Canespace

Seeing The Light

The second ranked University of North Carolina flew into Miami, drove into Coral Gables and finally walked into The Light for the first of a three game series against the #1 ranked University of Miami on Thursday Night.  When it was all over, the Tarheels had finally seen the light after suffering a humiliating and completely convincing 12-2 beat down handed to them by the Hurricanes. 

A capacity crowd also walked into The Light excited, lubricated and ready for game one of the series.  They spent most of it watching Freshamn sensation and soon to be ACC pitcher of the year Chris Hernandez (seen here warming up) shut down the UNC bats over 7 and 2/3 innings. Canes fans also had the privledge of watching the Canes sluggers batter the UNC starter and reliever after reliever from the Tar Heels.  UNC brought out a total of six pitchers during the Canes slugfest all to no avail.

Did we mention that Yonder "Goes The Ball" Alonso did manage to hit one "over yonder" with three men on base for another grand slam?  Ho hum, just another night at The Light.  The Miami Maniac worked the crowd into it's usual frenzy after each Miami score by doing the familiar: C A N E S...CANES!  Fans walked out of The Light chanting "We got some Canes over here" (led by the Canespacers on hand) and looking forward to the games two and three on Friday and Saturday.

The usual Canespace pre-game festivities were held at usual place and the usual suspects showed up.  Keoki and friends (4), Cat5, Cane Since 1982, yours truly and my brother Jim all met at The Titanic where Sun Sentinel writer Shandel Richardson showed up in JORTS (not really) and with a scowl on his face (not really).  I explained the finer points of JORTS according to M.H. and Cat5 represented by wearing his best pair which he modeled for the crowd. 

Shandel immediately challenged me to an arm wrestling contest (not really) for blog supremacy.  Apparently, our friend Chris Stock from ITU invited Shandel to the Canespace/ITU extravaganza.  I regret to report that Shandel won 2 of 3 matches (not really) and was awarded the trophy.  Rumor is he has been training with Swasey on a regular basis (not really) just for this very event.  I'll get him next time of that you can be sure (most likely)!

Anyway, a good time was had by all (yes, really) and ITU, The Sentinel and The Space were all well represented.  Bigger plans for bigger parties were made and will be announced here soon.  Once we get Manny Navarro back into the action and he gets his groove on, we will have some exciting interactive competitions planned that will rock the blogging world.  And Canespace will be right in the sweet spot in the middle of the action.  Stay tuned to the blog nearest U!

Thug U

This feature article was written for Canespace by UM student and Canespace blogger Tony Locrotondo (Loco)...

During the 1980’s the University of Miami earned the stigma of being labled as “Thug U”.  For those of you unfamiliar with their history, the Hurricanes earned the title for a variety of reasons.  While many of theses reasons stemmed from false perceptions based on race, socio-economic backgrounds and other factors, there were times where the actions of the players both on and off the field may have contributed to this labeling. 

Hurricane teams from the 1980’s were primarily from South Florida and primarily black, due to Howard Schnellenberger’s (and later Jimmy Johnson’s) emphasis on recruiting in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.  Some of these players came from Dade County's inner-city neighborhoods such as Liberty City and Opa Locka and rural impoverished communities located in Belle Glade and Pahokee.  These players were tough guys from tough neigborhoods and it showed in the way they carried themselves on and off the field. 

These Canes teams were also well known for their intimidation antics and showmanship, beginning in 1986 when the team showed up for the National Championship wearing army fatigues. Miami players were shown fighting on the field and in the tunnels before games.  The stature of games games grew beyond the pale of college football and the contests with Notre Dame became the "Catholics versus convicts" before the Irish simply refused to play the Canes anymore. 

The excessive celebration penalty, also was known as the “Hurricane Rule”, was instituted because of things Hurricane players would do on the field after scoring or recording a sack.  The pelvic thrust, the throat slash and running completely off the field and through the tunnel after TD catch?  Yeah, players from the team with the "U" on their helmet did all that and more back in the day. 

While things have changed dramatically on campus and on the field since the mid 90s, the University of Miami is still referred to as Thug U by the media and fans from other schools.  This is especially true whenever anything negative happens surrounding its football team, including the shooting deaths of Bryan Pata and former Hurricane Sean Taylor.

