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Fizz First: Discovering a Diamond. 12.30.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK  
Coaches rarely tell their players to be more selfish. But last night, Jim Boeheim did. "He told me to be the leader and go out there and be dominant," said Wes Johnson after SU grabbed its first Big East win of the year. How about Johnson's line? The transfer appeased Boeheim, going for 20 points and a career-high 19 boards in the win at Seton Hall. It's interesting that Boeheim would tell a player to get his, and imploring a transfer to take over is even more interesting. The Per'fesser rarely takes refugees into the Carrier Dome, let alone have them become the starter. But that's exactly what has happened with a player some are calling a Top-5 NBA draft pick. So how did he get here? Mike Waters gave a brief overview of how Johnson was lightly recruited and ended up at prep school to develop an offer sheet. But why? At Corsicana High School in Texas, he averaged 15-10-4 in his senior season. Not awful, but also not the most blaring stat line for a forward in the Lone Star state. There was also his height. In fact, he was shorter than I was (6'2" vs. 6'3"- I still have a chance!) his senior year. Barely a 2-star recruit, Johnson didn't have many offers before he attended two prep schools. After his first year at Iowa State, he was still being overshadowed, but not because of any measurables. He grew, he averaged 12 and 8, but there was still some other freshman making waves in the Big 12 and across the country. His name? Kevin Durant. In fact, Johnson outplayed Durant when the two went at it back in '07. Johnson shot 8 of 12 for 17 points and 8 boards, while it took Durant 16 shots to get the same amount. There was the "deterioration" of his relationship with his coach at Iowa State, and then Rob Murphy found Johnson in a gym after his decision to transfer. The rest is history. His road was different, but he's here. And 'Cuse fans better enjoy him while he is wearing Orange, because the way he's playing now, he may not be for long. Photo credit: ESPN.com * * * 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 Hall of Misfit Toys. 12.29.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
The tests truly begin tonight for SU hoops with the first Big East game of the season against Seton Hall.The Pirates have played a pretty easy schedule with only two roadies that came way back in November. But boy can this team score. Seton Hall has scored less than 80 points only twice, and one of those came in a recent loss to Temple. And, they dropped 134 on VMI. Yeah. 134. They've proven they can also hang with the big boys. Last time out the Pirates took #6 West Virginia to OT and lost by six. Should that put a scare into Syracuse fans everywhere? Possibly. Jim Boeheim told ESPN Radio the bottom of the conference is beginning to rise this season with teams like Seton Hall, Rutgers (who kept it very close with UNC last night), and St. John's continuing to get better. The Per-fesser is not the only one with that theory. Brendan Prunty is on the SHU beat for the Newark Star-Ledger and agrees. "They might have, arguably, top to bottom one of the most talented rosters in the Big East. It's just that a lot of these guys are transfers; a lot of these guys have sat out a year due to academics. They're just now getting into the flow." In belated holiday terms, Bobby Gonzalez has put together the Island of Misfit Toys or lit up Jersey broken leg-lamp instead of Syracuse's Red Ryder BB Gun. Should SU fans expect a scare like UNC had against Rutgers last night? Probably not since the Orange trademark this year has been defense. But don't be surprised if this game is close at the half, especially since it's on the road. Let the Big East games begin! * * * 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: SU Not Out on Knight. Yet. 12.28.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
A couple weeks ago, The Fizz mused about the end of point guard Brandon Knight's run as a Syracuse recruit. Apparently, it's is a little sketchier than we thought. The reputable Zag's Blog reported Knight had cut his list down to four, but Adam Schwartz, from Northstar basketball, cautioned the word of the internet when he spoke to colleague Mike Couzens. "Brandon Knight has supposedly 'cut' his list numerous times, and I don't know that Syracuse is specifically out of it. I would say they're well behind." So why the confusion? According to Schwartz, Knight, the 5-star dynamo with a 4.2 GPA has a very small "marketing" role, with his family and coach serving as the main distributors of information (unlike Tobias Harris who tweeted and ESPN Zoned it up). What does that mean? Message board rumors and blog posts might not be the greatest indicator, with all roads available until signing day. So who is in the front of the pack? Says Schwartz: "I do think that UConn and Kentucky are in the lead for him, and Syracuse is probably behind the others." It means that SU isn't done yet, but they have some work to do if they want to get close to the big fish. Never discount Hop and Murph. And with the way this team is now splashed on the national scene, it's clear that things can change on a dime. * * * 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 Biggest Win of Marrone's Tenure. 12.24.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
As The Fizz reported back in July, an Upstate vs. Downstate All-Star Football game was in the works after the cancellation of the annual NY vs. NJ Governor's Bowl. Now we know, with the blessing of Syracuse's head man, the All-Star game is a go. The most recent buzz said, "With big help from Syracuse coach Doug Marrone, there will now be an Upstate vs. Downstate All-Star game, which will be held in the summer at the Carrier Dome." The Fizz worked the phones to see what Coach Marrone's involvement was in the whole process. Not an easy code to crack. According to a source in the athletic department, Marrone is obviously in support of such an event. But neither the university nor its coaches can be affiliated with the game because it involves high school athletes and potential recruits. Here's some of the early details of the game: -It'll be held June 6th at the Carrier Dome -Practices will be held over the four days prior to the game, also at the Dome -Rosters are 50 players for both sides -"Downstate" includes Sections 1 (Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland), 8 (Nassau), 9 (Orange, Sullivan, Ulster), 11 (Suffolk) and NYC -"Upstate" includes Sections 2 (Albany region), 3 (Central New York), 4 (Southern Tier), 5 (Rochester), 6 (Buffalo), 7 (Champlain Area), 10 (North Country) A coaches meeting is scheduled for January 5th and the game may be aired on MSG Varsity. How about the cost of such an undertaking? Initial reports said a bill of anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000. Yikes. This whole effort feels