Five Reasons Why Miami Beats Virginia Tech

This blog was written for Canespace by UMike...

 

There are probably a million reasons why people believe Miami will beat Va-Tech on Saturday, and I’m sure our friend and Canespace writing legend Calvin could write a 500 word essay about it, but I only have time for these five reasons why Miami wins in Blacksburg.

 

Reason #5: Rushing

 

Virginia Tech is dead last in the ACC in rushing defense allowing 200 yards a game. Now correct me if I am wrong, but they haven’t played anyone with a top rated running back. This bolds well for Miami. Baby James and Super Coop may very well be the best two running backs the VT defense has seen so far, add in Mike James and perhaps some Damien Berry late in the 4^th quarter and we should be able to run all over the Hokies.

Reason #4: Pass Rush & Defense

 

Virginia Tech has already given up 12 sacks through 3 games, the second most in the ACC. With a healthy Eric Moncur, Marcus Robinson, Andrew Smith and future start Olivier Vernon on the end, this may very well turn into a “sack-fest”, with the Canes doing the sacking. Having Randy Phillips healthy, DVD back, a steadily improving Sam Shields and a lockdown corner in Brandon Harris our secondary should be able to cover well enough to force some coverage sacks. Our improved linebacker group will not only contain the over-rated Taylor, but they should also rack up some tackles for loss. Remember, we dominated this team last year with the likes of Glenn Cook, Romeo Davis and Anthony Reddick, this year should be no different.

Reason #3: Patrick Nix’s Absence

 

At this point I would normally rave about how Whipple will score 100 points if he wants to, and how the Whipple-Ball will take over, but I wanted to take a different approach. Last year we beat this team with Nix “calling plays”. My thinking is, if we can beat ANY team with Nix as O.C., we should be able to destroy them with The Whip. His absence has taken the handcuffs off this deeply talented offence and allowed Miami to become the prolific scoring machine it could have been last year.

Reason #2: Virginia Tech Is Over-rated

 

I am not saying this will be a huge blow out has some have suggested, although I wouldn’t be shocked if it happened, but Virginia Tech is once again over-rated. They lost to Alabama, beat up on powerhouse Marshall and then beat a “decent at best” Cornhusker team on the final play. I for one think VT is overrated every year. I know they are the defending ACC champs and they win 9 – 10 games a year and all, but they don’t win in the big games. Even when they start off the year 8-0 they find a way to self destruct. This year is no different. Tyrod Taylor is to VT what Chris Rix was to FSU, a QB that will never get any better, no matter how you hype him up. VT is predictable and lacks any real playmakers and have been exposed by Bama and Nebraska already. Now Miami gets to push them even further down the rankings.

Reason #1: Renewed Swagger

 

I don’t know about you, but I think the term “Swagger” is grossly overused. Not because it isn’t a great word, but the word has gone commercial and its now cool for everyone to use it. Whenever a team is playing well you will hear, “their getting their swagger back”, or “their playing with swagger”. If you ask me I think the University of Miami should have a trademark on the word “Swagger”. Afterall, we invented it. But these Canes have REALswagger, the swagger only Miami can have. Not the kind of “were 8-4 this year with a bowl win” type of Swagger, but the “we will dominate you every play in any game against any team” type of swagger. It is this swagger and mentality that assure Miami will not get ahead of themselves despite going from “zero to hero” in 2 weeks. It is this swagger that will have Miami 3-0 after Saturday and well on their way to national title talk.

Comments

[86Cane]

UMike got your email. LOL!

Blog by UMike!

[UMike]

2nd?

[UMike]

3rd...hey I get first to...86 doesnt count lol

[UMike]

if a tree falls in "Da Space"..but noone is around to hear it..does it really make a sound?

[86Cane]

UMike..U win! I added the credits too.

Nice work, I really enjoyed reading it.

No sophomore slump here!

[century canes]

Nice job umike. Can't wait for Saturday

[UMike]

Century..Me niether lol....86...Give the prize to century..I dont count..the space has already done to much for me

[UMike]

86..it is my goal with many articles..longer posts and posting more often to make myself a lock for the CSHOF next go round

[86Cane]

TypePad acting squirrely again?

[86Cane]

the space has already done to much for me

Posted by: UMike | September 22, 2009 at 07:40 PM

That's what they ALL say. LOL

[86Cane]

RE-POST FROM THE LAST BLOG:

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2009/09/will-the-hype-hurt-the-canes.html

Posted by: UMike | September 22, 2009 at 07:04 PM

[bg1906]

Re-post from last blog:

Herbstreit on our JOCKS!

http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/3979/video-miami-virginia-tech-preview

Posted by: bg1906 | September 22, 2009 at 07:47 PM

[Century Cane]

Reason #3 is the key to the whole season
What a difference Whipple makes

[CanesAddiction]

great write up UMike.

I agree that their poor rushing defense bodes well for Miami. 200 yds a game? We could hit on a lot of big plays in this game.

PROTECT JACORY!

[j.w.]

Nice post, umike. Like hte stats, and I'm hoping VT plays D like they have vs. Ala and Neb. - they tend to start strong but each team ran the ball at them real well after the first 20-25 minutes.

[canechic]

"Not too many people knew – one person said it, and it was like `Oh, well, we just have to get better," Harris said. "We don't want No. 9. No. 9 is nine spots away from being No. 1. We want to be No. 1 in the nation. We want to be where Florida is. Where all the great teams are. That's where we're trying to get."

