Raising Canes

This is a picture of infamous Canespacer OcalaCane holding his new (and always beautiful) wife Jeryl. 

You know OcalaCane as the official Canespace photographer.  I know him as Steve Durand. 

You see Steve and I go way back, in fact all the way back to junior high school in Miami.  I met OcalaCane in the middle of my first fist fight, on my fifth day of school in the seventh grade at Richmond Heights Junior High. 

These times were not easy for anyone at the school, much less some skinny, long haired, blond kid who had just moved from another school located across town in the "Little Havana" section of Miami. 

It was obvious to me early on that my limited and broken Spanish wasn't gonna get me through this confrontation. 

At the time that OcalaCane intervened in my little altercation I was using my face to hit the fist of some black dude I met during PE class. 

When Steve decided I had had enough he and a few of his friends who I had never met stepped in to save what was left of me and my pride.  The fight ended soon enough and we walked away with me holding my lip and him holding me up.  Those are the moments of which friendships are made.

Steve and I attended Miami Killian Senior High School together and we share the Cougar Pride with former Cane Randall Hill and new UM recruit Lamar Miller.  After high school we went our own separate ways, me going to UM and him going off to find his way through life.  

We later grew further apart as he moved off to Ocala and I moved to Fort Lauderdale.  Then after many years, somehow he managed to find me again through the Canespace blog. 

Since reconnecting we have attended several UM games together, spent endless hours recounting our "glory days" back in the 305 and shared our common love for the Hurricanes.

Recently, I had the honor of being the best man at his wedding in Ocala.  Talk about full circle?  Yeah, this is a clear example of it really  happening.

At Steve's wedding I had the opportunity to meet not only his lovely bride for the third time but his three incredible step children. 

Now you have to understand that these children, along with Steve's lovely bride, grew up in the 352 and by default became Gator fans.  So Steve has had his work cut out for him in trying to convert them from the orange and blue to the orange and green; to becoming fans of "The U". 

His first assignment was to dress them all in Canespace gear and then take them to a classic Hurricane event: Canes vs Gators baseball in Gainesville.  The Canes managed to sweep the Gators and new Canes fans were born on the spot!

More importantly, these children are simply put nothing short of angels on earth.  Their ages and names are completely irrelvant.  It is their beauty, character and personalities that makes them who they are.

And now, when I see my good friend and old buddy Steve Durand "Raising Canes", it makes my heart full and my memories of our long time friendship all the more important. 

In truth, God knows that as we were growing up in Miami, with all of the risks and rewards that we found along the way, that it was highly possible that neither one of us might have made it this far. 

Much less could we have hoped to have accomplished so much in life. 

But take look a good look at him now. 

Steve Durand is all that and will have a family full of memories to share for a lifetime as he stays busy taking care of his lovely new wife.

And spending his time Raising Canes...

Comments

[coach sale]

Luckily to read your article,thank you. With very best wishes for your happiness in new day.

[tortugacane]

86; Great wedding pics of Ocalacane & Mrs. & fantastic article! Go Canespacers! Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Ocalacane!

[86Cane]

LAST

[cbh]

////

[The Truth]

Old Skool

There are probably only 448,000 images available of her online because her "eyes" probably consume waaaay to much Internet space in each JPEG.

[The Truth]

Calvin

You forgot the one player in the history of that amazing series between FSU and Miami that is most responsible for Miami winning during the time he played:

Chris Rix

The greatest player in Miami Hurricane history :-)

[Calvin]

Here's another example of what makes Miami different from any other school, when you look back on the performances of SEAN TAYLOR and dan morgan against Fsu, if we surveyed who had the biggest impact against Fsu, it doesn't matter in my book, but i do know for their positions nobody ever dominated Fsu like they did in those games, but we can continue to put one great next to another great time after time. Like who was the better tight end, shockey or winslow, runningbacks, forget it, linebackers(ok, dan morgan probably wins this one awards wise, but alot of people will rohan), defensive tackle, the lineage of greats that we've put out goes on and on.

Anyway, this team is loaded with talent now, and in a couple of weeks, will be loaded up again, and next year, the same thing. The talent is already back where it belongs, the development phase is the only thing left before we start running rough shod over college football once again.

