Canespace

Hurricanes Announce 2019 Schedule

The University of Miami released its 2019 football schedule Wednesday, highlighted by a season-opening matchup against Florida in Orlando, as well as six home games at Hard Rock Stadium. 

The Hurricanes kick off their 2019 season against the Gators on Saturday, Aug. 31, in the 2019 Camping World Kickoff at Camping World Stadium. Manny Diaz's first game as head coach of the Hurricanes is also UM's first meeting with Florida since 2013, a 21-16 Miami win at then-Sun Life Stadium. 

This is the first time the two teams have played at a neutral site in the regular season since Miami's 32-20 win at Tampa Stadium in 1984. The Hurricanes lead the overall series, 29-26, and have won seven of the past eight meetings. 

Miami's home schedule includes non-conference games against Bethune-Cookman and Central Michigan, as well as games against ACC rivals Georgia Tech, Louisville, Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes have posted a 16-3 regular season mark at Hard Rock Stadium over the past three seasons. Miami has five consecutive home games on its schedule for the first time since 1987. The Hurricanes open and close conference play with trips to Tobacco Road and play their first-ever game at Marlins Park against FIU. The Hurricanes also have two bye weeks, one on Sept. 28 and another on Nov. 16.

After its season opener against Florida, Miami hits the road for its ACC opener at North Carolina on Sept. 7. The Hurricanes defeated the Tar Heels, 47-10, last season at home to take the lead in the overall series, 11-10.

Miami returns home on Sept. 14 to face Bethune-Cookman, the first of five straight games at Hard Rock Stadium. The Hurricanes have won all four prior meetings with the Wildcats, the most recent a 41-13 victory to begin the 2017 season.

On Sept. 21, the Hurricanes host Central Michigan, marking the first-ever contest between the two programs. Miami is 7-0 all-time versus schools from the Mid-American Conference. Hurricanes offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Dan Enos was Central Michigan's head coach from 2010-14.

After its first bye week, Miami welcomes Virginia Tech to Hard Rock Stadium on Oct. 5, the earliest matchup between the two ACC Coastal Division rivals since 2009. The Hurricanes have won four of the past five meetings, including a 38-14 victory in Blacksburg last season. Miami then hosts Virginia on Friday night, Oct. 11. UM has won five of seven home games overall against the Cavaliers.

The Hurricanes square off against Georgia Tech to end their five-game home stand on Oct. 19. Miami lost to the Yellow Jackets last season in Atlanta, 27-21, after winning eight of the previous nine matchups.

The Hurricanes then hit the road for four of their last five contests. First up is a trip to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa., to face the Panthers on Oct. 26. Miami then treks to Tallahassee, Fla., on Nov. 2 for its annual date with Florida State. The Hurricanes have won the last two meetings between the in-state rivals and lead the overall series, 33-30. 

Miami returns to Hard Rock Stadium on Nov. 9 for its home finale against Louisville. The Hurricanes last played the Cardinals in 2014 – Louisville's first season as a member of the ACC. The Cardinals last played in Miami in 2004, when the third-ranked Hurricanes defeated No. 18 Louisville, 41-38.

After a second bye week, the Hurricanes will travel just eight miles from campus for their penultimate road game of the season on Nov. 23, a date with FIU at Marlins Park -- current home of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins and former site of the Miami Orange Bowl, where UM played its home games from 1937-2007. Marlins Park opened in 2012 and hosted the Miami Beach Bowl from 2014-16. This will mark the fourth meeting between Miami and FIU. The Hurricanes have won all three previous matchups, including a 31-17 victory at Hard Rock Stadium last season.

Miami wraps up the 2019 regular season at Duke on Nov. 30. The Hurricanes have lost just once in eight games at Wallace Wade Stadium.

The Space Is The Place

So when you think about all of the Miami Hurricanes fan blogs you have to consider Canespace as one of the best. 

Over the years we have won some and lost some games, and some fans, but the reality is that in the end we have held it together as best we can. And better than most other sites who have tried to do the same.

Sarasota Cane recently demonstrated his love for the bloggers here by donating his time, effort and money to recognizing two bloggers here at Canepsace: VA Cane and myself. The results are very rewarding.

While we do not always agree, in fact, we probably disagree more often than not, we all have much more in common than we think. And we all have the love for "The U" in our hearts and bleed orange and green.

The relationships that have formed here over the last twelve years have been tested and tried over time. Like any good family, we have been through good and bad times, have fought for what we believe and have left our scars on each other from time to time. But that does not diminish our loyalty to Canespace.

Yet still, here we are in 2019 cheering on our team and helping each other find our way through the maze of life and sports. We are rooting for new head coach Manny Diaz to lead us to victory in games that are ahead.