THIS IS WHY I love Jacory!

[mr troutman]

Re: Our offense is not good at all..... Reply

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Originally posted by 1VTHokie:

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Originally posted by fastasballs:
At this point I'm thinking the Canes run us out of our own stadium. I'm hoping for a victory, but after seeing the offense today that's about all I have.

Tyrod looked horrible most of the game even though the line play seemed solid. He's really hesitant about running out of the pocket anymore. I'm beginning to think the coaches are telling him not to run as much out of fear of him being hurt.

Nebraska has a solid D & they played well, but there was a lot of open receivers. I'm not sure what to think about the offense anymore. I was expecting Wilson to get the ball today, but he only played a few snaps. We have the talent to have a good offense, but the OC doesn't seem to know how to get the most out of these guys. Stiney is lacking in the offesive strategy category to say the least.

It's amazing the heat that Beamer & the coaches avoided with that miracle finish today. I doubt that's the case after next week.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maybe.... I just don't think TT is a good QB. If you can't pass consistently, you are not a QB!
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I'm not even going to argue the TT statement because he is hesitant and lacks confidence IMO. The question is why? What has happened to him? It's as if he's digressed since coming to VT.

IMO the entire offense has taken on the persona of Stiney. Just read the interviews with the guy. He reminds me of a freakin squirrel trying to cross the road..."yep, uh, well we were gonna..um, uh"...you've seen a squirrel cross the road, they go half way, scurry back towards the same side they came from, then scamper 3/4 of the way, then they jump back in the middle...before you know it the squirrel's head ends up mashed between a Goodyear and the pavement.

Posted on 9/19 10:33 PM | IP: Logged

I saw this same talk with G-TECH FANS THE WEEK BEFORE WE PLAYED THEM.
They pointed out the teams weakness and it was exposed clearly when they played someone capable of putting up points and play defense. The writting is on the wall folks it just might take some people a few more games to be convinced we are MIAMI AGAIN.

[ELLIOTT]

Nice article Calvin I enjoyed it and tomorrow is Wednesday fellas. I can not wait until Friday night....

[ELLIOTT]

Friday night=The calm before the storm

[CanesAddiction]

If you go to the game in Blacksburg one thing that will stand out to you is how friggin awesome VT fans are. They're courteous to you, win or lose and they know their football. They also don't drink much in the way of Kool-Aid. They see their team thru a pretty objective set of eyes.

[CaniaK aka True Canes]

This is going to be hard, really hard for some reason this freak' team play us as hard every time. We cannot take them for granted, make no mistake about gents this is not going to be a cakewalk. Frank and his boys have been doing this for year, now let's hope the canes do aren't overconfident

[Carlos]

Reason #3: Patrick Nix’s Absence

I LOVE IT!!!!!

[Old Skool]

That's the first time I've ever seen a squirrel used as a football metaphor.

[shwarma]

Told you boys Truth was in the Far East.

Truth - Not surprised about Singapore being nice. I represent Emirates and I can tell you that they are our main competitor when it comes to having the biggest and the best (Qantas and Cathay then behind that).

I have been on the A380 as we have them too and that thing is amazing. Did you and Ms. Truth have one of the private suites...

[86Cane]

So...guess which blog is going to be Raycom's "Featured Blog of the Week"?

Go ahead, guess, I'll wait...

[SunriseMike]

I have to agree with CaniaK. VT always plays us tough. Usually we win close or get blown out. It is going to be a slug fest. I don't care how they looked so far or how we have looked. For those of you out there predicting a blowout, man I hope you are right but I just don't see it happening.

[Hurriphin]

In all honesty, I do think VT is gonna attempt to come hard in the beginning of the game.

Tyrod is tired of folks saying that he's a bad QB.

Their proud Def. is tired of hearing how unstoppable our Off. is.

Bud Foster is tired of hearing about what a genius Whipple is.

VT (along with everyone else) is tired of hearing that UM is "back".

And for what it's worth, they're at home.

I wouldn't at all be surprised if we aren't too far ahead at the half. (maybe 17-10, as a result of us running early) But going into that locker room, I fully would expect two things:

1)Jacory & Whipple to be silently furious about not being further ahead.

2)Someone like Moncour or Phillips to give an E-Reed esq speech about not dominating these jokers.

After that, we come out and methodically begin to break them down on both sides. L ook for Jacory to turn back into Cool Hand Luke, and send Benjamin after Chancellor(?) several times. We take their will, then we come for the souls.
Coach has a ton of respect for Beamer and Whipple will again be seething as Shannon tells him to cool it once we get up to about 40 something.

[Hurriphin]

On the other hand..........

If this thing somehow degenerates down into a slugfest, and it comes down to what both sides do with their final possessions, I'm rocking with Jacory, cause' I'm willing to bet a stack that Tyrod won't be able to pull those last couple of throws he did on Braska', a second consecutive week.

[Cat 5 Cane]

Beamer sandbags all of the time... if he loses... It's I told you so, if he wins,...The team played a great game today. so you can't take anything serious from frank before a game... but looking at it straight up, we should to be able to take the game from the get-go, providing we don't turn the ball over with strange tips, bounces, etc. keep the turn overs to a zero and we come home with a "W".

Whipple's direction, Jacory's arm and the offense gels, is one tough attack for any team to defend... including any the top 4.

Throw in a learning defense that is coming on their own as becoming one of the best... we'll win our share without looking back to see who's chasing us!

but we're not there yet... just needing more exposure and time working together... as it stands now, I think we are 50/50 to beat ANYBODY... but give us 8 games and watch out for the old day of dominance.

[reggaebob]

Hurriphin, sunrise, caniak, i agree totally.

[86Cane]

UM 27, VT 20

[86Cane]

but we're not there yet... just needing more exposure and time working together... as it stands now, I think we are 50/50 to beat ANYBODY... but give us 8 games and watch out for the old day of dominance.

Posted by: Cat5Cane | September 22, 2009 at 09:10 PM

Good comment, I agree 100%.

[SunriseMike]

Okay, I'm in:
UM 24, VT 16

[Cat 5 Cane]

I'm out

[Caneslegend]

Nice article UMike...

[Hurriphin]

Reason #3: Patrick Nix’s Absence

I LOVE IT!!!!!

Posted by: Carlos | September 22, 2009 at 08:55 PM

I'll never forgive him for running a QB draw on 4th & long, in what I think what was the VT game. NEVER!!!!!!!!

So gang,

How many games do yall think we would have won if Whipple was available a year earlier? How does the UF game end up? Would Marve still be here? What recruits do you all think might have come here? Would Shannon already have an extension, and simply be trying to restructure it so we could have Whip here for an additional 2 or 3 years?

[86Cane]

New blog is up over at Raycom:

http://miami.raycomsports.com/blog/2009/09/22/movin-on-up/?keepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=650&width=850

[SunriseMike]

Hurriphin,
I believe all of that had to happen to get to where we are right now. Bye, Nix, Marve, Young. We are raising right now and our future looks so bright.

[UMike]

Thanx for all the love

[Hurriphin]

I just don't see how any team Nix & Marve defeated, could possibly best a Whipple and Jacory led unit.

I just don't see it.
VT, UCF, FSU, and UVA should never beat us again, for however long Whipple is here!

[SunriseMike]

I meant "rising" not "raising"

[Nashvillecane]

Hey for u guy that live in so fla...I'm askin for and UNBIASED comparison of J12 and Eugene Smith at wvu

[Hurriphin]

Barring Jacory & Whipple missing the bus....

41-24 UM

[Hurriphin]

Hurriphin,
I believe all of that had to happen to get to where we are right now. Bye, Nix, Marve, Young. We are raising right now and our future looks so bright.

Posted by: SunriseMike | September 22, 2009 at 09:20 PM

I can just see Randy putting this thing on cruise control after the wins start piling up..........

Wait, isn't that what Coker did?

Scratch that.

Nah. No way Coach would blindly let this program erode like that. He'd likely rather die first. And I mean that.

[JCane]

I'm expecting the Canes to take a double digit win over VT, as long as they avoid the major ST mistake and turnover bugs. I'm not totally convinced of the former yet given the ST issues thus far this season and how solid VT always in on STs.

Did McDermott give anything away in the Rivals article?

[CaniaK aka True Canes]

it is not going to be easy guys, stay focus

[r-dub]

Those five reasons don't mean anything - games against VaTech are like FSU, no matter what - they are close games. Typical of a rivalry.

Outside of the 2005 and 2003 games They have always been though games.

[JCane]

Okay, once I again I have to remind myself not to assume pasting works for a paragraph from there.

McDermott said he had spoken with Brandon Linder, another OL recruit, and that he had spoken with him some on Facebook due to having a lot in common, like outdoor stuff, and that he thinks he'd be an awesome roommate. Hint?

[BEERicane]

Jacory will not let this team lose. Especially not in this game. He and the team knows this is another high profile game in that opening stretch that everyone predicted them to lose at the beginning of the season. He will not want to answer any questions of what went wrong in the game. He certainly does not want to hear a single comment after the game and in the week(s) following about how Tyrod was able to lead his team to victory where Jacory failed to.

Mark my words. This team will leave it all out on the field to leave no doubt in anyone's mind that the U is back...

UM 37 VT 20

Then the process repeats itself for the OU game. Then Jacory will be the first one pulling the Bandwagon.... Which, by the way have you noticed the ticket prices increased? Glad I already got my 3 pack...

[SunriseMike]

From Rivals.com today

September 22, 2009

Q&A with Miami coach Randy Shannon

Tom Dienhart
Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer

Miami has been an early season surprise, starting 2-0 with impressive victories over Florida State and Georgia Tech.

This week, the Hurricanes get another ACC test, playing at Virginia Tech, a team they beat last season in Miami. After that comes a visit from Oklahoma.

UM coach Randy Shannon talked with Rivals.com senior writer Tom Dienhart about Saturday's game, his talented sophomore quarterback, what it means to be a Hurricane and other topics in this week's Q&A.

What do you expect when you play at Virginia Tech this Saturday?

"Coach [Frank] Beamer always plays tough defense. They are a running team. They always are going to try to get big plays on you with their special teams. They are tough. We have to be sound and focused."

Did you talk to the team about the first four games of the season, with you guys playing at Florida State, Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech and Oklahoma?

"No, we didn't talk about it. You just talk about taking it one game at a time and staying focused. I keep emphasizing that so the guys understand it."

Miami coach Randy Shannon and Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson chat after the Hurricanes' victory over the Yellow Jackets last week.
What do you think is the national image of Miami?

"I don't know. I really don't get involved in what goes into the national image. ... I just get into what we do here and what we get done. ... People can enjoy watching us play and carry ourselves off the field in a professional way."

How good can sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris be?

"He is special because he stays within himself. He doesn't try to go outside the realm of what we are trying to do. He loves to be around the players on the team. He is just a simple guy who likes to have fun with his teammates. That's what makes him special."

What made you decide to hire Mark Whipple as offensive coordinator?

"Mark brings a lot of experience as a head coach and a coordinator. He has done some great things that I think helps us out as a football team a lot."

What are some areas of improvement for your team?

"I would like to see us finish the game a little better each week. And we also need to improve on special teams. We definitely have to improve our kickoff coverage. Going down the list, we definitely have to improve those things to give our team a better chance to have good field position because field position is everything."

What is the most underrated area of the team?

"I think our offensive line is doing great. For the last two weeks, they've done a great job protecting Jacory. I think that's something that is really special, when you have an offensive line [that is criticized], but they do a great job."

Who are the leaders of this team?

"Our senior class. It has done a great job getting our team ready. It started in the spring and continued in the summer. Those guys have gotten together to have lunch or dinner and have discussed things that the team needs to do, who is slacking off, who we need to talk to and bring in to get them going."

How would your players describe you?

"I really don't know. I really couldn't tell you what they think of me."

What have been the high point and the low point of your Miami tenure?

"I really don't have any. A low point is really when you lose a game. A high point is seeing these young guys flying around having fun and winning games."

Talk about the pride players have playing for Miami.

"It is good to see. You see a different bunch of guys all of the time. As a matter of fact, I am looking out my window right now and I see Dwayne Johnson, "The Rock," jogging on the field getting a workout in. Every time you see a guy like that come back - and like Andre Johnson came up to Tallahassee last week to watch us play - and watch us play games at home and on the road is something that I think is very special. I always want to see it. Once you are part of the Miami program, you always are going to be a family member forever. That is the one thing that we always say."

What do you miss most about Miami playing at the Orange Bowl?

"It has been a long time since I played, so I couldn't really comment on it. It was a close stadium and there was a lot of history in the stadium. That's the one thing I miss."

Do you think there are enough minorities coaching in college football?

"I don't get involved in anything about minorities and different things like that. I really don't."

[bg1906]

Hey for u guy that live in so fla...I'm askin for and UNBIASED comparison of J12 and Eugene Smith at wvu

Posted by: Nashvillecane | September 22, 2009 at 09:23 PM

Gino is a good QB. But he's not Jacory. Jacory's bigger (height), Gino is maybe more mobile. Gino stronger arm, Jacory more accurate. Both are winners, but what seperates Jacory is his Football IQ and calm under pressure. He's a winner and he's level headed. Also a leader.

I'd take Jacory 10 out of 10 times over Gino.

[bg1906]

Did McDermott give anything away in the Rivals article?

Posted by: JCane | September 22, 2009 at 09:29 PM

No.

[Hurriphin]

This is going to be hard, really hard for some reason this freak' team play us as hard every time. We cannot take them for granted, make no mistake about gents this is not going to be a cakewalk. Frank and his boys have been doing this for year, now let's hope the canes do aren't overconfident

Posted by: CaniaK aka True Canes | September 22, 2009 at 08:39 PM

The beautiful thing about being armchair QB's is that WE can be overconfident baby!! We are intitled to all the glory when things come to fruition, and can freely pass off all the blame, if things don't go the way we predicted!

All jokes aside,
I think/hope we DRAG these dudes.

[CaniaK aka True Canes]

not easy guys, not easy

[Matt Drudge]

Outside of the 2005 and 2003 games They have always been though games.

Posted by: r-dub | September 22, 2009 at 09:29 PM

Also, 2007 with Nix, Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman. And 2002 and 2000 and so on.

We never used to fear VT before probation (early 90s), but they have used our weaknesses effectively. I think Butch lost to them in his first year like 13-7 or something.

[Hurriphin]

All jokes aside,
I think/hope we DRAG these dudes.

Posted by: Hurriphin | September 22, 2009 at 09:35 PM

To tell the truth,
Of the first three, I figured the GT game to be the toughest, then FSU (still though we'd win that one by ten) took VT for last.

Although I'm predicting a spanking, make no mistake that I'm aware that this one could get salty.

[bg1906]

Not easy as GTech was not easy, but this game vs VTech will end up looking VERY much like the GTech game. I'll remind you I say that after we take it to VTech.

Thats not homer talk, that's from having watched all 3 of VTech's games.

[BEERicane]

Miami Series All | Home | Away | Neutral
Games: 26 Overall Record: 9-17 (34.6%) Conference Record: 9-8 (52.9%)
Home: 5-5 (50%) Away: 4-10 (28.6%) Neutral: 0-2 (0%)
Lane Stadium: 5-5 (50%) Under Frank Beamer: 9-9 (50%)
Televised Games: 9-11 (45%) Overtime Games: 1-0 (100%)
Record When: VT Ranked: 7-5 (58.3%) Opponent Ranked: 5-13 (27.8%) Both Teams Ranked: 4-5 (44.4%)
VT Ranked Higher: 4-2 (66.7%) Opponent Ranked Higher: 4-11 (26.7%)

In addition to this year's team....
The stats are stacked in our favor this year.

