sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Gettysburgh Address/Equal Opportunity Day!
The Gettysburg Address is celebrated today by various groups in different ways, and the holiday is given a few different names. It is informally named Gettysburg Address Day simply because it marks the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's reading of the Gettysburg Address. It is also known as Equal Opportunity Day. This day was created by the National Urban League in 1956 and continues to be celebrated as such by the league and others, being proclaimed by politicians on multiple occasions. The third name given to the day is Dedication Day, having been formally named as such by a joint resolution of Congress in 1946. It continues to be celebrated as Dedication Day at the Gettysburg National Cemetery.
SU News
Film Review: Quick-pass game opened up SU’s offense early vs. Cal (DO; Andrews)
Jeff Nixon’s impact as Syracuse’s play caller has been palpable. The Orange are averaging 31.8 points per game in their first year under the offensive coordinator, their most since 2018. It’s a high-flying offense, ranking fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 4,456 total yards.
Where the NFL-experienced Nixon has left his strongest mark in transforming the unit, though, is in his pregame schemes and matchup adjustments. Saturday in California was the largest indicator of that. Nixon doctored an exquisite game plan to thwart a tenacious, turnover-happy Cal defense, spearheaded by cornerback Nohl Williams and edge rusher Xavier Carlton.
The two were held without a peep. Nixon didn’t give quarterback Kyle McCord much risk of being sacked, dialing up quick passing plays to get SU’s offense in rhythm. At the same time, Williams didn’t have a chance to make plays, with McCord often checking down and finding receivers Trebor Peña or Oronde Gadsden II over the middle.
Nixon’s strategy opened up the offense for more explosive plays down the line in Syracuse’s (7-3, 4-3 ACC) 33-25 victory over Cal (5-5, 1-5 ACC). Here’s a breakdown of four key quick passes that Nixon called to success Saturday:
1st quarter, 11:49 — Peña gets some YAC on a dig route
This was McCord’s second straight completion to Peña on SU’s opening drive, where it quickly crossed midfield in large part due to its rushing attack. The longest play from this methodical, 13-play field-goal drive was a 15-yard reception by Peña, who made McCord’s life easy all day long, totaling 11 catches for 97 yards.
The Orange lined up in 10 personnel on second-and-6, with no tight ends at the line of scrimmage and five receivers split out wide. Peña was in the right slot guarded by corner Craig Woodson. Jackson Meeks, who was next to Peña on the near sideline, ran a streak route to draw the defense back. That left Peña plenty of room to rumble over the middle.
One-on-one with Woodson, Peña ran forward four yards then abruptly cut inward for a dig route, as Woodson reacted to the receiver’s twitchy movement late. McCord’s eyes never parted from Peña’s direction. The quarterback got the ball out in less than two seconds, barely giving Cal’s defense time to pressure him, and Peña hauled it in just before the first-down marker.
The quick-hitter allowed Peña to do what he does best: make guys miss in the open field. He broke a shoestring tackle from Woodson before ducking around safety Miles Williams to pick up a few extra yards, finishing with 15 and a first down.
2nd quarter, 12:47 — A crafty swing pass
Syracuse vs. Cal Condensed Game | 2024 ACC Football
The Orange took a business trip to the West Coast and emerged with a 33-25 victory over the Golden Bears. Kyle McCord led the charge passing for 323 yards an...
youtu.be
Nixon rarely calls “cute” plays like reverses or jet sweeps. The most out-there thing he’ll do consistently is a power-running wildcat game with tight end Dan Villari. Other than that, he keeps it simple. But here, Nixon called a swing pass for Peña, which Syracuse executed to a tee.
On a second-and-8 early in the second quarter, with SU up 13-7, the Orange went in 11 personnel with Gadsden lined up at tight end, flanked out right just behind the LOS. Their backfield featured a two-back shotgun set, as Peña and LeQuint Allen Jr. lined up on the left and right side of McCord, respectively.
Upon the snap, McCord faked a handoff to Allen Jr. while Peña leaked left behind the LOS. Gadsden immediately ran to the weaker left side of the line, catching Cal’s linebacking corps off-balance. The Golden Bears’ second level crashed downward, expecting a run with Gadsden’s motion, but McCord tucked the ball and quickly released to Peña.
Peña, running a swing route, hauled the ball in two yards past the LOS. Not a single Cal defender was within five yards of him. He continued sprinting upfield before Woodson made a clean low tackle to halt his progress. Still, the slot receiver picked up 10 yards and moved the chains.
2nd quarter, 11:56 — Gadsden skirts up the sideline for 26
Syracuse vs. Cal Condensed Game | 2024 ACC Football
The Orange took a business trip to the West Coast and emerged with a 33-25 victory over the Golden Bears. Kyle McCord led the charge passing for 323 yards an...
youtu.be
One play after McCord found Peña on a drag route for 24 yards, he went short again to Gadsden. This time, he got 26 yards out of it, setting Syracuse up in the red zone.
