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Recent Articles from “Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician”

• This Is The Guy Who Will One Day Run Syracuse Basketball
  Not that I'm complaining, mind you... H/T: Syracuse Legends
  Sean Keeley
• Syracuse Lacrosse Rallies Past Denver, 9-8, To Advance To Championship Game May 26, 2013
  The Syracuse Orange used a 5-1 run in the fourth quarter Saturday to defeat the Denver Pioneers, 9-8, in come-from-behind fashion in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in Philadelphia. Derek Maltz scored the game-winner off a rebound from a shot by Luke Cometti with 20 seconds remaining to help the top-seeded Orange (16-3) advance to the National Champions Game where No. 7-seeded Duke awaits. SU will be vying for its 12th National Championship in program history. The Orange, who pulled off their 10th one-goal victory, trailed 7-4 heading into the final 15 minutes, however, like SU has done so many times this season it rallied in the closing moments. The player behind the comeback was (who else?) senior midfielder JoJo Marasco, who dished out a pair of assists and scored a goal in the fourth quarter. Marasco's last assist came on a tally by Cometti, who scored on a slashing, quick-hitting, game-tying goal with 59 seconds to go. Cometti's goal was a part of a three-goal run in the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds. The Pioneers (14-5) had a last-gasp chance to tie the game, but Syracuse's defense held tough in the closing seconds and the Orange moved on to the title game, a place SU hasn't been since 2009. Marasco finished the game with two goals and three assists, while Cometti tallied a hat trick. Maltz added two goals, while Dylan Donahue and Scott Loy each scored a goal. Denver, which ended the season 14-5, jumped out to a 3-0 advantage and led 5-2 at halftime thanks to an amazing first-half performance from goaltender Ryan LaPlante, who had 13 saves. But sticking to his usual rotation, at the beginning of the second half Denver head coach Bill Tierney replaced LaPlante with Jame Faus. The decision may have cost the Pioneers a trip to the finals, as Faus made just four saves and allowed seven goals in the final 30 minutes. Day 1 of the 2013 Lacrosse Final Four was fantastic, as earlier the Cornell Big Red nearly pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in college lacrosse history. Trailing 14-7 to Duke entering the fourth quarter, the Big Red seemed dead but somehow came alive thanks to the NCAA's newest leading point getter, Rob Pannell. The senior scored two goals and dished out two assists to help Cornell close within a goal, 15-14. The rally fell just short after the Blue Devils scored with 49 seconds to go. This will be the first time Syracuse and Duke will meet in the NCAA finals. The Blue Devils were last there in 2010 when they won the program's only National Championship. The Orange will be playing for the national crown for the 17th time in program history. Monday's Memorial Day showdown will begin at 1 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN.
  Jared E. Smith
• Syracuse Lacrosse Vs. Denver Game Thread May 25, 2013
  Alright. Here we go. Top-seeded Syracuse is vying for its first appearance in the National Championship Game since 2009 when it defeated Cornell, 10-9, in overtime to win its 11th title. Denver is aiming to advance to the final for the first time in program history. Hopefully, it doesn't happen because Bill Tierney doesn't deserve anything good to happen to him. All-in-all, GO ORANGE!
  Jared E. Smith
• NCAA Final Four National Semifinal Game Thread May 25, 2013
  Ahhhhhhhh. Memorial Day weekend and Syracuse lacrosse. Remember when they used to go together like turkey and Thanksgiving?; or fireworks and the Fourth of July?; or the Georgetown Hoyas and a first-round NCAA Tournament exit in March? Well, no need to rehash old memories today, because beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET, when the Duke Blue Devils take on the Cornell Big Red at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the Syracuse Orange will get a chance to move one step closer of earning the program's 12th National Championship. However, before that happens Orange fans need to pick a side: Would you rather root on CNY lacrosse and wish for a 2009 rematch with Cornell, which is seemingly smoking hot right now? Or, pull for Duke, which means you're pulling for Duke. Yuck. No real win-win situation here, but we can all talk about Game 1 of the annual national semifinal doubleheader here.
  Jared E. Smith
• Report: Syracuse Lacrosse Player Considered Boycott After Coach Called Opponent 'Colored' May 25, 2013
  The Syracuse lacrosse team was close to losing a player, Drew Jenkins, to a personal boycott earlier this season after a coach described an opposing player as "colored," an article written by New York Times contributor Michael Cohen said on Saturday. Cohen, who recently just graduated from SU and is also Syracuse.com's beat writer for the Syracuse football team, wrote a Times' piece that detailed how race still plays a role in one of the whitest sports in America. Jenkins' story, which stemmed from a comment from assistant coach Lelan Rogers, was one of a few examples Cohen used. Drew Jenkins, a junior midfielder for Syracuse who is black, said the defense was going over scouting reports when Rogers used the word. Jenkins said he considered boycotting the next game and asking the two other black players on the roster to join him before ultimately deciding against it. He did, he said, demand an apology from Rogers. “I didn’t mean it in a derogatory way,” Rogers said. “I made a comment — an inappropriate comment. It was wrong at the time. I apologized there, on the spot. I apologized again to the team later. I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I meant it in a good way. But obviously it came across not in a positive way.” According to the article, the unfortunate incident has all been worked out and everything seems to be well on the Syracuse squad. However, I was a bit surprised to hear Orange head coach John Desko say this: “Sometimes I think you find it confusing if you have to call someone an Afro-American or have to describe somebody,” Desko said. “I am sometimes myself confused on what is appropriate and what isn’t.” Now, I am not out to get Desko but that is a pretty ignorant comment, especially for a man in a prominent leadership position that is in charge of coaching African-American players. It is not enough to call for backlash, but Desko should know what is acceptable to say and NOT to say. In a situation like this, it is not OK to use ignorance to defend an insensitive comment by an assistant coach. I guess, that was the point of Cohen's article, which should get lacrosse fans talking before this weekend's events. Update: Syracuse University athletic director Daryl Gross released a statement responding to the New York Times' piece. "We are always trying to ensure and maintain a healthy culture of awareness and diversity and we are extremely sensitive to offensive behavior or statements that are made that harm these principles. "This incident occurred several months ago and it was addressed through the proper University channels as soon as I was made aware of it. The matter was handled internally with an emphasis on apology, accountability and education. "Our institution has tremendous educational and awareness resources and programming that we employ and continue to use as often as needed to ensure total respect and understanding. Though individuals make mistakes, ignorance is not an excuse and we do not condone regretful statements. "We have an amazingly diverse culture within our athletics department which is reflected in our administration, student-athletes and coaches and we will continue to educate all of our student-athletes and staff in regards to appropriate behavior."
  Jared E. Smith

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