There is no discussion about what the SU uniform should look like- and I'm sure Doug Marrone would agree with me.  There really is only one way to go with this years uniform...back to the classic 80's and 90's version.  At the time we had one of the most recognizable uniforms in college football.  Darryl Gross should be ashamed of himself.  However, with Doug's permission, I would recommend one small improvement...

Ed. Note: Fabulous work here by FMV, had to feature it.  Discuss!

Just started thinking the other day about what an All-Syracuse Lacrosse Team of the '00's might look like.  I didn't take into account anything that took place before the year 2000 or after a player's career was over (such as MLL draft status).  Using the stats from SUAthletics.com and my own (sometimes fuzzy) memory- this is what I came up with:

Honorable Mention

John Galloway, Goalie (2008-09): 

Two NCAA championships in two seasons is hard to beat.  Galloway also holds the record for most wins in a season (16 in 2008) and is considered to be the best clearing goalie in college lacrosse today.  His career goals against average of 7.70 is currently the best in school history.  However, this is likely a product of SU's renewed commitment to defense and an overall decline in scoring in the college game as his save percentage is only .551.

Joe Ceglia, Scott Ditzell, Kyle Guadagnolo, John Lade, Defense:

All were honorable mention All-Americans and own a championship ring.

 

Matt Caione, Midfield (2000):

Second team All-American on the 2000 National Championship team.  Caione scored 21 goals and added 9 assists during his senior season.

Steve Vallone, Midfield (2001-04):

Four final 4's and two National Championships to go along with second team All-America honors in 2004.  Started 29 games and recorded 55 goals and 17 assists during his career.

Chris Bickel, Faceoff Specialist (2000-03):

Won 55.1% of the faceoffs he took over his career and was the first choice for the Orange at the faceoff X for two years including the 2002 championship season.

Steven Keogh, Attack (2008-09):

Scoring machine poured in 20 goals as a freshman and added 49 more this year.  Two National Championships in two years along with honorable mention All-American status in '09.  Shoots nearly 50% which is a plus since he avoids passing the ball at all costs (8 career assists).

Liam Banks, Attack (2000-01,2003):

Scored 149 points (71g,78a) in three seasons with the Orange.  Named most oustanding player during the 2000 NCAA tournament but missed the '02 championship season due to injury.  Honorable mention All-American in 2000 and 2001.

Continue reading this post »

Video footage of Sean's interview with new Syracuse head football coach Doug Marrone has just been made available.  A few questions that didn't make the cut on the website were included.  No word from SU Athletics on whether or not Coach Marrone will be available for a follow up interview.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Columnist Bud Poliquin had a chance to sit down with Greg Robinson and get his thoughts on his tenure as head football coach at Syracuse University.  True to form, Greggers didn't actually need to be asked a question before he started his quote machine.  When reached at his office, current head coach Doug Marrone had nothing to say citing his policy of not commenting on people who are no longer associated with the program. 

As winner of the TNIAAM Bracket Challenge, user FireMikeVeley now has the floor...

Today just happens to be my birthday.  I'm a man. I'm 33.  So this is shaping up to be one of my best birthdays yet.  Well, not as good April 7th, 2003...but certainly in the top 30.

The first thing I did after hearing the news that I won the TNIAAM bracket challenge was to jump up on my desk at work and yell "Fuck yeah!!",  Devo style.  Then I told my boss where to stick it and stormed out of work knowing that I had a large winner's check waiting for me at home.  I mean, 211 entries...that has to be worth at least two grand- right??  Wrong.  I win the great TNIAAM bracket challenge and I get a homework assignment.

So it's back to work for me tomorrow where I will sit in close proximity to a coworker who sounds like she just swallowed a bag of thumbtacks and looks alot like this.  Seriously, I would rather listen to Mike Veley do play by play of the 'Cuse vs. UConn 6OT game than listen to this woman.  And get off my case students- I never took one of PROFFESOR Veley's classes and I don't care how good of a teacher he is.  I've had about as many shoves from aboves, deuces for 'cuses and dandies from Andies that I can take.

Since Sean shot down my idea to post 1000 F-words, I think I will just move on and let you return to your regularly scheduled programing.  Nobody visits the interwebs to read my opinion anyway.

