Canes Tame The Tigers

The University of Miami, apparently still smarting after dropping their #1 national ranking by losing two of three to end the season at home against UNC, came out on fire and with a vengance against Clemson in their first game of the ACC tourney in Jacksonville.  The Tigers were down by four runs early and after that point were never really in the game against the Canes.

The Hurricane's bats came alive again and ACC Freshman of the Year Chris Hernandez was absolutely dominant on the mound to propel the Canes to an easy 7-1 victory.  Miami's next game is againt the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech Thursday at 5 PM.  Canespace will be there to bring you updates, photos and behind the scenes stories of the action on the diamond.

I am not going to give you the game story or box score details and the Canes win.  If you watched the game on TV or read Jer's LIVE play-by-play blogging (with an assist from Cane Since 1982) of the game here on The Space you already know what happened, when and by who.  Plus that is what newspapers like the Miami Herald and the Sun Sentinel are for.  What I want to do is to bring you the fans experience at the game so you feel like you were there.  So here we go...

The Facility:  Located in dowtown Jacksonville near the St Johns River and next to the NFL Jaguars' Stadium the location is easy to find and accessible from multiple routes.  A clean, safe, multi-level parking garage (only $5 bucks!) is directly across the street from the ball park.

That is where I met the first two Canes Fans of the Day (CFODs) Jim from the 954 and Paul from Cocoa Beach.  They saw my Canes gear and car ornaments and called me right over to park next to them.  We shared a carbonated adult beverage, a few Canes war stories and took this photo before making our way over to the stadium.

This place is a top notch, first class stadium with great views, access and amenities.  You can't get any closer to the players or the action than here.  You are practically on the field here making for a great fan experience.  I talked briefly before the game during warm-ups to Alonso, Bellamy and Weeks and took these shots of Chris Hernandez warming up in the bullpen.  Any closer and you could smell his deodorant, or not!  Let me say this: The stadium is new, clean and has great food and atmosphere.  We'll give it a Canespace Fan Rating (CFR) of 9 on our scale.

The Fans: Throughout the day I met hundreds of Canes fans and spread the word about The Space.  Cane fandom was well represented in Jacksonville which was really nice to see in this Gator and Seminole infested area of our State.  I had the Canespace banner tied up on one of the railings high up in the stands behind home plate and one of the signs that Solar made in his basement print shop advertising Canespace as THE place to be for LIVE Canes chat coast to coast 24/7.

We even met some fans from Clemson who were nice enough gentlemen and also nice enough to have their picture taken for the blog.  I think their names are Gary and Charles, but don't make me swear under oath to that!  Anyway, we worked the crowd in a way that would have made OcalaCane proud and a good time was had by all, Canes fans and other teams fans alike.

The only drawback was that it was a quiet as a PGA Tour event and there were more polite "golf claps" going around than water and peanut vendors who seemed to be everywhere.  I tried my best to fix it with the familiar "Got Some Canes Over Here...Whoosh, Whoosh", Let's Go Canes (clap, clap, clap) and De-Fense, (clap, clap), De-Fense but it was to no avail.  We'll give it a CFR of 7 (8 minus 1 for lack of enthusiasm).

The Game: The Canes were in the lead and in control of the game from the beginning.  Freshman pitcher Chris Hernandez played anything but like one in leading the Canes to their first victory of the tourney.  He was back up by a stellar defense that turned several solid if not spectacular double plays and the Hurricane offense that awakend early and staked him to an safe 4-0 lead en route to a final seven run tally.

Hernandez is the most composed, controlled and consistent Canes player I have seen in a long, long time.  Bad news?  At this rate he will surely be MLB bound sooner that you can say C-A-N-E-S.  Several Canes contributed to the offense in a real team effort on a day when Yonder "Goes The Ball" Alonso was average at best and his partner in crime Jemile Weeks managed to get on base twice. We'll give this game a CFR of 8.

Comments

[SOUP]

Pictures to follow...

[AlpharettaCane]

test

[towner]

FIRST!!!!!!!

[Old Skool]

No Bam

[splarfy]

Sinco!

[Six]

SIXTH

THAT .. JUST .. HAPPENED
- Ricky Bobby

[JC]

Go Canes, great win!

