sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
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- 116,388
I am temporarily filling in for OE as he recovers from surgery. Get well soon Dan.
Syracusefan.com News
#Hardnosed: OE and SS
OE's Exceptional Family with SS (Less His Remarkable Wife Dianne)
After 90 Days in Crouse Hospital, Orangeyes Faces Major Surgery on Friday (PS; Waters)
(Great story Mike, props also to cto for starting the SU to OE visits, and to all the members of the board for their visits and kindness; there are too many to mention individually)
Dan Johnson was chatting with family members, passing the time as he lay in a bed at Crouse Hospital, when the room fell silent.
"Their eyes went wide and their jaws just dropped,'' Johnson said.
Johnson looked toward the door and there stood a beaming Mike Hopkins. The Syracuse University assistant basketball coach had heard that Johnson, formerly a mainstay at the team's practices at the Carrier Dome, had been hospitalized for an extended period of time. Johnson had stopped going to as many practices when the Carmelo K. Anthony Center opened.
"Where you been,'' Hopkins asked Johnson. "I want you to come back to practice.''
Johnson still couldn't believe it was Hopkins standing there.
"I just started crying,'' Johnson said. "I was so humbled that he would come up and see me.''
...
Conceptual Design for SU Football's IPF Plaza Leaked on Syracusefan.com (PS; Carlson)
The Syracuse athletic department has been tight-lipped about its planned indoor practice facility, but renderings of three statues that could sit outside the IPF appear to have been released on the website Syracusefan.com.
The renderings were released by a message board poster identifying himself as Jason Poles. Poles said that a planned "44 Plaza" will include bronze statues of running backs Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Ernie Davis.
Poles, a former player at Syracuse, now works as an assistant athletic director for major gifts.
...
Recruiting
Brandon Ginetti (DE) Becomes 3rd Connecticut Player to Verbal to Syracuse (PS; Bailey)
After taking an unofficial visit to Syracuse on Tuesday, Hamden (Conn.) Hall Country Day School defensive end Brandon Ginnetti verbally committed to Syracuse on Wednesday.
Ginnetti, who is currently unranked by major scouting services, becomes the 13th member in Syracuse's Class of 2015, and second defensive end joining Hallendale (Fla.) High School's Dana Levine.
"When I looked at the school, I just saw myself there and they gave me the offer of a lifetime," Ginnetti said. "So I'm not going to not take it."
...
Hamden Hall Coach Joe Linta Breaks Down Newest SU Football Verbal Brandon Ginnetti (PS; Bailey)
Each of the last two summers, Hamden Hall (Conn.) Country Day School football coach Joe Linta has received defensive end/tight end Brandon Ginnetti in baseball condition.
A star pitcher for Hamden Hall, Ginnetti also pitched for the United State Under-16 team at one point. And as of three or four months ago, he was still not fully certain which sport to pursue at the collegiate level.
But on Wednesday, Ginnetti closed the door to his baseball future and verbally committed to SU as a defensive end. He made it clear there would be no listening to other offers, football or baseball.
"He'll be dangerously good now that he starts training specifically for football," Linta said.
...
With Andrejas Duerig Commitment, Syracuse Football Moves into Top 30 in Recruiting Rankings (PS; Mink)
Though they are an imperfect measurement, recruiting rankings always make for good banter between rival college football fan bases.
In recent years, Syracuse has mostly mired in the bottom half of the rankings but saw an uptick just a few months ago when it finished 50th in the nation, according to 247Sports, which uses a composite ranking that pulls from all the major recruiting services.
Syracuse received its 12th verbal commitment Tuesday when Chicago offensive lineman Andrejas Duerig visited campus. To put that in perspective, Syracuse had four verbal commitments in its 2014 class at this time last year.
Duerig's commitment pushed Syracuse into the top 30 of the 247Sports' recruiting rankings (28th) and to No. 6 in the ACC.
How close is Syracuse to possibly moving into the top 25?
...
SU News
Could Syracuse Play in the Bitcoin Bowl? Internet Currency Sponsors ACC-Affiliated Bowl Game (PS; Axe)
There have been a lot of interesting names for bowl games over the years in college football.
Remember the Cigar Bowl? The Raisin Bowl?
Syracuse's 35-18 defeat at the hands of Maryland in the Cherry Bowl?
Then there were names like the Refrigerator Bowl, the Salad Bowl (really) and my personal favorite, the Poulan Weed-Eater Independence Bowl.
