The Past, Present and Future

The Miami Hurricanes face the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill this week in an ACC conference game (noon on ESPN2) that offers Canes fans a rare glimpse into the unique timeline of their beloved team.  So let's take a brief look back, a snap shot of today and then a sneak peak forward, into the Canes past, present and future.

Former Canes coach Butch Davis, in his first year as the UNC Head Coach, is attempting to start a new football tradition at a school that has traditionally been all about basketball.  Meanwhile, the Canes are also sporting a new first year coach in Randy Shannon who is busy trying to restore the tradition of excellence at a school that has experienced unparalleled success when playing with the ball with pointed ends but can't seem to get the round ball to drop when it counts.

The Past: Butch Davis was responsible for rebuilding the Canes back into a major powerhouse while enduring sanctions imposed by the NCAA for sins under coach Dennis Erickson's tenure.  He was a recruiting guru who knew talent when he saw it and could close the deal.  He stocked the talent pool that led to a three year run that saw the Canes win it all in 2001, win it again in 2002 (well if you don't count the refs stealing our trophy and giving it to Mr. Sweater Vest!) and compete at a high level again in 2003.  Now, after a brief and unremarkable stint in the NFLU with the Cleveland Browns, Coach Davis takes over a UNC team that will need every recruiting skill and ounce of energy he has to offer if he is to turn that program around and into contenders in the ACC.

The Present: Randy Shannon takes over a Canes team struggling for respect and national recognition after a miserable 7-6 season under former coach Larry Coker.  Shannon has already changed the rules, the uniforms and the attitude of the 2007 team.  Some fans felt that coach Coker was too lenient on the team which led to players being in poor condition, developing lazy practice habits and ultimately playing poorly on game day.  Shannon quickly closed and boarded up "Club Coker" and implemented a no nonsense approach of competition and accountability that has begun to filter through the team. 

The Future: "The Boss", as coach Shannon is affectionately known here, has also made a major impact in recruiting so far early in the battle for the class of 2008.  The Canes have 17 early verbal commits which was totally unheard of over the last several years.  More importantly The Boss has closed down every road leading into or out of the 305, 954 and 561 and is focusing on an incredibly ultra-rich (even for the area) talent pool this year in South Florida.  The talent coming out of Miami Northwestern High School alone this year could stock the Canes for a major run at a national championship in 2009 and beyond.  Throw in some BTW speedsters and some of those"muck boys" out in Pahokee and it could get very ugly for the competition!  As a result, the future already looks bright for the Canes under Coach Shannon.

Now these past and the present UM coaches square off this Saturday in their first of many head-to-head meetings of ACC competition.  On paper, the Tar Heels appear to be outmatched by the team wearing Orange and Green.  But in a season where Appalacian State beat Michigan at the big house, Notre Lame is 0-5 and USF beat Auburn at home who then beat the Gators at the Swamp, well anything can happen. 

The Canes new, old QB Kyle "he may finally be" Wright and his new found confidence will need another solid game, this time on the road.  The Defense is expected to be stingy as usual, but faces a stiff test against UNC's passing game.  The Canes NON-special teams will have to continue to search for a way to be special again. Coach Shannon will have to out coach the former coach for the Canes to get the win. 

It says here that all of this will happen and the Canes win this first battle of former and current coaches 27-13.  The question is, what say U? 

Comments

[solarcane]

i kill me
peace

[DallasTX Cane]

For all N.TX CANES:

It's great to be a Miami Hurricane...

The University of Miami Hurricanes travel to Chapel Hill, NC this Saturday to take on the former UM Head Coach, Butch Davis and his North Carolina Tar Heels. Come join the Dallas/Fort Worth area University of Miami alumni, family, friends and fans as we cheer on the Canes to another win!!!

Saturday, October 6
11:00 am (CST)
Champps Americana
(4951 Belt Line Road, Addison)
www.champps.com

Champps is located at the northwest corner of Belt Line Road and Quorum Drive, just west of the Dallas North Tollway/Dallas Parkway. Champps' enclosed patio features a 50" plasma screen TV to catch all the Canes' action. Children are welcome!

[solarcane]

"he may finally be'
great nickname
peace

[86Cane]

Solar...HOW? HOW DO U DO IT???

I know, I know...The Juice.

