sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Thoughtful Thursday!
Thoughtful Thursday is a time to be mindful of others—at home, work, and in public—and realize that they may have thoughts, concerns, and needs that we haven't been aware of. It is a day to try to be more aware of their feelings and to be more considerate and thoughtful. The day is part of Be Kind to Humankind Week, which is "a celebration of people and the kind acts that they perform all across the globe." Lorraine Jara created the week in 1988 after reading a story about two young men in her town of Toms River, New Jersey, who had flipped over in a rowboat. Two ladies from another boat pulled them out of the cold water, but their boat was not motorized and they didn't have a radio to call for help. Two boats with radio antennas passed and did not stop to help. A person from one of those boats apparently even said, "We don't want to be bothered." One of the two boaters who had fallen in the water ended up dying. Jara was devastated by what had happened in her town and wanted to honor the memory of the deceased man, so she started Be Kind to Humankind Week.
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THE FRAN EFFECT: Fran Brown’s transcendent offseason reshaped Syracuse football (DO; Andrews)
Fran Brown thinks the notion that sharing coaching tree lineage makes you family is “bullcrap.” It’s tough to get attached within the expeditious lifestyle of coaching. As old colleagues leave, replacements swiftly arrive.
Brown still keeps in touch with plenty of his contacts from the University of Georgia, such as defensive analyst Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann. Other than that, there’s little discussion — certainly nothing football-related — with his past connections, who are now his competition.
“I got a couple texts when my daughter’s birthday was up,” Brown said after training camp practice on Aug. 19. “The other ones don’t want to talk all the time.”
It doesn’t mean there aren’t any coaches Brown attempts to emulate. While he was Georgia’s defensive backs coach from 2022-23, he learned under two-time NCAA title-winning head coach Kirby Smart. Brown might sound crazy, he said, but he wishes he could physically take Smart’s brain and replace his own with it, just to bask in his extensive football knowledge.
Brown’s self-assurance, however, holds more weight than anything he takes from other coaches. He’s unapologetically himself, a quality that’s helped him win over a litany of high-level recruits and coaches to overhaul Syracuse football.
“I can’t be Kirby Smart,” Brown said. “But I’m doing what we did at Georgia.”
Since he was hired as SU’s 31st head football coach on Nov. 28, 2023, Brown has reshaped the program’s landscape. The 42-year-old Camden, New Jersey, native laid an emphasis on northeast recruiting, an area Syracuse gradually lacked success in since Paul Pasqualoni’s exit in 2004. Today, with Brown’s regional effect, Syracuse’s 2024 and 2025 freshmen classes rank as its two best recruiting hauls in the last 23 years.
Brown’s authenticity is what his commits say stand out the most about him. What he gives is what you get, like how he isn’t bashful while howling at players to hustle amid a typical high-intensity practice. Even with his vigor, Brown’s down-to-earth presence has led people to follow his mission at SU.
Recruits want someone they can trust, and Brown is someone who delivers. It’s been a perfect match thus far.
“He tells you that he’s going to do something, and he’s going to make sure that he gets it done,” freshman running back Yasin Willis said of Brown. “Having a guy like that in your corner, it’s like you can’t lose.”
Cole Ross | Digital Design Director
Willis said Syracuse wasn’t on his radar early in his recruitment. The Newark, New Jersey, native visited SU as a sophomore at St. Joseph Regional High School. He said it was just “cool” to meet former head coach Dino Babers and tour the facilities. But Willis, the No. 2 recruit in New Jersey, per Rivals, didn’t see Syracuse among his top options. According to Willis, though, Brown’s arrival changed everything.
Willis, originally committed to Pittsburgh, admired the trust Brown instilled in him. He took note of Brown securing local talent and wanted to be a part of “something new,” he said. Once Brown told Willis he’d play a major role in year one, his interest piqued.
Yet it wasn’t just learning behind LeQuint Allen Jr. and adding to SU’s running back legacy that sold Willis. It was how easily he connected with Brown.
“He’s basically from the same community as I am, so he knows how to turn your feelings on and off,” Willis said of Brown. “That’s a real head coach right there. That’s somebody that you want to be your coach.”
Willis flipped his commitment to Syracuse last December. His experience encapsulates Brown’s northeast sway. Brown established his recruiting base in his home region during his time as an assistant coach with Temple, Baylor, Rutgers and Georgia.
In eight years under Babers, the Orange didn’t take advantage of the northeast. All of Babers’ recruiting classes failed to eclipse the top 50 mark in the country, per 247Sports. But Brown arrived with a plan to change Syracuse’s northeast fortune, sticking with the approach that led his influence to grow.
“I was always able to go out and recruit, get the best players, but it wasn’t because I was saying all this stuff or selling all this stuff at Temple, it was because of the relationships,” Brown said at his introductory press conference on Dec. 4, 2023. “I recruit just by being genuine, telling kids the truth.”
Today, Brown holds the title for 247Sports’ National Recruiter of the Year. Syracuse’s 2024 class ranks No. 36 in the nation, better than any class generated under Babers. Its transfer class is rated No. 24 in the country, too, highlighted by Brown plucking former five-star quarterback and Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord — a product out of St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia.
“He’s the best recruiter in the country for a reason,” senior tight end Oronde Gadsden II said of Brown.
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Inside Fran Brown’s roster overhaul: 31 new faces to know, Northeast roots and plans for the future (PS; $; Carlson & Leiker)
When Syracuse fired former head coach Dino Babers after the Orange’s 11th game last season, Aaron Mannicci headed directly for Fran Brown’s office at the University of Georgia.
He saw the news on Pro Football Focus. They had been monitoring the possibility. He knew that one of the opportunities that Brown had been waiting for had finally arrived.
“I bee-lined for Coach Brown’s office and sat there to break the news to him,” Mannicci said.
Mannicci, who came to Syracuse with Brown to work as SU’s director of scouting, has been working with Brown since 2018. He was considered Brown’s right-hand man at Georgia.
Brown’s most logical path to a head-coaching job went through the Northeast, where his local recruiting connections would be more likely to outweigh any concerns about his lack of head coaching or coordinating experience.
That made Syracuse, at least to Brown, among the most attractive jobs in the country.
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See the finished new seating inside the JMA Wireless Dome (photos) (PS; photo gallery; Leiker)
Here’s a look at the new seats inside the JMA Wireless Dome.
Syracuse University completed the install of its new blue stadium seats ahead of the Orange football team’s season opener against Ohio at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the JMA Dome.
The current renovation bid adieu to the silver benches that filled the dome for four decades. It is part of a project that also includes the creation of Bob Miron Victory Court, an event space that remains under construction, and the installation of an improved wireless network by JMA Wireless.
“When people came in for the other renovation they didn’t really touch or feel anything that we did other than the air conditioning,” said SU chief facilities officer Pete Sala. “People asked for two things when we did our survey -- air conditioning and seating.”
Sala and director of athletics John Wildhack spoke Wednesday morning inside the Dome to provide updates about the renovation process, new fan experience offerings for the upcoming athletic year and more.
Capacity for full-venue events like football is 42,784, a decrease from 49,262. Basketball capacity will be around 33,000. The school is still determining the exact number, which will depend on how far back it places the roll-out bleachers. Their placement impacts sight lines in the upper levels.
Season-ticket holders for both football and basketball were reseated as part of the process. The school moved the student section. All of the seats in the building blue expect for a small orange seats in a pair of premium ticket sections. They have chairbacks but no cupholders.
There was a 114% ADA seating increase, Sala said. There is now enough room for 500 ADA seats in the facility.
He said the school will be doing “testing” with AT&T customers on Saturday in hopes that they will have improved cell phone service for the opener against Ohio on Saturday. The school finished that process with Verizon customers last year, and they experienced vastly improved service.
In the lower bowl, the seats are 21 inches wide with arm rests. Seats in the upper bowl are 19 inches wide and do not have arm rests.
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Syracuse Football on Instagram: "how about y’all??? Let us know ⬇️ ️ available now! Cuse.com/tickets"
cusefootball on August 28, 2024: "how about y’all??? Let us know ⬇️ ️ available now! Cuse.com/tickets".
