Canespace

Miami Wins Charleston Classic Basketball Tournament

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- James Dews scored 22 points and Dwayne Collins added 17 points to go with 15 rebounds, leading Miami past South Carolina 85-70 in the championship game of the Charleston Classic on Sunday night.  Collins was selected as the MVP of the tournament.

Miami (5-0) outscored the Gamecocks (4-1) 11-5 in the final 2:25 to clinch it. South Carolina led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Miami came back to take a 34-31 halftime lead. 

Miami outrebounded South Carolina 30-16 in the first half.

The Gamecocks played without forward Dominique Archie for most of the game.  Archie injured his right knee and left the game with 13:29 to play in the first half and South Carolina leading 9-2.  He did not return.

Miami reached the championship game by beating Tulane 74-54 in the opening round and North Carolina-Wilmington 67-60 in the second round.

Miami remains undefeated so far during the 2009 season.

60 Minutes

If football games were only 30 minutes long, University of Miami fans would have been seriously disappointed in yesterday's game against Duke.

Fortunately for Miami fans, football games are 60 minutes long, which was plenty long enough for the Hurricanes to beat the Blue Devils 34-16 on a sunny Saturday in Miami. 

By the way, just for the record, I had predicted 34-20 all week long so I wasn't too far off on my estimation of exactly how this game would turn out.

Canespace was on hand to see the festivities before, during and after the game.  And oh, what a game it was!  We attended the game with RaizeCane (seen above at R), his buddies Tim and Dietrich, and Canespacers AngryCane and Canechic. 

Talk about a good time?  Oh yeah, this was it!  Before the game we boogied with the band in the parking lot (see below).  We met at E22 with Canezilla (who unfortunately was without "The Shoes" because she was sick), then visited KLCaneFan in W13, then the Swag Man (see above in the first photo at top) in W12, then Canechic and Angry in W33.  Then I walked RaizeCane and his buddies over to the RV lot for a short visit with the JSQ, who we also ran into at haltime at the Smirnoff bar near Section 107.

During the game we moved around and sat anywhere and everywhere in the over half empty (see below) stadium.  Canes fans, just forget the first half.  It never happened.  All I remember was it was slow and boring and Miami was losing.  Let's fast forward to the second half.

Jacory hung tough and got hot, hitting his receivers consistently, including WR Leonard Hankerson for a long TD.  Miami got the running game going with Damien Berry, who is quickly becoming a crowd favorite, doing the heavy lifting.  You could here chants of "Berry, Berry" throughout the fourth quarter at the Shark.

The Canes scored some quick points when Senior LB Daryl Sharpton came up BIG for Miami as he intercepted a pass and used his blazing speed (LOL) to take it back for a pick six for the Hurricanes.  The game was over and the fans that did show up breathed a sigh of relief as Miami notched it's 8th win of the 2009 season with USF left up next week at The Ship.

But it was the fans that we met, and the time that we had, that made this day a very special event.  There are only a few times each season where the perfect storm happens.  It happend at at home against OU, then again at UCF in Orlando, once again in Durham for UNC and then again at home in a spectacular finish against Duke. 

U simply had to be there!  And if these pictures don't tell you that, then well...

Break It Down: Miami vs Duke

HE'S BACK!  Our good friend Esteban returns to Canespace with his latest video version of "Break it Down."  This time:  Miami vs Duke.  Check it out!

The Short List: Week 11

Eight teams enter this week in the championship race and the running order remains static with only the Big 10's last hope falling by the wayside and the remaining contenders still read as follows:

Florida, Alabama, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, Boise State, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh.

With the nation's winning-est program in recent history taking an opportunity to schedule a nationally attractive out-of-conference opponent in FIU, the suspense on the Shortlist is ratcheted down several notches until the Cincinnati Bearcats meet the Pitt Panthers to decide the Big East champion on the field. 

A win by Cincinnati would do a lot in my mind to vault them over TCU on the Shortlist and possibly, depending on just how bad the Big 12 proves to be at the end of the year, even over the Longhorns themselves.

For yet another week this year, I go perfect on the calls for Shortlist eliminations, of course having only one target kind of makes it an all-or-nothing type of celebration, but still, that's two for the year for yours truly in 2009.

This week I expect nobody listed currently on the Shortlist to fall off this week, which of course means certain disaster at the top as a result.  Maybe TCU should just go ahead and send me my all-expense paid guest pass to their BCS Title Game Appearance as a pre-emptive thank you just to save the time or would they rather wait until next weeks Shortlist?

Enjoy the games this week and join me back here next week as the final eight teams on the Shortlist to the San Fernando Valley come down the home streatch of the most wide open season in recent college football history.

Copyright 2009 by Christopher Wheltpon for Canespace.com

Mary Knows Football: Week 9

This week doesn't hold the most exciting matchups of the season (see, e.g., Chattanooga vs. Alabama - Whoa, that will be a nail biter! What do you think will happen?!?!), so I apologize if this isn't the most enthralling "Mary Knows Football" you've read.  I guess most teams are trying to play a soft team before rivalry weekend.  I can't blame them; I'd certainly like a weekend without a sleepless night before game day. 

  
Stanford vs. California: Stanford

You've gotta hand it to Stanford – knocking USC down to their worst ranking since 2002, smacking them with 55 points, and making Pete Carroll look like a cry baby. 

I have nothing against USC, but well done Stanford!  

Harbaugh has engineered a turnaround at Stanford worthy of Miami’s attention - Harbaugh has a 16-18 record in three years at Stanford, beating USC twice and Cal once during his tenure.  He has qualified Stanford for its first bowl game since 2001.  I expect the trend to continue against California who is hurting without TB Javhid Best. 

As I'm sure you saw, Best made an acrobatic leap for a touchdown against Oregon State that ended with a frightening fall and his second concussion of the year.  Without Best, the Golden Bears lose their best offensive weapon.  Look for backup Shane Vereen – who ran for a career-high 159 yards, including a late 61-yard touchdown last week that led Cal past then-No. 18 Arizona 24-16 – to try to fill Best’s shoes.

  
Penn State vs. Michigan State: Penn State

 

At this point in the season, I feel like I'm a curse to Penn State.  Both times that I have picked them to win (against Iowa and Ohio State), they came up short.  Well, prepare yourselves, Happy Valley tailgaters:  here I go again. Michigan State is a legitimate threat to Penn State.  The Spartans’ QB Kirk Cousins has 18 touchdown passes and just five interceptions this season.  Their offense not only leads the Big Ten in passing offense (274.1 ypg), but has also thrown the fewest interceptions (8) and allowed the fewest sacks (12). 

 

The Spartans are also sound in the special teams game and can defend the run. Their liabilities, though, are in a defense that doesn't create turnovers or fight until the end. Michigan State is dead last in the league in forced turnovers (12) and allows nearly 10 points per game in the fourth quarter. The unit has allowed 151 combined points in the first three quarters, compared to 108 in the fourth quarter alone.  I expect this game to come down to the wire, with the Nittany Lions barely pulling it off.

LSU vs. Ole Miss: Ole Miss

 

I haven’t picked LSU all year and it’s not going to happen this week either.  LSU QB Jordan Jefferson sat out last week against Louisiana Tech with a sprained right ankle but is practicing this week and expected back for Ole Miss.  That’s probably the best news for the Tigers.   They are facing one of the best RBs in the SEC, the Rebels’ Dexter McCluster, who is small, shifty, will give LSU’s D some trouble.  Combined with QB Jevan Snead and WR Shay Hodge, who has had three 100-yard receiving games this season, the Tigers will have their paws full.  Defensively, Ole Miss is led by Jerrell Powe and Kentrell Lockett, and is 4th in scoring defense, 5th in total defense, 3rd in passing efficiency defense, and 3rd in sacks in the SEC.  With LSU’s lack-luster offense, I only expect these numbers to improve after this Saturday. 

  
Florida State vs. Maryland: Florida State

 

I would like to apologize to FSU fans for underestimating Seminole QB EJ Manuel and overestimating Wake Forest.  When I'm wrong, I'm wrong.  Manuel completed 15 of 20 passes for 220 yards and rushed for 45 yards on 10 carries with one TD passing and one rushing against the Demon Deacons.  Yeah, he's not exactly Christian Ponder, but he looked a lot better than he did when filling in at Clemson.   

 

This should be a good matchup for the Criminoles:  Maryland is allowing opponents nearly 33 points, 250 passing yards, and 150 rushing yards per game, while their offense is only producing 21 points, 210 passing yards, and 101 rushing yards.  This is good for FSWho, because while their pass defense is mediocre, their rushing D is TERRIBLE. 

 

This game should be so easy, even a caveman - er, I mean a 'Nole - could win it! (That’s for the midget in front of me at Choke Campbell this year who kept waiving his Geico “Go ‘Noles” sign in my face after they scored).

 

Miami vs. Duke: Miami

Thanks a lot, Duke.  You get my hopes up by going up 10 against GA Tech at the beginning of the game, and then you lay an egg.  Now I have to attend my office holiday party instead of prepping for the tailgate to end all tailgates in Tampa.  Prepare to be punished, Blue Devils.  This is a game Miami should not lose.  Notice I don't say "win," because in my opinion, we lost to Clemson and UNC, they didn't win.  We beat ourselves.  Games against Duke have been WAY TOO CLOSE for my liking in 2007-2008.  Frankly, I expect this trend to continue because of Duke's strong passing offense, but I think we will pull away in the second half because of Duke's lack of consistent defense.  Oh, and, we finally have an opponent with more injuries than us. 

The Blue Devils' D is led by DT Vince Oghobaase and DE Ayana Okpokowuruk (say that five times fast), who have 22 sacks in their careers.  Duke's defense gives up an average of 26 points, 187 passing yards, and 156 rushing yards per game.  Attention Mark Whipple:  put in Damien Berry to take advantage of the fact that Duke gives up over 4 yards per rushing play.  Also, I was relieved to see they have 7 interceptions for only 153 yards this year since UNC was able to get over 200 off of four of Jacory's ill-fated passes.  Still, maybe our offense should start practicing tackling drills sooner rather than later.  Jacory injured his finger on a tackle last weekend so obviously, he needs some help out there.

I hate to predict this, but look for another weekend of Miami's defense making a QB look like Peyton Manning.  QB Thaddeus Lewis is good - really good.  I expect them to be running screens and short to medium passes.  This works against our D almost every time, and Duke will be able to put up points.  Just not enough. Their offense is one-dimensional, with an average of only 64 rushing yards per game in comparison to 297 in passing.  Our defense should be pretty familiar with an offense that throws more often than not, and they will be able to stop them.

Devil With A Blue Dress On

This week your Miami Hurricanes (7-3, 3-3) face the Duke Blue Devils (5-5, 3-3) at The Shark (noon, ESPNU) in Miami's last home game and last ACC game of the 2009 season.  

For those UM fans that may be thinking "Easy Win, It's Duke" going into this game, we would like to remind you of last year's game.  Miami trailed 21-14 in the third quarter before true freshman Jacory Harris came off the bench to bail out the Robert Marve led Hurricanes. 

JaScory threw for 185 yards and 4 TDs as Miami went on to score 35 points and win the game 49-31. 

Even though Miami has won five straight against Duke, this year we feel compelled to caution you to beware the Devil in the blue dress also known at Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis.

Lewis has really blossomed into an excellent QB under the tutelage of Duke Head Coach David Cutcliff and Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach Kurt Roper.  Thaddeus, who lived in Opa Locka and played at Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School, wanted to be a Miami Hurricane but was not recruited as a QB by former UM coach Larry Coker at Miami.  Instead, UM recruited him as a defensive back. 

This was in spite of the fact that he was a very highly rated HS QB by many experts.  He was listed as the 10th best dual-threat QB and the 65th best player overall in Florida by Rivals.com.  Since Lewis was shown no love by Miami, he packed his bags and went up North to lovely North Carolina and found himself a home in Durham where he has done quite nicely (thank U very much).

Lewis' stats on the year are very impressive, especially when considering he plays at Duke, which as everyone knows is much better known for their indoor hard court accomplishments than their outdoor work on the football field. 

Here is Duke QB Thad Lewis, by the numbers:

• Under Lewis, Duke has the #1 ranked passing offense in the ACC in 2009.
• The Blue Devils average 297 yards per game while Miami ranks fourth at 270 ypg.
• In 10 games this season, Lewis is 226 of 364 (62%) for 2,640 yards and 16 TDs and only 6 INTs.
• Lewis averages 264 yards per game and ranks third in the ACC in total offense.
• Lewis needs 240 more passing yards to set the Duke all-time record for passing yardage.
• Lewis needs 360 more passing yards to break 3,000 yards for the season.
• With 2 mores TD passes Thad will move into fourth place on the ACC career TD leader list.
• Thad spreads the ball around.  Duke has fours WRs with at least 30 catches this season. 
• Duke WR Conner Vernon ranks second in the ACC in receptions with 44 catches for 601 yards.
• Duke WR Donovan Varner ranks second in the ACC in receiving yards at 70 yards/game. 
• Lewis has been sacked 27 times in 2009.  Jacory Harris has been sacked 28 times while attempting 51 fewer passes.

So as you can see from the numbers, Duke poses a serious threat to beat Miami if the Hurricanes do not bring their A game to The Shark on Saturday. 

This game (like most) could come down to special teams and turnovers.  Here's why:

• Duke ranks last in punting in the ACC while Miami ranks second.  Miami's Matt Bosher (42 yards/punt) has had another MVP season (can't believe I just said that) while Duke's Kevin Jones has struggled (39 ypp) at times this year.
• Duke ranks ninth of 12 teams in the ACC in kickoff return coverage.  Mike James and Graig Cooper are you listening?
• Duke has a +3 turnover ratio while Miami comes in at -4.  
• Lewis has thrown just 6 INTs while Harris has thrown an ACC leading 16 picks.

Prediction: Jacory plays smart.  UM special teams dominate. 

Miami 34, Duke 20

Are We Out Of Miracle Whip?

Even before the 2009 season started, newly hired Hurricane offensive coordinator Mark Whipple was crowned the "King of Offense" and was promptly given the keys to the City of Coral Gables and the entire 305.

Canes fans everywhere were desperate for anything that even closely resembled an offense after the huge disappointment that was Patrick "The Fix" Nix.   Nix was quickly sent packing after the 2008 season and Emerald Bowl debacle.  Goodbye, good riddance and see ya!

UM Head Coach Randy Shannon searched and finally found a competent coordinator in Whipple to run his offense and allow him to focus on defense and special teams.   Canes fans rejoiced and envisioned touchdowns raining down from heaven and points beyond their wildest fantasies. 

Surely Mark "Miracle" Whipple would fix what was wrong with the UM offense and turn first year starter Jacory Harris into "The Next Great One" before you could say: Landshark!  

After all Whipple came to Miami with an impressive resume that included extensive experience at the college and NFL levels and credit for tutoring then rookie QB Ben Rothlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He had set NCAA records and would certainly get the group of talented WR's and RBs at Miami to score points at will against the out coached defenses. 

The Whiplash Offense would soon be born.

Well, not so fast my friend.  Jacory has struggled.  Whipple's play calling has been questioned.  The UM offfense as a whole at times looks lost.  Where are the points going to come from?  What happened to the running game?  Is Damien Berry or Mike James the best UM RB?

The Canes offense has scored but maybe not enough to help out the struggling and injured UM defense.  We said weeks ago that as the Miami offense goes, so goes the Hurricanes 2009 season.

But here are the facts about the offense:

The Hurricanes have scored 315 points, their opposition only 242.

Miami has out gained the competition in rushing the ball: 1345 to 1222.

UM has passed for more yards than opposing teams: 2708 to 2055.

But the problem lies in penalties and turnovers:

The Canes have thrown 16 interceptions.  They have picked off only 6. (-10)

Miami has had 75 penalties for 572 yards.  The competition 55 flags for 487 yards. (-85)

That is why your Miami Hurricanes are losing games.  It's not Whipple or play calling.  It is the result of turnovers and penalties.  The talent is there.  The execution is not.

Eliminate the turnovers and penalties and all is well in Coral Gables. 

What do U think?

Carolina Blues

The joke goes something like this:

Question: "How do you know that God is a Tar Heel fan?"

Answer: "Because he painted the sky Carolina blue." 

Miami's game against North Carolina was no joke.  In fact, it wasn't funny at all. 

Even John Lee Hooker, BB King and Stevie Ray Vaughn combined never had the Carolina blues like this.  It was sad, very , very sad. 

Is this what my wife convinced me to drive ten hours to see?   

For the Hurricanes to come out flat and unemotional once again and score zero points in the first quarter on the road?

To watch Jacory Harris do his best Kyle Wright impersonation and throw four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns?

To see Mark Whipple look average at best, confused at worst and all while making some very poor and questionable play calls especially early and then again late in the game?

For Randy Shannon to have his team unprepared to play, argue calls with referees well after plays are over and then losing once again to an inferior team and his mentor in Butch Davis?

To watch the Canes lose their third game this year, all against teams in the ACC, and the hopes of going to a decent bowl game evaporate into the cool air like a warm breath?

To hear more excuses and bitter disappointment from UM fans than ever before about why the Canes still "are not there yet"?

The only things I enjoyed on this trip to North Carolina was a chance to see the fall leaves painted in brilliant hues of red, yellow and orange and the lovely ladies on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill.

And the ability to spend some quality time with my wife and meet a bunch of long-time and regular bloggers at Canespace in a far away and strange city for a great tailgate party?   Pictured above from L to R: CaneSteeler, SolarCane, 404Cane404, Canez1, KCCane.

Well, yeah that too!

Game Day Blog: Miami vs North Carolina

Disappointed you can’t make it up to Chapel Hill for the ‘Canes/Tarheels showdown? 

Well if you are anywhere near Palm Beach County, you are in luck! 

You don’t have to sit at home alone.  Instead, join the Palm Beach ‘Canes Club at Miller’s Ale House at 1200 Yamato Road in East Boca Raton to cheer on your Miami Hurricanes with fellow ‘Canes fans and alums!

PBCC’s Director of Athletic Programming and Canespace’s own JSQ (Mary Clark) will be on hand to welcome you and encourage you to enter to win an autographed football signed by the 2009 UM Ring of Honor inductees Steve Walsh, Bennie Blades and Eddie Dunn (Gary Dunn signing for his father, the late Eddie Dunn) and other fun Hurricanes' gear!

Miller’s Ale House has food and drink specials for the game watches and is a great, spirited atmosphere complete with the fight song after touchdowns.  That's not to mention that the JSQ in place of Sebastian the Ibis doing the C-A-N-E-S...‘CANES cheer after every score or big play! 

So join the JSQ, Ben Leis, President of the PBCC (pictured above), and fellow UM fans for an afternoon of food, drinks and ‘Canes camaraderie for this important ACC matchup! 

In addition to game watches, the Palm Beach 'Canes Club does a variety of programming. Canespace was in attendance for the football kickoff event with Don Bailey, Jr., Steve Walsh and Lamar Thomas (pictured below with Canezilla).

Upcoming events include their annual Holiday Party, with special guest speaker Dr. William R. Butler, UM Vice President for Student Affairs Emeritus (for sponsorship opportunities contact the JSQ or Ben Leis) on December 10 from 6-8pm at Nick and Johnnie's on Palm Beach, as well as The U premier party on December 12 at the home of the JSQ, and a Habitat for Humanity build on February 20, 2010.

GO CANES, BEAT BUTCH!

Mary Knows Football: Week 8

16 Utah vs. 4 TCU: TCU

 

Some of you might be asking “who cares?”  Well, if you look at the other top 25 teams playing this weekend and the likely result of the matchup, you would see why I had to pick this one:  I simply can’t forecast the triumph of evil . . . or sweater vests. 

 

Last year when my Croc co-workers were bragging about being national champs I quipped, "wow, I didn't know you were such a big Utah fan!"  As you recall, Utah went undefeated in 2008 beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in the post-season.  TCU is following an identical path this year, and Utah is not only playing for an upset, but also a second-straight conference title.  Utah has its work cut out with TCU’s offense: the Horned Frog's QB Andy Dalton went 14/20 last week with 239 yards and two touchdowns, rushing for two more. 

 

Dalton was one of nine players to carry the ball for TCU, which had 312 yards on the ground after totaling 390 in the previous week's rout of UNLV.  On D, TCU has allowed a total of 25 points in the last four games. The Horned Frog's defense ranks third nationally, allowing 240.6 yards per game, while the offense ranks eighth (458.6 ypg).  Utah has some impressive stats as well:  last week the Utes rolled over New Mexico 45-14, totaling a season-high 557 yards as QB Jordan Wynn threw for 297 and two touchdowns in his first start.  On the ground, Utah’s Eddie Wide and Sausan Shakerin both had 100-yard games. 

 

Ultimately, however, I think TCU's balanced offense and strong D will be too much for Utah, and the Horned Frogs will see a victory in front of their first sell-out crowd since September, 2006. 

 

1 Florida vs. South Carolina: South Carolina

 

We know a thing or two about tricky games against old ball coaches – sometimes the results defy logic.  I’m counting on Spurrier to have enough hate in his heart and talent on the field to prevent Floriduh from having their first ever undefeated season.  We know what the Crocs have going for them: a defense that is not above blinding you to win the game, cheating refs, and an orphan circumciser behind center. 

 

Still, I don’t think they are invincible.  The Gamecocks started out the season well with an Ole Miss upset (predicted by me), but have lost 3 out of their last 4 games.  To avoid the late season collapses they are all too familiar with in the last few years, South Carolina’s defense needs to find a way to stop the run. 

