sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 26,697
- Like
- 116,427
Welcome to National Bluebird of Happiness Day!
If you are happy on Saturday, September 24, it might be because it was National Bluebird of Happiness Day. The mythology of the bluebird of happiness goes back thousands of years. The bluebird is widely accepted as a symbol of cheerfulness, good health, new births, prosperity, and hearth and home.
Bluebirds are a member of the Thrush family related to the American Robin. There are three bluebird types in North America: The Eastern Bluebird, The Western Bluebird and the Mountain Bluebird.
What makes the bluebird happy? Eating insects, such as cutworms and grasshoppers. This makes us happy too, since these critters are damaging to our crops and gardens.
Once very common in the United States, these beautiful birds have decreased in number due to loss of natural habitat, overuse of pesticides and predators.
...
SU News
Forget About the Game, Are Syracuse Fans Even Ready for LSU Fans? (TNIAAM; Neuman!)
The Syracuse football team doesn't have many, if any, advantages against LSU. But at least the Orange will have the home crowd behind them...right?
If there's one thing the Syracuse football team has going for it when LSU comes to town, it's the fact that the game is in the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome. So, if nothing else, the Orange will have the support of the home crowd behind them.
Unless the LSU fans have something to say about it.
Based on a report from Syracuse.com by Nate Mink, Tigers fans are coming in force with their beignets, po' boy sandwiches and "Geaux Tigers" chants. Oh, and alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol.
According to Mink, Jason Ramezan, vice president of the LSU Alumni Association, estimates 7,500 purple-and-yellow clad LSU faithful will invade the greater Syracuse area this weekend with plans to "drink this town dry."
Ramezan told Mink "I've gone places in the past where they've run out (of alcohol)," and that the Dome "might meet their alcohol budget for the year."
By the time you read this, LSU fans may have already begun their takeover. Mink said about 300 of the most die-hard fans will take a charter plane to the area, spend three nights at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, make a trip Friday to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame and then rent space at the OnCenter for breakfast/Bloody Mary's before kickoff.
This is, however, one of the best teams that has been to the Dome in recent years, and it's still a big game even if Syracuse is severely overmatched. Will the Orange faithful come out to support their team?
...
SU Vs LSU Preview: Q&A with 'And the Valley Shook' (TNIAAM; Cassillo & Gomila)
The Syracuse Orange are 3-0! And this week, they're up against a team that stands a very good chance to make them 3-1. But we can still hope for the best game possible against the SEC's LSU Tigers (the eighth-ranked team in the country, if you hadn't noticed).
Below, Billy Gomila (who you should follow on Twitter) from SB Nation's excellent LSU blog And The Valley Shook, stops by to share everything we'll need to know with regard to the Tigers. We answer some questions over there too, which we'll post a link to once it's live..
Unlike most SEC teams, LSU ventures "up North" for non-conference games now and again? Are you guys in favor of a trip to New York, or would you rather non-SEC contests stayed within driving distance?
I think there's definitely a cool factor to the trip and getting to a part of the country that LSU doesn't visit often. Personally, I had hoped to maybe make the trip, but couldn't make it work. In terms of the complaints, I think they're more about Syracuse as a program, as opposed to the distance. Although the 3-0 start has certainly helped open eyes a little bit.
Leonard Fournette is already well on his way to a fantastic season. It's early, but where is he stacking up in terms of all-time great Tigers in your minds right now?
For some perspective, LSU recruiting Leonard Fournette was a multi-year process, so expectations were very high. And he's surpassed them to date, and through two games he appears to be on his way to a special season. It's something we all feel fortunate to feel apart of, honestly.
...
Syracuse Bars Prepping for LSU Football Game, Will Open Early on Saturday (localsyr.com; Polansky)
Central New Yorkers are planning on a big football weekend as 7,500 LSU fans are expected to descend upon the city of Syracuse.