But numerous recent incidents at other schools and the lack of incidents in Coral Gables begs the question: "Is the University of Miami really deserving of the title Thug U”?  Or, are there other schools more deserving of the title?  Let’s take a look at some of the schools that have been competing for the title the past several years:

University of Miami: while having a bench clearing brawl with FIU in 2006 and recruiting a player with a criminal record (who committed another crime and was dismissed from the team as a result), Miami has only had one player arrested in the past several years.  Redshirt Freshman Robert Marve was arrested midway during the 2007 football season for misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and resisting arrest after reportedly punching a car mirror and fleeing after getting in an argument with his girlfriend over the phone on Halloween.

University of Florida: Despite having God’s favorite son, Super Tim Tebow, the man who helps circumcise impoverished children, the Gators have had some issues.  Most recently, Jamar Hornsby was arrested and subsequently kicked off the team after using a dead girl’s credit card.  It starts at the top though, with Urban Meyer’s reported recruiting violations and works its way down.  In 2007 alone, many Florida football players (and one basketball player) were arrested on a variety of charges, ranging from burglary, theft and possession of drugs (including marijuana and cocaine) to assault, carrying a concealed weapon, and firing an automatic weapon in public. 

University of Notre Dame: In 1988, Notre Dame and Miami played a game that was dubbed “Catholics vs. Convicts”, based on the images of each school at the time.  However, it has since come to light that all was not as it seems.  In a book released in 1993, dirt was uncovered about the Fighting Irish starting in 1986.  Recently, Notre Dame defensive tackle Darrell Hand was arrested for soliciting prostitution and two other players were arrested for assault.

  Florida State University: The Florida State Seminoles have recently been put on probation for two years because of a cheating scandal involving an online course.  The Seminoles’ star receiver, Preston Parker, was arrested on gun and drug charges in Palm Beach County in April 2008. In 2007, star linebacker Geno Hayes was tasered after a bar fight, and fullback Joe Surratt was charged with assault on a police officer.  Before that, star linebacker Ernie Sims was charged with assault on his girlfriend, and there are many other run-ins with the law documented here.

Many of you would argue that Matt Patchan be added to the list, but I feel that including him would be the same as including Pata’s death with Miami. That’s just wrong.  USC did not make the list as they haven’t had as many players arrested recently. Dirty recruiting practices may be deplorable and unethical, but do not necessarily qualify as “thuggish”.

More and more stories are coming out from the past, such as steroids being involved as part of Tom Osborne’s great Nebraska teams.  Academically, many NCAA teams did not make the grade.  The Hurricanes did.  So who is the real Thug U?  Is it still Miami because of its infamous past?  Or should the Catholics go to confession?  Should the Gator chomp be limited by shackles?  Or do the Seminoles need to be extradited off the reservation?

I Heard The News Today: Part II

A random sampling of Canes football headlines from the Miami Herald...

Miami Herald - September 25, 1982 - 1D SPORTS

MARKING TIME MAKES RICHT RIGHT "Want to see my Cadillac?" Mark Richt asked. He pointed to a bicycle chained to a tree near the Miami Hurricanes' football locker room. "That's it. Sold my '76 Dart and bought the bike with the money." Thus, Mark Richt capsuled the 4 1/2 years it took to make him an overnight celebrity -- stepping in for Jim Kelly against Michigan State in the Orange Bowl today.

Miami Herald - October 30, 1982 - 1A FRONT

HURRICANES' SPIRIT FINALLY LET LOOSE MIAMI HAS DISCOVERED A NEW SECRET WEAPON: BRING ON JIMMY BUFFET. The spirit, the wild emotion that seems so far this season to have eluded the University of Miami finally erupted about 9 p.m. Friday. The screeching must have carried clear to the aspirin moon overhead. Twenty thousand people let loose. They roared. And it became clear how the Hurricanes football team could fill the stadium, sell seats and rival the crowds of rural cousins upstate in Tallahassee. Jimmy Buffett. Play Buffett at quarterback.

Miami Herald - January 4, 1984 - 1A FRONT/SPORTS

IT'S OFFICIAL: 'WE'RE NO. 1' BOTH WIRE SERVICES RATE UM HURRICANES BEST IN THE NATION. On Monday, the University of Miami Hurricanes upset the team considered to be one of the greatest college football teams of all time. On Tuesday, they became national champs. So far, it hasn't been a bad week. The Hurricanes, winners over top-ranked Nebraska, 31-30, in the 50th Orange Bowl Classic, won their first national football championship ever when both The Associated Press and United Press International voted them No. 1. The game was close. The polls were not.

