One Bad Cook and One Loose Cannon

Back-up Quarterbacks Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith announced today that they were leaving the University of Miami.  

The shocking and stunning announcment came just two weeks before the Canes first game of the season on Labor Day against FSU in Tallahassee.

The moves leave Miami severely depleted at the QB position with only first year starter Jacory Harris and Freshman A.J. Highsmith, who has been on campus all of about three weeks, as the second string QB for the 2009 season.

This sudden announcement comes on the heels of the highly publicized transfer of former UM QB Robert Marve to Purdue over the Summer. 

Marve, who struggled on and off the field at Miami in 2008, was suspended twice last season by Head Coach Randy Shannon for violating team rules and poor class attendance.

Now the Hurricanes have lost three QBs in three months and face the difficult task of facing a tough early schedule and the entire 2009 season with one QB with very limited playing experience and one that went to his high school prom a few months ago.  Not exactly what Shannon or new offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple would have wanted.

Canes fans literally lit up the message boards this afternoon to express their shock, fear, anger and confusion over the news. 

Some immediately jumped to conclusions and began questioning Shannon's coaching style and leadership ability.  Some fans questioned how this situation could happen so suddenly and so close to the season opener.  A few fans even wondered out loud: "What happens if Jacory gets hurt?" 

Others took a calmer and more measured approach and attempted to minimize the loss citing the fact that neither Cook nor Cannon were likely to see much if any playing time unless Jacory was injured. 

Some stated their support for the coaches and players involved and simply moved on. 

A few fans also stated that this situation happens at many programs as players see the competition in front of them and decide they might be better off at another University where more playing time beckons.

The reality is that while however discomforting or disturbing these decisions may have made even the most hard core Hurricanes fan feel, their impact may never be felt unless the unthinkable happens. 

But then it was always true, even before today's decisions were announced, that If Jacory goes down the Hurricanes hopes are likely to go right with him.

Comments

[Montreal Cane]

From NBC (Miami)...From Quarterback U to Who's Left...

Three quarterbacks have transferred from the U in less than six months
By JANIE CAMPBELL

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/sports/Two-QBs-Bail-on-Miami-13-Days-Before-Opener-54817647.html

[The Truth]

Highsmith is ALOT better than I anticipated.

Plus, you can't discount the Whip effect. He's truly in control of the O and has a hand on who he wants for his type of QB. I'm sure they are aware of that, too.

I have no problem with kids packing bags but Cook needed to man up a bit and stick it through. Yeah, Brock transferred to but he didn't do it 2 weeks before the season started.

I'm just sayin and I'm done sayin it LOL

it's over. They're gone. Let's move on...

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

If ya scared go to churrrrrrrch.... LOL

Posted by: CaneSawMassacre | August 26, 2009 at 04:01 PM

>>>

Gorrilla Zo says it best, no doubt. haha

[Sebastian]

Every backup on every team is one play away from playing

J12 will be just fine...This whole team is going to be just fine

This is Miami and I for one will never sweat the day of losing a backup or backups

Someone thinks they can play elsewhere and start then theres the door and goodbye

Its a TEAM and if some dont want to be part of it then the hell with `em

Rant complete

[Daytoncane]

cav, i agree. kyle was tough as hell but the guy just wasn't a good QB. if you aren't good at your position, it doesn't matter how tough you are. it just won't work for you in the end.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again.

Give him a million chances, and Wright still would've NEVER been able to put together the drive that Kirby did against FSU in 07'.
Make no mistake, it wasn't all Kirbs' arm on that drive, seeing as there were some significant runs in there to, but I'll bet my b@lls that Kyle woulda' still blew it.

Posted by: Hurriphin | August 26, 2009 at 05:01 PM

>>>>

Hurriphin, I was thinking the same thing. Kyle couldn't throw with touch and couldn't look off safeties or LBs. That's what that whole drive was about.

Say what you want about the rest of Kirby's career, but he won that dam game.

[jtt]

Lots of wishful thinking going on here....the QBs leaving indicate internal issues with this team/coaching staff (RS and his folks must be shell-shocked with the timing), whether either QB could have contributed is moot. Did we not just have a broken jaw incident to one of the key defensive starters?? At minimum bad KARMA in Coral GAbles.

New to this site but lots of defensiveness about RS, whether you guys will admit to it or not, this QB thing falls right into his lap. Last saw our boys get run over by a totally demoralized Cal team in that bowl game (Cal players even thought about not accepting the invite to the game due to geography).....

Opening games are always tricky in college football with all of the yearly turnover, but we did not need this upheaval with ten days to kick-off. Not against the quirky Noles.

Has a line been posted for the game yet??

