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    Team Fizz Bios: Meet the Team Orange Feedback: Email the Fizz Fizz Archives: Browse the Fizz Files     |
#New Uniforms
#Signing Day
#Juli's Hot
#D.C. UglinessNova-Geddon: Destruction. 2.28.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK  Did any of us think the demolition of Villanova would be so swift, so complete? Even the most optimistic Orange fan believed the #8 team in the country and one of the best teams in the Big East would provide a little more resistance, right? But last night was just another example of how thoroughly dominating this Syracuse team can be. Remember all of the questions - the same ol' queries - that dogged SU early in the season? Can they win outside of the Dome? Can the Orange win in a true road game? Can SU do this in the Big East? Which team will figure out the 2-3 zone? All of it is yellow, peed-upon slush. Syracuse has overcome every obstacle, won every which way. And the severity of last night's thrashing of 'Nova is an impossible to ignore message to the college basketball cognescenti. The 'Cuse is in the house... oh my God, oh my God. Click on any of the pics from last night's watch party at the Boston Pour House. Great showing for New England Orange Nation. 
 
 * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Nova-Geddon: Are You Ready? 2.27.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
For those that don't know, my career began at WAER in Syracuse. Greatest job I'll ever have. No money, no prestige, driving a beat-up news van to Morgantown to call SU-WVU on a Tuesday night and having to make it back for Wednesday afternoon classes.WAER - the O.G. home of the Orange - is at it again. Figured I'd give them some props here. Both Couzens and Conroy ply their trade at WAER as well, so for those that are inclined to hear how the next Costas', Tirico's and Marv's do it, check out their coverage courtesy of Sports Director David Resnick: 7:00-8:00: Villanova Tailgate comes your way live from the Carrier Dome. Our hosts will breakdown the game and take your calls at 315.443.2011 for your thoughts on the match-up. 8:00-9:00: A special hour long Countdown To Tipoff takes you right up to game time. Join us for stories on getting the Carrier Dome ready for ESPN Game Day, the students that camped out for front row seats, the last time Syracuse broke the on campus attendance record and Villanova's rise to a national power. We'll also have an interview with Coach Rob Murphy, an extensive breakdown of the Wildcats, plus a look ahead to the NCAA tournament and likely seeding for SU and 'Nova. Our stories feature interviews with national analysts, along with Villanova announcer Ryan Fannon and former Wildcat head coach Rollie Massimino 9:00-11:00 - Game broadcast. 11:00-1:00 - The most comprehension post game call in show in Syracuse is ZJ's Double Overtime. Once again, call in with your thoughts (315.443.2011) on the game. From 7:00-9:00 and then from 11:30-1:00 you can listen to our coverage on www.waer.org. Just click 'listen live.' From 9:00-11:30, you can listen to the broadcast as an option on Orange All Access. In case you missed any portion of Countdown To Tipoff, be sure to check out waersports.podbean.com. It's the audio home of the Original Home of the Orange. For more information our website is: www.waer.org/sports and our twitter acocunt is: twitter.com/waersports - - - Beat. Nova. Villanova begins Preparation to Pee Down Legs. 2.26.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
How do you celebrate a momentous victory over USF? You pee in public, of course.Villanova junior Corey Stokes has been cited for public urination, an incident that took place about a mile from campus outside a bar on Lancaster Avenue some four hours after the Wildcats' 74-49 win over the Bulls. "Stokes and some teammates just had left an off-campus bar around 3 a.m. when police riding past in a patrol car caught him urinating between two parked cars." We actually have to give Stokes credit here. Have you ever been to the campus of Villanova? There's huge, imposing crosses and crucifixes every fifteen feet. It's gotta be the single most intimidating college in the country to take a public piss at. Everywhere you turn, Jesus is whispering, "Can't you hold it, my son?" Plus, Stokes went off for 11 points that night. I mean, 11 points. He basically dropped a Kobe on the Bulls. That's almost six points per half. He owned USF. Celebrate Corey! Go get hammered and pee somewhere! Coach Jay Wright in a statement, "This was a simple mistake by a college student. Corey regrets it and apologizes for it. We will now deal with it within our basketball family." There ya go Jay! Way to put the foot down! What a disciplinarian this guy is, huh? No wonder he's been able to land Top-5 recruiting classes to an uptight over-the-top Catholic retreat disguised as a university. Suspend him?!? What are you kidding me? We have Syracuse at the Dome on ESPN Saturday! Wright added, "Not only will Corey not be suspended, he will be named captain for the night. We are very impressed that Corey's work ethic and attitude have carried over to off the court. He was merely preparing for what we plan to do on Saturday, which is pee all over ourselves." * * * Listen to the latest FizzCast as the boys debate whether SU is deserving of a #1 seed, how overrated the rest of the country is, Hoya annoyance and Lax preview '10. Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Mookie's Break Can't Break the Mojo. 2.25.10 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
At the start of the season, Mookie Jones threw his headband into the crowd while walking off the floor. He wanted more minutes, but understood his role. Now he has a broken finger, and we've been treated to the pictures on Twitter. That's the summary of "controversy" for the Syracuse Orange this season. No meal card issues, no Halloween night throwdowns, no major injuries. The '09-'10 season has been as good as any Orange fan could have asked for (with reinforcements on the way as well). Putting things in (short term) historical perspective, this season has been the (nearly) perfect campaign for Syracuse. How far gone are the days of Scoop's Uncle and Andy's injury? Paul Harris' perpetual unhappiness and Devo's constant headaches? But can this team do no wrong? Almost. The only thing that can derail them now would seemingly be a painful early exit in the Big East Tournament. Appears Jim Boeheim is the sure fire National Coach of the Year. Nova-geddon is ahead this weekend, and the Wildcats just snapped their first two-game losing streak in two years to keep the hype alive. And to close out the season it's St. John's at home and Louisville on the road. Certainly not the easiest of games considering some of the upsets the Big East has seen, but it certainly could be worse. So keep your fingers, eyes, toes and anything else you can cross, crossed because the momentum of this season is not slowing down. * * * Listen to the latest FizzCast as the boys debate whether SU is deserving of a #1 seed, how overrated the rest of the country is, Hoya annoyance and Lax preview '10. Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Juli Can what Arinze Can't. 2.25.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK If Saturday's Nova-geddon comes down to free throws, The Fizz thinks it might be a better idea to put the game in Julie Boeheim's hands than say, Mr. Onuaku. In the most recent Jim&Juli Boehiem Foundation vid, the Mrs. is not Misses. She drills the free throw. Crowd goes wild. Are you listening Derrick Coleman? But what else would you expect? Julie is a freaking smoke show and basically the greatest wife ever created. She runs a foundation. Raises a litter of aspiring referee-bashing-coaches. She's fashionable (not always the easiest score in CNY). She's incredibly affable - the rare breed who can easily mingle with the high-roller donors of the Upper West Side ("New York's Team!") and the every day ticket holders in section 314 Tully's crowd. Plus, she's crazy hot (44 going on 24) and can feather free throws. The best part is we have to need to worry about The Per'fesser going rogue and pulling a Pitino on us. Boeheim's already at the top of the food chain. There's nowhere to go but down. Syracuse has been haunted by miserable free throw shooting late in critical games. The hand of Otto has waved a few wide. But Juli's touch proves no need to fret. She just knocked it down at a gym named after Carmelo. 'Tis truly the year of the Orange. * * * Listen to the latest FizzCast as the boys debate whether SU is deserving of a #1 seed, how overrated the rest of the country is, Hoya annoyance and Lax preview '10. Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Wild Wild East. 2.24.10 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
Hooray for a shootout in Providence. Sure, it was one of those defense-optional affairs, but you can't say you didn't enjoy watching it. Getting down to business, do you think Rick Jackson had a man on him last night? Scoring 28 points looked too easy on 13-17 shooting. I don't honestly think there was anyone there next to him, and it looks like Donna Ditota doesn't either. "Jackson said as the game wore on, his confidence continued to swell. He treated the contest, he said, almost like practice. He established position, caught the ball and 'did all my moves and it was just working.'" Do you know who guards these players in practice? I will tell you who. This guy. Yes, that is Couzens. He was once a team manager. In some scenarios, Couzens had to don a giant foam condom on his sleeve and pretend he weighed more than 160 pounds. So when Jackson says he treated it like practice, what he really means is that he had unathletic, undersized guys on him trying to believe they weighed enough. The Friars' Bilal Dixon? Same thing, at 6'8" and under 230. Don't forget Arinze Onuaku, who had an efficient 6-10 FG night for 12 points. He also didn't go to the line once. Providence "know-alls" predicted a litany of fouls on the SU big men as the Friars tried to run-'n-gun. This would theoretically be the great-equalizer, as the Orange bigs shoot worse than me from the free throw line. Fail on that one. SU 26-2. Fail Friars. 99-85. * * * Listen to the latest FizzCast as the boys debate whether SU is deserving of a #1 seed, how overrated the rest of the country is, Hoya annoyance and Lax preview '10. Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. How Making Donuts Ruined My Life. 2.23.10 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
(Fizz Alert: This post was originally sourced as D.A. The piece was actually written by Mike Couzens. The Fizz regrets the error and now owes Couzens a Dome Dog and a Natty Light.)I apologize, I've got family ties to Providence. My oldest sister went to PC for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees, and even had her graduation ceremony at the Dunkin Donuts Center. But worst of all (sorry sis), was that she played flute (yes flute) in the pep band. Even I can't restrain from laughing at the absurdity of what was just written. Before I knew what the Big East was, or knew about big time college hoops, I was forced to sit through Providence College basketball games. There were some high points, with players like Geoff McDermott and Donnie McGrath, but there were oh so many low points. I used to enjoy basketball. That was before sitting through those games. Sometimes they weren't even at the "Dunk." PC's Alumni Hall hosted a few. It was basically an abandoned middle school. Providence College basketball sucked. (So did the pep band. How are you even supposed to hear a flute over the drums?) I started playing high school hoops alongside guys that would go on to play in major AAU tournaments and earn college scholarships. Then I attended Syracuse where tens of thousands of people showed up, games were on national television and the guys with college scholarships went on to get NBA contracts. And Providence College basketball still sucked. So I blame you, PC, for ruining my notion of what college basketball was supposed to be. Big time crowds? Nope. Major hype and excitement? Nope. Worst mascot in the Big East? Yup. Tonight as Syracuse heads into the Dunk, still perfect on the road, nothing has changed my mind. Providence has a mall where the prime attraction is "Dave and Busters." Its corrupt mayor had to resign twice, once after assaulting a contractor with "a lit cigarette, an ashtray and a fireplace log." Providence is like the safety school for eastern seaboard preppies. Despite the nickname "Renaissance City," there hasn't been a renaissance. Providence College basketball still sucks. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Win a Shirt, Get into a Brawl! 2.23.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
It's free. You like free don't you? Thought so, Fizz Nation. The Fizz and Holy Shirt are once again teaming up to make your Orange fandemonium even sweeter. 1) Email us your score prediction for tonight's SU@Providence tilt by tipoff: thedashow@yahoo.com (make sure you include your mailing address). 2) Top 5 winners will get the Beat'Nova t-shirt sent to them free by Holy Shirt by gametime Saturday (as long as it's in the lower 48). 3) Wear the greatest shirt ever to the 'Nova game with a sign that references The Fizz and take a picture. Email that to us. (Even if you're just a poor sap who can't afford $300/ticket use your imagination; hold a sign reading "Hey Gottlieb, Fizz This!" in front of the MONY towers). 4) If your pic is awesome (points for creativity, uniqueness, derring-do), we'll select you to blog for the Fizz for a day. We've already awarded six winners for last week's SU-Georgetown score prediction. Props to Scott R. and Craig S., who correctly had the 'Cuse winning by four - and Steve G. who came within a point of hitting the 75-71 final, by taking the Orange 75-70. 