Miami Herald - December 6, 1984 - 1D SPORTS

HURRICANE RECRUITING FACING BIG HURDLES The University of Miami's salesmen have to pitch a little harder in 1985. Last year was a football recruiter's dream after the Hurricanes brought the Miracle to Miami and reigned as national champions. Coach Howard Schnellenberger milked the fantastic finish in front of a hometown crowd for maximum effect. Eighteen of Florida's best high school seniors signed with the UM.

Miami Herald - September 5, 1985 - 1C SPORTS

UM-GATOR HYPE HITS FEVER PITCH \ 'WE'LL BE A DYNAMO,' HURRICANE AIDE VOWS Art Kehoe is standing near the entrance of the University of Miami's football weight room. An excited practice has just ended, and the Hurricanes' youngest assistant coach is bouncing with enough leftover adrenaline to jump-start a corpse. "We're going to come out like a dynamo! A dynamo!" Kehoe hollers to nobody in particular as tired players traipse past.

Miami Herald - September 29, 1985 - 1C SPORTS

BIG PLAYS MAKE UM'S DAY HURRICANES OVERPOWER BC, 45-10 The hurricane and the Hurricanes were moving in distinctly opposite directions in New England this weekend. Gloria turned into a tropical depression; Miami turned into a full-blown college football team.

Miami Herald - January 3, 1988 - 9D SPORTS

ROUT OF GATORS BEGAN A 12-0 SHOW \ UM 31, FLORIDA 4 MIAMI, The University of Miami and the University of Florida ended their football rivalry Saturday until 1992 with a resounding R.I.P. -- Rest in Peace for the Hurricanes, Rest in Pieces for the Gators. New UM starting quarterback Steve Walsh outpassed veteran Kerwin Bell and the Hurricane defense dominated as 10th-ranked Miami opened the season by throttling 20th-ranked Florida, 31-4, before a huge Orange Bowl crowd announced as an overflow of 77,224.

Miami Herald - October 10, 1988 - 1D SPORTS

HURRICANES GET ND'S IRISH UP NO. 1 MIAMI BECOMES NOTRE DAME'S NO. 1 OBJECTIVE The University of Miami's Hurricanes will pack all of the appropriate reverence and awe as they prepare for this weekend's trip to the nation's capital of college football, South Bend, Ind. This is like walking into church, after all. This is Notre Dame! Yeah, right. "People say Notre Dame and it's like that's supposed to mean something."

Miami Herald - September 4, 1988 - 1A FRONT

KIDS ELECTRIFY ANCIENT OB Ah, sweet youth! The University of Miami's untried Hurricanes -- fledgling heirs to last season's national championship football team -- buried the No. 1-ranked Florida State Seminoles 31-0 before a sellout crowd at the Orange Bowl Saturday night. Those who followed a week's worth of pre-game hype will recall that nothing was harped on more than the inexperience of the UM team.

Miami Herald - April 26, 1990 - 1D SPORTS

UM ON VERGE OF RETAINING THAT OB EDGE Hurricane hearts can start beating again. University of Miami football won't lose its screaming Orange Bowl edge. The Hurricanes aren't moving to Joe Robbie Stadium. Not this century, anyway. That is less certain for the Orange Bowl Classic, which could yet switch after the next and last game under contract with the city of Miami.

Miami Herald - January 6, 1991 - 1D SPORTS

FANS HAVE FEW PROBLEMS WITH UM'S EXUBERANCE More than 4,500 football fans, showing in-your-face support for University of Miami players in a Herald call-in vote, overwhelmingly backed the Hurricanes' Cotton Bowl conduct and celebratory choreography. Asked Friday to respond to the question "Was the University of Miami football team's behavior appropriate in the Cotton Bowl?" 80 percent of the callers said, emphatically, Yesssss! A total of 4,572 voted that the behavior was appropriate.

Miami Herald - January 5, 1992 - 2D SPORTS

UM RUN THROUGH HISTORY LIKE NO OTHER Someday, somehow, someone will find a way to beat the Miami Hurricanes in their special football temple called the Orange Bowl. That would end UM's home streak at 45, where it now stands, or 50, or 55. Or somewhere. However, it might not end the most dynastic program in all college football's vibrant history.

