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Boo! Syracuse Looks Scary Again. 10.31.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK  
Looks like we know what Orange Nation would rather do than watch Syracuse lose another Big East game.Anything. A mini-Snickers bar-sized Halloween crowd of 33,000 showed up to watch this afternoon's tricking and treating, the 28-7 loss to Cincinnati. Just imagine what the Dome would've looked like tomorrow, when everyone is hung over and sick from bobbing for apples in Long Island Iced Tea and throwing down enough Kit Kat bars to fill up an overweight Derrick Coleman. Despite the two stomach-punch turnovers in the red zone (Paulus' interception and Delone Carter's fumble) this team still feels different from the Groobers teams. Call it naivete (or just a haunting disgust with the last SU head coach), but despite the fifth loss of the season this 'Cuse team appears better coached, better motivated, better prepared. The Bearcats are a Top-10 team in the country (that just seems odd to write first-person). Marrone's Marauders gave up a fluky touchdown on the botched FG attempt and turned the ball over twice in would-be scoring spots. The Orange actually were not far off from making this a game for sixty minutes. Of course, the weekly goal of just making it a game sounds pretty pathetic. Alas, 'tis the state of the Orange these days. Isn't it Louisville week yet? * * * Fresh FizzCast: The Mike Williams mystery, whether there's more positive than negative in the Akron win and should Orange Nation worry about the celebrity of Brandon Knight and Tobias Harris?
From Chubby Syracuse Sportscaster to...10.30.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
To: Orange Nation From: Orange Fizz Just like to say thanks for a historic week here at orangefizz.net. Our interview with highly-touted recruit Trevor Cooney more than doubled our previous one-day record for hits in the 15-month history of The Fizz. We also set our two-day and three-day highs as well. Hopefully, you enjoyed the site, listened to the FizzCast, subscribed to it on iTunes, joined our Facebook page, followed us on Twitter and then purposefully downloaded a trojan virus to destroy your computer and avoid any more Orange Fizz daily updates. If you're looking for any last-minute costume ideas, why not try a rather chubby, adolescent-looking Syracuse sportscaster from the late-80s who went on to do some other low-level stuff. Oh and please call from your landlines to vote for if you'd rather see the Jets or the Bills game this weekend. Standard rates do apply. Mike will be answering each phone call personally and tallying the votes himself. Let's all hope Marrone's Marauders figure out a way to unmask the Bearcats this Halloween and reveal them as just another mediocre Big East football program with a few jumbo-sized Three Musketeers. * * * Fresh FizzCast: The Mike Williams mystery, whether there's more positive than negative in the Akron win and should Orange Nation worry about the celebrity of Brandon Knight and Tobias Harris?
How Mike Could Be Marv.10.29.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK  
Looks like Mike Williams will be back against Cincinnati this weekend after his suspension by Doug Marrone.And the 'Cuse sure could use him; on the field and off. He leads the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns. He immediately makes the offensive more explosive downfield, prevents the Bearcats from simply stacking the box with every safety and linebacker on the roster and gives Mr. Paulus/Nassib Quarterback Combo an every down security blanket. But beyond his stats, Williams gives Doug Marrone even more: A name on draft day. As ESPN and NFL Network expand their broadcast to reach three days and nights of draft coverage (all of the important picks in primetime), there are more chances than ever to reach recruits and brand SU football. Kevin Johnson was a solid NFL contributer. David Tyree had the greatest catch in Super Bowl history. But Williams could be the best wideout on The Hill since future Hall-of-Famer Marvin Harrison. Remember, while Syracuse has an incredible runningback tradition, the receiver lineage was much more tangible in the 80s and 90s. Jim Brown and Floyd Little, Ernie Davis, Larry Csonka and Jim Nance were your dad's stuff. Art Monk and Rob Moore and Marvin Harrison were your older brother's icons. Williams is top-10 nationally in average yards and receptions per game. He has a big frame, good hands and explosive speed. NFL scouts think he has next-level talent. Seeing a Syracuse name float across the ticker while the man under Mel Kiper Jr.'s hair helmet brags about his "upside" and pro-day at the Carrier Dome is invaluable to a program looking to gain traction. Now he needs to stay on the field. Won't help in April if he's in the doghouse in October. * * * Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard?
Ghosts of Defense Past.10.28.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK  
Friday, The Fizz brought you inside the worries of the Maize-and-Blue. Which ironically, used to be the worries of the Orange-and-Blue. Groobers has once again fallen into that pesky pattern of coaching like Groobers. The Michigan pass defense has been shaky all season, rendering the Wolverines another disappointing season in the Big 10. However, for any college football fan who wasn't paying close enough attention, Penn State hung the neon lights outside Groobers' coaching office. The Nittany Lions racked up nearly 400 yards of offense at the Big House in a 35-10 win on Saturday, including a four-touchdown, zero-interception game for Darryl Clark. PSU averaged almost six yards per play and tallied over 160 yards on the ground. The natives? Restless. From the Bleacher Report: "I thought the biggest problem was on defense. The game plan and execution were just terrible. Even Daryl Clark, Penn State's QB thought the Michigan defense looked confused and had trouble lining up. This is on Greg Robinson. I know Michigan has young players and depth issues on defense, but they looked like Spring Ball instead of mid season. I still don't understand why the Michigan CB's play so far off the line of scrimmage." While the obvious atrocity of a Groobers defense isn't all that surprising (Spring Ball in October? Yep, we know all about that), Coach P's defensive meltdown on Sunday was. The Dolphins held a 24-3 lead over the Saints at home and ended up getting shredded through the final three quarters to win 46-34. New Orleans attack went on a staggering 43-10 run in the final thirty minutes of football. While Fins Fans might be pointing to a head-scratching decision by Tony Sparano, the blame falls on Coach P's unit. "Miami's meltdown went far beyond one bad decision. Tackling and pass coverage, two recurring problems, were an issue for the defense in the second half. Sparano was less forgiving of the way the Dolphins played in the fourth quarter, when they were outscored 22-0 and gave up 188 yards." The Syracuse defense has also had its share of struggles (to put it mildly) this season. But it looks like it wouldn't have been much better with either of the previous Carrier Dome ghosts of defense past. * * * Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard?
