Orangeyes Daily Articles for Tuesday - for Football | Syracusefan.com

Orangeyes Daily Articles for Tuesday for Football

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Welcome to National Maple Syrup Day!

Maple syrup is used on breakfast foods such as pancakes, waffles, and French toast, and can be added to many dishes as a sweetener. It can even be poured on top of ice cream for dessert. Today we use a little more of it than usual, as it is National Maple Syrup Day.

Maple syrup is made from sap from sugar maple trees—trees that are also known as rock maples or hard maples. Maple syrup is a North American product; Canada produces most of it, and in the United States most of it comes from Vermont and New York. Native Americans in the northeastern part of the continent were the first to make it, by cutting the bark on trees and letting the sap drip out.

By the 1720s, colonists learned the technique, which became known as sugaring. After the thaw in late winter allowed the sap to begin flowing through the maple trees, the colonists would gash the trunks and guide the sap into troughs. They would then boil it over fires. Using maple as a sweetener was done in part to save money, as cane sugar from the West Indies was more expensive. This especially was the case after 1764, when the Sugar Act placed high duties on imported sugar.

SU News

John Mateer, the starting QB for Syracuse’s Holiday Bowl opponent, will transfer and won’t play in bowl (PS; Carlson)


Washington State starting quarterback John Mateer became the team’s 19th player to announce their intention to transfer on Monday, setting the Orange up to play a greatly diminished opponent in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27.

Washington State coach Jake Dickert told reporters, including Greg Woods of The Spokesman-Review, that the quarterback plans to enter the transfer portal.


The Cougars have at least seven starters who have entered their names into the transfer portal or announced their intention to transfer. It’s unclear if any of them will play in the bowl game against the Orange.
...


Keeping Up With The 315 12-16-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)

Brian begins the show by giving his take on the lineups and rotation used in the Syracuse/Georgetown game on Saturday. Then, he evaluates Red Autry’s coaching tenure to this point in three phases with a caller before giving you a full breakdown of Transfer Portal Watch Day 8, including Fran Brown in the ring with Bill Belichick and Deion Sanders.

30 Minutes in Orange Nation 12-16-24 (ESPN; radio; Orange Nation)

Steve Infanti and Paulie Scibilia discuss what can and can’t be fixed with the Syracuse men’s basketball team after their loss to Georgetown, go back and forth with a caller on whether the Orange’s issue is coaching or talent, and share whether or not they thought Travis Hunter deserved to win the Heisman as well as whether Kyle McCord finished high enough in the voting at tenth.

Mike McAllister Talks Syracuse-Georgetown, Transfer Portal, Football Visits (ESPN; radio; Cuse Sports Talk)

Syracuse on 247 Sports publisher Mike McAllister reacts to the Orange's 75-71 loss to the Georgetown Hoyas, discusses Liberty QB Kaiden Salter and others visiting Syracuse this weekend, and weighs in on some problems the transfer portal has brought to college football on a national level.

How John Matter Entering Transfer Portal Affects Syracuse Football | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)

Syracuse Orange Football is scheduled to play in the Holiday Bowl against the Washington State Cougars on December 27. Washington State quarterback John Mateer entered the transfer portal today, which does affect Syracuse. Of course, the Orange could pursue the signal caller in the portal, but it's very unlikely. It also affects the bowl game with so many Cougars players opting out. Finally, it's a two-horse race for Liberty QB Kaidon Salter.

Jackson Holzer tells you how John Mateer's exit affects Syracuse on this edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.

0:00- John Mateer in Portal
9:18- Bowl Ramifications
19:03- QB Market Right Now


More Syracuse Football Transfer Portal News | Syracuse Orange Podcast (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)

Syracuse Orange Football is targeting two defensive players in the transfer portal. Fran Brown and his staff is set to host Rhode Island FCS All-American edge rusher A.J. Pena. The Orange have also offered Marshall defensive tackle Chris Thomas Jr. to potentially help out their rush defense. Plus, Kaidon Salter visted Cuse, Penn running back Malachi Hosley will visit, and Georgia cornerback Julian Humphrey has not been offered by Syracuse.