like a group of coaches working together for the greater good (the players), and making something big happen. Also a few notable beneficiaries to take note of here too: -High-level recruits, who gain more exposure -Mid-to-low level recruits, who now have an in-state forum to potentially gain interest from coaches -New York State, which has a stage to spotlight its football coaches, athletes and programs -Syracuse football, which gains... um... everything Why wouldn't Marrone work hard to make this happen? Syracuse immediately becomes the epicenter for the state's high-school football community. He'll have the best NY has to offer at his doorstep. Not only are they playing and practicing in the Dome, but you have every top-level athlete in the state on campus, and steps away from your classrooms and facilities. High-school kids will aspire to play... at the Carrier Dome every season. It's hard to fathom at these early stages just how beneficial this can be for SU's recruiting purposes. But this event could tilt the entire Empire State prep landscape in favor of Marrone's Marauders. This. Is. Big. * * * 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? Triche to Fizz: I Told Ya So. 12.23.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
The oohs and aahs are overflowing for Brandon Triche today after he went nuts last night for a career-high 27 points in the win over Oakland. But why? Triche was well-touted out of high school, Jim Boeheim has consistently hyped him up, and the guard was essentially named a starter before he even stepped on the court this season. A perfect 6-for-6 from three land doesn't hurt. Nobody had seen him shoot in high school, mostly because he preferred to drive and dunk over anyone in his path. When you're a 6'4" point guard, that's the way it is. But The Fizz never doubted his ability, especially when I talked with him for a Fizzcast in May. Two specific things Triche said rang out before he graduated. "I'm gonna get thrown into the fire. Scoop's still gonna be there. But it leaves me more playing time. If Jonny stayed it would give me someone to look up to at the point guard position." He knew he was getting into this, and prepared to complete his game. He has always maintained that he reads every message board comment and uses it to improve. Shooting was something nobody considered from the big guy, so he made sure that was part of the arsenal. But as this team begins Big East play with a 12-0 record, what he told me resonates louder than anything. "It all comes down to how well I do. How the point guard does, is often how the team goes. The sky's the limit for us. We just have to work harder as a team and play together more as a team." In English class, they call that forshadowing. It's fun watching The Fizz bubbles rise to the surface. * * * 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? Ithaca is Gorges. 12.22.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Give Norm Roberts credit. St. John's had entered last night's tilt with Cornell ranked 4th in the RPI and had only one loss on the season to Duke. But the smart red team beat the other not-so-smart red team 71-66 at Madison Square Garden to win the Holiday Festival. And then coach spoke in classic coach hyperbole. "That team right there, when they're hot, they can beat anybody," Roberts said about Cornell. Woah. Slow down there Normy. You think an Ivy League team can defeat anyone as long as they're stroking from the outside? "Maybe not Kansas or those guys. But they could win a game in the tournament." Ok. That's a little better. So, just to clarify coach, Cornell could possibly win one game in the NCAA tournament, say knock off UTEP in a 7-10 game, if the Big Red shoots 70% from the field. Yeah, I guess I would go out on that ledge too. Guess it's easy to poke fun at Normy, who has tried for years to cut into SU's New York dominance on the recruiting trail and in the Big East, since the Orange throttled Cornell 88-73. The Johnnies are not the red-shirted stepchild of the conference anymore. D.J. Kennedy can be a tough matchup and Malik Boothe is a gritty New York City guard who Roberts was able to lure to Queens. But baby steps for St. John's. It's still only ranked #72 in the kenpom.com ratings (Syracuse is #4), with quality wins over just Temple and Siena so far. Good effort Normy. But let's remain rooted in reality. You just lost to an Ivy League school. At home. And no, they can't beat anyone. * * * 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: Silent Night. 12.21.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
As we mentioned on The Fizz last week, the biggest recruiting fish left in the basketball pond is heading to Arizona for some winter sun.Josh Selby's next "official move" is a visit to Tuscon and the University of Arizona the weekend of January 8-10. This being Christmas week, Selby will have a little time to finish some shopping and that season in Madden 2010. His squad at Lake Clifton High in Maryland has one more game tonight before a long layoff. After tonight Selby won't suit up again until January 5th, leaving two weeks until the man on every prep radar makes any news again. This is a two-week stretch across the high school and college sports landscape that's often one long silent night. Christmas usually has that effect... unless you own a movie theater. After Syracuse's exhibition (sorry, game) against Oakland tomorrow, the Orange is off until December 29th against Seton Hall. It's the Big East opener. The football team has already done a ton of work on its early signees as well, so could be rather quiet from Marrone's Marauders on the recruiting front until the new year. One vital Post-It note for the football program, though, will be the replacements for Spence, Elizondo and Jackson in the coaching staff. Those are hires that are best done during or shortly after the bowl season, as the coaching carousel moves rapidly. As The Fizz wrote Saturday, the naming of Doc Holliday at Marshall shook up the Big East's recruiting landscape. It may be the first of many dominos to fall in the conference for coordinators and recruiting heads. Sometimes no news is good news (Selby). For others, the headlines need to be coming fast and furious (coaching staff). * * * 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? Rejoice SU. This Man is Gone. 12.19.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