I don't know it all, but i know this much, this team will be able to do 2 things in the future, run the ball and stop the run, with all the defensive lineman we're bringing, and once that UM hunger is really instilled in them, just sit back and enjoy the show, HAPPY DAYS are almost here again!

[Old Skool]

Just for grins I did a Google search for Sophie Howard images. Only 448,000 showed up.

[Old Skool]

Sophie Howard and Ms. Truth.
That would be the last we would hear from you for a very long while.

[j.w.]

I agree re: morgan. Wish he could have made afew more Super and Pro Bowls, but I don't want to see him with a terrible brai ninjury

[The Truth]

Or Sum dum ho Vs Ms. Truth

Yowzers!!!!!

No contest

[The Truth]

U should say Chinese Food (sum dum ho) in Canesville Vs Sophie Howard here

[The Truth]

I'm glad 44 quit too

[Old Skool]

Okay maybe I shouldn't use Rosie as an example.

Then how about Chastity Bono versus Megan Fox

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/06/11/ent.chastity.bono/index.html

[shwarma]

Thinking about this more, I think the next class should only these 3: Morgan, Sapp and Irvin.

[shwarma]

Next time they induct guys into the ring of honor, Morgan (despite however he chooses to give back to the program), should be a lock. You just can't be all everything and not have your name up there.

[shwarma]

Palmer probably doesn't want to get on Meyer's bad side like Shane Matthews. After all, if you step out of line, Cryer will throw a tantrum and take his toys and go home.

[CanadianCane]

Here's the full article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4250905

[The Truth]

I see Rosie O out on South Beach a heck of a lot more than I see Megan Fox.

I'm just sayin'.

[Old Skool]

What a heaping, stinking, maggot-infested load of crap...

ESPN college football analyst Jesse Palmer, who played quarterback at Florida from 1997 until 2000, defended Meyer in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel.

"[Urban] can't be out at the clubs at 1 a.m. monitoring these guys," Palmer told the Sentinel.

1:00 AM My God the horror....

You want to talk temptation: Gainesville night clubs versus South Beach =
Rosie O'Donnell versus Megan Fox.

Sorry Jesse, it's a character issue. The Miami temptations are vastly greater, but Cane players aren't showing up in the police blotters on a weekly basis.

[Esteban]

from Bruce Feldman's blog...

• Dan Morgan is one of the best college players I've ever covered. His performance when Miami beat FSU in the Orange Bowl in 2000 was the most amazing effort I've ever seen from a defensive player in a college game. Even though he was a Pro Bowl linebacker for the Panthers, his NFL career was cut short by injuries and concussions. Right after that FSU win, I did a feature on him for ESPN The Magazine about the relationship he had with his dad, who was one of those old-school tough guys that had played semi-pro ball and had worked as a bouncer and a bodyguard. They were just these tough, tough people. In his Miami days, Morgan was said to be a completely no-nonsense guy. Didn't go out. Didn't drink. Just went to school. Worked out. Loved football. He was a complete throwback. I always believed Morgan was the kind of guy who would have to be carried off the field. I am glad he walked away from football when he did.

[Esteban]

so Glen Cook doesn't get drafted by an NFL team but instead by Chicago Cubs? Funny stuff. Good luck.

[The Truth]

Ocala

You did good...great even. She's way too hot for you LOL

Smart man!

[The Truth]

I will say that the margaritas at La Parilla were just about perfect. I'm going to have to re-do my sour mix cuz that was some good stuff right there.

Anyone going to Cancun should take a look at the ME. Not the grand melia..just ME. Fatastically hip and modern. Great service and if you spend a little it goes a looooooong way.

Truth don't do all inclusive cuz as much as I like to eat I really only eat one big meal a day.

[The Truth]

Solar

My fat a*s sat up at La Parilla in Cancun almost daily since Friday. Ms. Truth and I took off the ME by Melia there in Mexico. When the 'Space I'd no longer in service, and you 86 and I can sit down with that bottle of McCallan that he's going to owe me I'll give you the real story...

