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BREAKING NEWS: Larkin Ruled Eligible By NCAA

ARTICLE AND PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.HURRICANESPORTS.COM:

University of Miami freshman guard Shane Larkin has received an NCAA waiver that will allow him to compete immediately for the men’s basketball team.

UM head coach Jim Larranaga intends to play Larkin in tonight’s game against Rutgers (7 p.m. at the BankUnited Center). Larkin initially signed and attended summer school at DePaul. After transferring to UM, he needed an NCAA waiver to play for the Miami Hurricanes in 2011-12.

The son of Cincinnati Reds legend Barry Larkin, Shane averaged 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 3.5 steals per game as a senior at Dr. Phillips High in Orlando. He ended his high school career with a school record 320 steals and was second in career scoring behind 2010-11 All-SEC selection Chris Warren (Ole Miss).

A two-time all state player, he was also runner up for the 6A Player of the Year as a junior and senior. His high school resume landed him among the top 20 point guards in the country by Scout.com and earned him a No. 72 national ranking.

The Canes, who won their first regular season game last Friday against Tennessee Tech, are battling through injuries to junior center Reggie Johnson, senior forward/center Julian Gamble and freshman guard Bishiop Daniels. Additionally, the University of Miami decided to sit out senior guard DeQuan Jones for the entire 2011-12 season.

UM hosts BIG EAST foe Rutgers at 7 p.m. at the BankUnited Center.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-GoCanes or by Clicking Here.

Too Many, Too Few, Too Little, Too Late

UM head coach Al Golden showed no fear as he led his Miami Hurricanes onto the field at sold out Doak Campbell Stadium for the first time in his career under the watchful eye of Chief Osceola, his burning spear, his loyal companion Renegade and about 75,000 screaming Seminole fans.

As always, Golden was confident that "The Process" would escort his team into the locker room and onto the field and would not fail him in his first game against Florida State. In fact, he probably never even considered that his team would lose to ACC rival FSU in Tallahassee.

But as the players tried to take the field, the marching band refused to yield, which unfortunately would be a foreshadowing of what was to come for the Hurricanes as they would fall short on this absolutely glorious Fall day.

The story behind Miami's loss to the Seminoles on Saturday night in the State Capitol can be summed up in the eight simple words that comprise the title of this article.

Too Many: Miami had too many turnovers (3 total with one each from Harris, Miller and Benjamin), penalties and coaching mistakes (poor play calling and use of timeouts) to compete with anyone in the ACC much less their arch rival on the road. Jorge Milian from the Palm Beach Post said it best: "The Canes are not good enough to play dumb."

To Few: The Hurricanes had too few play-makers (aside from Streeter and Spence) and not enough big plays (can you name ONE?) and a even tossed in few momentary lapses of reason (Benjamin again on the muffed punt) during the game against the Seminoles that lead to their defeat by a talented but at best mediocre FSU team. The Hurricanes will clearly need to develop or recruit more big time play-makers during the off-season if they want to compete at the highest levels of college football.

Too Little, Too Late: By the time Miami woke up in Tallahassee it was somewhere in the middle of the fourth quarter and by that point it was simply a case of a little too little, a little too late. Sure the Hurricanes mounted a spirited comeback that made the game close at the end but fell short once again and suffered a humbling 23-19 loss to FSU.

The dreadfully slow starts, the costly mental errors and several failed comebacks have consistently plagued the Hurricanes again this season as they have over the last few years.

The positive is that these 2011 Hurricanes never give up and never quit.

The negative is that Miami is still losing games they could and should win.

The loss dropped Miami to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC and that had the usually composed, positive and silver-tongued Al Golden shaking his head and mumbling after the game.

When the festivities at "The Doak" were over, all that was left was about 5,000 disappointed Miami fans and the familiar image of the Goodyear Blimp as it hovered over the stadium and was framed by the Sun not only setting in Tallahassee but also on the Hurricanes 2011 season.

