So here we all are, one year after Canespace was launched on June 17, 2007. My, how time flies when you are blogging Hurricane sports 24/7!
After over 85,000 comments, 500,000 hits and over 1.2 million page views, Canespace continues to impact the blogging world with its committment, content and connections. With over ten regular contributors located across the Country writing feature articles for "The Space", the diversity and dynamics that make Canespace unique in the blogging world continue to drive the blog forward into the big time blogoshpere.
Initially, they said it couldn't be done. No way could an under-funded, fan-based, non-media affiliated site spring to the forefront of Hurricane athletic blogs. They were wrong! Not only has Canespace blogged into the big leagues with big media and big money players like the Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel, but we have more than held our own with them all the way through. Canespace has made the big time.
And we could NOT have achieved our goals without the friends we made along the way. Special thanks go out to Manny Navarro from the Miami Herald who was the first to take a risk and support our grass roots, fan based efforts. Canespace introduced the concept of LIVE chats and Manny rocked the blog with his witty and sincere responses to bloggers' questions in real time for the first time here on The Space.
Then came Rudy Rodriguez-Chomat and Christopher Stock from InsidetheU.com who also brought you the news you could use despite some controversy along the way. Chris introduced the "Monday Lunch With Chris" feature and turned blue Monday's into orange and green with his smart and insightful comments.
We shared ideas and dinner with Shandel Richardson from the Sun-Sentinel at The Titanic and then took over The Light where we established "Canespace Corner". We got our first sponsorship (advertisement) from CBS4 Sports. Lastly, Brian Foley from The College Baseball Blog has joined the list of respected media types who have graced The Space.
Beyond that what really drove the blog was the original Spacers and those who came along later in our development that were true Canes fans. Smart, knowledgeable and funny. There are too many names to name. But they were young and old, men and women, students and sports fans, international fans and military personnel. The world is simply covered by Canes fans far and wide. When you look at the FeedJit map early in the morning and see over 15 to 20 COUNTRIES logged in you know The Space is a world wide rage.
Our first interview was with "Legend of the Fall" and son of a legend Rohan Marley. Rohan, son of Music legend Bob Marley and a legend in his own right as a Hurricane warrior and hero, was straight out jamming when he talked to us. He said that on Greentree practice field, the defense felt like "Lions on the Serengeti", masters of their domain. The #2 never looked so large as when Rohan would run completely across the field at full speed and slam the ball carrier into the turf. Small in stature, but large in heart and character, he was a true Hurricane legend.
The next interview that we will post will be with another Hurricane legend, Lamar Thomas #36. Lamar shared some intimate details and real stories of what it was like to be a Hurricane back in the day. He countered Rohan's "Lions on the Serengeti" comment with one of his own. Another Canespace classic coming to blog near you soon!
Canespace is just scratching the surface of what we have planned. Media credentials are still a few steps away but UM Associate AD Jim Frevola, Patricia Brodeur from the UM Alumni Association and Lindsay Radeer from the Hurricane Club have all agreed to work with Canespace this coming football season.
And when we get our official media credentials and then launch CanespaceTV with our planned guest hosts, there wil be nothing between us and our goal. Winners win and they are proud of their hard work and accomplishments. And so are we. It has been a great year. And the next one can only get better at Canespace. Our goal is for Canespace will be the #1 blog in the entire Hurricane sports world.
By The Fans, For The Fans. Go Canes, Go Canespace!!!
i wouldn't question people's fanhood based on questioning the coach. guys are fans of the team not of the coach of the team. but i do think it doesn't make much sense to question Randy on recruiting issues. The staff has shown it can recruit. Now it has to show it can develop the recruits and make this team a winner again. But haven't had time to really develop anyone considering they've been the staff for a year going on year 2.
Posted by: Esteban | June 20, 2008 at 02:16 PM
From the type of TE recruits we're getting this year, it looks like we've decided that the Eric Winston route is the way we want to get our tackles developed.
None of these guys is the Kellen Winslow or Greg Olsen type. Plus, I just don't see Nix running a whole lot of bruiser sets with the big blocking TE. So a couple of these guys are going to be groomed for the O-line.
Posted by: dj moonbat | June 20, 2008 at 02:19 PM
JoeCanes - you are leaving me after all we've been through together??? j/k - LOL!!!
Posted by: CanesgirlNC | June 20, 2008 at 02:24 PM
yeah looks like we are going the kellen winslow/jeremy shockey beef up a WR route for TEs and the Winston/Fox route for OTs. Which is what we are all about.
Posted by: Esteban | June 20, 2008 at 02:25 PM
DTC haven't been up to much - P-cola - I have some ex-in-laws that live there....ick
Posted by: CanesgirlNC | June 20, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Let me clarify my last post. How can you question Randy's performance so far? Yeah, I know we lost 7 games last year, but look who our choice of QB's were. And it was RS's first year as HC. I'll give you that.
But look at what he's done recently. He's still cleaning out the roster, brought in a new DC with exciting possibilities, and a top recruiting class.
Anyone who says RS can't do it, or develop players, doesn't know football. First, he has had only 1, count'em, 1, year being a HC. Look how he developed those defenses several years ago. Dan Morgan, DJ, Vilma, Wilfork, those guys developed nicely, didn't they?
Posted by: miamimike01 | June 20, 2008 at 02:31 PM
"looks like we are going the kellen winslow/jeremy shockey beef up a WR route for TEs and the Winston/Fox route for OTs. Which is what we are all about."
Except we seem to have stopped doing the same thing on defense. Maybe training techniques have gotten to the point where the same tradeoff of speed vs. size isn't required, but it seems to me like Miami's LBs and DEs, particularly, are bigger and a little less lightning quick than they once were.
Posted by: dj moonbat | June 20, 2008 at 02:31 PM
From Sporting News
The Pac-10 is the final installment of Matt Hayes' rankings of the BCS non-conference schedules. He previously analyzed the ACC, Big East, SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten non-conference slates.
1. USC: at Virginia, Ohio State, Notre Dame 2. Washington: BYU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame 3. UCLA: Tennessee, at BYU, Fresno State 4. Oregon State: at Penn State, Hawaii, at Utah 5. California: Michigan State, at Maryland, Colorado State 6. Arizona State: Georgia, Northern Arizona, UNLV 7. Oregon: Utah State, at Purdue, Boise State 8. Washington State: Oklahoma State, at Baylor, Portland State 9. Stanford: at TCU, San Jose State, at Notre Dame 10. Arizona: Idaho, Toledo, at New Mexico
Quick observations:
-- Let's all take notes, shall we? Here is how you schedule (this means you, SEC and Big Ten): play everyone in your conference and play realistic non-con games. Please, a moment of thanks to the Pac-10 ADs.
-- I don't think I'm going overboard when I say USC has the best non-con schedule in the nation every season. And you know what? The Trojans • surprise! • are among the top five teams in the nation every year. SEC fan: "We play rough here in the SEC, son. We don't have to play tough non-con schedules." Get over yourselves.
Posted by: CanesgirlNC | June 20, 2008 at 02:45 PM
dj moonbat, the funny thing is that one of the guys who's an example of the old move a LB to DE mentality is also by far the biggest guy at the position in bailey.
Posted by: Esteban | June 20, 2008 at 03:04 PM
The Canespace sticker looks great on my truck. You and whoever else may have helped did a great job. I suggest all to get one they look awsome.
Posted by: Cane Since 1982 | June 20, 2008 at 10:58 AM
I agree! They are awesome and everyone should get one for the upcoming season.
Posted by: SOUP | June 20, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Great posts today...ahhh, glad football is back! All the experts say the Canes are going to go 9-3? What do you guys think???
Cat5...I told you to contact OcalaCane.
I am also going to give your cell# and email to another conact in South Dade. I'll email you details.
Posted by: SOUP | June 20, 2008 at 03:19 PM
More NCAA 09 Miami Flix
Sean Spence gettin' after the Oregon State QB (Notice the Green tops, I like them alot)
http://www.operationsports.com/images/u/media/1212208073-media.jpeg
Graig Cooper vs the Ragin' Cajuns!
http://www.operationsports.com/images/u/media/1211818884-media.jpeg
Randy Phillips and Collin McCarthy vs Ga Tech
http://www.operationsports.com/images/u/media/1211818829-media.jpeg
Dedrick Epps being tackled by Clemson Player
http://www.operationsports.com/images/u/media/1211490323-media.jpeg
Posted by: bg1906 | June 20, 2008 at 03:26 PM
7th Floor crew, good times:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IPqjgS0Of8
Posted by: SuperCooper | June 20, 2008 at 03:40 PM
86, as long as the injuries don't continue to accumalate this team will do better than expected. injuries though will keep that from happening since quality depth ain't something we got just yet at most positions.
Posted by: Esteban | June 20, 2008 at 03:52 PM
hey bg...i played the ncaa 09 demo on my ps3 yesterday...great graphics and atmosphere..tackling looks a lot better too.
too bad we can only use LSwho and the suckeyes so far..