...but for the blob we had a splendid time sitting by the pool, drinking my perfect Caipirinhas and best - in - the - world Margaritas chatting with the lovely ladies we made friends with. After the sun went down Ms. Truth and I would entertain our friends in on our amazing balcony/deck into the wee hours.

The weather was perfectly sweltering and the hotel was amazing. There wasn't much going on at the clubs so we brought the party upstairs.

A great time was had by all.

;-)

Loved every minute of it.

[Canez1]

Total friggin joke unless you won a NC in that time.

That would blow!!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[texascane]

If the NCAA wants to put real teeth into this they should make the teams give back the bowl money, if any, they received in those seasons.

If they don't go to a bowl in those seasons, they forfeit future bowl money until it's paid off.

After all, the NCAA has determined they weren't eligible for the bowls they went to.

[lou of m]

arrest and fraud... seems like some type of loss of institutional control. they wont go after the future but the past. funny!!

[conch salad]

86,

I know Manny has been busy with Los Marlin', but do you know why he hasnt been keeping up with the blog? I hate to say it but I check the SS blog first these days cuz Shandel has kept it going. Mandingo hasnt put one out on the baseball guys and no one has put out any info on whether Ray Ray and co. are now on campus (I think they reported or are set to report soon).

Any idea whats up? Is he just too busy with Los Marlin?

[conch salad]

TJL,

I totally agree. Going after old wins is ridiculous. What does it do? Also, do you think the teams who they beat are all of a sudden happy that they get the W? HELL NO!

Its a stupid way to approach this.

[LyquidEnigma]

...

[TJL]

Anyone think this NCAA punishment
of "vacating wins" in bogus? I for one don't care if Alabama has to vacate 21 wins 2-3 years ago, does anyone remember the records from 2+ years ago anyway? It has no teeth unless a team is in jeopardy of giving up a championship, or in BB's case his all time win total.

[UMike]

Sup spacers..sorry I haven't been on...I'm hanging out in tenneessee and just might move here in a few months. Nice write up soup...great work. Congrats ocala, she is beautiful.

[DATcane]

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/ncfnation/0-9-76/FSU-s-Ponder-takes-ownership-of-offense.html

fswho

[DATcane]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4250596

u

[DATcane]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4250905

f#cker

[Windy1]

RS and company are doing it the right way on the recruiting trail, and they are following their plan based on the pre-Coker strategy of program-building.

The Canes coaches are looking past the stars and looking to recruit great athletes (mostly from Florida but also from other areas) who they get to know, who are great leaders in the locker room and who can potentially play a variety of positions because they are great athletes. Then, the coaches bring these athletes to the U and develop them into first round draft choices.

Go Canes!

[texascane]

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/orl-sportsfsu-11061109jun11,0,3087048.story

It will be interesting to see if the "suspended" wide receivers suddenly get reinstated for the "U". I'm sure Bobby hates the fact that he doesn't have a couple of warm up games to use for the suspensions before Miami.

Does the old man have the nerve to play them against the U and then suspend them for Jacksonville State the next week?

[Hurricannian]

Now let's talk LSU, these guys should be in trouble but they are not

[lou of M]

Bama in some trouble....

[CVS]

For all naysayers to our program...I remember the following:

1) Lee Corso saying on ESPN that UCF's football team would be better than UM's in 5 years (this was when Culpepper was there). Yeah right.

2) "From National Champs to National Chumps: Thanks Butch!" read a banner trailing a plane over the OB. Canes went 5-6. They got blown out by FSU 47-0, and I think either Covington or Clement got pushed into the goalpoast in our own end zone. We got whupped by them. We lost to Pitt 21-17 with Jeff Popovich being our best player. 3 years later the Canes were 11-1 under Butch, and the following year they were 12-0 and National Champs.

History has a habit of repeating itself to those who don't respect it. Coker didn't put in the effort (much like how Erickson didn't put in the effort).

But those that doubted the Canes in the 80s, early 2000s; and doubt them now... beware of the storm on the horizon.

- CVS

[Aqua]

Solar, backing up to DVD sux. I stopped doing that awhile ago for bands that I recorded. I buy more external hard drive space since it's gotten cheaper. Copy it to your CPU and burn discs as you wanna watch them. If the disc gets ruined just burn another...

[CanesgirlNC]

RC77- congratulations on your daughter's wedding and have fun out in California

[CanesgirlNC]

LOL at Aqua and Six posting at mach 2 and 3 bells A.M.

[conch salad]

I know everyone is looking at this kid with the RB glasses on, but really he could end up anywhere. Sean Taylor was a RB in HS also... bottom line this kid has the speed and athleticism to play safety or RB

[conch salad]

I know everyone is looking at this kid with the RB glasses on, but really he could end up anywhere. Sean Taylor was a RB in HS also... bottom line this kid has the speed and athleticism to play safety or RB

[roachcane77]

Sounds good Solar... good luck with your transfers. The quality of those VHS tapes is fading more everyday. (As you know, the resolution of VHS was not that high to begin with... ) Hopefully yours were stored in low temp./low humidity environment. Remember each "pass" of the tape degrades it a little more. You'll want to get them dubbed over ASAP.

The sad thing is, I just saw a report that even "supposedly" indestructible formats like DVD have a much shorter lifespan than any of us were ever led to believe. (There's a "delayering" breakdown with DVDs over time.)

Anyway, glad to hear the device is working so nicely for you, good luck and have fun!

[DATcane]

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/acc/0-6-169/Fantasy-football-scheduling-in-the-ACC.html
nice

[OCALACANE]

Lamar Miller

[Gin & Tonic]

Congrats Ocala,

You gotta raise them right. Kids pick up quick on the little things. I'll never forget hearing my then 4 year old son answering his mother when she asked who are the Dolphins playing? His response, oh those g*d dam jets! After telling him it's not appropriate to use such language, and ducking a pillow from Mrs. gin, I laughed for hours.

[DATcane]

http://news-press.com/article/20090611/SPORTS/906110333

more

[DATcane]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_college_hurricanes/2009/06/coach-raves-about-latest-verbal-.html

ss

[CaneSniper]

The only part of Jacory's stats that worries me is the average yards per completion, which was consistently 10 or under. That generally means lots of dump passes. But I think that is a reflection on Nix, not Jacory. If we get that number up this year, then everything else will fall into place...TDs, open up the running game etc..

[canechic]

:)

[86Cane]

TimCanes...your article about UM-USF will run here on the blog at 7 PM.

[86Cane]

Why are you going Sunday? ... ahh, but the kids get to run the bases after games on Sundays.

Posted by: Six | June 11, 2009 at 12:24 AM

Six...Got some FREE tix for Sunday, and yeah the kids run the bases.

GREAT posts above and tremendous info BTW! Did you get my email?

[86Cane]

Mike James #22

[Six]

I thought maybe Bobby Jenks, but not even him ... in the minors, in 7 seasons he had 79 Games Started with a 19 and 31 record. The White Sox put him in the bully and converted him into the closer after he was brought to The Show.

Bobby Thigpen, 4 seasons in the minors with 35 games started and a 13 and 18 record .. he also played OF in college for Miss State, as well as pitched. White Sox brought him up and moved him into the bully, making him be the closer

What the hell ever happened to Eric Gagne? He sucked as a starter, then was a beast as a closer for 3 years - absolute lights out - then he sucked again.

[Six]

Aqua - I can think now of Huston Street from Texas when he was a closer in college and was drafted as a closer for the A's.

Isn't Ryan Franklin really the closer for the Cards, with 13 saves on the year? and when he was drafted by the Mariners, he was a starter for around 5 years

Same with Francisco Rodriguez, was a starter for the Angels in their system and then converted to the bully after 4 years - he wasn't even drafted

What I'm saying is, you look at the the guys I mentioned earlier who are known as some of the dominant closers in the history of baseball - and they were basically converted into closers from being starters

Eck, Hoffman, Smith, Rivera, Wagner, Nathan, Smoltz (amazing starter, amazing closer), Wood, Brian Fuentes, Johnathan Papelbon, Rollie Fingers, Robb Nen, Roberto Hernandez ...