[321CANES]

Who paul?
He lives in cocoa beach?
Thats in Brevard.

[321CANES]

Oh a little birdie @ UM told me that Jermaine Mckenzie is back to running routes again!

[SOUP]

Working on the pics...took too many, editing now and sending to Manny Navarro, Chris Stock and Shandel at the SS in case they want to post on their sites also.

Back in a few...

[canegang]

Awesome online football game. It is more of a simulation type game but is being tested for free. Check it out, you can create players and then run their careers. From training to contract negotiations. Then there is a simmed game every other day.

http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup.pl?ref=353066

[solarcane]

11th,
soup deals me an intentional walk via typepad spam guard.

peace

[solarcane]

soup,
your game day write ups have gotten better with each event you cover.
I know how difficult it is to gather facts while trying to enjoy the game and fans at the same time.
nice job.

peace

[SOUP]

Solar...can you please keep the noise down, I'm workin' ova here! Be back soon, photo, technical difficulties are playing havoc with my productivity...

[True Cane]

How serious is Bailey's injury? How long is he expected to be out

[pb(CSHOF09)]

David Archuleta wuz robbed...

[SOUP]

Nah, The Cook was the best man for the job.

[pb(CSHOF09)]

I find it very hard to believe you and I disagree on something Soup...

[solarcane]

Yamaguchi was a nice fair win.
Where the hell was Tanya Harding when you really needed her?

peace

[SOUP]

Solar...I told U so: Yamaguchi rocks!

[solarcane]

I loath those Yamaguchis, her, and her little brother on the Partridge Family.

peace

[solarcane]

cool pics, I never realized Larry The Cable Guy was Canes fan
peace

[solarcane]

Virginia 3 UNC 3 bottom 5

peace

[solarcane]

Here is a cool site from back in the day,
Lot of stuff will bring back memories
It's not run by the radio station,its better than they could come up with.

http://www.560.com/wqam.htm

peace

[pb(CSHOF09)]

Susan Dey and Valerie Bertinelli. Couldnt wait to get home and turn on Channel 6 to see those two, capped by a little Barbara Eden after dinner...

[solarcane]

Susan Dey and Valerie Bertinelli. Couldnt wait to get home and turn on Channel 6 to see those two, capped by a little Barbara Eden after dinner...

What?.. no Marsha??
peace

[SOUP]

New pic of a real Canes fan I met from JAX TOP RIGHT...

[Loco]

we have to win tomorrow by more than 8 :-)

[Loco]

by the way, does anybody here on the 'Space like to cook? I can hook you up with good deals on the best kitchen stuff... ;-)

[Jer]

Can't see the fans in the top right. I'm trying! lol

[Jer]

So the best photo of the day!
And no I loved today guess I'm just silly!

http://canespace.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/05/21/acc_tourney_042.jpg

Great job 86! I'm gonna see if I can capture my tivo so I can post when you have been on tv.

[Six]

Nothing like a long legged blonde refreshment at the baseball yard .. one of the many reasons to love the game, all the females that also love being at the game(s) .. looks like you need a wingman though for her friend.

Nice work 86 .. nice write up and great pics. I think if I was there, that close to the Clemson team like you were in the picture, I'd have to talk to them the entire time. Let them know they're playing for 2nd place and no better. I saw that stadium earlier this year when I went to the Gator Bowl and watched Texas Tech beat Virginia. It looks sweet from the outside, now with your pics, I can see how sweet it looks from the inside.

[cannon]

For such a good team you would think they would have better looking Uniforms!

[Cat5 Cane]

Go Canes... Miami 2001, pulls top spot of Best College Football team for the decade.
MIAMI...#1
........................................

THE 2001 Hurricanes... cream of BCS champions crop.

By Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com
Updated: May 21, 2008, 5:01 PM ET

During the past 10 years, the BCS hasn't always produced the national championship game college football fans wanted to see. But usually it has produced the best national championship team. Seven of the past 10 national champions finished the season unbeaten, and many are considered among the best teams in college football history.

