jayden McGowan, California running back Jaydn Ott, Georgia Tech running back Jamal Haynes, Louisville receiver Caullin Lacy, North Carolina defensive back Alijah Huzzie, Pittsburgh receiver Kenny Johnson and Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten.
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Syracuse football 2024 opponent preview: California Golden Bears (TNIAAM; Ostrowski)
We have one last Syracuse Orange road trip to cover in our 2024 opponent preview series. It just so happens to be the farthest from Dome. One week after heading east to face traditional rival Boston College, Fran Brown and his troops make a long trek out west for a non-traditional foe situated in the Bay Area. It’s a team that’s not expected to make a ton of noise in the new conference - but ask around and you’ll hear that they can get right back in this.
California Golden Bears
School: University of California - BerkeleyNickname: Golden Bears
Mascot: Oski the Bear
#BRAND Slogans: #GoBears, #ALLIN, #GoldenEra
Alternate #BRAND Slogan Suggestions: #CAndBelieve, #FootballByTheBay, or “Go East, Young Bear”
Conference:
History vs. Syracuse: Believe it or not, SU and Cal actually played a home-and-home series in 1967-68. The Orange took the first meeting at Archbold Stadium 20-14, but the Bears responded with a dominant shutout in Berkeley the next year. Ironically, the last time they met was when Cal had just undergone another conference “change” - the AAWU reorganized itself into the Pac-Eight, a nickname it had been unofficially carrying for years.
Coach: Justin Wilcox, eighth season. A former All-Pac 2nd Team DB for Oregon, Wilcox returned to his old conference to accept his first head coaching job with Cal. He’s since guided the Golden Bears to two in-season appearances in the AP-Top 25 and three bowl games - though the one constant has been a sub-.500 conference record. Following his grad assistant days at Boise State, Wilcox had his first full-time position as Cal’s LBs coach from 2003-2005. He then held the defensive coordinator title back at Boise State, followed by Tennessee, Washington, USC, and finally Wisconsin before taking the HC job here.
2023 Record: 6-7 (4-5)
Recapping Last Season:
Much like Syracuse last year, Cal didn’t get a “pretty” path to six wins... but they’ll take it after matching up with five AP Top-25 teams, including two who finished in the Top-10. Washington, Oregon State, Utah, USC, and Oregon all handed the Bears losses in a nightmare of a six-game stretch. They did squeeze out a win over Arizona State in that mess, then course corrected for three in a row to end the regular season. The final push was a 33-7 rout of UCLA in the Rose Bowl to officially close the book on Pac-12 football. (Man, they really went out with a bang.) Texas Tech shut down Cal for the last three quarters of the Independence Bowl, handing them a 34-14 loss.
Also like SU, the Bears went through a few quarterbacks. Sam Jackson V made just three starts - in Weeks 1, 3, and 5 - before a nagging shoulder injury ended his season, and backup Ben Finley struggled in his two starts, leaving the Bears to turn to a relative unknown in former 2-star composite Fernando Mendoza. The Miami kid didn’t waste his chance, going blow-for-blow with Caleb Williams in a one-point loss, and later willing Cal to a slim win in their last home game. He leaned on elite production from RB Jaydn Ott, who finished with 1,500 total yards of offense and 14 touchdowns. The receivers’ room was well balanced, with four different guys all posting 35+ catches and
The defense may have picked up the slack in games 11 and 12, but they were largely the problem throughout the season. Tough competition or not, you can’t allow 50+ points FOUR times and expect to be bailed out. The unit, while not as awful as Stanford’s was, still allowed over 415 yards per game (25th worst nationally), with 283 coming through the air (4th worst nationally). SDSU grad transfer Patrick McMorris was in charge of the secondary and led the team with 88 tackles, also forcing three turnovers and defending seven additional passes. LB David Reese showed off what once made him a four-star Florida commit - 6.5 sacks, three pass breakups and three forced fumbles as a surprise leader of the unit. The LBs also featured sophomore Kaleb Elarms-Orr (87 tackles, six pass breakups, and two turnovers) and true freshman Cade Uluave (67 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four turnovers). Despite their efforts, the 2-4-5 struggled to generate pressure and was gradually picked apart. After Michael Luckhurst made just 3/9 field goals, rookie Mateen Bhaghani took over and was a perfect 8/8 in eight games.
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Chase Geter Hudl
Class of 2026 DB Chase Geter 'shocked and thankful' for Syracuse offer (247sports.com; $; McAllister)
Class of 2026 Ashburn (VA) Stone Bridge cornerback Chase Geter is an intriguing prospect who already holds several power conference offers. They include Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia and Wake Forest. The most recent offer came from the Orange, which was extended on August 2nd.
"For about a month or so, a lot of Syracuse's staff have been calling and texting me," Geter said. "I would get a call or text (at least) once a week. The day I got offered, one called me. he was checking up on me seeing what I was doing. Then another coach called me checking up on me and he passed the phone to coach Brown. Coach Brown was telling me how he likes my skill set and the way I play. He then offered me."