 

Further, the Gamecocks need QB Stephen Garcia (ranked #2 in the SEC in passing and has recorded 3 straight 300 yards passing performances) to find the end zone, as the Gamecocks are averaging just 14 ppg.  Look for Garcia to go to WR Alshon Jeffery, who has 552 yards over the last 5 games including 5 TDs. Jeffery broke open an 80 yard touchdown pass on the first play of the 2nd half loss against Arkansas last week.  A big play like that might be more challenging against the Croc’s D, but I believe in you, Jeffery.   Do it for me.  Do it for America.  Don’t let evil Urban and his band of eye-gouging, laptop stealing, AK 47 firing, dead woman-credit card-stealing, girlfriend strangling thugs win.

 

Florida State vs. Wake Forest: Wake Forest

 

Wow, I hate Clemson.  No, this is not a non-sequitur.  Thanks to Clemson’s safety DeAndre McDaniel, there is one less team on the Croc’s schedule capable of beating them.  That might make it sound like I am less concerned about FSWho’s season and more concerned about using them to ruin Floriduh’s season . . . and you are right!  The Criminoles will be starting E.J. Manuel against the Demon Deacons this week, taking the one bright spot in FSWho’s season, Christian Ponder, out of the picture.  Wake Forest will finally be able to finish a game . . . just one week too late.  (collective groan)

 

7 GA Tech vs. Duke: GA Tech

 

As much as I want this to be a legendary tale on the ACC's "Wheel of Destiny," I just don't see it.  Not after Duke's performance last weekend.  Yes, GA Tech's defense is a far cry from UNC's, allowing almost 25 points per game and ranking 8th in the ACC in scoring defense.  Their offense, however – averaging 34.7 ppg – has been dominant enough that it just hasn't mattered.  With the exception of the time against the boys wearing the U on their helmet, their rushing game has been scary good, averaging almost 315 and 442.7 ypg in rushing and total offense, respectively. 

 

The Blue Devil's hopes lie in QB Thaddeus Lewis, who had four consecutive 300 passing ypg before the wheels fell off last week against UNC.  Lewis, who is second in the ACC with 2,428 passing yards, is 0-3 in his career versus Georgia Tech. Is there a glimmer of hope here? Yes - the Yellow Jackets are 10th in the ACC in pass defense, allowing 226.7 yards per game.  'Canes fans, let's pray Thad wants to make a statement and Duke's D is watching Miami/GA Tech film very closely. 

 

LET’S GO BLUE DEVILS!!!

 

14 Miami vs. UNC: Miami

 

Thanks to the excellent game preview written by DZ8 and Solarcane, I don’t need to go over the stats.  We know what the U is facing.  Bottom line: this is a matchup that exploits the weakness of each team.  Our defense needs to have a GA Tech and/or UVA type game, stop Houston and Little, and put pressure on Yates.  Our offense needs to be as great as they have been every weekend (except that one in Blacksburg I am still trying to block out).  Our special teams, with the exception of #25 and #28, need to get more special in a hurry.  If our boys come out focused, I have no doubt they will win.  I hope the fact that UNC has OWNED Miami in Chapel Hill serves as motivation.  I hope Butch’s spurning of Miami for a short-lived NFL gig lights more fire under them.  I hope . . .

 

A couple of days ago I heard the Rascal Flatts song “What Hurts the Most” and imagined most people likely hear that tune and think about the one that got away. 

 

I’m not most people.  That song reminds me of Butch, the ‘Canes being so close to dominating college football for another two decades or more, imagining all the rings that could have been, and Butch not seeing that lovin’ U, was all we were tryin’ to do. 

 

He lied to U, and later cheated U and tried to steal our recruits. 

 

Still, some of U wanted him back. 

 

As the years have gone by, I’m pretty much over the betrayal.  I can’t hate Butch because of all the great memories we have together and the great things he did for The U.  

 

It’s still hard to see him with someone else, don’t get me wrong.  I believe it’s easier to move on without anger once U have met The One (after a brief rebound with a nice guy you settled for out of peer pressure), U make new memories, and U feel your broken heart start to mend. 

 

U don’t have to dwell on what might have been, because U have the future with someone even better to look forward to. 

 

But that’s not to say U are above wanting to make Butch jealous.  The year has finally come for the student to defeat the teacher and make Butch wonder what could have been if he stuck with U. 

 

Look for our beloved Miami boys to start a new era of dominance over the Tarheels. 

 

And it will all start this Saturday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.