Season's Greetings

The worst college football season in recent memory is now over for the University of Miami Hurricanes.

First Year Head Coach Randy Shannon got the first wish on his list, which was to spend more time with his prized high school recruits instead of practicing for some silly bowl game on blue turf, by having his team take itself out of bowl contention by losing to Boston College on the last Saturday in November. 

The same Boston College team that hadn't beaten the Canes in over 15 years.  Yeah, that one.

The Miami Hurricanes decline is revealed in almost every statistical category recorded.  This team scored less points and gave up more, gained fewer yards and gave up more, gave away more turnovers, and lost to more unranked team's (some with with losing records themselves) than any UM team since 1977.  Not really, I just made that up.  But it is a fact that the 2007 team did perform worse in all of those categories and most others in 2007 than the 2006 UM team that got Larry Coker fired.

So, for the first time in 10 years, the Canes are not going bowling because they failed to win enough games to be eligible to play in a bowl game. The current version of the Miaimi Hurricanes is poorly coached, lacks talent and fails to execute.  Yet according to media sources we are close to, they do have these new things called "accountability" and "discipline", they do arrive on time for games and look really nice in their unis, but apparently, that is the extent of their skill set. 

The play from QBs Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman had fans praying for the return of none other than Brock Berlin (pictured at left).  The play of numbers 3 and 7 was so poor and inconsistent that desperate fans longed for the days of Frank Costa.  Even Ryan Clement or Derrick Crudup would have started and starred over these two so called "players". 

The good news is next year the Canes will have three or four highly regarded QB's to choose from.  Any of them will certainly be an upgrade over the two choices Shannon and Nix had in 2007.  Marve, Harris, and Cook better get busy and get ready because one of them will start.

Next year, the Canes alledgedly have lots of top notch, "can't miss" recruits coming in.  Apparently, that is the only thing that will save this team.  The current players appear slow, unmotivated, uncoachable and to be seriously lacking in the talent department.  The kids from Miami Northwestern High School, led by Jacory Harris, Aldarius Johnson, Sean Spence and Marcus Forston (pictured at left) alone will give a huge boost to the Canes talent level. 

The new players are undoubtedly bigger, faster and smarter on paper than their predecessors.  Time will tell if this talent translates to better play on the field and more victories for the Canes in 2008.

With the hated Florida Gators and the crazed Gator fans in the Swamp awaiting the Canes visit early next season, something better happen and quick before the Canes show up for that little party in Gainesville. 

Or, it could get ugly and fast for our beloved team wearing the orange and green and the U on their helmets in 2008. 

Comments

[TICAL]

Thanks Ava

[pb]

Cav, 25 rushing TDs and 25 throwing TDs. As a sophomore.

That is once in a generation.

He may not make a great pro, but he is the most dominant sophomore since Hershel Walker and way better than Vick ever was.

[M.H.]

We had Hester and underutilized him.

We all know that R.S. gets a pass this year, but if thing don't get better, fast, we're gonna turn on him like the dogs we are!

[hofs94]

Why cant Miami compete for the ACC next year? BC is full of seniors, Georgia Tech is getting a new coach. VTech loses all their recieves and most of their front seven. Clemson graduates their whole Oline. We beat Florida State this year. Plus all our tough ACC games are at home next year. I mean our recievers will be better with Johnson and Mckenzie. Fortsen and Dixon at Dtackle. Patrick Johnson at one corner. Franklin, Figeoura, and Gunn at the interior of the line. Possibly Patchen at one tackle. I mean 6 linebacker recruits. Look at all the crazy speed they have recruited the past two years for the return game. Finally, removing all the losers from the locker room. 9-3 minimum next year.

[canechic]

Gator QB alwaysssssss stink, Rex Hester spotted you 14 points and still you can't win. Rex alwayssssssssssssssssss hands the ball to the other team. Any gator QB ever succeed in the NFL????

[PLAY THE FRESHMEN!!!]

hofs;

Add that the players NOW know RS philosophy firsthand. We can only get better.

[M.H.]

We don't have to win the ACC next year, just beat F$U and the Gaytors.
[Breaking Tebow's other hand, a bonus]!

[MidWestCane]

"The bigger the dammage, greater the repair."

That's why the lack of Patience, on our part is so un-just and appears to many like another bias.

I just want us to return to this As soon as - Possible. (click below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z0dhrm_CUM&feature=related

Posted by: Big Moo | November 25, 2007 at 06:35 PM

[AlpharettaCane]

Hofs: 9-3. I may not agree, but I like the way you make a stand.

I'd have to look at the schedule. These unexpected losses to ACC teams we should be beating are the real killers...the NCs, the GaTechs, the Virginias of the world...talent-wise those should be "W"s.