Jackson Holzer discusses a couple of defensive players in the transfer portal that could fit Syracuse on this edition on the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.


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Penn State QB, a former Syracuse football 4-star prep recruit, plans to enter portal (itlh; Adler)

Penn State redshirt sophomore quarterback Beau Pribula, who held an offer from Syracuse football while in high school, said on his X page that he plans to enter the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-2, 207-pound Pribula said in his post on X that his decision to enter the portal was an "impossible" one. This statement concerns the current transfer portal window, which opened on December 9 and will run through December 28, overlapping with the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Big Ten Conference member Penn State (11-2 overall), ranked No. 6, will host Atlantic Coast Conference squad and No. 11 SMU (11-2 overall) on December 21 in a College Football Playoff first-round game.
...


Four-star prospect who was recruited by Fran Brown in high school visits Syracuse (PS; Carlson)

Former Rutgers wide receiver Chris Long, who has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal, visited Syracuse on Monday.

Long is a former four-star recruit who was initially recruited successfully to Rutgers by Fran Brown. At the time he was ranked as the No. 17 prospect in New Jersey in the Class of 2020 and the No. 708 recruit nationally by the 247 Sports composite rankings.

The recruiting website lists Syracuse coach Fran Brown as his primary recruited at Rutgers.

Long posted a photo of the inside of Syracuse’s football offices on Instagram on Monday. He is from Willingboro, New Jersey. He entered his name into the transfer portal two days ago

Long was listed by Rutgers at 6-foot and 177 pounds. He started seven games for the Scarlet Knights last season with 11 receptions for 163 yards. His biggest game came against Akron, when he had four receptions for 87 yards and his only touchdown.

Long has one season of eligibility remaining. He has struggled with injuries for much of his college career.

Syracuse is set to lose Jackson Meeks at one outside receiver position. Meeks led the Orange in receiving yards last year. Syracuse rotated through a number of options at the other outside receiver spot over the course of the season.
...


Syracuse football: Orange get three 2026 commits and more transfer visits (TNIAAM; Wall)

While we’ve been tracking the Syracuse Orange football transfer news, we didn’t update you on the latest 2026 commit.

Offensive lineman Javeion Cooper of Melbourne Florida committed to the Orange on December 10th after visiting for the Miami game.


Cooper is ranked 28th in Florida in his class by On3, who also has him in their top 300 players. He’s a four-star according to On3 and three stars from 247 and Rivals. He chose Syracuse over offers from Florida State, Penn State, and Pitt among others.

“I like coach Fran because he’s a hard-working man and he wants you to be the best at what you want to be,” Cooper said. “Whatever you want to do, even if it’s not football, he wants you to succeed and continue to do great as you get older and have children. I love how he coaches there. I feel like that’s where I want to be.”

The Orange also received two other 2026 commitments: one from linebacker Maurice Medley out of Baltimore, MD. He’s a 6’ 205 pound three-star recruit who had offers from Penn State, Maryland and Boston College.
...

https://247sports.com/article/sec-offensive-lineman-transfer-set-for-syracuse-visit-242238401/ (247sports.com; $; Dohn)

Syracuse
is set to host an SEC transfer offensive lineman on a visit. The Orange's 2025 portal class is in the works with coach Fran Brown signing a 34-member high school recruiting haul.

Syracuse's visitor is a familiar face to the Orange staff.

Alabama transfer offensive lineman Naquil Betrand started to make visits, and the former class of 2023 prospect said several schools are in contact with him.

The former Philadelphia Northeast prospect is beginning his visits Monday.

"Syracuse visit today and tomorrow," Betrand told 247Sports Monday morning. "I'm going out Georgia State and Virginia Tech soon."

Betrand added Colorado, Cincinnati and Mississippi State are also in touch with him but he is yet to set up any more visits.
...


Syracuse Football: The AP All-America teams are out. A 'Cuse star player is included. (itlh; Adler)

The Associated Press All-America teams for the 2024 season were disclosed on Monday, and Syracuse football got a little love.