Continuing from the previous play’s drive, Nixon called for 11 personnel with Allen Jr. in the backfield, three receivers split wide and McCord in the shotgun. All three receivers ran vertical routes deep into Cal’s zone defense. Gadsden, the tight end, began to block Carlton on the left edge until he slid by him and roamed in the short middle of the field.
When McCord ultimately read the play and threw the ball, he had Gadsden wide open five yards in front of him and perfect protection from SU’s offensive line. Gadsden’s nearest defenders, linebackers Liam Johnson and Teddye Buchanan, were over five yards away. He took advantage.
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With Syracuse among a glut of ACC teams with 3 losses, bowl projections are all over the map (PS; $; Carlson)
The Syracuse football team is one of three teams tied for fourth place in the ACC with two games remaining. It is also one of eight teams with three conference losses. Its remaining league game, against Miami, is a tough one.
With such a densely packed group in the second tier of the conference, making bowl projections this week is like throwing darts in a blindfold.
The national projections range from a spot in one of the ACC’s traditional top tier bowls to a game that doesn’t even guarantee an opponent from the Power Four.
The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy has Syracuse projected to the Gator Bowl, a postseason game with a strong tradition and a potential matchup with an SEC opponent. The most common projection among national experts, meanwhile, is the Fenway Bowl and a game against an opponent from the American Athletic Conference.
With so many teams packed tightly, either is possible.
ESPN’s Football Power Index thinks the most likely record for the Orange is 8-4. I’m operating off that assumption too.
Here’s how that might work out.
College Football Playoff: Miami, Notre Dame
It looks like the ACC champion is going to get into the College Football Playoff, but the loser of the title game is going to get squeezed out. I’ve got the Hurricanes winning here. If you like SMU or Clemson to win the league, you can slot them in. Notre Dame will be in the College Football Playoff unless is stumbles against Army or Southern California.
Pop-Tarts Bowl vs. Big 12: Clemson
Clemson played in the Gator Bowl last year and it seems foolish not to take advantage of the team’s rabid fan base in the South. The Tigers did play here in 2021, but it’s probably been long enough. If not, the Tigers are headed to the Holiday Bowl.
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Axe: Syracuse football fans already have one big question for 2025 (mailbag) (PS; Axe)
Pretty good job Brent but Michael Johnson has another year of eligibility and you should have mentioned Joe Filardi...
Axe me your questions and I’ll tell you no lies.
Sometimes I write this column for you and sometimes you write it for me.
This was definitely a week you wrote it for me as a theme certainly developed from your inquires via email and the Syracuse Sports Insider text line.
Let’s get right to it.
Brent, enjoying watching replay of game. Just curious, who will be the leading candidate for QB next season or will we look at portal again?
Thank you.
-Steve Troendle
Any hunch on who we are targeting at QB for next year ?
-John C
Brent,
With Kyle McCord spoiling us with his proficiency behind center this year, I’m wondering other than another incoming transfer quarterback ready for 2025, how we are looking with a recruit, Luke Carney of Texas, and current freshman Jakhari Williams?
-TK
I told you there was a theme this week.
With just two games remaining in Kyle McCord’s Syracuse career (yes, I said two. We’ll get more into that below), Syracuse fans are starting to look over the horizon at who will be SU’s starting quarterback in 2025.
SU hit the transfer portal lottery with McCord, who set the school single-season completions record against Cal with now 304 on the year.
McCord needs just two more touchdowns to tie the single-season touchdown passes record (26) and is less than 300 yards from breaking the single-season passing record (3,749). He is second in the country in passing yards (3,476) and seventh in touchdown passes (24).
With the clock ticking on McCord’s one-year supernova in Orange, asking who takes the reins is a legitimate question.
Current roster
- Redshirt senior Michael Johnson Jr. is out of eligibility after this season.
- Redshirt junior Carlos Del Rio-Wilson has failed to separate himself from the pack after winning the backup job in spring practice, and an undisclosed injury has kept him from suiting up for a good chunk of the season.
- Walk-on freshmen AJ Miller and Patrick Grusser are not on the level to take over the job at this point.
ESPN rated him as the No. 13 ranked dual threat quarterback in the 2024 class and he was rated as a top-50 quarterback prospect by On3, 247Sports and ESPN.
My view of Williams has been too limited at open spring and fall camp practices to make a firm determination of whether he’s the heir apparent at quarterback, but he has every chance to take the lead in the race for the starting job.
Recruits
As for recruits, Syracuse has an intriguing prospect coming in for the Class of 2025 in Luke Carney (6-2, 205 pounds) from Dallas Christian School in Mesquite, Texas. Carney has eclipsed 10,000 career passing yards and 100 career passing touchdowns in his high school career while winning three state titles for Dallas Christian.Carney is the nation’s No. 817 overall prospect, No. 57 quarterback and No. 124 recruit from Texas in the 2025 cycle according to On3.
SU also received a commitment from Rich Belin, a quarterback at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx.