See this smiling, congenial, unthreatening face? Well, he's Syracuse's assassin. And finally he's gone to terrorize another conference. Orange Nation probably only gave it a cursory glance when West Virginia assistant John "Doc" Holliday was announced as Marshall's new head coach. But SU fans should breathe a sign of relief. Hard core Fizz-sters know exactly why. From the AP report: "Holliday was on a recruiting trip to Florida this week when Marshall officials called." Yep, because Doc Holliday has been Doc Kevorkian for the rest of the Big East the last three seasons, owning the recruiting trail for the Mountaineers. He was an assistant at Florida under Urban Meyer. Funneled in the talent that led to two National Championships, including landing Tim Tebow and Brandon Spikes. Moved to West Virginia, immediately nailed down two of WVU's highest-rated recruits in years; local guard Josh Jenkins and South Florida gem Geno Smith, the Mountaineers' likely starting quarterback next fall. The Marshall press release: "Holliday comes to Marshall after serving as associate head coach at West Virginia for the past two seasons where he also served as the director of recruiting while coaching tight ends and fullbacks for the Mountaineers. Rivals.com has named him one of the Top 25 recruiters in the nation and he helped WVU amass a 2009 recruiting class that was nationally ranked No. 22 by Scout.com and No. 27 by Rivals.com." Along the South Florida prep fields, the name Doc Holliday pulls plenty of weight. He is seen as the ultimate pied piper, a guy with the connections and swagger to land 5-star recruits to 3-star schools. He'll still make dents in the fertile recruiting field of South Florida and along the east coast. But watching him leave the Big East is second only to watching him leave altogether. * * * 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? Competition for the Baltimore Pipeline. 12.18.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
With all due respect, Upstate New York does not produce much top-level college basketball talent.The northern climes of the Empire State brings us wine, apples and ingenuitive ways to displace snow. But Syracuse has gone to another region of the country, down the eastern seaboard, to stockpile its hoops stars. Baltimore has given the Orange some of its greatest names ever. Carmelo Anthony begat Donte Greene who begat C.J. Fair (who hopefully begets Josh Selby). Yet, SU will have to now battle with a new kid on the Inner Harbor block named Derrick Kellogg. The name should sound familiar; he was a part of UMass' annual tournament teams in the mid-90s and a longtime John Calipari protege at Memphis. He's taken over the Minutemen and staked a flag in traditionally Syracuse territory. The Fizz asked him what region he's trying to own on the prep scene (hit the 38:30 mark). "At some point I'd love to be the school in Massachusetts and this area that everybody, and especially student-athletes say, that's where I wanna go. I don't think we're there yet." We've done a fantastic job in the Baltimore/DC area. The one kid we've signed this year is from DC. We have four or five guys on our roster so at some point half of our team is gonna be from the Washington DC/Baltimore corridor, where they play some of the finest high school basketball in the country." Mike Hopkins and Rob Murphy probably don't have to look over their shoulders yet. Those two guys are rolling 7s and 11s on the recruiting trail these days. But a state school desperate to jump back into the big time with the shadows of Coach Cal (and his vacated Final Fours) in tow is never something to take lightly. * * * 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? Dick Weiss, You Are Not Alone. 12.17.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
There are now two voters in the Associated Press basketball poll putting Syracuse at the top of their list. Along with Dick Weiss (pictured) of the New York Daily News, Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News becomes the second to so boldly have Syracuse jump to the top of their polls. On his blog Wilner writes, "As with my football rankings, the emphasis is on strength of schedule and quality wins/losses." And in a nutshell that explains how Syracuse got to #1 with wins on the road over Cal, North Carolina and Florida. However Wilner draws special attention because of a mistake he made last year in sending a ballot with a typo. The poll he sent to the AP after Syracuse beat Memphis did not have the Orange on it, when he meant to list them at #17. Fear not 'Cuse fans, this is not Wilner's version of a Dick Bavetta make up call: "No, no I've probably forgotten about what happened since last year. I've done a lot of polls since then - I've done half a season's worth of basketball polls, an entire season worth of football. I can't possibly remember one week to the next." Back then, Wilner says he had Syracuse ranked the week before and after, so it was just an error of omission. As for whether or not recruits can be swayed by rankings: "I can't believe that would be the case. I would hope the players would take a lot more into account than where one team is ranked one week compared to another team. In an ideal world the rankings wouldn't play any role in where high school players go. They would pick their school based on the location, the relationship with the coach, the academic offerings." But he did add that if certain schools stay in the top of the rankings consistently, it can be used as a tool to help sway players. The more a team gets ranked high in the polls, the more they'll be on television. The Fizz does give Wilner big time props for having seen the Gait brothers play in person too. Although he won't be back to buy anyone ribs at Dinosaur anytime soon, he did know his Syracuse history. Maybe he's onto something with this #1 ranking. * * * 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? SI Greets the Orange. 12.17.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Dr. Gross is beaming this morning (and it's not because of visions of the Big 10 dancing in his head). He likely was walking on air back from the mailbox after grabbing this week's issue of Sports Illustrated. SI featured Syracuse's white-hot start in its "Inside College Basketball" section. "Clearly, losing the top three scorers (guards Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf and forward Paul Harris, who all left early for the pros) from last year's 28-10 squad has not been the calamity many predicted. Indeed, their replacements have made Syracuse a bigger and better team." "We were a good offensive team last year," says coach Jim Boeheim, "but we couldn't stop the good teams." Wanna number-crunch you budding Bill James you? "So far that offense has been more unselfish (23.1 assists a game at week's end, against 15.7 turnovers), efficient (55.2% shooting) and prolific (88.3 points per game) than the Orange of a year ago. Its continued high performance owes a lot to the 6'7" Johnson (59.4% from the field and 54.1% from the arc), and two other players who didn't see a minute of action last year." While sharing time at the point guard spot vacated by Flynn, 6'4" freshman Brandon Triche and 6'2" redshirt sophomore Scoop Jardine (who sat out last year with a stress fracture in his left shin) had through Sunday combined to average 18.6 points and 9.2 assists a game." With two AP writers voting Syracuse #1, three Top-15 wins on ESPN and visions of a Final Four dancing in Orange Nation's head, these are the good new days for SU hoops. Hey Big 10... suck it. * * * 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: Bye Bye Brandon. 12.16.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK
Syracuse has lost the 2010 Big Fish. Zags Blog reports that Brandon Knight has whittled his list down to four schools, none of them Syracuse. The Fizz detailed just how talented Knight is recently. He is roundly considered the top player in the class, a guard who can slash, score and has been wooed by seemingly every school in the Top-10. UConn, Kentucky, Florida, and Kansas still in play; according to Zagoria, he'll announce in the spring. Well, at least my rankings hypothesis still has its merits. In all seriousness, Knight's decision shouldn't be that shocking. The Wildcats' John Wall will most likely bounce after this season, like John Calipari's last two point guards have, leaving Knight as the next freshman phenom in that system. Sherron Collins is a senior at Kansas, and if Cole Aldrich doesn't go pro, it offers him the opportunity to create a high-low domination in the Big 12. UConn has Kemba Walker right now, but some have the sophomore on early draft boards. And Florida, well, their backcourt is - short. 'Cuse fans know what I'm talking about. Meanwhile, SU has a freshman and a sophomore splitting minutes at the point. Both seem comfortable with that, and they probably aren't headed out of town anytime soon. They're also doing pretty well at it. The Orange situation just doesn't make sense for a guy who's looking for immediate exposure. What that leaves on the board is Josh Selby, the last recruit Hopkins and Murphy have been nudging. What remains to be seen of that? You just gotta stay tuned to 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? Orange Ranked Number-One? 12.15.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News was the first, and now you can add Jon Wilner to that list. The San Jose Mercury News college hoops writer has also voted Syracuse number-one on Could the Orange really be the best team in the nation? That's a matter of opinion, but there are other ways we can check on where SU stands in the national picture. First, the most recent rankings put the top 5 like this: Kansas, Texas, Kentucky, Purdue, Syracuse. Now let's get to the breakdown. According to Real Time RPI, which calculates RPI in real time (who knew!), Syracuse is ranked tenth. (That's the daily ranking, but the real time version has a fee and The Fizz's budget is a tad tight around the holidays. Gotta make sure we buy Otto his snuggie!) (For a quick explanation of how the Ratings Percentage Index is calculated. I now cite Wikipedia with more pride than ever after one professor this semester called it "The academic anti-Christ" and "The tool of the Devil." Take that!) Thehoopsreport.com puts Syracuse at ninth, and teamrankings.com places the Orange 10th in RPI. That same site when comparing only strength of schedule rankings puts SU at 70th. Ouch, Jimmy B. No offense Columbia, but maybe you shouldn't be coming back to the Dome next season. Teamrankings.com gives Syracuse a #10 nod too. Looking at the teams with RPI ranked higher that Syracuse, all three sites had a consistent 1-2-3 of Duke, Kansas State and West Virginia. After that it was a matter of where you put St. Johns (seriously), Texas, Purdue, Temple, New Mexico, and UConn. Being behind all of those schools in RPI doesn't help. The RPI is much more crucial to success than any national ranking will ever be. In fact, for a story I did for WAER Radio this past weekend, I spoke with Mike Waters, Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal (Providence College), Mark Berman of the Roanoke Times (Virginia Tech), and Pete Iorizzo of the Albany Times Union (Siena). They all said the selection committee takes rankings into account zero percent of the time. The strongest argument for any school is to beat other programs that are going to be in contention for March. So while it's nice to beat up on every other college basketball team in the state, (Albany, Cornell, Columbia, Colgate, St. Francis and soon St. Bonaventure) those games only matter if you lose. "The most important thing out there is how you do against teams that are in the mix for the tournament. For example Syracuse plays Colgate, that game doesn't matter. When Syracuse plays Florida, when Syracuse plays North Carolina, those are the games that the tournament selection committee boils it down to," says McNamara. So is it safe to start talking Final Four? Probably a little early. Of the ten games so far, only two or three have actually mattered. While it's nice to be able to smile at work on a Monday - even if you just spilled coffee on yourself - because the Orange is fifth in the polls, keep in mind that the real season has yet to begin. * * * 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: Rankings Fun. 12.14.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
Rankings may not mean much in the scheme of the NCAA tournament, but dammit aren't they fun? Temple's upset of Villanova opens the door for the Orange to enter Top-5 territory. Ironically, this isn't great for the Big East, which has been absolutely stunning in the preseason. But as a Syracuse fan you love it, because saying your team is Top-5 is at least five times better than saying your team is Top-10. Does it help recruiting though? Absolutely! Top-5 teams simply get more coverage than those in the Top-15 or Top-25. Even in the Top-10, Syracuse still manages to end up on the front page of SI.com when they crush lowly St. Francis. How does it translate? Check out the Rivals Team Recruiting Rankings for 2010. 1. Memphis 2. Ohio State 3. North Carolina 4. Tennessee 5. Syracuse Now let's check out the latest A.P. poll. Four of the five are in the Top-15, two are Top-10, and Memphis is the only team unranked (though they sit at 26th, unofficially). That right there is a case study. The more exposure, the better your recruiting odds are. If only Tobias Harris had seen the Carolina game before announcing. * * * 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? Donovan: Orange Title Contenders. 12.11.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