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https://collegefootballnews.com/col...io-prediction-game-preview-betting-lines-2024 (CFN; Fiutak)
Welcome to to the beginning of a new era of Syracuse football. Fran Brown is coming in to crank up the recruiting, get the talent level up a notch, and turn the program into a player in the ACC … eventually.
First it has to get by an Ohio team that’s in a bit of a refresh mode. It’s still a good Bobcat program, but its shelves were raided by Power Four programs for a slew of talented parts.
In a way-under-the-radar way. This is one of the more interesting games only because these two are complete unknowns. With that said …
Syracuse vs Ohio Preview
Syracuse vs Ohio How to Watch
Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024
Game Time: 3:30 pm ET
Venue: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY
How to Watch: ACC Network
2023 Records: Syracuse (6-7), Ohio (10-3)
- Week 1 Schedule, Predictions
Why Ohio Will Win
Ohio is still good.The offense lost a ton including QB Kurtis Rourke to Indiana and almost everyone who caught a pass, but really, it should be okay. The offensive line will be outstanding - at least in the MAC and the Syracuse defensive front should be a work in progress.
It might not be a high-powered Bobcat attack, but it’ll be efficient and keep the chains moving as long as the front can keep the Orange pass rush from getting going.
Why Syracuse Will Win
At least experience-wise, the Ohio defense needs help.It got hit way harder than the offense that got whacked around by the transfer portal - the team needs tacklers to emerge right away.
Syracuse upgraded with Ohio State QB Kyle McCord coming in along with a slew of strong receivers from the transfer portal. The running game will need a little while to lather up, but this is the game to do it.
Again, the Bobcats will need a bit to find the guys to come anywhere near the production of last year’s D.
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Top expert praises Fran Brown, expects Syracuse football to make a bowl game in 2024 (itlh; Adler)
ESPN's Andrea Adelson is one of the top writers in the business covering the Atlantic Coast Conference, and she recently had some encouraging things to say about Syracuse football as the Orange gets set to embark on its 2024 season.
Adelson recently joined the awesome folks with The Juice on the Cuse Podcast to discuss conference realignment, the ACC and the 'Cuse. I highly recommend carving out some time to listen to Adelson's interview.
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The Juice Online - Podcast: ESPN's Adelson grades Fran Brown an A+ at Syracuse so far (r1vals.com; podcast; The Juice)
Syracuse is a little over two weeks from the start of one of its most anticipated seasons in quite some time, and the predictions are starting to come in for Fran Brown's first year as head coach. Count ESPN's Andrea Adelson as among those believing that SU is in for another good season. She joined us on this The Juice on the Cuse Podcast, presented by Rivals and Bleav, to get her thoughts on the 2024 season.
“Phenomenal job," Adelson said of Brown's offseason. "A+ job. There’s no question. In terms of high profile guys who came in through the portal, this is by far the most high-profile portal class that Syracuse has ever signed.”
Adelson also sounds off on the future of college football, her favorite to win the ACC, and her prediction for how the Orange will do this upcoming season.
“I will shocked if Syracuse doesn’t make a bowl game this year," she said.
We also discuss several position battles among the offensive line and backup quarterback, and we bid farewell to a longtime Syracuse staffer.
Eric Mac Lain "The 315" 8-28-24 (ESPN; radio; the 315)
Eric Mac Lain of ACC Network joins Brian Higgins to preview the ACC as football season gets underway. He discusses the depth of the league, and what he thinks of the Orange under first year head coach Fran Brown.
Keeping Up With The 315 8-28-24 (ESPN; radio; the 315)
Brian starts the show talking about Syracuse Universities newest edition the their Ring of Honor, before going over some Tim Albin sound bytes, before ending the podcast with trivia!
Brian starts the show talking about Syracuse Universities newest edition the their Ring of Honor, before going over some Tim Albin sound bytes, before ending the podcast with trivia! (spectrumlocalnews.com; Wang)
How does Syracuse Football Look in the Latest ACC Outlook? | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Football season kicks off against the Ohio Bobcats in just three days. Fran Brown released the Orange's depth chart with no real surprises. Kyle McCord and his weapons of Oronde Gadsden and Zeed Haynes could have huge seasons. Plus, the ACC is a lot more interesting after the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets knocked off the 10th ranked Florida State Seminoles in week 0.
Jackson Holzer brings on Neil Adler from Inside the Loud House to talk about the depth chart and the ACC outlook on this edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.
The ACC is wide open for Syracuse Football after Georgia Tech's Win | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse; premieres at 10 AM EST)
Syracuse Football, along with plenty of other ACC schools, greatly benefited after the Florida State Seminoles lost to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The conference appears more open for Fran Brown's squad. Can the Cuse take advantage?
Jackson Holzer brings on Neil Adler from Inside the Loud House to discuss.
Over 42,000 new seats installed at JMA Wireless Dome for Syracuse football's home opener (cnycentral.com; Roth)
Those going to the JMA Wireless Dome for Saturday’s home opener against Ohio University will experience a newly renovated stadium.
“When you walk in it literally looks like a totally different building,” saidSyracuse University Athletic Director John Wildhack.
A totally different building with more than 42,000 brand-new seats, something Wildhack said you don’t see in many college stadiums.
“Unless a college team plays in an NFL venue there’s not another venue where 100% of the seats are chairbacks."
First look: New seats at the JMA Wireless Dome to be installed this summer
Syracuse University’s Chief Facilities OfficerPete Sala said the newly renovated dome will also have improved air conditioning and an upgraded sound system but he says the new seats are what fans will notice most.
This is just the second phase of the dome renovation project; the university says more upgrades are planned for the dome next year.
Syracuse kicks off its home opener this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.
A new dawn for Syracuse football: Fans and businesses rally around 2024 team (cnycentral.com; Ostrander)
With the Syracuse football season about to begin, die-hard fans and businesses are anxiously waiting for the season to begin.
Both want to soak in a feeling they haven't felt in a long time.
Over 42,000 new seats installed at JMA Wireless Dome for Syracuse football's home opener
Fran Brown has not even coached a game yet for the Syracuse Orange, but fans like Mitch Beauchamp feel that he will be special.
“There is always that excitement when a new coach comes in; it's a fresh start, but this one feels a lot different with Fran coming in, so I think as a fanbase it is much needed.”
Mitch and his buddies like Tony Dinicola, better known as Cuse Waterboy, gathered at the HopSpot in Syracuse Wednesday evening to celebrate the new team and coach in town. Dinicola is especially a big fan of Brown’s coaching philosophy, which has an acronym.
They aren't the only ones. Local businesses on the Syracuse Hill, like Shirt World, which has the new Kyle McCord jersey, and Varsity Pizza say they can feel the excitement in the air.
“Everybody around the country—I’m getting calls from all my friends, as us being alumni—they are saying, ‘Wow, is it rocking?’ And yeah, even before the game, everyone is excited. We haven't seen this for a long, long time,” said former Syracuse kicker and owner of Shirt World, Dave Jacobs.
Matthew Robinson, the manager at Varsity Pizza, said, “We’re doing as much as we can, getting all stocked up and ready for it. We are looking at it like some of the bigger days we have had.”
'Most improved group on the team': SU football bolsters offensive line
We also spoke to Orange fan and season ticket holder of forty years, Bob Hartley, who is exhilarated with how the offseason went, and expectations are high as he and other Orange fans want those winning teams back that they miss.
“I’ve seen it all for several years, good and bad. It is good to have something to rally around and to bring everyone together.”
For Dinicola, the wait for football season has been cruel, and now that a potential special season is here, he just wants all of Central New York to take it in.
Going around, even now, you can start to feel the buzz in the city. We spoke with people who aren't football fans, but they are even interested to see how this season will go, and it starts this Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
The Juice Online - Season Prediction — 2024 Syracuse Football preview (r1vals.com; Stechschulte)
Prognosticating a season result is not the easiest thing to do with this Syracuse team. While they enter the year with a more talented roster on paper than most in recent memory, it remains to be seen how that roster settles into the depth chart and produces on the field.