Redshirt junior tight end Oronde Gadsden II was named to the AP All-America third team, an awesome and well-deserved honor for the 6-foot-5, 236-pound Gadsden, who hails from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Per SU Athletics, Gadsden had already been named to Sports Illustrated's All-America second squad. Additionally, he resides on this season's All-ACC first team, an honor that Gadsden also earned in 2022 when he hauled in 61 passes for 969 yards and six touchdowns through the air.
...


Former Syracuse kicker lands in Big Ten, re-joins old SU assistant coach (PS; Carlson)

Former Syracuse kicker Brady Denaburg will play college football next season at Minnesota, he announced on social media.

With the Golden Gophers, Denaburg will re-unite with former SU special teams coach Bob Ligashesky.

Denaburg had shown signs of honing his powerful leg with Syracuse last year, connecting on 10 of 16 field-goal attempts. Three of the misses were from beyond 50 yards, including a pair of 57-yard attempts.
...


Holiday Bowl Week Features Numerous Fan Events - Syracuse University Athletics (cuse.com)

Fans making the trip to San Diego will have plenty to do surrounding the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl, as they get ready to watch the Orange in one of the ACC's premier bowl destinations.

Fans can visit Cuse.com/Bowl today to purchase tickets, view hotel and event information.

Here are some of the fan events available:

Dec. 26 – SNAPDRAGON BOWL BASH – 5-7 PM
A free party in the Gaslamp Quarter of Downtown San Diego, the city's entertainment district, fans can take part in free family fun, great food, live music, giveaways and more.

At 6 p.m., Syracuse and Washington State's bands will square off in a Battle of the Bands. The event starts at 5th and Market Street. This free event also features photo booths, interactive games, street performers and food and drink specials from participating restaurants. For more information, visit the Bowl Bash website.

Dec. 27 – GAME DAY 5K – 9:45 AM
The Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Game Day 5K takes place along San Diego's beautiful harborfront. Runners can watch the famous Holiday Bowl Parade after concluding the race. Register here to participate.

Dec. 27 – PORT OF SAN DIEGO HOLIDAY BOWL PARADE – 10 AM
Skip Ad

A long tradition of the Holiday Bowl, one of the nation's largest parades takes place annually on game day. Tens of thousands of spectators gather each year to watch the procession, which features both schools' marching bands, enormous balloons, large balloons and floats. Street-side viewing is free, with grandstand tickets available for purchase. For more information, visit the parade website.

Dec. 27 – DIRECTV HOLIDAY BOWL – 5 PM (8 PM eastern)
Syracuse and Washington State will square off at 5 p.m. local time. Visit Cuse.com/Bowl to get your seats today!

Dec. 27 – 101.5 KGB SKY SHOW – POSTGAME
The legendary San Diego fireworks show returns immediately following the game. To learn more about this famous fireworks show, visit the Holiday Bowl website.



The Coach Mac Food Pantry at Hendricks Chapel Honors the Legacy of Legendary Orange Football Coach Dick MacPherson (syr.edu)

For 10 seasons, Syracuse football coach Richard “Dick” MacPherson (Coach Mac) led his team on the gridiron–propelling Syracuse Football back to the national powerhouse it once was. But it was the legendary football coach’s commitment to faith, family and the Orange that left an indelible mark on the Syracuse University community and the City of Syracuse. Although Coach Mac passed away in 2017, his legacy lives on at Syracuse University and in the former student-athletes and students whose lives he touched.

Last month, members of the Syracuse University community, Coach Mac’s family and loved ones, former student-athletes and alumni gathered to celebrate the dedication of the Coach Mac Food Pantry at Hendricks Chapel. The devout Catholic and dedicated family man was born in 1930 amid the Great Depression, the eleventh of 12 children. Like so many families during that time, putting food on the table wasn’t easy. That’s an experience Coach Mac never forgot. And that’s why it is only fitting that nearly a century later, the food pantry at Hendricks Chapel, at his beloved Syracuse University, now bears his name.

