sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 26,692
- Like
- 116,407
SU News
The MACinations for Syracuse and Pitt Football (TNIAAM; Keeley)
It's well documented that Scott Shafer's current staff with the Syracuse Orangefootball program is built on his connections and friendships from his time in the MAC. Almost everyone who was part of Shafer's initial hires also coached with him at either Northern Illinois or Western Michigan. We can debate the merits of Shafer's "you're coming with me" strategy but there's something to be said for the way that "mid-major" conference is a breeding ground for future coaching talent.
Just look at the Pittsburgh Panthers, who have hired former Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi as their new head coach. Before Narduzzi leaves in two years to take over MSU (or some other B10 program), he'll have a chance to build Pitt back up to prominence and he'll probably do so with a staff that's got MAC connections as well. Narduzzi began his coaching career at a GA at Miami (OH) and also spent time with Rhode Island, Northern Illinois and a return stint with Miami before moving on to the major conferences.
If that career path sounds familiar, that's because it mirrors Scott Shafer's pretty evenly. In fact, the duo have a whole lot of overlap. Narduzzi came to URI in 1993 as the LB coach and sitting next to him in staff meetings was Shafer, who took over for the DBs that same year. The two coached together until 1995 when Shafer left for Northern Illinois. Shafer worked his way up to DC and then Narduzzi was hired as his LB coach in 2000 and the two worked together until 2002 when Narduzzi got his first DC gig.
...
Northeast Football: SU isn't What We Think It Is (TNIAAM; Cassillo)
Syracuse football is among the 20 winning-est programs of all-time. We've won a Heisman Trophy (and should have won two more), a National Championship and have found ourselves in the national spotlight for extended periods of time in the past.
But unfortunately, that's the point: It's all in the past.
Now that doesn't mean Syracuse can't fix itself, improve the football product and get back into fringe top-25 discussions. Sean spelled out the ways in which the Orange can right the ship pretty well a month back. But in terms of our peers -- the other Northeast football programs (or the "Eastern Independents" as we were once known) -- we're falling drastically behind at this very moment. I mean, look around the college football postseason landscape:
Boston College plays Penn State today in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. You know, "OUR" Pinstripe Bowl, in "OUR" city and in "OUR" state. That one. It'll host two of Syracuse's long-time RIVALS/Rivals/rivals, and one of them will go home with a trophy we've claimed twice in recent years.
...
ACC News
ACC Off to Rough Start in Bowl Season, 0-4 Vs Power 5 (nbcsports.com; McGuire)
Thank God for the ACCCKKK...
With the power conferences now getting in the full swing of the bowl season, the Pac-12 has managed to wiggle its ways to a 3-0 start withArizona State and USC barely hanging on for victories against the ACC and Big Ten, respectively, on Saturday. The Big Ten was an underdog in each of its 10 bowl games but saw two of its members win in the past 48 hours with Rutgers blowing away North Carolina andPenn State clipping Boston College in overtime. Things have not been going so well for the ACC, which is now 2-4 in bowl games and without a win against another power conference opponent.
As someone who has at times defended the ACC and suggested it is a stronger conference than it tends to receive credit for, the ACC is doing nothing to help support that case so far. ACC commissioner John Swofford said a few years ago it was important for the conference to step up and win games against other power conference opponents. The ACC needs more than Florida State to prove its strength, but so far it is off to a slow start.
The ACC has won just two bowl games, and each has come against the American Athletic Conference. Virginia Tech pulled away from Cincinnati and North Carolina State got by UCF. Cincinnati and UCF each claimed a share of the American championship, which may add at least a little bit of dazzle to the ACC’s victories, but a power conference will only improve its image by winning games against other power conference opponents.
...
Croke Park is the Home of the Gaelic Games...It is the Most Famous and Grand Stadium in Ireland...
ACC Reportedly Will Send Boston College and Georgia Tech to 2016 Croke Park Classic in Dublin Ireland (nbcsports.com; McGuire)
ACC commissioner John Swofford once flirted with the idea of taking ACC football across the Atlantic Ocean, and it appears it will become a reality. Boston College and Georgia Tech will reportedly participate in the 2016 Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland.
Eurosport.com reports the two ACC schools have a deal in place to participate in the 2016 edition of the Croke Park Classic, although when that game is played has yet to be finalized. According to the report, the game may move later in the season rather than to serve as a season opener. If the game remains a part of the ACC football schedule in 2016, then an October trans-Atlantic conference game could be in play.
Penn State and UCF played in the 2014 season-opening Croke Park Classic. The game drew a crowd of 53,304, a record for most fans in an American football game in Ireland. Boston College previously played in Ireland in 1988, defeating Army 38-24 in the Emerald Isle Classic.