So ranking the 10 BCS champions isn't an easy task, but here goes:

1. 2001 Miami Hurricanes (12-0, 7-0 Big East)

Ken Dorsey directed the dominating Canes to the 2001 title.
The season: The Hurricanes finished 12-0 and beat their opponents by an average of 33.2 points, including a 37-14 rout of Nebraska in the Rose Bowl. Miami opened the season by winning at Penn State 33-7. The Canes beat No. 14 Florida State 49-27, ending the Seminoles' 54-game winning streak in Tallahassee. They blasted No. 14 Syracuse 59-0 and No. 12 Washington 65-7, the most lopsided blowouts of ranked opponents in consecutive games in modern NCAA history.
Signature moment: Miami finished the regular season with a 26-24 victory at No. 14 Virginia Tech, its closest game of the season. The Hurricanes led 24-7 in the fourth quarter, but the Hokies nearly came back after blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown. Virginia Tech's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, and Miami's defense held up on two late possessions.
The championship game: For the first time in 56 years, teams from outside the Pac-10 and Big Ten played in the Rose Bowl when Miami met Nebraska for the national championship. Miami dominated the Cornhuskers from start to finish, taking a 34-0 lead at the half. Ken Dorsey and Andre Johnson connected for two touchdowns, and Clinton Portis scored on a 39-yard run. Miami's defense held Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch and Nebraska's vaunted running game to only 259 total yards.
The stars: The Miami roster was littered with future NFL players such as Portis, Johnson, tight end Jeremy Shockey, left tackle Bryant McKinnie, safety Ed Reed and cornerback Phillip Buchanon. McKinnie won the Outland Trophy as college football's best interior lineman, and Reed was named a consensus All-American. Five Hurricanes were selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. Portis, who ran for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, was a second-round pick. Dorsey completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 2,652 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Why they're No. 1: Perhaps no team in college football history had as much talent as the 2001 Hurricanes. Ten players who started for Miami during the 2001 season were first-round selections in the next three NFL drafts. In fact, Miami had 16 NFL first-rounders from 2002 to 2005.
....................................
1) Miami 2001
2) USC 2004
3) FSU 1999
4) TEXAS 2005
5) OKLA 2000
6) TENN 1998
7) LSU 2003
8) GATORS 2006
9) OHIO ST 2002
10) LSU 2007
.........................................
To see complete article...
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3406050
.........................................

CANES!

[Cat5 Cane]

CANES RULE...

GATORS, OHIO STATE, LSU, FSU and USC can kiss my azz... Ohhhh, It's sooooo hard to be humble, when your perfect, in soooo many ways... as the song goes!
Cat

[Cat5 Cane]

NC...Losses... Oh Ya!!!

Cavaliers Take Top-Ranked North Carolina to Extra Innings for Thrilling 8-7 Victory

5/22/2008 | Baseball
John Barr scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the top of the 11th inning, then made a diving catch of a blooper hit to centerfield with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th to end the game and give seventh-seeded Virginia an 8-7 victory over No. 3 seed North Carolina early Thursday morning in the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
2008 ACC Baseball Championship Site

[Mr Troutman]

Good comeback though. IF we fine tune our pitchers( in other words get them to work) and BATTERS put the ball in play more so we can put more points on the board. We strand quite a few runners and that can be more points for us. We just have to get this pitching back on fire, get hiting up and have BALLS IN PLAY MORE and we will knock anyone out. Only a little more WORK FOR THE CANES and we'll be back for the number #1 spot SOON!! AND I MEAN IN A HURRY!!

Posted by: mr troutman | May 17, 2008 at 05:01 PM

If we do what I suggested that day we are going to win the ACC championship and have the #1 rankings come next week. Whoever wins the Championship out of NC, Miami or Fsu will be the #1 rank team in the country. Miami knows with a NC lost last night they can retain the Top Spot this week. Even with last weeks lost to them the SUN can still shine on Coral Gables.

Canes!!

[Norm]

UF recruit happy to spur Hurricanes

By EDWARD ASCHOFF
Special to The Sun

Published: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 12:25 a.m.

Hallandale is relatively diverse when it comes to fans of different universities.

But when it comes to local talent, it's all Miami talk.

Except for Frankie Hammond Jr.