It's a damn good thing we have Billy Donovan. "I think [Syracuse is] capable of winning a national championship. I'd be hard-pressed to name three or four teams better than them." "They have low-post scoring, they have rebounding, they have perimeter shooting, they have defense. They have everything." These were the words of the two-time National Championship-winning Gators coach after the beat down last night. No one wants to put the cart before the Otto. We've all seen heady starts to the SU season before. Tournament heartbreak is simply part of the Upstate New York spring - like cleaning gutters and allergies. But after another impressive performance by Syracuse, it's hard not to start thinking big. The 85-73 win over #11 Florida continues to underscore the Orange as elite. It's another double-digit victory over a Top-15 squad (Cal, North Carolina, now the Gators). Away from the Dome. On national television. These are exactly the type of conditions the Orange will face come March. The adjective-laden recap from Syracuse graduate (and Fizz favorite) Adam Beasley ('01) in the Miami Herald: "The Orange's game plan was far more rudimentary: bludgeon Florida with (Rick) Jackson. The junior forward ate up the Gators' interior defense for 16 first-half points on 7-of-11 shooting, and his thunderous dunk off an alley-oop pass from Brandon Triche gave the Orange a 42-36 lead at the break." The Orange will undoubtedly jump into the Top-5 with this win. And while Kentucky, Kansas and Villanova look formidable, has any team had as strong a first month as the 'Cuse? I don't want to say the two words that start with the letter "f" just yet... "Fin(mmmpphhh) Fou(grrhhh)"... but I'm glad Billy Donovan will. * * * 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? Tonight: The Duel for Brandon Knight. 12.10.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK
When Syracuse battles Florida tonight on national television, we will all watch with vested interest. But one young man might be locked into the game to help him form a very big decision. His name is Brandon Knight. He's the best prep player in the country and the senior from Pine Crest High in Florida has both the Orange and Gators as two of his final choices. Knight has hinted he'll probably hold off on his decision until the spring. He is the reigning Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year - as a junior. Impressive? Yes. But even more so when the only two others in that company were Greg Oden and LeBron James. Wow. Knight is on track for another huge season in South Florida and his short list includes a who's who of Final Four favorites: Kansas, Kentucky, UConn, Florida, Miami, and Syracuse. Knight has picked up where he left off. Coming off a season where he averaged 31.8 points - Knight dropped 42 in his last game, to go along with 12 boards and 5 three-pointers in a blow out win. Knight has done a number of interviews, but trust The Fizz to sort through the mess and find the best for you. "I don't really feel comfortable unless I'm trying to get better. Everybody tells me I need to rest a little bit but I'm really not a person that likes to rest much. I like to get the work in," Knight told the Miami Herald. In the same article we also learn B.K. ("The King," perhaps?) is benching a cool 325 and has gained 10 pounds while playing at 6'4", 190 lbs. For the record, Brandon Triche is listed at 6'4" 198 and is a year older. Knight also has some interesting words about his drive and what he's looking for in a school: "A good relationship with the coach. I want a coach to tell me that I'm gonna have to work for everything - not that I'm just gonna come in and start. That and education." Rob Murphy told me last week that Syracuse can almost sell itself with a Hall of Fame coach, the Dome and the 'Melo Center. In this newspaper interview, Knight says he'll miss one thing most about high school basketball: "The atmosphere." In this Fizz public service announcement, we would like to remind all recruits that no other college basketball venue gets as loud or packed on any given (k)night as the Carrier Dome does. Back to your regularly scheduled Fizz. He hasn't made an official visit to SU yet - but when he does, watch out. The Fizz will be sledding our way over to South Campus if we have to in order to get in on the action. And a Syracuse win tonight might put another check next to The King's Orange box. * * * 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: Selby Watch, Arizona. 12.9.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK
Ironically, one of the last big fish in SU's recruiting pond is available after a de-commit from the school Tobias Harris opted for. Josh Selby is diving head first into his list of programs during this basketball season, following his retracted verbal commitment to Tennessee. On the list to visit for the Lake Clifton (Md.) point guard? Arizona, where he is apparently going to visit. At least, that's what his mom is telling azstar.net. "There has been talk about possibly setting a date, but I don't know where that's going to go, because they had a lot of time invested in Ray McCallum. Arizona is no different than other schools right now calling to get in on Josh. Josh is open to everybody." That unknown date became officially one month from now when reports surfaced saying he's headed Southwest between January 9th and 10th. His recently narrowed-down list includes the Wildcats, Kentucky (the other Wildcats) Indiana, and the Orange. And while he's already visited Lexington and Bloomington, he hasn't visited Whitman(ton) - or any other building on Syracuse's campus for that matter. Is a Syracuse visit in the works for Selby? Stay tuned to The Fizz. * * * Fresh FizzCast: D.A. chats it up with Florida recruiting czar Larry Blustein. Team Fizz breaks down the hoops win over Maine and the upcoming showdown with Florida. 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: Recruiting Exclusive with Rob Murphy. 12.8.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
"It's all about relationships." That's how Syracuse assistant basketball coach Rob Murphy describes the world of college basketball recruiting. Murphy went from a Michigan high school coach, where he worked at some of the nation/s elite basketball camps with players like Maurice Ager (Michigan State) and Antonio Gates (Kent State), to being a college assistant and seeing that time pay off. But he didn't know how crucial those relationships would be when he started. Since he's been at SU, the time he spent working at the prep level helped immensely in trying to get players to put on an Orange jersey. (Listen to Rob Murphy talk with The Fizz's Mike Couzens on recruiting to Syracuse) Having an in with either a high school or AAU coach is a start, but it's certainly not a guarantee. With the rise of more and more AAU teams, he says the recruiting battle has changed a bit. "At one time you had one or two (AAU teams) in each state which had the best players and they kind of dominated the state in AAU. But now it's kind of spread around. In saying that, you have to have more relationships so you have to meet more people because there's always new people on the rise, and new people with players." That doesn't mean there's not some inherent advantages in recruiting to The Hill. "In recruiting, we have a great product with a hall of fame coach, 'Melo Center, the Dome, so it's kind of hard for a player not to come here." But Murphy's not kicking back and putting his feet up on the desk either. There's a lot of square mileage to cover across the country and you never know where the best talent is going to come from. "We look at players as players. It doesn't really matter where you come from. I mean you look at