Miami Herald - December 2, 1995 - 1D SPORTS

UM ESCAPES WITH A SLAP, NOT A SLAM Butch Davis managed to look appropriately chastened, even though he had nothing to be chastened about. He played no part in the violations for which Miami's football Hurricanes got their wrists slapped Friday. Still, the innocent usually pay for the guilty, and Butch knows he got lucky. Dreading a broadside from the NCAA, the Hurricanes were merely brushed. For the moment, anyway. They will pay off their one-year bowl sanction by passing up an immediate bowl.

Miami Herald - August 29, 1996 - 1D SPORTS

INSIDE TURMOIL, BUTCH DAVIS BUILDS CORE I believe what I have believed about Butch Davis all along, only stronger. He can be the best head football coach the Miami Hurricanes ever had, and Howard Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson were the best three in a row any college ever had. Even now University of Miami President Tad Foote must feel more comfortable with Davis than he was with any who came before. Foote should. Davis is a man to be trusted.

Miami Herald - November 22, 2000 - 2D Sports

FOUR HURRICANES HONORED The national championship might elude the University of Miami, but the Hurricanes are gobbling up the individual accolades. Four Miami players have been chosen to the Football Writers Association of America All-American first team, the most of any team in the nation. Senior receiver Santana Moss, senior linebacker Dan Morgan, junior strong safety Ed Reed and junior offensive tackle Joaquin Gonzalez were named, giving Miami a fast start in the postseason awards period.

The Miami Herald - January 5, 2002 - 7D Sports

UM HAMMERS CORNHUSKERS 37-14 Mission accomplished, with ease. The Miami Hurricanes are back on top of the college football world, so high they still probably haven't hit earth. No taunting. No dancing. No mercy. Just total domination. After a 10-year drought, the Hurricanes were crowned the undisputed national champions Thursday by crushing Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl to earn their fifth national title. "The Canes are back!'' shouted fullback Jarrett Payton....

The Miami Herald - October 27, 2001 - 9D Sports

REED, GORE JOLT CANES IN ROUT OF MOUNTAINEERS The University of Miami football team wanted to win and look good on national TV. It definitely did one of the two. But whether the Hurricanes looked good enough to stay No. 1 in both major polls will be determined Sunday. In driving rain at the Orange Bowl, the top-ranked Hurricanes overcame a slow start to defeat West Virginia 45-3 for their 16th straight victory Thursday night in front of an announced crowd of 44,411.

The Miami Herald - April 4, 2002 - 1A Front

THIEF STEALS FROM THE BEST: CANES PLAYBOOK GOES ONLINE Interception! Sometime last month, a thief apparently picked off the playbooks of the Miami Hurricanes, the NCAA national football champions, as the books sat in an assistant coach's office. Each book, about 150 pages and containing the offensive and defensive formations and strategies the Hurricanes used to go 12-0 in 2001, came back to the athletic department in manila envelopes in the mail, but not before some of their contents were copied onto the Internet.

This Week On The Space

• First off a Canespace SHOUT OUT to all the Hurricane mom's out there!  We would like to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day!  Special recognition to the women bloggers who grace us with their presence here at Canespace: CanesGirlNC, Canechic, KLCanefan, and MaryLouAlumni.  And a very special thank you to Jack McClinton's mom who agreed to be our Canespace Fan of the Month for March.  Thanks "Momma McClinton" (see TOP LEFT photo) and Go Canes!
• The best team in college baseball, your University of Miami Hurricanes, took two of three games from Virginia Tech by winning Friday night and then taking the second game of a rare Saturday double-header in beautiful Blacksburg, VA.  The potential for severe weather on Sunday forced the move of Sunday's game to Saturday.  The Canes beat their ACC rival Hokies in the deciding game three of the series 9-2 to erase any doubt of a late season lapse and bring the Canes home on a positive note for their final week of the 2008 regular season. 
• The #1 ranked Hurricanes face North Florida on Tuesday night at The Light before the big, and we mean BIG, final series in Coral Gables against #2 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.  This three game series that runs Thursday through Saturday will determine which team has the momentum heading into the ACC championships in Jacksonville May 21-25 and the NCAA regional playoffs.
• While you weren't paying attention (who does?) the second best baseball team in the 305, your Florida Marlins, have jumped out to their best start EVER at 22-14 after winning six in a row and pounding the Washington Nationals 11-0 Saturday night behind a Dan Uggla grand slam.  These no-name, low-budget hard ballers that as you know play in OUR Stadium are an entertaining bunch that you should check out when you get the chance.  Tickets are cheap and seats are-a-plenty!
• The Canes women's tennis team swept the regional playoff held this weekend at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center on campus.  The Canes soft ballers beat Quinnipiac and then defeated the dreaded Irish of Notre Dame to take the title.  They now head to the Final 16 tournament (for the fourth time in the last five years we might add) in Tulsa, OK to try to win the National Championship.