You need to get your compete level up for tonight's game at the Dunk? Well, then check out the eight people arrested this morning on 23 charges stemming from a brawl at a Camillus Youth Basketball Association game earlier this month.I mean, it's just hard to imagine this happening. They all look like such good guys. Definitely not the type of individuals who would come out of the stands to throw haymakers around small children at a youth basketball game. Stay classy Terry Boiselle, Ismail Deb, Odeh Ibrahim, Hassanat Ibrahim, Hussein Deb and Magid Hussein. Because there's nothing more important than a hard foul during a Camillus Youth League Game. Well, besides the safety of children, setting a good example for the players and your dignity. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Fizz First: Hoops Reinforcements. 2.22.10 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
The 'Cuse stands at 25-2, alone at the top of the Big East conference, and a probable number-one seed in this year's Big Dance. But with Andy Rautins, Arinze Onuaku, and (potentially) Wes Johnson set to leave the Orange after the season, what's the Class of '10 look like for Boeheim and co.? The early signing period was November 11th - 18th (when Tobias spurned the Fizz and 'Cuse fans). During that time, the official signatures from C.J. Fair, Baye Moussa Keita, Fab Melo, and Dion Waiters were faxed over to Manley Field house. That led to the 5th-best recruiting class according to Rivals. Left is the late signing period, between April 14th - May 19th. That's when highly-touted Brandon Knight and Josh Selby (pictured) will announce their intentions. So why the wait? Quite simply, the best players want to go to the best programs, but also have to make sure their playing time is intact. Take a case like Knight: it's been widely assumed that SU is out of it because of the jam at point guard between Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche (although The Fizz believes there's still a slight chance). That leaves, more or less, Kansas, Kentucky, and UConn. Sherron Collins is gone as a senior, so Knight has no need to worry about P-T with the Jayhawks, but the Wildcats or Huskies? John Wall is 99% gone, but the smart money is on waiting until Wall declares so you don't have to watch 11 from the pine. The even greater variable is Kemba Walker from UConn, who is on the cusp of the NBA, but would probably need a Jonny Flynn-esque end of season to vault his stock. It's torturous to the fans, but you can't blame kids for wanting the most exposure before they hit the pros? Assuming the pros still exist in 2011. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Andy Katz = Gheri Curl + Good Sense. 2.21.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
First, Andy Katz's hair is great. Seems like you have to own the most ridiculous mop possible to get a job as an ESPN analyst. Mel Kiper Jr. coif looks like he just stepped out of a mafia-run salon on Astoria Blvd. in Queens. Peter Gammons has a presidential 'fro straight out of the 1830s (and Andrew Jackson's portrait on the $20 bill). Katz has always had a pretty curl-tastic gheri going, but this season it seems wetter than normal. Guess he's just getting his gameface on. Secondly, Katz threw up his four potential one-seeds this morning on SportsCenter and the 'Cuse was in the mix. Great. Doesn't really matter what number-one SU is, as long as it's top dog in its region. But, it's been disturbing how much undeserved respect the other top teams are getting. Undoubtedly, Kansas has the credentials and Kentucky has the difference-maker in John Wall. But honestly, look at the conferences the rest of these number-ones play in. The Big 12 and Big 10 are a joke. The SEC stopped playing basketball sometime in the 1970s. What kind of challenge is it to weave your way through those conference schedules? The nightly Big East minefield is disgusting. The Orange has wins over UConn, Marquette, West Virginia, Notre Dame and TWO over Top-10 Georgetown. SU won 11 Big East games in a row? That should qualify for a number-one alone. As long as the Per'fesser and co. get a top seed, we'll smile and wave. But the inexplicable respect the other conferences are getting is making us violently twitch. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. So You Hate Us for Being Awesome? 2.20.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK
I mean, is this the greatest season of all-time? 1987, 1996 and 2003 feel like a long time ago compared to how incredible this run has been.Forget the rankings, the national love and the demolition of the Big East. The single greatest part of this season is clearly this Georgetown blog. (BTW great Tumblr format. Very professional. So when can we expect your pics of the Nor'easter uploaded?) "This is by far the most classless fan base in the BIG EAST and possibly in the country, including 'grown men' who have sworn at my mother during SU-GU games. And this disgusting lack of class was absolutely proven last night, in spades." Oh, I'm giddy. For the complete breakdown of how douchey Hoya fan is, read this post from The Fizz. "I am not talking about general obnoxiousness of both the color of your shirts and the content of your epithets." Cool, you're not talking about how the color Orange matches with anything after 25 wins? "This is not about the grown man who got down and yelled in my friend Kathy's face in the middle of the game." What do you want? Kathy's a bitch. "Or even the runty teenagers (maybe related to Gerry MacNamara?) who came down into the section at halftime to make vulgar gestures to the Hoyas student section." We grow 'em young. "Like the Syracuse fan in a luxury box who was jawing back and forth with a Georgetown young alum that was heading out of Section 118, and decided that it was appropriate to throw a full cup of Coke on the GU fan's sweatshirt." Is it our fault you invited an SU fan into a luxury suite? So a brain-dead Hoya fan spent $3,000 on a box to watch this team lose (again), invited his buddy Orange fan and it's our fault there's a Coke thrown? We toss Coca-cola products like they were beads at Mardia Gras in CNY. "Barely a minute later, as we were exiting section 119 and about to head onto the concourse, a mousy brunette in a Syracuse tee shirt and grey North Face jacket reached up and dumped her half-full beer on my head and my winter coat." Is she single? I'd put the ring on her finger right now. Mousy is hot. "This is to say nothing of the crowd of meatheads outside the arena yelling 'F-- Georgetown! F-- UConn! F-- the BIG EAST!!!'" Those aren't meatheads. They're our valedictorians. I need "St. Elmo's Fire" in my Netflix queue. "Or finally, as we walked home, the Syracuse fan who decided that the side of a building on 15th Street was an appropriate place to urinate. Real quickly, when's the last time Georgetown won anything? When Lite Brite was big? When ALF was a hit? Thanks for playing GU. Perfect metaphor. We just urinated all over your season. See ya at MSG. F--- Georgetown, indeed. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Mission Accomplished. 2.19.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
First of all, props to Dennis Nett from the Post-Standard. This picture is terrific.The Per'fesser gave marching orders to eliminate the Hoyas, and his Orange abided. There's no doubt, this win should've come easier. A 23-point lead and firm command of the game from the opening tip, Orange Nation was expecting a stress-less double-digit win. But Georgetown's furious comeback cut the lead to one possession late and the 'Cuse had to sweat out a 75-71 win. Let's flip this around, though. Instead of worrying that Syracuse lacks the killer instinct, how about applauding the Orange for finding ways to win no matter what? The strangest sensation in the world as an SU fan is watching a huge lead dissipate at Georgetown and still stay confident, "Don't worry, these are the games we win." SU has found the playbook for winning tight games late: Up by huge margins and holding on. Down late and coming back. Tight game and making free throws to ice it. Doing enough to get the "W." For ego purposes, The Fizz would've loved to see the Orange walk into the Verizon Center and walk out with a 30-point win. But realistically, that doesn't happen in the Big Dance. So, maybe this is actually better serving the bigger purpose. Eliminate the Hoyas? Roger that. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. The Hoya Dome-Brawl Revisited. 2.18.10 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
This is it. Orange Nation's time to prove that there's more to college than popped collars and getting internships to (ahem) assist politicians on Capitol Hill. It's about waking up late on Saturday afternoon not knowing where you are and then using your built in GPS to take you to Cosmos to ease the pain of whatever concoctions you drank last night. And as the Fizz noted in a now well-circulated post, it's also about beating the crap out of everything Georgetown. I once killed time by jumping into a campus tour just so I could ask anti-G'Town questions that would get the crowd going. The look on the face of the tour guide when I told her I went to Syracuse? Priceless. And Georgetown fans - if you think we forgot about you playing the "wants to fight guy" card at the Dome last year... well, we didn't. "I actually saw it," SU's associate athletic director Pat Campbell said. "There was some stuff going on. The Georgetown kids were so totally out-numbered and some of our finest decided to pelt them with plastic bottles." Sarcastic or not, those were probably some of Syracuse's drunkest too. But SU fans travel like none other and Hoyas beware, there will be an influx of Orange tonight at the Verizon Center. Last time out against this Hoya squad was enjoyable, wasn't it? Even worse for all the President's men, they're catching this SU team at exactly the wrong time. Coming off of a home loss to an inferior team means Syracuse should have ample motivation for tonight's latest installment of the Big East's best rivalry. So get up, get rowdy, and LET'S GO ORANGE. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Wake Up Early for Jay Bilas. 2.18.