Empire Brewing Company is ready for the LSU invasion.
"We generally, on a Saturday, would open at 11:30 a.m. We decided to open at 9:30 a.m. this Saturday. We know they're looking for places to celebrate and hang out before the game, so we're going to welcome them here," says Empire Director of Brewing Operations Tim Butler.
Empire is fully stocked with liquor, beer, and their specialty Cajun Bloody Marys.
Just across the street, Blue Tusk will be opening its doors early on Saturday, at 10 a.m.
Up on Marshall Street, Faegan's Pub will also start welcoming thirsty fans at 10 a.m.
"We are going to make sure we're over-prepped for Bloody Marys. They're popular on game days, and we will be fully staffed," says Justin Conerly, bartender at Faegan's. "Knowing LSU and SEC schools, it's bigger than Sunday for football. They take college football very seriously."
So seriously that the 'Visit Baton Rouge' president has been working with the 'Visit Syracuse' president to prepare for the weekend, encouraging Syracuse bars to open even earlier, and telling them to make sure they have enough alcohol.
Butler welcomes the challenge.
"I just got two words: good luck. This is Syracuse and I hope they know what town they're coming to. Because we like to have fun and we support our college teams," says Butler.
Kickoff is at noon, Saturday, at the Carrier Dome.
Tickets are still available for the big matchup.
SEC Notes: Fournette Makes Early Claim as SEC's Best (stltoday.com; Matter)
One fourth of the way into the regular season, there could be a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy. And he’s played only two games.
Louisiana State running back Leonard Fournette took over the top spot on multiple national surveys of Heisman voters after he shredded Auburn for 228 yards on just 19 carries Saturday. Fournette piled up his career-best total in just three quarters of work. In two games, Fournette not only leads the country in rushing yards per game (193.5), but he’s run for more yards than 18 Football Bowl Subdivision teams have totaled in three games, including Missouri, Louisville and Washington.
LSU coach Les Miles said the sophomore already “fits very comfortable” with the elite running backs who have come through Baton Rouge, La., under his watch, a list Miles described as “very long” and “very capable.”
“Considering we’ve played two games in this season,” Miles said, “we’ll let Leonard Fournette kind of define who he is.”
Fournette is off to such a strong start, some have already wondered if Miles should limit his carries in some games to preserve his best player for bigger tests on the schedule. The Tigers don’t play another SEC West opponent until Nov. 7, when a four-game stretch begins against Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. Asked if he’ll put the 6-1, 230-pound pound back on a “pitch count,” Miles sounded open to the idea. He and his coaches discuss Fournette’s workload throughout each game, he said.
...
Syracuse Played LSU in the 1965 Sugar Bowl in old Tulane Stadium
SU vs LSU: See Our Picks, Predictions (PS; Staff)
Brent Axe
Syracuse fans will join LSU fans in drinking this town dry by halftime. Watch for LSU QB Brandon Harris to have his biggest passing day of the season with all the attention on Leondard Fournette. LSU 48, SU 10
Stephen Bailey
Even if the Orange somehow manages to keep Leonard Fournette in check, the secondary will almost certainly get beat over the top in 1-on-1 situations. This one could get ugly, but with a bye week coming up, SU can live with a blowout loss. Long term, it's more important to be healthy heading into Week 5 than have a puncher's chance at an SEC heavyweight. LSU 41, SU 10
Nate Mink
Scott Shafer likened this LSU team to the 2013 Florida State team that defeated Syracuse 59-3. Fournette is a bell cow who will attract a lot of attention, but this could be the game Brandon Harris and the LSU passing game takes off. LSU 48, SU 3
Bud Poliquin
Scott Shafer says Leonard Fournette is Earl Campbell. Chuck Bullough says Leonard Fournette is Adrian Peterson. So does that make the guy Earl Peterson or Adrian Campbell? By any name, the big Tiger will be big trouble for the Orange. LSU 49, SU 13