Belin (6-feet, 185 pounds) is ranked as a three-star prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings, which label him the No. 14 prospect in New York in the Class of 2025, the No. 91 quarterback prospect nationally and the No. 1,442 prospect in the country.
Belin has been training with former Syracuse quarterback Madei Williams since he was about 10 years old.
Williams, who played quarterback at Syracuse from 1998 to 2000, told syracuse.com Belin has the intangibles to thrive at the position at the Power-Four level despite his short stature and the fact SU was the only Power-Four school to offer a scholarship during his recruitment.
Given these are the options on the table, I have no doubt Brown is going to hit the portal again to find a bridge quarterback for the Orange.
There will be plenty of options to choose from.
Early entrants into the portal include Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos. In eight games this year, Castellanos had 1,366 yards, 18 touchdowns, five interceptions, a 61.5% completion percentage, 194 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Former UNLV and Holy Cross quarterback Matthew Sluka is in the portal as well. You’ll recall he walked away from UNLV just before the Rebels played Syracuse in Las Vegas over an NIL dispute.
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Syracuse football gets a national TV game in prime viewing window vs. Miami on Nov. 30 (PS; Mink)
Syracuse’s regular-season finale against Miami (Fla.) has been placed in a prime TV viewing window on the biggest rivalry weekend of the college football season.
The Orange and Hurricanes will kick at 3:30 p.m., on Nov. 30 inside the JMA Wireless Dome, the ACC said Monday. ESPN will televise the game to a national audience.
The game could hold sizable stakes for the Hurricanes, who control their fate to reach the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte next month.
Miami (9-1, 5-1 ACC) will reach the championship game with a win against Wake Forest this week and a win in Syracuse the following weekend.
The game is also expected to feature two of the top quarterbacks in the country in Cam Ward and Kyle McCord.
McCord is second in the nation in passing, averaging 347.6 yards per game, and only trails Ward, who averages 349.4 yards per game.
McCord has thrown for 3,476 yards on the season and is just 274 yards shy of breaking Ryan Nassib’s school record for most passing yards in a season that has stood since 2012.
Miami has not visited the dome since the 2002 season, when it was riding a 32-game winning streak and coming off a national championship.
The Orange (7-3, 4-3) enters Saturday’s game against Connecticut seeking just its third eight-win regular season since 1999.
Connecticut also enters the game at 7-3, though the Huskies have feasted on a Group of Five schedule. All three of its losses have come against Power-Four programs (Maryland, Wake Forest and Duke) that have a combined record of 15-15.
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Syracuse vs. Cal Condensed Game | 2024 ACC Football (youtube; video; ACC DN)
The Orange took a business trip to the West Coast and emerged with a 33-25 victory over the Golden Bears. Kyle McCord led the charge passing for 323 yards and a score. Trebor Pena racked up 97 yards on 11 catches and Oronde Gadsden II amassed 109 yards on 8 catches. Running back LeQuint Allen rushed for 2 scores and tallied 109 yards on 23 carries for Syracuse. Cal QB Fernando Mendoza threw for 225 yards and a touchdown, and running backs Jaydn Ott and Jaivian Thomas combined to rush for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Husky Huddle Preview Uconn Vs Syracuse Yes. Football (youtube; podcast; Husky Huddle)
Husky Huddle Preview Uconn Vs Syracuse Yes. Football
Keeping Up With The 315 11-18-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian begins the show discussing his big takeaways from the Syracuse basketball and football games over the weekend. Then, he chats with a couple callers about expectations for Kiyan Anthony and more. Lastly, Brian rejoices that the Daniel Jones era is over in New York and Tommy Cutlets is back.
Adam Terry "The 315" 11-18-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian Higgins chats with Adam Terry as he does every Monday to recap the big win over Cal, how fans should feel about year 1 of the Fran Brown era, why things feel different this year in November and preview UCONN.
The Sports Show w/ Cody Mack 11-18-24 (ESPN; radio; Cody Mack)
Cody Mack shares some highlights from Syracuse men’s basketball and football’s wins over the weekend, reacts to the news that Daniel Jones is getting benched, and looks back on the Bills’ win over the Chiefs.
California Golden Bears vs. Syracuse Orange College Football Game Highlights | Field Level Highlight (youtube; video; Fanatics View)
Watch California Golden Bears vs. Syracuse Orange College Football Game Highlights | Field Level Highlight
RUMOR: Jeff Nixon to Temple Owls? What It Means for Syracuse Football | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Orange Football Head Coach Fran Brown could be losing top offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon this offseason. Jeff Nixon is rumored to be a candidate for the Temple Owls head coach job, according to Devin Jackson at the The Philadelphia Inquirer. Nixon's offense has been really good this season, with Kyle McCord, Jackson Meeks, Trebor Pena, LeQuint Allen, and Oronde Gadsden having career seasons. No matter what happens, Syracuse is on the rise.
Jackson Holzer reacts to the Jeff Nixon rumor on this mini edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.
The Camden Orange | Sports Daily Newsletter (inquirer.com; Staff)
Syracuse is in the midst of a football rebirth this season. With new coach Fran Brown at the controls, quarterback Kyle McCord and the Orange are 7-3.