• UM football players DeMarcus Van Dyke and Bruce Johnson joined UM track star Tim Harris at The UCF Track Invitational this week.  DVD won the 100 meter event with a time of 10.75 and Harris won the 1,500 meter events.  Johnson finished the 100 meter event with a time of 10.87.

• Join us Monday at noon for an hour of LIVE chat with Chris Stock from www.insidetheu.com for our regular Q&A session simply called: "Lunch With Chris". Better yet, join us at The Titanic on Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 PM to meet Chris in person.  The Ti is located on Ponce DeLeon Boulevard 1/2 block west of Hurricane Drive and Mark Light Stadium.  Joins Canespacers Cat5, Keoki, Cane Since 1982, 86Cane and others who will be on hand and completely out of control.

• This week we will have a feature article written by SolarCane that will post Tuesday night at 8 PM and another special TBA feature for Thursday at 8 PM.  See U on The Space!

Run For It!

With a first time starter at quarterback and so many unproven, inexperienced and new wide recievers on the roster, the Canes offense will most likely rely heavily on the running game to get the offense moving and set up the pass this year.  Second year Offensive Coordinator Patrick Nix will have two solid returning performers in the backfield in 2008.  Javaris James and Graig Cooper will look to establish them selves as "The Dude" in the Canes backfield. 

James may be the fan favorite and logical choice but Cooper continues to make a push for the leading role.

But they will face strong challenges from speedy Shawnbrey McNeal (forget the 40 time) , elusive Lee Chambers (forget the Spring game injury) and newly re-assigned safety Damien Berry (don't forget this name) who will look to make an impact by simply breaking anything he runs into. 

A word of advice from Canespace blogger Loco: You do NOT want to be a current UM safety trying to tackle this former UM safety (seen above) on Greentree Practice Field in Fall Practice.  He WILL break things and you have been warned! 

Canespace (and by that I mean Canechic and Angry seen here at the FHSAA State Championship Game in Orlando with the lovely wife of MNWHS Coach Billy Rolle) is working up a detailed analysis of the Hurricane running backs for 2008. 

But until then, we want you to vote on who will be the stand out candidate for the 2008 season in which the Canes will finish at 9-3 (or anything but 8-4).  Vote here, vote often!

Behind Enemy Lines: The Swamp

This is the second feature in our on-going series titled "Behind Enemy Lines".  After our intial incursion into South Bend by OcalaCane to bring you Touchdown Jesus, I personally conducted our second recon mission deep into the heart of enemy territory to bring you: The Swamp...

Recently, Canespace invited King James from the Sun Sentinel UM blog to post here about his undeniable and never ending love for all things orange and blue.  James, who called Brock Berlin (seen at left celebrating his come from behind win over the swamp lizards at the OB) the Anti-Christ, defended his Gator loyalties in the first ever "blog-off" with Canespacer Orange and Green In The Vein here on The Space.  As you may know, it appears that while the bloggers at the SS weren't paying attention, James, a proud card carrying member of the "Gator Nation", somehow managed to successfully infiltrate and even gain control of the Hurricanes blog there. 

How could this happen you ask?  Shandel Richardson (seen at left) who rarely smiles but recently demonstrated that he does have a sense of humor, writes the blog for the SS.  He admittedly is not a Canes fan or from the 305, but a proud Northern Illinois Saluki.  He also allegedlly likes rap music and the occasional appletini, but we digress.

Now, rumor has it that Shandel may still be able to hit the three and whoop up on Mike Bibby, but he is certainly no Manny Navarro.  Yet, it would be unfair if Canes fans were to try to blame one single Saluki for the extent of James' actions.  No, there must be more going on behind the scenes for this to happen at the once proud home of "The Legion".

So in our effort to try to gain a better understanding of what motivates the swamp lizards we took a trip deep behind enemy lines right into the heart of swamp country and onto the beautiful campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.  Our mission was to get photos of the Canespace banner inside The famed Swamp.

Our first stop? A planned visit with Gators Head Coach Urban Meyer.  Our interview request with the Pope of Gainesville was immediately denied.  We were told that the Urban Myth was not in town as he was out recruiting the girlfriend of some 2009 five star QB to replace the one and only Timmy Tebow.  Certainly, Timmy T must almost done saving people, playing doctor, ending global warming and growing tired of being the BMOC.  You have your little jorts wearing trophy son, now please move along.