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Ok, Fizz Nation. You have your marching orders. Nearly 5,000 tickets have been distributed for College Gameday on campus for Nova-geddon. "Free tickets for SU students are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Schine Student Center Box Office or the Carrier Dome Box office. A limited number of free general admission tickets for the public from Syracuse University are available at the Carrier Dome Box Office. Each individual can pick up a maximum of four tickets." Look we know it's early. Show begins at 11a. So they're asking students to get there at 8a, regular folks to arrive at 9:30a (which is pretty funny. They realize normal people find it nearly impossible to get anywhere before 9a. College kids? Anytime, anywhere for a party). But this is a time to shine. I have no doubt there will be sufficient buzz all weekend. Orange fans will be drinking and partying like it's 1987. Almost 35,000 people will flood the Dome. A chance to make a statement to the nation and ESPN suits, however, is an enormous opportunity. Bristol angles for good visuals. Makes them look important and feel more important. If Louisiana-Monroe brought a full gym and some oversized signs to Gameday, you'd see a lot more Sun Belt action on Saturdays during the winter. This is a great excuse to drink and wear orange. Make your Fizz sign the night before. Wake up at 7a. Shotgun a few beers. You'll be working on five hours sleep anyway, so by the first sip you'll be loopy again. Throw on your "Beat Nova" shirt that you'll win through the unholy alliance of Holy Shirt and The Fizz. Walk over to the Dome and start screaming about Bilas' LSAT scores and Digger Phelps' highlighters. Party until noon at the Dome. Boo when Hubert Davis picks the Tar Heels as a dark horse Final Four pick. Stagger back to your bed. Power nap. And then prepare for Nova-geddon. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. The Per'fesser is so Stacked. 2.17.10 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
Jim Boeheim did an interview with Stack Magazine about what makes a "good recruit" for his program, and one quote resonated here with Team Fizz. (Editor's Note: Look at that smirk on his face. Love it. I wish I could frame that and hang it in Calhoun's bathroom.) "Obviously talent's very important, but the attitude the player has, how he relates to his teammates and his coach, how he is in tough situations when things aren't going that well - character's so important." Sure, that seems like a cookie-cutter answer from Jimmy B, but how about this important fact: The date of the interview - September 1, 2008. Ring a bell? This was post-NIT, smack dab in the middle of the Slim Devo Era. This was after two seasons of do-it-all Paul making his coach's heads explode. Consider that this was Scoop Jardine pre-weight loss and post-cheesesteak. The team's makeup since then has considerably changed since that quote hit the presses. Scoop had his epiphany, Wes Johnson came into the fray, Kris Joseph started his Twitter account (all loving until this weekend, as The Fizz noted) and Andy Rautins stepped in as a vocal leader for the team. Mookie Jones has been the biggest headache this season, and even he's a far cry from the ongoing Devo/Harris sagas. In fact, being on campus every day, he's almost always with another member of the team. Did Boeheim change the way he recruited? Probably not. But he did he change who he recruited? Maybe. And an eye on character doesn't hurt. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Holy Shirt has been Fizzed. 2.17.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
You know that upcoming date in the nation's capital for the Orange?Well, that could be the greatest day of your life. No really. Way better than prom night. The creative geniuses at Holy Shirt and The Fizz have conspired to make the 2009-'10 season even more incredible for you in Orange Nation. Holy Shirt (the brains behind "Overrated?!?!" and "Syracuse Marathon Men") have created a new tee for Nova-geddon. H.S. loves the Fizz, we love the iconic shirts, now we both want to make this happen. 1) Email us your score prediction for Thursday's Syracuse-Georgetown tilt: thedashow@yahoo.com (i.e. Syracuse wins 178-40). 2) Top 6 winners will get the 'Nova t-shirt sent to them free by Holy Shirt (as long as it's in the lower 48). 3) Wear your Holy Shirt tee to the 'Nova game with a sign that references The Fizz and take a picture. Email that to us. (If you're a poor sap who can't get into the game, use your imagination; hold a sign reading "Will Fizz for Orange tickets" standing on the roof of Tully's). 4) If your pic is awesome (points for creativity, uniqueness, derring-do), we'll select you to blog for the Fizz for a day. No joke. You can write whatever you want. We just have to insert "bleeps" for the G-rating. We want the voice of the fan to help us document this incredible season. We want Fizz signage running rampant around campus and the Dome on the 27th. Oh, and we also enjoy being entertained at The Fizz - we know how insane some of you are - so go do your worst. Game. On. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Orange Gods are Smiling. 2.16.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Currently, I'm using the Wi-Fi in an Otto hoodie at Hancock International Airport and eating luke warm Sbarro.These are all actually very good things. The Orange Gods are smiling on us, everyone. Let it be known. The Fizz has documented all of this season dropped from heaven. A year which most of us felt would be a throwaway after the early departures of Jonny Flynn and the Mousketeers. Yet, here was Wes Johnson arriving from the cornfields of Iowa - and dominant SU non-conference play - and thrashings of Geoergetown and the rest of the Big East - and now we're all wondering when the magic carpet ride ends. I had a wedding this weekend in Kansas City, chance to hang with the boys and watch some Big Monday basketball. My boy Rizzo (aka Nick Wright) and I were chopping it up about the 'Cuse - making some early plans in case there's a trip to Indianapolis in the near future. And this morning, I threw on my new Otto hooded sweatshirt, packed the bags and headed back to Boston. Until snow hit the Northeast, shutting down Logan and diverting us to... Syracuse. Yep, f-ing Syracuse. How great? So, the Wi-Fi is free ($7.95 for the day in the first layover Detroit). Delta has attempted to massage the frustration with complimentary Sbarro pies and Sierra Mist (although eating airport pizza for dinner debatably makes the situation worse). And I'm just wondering if it's gonna be the slab or the pulled pork at Dinosaur and how many Blue Moons I can throw down at Faegan's with Team Fizz - assuming they can't clear the runway at Logan. My Missouri to Massachusetts trip has an unexpected stop in good ol' CNY where I can stare at a Billy Owens autographed 8" x 10". Let's hope they have warm Sbarro in Indianapolis. Update: After a two-hour delay in the terminal - and another 45 in the air because of a stalled plane on the runway at Logan - I finally touched down in Boston at 9:30p. No Dinosaur. No Blue Moons. Never been so disappointed to leave an airport terminal. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Where's the Point? 2.16.10 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
Before the Orange travels to Georgetown attempting to rebound after the gut-wrenching loss to Louisville, it's important to dissect the reasons the Cardinals were able to walk out of the Dome with a win.The Fizz went crazy over Tim Higgins' absurd call. Wes Johnson went a measly 5-for-20 from the field, and still looks off. Andy Rautins' outside effectiveness faded down the stretch. However, we should also point to point guard play as a major reason why the Orange just couldn't get things going offensively Sunday. Brandon Triche's line? Beyond insignificant. 0 points, 3 assists, one turnover in 14 minutes. Scoop Jardine had just 6 points, 3 assists, and 3 turnovers in 26. In fact, whether it be from up top or down low there wasn't a floor leader for the 'Cuse. Nobody had more than three assists in the game. And while 17 assists on 24 field goals is a great percentage, the sheer number of shots made was indicative of the teams ineffectiveness against Pitino's press and zone. A team that is usually tops in the Big East in field goal percentage was held to under 42% on the day. And if Donna Ditota's feature on study habits is to be believed, then the team should realize that number ain't good. The 2-2-1 that Rick runs was heralded coming into the game, and I mentioned to Couzens at the Fizz-Quarters, "I'd be surprised if Triche sees more than 15 minutes." Triche is good, he'll get better, and he can score. That's why he's starting as a freshman. But if there was going to be a "trap" for the Orange, this was it. An athletic, veteran team that had a litany of guards to throw at a young point who's level of play has shown a parabolic motion. As for Scoop, it just seemed to be a bad day. These things happen. Anyone call Josh Selby lately? * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. The Truth in Kris Joseph's Twitter. 2.16.10 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