1.) This UM team is light years beyond the team that BEAT VT last year.

2.) VT is far WORSE than they were last year, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Offense has been garbage all along.

This game will NOT be close. I don't care what all of you say about this "is going to be close because they always play us tough" rhetoric.

Iowa St ALWAYS plays Iowa tough, don't they? Not this year... Speaking of which, how is Iowa not ranked?

[Hurriphin]

No one's put up 40+ @ Lane since UVA did it way back in 94'

Solar?

[BEERicane]

I've never had an blueberry muffin until I had one either.

[SunriseMike]

Why are we talking about how they did last year, how we did last year??? Didn't we all just witness last Thursday that last year doesn't mean SH*T???

[CaniaK aka True Canes]

Thank you SunriseMike, Last year means nothing, it is this year that matter. We should not take them lightly, we have a good team and we can score on them. Let's hope we do so

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Caniak, Reggae, 86, et al, y'all are in for a big surprise!!! lol

Friggin Beamer-ball isn't even doing anything these days, and y'all somehow see a team that is dead last in the ACC against the run holding us to 24 points and somehow scoring 20.

A team that Nebraska marched up and down the field against is going to hold us to 24 points??

A team whose own FANS think they're going to get run out of the stadium....

A team that Kyle Wrong and Charlie Jones ran over AT NIGHT AT BLACKSBURG......

WTF??? lol

Like I said, the ONLY way they score more than 10 is off turnovers, LOTS OF THEM, which I don't see happening.

Foster couldn't figure out a way to beat NIX, yet somehow he's going to slow down Whipple, this OL, Jacory and the Jets AND THE RBS???

Are y'all serious or just trying to make some money in Vegas?? hahaha

Mentally, VT IS ALREADY PICTURING A DEFEAT. ALREADY THEY KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE THE WEAPONS OR THE TALENT OR THE EXPERIENCE TO STAY ON THE FIELD WITH THIS HURRICANE TEAM.

So yeah, they'll play hard at first. Foster will try to blitz, and get burnt by Benjamin or Byrd or Hankerson or maybe Streeter will have his coming out party this week.

Then Cooper and JJ will run the ball DOWN THEIR THROATS then all that chest-pumping, lunch-pail carrying BULLSHAT will quickly quiet down, as will the fans.

And Shannon will not let up because he knows VT and any team is always dangerous. I don't think we'll see him pull another GT against a legitimate ACC opponent until we're up by three or four TDs.

Canes 42

VT 7

And it's not going to be much different against OU, not because of talent but because OU is soft, mentally. Anyone who lets BYU punk them is soft.

You heard it here first.

[SunriseMike]

Caniak, I got your back.
Cavaleer - U crazy! But I hope to hell you are right. It doesn't matter what the score, as long as the Canes come out with a W.

[CaniaK aka True Canes]

Cavaleer you are indeed an Optimist, I like your attitude but I honestly think that this is going to be a tough game. We were saying the same things last year before UNC and we lost. Not saying that we are going to lose to VT but we should not take them lightly.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Cav.

Wesley won't leave. Why do you think that?

Posted by: bg1906 | September 22, 2009 at 05:44 PM

>>>>

BG, I thought he was a senior. That's great news because he's coming into his own. That makes this DL awfully strong next year and lets Dye move to TE with less concern, especially if Hardin can come back and contribute.

If we win it all, though, Franklin is gone. Count on it, unless he doesn't project very high. He could come back next year and even play tackle which would really send his stock through the roof.

We'll see.

[canechic]

Well with all the great news about the canes my daughter got some bad news she and 2 other girls were cut from the sunsations, she is very, very sad!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Why are we talking about how they did last year, how we did last year??? Didn't we all just witness last Thursday that last year doesn't mean SH*T???
Posted by: SunriseMike | September 22, 2009 at 09:47 PM

Thank you SunriseMike, Last year means nothing, it is this year that matter. We should not take them lightly, we have a good team and we can score on them. Let's hope we do so

Posted by: CaniaK aka True Canes | September 22, 2009 at 09:54 PM

>>>>>

I'm talking about last year because we were limping last year and still whooped them.

Now this year we're in flight and they're limping with the same squad. THAT'S why last year is important.

And I'm not taking them lightly. I'm analyzing them with the intent to DOMINATE!!!! From the first play to the last.

You HAVE to beatdown a team like VT unmercifully because they'll get right back at you. That's what happened in 2001 with Medioker at the helm.

We shoudl've run those fools out the park, 40-0 but Medioker probably said some stupid shat about, "Let's not put an 'S' on our chest", at halftime, then told Chud he didn't want to embarrass Beamer, just like he did against Joe Pa, who also should've been beaten 50-0.

Then before you know it, VT had some momentum, a blocked punt, something else, and they were right back in it.

I don't take them or anyone else lightly. I want to beat everyone's azz into the ground, mentally and physically.

That's what Shannon means when he says "WE STILL HAVEN'T FINISHED A GAME PROPERLY."

All thos teams from the 80s knew how to FINISH a team, which means FINISH OFF something, like a boxer. You beat them into the ground until the ref stops it.