After his verbal commitment to the University of Florida in November, the Hallandale receiver put to rest any hopes of the locals keeping their hands on him.

“A lot of people wanted him to choose Miami,” said his father, Frankie Hammond, Sr. “A lot of people around town who attended Miami thought he was going to choose Miami.”

When he didn't choose the Hurricanes, chants of "Gators suck" and "You'll only block" rang in the younger Hammond's ears as he walked the halls of his school. His mother, Nida, even said some local newspaper blogs took time to question the receiver's decision to choose UF over UM.

The younger Hammond's allegiance to the Gators began early in his childhood and really materialized when he started competing in the Pepsi Florida Relays in middle school.

The former Junior Olympic high jumper was sold on atmosphere alone.

“The fans there and everybody there is just about the football team and I like to have that attention around me,” said Hammond, a former four-star prospect and the No. 31 player in Florida by Rivals.com. “When that stadium is full it just keeps the players going and going and I love that feeling.”

Making the 325-mile move to Gainesville wasn't an issue for Hammond, but for his mother the transition was a hard to cope with at first.

“As a mom you really want him to stay close to home, but afterwards, when he decided where he wanted to go, I could support him,” she said. “As a mom, personally, you wanted him to stay locally so he could be just a phone call or 15 minutes away from us. But at the same time, that's where he felt more comfortable at.”

The positive she said is that the naysayers could be silenced if UF comes through with a victory when the ’Canes head to Gainesville on Sept. 6.

“I guess for a lot of people locally who are putting UF down it will really give them the opportunity to see what UF is all about,” she said.

There's no doubt that most of the calendars in Hallandale have Sept. 6 circled, but the elder Hammond doesn't expect much love from the surrounding Hurricane fans come game time.

“I don't know about that,” he said. “I know a lot of the Miami fans that are around (Hallandale High) and Seminole fans around the school are cheering for him a little bit because he's from their school. They say, 'We'll root for you as long as you aren't playing our team.' ”

With all the talent the Gators return at receiver, getting a shot to line up against the ’Canes won't be easy.

“They haven't really spoken to me (about his role for the fall),” said Hammond, who is up to 176 pounds and plans to get to 180 before he reports to UF in late June. “A lot of people have been talking to me about redshirting, but when I talk to my coaches they specifically tell me that the spot is here to take and for me to just do what I have to do and if you work hard it's there for the taking.

“If they redshirt me, they redshirt me. I can't argue with that. If I'm not ready and they say I'm not ready, then I won't get mad or anything. I wouldn't say getting a redshirt is anything negative.”

In the meantime, Hammond is just enjoying the thought of seeing the ’Canes in The Swamp this fall.

“It makes it real exciting because we have a couple of teachers who are diehard UM fans and I come in and tell them every day that next year they're not going to win,” he said.

[Esteban]

at least Hammond didn't get death threats. The pressure put on these kids though is pretty ridiculous.

[DallasTX Cane]

Dallas,... Just arrived and Happy as hell and then I read your post... $10.00 an gallon gas... means real recession. Think I'l start investing in a moped company.

Posted by: Cat5 Cane | May 21, 2008 at 06:39 PM

Funny U say that Cat5...big story in yesterday's Dallas paper about the increasing popularity of mopeds/scooters.

[CanesgirlNC]

DTX motorcycle sales are up for sure - they advertise here about their mpg

[Jesse]

Just read some good news on TOS from a very reliable poster...

Allen Bailey did not tear his pectoral muscle, but instead pulled it away from the bone. He is expected to be in a sling for 3 weeks and then do rehab.

This is great news...

[Esteban]

Dallas, I was reading an article saying the same thing online. I don't know if the article you read had the Harley Davidson rep in it or not. He was only one in the story who didn't seem happy. Their sales are down. I think that info made sense considering the people buying scooters or entry motorcycles are doing it for $$ reasons and not cause they want to front in a Harley. I'm considering buying a scooter or entry motorcycle myself at this point - I'm leaning toward the scooter.