A former quarterback and defensive back at Camden High, Brown has not forgotten where he came from. His last job was as an assistant at Georgia, so that should tell you what kind of recruiter he is. And in his first head coaching job, Brown has drawn on his Camden roots to bring in talented players from his old stomping grounds.
Seven of Syracuse’s players are from Camden, another is from Millville, and McCord, a transfer from Ohio State, is from South Jersey as well. (Imagine if Temple, where Brown worked on the staff, had been able to keep this talent closer to home.)
There’s a culture shift happening in upstate New York and Brown is at the center of it.
Syracuse football: three takeaways from the win over Cal (TNIAAM: Wall)
The Syracuse Orange enjoyed a winning flight back across the country after the 33-25 victory over Cal. Here are three takeaways from the game:
Strong Start Syracuse
The Orange defense did the job to start the game. Two interceptions on Cal’s first two possessions allowed the Syracuse offense to get into a rhythm as they controlled the ball for nearly twelve minutes in the opening quarter. Cal’s defense was worn down and worn out and the Orange scored 21 second-quarter points to bury the Bears by the half.
Instead of allowing their opponent to dictate the game’s tempo, Syracuse imposed their will and forced Cal to adjust their style to play catch-up. You don’t have to stress as much about your run defense if you’re up two or three scores.
Tackling Drills
After being run over all afternoon by Boston College, the Orange secondary came back with a much strong performance. According to PFF, nearly every Syracuse defensive back with more than 15 snaps played had a tackling grade above 77 on the afternoon (only Davien Kerr was below). Justin Barron, Alijah Clark, Berry Buxton and Devin Grant were all above 80, which is considered an elite performance.
Cal ran for 166 yards, but 90 of those came on two carries, so Syracuse held them to 76 yards on the other 21 attempts and the secondary making stops was a big reason for the improvement from last week.
Kennedy’s Health Kick
Since being appointed as the Orange placekicker for the Virginia Tech game, Kennedy has hit 16 of his 17 kicks, including all six field goal attempts. The Cornell transfer hit two from beyond 40 yards on Saturday and while that might not seem like much, it’s a big boost for the Orange. Kennedy has made more field goals than Brady Denaburg and Jayden Oh had combined (5) in the first seven games.
Fran Brown was still aggressive in this game- going 4-4 on fourth-down attempts, but having a reliable kicker takes some pressure off of the offense. Instead of forcing plays that might not be there, the Orange can make the smart decision and trust their kicker to deliver. Syracuse has scored on their last 12 red zone possessions and Kennedy’s been an integral part of that success.
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https://www.localsyr.com/orange-nation/su-football-coach-fran-brown-press-conference/ (localsyr.com; Longley)
Syracuse University football coach Fran Brown spoke to the media in his weekly news conference. This follows the team’s win at Cal on Saturday.
The team’s next opponent is UConn at noon inside the JMA Wireless Dome.
You can watch the entire press conference live in the video player above.
Podcast: Syracuse Football cruises past California (r1vals.com; podcast; The Juice)
It was a busy day in the Syracuse sports world on Saturday. The football team played its first game at California since the 1960s, while the basketball team played Youngstown State at the JMA Wireless Dome. We discussed both games on today's Juice on the Cuse Podcast, presented by Rivals and Bleav.
The Orange football team impressed with a 33-25 win over California. SU quarterback Kyle McCord completed 29 of 46 passes for 323 yards and a score, while LeQuint Allen rushed for 109 yards and two scores on the ground.
At the same time, the Orange basketball team struggled against Youngstown State, as the needed two overtimes to finally put the Penguins away. Though JJ Starling scored a career-high 38 points in 49 minutes, SU struggled to stop the Penguins throughout much of the game, and blew a late five-point lead in the first overtime.
Other topics we discuss is how much to read into the first three Orange basketball games, and what the future could look like for the football team.
Syracuse football: What to think of the game day experience at Cal (TNIAAM; Fowler)
On a sunny day in beautiful Berkeley, California, at California Memorial Stadium, the Syracuse Orange handled its business against a scrappy California Golden Bears team.
But, how did the West Coast football atmosphere stack up against the gritty, cold, and gray that is Syracuse, New York, and the JMA Wireless Dome? And, because our ‘TNIAAM’ team is a driven group of investigative and unbiased journalists. I was dedicated to getting to the bottom of it.
And, from what I gathered, I wouldn’t say it’s Cal’s fault, but the answer is Syracuse by a million. I’ll explain:
Despite the favorable Noon, pacific standard, start time, and weather, Cal fans piled in late, and Memorial Stadium was maybe at half capacity - the official attendance: 33,493 of a max capacity of 63,000..
A Syracuse alumna and events management coordinator at Cal Athletics, who requested that his thoughts remain anonymous, said a typical Saturday at Memorial Stadium is ‘kinda dead’.