Posted by: AvaCane96 | June 20, 2008 at 04:23 PM
Beanie Wells has to be a beast in that game.
Posted by: Esteban | June 20, 2008 at 04:24 PM
BTW - Happy Belated Father's Day Esteban!
How's that little baby of yours?
Posted by: DallasTX Cane | June 20, 2008 at 04:26 PM
I know. But It will be out soon!
Posted by: bg1906 | June 20, 2008 at 04:26 PM
bg, when is the release date?
Posted by: miamimike01 | June 20, 2008 at 04:33 PM
I know this article is not cane related but it is very interesting. I wonder how many people on this site are addicts.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2152972/Internet-addiction-is-a-%27clinical-disorder%27.html
Posted by: interesting | June 20, 2008 at 04:35 PM
ncaa 09 is out july 15th
Posted by: AvaCane96 | June 20, 2008 at 04:48 PM
I hope to have it (NCAA 09) by the 11th of July. We'll see.
Posted by: bg1906 | June 20, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Thanks DTC. She's doing real good - which is expected since she got me for a daddy. But seriously, yeah she's doing something new each day along with getting heavier to carry each day - especially when carrying her in her car seat. She's helping to keep me in shape.
Posted by: Esteban | June 20, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Thats awesome Este! Appreciate the Now. Even when she gets to 50lbs, she'll still want Daddy to carry her!
Posted by: DallasTX Cane | June 20, 2008 at 05:16 PM
3641 views
530 friends
friend request us!!
www.myspace.com/canespace
Posted by: miamimike01 | June 20, 2008 at 05:23 PM
MM01...Thanks for all of your hard work in helping Canespace expand our presence at MySpace.
Going to work on the LT#36 article. See you all at 8 PM.
Posted by: SOUP | June 20, 2008 at 05:54 PM
I'll calm my nutts when we start winning again lol. But I sincerely hope for the sake of the U that you guys are right about this current staff. It's not the recruits that i'm worried about. I'm worried about this staff's ablilty to coach. I know they only had one season and they're still learning but judging from the comments of opposing coaches these guys don't have a clue. Bill Young has proven he has what it takes but i'm not yet sold on Nix. And no one loves Shannon more than I do but I still have to question his ability to take over the play-calling duties when his staff is making piss-poor decisions. As I said before I sincerely hope you guys are right for the sake of the U, cause nobody loves the Orange n' Green as much as I do. I stayed up 48 straight hours after the 03' fiesta-bowl fiasco! Just you guys remember all this sweet, forgiving talk if things go sour next season but let's hope and pray that they dont.
Posted by: 4-Real | June 20, 2008 at 06:10 PM
4-Real, we all have the passion for the U as much as you but just look and read a little more closely at what Shannon's been doing and why.
But don't ever expect him to start calling offensive plays. No serious HC would do that to their OC unless the HCs last name was Spurrier. lol
Now if you have questions about Nix, that's fair, most of us do. He doesn't have much of a track record to speak of, and according to our friend Carlos, he SUCKS!!!! lol
But with Truf Face and Jitters behind center I'll give anyone the benefit of the doubt for at least a year.
Otherwise, everyone is proven...Young, Hurtt, Barrow, McGriff, Stoudtland, Hill, Robinson, even Pannunzio I'm willing to write off because of Cokerization.
So relax and get ready for the fun. Don't expect 2001 or even 2000 just yet but those ugly days of the last five years will be ancient history soon enough.
Past is indeed Prologue.
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 20, 2008 at 06:30 PM
This team is only 1/2 stocked with players so far IMO. I'm thinking 5-7 means no pool day's again this year. So sad.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | June 20, 2008 at 07:11 PM
OGV, I'd say we're closer to 75% because the worst of the Coker kids are gone and most of the remaining are becoming Shannonites. Players like Sharpton, Dix, C-mac, SS, R. Hill, Adkins et al, I expect to improve and become serious ballers, especially on defense.
Plus, the classes of '07 and '08 are not your ordinary classes. They're stocked with leaders and True U types, so their energy, especially Marve's and Jacory's, will be infectious. This class of '09 won't have as many leaders as the last two. It will have plenty of True U ballers but you don't come across serious leaders at key positions like QB in every class, at least you usually don't. Team Shannon might figure out a way to do it.
Either way, it will interesting to see how much they've come together as a team. I have high expectations as always. lol
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 20, 2008 at 09:40 PM
OGV, what's a "pool day"?
Posted by: Cavaleer | June 20, 2008 at 09:42 PM