So we left the administrative offices of the University of Florida Athletic Department with a chip on our shoulder and anger in our hearts.  Clearly this visit would not go as planned.  So, we decided that we were going camo and undercover on our next mission. The next place on our recon mission into enemy territory?  The famed home of the Florida Gators also known as "The Swamp".

Upon arrival at the stadium, we eluded security by dressing as the natives do: Jorts and a Gator T- shirt.  Looking like a local helped us gain unprecedented access into the heart of the beast and snap some incredible photos of where the Pope will lose his crown, Tebow will lose his helmet and the beast will lose officially lose it's momentum on September 6, 2008. 

Now we invite you to take a peak at the Canespace takeover of The Swamp (and Tim Tebow's car parked outside) by superior forces on our most recent mission (click on photos to enlarge):

8-4 or 10-2?

Each year, during the dog days of summer, Canes fans sit around and debate about their predictions for the upcoming season.  Rather than suffer through another off-season of baseless predictions and fearless prognotications, I thought I would get ahead of the pack and just summarize the whole argument in one blog article to avoid the pain and suffering of trying to answer the question on everyone's mind: Will the 2008 Canes finish at 8-4 or 10-2?

The Pessimists (5-7): This group is proudly lead by the widely recognized king of negativity, our friend Carlos.  This small but vocal group of frustrated fans does not only see the glass as half empty, they don't even see the glass!  This group says Nix is incompetent and has no business coaching in the 305 much less the Orange and Green and the Canes are doomed to failure in 2008 as a result.  But wait, they don't stop there.  They go on to state that the Canes are way too young as a team, too inexperienced at key positions, lack any proven playmakers and suffer from generally poor coaching to even think about winning more than 5 games this year. Oh, and UM will get spanked in The Swamp.

The Cautionists (7-5): This group is a conservative based group led by none other than long-time Canespace blogger AlpharettaCane.  Last year, while the 12%ers were all screaming for a perfect season, Alpha was the ONLY blogger here to go out on a limb and predict the lowly record of 8-4 for which he was widely ridiculed and called every name in the book EXCEPT a Canes fan. 

Well this year, the most accurate Canespace predictor of the 2007 season is coming in at 7-5 in the early voting.  He's still not yet convinced about the OL, DL or special teams which he says control the Canes destiny.  This group, while gaining more widespread acceptance, is still far from the majority.  For them, they see two more wins in 2008 than 2007.  And hotter cheerleaders for sure.  Yeah, that's the ticket!

The Realists (8-4): This group, which is ashamed of their close cousin the Centrists, is led by none other than the famed blog juice doctor and the king of "FIRST", SolarCane.  After suffering a year of total humiliation from his 2007 prognostication of a "undefeated" season under first year Head Coach Randy Shannon, Solar clambered back to earth and has decided to "get real" for 2008.  This group still has faith in The Boss and what he is doing and also loves the new recruits, especially QB Jacory Harris and his posse from MNWHS, but they are just not ready to annoint this 2008 team as the next great one at The U. 

Solar, their self appointed leader, is still waiting for Lance Leggett (who is now rumored to be teaching U.S. soldiers in Iraq how to DUCK!) to have his "break out year" and James and Cooper to both lead the ACC in rushing and TDs in 2007.  Yes, "Keeping It Real in 2008" is Solar's new campaign slogan.  His campaign manager pb(cshof09), would have it no other way.

Centrists (9-3): This group, lead by yours truly, 86Cane, sits squarely in what we like to call the "middle of the road" on our 2008 prediction.  Too afraid to accept failure again (5-7) and certainly to scared to call for greatness (12-0) this year, the middle of the roaders simply are hoping to maintain their "centrist" position of change and progress by following the mood of the crowd.  We are a hopeful lot that loves female Canes fans but is easily confused by The Realists on one side and easily led astray by the Optimists on the other. 

But two things we clearly are NOT: Pessimists or Delusionists.  Yes, nine and three sounds safe, tidy and very possible given the weak ACC conference and a reasonable out of conference schedule.  If you offered us 9-3 right now we'd be quick to say: "Wrap it up, we'll take it!"