Now we can add the Bitcoin Bowl to the list of eyebrow-raising bowl game names.
...
John and Scott Shafer circa 1976
Scott Shafer Part of ESPN Radio's Celebrity Week (PS; Mink)
Syracuse football coach Scott Shafer will own the mic for 90 minutes Monday as he kicks off ESPN radio's celebrity week on 97.7 and 100.1 FM.
Shafer will be on-air from noon-1:30 p.m. on Monday and will take questions from callers. Galaxy Communications also said in a release that Shafer "will bring some special guests to join him during his stint."
...
Sean Keeley (TNIAAM) Brings Back Cuse Tix for Kids for SU Football Season Tickets (PS; Bailey)
After a wildly successful initial campaign last season that sent approximately 700 Houston-area youths to the Texas Bowl, Syracuse blogger Sean Keeley is back on the fundraising trail.
Keeley, an SU graduate who runs the blog Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician, is looking to raise $3,160 over the next 30 days — enough for 20 Syracuse football season tickets and 120 concession vouchers. Donate to Keeley's cause at his gofundme.com page.
"After we were able to raise all that money and send all those kids to the game, at that point I definitely knew I wanted to do it again," Keeley said in a phone interview Wednesday. "I kind of applied the learnings that I had from doing that. It went well, but it could've gone better.
Last year, the total donations finished at $44,444, enough for 1,450 Texas Bowl tickets. Unfortunately, the bowl and local organizations were unable to give out more than half. Lack of transportation was a key issue, as was a tight timeline.
...
Former Players
Dwight Freeney Ready to Prove He's Back with San Diego Chargers (PS; AP)
Now 34 and entering his 13th NFL season, Dwight Freeney is looking forward to proving himself all over again.
Freeney is rehabbing a quadriceps injury that shelved the outside linebacker after just four games last season, his first with the San Diego Chargers.
Although he was mostly working on the side during the first day of mandatory minicamp Tuesday, Freeney said he's far enough along that could play right now.
He did get in for a few plays here and there during the team portion of practice, which is being conducted in helmets, shorts and jerseys.
"We're taking baby steps here," Freeney said. "We're not playing yet, so for now it's just making sure I have confidence in what I'm doing. They put me in when they want to put me in. I'm fine with that. I'm an older guy here in year 13 so I'm not complaining."
...
Syracusefan.com News
#Hardnosed: OE and SS
OE's Exceptional Family with SS (Less His Remarkable Wife Dianne)
After 90 Days in Crouse Hospital, Orangeyes Faces Major Surgery on Friday (PS; Waters)
(Great story Mike, props also to cto for starting the SU to OE visits, and to all the members of the board for their visits and kindness; there are too many to mention individually)
Dan Johnson was chatting with family members, passing the time as he lay in a bed at Crouse Hospital, when the room fell silent.
"Their eyes went wide and their jaws just dropped,'' Johnson said.
Johnson looked toward the door and there stood a beaming Mike Hopkins. The Syracuse University assistant basketball coach had heard that Johnson, formerly a mainstay at the team's practices at the Carrier Dome, had been hospitalized for an extended period of time. Johnson had stopped going to as many practices when the Carmelo K. Anthony Center opened.
"Where you been,'' Hopkins asked Johnson. "I want you to come back to practice.''
Johnson still couldn't believe it was Hopkins standing there.
"I just started crying,'' Johnson said. "I was so humbled that he would come up and see me.''
...
Conceptual Design for SU Football's IPF Plaza Leaked on Syracusefan.com (PS; Carlson)
The Syracuse athletic department has been tight-lipped about its planned indoor practice facility, but renderings of three statues that could sit outside the IPF appear to have been released on the website Syracusefan.com.
The renderings were released by a message board poster identifying himself as Jason Poles. Poles said that a planned "44 Plaza" will include bronze statues of running backs Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Ernie Davis.
Poles, a former player at Syracuse, now works as an assistant athletic director for major gifts.
...
Recruiting
Brandon Ginetti (DE) Becomes 3rd Connecticut Player to Verbal to Syracuse (PS; Bailey)
After taking an unofficial visit to Syracuse on Tuesday, Hamden (Conn.) Hall Country Day School defensive end Brandon Ginnetti verbally committed to Syracuse on Wednesday.
Ginnetti, who is currently unranked by major scouting services, becomes the 13th member in Syracuse's Class of 2015, and second defensive end joining Hallendale (Fla.) High School's Dana Levine.
