Wake Up Call

Hey, you there.  Yeah, you in that comfy bed of yours. 

This is your Wake up call.  It is time to get up and busy.  

It is time to win the ACC.

Trailing 10-3 at halftime to 2006 ACC champ and 2008 wanna be Wake Forest, your Miami Hurricanes got their wake up call from Head Coach Randy Shannon and the rest of the Canes coaching staff.  The UM players apparently woke up, smelled the coffee (and probably some of what the Rock was cooking) and proceeded to go to work against the Demon Deacons in the second half of this late October ACC showdown. 

The Canes defense reared it's big ugly head, puffed out its chest and shut down the Wake offense and talented junior QB Riley Skinner.  The ever present Sean Spence along with Allen Bailey, Marcus Forston and even the long forgotten Romeo Davis made tackles and made plays for the Canes defense UM DE Adewale Ojomo had his mojo working in the second half and had a huge hit on the Wake QB, standing him up and laying him out. 

Skinner (see here) was surprisingly ineffective and was held to just three completions on eight attempts on the day.  Riley was asked after the game about the Demon Deacons identity on offense and had this to say: 

"We're not really sure right now. I don't really think we've really found our identity on offense. We've been changing it a lot and doing a bunch of different things and unfortunately, none of them stuck. We're going to have to go back to the drawing board again and figure out ways to put more points on the board."

Who knew that Patrick Nix could be the Offensive Coordinator at two universities at the same time?  Just kidding!  Nix appears to have the young guns headed in the right direction while Wake appears to be headed nowhere in particlar. The Canes two headed monster on offense behind QBs Robert Marve and Jacory Harris was by no means impresssive but got the job done against the experienced and senior-laden Wake defense.  This time it was Marve and not Harris who would save the day for the Canes and come up with just enough big plays to win the game. 

Mr. Marvelous showed impressive speed on his 43 yard run in the third quarter that would lead to a one yard QB sneak, his first TD wearing the orange and green.  Marve completed 11 of 20 passes for 153 yards, helping Miami (5-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) win consecutive league games for the first time since October 2006. 

Marve would later hit Thearon Collier with a perfect 25-yard pass on third-and-10 with 3 minutes left, getting Miami to midfield and allowing the Hurricanes to run out the clock.  That pass, which sealed the deal for UM, was as big a play as the Canes have had all season.

After the game Marve had this to say about his long scamper: "We talk about scoring every play and if I have to make a pass to help a guy score or if they give me a wide open hole, I'm going to take either one. I feel like there are just a lot of fast guys around me. I just try to keep going forward and try to make a play. I was happy I was able to show my running ability a little bit this game."

On the big win Marve shared this in the Canes joyous locker room:  "The great feeling about today was that we were in a big dog fight and we came out on top. That's the greatest feeling I think we've had. If you see in our locker room, we have a lot of joy for each other. It's not just another win for us, it's a dog fight that we came out on top."

Matt "I can tackle too" Bosher hit field goals from 36, 52 and 43 yards for Miami.  The Canes have matched last season's win total with four games remaining and have won three straight overall.  UM extended its streak on a day where the 1983 national title team - the school's first of five championship clubs - was honored at halftime.

The Canes came from behind to beat a quality opponent in an ACC game late in the season.  Could it be that this game will serve as a Wake up call for the Canes season?  Will it send the message to the ACC that these young guns wearing "The U" on their helmets are a team to be reckoned with now and in the near future? 

Well, one thing for certain is that the win puts Miami back in the chase for the ACC title this year and offers hope for years to come as these players and their coaches mature and gain some much needed and valuable experience.  Only time will tell if it is the stepping stone to something bigger and better.

Next up for the Canes is a road trip to Virginia for another ACC game against Al Groh and the Cavaleers. 

Virginia was last seen spanking Miami in the Orange Bowl and ruining the Canes' final game at The Old Girl by the tune of 48-0. 

Can U say payback?  I thought U could!

Comments

[JD74]

first (again)? no?

[SOUP]

JD...U da Man!

[JD74]

switzerland in the house (again). i gotta change my name to SwissCane. where's my shirt!!

[SOUP]

Hey 86: U recommend Hampton's Plantation? Just wondering, so I'll know where to stay. Any places to go by there?