Fizz First: Oh Snap!10.28.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
Orange Nation is fully aware the center position has been iffy all season. The indelible image of the year came in the opener, when Jim McKenzie's first toss back to Greg Paulus went over the quarterback's head. Then McKenzie got injured, and Ryan Bartholomew had to step in. Saturday's performance made you crave skyward shotgun snaps. D-Dub even has a feature today on how coach Marrone is schooling Bartholemew one-on-one. (Editor's Note: Thanks to our friend Mike Waters, who mentioned The Fizz's exclusive with Trevor Cooney in his blog yesterday. Mike's always been one of the true good guys around the CNY sports scene.) And with McKenzie still not practicing, and just two backups for the position, it's time to wonder what lies ahead in the not-so-distant future of 2010. There are a couple of options on the horizon, with one signed, and one still out there. It's hard to imagine that Coach Mac can still save the day at his advanced age, but it could end up being true. His grandson, Macky MacPherson, was signed to the Orange this past year. What many may have believed as a homer pick because of a general lack of interest from other teams, and his local schooling at CBA, may end up being important down the road. He blocked for Fajri Jackson, one of the league's best runners this year, and has been seen as a guy with potential longsnapping ability. Coming down the mountain, Chase Lafferty's a two-star center from Fayetteville High School in West Virginia. No offer from Syracuse yet, but his body has the potential- 6'3", 280 pounds. Syracuse is also the only non-Appalachian school recruiting him. So if the kid wants to leave the middle of nowhere, then the Orange might be his "anywhere but here" moment. * * * Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard?
Fizz First: Exclusive with Trevor Cooney.10.27.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
Last week here at The Fizz we introduced you to Trevor Cooney, a hot target for the SU coaching staff. Cooney attended Early Evening Madness last week on the Hill and is a junior at the Sanford School in Delaware. Trevor has offers from most of the basketball powers on the East Coast; Syracuse, Villanova, Notre Dame, Maryland, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Georgetown, Rutgers, Cincinnati, and Duke. Trevor and his coach at Sanford, Stan Waterman talked to The Fizz to break down Trevor's game and where he's at in the recruiting process. (Side note: Waterman was a point guard for the University of Delaware and is the long time coach at Sanford.) Waterman describes Cooney as "complete player" who not only succeeds on the court, but academically as well. As for Trevor, he says he's just taking his time to make his decision and that his visits are probably done for this year, but there's still a lot that he liked about Syracuse. Exciting news for Orange Nation, Cooney ranks Syracuse very high. He's not officially placing schools in any order, but how about this: "If I was to have a list, maybe (Syracuse) would be at the top of the list, but as of right now I really don't have a list." On the 'Melo Center: "It's definitely one of the top (facilities) that I've seen. It has everything... very impressive." Also sounds like Trevor came away impressed with Midnight Madness: "Midnight Madness was not what I expected it to be. It was a lot more people there. It was definitely a great experience up there. It was like a game." On his relationship with the SU coaching staff: "I talk to the coaches as much as I can. I like to get in contact with them and try to build a relationship with them. And Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins has been the point man for Trevor in the whole process: "I've built a good relationship with Hop, so we've become pretty close over the last year or so." Practice starts on Friday the 13th of November for Sanford, and Waterman says he's looking for Cooney to become a more vocal leader on the court this season. Listen to the FizzCast below for the entire interview with Trevor Cooney and his coach Stan Waterman. * * * Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard?
Fizz First: Rejoice, Hoops Returns. Kinda.10.26.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
Photo credit: Syracuse.com/ Syracuse Post-StandardDisappointed by a 14 point win over Akron? It's cool, that's what basketball season is for! The idea that one can judge a team by it's performance in an exhibition game is silly to say the least. But there was some pretty cool stuff going on Sunday at the Carrier Dome. The class of 2013 shined, James Southerland (pictured) specifically looked great, and Scoop Jardine proved that not ordering philly cheese steaks is a good idea. Fifteen pounds lighter, the sophomore looked quick. He anticipated the action plays ahead, and ended up with a double-double because of it. The most interesting subplot of this season will be the Triche and Jardine duo. Both have said they don't care who starts, but both bring different things to the table. Jardine is the quicker, sneakier point guard who excels in transition. Triche is the bigger guy who can play over the top of the defense, shoot, and keep the turnovers down. It makes for a good dynamic and will keep them both fresh, but is most certainly a departure from the last few years, when the team's point guard was guaranteed 35-plus minutes a night. As for Southerland, it took him a while to get on campus (damn you SATs!) but he looks comfortable in a spot that's filled with experienced guys. And from beyond the arc: 5-5. Even Gerry McNamara looked impressed from the bench. Two incoming recruits look ready to contribute, and a team might be ready to do just a little more than replace three starters. So when you're gritting your teeth on Saturday during the Cincinnati game, just think of the hurting this team will put on LeMoyne the following Tuesday. It might make you feel better. Maybe. * * * Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard?
Catching Up with the Disaster Man.10.23.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK
Unlike the fawning farewells from a certain newspaper to Groobers and his wife and his philanthropy and his church and his adoption of Tanzanian refugees saved from homeland persecution (last part lifted from Brangelina's Tuesday to-do list), we at The Fizz are not gonna sugar coat this for you. Greg Robinson sucked. And now he sucks at a new school. For anyone watching the most recent installment of Wolverine Hysteria, Rich Rodriguez is once again walking the public plank. Back-to-back losses in the Big 10. A defeat at the hands of in-state rival Michigan State (which is completely unacceptable in Ann Arbor). Needing a last-second comeback to defeat miserable Indiana. It's a good thing UM had those directional Michigan schools and Delaware State on the slate. Outside of those stompings, the Maize-and-Blue is just 2-2. RichRod is garnering most of the heat, but its Groobers defense (and specifically the passing defense) which deserves much of the blame. Quite simply, Groobers can't stop anybody. (We've written this sentence a few times at The Fizz.) Out of 120 teams in D-1, Michigan ranks 80th (and that INCLUDES easy wins against Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Delaware State). Against teams with winning records, they're giving up and astounding 277 yards/game through the air. The UM pass defense allowed 336 yards and three touchdowns from Jimmy Clausen in their worst game of the season. They've given up 34 points to Notre Dame. 33 points to Indiana, 30 to Iowa and couldn't get a final stop when they needed it against an unranked Michigan State team in a 26-20 loss. Tomorrow, they host #13 Penn State with dangerous passing combo Daryll Clark to Derek Moye. To be fair, Syracuse's pass defense is even more atrocious, ranking near the bottom of the BCS division (and well-documented here at The Fizz). But the talent at Michigan dwarfs what Doug Marrone inherited and Lloyd Carr left a long tradition of stout defense. Good to see some things never change. And he's someone else's problem now. * * * Fresh FizzCast: The new (and shlockey) Midnight Madness on the Hill, the fear in losing to Akron again and SU's hoops media day. Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard?