That's finishing. And that's what we should do against VT. Cause they're going to come out hyped, scared but hyped. So you broadside them real quick, and never let up until the final whistle blows.

Then you shake their hands and tell them how well they played.

Muwahahahahahahahahahahaha!

[Hurriphin]

CaneChic.
Forget those herbs!!

Justice is blind, and so are the judges who administor it!
Tell your little seedy-seed that HURRIPHIN said so.

Congrats on getting back to full-time work, too.

[The Truth]

Im with bg

I saw that OL before the spring, during the spring, in the summer and before the season. Nothing in anything I saw showed me they would play like they are now. So long as Jacory is protected there in nothing that offense can't do.

They will score points on anyone.

Whip hasn't even brought out the big guns either. There's still lots of his offense still being implemented. That's pretty scary.

So long as the D can keep the opposition from going buck wild this team is going to go where ever it wants...barring any injuries to key people.

Vatech has A LOT of holes on their team. Foster is a fine DC and I'm sure he's going to have a wrinkle or two for whip. Jacory will have a tougher time early, but adjustments will be made and I see a second half a*s kicking.

Special Teams will still be an X factor. It's pretty bad right now. I think more starters are going to have to get into the mix on coverage.

Anyway, I see this thing going the same way it did against GT. Taylor is a nice player but he ain't going to Miami by himself.

Shwarm, I flew out on Emerates for one stretch of the trip and that a fine Airline as well. American airliners really need to take a look inti the way they treat their customers. It was truly a pleasure to fly on this trip in way that it has never been before.

And yes, we had a "suite" and it was such a unique way to travel. I kept thinking there was going to be a "happy ending" involved the way the women take care of you. And they are gorgeous. The food was great, the entertainment was great and the women were amazing.

And I haven't even gotten into the trip.

The coolest part was the Volcano off Sumatra. The whole trip was wild. I learned A LOT.

Anywho - it's great to see the Canes getting so much respect. It's proof that football needs Miami to be good. It makes everything that much better. Randy pulled in a couple of winners and is finally able to see his program develop.

2009 may just be more special than we all could have hoped for.

[canechic]

Thanks hurriphin..hard for me cause I am so far away and can't give her a hug!

[The Truth]

I'm still ahead on my clock. It's 10 Am for me right now but I'm loaded up with Lunesta so let's see how it works.

It's rough going out there and coming back. It's a looooooooooong way from home and the time difference is a killer.

[86Cane]

Did McDermott give anything away in the Rivals article?

Posted by: JCane | September 22, 2009 at 09:29 PM

I heard he was giving away Canespace T-shirts. But that's just what I heard...

[Reggaebob]

You know, this thing is addictive. I read the space religiously but seldom post, because I usually agree with most everyone (except that soup character...) but here i am sitting in richter not reading my analytical chemistry book so we can debate one team's motivation over against another team's superior talent.

Kudos to you 86, for having the best blog around.

In all seriousness though, I can't wait for this game. My girl is coming to visit this weekend but she knows from 3:30-8 not to bother me, for j12 and the boys will be on the field. I really hope they throttle vt, but keep in mind those stats can be sometimes misleading. Their rushing defense is so low partly because they played Alabama, with arguably the best run-blocking line in the country (I know I sound like I'm all over saban's junk but I assure you I just like their physical style of play). And pelini knows how to contain scramblers from much practice from his lsu days. No worries though, because these canes are hungry.

Especially Bailey, I think his food of choice is possom or toddler or something

[86Cane]

I've never had an blueberry muffin until I had one either.

Posted by: BEERicane | September 22, 2009 at 09:47 PM

LMAO!

[86Cane]

Hey Truth...anybody tell U that my big fat head is gonna be on National TV this Saturday?

That's right baby, and I ain't talkin' about the blimp, I'm talkin' the Charlie Brown head is gonna be shown on the Raycom Sports ACC Game ofthe Week pre-game feature on TV!

Thank God U went away for a while, I finally got some stuff done without having to chase U and Solar around the blog all day long.

[86Cane]

Especially Bailey, I think his food of choice is possom or toddler or something

Posted by: Reggaebob | September 22, 2009 at 10:23 PM

Speaking of which Bailey made us his friend on Canespace, I mean MySpace, today!

[Daytoncane]

i know im the only one that thinks this, but i can't wait until the vtech game is over so i can focus on oklahoma. that 51-13 beatdown they gave us still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. i remember watching that on tv and just wanting to throw up.

regardless if bradford is back or not, i want them to win that game more than any other game this year. they flat out embarrassed us on national television.

forgive me if im not terribly excited over the game this saturday.

[shwarma]

Truth - Yeah the foreign carriers are totally different and actually make a profit. Only different thing we got on our A380s is two showers for 1st Class

[solarcane]

just got back.

umike nice read brah,

peace

[86Cane]

Stay thirsty my friends, see U on the flip side.

GO CANES, BEAT VT!

[86Cane]

Soiler...bad news: The Truth is back from Asia. All hell is about to break loose.

[solarcane]

hurri,
not sure but
in the last ten years VT has given up 40 points or more 5 times total

two of them were to Miami 2000 and 2002

we get 40 points in Blacksburg we are one potent azzed offense.