He added, that the competition from professional sports in the Bay Area doesn’t help the Golden Bears game-day experience either.
I spoke with several Syracuse fans at Saturday’s game, including Griffin Stark, a senior studying Sports Management and Finance at SU, he said what Cal lacked in stadium entertainment, it more than up for it in its tailgating environment.
Berkeley definitely lived up to its reputation as a premiere college town, named one of the top 25 college towns in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure earlier this year. Located just north of Oakland, Berkeley offered a mix of big-city and small-town culture that blended favorably for a positive pre-game-day experience - between its Greek life and bar scene.
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twitter.com
Syracuse offensive coordinator, QB gaining outside admirers (spectrumlocalnews.com; Velazquez)
Syracuse football is back home after its win over Cal on Saturday, having received some interest from another program across the nation.
ESPN reported on Monday that Temple University is interested in Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon for its vacant head coaching position. Nixon’s offense is a huge reason why Syracuse is 7-3, fourth in the ACC in yards per game and are averaging more than 30 points per game.
“I’m happy that their names are being brought up because it shows that we’re doing a good job overall," said Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown. "I’m going to push them though if that’s what they want to do, or if that’s what I want them to go and do. From what we took out of it when we talked on it, they were just trying to focus on us here and continuing to go and win.”
Meanwhile, Kyle McCord has accepted an invite to play in the 100th annual East-West Shrine Bowl. It’s the longest-running college football all-star game in the nation.
McCord leads all quarterbacks in the nation in completions this season, and is second in passing yards. The game takes place on Jan. 30 at At&T Stadium in Dallas.
To the NFL, former Syracuse quarterback Tommy Devito is taking over as the starter for the New York Giants. New York is 2-8 to start the season with Daniel Jones under center, so New York is giving Devito another shot. He went 3-3 in six starts with the Giants last year.
On Thanksgiving weekend, Syracuse football will host the No. 11 Miami Hurricanes. The ACC announced on Monday that game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. in the Dome.
Syracuse QB commit Luke Carney selected as a Blue-Grey High School All American (247sports.com; McAllister)
Syracuse received an early commitment from 2025 Mesquite (TX) Dallas Christian quarterback Luke Carney during this cycle. Carney committed to the Orange back in March following a stellar junior season. He was named Dave Campbell's Texas Football Private School QB of the Year after throwing for 3,723 yards and rushing for 843 yards with an 80% completion rate and a 47:6 TD/INT ratio, leading Dallas Christian to a TAPPS Division III state title. Carney had a strong senior season as well, completing 76.2% of his passes while throwing for 2,112 yards with 761 more on the ground averaging 13.1 yards per carry. He also had 33 total touchdowns to just one interception.
Carney has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in Texas throughout his high school career and that resulted in him being named a Blue-Grey High School All American.
After his strong regular season this year, Carney has now eclipsed over 10,000 passing yards and 13,000 total yards during his high school career. His record as a starter is 47-5. His high school career is not quite over yet, however, as playoffs begin this Friday.
The day after his first playoff game, Carney will be in attendance on Saturday as his future team, the Syracuse Orange hosts UConn in the JMA Wireless Dome. It will be the first Syracuse game Carney has attended live, though he did take in the spring game this past April. He committed in March after an unofficial visit.
"Syracuse was the right fit for me," Carney said after he committed. "The coaching staff was genuine throughout the process and we had built great relationships before I even stepped onto campus. They made me feel at home on the visit and the new facilities they are building will be done a few months after I get there. Also, the campus was beautiful and it's hard to pass up playing in the Dome."
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Cuse Sports Talk on Instagram: "Syracuse football fans have had a field day with "winners get washed," but @krockcodymack officially has a new favorite Fran Brown quote that you may not have caught after the win over Cal. 'The Sports Show,' weekdays
16 likes, 0 comments - cusesportstalk on November 18, 2024: "Syracuse football fans have had a field day with "winners get washed," but @krockcodymack officially has a new favorite Fran Brown quote that you may not have caught after the win over Cal. 'The Sports Show,' weekdays 3-4pm...
www.instagram.com
Syracuse Football on Instagram: "first career INT for the freshman from Connecticut @twin.davien "
cusefootball on November 18, 2024: "first career INT for the freshman from Connecticut @twin.davien ".
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ACC News
Where is the mechanisms that rewards you for playing a good schedule in college football? (youtube; podcast; 99.9 The Fan)
Wes Durham, ACC Network/ESPN, joins the Adam Gold Show to discuss ACC/college football rankings and remaining schedules as they head towards the playoffs.
If Clemson had, instead of scheduling Georgia, but had Kansas to start the season and won that game; where would Clemson be in the rankings given the season? “No one needs to be ranked until week 11 in the college football”. What is the Big 12 running the risk of, that would cause a firestorm? How does Wes believe the college football playoffs will turn out and with which schools? Find us anywhere!
