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The Good Side of the Bubble. For Now. 1.30.09 So far the bracketology has an Orange element. 
After losing four of the last five games, Orange Nation is hurting. Blown out by villainous Georgetown on national TV. Overpowered by Pitt. Outmuscled by normally soft Louisville (Louisville!) at the Dome. Outgunned by Providence at some hideously named donut arena (we got dunked). And the Big East party is just getting started. Where does this leave Syracuse, which once upon a non-conference time had visions of two-seeds dancing in its head? Will it once again come down to an improbable Big East tourney run in six weeks at the Garden just to cement a place in the Big Dance? The news isn't as bad as you might think. While we have watched with perpetual nausea SU get its tournament resume armor chinked and chinked and chinked some more... apparently, the rest of the nation is more forgiving. The bubble-watchers at collegehoopsjournal.com have the 'Cuse in the second-tier. Not locks, but close. Although, sounds like that status is slipping: "'The Orange are well on their way to not leaving anything to chance.' - Me, Jan. 16. Ouch. From 15-2 to 16-5, and four losses in its last five games. Rutgers and St. John's are the only two "easy" games left on the schedule. If this team isn't at 21 wins by the Big East tournament, nothing is given. After last year, Syracuse fans may believe the team is in when Greg Gumbel utters its name around 6:15 ET on Selection Sunday." How about the omniscient (not so much) Joe Lunardi of espn.com? He has the Orange as a five-seed (FIVE!) in Portland, part of the East region in Boston. (Um, thanks?) So maybe the globe isn't spinning on its axis like most in Central New York are figuring right now. Take a deep breath and the weekend off. The Orange doesn't play until next Wednesday night vs. West Va. Until then, tease the Steelers down to -5, with the under on Kurt Warner's passing yards at 300. Then use the extra coin to buy antacid for the second half of the college hoops season. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] Dunked at the Donuts Center. 1.29.09 We knew the Big East was good, but... 
Another Big East test for the Orange. Another failing grade. If it was a lack of defense at Georgetown... Or a lack of rebounding against Louisville... Last night was a lack of bodies in Providence. Critics pointed to the early part of the conference slate and suggested SU was merely a product of playing the dregs of the Big East. Rutgers, South Florida, Seton Hall. Please. With wins over Florida, Kansas and Memphis, the Orange had already proven its for real. Maybe not. Mr. Boeheim after the 100-94 loss: "We made five or six bad turnovers that were, I thought, the difference in the game." Nice, but unless the Friars had transmogrified into the 1990 UNLV Runnin' Rebs overnight, allowing the century mark is unacceptable. (Even Poliquin is irate! Did you see this? I love when Bud's inner ethics professor comes out! Although this type of stern criticism would've been nice during the Groobers Error.) A Fizz look at the upcoming schedule: 2.4.09: West Virginia - Let's hope Pittsnogle stays in the double-wide watching his "Blue Collar Comedy" VHS for that one. 2.7.09: Villanova - Went from should-win to could-win. They're from Philly. They'll choke, right? Right? 2.11.09: Connecticut - Let's send the women's team to trip Calhoun. 2.14.09: Georgetown - Might be a good night for a 7:40p showing of "He's Really Not That Into You" at the Carousel. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] Time to Make the Rebounds. 1.28.09 The Orange will need divine donuts in Providence. 
We love reading it, so why not write it once: The Orange walks into hostile Dunkin' Donuts Center tonight. (Smile). That felt good. There is a cult-like passion for Dunkin' Donuts in New England. If you've ever driven from the 'Cuse to Boston, you couldn't throw a lobster roll without hitting a rest-stop DunkDo. In fact, the drive along I-90/ Mass Pike is dotted with with so many DDs, one wonders if there's a New England 12-mile statute on a box of Munchkins. So, of course, the home of the Friars decided to honor the deep fryer by naming its arena after the donut chain. Dunkin' Donuts as Providence? Not a coincidence. In fact, the intensity of DunkDo has spilled onto FaceBook. You too can friend request the DunkDo Center. (The arena does have 102 friends. Feel unpopular now?) Unfortunately, the 'Cuse needs more icy/ hot than iced glaze. The roster looks like the Raiders injury report. Two starters may miss the game and another is banged up as well. From the P-S.: "Andy Rautins did not travel with the team after severely spraining his ankle during Sunday's loss to Louisville. Starting center Arinze Onuaku's status is in doubt after missing practice on Monday and Tuesday with a sore and swollen right knee. Meanwhile, Eric Devendorf has been bothered by a bruised hip injury." Onuaku's injury might be the hardest to overcome by the Orange. Syracuse has become fairly experienced in learning how to play without Rautins (Andy has spent more time on the bench than Bernie Fine). Plus, there's a decent chance Devendorf will be able to go. But the 'Cuse was beat up on the glass by the Cardinals on Sunday. Controlling the boards, tempering the pace and keeping this game from becoming a shoot-out is the best chance for an Orange win. After losing three of its last four, the bloom has come off the Big East rose for the Orange. And we all know how tough a go it is inside hostile Dunkin' Donuts Center. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] Reason to Smile. 1.27.09 Orange you glad you read the Post-Standard? 