UConn's victory over Villanova certainly gives Syracuse the advantage heading into the February 27th matchup at the Dome. While it was just mere hours ago SU fans (including us here at The Fizz) were bitching and moaning about blown calls and poor play, Villanova proved even the best of the Big East have an off night every once in a while. This was a win UConn desperately needed. After the Huskies lost in Jim Calhoun's first game back, he had this to say about scoring only 48 points against Cincinnati: "I thought it was one of the worst performances I've had here at UConn in 24 years. I'm really incredibly disappointed by the performance, and I'm embarrassed by it, quite frankly." The UConn win just continues a streak of upset victories we've seen in the conference over the last week. Rutgers beat Georgetown to possibly save Fred Hill's job... for a few days. St. John's knocked off Louisville... we're still trying to figure that one out. And then the Cards topped the Orange on the road. We're over it. Why? Because somewhere there's a cosmic alignment of basketball gods that happened to string all of these losses together to make us 'Cuse fans feel a little bit better. At least we weren't the only ones to have to suffer through a painful upset defeat. Kris Joseph summed it up pretty well on Twitter, "A lot of yall act like we can't lose a game, like we are invincible or some (bleep). That's funny cause I know half of yall can't hoop anyway." Come on man, I definitely think the 6 points I dropped in B-league intramurals the other night counts for something. The cliche of "Every Big East game being a tough one" is proving itself to be true. So as much as it pains us after our little tissle with The UConn Blog, we have to thank the Calhoun-Bots for completing the trifecta of upsets, making ours just one of the pack, rather than the wild card standing out from the crowd. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Cupid Just Blew the Call. 2.14.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Maybe The Fizz should avoid slicing and dicing Teflon Rick around these parts?The Leisure Suit and his bubble Cardinals waltzed into the Dome and walked out with an unlovely 66-60 Valentine's Day win. While Syracuse waited too long to turn on the intensity and Wes Johnson was once again merely mortal, the Orange wasn't helped by the officials. Referee Tim Higgins' intentional foul call on Kris Joseph is the kind of whistle that makes you strangle your Otto doll and cut his arms off with a ginsu. Team Fizz breaks down foul-gate. Mike Couzens: "Higgins blew the call at the end of the game. You cannot as a referee inject yourself into the middle of the game. You're not letting the players decide the game. Unless he's going to punch him in the face, you can't call the intentional foul call there." Ted Conroy: "It was clear Joseph was not doing this with any malicious intent. You let someone who's not a player on the court decide the end of the game." Valentine's Day can suck for a lot of reasons. Loneliness, disappointment, overspending. Well, add Tim Higgins to that list. Photo credit: Kevin Rivoli/ AP * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. The Great (cough) Rick Pitino. 2.13.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Boy, you win a national title and head to a few Final Fours and nothing touches ya.Teflon Rick's tinkerbells are at it again, spreading the pixie buzz that the Louisville head coach could be looking at another jump to the NBA. With the Cardinals coming to the Dome tomorrow in the midst of a disappointing campaign, maybe it shouldn't be so surprising the "Pitino-on-the-move" rumors once again have life. Once upon a time, Slick Rick was just a pup at the heel of The Per'fesser, donning garish disco-era leisure suits and tweed jackets, an assistant on the bench of this Syracuse Orange program. But Rick grew up - took the Providence Friars to the '87 Final Four (during the Big East's first heyday), got his money with the Knicks, brought Kentucky back to prominence, got more money with the Celtics and finally revived Louisville. There's no question Pitino knows his stuff. He's taken three different programs to the final weekend of the college basketball season. Recruited and churned out NBAers at every stop along the way. But with his dismal performances in both New York and Boston, one has to wonder why the reported interest in the Nets would pop up? Sure, New Jersey is an abject failure - just hiring a warm body on the sidelines is a start. But he left the Knicks when the players began tuning him out (which wasn't long) and disappeared from the Celtics after turning them into a freakish sideshow (paging Ron Mercer). It's probably much ado about nothing. Pitino would be crazy to leave the security (and success) of the college game for another miserable foray into the pros (and a Titanic-like franchise in the Nets). But maybe after the infidelity soap opera that played out this summer and athletic department support that only runs so deep for public philanderers that go .500 in conference play, Pitino's feeling that squirming sensation once again. Then again, maybe Teflon Rick just never sticks. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Close, but no Sy-gear. 2.12.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK  The new threads broken out by SU hoops Wednesday night was an upgrade. Although, that's not saying much. Somewhere in the swoosh-ification of the Syracuse brand (we're looking at you, Dr. Doom), the Orange has lost its way. The changing of the Syracuse basketball jerseys has been a rite of passage for years now; from the old-school awesomeness of the 80s, to the John Wallace design of the mid-90s, to the 'Melo title unis of the early 2000s. While the design kept modernizing, one thing kept consistent: orange, blue, white. When our favorite college corporation sold its soul to the gargantuan sneaker company from Beaverton, Oregon, though, we lost the heart of SU. Detached, profit-seeking, hipster designers sucked in the shoulders, tapered the waist, branded "Orange" on the front, cut off the shoulder piping and... (sigh) added sliver. (Bleeping) silver. We won't even touch the FEMA-inspired football jersey disaster of the oughts. Now, The Fizz is not going to hopelessly wax nostalgic about how things were better in our day. We realize, connecting yourselves through influential shoe companies is now a reality of college athletics. Hell, Ernie Davis was originally wearing freaking Air-Zoom III's on his statue. It's inevitable. Nike cuts a check for licensing. Syracuse (theoretically) uses said check for improvements in facilities, which in turns brings better recruits, which in turn elevates SU to #2 in the nation. But silver? Come on. The multi-colored thatching down the sides of the most recent hoops shorts was actually an improvement, a pretty cool nod to the bad-ass (and ultra 70s) duds of the Louie and Bouie Show days. The new jerseys replace the silver trimmings with orange. Good. It adds an orange belt, with a white box for "CUSE" on the shorts. Better. It morphs the shorts multi-color into hexagonal blobs. Eh. We can deal. It continues using silver for the numerals. Dammit. It adds a graphic of iconic campus monuments on the back. Are you f-ing kidding us? To better understand why Syracuse jerseys have lost their way, look no further than the Nike promotional video to rationalize the new redesign. Ryan Aanderud, Nike's Design Director. "Everyone knows the saying 'The 'Cuse is Loose.' Might as well call it out and make it a little more well known on the uniform." Oh, brother. "One of the key design elements to this short are the four pods. Four on each side of the short, representing the number 44, which is an iconic number to the university." That's a stretch. I guess since there's one jersey and one short, that adds up to two - which represents Syracuse's current ranking. Finally, the ridiculous icing to this hot-air cake. The back of the jersey has a light screening of the GLASS-STRUCTURE in the Carnegie Library? What the hell is going on here? First, unless Arinze Onuaku sweats metallic ink and the Dome is lit by black light, how the hell would we EVER see this? Second, I spent four years at Syracuse and may never have even SEEN the glass at Carnegie Library. The Hall of Languages? Are you kidding? Is this a basketball jersey or an "Adams Family" interpretative movie poster? I guess Notre Dame's new unis will have Touchdown Jesus praying over the "Harangody" stitching. Talk about overthinking things. This is where corporate designers get paid way too much money and need to justify it every few years with inane ideas like this. Look, let's get real: For an entire century the jerseys were orange, blue and white, read "Syracuse" on the front, had no silver and didn't have a campus map on the back. And those worked pretty well. But hey, I'm sure the suits sitting in glass offices three time-zones away have a real feel for Syracuse athletics. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. SU Hoops: The Closer. 2.11.10 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
So that's what a close game looks like, huh?The win over UConn last night was just the fourth game this season Syracuse has played within seven points at the final buzzer. But those are the type of games that might need to happen a little more often, too. It's the gut check games where every rebound, every foul, and as we saw last night, every free throw matters. The reason this ended up being a close game was clearly rebounding. Final tally: Huskies 42-39. Second Half: Huskies 26-14. SU did the little things against Cincinnati, but the Orange failed there at times last night. There was too much standing around watching under the basket, rather than getting inside and banging for a rebound. What if this game is on the road and it's the Orange trailing down the stretch trying to make a furious rally, having to foul and making a comeback? How much would that change things? Fortunately, this is what makes this SU team so much different from teams in years past. The simple ability to be closers is something to appreciate. However, twenty turnovers didn't help the cause. That number has to be lower (which on most nights it will be, especially at home), so each game doesn't have to come down to the wire. The finish line is still far down the road. There's six Big East games left, half of which are on the road - including a trip to Georgetown. Plus there's that little ol' game on the 27th against Villanova where you'll be lucky to be watching the game from the back corner of Tully's if you can get your foot in the door. So if you'll excuse the slight drizzle (we're not talking rain) here on the parade, move along with your day for now, and take a deep breath after a game that was too close for everyone's comfort . * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Obituaries: Basketball, Huskies. 2.11.