Your Miami Hurricanes are in Philly today for an authentic, original cheesesteak.
Well, that and a football game against Temple.
This new and improved version of UM football team should enjoy their lunch, uh I mean game and win easily.
At least we think so.
Can we get some extra cheese please?
Following a 48-7 win over Bethune-Cookman last time out at Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Hurricanes rose two spots in both major polls released Sunday afternoon.
Miami climbed to No. 20 in the Associated Press top 25 rankings and moved up to No. 21 in the US LBM Coaches’ Poll.
The Hurricanes (3-0, 0-0 ACC) were previously ranked No. 22 in the AP top 25 and No. 21 in the coaches’ poll. Miami is one of four teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference ranked in both polls.
Miami continues its season on Sat., Sept. 23 with its first road game of the year at Temple. Kickoff from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
Now it gets real.
Today your Miami Hurricanes will square off against Texas A&M University at Hard Rock Stadium.
TAMU is a 4 point favorite but UM almost knocked off the Aggies last year and are much improved this season.
This is a game Miami could definitely win and win big.
Now it gets real.
Let's see what U got!
THE GAME
THE SERIES
THE HURRICANES
And so it begins.
The 2023 college football season has unceremoniously and very slowly crawled out of the gate with a few lackluster games thus far.
Last Saturday, #6 ranked USC beat San Jose State 56-28 and #13 Notre Dame beat Navy 42-3. Maybe most importantly, the Florida Gators looked pathetic in losing to Utah 24-11 on Thursday night.
Tonight your Miami Hurricanes take on the other Miami (OH) team at Hard Rock Stadium at 7 PM. We have been told by the "experts" that Miami is a heavy favorite, we just don't know which one.
CANESPACE PREDICTION: We don't make predictions anymore because trying to predict the score of UM game over the last several years has proven to be like throwing darts while blindfolded in a dark room while drunk and standing on one leg. Don't ask me how I know this, I just do.
It was a scene Mark Richt knew well.
Midway through a practice on Greentree last week, the Hurricanes were on the move, headed out of the elements and into the safety of the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility.
Once it became clear that move wasn’t part of the Hurricanes’ original schedule, but was happening because Miami’s lighting prediction system indicated conditions were ripe for a strike, Richt couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride.
The former Hurricanes quarterback and coach – now an analyst with the ACC Network, which was on Miami’s campus Friday as part of its preseason coverage for the upcoming football season – had not only helped design the facility the Hurricanes were now using, but was an integral part of helping it get built.
To now see that facility being used – in real time, as intended – was special.
“I can’t tell you how many times we had to go to the Wellness Center, put our tennis shoes on, start practicing in tennis shoes – which is no good – and then 15 minutes later, it would clear up and you could go outside, but it was too late. You’ve wasted time,” said Richt, who coached at his alma mater from 2016 through 2018. “Now, they never miss a day of preparation. And also, the benefits of an indoor being right next to your grass fields is the ability to start practice here, maybe do some drill work that would normally tear up your grass but doesn’t tear up your field turf. Then you can get outside, do your work, and come back and finish inside.
“And if lightning strikes, you take, what, a five-minute transition and then you’re back up and running? … When you see it functioning as you hoped it would function, it’s great.”
The Hurricanes, who were in the midst of preparing for their Sept. 1 season opener against Miami of Ohio during Richt and the ACC Network’s visit last week, opened the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility in August 2018.
One of the big reasons they were able to do that? The efforts of Richt, who along with his wife Katharyn, donated $1 million toward the construction of the 90,000-square foot facility.
But the financial investment was far from Richt’s only contribution.
The former coach spent countless hours helping design the facility, from researching the safety margins the building would need to allow the Hurricanes to practice at full speed to expanding the scope of the original project so that coaches’ offices could be built into the facility, along with some expanded team meeting space.
And on Friday, during his visit to Coral Gables, Richt shared more than a few moments with Soffer, whose family donated the lead gift that helped make the facility a reality.
Those moments, too, were memorable.
“Every time we’re in Miami, we always call Carol and try to set up a dinner, lunch or some time to spend with her because it became more than just a business relationship,” he said. “It’s a true friendship. We love Carol and we think she loves us, too.”
For Richt, connections like those are what make each return visit to Miami special.
As he made his way around the Hurricanes’ facility on Friday, he exchanged countless handshakes and hugs with former teammates, longtime friends and the new generation of coaches and players now wearing the same orange and green that have always meant so much to him.
The former coach had a front-row seat to Friday’s practice, and he took full advantage, soaking up the opportunity to see how the Hurricanes were faring in their preparations for the season ahead, and chatting extensively with Miami head coach Mario Cristobal.
“As an analyst, you don’t just see Miami. You see 13 other schools and as good as these guys are practicing, as hard as they’re working, I’m highly confident they’re on the right track and great things are on the way,” Richt said. “But there’s other teams that are doing the same thing and you get to see that up close as an analyst. You know there’s going to be some really good competition in this league. Miami’s got a lot of the ingredients you need for success and I’m proud to say they’re my school.”
What’s been a busy week for the Hurricanes ended Saturday morning at a place they know well: their home field at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami, which is continuing to make its way through training camp, gave its fans a glimpse at some of the work that’s being done on Greentree with an open scrimmage that was held at the stadium as part of the Hurricanes’ annual CanesFest fan event.
Fans in attendance had the opportunity to watch – and cheer – some big plays from the Hurricanes, including quarterback Tyler Van Dyke receiver Xavier Restrepo, running backs Mark Fletcher, Jr., and Ajay Allen along with defensive lineman Rueben Bain, Jr. and kicker Andy Borregales, among several others.