[MasSiVcAne]

And who in the h@ll says that the playbook is going to get thinner. Whip and J12 are going to run the plays no matter what. Jacory is capable of taking hits, he did in HS and he will do it in college. If he ain't able to take a hit than I don't want him to be our QB, that's part of being a QB is being able to take a hit. KennyD was just a skinny and no one worried about him especially when we played OS_boo in the BCS game and got knocked around. So he leaves for one play, gets some smell'n salts comes back in an throws a 70 yard bomb to Byrd, AJ, Hank, Collier, TB, Streeter each. QUIT YAPPING ABOUT THIS GARBAGE WE GOT FOOSBALL IN 12 DAYS LETS ALL GET BACK TO THE TALK ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO STOMP FSWho!!!

[bg1906]

I'm sure either he or someone from his camp will eventually spill the beans and the beans will be that ^^^^^^

Posted by: The Truth | August 26, 2009 at 07:00 PM

Already out there...

--The high school coach of former backup quarterback Taylor Cook said he transferred because "he felt he was never going to play [at Miami]." Brad Dumont, who coached Cook at Rice High in Altair, Texas, said Cook grew worried when freshman A.J. Highsmith began receiving more reps in practice. With Cook and fellow redshirt freshmen Cannon Smith both leaving, the backup job belongs to Highsmith. The Hurricanes have just two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster.

[Hurriphin]

You know,

Maybe shaking hands with Soup up there, creeped Cook out.

Who's to say 86 wasn't Net-stalking him, his entire tenure at UM?

Maybe we should get ALL the facts, before we pass judgement.....

[Mr Troutman]

U

[The Truth]

jtt

Since you're new...well, here. Just read this.

--The high school coach of former backup quarterback Taylor Cook said he transferred because "he felt he was never going to play [at Miami]." Brad Dumont, who coached Cook at Rice High in Altair, Texas, said Cook grew worried when freshman A.J. Highsmith began receiving more reps in practice. With Cook and fellow redshirt freshmen Cannon Smith both leaving, the backup job belongs to Highsmith. The Hurricanes have just two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster.
Posted by: bg1906 | August 26, 2009 at 07:20 PM

There's no conspiracy buddy. If Shannon and his staff were wrong I'd say it. Not the case here.

[Sebastian]

And just how does itindicate internal issues?

How does it fall in his lap if 2 QBs didnt want to be here?

Nothing on this team is promised

[The Truth]

Miami recruited 5 QBs in one calendar year. ALL QBs fight to play one position.

That's the issue.

Most teams don't recruit 5 qbs in 5 YEARS.

[The Truth]

Sorry I meant 2 calendar years..

[Sebastian]

oops.."indicate"

[coldcane]

Couldn't agree more. Some people that post here are more willing to suppport a kid that quits and transfers but a kid that suffers thru the most inept offensive period in the history of Miami football is rediculed to no end. He was never given an o-line, a game plan, a running game or recievers but somehow he is a punk for doing the best he could the entire time he was here.
Posted by: Gin & Tonic | August 26, 2009 at 02:38 PM

AMEN!!!

[bg1906]

Hurricane Hotline is on live with Coach Randy Shannon. Mark Whipple up next and Jason Fox at 8:30

http://www.wqam.com/streamer/index.php?displaystreamer=true

[bg1906]

Also Stephen Morris will be on at 8. Coach Shannon said he's had 3 transfer requests TO MIAMI since Cook and Smith departed.

What that says to me is that someones hardship is someone elses opportunity!

We are Ok...We are The U...We are Miami!

Go Canes

[The Truth]

What's hilarious is under Coker and even Butch people like jtt assumed is was all Kumbayah and beer with the staff.

Reality was there were a lot of "issues"

now people assume there are issues when finally things are as close to Kumbayah as I think is possible with this crew.

The fact is, either way, the kids don't care so much about issues.

They just want to be Heroes on Saturday.

[bg1906]

Coach Shannon said Dedrick Epps is blocking UNBELIEVABLE. He said they ALWAYS knew he could catch the football, but they are VERY HAPPY with how well he is blocking after the injury.

[Montreal Cane]

Coach Shannon said Dedrick Epps is blocking UNBELIEVABLE. He said they ALWAYS knew he could catch the football, but they are VERY HAPPY with how well he is blocking after the injury.

Posted by: bg1906 | August 26, 2009 at 07:43 PM

This is good news! Graham will be fun to watch also...

Moncur will be back for FSU

Chambers has an outstanding camp....

You are listening o the good news channel

[Fran]

Go Canes

[Mr Troutman]

U

[Esteban]

Epps used to be horrible at blocking.

hard work can pay off

[bg1906]

Coach Shannon said Lamar Miller has been UNBELIEVABLE!

