orangechucke

My opinion, if your relationship is weak because of Facebook, it was probably weak before it. You only find what you are searching for. I think people blame Facebook or others because it is easier than facing the fact that they may have been part of the problem or that there were deeper issues they were either unaware of or ignored. If it wasn't Facebook, it would be the girl at work or the guy next door, Facebook simply makes the audience bigger.

No worries timmsimms, the brilliant DR refers to me as a homer too but fails to realize many of us are proud of that and doesn't make us any less a fan simply because we prefer to focus on the positive and not constantly point to the negatives. Look at his comment shredding a 2 star HS junior as though that is a terrible thing. No mention that we have a guy on the roster now who could also do great things next year or that some who have actually seen him, love his pocket presence and ability to throw a long, accurate pass. No mention that he will have a very good receiver transferring from Arkansas along with a good DE commit from Brooklyn. It is so easy to point out the negatives and go behind everyone and say so.

No sir, it is fans like you who think you know but don't know squat. You think Coach Marrone was going to walk in here and get instant 5 star players into a program that needed to be totally rebuilt? You sir are the one who is unreal. I am smarter than a Dome Dog (although those things sure are tasty) but I also know what he inherited. I do not accept mediocrity but I do have faith that this program is finally on the right track. He did not bring this to an all time low, he inherited that and is trying to improve the program and the recruits that come here. And before you get all on your high horse about how I responded to being called a homer, maybe you should realize that not everything is as negative as osome people on here post either. That was a huge win against WVU last season and winning the Pinstripe Bowl was a great achievement as well but let's just complain all the time about what he does wrong. If always finding the negatives is what makes me a true fan in your eyes, then I guess I never will be one but if you are going to call me a homer than I am proud to say that I am because I wear my Orange with pride, I root for this team to succeed and not fail just because it doesn't meet your standards and I truly do see signs of improvement in this program.

And one last thing, it is fans like me who give this team encouragement when they need it most and if you played sports, you would know that often times, when your fans support and inspire you, you play even better than you thought you were capable of playing but playing in front of a bunch of ungrateful whiners gets old. If you think for one second, I wouldn't love to see this team in a BCS bowl game or 40,000 fans packing the Dome rooting this team on, then you sir are the one with the lowered IQ but I am realistic and willing to give them time to build it and build it the right way.

First off, dang right I am a homer and proud of it...SO WHAT? Did my name not make it obvious enough for you or the "GO ORANGE!" at the end? I am not out here trying to hide anything. I have Orange Pride and I love the staff and team (and if Chuckle and calling me a homer is the best you got, that is sad).

Second, did I say we just signed Peyton Manning? No, I said a quality pocket QB who is reported to have great ability to throw the long ball and run if need be. Plus 2 stars is not too shabby when also added to a quality transfer from the SEC. Besides, the star system doesn't mean squat until you can back it up on the field on the next level. And he reportedly had other interests but Eastern Michigan was the only one with an offer (read the article about how other teams wanted to see more of him).

And last but not least, as I mentioned above, it is a building process and takes time. This program was going downhill fast to the point our only time we made ESPN Game day was talking about how much we were going downhill before changes were made. Once the changes were made, progress had to be rebuilt from scratch but we are starting to see better players come and three quality guys in one week is a good sign but hey, keep drinking your haterade. At least I can admit I am a SU fan who loves and believes in this team and believes in the program and the direction and nothing you guys can say will change that so by all means, bring it if it makes you feel better because I am a homer and I BLEED ORANGE!

I am not huge on recruiting as I like to wait until I see how they play when they make the step up but to all of those who said Coach Marrone couldn't recruit, what now? It takes time to prove you are building a solid program and you are starting to see the fruit rippening now. This team just added a quality QB recruit, a WR transfer from Arkansas and a stud DE from Brooklyn who is coming to SwaggerCuse to make a difference (I am excited for guys like him who not just commit but seem genuinely excited to come here and make a difference).

GO ORANGE!

First off, yes people still watch and enjoy the sport.

Next, please be sure the blame is place correctly as the teams were simply taking advantage of the format and should not take any blame for being smart.

Last, while I agree that parts of it were slower than they could have been, there was also a lot of excitement and close racing throughout the night. Johnson didn't win just because he won the first segment, he also got a good jump on the final one and even then, had some close competition for the first couple laps of it. He started to pull away in time but with the pit stop rule, he could have lost some ground (and almost did) as well.

