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Syracuse failed its biggest early season challenge, which in retrospect shouldnt have been a big surprise. Louisville apparently is that good.Now the Orange (2-2) have a chance to make some amends for that 62-28 home loss to the rising Cardinals in early September when they meet Notre Dame (1-3) on Saturday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.The game gives Syracuse an opportunity on a national stage in an NFL stadium to show that first-year coach Dino Babers has the Orange pointed in the right direction. Theyre coming off a 31-24 road win over UConn that snapped a two-game skid.It felt good, said Orange wideout Amba Etta-Tawo, who had 12 catches for a school-record 270 yards and two touchdowns against the Huskies and leads the nation in receiving with 40 catches for 706 yards. A lot of people can breathe now. We just have to keep building upon that.Playing at this particular neutral site might not be the place. Since former athletic director Daryl Gross decided to schedule a series of games against top-flight teams at MetLife Stadium instead of the Carrier Dome in an effort to spread the Syracuse brand in metropolitan New York City, the Orange have lost the first three games at the home of the Giants and Jets -- to Southern Cal (42-29 in 2012), Penn State (23-17 in 2013), and Notre Dame (31-15 two years ago).This Notre Dame team was ranked 10th in the preseason and quickly fell flat. The Irish have allowed more points through four games (134) than any other team in program history. The defensive slide prompted Irish coach Brian Kelly to fire defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder after last weeks 38-35 home loss to Duke.I always like to play teams when theyre at their best because I dont want to win on Saturday and have people say, `Oh, you guys beat Notre Dame, but thats when they were going through X, Y, and Z, Syracuse linebacker Zaire Franklin said. I would like to play the Notre Dame thats fifth in the nation and headed for a playoff.The Syracuse offense has leaned hard on Etta-Tawo, a graduate transfer from Maryland in his last season of eligibility, and he has responded in a remarkable way. After a summer of working closely together, its no surprise hes become the favorite of quarterback Eric Dungey.Seemingly lost in the dizzying array of balls thrown by Dungey -- hes 117 for 179 for 1,367 yards -- is last seasons go-to guy. Steve Ishmael, who started all 12 games and led the Orange with 39 receptions for 570 yards and seven touchdowns, is fourth on the team this season with 17 catches for 171 yards and zero TDs in the Oranges new up-tempo offense.So far, Ishmael is taking it all in stride.He (Babers) has told me my time is going to come, Ishmael said. Im really going with the flow of things. Im so glad Ambas been making a lot of plays. When other teams see that, when they do double him, its going to open up everything for everybody.The offense should be a lot more exciting when that happens because its going to leave a lot of vulnerable spots.---Freelance writer Mark Frank in Syracuse contributed.---AP College Football Website: www.collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Kekis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Greek1947 Jharel Cotton Athletics Jersey . JOHNS, N. Liam Hendriks Jersey . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/2515m-sean-manaea-jersey-athletics.html . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Jed Lowrie Athletics Jersey . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. Mark McGwire Jersey . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Mako Vunipola produced his finest rugby for England during the summer tour of Australia but still began the season with a warning from Eddie Jones that read dont eat too much.Mako and younger brother Billy face a regular battle to control their weight with their resolve tested most when they visit family in Tonga during the summer.Every player in contention for the forthcoming Old Mutual Wealth series at Twickenham has been sent a generic letter by Jones that was personalised by some individual instructions from the head coach.Among the pointers Jones had written down for the elder Vunipola was to avoid a summer blow-out and the 25-year-old loosehead is pleased to have limited his weight gain to only half a stone.I was expecting worse so it was all right! I got a letter through saying Im in contention.... Im happy to be in contention, Vunipola, who was talking ahead of the Old Mutual Wealth Series, said. Eddie likes to keep us on our toes - everyone got the letter reminding them of what they need to do. My interesting bit was dont eat too much - to lose some weight.Vunipola was an influential figure during the 3-0 series whitewash of Australia and earned lavish praise from Jones, but having returned to these shores he must now renew his duel with loosehead rival Joe Marler. Marler ruled himself out of the tour citing the menntal fatigue that accumulated during a season stalked by controversy and although he has slipped behind Vunipola in the pecking order, he is fit and determined to win back the starting jersey.ddddddddddddA three-day training camp in Brighton that began on Sunday will see the pair lock horns once more and Vunipola values the competition.Having Joe Marler back in the squad is a bonus. Hes a good guy, I play some cards with him. He is in good spirits, Vunipola said. Joe didnt really change during last season, he kept his private life to himself. Hes the same Joe as usual.He works hard in training but off the field loves to have a laugh with the boys.Both players will take part in a judo session on Monday, supervised by British coaches JP Bell and Katie Howie, with the aim of enhancing breakdown skills.The last time I did judo I nearly passed out! I did it at an Under-18s camp. That was my first and only experience of it, Vunipola said. We had to roll backwards and forwards all the time. I was heavier back in the day, so by the seventh or eighth roll I nearly passed out so they made me stop. Judos not my game!It will be good for all that tackling work around the ball and for grappling at breakdown.? ' ' '