Fizz First Speaks with Trevor Cooney's Coach.10.22.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK
The Fizz has been tracking the hoops class of 2010 and some Orange targets. Let's go one year deeper and take a look at the class of 2011. We go down the eastern seaboard to the state of Delaware. (If you're an avid Fizzster you'll remember that's where the very talented Elena Delle Donne is from.) The Sanford School is home to sharpshooter Trevor Cooney, a 6'3", 185 lb. shooting guard who Scout ranks as a five-star talent, who's being recruited by most of the Big East and ACC powers, including Syracuse and Duke. The Fizz mentioned earlier that Cooney was on campus for Midnight... er, 8 p.m. Madness, and The Fizz spoke to his high school coach, Stan Waterman, who shared some of what Coooney took away from his visit: "(H)e came away very impressed with Syracuse University. I knew that they were very high on his list anyway, but he had a great time watching practice and being apart of the atmosphere there." Now Cooney's just a junior, so naturally he's keeping his options open. Waterman says he's got a ton of interested schools: "Trevor's recruitment has been steady. He has received scholarship offers from many programs and is seriously considering, Syracuse, Villanova, Notre Dame, Maryland, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Georgetown, Rutgers, Cincinnati, and Duke." Cooney was also in the house for the SU-Notre Dame game earlier in the year and attended Syracuse's Elite Camp in the summer of 2008. ESPN says, "Cooney's shooting ability is what draws your attention to this rising junior. He has consistently shown himself to be one of the top marksmen in the 2011 Class. He shoots it with ultimate confidence with the ability to get on an impressive roll. His deep range automatically stretches the defense opening up driving lanes for his teammates. Cooney does a great job of working off of the ball; he does a good job of setting up his defender and then utilizing and reading screens; he understands how to use spacing for catch and shoot opportunities." Sounds like a guy with a very high basketball IQ (and looks like Hopkins' son. Wow. Was that pic taken at JC Penny?). Staying low getting into your shot, moving well when he doesn't have the ball in his hands, and giving opportunities to his teammates. Now while team basketball isn't always the prime emphasis of the Boeheim system (Donte Greene, hello!), a guy who plays like this will always be a favorite of almost any coach. Stay tuned to The Fizz as we stay in touch with Trevor's action on the recruiting trail. * * * Fresh FizzCast: The new (and shlockey) Midnight Madness on the Hill, the fear in losing to Akron again and SU's hoops media day. Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard?
The Secondary is a Primary Disaster.10.21.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
'Tis the midpoint of the season and The Fizz has made made its position clear; the secondary is the biggest trouble spot on the team.It's not like we got there through any quadratic formulas or analysis. Didn't need to. The stats say it clearly - the team is 118th in defensive passing yards out of 120 teams. That's Groobers-esque. And long passes keep happening; it's just scary. There is, however, always a reason for hope, and the play of commit Mario Tull this season is a shining light. The senior safety is having a solid all-around season for Xaverian High School (Brooklyn) before he steps on The Hill. On the defensive side of the ball, he's been everywhere; 23 total tackles, 1 interception, and 2 sacks through six games this year. Xaverian hasn't followed his lead with a 3-3 record, but still, the two-star recruit should be a boost to the secondary of the Orange. The biggest question will be if he remains in the secondary when he gets to SU. He is listed at 6'1", 201 pounds; if the Orange still sees itself thin at linebacker, he could be moved there. Team Fizz will be assessing both areas of weakness this weekend - both Couzens and I will be at the Akron game. Look for tweets from us all weekend. UPDATE The Calipari conspiracy has been foiled, apparently by Coach K. Kyrie Irving, the potential duo partner for Tobias Harris at Kentucky, seems to be headed to Duke, according to ZagsBlog. Dear Tobias, just read Couzens' post from Tuesday; you could team up with Josh Selby, or (crazy stretch) Brandon Knight. See ya on the Hill! Sincerely, The Fizz. * * * Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard?
The Fab Six.10.20.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
While The Fizz took a look yesterday at one big time name who was at UK Midnight Madness, today we look at another baller who was at KU Midnight Madness. Josh Selby is a five-star point guard rated third at his position and is a free agent in the class of 2010. Selby took in the sights and sounds of Allen Fieldhouse for Late Night at the Phog, but really, what's impressive about cornfields and log-rolling competitions? (Editor's Note: You mean besides one of the best on-campus venues in college basketball, a program soaked in tradition and NBA players, a perennial Final Four contender, a top-flight coach and a team just two years removed from a National Championship? Eh, nothing.) His possible road to the 'Cuse was not always so promising. It was July when he decommitted from Tennessee to start re-evaluating his collegiate choices. While Selby's mom says it was because he wanted to broaden his opportunities and look at more schools, apparently some say it had to do with sneakers. UT is an Adidas school, and the word around Rocky Top blogging circles was that Selby felt like attending a Nike sponsored school would give him a better chance of landing a kicks deal when he made it to the league. Ridiculous? Absolutely. But is SU a Nike school? Yes. So we continue... Selby's an interesting case because he comes from the Baltimore area and used to play at prep powerhouse DeMatha Catholic. He transferred to Lake Clifton high where he plays now. His AAU team? Team Melo. On top of that, his high school coach is Herman Harried. Yep, the former SU basketball player from the mid 1980s. That's got to have a swing effect on Selby. Here at The Fizz, we've discussed the effects of bringing in Tobias Harris or Brandon Knight to solidify a sort of "Fab Five" for the class of 2010, but Selby's flown a little off that radar. Well here he is: And while the Orange may not need a true point guard with Triche/Jardine this year, it can't hurt to have backups. * * * Fresh FizzCast: The new (and shlockey) Midnight Madness on the Hill, the fear in losing to Akron again and SU's hoops media day.