There are positive signs all over the offensive skill positions, as LeQuint Allen is back for another year at running back, tight end Oronde Gadsden II is healthy, and Kyle McCord transferred to the Orange after steering Ohio State to a dozen wins last year. Marlowe Wax is a playmaking star at linebacker, Fadil Diggs transferred from Texas A&M to anchor the defensive line, and Duce Chestnut transferred back to the program after a year at LSU, rejoining Justin Barron and Alijah Clark in a deep backfield.
However, that overhauled roster leads to questions. Who among a mostly inexperienced group will produce on the defensive line aside from Diggs? The secondary is experienced, but a lot of that comes from the safety group, leaving some questions at cornerback. Will a wide receiver or two earn opponents’ respect and help open the offense up for the established playmakers?
The offensive line group is deeper than it has been in recent memory, as four players who started double figure games return for SU and are joined by three other players who transferred into the program after starting at their previous schools. How will that group settle out and will that unit be able to develop chemistry to allow the skill positions to flourish?
Oh, and Fran Brown is a head coach for the first time.
That’s a number of legitimate questions for the most talented Syracuse roster in a long time. The schedule is not overbearing with a friendly non-conference portion and a fair ACC slate. There are a few games, though, that will likely tip the scales one way or the other for the Orange.
Outside of conference play, UNLV is the stiffest test for SU, especially considering it comes on a short week coupled with a long flight and a late kickoff for a team based in the Eastern time zone. The Rebels were a pretty accomplished team in the Mountain West last season, but do have to overcome a change at quarterback. If the Orange can succeed on this business trip to Sin City, that will bode well for the back half of the schedule.
That trip to Las Vegas is not the first game that will point SU’s season in one direction or the other. The second week of the season features a rematch with Georgia Tech at the JMA Wireless Dome. The Yellow Jackets caught Syracuse in the second game of their reconfigured, run-heavy offense late last season and pounded them early in a 31-22 loss. Tech is ninth in the preseason ACC poll, but expected to be a step or two ahead of the tier the Orange are on. This game presents both an opportunity for revenge and to establish that SU is in a better place under the new guard.
The other two games that will tilt the schedule for Syracuse are conference matchups on the road against teams on their tier of the preseason poll. Pittsburgh and California should tell the tale of if the Orange will make a bowl or not.
“Should” is a strong qualifier in that sentence, though, as most recent football seasons have been turned upside down by injuries. Injuries to top players, injuries that deplete the offensive line, injuries that gut the defense, Syracuse has seen them all in recent years.
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Father-son duos highlight Syracuse football (spectrunlocalnews.com; MacWilliam)
To Fran Brown, being a parent and helping guide a family has a special meaning.
“I really kind of never do anything for me," Brown said. "It's more so my family, my children, my last name. But I never really celebrate for me.”
What You Need To Know
- The Orange are truly embracing what it means to be a family
- SU's offense features two father-son duos
- It's brought out the best in them as they relish a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
It’s spilled over to the Syracuse football team as well, with Brown building a family culture with the Orange. But it’s something taken to heart, quite literally, on the offensive side. Two father and son duos highlight the team starting with offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon and tight ends coach Michael Johnson Sr. having the chance to coach their sons, Will and Michael Jr.
“We're both really excited to get this opportunity," Jeff said of his son, Will. "You know, it's a once in a lifetime a chance to coach one of your kids. And it's good because he's been away from me for four years, so now it's, you know, he's in town, and I get a chance to spend some quality time with him.”
“I knew he was capable and he's always been a good athlete," Michael Sr. said of his son, Michael Jr. "But I love him being here because of the environment that we have and the culture that we have. So, you know, whether he plays or not, he's going to be a better young man because of being here. So I'm I'm proud of that. And then he's got to find his way to the field and that's that's on him. So we've taught him a lot. And now he's a young man and he's got to find his way.”
It’s an opportunity not lost on either Will or Michael Jr.
“Once in a lifetime opportunity," Will said. "Get to play for your dad. And at this high level, he's been hard to me, but he's been like that my whole life since high school football. So I'm blessed to be able to play for my dad.”
“You don’t really realize how surreal it is when you're doing it," Michael Jr. added. "I think it's something that I'll look back on when I'm done playing with like, wow. Like there's not many people who really got the opportunity over here. It's really player/coach when I go home for a home cooked meal on the weekends or something like that. That's when we don't really talk about football and all that. So it's been awesome obviously, because my mom, as well as my family being here has been awesome. So I usually used to see him like once or twice a year and now I get to see him like whenever I want.”
While the Johnsons coach and play two different positions, it can be tough love at times for the Nixons, who share the running back room together.
“I ripped into him the first day, you know, the very first practice guys were like, Man, you talk to yourself like that," Jeff said. "He knows what the deal is going to be.”
But it’s all love at the end of the day.
Orange trio looks to lead the charge on defense (spectrumlocalnews.com; MacWilliam)
Marlowe Wax knows he can’t let the past shortcomings impact the future
“We've been through a lot,” Wax said. “And we all have a chip on my shoulder just because how our seasons have been going. So is it just it's just a different type of we have a different type of we just, you know, we just want to win.”
It's a similar mindset that Justin Barron has. They are two defensive players that have seen two opposite ends of the spectrum for the Syracuse Orange football program.
“We know what the lowest feels like so we're doing everything in our power, all that extra stuff, all of us showing up early out, catching jugs before everyone's awake and stuff like that," Barron added. "Just trying to separate us and lead by example and get in a good routine as hopefully it's all the little things add up, right? So, it's all the easier stuff that nobody wants to do. That's what separates good teams from the elite teams.”
Wax and Barron return to lead a talented defense in 2024. But they’re not alone. Alijah Clark is ready for his final rodeo with this duo.
“These guys are my brothers," Clark said. "I've got their back. I tell Marlowe whatever gap you hit on right behind you and J.B, he's the same way. I'm just here to play for those guys, but if I can do it for them to get them to the next level, I'm going to do that. And I know they do the same for me.”
The trio is ready to build upon a disappointing season in 2023 that saw SU finish 65th nationally in total defense. And it’s all started in the film room. They are eager to learn a new defensive scheme and lead by example each day.
“Showing up early, not late, practicing hard," Wax said. "You start with that. But after that, just taking guys under my wing when I get here to the building, bringing a young guy with me when I'm taking notes, just making sure the young guys are also taking good note so he can learn the defense.”
“I appreciate those guys every day and what they bring to the table for us," defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson said. "They are the leaders of their team and those guys show up every day not just on the field, but in the meeting rooms off the field. Those guys are all doing great things."
They are guys ready to lay the foundation for the future in their final season.
“We know it's our last opportunity and we know we only got one shot," Barron said. "Why not leave everything out there.”
Season preview: A new era begins for Syracuse Orange football (spectrumlocalnes.com; video; Staff)
SPECTRUM NEWS VIDEO: A new era begins at the JMA Wireless Dome for the Syracuse football team with many changes for the Orange since they last took the field. There's a new coaching staff. A new quarterback. And many more splashes made in the transfer portal. Can the 2024 Orange live up to the hype in a new-look ACC? Get ready for the season with our season preview, Orange Empire: A New Era.
McCord ready to write next chapter at Syracuse (spectrumlocalnews.com; Wang)
In the eight months Kyle McCord has been at Syracuse, not only has the senior established himself as QB1, but also one of the team’s leaders.
“At the end of the day, as a quarterback of the team, you want that responsibility and you want to be in that role,” he said. “And so I think that's just something that I've been trying to be conscious of.”
The confidence and ability to take those next steps comes courtesy for first-year head coach Fran Brown. He has reinvigorated McCord’s career — and the Orange football program in the process.
“I think obviously leadership, there's the vocal aspect of it,” said McCord, who is on the Walter Camp, Maxwell, and Davey O'Brien award watch lists. “But on top of that, you have to lead by example and be one of the hardest workers on the team.”