Miami Hurricanes' defensive woes: Coach Cristobal's plan to fix them (youtube; podcast; Locked on Canes)
Can the Miami Hurricanes overcome their defensive struggles to secure a spot in the ACC Championship? With Coach Mario Cristobal at the helm, the Hurricanes are tackling alignment and execution issues head-on, aiming to refine their strategy during the bye week.
This episode dives into Miami's path to the ACC Championship, highlighting the crucial upcoming games against Wake Forest and Syracuse. Coach Cristobal shares insights on injured players like Damari Brown and Raul Aguirre, while recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong discusses potential flips, including 4-star linebacker TJ Alford. The conversation also touches on Cam Ward's overlooked Heisman campaign, emphasizing his impressive stats and journey to Miami.
Join us for an engaging discussion on the Miami Hurricanes' challenges and opportunities. Listen now for exclusive insights and expert analysis!
2024 ACC Football Week 12 Recap and Week 13 Predictions (youtube; podcast; WahooBrad)
Brad did not watch the Syracuse-Cal game...
2024 ACC Football Week 12 Recap and Week 13 Predictions
Who Clemson fans should cheer for to help Tigers win ACC football tiebreakers in final two weeks (greenvilleonline.com; Carter)
Clemson did its part Saturday to keep its College Football Playoff chances alive.
The No. 16 Tigers (8-2), who sit at No. 20 in the CFP rankings, won their final conference game against Pitt on the road to finish 7-1 in ACC play. They are are second in the ACC, behind SMU (9-1, 6-0 ACC) and ahead of Miami (9-1, 5-1). According to ESPN's FPI, Clemson has a 13.5% chance to win the conference and a 20.8% chance to make the CFP.
In order for Clemson to make the ACC championship, it needs Miami to lose again or SMU to drop its final two games. Winning the conference is especially important this season with the new 12-team format for the CFP as whichever team wins the ACC will receive an automatic bid and a potential first-round bye.
Here are three potential ACC tiebreakers for Clemson entering Week 13:
Scenario 1: SMU wins out, Miami loses one more ACC game
The Hurricanes' final two conference games are against Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4) and Syracuse (7-3, 4-3). If Miami falls to either, Clemson would advance to the ACC championship because the Tigers' conference record would be better.If Miami wins out, it would advance to the ACC championship despite having the same conference record as Clemson because the tiebreaker would be win percentage versus all common opponents.
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TNIAAM’s ACC Football Power Rankings for November 18th (TNIAAM; Wall)
At the request of Syracuse Orange fans, we’re going to give you our ACC Football Power Rankings. Let’s get to this week’s list...
1) SMU Mustangs (9-1, 6-0)- survived BC and if they can win the last two they might sneak into the CFP even with an ACCCG loss. Might.
2) Miami Hurricanes (9-1, 5-1)- How will Miami respond after the loss and a bye week? Of course Canes fans have the utmost confidence in the game management of Coach Cristobal
3) Clemson Tigers (8-2, 7-1)- Clemson’s creeping back up in the CFP rankings and next week’s game against South Carolina will be critical for both teams
4) Pittsburgh Panthers (7-3, 3-3)- another tough loss for Pitt who are playing themselves into the Pinstripe Bowl
5) Syracuse Orange (7-3, 4-3) - just need Fran Brown to turn his viral moments into some NIL funding for next year’s roster
6) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-4, 4-3)- still basking in the afterglow of beating Miami
7) Duke Blue Devils (7-3, 3-3)- if Duke wins 9 games, will anyone in Durham notice?
8) Louisville Cardinals (6-4, 4-3)- got into the holiday spirit early by gifting Stanford 20 yards to set up the game-winning field goal
9) North Carolina Tar Heels (6-4, 3-3)- another strong performance for Mack Brown’s squad as they head to BC in an attempt to block BC’s bowl eligibility
10) Virginia Cavaliers (5-5, 3-3) - could play spoilers this week when they host SMU.
11) Virginia Tech Hokies (5-5, 3-3) - that hot seat in Blacksburg is getting warmer
12) Boston College Eagles (5-5, 2-4)- finished their game at SMU in Syracuse fashion by allowing sacks on their final two snaps when trailing by a field goal
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Bowl Tracker 2024 Nov 18 (RX; HM)
Bowl Tracker 2024 Nov 18
Nine ACC teams are already bowl-eligible; five teams need just one more win. Only two have been eliminated, but one must win out. Here's your color-coded table of bowl-eligibility for 2024 Week 13:
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By the way, congratulations to UNC for joining the bowl-eligible crowd last weekend! Now, who's left, and what are their chances?