[DallasTX Cane]

M.H., from last blog...I've seen a news story about that trash power producing plant U referred to. I think that is awesome. More communities and municipalities are going to have to push and implement the alternative/"green" power sources available to us, IMHO. In fact, that is probably a much better method than having the Feds mandate something from the top. Who knows what works best for a particular community than the people and local govt?? That used to be the American Way...

Cav, I agree (again from last blog), especially about China & India going "alternative" from the start although their issue being the cost and incredible demand from immense numbers of people wanting just a little bit of a decent life. Re: Iraq, Don't forget that all authoritarian/dictatorship/not-free-market countries maintain artificially low prices for basic items like base food (rice, bread) groups and gas - a population that is maintaining is controllable...a population that is starving is a recipe for revolution. Also, the Sunni-Shiite clashes and insurgency has caused, many times deliberate, much destruction of the infrastructure and refinery/delivery system in Iraq.

I'm no Halliburton/Cheney fan tho. Just saying that the actual situations are much more complex than typically believed and much less controlable than it would seem.

[CanesgirlNC]

Anyway......Miami coaches McGriff, Nix and Ice Harris attended the Hallandale-Cardinal Gibbon spring game last night presumably to watch CB Ricardo Dixon.

[DallasTX Cane]

Esteban, different article but same theme. Folks buying for the gas savings. I'm not convinced yet tho...way too many idiot rednecks in big trucks driving like arseholes out here. A scooter seems like a decent way to get dead or veggie-ized.

perhaps the future is communities designed with scooter and/or electric (golf) cart "roads" leading to small, local market and parks?? people will still need regular cars for highway commutes (hybrids) but most local stuff like grocery shopping can be done via cart or scooter.

MORE importantly...great news re AB! Now, I can sleep again! LOL Nice that we all kept our cool until the details got out...

[Esteban]

Dallas, I don't blame you. If I still lived in Miami I probably would keep away from anything two wheeled since I drove on highway to get most places. Here I am usually city driving so not too many big trucks going 80 to compete with.

[Cat5 Cane]

Dallas, CG, Esteban

scooter
//evosales.com/pd_motorcycle_250cc.cfmotters

250cc...18 HP
Cost 2749...
3 gallon gas cap at 70 MPG.
Top speed... 80 MPH

................................

Scooter
http://evosales.com/pd_fast_scooter_250cc.cfm

250cc...19 HP
Cost 1948....
1.8 gal cap...
top speed 85 MPH

[Cat5 Cane]

Scooter.
http://evosales.com/pd_motorcycle_250cc.cfm

[CanesgirlNC]

LOL Este - can you imagine Bird Road or the 836 on a scooter???

[DallasTX Cane]

Thats funny CGNC! My grandparents used to live in the Tamiami Trail-Bird Rd area many moons ago. Insane drivers.

[CanesgirlNC]

DTC - I know - they used to have those bumper stickers "pray for me I drive on Bird Road".....

When did you leave Florida?

[DallasTX Cane]

In my mind...never! LOL

Left after sophomore year of HS, but entire mom's side of family remained in Miami. Then lived in Pensacola for 2+ years after college before moving to Virginia Beach. Been in Dallas for almost 8 years now. Will move back to FL when I can get that house on the beach...

Course, guess I could buy inland and wait to global warming to make me beach-front??...

[CVS]

Cat 5,
I put the list the same way. I think it was important for ESPN to put the 2001 team as the greatest. There was just too much leadership and winner's mentality for that team to lose. 2004 USC is a very close 2nd, I just can't imagine Leinart throwing on the best secondary of all time.
- CVS

[Cane Since 1982]

I have a truck. I love my truck. I will always own a truck no matter what the price of gas is. And no one buying a scooter to save a few dollars in gas better call me to help them move or tow anything.

[Esteban]

836 is horrible no matter what your riding in.

[KLCaneFan]

Hi all. It was a nice win for the Canes yesterday!

I can't lie... scooters scare the crap out of me. We rent them when we go down to Key West to drive around town and it's not fun for me at all. Every time we go I tell myself I'm not going to get on one of those things but next thing you know I'm riding down Duval looking like an idiot. I'd rather ride a bicycle.

Esteban, I agree with you... 836 is a nightmare!