I think a lot of how 2008 plays out comes down to how well Marve/QB position plays....I'd love to see him do what Reising and/or Daniels or even Bradley is doing out of the Big 12 at the position.

Also, I wonder what playing at Dolphin Stadium will do for the team.

Regardless, I think we're a couple years away. I'd love to see quicker results, but I've learned not to get expectations up the past few years. I"m in permanent show-me mode.

[Alex]

Big Moo that video gave me the chills..Danm we need another Vilma

[hofs94]

Bradford at Oklahoma is a Freshman, Stafford a Sophmore, Tebow a sophmore, Taylor at VTECH freshman, McCoy sophmore at Texas, Groethe sophmore at South Florida, Skinner Sophmore at Wake. Sowell at Virginia Sophmore. Tell me why Marve cant do the same thing.

[TICAL]

9-3? Did you not learn a damn thing from this year?

This team is AT LEAST 2 years away from being able to compete. Not only do we have to trim the fat of the old regime, and the "its not so bad to lose" mentality that the current players emanate, but the current regime and players have 1000 kinks they need to work out.

Im not naming them all, cause I cant. But just look at some of the teams we lost to. For example, we lost to NC State. They got destroyed 38-0 (or so) by a mediocre Maryland team. Or take UNC, who jumped on us 28-0, yet Duke took that game into the 4th.

We are a pretty bad football team, probably somewhere in the 70s in division 1-A. Contrary to what must of us think, this cant be done in one year. That's not what rebuilding is.

Finally, keep in mind that not only are we rebuilding from a talent standpoint, but we are rebuilding from coaching as well (which may take even longer to succeed than getting prime talent on the field)

[hofs94]

Why cant it be done in one year? Connecticut, Cinn, Kansas,Arizona State, Virginia the list goes on and on. The talent point is just an excuse. Does Kansas have more talent than Miami? Most kids at Miami would be starters there. We has awful QB play this year. NC State, NC, Georgia Tech and possibly BC Miami wins with a good QB and recievers. Also, under your logic there is about 3 I-AA teams that could be Michigan because they beat App State.

[Zakkee]

DEVIN TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TICAL]

Its not a definitive statement, just something to consider..

And sure, there may have been 3 I-AA teams that could have beat Mich in the first game of the season. Why not?

[PLAY THE FRESHMEN!!!]

The best example was Oklahoma without Bradford for a game and Oregon without Dixon for two games.

day and night both teams without the QB.

[TLuv]

So on the last blog somebody posted that PJ was signing up for classes? Any truth here?

[TLuv]

BTW, Mizzou is gonna beat OU. They could've easily won the 1st game which was AT OU. Mizzou's offensive execution is second to none in cfb.

[CanesgirlNC]

Jeesh anyone see Olsen drop those two passes...jeepahs the nightmare lives on... j/k

[pb]

at Oklahoma is a Freshman, Stafford a Sophmore, Tebow a sophmore, Taylor at VTECH freshman, McCoy sophmore at Texas, Groethe sophmore at South Florida, Skinner Sophmore at Wake. Sowell at Virginia Sophmore. Tell me why Marve cant do the same thing.

Posted by: hofs94 | November 25, 2007 at 07:29 PM

Because he is a freshman.

[pb]

And the only good freshman there, Bradford, has worlds more talent around him than Marve will.

[hofs94]

Marve will have a full year of practice under his belt. He will have had plenty of time to master the playbook. Taylor is a freshman at VTECH. Most of the other guys are true sophmores.

[PLAY THE FRESHMEN!!!]

-po0io9jylojuhyvgfcfx

gjl,ijifi

[PLAY THE FRESHMEN!!!]

Get viagra you freak. Perhaps you might snap out of your trauma!!!

[Cavaleer]

Hofs, what do you mean "no excuses in '08?"
You compare Shannon's situation with a UGA team that's been in that system for 7 years. The comparison is absurd.

Seven years from now Shannon will have a system in place where you can expect freshman and sophomores to make major contributions immediately, like Vilma and DJ did as sophomores at LB.

Right now, we just don't have it. FSU, by comparison, has no excuse.

It will take two years to really get this train rolling the way we all and Shannon expects it to role.

Next year will be respectable, something like 8-4 as you said, because we'll still be thin in some areas, DL and OL especially, and we see the immediate impact injuries on the DL can have.

But we'll have QBs and WRs who can throw, read, catch and run. So at least then we'll know what Nix can really do.

DBs are a concern as well. Hopefully we get PJ, TJ and Brandon Harris. All three could be in the two deep, if not starting.

As for Tebow, that's once in a generation because how many times in a generation does someone run an offense where your QB is your leading rusher and has twice the runs as the RB????

I'm not discounting the young man's ability or production.

But once in a generation??? Nahhh.