The 6-1, 180 pounder said he was both "shocked and thankful" after receiving the offer. Syracuse is not a school he has visited before, either for a game or an unofficial visit, but he plans to change that. He says he will probably get to Central New York this fall to attend a game in person and get a feel for the game day atmosphere.
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Which Syracuse Pass Catchers Will Be Left Out? (orangefizz.net; Aitken)
There are a lot of players that Syracuse fans want to see succeed this year, particularly on offense. Two big names are coming back from season-long injuries, there are several transfers and freshman coming in, plus the normal returning talent. Here’s the thing: not everyone will succeed this year. It just isn’t possible.
Why can’t everyone eat?
https://go.ezodn.com/ads/charity/pr...m_campaign=2024_hurricane_season&ffid=1&co=US
There’s a lot of reasons that we already know that several pass catchers will be left out. For one, it’s Syracuse football. The Orange haven’t had more than three players surpass 300 receiving yards in the same season since 2018. That’s not exactly a higher barrier by the way; it’s only 25 yards per game. That means SU usually only has two or three receivers getting regular attention from its quarterbacks.
You might think that Kyle McCord will change this trend, but I wouldn’t be so sure. Last year, he only got three Ohio State receivers over the 300-yard barrier.
What does this mean for Syracuse?
There are a lot of mouths for the Orange to feed. There are about seven guys that could reasonably be expected to regularly catch passes this year.
Running Backs: LeQuint Allen
Wide Receivers: Zeed Haynes, Trebor Pena, Justus Ross-Simmons, Jackson Meeks
Tight Ends: Oronde Gadsden, Dan Villari
That means before parsing down the list even further, returning players like Darrell Gill and Umari Hatcher, plus freshmen Emmanuel Ross and Jamie Tremble, are already a long shot to rack up yards this year.
Looking at the list of seven primary pass catchers, a few of them will likely be more left out than they or fans want them to be.
Who’s guaranteed to succeed?
There’s only two players on this list that are locks to get lots of attention from Kyle McCord.
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What does Syracuse’s defensive line depth look like after first injury? (orangefizz.net; Burstein)
Training camp is in full swing for Syracuse football which means plenty of excitement is in the air. But it also signals the start of injuries, and it took less than a week for the Orange to receive some unfortunate news.
On Monday new head coach Fran Brown announced that Braylen Ingraham, a defensive lineman, is out for the 2024 season with a torn Achilles tendon. As a senior, this will end a long college career for Ingraham that started in 2019.
It’s the first big hit to a defensive line that looks to be rejuvenated this upcoming season with Brown’s extended focus on the line of scrimmage.
Ingraham, like his new coach and several of his new teammates, made the SEC to ACC jump after playing at Alabama. But the defensive lineman did it a year early, announcing his transfer in December of 2022 before playing in every game this past year for Syracuse.
The senior had 16 tackles in his redshirt junior year with the Orange after sparingly playing for the Crimson Tide. An interior lineman, Ingraham figured to slot in again in the left defensive tackle position. Luckily for Syracuse, this position had some depth added over the offseason.
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30 Minutes in Orange Nation 8-6-24 (ESPN; radio; Orange Nation)
Steve Infanti and Paulie Scibilia discuss the impacts of a season-ending injury on the Syracuse Football defensive line, Giants QB Daniel Jones getting into a skirmish at practice, and the Orange’s first road trip to UNLV.
Will Hicks "Orange Nation" 8-6-24 (ESPN; radio; Orange Nation)
Will Hicks, Syracuse Football’s Special Assistant to the Head Coach, joins Steve Infanti and Paulie Scibilia to discuss the changes in his role over the years, look back on Dwight Freeney’s career, and more
LeQuint Allen will BUILD ON his 2nd Team All ACC Selection for Syracuse Football | Syracuse Podcast (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Football's running back room looks improved from last season. Head Coach Fran Brown was able to keep All ACC running back LeQuint Allen, and he should remain the starter for the Orange. 2024 Three-star recruit Yasin Willis and three-star Washington transfer Will Nixon should be quality backups behind Allen. 2024 recruits Malachi James and Jaden Hart are future names to keep in my for the Cuse.
Jackson Holzer talks about the Cuse Football running backs for the 2024 season on this edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.
Recent History of Players Flipping For/Against Syracuse Football | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube;podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Football has been no stranger to players flipping to and from the program. Fran Brown was successfully able to flip 2024 recruits Emanuel Ross, Yasin Willis, and Jaylan Hornsby. The Orange are also attempting to flip 2025 four-star CJ May from Louisville. However, the Cuse have also lost elite recruits like Izayia Williams and Demetres Samuel. Jackson Holzer provides a recent history of players flipping to and from the program.