[Montreal-Cane]

From Manny at the Herald:
THE SEARCH FOR A KICKER: Miami’s future kicking issues after Francesco Zampogna uses his final year of eligibility this year might be resolved with a scholarship player. Rivals.com is reporting the Canes are in the running for Jake Wielcaw, a senior from New Lenox Lincoln Way Central in Illinois who is the state’s career leader in field goals made. The 6-2, 180-pound Wieclaw recently connected on his 45th career field goal and also starts at wide receiver. Wieclaw told Rivals he’s been hearing from both UM and Illinois and will try to visit UM on an unofficial visit in the coming weeks. Purdue, Northern Illinois and Iowa are other schools who like Wieclaw

[DallasTX Cane]

28-10 U

Defense is hungry after last week.

O clicks on all cylinders.

[solarcane]

86
I'm like a lion on the spaghetti
peace

[solarcane]

DTX,
yea, Canes players know the Chapel Hill history the got things to prove to Carolina and the University of Miami students and fans.

we top 30 because Shannon won't settle for less this week
peace

[solarcane]

86,
who wrote the article, right on target and great timing
peace

[86Cane]

Solar...you are more like New Year's Eve and confetti.

[solarcane]

Its the flax seeds
peace

[86Cane]

Solar...twas I, 86, from the road. Photos to follow when I get back into the CCC later tonight.

Like they say in the old country: "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while!"

[solarcane]

Who wins the Redneck River Shootout tonight?

Kentucky ..not so fast my friend
The head cock has beaten them 14 in a row
peace

[242 Cane]

Sup guys (and gals)... I have a gameday shocker!!! 13-10 Miami. The Canes will struggle on the road. They will get the jitters that go along with playing away from home. The defnse will make a big play to seal the win late in the 4th. A pick or QB sack on fourth down with less than 2 minutes left in the game. "a win is a win is a win"

[Zakkee]

OU completely knocked the road jitters off. 242, you are definitely wrong with that prediction. The exact opposite will happen IMO.

UM 31 UNC 9

[pb]

16th!!

Yeah baby...

[mi@mic@ne]

This is the last i am going to say about this but what i remember was that some of the more prominent players did not exactly do the requirements. I don t know first hand but there was some talk about Gores eating habits in the media. If you lose your spot now to injury you got to work your way back. It was diff. back then.

[pb]

And my only prediction for this weekend is NC will not have a drive of more than 60 yards...

If they score its because of a turnover or short field. Otherwise...the goose egg.

[darCANEgel]

4 qtrs @ 100%;
no injuries;
no turnovers.
---
Don't care bout the score...
it will take care of itself...
---
i hope to Howard that all this "success" (however little it has been) doesn't go to Kyle's head and he plays within himself, within our scheme...and directs the O without tryin to star...

Spread anyone?

Canes, baaby

[242 Cane]

Are you kidding??? when was the last road blow out we ever had?? V-tech? and that was a statement game for the defense. come on bro'.... Where is the outrage on that prediction!!!! hahaha

[solarcane]

There are going to be 60,000 screaming people in the stands at TarHell.

We score early we will roll.
We struggle and lob a couple 30 yrd punts in the first, the Heels will hang around nd scare the crap out of us.
peace

[darCANEgel]

-6.5, thank you very much.

CANES rarely cover at home.
On the road, however...now there's a bet!

All bout dem CANES

[generalcane]

"Hey Shandel, who is the new super sleeping UM just offered to? I'm thinking it might be Marquise Law, and if it isn't, will we be offering him anytime soon?"

I know that UM recently offered Hallandale WR Frankie Hammond Jr. Great athlete. Can high jump 6-10. I hear Law is alson on the radar.

http://miami.scout.com/a.z?s=13&p=8&c=1&nid=3401984

http://miami.scout.com/a.z?s=13&p=8&c=1&nid=3052723

[Blowfly]

If the game is even close going into the 4th - trouble for dem Canes. I think NC will try to get the game into the 4th Q within striking distance. Offensively, Canes must have success on 1st down which will help on 3rd down conversion %. I can't envision any kind of blowout here. 10 pts. or less.

[darCANEgel]

that's why they play -
takin the points.

CANES

[solarcane]

86,
just got the CANESPACE banner delivered to my front door.
it's killer! Do you want canesgirls and I to try and hang it over the stadium wall to get some TV time or should we just flaunt it from the stands?