Need one more win
These teams need to win one of the next two games (with future opponents shown below):- UVa: SMU, @VT
- Va Tech: @Duke, UVa
- BC: UNC, Pitt
- NC State: @GT, @UNC
- Cal: Stanford, @SMU
PotW 2024 Week 12 (RX; HM)
PotW 2024 Week 12
From the official ACC release of Monday, November 18, 2024 -- Stanford has its day!Week 12 Football Players of the Week
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week have been recognized following their standout performances in Week 12 of the 2024 college football season. The selections are determined by a vote of a select media panel. The following are this week’s honorees:QUARTERBACK – Ashton Daniels, Stanford, QB, Buford, GA
Daniels helped to lead Stanford to a 38-35 over nationally ranked Louisville on Saturday, November 16. He finished the game with 22 completions on 33 pass attempts, totaling 298 passing yards and three touchdowns. His 298 passing yards marked his career-high, as were his three passing touchdowns. Daniels also carried the ball 22 times, tying the most by a Stanford quarterback since 2023.RUNNING BACK – Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, RB, Clayton, NC
Hampton continues to raise the bar, rushing for a new career high in North Carolina’s win over Wake Forest, totaling 244 rushing yards and one touchdown on 35 carries. He also added five catches for 16 yards, finishing the primetime contest with 260 all-purpose yards. Hampton moved into fifth place in North Carolina history for rushing yards and is now the only Tar Heel in school history to rush for over 100 yards in eight consecutive games.RECEIVER & ROOKIE – Emmett Mosley V, Stanford, WR, Chicago, IL
Mosley V broke out as Stanford’s leading receiver in the win over Louisville, catching 13 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns. His 13 receptions and three touchdowns are both the most by a true freshman in Stanford history. Mosley’s 168 receiving yards also finished as the third-most for a true freshman in Stanford history. Mosley’s historic afternoon got off to a strong start when he hauled in a 62-yard touchdown catch, marking the longest passing play of the season for the Cardinal. It was the first three-touchdown performance by a Stanford receiver since Elic Ayomanor went for three scores against Colorado in 2023.OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Savion Washington, Syracuse, OL, Akron, OH
Washington played 80 offensive snaps, helping lead the Syracuse offense that scored on 7-of-9 possessions and did not punt until 4:29 left in the third quarter. He did not allow a sack and had an 88-percent run-blocking grade and a 90-percent pass-blocking grade. He also notched three knockdown and two cut blocks in the conference road win at California.DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – T.J. Parker, Clemson, DE, Phenix City, AL
Parker tied the Clemson record with 4.0 sacks in the Tigers’ win over Pitt. On the day, Parker recorded seven tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss, 4.0 sacks, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. His 4.0 sacks were tied for the most among FBS players this season and his 5.0 tackles-for-loss were the most by a Clemson player since 2017. Parker’s 5.0 tackles-for-loss are also tied for the most by any FBS player this season.LINEBACKER – Kobe Wilson, SMU, LB, Snellville, GA
Wilson recorded a career-high 16 tackles as SMU defeated Boston College, 38-28. In addition to his 16 tackles, eight of which were unassisted, Wilson logged a sack and a pass breakup. The 16 tackles were the most by an SMU player since 2013 and the most by any ACC student-athlete this season.DEFENSIVE BACK – Jonas Sanker, Virginia, S, Charlottesville, VA
Sanker recorded a career-high 13 tackles, including eight solo efforts and two tackles-for-loss, at No. 8 Notre Dame. For the second straight week, he had a hand in a turnover after he recovered a fumble on special teams. His 13 total tackles were the most by a defensive back against Notre Dame this season. Sanker has recorded four games with double-digit tackles this season and 11 for his career. He leads the ACC and ranks eighth in the country with 5.5 solo tackles per game.SPECIALIST – Emmet Kenney, Stanford, K, Fargo, ND
Kenney nailed his second game-winning field goal of the season as Stanford defeated No. 19 Louisville, 38-35. The 52-yard game-winning kick was the longest of Kenney’s career and marked the second-longest game-winning field goal in the history of Stanford Stadium....
2024 Week 14 TV Schedule Announced (RX; HM)
2024 Week 14 TV Schedule Announced
From the official ACC release of Monday, November 18, 2024...
Week 14 Game Times and TV Networks Announced
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference and its television partners announced the following football game times and networks for the final week of the regular season, Week 14, November 29-30.
Friday, November 29
Saturday, November 30
Bonus coverage:
Comments
Once again, the SEC is eating up all 3 ABC time slots on the final Saturday of the regular season:...
Radio trends 2024 (RX; HM)
Radio trends 2024
You can still listen to most games for free...
From Nielsen's Q3 U.S. audio listening trends,
Here's the breakdown of radio/podcast/audio listeners.
| Age | ad-supported | ||||
| group | Radio | Podcasts | streaming | satellite | graph (bar chart) |
| 35+ | 74% | 13% | 9% | 4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |
| 25-54 | 62% | 23% | 12% | 3% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |
| 18-34 | 51% | 31% | 17% | 2% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |
| 18+ | 67% | 18% | 11% | 3% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |
What does this data tell us?
First, it tells us that radio is still king of audio. Even ad-supported streaming beats out ad-supported satellite by a wide margin. Podcasts are a good way to deliver certain kinds of audio content also, especially if you are targeting the 18 to 34 year old demographic - though I find it interesting that really young and really old audiences don't listen to a lot of podcasts, so apparently it's a generational taste.