[JC]

I think it's important to distinguish between most accomplished teams and most talented teams. The 2001 Hurricanes were, without question, the most talented college football team ever fielded (or, at the very least, the 2000-2002 teams collectively given graduations and other small changes in roster).

That being said, the 2001 Canes were extremely fortunate to beat an average Boston College team and to not have to struggle to beat Va Tech in OT or at the last second. (Go ahead and blame Coker for that if you want, but it happened) However, no team in the BCS era has steamrolled it's schedule (not even 2004 USC, which had close calls against a crappy Stanford team and a good Cal team just to name two). So I think consequently, talent trumps all in that debate.

As for the greatest team of ALL TIME, I don't know what you value more, bc 1995 Nebraska didn't have a single close game. And there were some teams from bygone eras that were also pretty dominant, but even if you keep the discussion post-1970, the on-field record of the 2001 team does compare to various other champs. It's just the roster that doesn't.

[DallasTX Cane]

2001 CANES did have a couple of close calls. But look also at their margin of victory over ranked opponents.

Its a debate with no final answer, but the way in which that '01 squad destroyed quality teams factors big time for me. They did need some luck, as basically all champions do, because they played down or had let downs BUT they brought their A Game for all the ranked teams.

[Cat5 Cane]

CVS..

Miami 2001, rated best team of the decade... just excites me to think about it... and Ohio St, 2002 team, rated 9th is sooo deserving... them sumbitches.
2001, This bud is for you!

82... Sounds like you have a problem... You mean, you won't pick me up, If I'm ride'n a scooter? Where's the lov... man? LOL

[Montreal-Cane]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - No. 1 North Carolina answered go-ahead rallies by Virginia in the ninth and 10th innings but fell a run short in the 11th in an 8-7 loss Wednesday in game four of the ACC Championship at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Tar Heels dropped to 45-11 with the loss, while the Cavaliers improved to 37-19

[Cat5 Cane]

LOL... and 82 , at Ten Dollars a gallon... you might be sing a different tune come that day, cause you won't to be able to pull it out of your garage.

But it would make a nice paper weight though! LOL

[Cane Since 1982]

Cat 5

If we see $10 a gallon. There will be much bigger problems to deal with other than filling my truck. Could you imagine how much the price of everything else will go up if we hit $10 a gallon. Nothing (food, toys, lumber, office supplies, toliet papper) gets to its final destantion with out being shipped by truck at some point in time.

[Loco]

DTC - I know - they used to have those bumper stickers "pray for me I drive on Bird Road".....

When did you leave Florida?

Posted by: CanesgirlNC | May 22, 2008 at 12:50 PM

My friend wants to get a motorcycle, and we've been trying to convince him for a year now that we don't think suicide is the way to go

[Jake]

Local flavor
With a down year in south Florida, who are some kids Miami coach Randy Shannon looks strong on from other areas of Florida or around the country? And to whom would you compare his recruiting style? He seems pretty no-nonsense and straightforward in a world of exact opposites.

-- Andy from Ocala, Fla.
-----
First, I believe that Miami is off to a nice start. The Hurricanes finished with one of the nation's best classes last season. In fact, I personally thought they were No. 2 behind Alabama. Having said that, they are picking up where they left off. True, it may not be the same year in south Florida for this class as it was with the Class of 2008, but there still are some good prospects down in south Florida. Miami should control Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties once again.

Randy Shannon and staff have had some early success outside of Florida in the 2008 class.
Four of their six commitments are from prospects outside south Florida, with three from out of state. Rivals100 running back Bryce Brown (Wichita, Kan.) headlines the class thus far. Brown – whose brother Arthur signed with UM in February – is the nation's No. 2 running back, and he was a huge early get for the Hurricanes. Quarterback A.J. Highsmith (Fort Bend, Texas) and tight end Billy Sanders (Phoenix) are the other out-of-state commitments. Highsmith is an athletic quarterback, and Sanders is a rangy and versatile prospect.

Corey White (Jacksonville) is another tight end who has committed, but he ultimately could end up on the offensive line. He is a nasty and physical run blocker.