...
The MACinations for Syracuse and Pitt Football (TNIAAM; Keeley)
It's well documented that Scott Shafer's current staff with the Syracuse Orangefootball program is built on his connections and friendships from his time in the MAC. Almost everyone who was part of Shafer's initial hires also coached with him at either Northern Illinois or Western Michigan. We can debate the merits of Shafer's "you're coming with me" strategy but there's something to be said for the way that "mid-major" conference is a breeding ground for future coaching talent.
Just look at the Pittsburgh Panthers, who have hired former Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi as their new head coach. Before Narduzzi leaves in two years to take over MSU (or some other B10 program), he'll have a chance to build Pitt back up to prominence and he'll probably do so with a staff that's got MAC connections as well. Narduzzi began his coaching career at a GA at Miami (OH) and also spent time with Rhode Island, Northern Illinois and a return stint with Miami before moving on to the major conferences.
If that career path sounds familiar, that's because it mirrors Scott Shafer's pretty evenly. In fact, the duo have a whole lot of overlap. Narduzzi came to URI in 1993 as the LB coach and sitting next to him in staff meetings was Shafer, who took over for the DBs that same year. The two coached together until 1995 when Shafer left for Northern Illinois. Shafer worked his way up to DC and then Narduzzi was hired as his LB coach in 2000 and the two worked together until 2002 when Narduzzi got his first DC gig.
...
Northeast Football: SU isn't What We Think It Is (TNIAAM; Cassillo)
Syracuse football is among the 20 winning-est programs of all-time. We've won a Heisman Trophy (and should have won two more), a National Championship and have found ourselves in the national spotlight for extended periods of time in the past.
But unfortunately, that's the point: It's all in the past.
Now that doesn't mean Syracuse can't fix itself, improve the football product and get back into fringe top-25 discussions. Sean spelled out the ways in which the Orange can right the ship pretty well a month back. But in terms of our peers -- the other Northeast football programs (or the "Eastern Independents" as we were once known) -- we're falling drastically behind at this very moment. I mean, look around the college football postseason landscape:
Boston College plays Penn State today in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. You know, "OUR" Pinstripe Bowl, in "OUR" city and in "OUR" state. That one. It'll host two of Syracuse's long-time RIVALS/Rivals/rivals, and one of them will go home with a trophy we've claimed twice in recent years.
...
ACC News
ACC Off to Rough Start in Bowl Season, 0-4 Vs Power 5 (nbcsports.com; McGuire)
Thank God for the ACCCKKK...
With the power conferences now getting in the full swing of the bowl season, the Pac-12 has managed to wiggle its ways to a 3-0 start withArizona State and USC barely hanging on for victories against the ACC and Big Ten, respectively, on Saturday. The Big Ten was an underdog in each of its 10 bowl games but saw two of its members win in the past 48 hours with Rutgers blowing away North Carolina andPenn State clipping Boston College in overtime. Things have not been going so well for the ACC, which is now 2-4 in bowl games and without a win against another power conference opponent.
As someone who has at times defended the ACC and suggested it is a stronger conference than it tends to receive credit for, the ACC is doing nothing to help support that case so far. ACC commissioner John Swofford said a few years ago it was important for the conference to step up and win games against other power conference opponents. The ACC needs more than Florida State to prove its strength, but so far it is off to a slow start.
The ACC has won just two bowl games, and each has come against the American Athletic Conference. Virginia Tech pulled away from Cincinnati and North Carolina State got by UCF. Cincinnati and UCF each claimed a share of the American championship, which may add at least a little bit of dazzle to the ACC’s victories, but a power conference will only improve its image by winning games against other power conference opponents.
...
Croke Park is the Home of the Gaelic Games...It is the Most Famous and Grand Stadium in Ireland...
ACC Reportedly Will Send Boston College and Georgia Tech to 2016 Croke Park Classic in Dublin Ireland (nbcsports.com; McGuire)
ACC commissioner John Swofford once flirted with the idea of taking ACC football across the Atlantic Ocean, and it appears it will become a reality. Boston College and Georgia Tech will reportedly participate in the 2016 Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland.
Eurosport.com reports the two ACC schools have a deal in place to participate in the 2016 edition of the Croke Park Classic, although when that game is played has yet to be finalized. According to the report, the game may move later in the season rather than to serve as a season opener. If the game remains a part of the ACC football schedule in 2016, then an October trans-Atlantic conference game could be in play.
Penn State and UCF played in the 2014 season-opening Croke Park Classic. The game drew a crowd of 53,304, a record for most fans in an American football game in Ireland. Boston College previously played in Ireland in 1988, defeating Army 38-24 in the Emerald Isle Classic.
...
Last edited:
