The Orange Zone: Recent Episodes
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The Orange Zone is your place for everything Syracuse Orange. Tommy Sladek and Samantha Croston bring in-depth analysis of your favorite Orange teams, and access you can’t otherwise get to your favorite coaches, players, and everyone who helps make the Loud House a formidable spot for opponents to visit.
Orange Zone YouTube content: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYzTWhud9pi0FEzAk_uGGCd7xQoikab88
00:20-4:20 Injury reports, Western Michigan recap
9:10-16:26 Tim Newton Interview, Voice of the Boilermakers
16:27-27:29 Syracuse at Purdue Preview
27:30-29:55 Game Predictions
30:10-33:30 Trivia
33:30- Jets/Bills Talk
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Are you ready for the lights to go down, for a hush to come over the JMA Wireless Dome, for the boys clad in orange and blue to take the field for the new football season?
We are.
On the Season 2 premiere of "The Orange Zone Podcast" Tommy Sladek, Samantha Croston and new addition Ashley Wenskoski discuss the Orange's season opener against in-state foe Colgate. The team breaks down what is historically one of SU's longest rivals complete with an interview of the Raiders head man Stan Dakosty before setting their benchmarks for the 2023 Orange football season.
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The season's so close you can almost taste it and we're on the edge of our seats waiting for it to finally arrive.
On this week's episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast" Tommy Sladek and Samantha Croston wrap up Syracuse football training camp with a final set of observations and their expectations for the upcoming season (02:40-16:36).
Meanwhile former Orange are coming down the home stretch of their first NFL training camps, and we're keeping close track of their progress as they look to make a name for themselves at the next level (16:36-20:40). One rookie is in line to start Week one, and that's also the inspiration for Producer Brendon's trivia (20:41-23:34).
And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the big moment for SU men's soccer. A pair of banners will be hoisted this week as they celebrate the program's first national championship (23:35-25:08).
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It's the dog days of summer, which means up on the SU Hill, the dog days of training camp are growing fewer and fewer and number.
On the latest episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast," Tommy Sladek and Samantha Croston update the scene around Orange camp. LeQuint Allen makes his return to the practice field for the Cuse offense (04:13-09:27) and defensively a new face has arrived to bolster the secondary (09:27-13:30).
Meanwhile Producer Brendon is looking to bounce back after a rare defeat. His weekly trivia focuses on some of the many preseason awards SU players are being considered for (18:17-25:54).
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College athletics will never look or feel the same way again.
On the latest episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast," Tommy Sladek welcomes back friend of the show and SU men's basketball's all-time leading scorer Lawrence "Poetry in Moten" to get his perspective on the latest shakeup that's left the Pac-12 reeling and sports fans everywhere asking, "what's next?" (01:06-19:22)
On another note, it's been an eventful summer on the hardwood, especially for those who enjoy old-school names that once wore the Orange. Tommy and Poetry look back on this year's TBT and a recent game between alumni from long-time rivals Syracuse and Georgetown (19:22-25:21).
Of course with Poetry back he's chomping at the bit to best Producer Brendon in his weekly trivia, and he's even brought his own question to turn the tables on the team and the listeners as well (25:52-29:22).
The preseason is coming to a close and we're here for it. If you are too be sure to be on the lookout for new episodes of "The Orange Zone Podcast."
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It's just one month away!
On the latest episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast," Tommy Sladek, Samantha Croston and Brendon Hodges are feeling the energy ahead of the 2023 college football season and have plenty of questions about this season's Syracuse Orange football team.
Who better to answer those questions than the head man himself? Tommy shares part of his one-on-one interview with Head Coach Dino Babers, covering everything from his eight years spent in Syracuse, to returning stars and his two new coordinators (01:55-10:40).
The team then reacts to Coach Babers' comments and discusses the balance that any coach has to keep in order to retain a position in an ever-changing field of work (10:41-20:48).
Having good players makes a coaches job easier, and two Orange standouts are up for consideration towards a major award. The team forecasts how two names at the front of SU's airborne attack are set up for success this coming season (20:49-22:39).
And to close it all out Tommy and Sam look to upset the ever clever Producer Brendon and his latest trivia question (22:40-26:55).
The excitement can hardly be contained as the football season approaches, and if you're on the edge of your seat be sure to keep an eye and ear out for more new episodes of "The Orange Zone Podcast."
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Boeheim's Army is back in action and looking to make amends for a lackluster performance from last year.
On the latest episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast," Tommy Sladek and Samantha Croston discuss the troops' first-round win over Team Gibson (01:57-06:28) and just how exciting 'The Basketball Tournament' is thanks in large part to the 'Elam Ending' (06:28-10:22).