“I think that Kyle was one of the better players in the entire country,” said Brown, who spent the past two seasons at Georgia. “So I would like for him to be able to take this team and lead this team as far as we possibly can go.”
The Ohio State transfer spent the offseason maximizing time with his new pass catchers, building chemistry and connections, including tight end Oronde Gadsden II.
“It has taken a lot of just going back-and-forth, talking about certain routes, what we're going to do on that, where he is anticipating me to go and where he's going to throw it,” Gadsden said. “And then doing it on the field.”
“I feel like sometimes in the spring that would show like we just weren't on the same page,” said McCord, who finished second in the Big Ten last with 3,170 yards passing. “But I think those are definitely kinks that we ironed out, throughout the summer. And I feel like now we're hitting at a more consistent rate.”
Another skillset McCord is looking to add to his arsenal this year is running and extending plays. It’s something he wasn’t known for during his time with the Buckeyes.
“I definitely focused on this offseason, making those off-schedule throws, off-schedule plays when the read necessarily isn't there, scrambling out, making something happen,” McCord said.
Syracuse Football tickets 2024: Orange game schedule welcomes Stanford, Cal to ACC (PS; Axelson)
Syracuse Orange football fans, the wait is over. The Orange get back on the field to kick off their 2024 college football season this week, and fans can get single-game tickets to any of the Orange’s home or away games right now, to see a fresh Orange team under Fran Brown in his head coaching debut.
The Syracuse Orange Football season starts Saturday, August 31, vs. the Ohio Bobcats at the JMA Wireless Dome, where they will play host for the first four matchups of the 2024 season. The Orange’s 12-game regular season includes seven home showdowns at Syracuse University, including clashes with major ACC rivals like the Miami Hurricanes on November 30.
Brown will face Syracuse’s regular gauntlet of challenging ACC opponents, bringing his signature DART (detailed, accountable, relentless and tough) approach to coaching a new and talented Syracuse Orange roster. The Post-Standard’s Brent Axe called this Orange line “bigger, stronger, faster and deeper than any roster” in recent memory, and hopes are high ahead of the season start.
The Orange are quarterbacked by Kyle McCord, a key piece of Syracuse’s offseason efforts in the transfer portal. But Brown brought back important Syracuse’s players from last season, including LeQuint Allen, Umari Hatcher and Oronde Gadsden II.
As of August 27, the cheapest Syracuse Orange tickets I found overall are from SeatGeek for $6 for Syracuse @ Boston College on November 9. The cheapest home tickets for the JMA Wireless Dome are for UConn @ Syracuse on November 23 for just $10.
Where to buy Syracuse Orange single-game tickets online:
All times ET.
Saturday, August 31: Ohio @ Syracuse, 3:30 p.m. (ACCN)
Tickets: SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, Ticketmaster
Saturday, September 7: Georgia Tech @ Syracuse, 12 p.m. (ACCN)
Tickets: SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, Ticketmaster
Friday, September 20: Stanford @ Syracuse, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Tickets: SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, Ticketmaster
Saturday, September 28: Holy Cross @ Syracuse, 12 p.m. (ACCNX)
Tickets: SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, Ticketmaster
Friday, October 4: Syracuse @ UNLV, 9 p.m. (FS1)
Tickets: SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, Ticketmaster
Saturday, October 12: Syracuse @ NC State, Time TBD (Channel TBD)
Tickets: SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, Ticketmaster
Thursday, October 24: Syracuse @ Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Tickets: SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, Ticketmaster
Saturday, November 2: Virginia Tech @ Syracuse, Time TBD (Channel TBD)
Tickets: SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, Ticketmaster
Saturday, November 9: Syracuse @ Boston College, Time TBD (Channel TBD)
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Syracuse looking for fast start under new coach Fran Brown in opener against Ohio (apnews.com)
Ohio at Syracuse, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Syracuse by 17 1/2.
Series record: Syracuse leads 3-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
It’s the dawning of the Fran Brown era at Syracuse, and the Orange have a four-game homestand to help jumpstart the 2024 season for the first-year head coach. Anything less than 3-1 start and a dominant showing against Ohio will be disappointing. A Week 2 matchup against ACC foe Georgia Tech, which upset Florida State last weekend, will be one to watch. The Bobcats had their second-straight 10-win season in 2023 but fourth-year coach Tim Albin has a daunting task ahead of him this season. The Bobcats only return six starters.KEY MATCHUP
Ohio running game vs. Orange defense. The Bobcats want to eat up the clock and keep Syracuse’s potentially high-powered offense off the field. That will be easier said than done. Three-year starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke and leading rusher Sieh Bangura transferred and the Bobcats had to replace their seven leading receivers.PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ohio: Dual-threat quarterback Parker Navarro has had only limited playing time. Now in his third year after transferring from UCF, he appeared in six games last season. Navarro completed 18 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 178 yards on 25 attempts.Syracuse: All eyes will be on Kyle McCord, a former five-star recruit who threw for 3,170 yards, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions for Ohio State in 2023. The Orange’s rebuilt offensive line, which averages 6-foot-5, 313 pounds, must protect McCord, who is more of a pocket passer than Syracuse fans might be used to. All-ACC preseason tight end Oronde Gadsden II who returns after a season-ending Lisfranc injury.
FACTS & FIGURES
The Orange defeated the Bobcats 29-9 three years ago in their most recent meeting. ... Returning Bobcat wide receivers had just three touchdown receptions in 2023. … Ohio had the nation’s fourth-ranked total defense and top-15 pass defense in 2023. … The Bobcats recorded 36 sacks. …The 2023 Orange generated 400 yards or more six times and went 6-0 in those games. … Ony nine teams had more penalties than the Orange in 2023. … Syracuse was just 10-of-16 on field goal attempts. … Following its Sept. 28 home game against Holy Cross, Syracuse doesn’t return to home until Nov. 2 against Virginia Tech.___
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Three Things To Be Excited About, Three Days From Game 1 (orangefizz.net; Gotkin)
The 2024 Syracuse football season will go down as one of the most anticipated in a long time. Add the fact that the expanded 12 team playoff starts this season, what was already an exciting year has gotten a lot more interesting. With SU’s schedule, a spot in the College Football Playoff seems like a possibility for the first time. Here are the three things that I’m most excited about heading into the season.
A Quarterback Who Will Protect The Ball
I’ve been very vocal throughout the entire offseason that the transition from Shrader -> McCord worries me for a few reasons. The OSU transfers lack of elusiveness is something that SU fans will have to get used to. However, his pocket-passing style of play will add some years to our lives. The times of worrying if Garrett Shrader will get hurt from not sliding or trying to extend a play when he should have thrown it away are no longer. Kyle McCord will bring stability to the SU offense.
Oronde Gadsden Dominating Defenses
After missing pretty much all of last season due to an injury, Oronde Gadsden is the player I’m most excited to watch this season. The SU tight end is one of the best in the nation. With McCord bringing stability to the QB room and the addition of some receivers from the portal, Gadsden is prime to have the best season of his career.
The Fans Being Excited
It’s just fun to have a fanbase that might care about SU football again. Fran Brown has brought so much energy to the community. The emphasis on his team being out in the community has already started to pay off. Add in the new “Quad Walk” before games and it’ll be an awesome fan experience this season.
...
Syracuse football: nine Orange alums will open season on NFL rosters (TNIAAM; Wall)
While the Syracuse Orange season is fast approaching, so is the NFL season and here’s a look at which Syracuse alums made opening rosters based on what I was able to find from NFL.com (let me know if I missed someone)
Zaire Franklin- Indianapolis Colts
Andre Cisco - Jacksonville Jaguars
Ifeatu Melifonwu - Detroit Lions
Garrett Williams- Arizona Cardinals
Matthew Bergeron- Atlanta Falcons
Trishton Jackson- Minnesota Vikings
Tommy Devito- New York Giants
Sean Tucker- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Riley Dixon- Denver Broncos
The following players were released and we’ll watch to see if they get picked up by another club, or added to a practice squad.