Sean McDonough '84 provided a lead gift for the renaming of the food pantry

Sean McDonough ’84 provided a lead gift for the renaming of the food pantry.

The naming of the food pantry was made possible by generous benefactors, including the lead gift from Sean McDonough ’84, longtime sportscaster and member of the Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board. McDonough met Coach Mac in the fall of 1980, worked for him for three and a half years as a work-study assistant, and maintained a special relationship with him.

“He became to me a father figure, a mentor, a shining example of how life should be lived, particularly by someone in the public eye,” McDonough says. “He was a Hall of Fame person who embodied his considerable Catholic faith through his abundant love and kindness. Much more than one of the greatest football coaches of all time, he was an all-time great as a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, son, friend, mentor and a citizen of the world. He radiated God’s love in his interactions with everyone he encountered. He cared about everyone, everyone was and is important to Coach Mac. God is love. And Coach Mac was and is love.”

In recent years, McDonough, the MacPherson family and Hendricks Chapel Dean Brian Konkol began exploring ways to properly honor the man Coach Mac was off the field.

“We decided the food pantry would be the right place, the perfect place to honor Coach Mac and his life of compassionate care and service to others,” McDonough said. “In the place where faith is nourished and where people of many beliefs come to grow deeper in their faith.”
...


ACC News

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Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson looks at a replay on the scoreboard as he discusses a call with an official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

Dave Clawson steps down as Wake Forest football coach (PS; AP)


Wake Forest’s Dave Clawson won big at the private university with one of the smallest enrollments in the Bowl Subdivision ranks. Now it’s up to someone else to try to do the same.

Clawson resigned Monday, ending an 11-year run with an unexpected announcement that he had given “everything I had” for the program and school.

His tenure included guiding Wake Forest to 11 wins and a trip to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in 2021, as well as cracking the top 10 of the AP poll in 2021 and 2022 amid a run of six straight bowl appearances. But the Demon Deacons had gone just 4-8 in the past two seasons as the formula that had helped them sustain success became trickier to manage in today’s era of free player movement through the transfer portal and players being able to cash in on their athletic fame through name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities.

In a statement released by the school, the 57-year-old coach said “the timing is right” after working 36 straight seasons in college football to step into a new advisory role to athletic director John Currie with an undergraduate enrollment of 5,471 students as of the 2023-24 academic year.

“Coaching at Wake Forest has been the honor of my career,” Clawson said. “This is a special place with extraordinary people, and I am deeply grateful for the relationships I’ve built over the last 11 years. Together, we achieved things that many thought impossible, and I step down knowing I gave everything I had for this program and university.”

In an open letter on the school’s athletics site that has been a regular fixture, Currie said Clawson’s decision was “not the news we had wanted to share.” Currie said Clawson had confided that he was contemplating his future in recent weeks.

“And I held out hope, until our meeting earlier today, that he would change his mind,” Currie wrote, noting that Clawson and Currie met with the team via Zoom to inform them shortly before the school’s announcement.
...


ACC Bowl Picks: Can Cal Overcome Turmoil to Close With a Victory? (SI; Faraudo)

Cal has made it to the finish line of the 2024 college football season.

The Bears didn’t have the season they dreamed about and will have a decidedly different look on Wednesday night when they face UNLV at the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

But they made it to a bowl game and linebacker Teddye Buchanan, in the video above, tells us the Bears are ready to go, even after transfer portal defections that begin with quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Here’s a look at every ACC team playing in the postseason and our projections for how those games will go:

Last week: Jake 9-2, Jeff 7-4

Season: Jake 79-57, Jeff 74-62

All picks against the spread

Wednesday, Dec. 18

LA BOWL

at Inglewood CA

— CAL (minus-1) vs. No. 24 UNLV, 6 p.m., ESPN

Jake:
Without QB Fernando Mendoza, Cal is much weaker on offense. The loss of head coach Barry Odom will hurt UNLV a little, but not a lot. Pick: UNLV

Jeff:
The line on this game dropped after Fernando Mendoza bolted, but I’m still mystified how Cal — with all its chaos — is the favorite. Pick: Las Vegas