Here’s what head coach Mario Cristobal had to say after the scrimmage:
On the offense’s ability to put together multiple explosive plays:
“[The offense] got downhill in the running game, made some big plays in the passing game. Protection, we looked a little bit different up front with our size and power and just overall, really controlled the line of scrimmage and marched down, and did a nice job early, but a really nice counterpunch later by the defense.”
On the defense’s performance in the scrimmage:
“When the offense was good on first down, they were good all the way through. When the defense was good on first and second down, naturally, third down was a lot more difficult. They showed their athleticism on third down with some of the stuff they did and putting us in a tough situation.”
On the defense’s focus on creating negative plays:
“There were some times when we did and some times we were there to make a play and we didn’t make it. The biggest thing we’re emphasizing is really high, high effort, physicality, and playing smart. Being a Miami Hurricane, it’s supposed to be really, really cool to work hard, to play hard, to go max effort all the time. That’s what’s really cool. That’s swag, right? Being so confident that you played so hard that you’re not going to give in, you’re not going to give up. We have worked our way there. We’re having progress there, but we still have a long way to go.”
“Football is not a fashion show. We’ve got a lot of big, good-looking body types that are learning to play. And we have got to emphasize that. You’re not walking down a runway, right? You’ve got to put your hand in the ground. You’ve got to get to work. You’ve got to knock each other around. You’ve got to make plays, understand coverages, angles. That being said, we saw some of that happen today. Then we saw some other moments where there were lapses. This game’s very unforgiving. We’ve got to be more consistent.”
On the fans who came out to Hard Rock Stadium and were a part of Saturday’s practice:
“They’re awesome. Aren’t they awesome? We’ll see them now and get a chance to meet some of them, get some autographs signed and then we’ll go right back to the Hecht [Athletic] Center, jump on the film, correct it, go through walk-throughs tonight, get our meals, get right to bed, curfew. We’re in camp.”
University of Miami head baseball coach J.D. Arteaga announced Tuesday the hiring of Rob Cooper as the director of program development.
“Rob thoroughly understands the intricacies to developing a program, having served as a head coach at both Penn State and Wright State over the last two decades,” Arteaga said. “He wore the orange and green as a player and coach and knows what it takes to get to Omaha on a consistent basis. I couldn’t be happier to welcome Coop and his family back home to the University of Miami baseball program.”
Cooper returns to his alma mater after spending the past 10 seasons as the head coach at Penn State. Under his tutelage, the Nittany Lions had 14 players drafted with MLB organizations over his final six full seasons.
In 2022, Cooper led the Nittany Lions to their first Big Ten Tournament appearance since 2012. Penn State earned the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament, picking up a 5-2 win over No. 3 seed Iowa to open postseason play.
After taking over the program ahead of the 2014 campaign, Cooper doubled the Nittany Lions’ win total in just three seasons, leading Penn State to a 28-27 mark in 2016.
During his tenure in State College, Pa., Cooper helped the Nittany Lions become the first NCAA Division I team to compete against a Cuban National Series team, the first U.S. team at any level to defeat a Cuban National Series team, the first U.S. baseball team to play in Cuba since restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba and the fifth NCAA Division I baseball team to compete in a post-revolutionary Cuba when Penn State traveled prior in 2015.
“I am beyond grateful to J.D. for the opportunity to return to my alma mater,” Cooper said. “This University and baseball program mean a great deal to me and my family. I am excited to help J.D. and the incredible staff he has assembled carry out his vision for Hurricanes baseball. Time to get to work.”
University of Miami head baseball coach J.D. Arteaga announced Thursday the hiring of Laz Gutierrez as the program’s pitching and mental skills coach. Gutierrez’s hire is pending completion of a standard University background check.
“Laz is a widely-respected member of the South Florida and professional baseball community, having served as a head coach at Nova Southeastern and working with the Boston Red Sox during their three most recent World Series Championships,” Arteaga said. “As a hometown guy, he understands our storied tradition and knows what it takes to help our program get back to Omaha. We are thrilled to welcome Laz and his family back to the University of Miami baseball program and I’m looking forward to working alongside him as our new pitching and mental skills coach.”
Gutierrez returns to his alma mater after spending the past four years as the head coach at Nova Southeastern, where he helped the Sharks return to national prominence. Under Gutierrez, Nova posted an 86-63 record, highlighted by a 36-win campaign and trip to the NCAA Regional Tournament in 2022.
Despite his first two seasons as skipper of the Sharks being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gutierrez mentored nine All-Sunshine State Conference honorees and five All-Region designees.
Gutierrez, who graduated from Miami in 2000, returned to South Florida in 2019 after 13 years with the Boston Red Sox. Over his final five seasons with the organization, Gutierrez served as the mental skills coordinator in Boston, designing and applying leadership and mental skills routines that helped the Red Sox win three World Series Championships (2007, 2013, 2018).
Prior to his time with the big-league club, Gutierrez worked as the coordinator of player development programs and amateur scout.
Before joining the Red Sox, Gutierrez was the manager for the North Adams Steeplecats, where he led the New England Collegiate Baseball League team to a franchise-high 25 wins in 2006, following his two-year tenure as pitching coach at Barry University.
“I am very excited and honored to be back at my alma mater, “Gutierrez said. “I would like to thank J.D. and Dan Radakovich for this incredible opportunity to build on the rich tradition established by Ron Fraser and Jim Morris. I am looking forward to working with our incredible student-athletes and coaching staff.”
A Miami native, Gutierrez began his coaching career by spending three seasons as the head coach at Coral Gables High School, mentoring future Hurricanes and MLB standouts Yonder Alonso and Eddy Rodriguez.