Syracuse Football has TWO Quality Backup Running Backs | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse; premieres at 10 AM)
Syracuse Football's running back room looks improved from last season. Head Coach Fran Brown was able to keep All ACC running back LeQuint Allen, and he should remain the starter for the Orange. 2024 Three-star recruit Yasin Willis and three-star Washington transfer Will Nixon should be quality backups behind Allen. 2024 recruits Malachi James and Jaden Hart are future names to keep in my for the Cuse.Jackson Holzer talks about the Cuse Football running backs for the 2024 season on this edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast
Syracuse HC Fran Brown on Yasin Willis, 2024 RB Room (youtube; podcast; WakeUpCallDT)
“Peeling Back the Orange” - DT w/ Syracuse Orange Head Football Coach Fran Brown speaking on newcomer RB Yasin Wllis & RB Room heading into 2024-25 season…
The Juice Online - Podcast: Syracuse will win 9 games, former DB Carl Jones says (r1vals.com; podcast; Juice on the Cuse)
Former Syracuse defensive back and current WIVB-TV's Carl Jones has liked what he's seen in the offseason from new head coach Fran Brown. From modernizing recruiting to retaining SU's best talent, Jones believes that Brown is absolutely the right man for the job.
We spoke with Jones on this week's The Juice on the Cuse Podcast, presented by Rivals and Bleav, and Jones (who played at SU from 2016-19) believes all of the ingredients are there for a banner year at SU.
"I’m going to go nine wins. There’s no gauntlet that comes in October. That stretch this year is NC State, Pitt and Virginia Tech. I think those games are winnable. There is no Florida State and Clemson. 9-3 sounds about right, and that’s a good record considering it’s the first year of Fran Brown.”
Jones also discusses his first face-to-face meeting with Brown, his new job in Buffalo, and what he thinks of SU's revamped secondary.
We also cover Dwight Freeney being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, two decommitments in the 2026 class and what SU's former head football coaches are up to this upcoming season.
https://www.mytwintiers.com/sports/orange-nation/su-sets-date-for-freeneys-jersey-retirement/ (mytwintiers.com; Infanti)
Last November it was announced that Syracuse University would retire Dwight Freeney’s jersey during the 2024 season. A date for that ceremony has now been set.
During an interview with sports director Steve Infanti on the “Orange Nation” radio show, Will Hicks mentioned that Freeney will be honored during the Georgia Tech game on September 7th inside the Dome. Hicks is currently serving as a special assistant to the head coach at Syracuse. He was on hand over the weekend for Freeney’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The two worked together during Freeney’s junior and senior seasons at SU and then remained close during his NFL days.
Freeney will be the seventh individual player to have his football jersey retired by Syracuse University. He joins Larry Csonka (#39), Tim Green (#72), John Mackey (#88), Donovan McNabb (#5), Don McPherson (#9) and Joe Morris (#47). A total of 25 players have worn the retired #44 jersey at SU.
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Syracuse Football: ACC pundits are sleeping on 'Cuse, and I'm totally good with that (itlhl Adler)
As I noted in a recent post on X, I can't wait for Syracuse football to prove the so-called experts in the Atlantic Coast Conference wrong in the upcoming season.
The 2024 campaign is fast approaching, as first-year head coach Fran Brown and his players will kick off the coming term in late August when the Orange hosts non-conference foe Ohio inside the JMA Wireless Dome.
About a week ago, the ACC released its annual preseason media poll. In that ballot, our beloved 'Cuse is forecast to finish at No. 12 in the league's pecking order. The conference expanded to 17 members in football for the 2024 season, with the additions of California, SMU and Stanford.
x.com
twitter.com
Naturally, these sorts of preseason prognostications should be taken with the proverbial grain of salt. And the Orange will have plenty of chances to prove it's better than No. 12 in the ACC race once games soon commence.
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https://www.accesswire.com/896434/a...tball-stars-kyle-mccord-and-oronde-gadsden-ii (accesswire.com)
Syracuse Orange Quarterback and Tight End Strengthen Athlete Alliances for Apex in the Region Spanning Basketball, Football, Lacrosse and Field Hockey
WESTFORD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 6, 2024 / Apex Entertainment®, a family entertainment destination for people of all ages with a location at Destiny USA in Syracuse, New York, announced today a partnership with Syracuse Quarterback Kyle McCord and Tight End Oronde Gadsden II. These new alliances for Apex Entertainment®, in partnership with SU Football NIL, mark the third consecutive football season that Apex has partnered with SU Football players, having previously partnered with Sean Tucker and Garrett Shrader.
Apex has a longstanding commitment to supporting the best of the community and honoring excellence in youth and sports with partnerships with athletic talent in basketball, football, lacrosse and field hockey in the Syracuse market since opening. Kyle McCord, a proven star as quarterback coming from Ohio State, and Oronde Gadsden II, who has diligently overcome an injury last season and is the son of former NFL wide receiver Oronde Gadsden, bring their inspiration and athleticism to the brand. This NIL relationship marks a significant milestone for Apex as it establishes yet another strong athletic partnership in the region.