Why Midnight Madness Scared Me.10.20.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard? * * *  
Like many Syracuse alumni, I no longer populate the great CNY.In fact, that was one of the most influential reasons in developing The Fizz 18 months ago. To help reconnect with my beloved Orange and provide a portal for displaced SU fans to plug into what was happening athletically on The Hill. And what I saw from Midnight Madness scares me. Syracuse.com's short video montage was enough to shake me up. First, it's always a double-edged sword to invite aging legends back to campus. You remember their youth and stumble upon their very mortal present. So G-Mac showing up... draining threes... and looking a little too much like my banker or the guy from Weezer was disturbing. Secondly, did we really need the team to show up on motorcycles? Forgive me for going Cynical Sid on everyone, but does motor vehicles + indoors + exposed limbs of athletes = x seem like a winning equation? I just saw Brandon Triche's ACL flash before my eyes. Finally, an Otto stand-off, my legendary head coach dressed like a freaking Statie and John Wallace in a navy-blue/periwinkle "SU" skully (we are your Rhode Island Orange!) was enough for me. Wake me up in November. This Midnight Nightmare put me back into hibernation. * * * Fizz First: Tobias Gets the Calipari Treatment. 10.19.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard? * * * 
We mentioned in last week's FizzCast that Tobias Harris was headed to Kentucky this weekend for a visit with the Wildcats. While he was there, he attended John Calipari's version of midnight madness. The Blue Grass State doesn't do anything unique for the event (like an Ashley Judd strip-show), despite some Wildcat crazies spend as much as $175 for tickets to this jamboree (that's like three batches of Meth for most of the state!). No worries, then. Tobias just spent the weekend doing just that (minus paying for anything the entire weekend, we're sure) and going to a few practices. Here's the kicker: he wasn't alone. In a purely Caliparian coincidence, heavily recruited point guard Kyrie Irving was also in Lexington for a little tour. That led to Adam Zagoria, SNY's college basketball/recruiting blogger, to speculate on the idea of Irving and Harris playing together. Apparently, the two have spoken along the trail. Not cool. Tobias, didn't your mother ever tell you the bridge-jumping story? And with the allegations surrounding coach Calipari post-Memphis (and to go further back, post-UMass) that doesn't scare you? Luckily, it's a difficult puzzle to solve, including a text Harris sent Zagoria that should keep Orange fans off the edge of their own bridges. "We talked about that but both of us don't have a leader in this process and the only schools recruiting us both are Kentucky and Georgia Tech." Indeed, Irving is a point guard, and last anyone checked, Syracuse was still in for the big catch of the 2010 class - Brandon Knight. There could have been a better subplot to this story with the Orange's game with Memphis on January 6th. If Calipari was still there, it could have been the battle to end the battle. Bring Harris to the game, and let him see for himself, head to head. But now, the only thing left for the 'Cuse to worry about is the rest of the offers that Harris has. Which are a lot. * * * Greg Paulus is Struggling, Eh? 10.16.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK Fizz Nation Check List: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Subscribe for free to The FizzCast on iTunes. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant news, podcasts and blog posts. Now was that so hard? * * * 
Orange Nation could use a little pick me up after the last two football losses.Just when it seemed we could all agree the program was on the rise, Marrone was the perfect guy for the job and Sam Nappi was a wonderful human being and true philanthropist, the sky falls. No, we're not talking about the Balloon Kid falling from the sky. We're talking bad losses, worse tackling and a brewing quarterback debate. What happened to all the warm and Fizzy feelings? Well, fear not. Here's Canada to the rescue. Thanks to our friends over at Nunesmagician for linking us to this little slice of heaven. A small newspaper North of the Border decided to take in a game at the Carrier Dome. Hilarity ensued. Ah, Canada (or is that "Eh, Canada") - let us count the ways we love you. 1) "Within three hours driving distance of the Quinte area, there is a fine football venue just a little south of the border. The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. soon to be renamed the Ernie Davis Stadium has been a landmark high on the Onondagan Hills for almost thirty years." Ernie Davis Stadium? How did I miss this? This deserves another post/FizzCast which will land us in hot water with the athletic department! We hope this has prompted a phone call to the Trentonian (international rates apply) from the Sports Information Department. Not only did those blasted Canadiens wipe Carrier off the map, but they didn't even keep The Dome part! I don't like living in this alternate Canuck universe. 2) "Again this year, we made an early morning trip across the border to catch the action under the bubble roof. The Syracuse University Orangemen faced the University of South Florida Bulls in their fifth game of the season." 
Aw, they call it a bubble roof. It's like all of Central New York had a bubble-blowing contest and we filled up our indoor football field. Yay! I guess it's impossible to ask a newspaper that misidentifies the entire stadium to recognize the switch to "Orange" a few years ago. But these freaking Maple Leaf loons catch a game at the Dome every season! How have they missed this? It doesn't say Orangemen anywhere anymore. I'm pretty sure Dr. Doom officially eradicated the words "men" and "women" from Webster's and dictionary.com, too. How have they missed this for five straight years?3) "College football on the State Side is truly spectacular. There are more than one hundred members in the University marching band, called 'The Pride of the Orange', with plenty of brass and drums. Team mascot Otto the Orange leads the cheers. The stands are a sea of orange, as students and alumni assemble to support their boys." This is outstanding. These mounties think a Syracuse game is a truly spectacular show of college support? They did attend this game two weeks ago, right? This wasn't 1999? Holy crap. Imagine what would've happened if they went to the Horseshoe or the Red River Shootout. My God, could you imagine them at an SEC game? Their perfect, little snow-globe heads would've exploded upon seeing the team entrances. Get these Canadians season tickets immediately and let them write all types of love haikus about the incredible atmosphere of 25,000 fans in the Dome watching a three-win SU squad lose by four touchdowns every week. Yeah, I guess it still beats Argos-Blue Bombers. But not by much these days. I won't even attempt at fact-checking the "Syracuse Eight" part. It's probably littered with inaccuracies and weird Canadian translation losses. But it's even worse if they nailed it. It would pop my beautiful image of what these Northies are all about: driving six-hours every year to watch the spectacular Orangemen of Syracuse defeat all challengers at Ernie Davis Stadium. * * * Fizz First: Today's Issue is Next Year's Problem. 10.15.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK Fizz Nation: The ever-popular FizzCast is now on iTunes! Click here and subscribe for free. Every week as Team Fizz breaks down the Orange, it'll be immediately uploaded to your iTunes or iPod. Loving it! * * * 