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A closer look at Oneida Lake and the shops, condos and apartments that are part of the first phase of the Lakeshore Village project. QPK Design LLP
Developer’s vision for Cicero’s Lakeshore triples, includes a $1 million condo on Oneida Lake (PS; $; Doran)
Guy Hart Jr.’s vision for a new, mostly upscale community built on the shores of Oneida Lake has nearly tripled in size.
Hart, the local developer who is also proposing to remake the former Great Northern Mall, says he’s now aiming to build as many as 1,400 homes in and around Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club.
Many of his ideas, first proposed two years ago, remain. He still wants to create a mix of luxury apartments, condos, townhouses and single-family homes. First-floor retail and restaurants would draw in visitors to shop and dine. A luxury hotel and expanded marina would help transform the southwestern shores of Oneida Lake into a tourist hub, he said.
Hart’s earlier plans called for 500 new homes spread on a portion of the 317 acres his company owns on, and surrounding the golf course and country club off Lakeshore Road. But with the promise of Micron Technology coming to nearby Clay, along with the need for more housing now, Hart says he’s amped up his ideas for Lakeshore Village.
Now he’s proposing to build 500 waterfront apartments and condos in the first $250 million phase alone.
“The direction the community is headed in is undeniable,” he said. “The water is really what drives this. We want everyone to be to enjoy the view of the lake.”
Those views would also drive the housing costs, Hart said.
He expects the early apartments to rent from around $2,000 up to $5,000 a month for penthouse-style homes. Condos could fetch around $500,000 or more. A top-floor unit with a panoramic view of the lake could sell for $1 million, he said.
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The rendering shows the expanded campus of Turning Stone Resort Casino near NY State Thruway Exit 33 in Verona, Oneida County. (Rendering by Gensler design firm of San Francisco).
Turning Stone casino starts new phase of massive $370 million expansion (PS; Cazentre)
The latest phase of a $370 million expansion at the Turning Stone Resort Casino — the largest since it opened in 1993 — is now underway.
Some 73 tons of steel arrived at the Oneida Indian Nation-owned casino in recent days. The nation and its business arm, Turning Stone Enterprises, also announced this week they have signed contracts with 26 different contractors, all based in Upstate New York, to handle mechanical, electrical, plumbing and other work on the project.
The plan is to make Turning Stone the largest resort convention destination in the state. The project, dubbed by the Oneidas as “The Next 30″ or ”Evolution," began in 2023, around the 30th anniversary of the casino’s opening.
The Evolution project is focused on convention and conference capabilities, which are currently operating at nearly full capacity. This expansion does not include any additions to the gaming operations at the full-service casino.
The work now getting underway will include:
● The Grand Expo, a 165,000-square-foot conference facility. It will double Turning Stone’s existing events space and add new outdoor spaces.
● The Crescent Hotel, which will have 258 guest rooms and suites
● Salt Seafood & Raw Bar, a new fine-dining restaurant
● A 1,500-space parking garage that will double currently available parking
These projects are expected to be completed by 2027.
They will join the already completed phases of the expansion which include the NY Rec & Social Club, a nightlife venue in Turning Stones’ Exit 33 wing; a Sportsplex with 36 golf bays and indoor pickleball courts; and an expanded retail area.
“As the Turning Stone Evolution continues to transform the resort, it is also transforming our role as an economic engine for Upstate New York,” Ray Halbritter, the nation representaive and CEO of Turning Stone Enterprises, said in a news release.
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Rochester-based Cornerstone Property Managers has produced this rendering of what the Eastwood Heights senior apartment building in Syracuse will look like after a $22 million project. (Cornerstone Property Managers)Cornerstone Property Managers
Syracuse officials want to trade away city-owned building in unusual deal with housing authority (PS; Boyer)
Mayor Ben Walsh’s administration is looking to trade a city-owned Eastwood apartment building to the Syracuse Housing Authority in exchange for an East Adams Neighborhood site targeted for a new children’s center and YMCA.
The unorthodox transaction proposal is generating skepticism from city lawmakers in large part because they don’t yet know current values of the two properties.
The Walsh administration says the agreement would push forward a pair of neighborhood improvement projects valued at more than $50 million. But the Syracuse Common Council wants to be sure city taxpayers don’t lose out in the swap.
The proposal, first brought to the council last week, involves the city-owned Eastwood Heights senior housing building on Sunnycrest Road and an SHA-owned parcel at the corner of South State and East Taylor streets.
Transferring Eastwood Heights to SHA would allow it to move forward with a Rochester-based developer to close on state financing for a $22 million renovation of the existing 48 apartments and buildout of four additional units within the structure. But instead of paying the city for the apartment building — which was the plan when the project first surfaced in 2022 — SHA now seeks to give the city the parcel where the nonprofit Blueprint 15 plans to build its $31 million Children Rising Center. The city would lease the property to Blueprint for $1 per year for 99 years.
While saying they support both projects, several councilors have expressed concerns about trading properties without getting updated appraisals completed. They don’t want to turn over one property in exchange for another that could be worth considerably less.
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