"Syracuse and the buzz around Orange sports is special. We love supporting these college athletes and connecting more with the communities in which we operate," said Rob Luzzi, senior director of marketing, RAVentures. "We're looking forward to having both Kyle and Oronde as partners during this highly anticipated football season."
The Syracuse Orange football team represents SU in the NCAA in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Kyle McCord, the 6'3", 220 lb. senior from Mt. Laurel, NJ spent three seasons at Ohio State before transferring to Syracuse in the spring 2024. He appeared in 24 games with 13 starts (12 of which in 2023) at quarterback for the Buckeyes and completed 270-of-406 passes in his three seasons, for 3,776 yards, 27 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. Oronde Gadsden II, known for his size and offensive prowess, is a 6'5", 236 lb. junior who switched to tight end and, in 2022, shattered Syracuse's single-season receptions and receiving yards record by a tight end.
About Apex Entertainment®
Apex Entertainment® is a family entertainment destination for people of all ages. With four locations in Marlborough, Massachusetts, Albany and Syracuse, New York and Virginia Beach, Virginia, Apex Entertainment is the largest local space for indoor family fun with world class attractions all under one roof. Headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts and established in 2017, Apex Entertainment is part of Westford-based RAVentures, which owns and operates hospitality brands and real estate and development companies. https://www.apexentertainment.com/.
https://cuse.com/news/2024/8/6/football-syracuse-athletics-enhances-veterans-ticket-parnerships (cuse.com)
The Syracuse University Athletics Department is proud to announce its partnership with the Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) which will begin in 2024-25. This partnership will serve in addition to the longstanding Broadview Federal Credit Union 'Cuse for the Troops program, which has provided complimentary tickets to active-duty service members and veterans for more than a decade.
The new partnership with Vet Tix will provide season ticket holders the opportunity to unlock tax deductions, increase home field advantage, and provide unused season tickets to all branches of active duty military and veterans, including immediate family of troops killed in action.
Vet Tix has served the military community since 2008, providing free tickets for veterans, service members, and families of those killed in action. These tickets include access to sporting events, concerts, performing arts, and other community and family activities nationwide. Through the Tickets for Troops Program, over 23 million tickets have been distributed to veterans and active service members. Vet Tix is a national non-profit 501c(3), and all contributions are tax deductible.
Syracuse Athletics partnership with Vet Tix grants season ticket holders another avenue for managing their season tickets
Four ways to utilize season tickets
- Attend the game
- Transfer to friends and family
- Sell on Ticketmaster via your MyCuse account
- NEW: Donate to Vet Tix (100% tax deductible) via your MyCuse account
Beginning on August 7, Syracuse season ticket holders will be able to donate tickets through their online MyCuse account. Those who donate their tickets will receive a receipt from the Veteran Ticket Foundation for tax purposes.
Veterans seeking to claim these tickets can visit www.vettix.org to create an account.
The Broadview 'Cuse for the Troops initiative also returns for 2024-25, where Syracuse Athletics honors the military throughout the season by providing complimentary tickets to active-duty service members and veterans.
The Broadview 'Cuse for the Troops program operates independently to Vet Tix and has a separate registration and ticketing process. Through the Cuse.com/Military site, all veterans and active-duty military will have the opportunity to receive up to two complimentary tickets to the Holy Cross and UConn games, and up to four on Military Appreciation Day against Georgia Tech.
Different from Vet Tix, which allows season ticket holders to donate unused seats, in the Military Pass program, fans can thank a veteran by sponsoring military tickets on an individual game basis, whether they have season tickets or not.
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Syracuse basketball, football alums to participate in Coming Back Together game: ‘It keeps us connected’ (PS; Waters)
The good-natured banter began early on the Zoom feed during Tuesday’s press conference to announce the rosters for the 2024 Celebrity Classic basketball game.
Streaming in on the JMA Dome’s massive video-screen, former Syracuse guard Scoop Jardine vowed to leave his trash-talking at home and let his game speak for itself.
“That’s a lie,’' Lazarus Sims interjected from alongside the podium at the JMA Dome.
John Wallace, the former Syracuse star who led the 1996 team to the NCAA championship game, reacted to the news that Tyus Battle and Brandon Triche; two younger SU alums, were participating in this year’s event.
“They’re so young!’' Wallace said. “One of them has to be on my team.’'
The press conference offered a glimpse of the commaraderie and connectivity that is the goal of Syracuse University’s Coming Back Together weekend, which is a triennial celebration of the school’s Black and Latino populations.
The last CBT Celebrity Classic was played in 2021. This year’s game will be held at the JMA Dome on Thursday, Sept. 12 and will serve as the kickoff event in the Coming Back Together weekend.
“It’s more important than just a game,’' Wallace said. “It keeps us connected.’'