Posted by: tortugacane | October 26, 2008 at 10:31 AM

Tortuga...YES, the Hampton Inn Plantation ROCKS!

Great hotel, great rooms, great location. Broward Mall and tons of restaurants next door and the stadium is 20 minutes away with NO TRAFFIC.

Canes fans are taking it over for home games this year and a good time is had by all. Hampton Inn Plantation is the bomb!

[SOUP]

JD...I have to re-order T-shirts this week, I am OUT. As soon as they arrive I will send you TWO!

[JD74]

super. i will send you my address in switzerland. you can send regular mail. woo hoo. my wife's gettin a shirt too!! awesome.

[Blowfly]

WF coaching staff implemented a "Can't win" game plan and we barely were able come out on top. 2 troubling indicators: when we played our normal front WF gashed us and they are a below average running team and 2) it took a half of football for the coaches to recognize that WF wasnt going to throw it.

[SOUP]

Wait until U see the pics from the game. Good stuff, REALLY good stuff!

TimCane and his friend John came all the way from New Joisey for the game, stayed at the Hampton Inn and got FREE tickets to the game courtesy of Canespace for Tim's 21st birthday (today).

They also got pics with our favorite UM cheerleaders who not only know about and read Canespace all the time but also recognize us (me and OcalaCane) immediately at games.

We found them on their way into the game from the parking lot and got them to take pics with Tim and John. Smiles all around!!!

[solarcane]

swiss rocketman scores again!

peace

[solarcane]

"UM cheerleaders who not only know about and read Canespace all the time but also recognize us (me and OcalaCane) immediately at games."

They were the ones with the mace necklaces right?

peace

[Cat5 Cane]

Reposted

Damn, talk about taking the wind out of the sail...

JD... Sorry Dude... but last I looked, we all have an opinion, just like yours opinion of not wanting to look in the future because we might lose...

Being a 12'ver... I'm wishing, hopeing and praying we run it out and hope everybody else tanks it.... BTJMO.

and VT losing both #1 and 2 QB's... means a hell of a lot for their season...IMO

and NC state can kiss my azz!

So there you go. moral of the story: GoCanes

Posted by: Cat5 Cane | October 26, 2008 at 11:03 AM

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

Blowfly, didn't you get the memo, OUR FRESHMEN BEAT THEIR SENIORS. I don't care what gameplan you think they implemented, that's a huge victory.

Why the f*kk are you whining about something you don't really know is the case??

How do you know how long it took our coaches to recognize what they were doing?? How many points did Wake score in the 1st half??

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

Soup, you have a broken sentence in the blob. The one that begins with Bosher.

[JD74]

i didn't say it to stifle your opinion. U are definitely entitled to it. i just said it to keep things in perspective.

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

Blowfly, WTF is it with you negative nancies and you dam girdles??

When was the last time you saw a team almost completely led by freshmen beat a team completely lead by seniors??

And we barely were able to run the ball, something we haven't been able to do much all year.

We all know we're not 2001. If that team needs a las-second game saving play by a future HOF DB to win against a barely ranked BC team, I think our boys are on track.

And since none of you fools want to give the coaching staff ANY credit, who in the hell do you think it responsible for preparing these kids and improving these freshmen as quickly as they've improved??

[solarcane]

cat,
I'm hyped from the last few wins too.
The thing is UNC is gonna have to lose for us to get in.
We end up head to head records with them, they go for beating us jd has a valid point.

peace

[solarcane]

UM WF hi lites posted by Calvin last night
peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrcHTXApdU4

[Blowfly]

How do I know? I watched the game. Any win is a good win but WF set football back 30 years and they basically conceded the game to us with that strategy. It's a win but I thought we took a small step back.

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

"VT losing 2 qbs don't mean squat. i mean common, if you've learned anything over the last few weeks, it doesn't matter who teams start against us, we always have a nack of making them look AWESOME (texas a&m, NC, FSU)."

>>>>>

JD, I agree with parts of your post about not getting ahead of ourselves but as fans that's what we're supposed to do. It only "gets you in trouble" if you're a player looking ahead.

However, you must not have watched the last 3 games because we've shut down each QB and for the most part each offense.

Young is finding the balance and the players are improving every week, a trend I expect to continue.

And yes, losing TT and Glennon is huge for VT, esepcially if they don't have TT when we play them. It completely changes the range of their playcalling and thus the range of what we will be able to do as a defense. And it makes like much easier on our young and of late, thin DB corps

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

"How do I know? I watched the game. Any win is a good win but WF set football back 30 years and they basically conceded the game to us with that strategy. It's a win but I thought we took a small step back."

Posted by: Blowfly | October 26, 2008 at 11:21 AM

Dude, were in the headsets of the HC-DC?? You don't KNOW how long it took them to recognize what Wake was doing and change their strategy. You THINK you know because we didn't really put the clamps down until the 2nd half.

And HOW is a win against a solid team a step back??

NEW-FLASH, our OL is average and we can't run the ball. Whine and complain all you want about coaching and this and that but it is what it is.

That means the only way we won this game was with FRESHMEN EXECUTION AND PLAYMAKING.....AGAINST THEIR SENIORS WHO HAVE BEEN 24-7 since 2006.

Please explain to us all how that is a "step back"??

Wake is NOT Duke. We're not going to come out and drop 49 on them run a no huddle spread.

[Blowfly]

Cav - Honestly man, did we shut down Skinner? Cmon. On paper, yes but how may db were thrown at? This is what I mean by their "Can't Win" gameplan.

[solarcane]

Cam Sexton is the THIRD string qb for UNC.
Whats their record with him in there again?

peace

[SOUP]

Soup, you have a broken sentence in the blob. The one that begins with Bosher.

Posted by: Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer | October 26, 2008 at 11:11 AM

Cav...thank U sir, going to fix it now.

[Blowfly]

Dont need a headset to see an extra player in the box holmes. Is Wake 24-7 since 2006 using a run only attack featuring a fullback dive? Don't think so. I never said anything about 49 points - much more concerned over the 3 and long trend.

[SOUP]

BTW...I called the win in the parking lot tailgate and again at halftime. I also called the WIDE RIGHT FG by Wake. Ha, ha, ha, ha...

[solarcane]

Where we are, where we can go.

Charleston Southern 3-5
T A&M 3-5
UCF 2-4
Duke 4-3
WF 4-3

We have only beaten two schools with winning records.
The positive thing is they are both conference teams.

We continue to play hard and finish games we will be competitive with the rest of our schedule.

Virginia is regarded by ESPN to be the most improved program in the country since opening day. We beat them we get some respect.

peace

[SOUP]

We continue to play hard and finish games we will be competitive with the rest of our schedule.

Posted by: solarcane | October 26, 2008 at 11:41 AM

Solar...Canes will finish 9-3 or 7-5, ANYTHING but 8-4!

[solarcane]

Solar...Canes will finish 9-3 or 7-5, ANYTHING but 8-4!

thats my man!
peace

[SOUP]

Blowfly and JD...look I ain't completetly happy with the team or their performance, but a win is a win.

Just win baby!

[solarcane]

amen soup
peace

[SOUP]

thats my man!

Posted by: solarcane | October 26, 2008 at 11:48 AM

LMAO!

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

Just watched the highlights and Marve's balls are looking a lot better, least on those passes I saw. He thoroughly juiced that DB or LB on his run and Nix called that run. That wasn't a scramble.

But did I hear any praise for Nix for seeing the opening for that?? OF COURSE NOT.

And Soup's boy Aldarius made the key block on Alphonso Smith for Marve's run.

OUR FRESHMEN BEAT THEIR SENIORS. hahahahaha
Cheap shots and all. Grobe teaches them that shat, I'm sure because that OL wasn't the only one who did it. That LB on Benjamin's reverse did the same thing to him.

Did I hear any praise for the defense's refusal to bite on play-action even when Wake was running the ball sucessfully?? Nahh.

All I hear is, "Why did it take them so long to adjust?"

All you fools need to go coach football somewhere or shut the cheese pipe. This BS is old.

Marve definitely gets the game ball. But you can tell he's still finding his range. He underthrows Benjamin but guns a short ball, then throws some nice touch passes, especially the ball to Collier to seal the deal.

And am I the only one who thought Coker wanted Wake to stop us and get the ball back?? He said something like, "All they have to do is stop Miami here and get the ball back."

Hater. hahahahahaha

[solarcane]

Three wins in a row has dulled the barbs of the Negatrons.
It's fun to read the blog for like the first time in a month.

soup nice to see you give that real good receiver some ink in the article btw

peace

[Cat5 Cane]

ATLANTIC DIVISION
Florida State. 6/1
Maryland...... 6/2
Boston College 5/2
Wake Forest... 4/3
Clemson....... 3/4
NC State...... 2/6

COASTAL DIVISION
North Carolina 6/2 ...Project 8/4 lose to GT and Maryland

Georgia Tech.. 6/2 ...Project 7/5 lose to FSU, Miami, Ga

Virginia Tech. 5/3 ...Project 6/6 lose to Maryland, Miami and Virginia

Virginia.......5/3 ...Project 8/4 lose to Miami

Miami......... 5/3 ...Project 9/3 run the table
Duke ......... 4-3 ... doesn't matter
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

And the U plays... Virginia, VT, GT and NC St

Virginia plays... Miami, WF, Clemson and VT

VT plays... Maryland, Miami, Duke and Virginia

GT plays... FSU, NC, Miami, Ga.(Tough remaining sched)

After remixing...BTJMO and wishful thinking

Cat

[solarcane]

"shut the cheese pipe."

post of the week!
peace

[SOUP]

Here's a story U will NOT read in the Herald or at The SS:

So we are on our way back to Orlando and Ocala and we stop at the ever popular Fort Pierce Service Plaza on the Turnpike to visit the beer rental return station and grab a coffee and a energizer smoothie for the road.

I'm in line with a Wake Forest fan (older guy, dressed in fancy Wake gear). So I catch his attention, look him in the eye and tell him "good game" and shake his hand.

He says, and I quote: "Yeah, either team could have won, but I don't know what the heck we (Wake) were doing on offense. We threw the ball EIGHT times with Skinner at QB? Usually we throw the ball like 30 times a game. Miami's weakness is in their secondary right? I have no idea what the hell our Offensive Coordinator was thinking? What was that about?"

I'm thinking if this guy could only meet Carlos they could have an OC bashing party!

Then I tell Ocala: "See it's not only Canes fans that complain about their coaches it EVERYBODY!!!"

[SOUP]

soup nice to see you give that real good receiver some ink in the article btw

Posted by: solarcane | October 26, 2008 at 11:56 AM

Fair is FAIR. I saw the play develop the whole way. The throw by Marve was MONEY! And, Collier stepped up big and made the play when needed. That's all U can ask.

[Jerry]

This is a GOOD win. Remember We had very few reps on O due to the running game by WF. But when we had the ball it was evident that NIX had no idea what he was doing. What is the deal running the QB that much when you have 5 RB's.
We are happy with the progress but NIX get your act together MAN.

[solarcane]

The ultimiate Chi pun will go something like this next week.

Those Virginia jerk off two bit hacks talking shat out of their cheese pipes should just go home and rub off to their Chris Long posters,this ain't last year!!

peace

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

"Dont need a headset to see an extra player in the box holmes. Is Wake 24-7 since 2006 using a run only attack featuring a fullback dive? Don't think so. I never said anything about 49 points - much more concerned over the 3 and long trend."

Posted by: Blowfly | October 26, 2008 at 11:40 AM

>>>>>>

But you do need to know how many different assignments that extra player means for whatever package Young is running. Besides the fact that Wake only score one TD. You make it sound like they rolled up 21 points, the way FSU did.

But do we hear anything from you saying, "dam these coaches have brought them a long way since FSU."

NEVER.

And are you a Wake fan or something?? You're reaching for straws for any excuse to say our coaches can't coach.

I don't give a f*k what Wake did to become 24-7. They did it. And these players on this team are the ones who did it.

Question for you BLOWFLY: When was the last time you were responsible for teaching, preparing and leading a group of 17-21 year old men in how to do ANYTHING new??

When was the last time you taught ANYONE how to do something new, something they would have to perform???

When was the last time you had to prepare a group strategy in a competitive environment?? Real people, not play-station.

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

Solar, lol, that's funny.

Jerry, given the complete absence of a running game, and going against a veteran defense with a very young offense, Nix made the most of what he had.

And he called that Marve run btw.

And if you don't think Nix knows how to call a running game go back and watch our GT-UM game from 2006.

[solarcane]

"When was the last time you had to prepare a group strategy in a competitive environment?? Real people, not play-station."

I can picture bg looking at his monitor and
sayin... hey! what the f was that??

just kidin chi, I got your point and its valid
peace

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

BTW, we REALLY, REALLY need Javarris back in the flow for this stretch. That one catch and run he made for a first down showed just how much more he brings to the table than any of our other backs.

He might even make the OL look better just because he has better vision and cutbacks and he can break more tackles.

[solarcane]

going out to mow down the brush pile
back in awhile
peace

[Chinese Punisher aka Cavaleer]

Solar, you know it's always good. lol I hope BG does see that though. haha

Blowfly, if we didn't stop the run and the few times Skinner tried play-action, what else do you call it but a shut-down??

EPECIALLY since Grobe completely changed his tactics to try to catch us off-guard. It worked for two drives then nothing. No play-action, no running, even when Bosher shanked the punt and they were on our 45 or something. Our boys, Young included, shut 'em down.

[Six]

Wake Forest Director of Athletics:
Ron Wellman - (336)758-5616

Head Coach:
Jim Grobe - (336)758-5633

Assistant Coach/Offensive Line:
Steed Lobotzke - (336)758-5844

Coordinator of Football Video/Operations:
Allen Franklin - (336)758-4873

Have fun, and be sure to ask if #76 Birdsong executed the "forearm shiver" move correctly on Sam Shields when he was already late pushed out of bounds, running at full speed.

[conch salad]

great win for the canes yesterday, but I am still extremely frustrated with our coaches subbing in the "adkins package" on third and long. It burned us BIG TIME at least twice yesterday and several times all season.

With third and long early on, we put in adkins and Robinson at end and bailey forston at tackle. They run on 3rd and long (18?) and get the first, setting them up for that TD drive. Later in the game, at a CRUCIAL time, third and long again. We get NO pressure on Skinner and DVD ends ip getting called for PI cuz Skinner had all of 30 seconds to throw. This package has resulted in few (if any) sacks but has given up countless big plays (fsu, unc, aTm, duke and wake). It only worked against crap ucf and csu.

Can ANYONE tell me one or more plays where we have benefited from this package of d ends in 3rd and long situations? Cuz I can't, and I would love for one of the SPACERS to prove me wrong on this...

That being said, huge win yesterday. The crowd was lame for the most part but got into it at the end. I was talking mad shat to the candy canes running for cover from a little sprinkle... So sad...

Canes 4 Life

[SOUP]

Cav...stop picking fights. People have a right to their opinions even IF U disagree with them.

Respect other's opinions.
State your case and move on.
Attack the idea not the person.

Thanks U and blob on...

[SOUP]

Six...watup wit da Rays? Another BIG game tonight to even the series.

GO RAYS, BEAT THE PHILLIES!!!

[Six]

Rough game for the Rays last night. Garza giving up 3 home runs ... the one to Chase Utley (33 HR) and Ryan Howard (48 HR), you just shake your head at b/c they beat you on that pitch and are proven bombers - but to give one up to the damn catcher Carlos Ruiz, who only hit 4 HR during the year?

It also doesn't help when Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria are a combined 0-22 in The World Series, with 10 K's and 6 runners left on base. Those are the #3 and #4 hitters in your lineup, not doing jacksh*t.

Immense credit to the Phillies pitching staff for keeping those cats off balance and making them press.

Phillies fans could say the same about Jimmy Rollins (.143 WSeries avg.) and Pat Burrell (.000 WSeries avg.) as well .... but Rollins isn't the #3 or #4 hitter in the lineup that has 31 and 27 home runs (in the regular season) respectively, with Longo hitting 6 HR's in the playoffs leading up to The World Series.

If your leadoff man (Rollins) isn't getting on a lot, you can work around it. When your #3 and #4 hitters are a combined 0-20, then you have the Titanic heading full steam into the iceberg.

Rays have to win tonight. Bottom line.