I do think they should have it a simpler format myself. 25 laps for qualifying to those who were not eligible and top 2-3 advance along with the top fan vote. Then you go 25 laps with the pits and starting position determined by the pit crew challenge and then a mandatory pit with a minimum of two tire changes and then the last segment being 25 more laps to win the million.

The great thing about Hofmanns is that it is not what most consider a hot dog and more of a sausage. I love the franks and coneys (snappys) and I can't wait until they somehow get into North Carolina.

I agree. There are a lot of central New Yorkers in this area and even those not from the area who I have had try them, love them. The best way is to find a chain store or restaurant in the area that will sell them and yet has other things to offer as well. I usually get a few packs when I get back to Syracuse to visit and bring home because the shipping on the website is crazy though sadly they don't last very long.

This movie was awesome. I rarely go to the movies these days because of the costs but it was well worth it.

I do have to wonder though if financial records are fair since the price of tickets seems to go up often.

First off, i think this was a great column and read. Whether you like her idea or not, the discussion is a valid one. I personally try to use paper bags when I can and I do keep and reuse the paper and plastic bags around the house as long as it is not damaged when I get home. Of course, I also have respect for others property and don't just fling them out my car window because I am done with it either.

I am on a limited budget so I can say that doing major grocery shopping, I am trying to cut every penny I can but this is not the worst idea I have ever heard either. I am sure some businesses already add costs such as this into their product as well. The reusable bag is a great concept that when I lived in Germany from 94-96 that I saw most use because the stores did not use plastic bags unless on post but the issue is more for those with big families who use several bags per visit.

Frankly this is an opinion piece and though everyone is entitled to their opinion, this one has more holes in it than swiss cheese. Three of these coaches have never coached a game in the Big East, Coach P may have won last season but that was an ugly game on both sides and Coach Holtz, unlike Coach Marrone, inherited a program on the uprise and didn't do much with it (and finished with the same record as Marrone). I don't know whether the writer truly feels this way or just wanted to get some attention but frankly, I give this as much credit as I would a 12 year old kid on Myspace listing coaches. I believe in Coach Marrone and believe last year was just a bad season but he is on the rigth track to rebuild this program. As noted before me, let us keep in mind that during the Robinson era, this team struggled with Division II teams and only crowning achievement was barely beating a struggling Notre Dame team whil Coach Marrone has a huge win against some top Big East wins and a bowl victory on his resume. I also think Marrone is making some changes this season that will make this team better including using his playmakers more often in different roles.

Love the Otto dance and Syracuse football great #44 Floyd Little breaking it down the best but overall very entertaining video.

I am a Duke hater but much respect for Coach K for understanding that screwing around with someone's future by trying to tell them what school they can go to is petty and classless...but I still hope SU kicks their butt when we get to the ACC.

I say if he wants to keep playing and someone will pay him to do it, go for it. If not, retire as I am sure he will find work somewhere either on TV or working as a coach of some sort. Maybe he can come back to help raise funds for a new football facility if he is ready to retire.

You're right. It's not tiresome and lame to constantly complain or at least attempt to have discussions without calling for someone's job and constantly finding every negative thing to complain about. That's what the cool kids are doing I guess and for shame if I have a differing and more positive opinion on the state of Syracuse sports.

Would some of you like a little more cheese to go with your whining? I do not expect us all to agree on everything but some of you people need to inhale and take a deep breath (or maybe not inhale whatever it is you are on that upsets you so much).

First off, there have been things about Dr. Gross that upset me (especially retiring 44) but his explanation of the NYC games is logical. He was not in hiding as he has in fact always been very forthcoming about his plan to make SU NY's college team and anything else that concerns fans. I am not ignorant that losing these games in the Dome sucks but like it or not, this program has to play bigger teams to continue to build and your Notre Dame's and USC's can dictate their terms because we need them and not the other way around. And yes, the Robinson hire sucked but we all make mistakes. To be honest, I would love to see Dr. Gross and company give some advantage as far as season ticket holders go to the NYC games as I have heard there is no incentive and there should be whether it be busses or at least reduced ticket rates through the university.

This leads me to my second point, since when did we stop counting wins no matter the opponent? I don't care who we beat as long as we didn't lose to them as we did in the GRob era. May I remind you that last year, Syracuse did in fact have a big win against, oh yeah, the team that represented the Big East in the BCS conference. The year before that, they went into West Virginia AND South Florida and won two huge games. So before we keep aiming our rage at Coach Marrone and Dr. Gross, there has been progress though apparently not as fast as others wanted and we need to remind ourselves that it was only a few years ago we were featured on ESPN Gameday after an embarassing loss and heard experts talk about the decline of Syracuse football. It is rebuilding and takes time. AND PLEASE stop complaining about the closed practices. The players and coaches all say that it helped this team and it was not some massive ego trip to upset the fans but a way to get the players to bond more and concentrate. There were two open spring practices that included autograph sessions so let's chill on the "Marrone is not embracing the community" stuff.