Miami's "local" commitments are defensive tackle Luther Robinson (Fort Piece, Fla.) and defensive end Olivier Vernon (Miami). Robinson, who may visit LSU and other schools, has seen his stock rise after a great spring. Vernon is quick pass rusher off the edge.

In February's recruiting class, Miami signed 19 players from south Florida alone. Much of that had to do with two things: the great talent in Miami, specifically at one high school (Miami Northwestern) and the momentum the 'Canes had early on last year.

So who is Miami hot and heavy after outside of south Florida? Among the players with offers are offensive linemen Nick Alajajian (Naples, Fla.), and Morgan Moses (Richmond, Va.); linebacker Jelani Jenkins (Wheaton, Md.); wide receivers Rueben Randle (Bastrop, La.) and Andre DeBose (Sanford, Fla.); cornerback Gabe Lynn (Jenks, Okla.); tight ends Orson Charles (Tampa) and Brock DeCicco (Clairton, Pa.); athlete Ray Ray Armstrong (Sanford, Fla.); and defensive ends Craig Roh (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Sam Montgomery (Greenwood, S.C.) and Chris Bonds (Columbia, S.C.).

Don't forget about the local players. Miami will be the team to beat for running back Lamar Miller (Miami Killian) and is in the hunt for quarterback Eugene Smith (Miramar, Fla.). In addition, keep an eye on linebacker Jon Bostic (Wellington, Fla.), defensive tackle Antwan Lowery (Miami) and guard Jared Wheeler (Plantation, Fla.). When the dust settles, this class will have more balance than last year's in terms of where the prospects are from. But make no mistake: The Hurricanes will get their share from their backyard. They always do.

And I agree with you about Shannon. He is a no-nonsense kind of coach and I am sure a father figure to many of these young men. He also inherited a program that he truly loves. More important, Miami needed someone like him to resurrect the proud tradition of Hurricanes football.

I also believe his approach is one that is needed there just for the simple fact that coaches and parents want to believe their kids are taken care of in the right manner - and that Miami football will return to its glory days. The coach has to sell that, and Shannon's style and personality fit that well.

But as with any CEO, you are only as good as the people around you. In terms of recruiting, Miami has a good group of assistants. Even more vital are the players themselves because they are your best recruiters, and the UM players believe in their coach and the direction they are going.

[SOUP]

Checking in from JAX and the ACC tourney.

Going to the game at 5 PM weather permitting. They are expecting thunder storms this PM in the area. Here's to hoping they are WRONG!

New blog up late tonight (11 pm) IF they play.

GO CANES!

[SOUP]

Look for the banner and sign on TV today at the game. I'll be right behind home plate at ground level. Tivo it and post here if you see the Canespace banner fly!

[Jake]

http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-basebl/08-base-championship.html

[JC]

College baseball landscape is changing a lot. Last weekend did a lot, and now there have been all kinds of upsets in the conference tourneys (Big East champ St Johns went 2 and done, and so did C-USA champ Rice). UF went 0-2 in the SEC tournament to go from being projected to host a regional to likely ending up in Coral Gables next weekend. Here's a now extremely out of date tourney projecton from ESPN (btw, ESPN has good coverage of the conference tournaments at ESPN.com under the ESPN U tab at the top):

Coral Gables Regional: Miami (#1 national seed), Vanderbilt, UC Santa Barbara, Columbia

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3404509&name=ncaa_baseball

[SOUP]

We are LIVE form the site of the ACC tourney in JAX. Found a wireless network that is open. Will check in from the game...later!

[Canez1]

If I catch any of you fags drivin a friggin scooter around I will run yo azz right off the road!! No questions asked.

SCOOTER!!!!

Soup you better hold off on scratchin the boyz behind homeplate. The camera is always on you!!! LOL wait till commercials to do your thing or someones gonna catch that!!! LMAO!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[solarcane]

IMPORTANT CANESPACE INFO
PLEASE READ

Soon you will see a CBS news type ticker running on the top or side of the Canespace comment field.
EVERY time you hit the blog or website you will be helping soup pay for this wonderful site.

I would suggest you go up to tools then Internet options and change your homepage to the blog site or Canespace website.
This way every time you log-on or visit Canespace a tiny cha ching is paid to Canespace.