We already know what you're thinking. "Great. It must be Tuesday. The Fizz is going on an anti-Post-Standard rant. We get it! You hate Poliquin." To which we, at the Fizz, would reply: Au contrare, DeJaun Blair. Nope. First, we don't really hate the P-S at all. Lots of props to be sent its way for being one of the only major dailies in the U.S. successfully capitalizing on the internet/information/tech/blog boom. Second, we enjoy many of the writers. Mr. Webb is as thorough as any college football beat reporter (despite seeming mostly sullen in the endeavor. How can we blame him?). Mr. Waters is particularly outstanding. As student media on the Hill almost ten years ago, Waters was the one professional you could entrust with not giving you stink-eye and sneering at your post-game question. Mr. Poliquin is... Did we mention we like the P-S? So, when our fair newspaper delivered this bit of gold, who could stop from chortling? A Twitter feed to Mike Waters and Donna Ditota... for SU hoops updates? We have no idea what a Twitter feed is. We probably should. It could allow us to grow our influence in the coveted under-16 girls demo. Here's an attractive female brushing her teeth, somehow promoting Twitter and squeaking, "tweet!" Indulge us. From what we gather, Twitter is like a constant barrage of Facebook status updates. (Blech.) But if it allows us, just once, to read: "Mike Waters is... watching Andy Rautins sprain another ankle," we'll be content. See. That wasn't so bad. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] The Big Grind Conference. 1.26.09 Apparently, the Big East is a grind (or something). 
One thing we know: Syracuse's conference schedule is a grind. How? Well, listen to SU spark plug Jonny Flynn. "It was tough offensively for both teams. The Big East is just a big grind." Read the tagline to Bud Poliquin's morning after column. "Orange stuck in Big East grinder." Look where Syracuse is off to next: Dunkin' Donuts Center... a.k.a. The Big Coffee Grind. (This sentence seems absurd altogether. "Syracuse now has to prepare to go back on the road to face Providence at the hostile Dunkin' Donuts Center on Wednesday." Sorry. Dunkin' Donuts and hostile are not to be used in the same breath... unless you're talking about the 24-hr one in the hood.) A blue collar 67-57 win by Louisville at the Dome yesterday cements the Cardinals spot in the upper echelon of the conference with Pitt and UConn. It's too bad. The Fizz was hoping for an Orange rout followed by a Pitino presser meltdown, "Fans, Denny Crum is not walking through that door. Pervis Ellison is not walking through that door. And if he does, he'll be nervous." Good news is, Doug Marrone is making some waves with little more than a week until National Signing Day. Lookee here! The 'Cuse is actually recruiting F-l-o-r-i-d-a kids? You know, the kind of athletes who can take advantage of the Dome's electric-football-fast carpet and controlled climate and get off to the races? The Orange is knocking on doors in a state where there's more D-1 football talent than there is scholarships to Miami, Florida, Florida State, USF, UCF, FAU and FIU. As we penned in the Fizz, only in the last year did Groobers and co. actually scout and recruit South Florida. Finally, sanity returns to the SU football offices. Now, that was a grind. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] Tears for Groobers. 1.23.09 Media sympathy makes us wonder if we ever got the real story. 
Unfortunately, this week at the Fizz has been devoted to the most recent phoenix-like rising of our old pal Groobers. When G-Rob was hired as Michigan's defensive coordinator, it made us wonder how many athletic directors he actually possesses compromising digi-pics of. When D-Dub reported yesterday that Groobers was adamant on returning to the college game it struck us as only half the story. Sure, every coach might appreciate the tradition and passion in college football. But the Kansas City Star was reporting that Groobers was fishing for an NFL job just a few days prior at the Senior Bowl. So, this morning when D-Dub did yet another fawning, syrupy farewell to the worst coach in Syracuse football history it made us wonder how much of the story we actually received over the past four years. Look, we're not soulless, callous, spiteful individuals at the Fizz. We too have been journalists and media members since graduating from the Newhouse School eight years ago. We have been in the middle of integrity-stretching situations, where it's difficult to criticize those you cover who are close to you. But you have to do it. You have to earn consumer credibility. It's not bestowed upon you. After Bud Poliquin's ridiculous, sappy love-letter to Groobers upon his dismissal, we wondered how friendly the two truly were. Now, reading D-Dubb's equally poignant portrait of a coaching patriot making another climb up San Juan Hill, we wonder how stilted the coverage of Groobers truly has been. From today's P-S: "Best wishes, Coach. And I will keep an eye on Dominic." As normal, compassionate human beings, we understand developing relationships with those you cover. D-Dub has done some terrific, detailed, passionate work in his nearly twenty years on the SU football beat. But if love-letters and best wishes are how our watchdogs are sending off the biggest punchline in school history, are we reporting with our hearts or our heads? How favorably-colored and overly patient has the coverage been of the Greg Robinson Error? And how do we know the same coverage is not being applied to Dr. Doom? Or will be to Doug Marrone? Syracuse's community dynamic makes it more nurturing than the big city. It's not Philadelphia or New York or Boston. But our fans deserve to be treated the same way. And I'm guessing as Eric Mangini was dismissed, the Jets media didn't leave Valentines. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] Groobers Feels Vindicated. Jeez. 1.22.09 See, the Chiefs defense stunk without me! 