Former Syracuse athletes from the sports of men’s and women’s basketball, football and track and field will take part in this year’s Celebrity Classic. Some will play, some will coach, some will referee and some will provide commentary. A partial list of expected attendees includes:
Men’s Basketball
Billy Owens, John Wallace, Lawrence Moten, Lazarus Sims, Mookie Jones, Scoop Jardine, Tyus Battle, Brandon Triche, John Bol, Elimu Nelson.
Women’s Basketball
Vera Jones, Isis Young, Naje Murray, Roxi McNabb, Iasia Hemmingway, Patrice Brown, Gabriel Cooper.
Football
EJ Dowdell, Will Hunter, Jason Poles, Dave Byrd, Maurice Jackson
Track
Mark Pryor, Artie Vaughn, Dwayne Murray
Naje Murray remembered watching the last CBT Classic in 2021, which was right after she had transferred to Syracuse from Texas Tech.
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College Football 25: Syracuse vs #11 Notre Dame - Week 0 | CPU vs CPU Dynasty, RFL CS7! (youtube; game simulation; Relocation FL)
Extremely flawed game simulation College Football 25: Syracuse vs #11 Notre Dame - Week 0 | CPU vs CPU Dynasty, RFL CS7
Backup quarterback battle brewing in Syracuse (spectrumlocalnew.com; MacWilliam)
Going into the season, it's clear that Kyle McCord is the clear-cut starter at the quarterback position for the Syracuse football team.
But if recent memory has shown anything, fans should get to know the backup quarterbacks as well. It's been a good battle so far throughout camp. Carlos Del Rio-Wilson has been the primary backup the last couple of years.
What You Need To Know
- Kyle McCord is the clear cut starter for Syracuse
- But if recent memory has shown us, we have to shed light on the backup QB battle
- Offensive Coordinator Jeff Nixon says he likes the way that competition is shaping up
He's being pushed by guys like Michael Johnson, Jr., and Jahkari Williams. Offensive Coordinator Jeff Nixon saying he's liking the competition he's seeing thus far, and hopes that a backup can emerge by the end of camp.
"I really like our QB competition right now for that backup position between Mike Johnson and Carlos Del Rio," Nixon said. "We're swapping them out with the ones and twos every single day. So one day one of them will go get some reps with the ones along with Kyle, and the next day, the next guy will get some reps with the ones. Jahkari, I think, is really coming along too as a freshman. He's going to be a really good player."
The Orange get a day off on Wednesday. They return to the practice field on Thursday.
080624 Syracuse Orange Football Preseason Camp (wbng.com; video; Villegas)
Syracuse Orange Preseason camp underway
“Peeling Back the Orange” - DT w/ Syracuse Orange Head Football Coach Fran Brown speaking on the Offensive Line heading into 2024-25 season… #Syracuse... | By Wake Up Call with Dan TortoraFacebook
“Peeling Back the Orange” - DT w/ Syracuse Orange Head Football Coach Fran Brown speaking on the Offensive Line heading into 2024-25 season… #Syracuse...
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ACC News
2024 College football odds: Can SMU challenge for ACC title? | FOX Sports (foxsports.com; Hill)
College football is (almost) here, and it’s time to enjoy the sport we all love.
But first, those of us who have been fans for decades have to rewire our brains, forget everything we knew, and re-learn which schools are in which conferences.
While that is not something that can be done overnight, much less in this column, just know that if you are confused or feel uncertain about which teams are where, you are not alone. If some of these changes feel weird, it’s because they are. Not only are teams being shuffled and reshuffled, the players are also changing teams rapidly in this new era of college football, where NIL and the transfer portal are a large factor in awaiting and retaining talent.
That being said, the two most important things remain intact: the games are still on television, and we can still wager on them.
With that in mind, let’s take a glance at the new-look ACC.
When you think of the ACC, you probably think of the great rivalry in basketball between Duke and North Carolina. Well, now the Cal-Stanford rivalry is as much a part of the ACC as Dean Smith vs. Coach K was (ok, perhaps not, but you get the point), as the two West Coast schools have both joined the league, along with fellow newcomer SMU, which I think has a great shot to compete for a conference title.
SMU returns a lot of production from a team that won 11 games last year, and was outstanding on both sides of the ball. It was 37th in the country in yards per play on offense (6.0), and defensively, it was sixth in the country in yards allowed per play (4.5).
Any time a team moves up in class like this, from the American Conference to the ACC, a concern about its talent producing against better competition is natural and certainly warranted. However, the Mustangs' schedule is a fairly generous welcome gift, considering they avoid most of the elite teams they’ll have to contend with.
Clemson, Miami, NC State, Florida St., and Virginia Tech are the five of the six teams ahead of SMU in terms of odds to win the ACC. But the only team out of that group that SMU has to play is Florida St., and SMU gets that game on its home field.
Considering the generous schedule and the plethora of weapons on offense, combined with a stingy defense, SMU has a chance at 15-1 to play for, and possibly win the ACC title in its debut season in a new conference.