To put an end to all of the rumors...I plan on returning next year to defend my crown.  As of right now.

Seth says Devo shouldn't be playing.  Hopefully this doesn't lead to a slew of similar stories leading up to the SU vs. Memphis game this Sunday.  With this article and  last night's loss this could end up being a very bad week for SU basketball.  I'm not sure I agree with Jimmy on this one eitther, but this is the kind of article that never seems to written about Jim Calhoun.  Maybe if the Orange were playing Stony Brook people wouldn't notice.

Just a few random observations from my third level seat at the Dome:

• Ouch.  This one really hurts.  I know Cleveland St. is a good team and will probably make the tournament.  I know SU is in much better shape tournament-wise this year.  And I know pretty much everybody would have been ecstatic if told the Orange would have a 9-1 record at this point in the season.  But this is the kind of loss that has been killing them in recent years (i.e. Wichita St., UMass, Bucknell).  And if Devo misses significant time it may really come back to haunt them.
• Counted at least five "Free Devo" t-shirts in the stands tonight.  Eric got another big ovation during pre-game introductions.
• Paul Harris was all over the place tonight.  He seemed to get a hand on the ball at least once during every Cleveland St. possession.  Also looks like he has significantly improved his ball handling this year.
• G-Mac and D-Nic scored the treasured courtside seats next to the good doctor and his BFF Coach Q.
• No Doug Marrone sighting tonight.  Don't know if he is on the road recruiting or Gross is waiting for a full house to roll him out.  I vividly recall G-Rob grabbing the mic at halftime of a basketball game right after his hiring.  That all worked out pretty well.
• Brilliant move by Dr. Gross to peddle student section tickets for $10 more than regular seats.  That left the student section virtually empty while people sat in the upper reaches of the third level.
• Cleveland St. can play some serious defense.  Syracuse never quite figured out how to handle the double team they threw at the ball handler whenever they could.
• Ouch.
• The Orange are really gonna miss Eric Devendorf if he ends up being suspended for any length of time.  He was the only player willing to step up and take the big shot tonight (other than Jonny Flynn's three at the end) and, more often than not, he made it.
• Andy Rautins needs to start earning his reputation as a shooter.  I don't care that he went 0-3 from three point range but missing those foul shots down the stretch is unacceptable.  For the record he is now shooting 69% from the foul line and 32% from three-point range.
• On a positive note, Kristof showed some spark tonight.  Not sure I would have stuck with him for as long as Jimmy did in the second half but it was nice to see him sprawling all over the Carrier Dome floor once again.
• I am always amazed at the amount of Syracuse fans that leave these games early.  You have the group that leaves at the under 8-minute timeout no matter what.  Then you have the group that leaves if the Orange are up more than 10 points.  Then you have the completely fucking insane group that leaves with less than a minute left in a 5 point game. 

Just a few random observations from my 3rd level seat:

• Eric Devedorf got by far his biggest ovation of the year during the introduction of the starting lineups.  Didn't make me feel real proud to be part of that crowd- just my opinion.
• Devo obviously wanted the ball today.  He was driving harder than he has all year and was looking for his outside shot more.  Trouble was, he was missing.
• Andy Rautins can pass the ball.  He just needs to get over trying to make every pass highlight reel worthy.
• Worst shooting Otto I have seen yet.  He must have gone 0-20 at halftime.
• Wes Johnson is a twig.  I don't see anyway he can put up the kind of rebounding numbers in the Big East that he did in the Big 12.
• No attendance announced at today's game.  Looked like a crowd of about 16,000 to me but it seemed alot smaller.  No students and a shitty opponent makes for a pretty quiet game.
• Long Beach St. is God awful.  It looked like there game plan was to make Syracuse use the shot clock by employing a token 3/4 court press and playing physical inside.  Seems like an ok strategy since they can't score.  But they turn the ball over way too much to play that style and it lead to a ton of easy baskets for Syracuse.  If the Orange had shot better from the line and three-point range this could have gotten real ugly.
• Sean Williams got a few token minutes.  He didn't score and managed one rebound.  I know he is only a sophomore, but this guy seems like a waste of a scholarship to me.  I don't see him contributing any meaningful minutes over the next few years.