[PLAYTHEFRESHMEN]

Gotdarn people...STOP IT!!!!!!!

Enough with the: "RS should of handled it differently!!"

That was the Coker attitude, Don't upset Berlin, Wright or Freeman, by not recruiting QB's...

It seemed that whatever made Wright happy, that is what Coker did!!!

Miami cannot let kids control the team, depth chart or recruiting....

RS has to stand his ground and if a kid, goes to him and says he wants to leave because of Playing time (Insinuating that he might stay if the coach agrees to give him PT).

Then RS should tell such kid: "WELL GOOD LUCK WHEREVER YOU GO, HAVE A NICE DAY!!!"

[Sebastian]

bg I think I also heard him say that he was going 98 yards with a kickoff in the F$U game

Or was that something I just added myself :)

I could of sworn he said future 1st team all-american

[Hurriphin]

Anybody care to try and draw up the "Perfect UM QB?"

I'm gonna go with:

Kirby's wheels.

Cook's body.

Brock's heart.

Vinnie's arm.

Walsh's accuracy.

My lover's brain. (Kenny)

Jacory's composure.

Bernie's style.

Put em' all together, and you've got a future Heisman winning, Nat. Title toting #1 overall draft pick, who will get signed to a 6yr. 95 million dollar deal, with 50 mil. gar.

[bg1906]

Coach said no matter what the goal is the get the BEST players on the field

[Nashvillecane]

Speakin of Butch..in 99 wat were ppl sayin down thr wen we blew the penn st game in da last mins... Then blew a big lead at east car win garaud as qb... Then mcnab ran all over us in da last game?

[Mr Troutman]

THANKS 1906 for the news streams....MIAMI IS PREPARING FOR THE NFL!!!!! TEAMS ARE OFF THE MARK AN UNAWARE THAT WE ARE A WELL RESTED TEAM LOOKING FOR PAYBACK!!

[PLAYTHEFRESHMEN]

BTW, This transfering of QB's from programs happens every year..

The reason we don't hear from it, is because we DON'T spend our time on their boards and THE NATIONAL media cannot stay away from the MIAMI love/hate relationship from the nation...

Any news from UM gets blown up on national TV, be glad this happens. It just means we are relevant....

All we have to do is go out on the field and kick some "trasero"...

[dlu]

whipple

[canechic]

Go Canes!

[moneycane]

http://www.wqam.com/streamer/index.php?displaystreamer=true

KC Jones on now, Whipple coming up next

[323Cane]

I think Marve is a very talented qb, but when he got in that wreck he really fudged himself and the team. He always seemed to be around trouble and made bad decisions.

Marve could of been a sophomore with a year of experience and jacory could of redshirted and bulked up. But Jacory beat him out more than once. And he punked out and left. FU Marve!

Taylor Cook and Canon Smith are both beetches for leaving. If ever cross paths with them I will punch them in the face...if a ladder is around.

[CanesAddiction]

Bryce Brown cleared by the NCAA

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/12116671

[SlingBlade]

WTF first marve then cannon and cook....and now im hearing rumors that the orange bowl will be demolished...what is the world coming to....

can we find a way to blame coker for this?

congrats on the 3mil 86soupbrown

[billb]

WHO THE F**K is this "Chicken Little" piece of crap? Why do these boards always have IDIOTS like this posting their garbage on them all the time??????????? Tell this ten year old Gaytor homer to GET LOST!

[bg1906]

Whipple highly complimentary of Jacory

[86Cane]

NEW BLOG WILL BE UP AT 9 PM...

WHO GOT NEXT???

[bg1906]

Whipple said the LEADER of WRs is LEONARD HANKERSON! I told you guys, he's worked hard!

[CanesAddiction]

I can blame Coker for this SlingBlade.

We wouldn't have had to over-recruit QB's if Coker could have identified any decent talent at the position. If our cupboard wasn't so bare when he left...

[bg1906]

Whipple said they have some specific packages for Mike James.

[moneycane]

Yeah I'm listening Bg. Mike James must be dat real. I can't wait till Sept 7th.

[bg1906]

He also said Pat Hill is an unsung hero and does a great job at blocking and pass protection.

[dlu]

tired from reading so many posts.

[86Cane]

Who's to say 86 wasn't Net-stalking him, his entire tenure at UM? Maybe we should get ALL the facts, before we pass judgement.....

Posted by: Hurriphin | August 26, 2009 at 07:20 PM

OK, OK...it was me! I'm sorry but it had to be.

[86Cane]

congrats on the 3mil 86soupbrown

Posted by: SlingBlade | August 26, 2009 at 08:20 PM

Ain't no thing, Sling...