And lastly and the part that upset me the most seeing this and comments, the athletics department in general is thriving. Football is slowly rebuilding and the men's lacrosse is slightly having a bad year (though they still qualified for BE post season tournaments). The softball and women's lacrosse programs are ranked and winning programs right now. The basketball team still made the Elite Eight and is getting top recruits to put them on their list and in some cases, attend SU. Even the women's basketball made a deep run in the NIT tournament this year. So before you start calling for Dr. Gross's head, realize that he has done a lot of good as well when it comes to the department as a whole. I bleed Orange and I think the steps that have made (some suck short term yes) will eventually lead to bigger and better things for Syracuse University and the area/fansbase. I am genuinely scared to see how some of you are at home when your spouse does something you don't like because not every decision will have the results we want or as quickly as we want them but I believe in my heart even the stuff I disagree with was done with the best of intentions.

You may not return to your regularly scheduled bashing on everything wrong with Syracuse and Syracuse University.

It was my pleasure. Keep up the great work.

That was what the people voted for and I know several people who love Varsity pizza, not just drunk college students as many proclaim.

I had a great time with the judges and the pizza was just as I mentioned, very good especially the cheese. I was not encouraged to do or say anything other than express my opinions after tasting it. Sadly i didn't get to try the pizza from a plastic bag but I am sure it was just as fresh.

First off, you can stop saying this is a liberal view. I am a conservative Christian who loves and believes in God and I fully support the gay lifestyle including their RIGHT to marry. I have family who are gay and they are happy and not harming anyone. They do not do public displays of affection and to be honest, I think any public display should just be explained as a form of love not hate. I am a divorced straight man and I have no problems with anything a gay couple chooses to do in public that straight people do already.

Second, yes this is a right and I believe they are born this way but many are taught to downplay it or hide it for fear of being attacked publicly from those who disagree with it. Look at our society and the amount of bullying that goes on normally and that is why some choose to try and hide it. I think we should allow them to be who they are and allow them the same rights everyone else is entitled to including voting and marriage. It is a shame so many in our society are afraid to embrace something just because it is different than they are. By the way, if you believe your hatred comes from the Bible, I wonder how many of you casting stones have worked on Sunday, committed adultery or disrespected your parents as the Bible also tells you are wrong. The Bible also says to love your brother and sister and it amazes me how often people forget that and choose to hate others for parts they prefer to follow by the word. Why is living in sin not illegal or swinger clubs? At what point do we stop worrying about what happens in others bedrooms that does not impact you? And I am sorry but having to explain to your kids about gay couples and feeling awkward is a you thing, not on them. You can simply say they are in love and not afraid to express it but because your hatred exists, it is now awkward.

I do think we are entitled to our opinions as they is what makes this country great but when those opinions keep people from their rights, I have an issue. Yes, gay marriage is a right. Marriage is about love. If your church prefer not to marry gay couples, fine but the ones who wish to do so should be allowed. I am divorced and I am sure some churches would prefer I not marry in their church either and some require counseling and so forth. But to say as a country that this is not a right is just as equal to saying people of a certain sex, race or nationality should not have this right as well. If you do not believe it to be a right because you think marriage is about a man and a woman only, I would disagree and say marriage is about a loving union between two people. I take marriage very seriously and only divorced because we could no longer be together in the same house and I believe everyone should have this right.

Why can't everyone love everyone? I understand life gets rough at times and I am not some "hippie liberal" trying to spread my disease to everyone, I am just someone who believes life is a short gift and everyone should have the right to be happy as long as their right does not infringe on the rights of others. Maybe just maybe if you told your kids and yourself that it is about love and not a "gay thing", our society would be a more tolerable place for all. Maybe bullying would be less prevalent and maybe we would all find life a bit easier to live while we have it.

I enjoyed the article Axe. Glad to see your fans could could attend as well.

So let me get this straight, some would complain if we played another division 2 because the big name programs don't want to play in the Dome or you complain if they schedule big games in NYC? So I guess some fans need something to complain about no matter what. And like it or not, the only way this team likely gets national TV attention right now as it is rebuilding is on Friday night with less games to compete against.