Saturday, Dec. 21

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

First round

at University Park, PA

— No. 10 SMU (plus-8.5) vs. No. 4 PENN STATE 9 .a.m., TNT

Jake:
The Mustangs will travel to Pennsylvania where it will be a lot colder than it is in Dallas. The Big Ten is not as strong as it claims, but playing at home after a long rest is helpful. Pick: Penn State


Jeff:
The Mustangs were impressive against a toothless Cal team, but their experience at Happy Valley is more likely to be an unhappy one. Pick: Penn State

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

First round

at Austin, TX

— No. 16 CLEMSON (plus-11.5) vs. No. 3 TEXAS

Jake:
Everything went Clemson’s way the final few weeks to get tot this point. Things won’t go the Tigers’ way in the Longhorns’ home stadium. Pick: Texas

Jeff:
Too much air power for the Longhorns against a Clemson pass defense that has been fairly ordinary. Pick: Texas

Thursday, Dec. 26

GAME ABOVE SPORTS BOWL

at Detroit, MI

— PITTBURGH (minus-9.5) vs. TOLEDO, 11 a.m., ESPN

Jake:
Pittsburgh is riding a five-game losing streak and it remains unclear whether Pitt QB Eli Holstein will play in the bowl game. His backup, Nate Yarnell, is in the transfer portal. Pick: Toledo

Jeff:
The Panthers are “hoping” freshman quarterback Eli Holstein is healthy enough to play in the bowl game after a couple late-season injuries. But Pitt has lost five in a row and this point spread makes me uncomfortable. Pick: Toledo

Friday, Dec. 27

BIRMINGHAM BOWL

at Birmingham, AL

— GEORGIA TECH (minus-2.5) vs. Vanderbilt, 12:30 p.m., ESPN

Jake:
Georgia Tech beat Miami and nearly beat Georgia, both late in the season. Vandy’s big win over Alabama came early in the season. Pick: Georgia Tech

Jeff:
Vandy beat Alabama when the Tide was No. 1 and lost by just 3 points each to Texas and Missouri. But I’m learning toward Georgia Tech, which has wins over Miami and NC State and a two-point road loss to Georgia in its past three outings. Pick: Georgia Tech

HOLIDAY BOWL

at San Diego, CA

— No. 21 SYRACUSE (minus-6.5) vs. WASHINGTON STATE, 5 p.m., FOX

Jake:
Syracuse and QB Kyle McCord have been playing well lately, and McCord said he will play in the bowl game. That’s good enough for us. Pick: Syracuse

Jeff:
Wazzu limps into this game on a three-game skid. Syracuse is having a splendid season and has won its past three, including vs. Miami. Pick: Syracuse

Saturday, Dec. 28

FENWAY BOWL

at Boston MA

— UCONN (plus-3.5) vs. NORTH CAROLINA, 8 a.m., ESPN

Jake:
Bill Belichick is waiting in the wings to take over at UNC, but Freddie Kitchens will serve as interim head coach for the Tar Heels in this game. Pick: North Carolina
...


The ACC is going all-in for football, which doesn't bode well for ACC basketball )saturdaydownsouth.com; Friedlander)

Bill Belichick’s arrival has already had a profound effect on North Carolina and the ACC.

On one hand, it has given the Tar Heels’ football program the kind of national attention it has always craved but has never come close to achieving. Belichick’s surprise return to coaching has become such a hot topic of conversation that even the Today Show discussed it.

But equally important, his arrival has provided a distraction to help divert attention from the sorry state of basketball across the ACC.

It was another lost weekend. The kind that is becoming all too familiar for a league that still likes to think of itself as the nation’s best.

Clemson, NC State, Louisville and Syracuse all had opportunities to at least slow the bleeding from a disastrous ACC/SEC Challenge by facing high–profile opponents Saturday.

And all failed.

The Tigers lost in overtime to Memphis. The Wolfpack joined Triangle neighbors UNC and Duke in losing to Kansas. The injury-depleted Cardinals dropped their in-state rivalry game against Kentucky, and the Orange fell to their old Big East nemesis Georgetown.