The only thing that might stop us this time would be Randy

jmo

peace

[Canefantasy]

Hey all my canespace friends. It would seem that the more involved in the season the more work keeps finding its way to me. I can not wait for this upcoming weekend though as I will be sitting on the 50 yard line with a sign that says canespace for life or something along those lines. I dunno I am just excited to be a cane fan and to finally be able to breathe for the first time in years. Oh course nobody is happy with anything less than perfection. however, I am so very proud to be a cane fan and be here through the ups and downs. It really makes you humble in a sense. GO Canes aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh

[TXCane]

I think we get by VT fairly easy..two td win in Blacksburg. This will propel us to go on and win the ACC Coastal. But, what I am worried about is the OU game. I keep thinking about how good we did against GT after our bye week. No one is talking about OU having a bye week before they play the U. Just has me worried

[solarcane]

86 I feel like a lot of pressure is off my shoulders knowing the truth is back to kick the ant pile and wreak havoc again .

peace

[solarcane]

Most over used Cliches you will hear Saturday.

Beamer Ball
Wipple Ball
all day to throw
running downhill
noise factor
speed kills
a little of that old swagger
He's a special kid

peace

[solarcane]

some Lane Stadium hype

The Hokies are 106-29-1 at home during Coach Frank Beamer's tenure at Virginia Tech, and more impressively, are 88-15 in Blacksburg during the past 16 seasons.

Since joining the ACC prior to the 2004 season, Tech has accumulated a record of 30-4 at home, including a conference mark of 16-4.

peace

[broward/dade]

wat yall think jocory's stats are this game?
im sayn 320 yards and 4 TDs..2 to Bryd

[Calvin]

cav, caniak is right, this is going to be a tuff game, a tuff game for v-tech. As long as jacory is behind center, and our receivers are out their, it's going to be hell for any defense in the country to contend with.

uMike, you got 495 more reasons to go man.
But let's look at this match-up with v-tech from an offensive standpoint, travis benjamin didn't play much in this game cause he got hurt, pimp collier i don't think played much and laron byrd and aldarius were true freshmen, aldarius played well, laron was non-exsistent. Now add in whipple using the tight-ends like an offense is suppose too, add in a healthy javaris james, and a real good spot duty cooper, maybe it's time for me to go out on a limb right here right now, we're going to score more than the 16points we did last year with jacory behind center.

Defensively, tyrod is going to have to have one hell of a passign game, because he's not going to have much time back their to throw. Also, i gotta address this issue about people hoping all the praise and hype doesn't get to the players, lol. Since when has to much hype gotten to a real UM team, did the teams in the 80's, and 90's get to much hype or let it cause them to lose, hell naw. Did the early 2000 teams let the hype get to them, only 1 player make that 2 players in the history of UM that i can recall let the hype get to them, and that was "oh, now i'm color blind, 5 interception throwing" testaverde, vinny type/1 each, and let me try and strike the heisman k2 after all the hype from the fiesta bowl. THose are the only 2 players i can recall over the last 25 years who let the hype get to them, other than that, the rest of the team continued to ball.

At Miami, team is stressed so much that individual accolades don't mean as much. Look no further to when bennie blades got inducted into the college football hall of fame and during his speech,he let it be known that he shouldn't be the only Hurricane player up their. Selfishness has never been a trait of a real UM team, and now that we're back to being a real UM team, best believe, it's not the hype from the utside that'll affect this team, it's the hype from the inside that's going to affect all of college football.

Did yall get a chance to see that video herbal minded put up, just look at the guys on the sidelines at one point in that video, c-mac was dancing, baby j, ray ray over their dapping it up. Just go back to the main thing shannon started recruiting when he took over more so than talent, it was the mental make up of the recruits that were coming in, alot of these guys you're looking at have been champions before, and they're striving to be champions again.

This is not hype over UM, we're playing the way were are because of hard work and dedication, again this is not hype, this is EXPECTATION, from the players and this coaching staff that's being witnessed. A long time ago i remember saying, just go up and down the roster and just think about the mental make up of alot of these players on this team now. If you do it again now, this 2 & 0 start shouldn't have surprised anybody, the things these guys did this off-season hasn't been done in a long time.

The level of dedication to perfection that these guys strive for is what continues to drive this team. It's just amazing to see how people before the season were nervous and had major caution before the season about our chances in the 1st 4 games, to i hope the hype doesn't get tot this team, lol. This team deserves the hype that they are getting, they earned it thus far, and they will continue to earn it.

For those giving credit to the o-line, in all actuallity, they had to play better last year, this year it's a whole lot easier for them, because teams can't tee off on them knowing we're going to pass or throw bubble screens or run the ball on stupid down and distance situations. For an offensive line to have to go thru what they went thru last year where teams knew were going to run when we did, and for teams to know we were going to throw it, they did one hell of a job last year.

So as far as this schedule goes, when everybody was talking about how tuff it was suppose to be, i kept saying hell, those teams got to play us, so who's it going to be tuff for.

[Canezitis]

here's my take:

off: who is going to stop us?GT and VT are pretty similar as far as their athletes and schemes and their run D is horrible...not good going against a headsy QB and balanced attack.

def: we're getting better each game in the front seven,hell even our secondary has all the makings of the U of old secondaries(hard hitting safeties and CB's coming into their own in harris and dvd coming back).if we can get in TT's face most of the game and our O jumps out in front early,it could get real ugly,real quick..just ask nesbitt.