"When I looked at the school, I just saw myself there and they gave me the offer of a lifetime," Ginnetti said. "So I'm not going to not take it."
...
Hamden Hall Coach Joe Linta Breaks Down Newest SU Football Verbal Brandon Ginnetti (PS; Bailey)
Each of the last two summers, Hamden Hall (Conn.) Country Day School football coach Joe Linta has received defensive end/tight end Brandon Ginnetti in baseball condition.
A star pitcher for Hamden Hall, Ginnetti also pitched for the United State Under-16 team at one point. And as of three or four months ago, he was still not fully certain which sport to pursue at the collegiate level.
But on Wednesday, Ginnetti closed the door to his baseball future and verbally committed to SU as a defensive end. He made it clear there would be no listening to other offers, football or baseball.
"He'll be dangerously good now that he starts training specifically for football," Linta said.
...
With Andrejas Duerig Commitment, Syracuse Football Moves into Top 30 in Recruiting Rankings (PS; Mink)
Though they are an imperfect measurement, recruiting rankings always make for good banter between rival college football fan bases.
In recent years, Syracuse has mostly mired in the bottom half of the rankings but saw an uptick just a few months ago when it finished 50th in the nation, according to 247Sports, which uses a composite ranking that pulls from all the major recruiting services.
Syracuse received its 12th verbal commitment Tuesday when Chicago offensive lineman Andrejas Duerig visited campus. To put that in perspective, Syracuse had four verbal commitments in its 2014 class at this time last year.
Duerig's commitment pushed Syracuse into the top 30 of the 247Sports' recruiting rankings (28th) and to No. 6 in the ACC.
How close is Syracuse to possibly moving into the top 25?
...
SU News
Could Syracuse Play in the Bitcoin Bowl? Internet Currency Sponsors ACC-Affiliated Bowl Game (PS; Axe)
There have been a lot of interesting names for bowl games over the years in college football.
Remember the Cigar Bowl? The Raisin Bowl?
Syracuse's 35-18 defeat at the hands of Maryland in the Cherry Bowl?
Then there were names like the Refrigerator Bowl, the Salad Bowl (really) and my personal favorite, the Poulan Weed-Eater Independence Bowl.
Now we can add the Bitcoin Bowl to the list of eyebrow-raising bowl game names.
...
John and Scott Shafer circa 1976
Scott Shafer Part of ESPN Radio's Celebrity Week (PS; Mink)
Syracuse football coach Scott Shafer will own the mic for 90 minutes Monday as he kicks off ESPN radio's celebrity week on 97.7 and 100.1 FM.
Shafer will be on-air from noon-1:30 p.m. on Monday and will take questions from callers. Galaxy Communications also said in a release that Shafer "will bring some special guests to join him during his stint."
...
Sean Keeley (TNIAAM) Brings Back Cuse Tix for Kids for SU Football Season Tickets (PS; Bailey)
After a wildly successful initial campaign last season that sent approximately 700 Houston-area youths to the Texas Bowl, Syracuse blogger Sean Keeley is back on the fundraising trail.
Keeley, an SU graduate who runs the blog Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician, is looking to raise $3,160 over the next 30 days — enough for 20 Syracuse football season tickets and 120 concession vouchers. Donate to Keeley's cause at his gofundme.com page.
"After we were able to raise all that money and send all those kids to the game, at that point I definitely knew I wanted to do it again," Keeley said in a phone interview Wednesday. "I kind of applied the learnings that I had from doing that. It went well, but it could've gone better.
Last year, the total donations finished at $44,444, enough for 1,450 Texas Bowl tickets. Unfortunately, the bowl and local organizations were unable to give out more than half. Lack of transportation was a key issue, as was a tight timeline.
...
Former Players
Dwight Freeney Ready to Prove He's Back with San Diego Chargers (PS; AP)
Now 34 and entering his 13th NFL season, Dwight Freeney is looking forward to proving himself all over again.
Freeney is rehabbing a quadriceps injury that shelved the outside linebacker after just four games last season, his first with the San Diego Chargers.
Although he was mostly working on the side during the first day of mandatory minicamp Tuesday, Freeney said he's far enough along that could play right now.
He did get in for a few plays here and there during the team portion of practice, which is being conducted in helmets, shorts and jerseys.
"We're taking baby steps here," Freeney said. "We're not playing yet, so for now it's just making sure I have confidence in what I'm doing. They put me in when they want to put me in. I'm fine with that. I'm an older guy here in year 13 so I'm not complaining."
...