Only newcomer SMU was able to salvage a shred of respectability by knocking off LSU.

For those of you keeping score at home, the ACC is now a dismal 4-28 against the SEC this season. It’s 3-8 against the Big 12 and 2-5 against the Big East.

And there’s still time for things to get worse.

The decline didn’t just happen. The snowball has been rolling downhill for a few seasons. It’s just finally picked up enough speed and grown big enough to become an avalanche that has buried the conference deep in the NET rankings.

Losing Hall of Fame coaches Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams and Jim Boeheim has contributed to the ACC’s plight. Tony Bennett’s preseason retirement didn’t help. Neither has watering down of the league through expansion and other external factors brought about by NIL and the transfer portal.

But it took Belichick’s introductory press conference in Chapel Hill on Thursday for someone to finally hit on the root of the ACC’s basketball predicament.

Although UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham was speaking specifically about his school when he said “we see the future of college athletics as very dependent on a successful football program,” it rings true for the entire conference.

...


Miami AD: Should review CFP release schedule (ESPN; Adelson)

Miami athletics director Dan Radakovich said Sunday the College Football Playoff selection committee might need to revisit whether it releases a ranking the week of conference championship games.

Speaking to ESPN at a Pop-Tarts Bowl media event ahead of the Hurricanes' matchup against Iowa State, Radakovich noted how difficult it was for his players in the days after the Dec. 3 rankings, which had Miami (10-2) behind Alabama (9-3) at No. 12 and on the outside looking in. The situation was compounded when committee chair Warde Manuel said teams that were not playing in conference title games were "locked in" and would not be reevaluated.

"It was a really, really difficult four or five days for the players, both at Alabama, at our place," Radakovich said. "SMU loses, what are they in the middle of at that point in time? The NCAA basketball tournament, there's some parallels to it, but you're either going to be in or you're going to be out when it's all unveiled, right? Sometimes, that's a better way."

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, the CFP executive director, said during a Sports Business Journal Intercollegiate Athletics Forum panel last week in Las Vegas that he did not think six rankings were too many -- echoing comments Manuel made after the final rankings release.

"I think it's good for the game. I think it gives people a sense of how we see teams from that eighth week on," Manuel said.

Radakovich, who served on the first CFP selection committee in 2014 while AD at Clemson, said he has talked to others about revising the rankings release schedule just for the penultimate week.

"They'll do a ranking before Thanksgiving. You probably just let that stand, and then you have the championship games, and then the committee gets together that weekend and they make their final rankings," Radakovich said. "Because if you're close and you aren't playing, you can't do anything and if there are other people that you've played along the way that are playing, maybe that changes your strength of schedule, it changes some other things. So I think as you get closer to the end, I think that would just be a good idea to say, 'Maybe we'll just leave that one off to the side.'"
...


Dabo weighs in on Belichick joining ACC (youtube; podcast; Fox Carolina)

Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney gives his opinion on Bill Belichick being named head football coach for UNC.

College Football Playoff Analysis: SMU Faces Penn State + Big Picture Insight (youtube; podcast; Locked on ACC)

Can the SMU Mustangs and Clemson Tigers navigate the new 12-team College Football Playoff format and emerge as a dark horse contender? With the college football landscape shifting, the Hurricanes face fresh challenges and opportunities in this expanded playoff system.

Join Alex Donno, Kenton Gibbs, and guest Jay Paterno as they explore the implications of this format change, dissecting key matchups like SMU vs. Penn State. They also dive into the Heisman Trophy race, spotlighting standout players like Travis Hunter and Ashton Genti. Paterno shares insights on the evolving dynamics of college football recruiting and player compensation, drawing from his experiences and his book "Blitzed."


New Sign of Realignment Trouble for the ACC (youtube; podcast; Kurtz)

The biggest hire of the college football offseason is sending some powerful realignment signals to the ACC.

Get “Open For Business” a Big 12 newsletter sending the key headlines, interviews, and my analysis straight to your inbox. No more college football news through an SEC/Big Ten lens.