First off, welcome to the swarm of Michiganders that perused the Fizz yesterday. I thought I smelled WD-40 and burnt Marinelli carcass. The Fizz's discontent over Groobers landing another plush job pushed us over the edge. When does Greg Rasputin finally get sent to purgatory (or Temple)? The piece was widely circulated on Wolverine message boards and then, of course, to Ohio State fanboy outlets. For Orange Nation, Groobers hiring at one of the greatest football programs in the country is downright depressing (not to mention implausible). This absurdly ineffective defensive mind will stop the train in Syracuse for four years, drive us into the Big East ground with a stake, dig a hole so great our grandchildren will be the first to see a Music City Bowl again, hop back on the train and go "save" a better football school? Where is the retribution for SU fans? Where is his relegation to football Siberia (or Iowa State)? Maybe the redemption comes from watching the next set of fans suffer through the same fate as we simply nod our heads in compassion. Today's piece by D-Dub in the Post-Standard was almost too much to keep down with our bowl of Crispix. The idea that Groobers loved the college game so much he was selective in his next position is improbable at best. "I predict Greg Robinson gets choked up the first time he runs onto the field at the Big House and hears Hail to the Victors. Really. He loves coaching and the college game that much, which is a reason the former Syracuse head football coach finds himself working as defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan. He should get choked up because he's not one of the 40 million (and growing) Americans unemployed despite performing his job as poorly as any one of those forty-mill. If he was so adamant on getting back into the college game why was he trolling the Senior Bowl this week for an NFL gig? From the Kansas City Star: "Former defensive coordinator Greg Robinson, recently fired as the head coach at Syracuse and looking to get back into the NFL as an assistant. Robinson was practically run out of Kansas City in 2003 after coaching a horrendous defense that ruined a 13-3 season with a playoff loss to Indianapolis. Robinson said he felt vindicated because the Chiefs never improved much defensively after he was replaced by Cunningham." The vindication should not come from watching the same defense continue to fail. His next defense was one of the worst in the country for four long years. The redemption should be because he swindled another unsuspecting head coach and athletic director into handing over the keys to the defense. Snake oil salesman Greg. In the immortal words of Robert Metcalf (who?): "Here's to you Mrs... uh Mr. Robinson... like it's.... Mrs. Robinson in the song." [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] Teflon Rob. 1.21.09 No matter what disaster G-Rob leads, he keeps landing jobs. 
Mark it down: Monday, November 28, 2011. Dateline Ann Arbor. "Michigan Axes Robinson After Another Buckeye Meltdown." It's coming. Just watch. Greg Robinson has proven without a shadow of doubt; if you talk well and know the right people, you too can be employed in football. The Wolverines are the most recent victims of "Gee whiz, G-Rob." Ironically, Michigan fired its last defensive coordinator because, get this, they were giving up too many points. Wonder what they expect? Guess the Syracuse game films were lost in a fire. Robinson's supposed defensive acumen buried the Orange as one of the worst units in the nation. Historically speaking, it has been the worst four-year defensive stretch in the school's near century of football. Why fire more shots at Robinson after he's already pumped full of lead? Because it's a stunning and disgraceful reality in college football. The clearly unqualified continue to consume the highest of positions, while better candidates are getting passed over. If Robinson's next job was at Sam Houston State, it might be more understandable. (Scheming against McNeese State's pro-set is a little more Greg's speed). But one of the most prestigious football programs in the country believes Robinson has the credentials to lead its defense? Let's review: 2000 - Robinson fired as defensive coordinator of the Broncos. Just two seasons after Denver has won back-to-back Super Bowls, the Broncos decided Robinson was ill-suited to lead the defense. Franchise thinking was that John Elway and Terrell Davis were the most important factors in two Lombardi trophies. The defense was merely along for the ride. Has any coordinator's grace period been cut shorter? 
2003 - Robinson fired as defensive coordinator of the Chiefs. His unit is ranked near the bottom of the NFL for all three of Robinson's seasons. Hired as a lifelong Dick Vermeil UCLA cronie. In one of the single-worst defensive performances in NFL playoff history, the Chiefs do not force either a punt or turnover in 38-31 loss at home. Colts offensive possessions that day: TD, TD, TD, FG, TD, TD. 2004 - Robinson is "co-coordinator" of Texas defense. With future NFL first-round picks Derrick Johnson (Butkus Award winner for most outstanding linebacker in the nation), Aaron Ross and Michael Huff, Longhorns allow 37 points in Rose Bowl to Michigan. (Wolverine fans should remember how comfortably Chad Henne carved up their new defensive guru.) 2008 - Robinson fired as Syracuse head coach. G-Rob's defense is a laughing stock across the nation. Allowed 30+ points in eight of nine losses in fourth season at the helm. Insisted he ran out of time. As Turner Gill returns to coach SUNY-Buffalo after winning the MAC and turning around a decrepit program in three seasons, Robinson (facts would suggest one of the worst defensive minds in the country) settles into his cushy job as coordinator in Ann Arbor. The Gee Whiz G-Rob ponzi scheme is up and running again. Somewhere Bud Poliquin sheds tears of joy. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] Change Boeheim Can Believe In. 1.20.09 On Inauguration Day, how would Obama be coached by Jim? 