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Looking for a fun way to waste time at work today Orange Nation?Begin my typing "Hartford" into your browser's Google box. If you have smart search on, your second suggestion will be "Hartford Courant obituaries." Guess a popular activity in the Nutmeg State is checking out which one of your neighbors kicked the bucket. Bonham, Merideth - Glastonbury. Coolidge, Jonathan - New Britain. Feldman, Timothy - East Hartford. Huskies, UConn - Storrs. At 4-7 in the Big East, Connecticut's season is over, embalmed and waiting for a merciless exit from the Big East tournament next month. Calhoun-bot 3000's circuit-board has finally shorted. And last night's loss at the Carrier Dome wore a toe tag. From the Courant's Jeff Jacobs: "What I don't need is to see the replay of the rest season. The Huskies still have control of their destiny. And if they don't play as hard Saturday as they did the final 14 minutes Wednesday, well, none of this matters anyhow." Are we having fun yet?! Undoubtedly, the waning minutes were too close for comfort for Orange Nation. A 16-point SU lead was erased entirely on some solid rebounding and sharp-shooting from the outside by the Huskies. But the Orange did what it has done all season: Delivering when it mattered most and eventually outlasting inferior opponents. How do we know this is a different kind of season happening before our very eyes? Syracuse, of all schools, is knocking down critical free throws to ice ball games. Knowing the toxic karma The Per'fesser's teams have had from the charity stripe in critical moments (somewhere Derrick Coleman is reading this after a night at the Ponderosa nodding), it was otherworldly to watch Wes and Kris calmly ice it with FTs last night. Is this Syracuse team better-suited than almost any of the past 15 years (maybe outside of '03) to achieve greatness? The Orange continues to play unselfishly. It continues to stress defense and make teams work through the 2-3 zone. SU is simply imposing its will on lesser teams. And now closing out close games with efficient free-throw shooting. What a great diagnosis - UConn. D.O.A. (Photo credit: Kevin Rivoli/ A.P.) * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. A Response to Storrs Community College. 2.10.10 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK
If you haven't been paying attention, The UConn Blog (no, seriously... that's actually its name. Creativity points for the special-ed kids) has turned this into a Syracuse hate half-week (which is considered 300-level Algebra in Storrs). The Fizz has news from a legitimate academic institution: it's game day, the Orange is ranked 2nd in the country, and UConn is on the outside looking in. So with that in mind, it's time for us to take off the gloves and have some blog fun. The UConn Blog decides takes a shot at Rony Seikaly for his DJ career. (Sigh. Guess that's what happens when you're preparing for Indiana State in the NIT.) "Now, one would think that a 44-year-old with a propensity to wear unbuttoned polo shirts... and use the the word 'personall'... would never mix it up on the ones and twos." Well, you should know that A.J. Price actually helped Rony get started with a SICK laptop, right? And as for the Ray Allen Syracuse-hates-you-so-much-we-won't-hire-factory-workers-named-Ray commercial, the obvious counter is the industrial workforce decline in the Salt City would make that syntax highly unlikely. But we'd hate to go over any Huskies fans' heads. Additionally, our boy Nunes outed that garbage like a year ago. But how about the real Fizz killer. How's your recruiting class, bitches? They're both Top-20 compilations, but the 'Cuse is still 11 spots ahead of UConn. At number 5. In the country. Oh and one more thing. Did we mention Joe Lunardi thinks you suck at basketball? * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Wait, That Tyrone Wheatley? 2.10.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Yes, Syracuse has filled the recently vacated Running Backs Coach position with Tyrone Wheatley. That Tyrone Wheatley.The former NFL running back. The incredible Giants bust in the early 90s. Just another name in the litany of broken NYG draft tears of that era - Jarrod Bunch, Ron Dayne, Derek Brown, Dave Brown, Thomas Lewis and the blind guy, Cedric Jones. Yet, here's The Wheat Man coming to The Hill to join Marrone's Marauders after a brief stint at Eastern Michigan as recruiting coordinator. We went to a Fizzy source with an ear close to the recruiting ground and asked, is this a good move by SU? "Great choice. He did very well there and was due for an upgrade." Did he get kids to Ypsilanti? "Yes. He was considered a very good recruiter." Well, very good might be a slight overstatement. EMU's class was ranked dead last in the country - #120 - by Scout.com a few days ago. Of course, when you're battling the Ohio's of the world (not Ohio State) for kids in the rust belt, it's a tough go. To be fair, it's hard to truly get a feel for what Wheatley was able to do at EMU. He was only there for one full season. As soon as his NFL career ended (which it's hard to believe spanned an entire decade), Wheat put his hand in the coaching ranks with positions on the Bucs and Steelers staffs. Looking at EMU's recruiting class, the Eagles did pluck kids from all over the country - including Ohio, Florida and New Jersey - which is something he'll have to do again at Syracuse. The Fizz is still disappointed Roger Harriott had to leave because his wife said so, er... because it was the right thing for his family. But hey, as Marrone builds the 1995 NFL All-Stars - now including Rob Moore AND Tyrone Wheatley - somewhere Tim Biakabutuka updates his resume. (Photo Credit: Flickr, HardyC) * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Fizz Speaks to Harriott: What Happened? 2.9.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
We barely knew ye, Roger Harriott.The newly minted member of Doug Marrone's coaching staff resigned as Syracuse running backs coach. There was no press conference, just a press release. But his snap decision to uproot his family from South Florida seemed to be the mistake which led him to reconsider. Which is interesting, considering this was his quote to the Miami Herald's Larry Bluestein when he took the job: "Talk about a quick decision. They offered and it was something I simply could not pass up. A great move for the entire family." Or not. The Fizz tracked down Harriott to ask him what fell apart. Listen to the FizzCast: "It was an agonizing decision between my wife and I. Great opportunity for me personally, but... we weighed out the dynamics of the family and the job. We have four little girls right now. We didn't marry into the college coach lifestyle. We said it may not be the right time for me to take that for our marriage and in terms of raising the kids." Interpretation: Mrs. Harriott put the smackdown. She didn't wanna be dragged around the country as the widow of a college assistant who's out recruiting and trying to rise through the levels of the profession. Too bad. This is not a man who sounds thrilled with the way thing turned out. The concern is that a foothold in South Florida recruiting may have left with Harriott's luggage. His University School in Davie, FL gave SU four-star recruit Max Beileau and Bryce Hawkes. Mr. Harriott: Are you sure you wanna leave? Have you been to Dinosaur yet? * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Harriott Returns to the Valley of the Suns. 2.9.10 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
Roger Harriott's Syracuse tenure took less time than hooking up a JUGS machine behind Manley. So the questions now are: Where does this leave Syracuse coaching-wise at the running backs position? AND How does this affect a Florida pipeline for the Orange who are trying to reconnect to the Sunshine State? The Fizz spoke to him last night, after making his decision to return as head football coach and A.D. of the University School Suns. Listen to the FizzCast with Roger Harriott. As for coaching, nothing doing yet from our friends over at footballscoop.com. At this point, it's pretty late in the game to be making any big time splashes with new hires because most coaches are locked up preparing for their spring games. Maybe there's the possibility Marrone is able to snatch an old friend away from New Orleans now that their season is officially over. It's just a Fizzy guess, but relationships are the deepest ties and the best selling points. As for what's left? There's still Max Beaulieu and Brice Hawkes who Harriott coached in high school and are left on their own now to start college without the man who brought them through their early playing days. Harriott says he talked to them before leaving though: "They understand. I coached them in high school and we always talk about faith and family and things of that nature. They understand that when you're making decisions you know, you wanna take yourself out of the equation and put your family first." One thing that Harriott did not do is leave on bad terms. He got out early and had a mutual understanding from both the SU coaching staff and his former players. This leaves him as a piece of the equation for as Syracuse continues to look for more players in Florida. Harriott might not be working at Syracuse anymore, but it doesn't mean he still can't be helpful when it comes to finding the best out of Florida for the future. Knight in ESPN Armor. 2.8.10 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
There are a couple of great things about Tully's. One is of course, the chicken tenders. The other is the amount of big screen TVs to watch everything from MSG to the Ocho. So what did I have in front of me Friday night? Pine Crest versus Winter Park high school basketball on ESPN2. You know Pine Crest, where the highly-touted Orange recruit Brandon Knight is playing. So how did things turn out? Playing against talanted guard Austin Rivers, Knight went off for 48, but his team lost 87-76 in a game that was never even that close. So how did the star feel about his effort? Well, let's just say he would fit in well with the mindset on this current Syracuse squad. "I think people look at you not for how many points you score, but if you are a winner. That is what I want to do, win. Points - who really cares, really? Forty-eight is a big number, but I could have went out and had 60 if I really tried to attack every single time. A win is the most important thing." Team first attitude in a high schooler? We're in. But the biggest question, as The Fizz has chronicled over the past months, is whether he still has the Orange in his sights. If ESPN's vetting of these kids is worth anything, the broadcast team still listed the 'Cuse in his college choices. It may just be reading tea leaves, but holding out on some hope with a guy who said he wasn't looking for his shot all game and still dropped 48? There's nothing wrong with that. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Wait, We're #2? 2.7.