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Virginia Tech is the perfect ACC darkhorse #acc #virginiatech #gohokies (youtube; podcast; Ruffino & Joe)
Virginia Tech is the perfect ACC darkhorse
2023 ACC Passing Grades in Review (RX; HM)
2023 ACC Passing Grades in Review
How did ACC football teams when it comes to moving the ball through the air? 2023 was an okay season for passing, and here's a look at the best - and worst - team efforts...
| 2023 ACC Passing Stats: Production | ||||
| Team | CMP% | Avg | Long | TD |
| The Good | ||||
| UNC | 63.5 | 8.4 | 77 | 26 |
| Miami | 64.9 | 7.7 | 85 | 23 |
| Louisville | 65.2 | 8.1 | 85 | 22 |
| GT | 61 | 7.6 | 58 | 27 |
| The Meh | ||||
| FSU | 60 | 8.1 | 80 | 25 |
| UVA | 62.6 | 7.6 | 75 | 19 |
| NC State | 59.1 | 6.7 | 72 | 19 |
| Syracuse | 60.8 | 7 | 86 | 17 |
| The Ugly | ||||
| Clemson | 63.7 | 6.3 | 69 | 20 |
| Pitt | 53.3 | 7.2 | 82 | 17 |
| VT | 57.4 | 7.3 | 84 | 23 |
| Wake | 60.4 | 7.4 | 69 | 14 |
| BC | 56.5 | 6.6 | 52 | 15 |
| Duke | 56 | 6.6 | 69 | 14 |
UNC averaged 8.4 yards per pass and scored 26 touchdowns through the air. Miami had a long of 85 yards, and so did Louisville. Both had high completion percentages, too, with the Cards on top at 65.2%. Georgia Tech led the league in TD passes with 27.
FSU, UVA, NC State and Syracuse weren't exactly bad in the passing game, they just didn't stand out in terms of raw production (though you will see FSU praised in just a moment!)
Now for the ugly. Clemson only averaged a pathetic 6.3 yards per pass; that says zero deep threat to me. Pitt could barely complete half their pass attempts. Boston College never broke a pass longer than 52 yards, and only scored one more passing touchdown than bottom-dwellers Wake and Duke.
| 2023 ACC Passing: INTs, Sacks, QBR | ||||
| Team | INT | Sacks | Sack Yds | QBR |
| The Good | ||||
| UNC | 11 | 37 | -184 | 148.2 |
| Miami | 14 | 16 | -109 | 140.5 |
| FSU | 4 | 25 | -197 | 145.5 |
| Louisville | 12 | 32 | -249 | 145.3 |
| GT | 17 | 15 | -93 | 139.1 |
| VT | 5 | 24 | -161 | 137.6 |
| Duke | 8 | 17 | -88 | 119.8 |
| The Meh | ||||
| Clemson | 9 | 28 | -215 | 126.5 |
| Pitt | 12 | 23 | -205 | 122.7 |
| NC State | 12 | 24 | -155 | 125.2 |
| Syracuse | 15 | 30 | -167 | 128.1 |
| The Ugly | ||||
| UVA | 14 | 43 | -269 | 135.2 |
| Wake | 11 | 49 | -276 | 129.9 |
| BC | 14 | 20 | -141 | 117.7 |
UNC's Drake Maye had a gaudy QB rating. GT, Miami and Duke were rarely sacked, and when they were sacked, the Blue Devils didn't lose much yardage. FSU and VT hardly ever threw an interception; on the other hand, GT threw it to the wrong jerseys the most.
Clemson, Pitt, NC State, and Syracuse were pretty nondescript in terms of INTs, sacks, and QBR. That a full-on "meh" rating for the 2023 Wolfpack and Orange pass offenses.
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2024 Doak Walker Watch List (RX; HM)
2024 Doak Walker Watch List
From the official ACC release of Tuesday, August 6, 2024...
ACC with 15 Running Backs Named Candidates for the 2024 Doak Walker Award
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced the preseason candidates for the 2024 Doak Walker Award on Tuesday, August 6. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation’s most outstanding college running back.
The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. Each Tuesday this season, The PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week.
The ACC had 15 running backs recognized as preseason candidates, including 2023 award finalist Omarion Hampton of North Carolina and 2023 semifinalist Damien Martinez of Miami. Also named to the list were LeQuint Allen of Syracuse, Ryan Butler of Stanford, Donald Chaney of Louisville, Demond Claiborne of Wake Forest, Rodney Hammond Jr. of Pitt, Jamal Haynes of Georgia Tech, Jaylan Knighton of SMU, Phil Mafah of Clemson, Jaquez Moore of Duke, Jaydn Ott of California, Kye Robichaux of Boston College, Bhayshul Tuten of Virginia Tech and Jordan Waters of NC State.
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Virginia Tech football named one of the biggest snubs in preseason coaches poll (fightinggobbler.com; Roche)
Monday, the Preseason US LBM Coaches Poll was released and four ACC team made their way into the poll. Florida State, Clemson, Miami, and North Carolina State were in the Top 25, but Virginia Tech was not. The Hokies were the third team out coming in at No. 28.