And we remain hopeful for what is yet to come in the long and storied history of Miami Hurricanes football. Go Canes!

Diaz Tackles Saban For A Loss

The University of Miami defense, led by their defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, led the Nation in tackles for loss during the 2018 college football season.

On Friday, Diaz tackled a even bigger objective when he snuck into Tuscaloosa, Alabama and stole his new offensive coordinator from none other than Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Now that was impressive!

Diaz and the University of Miami formally announced on Friday that Dan Enos would become the new Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach at UM.

That announcement was met with overwhelming support and wide-sweeping approval by Hurricane fans who had been waiting rather impatiently (you know who you are) for this critical decision to be made.

Even long time UM fan and Canespace blogger MaryLouAlumni (seen above with some of the early Canespace gang) had some extra giddy-up in her step!

UM released the following statement on www.hurricanesports.com: 

The University of Miami football program has hired Dan Enos as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, head coach Manny Diaz announced Friday.

Enos, a 28-year college coaching veteran, spent the 2018 season as associate head coach/quarterbacks at Alabama, which won 14 games and the Southeastern Conference title while advancing to the College Football Playoff national championship game.

"Dan was my primary target for our offensive coordinator position from the outset and I'm thrilled that he's now a Miami Hurricane," Diaz said. "Dan is one of the most innovative play-callers in college football and he not only has a remarkable track record of coaching quarterbacks, but also developing players for the NFL at numerous positions. His experience as a head coach will also provide invaluable insight to our entire program."

And yes, even our own CGNC (one of the original Canespacers) approved and had not felt so "high" since our early days at the Miami Orange Bowl.

Other rumors yet to be confirmed about other offensive position coaches being hired at Miami continued to swirl around on social media and other sports news web sites throughout the day. Once more formal announcements have been made we will continue to update you on any progress made to fill out the coaching staff prior to National Signing Day 2019.

Until then keep your chins up Miami fans. Better days are sure to come! 

Carry On My Wayward Son

Looking back over the past decade or so, the University of Miami football program appears to have lost it's way on the long and winding road.

For over 14 years, from roughly 2003-2018, the Hurricanes seem to have been wandering the desert in search of their new identity and destiny.

Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high.

Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man
I hear the voices when I'm dreaming,
I can hear them say.

Now, former Defensive Coordinator and current Head Coach Manny Diaz is the guy who is supposed to fix all that and in record time.

We hope that he can and will pray that he will bring about the change needed.

Masquerading as a man with a reason
My charade is the event of the season
And if I claim to be a wise man,
Well, it surely means that I don't know

On a stormy sea of moving emotion
Tossed about, I'm like a ship on the ocean
I set a course for winds of fortune,
But I hear the voices say

Time will tell, but trust me, three years pass by really, really fast.

Just ask Larry Coker, Randy Shannon, Al Golden and Mark Richt.

Carry on my wayward son,
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more

Stand By Your Man

OK, yes, I'll admit it: I have been a little a little overly critical and even somewhat negative when it comes to the recent hiring of new head coach Manny Diaz as "The Man" for the University of Miami football program. 

But now that I have gotten that out of my system I have firmly decided to stand behind Coach Diaz and his selection of the new staff.

So far Diaz has apparently selected but UM has not officially announced new Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker. Baker would take over the UM defense that was so successful under Diaz. Diaz and Miami did announce that David Feely has been officially hired as Director of Strength. Miami fans are waiting patiently yet with great anticipation for the announcement of the Offensive Coordinator and the entirely new staff on the offensive side of the ball.

So from now on, and until at least after the first game of the 2019 season in August against the Florida Gators, I will stand behind Manny "The Man" Diaz as head coach at the University of Miami.

Go Canes, Go Manny...Beat the Gators!

Any Major Dude Would Tell You

So the breaking news today is that new head coach Manny Diaz has hired Major Applewhite as the Offensive Coordinator at the University of Miami. I know I promised to be positive from now on, but this decision got me to thinking.

According to "sources" it appears that Larry may have left his Fedora at the stadium in North Carolina and was not available after that incident occurred. Hey, who can blame the former Head Coach for not taking a step-down job to be an OC for a first year head coach in Coral Gables?

Hate to say I told all of you know it alls so...BUT you know that I told you so.

It is now rumored that Miami will score as many points as they need to win any game they play next year and every year after that. If this is true then I, and we, are all behind this incredibly great decision by Manny Diaz.

A great way to start this new relationship off is IF Miami scores more points than Florida in the first game of next season. I, along with many Canespacers, will be at that game in Orlando to cheer on Manny Diaz and his team.