DO THIS!

peace

[CanesgirlNC]

LOL in the middle of the dead period comes Canez1 with his stuff!!! Glad to see you back was waaaaay toooo quiet around here!

TOEPICK!

[Canez1]

CGNC LOL whats up buddy. Work has been nutz and I can only take so much gas price talk. It took $85 to fill up my truck today!! WTF

How have you been? Whats new?

TOEPICK!!!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[SOUP]

And here we go...GAME ON! I'm headed to my seat behind home plate and will check in between innings after #3.

GO CANES, BEAT GT!!!

[AvaCane96]

gas is ridiculous...i set a new personal record for gas yesterday...95 DOLLARS!! this is crazy!

[Cane Since 1982]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Got home just in time to see Blake Tekotte
hit a lead off HOME RUN

1-0 Canes

[Cane Since 1982]

Jemile Weeks - Line out to left
Yonder Alonso - Strike out
Mark Sobolewski - Pop out to 2nd in shallow right

going to bottom 1st 1-0 Canes

[Canez1]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?id=3405133

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[Cane Since 1982]

GT - Lead off single to first
GT - Line out to 3rd, Man on 1st caught off the bag for the double play
GT - Hard hit ground out to 2nd

Going to top 2nd 1-0 Canes

[canechic]

Thanks for the updates 1982 until I get to go home! Go Canes

[Canez1]

Per TOS McKenzie started running routes again a couple of weeks ago and is recovering nicely from his high ankle sprain.

This is huge IMO. We need his depth at WR. I know he hasn't played a game yet but he has been around the program for a while and I really think he can be a great one down the road here with Marve.

We can use all the breaks we can get this year!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[Cane Since 1982]

Ryan Jackson - Line drive single to center
Dennis Raben - Questionable strike out
Joey Terdoslavich - Grounds into double play

Going to bottom 2nd 1-0 Canes

[Cane Since 1982]

No prob Canechic

Although it may not last long because there is a storm over my appartment and the power keeps flickering.

[Cane Since 1982]

GT - Out at 2nd trying to stretch a single to the right field corner into a double. Thrown out on a perfect throw from right fielder Dennis Raben
GT - Out (Sorry there is a storm over my appartment and the power flickered. When it came back there was another out)
GT - Deep fly out to left center

Going to top 3rd 1-0 Canes

[Cane Since 1982]

Dave Dinatale - Ground out to short
Yasmani Grandal - Pop out in foul territory to the first base man
Blake Tekotte - Pop single to shallow left near the line
Jemile Weeks - Tripple, Blake Tekotte SCORES

2-0 Canes

[Cane Since 1982]

Yonder Alonso - HOME RUN

3-0 Canes

[Cane Since 1982]

Mark Sobolewski - Fly out to the right field warning track

Ggoing to bottom 3rd 3-0 Canes

[M.H.]

4

[Cane Since 1982]

GT - Single, Throwing error on Weeks advances guy to 2nd
GT - Hit by pitch
GT - Reaches on a bunt
GT - Bloop to left center, 2 score, runners on 1st and 2nd, 0 out

3-2 Canes

[SOUP]

Yonder Goes the Ball Alonso...HR! Missed the home run celebration pic celebrating!

Just behind home plate just to the left of center. Look for Canespace sign. Banner is not up YET!

GO CANES!

[M.H.]

4-2!!!

[M.H.]

yikes...4-4

[Cane Since 1982]

accidently deleted everything I wrote

4-4 top 4

[Cane Since 1982]

Ryan Jackson - Ground single to left
Ryan Jackson - Steals 2nd
Dennis Raben - Walk
Joey Terdoslavich - Double play, Man out at 3rd, Runner on 2nd
Dave Dinatale - Strike out

Going to bottom 4th, 4-4

[SOUP]

Not good...momentum has swung over to GT.

Need a DP nOW! Erickson getting hit just like against UNC.

[M.H.]

Erickson blew it again..Gutierrez to stop the bleeding...5-4....bases loaded..2 out...

[M.H.]

Whew..

[DallasTX Cane]

Settle down Francis...real men drive scooters! And, eat quiche!

LOL

[M.H.]

Raben's drop..killed us..