Remember All American closer Robbie Morrison? Drafted in the 2nd Round by the Royals in 1998 - never made it past Double-A ball for the Royals in 7 seasons

I don't ever remember Morrison being in the starting rotation at The "U", but I do remember Chris Perez being in the rotation and then moved to the bully

It can happen, being a closer in college and then being drafted as the closer of the MLB team that took you - but there is an enormous amount of closers in MLB history who weren't closers in college, and if they were, a lot of them weren't drafted in the first couple of rounds. For every one that can be named, I'm thinking around 3 more can be named that weren't drafted that high.

I can think of Huston Street being pretty lonely in my head, when thinking of closers in college that were drafted to be the closer of the future of that MLB team.

[Aqua]

Six,

Chris Perez?

[Six]

j.w. - no problem brah, it had already been addressed by roach, just backing up the play

[Six]

I apologize, I made a mistake in my last post ..

#2 Jake Hale (18) Ohio St. - was drafted 816th, the 27th Round.

He's #2 in the nation in saves and is a finalist for "Stopper of The Year", along with:

Addison Reed - SDSU (#1 in saves)
Kyle Bellamy - The "U" (#4 in saves)
Matty Ott - LSU (#4 in saves)
Eric Pettis - UC Irvine (#3 in saves)

I think that hammers my point even further, that the #2 ranked guy in saves and who also is a finalist for "Stopper of The Year", isn't even drafted until the 27th Round and 815 other players were selected ahead of him.

[Six]

For the record, I wouldn't have taken Bellamy any higher than the 5th Round either if I was the GM of any MLB organization.

Yep, he was a good closer in college. Could he have been a middle reliever that had to work longer innings or was his stuff only really that good to be used for 2 innings tops? That reliever Austin Wood, from Texas, that Auggie Garrido had throwing 13 innings (169 pitchers) in the 25 inning game, that's simply a rarity and a once in a historically long time event - and he was taken in the 5th round as well, even after that amazing showing to go along with 15 saves on the year.

The closer in college doesn't really translate as well in The Show. I can't think right off the top of my head about any closer in college that has gone to the majors as a closer.

Think about the best closers in the game and if they were closers in college/high school or if they were starting pitchers that were converted to closers ... or even position players that were converted to pitchers, then closers.

Dennis Eckersley - starting pitcher with the Red Sox/Cubs, finally used as a guy in the bully for the A's ... then he got the closer role

Trevor Hoffman - good shortstop for Arizona State, then converted to pitcher in the Reds farm system, then was on the Marlins/Padres ... Padres is where he got the closer role

Lee Smith - starting pitcher in the beginning of his career, moved to the bully b/c of his struggles as a starter, was a middle reliever, then started a few more games, then went back to the bully again ... then he got the closer role

Mariano Rivera - bounced back and forth between starting pitcher and then being moved to relief pitcher in the Yankees organization, had Tommy John surgery, came back to be a starter in the minors for them, then when called up to the majors he was moved to the bully b/c of his non-success as a starter .... then he got the closer role after being the set up guy for John Wetteland, and then Wetteland not being resigned by the Yankees the next year .. then got the closer role

Billy Wagner - was a starting pitcher in college, broke his right arm so he learned to throw with his left, was drafted and used as a starting pitcher in the minors but then was moved to the bully when he was called up to the majors .. then got the closer role

Joe Nathan - shortstop in college, then was moved to starting pitcher in the minors, then starting pitcher for the Giants and then a relief pitcher for them before being traded to the Twins where they wanted him as their closer from the get

Kerry Wood - starting pitcher, now closer

NCAA Saves Leaders (#) in 2009

#1 A.Reed (20) SDSU - not drafted
#2 J.Hale (18) Ohio St. - not drafted
#3 J.Miller (17) Valpo - not drafted
- T.Girdwood (17) Elon - not drafted
- E.Pettis (17) UC Irvine - not drafted
#4 R.Duke (16) Oklahoma - not drafted
- K.Bellamy (16) The U - drafted 163rd
- M.Ott (16) LSU - not drafted
#5 S.Matyas (15) Minnesota - drafted 885th
- C.Woods (15) MTSU - not drafted
- A.Wood (15) Texas - drafted 150th

[j.w.]