a guy like Wesley (Johnson). He's from Corsicana, Texas. Like, who cares? In our opinion, you know you get players who fit your program. You get the best players who you think will help you to be successful." Relationships are just a part of the process though. Murphy is now in his fourth season on The Hill, but a geographical connection here long before his arrival is still on his side and it's of capital importance. "It goes back. We have a history down there. You can almost look at the DC/Baltimore area as our backyard. I mean Dave Bing was originally from DC, Sherman Douglas was from DC, that area. Throughout the years, DC and the Baltimore area has been very good to Syracuse. Carmelo, I think, just helps you all over the country because every kid wants to be like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony." The next big test for some of Murphy's kids comes Thursday against Florida... possibly another chance to win over some more future Orange hoopsters. * * * 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? Never Shoulda Left. 12.8.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
No matter how many times Coach Mac says it over the years, it's still tough to hear. "I think I made a huge mistake in going." Tonight, Dick MacPherson will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and that old question still follows him. Was it a mistake to leave the rollicking Syracuse football program for a two-year disaster in New England? "See, the thing you ought to make sure is, who the hell are you working for? I don't think it was a good marriage. I've never gotten a divorce before, you know. The thing about it is this, I never got fired until there. I think I had five or six years left on my contract. Fine." The Patriots went 6-10 and 2-12 in Mac's only two seasons at the helm. It's the greatest What-If? in SU history. Mac took the 'Cuse to four straight bowl games in his final four seasons, beginning with the magical 1987 roll to the Sugar Bowl. He ended his career with an 11-0-1 season in '87, 10-2, 8-4 and 7-4-2 in '90. It's not quite like Coach P buried the program. Pasquoloni had back-to-back 10-win seasons upon taking over. Plus, Coach Mac's energy and effectiveness may have been limited as his age climbed. By the time he left for the Patriots, Mac was already 60 years old. But he considers it a mistake, and the rest of us shake our heads. What if Coach Mac had stayed? Would he be our version of Joe Paterno? Could the magic of '87 happened again? Would Syracuse be an East Coast power? It's nice to see Coach Mac in the hall. It'd be nicer to have answers. * * * Fresh FizzCast: D.A. chats it up with Florida recruiting czar Larry Blustein. Team Fizz breaks down the hoops win over Maine and the upcoming showdown with Florida. 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? Safety in Numbers & Fresh FizzCast 12.7.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
Twenty-two is a number most in Orange Nation find synonymous with Gaits and Powells. But for Syracuse football faithful, it's a number that won't be around long, but symbolizes progress on The Hill. It's how many recruits SU has as of today. Let's flash back to '08. There were EIGHT recruits in the class of 2009. Now check two more over this weekend for options on the offensive line. The first, tight end Beckett Wales (pictured), from where else but Florida, decided to pick the Orange. While he may need to fill out (6'3", 210 pounds), Wales is seen as a good receiver with plenty of potential. He also seems to be a pretty confident kid, wanting to contribute at H-Back immediately. It's just another part of Doug Marrone's reclamation of the Sunshine State, and he hasn't even had to buy billboards down there (zing Coach Schiano). So how has he done it? Check out the latest FizzCast, where D.A. chats it up with Florida recruiting czar Larry Blustein. Also, Team Fizz breaks down the hoops win over Maine and the upcoming showdown with Florida. Later Sunday, Nassau Community College showed it's John Anselmo Orange when Michael Hay committed to the 'Cuse. Don't forget, big boy and Turningtstone accident victim Andrew Tiller also was a product of Anselmo's old stomping grounds. Hay, the newest member to the offensive line, is listed at 6'6" and 280 pounds. Which begs the question: What are they feeding these kids on Long Island? The number is at 22 today, but don't get used to it: Marrone is hot on the trail, and the more, the merrier, because traveling 57 in the last game of the season isn't where this program needs to be. * * * 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? How is Marrone Winning Florida? 12.5.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
With the three recent commits from the Sunshine State, Orange Nation asks two questions: 1) How good are these guys? 2) Is Marrone actually winning Florida?The Fizz has been documenting the recent Sunshine Surge and honestly could not be more giddy. But we went to the source for the FizzCast. Larry Blustein has been scouring the prep fields of SoFla for decades. He currently writes for the Miami Herald and details the overwhelming talent coming out of the region at his website. He's been all over the Marrone marauding around the state. (If there's trouble streaming, just click right to our FizzCast page) What's the impact of Max Bealieu? "He's just a quality football player. To me, he's a big time-type of talent. This is where you start building your defense around. This is a guy you look at, a couple of years from now, this is where it all began, when we started with a player like that." Is SU finally locking in on South Florida? "I had a long talk with Syracuse alumnus Terry Richardson the other day. He said the one thing that really surprised him is that they stopped recruiting South Florida. When he saw they got Bryce Hawes, then they looked at Max, went down to Carol City and got Gareef Glashen - that was one of those things that he nodded his head." How's Marrone looked at along the recruiting trail? "You have very educated coaches in South Florida. They know where these guys come from. (With Marrone) you have the NFL tie, a reputation as an innovator. Kids remember that. They know what the path of success is. He knows what it takes to get from A to Z the quickest way." * * * 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: Marrone Nabs Another. 12.4.09 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