Mikel Jones- Released by Tennessee Titans
Kingsley Jonathan- released by Buffalo Bills
Isaiah Johnson- released by Miami Dolphins
Nolan Cooney- released by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jawhar Jordan- released by Houston Texas
We’ll have upcoming news on some of the current Orange who could be NFL bound in 2025.
Temporary Offensive Quality Control - Football (sujoboops.com)
Temporary Offensive Quality Control - Football
Bookmark this Position Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job
Posting Details
Posting Details| Job # | 041245 |
|---|---|
| Department Code | 34102-7021 |
| Department | Athletics |
| Job Title | Temporary Offensive Quality Control - Football |
| Location | Syracuse, New York |
| Pay Range | 19.23 per hour |
| Pay Determination | Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses. |
| Staff Level | 00 |
| FLSA Status | Non-exempt |
| Hours | Standard University business hours 8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year) 8:00am – 4:30pm (summer) Hours may vary based on operational needs. Evening and weekend hours will be required. |
| Job Type | Temporary |
| Campus | Syracuse, NY |
| Unionized Position Code | Not Applicable |
| Job Description | The Offensive Quality Control position shall be responsible for supporting the Offensive Coaching Staff in implementing the staff’s game and practice preparation. |
| Education and Experience |
|
| Skills and Knowledge |
|
| Responsibilities |
|
| Physical Requirements | Not Applicable |
| Tools/Equipment | Not Applicable |
| Application Instructions | In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter. |
| About Syracuse University | Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit Syracuse University. |
| About the Syracuse area | Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal. |
The Post on Instagram: "A breakdown of Syracuse football before Ohio takes them on in week one. Click the link in our bio to read more. Story by: @charlie_fadel_ Photo by: @zoecranfill"
55 likes, 0 comments - thepostathens on August 28, 2024: "A breakdown of Syracuse football before Ohio takes them on in week one. Click the link in our bio to read more. Story by: @charlie_fadel_ Photo by: @zoecranfill".
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A breakdown of Syracuse football before Ohio takes them on in week one. Click the link in our bio to read more.
ACC News
MSN (msn.com; Knuppel)
The Atlantic Coast Conference football season started with a bang on Saturday in Ireland. One game in and we saw an upset, with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets topping the Florida State Seminoles. The ACC is going to be up for grabs all season long.
The addition of SMU, Stanford, and California turned the ACC into a 17 team league. Heading into Week 1 the team that won every game last season is alone in last place.
Week 1 features some fantastic games on the schedule. Let's take a look at five ACC picks and predictions in Week 1 of the college football season:
1. North Carolina Tar Heels top Minnesota Golden Gophers on the road
The Tar Heels still have talent. Mack Brown can still coach. No Drake Maye, no problem. North Carolina beat Minnesota last season at home and will do so again in this one. The speed and athleticism of the Tar Heels wins out on Thursday and they win 31-24 over Golden Gophers.2. TCU wins on the road at Stanford
The Cardinal are just not quite ready for big time college football again. It was a struggle a season ago, and look for things to improve in 2024, but winning over a program that was in the national title game recently is not in the cards. Look for the dynamic offense of the Horned Frogs to win out. TCU wins this game 38-24.3. Georgia Bulldogs blow out Clemson Tigers
One of the flagship programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference going to Atlanta to take on the top Dawgs. Georgia finished last season with a 60-point win over an ACC foe. Do not expect this game to be 60, but Georgia wins easily. Dabo Swinney and his patience start running thin early. Take Georgia 41-14 over Clemson.4. Miami takes down rival Florida
No one is happy with the 7-6 season Miami put together last year. They start with a big-time rivalry game on the road. Florida is coming off a 5-7 season, and will certainly be hungry.Cam Ward is the new signal caller for the Hurricanes, and along with his legs, he has passing options. If the Hurricanes want a chance at a national title, they have to win Week 1. Look for the Hurricanes to get this done. Miami wins 27-21 over Florida.
5. Florida State lets frustrations out on Boston College
...ACC Football Game Picks: Clemson Challenges Georgia, Cal Debuts (SI; Faraudo)
All 17 Atlantic Coast Conference teams play this weekend, beginning Thursday all the way through Monday. So the Labor Day weekend was preceded by Jake and I laboring to pick all 16 of these games.
There are some stinkers, to be sure. Early-season mismatches we see on most teams’ schedules on an annual basis.
But there are also some terrific games, starting with ACC title contender No. 14 Clemson taking on top-ranked Georgia, winner of two of the past three national championships.
No 19 Miami visits Florida in a game with meaning outside the borders of the Sunshine State. No 10 Florida State, coming off an opening loss to Georgia Tech at Dublin, Ireland, tries to avoid falling to 0-2 when it hosts Boston College on Monday evening.
And, of course, Cal opens its schedule with a non-conference game at home vs. UC Davis, an opponent it has beaten in all 11 previous meetings.
Here goes . . .
Last week: Jake 1-1, Jeff 0-2
All picks against the spread
Betting line from
THURSDAY
— Western Carolina (plus-33.5) at No. 24 North Carolina State, 4 p.m., ACC Network
Jake: Western Carolina is a pretty good FCS team, and Western Carolina quarterback Cole Gonzales is the preseason Southern Conference player of the year. The Wolf Pack looks like an ACC contender but huge spreads like this early in the season are dangerous. Pick: Western Carolina
Jeff: NC State is 7-0 all-time vs. Western Carolina, about to be 8-0. Can the Wolfpack cover this spread? Well, in 2019 it was 41-0. They have won by more than 33.5 points in five of their seven meetings. Pick: North Carolina State
— North Carolina A&T (plus-37.5) at Wake Forest, 4 p.m., ESPN+
Jake: North Carolina A&T is an FCS team that went 1-10 last year and is not expected to be any better this year. Wake Forest (1-7 in the ACC last year) is not great, but is far superior to North Carolina A&T, especially at home. But can Wake Forest beat anyone by 38 points, especially with uncertainty at quarterback? Pick: North Carolina A&T
Jeff: Man, this is a game I can’t imagine watching. Wake will win but the Demons Deacons are picked 15th in the ACC so this spread if just too big. Pick: North Carolina A&T
— North Carolina (minus-1.5) vs. Minnesota at Winston-Salem, NC, 5 p.m., FOX
Jake: North Carolina has a talented running back in Omarion Hampton, but the loss of quarterback Drake Maye is critical, especially in a road opener. Pick: Minnesota
Jeff: North Carolina fans are thinking if the Heels can beat a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team in their opener, they could start the season 8-0. Pick: North Carolina
FRIDAY
— Elon (plus-24.5) at Duke, 4:30 p.m., ACC Network
Jake: Duke is coming off an 8-5 season and will be motivated at home in the first game under new head coach Manny Diaz. The concern is that Elon, an FCS school, can score. Pick: Duke
Jeff: Maalik Murphy, who was 2-0 as a starting quarterback for Texas last season, has won the No. 1 job with the Blue Devils. Elon will have trouble containing the one-time five-star prospect. Pick: Duke
— TCU (minus-9.5) at Stanford, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Jake: It’s just a feeling, but Stanford should be better in Troy Taylor’s second season at the helm. And the Cardinal is at home. Pick: Stanford
Jeff: Sonny Dykes was 0-2 with Cal playing at Stanford Stadium, outscored 98-35. TCU might flip that result, but not sure the Horned Frogs cover. Pick: Stanford
SATURDAY
— No. 14 Clemson (plus-13.5) vs. No. 1 Georgia at Atlanta, 9 a.m., ABC
Jake: This is a large spread considering Clemson is a contender for the 12-team national playoff. But Georgia is a powerhouse with a quality quarterback (Carson Beck), and the game is in Atlanta. Pick: Georgia
Jeff: A year ago, Clemson opened the season on the road and lost 28-7 to Duke. Clemson will be better this season, but Duke is not Georgia. Pick: Georgia
— Virginia Tech (minus-13.5) at Vanderbilt, 9 a.m., ESPN
Jake: Vanderbilt is the worst team in the SEC, and even at home the Commodores could get knocked around by a physical Virginia Tech team. Pick: Virginia Tech
Jeff: Five voters picked Virginia Tech to win the ACC in the preseason media poll. And while that might be overrated the Hokies, we figure that should cruise in this one. Pick: Virginia Tech
— Austin Peay (plus-26.5) at Louisville, 9 a.m., ACC Network
Jake: Austin Peay is not as good as last year’s squad that went 9-3 and reached the FCS playoffs. Louisville has retooled with a lot of transfers at the skill positions, so the Cardinals may be a little ragged in their opener. Nonetheless . . . Pick: Louisville.