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Look, we know that Kansas may have National Championship rings that are still in the box. They're just two seasons removed from the miraculous comeback against Memphis.Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich and the Henry brothers are really good. Bill Self has taken every team he's ever coached to excellence. But how do you look the Orange in the eye and tell it someone else is the best team in the country? SU did what it always does, thumping a conference opponent when critics thought it may struggle. No. 3 Syracuse used a 16-3 run in the second half to wipe out a six-point University of Cincinnati advantage and post a 71-54 victory over the Bearcats. When it mattered most, the Orange went on a 28-5 binge in the final 12:25. By the end of it, Syracuse fans chanting "Let's go Orange" at Fifth Third Arena. (This has got to be one of the more satisfying line we've written this season. Orange Nation gloating after another drubbing in freaking Southern Ohio at some ridiculously-named gym. Has this been fun or what?) Kansas will be #1 yet again, and with Villanova's loss Syracuse will climb to #2. Not bad. And the pressure of being best in the nation might swell the heads of this humble SU squad. But KU has played only four ranked teams and lost to one of them. They play in a top-heavy Big 12, and were taken into overtime against #11 Kansas State. Go ahead, put Kansas #1. But you go tell the Orange, it's not the best team in the nation right now. Because I'm not sure it's true. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. One Bad Ass Orange. 2.7.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Floyd Little is pretty bad ass cool. He's also a Hall of Famer.The former Syracuse running back got the nod last night for Canton, after his extraordinary work for the hapless Broncos of forty years ago. Little was part of the #44 legacy - following Jim Brown and Ernie Davis as SU running back studs. Because he wasn't quite Superman like Brown, nor the heart-wrenching story of Davis, Little is sometimes overlooked for his exploits at the 'Cuse. But like at SU, Little was outstanding in Denver, one of the greatest running backs of his generation. When he retired in 1975, Little was 7th on the NFL's all-time rushing list. The night before his election, senior committee member Ron Borges of the Boston Herald spoke to The Fizz. "I watched him as a boy, I knew how good he was and how bad his teams were. He belongs, long overdue. I think he was a guy who was blocked because of the old AFL, when there was a lot of anti-AFL votes because of NFL die-hards. It's his one shot to get in, I hope he makes it." Little has been an unabashed Orange booster in his latter years. He has been visible as part of the SU football fabric. He's one cool old dude. "You know what ticks me off? People try to tell me now that an annual salary of $25,000 was a lot of money 30 years ago. Well, (Seahawks running back) Shaun Alexander, a guy who couldn't carry my jock strap, signed a $62 million contract in 2006. Even with inflation, you know the relevancy between $25,000 and $62 million? None. There is no relevancy." How awesome is that? Ripping Shaun Alexander. This isn't like decrepit Bob Feller blasting every baseball player under the age of 70 either. Little's right. He could own Shaun Alexander. Love it. Kids, don't know much about one of the most under-appreciated SU ballers ever? Check out this awesome profile done in the Denver Post earlier this week, plus their Floyd photo gallery. "The Hall of Fame won't call twice. I've got to own this. Right now. There won't be another chance for me. Do you know the average life expectancy of an NFL player? It's 58. And you're talking to a 67-year-old man. So I'm already on borrowed time. I don't have that many years left on this earth. I don't want to go in the Hall posthumously. No, sir. That's not for me. I need to be alive to enjoy the celebration with family and friends. Forget posthumously. If I'm not here to enjoy it, give the honor to somebody who's still breathing." For as bad as Syracuse football is these days, Canton is littered with Orange. Little joins Jim Brown, Larry Csonka and John Mackey among other Syracuse players in the Hall. Floyd Little, NFL Hall of Famer. Now that's bad ass. * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant updates. Listen to the FizzCasts at our podcast page. Doorstep of Greatness. 2.6.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Good to see undebatable Big East supremacy is awaiting the Orange tomorrow.After the smack-down Georgetown put on Villanova this afternoon, a Syracuse win at Cincinnati puts to bed the title of Big Dawg in the conference. The Hoyas led by as many as 23 points in the first half and 50-31 at halftime. Villanova cut the margin to 10 but never really threatened to steal the game back. It's only the Wildcats' (20-2, 9-1) first loss of the Big East season, but one that has to humble 'Nova. Georgetown did anything it wanted today, going 10-19 from the arc, shooting over 52% from the field and knocking down FTs with ease. The biggest mystery is how the hell the Hoyas are still a Top-10 team? Didn't we all just witness an annihilation of JT3 and co. at the Carrier Dome last week? GU has five losses, four of them in the Big East. They were thoroughly dismantled by the Orange on national television. If Syracuse beat the #8 team in the country by nearly twenty points and the #2 squad just got thumped by that same team, doesn't that have to make the Orange the country's #1? (With a win over Cincy, of course). We're just sayin'... * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant Signing Day news and reaction. Cooney's Coach to Fizz: SU is Favorite. 2.5.10 Posted: Mike Couzens. - PERMALINK 
The freshman class of 2014 (writing that makes me feel old) is locked and loaded for SU on the football side. Meantime, life is obviously good in the land of basketball recruits as well. Back in October we talked to junior sharpshooter Trevor Cooney and his Coach Stan Waterman from the Sanford School in Delaware, just before the high school season started. Now it's underway and Trevor is still killing it on the court. Waterman tells The Fizz via email: "As of the moment we are 14 - 0 and playing very well. Trevor scored 21 points in a win on Saturday, hitting 5 three-pointers and a vicious alley-oop dunk." We're thinking something along the lines of this? Kid's got ups. But wait, there's more! Waterman confirmed Cooney was on campus with his parents for the Marquette game on January 23rd. Definitely not the best game to pick out of the 22 this year, but it hasn't seemed to hurt according to Waterman: "As for the recruiting, the phone continues to ring but I believe that Syracuse is the favorite." Cooney's still got a lot of time to go before he has to make a decision, and has offers from all over the place including Villanova, Pitt and Maryland. However, Cooney's made a handful of trips to attend games (Notre Dame last year, Marquette this year) and has said he has a great relationship with Mike Hopkins. Can Hop do it again? * * * Become one with The Fizz: Be a friend of The Fizz on Facebook. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant Signing Day news and reaction.  The Best of National Signing Day. 2.4.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Team Fizz woke up in cold sweats all night long, waiting for another of Doug Marrone's recruits to dial the Fizz Line.All told, we spoke to nine of the young men who signed their letters of intent to ball at Syracuse (and it would've been more, except SU took the early enrollees and kept them bunkered). To listen to any of these FizzCasts, simply read through yesterday's post or drop by our FizzCast page. A growing trend began developing early: these were polite, decent young men. When David Oku is being pursued by all 12 SEC schools and half of Western civilization, he tends to lose perspective. Any humility he may have had, was eroded from years of being told he would be the next Heisman. Sure, you can't have too much of an ego if you're committing to a school which resides in the basement of the Big East. But sometimes you'd be surprised at the sense of entitlement among young athletes. Marrone obviously targeted good athletes, but with solid character. And in 2010, that's not a common combination. The Fizz had a terrific time chatting with all the kids yesterday. Here's our Top-Five quotes. 5) "I plan on doing everything he did. He's like an inspiration to me. He played 12 years in the pros." Adrian Flemming, on following Rob Moore's footsteps. Moore's on the job two weeks and already landed a kid. Good move, Marrone. Good move. 4) "By coming in this year and having us tuck our shirts in, showing out pockets, gotta be good with that. It's a school rule, if you don't obey it, there's gonna be consequences." Dom Timbers, on being sent home from school because he didn't have his shirt tucked. What the hell is going on in high schools these days? 3) "I know how much knowledge he has about running an offense, with Drew Brees and the Saints. I'm excited he took over that role." Jonny Miller, on why he chose Syracuse. A glimpse into the future of quarterback recruits across the country potentially picking SU because of Marrone's offensive prowess. 2) "I can't wait to play Rutgers." Keondrick Lyn, on his excitement level of playing in the Big East. Lyn was in the middle of a recruiting battle with the Scarlet Knights. Suck it, Schiano. 1) "I'm comin' in and bringing a little West Coast rawness to it. Just raw and physical. You just hope the other guys are as ready to be physical right along with me, because I'm ready to do it." Deon Goggins, on what he'll bring to the table. Bring the raw big boy. Fizz First: The Thread. 2.3.10 Posted: Team Fizz - PERMALINK (10:12p - Ted Conroy)
Talking with Ryan Murray from 'Cuse Confidential today, he summed it up well: This wasn't an unexpected day for the Orange, but it was a productive one. The team has some serious prospects in the class of 2010: John Kinder has the potential down the line to be a serious threat at quarterback. Max Beaulieu is the stud of the class, and hopefully he represents opening the pipeline that is South Florida. Dom Timbers has a good chance to compete for a running back spot down the line, and can provide tough runs. And Deon Goggins may end up being a great football player, but he'll end up doing a lot more than that, including cornering the NYC market. Don't believe me? Just listen to The FizzCast. First full recruiting class for Marrone provides solid footing for the SU football team: now it's time to build off it. (8:05p - Ted Conroy) 