As the Orange of the past hit the hardwood the current crop of college stars are learning who they'll be matched up against during an early-season tournament (10:23-11:37). It's a tournament that's been kind to the Cuse and it's also the focus of Producer Brendon's latest trivia question (11:37-14:28). Plus the latest news from the recruiting trail as Adrian Autry and company look to fill out the rest of the 2023-2024 roster (14:29-15:35).
The countdown to the 2023 athletics calendar continues and for up-to-date information on all things Orange, be sure to keep an eye and ear out for every new episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast".
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After a two-week hiatus your go-to team for all things Syracuse Orange is back from vacation and better than ever!
On the latest edition of "The Orange Zone Podcast" Tommy Sladek and Samantha Croston review the resolution reached between Syracuse University and Orange football's next man up in the backfield, LeQuint Allen (03:46-07:30).
On the hardwood a standout from SU's women's basketball team is taking her talents to the world stage. The team discusses how big of a deal it is that Dyaisha Fair is heading to Chile as a part of Team USA's U23 3x3 basketball team (9:00-11:35). Fair is also readying for her final year of college eligibility on The Hill and depending on the Orange's performance they could end up in one of three postseason tournaments, the newest of which hasn't quite found fans of the Orange Zone team(11:36-16:02).
But basketball isn't just exclusive to winter, especially with "The Basketball Tournament" coming to Syracuse for the second summer in a row. The team previews Boeheim's Army's chances of making a run towards a potential second tournament title (16:03-20:07). Of course no episode would be complete with another edition of Producer Brendon's vaunted trivia which will have you and the crew's heads spinning (20:08-25:24).
We're ready to kick the summer into high gear, and for coverage of all the summer has to offer, be sure to keep an eye and ear out for new episodes of "The Orange Zone Podcast".
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A sophomore season in jeopardy for one of the rising stars in the Syracuse Orange football program.
On the latest episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast," Tommy Sladek and Samantha Croston dive into the legal battle between Syracuse University and the young man projected to lead the Orange running game come the fall (00:29-13:27). On the flip side the football team has high hopes for future recruiting classes, and their efforts caused some buzz over the weekend with at least one of their new verbal commits (13:28-15:27).
And of course we couldn't forget to give the GOAT their flowers. To close out the episode the team celebrates Otto the Orange's induction into the Mascot Hall of Fame (15:28-19:49) and give their best effort in Producer Brendon's similarly themed trivia (19:50-28:05).
The sports coverage doesn't stop here as the summer continues, so be sure to keep an eye and ear out for every new episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast".
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They may be called the dog days of summer, but what happens in the offseason can have major ramifications for a team or programs chances come the playing season.
On the latest episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast" Tommy Sladek and Samantha Croston discuss the ripple effects that longtime West Virginia head men's basketball coach Bob Huggins resignation means for one of his key offseason additions in former Syracuse star Jesse Edwards (02:40-15:13). The team also tackles the latest edition of Producer Brendon's trivia as we rest the pecking order on the nation's winningest coaches (15:14-19:10).
Speaking of tackling, it's time to take stock in what SU football lost, gained and got back ahead of the 2023 season, with the entire "Orange Zone" team projecting the starting lineup fans will see in September and the players that could have a breakout season (19:11-32:32).
The fall season can't come soon enough and until it arrives "The Orange Zone Podcast" is your stop for all things Syracuse Orange athletics.
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When it comes to the summer months there's not a ton to talk about in the world of collegiate athletics. So, naturally it's a perfect time to look way ahead.
On the latest episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast" Tommy Sladek and Samantha Croston dive into the 2022 Syracuse football schedule, breaking down everything from the slate of opponents, to the position of the bye week, and even potential upset picks going for and against the Orange (07:46-22:40). On top of all that the team also attempts to navigate Producer Brendon's schedule-inspired trivia (22:41-28:53) before sending shout-outs to a national championship winning team's day in the nation's capitol, and a sprinter who ended up taking home some hardware of his own (28:34-29:36).
The summer's no time to sleep, so if you're looking for anything and everything Orange athletics, make sure you stay tuned for every new episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast".
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The 2022-2023 collegiate athletics season is over...well at least it's as close to over as it can be.
On the latest episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast," Tommy Sladek, Samantha Croston discuss the news that men's basketball standout Judah Mintz will return to the Orange for his sophomore season (04:45-09:13). They then take a look back on the year in Cuse athletics as a whole and do their best to rank some of the biggest moments Orange fans saw, heard and felt from the start of fall all the way to the doorstep of summer (09:14-30:52).
Those aren't the only memories Tommy, Sam and Producer Brendon have up their sleeves though, as each has picked out a favorite moment of theirs from this first year of "The Orange Zone Podcast". They each share those moments (30:53-40:57) before turning to another edition of Producer Brendon's patented trivia with a track and field twist ahead of this week's National Championships (40:58-44:14).