The score will be noted and if the outcome is in favor of the team we love wearing the orange and green vs the team we hate wearing the orange and blue then that will do just fine thank you very much. Then beat FSU.

Go Canes, Go Manny, Go Major!

The Nuclear Option

Sometimes things have to be seriously corrected.

Sometimes things have to be completely changed.

Sometimes things have to be totally blown up.

And sometimes leaders are forced to implement the nuclear option.

New Hurricane head coach Manny Diaz seized the day and pushed the big red button on the University of Miami offensive football staff.

When he was done there was not a single member standing or anywhere within a 100 mile radius of the Coral Gables campus.

And we here at Canespace like that.

Yes, we like that a lot.

Carpe Diaz

In what has to be the most shocking, stunning turn of events in the history of modern college football, the University of Miami announced late Sunday night that legendary golfer Tiger Woods will be the next head coach at Miami.

His comment was: "At Miami our theory will be drive for show, putt for dough."

Hold on we are getting more late breaking news...NBA basketball star Lebron James has been hired as head coach at the University of Miami. He will bring in recruiting coordinator Pat Riley and Dwayne Wade as as his best buddy to chill out on South Beach. That sounds pretty good to us I guess?

Oh wait, this is just in...NASCAR racing legend Dale Earnhardt has accepted the head coaching job at Miami. He will bring fellow racing legends Jeff Gordon in as Offensive Coordinator and Tony Stewart in as Defensive Coordinator. While we can see some hope with these important decisions...OK never mind.

Hold up...we are getting conflicting news that former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula is now taking the reins as the new coach at Miami. He wants to reinstate the "State of Miami" and have real dolphins jumping in the end zone during games. Why he wants to do that at UM games we do not know.

In the first installment of the "U really can't believe this" segment in the history of the University of Miami, Athletic Director Blake James has snatched up the first available candidate he could find during his "exhaustive National search" in former UM DC and Temple "head coach for a day" Manny Diaz.

While we have nothing against Manny Diaz as a person or a coach we just have to say...what the hell was the basis for this decision?

Among all of the possible available candidates from the college ranks and the NFL is he the absolute best candidate for the job?

Did the Miami Athletic Director, the Board of Trustees and the UM President even get involved in this process, and if so how?

We will see how this all plays out in the long run but for now the sense of concern we all now feel as fans is very, very real.

All we can say is: Carpe Diaz.

BREAKING NEWS: Richt Resigns

Earlier today, in what can only be described as a stunning turn of events, Mark Richt suddenly resigned as head football coach at the University of Miami.

Following a disappointing 7-6 season that culminated in an ugly, lopsided loss to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl, Richt had apparently had enough. 

It also seems that he may have realized that rather than completely rebuild a new coaching staff at UM that it would be better to pass the torch on to a new head coach at his beloved alma mater.

Richt left with the same class and grace that he brought to the job at Miami. For that we owe him our respect and appreciation.

At the same time, many fans had been clamoring for his resignation or firing after realizing that all of the positive momentum gained in 2017 was all but lost in 2018 with the results on the field and in the recruiting game.

The game appeared to have passed Richt by as his antiquated and ineffective offensive scheme grew old and tired among the fans.

Singer and songwriter Bruce Springstein wrote in his song "Glory Days" these words: "Glory Days, They'll pass U by, Glory Days, In the wink of a young girls eye...Glory Days, Glory Days." Those words seem to ring true for Mark Richt and his tenure as head coach at Miami. Richt was simply not able to recapture the glory days or return "The U" to the prominence that was once so expected and enjoyed that it was often taken for granted by Miami fans.

Richt's time at the University of Miami was short and bitter sweet. He restored pride in Miami and helped bring the Indoor Practice Facility. As a former Hurricane player, he held a special place in the hearts and minds of many UM fans. But, like former head coach Randy Shannon, that was not enough for the fans to overlook the obvious shortcomings on the field or the results in the win/loss column.

In the end, he made the best decision for himself, his team and his school.

Now, the National search for a new head coach at UM begins again just three years after Richt's hiring. Many names will be bantered about by the fans, the media and those on the inside of the decision making process at Miami.

With the NFL season ending for many teams after today we anticipate many coaching changes which will result in head coaches and offensive and defensive coordinators becoming available. In addition, the college football season will winding down over the next week or so also resulting in changes that will free up several talented coaches.

As a result, we do not expect a decision anytime soon. These exhaustive searches, numerous interviews and big decisions take time.

As fans, all we can do is just hope it is the right decision this time around.

Going Bowling

I'll be back in a minute with more details...meanwhile you know the drill.

Prediction: Miami 34 - Wisconsin 13