Deon Goggins is not just a football player. When he made the JuCo defensive lineman decision, he was looking long term, not just playing time. When The Fizz caught up with him, he told us he's going places."Oh man, I'm very ambitious, I'm really one of those guys who really has a lot of plans. I wanted to do something that was fun, while I'm having fun, playing ball." What types of plans? Graphic Arts, film and digital media. Part of the reason he's coming to the 'Cuse is to be close to the New York City market. He said he felt a fatherly connection with Marrone (running theme today), which helped his decision along. What about the football, though? He plans on going all out from day one. "I'm comin' in and bringing a little West Coast rawness to it. Just raw and physical. You just hope the other guys are as ready to be physical right along with me, because I'm ready to do it." So do we. (7:39p - Ted Conroy) 
Just spoke to Jonny Miller for the FizzCast, and the kid is crazy excited to head up to The Hill. The quarterback had no problem traveling all the way from Denver to get there."When I was out at Syracuse it felt like home to me. The people were so great, everybody out thee the community, they treat you right." As for the coaches, he loves them too. He said coach Marrone has a ton of knowledge to run the offense, and he wished departed offensive coordinator Rob Spence the best. As for all that distance, the Miller family came up with a simple solution: "My mom actually got an airport job so she could fly out to see all the games." Wow. My mom bakes me cookies, I thought that was awesome. (5:19p - Ted Conroy) 
The Fizz tracked down Jeremi Wilkes, a three star cornerback from Tampa (FL) Catholic who sent his LOI to Syracuse today.He chose the Orange over some higher-profile schools like Iowa and Florida State, and once again, misery in Piscataway. Why? Because he values a college degree. You don't say. "I really like the school, and the opportunities not only on the field, but you know, education-wise." SU > Rutgers. There, that was easy. So how did he end up on the 'Cuse's radar? Thanks, YouTube! "I think it might have just came up when I got my highlight film," Wilkes said "I hadn't heard anything from them, and then all the sudden I get a call from them, and the rest is history." History is right. Welcome to The Hill, Jeremi. (5:02p - Mike Couzens) 
In front of a packed house including The Fizz, in the basement library of Christian Brothers Academy High School, Macky MacPherson made it offical - Syracuse will have another Mac Attack. Coach Mac's grandson sent his Letter of Intent into SU this morning but had a signing ceremony along with two other high school teammates this afternoon (they're attending New Hampshire and Penn). MacPherson was the last of the three players to be introduced by CBA Athletic Director Buddy Wieklinski. His mom Maureen seated to his right whispered right before he made his announcement, "The least surprising." When you're going to play for SU, seems like the word gets around quickly. MacPherson tells The Fizz: "When I was little, probably around five, I wanted to play SU football so it's kinda been like that dream come true. And this is the final stamp - real exicting", said the younger MacPherson. "It's one of those things, you dream about it. I kinda lose some sleep over it. It's great to do." His mom chimed in afterward, "We used to joke around that we found out we liked autumn after my dad stopped coaching because we wer ealways so nervous during fall. And now we're right back in it where we're gonna live and die for the games." (4:58p - Mike Couzens) 
Snow couldn't stop Adrian Flemming on the biggest day of his life. His high school had a snow day today, but as he tells The Fizz he still made it in to fax his letter of intent to a phone number that starts with a 443. Only seems appropriate that it would snow on his signing day, huh? "I don't know what it is about Syracuse, but it fits my personality. I just love like, how the people, are the atmosphere, what the school brings to me, I just love it." Flemming is juiced about his new position coach too - former Orangeman Rob Moore, who he already knew all about. "I plan on doing everything he did pretty much, he's like an inspiration to me." Flemming wants to leave tomorrow to get back up to Syracuse. "My last time up there, I didn't wanna leave." Enjoy senioritis Adrian, you're gonna miss it when you're suffering without air conditioning on South Campus this summer. Trust us. (2:18p - D.A.) 
One of the most intriguing storylines developing today is the ongoing Syracuse-Rutgers recruiting battle.Add one more win to the Syracuse tally: LB Malcolm Cater, Riverhead High School on Long Island. Cater had committed to Syracuse last summer, but had a change of heart and agreed to play for Greg Schiano at Rutgers during an official visit with the Scarlet Knights last month. Late word today, however, is that Cater is back with the Orange. Earlier this morning, The Fizz spoke to Keondrick Lyn from Miramar, FL. He had been at the center of a recruiting battle between Marrone and Schiano as well. When we asked him if he's excited to be ballin' in the Big East? "I just can't wait to play Rutgers." The Knights had the momentum swing in their favor earlier this week, when Gareef Glashen (Carol City, FL) decided at the last second to opt for Piscataway over Central New York. The biggest fish reeled in during this new Border War may be DL Max Beaulieu (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), who was swayed to choose the Orange over the Knights when SU upset Rutgers at the Dome this season. Photo credit: Newsday.com (12:08p - Mike Couzens) 
When Jerome Smith woke up this morning, it was because his phone wouldn't stop buzzing. The Fizz was his next call. "From probably four o'clock this morning I've been getting text messages about good luck, and good job and congrats." And after that? "I was up early in the morning ironing clothes and trying to do stuff to pass the time." Dude, I'm in my twenties and my mom still irons my clothes. "You're not only a teenager now, you're a future Syracuse bound athlete - anytime good or bad you do anything, that's what it reads. It changes pretty much everything in your life." Smith has already got things in perspective and sounds ready to go. He says he spoke to Greg Adkins this morning around 8:30a and plans to talk to Coach Marrone later to tell him, "Thanks for giving me the chance." (11:48a - Ted Conroy) 
Dom Timbers is signed for the Orange and excited to come to the tradition-rich Orange.The Fizz just got off the phone with Timbers, the Woodland Hills (PA) star who averaged more than seven yards per rush this year. Good kid (yes sir, thank you's - he probably doesn't know we'll be classmates next year). So why is the Pittsburgh native coming to Syracuse? He had a dream to play for the hometown Panthers. "Every kid has a little bit of interest in their home school but it didn't work out how I wanted it to. So Syracuse was my next biggest offer - and they really welcomed me in. "(In high school) my family pushed me in school and out of school. (On the campus visit to The Hill) I saw the tradition, the coaches showed us around campus, some of the history. They're trying to rebuild it. I wanna be part of that." (11:18a - D.A.) 
The Fizz is flowing. The Sunshine State pipeline is finally open once again, as Marrone has tapped at least five kids this class from Florida.One of them being speedster Keondrick Lyn. Listen as The Fizz's Jared Schwartz catches up with the Miramar (FL) defensive back. "Just once I met with the Syracuse family, that's when I decided to make the decision. I just liked how they kept it real. Tell me truth, don't lie to me. That's what they did. They're trying to build a program and that's what I want to be part of. This is the program Jim Brown and Ernie Davis played at." He was also recruited heavily by Greg Schiano. Is he excited to play in the Big East? "I can't wait to play Rutgers." We officially love this kid. (11:07a - Mike Couzens) 
Get ready Nassib and Loeb - your feet are officially being held to the flames. Quarterback John Kinder is officially coming to Syracuse. The Fizz spoke with him immediately after signing his letter of intent. "I'm definitely ready to get up there and get going. I'm a true competitor, I love to compete. I'm just gonna go up there and give it 100% and see what happens." Kinder says Doug Marrone played a big part in him wanting to be a part of the action on The Hill. "Just his love for the college and seeing where he wanted to go with the program. That program is going to do a complete turnaround and I just wanted to be a part of that." He's also looking forward to having Marrone call the plays next season for the Orange because of Doug's NFL background. And for the record, he didn't wear an SU hat, or even a tie today. He went with the Syracuse football sweater. He's one of Marrone's Marauders already. (10:07a - D.A.) 
Interesting that the third-overall prospect in this year's national recruiting class is from the state of New York. The Fizz documented DT Dominique Easley from Staten Island back when he gave a verbal to Penn State. Today Easley signs on the bottom line to play with the Gators. Needless to say, when states like Florida, Texas and California are pumping out blue-chip recruits, high school BMOCs and future All-Americans it's truly rare to see the third-rated kid come out of the five boroughs. Easley also considered Boston College and Rutgers (although who knows how seriously). With Marrone's emphasis on the NYC-area, timing might just have been incredibly unkind to the Orange. If Easley was say, class of '12, could Marrone at least been part of the conversation? Yeah, probably. You give Duggers four full recruiting seasons, The Fizz will bet good money he can be in on any kid from the city who's also considering the Knights or Eagles. Can he ever win a battle with Penn State and Florida? Impossible to say. But if Easley happened to be born in 1994 instead of '92 (feel old?), SU might have had a fighting chance. (9:34a - D.A.) 