Yes, I get it, there should be better games here and as the program gets built up hopefully they do. And I do think season ticket holders should get some incentive if they choose to travel to NYC/NJ to support this team. There are things that could be done better but this notion that Dr. Gross is trying to move everything south is crazy. And check out MSG when SU plays there, fans pack that place so playing in NYC where many alums reside is not a terrible idea. By the way, I know many alumni who make trips regularly from Albany, Rochester or NYC/NJ when they can to attend games so stop knocking them for not traveling when I would bet alumni outnumber locals for many road games. I am a former local resident and love this area but I also know many within the local fan base can be very negative and judgemental about everything but love to wear Orange when we win whereas many alumni are supportive, including with their checkbook.

I am sure they are just fielding offers and seeing what it would cost to build a state of the art facility. Stop blaming Marrone as he is building this program from manure and realize recruits want top notch facilities and right now most of the ACC football facilites are well above what SU has. And I am not the president of the Dr. Gross fan club but some of these jokes are about relocating the facility/not hiring local firms are lame. I am sure if a Syracuse firm can provide them with the best option, Dr. Gross would be more than happy to parade them in front of the camera to show how he is helping the community. And yes, it sucks that big games are being played in NYC but I would bet big money that if we offered the game in the Dome, we could not get these games and these games will also help bring in recruits and TV exposure. SU football is still rebuilding and sometimes we need to remember that this isn't Ernie Davis/Jim Brown days and we have no leverage but trying to do everything they can to build it. If you think Dr. Gross would not love ND or USC in the Dome and the ticket prices he would charge plus general dome sales he could get, you are naive. But I guess it is easy sitting in your glass house to throw stones at everything. I personally hate that 44 was retired and have a few complaints about how things have been done but overall they are trying to build a program that started declining to the point the only time we made ESPN was after horrible losing seasons.

First off, can we please shut the heck up about this "he is not exciting on the field" vision of coaching? I assure this man cares more about this team than anyone on here including myself and I would list SU football as my favorite team among any other sports pro or college. Plus, I have seen him show emotion so I find this stance ignorant and ridiculous. Just because your old coach or some coach you admired was more colorful does not mean everyone has to be that way to be successful.

Second, yes I am a Doug Marrone homer because I think he is good for the program and is trying to build it the right way. He is trying to build around the talent he has and has continuing to recruit better players. Maybe some of you need a reminder that before he took over, we couldn't sniff breaking .500 and now we at least have a bowl win in the last few years. He is trying to help the team and not just become some dictator on the sidelines who blames it all on his assistants.

Lastly, I know we are all excited and want to voice our opinions on matters because we are fans but can we at least see how the season plays out before we decide whether he will be back next year or not? It is freaking April and WAY too early to judge anything. I am not putting him on a pedestal just yet as greatest SU coach ever (that would take a lot of work even I would have to admit) but let's also not bury the guy for taking a shinking ship and at least getting it above water.

Hmm, Twin Tress huh? I might just have to wander on over and check it out as well.

Let's Go Pens!

Stern is partially right but they need to format it more like baseball with developmental deals. Low cost at first but you play D-League or Europe until you are proven ready for the NBA and then they call you up and make a better offer later. One and done hurts the integrity of "college athletics" but I don't blame the kids because they are doing their best to work the system. Right now, the best way to get that big deal is college and get drafted. Put in a 3 year deal for college but allow better options for those who wish to skip college and just play ball. Keep the scholarships in place for those who meet the requirements but stop forcing kids to go when we know some of them don't care about anything except basketball and being in the NBA. Not everyone is made for college and so why pressure them to meet standards just to get in the pros when you can do it through other methods? The NCAA likes it though because teams like Kentucky have names they can use to market their March Madness and the NBA likes it because under the current system, DLeague pays squat and 18 year old kids can convince mom and dad they gave college a shot.

I love seeing Syracuse/Central New York companies making a name for themselves :)

Just so you know, some of the readers appreciate this stuff and are having fun with you. My only regret is that you all are doing Pavones next week and I won't be in town until late Saturday night most likely. I would have loved to have met you all and experienced the pies myself.

There is a difference between telling your players to hit hard and telling your players where to hit and injure someone while encouraging a bonus if you take them out.

Did you even think before you typed that or just felt like attacking the coach without even considering your own words? Beating out Nassib this season will be tough since the guy knows the system but Marrone will most definitely get him on the field and allow him a chance to learn it if he picks things up. Mock those who defend Coach Marrone if you want (i proudly am one of them) but your comments above prove you to be nothing more than a hater. He is going nowhere in November and I proudly support him and the development of Broyld.