Thanks, six. You had me rolling with the home video comments!

[Six]

Like roach said, Lely is in Naples. That little tidbit article that was posted by j.w., they were playing Clearwater Countryside High ... they've put out some good ball players.

The kid Hall doesn't shy away from hitting the hole on the majority of those runs. Man I can't tell you how much home video makes my skin crawl, it's like hearing nails on a chalkboard to me. I just want to go kick the person in the head that's doing it, take the camera from them and shoot it myself or throw their camera away and use the DVC Betacams we use at work.

I'll like the kid Hall even more, when the ink dries on his LOI to The "U" on NSD.

[solarcane]

Bg,

glad you enjoyed it!

i'm out
peace

[solarcane]

roach

It works flawless

take out of box,
plug power in
place software in PC/laptop

attach included usb cable
drivers and program load instantly

insert tape, push play

tape plays on right corner of PC
get the scene you want, stop tape

move cursor over record
push play/click cursor

movie is stored as mpg on computer
for editing later

or

click burn now and its a done deal.

how long the machine itself lasts I don't know yet.

for 99 bucks to get all our old tapes plus all our relatives tapes onto DVD with two clicks of the cursor was worth it so far.

peace

[Six]

86 - this Sunday? I'll be up at the station, but I'll see what I can do to get down to The Pit by gametime.

Why are you going Sunday? You don't want to go Saturday and see Ludacris perform? .. ahh, but the kids get to run the bases after games on Sundays.

[86Cane]

Aldarius Johnson

[Esteban]

Definitely like Hall's highlight tape. Hope he signs in Feb.

And does that make him n Gore the two RBs in this class? Or is Gore a future CB/WR?

[shwarma]

Hall's video is great and I am psyched he is a Cane (I mean what's not to like given the size, video and supposed work ethic), but lets just be clear, he's not the hidden gem everyone is saying he is. Look at his list of offers. Apparently other teams see his potential also.

Now he's not the highest rated prospect (36RB on Rivals) but he has the tools to be great. A hidden gem means garbage offers or none at all.

Just trying to dilute the kool-aid a little here.

[KillerBeez41]

Man, when you look at those highlights and how we competed with an ok offensive scheme, we may be well on our way with the experienced coordinators on staff now. Now its a matter of guys executing especially on the offensive line. If we can sustain blocks its gonna be UGLY!

[Calvin]

Canez1, collier knows what to do with those screen passes for sure, but if i never see another screen pass run by us again, i'll be happy as hell. collier can get downfield, he did against virginia, texas a&m and others, whipple will allow guys to use all of their talent, not bottle it up!

[Calvin]

So much for people saying you can't find players under the radar anymore, darion hall, a 3 star, lol, like mike james, but he'll soon be a 4 star now, we all know why. The funny thing is, but the best part is, this staff is not going by star's hell i doubt if they even know what they're ratings are for real by these sites. They're just doing it the old fashion way, go and look for themselves, by getting word thru the grapvine on others, and doing it that way.

We'll let the star chasers continue to chase the stars while we go ahead and build this dy-NASTY again, 1 recruit at a time. jeff luc, come on down, we got a spot for you right now, that middle linebacker spot, got your name on it, or even defensive end, but we'll figure it all out once you get here and live on campus for 3 to 4 years.

I like that article today about should we be worried about jacory harris and they tried to bring up his stats, but what they failed to mention was, the throws he made were effective the majority of the time and just like he did at the so called elite 11 camp and came away with the most improed award or something like that, that's exactly how he plays the game, he gets better as the game goes on. Ask virginia if we should be worried about jacory, or ask duke, hell, ask the gators or Fsu, most of the time when he was in the game he became effective.

Now that he knows he has a whole game to compete in, and knows he earned the job irregardless of circumstances, he was going to win the job, plus guys know that jacory will get the ball to the open man or at least give the receivers a chance/opportunity to make a play on the ball.

If ray has already gained 10 pounds, all i want him to do is keep his speed up, as long as he's in the 4.6 on down, we'll be alright, and plus for his size, he has great acceleration.