As America prepares for its much needed change on Capitol Hill, we're constantly reminded of how basketball shaped our new Commander-in-Chief. President Obama hooped it up throughout his formative years and is still running pick-up games in the White House driveway. Obama's physical stature probably places him as a shooting guard, rangy enough to get his shot off, not quite bulky enough to bang on the boards. After last night's thumping at fourth-ranked Pitt, the #8 Orange could use Obama's skill-set. So, we at the Fizz pose the question: How would Boeheim coach Obama? First, with Obama's stress in his inauguration speech upon peace and reaching out to enemies, Boeheim would probably highlight Barack's selflessness. SU's offense would still run through turbo-charged Jonny Flynn, but Obama would have to be a pass-first guard. Knowing Andy Rautins would handle much of the long-range bombing, Obama's best asset to the Orange might be instilling discipline and professionalism. Flynn, Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris all run a little hot. Rick Jackson seems to always be playing with the coolant-level a little low. Despite attacks from all sides during the campaign, the constant psuedo-controverseys he found himself in; the steadying, veteran presence would be the President's best asset to the '08-'09 Orange. Boeheim likely would utilize Obama as a coach on the floor, much the same way Sherman Douglas, Jason Hart and Gerry McNamara were pegged. One might envision Obama peacekeeping a treaty between Harris and Jackson during a skirmish for a loose ball in practice. "Paul, that was an aggressive defensive play by Rick. It's not a foul. Rick, watch your body. You were in too close on the rebound. Now let's go to the Haven dining hall. I'll swipe both your meals on my SUpercard." Maybe the biggest contribution, however, would be the first lady. Fashionista Michelle Obama could figure out how SU somehow got silver slipped onto its uniforms. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] Geno's Original. 1.19.09 Don't look now, there's a new reason to hate UConn. 
Orange women basketball (not to be confused with Orangewomen from the Crouthamel era, apparently) falls somewhere below lacrosse and just above Dome Dog indigestion on the totem pole of Orange Nation's interest. But all of a sudden there's reason to talk about SU's other hoops team. Over the weekend (as the men were dismantling the white boys from South Bend), the Orange women were getting into a war of words with Geno's bunch from UConn (cat fight!). Auriemma has a proud history of riling up the opposition. Tennessee hates him. Rutgers hates him. Guess it's now our turn. During Saturday's 50-point lady ass-kicking, Geno kept in his starters late into the fourth-quarter and had them hoisting up shots until the final buzzer. This, obviously, did not sit well with SU coach Quentin Hillsman. And the Orangewomen may (MAY) have allowed their frustrations to boil over. Did Nicole Michael really trip Geno in the handshake line? Was Geno really trying to send a message to an unranked Syracuse team? Is Chris Wagner's Post-Standard orange women blog actually getting hits? Are we really talking about women's basketball while the men are a Top-10 team and playing the #1 school in the country? And why the hell is this reporter so enraged by the ethics of women's hoops? The Fizz is still laughing at Q-Dog's incredulous look during this reporter's badgering. "Wait, so whose starters were raining threes up 50 with ten seconds to play?" The entire "controversy" is terrifically entertaining. Especially with football coming to a close and the icy February sports void staring us in the face. Do we really care about the ethics of women's basketball? Nah. But it does give us another reason to hate UConn (insert smiley face emoticon here). [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] The White Man Group. 1.16.09 How do the Irish find all these good white guys? 
As the Orange welcome the Irish tomorrow at the Dome, it won't only be two of the best in the Big East going at it. It will also be a white-out, outside and inside. Temperatures continue to drop into the single-digits and snow is expected (you're kidding...) to fall overnight. And under the teflon Dome, Notre Dame's starting lineup will be lilly-white with the incredible duo of Luke Harangody and Kyle McAlarney. The 'Gody is dropping 24 points per game for the Irish. K-Mac has added long-range bombing, a.k.a. 67 treys. This, of course, is nothing new to South Bend. 
The Irish faithful is used to seeing white boys light it up. Because Pat Garrity begat Matt Carroll who begat Troy Murphy who begat Harangody and McAlarney. Jeez, that feels like roll call at Coleman's Irish Pub. There's plenty of national animosity towards a school that has the arrogance to brag about its own television network (let's face it, NBC is a loose interpretation of a "network" anyway) and has personal BCS-ties despite its role as an independent. But, it's not as though Notre Dame basketball is simply trotting out players of a lighter persuasion to flip off convention. These kids can ball.  FIZZ FLASHBACK: Re-live the Fizz's photo-journal to South Bend for the "Win One for the Groober" Game. SU's unforgettable win at Notre Dame Stadium. You can debate the measure of success for Irish players' careers in the Association, but while at the Golden Dome, they've run with everybody. It's not always the prettiest basketball, especially with the 'Gody flailing and banging around the paint like a mackerel on a fishing boat. 
While Coach K and Duke have had a recent pipeline of white players as well (Hurley, Laettner, Dunleavy, Battier... sorry), it's been mostly a series of finesse Blue Devils while the Irish has instituted bang-low and shoot-high combos. It's been effective. Notre Dame is once again a Top-15 team. Harangody and McAlarney are one of the best tandems in the Big East. And one looming question remains for Syracuse fans as they trek into the Dome tomorrow. How did Gerry McNamara not end up at Notre Dame? Garrity. Murphy. McAlarney. McNamara. Maybe it was too expensive to lease the bus from Scranton, PA to South Bend twenty nights a year. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] The Beltin' Belgian. 1.15.09 The Big East's best rivalry just wrote a new chapter. 