It was a little surprising to see them outside the Top 25 with the coaches, but the Hokies have had a ton of retainment and bring nearly their entire production from both sides of the ball. Yes, Year 1 of the Brent Pry-era was tough, as expected, at 3-8, but Year 2 was a big success over the last eight weeks. After starting 1-3, they went 5-3 in the ACC to finish 6-6 before closiong the season with momentum following a 41-20 Military Bowl win over Tulane.
Virginia Tech has been on a lot of radars this offseason, but apparently not the coaches who vote on the poll. National college football writer Eddie Timanus listed five schools that were snubbed in the poll and Virginia Tech was one of them.
Pry certainly has the Hokies in a great position beginning his third season in Blacksburg and they are a team that can separate themselves from the middle of the ACC pack this year with a roster full of retainment and key transfers along with a doable conference schedule. They'll likely end up in the poll at some point early in the season and all will be forgotten.
...
Clemson Football Opponent Preview: Hokies Could Shock ACC (theclemsoninsider.com; Walters)
A new year of college football comes with a rejuvenation of a team. A clear record, a fresh start, and a time to prove they can do more. For Virginia Tech, it is capable of more.
The Hokies finished their last season by vanquishing Tulane in the Military Bowl. A 7-6 record was different from what they had hoped for.
However, with the 2023 season behind them and camp underway, things will look different for the Hokies this season.
OFFENSE
Unlike many teams that are trying to figure out who their man is at quarterback, that question is answered at Virginia Tech. The answer is Kyron Drones.
A transfer out of Baylor in 2023, he put up a great first season in Blacksburg, with 22 touchdowns in 10 starts. With 800 yards on the ground, combined with an arm talent that amassed over 2,000 yards, the Hokies are hoping for an even better year out of their lead guy.
The running game was a highlight for Virginia Tech, and it is expected to continue that way. With the rushing talents of Drones combined with the workhouse abilities of Bhayshul Tuten, their combination can work wonders yet again. The duo helped the rushing offense combine for 213 rushing yards per game in 2023.
Top receivers Da’Quan Felton and Jaylin Jones are returning for another run, joined with previously-injured deep threat Ali Jennings. The receiver situation only gets better.
Montavious Cunningham, a Georgia State transfer, joins the previous offensive line to help fill a guard spot with his talents. While the line provides the most uncertainty on the offense, their offseason work and continuing process of meshing the unit together will help solidify the offense as a whole.
DEFENSE
With the second best defense in the ACC in 2023, expectations are high and talents are abounding yet again.
Star edge rushers Antwaun Powell-Ryland and Cole Nelson, who combined for 14 sacks last year return to man the ends, while the interior is filled up with new talent. Transfers Aeneas Peebles (Duke) and Kelvin Gilliam (Oklahoma), amongst other talents, will help beef up the line.
Keli Lawson, who had 80 tackles in his last campaign to lead the entire unit, and Middle Tennessee transfer Sam Brumfield are expected to lead the linebacker squad, with tons of depth to follow, including Jayden McDonald and Alan Tisdale.
With the top pass defense in the ACC last season, the Hokies will be strong in the secondary again. Even with the loss of top talent Derrick Canteen, who transferred to Cincinnati, the pass defense is still looking good.
Interception team leader Dorian Strong will head the unit alongside veteran safety Jalen Stroman and the talents of Mose Phillips III and Nasir Peoples.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special teams is looking very good for the Hokies. John Love, who kicked and made a fantastic 91.7% of his field goals in 2023, returns for another campaign. Additionally, Tucker Holloway and Bhayshul Tuten will lead the return game in an expected productive fashion. Redshirt senior Peter Moore is planned to lead the punting squad for the new season.
OVERVIEW
With three year Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry at the head of the Hokies squad, the year to come is being watched.
A few difficult conference matchups, traveling to Miami and Stanford in back-to-back weeks and ending the season with the Cavaliers in Virginia, lie in front of the Hokies. It isn’t a poor situation for them, and their schedule allows for the opportunity to put up a good ACC standing.
Clemson, however, will be one of their tougher matchups. With much of the season already undergone and both sides of the ball developed and grown to match the tempo of the season, the Tigers defense is expected to be on their A-game, and their powerful defensive line won’t be giving free yards to Virginia Tech’s rushing game.
Save the date, Nov. 9 will show which elite defense comes out on top.
Expansion ACC Plans to Steal Big 12 Schools Like Utah, TCU, Arizona in Realignment, Per Odd Source (youtube; podcast; Locked on Big 12)
Expansion ACC Plans to Steal Big 12 Schools Like Utah, TCU, Arizona in Realignment, Per Odd Source
Other
A Mediterranean pizza at Nick's Pizza, our 31st stop on the CNY Pizza Tour. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
CNY Pizza Tour, stop #31: This remarkably fresh pizza celebrates our tomato season (PS; Miller)
It’s rare for a pizza lover to ever turn down pepperoni and sausage for lunch, but a muggy 92-degree day can easily change your mind.