Doug Marrone said immediately after the loss to West Virginia last week that Greg Paulus is still the starting quarterback for the Syracuse football team. "Do I think Ryan did a nice job? He did a good job of knowing the plan, but that comes a lot from Greg," Marrone said. "Greg does a lot of work and supports Ryan and does a lot." That's Marrone's response to Nassib's play in the second half of the West Virginia game. Does it reveal anything other than that Paulus and Nassib work well together? Not really. And as for why Paulus didn't go back in the game, it seemed he wasn't answering questions to Marrone's satisfaction. Fine, but consider the point this raises for the future - especially with two of the Orange's future quarterbacks. Fizz-sciples already know well about John Kinder and Jonny Miller, the two Orange QB's in the class of 2010. Then there's current freshman Charley Loeb behind Nassib on the depth chart too. Marrone has made it clear that he will start whoever is best for the team. If Nassib is not the best starter for this team now with good mobility, a bigger frame and a clearly stronger arm than Paulus, will he be next year when the competition is even greater behind him? I made the point in this week's Fizzcast that this bye week should serve as an open tryout for the QB job between Nassib and Paulus. After all, if Nassib was the starter during spring practice and Paulus is on the decline in the last two weeks, why not just try and see what things would be like if Nassib took first team snaps. Tyler Dunne of the Daily Orange wrote of Nassib "back to the bench he goes. A Stallion snap here, a Stallion snap there. Headset and clipboard, optional." But even if nothing changes this season, what will it take for Nassib to earn the starting job not only if the incumbent starter has two straight awful starts, or even when he leaves the program? Keep in mind, Nassib is not a Marrone recruit. Loeb, Kinder, and Miller are all Doug's boys. The Fizz broke down the battle between Kinder and Miller back in July and gave the edge to Kinder. He's got size, speed and arm strength to make him a potential star. Loeb is already an integral part of the offense working with Cam Dantley on the sidelines every game relaying plays into the huddle even though he probably won't see game time this season. But let's look back on his recruiting profile: "Loeb is purely a one-dimensional prospect that is not going to create or make many plays athletically." But Kinder? "He is a shotgun, dual-threat quarterback that is a nice fit for the scheme. He can be a very good runner with excellent initial burst and first step to elude the rush and create when things break down around him. He is a good read-option runner, shows nice vision and can be difficult to handle once he breaks into daylight." We may have a 2010 quarterback battle on our hands. And it doesn't stop there. It could go to tight end (Mike Owen), defensive tackle (Art Jones), cornerback (Nico Scott), running back (Delone Carter), linebacker (Derrell Smith) where all of those players are seniors who will have to either be replaced from within, or by recruits. And if you're a recruit, those situations have gotta be lighting your eyes up with passion. * * * And do your civic Orange duty and follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates on football news, podcasts and blog posts (plus random thoughts from Team Fizz). Fizz First: Mid-Major Offenses & Fresh FizzCast. 10.14.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK Fizz Nation: The ever-popular FizzCast is now on iTunes! Click here and subscribe for free. Every week as Team Fizz breaks down the Orange, it'll be immediately uploaded to your iTunes or iPod. Loving it! * * * 
Syracuse basketball is the perennial power in New York, and has been that way since St. John's plummeted to Earth fifteen years ago.But one school's efforts, just an hour down I-81 from Syracuse, to level the playing field may have gotten them into more trouble then what it was worth. Binghamton University recently booted six players from the team after a messy and tumultuous offseason. Remember SUNY-Bing's rise to the NCAA tournament last year? It was an anomaly, a team that went 14-16 in the 2007-2008 year. Then they won the America East conference the following season and were seen as a potential sleeper team before losing to Duke in the first round. They got there through controversial transfer students, like Malik Alvin and Tiki Mayben. Yes, you remember the great unibrowed Tiki, who could never quite make it on The Hill because of academics and other issues. And Alvin was no Wes Johnson transfer role model either; he was caught stealing Trojan Magnums from a Wal-Mart last year. A difficult situation became more controversial because the America East likes to publicly put academics ahead of athletics, and multiple coaches in the conference had rejected the way the Bearcats were assembled. Both players were released in the last week after Mayben had drug charges leveled against him. One other notable release was David Fine, the son of SU legendary assistant Bernie Fine.  (Editor's Note: And the school's decision on hiring assistant coaches two years ago wasn't the best PR move in retrospect. At least get some better lighting for these mug shots. Who wouldn't invite these two dudes into their living room for a recruiting chat? Smiles, guys!)Things got fishier as the athletic director resigned shortly after. And then came the backbreaker. Binghamton suspended its off campus recruiting program (that means no visits, people) after they told the NCAA coach Kevin Broadus was breaking the rules. Recruiting, by nature, is a business conducive to stretching the rules. Even Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim found his way into the spider's web in the early '90s; currently, the legendary Jim Calhoun is having his own NCAA problems. But the implications of the Binghamton scandal, might they be accurate, are sickening: coach and AD agree to build mega-transfer team to beat up on weak, academic-based conference and regain some glory in the New York hoops world after domination by the 'Cuse. The hoops future is dim down in Spiedie Land. * * * And do your civic Orange duty and follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates on football news, podcasts and blog posts (plus random thoughts from Team Fizz). The Mysterious Case of the Disappearing Fan. 10.13.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK Fizz Nation: The ever-popular FizzCast is now on iTunes! Click here and subscribe for free. Every week as Team Fizz breaks down the Orange, it'll be immediately uploaded to your iTunes or iPod. Loving it! * * * 
After listening to several hours of mind-numbing Syracuse sports radio for reasons unexplained, I have come upon a very difficult catch-22 for the SU football program.Putting asses in the seats in the Carrier Dome. It's a simple formula: if you don't win, they won't come. If you do, they will. But what about if you start to win, give away tickets for free, sell tickets at a discounted price, lose a couple games, and they still don't come? The announced attendances for the first five home games of the season: 48,614 40,251 35,632 40,147 40,144 Did that many people actually walk through the doors? Probably not. Did that many people have tickets? Yes. However no stadium anywhere actually uses the turnstile count, so it's impossible to know real attendance. It's obvious for anyone who has been to the Dome that attendance has been dropping, but it's a bit mysterious. The team certainly has been improving. It might not be huge leaps forward, but it would be hard to say any aspect of the team has gotten worse than it was under Groobers. This is where the fan base should be challenged. If you're a true fan then you're probably at the games regardless. Chances are, you're also older and you were here when the team was good and are not giving up. It's the younger generations, from the tail-end of the baby boomers to the college kids who are the fair weather, inconsistent fans. Only if the team wins will people show up. The SU fan base is too fickle. At many other successful major BCS programs, games are sold out regardless of record because fans just love their team. At Syracuse, it's not the case. Maybe that's why the Salt City only reached #90 on the Sporting News' seemingly arbitrary rankings of America's Best Sports Cities. Either way, it's a problem the team faces right now. Either keep winning, or expect a half full dome every Saturday no matter how many promotions you put on. And do your civic Orange duty and follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates on football news, podcasts and blog posts (plus random thoughts from Team Fizz). Fizz First: High Rollers. 10.12.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK Fizz Nation: The ever-popular FizzCast is now on iTunes! Click here and subscribe for free. Every week as Team Fizz breaks down the Orange, it'll be immediately uploaded to your iTunes or iPod. Loving it! * * * 