For the first time in eight years, both Syracuse and Georgetown showed up ranked in the Top-15. For the first time in a long time, the Orange defense didn't bother to show up. The 88-74 loss stings for Orange Nation, which had visions of two-seeds dancing in its head. But on the bright side the rematch is (awww...) on Valentine's Day, while an unlikely villain will be doling out candy hearts. DaJuan Summers stroked three's and attacked the rim all night, leading the Hoyas with 21 points. But it was on a breakaway layup late in the first half which added another layer of intrigue to the bitter rivalry. The Beltin' Belgian Kristof Ongeneat crashed into Summers at the hoop and the Hoya big man went crumpling to the floor. Summers bounced up immediately and made a step towards an unflinching Ongeneat, as if to take a swing. Instead, the wild-eyed Summers started growling like Teen Wolf in the Belgian's grill. Both sides were assessed a technical foul as Boeheim (predictably) screamed in the official's face. The PG-rated conversation was easily lip-read, "That's a bull-SH*T call!" The hard foul seemed to breathe some life into the Orange as Jonny Flynn and co. had an offensive spurt to end the half. But too much Hoya Destroying down the stretch meant a long ride home to CNY. It wasn't quite John Thompson Sr. grabbing the P.A. mic and screaming, "Manley Fieldhouse is now officially CLOSED!" But add a new highlight to the rivalry reel. Ongeneat's hard foul of Summers. The unwitting hero/villain/bad ass of the latest chapter: The Beltin' Belgian. See you on Valentine's Day. - - - 
Definitely worth the read for old-school Orange football fans. A disturbing profile of the silent Marvin Harrison in ESPN the Mag. What really happened on an April day back in North Philly to the Colts' Hall-of-Fame wideout? How about this quote from Cy Ellsworth, a former Orange teammate and close friend: "'We spent a lot of time together. But I still can't tell you that much about Marvin. There was a side to him he didn't let people invade.' On the day of the 1996 NFL draft, Harrison watched as three receivers were chosen ahead of him. 'I have to get a job,' The Washington Post quoted him as saying over and over that day, before the Colts took him with the 19th pick." Strange times for one of the most dynamic players ever to don the Orange. The Women of Orange. 1.14.09 Does playing in an empty Dome really help the Orange women? 
Last night, the Orange women lost to Seton Hall's Pirate women 70-66. As you might glean from the picture, good bleachers were still available. As one of Dr. Doom's myriad "progressive" moves with the athletic department, he moved the women's hoops games away from Manley and into the Dome. And he retired #44. And he green-lighted the ghastly orange on orange on orange football uniforms. And he squeezed blood from a rock on webcasts of games by his Stalin-like crushing of WAER.org's student online broadcasts. So, it hasn't all been perfect. 
On the surface, one could see the reasoning behind women's games in the Dome. As he attempts to build the non-revenue sports (i.e. not football or men's basketball), Doom is trying to give off some air of prestige. Women's lax has Gary Gait. Rowing has an olympian. Women's hoops is playing where the boys do. But when the 30,000 seat Carrier Dome has 400 fans in it, is that a good thing? Yes, it may attract a few more students instead of making them bus to South Campus for dingy Manley. It "feels bigger" by playing in the Dome. Maybe the recruiting tool the Dome used to be for men in the '80s will work the same way for women now. But sometimes progress comes by different definitions. The Fizz still believes the men should play one or two early season games at Manley, just to feel the history again (would anyone disapprove of the Cornell or Albany game being at Manley?). That picture tells a thousand Orange women words. - - - Tonight's preview of the big Georgetown tilt: Hoya Suxa. Again. Layla Kiffin had her bebe: We totally missed out on Monte Cuse Kiffin. Shame. The bullseye of our newspaper frustration yesterday was Ryan Miller: To be fair (and we noted this) he does good work. Here's his Big East power rankings. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] No Pulitzers to the Post-Standard. 1.13.09 The newspaper industry is dying? You're kidding. 
Full Fizz disclosure: It gives us no satisfaction in ripping the only daily Syracuse news source with comprehensive Orange coverage. In fact, the news room here at the Fizz would love even more thorough and competent reporting on SU athletics. We're stuck down here in Del Boca Vista and the South Florida Retiree's Village with only Syracuse.com and Orange Nation's vast array of satellite blogs and message boards coverage to quench our need for Syracuse juice. (Even if it means us opining on Poliquin and dung). But Jeezy Creezy, can we step up our game here guys? Last night, we logged onto the Post-Standard's website to check any late-breaking Orange news. What we stumbled across would barely be acceptable as a webisode project in COM 107 at Newhouse.