Jeff: After three years at Oregon and three at Texas Tech, quarterback Tyler Shough begins his seventh season of college football at Louisville. He turns 25 next month, and his experience should settle the Cardinals. Pick: Louisville
— Kent State (plus-23.5) at Pitt, 9 a.m., ESPNU
Jake: Pitt should be better than its 3-9 squad of last season, but it will have trouble beating any opponent by more than three touchdowns. Pick: Kent State
Jeff: Pitt was 20-7 the two years before sliding to 3-9 a year ago. Plus, the Panthers are 7-0 all-time vs. Kent State, winning by an average margin of more than 27 points. Pick: Pitt
— No. 19 Miami (minus-2.5) at Florida, 12:30 p.m., ABC
Jake: We’ll see if Miami QB Cam Ward deserves being called the ACC player of the year favorite. Florida coach Billy Napier needs to win a game like this one to get off the hot seat. Miami is simply more talented. Pick: Miami
Jeff: Miami was picked to finish third in the ACC, but coach Mario Cristobal is just 12-13 over his first two seasons with the Canes. Can Washington State defector Cam Ward make the difference? Pick: Miami
— Ohio (plus-15.5) at Syracuse, 12:30 p.m., ACC Network
Jake: Ohio lost a ton of talent through the transfer portal, and there is optimism in Syracuse with the new head coach Fran Brown. Pick: Syracuse
Jeff: Syracuse running back LeQuint Allen had seven 100-yard rushing games last season on the way to a 1,000-yard season. He kicks off his junior campaign with a big game against Ohio. Pick: Syracuse
...
How many teams are in the ACC now? Explaining the new-look conference for 2024 college football season | Sporting News (sportsingnews.com; Bender)
The Atlantic Coast Conference now stretches to the Pacific Ocean, which is perhaps the best illustration of the impact of realignment on the 2024 college football season.
Stanford and Cal – formerly of the Pac-12 – will make their Week 1 debut as ACC schools. SMU – formerly of the American Athletic Conference – played its first game as an ACC football school with a 29-24 victory against Nevada in Week 0.
Florida State and Clemson – the conference's two heavyweights – have pending lawsuits against the conference. Notre Dame still has a five-game arrangement with the ACC.
That is the state of the ACC heading into the 12-team College Football Playoff era. A view of the new-look conference here.
How many teams are in the ACC now?
The ACC will have 17 teams in 2024 with the addition of Cal, Stanford and SMU.The ACC will not have divisions for the 2024 season. The ACC moved to that format in 2023 with the top two seeds playing in the ACC championship game. Florida State beat Louisville 16-6. The top two seeds will meet at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 7.
The conference has a tie-breaker procedure in place should three or more teams have the same record at the end of the regular season, which is possible with the addition of three more teams in the conference.
ACC teams 2024
A look at the 17 schools in the ACC (in alphabetical order):| Boston College | NC State |
| Cal | Pitt |
| Clemson | SMU |
| Duke | Stanford |
| Florida State | Syracuse |
| Georgia Tech | Virginia |
| Louisville | Virginia Tech |
| Miami | Wake Forest |
| North Carolina |
Will the ACC have divisions in 2024?
The ACC will not have divisions for the 2024 season. The ACC moved to that format in 2023 with the top two seeds playing in the ACC championship game. Florida State beat Louisville 16-6. The top two seeds will meet at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 7.The conference has a tie-breaker procedure in place should three or more teams have the same record at the end of the regular season, which is possible with the addition of three more teams in the conference.
...
2024 ACC Football: Accomplish Greatness (youtube; video; ACC DN)
2024 ACC Football: Accomplish Greatness
North Carolina vs. Minnesota Game Preview | 2024 ACC Football (yoiutube; video ACC DN)
The Tar Heels will open up their 2024 campaign with a trip to take on Big Ten foe Minnesota. UNC took care of the Golden Gophers last season 31-13. Each team will bring new players at key positions to the table. Minnesota will be led offensively by New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer at quarterback, and linebacker Cody Lindenberg on defense. UNC will continue their search for a quarterback as TAMU transfer Max Johnson, and Conner Harrell will each see playing time Thursday. Omarion Hampton will begin his quest to further stake his claim as the nation's best running back for the Tar Heels. Defensive lineman Kaimon Rucker, and linebacker Power Echols headline a defense that will be looking to make a big leap in 2024. UNC Head Coach Mack Brown gets you set for this tremendous season opening clash right here!
TV, Radio, and Announcers 2024 Week 1 (RX; HM)
TV, Radio, and Announcers 2024 Week 1
All 17 ACC Teams in Action Over Labor Day Weekend - Week 1
From the official ACC release of Tuesday, August 27, 2024...
Week 1 - ACC Football Schedule
(NOTE: big games in big letters)Thursday, Aug. 29, 7 p.m. ET
Western Carolina at #24 NC State
Series: NC State leads series, 7-0
Last meeting: NC State, 41-0 (2019)
ACCN: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Dana Boyle (sideline)
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 160 / SiriusXM 201
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 963
Thursday, Aug. 29, 7 p.m. ET
North Carolina A&T at Wake Forest
Series: Wake Forest leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: Wake Forest, 42-3 (2004)
ACCNX: Matt Schick (play-by-play), Charles Arbuckle (analyst)
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 85 / SiriusXM 194 / SiriusXM 382
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 956 / SiriusXM 972
Thursday, Aug. 29, 8 p.m. ET
North Carolina at Minnesota
Series: North Carolina leads series, 1-0
Last meeting: North Carolina, 31-13 (2023)
...
2024 Preview: Syracuse, Duke, and BC (RX; HM)
2024 Preview: Syracuse, Duke, and BC
In this, the last of my quick 2024 preview articles, we'll consider three of the ACC's private schools...
From the ACC
SYRACUSE, DUKE & BC HIRE NEW HEAD COACHES
Fran Brown, who is known as one of the country’s top recruiters, was named the 31st head coach at Syracuse on Nov. 28, 2023. A native of Camden, New Jersey, Brown spent the past two seasons with Georgia (2022-23), including a part of the national championship team in 2022. He has also coached at Rutgers (2020-21), Baylor (2017-18), and Temple (2011-16).Manny Diaz was named the 23rd head football coach at Duke University on Dec. 7, 2023. The former Miami head coach, most recently served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Penn State for the past two seasons. In Diaz’s 26 years of coaching, three have been spent as a head coach and 15 as a defensive coordinator, including 10 at the FBS Power 5 level.
Bill O’Brien becomes the 37th head coach in Boston College history, it was announced on Feb. 9, 2024. A 32-year coaching veteran in the college and professional ranks, O’Brien was elevated to his first head coaching post at Penn State in 2012. He guided the Nittany Lions to an overall record of 15-9 and 10-6 Big Ten mark during the span of two seasons while directing the program through a postseason ban. He was named the head coach of the NFL’s Houston Texans in 2014, leading the franchise to a 52-48 record, four AFC South Division titles, and four playoff appearances - including two Wild Card round wins - between 2014 and 2020. After his time in Houston, O’Brien returned to the college game as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Alabama under Nick Saban in 2021 and 2022.
AROUND THE ACC
Syracuse: First-year head coach Fran Brown immediately infused the Orange with talent as he landedSyracuse’s highest-ranked recruiting class. According to 247Sports’ composite ranking, the 2024 class ranked No. 37 nationally and On3 ranked the incoming transfer class at No. 9 nationally. The Orange also return 2023 All-ACC performers LB Marlowe Wax (second team), RB LeQuint Allen (second team RB/HM AP), P Jack Stonehouse (third team) and S Justin Barron (HM), plus 2022 First Team
All-ACC tight end Oronde Gadsden, who was sidelined for the final 11 games last season due to injury.