Also, it'll be good to have c-mac in the starting line-up, all he does is play physical, and if he ever gets his coverage skills up, look out, but with him on the field, we're a more physical team everytime. If cmac, javariss and sharpton can stay healthy, they'll never be confused as being the most talented Hurricanes, but you can't argue against none of them as being the most physical at their positions on the team as of right now.

All we got now are a team of hardworkers, with more hardworkers coming in, and if you don't work hard, the only way you'll see the field is if you're just that good without having to work-out that hard, other than that, forget about it.

[MDCane]

321 should be recruiting coordinator. He was right on with that article. I see we offer that kid from Norfolk, VA (Travis Williams). Alot of good players come out of Norfolk, and Hampton, VA area. Understand that not everyone from SFla wants to stay home...more reason to focus out of state.

[solarcane]

Solar... how did that VHS-DVD device work out for you?

Posted by: roachcane77 | June 10, 2009 at 08:43 PM

roach I just got it in my hand at 9 pm tonight
I'm gonna mess with it in a bit.
I'll keep you posted

peace

[Canez1]

Collier on those screens is nasty!!

Real quick and great vision after the catch.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[86Cane]

In case U missed it, this GEM from 321:

http://canespace.typepad.com/canespace/2009/04/are-south-florida-recruits-spoiled.html

[Canez1]

321 great minds think alike!!!

;)

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[Canez1]

I was smiling through this whole clip!!

I can't wait for this season to begin!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywfSuVx8_2w&feature=related

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[321canes]

Posted by: Canez1 | June 10, 2009 at 08:49 PM
Go canez1! nail on the noggin? U must of read my article on here! lol

[Canez1]

O ya and Coke good to have you back around! It's been a while LOL.

Now we just have to find Darc and we are good. He tends to take time off during the slow season tho.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[Canez1]

Also these kids realize that club cancer is loooong gone.

There will be comp at every position and kids clawing an fighting to get all the reps they can.

Smoke is finally coming out of the football factory again. It's been a while. The local kids that aren't scared will be callin. The ones who can't handle it will be crawlin somewhere else.

This is how a small private school deveops into a national powerhouse. Not the money or the facilities or the 100k seat stadiums. The U develops their program with heart.

Give me a team full of three star kids with the drive and desire to win and be the best and you cannot lose.

So don't worry about these little bytches like Clement and Trail. Those kids are scared and will never make it as Canez.

Just because you have Sofla talent does not mean you have Sofla heart!! Big difference!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[roachcane77]

Solar... how did that VHS-DVD device work out for you?

[bg1906]

Just listened to the interview of Darion Hall on ITU. Sounds like a really good, sound kid. Very nice pick-up.

[roachcane77]

Congrats OcalaCane and family.

My family is about to expand this Saturday too. I'm out here in Pasadena, as my daughter (UMiami Class'05) is getting married.

Welcome back Anonymous (CoC)! (Nice call CanesgirlNC)

Darion Hall will be a good one... BTW Lely is East Naples... WAY below Clearwater. He does get to play against some tough competition over here.

[Canez1]

It was only a matter of time with Hall.

I love the kid and love his Cane heart.

He couldn't help himself, he had to commit.

Not afraid of the comp at all.

Give me a class full of these type kids and I am a happy dude.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[KSF68]

Solar, I see you pulled up some info on Walt Kichesky, a Hurricane legend and assistant coach who took over temporarly when Charlie Tate resigned in mid season, 1970, with a loosing record. The last game of the season the Canes pulled of a stunning upset [ 14- 13 ] over the Gators at Florida Field. Go Canes. Canes are dynamite!

[bg1906]

an example

bg1906 per Rivals:

Above average attention span, can decipher Scouts overstating and exaggerations with the best of them.
Shows commitment and focus on any day of the year that the initials LOI appear online.

A recent CROH inductee, proving his status as top 100 popular blogger.

Bg could very well explode on the next level as an XBOX website icon.

Downside: spends most of his waking hours playing XBox, thinking about playing Xbox, or talking other people into losing their own lives by playing XBox with him.

peace

Posted by: solarcane | June 10, 2009 at 07:40 PM

My brother Solar. Ain't NO ONE like him!
Hilarious my friend!