A young man named Ryan Miller, dressed apparently to join his 10th-grade semi-formal after the game, taped a video package from the Rutgers Athletic Center (affectionately known to us all as the R.A.C.). Miller has recently done work for the website, most of it solid. He may be a Syracuse student, looking to break into print/ internet/ video journalism, and getting a terrific opportunity with the Post-Standard. If so, props to him. We were in that boat once. Credit the paper (albeit derisively named the Sub-Standard by many in the Salt City). The industry is dying a rapid, public death. In reaction to the growing decay of newspapers nationally, the editors at the P-S have turned Syracuse.com into a pseudo-blog. Much of the news is breaking and immediate. There are short hits on the day's daily events from most of their reporters. They have employed bloggers like Brent Axe to add a fresh, next generation feel to the coverage. The digital game-day preview you can receive via email is very slick and impressively progressive. (Hell, they've even linked to us once upon a time). But Miller's "coverage" last night is pretty rudimentary stuff for a professional news-reporting website. Don't read us wrong; immature, sophomoric, frat-boy humor is right up our alley. We've been riding that gravy train for years. Heck, we've even developed a well-read website about it. But this is the type of coverage being posted front and center to the city's foremost media outlet? Plus, this was posted late Monday night. The Rutgers game was already more than 48 hours in the rear-view. We can't blame Miller. If we had access to a major news daily, we'd be sending our "Superbad" jokes too, sitting around with our buddies and a case of Utica Club Light in our apartment on Livingston and yelling, "Can you believe they posted that! Poloquin must be so pissed!" But the editors of the P-S online content should look for a little higher quality. The basketball team is in the Top-10 and the best they can do is vague boob jokes in our bar mitzvah tie? The Pulitzer Committee isn't on line one. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum] Can You Hear Me, Now? 1.12.09 The growing problem between SU and communication.
 By now, you've seen the footage. Donovan McNabb (SU '99) scampering to the Giants sidelines Sunday... slowing his momentum... and picking up an emergency phone. It's made national news after drawing a 15-yard penalty, especially after other harmless, yet head-scratching, McNabb in-game gyrations. Last week, after the Eagles triumph in Minnesota, we spilled some ink defending McNabb's legacy (how about a fifth conference championship game? Three more than Peyton, as many as Brady). But D-Nabb admitted later drawing the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was a lapse in judgment. And though the act seemed more like an unfunny joke with a flimsy punchline than purposefully caustic. it does bring up a bigger issue. What is it with Syracuse and roll-over minutes? Here was one of the faces on Orange Nation's Mt. Rushmore stumbling between playful and idiotic during an NFL playoff game, just months after cell-phone-gate. Remember early in the season, when Dr. Doom was manning not one, but TWO cellies while pacing the sidelines of an SU game? 
Better question: Doesn't McNabb remember it? I'm sure he has time to read the message boards, the blogs, most importantly the Fizz, in between film sessions on the Cowboys zone-blitz. Maybe it's fitting that a university with one of the nation's most prestigious communications schools is seemingly always making news for communicating. Doom dons double-cells. Powers that be unplug WAER.org's game-broadcasts. Ex-players email athletic department coaching suggestions. Syracuse mythology is debated upon the release of "The Express" on the big screen. D-Nabb dials 315 at Giants Stadium. Maybe Doom had hit him up for a quick donation. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum]
Not the NBDL.1.09.09 You never forget your first bus trip to Sioux Falls. 
It will be easy for snarky sportswriters and bloggers across CNY to proclaim Donte Green made a mistake leaving Syracuse early. The Kings sent Green to the D-League, after not seeing the floor in eight of Sacramento's last nine games. B-U-T... how many of us would leave a few million dollars on the table just to live on South Campus for another year? Hell, in this economy the Fizz might jump at the prospect of making minimum wage versus suiting up for free 40 nights a year. The Fizz posted in October about Donte's love/hate with the 'Cuse. At the time, Green felt he was "hated" by Orange Nation for skipping school early. Now? He's probably worrying about the snide comments. Orange Nation knew it last year. Green was a very good college player. He had the potential to be an effective NBA swingman. Was he an instant impact player at the next level? Probably not. Manning the interior versus Rutgers? Yeah, he owned that. Could he get off his own shot against the Spurs? Uh, not so much.
Instead of busing nine hours to Bakersfield, Green could be throwing down 20-10s for a Top-10 Orange team playing on ESPN and in front of 25,000 nightly at the Dome. He could have been the hyper-center of one of the country's most talked about teams, maybe the best SU squad since the '03 title bunch. He could be the Orange version of Tyler Hansbrough, the Alpha Dog on a great team in a powerful and exciting conference. Dickie V screaming until hoarse about his "upside" and "excitability." Instead he'll be playing PS3 in his hotel room before a tilt with the Mad Ants (no really, there's a D-League teamed named the Mad Ants). But who of us could stare $5 million in the face and say, "No thanks. I'm good right now?" Albuquerque's a long way from the NBA. But his checks cash. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum]
The One With The Class Schedule.1.08.09 Mike Williams is back. We got his class list. 
The good news doesn't stop. First, Syracuse dismantles DePaul to continue its unbeaten Big East month (15-1, 3-0 in the Big Easy). Nice to have another breather after the heart-stopping finish at the SunDome last week. Although, it is fair to wonder how the most tradition-laden hoops school in Chicago continues to be so mediocre (8-8, 0-3 already in the Big Leezy). Oh, where art thou the days of Mark Aguirre's nightly 30-10s? Plus, Mike Williams is readmitted to Syracuse after suspension via academic cheating charges, meaning Doug Marrone's high-octane (?) offense adds a playmaking wide receiver. "Oh man, it almost brought tears to my eyes," Williams said. "I didn't think it was going to happen. They tell me that people suspended from school rarely come back. They told me it was slim and that a lot of people never come back. It was crazy being readmitted."