Optimists (10-2): This positive and focused "we can save the world" group is led by another long-time and frequent blogger Cavaleer.  For this group, the glass is ALWAYS at least half full, the Canes are always in it to win it, and their loyalty to The U is never in question.  This group has been known to blame Former Coach Larry Coker for everything wrong in the world from the Canes recent losing ways to global warming, world hunger, drought, poverty and cancer.

This group believes that the removal of Turf Face and Jitters alone is worth 2-3 victories on the field this year.  Add to that one game won by Bill Young's aggressive defense, one by a revitalized special teams filled with speedy and hungry head-hunting freshmen and you have their recipe for a 10 win season and an ACC championship game against Clemson.  Bet on it, they have already made their reservations for Tampa site of the 2008 ACC championship game!

Delusionalists (12-0): Here we go again!  Tired of waiting for better times this group is led by RayChanCanesFan and Cane Since 1982 and follows the philosopy from the Queen song "We want it all, and we want it now!"  This group, also known as the 12%ers while hiding behind their thick orange and green colored glasses, have been compeletly Shannonized and are fanatical followers of The Boss.  Stuck in 2001 (or 1983 for that matter), this group thinks it is the Canes God given birth rite to win or at least play for the national championship every year. 

They were first to annoint Marve as the next great one and Bill Young and a defensive guru before they have even played or coached a game wearing the orange and green or the U on their helmet. 

They boldly predict not only victory in The Swamp with ease but also an undefeated season and a BCS bowl game in 2008. Their campaign slogan: Pass the koolaid!

This Week On The Space

• The Canes baseball team continued their dominant play by sweeping the three game series against the Gaels of St. Mary's this weekend at Mark Light Stadium.  The Canes pitching was again stellar as starters Hernandez, Erickson and Garcia (in that order) all had solid outings and picked up wins.  Miami's potent offense delivered 10, 5 and then 15 runs as the Canes outscored the Gaels 30-9 during the series.   
• Next up for the Canes is ACC rival Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and then the final 2008 regular season series at The Light against second ranked North Carlina May 15-17 in another a ACC match-up.  The Canes are looking to close out big and build momentum heading into the ACC playoffs in Jacksonville May 20-25. Support your Canes...tickets are on sale now!
• Christopher Stock from www.insidetheu.com will be on Canespace LIVE from noon to 1 PM on Monday for his regular feature here: "Lunch With Chris".  Chris will be answering your questions live on Canes baseball, basketball and football so brown bag it and join us!
• If you would like to meet Chris from ITU in person, then meet us at the Titanic Brewery on Ponce DeLeon boulevard just 1/2 block west of The Light on Thursday, May 15 from 5:30 to 7:00PM before the UM-UNC baseball game.  Canespace and ITU will be joining forces to host this first of it's kind gathering of hard core Canes fans.
• If you haven't purchased your season tickets for the 2008 Hurricanes football season you have another opportunity to attend a select-a-seat day on Saturday, May 10 at Dolphin Stadium (aka The New Place or TNP Stadium).  Canespace recommends that you shop early and shop often so you don't miss your chance to see what The Randy is cookin' at the Hecht Center in Coral Gables!
• The University of Miami has been named one of 16 regional hosts for the first two rounds of the 2008 NCAA Women's Tennis Championships. No. 12 Miami (15-5) - one of just 10 teams nationally to have been selected as a regional host each of the last four seasons - will play host Quinnipiac, Notre Dame and Florida International in the Coral Gables Regional, May 9-10, at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. Regional action will begin Friday, May 9, when UM battles Quinnipiac (9-10) at 11 a.m. before Notre Dame (21-8) faces Florida International (13-9) at 2 p.m.
• Canespace has started an exciting new feature on the blog.  It is an on-going series titled "Behind Enemy Lines" and features Canes fans going deep into enemy territory to capture in words and photos what that experience is like.  The first feature, which ran over the weekend and was called Touchdown Jesus, saw OcalaCane venture into South Bend to come back with the Holy Grail:  a picture of him tossing up "The U" in front of the revered TD Jesus monument on campus.  Next up?  Where else: The Swamp!
• Stay tuned during the week for updates, fun features and breaking news on Canespace!

Touchdown Jesus

There are opportunities in everyone’s life that they cannot let pass them by. Sometimes these opportunities involve traditions that are passed on from father to son, generation to generation.

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Such is the case when my phone rang a little over a month ago and my Pop asked me to travel all the way from Ocala, Florida to South Bend, Indiana and attend the annual Blue and Gold Spring football game at Notre Dame University. My Pop was a gymnast for the Irish and graduated in1956 from the Aeronautics school there. Now retired, he lives on Elk Mountain in Asheville, North Carolina.