Earlier in the summer, The Fizz discussed Jim Boeheim's "play if your good enough" mentality - no matter your experience or class rank, if you're talented, you'll play right away.That potential at SU has led to highly-rated recruits choosing The Hill in 2010. Fab Melo, CJ Fair, Dion Waiters, and Baye Moussa Keita are all on board for next year. Checking in with Tobias Harris, he visited Tennessee this weekend, but didn't tweet nearly as much as he did during the Syracuse visit (as we chronicled two weeks ago here at The Fizz). He would be icing on a superb cake for The Per'fesser. But the big fish in '10 is still lurking out there. His name is Brandon Knight, and he's really, really good. How good? Well, there's "number-one in the class" good, there's "five-star good," and there's "really really ridiculously good looking." I can't say anything about the last part, but as for the good, watch and learn. This is where things get tricky. Of course the 'Cuse isn't the only school competing for the kid, but his offer sheet reads like Max Tucker's hit list: incomparable . UConn, Kansas, Kentucky, Florida, and Miami all have offers to this star point guard. Huge competition. But the Orange has something else it can offer, and that's young star power in his class at every other position. Looking for a quick championship, Brandon? Your freshman class could look like this: C Fab Melo: 5 stars F C.J. Fair: 3 stars F (if Hop can work magic) Tobias Harris: 5 stars SG Dion Waiters: 4 Stars PG Brandon Knight: 5 stars That's star power. That's a new Fab Five. That's enormous exposure in the premier basketball conference in the country. The future could be bright for the Orange, and it's just a couple signs away. And do your civic Orange duty and follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates on football news, podcasts and blog posts (plus random thoughts from Team Fizz). Fizz First: Back to Fizzness. 10.9.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK Fizz Nation: The ever-popular FizzCast is now on iTunes! Click here and subscribe for free. Every week as Team Fizz breaks down the Orange, it'll be immediately uploaded to your iTunes or iPod. Loving it! * * * 
It's time to hop back on the recruiting trail. The Fizz is unsure why senior running back Malik Burks from Baldwinsville doesn't seem to be getting a ton of attention. The kid is sick, to say the least. Fizzster Mike Couzens was at his game last night against Central Square, and what he saw was blinding speed. "The kid gets past the first level and it's over," said Couzens after Burks went for four scores on the night, one of those being an 80-yard touchdown run. His team won that game, by the way, 52-14. "He looks like a man among boys, to use the most cliche term possible for this situation." He's got more than 1,400 yards on the season... and that's after five games! He has 15 touchdowns. He breaks runs of 40+ on a regular basis. This kids credentials aren't the best of sorts; 5'9", 180 pounds. But that's reminiscent of Mike Hart, who was dynamic at Michigan and solid in the NFL. But he's not listed on any of the boards. We here at The Fizz know that we're no experts, but there should be some interest for a guy with those kind of stats and speed (especially by SU since he's in its backyard). And especially this week, the Orange should know about getting beaten by a speedster. Which gets us to our next point. West Virginia. The Mountaineers are a team the 'Cuse can beat this weekend, another squad with ball security issues. Not to mention, the Syracuse rushing defense has proven itself as one of the best in the league. From a field perspective, Derrell Smith looks like a leader for not only the linebacking corps, but the team. He's everywhere on run defense, and seems to take charge of a depleted unit. If the Orange is going to win, it is going to be done stopping Noel Devine. He makes their team go, simple as that. Should be a fun afternoon sprint on the Dome turf. * * * And do your civic Orange duty and follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates on football news, podcasts and blog posts (plus random thoughts from Team Fizz). Fizz First: Correction and Explanation. 10.8.09 Posted: Ted Conroy and D.A. PERMALINK Fizz Nation: The ever-popular FizzCast is now on iTunes! Click here and subscribe for free. Every week as Team Fizz breaks down the Orange, it'll be immediately uploaded to your iTunes or iPod. Loving it! * * * 
The Fizz takes its job seriously around these parts. (Not too seriously, mind you. We still dissect Jim Boehiem's tie-selection and grade Otto's barrel rolls.)However, a post by Mike Couzens from last week [10.2.09] caused consternation within the University's athletic walls. Our good friends at Nunesmagician may have briefed you on it already. We are here to explain. As Editor-in-Chief, I take my share of the responsibility for where we we fell short of acceptable journalism (if I didn't, my former professors at Newhouse would have me hunted down and sold to Iran). Writer Mike Couzens will also clarify his angle on the story. We heard from members within the sports information department, as well as Dr. Gross himself. The following is The Fizz's correction and explanation of the story. * * * Posted: Mike Couzens. The Fizz posed some questions, and as is our responsibility, we now must answer them. Here at The Fizz, we erred in presenting opinion as fact. Last Friday's post posed questions about the naming of the field but instead of posing them as opinions solely belonging to us, we posed them as facts. We apologize for those errors. I was at Dr. Gross' news conference on Monday and asked him questions about the specifics of Ernie Davis Legends Field "To give you some background, we were always trying to name the football field and that could go to a corporation or something like that. It could've been called you name the corporation field. And we had this wonderful family that just loved the movie The Express, loves the Ernie Davis story, loves what Ernie Davis stands for as far as diversity, and fighting through all the bad times that were going on back then and how he did it with such class and dignity." So the naming rights could have gone to X Corporation or Z Company but instead this family stepped forward, with an undisclosed donation amount. Enter Sam and Carol Nappi: "We had mutual friends and Sam (Nappi) and I met through all of that and got to have good conversations. He had a great idea and I told him about what we were trying to do and how it would be great to try and name something after Ernie, but Sam came with us with the idea of wanting to name it Ernie so it kind of just merged together perfectly." (Gross) on the size of the donation: "They're such humble people. I will just say that it was very generous, very generous and obviously we're appreciative and it was generous and they want