I have a very good bail bond agent so either will be OK
peace

[solarcane]

canesgirls... geez canesgirl sorry
peace

[roachcane77]

Yeah mi@mic@ne,

I was at Chapel Hill for that loss, and Gore and Moss looked like O-lineman instead of RBs when they "waddled" onto the field. I could not believe how overweight they both were that day.

Those days are gone my friend... Randy will NEVER allow players on the field in THAT kind of condition again.

We'll handle UNC bigtime Saturday, and hush the crowd early...

[pb]

242, I guess you were talking to me.

One, I didnt say it was going to be a blow out. I said they wont have a drive of more than 60 yds and would only score in a short field situation.

And two, children should be seen and not heard.

Thanks.

[solarcane]

children... that's good you just make that up?
peace

You see the UK lineman almost knock out his QB on the pick? the 12 man.
peace

[pb]

Why yes I did. And while I was thinking about it I also came up with:

"A penny saved is a penny earned."

That one is going to be huge...

[darCANEgel]

FYI, you hang a banner over the railing they WILL ask you to pull it down -- x2 and they will confiscate it if they are Richards...

trust me from experience...

Anyone remember Dolphin games back in the OB: Those dudes who would walk around the westside towards coffin corner with the banner?

"Juck the Fets!"

loved it

[solarcane]

a penny saved... brilliant!! brilliant!
peace

[pb]

Dar, that reminds me of classic Aerosmith "Night in the ruts."

And this Canes team proves that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a singe step...

[solarcane]

darC,
yea I been there done that lmao.
Im thinking we talk nice and maybe canegirl puts on the charm, she is charming.

The very best ever sign was when the Stanford fan had the "cameramen suck ass!" held up behind the UCLA fans before the guys in the truck switched cameras.
peace

[pb]

86, Solar said a bad word.

[solarcane]

banner... banned. coincidence?
peace

[darCANEgel]

beauty, pb...
Just saw Tyler and the boyz at the Orpheum up here in BeanTown --- god friggin bless they still rock the HOUZ.

Remember at the OB for Dolphin games, Winston would give out those free cigarillos in those 8 packs to anyone with a heartbeat..outside the gate??

I was friggin 12 years old...smokin in the boyz room...

Ahhh the OB...the ONLY stadium I've EVER been to where you can take a p*ss AND still watch the game

it's great
to be
a miami
Hurricane

I said it's great...

[pb]

Please stop deflecting attention from the fact you cant control your potty mouth.

Man, get banned once or twice and they never let you live it down...

[RT6]

as much as i hate to say it, the head ball coach can really coach his, well, balls off

[solarcane]

pb,
If memory serves me right I went way out on a limb , risking all my canespace perks and benefits, vacation house, 401K etc. to save you from the gates of purgatory.
peace

[solarcane]

Ahhh the OB...the ONLY stadium I've EVER been to where you can take a p*ss AND still watch the game

darc LMAO again!
peace

[pb]

That is true. I remember the chick from human resources really raking you over the coals for that one.

From now on you can say ass any time you like and I promise not to tattle.

[CanesgirlNC]

good job 86 - LOL -

DTC - you took my score LOL - what did I say about great minds think alot or are you just really trying to not wear the wig?!?!?

Solar - a banner?

I have it on good authority that our friend Aqua is now in South Carolina working his way towards Chapel Hill, North Carolina

[solarcane]

canesgirl yea its a beauty but pretty big to lug all over the place.
will you be entering through gate 2 sat.
peace

[miamimike01]

sorry, 86, I was at dinner when you called. What's the juice?

[242 Cane]

242, I guess you were talking to me.

One, I didnt say it was going to be a blow out. I said they wont have a drive of more than 60 yds and would only score in a short field situation.

And two, children should be seen and not heard.

Thanks.

Posted by: pb | October 04, 2007 at 09:00 PM

Hey jerkoff I wasn't talking to you. Go change your depends and get back in your room granpa!!!!

[CanesgirlNC]

Wow Solar I am so impressed - you know what gate you are going through?? We are in the same section so should I go through gate 2 also?

[pb]

Please learn to properly spell your childish insults.

Its grandpa. I would appreciate it if you grabbed a dictionary and started reading it.

Thanks.

[pb]

You know Solar, youth is wasted on the young...