The Fizz has located Williams' fall semester class list and it should make Orange Nation exhale. 8:05a-9:05a M-W-F: History of the International Bowl 121 (An emphasis on understanding the lower-tier Big East bowl games). 11:15a-12:45p M-W: Theory of Selected Amnesia 241 (An attempt to erase most, if not all, of the coaching from the previous staff). 9:30a-10:55a Tue: Avoiding Becoming Mike Williams (Lab) (One-on-one tutorial outlining the pitfalls of USC's once-dynamic and troubled wideout named Mike Williams). 11:15a-12:35p T-Th: Science of Personal Motivation 165 (How-to class in retaining stimulation while playing in front of half-empty home crowds). 1:30p-2:25p T-Th: Term-Paper Writing 108 (How to construct a credible term-paper using your own thoughts and ideas, so as to avoid academic fraud). Good to have ya back, Mike! (now please write your own papers this time?) [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum]
The Smell of Big East in Vegas.1.07.09 That's not the Circus Circus dumpster you're looking at. It's Big East odds! 
Sure, we've just begun to adjust to Big East life with Eric Devendorf (after adjusting to life without him, after adjusting to life with his return, after adjusting to life last season without him... blrrrrr). But despite our gradual dipping of the toe into the conference season pool, Vegas wants us to do a canonball and then start peeing. Vegas Watch tells us the Orange is still only the 6th best odds to win the Big East at +1000. Excerpted from vegaswatch.net: "The Cuse are kind of the anti-Georgetown in that they begin conference play with games against Seton Hall, South Florida, DePaul, and Rutgers. They've already started that stretch 2-0, although the win @USF was only by five. That level of competition obviously won't last long in this conference; their next four games, against Georgetown, Notre Dame, Pitt, and Louisville, should be fun. 
Syracuse is shooting a ridiculous 58% from 2, although that's the only thing they really have going for them on offense. Flynn, Harris, and Devendorf can all get to the rim, and Onuaku is shooting a ridiculous 73% from the field. That last figure is unsustainable, but not a complete fluke, as he was at 63% last year. The problem is that they don't shoot the three very well at all, and turn the ball over way too often. Flynn and Devendorf are going to have to cut down on very high turnover rates for this offense to be efficient enough to hold its own in the Big East.The City of Sin has Pitt, UConn, Georgetown, Notre Dame and Louisvile (in that order) as more likely candidates to be... uh... cutting down the nets at Madison Square Garden? (So, is this regular season odds or B.E. tourney odds, anyway?) The grotesque South Florida Bulls are longest odds to win the conference at +15000 (despite giving SU a scare last week inside the venerable SunDome). Moral of the story: If you haven't wasted enough money on SU athletics already (the entity, not the website) on things like tickets, Dome Dogs, Greg Robinson's autographed glossy 8"x10" and your road Andrew Robinson jersey... now try throwing a hundee down on the Orange in the Big East. Happy '09 courtesy of Las Vegas. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum]
Hotties in Orange.1.06.09 Will Orange Nation be gifted with attractive first ladies? 
Dear Fizz Readers, This is Rachel Glandorf. Enjoy. Colt McCoy's girlfriend received almost as much airtime as the Heisman finalist during FOX's telecast of the Fiesta Bowl. Not surprising. The Robot Network has overexposed girlfriends, wives and parents for more than a decade now, turning Kurt Warner's wife and Archie Manning into overexposed annoyances. But, I think we can all forgive the FOXies on this one. Glandorf sent the cybersphere into a fizzy earlier in the season with her very Midwest/Big 12-hotness. Orange Nation has had the benefit of Julie Boeheim over the years, so its not like we have a lot to complain about. You might recall the Fizzinations blog post about Layla Kiffin last month. With Lane Kiffin's rumored dalliance with Syracuse, it made Dome-goers realize what we potentially missed out on. (Although, I'm pretty sure even we would be uncomfortable with iwoulddolaylakiffin.com. Stay classy Knoxville.) 
Let us ask the question: If Doug Marrone's wife is not going to be front and center (she's been fairly invisible since the hiring), maybe JuCo transfer quarterback Garrett Barnas can deliver. If nothing else, maybe the Orange can create a quarterback's girlfriend cheering section. (Since three fans essentially make up an entire section anyway in the Dome these days.) Andrew Robinson's flame meet Cameron Dantley's girl meet Garrett Barnas' chick. Now cheer and look at the Time Warner Cable cameras! Who knows. Barnas might be our answer to McCoy's girl. He does have that Midwest/Iowa Community College Athletic Conference swagger. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum]
What If? D-Nabb Edition.1.05.09 Startling stat: McNabb is much better than Peyton in postseason. 