to remain humble and if you get to talk to them one day maybe they'll share that with you." The Nappis and Carrier both commented in the University's press release. I attempted to contact both Nappi through his company and Carrier for further comment, but have not heard back yet from either one. Another media member asked (Gross) if the school had looked into possibly dropping the "Carrier" name from the building and just naming it "The Ernie Davis Dome": "Naming rights for a whole facility has become such business deals. This is more intimate than a naming rights for a facility. We have good partners at Carrier and they're gonna be there at the presentation on Saturday at halftime. Obviously Carrier has been in this community for a long time, so we always have discussions going on there business-wise but they have been a good partner and we're proud that they're going to be there to represent us." A corporate sponsorship would certainly be an intriguing possibility for the field. Carrier paid a lump sum of $2.75 million dollars for naming rights of the $27 million dollar facility. Overall, about 10% is not a bad cost to pay. Today? Naming rights go for similar numbers - but per year. This accurately explains how much corporations are paying per year for naming rights. Needless to say, it's a lot of money. Deals now are spread out over long periods of time, rather than done in lump sums. I'm interested to see how the final product turns out and what public perception of it is after Saturday's game. * * * 
The university also felt it was unfair how The Fizz portrayed the context of the donation. Sam Nappi is founder of Alliance Energy, which has natural gas gathering fields in Alaska as well as numerous other extensions to more regional parts of the country.We included an off-handed comment about the Exxon Valdez and the pillaging of the natural environment. While maybe distasteful to some, any regular reader of The Fizz knows we include a healthy dose of sarcasm and snarkiness to our daily reporting. Was it well-researched? No. Do we have any idea if Mr. Nappi is a green-loving, carbon-footprint tree-hugger who writes love sonnets to the environment or a modern-day industry baron, plowing down thousands of acres of natural habitat like Sim City to turn a buck? None (although healthy contributions to the W. administration probably has him leaning away from the former, based on the White House's environmental record, especially on Alaskan drilling, from 2000-2008). But if you are founder of an industry company, with projects that include energy exploration in Alaska, donate a lump sum of money to a major BCS university, make your identity public and get unnerved by a few unsolicited, ham-fisted shots from across the bow from the blogosphere, you're probably a tad hyper-sensitive. We get plenty of anonymous haterade emails to The Fizz-box. Do we get bent out of shape and go hunt each IP ping down? No. Part of the game, man. I emailed Dr. Gross my thoughts yesterday afternoon. He immediately responded by phone, which should be applauded. We spoke for about twenty minutes and both explained our sides. Here was the bulk of my email to give better clarification on where we stood at The Fizz: * * * Dr. Gross, It has been brought to my attention the athletic department and Syracuse University was disappointed and disagreed with a post from the blog I created and edit, The Orange Fizz. 
The post in question asked "why" on the decision to rename the field for Ernie Davis [10.2.09]. While we all agree Davis' legacy is powerful and important, our writer Mike Couzens asked hypothetical questions that reach beyond just Davis.I have written to clarify some aspects: As Editor-in-Chief, I take full responsibility for the omission of the conjunction "could've" in the final sentence of the third paragraph. "As great as Ernie was and the powerful symbolism his Heisman still holds, this isn't just about #44. There are multiple reasons why this happened," should've read "As great as Ernie was and the powerful symbolism his Heisman still holds, this isn't just about #44. There are multiple reasons why this could've happened." It has been corrected. Couzens was also in attendance at your press conference and asked your reasoning behind the renaming. Your response was not included in the post. We recognize and understand, proper journalism would include your answer and explanation. He will post a follow-up piece that includes that. However, we also believe the question of "why" is a fair one to ask. And that linking and citing the Nappi financial background is fair information dissemination. This is a historic change on The Hill. The faces and names behind it are obviously pertinent questions. Financial issues have bubbled to the surface at almost every athletic department in the country during our recent economic downturn. We know that Syracuse does not have the public funding of other state universities in the Big East, such as UConn, Rutgers or West Virginia. We also understand a football program is the engine that fuels the fiscal bottom line of any athletic department in the BCS. Because of recent on the field struggles and attendance drop-offs, any major infusion of money to SU should rightfully be explored. As for the reference to "Dr. Doom," it became popular nomenclature during the early part of our blog's existence, as many Syracuse fans blamed you, fairly or unfairly, for the football woes. We, at the Fizz, do not believe, despite the name, you deliver global Doom as the comic book villain does. We'll take a 2-3 record any day of the week after the previous four years. Hopefully you've seen the X-men movies. He's really not such a bad guy. Hopefully this clarifies our position at The Fizz. No one hopes the Orange succeed more than me and that has been the inspiration behind The Fizz. As you know, not all of our news is good news, however, especially when you work in sports on a daily basis. We try to give both sides and ask questions SU fans might care about themselves. Thanks for your time and if you'd ever like to clarify a position or decision, or merely speak to the readers of this blog, the door is always open. The Orange Fizz Podcast has an open invitation to you. Sincerely, Damon Amendolara SU '01 * * * My conversation with Gross ended extraordinarily amicably and it seems we both have a better understanding of each side. They felt it was unwarranted swipe at Nappi without knowing him. That's fair. Is Nappi fair game in our eyes? Yes. He's now a public figure for SU fans everywhere. Comes with the territory. We should not have posted a blog stating opinion as fact. It has been corrected. We felt the theme of the blog was fair in a time of fiscal struggles for almost all schools. To his credit, Dr. Gross said he understood that criticism comes with his position, and that the "Dr. Doom" nickname is part of that. We explained, we're just huge comic book fans. We appreciate the members of the SU athletic department we spoke to not expecting us to simply cheerlead for the school. There's enough of that out there already. We also applaud Gross for taking time out of him day to explain his position. We respect it, just as we hope our position as a means to inform yet also (ahem) entertain Orange Nation is respected by the university. Now, how pissed off are you that you just spent three hours reading a 14-volume freaking Fizz post!?!? * * * And do your civic Orange duty and follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates on football news, podcasts and blog posts (plus random thoughts from Team Fizz). Fizz First: Retreat to the Secondary. 10.6.09 Posted: Ted Conroy. Fizz Nation: The ever-popular FizzCast is now on iTunes! Click here and subscribe for free. Every week as Team Fizz breaks down the Orange, it'll be immediately uploaded to your iTunes or iPod. Loving it! * * * 
It was bad.