The offseason's ahead, and while Syracuse Orange sports are taking a break, rest assured you'll be seeing and hearing plenty from "The Orange Zone Podcast" team during the summer months as your stop for all things Orange.
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Syracuse football got a win they desperately needed and with under a month to go before Christmas a couple of Orange athletes have found their way onto Santa's naughty list.
On this week's episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast" Tommy Sladek, Samantha Croston and James Mungro discuss their predictions for where the Orange could land for a bowl game (02:59-09:32) before taking a look at how SU came to be where they stand at the end of a topsy-turvy regular season. A season epitomized by their final game at Boston College (09:33-14:41) with too many bumps to count in previous games as well (14:42-17:56).
Bowl season means the holidays are underway, and some SU athletes may have landed on Santa's naughty list just a month away from Christmas. The team details some fiery actions on both the turf and hardwood (17:57-32:35) and where they stand on that sort of emotion.
It's also about time to turn the focus to SU basketball (32:36-34:22) and SU soccer is in the middle of a dream run in the NCAA Tournament (38:18) meaning there's no shortage of stories on this week's episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast".
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Syracuse Orange football is in the worst place a college football program can be season to season. Average after looking like a program to be reckoned with. Now they face one of two paths, 7-5 and a good taste in their mouths to end the regular season or 6-6 and the memory of a collapse Orange fans haven't seen the likes of before.
On this week's episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast" Tommy Sladek, Samantha Croston and James Mungro speculate on what SU's current record means for the state of the team (03:34-11:17) after an apparent offensive bounce back and the defensive struggles against Wake Forest (11:18-14:03) before getting into a game at Boston College that, at least on paper, Syracuse should win (14:04-16:03). Then comes the question on every Orange fan's minds, what's the best and worst case scenario for the end of this season into other seasons to come (16:04-20:20). Of course our team has their game picks (20:21-24:12) their thoughts on where SU could end up in the upcoming bowl season (24:13-30-26) and once again tries to best Producer Brendon's weekly trivia (30:27-34:39) as SU marches towards what all of the Orange faithful hope is a happy end to a turbulent regular season.
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Senior day didn't go as planned for the Syracuse Orange football program, and their streak of weeks without a win sits at four. This latest loss leaves them at a fork in the road with just two games remaining in the regular season. Pack things in and hope to earn a bowl game bid, or work to right the ship and finish the regular season strong. From what the players had to say this week, they're ready and willing to work to make the latter the result.
That's just part of the discussion on this week's edition of "The Orange Zone Podcast". Tommy Sladek, Samantha Croston and James Mungro also take time to discuss just how out of hand the last few weeks have gotten (2:07-10:50) and why the term "panic mode" doesn't apply to this season anymore (11:10-20:10). The team also looks ahead to a matchup with another program who's had a similar sort of season, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (20:11-21:16). They takes stock of both programs current strengths and weaknesses, and analyze where they leave the opponents heading into a weekend where they need a win. As always our team's predictions (21:17-26:40) and trivia from Producer Brendon are included (29:11-36:25) as we continue down the home stretch of the 2022 SU football season.
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Syracuse is on a three-game skid that's seen some serious flaws exposed and the team topple out off the Top-25 entirely. Now they face off against a foe that's made their way back into the rankings in the #23 Florida State Seminoles. This week Tommy Sladek, Samantha Croston and James Mungro start with some reaction the the biggest sports news of the week out of Indianapolis (01:01-06:51) before turning their focus to SU's upcoming game against the Seminoles (06:52). The team discusses if it's time for the Orange to hit the panic button (08:25-11:47), how much a fluid quarterback situation has to do with their struggles (11:47-16:46) and what could be done better to improve not just offensively but as a team(16:58-19:04). Add in our Orange Zone team's predictions (19:04-29:01) Producer Brendon's trivia (29:01-32:52) and a quick recap of SU's opening salvo of the basketball season (32:54-35:11) and you have this week's episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast"
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20 Syracuse is coming off of back-to-back losses and the news that another starter is sidelined for the season. Now they head back out on the road for what's sure to be a tough task in the Pittsburgh Panthers. In this week's episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast" Tommy Sladek, Samantha Croston and James Mungro look into what makes the Panthers so dangerous (02:35-05:15) and how SU is once again taking on a "next man up" mentality (05:15-10:37). It may not be next man up at QB, but will Garrett Shrader be healthy enough to start (16:58-22:21)? Plus our predictions (22:22-29:00) Producer Brendon's trivia (29:01-32:54) and a visit from one of Central New York's favorite personalities who's now hitting it big out west (32:55-35:35).