Two things have become clear for the Miami Hurricanes during the 2011 college football season:

1. Golden is absolutely convinced that sticking to "The Process" is the correct answer to the Final Jeopardy question on any given day and has bet all of his winnings on that.
2. Golden obviously has a lot more work to do than he and most UM fans initially expected when he took the UM job in Coral Gables in January.

It is now clear that Golden is not pleased with his own performance or the results produced by his team so far this season. Remember, it was Golden who directly and specifically asked Hurricane fans not to lower their expectations for this 2011 Miami team.

Yet at this point of the season it is hard to argue that he and his team have lived up to any lofty pre-season projections that may have danced around in the heads of Miami fans in early September.

Golden most certainly did not expect to be sitting at .500 at this point of the 2011 campaign. While most Hurricane fans did not expect or demand an undefeated season this year many felt that 9-3 and contending for an ACC title was a reasonable prediction for this team in Golden's first year.

Now the team and its fans find themselves sitting at 5-5 with two games left just to become bowl eligible. That is not what anyone associated with the program at Miami or cheering for the Hurricanes expected from the UM football team this year.

To his credit, Golden has owned responsibility for the unsatisfactory outcome of The Process to date and has accepted the blame for his own coaching effort during the week and his team's inconsistent performance on the field on Saturdays.

However, accepting responsibility for losses and producing positive change that results in winning games are two very different things. And Al Golden would be the first person to tell you that.

Now the Hurricane's head coach has to find a way to keep the team together, to stay motivated and focused and to try to salvage what is left of the season by closing out with wins over in-State rival USF in Tampa this Saturday and Boston College at Sun life Stadium the Friday after Thanksgiving.

What we have learned is this: If change happens at Miami under Golden it will be slow and steady rather than immediate. It will occur much more like a dimmer switch that gradually makes the light glow brighter over time rather than like an on and off switch that instantly produces results.

It seems to come as a complete surprise to some fans that Golden does not possess or wield a coaching magic wand that can instantly fix what is wrong with the Miami Hurricanes like turning on or off a light switch.

However, if Golden remains firm in his commitment to Miami and the UM players can manage to stick to "The Process" then hopefully, slowly and gradually the dimmer switch that controls the Miami Hurricane's football future will get better and brighter over time.

Otherwise Miami fans like NativeCane and CaneFreak (seen below) could realize their worst nightmare: A complete power outage in Coral Gables where Miami is off the grid for years to come.

Golden, and the current and future Hurricane players who wear "The U" on their helmets, are clearly responsible from preventing that type of doomsday scenario from ever happening.

We think that they can and that they will.

Game Day Blog: UM vs FSU

Today is the day.

Today is when all Hurricane fans find out what their team is made of.

Today is when the University of Miami Hurricanes take on the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee for a claim to State and conference supremacy.

Today your Miami Hurricanes win 31-27 at The Doak.

And all across the United States here is who, how and where they will watch the game:

And when we leave Doak Campbell Stadium and the FSU campus we will be chanting:

"It's great, to be, a Miami Hurricane...I said it's great to be a Miami Hurricane!"

It's Great To Hate Florida State!

If you have been a Miami Hurricane football fan for more than a decade or so then you know exactly how UM offensive line coach Art Kehoe feels.

Kehoe feels angry.  He feels disrespected.

He feels highly motivated and ready to bang heads.

He feels like strapping up and hitting someone wearing garnett and gold well into next week.

He feels like tackling Chief Osceola right off of his horse and placing his burning spear where the Sun does not shine.

If you are first-year UM head coach Al Golden then you are not quite sure what to feel.  Sure, Al knows about the traditional rivalry between UM and FSU that has led to no less than seven NCAA National Champions.

Golden knows that this rivalry has produced more first round draft picks over the last 30 years than any other two schools in the Country by far.

Golden also knows that the entire 2011 season rests on this ONE very important game against Miami's ACC primary rival.

Golden has planned all year for a Miami win over FSU to serve as the exclamation point to his first season as head coach at the University of Miami.

Canespace Prediction: The Hurricanes beat the Seminoles: 31-27.

Rumor Confirmed: Armstrong Suspended for FSU

The University of Miami Athletic Department confirmed tonight that UM Safety Ray Ray Armstrong will not travel to or play against the Florida State Seminoles this Saturday in Tallahassee.

The UM athletic department released this short statement on the situation:

Ray Ray Armstrong has been held out of all UM Football activities this week due to violation of team rules. He is not on the travel roster for Florida State.

UM head coach Al Golden, as if he didn't have enough to deal with during FSU week, also released a brief statement on the situation during his weekly radio show:

“Ray "Ray Ray is suspended for breaking team rules and will not be with us this weekend,” said Al Golden on Hurricane Hotline tonight.

What Golden did not reveal was just how long or how significant Armstrong's suspension will be for the FSU game.

What most Hurricane fans do not realize is that UM Defensive Coordinator Mark D'Onofrio was working on some special packages, schemes and formations involving Ray Ray for the game against the Seminoles, including some with Armstrong at LB.

Obviously, those plans have now been thrown out the window and into the dumpster with his suspension.

The only question left is how much will his absence impact Miami's game plan and the Hurricanes' chances to beat FSU this weekend?

We will find out in the State capital on Saturday at 3:30 PM at Doak Campbell Stadium.

The Short List To The Superdome: Week 11

The 2011 regular season enters its apogee stage as the finish line draws ever closer and the Shortlist is drawn down to a lucky 13 teams still on it, ranked by order of championship game worthiness as follows:

LSU, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Boise State, Houston, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Clemson, Penn State, Oregon, Virginia Tech and Cincinnati.

Just a single team defied my prediction for them to be removed by defeat from the tail end of the Shortlist last week and they were:

1) Cincinnati escapes from Pitt with their dark-horse Shortlist bid intact as they win 26-23. The Bearcats now return to Paul Brown Stadium in Cleveland for their toughest test remaining against West Virginia and a team they never had a chance against last year as they fell behind 30-3 at halftime. If Butch Jones can coach his team to a win this week they will be knocking on the door of returning to a BCS bowl just one year after going 4-8 in what would qualify as one of the great coaching turnarounds of all time in the BCS era.

Counterbalancing that victory was one team losing a game they weren't predicted to and being removed from contention thanks to the upset:

1) Nebraska falls off the Shortlist and out of control of their division destiny all in one fell swoop as they end up on the short side of the final score of 28-25 against noted Big 10 traditional power Northwestern. So you couldn't beat Texas, you stopped playing Oklahoma and gave up your natural rivalry with the Colorado and Iowa States of the Big Eight, 12, whatever, to lose to the these Wildcats from the Chicago suburbs? I think this calls for a standing applause for the visitors who welcomed you to the new conference reality you rubes, oblige us why don't you? At least Bo Pelini is back on track
to meet his four loss a year obligations before signing another contract with the school again.

I expect only two teams this week to be eliminated from consideration just as the final month of the season reaches its halfway point and they are:

Virginia Tech and Oregon.

Like the serpent consuming its own tail the Shortlist begins to shed outside contenders from the real power programs this season at a faster and faster pace as both expanded and contracted BCS auto-qualifier conferences have drawn to the end of their margin of error to remain in the running.

Now, more than ever, the SEC's half decade stranglehold on the championship prize looks ready to be broken with but a few well placed upsets as the season wraps up.

Enjoy the games this week and join me back here next week as the Shortlist to the Superdome will once again be guaranteed to at least be rearranged if not completely re-figured!

Copyright 2011 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

Southward Joins Dillard On The Southbound Train

The Al Golden recruiting express is picking up steam and headed Southbound in spite of Miami's inconsistent performance this year and even though we are in the middle of the college football season.