Yes, the turnovers (7) were ugly and they cost this team dearly against USF. An aberration like that always spells doom and Marrone admitted it after the game. What isn't an aberration, and has become a consistent problem this year, is the secondary. How consistent? The Orange is ranked 116th in pass defense in the FBS. Rice, Nevada, UAB and Washington State are the only teams that rank worse than the 'Cuse. Referring to the USF game, many will point to the offense's inability to stay on the field as a reason why the defense was so gassed. And we here at The Fizz can buy that, at least some of the time. But there is no excuse for being beaten on an 85-yard bomb on the first play of the second half from BJ Daniels, a quarterback who is known far more for his legs than his arms. That's on you, Kevyn Scott. There was one particular tweet from that weekend, which rang true. @Nunesmagician: No more CBs named Scott However, the safeties need to take some of the blame for this, as well. Mike Holmes and Max Suter, as mentioned in last week's FizzCast, are a solid tackling unit, but they struggle in coverage. And when the Scott's are struggling to stay on their defenders, the safeties need to help out. Is there any hope on the horizon? We've seen freshman Shamarko Thomas get plenty of playing time in the secondary, and even though he's a cornerback, the problems at safety have put him there some times this season. While he's only playing nickel and dime schemes this year, he should become a force in the next two years. There is Fizz Fave Rishard Anderson. The Fizz was there in February [see Fizz 2.4.09] when the South Florida product ignored the big boys in his home state and signed with SU. Florida's greatest export isn't oranges. It's speed. And Anderson has it; kid runs a 4.4 in the 40 and was an incredibly polite young man when we met him.   FIZZ AUDIO: Listen to an exclusive Fizz interview with Orange recruit Rishard Anderson on Signing Day. And still on the board for the '10 class are a couple of kids with decent credentials. Devonta Tabannah is one of them, a two-star recruit in the Orange crosshairs, but SU hasn't made an offer yet. Marrone and co. might need to get on the ball soon, because rebuilding the secondary will be key to SU's recovery from the Groobers era. * * * And do your civic Orange duty and follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates on football news, podcasts and blog posts (plus random thoughts from Team Fizz). Fizz First: The Naming Rights Express. 10.2.09 Posted: Mike Couzens. PERMALINK Fizz Nation: The ever-popular FizzCast is now on iTunes! Click here and subscribe for free. Every week as Team Fizz breaks down the Orange, it'll be immediately uploaded to your iTunes or iPod. Loving it! * * *
Next weekend marks a significant day in the history of Syracuse University athletics, when the field at the Carrier Dome becomes "Ernie Davis Legends Field."How about this mildly interesting throw-away line by SU: "The dedication of the football field is enabled by an amendment to the original Carrier Dome naming contract with Carrier Corp." Hmmm. As great as Ernie was and the powerful symbolism his Heisman still holds, this isn't just about #44. There are multiple reasons why this could've happened. 1) The school is hurting for the money. There was a donation made for this to happen by two private individuals (Sam and Carol Nappi - more on them later) and it was an offer the athletic department could not turn down. 2) Carrier gets a cut of the cash. To amend the original contract, there must be something in it for Carrier. Doesn't seem like the company would just willingly surrender full naming rights to one of the most famous on-campus arenas in the country without getting something in return (the Carrier Corp. could also be feeling a financial crunch and the rights deal now costs less). 3) The school wants to make it as difficult as possible for media. Now the place will be referred to as "Ernie Davis Legends Field at the Carrier Dome" every damn time. As part of WAER and Z89, FML. Since the basketball court already has the Carrier logo emblazoned on either side, it's a wonder where the name for the field will actually go in the dome. Always have faith in Dr. Doom to put it somewhere obnoxious and obtrusive. So who in the world are Sam and Carol Nappi? Well, Sam Nappi is the founder and chairman of Alliance Energy, a bigtime moneymaking energy company. He rolls deep. This '05 article gives a little more detail: "Jamesville (Town of Pompey) businessman Samuel G. Nappi is chairman and sole le owner of Tulsa, Okla.-based Alliance Energy Group, LLC. Nappi's company searches for oil and gas in Alaska and has been active in exploration on the state's Kenai peninsula. (Editor's Note: This is looking better and better by the paragraph. Did he commission the Exxon Valdez or just the raping of the natural environment up there for a new time-share in Cozumel?) Nappi also serves as president of Northstar Energy Group, Inc. According to Alaska corporation records, a majority of Northstar is owned by the CLJ Trust, registered to Nappi's home in Pompey. While not well-known in Central New York, Nappi is a friend to several political figures. Nappi and his wife Carol marched in the Presidential inaugural parade Jan. 20 as guests of U.S. Sen. Conrad Bums of Montana. The Alliance Energy Web site features a photo of Nappi and President George W. Bush. His political contributions over the last few election cycles show him pouring tens of thousands of dollars into campaigns as well. It's obvious he's got the cash, but why is he deciding to give it now? Was this Nappi's idea? The university's idea? Is it because the school is looking for a check and wants to cash in on the recent Ernie Davis wave? Lots of questions regarding this re-naming of the field. Hopefully some answers show up soon. * * * And do your civic Orange duty and follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates on football news, podcasts and blog posts (plus random thoughts from Team Fizz). Fizz First: The Other Harris. 10.1.09 Posted: Ted Conroy. Fizz Nation: The ever-popular FizzCast is now on iTunes! Click here and subscribe for free. Every week as Team Fizz breaks down the Orange, it'll be immediately uploaded to your iTunes or iPod. Loving it! * * *  
You've heard all about Tobias Harris (including in this week's FizzCast), the skilled power forward in the '10 class. The Fizz has explored his extensive use of Twitter during his recent visit to The Hill.But SU sophomore Kris Joseph gave me the inside scoop on who's really on the Orange radar. That dish being his Twitter page. (Editor's Note: While you're clicking on all these Twitter pages, follow The Fizz's Tweets as well. It's good for you.) Follow my man @TylerH34, because if you dont know much about him now... you will soon become acquainted. Let The Fizz do some heavy lifting. @TylerH34 is Tyler Harris (pictured left), a current class of '11 recruit who already has an offer from UConn. He is also Tobias' younger brother. Tyler is a two-star recruit by Scout standards, 6'7", and grew four inches over the summer. Just watch him break an ankle. No really, watch. He just transferred back from Long Island Lutheran back to his former Half Hollow Hills West School, where he'll play with his older bro this season. He also went on the Syracuse visit with Tobias. He's seen as a combo 2/3 player, meaning he has the potential size to play inside while being able to handle the ball and get his shot off. He's more of a winger than the elder Harris. The race for Tobias is hot and heavy, but Tyler's Grand Prix could heat up this season as well with teams like the Huskies, Notre Dame and West Virginia in the mix. It's a couple years away, but while The Fizz cried over the Towson Catholic pipeline closing last semester, redemption could come if the Team Harris train rolls into town. * * * And do your civic Orange duty and follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates on football news, podcasts and blog posts (plus random thoughts from Team Fizz). 
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