ST:got some work to do here, kickoffs got better in 2nd half but the coverage has been down right horrible our first 2 games.this is my only area of concern.if they fixed their issues we'll be just dandy.

Outcome: i believe it will be a tough first quarter it being an earlier game(we've sucked in the past in early games-unc a couple years agao anyone?), but that's it. i think we wake up in the 2nd and start rolling.

35-13
280 passing
170 rushing

def holds them to 250 total yards.

but first things first...
U GOTTA COME TO PLAY!!!

GO CANES WHOOP THEM TURKEYS!!!

[pb(CSROH10)]

Posted by: solarcane | September 22, 2009 at 11:15 PM

As long as we stay focused, take it one play at a time and not look ahead we don't have anything to worry about.

[solarcane]

to expand on what Calvin just said

its back to Saturdays being the easiest day of the week for the Canes. You see them dancing and muggin for the camera and genuinely having fun.

They aren't doing that stuff through the week at practice.
just like Phillips said , they hate having the extra days between games because Randy runs them to death.

This is a team that plays hard and plays loose.
I knew when I saw GT gassed and our guys were jumpin around and swarming all over the place, we were back both physically and mentally.

We get some better special teams play,and more of a killer attitude in the fourth quarter no one is going to stay close.

peace

[CanesAddiction]

Manny's got like 7 audio clips up if any of the nightowls are interested
http://www.miamiherald.com/907

[solarcane]

pb, lol!
yea I forgot a few

aight I'm out

peace

[Calvin]

I can't see it being a tuff 1st quarter, remember, we're playing CANES football on offense like we did in the 80's where teams hoped they could survive the 1st quarter on slaught. If you're defensive coordinator, you know if you blitz on the 1st play, and it gets picked up, you're probably going to give up a touchdown early.

So what a defensive coordinator does, he has to play a base defense and than adjust from their, the problem is, whipple keeps adjusting as well. When your defense comes out with their call, we come out, line-up in one formation and than all of a sudden, guys start popping out and the offense is configured to another formation, our offense is like transformers out their for a defense.

Who got who, and who's picking up him, etc. etc. Than you throw in a qb who apparently knows how to read defenses a whole lot better than we probably know, i remember when jacory was in highschool and he was talking about the game i think against central, and he was breaking down their defense and saying how the offense they were running at northwestern was a zone offense, etc. etc. I knew than he understood the game/qb position at a high level.

Some people may have thought alot of us were joking last year when we said jacory could call his own plays last year and score more points than nix. I'm just happy that randy hired someone that matches the ability of jacory harris. nix would have continued to under utilize jacory's talents in a major way. Imagine now, 3rd and short, yall know we'd see a qb draw called or bubble screen, sent out the punt team type offense.

The only time the dawgs need to be called off is if we got a 35 point lead or more midway thru the 4th quarter, anything prior to that would be uncivilized. bud foster knows if he's trying to put to much pressure on jacory whipple will burn him with a screen play, just like the g-tech game, we got several guys who didn't get a chance to play this year, playing in this game. And this was still the result, v-tech's offense is garbage, they keep trying to run the same offense that vivk ran, even his brother couldn't be him. This not about being over confident, this about executing and shutting down the obvious, when the pocket starts collasping, tyrod is looking to get the hell out of their.

That's why i look for us to blitz the hell out of him if we get the lead and force him to make a decision, if you're not accurate when you have time to throw, good luck being accurate with no time to throw. I don't care how hard v-tech plays saturday, they'll just help be apart of making this team play harder. jacory, whipple and shannon are 3 of the most competitve guys you'll come across, now add in barrow, corey bell, ice harris and hurtt, the leadership on this team is ridiculous.

Also, as of right now, aubrey hill has to get some credit too, because the receivers are getting good separation this year and are running precise routes. So let's see, c-mac playing this game, randy phillips is back, moncur is back, no glenn cook or romeo davis, are defensive tackles are better than last year. I think marcus robinson has gotten a lil slower this year, but we'll see, it just looks like him and forston are not use to the weight yet.

We've upgraded at the safety spot, we're faster on defense than we were last year, we're a faster team over-all. What you see on film is what you're going to get on the field. Keep in mind, we got at the least 7 wide receivers who'd be starters at almost any other college. So if you only got 1 good db and mediocre db's after that, you better have 1 hell of an d-line.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg9QUzTJdNs

[Calvin]

We get some better special teams play,and more of a killer attitude in the fourth quarter no one is going to stay close.

peace
Posted by: solarcane | September 22, 2009 at 11:59 PM

shannon's next two projects, and this team will be just about their and on their way. Just like other teams are improving, we are too. Some teams can run but they can't hide, at the end of the year, i would like nothing better than to say: "2013 MY AZZ"!

[NativeCane]

Canespace- defending the honor of Hurricane Fans everywhere on the planet and fighting evil when it rears its ugly head!

This team has been working too hard to make a statement in these first four games and I dont see them not taking an opponent seriously til after Okies. They know from GT if you lighten up and take your foot off your enemys neck theyll get up and bust your nose!
Go Canes!!!

[Calvin]

This gameday was on point, especially at the end, where c.fowler was begging to see execution and than at the end, herbstreit got in "today is the 1 start"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVe4mapx9O8

[canechic]

..