The kid Oscar had at Bowling Green was setting records that season too. I don't think he had 20-20 but he owned Bowling Green's record book.

After Tebow leaves Oscar will find another dual-threat QB, like Pat White at WVU, and he'll put up similar numbers. If you remove Steve Slaton from WVU's lineup Pat White would have 25-25, especially with Pearcy Harvin at WR/FL.

You guys are misinterpreting production with system. Oscar's system is DESIGNED for the QB to do that.

With that offense a QB who can run and pass is going to shine. Alex Smith posted similar numbers and he wasn't nearly as athletic as Tebow or Pat White. Smith posted better numbers than Leak because he could throw better and make decisions more quickly.

Tebow's good but it's the system that's making him shine.

[Cavaleer]

McFadden, could run Oscar's offense and would have similar numbers.

McFadden ain't once a generation, despite people saying he's like Bo Jackson, who is a true once in a generation player.

[Cavaleer]

TLuv, I thought Mizzu and Kansas looked corny and slow. I wasn't impressed by either squad at all.

Watching all these games this year just made me appreciate Hurricane Football all the more.

[canechic]

canesgirl that 2nd dropped was not Olsen's fault it was Sexy Rexy but I know what you mean. Olsen has been pretty good this year and hester.......well I'm speechless!

Go Canes and Marve can do it because he will have more can do it's around him. As long as he is a leader then the rest will follow.

I agree with half way decent QB we would have 3 more wins!

[AlpharettaCane]

Can someone post up next year's schedule? I"m too lazy to go looking for it..

[hofs94]

Look at Georgia's roster Cav. Most of their key players have been in the system for two years. You point is absurd that it takes that long to incorporate a system. How is Florida plugging them in then. Anyway Miami has had the same defensive system forever. How will we be thin on the Oline or DLine? Miami will return its top three tackles, with possibly adding Patchan. The guard play should be better with Franklin and Figureoa. Gunn is a supposed monster and Horn is being groomed as a center. Dixon, Hendricks, Holmes, Joseph return at dtackle with the addition of Fortsen and Regis who Hurtt says is better than most they have. I have seen Fortsen and both Johnsons play, noway all three of them are not stars next year.

[Cavaleer]

"Why cant it be done in one year? Connecticut, Cinn, Kansas,Arizona State, Virginia the list goes on and on. The talent point is just an excuse. Does Kansas have more talent than Miami? Most kids at Miami would be starters there. We has awful QB play this year. NC State, NC, Georgia Tech and possibly BC Miami wins with a good QB and recievers. Also, under your logic there is about 3 I-AA teams that could be Michigan because they beat App State."

Posted by: hofs94 | November 25, 2007 at 07:44 PM

Hofs, well said and supported. I see where you're coming from and agree.

If Marve can really run the offense the sky is the limit in the ACC.

We'll be weak along the DL and at a few spots in the OL.

We'll be green and talented with DBs, WRs.

ST's is really where we need a serious spike and I don't know if Pannunzio can do it.

Then again, everything has looked Medioker for the last three years.

[M.H.]

Cav- Are you saying that the spread and/or triple option systems are better or more productive and can be run with good, not great quarterbacks? [for college, not pros]

[hofs94]

Cav look at the ACC next year. THe conference will be real weak next year. Miami gets all their tough games at home. The ACC is there for the taking.

[Cavaleer]

Hofs, our DL looked very spotty once a few injuries occurred. They collapsed really.

I'm optimistic about next year but if Forston and Regis go down, we're back to what we didn't see this year.

And if Forston and Regis start as true freshmen that will tell us everything we need to know about these current DTs.

UGA's system is just that. If a player's in a system where everyone knows what they're doing, you can come in and learn quickly and contribute.

We haven't had that for six years.

Shannon's defense is the only consistent point but we see how quickly it can collapse with injuries and young, unsure play.

[canechic]

M.H. I hate that spread and triple option system!!!!! I feel like I am watching High School or Div III (whatever they changed their name too), you know when your team has minimual talent and the only star you have is your QB! Boring!!

[Cavaleer]

M.H., I'm saying an athletic, dual threat can wreak havoc in that system, a la Pat White and Tim Tebow.

I think these guys are great QBs for that system. Tom Brady and Bernie Kosar would flounder in something like that. Andre Woodson and Chad Henne would flounder. But they'll be running someone's offense on Sundays.

[M.H.]

Canechic...but the point is to win. And our offense needs Viagra!

[KillerBeez41]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAUTuyq9sME

Here is K. Thompkins and like I said, he is gonna be one of the best we sign in Feb.

[M.H.]