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I hopped a plane in Orlando and flew to Asheville, then we drove eleven hours to South Bend. It was a chilly 57 degrees and there was a light rain falling when we arrived on campus at eight a.m. We were there early to attend the VIP breakfast at 8:30 with the coaches and players.  This event, which was held in the arena where the hockey team plays, is a really big deal.

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An usher escorted us to our table among the 150 or so that each sat eight people. Each table was decked out in fine China and cloth napkins, all adorned in blue and gold trim, and each seat had an autograph booklet and program for spring game. This was Notre Dame after all and no expense was spared!

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A master of ceremonies spoke about the team and school before introducing the team and coaches. To our surprise they sat the players and coaches at the tables with the fans. Things just got better and better. Head Coach Charlie Wiess spoke of the team’s failure last season and plans for the future.  A priest said a prayer for clear weather for the game.

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After breakfast there was an autograph signing session which we skipped to see the campus.  This is where the real fun began for me. Yes, I arrived with a blue Notre Dame sweatshirt. Yes, it was 57 degrees and drizzling. But I was warm because under my ND cover, I had on my trusted Canespace T-shirt!

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Here I was, deep behind enemy lines, and on a mission. My goal was to get a picture in front of Touchdown Jesus in a Canespace T-shirt. As U can see, mission accomplished!

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We spent the next two hours walking the campus, which is by far one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.  From the Gold Dome to the Basilica, history and tradition are everywhere you turn. It is truly an expansive place and for a school with a similar student population to the University of Miami.

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At one o’clock we entered famed Notre Dame Stadium which recently has undergone a renovation and twenty thousand seat addition.  Even with that, it was surprising to see that one of the wealthiest universities in the world still had 2x6 wood plank bleacher seats in the stadium!  During the game, the 40,000 plus fans in attendance were not disappointed.  The rain did subside, the sun did come out and it was absolutely beautiful.

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Divine intervention you say? Well the Irish may need just that to improve on a sub-par 2007 season.  For the most part the game was very vanilla, but the highlight was a second half bench clearing brawl between the offense and the defense.  This is not believed to be an official Irish tradition, although according to my Pop it had already happened once before this year during spring practice.

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Throughout our visit to campus one thing stood out.  The enthusiasm and absolute reverence for the school and the team displayed by the fans was nothing short of amazing! You have to remember that The Irish went 3-9 last year, but you would never know it by the fans response and huge turnout for the game.

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While I may never be confused for a Notre Dame fan, for me it was simply a great way to spend some quality time with my Pop, a man I respect and love. And, it was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up.

Is The Cupboard Bare?

Legion, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I do believe "The Streak" is over next year. Unless, someone has a major breakout year, no one on the current roster of UM players is going to be selected in the 1st round in the 2009 draft. I can't even think of any candidates that are currently 1st round material.

This is sad and a testament to the recruiting philosophy of Larry Coker. We do have some solid players, but we don't have any bonafied superstars that scream out 1st round draft pick right now. And some have the nerve to be critical of Randy Shannon….what has he had lately other than some over-hyped, under-achieving talent.

I'm very proud of Kenny Phillips because I do believe he deserved to go in the 1st round, and I'm also happy for T. Good, who has always given it his all, and should benefit greatly under the tutelage of former Canes Ray Lewis and Ed Reed in Baltimore.

However, Calais should be happy he still got in on the first day. I wish he would have stayed for his senior year, as I think he could have benefited from it. He had horrible workout numbers and showed he is slow and also weak (only 16 reps of 225 on the bench, the lowest among all DL prospects).

But the pros see, 6'8'', long arms and the potential to get bigger, and I guess they figure he'll get stronger, but he could have benefited from another year at The U and at least would've given us some hope at keeping the streak alive.

But to look at the glass as half full, things are looking up and in a few years I believe we will back in the 1st round and a new streak will begin. If Allen Bailey does anything near what we expect of him, look for him in 2 years to be in 1st round conversations.

Also if many of the recruits from this '08 class live up to the hype, we could several of them also in 1st round conversations (Forston, Spence, Brown, A. Johnson, B. Harris).

But not to count our chickens before the eggs hatch, lets just hope we can get back to being the Hurricanes of old and whipping ass, and all the other things will take care of themselves.

Written for Canespace by blogger bg1906...

C.C.M.J.T.K.O.