Biggest ACC FB Surprises of 2024 (RX; HM)

Most Surprising Games

1. NIU 16, Notre Dame 14

We'll start with our part-time ACC member. This game was played way back in Week 2, but it remains the most unexpected upset of the season. How did little old NIU hold the big bad Fighting Irish to just 14 points? For that matter, how did they outscore nine Notre Dame opponents, including Texas A&M, Purdue, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Navy, Florida State, Virginia, and Army? Crazy upset!

2. Louisville 35, Stanford 38

Not only for the fact that Stanford beat Louisville - upsets happen - but also for the WAY it happened. The Cardinals were leading the Cardinal by two touchdowns going into the 4th quarter, then collapsed against one of the worst teams in the nation. The final Stanford series included two penalties against Louisville and a winning field goal as time expired...

3. JMU 70, UNC 50

Nobody expected the Tar Heels to lose to JMU, to lose by 20, or to surrender 70 points. It's the most points surrendered or scored by the Heels all season. The Dukes scored 70 against UNC, then laid 63 on Ball State the following week... then never cracked 40 the rest of the season!

Pleasant Surprises (teams)

1. SMU was as good as advertised

We knew the Mustangs took their football seriously, we knew that they were defending champs of their former conference (the American), and we knew they were very active in the Portal last off-season. Still, I don't think anyone outside the most die-hard SMU fan thought they would go 8-0 in ACC play, 11-1 overall! And I doubt even long-time Mustang lovers could've predicted a spot in the College Football Playoffs!

2. Cal has great fan support

On the field, the Bears were about what we thought they would be. They were a little better than expected out of conference (who predicted they'd win at Auburn?), maybe a little worse in ACC play, but overall I'd say their 6-6 record is not shocking. What was a big surprise: not only did they score ESPN College GameDay, but their fans knocked it out of the park! What a great first impression!

3. Georgia Tech improvement

The Yellow Jackets came into the season with one of the toughest schedules in the nation. After kicking off Week Zero with a victory over Florida State, the Jackets rolled to bowl-eligibility, and nearly pulled off the upset of #2 Georgia (indeed, probably should've won it if not for some questionable calls).
...


2024 Non-Playoff ACC Bowls Ranked (RX; HM)

2024 Non-Playoff ACC Bowls Ranked

This afternoon, we'll take a look at how three prominent sports outlets - CBS Sports, Yahoo!, and Athlon Sports - rank the ACC non-CFP bowls (relative to each other).

Non-CFP ACC Bowls:

RnkCBS SportsYahooAthlon
1Pop-Tarts Bowl: Miami
vs. Iowa State
DirecTV Holiday Bowl
(Dec. 27, 8 p.m., Fox)
Pop-Tarts Bowl - Miami (10-2)
vs. Iowa State (10-3)
2Gator Bowl: Ole Miss
vs. Duke
Birmingham Bowl
(Dec. 27, 3:30 p.m., ESPN)
Gator Bowl - Ole Miss (9-3)
vs. Duke (9-3)
3Birmingham Bowl:
Vanderbilt vs. Ga Tech
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
(Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Birmingham Bowl - Georgia Tech
(7-5) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)
4Holiday Bowl: Syracuse
vs. Washington State
Pop-Tarts Bowl
(Dec. 28, 3:30 p.m., ABC)
Sun Bowl - Louisville (8-4)
vs. Washington (6-6)
5Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl:
Louisville vs. Washington
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
(Dec. 31, 2 p.m., CBS)
Duke's Mayo Bowl - Minnesota
(7-5) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6)
6Pinstripe Bowl: Nebraska
vs. Boston College
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe
Bowl (Dec. 28, Noon, ABC)
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 28) - Nebraska
(6-6) vs. Boston College (7-5)
7Duke's Mayo Bowl:
Minnesota vs. Va Tech
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
(Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Holiday Bowl - Syracuse (9-3)
vs. Washington State (8-4)
8Military Bowl: NC State
vs. East Carolina
LA Bowl
(Dec. 18, 9 p.m., ESPN)
Los Angeles Bowl (Dec. 18) -
UNLV (10-3) vs. Cal (6-6)
...