Cav- What systems have Marve and J. Harris played under?[spread, option, pro]

[canechic]

MH I know and I want to win but that Gator offense is boring!! I like execution not always just scrapping! I like fullbacks, I like Tight ends and I do not want to see my Qb running the ball more than half the time. Like going back watching an Ok and Neb game, great to watch while taking a nap!

[canechic]

MH I know and I want to win but that Gator offense is boring!! I like execution not always just scrapping! I like fullbacks, I like Tight ends and I do not want to see my Qb running the ball more than half the time. Like going back watching an Ok and Neb game, great to watch while taking a nap!

[Carlos]

Alpharetta,

I agree with you 100%. The coaching staff is inept. Some of us don't use the rosy-colored glasses that other Cane homers use. These same homers that are blaming "talent" are the same ones that screamed for Coker's head last year and blamed it on coaching.

A Head Coach with a clue does not let his players laugh it up on the sidelines during a 48-0 pummeling in the last game in the Orange Bowl. Alpha, you are right but Cav, MWCane, and other Shannon apologists will do their best to convince you otherwise by trying to pass off opinions as fact. still lmao @ the "group think" on here.

[M.H.]

We don't have to copy Meyer's offense, just open up ours [ a little]. I believe Marve and Harris have played some spread offense.
We don't want the game to pass us by.

[Cavaleer]

M.H., Marve and Harris play(ed) in a shotgun-pro-set offense, a la Brock.

I think high schools are using it because it's easier to teach and easier to execute if you have more talent at WR.

The triple-option is just the option with a possible pass thrown in. Syracuse used to run something like it with McNabb, just not as much QB running.

[Cavaleer]

Carlos, here you are again.

Where did I ever mentione anything BUT facts???

The facts are that Medioker ran this program into the ground through every conceivable way. You even hear current and former players saying it.

Randy Phillips said to the Herald, about next year's recruits, "When those guys get in here a lot of things are going to change."

RT6 reports after the 48-0 blowout at the OB that he sees three or four starters, not just players, but starters, are laughing and joking as if nothing had happened.

This is to say nothing of Patchan's comments about who???? THE PLAYERS..

And if 9 out of 10 people disagree with you it's "group think."

How pathetic.

At least Alpha gave some reasons and debated actual points, instead of just lobbying for everyone to agree that suddenly Shannon has forgotten how to do what he's spent the last 20 years doing.

You belong on one of those shows where people just yell at each other and never discuss the facts or something more than what they want to hear. lol

What a joke. lol

[dj moonbat]

"M.H., defending the triple-option is just like defending the option. DTs destroy the middle, LBs clean up."

People were dismissive when, after the Marshall win, I worried about the DTs. But all season long, UM had defensive troubles of all kinds that came about because the squad had to compensate for badly subpar DT play.

So far, we don't have NEARLY enough stud DTs coming in to establish a serious rotation. I hope Forston is possessed of terrific stamina.

[pb]

Wow, Jacory looked good on those throws to Thompkins.

Very impressive tandem and he is their third option.

Damn.

[Carlos]

You belong on one of those shows where people just yell at each other and never discuss the facts or something more than what they want to hear. lol

-cavaleer

LMFAO @ the kettle, Cavaleer. I love these quotes from you on this topic: http://canespace.typepad.com/canespace/2007/11/ask-manny-live.html

"You don't listen to what people on this blog are telling you."

LOL @ this nonsense. What are we supposed to listen to? Your cherry-flavored Kool-aid?

It gets better..."I hate to be rude but you don't know WTF is going on with this team inside the practice field or the huddle.".

And you do? You call the plays? Are you drawing up schemes after game-days? lol @ you. Awesome facts there, Cavaleer. LMAO

I posted actual points which you dismissed here: http://canespace.typepad.com/canespace/2007/11/ask-manny-live.html

Hurry up, Skippy. You've got reading to do and then get back to me.

[Cavaleer]

M.H., I think the triple-option can be a devastating offense with the right QB. You let your QB use his gifts and just play "playground" football. Not too many reads, not much audibling, not much to learn or study, just go out and set up a few mismatches and let your players outrun the other guys. It's easy on WRs as well.

Last year against South Carolina I the limiations of that offense were exposed because Leak couldn't throw by or run through players, so they just ran underneath crossing routes, over and over and over. Sandlot football, basically.

I think WVU's is a little more sophisticated, to be honest.

But nothing, and I mean, nothing beats a serious pro-set offense where the QB and WR know what's going to happen before the DBs do and everything runs like a switch watch.

When your RBs, WRs, TEs and FBs are continually involved in the offense, over and over and over.

That's Hurricane Football to me. And although Nix has never spent time in the NFL, I think/hope he won't resort to gimmicks like he's been forced to do this year. Fingers crossed.

I know he's not Gary Stephens or Norm Chow but I hope he's closer to them than anything on the college landscape is today.