Reporters Blake Hasenzahl and Ray Beasock of The Ledger newspaper (Lakeland, FL) reported today that Lakeland high school star wide receiver Ricquan Southward, who was considered an "under-the-radar" type of prospect until just recently, is Southbound and down.

According to The Ledger the Dreadnaughts' senior WR verbally committed to the University of Miami late Sunday.

"I went down Saturday for the Duke game and I really liked the program," Southward said. "It's close to home and it's a good environment."

According to Chris Hays of The Orlando Sentinel, Southward is the second recruit that verbally committed to Miami over the weekend, joining running back Danny Dillard, a 6-2, 215 pound three-star recruit from Venice (FL) high school.

"I was real happy. All my life they've been my favorite," Dillard said. "Last week I talked to the coach (Richardson) and they were talking about offering and then they finally did today."

Dillard did have some other schools in mind if the Miami offer did not come through. Among the 14 schools that offered him, Dillard was also considering Illinois, NC State, Western Kentucky and Purdue. UCF has also offered the 6-foot-2, 215-pound back.

He's not just big either. Dillard runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and the Hurricanes were impressed with that combination of size and speed.

So far this season, Dillard, who is ranked as the No. 32 running back in the country by Rivals.com, has 730 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He also has a receiving touchdown. Venice is 8-1 and has one regular-season game remaining prior to heading into the Florida state 7A playoffs.

Interestingly, Venice will be facing Clearwater Countryside, which is quarterbacked by fellow Miami commitment Gray Crow.

"Yeah, but I don't know him at all," Dillard said of his teammate to be. In fact, on Dillard's Facebook page on Sunday, one of the activity updates read, "Danny is now friends with Gray Crow."

They'll have plenty of time to get to know each other over the next four years. Dillard is just happy to get there.

"It means a lot. It’s an honor and I've been waiting on it for a very long time," Dillard said. "I'm very happy about it. The whole family likes the 'Canes. I like them."

Southward was lightly recruited until his highlight tape was recently circulated. After being only a small blip on the college football recruiting radar he became a large target of focus for several high profile BCS schools.

Miami won the in-state battle for Southward over Florida and Florida State. He has already visited both schools and is still planning on visiting Ohio State.

"All the offers really just started to roll in a few weeks ago," Southward added. "My first contact was from OSU and I still want to go visit."

A few weeks ago, the game-changing Southward broke the Lakeland High School record for receptions and receiving yards in a game. He credits that game to the offers he's received.

"I'm going in to get a good education and play football. They want me to come in and work hard. Hopefully (I'll) get a lot of playing time as a freshman.  I can really see myself in that offense and even pursuing a career after college."

Southward was recruited by defensive line coach Jethro Franklin.

Southward ranks third in Polk County in receiving yards this season with 678 and has six touchdown receptions. He also is a dangerous return man.

Orlando Sentinel article:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-11-07/sports/os-recruiting-danny-dillard-commits-miami-hurricanes-20111106_1_al-golden-gray-crow-western-kentucky

Lakeland Ledger article:

http://www.polkpreps.com/news/article/26635/lakelands-ricquan-southward-commits-to-university-of-miami/

Hurricanes Make The Devils Blue

The final score of the game between Miami and Duke was 49-14.

FORTY NINE TO FOURTEEN. You know that Hurricane fans love that score!

Just when you thought that your Miami Hurricanes were down and out former Miami Killian and current University of Miami star RB Lamar Miller ran for two touchdowns and became Miami's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2002.

Miami Northwestern product QB Jacory Harris passed for three first-half scores and the Hurricanes scored on their first five possessions to roll past Duke in amazing fashion on Saturday.

Miller finished with 147 yards, giving him 1,016 for the season. He became the first Hurricane since Willis McGahee to reach that mark.

Mike James also ran for two touchdowns for Miami (5-4, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), which got scoring catches from WRs Tommy Streeter and Phillip Dorsett and TE Chase Ford on the day.