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The #16 Syracuse Orange football team is coming off their first loss of the season but aren't letting it weigh them down. After analyzing the Orange's short descent down the polls this week (2:01-5:17) Tommy Sladek, Samantha Croston and James Mungro discuss what went wrong for the Cuse against Clemson (5:18-14:09) including why one of their best offensive weapons only had ten touches. Of course we have to look ahead to what's already a sold out affair between the Orange and the unranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (14:10-34:06) the first matchup hosted by Syracuse since 2003. We have our game predictions (34:07-42:27) and trivia with a twist (42:28-52:32) before hitting on the start of the exhibition schedule for SU men's and women's basketball (52:32-53:54). There's a ton going on in Syracuse and we're here to cover it all on this week's episode on The Orange Zone Podcast.
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(00:24-14:49) NC STATE RECAP
(14:50-15:02) MARLOWE WAX
(15:15-18:33) BOWL ELIGIBILITY, COLLEGE GAMEDAY TALK
(18:34-33:59) CLEMSON PREVIEW
(34:00-49:30) PREDICTIONS
(49:34-55:00) TRIVIA
(55:01-57:21) CLOSING REMARKS
After a more than month long homestand, the #14 Syracuse Orange are set to hit the road for just the second time this season in a game that could define the rest of the 2022 season. In this episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast" Tommy Sladek, Samantha Croston and James Mungro discuss the mindset as the Orange enter Death Valley, and face off against a Clemson Tigers team that, while similar in terms of personnel with Syracuse, comes with both championship history and pedigree. It's a matchup that no Orange fan will want to miss and we break it all down on this week's episode of "The Orange Zone Podcast".
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The Orange Zone team is back from a restful and relaxing bye week (00:00-5:43) but it's time to refocus on the rest of the season. It's the biggest test for the #18 Syracuse Orange to date with the #15 North Carolina State Wolfpack coming to the JMA Wireless Dome, but could injuries, including one to the Pack's starting QB change the way the road team goes forward (9:40-15:40)? Even with the potential impact of injuries these teams have strong defensive units, highlighting what's sure to be a competitive game (15:41-21:16) and in a game that SU is favored against a higher ranked opponent, what's the Orange's mindset right now (21:17-28:39). Of course our whole team has our predictions for the game (33:09-42:51) thoughts on the celebration of three Cuse legends into the Syracuse Ring of Honor (42:52-45:04) and Producer Brendon's almost impossible trivia with a new twist (45:05-52:21). All of that and more on a huge week in the world of Syracuse Orange football!
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Syracuse football is 5-0 and now they get a week to rest and recover ahead of a big two-week conference stretch. Meanwhile the Orange Zone podcast team isn't taking any breaks. This week we introduce a new member of the team (00:00-02:20) who, after reacting to a dominant showing against Wagner (03:46-6:15) gives us their opinion on what's made this team so good so far this season (06:16-08:55) as well as the keys to their continued success (10:45-12:47). Add in a look ahead at an ACC gauntlet filled with ranked teams (15:32-19:49) Producer Brendon's over-the-top trivia (25:16-30:50) and the mindset of the Orange as they make their way through the bye week (30:50-33:15) and there's no shortage of talking points to touch on throughout a week without Syracuse football.
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We start with Syracuse landing at #25 in the Coaches Poll Top 25 (5:00-7:50). Quick Virginia recap (7:51-9:00). Fan attendance, sound system issues (9:10-13:50). DT Terry Lockett suffers a season-ending injury. What this says about Orange depth (13:55-15:45). Comparisons to the 2018 team, we hear from HC Dino Babers (15:55-18:40). Week 5 Preview, Wagner is actually on a 23-game losing streak, we hear from CB Garrett Williams (21:31-24:20). Score Predictions for Syracuse/Wagner, we own our not so accurate predictions for the Virginia game (24:21-30:50). Interview with Wagner's play-by-play broadcaster Keith Raad (31:25-35:52). Producer Brendon's Trivia Question of the Week (36:35-39:30). Fun observations, we forgot to give Andre Szmyt a huge shoutout earlier in the show for an MVP performance in the win over UVA (39:40-42:55).
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After a last-second win over Purdue, Syracuse football is feeling good and getting some attention from across the nation. So what do the Orange have to do to take the next step and earn a number next to their name? Samantha Croston and Tommy Sladek discuss that and the upcoming game against Virginia in this episode of the Orange Zone Podcast.
-We hear from Dino Babers, Garrett Shrader and Caleb Okechukwu.
-SU receives votes in the AP Top 25
-Extended interview with UVA expert Zealand Shannon
-PREDICTIONS
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Syracuse football is 2-0 for the first time since 2018, and they face their toughest test yet when they return to the Dome this Saturday. So what is Syracuse football, and where can they go from here? Samantha Croston, Tommy Sladek and Brendon Hodges discuss that and more on this week's edition of the Orange Zone Podcast.
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If you love Syracuse Orange sports and game time isn’t enough time to connect with your team, this is the spot to keep the Orange fever going all week long. The Orange Zone is the only spot for unprecedented access to the team, insight into upcoming opponents, and a look at what makes Syracuse University sports so iconic.
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