Even Nick Perkett, the owner of Nick’s Pizza on Thompson Road, will shy away from a meaty pizza that’s only going to make him warmer on a day like this. He gravitates to a pizza topped with fresh vegetables that match the season.
“I love tomatoes, I love garlic, I love cheese. I love everything about this pizza,” he said of his shop’s Mediterranean pizza. “This is a summer pizza.”
Sliced ripe tomatoes are the star of his favorite pizza, so the timing is perfect. New York’s tomato season runs mid-July to mid-October, with August and September being the most common months for availability.
Since opening the pizzeria 17 years ago next door to his wife’s sandwich shop, Nick has filled the racks behind the counter with more than a dozen varieties of fresh slices. Most of them are loaded with meat, but he always saves a spot for his Mediterranean pizza.
Each day, a line forms shortly after Nick opens at 11 a.m. and continually replenishes until about 2 p.m. The assembly line here quickly tosses each customer’s slices into the oven for a couple minutes, cashes them out and retrieves the hot slices for one of the 500 medium-sized to-go boxes standing by. Every so often, they’ll box up a full pizza for one of the businesses near Carrier Circle.
“We’ve seen companies come and go out here, but this line never seems to go away,” Nick said. “I’ve gotten to know so many of these guys over the years.”
Let’s grab a slice ...
A growing Syracuse soul food business is taking a spot at Syracuse’s Hancock airport (PS; $; Cazentre)
Miss Prissy’s Southern / soul food launched as one of the original vendors at the Salt City Market in 2021 and is currently working to reopen with a standalone space on South Warren Street downtown.
Now, it’s tackling a new project.
Miss Prissy’s expects to open an outlet at Syracuse Hancock International Airport early in 2025. It will be located in the post-security area of Terminal B (the Delta and United gates) in space that has been occupied by the eSavvy gift shop.
The 1,000-square-foot space will offer a “scaled back” version of the larger menu that is planned for the new downtown restaurant, said majority owner Dreamer Glen. That will include items like a mac ‘n cheese bowl, fresh salads, sandwiches, breakfast items and desserts, she said.
“It will be a lot of portable things, grab and go, because that’s what you need when you’re traveling,” said Glen, whose partner in the business is Cyrus Thornton. “And desserts — there aren’t a lot of places to get dessert at the airport.”
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Location of planned aerial spraying Wednesday to combat the spread of EEE and West Nile viruses.Onondaga County health department
Aerial spraying planned for Cicero swamp Wednesday after EEE and West Nile viruses found (PS; Dowty)
Aerial spraying is planned Wednesday for the Cicero swamp area after mosquitoes trapped there in recent days tested positive for both the EEE and West Nile viruses.
Both viruses can be spread to humans and can, in rare cases, cause life-threatening complications. A trap on East Taft Road captured mosquitoes carrying eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile viruses. A trap on Route 298 had a positive West Nile case, the health department said.
Onondaga County’s health department said that spraying will take place after 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, weather permitting. The product used will be Kontrol 30-30.
Residents in the area will be notified by phone through a 911 emergency notification if the spraying goes as planned.
If weather is not suitable for spraying then, a new time and date will be announced publicly, the health department said.
The designated spray area is generally bounded on the north by Route 31, on the west by Northern Boulevard, on the south by East Taft Road and on the east by Chittenango Creek (county line). The main roads in this area include parts or all of Route 298, Bull Street, Eastwood Road, Island Road, Cicero Center Road, Fergerson Road, Ferstler Road and Oxbow Road.
This is the same area sprayed in August 2023.
For those in the area from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the day of the scheduled spraying, the health department recommends that you:
- Stay indoors and keep your windows closed for one hour after the area has been sprayed.
- Keep your pets indoors if possible.
- Set your window air conditioners to circulate indoor air. It is safe to use your central air conditioning.
- Keep outdoor gardens covered and rinse vegetables before eating.
- Be sure children’s toys, outdoor furniture, and clothes on outdoor clotheslines are brought inside. If toys or clothes are left outdoors, wash each thoroughly with soap and water before using and launder clothes before wearing them.
- Close your car windows and air vents if you are driving during the spraying.
- Refrain from using any flying camera drones, model aircraft or similar aerial flying products.
Specialty national clothing outlet opens in DeWitt (PS; $; Doran)
J. Crew Factory, an offshoot of J. Crew featuring discount, made-for-outlet clothing, is now open in Marshall’s Plaza in DeWitt.
The clothing retailer opened over the weekend in the shopping center. It’s located in what was the Ski Company space, next to Sola Salon. The plaza is off Erie Boulevard East in DeWitt.
Based in New York City, J. Crew has sold clothing and accessories for men and women since 1983.
J. Crew has more than 400 locations around the U.S. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020.
J. Crew operated a store in Destiny USA, but closed it in 2017.