I thought we played all four quarters and in all three phases," Miami coach Al Golden said. "Real pleased with the effort."

Harris completed 14 of 20 passes for 202 yards for Miami, which rolled up 467 yards. Miami ran for 265 yards on just 39 tries. "Everybody's been working hard this whole week," Harris said. "We've been putting in the work to get better."

The Hurricanes visit rival Florida State next Saturday. And if there was any concern that Miami was looking ahead to the trip to Tallahassee, it was debunked quickly.

Miami needed only five plays to march 78 yards for the game's first score, a 1-yard Harris pass to Ford which sealed a drive that was impressive to the Homecoming crowd.

Three different players (Morris, James and Harris) took snaps on three successive Miami plays on the Hurricanes' second drive, a march sealed by James' 1-yard run on fourth down.

A 2-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Dorsett early in the second quarter made it 21-0, and the Hurricanes were rolling downhill and could not be stopped.

It was all Hurricanes from there.

Game Day Blog: UM vs Duke

It is widely accepted that Duke is a great college basketball school.

No knowledgeable or realistic college sports fan would attempt to argue that.

It is also widely accepted that Miami is a great college football school.

They have a winning tradition and five National championships to prove it.

So if one were to analyze this weekend's football game between the Blue Devils and the Hurricanes they would obviously draw the logical conclusion that Miami would easily win the game today at Sun Life Stadium.

Well not so fast my friend!

This Duke team is much improved and not the team you have come to know over the years and the current Miami squad has not yet proven that they are capable of beating any ACC opponent with ease so really anything could happen in South Florida on Saturday.

Here is what Canespacer Chris Whelpton says will happen this weekend in the 305:

Most Hurricane fans think that Miami should win this game easily.

But will they? Yes, we think so, but maybe not as easily as many fans might think.

Canespace Prediction: Canes 31, Duke 20

Raising Canes Is Hard Work: Part III

Raising Canes is the highly acclaimed and inspiring new video series produced by the University of Miami athletic department that highlights the growth, development and dedication of current UM student-athletes in action.

For those of us at Canespace the term "Raising Canes" is also about the many Hurricane fans out there that are dedicated parents and are raising their children to respect and value the tremendous achievements of the small, private university located in Coral Gables known simply as "The U" that has established a proud history and tradition of athletic and academic excellence.

You can bet that RoachCane's new grandson (seen above) will learn about the remarkable accomplishments of the Hurricanes' football and baseball programs over the last 30 years as well as the phenomenal rise in academic standards at Miami over the last decade that have vaulted UM into the national spotlight for both its athletic and academic achievements.

These children will learn at a very young age about the true meaning of "swagger" by reading the book "Cane Mutiny" by Bruce Feldman about how the University of Miami completely revolutionized college football by their aggressive, dominating, take no prisoners, in-your-face style of play.

Some kids like those above may not learn about swagger until they actually enroll at The U and attend Hurricane football games in the Fall of their Freshman year.

Others however are born into the UM family and the Hurricane Nation just oozing with swagger as you can clearly see from the photo below.

Here is the latest masterful version of "Raising Canes" from the UM athletic department on one of the most improved Miami Hurricane players this season: WR Tommy Streeter.

The video tells the story of personal sacrifice, commitment and dedication in the face of adversity from the perspectives of Head Coach Al Golden, Wide Receivers Coach George McDonald and Streeter's caring and supportive mother from their family home in Miami Gardens:

We will be bringing you the "Raising Canes" video series throughout the year courtesy of the UM athletic department so stay tuned for future episodes and please send us your photos of your children dressed in Canes gear to be posted on the blog.

Some photos are just priceless, like the one below that I recently received of Canespacer Willie Will From Nashville's new born baby boy.

Raising Canes may be hard work but it is also a very beautiful thing.

Wouldn't U agree!