There were a lot of things that kept the Orange in the loss column in '09. Mike Williams' loss was one of the biggest, a new system meant a lot of learning, and injuries at every defensive position certainly didn't help. However, after a week on the Marrone post-mortem recruiting trail, he seems to understand what his biggest problem was: lack of athletes. The coaching staff tried it's best to put the team in a position to win, including the Stallion Spread, playing two quarterbacks and three running backs, different trips formations, increased looks from the H-back (or as Marrone called it U-tight end position) and more or less pulling plays out of a magic hat in an attempt to be halfway competitive. It turned three wins in '08 into four, and that's not awful. But the team was clearly lacking on the athletic side of things. The Orange just didn't stack up talent-wise with other squads. So when you look at some of the recruits Marrone has picked up this week, he seems to have a model. "If you've got the tools, we've got the tool box." None of his recruits seem to just be filling a roster spot. Max Beaulieu is the clear-cut stud of Marrone's class so far. There's no doubt about it. The rest of the week's signings read "ATH" (for "athlete") on the charts: The Fizz told you about Gareef Glashen, the defensive back from Florida, who burns it up with a ridiculous 40-yard dash time. Now multiple-position do-it-all Akron-product Tyson Gulley (pictured) has been signed, and he's even more intriguing. Garfield High School head coach Bob Sax had huge praise for him. "Best all-around football player I've ever coached." It needs to be noted that Beanie Wells went to this high school. Wow. Get excited: speed + turf + athletes + unnamed offensive coordinator MAY = a return to offensive glory. Holler. * * * FizzCast: Listen to the team analyze the football firings and whether Marrone should take over the play-calling duties. 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? Tobias Sweepstakes Does Not End in Jayvaughn. 12.4.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Last month, Tobias Harris left Syracuse at the ESPN Zone altar when he chose Tennessee (to a chorus of boos from Orange Nation).That left some wondering if the odd-man out with the Vols would turn around and sign with the 'Cuse. Not so much. Jayvaughn Pinkston was set to announce his decision to play for UT the day before Tobias' 11th-hour commitment. Pinkston bailed at the last minute. But instead of joining the 2010 Fab Four at SU, he'll be balling for another Big East power. Pinkston, from Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, has committed to Villanova. It never appeared Syracuse was in the cards, even after the Tobias switch. Pinkston, who averaged 23.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game last season, chose the Wildcats over Tennessee, St. John's, Seton Hall and Marquette. He had four Big East schools among his finalists. Kimani Young is Pinkston's AAU coach. "Over the last few weeks, he was weighing his options. There were just too many positives about Villanova." How about PT on the stacked Wildcats? "If you're a player, you want to play with other (good) players. You're not worried about playing time. And I'll tell you what: I don't know any coach who's not going to put a player on the floor who can help the team win. It'll be hard to keep him off the floor." * * * 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? Otto Comments on Current Events. 12.3.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
Emotional apologies from sports celebrities have overwhelmed the country for the last 24 hours. In an exclusive letter to The Fizz, Syracuse's beloved mascot expresses remorse for his recent transgressions.* * * I, Otto the Orange, must admit to Orange Nation that I have had several shortcomings over the last few years that I have not been completely upfront about. I have tried to deal with my issues behind closed doors for too long. I am merely an Orange... with legs. I am by no means a perfect mascot and I have let some things slide that the Syracuse fan base is not deserving of. I apologize for letting the basketball team miss the NCAA tournament in 2007 and 2008. I nearly cried tears of orange juice all over the Dome when we lost to UMass twice in the 2007-2008 season. The only other team to ever do that to us was Penn State back in the 1922-1923 season when Jim Boeheim was born. Although I am very well known and I have made my career as a professional mascot, it is very difficult to share some of these mistakes with you. I am also constantly reminded of the football uniforms I approved with Otto's Army to start the 2007 season. All orange? What was I thinking? Then someone even had the audacity to start a Facebook group trying to get the field in the Dome painted orange. Do you know how many donations I had to solicit just to get an orange "44" on the sidelines! And you can't even see that during games. I can't believe I'm admitting this all to you. It's just that, after all the debate lately over some decisions that have been made - I felt I had to say something. I can't begin to tell you how distraught I was when Oklahoma beat us in the Sweet 16 in March. I lost so much Vitamin C after that game - but at least I wasn't the only one in the arena with no teeth. Oklahoma brought a lot of fans too. And then there was more football: Losing to Louisville is one of those moments I wish I could erase. I was so happy getting on the plane to go to Kentucky because even if I called the plays, we would still win. And then Rob Spence got fired! We used to have lunch in the Manley cafeteria and then go powerlift in the weight room together. Am I ashamed of myself? Yes. I will strive to be a better mascot and the leader that Orange Nation deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I promise you we will never re-hire Greg Robinson as long as I am ripe. Which leads me to my last note. I wanted to share with you, before anyone dug it up, this voicemail below that I left for Groobers last month: Please forgive me. Sincerely, Otto The Orange * * * 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? Big East Lax + 1. 12.3.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Sure, we're not even into the heart of the holiday shopping season yet, but that hasn't stopped Inside Lacrosse from releasing its obscenely early lax preview capsules!Some extra fruitcake for lax fans this Christmas with the formation of the new Big East conference for both men and women. Guess who leads the men's first ever preseason poll? Yep, the only relevant program in the conference. No matter how lax-heads will spin Notre Dame and Georgetown's potential, the 'Cuse is two-time defending National Champions and owns half the coach's pre-season all-conference team. To the Hoyas and Irish: have fun at your bocce tournament on Memorial Day. Big East Commissioner John Marinatto weighed in on the momentous occasion. "Yes, in theory we have a Big East lacrosse conference. In reality, it's just an easier way for Syracuse to get its requisite wins for the NCAA tournament. John Desko had informed us that between polishing his 34 National Championship rings, it was getting more difficult to find time to call the Holiday Inn at Amherst. This works best for everyone. Providence and Villanova get to wear their dad's ties and pretend like they're big boys. It's our version of "Dress Your Kid Up for Work Day." Rutgers, Notre Dame and Georgetown can compile meaningless "Big East wins" - and St. Johns? Well, we wanted something to keep them off the streets of Jamaica, Queens for a few months. We've toyed with the idea of just making Syracuse the automatic qualifier from the Big East through 2099. We believe by the 22nd Century, the playing field will have leveled and the rest of the conference may be able to be competitive. It's still something we're working on." * * * FizzCast: Listen to the team analyze the football firings and whether Marrone should take over the play-calling duties. 