Here's the updated list of this year's recruiting class for Marrone's Marauders. As you can see, plenty of Florida vibe from this 2010 class. Lyn, Beaulieu, Hawkes, Wales and Wilkes.Last year, Marrone was on the job for approximately six minutes before he began making phone calls to the Sunshine State. The Fizz was present at the signing days of both Rishard Anderson and Philip Thomas. Anderson was a student at comfortable, friendly private school American Heritage in Broward County (same school which produced Kenny Boynton Jr., Florida hoops' freshman sensation). Thomas repped tough Edison High - roughneck school in one of the roughest parts of Miami. We walked into Edison and it was easy to see why the kids from Dade County (305) bring the wood on the football field. You had to have a rough exterior to survive the concrete jungle. Miami public schools are annually rated among the worst in the nation. Both kids were extraordinarily nice. Anderson was incredibly polite and visibly excited about SU. We met the family of Thomas and spoke about how many North Face jackets everyone was gonna have to invest in. As you wait for the news to start streaming in from today's Signing Day, listen to our FizzCasts with Marrone's first Florida boys. (9:03a - D.A.)  The Fizz coverage should be pretty comprehensive today. As it stands now, we are scheduled to have Mackey McPherson, Jerome Smith, Keondrick Lyn and John Kinder stop by for Fizz-clusives. Also, the legendary recruiting analyst Larry Bluestein will join us later this week for a FizzCast for a complete Signing Day recap. He's based out of South Florida, so he'll be giving us insight into the newly opened Sunshine State pipeline, including Lyn, Max Beaulieu and Brice Hawkes - all kids in his backyard. Plus, why Gareef Glashen de-committed from SU and opted for Rutgers at the last second. (8:47a - Ted Conroy.) We here at The Fizz feel in the rare mood of a stage actor on Broadway, a president on his inauguration, or Groobers on the morning of Akron: it's gametime. Throughout the year, The Fizz chronicles every important name across the Syracuse recruiting landscape (and free of charge!). Today is The Fizz's Christmas. We're updating all day, podcasting constantly, and tweeting like my surround sound system (yeah, I went there). Welcome to National Football Signing Day 2010: Fizz First-Style. Let the games begin. * * * Reload The Fizz all day for complete Signing Day coverage: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook for links to all of our breaking news. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant Signing Day news and reaction. Team Fizz's Official Signing Day Preview. 2.2.10 Posted: Mike Couzens - PERMALINK 
Tomorrow marks the Christmas Day of the Fizz Universe - National Letter of Intent Signing Day. So let's call this Fizzmas Eve. Of course we're talking about football here (because it's also NLI day for Field Hockey, Soccer, Track and Field, Cross Country and Men's Water Polo). With that in mind, let's take a look at the top five names that should be inking a letter with the Orange tomorrow: 1. Max Beaulieu (DL-pictured) - Arguably the biggest name in the class for a few reasons. The 6'4", 245 lb. defensive end comes from Florida and played under new SU assistant Roger Harriott. Beaulieu is widely known as a stud athlete and helps to bolster the Orange defensive line. He also may represent the beginning of re-opening the Syracuse pipeline to the Sunshine State. 2. John Kinder (QB) - The Long Island quarterback has proven through his high school days that he's got the ability to run a quick, attacking offense. Is he going to be asked to pilot Marrone's Marauders in year one? Nope. But he will be an important cog in the battle for QB between Ryan Nassib and Charley Loeb helping to push them along. 3. Adrian Flemming (WR) - The sheer numbers alone (6'4", 195) invoke visions of Lavar Lobdell dancing in our heads. For everyone's sake, we can hope that Flemming will graduate with more than one career TD, however. What he may lack in experience, Flemming has in size. The SU receiving corps isn't exactly stacked heading into next season and if Flemming can produce an Alec Lemon type campaign, things will look good. 4. Dom Timbers (RB) - ESPN says, "Timbers has the size, steady speed and quickness for the running back position at the major level of competition. The more you see the more interesting this guy gets." Even though Delone Carter will be back for another year, this adds another strong player to an already deep Syracuse backfield. Oh yeah, he also picked SU over Pitt and West Virginia. Ha! 5. Marquis Spruill (LB) - Looking at the production the Orange got out of RB-turned-LB Doug Hogue, freshman E.J. Carter and former benchwarmer Ryan Gillum, imagine what a 4-star linebacker could do? Spruill spent an extra year at prep school to get some more attention. He's already on campus taking classes this semester. Those are The Fizz's Big Five to get excited about, but don't overlook the rest of the incoming class either. We'll touch on all of them throughout Signing Day. Keep F5'ing The Fizz all day tomorrow as we bring you Merry Fizz-mas 2010 - complete coverage of signing day from top to bottom. * * * Reload The Fizz all day tomorrow for complete Signing Day coverage: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook for links to all of our breaking news. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant Signing Day news and reaction. Groundhog Says: Last-Minute Scramble. 2.2.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Usually Punxatawney Phil tells us whether there's six more weeks of winter left or we'll get a reprieve from the ice and snow sooner than that.Well, today Phil is sensing other things; like whether South Florida defensive backs will be deciding to commit elsewhere in the conference. The final hours before National Signing Day is kinda like your 8th birthday - party hats, musical chairs and lots of streamers, but with middle-aged men begging you to play the spread for them. Syracuse has already benefitted and been burned from the late maneuvering. Reports are surfacing that Gareef Glashen (pictured), as The Fizz told you one of the fastest players SU had recruited, was changing his mind and going with rival Rutgers. "(Glashen) was previously commiitted to another Big East school, but was still being recruited by several schools for the last few months. After meeting the Rutgers staff over the weekend, he decided to commit to the New Jersey school." Meanwhile, Rivals.com is reporting that offensive tackle Sean Hickey (6-6, 280) of Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pa., has made a verbal commitment to sign with the Orange. Hickey picked Syracuse over Boston College and Illinois. The late decisions in SU's favor don't end there. Defensive end Micah Robinson (6-4, 240) of John Adams High School in Cleveland, Ohio, has made a verbal commitment to sign with Syracuse, according reports. Robinson picked the Orange over Pitt, Kansas, and Cincinnati, among others. Rivals.com is also reporting that tight end Charlie Copa (6-6, 245) of Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, has made a late verbal commitment to sign with Syracuse. It's a 24-hour career fair for Marrone and his staff right now. As guys like Glashen de-commit, scholarships and needs on the roster open. The kitchen's heating up, can the Syracuse staff in its first full recruiting season handle it? * * * Team Fizz's prep guide for tomorrow's National Signing Day for the Orange. Reload The Fizz all day Wednesday for complete Signing Day coverage: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook for links to all of our breaking news. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant Signing Day news and reaction. FizzCast: Bristol's Sheriff. 2.1.10 Posted: D.A. - PERMALINK 
Forty-eight hours until National Signing Day - which is considered The Fizz's holiday of lights. Final Four aspirations. Marrone's second signing class. A Top-5 recruiting haul for Boeheim and co. next spring. Life is good these days for Orange Nation. ESPN News' Anish Shroff is feeling the flow as well. He drops by The Fizz to compare this SU hoops squad with the 'Melo edition, discuss the Final Four contenders and how the SU faithful dominates the ESPN newsroom. "We're not used to having our team be the favorite, being the over-dog, so to speak. Now we have to deal with this thing called expectations. (Listen to The FizzCast with ESPN News' Anish Shroff) "In '03, Jim Boeheim handled it greatly. He never allowed the expectations of that team to be put on that team externally. By the end of the season it was, 'Wow, we have the best player in the country and the best team in the country.'" Is the going a little too good right now? "I'm guilty of this myself. Being a Syracuse fan, it's like watching those Looney Tunes cartoons. At some time you're waiting for the anvil to fall. We've seen things like Vermont and Richmond in the past. Part of me is still waiting for the anvil to drop, hopefully it doesn't. But that's just part of being a Syracuse fan." How professional do you have to be around the Bristol newsroom as SU makes this national surge? "During football season, I have to keep my mouth shut. I tend to be a little obnoxious during basketball season. I'll let it fly, get on the roller coaster of emotions." Obnoxious? Yeah, The Fizz can relate. * * * Reload The Fizz all day Wednesday for complete Signing Day coverage: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook for links to all of our breaking news. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant Signing Day news and reaction. Fizz First: Star-Studded D-Line. 2.1.10 Posted: Ted Conroy - PERMALINK 
The big one is coming Wednesday. It's The Fizz's favorite day of the year - college football's National Signing Day, of course. Unless your name is David Oku, that means you're gonna announce your college plans. For the Orange, two signees intended to replace Art Jones and Jared Kimmel mean good for the 'Cuse. The Fizz has your back on both of them. Back in September, we took a look at Robert Welsh (pictured), an unproven defensive lineman who committed to Doug Marrone. Today he's a three-star defensive tackle, who weighs 260 pounds and looks great on paper for SU. From The Fizz archives and Mike Couzens: "His high school coach, Rich Reichert, has nothing but praise for the senior who added 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason after being asked to move from defensive end to defensive tackle. 'He's a grinder,' Reichert said of his Syracuse-bound senior. 'Nobody works harder and he's tenacious. He just has a motor that doesn't stop.'" The other piece of the DL puzzle has been documented extensively, and is considered by most to be Marrone's gem of 2010. Max Beaulieu is the "real deal," according to our man Larry Blustein. One thing the Orange could pride itself on last year was run defense. While the secondary was a revolving door of inepitude, the D-Line kept teams in check on the ground. Without Kimmel or Jones on that line, it becomes a lot more difficult to ensure a repeat performance in that regard. Welsh and Beaulieu should give Orange Nation some hope for the future. * * * Reload The Fizz all day Wednesday for complete Signing Day coverage: Become a friend of The Fizz on Facebook for links to all of our breaking news. Follow The Fizz on Twitter for constant Signing Day news and reaction. Read The Fizz from January. Get that New Year hangover-feeling all over again. 
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