The statistic was almost as jarring as sneak previews for Howie Mandel's new hidden camera sit-com, "Howie Do It" (shudder). After the Eagles knocked out the Vikings in Sunday's final Wild Card entry, Donovan McNabb's record in his team's first playoff game ran to 6-0. Wait. What? Yep, double-take that. D-Nabb has NEVER lost his first post-season game. In other words, the Eagles under McNabb have never been one-and-done. This takes on heightened significance after the Colts 20-17 OT loss in San Diego Saturday night. After another all-to-early Indianapolis exit from the post-season, Peyton Manning has been one-and-done SIX of the last NINE years. Peyton will go down in history as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. McNabb might not even be welcomed back to Philly next season. But is this fair? The Fizz spent its first two years on the Hill coinciding with McNabb's final two (and the Orange Bowl and 66-13 over Miami and the Steven Brominski play). So there will always be an obvious Fizzy-spot for #5. And it's hard to argue it was all Peyton's fault the 12-4 Colts were bounced this year by an inferior 8-8 Chargers squad, especially after he never even saw the field in overtime. But there is something to the disparate playoff records of both quarterbacks. Obviously, Peyton has the one huge looming tie-breaker. A ring. They've both been to a Super Bowl. Manning won his (and went through Tom Brady and the Patriots to do it). McNabb lost his (via Tom Brady and the Patriots) and may or may not have puked during it. Manning has only been to one other AFC Championship Game (in '03), losing to New England. McNabb lost three in a row ('01, '02, '03) before getting over the hump in '04. Few football fans would opt for #5 as your starter over #18. But McNabb's failures might just be a case of wrong place, wrong time. What if Peyton Manning had been wedded to the single-toughest fan base in America? What if he was booed on draft day? What if he was coached by Andy Reid? What if he was saddled with Freddie Mitchell and Todd Pinkston and Hank Baskett instead of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark? How would Peyton have handled the T.O. drama? What if McNabb had walked into otherworldly polite and appreciative Indianapolis ten years ago, instead of vicious and blood-thirsty Philly? What if D-Nabb had been one-and-done in the playoffs six of the last nine years after the 14-2s, 13-3s and 12-4s? Would Peyton be booed out of town and McNabb be lionized in statue? Would Peyton be a bust, known only for never beating Florida in college and not living up to the expectations of a forlorn football city? Would McNabb be a surefire, first-ballot Hall of Famer who had a history of winning the big ones? History might feel a lot different. A bit more Orange, even. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum]
Coach Oh No.1.02.09 SU football starts the new year with bad news. 
When Doug Marrone was hired, the Fizz had one wish for the new staff. That Ed Orgeron would be a member of it. Instead, word comes down Friday that Coach O has climbed Rocky Top. "Orgeron is returning to the SEC as part of Lane Kiffin's staff at Tennessee. Orgeron will work as an assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach. The Larose, La., native spent the last season as the defensive line coach for the Saints after being fired as Mississippi coach after three seasons. He has also worked as an assistant at Miami, Syracuse and Southern California. Orgeron and Kiffin worked together as assistants under USC coach Pete Carroll from 2001 to 2004. Orgeron worked as recruiting coordinator for the Trojans, with several classes ranked in the nation's top five by analysts." Granted, Orgeron brings more baggage than a Disney World tourist. We'll point you to Wikipedia for all the sordid details, but his past ranges from domestic abuse charges to stealing players after Hurricane Katrina. BUT he was an assistant coach at Syracuse and was rumored to be joining Marrone's staff. Like George Gervin's finger roll, the one thing Coach O could do was recruit. He snared big time talent to Miami's dynasty in the late-80s, cleaned up at USC during Pete Carroll's early years and even brought in recruits to Ole Miss. But he's taking his act to Tennessee where we're sure the Vols will begin raising eyebrows around the conference for some dirty recruiting. But hey, the guy gets the job done. And he can sell cars. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum]
10,000 A.D.12.19.08 A newbie Syracuse blog reaches 10,000 hits. 
Scholars (or maybe someone brilliant like Jennifer Aniston) enjoy saying "necessity is the mother of invention." And "The Orange Fizz" was born out of necessity. By last summer, ripping Groobers (and openly rooting for losses) became a cottage industry among Syracuse bloggers. So, we had to join the party. On August 30th, we launched this little bundle of orange joy as an opportunity to vent about the masochistic nature of following Syracuse athletics. We, at the Fizz, graduated from the 'Cuse in '01. Since sitting hungover through the endless commencement speeches in a sweltering Dome, cheering for the Orange had careened toward delirium. One-win football seasons. Annual NIT bids. An athletic director who knew more about the photo op than the fairgrounds. Zoinks. In the early part of the decade, the only way to vent was to call up one of your boys you shared Darwin's happy hour pitchers with and gripe, "I'm sorry, but Coach P has to go." 
By the middle part of the decade, the online message boards were giving Orange Nation a new millenium party-line to post, "How big does the freaking block 'S' have to be at mid-court? What, are we blind?" Finally, by last season we were entrenched daily in fantastic 'Cuse-centric blogs like "Nunes Magician," "Three Idiots" and "Hoya Suxa." It was time to share in the vent. On August 30, 2008 we launched "The Fizz" as a chance for some group therapy. It was a date that would live in infamy. Big ups to the incredibly resilient and hilariously sarcastic Orange Nation. The love we received was far and beyond what was expected for our first four months (daily Groobers bash sessions and candidate coach watches certainly helped). Who knows. If the Orange football team goes 6-6, maybe no one is reading this blog (don't get any ideas Marrone!). But as it stands, this week the Fizz surpassed 10,000 hits. 
The rest of the SU-blog community has been nothing but supportive, national sites like SI.com's "Campus Clicks" and The Big Lead linked us and we even got the Post-Standard to notice (score). We at the Fizz don't get paid much to be holed up in an apartment, decked out in our Lawrence "Poetry In" Moten jersey, eating Crispix and perusing Syracuse.com (in fact, would ya mind clicking on that ad to the right? That's three-cents for us. Nice). But it sure beats real work. Here's to another 50,000 hits in '09. We've got some ideas up our orange sleeves. Thanks. I think I'm getting Fizzy-eyed. [Vent about this post in the Orange Fizz Forum]
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