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? CNY: Home of Florida State Track Meets. 12.2.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Time for Orange Nation to become familiar with Google Maps: Florida. Marrone's Marauders should reference the job done on the recruiting trail in the Sunshine State rather than on the football field these days. Speedy defensive back Gareef Glashen is the newest South Florida product to commit to the Orange in the last three weeks. The Fizz once upon a time lamented the incompetence of the previous regime in Florida, but it's nice to say we've already schooled you on the other SU commits from the FLA last month, Max Beaulieu and Brice Hawkes. Looks like Marrone and the Orange are serious players in SEC/ACC country already. The 5'11", 182-pound burner from Carol City High was not a recruiting win the likes of top-prospect biggun' Beaulieu, but collecting speed and athleticism (which SoFla kids have in abundance) is smart football. Glashen has chosen SU over Colorado State and Utah State. These are the battles Syracuse should win and finally is on a regular basis. Glashen beamed at the chance to play in a BCS conference. "This is a huge opportunity for me. There was so much to like about this program and the coaches. I love the direction they are headed in." He's one of the fastest players in South Florida (which is like identifying the most expensive Maybach at the Source Awards) and just a glance at his YouTube highlights should get Fizz Nation giddy. We suggest you fast-forward to the 2:05 mark and watch him run-down a running back after spotting him 20 yards. You can also check out his personal workout and feel the freaking wind blow in your face when he runs the 40. While you can argue the Dome is no longer the recruiting tool it once was, selling the fast track and controlled conditions in the brutal Northeast should be a no-brainer. This is not nuero-science. Kids, we know it's cold on the Quad, but play your games indoors and let's take advantage of your speed. The Sunshine Pipeline is back up and running to the Carrier Dome. * * * FizzCast: Listen to the team analyze the football firings and whether Marrone should take over the play-calling duties. 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? First First: The Next Big MLB. 12.1.09 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
Thanksgiving marks the end of high school football all around New York State for most schools, but there were still a select few that kept on playing through those turkey hangovers. The New York State High School Football Championships took place at the Dome over the weekend and you can bet the SU football program kept a keen eye on the proceedings. On Saturday, Southwestern beat Bronxville (for you high school football buffs), but in the loss one player found himself in the middle of a recruiting battle. His name is John Shkreli (pictured middle), and he's a 6'2" senior linebacker from Bronxville High School. Bronxville has been a successful team over the last couple seasons, albeit in one of New York's smaller school divisions. But snagging a recruit from a winning program is what Syracuse needs. In the state title game, Shkreli's team lost 40-14 and yet the kid still stood out. How about being honored when your defense allows 40 points? He picked up eight tackles en route to being named the games defensive MVP. Incredible. A couple weeks ago he picked up 12 tackles as the defense's middle linebacker. The eyes he's got on him according to his head coach Jeff Napolitano? Syracuse, Rutgers, Notre Dame and Purdue. Greg Schiano? Meet Doug Marrone. And for that matter, maybe Big East rival Brian Kelly too if he ends up in South Bend. Bronxville is in Westchester County, just north of New York City, and although the area is known much more for its basketball, it's produced some recent football studs as well. Doug Hogue, arguably the best healthy linebacker on the SU roster is from Roosevelt High in Yonkers. Ray Rice came from the eponymous New Rochelle High School. And back in the day, Syracuse great and NFL Hall of Famer Art Monk graduated from my alma mater, White Plains High School. You can make a sure bet that somebody from the SU football staff got left behind on the UConn trip and was sitting in the stands at the Dome potentially watching the next generation shine. Keep an eye on John Shkreli. (Photo Credit: LoHud.com) * * * FizzCast: Listen to the team analyze the football firings and whether Marrone should take over the play-calling duties. 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? Grim Day on The Hill. 12.1.09 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Rob Spence arrived at Syracuse an offensive play-calling cowboy. He leaves as a cow patty.Known for his wide-open offense and swash-buckling ways, Spence seemed like the perfect fit for an Orange offense that had recently paid homage to Yale's 1901 attack. Ironically, the Pelham, NY native and Iona graduate seemed much more at home in his straw fedora and shades, implementing a high-powered offense down among the mangroves and pulled-pork of South Carolina. At Clemson, Spence oversaw one of the most versatile attacks in the ACC. This season with the Orange? SU's offense looked as sluggish as Otto the morning after Flip Night at Faegan's. Five times SU was held under two touchdowns and the three-game losing streak against Cincinnati, Pitt and Louisville in which the Orange scored a measly 26 points summoned the grim reaper. It should be noted, Clemson had fired Spence in the wake of the Tommy Bowden blood-letting, so it wasn't quite that SU had stolen a guy from under the nose of a perennial Top-25 team.  FizzCast: Listen to Team Fizz break down the firing of Rob Spence and the future of the SU offense. After becoming victim (alongside Derrick Jackson and Jaime Elizondo) to Marrone's sickle yesterday, Spence has been let go twice in a calendar year. Right now anything is possible (and not in the euphoric Kevin Garnett way). Could Marrone take over the play-calling duties? Will The Krag, aka Steve Kragthorpe, be coming to The Hill to orchestrate the offense? Is there enough Dinosaur BBQ to sway Charlie Weis into a CNY visit? Time to break out the game film of those 1901 Yalies. * * * 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? Read The Fizz from November. It's good eatin'. 
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