First opponent: Ohio, Saturday, Aug.31, 3:30 pm ET, ACCN
*Note: check back around lunch time for an in-depth preview of 2024 Orange football!
Duke: Duke enters its first season under new head coach Manny Diaz coming off back-to-back successful seasons the last two years.
...
2024 Free TV Games (so far) (RX; HM)
2024 Free TV Games (so far)
One thing the ACC has always been conscious of is the number of games on "free" TV (aka "Over the Air" or broadcast television). There's no question that subscription TV can afford to pay more - although the Big Ten hit on the idea of signing up with three different broadcast networks, which pay a lot when combined. The ACC has two broadcast networks under its current contract - ABC and The CW - but also plays games at Notre Dame (on NBC) and at the Big Ten (Fox, CBS, or NBC). Occassionally an away game at a G5 conference may also end up on broadcast TV (see Stanford at San Jose State on 11/29/2024).
Here's a list of all known over-the-air (ad-supported) broadcast games for the 2024 season (more will be added as the season progresses), , with ACC games in bold
blue and Notre Dame games in bold gold:
| Date | Game matchup | TV |
| 8/29/24 | UNC at Minnesota | Fox |
| 8/31/24 | Clemson vs Georgia | ABC |
| 8/31/24 | Miami at Florida | ABC |
| 9/7/24 | Tennessee vs NC State | ABC |
| 9/7/24 | NIU at Notre Dame | NBC |
| 9/7/24 | Marshall at Virginia Tech | CW |
| 9/14/24 | Ole Miss at Wake Forest | CW |
| 9/14/24 | Notre Dame at Purdue | CBS |
| 9/21/24 | TCU at SMU | CW |
| 9/21/24 | Miami(OH) at Notre Dame | NBC |
| 10/12/24 | Stanford at Notre Dame | NBC |
| 11/9/24 | Florida State at Notre Dame | NBC |
| 11/16/24 | Virginia at Notre Dame | NBC |
| 11/23/24 | Army at Notre Dame | NBC |
| 11/29/24 | Stanford at San Jose St | CBS |
| 12/7/24 | ACC Championship | ABC |
I don't expect to see a lot more ACC games on Fox or CBS during the regular season, but The CW will have at least one ACC game every week, and ABC will almost certainly select more ACC games - they are simply waiting to see how the season plays out first.
...
GUEST ARTICLE: GT Re-Projections after Week 0 (RX; HM)
GUEST ARTICLE: GT Re-Projections after Week 0
by Luke Fletcher
Georgia Tech football re-projections after Week 0 Upset of #10 FSU.
This year’s version of the Aer Lingus Classic had 5 Million people on ESPN watching Georgia Tech physically whip the defending ACC football Champions. While the national audience may have been shocked at what they saw, for most of the Georgia Tech fanbase they were not. Coach Brent Key has been very intentional in developing the Yellow Jackets into a physical program by talking about toughness and getting back to fundamentals after reversing a lot of program policies erected under Geoff Collins.
Coach Key is in the stage of the program development where it is not about learning to win a game, it is “how to consistently win” football games or stack wins. So what did we learn from the Georgia Tech victory in Ireland? Georgia Tech was the more physical team in Ireland on both sides of the ball especially in the trenches. FSU might be the more talented team, however the Jackets made former Coach Paul Johnson proud by pounding and going on long drives eating the clock. The thing about Georgia Tech football is that this win ( And Most GT Wins except against UGA) are never as good as it seems and the losses are never as bad ( Except to the Citadel). It is a long season and Georgia Tech needs to stack up some wins before we start talking about ACC Title game appearances.
Looking at the upcoming Yellow Jackets schedule they shouldn’t have a problem with Georgia State, Syracuse, or VMI. After the FSU game we should expect them to go 4-0 and be ranked. However we saw Georgia Tech last year and how they stumbled to Bowling Green, and at home against Boston College. At the beginning of the year Georgia Tech’s most likely wins were Georgia State and VMI and all of the ACC games not named FSU were toss ups: Duke, at Louisville, Miami, NC State, at North Carolina, at Syracuse, at Virginia Tech. The win over FSU probably only changes the DUKE and Syracuse games to a slight Georgia Tech favorite. The Yellow Jackets need to focus on the next game. If they stay focused they could find themselves 4-0 heading into a road game at Louisville on September 21, 2024.
...
GUEST ARTICLE: Preview of 2024 Syracuse Football (RX; HM)
GUEST ARTICLE: Preview of Syracuse 2024 by SUtomcat
2024 marks a year of change for Syracuse football. The aluminum benches fans have been sitting on since the JMA Dome opened in 1980 are gone, replaced by individual seats. Capacity has been reduced from 49K to about 43K (partly because some of the seats are wider and partly because some seating was lost due to ADA requirements).
The dome will never look the same again.
More importantly, it also marks the start of the Fran Brown era at Syracuse. After SUAD John Wildhack fired long time HC Dino Babers, he surprised many by ignoring his stated hiring criteria to select the nation's finest recruiter to take over the program.
It remains to be seen how this will impact the Syracuse won/loss record but his hire has clearly energized the fan base and given Syracuse fans hope things will get better soon.
Fran established immediate credibility with SU fans by almost totally remaking the Syracuse 2024 recruiting class in the month or so he had after he was named SUHC until national letter of intent day. The class ended up ranked 35th, which is the highest rank for any SU football class in decades.
The roster have been largely remade. The schemes on offense and defense have been changed. Only one coach on the old staff was retained.
Offense
The scheme on offense changes from an relatively simple RPO based offense (Robert Anae/Jason Beck) to an NFL type offense.Jeff Nixon is the new SU OC. Nixon had great success calling plays for Baylor (as their co-OC) in 2019, when they finished 17th in the country in points per game. He has been an assistant coach in the NFL since 2019.
Ohio State transfer senior Kyle McCord is the leader of this offense. He was impressive in spring ball and is reportedly playing really well this preseason. Expect him to stay in the pocket and complete a high percentage of his passes. FAU transfer Michael Johnson Jr (son of SU TE coach Michael Johnson Sr) is expected to be the top backup at QB. He is a dual threat QB who led FAU with 7 rushing TDs in 2023 on only 23 carries.
Returning starter junior LeQuint Allen (6'0 201) will be featured at RB. He ran for over 1000 yards last season and is also a very good receiver out of the backfield. He will be pushed by true frosh RB Yasin Willis (6'1 226) and senior UW transfer Will Nixon (son of new SU OC Jeff Nixon). Willis is very strong and physical; Nixon is smooth and an excellent receiver out of the backfield.
...
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The Heart Attack taco at Elm Street Taco, located behind the Expo Center at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Day 9 at the NYS Fair: Today’s handpicked menu and schedule (PS; Miller)
We’re going to milk this one for all it’s worth. After all, it’s the 47th annual Dairy Day at the New York State Fair.
Today’s the day where milk-producing bovine are the real heroes of the fairgrounds, and we lactose-intolerants just eyeball the butter sculpture while “udder” people guzzle 25-cent cups of moo juice.
The day starts with the dairy awards ceremony at 9 a.m. inside Daniella’s Seafood and Pasta House, followed by the media milkshake competition in the pavilion at the back of Chevy Court at 10:30 a.m. The duo from syracuse.com are the odds-on favorite to win again this year, according to the online wagering sites. (Honestly, we think we’ve come up with a winning recipe this year. Well, my colleague Sunny Hernandez did.)
Wednesday was Women’s Day here, and 50,700 came to celebrate. Among those was Gov. Kathy Hochul. She stopped by Basilio’s to enjoy a sausage sandwich with Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Fair Director Julie LaFave and a bunch of journalists.