Other

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This rendering shows the planned Onondaga County aquarium to be built at the Syracuse inner Harbor.Courtesy of Onondaga County

McMahon asks Onondaga County lawmakers to front $11M more for aquarium in last-minute proposal (PS; Knauss)

Onondaga County lawmakers will be asked today to vote on a last-minute proposal to front $11 million for construction of the county aquarium, which is now expected to cost $100 million rather than the $85 million originally authorized.

County Executive Ryan McMahon said the $11 million will be repaid to the county over time by private donors who contribute to the aquarium or purchase naming rights. So far, he said, the aquarium foundation has received pledges of more than $1 million.

County officials have been scrambling to cover construction costs for the controversial project, which have risen about 18% from what McMahon proposed in late 2021.

Recently, McMahon’s administration shifted $6.6 million of unspent federal stimulus funds so they could be used for development of the Syracuse Inner Harbor, where the aquarium is being built. That money can be used for construction of the aquarium if necessary, McMahon said.

All told, the aquarium will cost about $100 million to build, he said.

McMahon said the $11 million allocation of county funds is necessary because he must have all the construction money in hand before signing final construction contracts.

“It’s essentially creating a project account that we can obligate so that we can finish signing the contracts,” he said. “And then it allows me to accept donations from the foundation and naming rights sponsors so we can pay the project account back.”

The request to front the money was a last-minute addition to the legislature’s agenda for Tuesday. It was not discussed at the Ways and Means Committee meeting Friday or at the Facilities Committee meeting earlier last week.

McMahon said he did not know why the proposal was not vetted by lawmakers in the committees.

“We’ve been talking for months about it. I have no clue. You’ll have to ask them,’’ he said.

Legislature Chairman Tim Burtis, R-Brewerton, and Legislator Deb Cody, R-North Syracuse, who chairs the facilities committee, did not respond to requests for comment.
...


Crucible Industries files for bankruptcy, seeks to sell factory early next year (PS; Moss)


Local steelmaker Crucible Industries filed for bankruptcy last week, asking for protections to reorganize its debts and sell its factory to the highest bidder.

The company has already found a buyer willing to pay about $17.3 million in cash for its specialty steel plant in Geddes and related intellectual property, according to filings in federal bankruptcy court in Syracuse.

That is subject to adjustments, such as the value of the inventory. It could end up being an $11 million to $12 million sale.

Company officials still want to put the factory at 575 State Fair Blvd. on the auction block in early February in hopes of finding a buyer who would pay more.

The filings show the company’s current leadership seeks to keep the business running, a good sign despite its current financial troubles. Company projections show there will likely not be enough cash to continue operations past March.

Company president John Shiesley said in court papers that the company has struggled in recent years due to declining demand for steel. Employees were warned last week that the factory could close for good.

Crucible began marketing itself for sale early this year, company lawyers said. Four companies ultimately expressed interest in acquiring some or all of the company. None were willing to commit to an acquisition outside of a bankruptcy sale process.

A hearing on a proposed bidding process is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday. An initial bid has been submitted by EraSteel, a Paris-based steelmaker with operations in multiple countries.

Several million dollars in liens are pending against Crucible. They include about $9.9 million for KeyBank, $5.5 million for New York State’s economic development agency, Empire State Development and $3 million for CX Industries.

It owes an estimated $11 million to vendors and customers, according to the filings. Overall, the company estimated it has more than 250 creditors who are owed money.

At the same time, the company is estimating its assets at $21.5 million.

The factory has already been through the bankruptcy process once.

Crucible Materials Corp., a previous owner of the plant, filed for bankruptcy in May 2009, citing a drop in sales to the automotive sector, a major customer. At the time, it employed 675 people, down from a high of 1,400 in the mid-1980s.
...
 
BTW, I didn't list Syracuse as a pleasant surprise because the Orange were pretty much what we expected - great QB play, bowl team, lower Top 25 team. Nice season, hope you guys can build on it.
 

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