[true cane]

http://www.tomahawknation.com/2009/5/28/891382/naples-fl-lely-hs-rb-darion-hall

[true cane]

Hall is a monster

[KillerBeez41]

**AWESOME**

Thats what I have to say about the canes getting running back Darian Hall. From looking at his highlight film, kid has impeccable vision, sudden cuts, crazy balance, and great speed. He is an excellent pick up. Shout out to who ever posted that video, I watched that thing until the end and usually im done with a highlight after about a minute or two. Diamond in the the rough for sure, dont know about the competition he going up against, but dude making em look silly. Maybe he gets into the Under Armor game or Army All American game. See what he looks like against some of the so called best.

[solarcane]

an example

bg1906 per Rivals:

Above average attention span, can decipher Scouts overstating and exaggerations with the best of them.
Shows commitment and focus on any day of the year that the initials LOI appear online.

A recent CROH inductee, proving his status as top 100 popular blogger.

Bg could very well explode on the next level as an XBOX website icon.

Downside: spends most of his waking hours playing XBox, thinking about playing Xbox, or talking other people into losing their own lives by playing XBox with him.

peace

[321canes]

Was up family.I loved the new commit! Pay attention to these central, north, west fla recruits, all i hear how hard these kids work from their coaches, oh by the way, rumor has it that #26ray ray gain 10 pounds. Here come Meast jr. baby

[86Cane]

jw...I'm all over it!

BTW...CoCane, I couldn't reach The BOSS but I did get through to a "Senior Football Official" at UM who laid it out for U to be reinstated like this:

1. Run 20 110s next three days with Solar.
2. Extra film study x 2 with CGNC.
3. Extra time in Study Hall to raise that GPA with Esteban
4. Written apology to all bloggers for your absence, with special note to Chi-Pun.

[solarcane]

"Runs with his eyes and sees the small creases open quickly."

Much more efficient then the two star guys that run with their eyes shut...

these guys are slowly running out of buzz hype.

I'm looking forward to a real description like.

"Kid could give a shyt less what we think, he's gonna play at a D1 college somewhere and it might as well be yours."

peace

[j.w.]

good analogy, 86.

[86Cane]

"Flashes very good jump-cut and stop-start skill for a 200-pounder. Quick to the hole and is a decisive cutter who is very difficult to get a clean shot on. Runs with his eyes and sees the small creases open quickly. Does a great job picking and darting through the in-line traffic and bouncing outside to the perimeter."

=

Clinton Portis

[CaneSniper]

Congrats to Darion Hall and Ocala's wife - our two newest Canes.

[j.w.]

and here's ESPN evaluation of him:
Evaluation

Hall is a very well-rounded running back prospect and projects to be a productive 3-down back at the next level. Has good size and the his taller, stronger frame is far from done physically developing; should grow into a 215-pound load-back at the next level while retaining his great feet through the hole. Flashes very good jump-cut and stop-start skill for a 200-pounder. Quick to the hole and is a decisive cutter who is very difficult to get a clean shot on. Runs with his eyes and sees the small creases open quickly. Does a great job picking and darting through the in-line traffic and bouncing outside to the perimeter. Has a strong, sturdy frame, particularly through his upper-body; consistently breaks through initial contact. Difficult to arm-tackle for smaller defensive backs when he breaks free into the second level. Runs with good shoulder lean for a taller back and stays square, even when cutting laterally, to help power through initial contact. We did not see great in-line power or explosiveness we were expecting though and he really lacks the downhill burst out of cuts to put him into an elite running back category. Tends to build speed and does not always show great suddenness or an explosive extra gear needed to create initial separation. Displays better long speed in the second level; has a very smooth stride. Overall, we still feel like Hall is the complete package when projecting as a college back. Can run, catch the football out of the backfield and has the size to block in pass pro. We feel like he has the coveted ability to carry the load and wear down a defense and also frustrate them with his footwork and ability to make you miss. Has promising upside with his frame and is a guy we think will see his stock soar on the recruiting trail heading into his senior year.