Today’s Menu
I’m at the Fair every day and night, and hey, a guy’s gotta eat (and drink). I write about food and drinks for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard, so I might as well as pass suggestions onto you while I’m working here. That said, I’m no expert. I rely on readers to tell me what’s good. If you find something that makes your tummy happy, text me at 315-382-1984 and I’ll give it a shot. I might join you for a meal or drink and pick up the tab.
Late breakfast or early lunch: How have I missed Elm Street Taco for the past two years? Seriously, this food is marvelous. Granted, it is hard to find behind the Expo Center.
Ashley DiBella and her family started this year-round food truck in 2021, and they got a spot at the State Fair a year later. They describe their business as “the killer taco truck of your dreams and maybe your nightmares.”
For breakfast, I recommend having a Heart Attack for $7. No really, have one. It’s their special morning taco.
Ashley starts by grilling a mess of bacon on the flattop. While that’s sizzling, she smashes mozzarella cheese between two corn tortillas on the grill. Then she plants a couple of the bacon slices onto the taco shells, adds bacon aioli, bacon slaw and tops it with ... you guessed it ... real bacon bits.
“We will only sell you one of these because we don’t want to run the risk of you actually having a heart attack. Hence the name,” Ashley said.
If you’re still hungry, you can turn around and get a Triple Bypass (deep-fried PB&J) from the Fried Specialties stand. But you won’t be hungry. This taco will fill you up.
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NYS Fair concerts today: Big crowd expected for Flo Rida, plus amphitheater traffic (Thursday, Aug. 29) (PS; $; Herbert)
Welcome to our daily New York State Fair concert guide! We’ll be publishing a list of music performers and showtimes every day of the 2024 NYS Fair on syracuse.com.
There are two main stages: Suburban Park and Chevy Court. Suburban Park will host the Fair’s largest concerts in the New York Experience area on the west end near Gate 10, in the back of the Midway and past the Expo Center. Chevy Court is located near Gate 1, next to the Center of Progress Building and by the Dairy Products Building. Both have limited seating available.
No tickets are required for concerts. All are free with admission to the Fair, which is $8 this year — and free for seniors 65 and older and kids 12 and under. Thursday is Dairy Day and Armed Forces Day; admission is free to any active duty or veteran with military identification.
Note: Traffic may be heavy Thursday night as country star Walker Hayes performs at the nearby Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are still available. To view real-time Traffic, Travel and Transit Information, visit 511NY. (Also, a reminder: Tickets to amphitheater concerts are not accepted for free admission to the New York State Fair.)
Here’s what to expect on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 (Day 9):
Tom Nitti - 1 p.m. at Chevy Court
Nitti is a soulful country singer from New Hartford, N.Y., who appeared on “The Voice” season 24 last year. He left the NBC singing competition due to “personal reasons” after reaching the top 20, opting to focus on his family. He was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during his military service in Afghanistan and later became a New York State Trooper. Nitti now trains new troopers at the New York State Police Academy and performs weekly, including the “National Anthem” at official events, while raising two children.
Chapel Hart - 6 p.m. at Chevy Court
Country trio Chapel Hart was a top five finalist on “America’s Got Talent” season 17 last year, earning a Golden Buzzer with their Dolly Parton-inspired song “You Can Have Him, Jolene.” The Mississippi band, featuring three-part harmonies from sisters Danica and Devynn Hart with their cousin, Trea Swindle, recently released their second album, “The Girls Are Back In Town.”
Flo Rida - 8 p.m. at Suburban Park
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Where do all the fish come from at New York State Fair?
Each year, hundreds of fish are caught on Oneida Lake and driven to the New York State Fair to swim on display at the DEC aquarium for thousands of fairgoers...
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Where do fish in DEC’s aquarium come from at the 2024 NYS Fair? (video) (PS; Featherstone)
Located in the center of the Colonnade next to the Dairy Building, The New York State Department of Conservation aquarium is an oasis of calm and tranquility amid the hustle and hubbub of the NYS Fair.
Frazzled fairgoers seeking a vibe reset appreciate the aquarium’s dimly lit interior, the lack of blaring music, and of course, the massive wall of crystal clear, bubbling tanks brimming with New York’s freshwater critters.
There’s a few frogs and turtles in the tank on one end, but otherwise it’s all fish, including some species that many anglers may have never seen before. (When’s the last time you reeled in a redhorse?)
So next time you stroll through the aquarium to snap a selfie with a sunfish, ask yourself: Where did that sunfish—or sturgeon, or pickerel, or bowfin—come from?
“Some people think they’re out there all year round, but they’re not,” said Bill Evans, manager of the DEC’s Oneida Fish Hatchery in Constantia and the man responsible for stocking the aquarium. “They’re only there for the duration of the Fair.”
Evans gave Syracuse.com a backstage pass to see how he gets the aquarium shipshape for the Fair. If there’s one thing we learned from the experience, it’s that beauty sells, even below the surface.
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Gov. Kathy Hochul stopped by Basilio's for a true New York State Fair sausage sandwich. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
https://www.syracuse.com/news/2024/...ulture-industry-during-visit-to-nys-fair.html (PS; $; Boyer)
Gov. Kathy Hochul visited the New York State Fair Wednesday, drinking milk from New York state cows, signing a bill to help the state’s maple producers and championing results of her executive order for state agencies to buy more locally grown farm products.
Hochul missed the fair’s opening day last week for the first time since she became governor in 2021. She was in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. This week’s visit came on Women’s Day at the fair, and the governor spoke to dozens of attendees at an awards brunch honoring women leaders.
During those remarks, the governor reported that state agencies have increased spending on New York-grown food products by 15% in the first year since she signed an executive order at the 2023 state fair. The goal is to get that figure to 30% by 2028. The first year saw spending increase from $14.9 million to $78 Million.
After speaking, Hochul spent more than 90 minutes touring sites at the fairgrounds. She talked with fairgoers and fair workers, frequently stopping to take selfies with them.
One of her stops had an official purpose. Hochul signed a bill into law at the New York State Maple Producers store inside the Horticulture Building. The new law expands how long maple producers can tap trees on state lands from five years to 10, which industry leaders say will create a better return on the investment of entering into a lease with the state.
Hochul hit a bunch of traditional stops. Those included the Dairy Products Building, where she viewed the butter sculpture and poured herself some chocolate milk from the dairy bar taps.
She swung by the New York State Police fair headquarters and met some troopers, along with police horses and puppies in training to do law enforcement work some day.
And she fulfilled gubernatorial obligation, eating a sausage sandwich from the Basilio’s stand. A year ago, she told the stands owner that the state was going to build a new facility for them. That project is finished, and three brothers who operate Basilio’s all thanked her while she was at the counter Wednesday.
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New Hidden Hills Primitive Trail is now open at Beaver Lake Nature Center. It is the first trail to open since 1988. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.comSunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com
https://www.syracuse.com/outdoors/2...-first-new-hiking-trail-in-over-35-years.html (PS; Hernandez)
Lace up your hiking boots, a popular Central NY nature park is debuting its first trail since Ronald Reagan was president.
Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville announced the opening of its new Hidden Hills Primitive Trail, a 1.6 mile loop through forest, meadows, and unexpectedly hilly terrain of the park.
The last trail to be completed was the Lake Loop Trail in 1988 which was finished when they constructed the last third of the trail, breaking off from the Three Meadows Trail, according to former Beaver Lake Nature Center Director, Heidi Kortright.
Hidden Hills Primitive Trail offers a more rustic experience, reminiscent of the untamed paths deep within the Adirondacks. Unlike the wide, leisurely trails that weave through Beaver Lake’s 690 acres, this narrow, less-groomed path at times demands single-file hiking.
Yellow painted blazes and yellow and black arrows on trees mark the path to follow.
The entrance to the trail is beyond the public picnic area, as if heading up the Lake Loop Trail backwards. There you will find a marker and Beaver Lake’s traditional wood chip path branching off to the left and leading you into the woods.
The beginning of the trail leads you through a forest and past many large, woody vines. This part of the trail will be perfect as the leaves change, giving off a spooky, witch’s forest feeling.
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