Falling In And Out Of Love With The U

Miami beat Wake Forest just as I predicted 28-27 on Saturday on a gloomy, depressing, rainy Halloween afternoon at BB&T Field in Winston-Salem, NC. 

But that headline does not summarize the range of emotions I experienced during the game or the feelings I have for the Miami Hurricanes. 

Here is the way I really feel:  I love the University of Miami.

Some people, places and things are easy to love.  Everybody loves a winner. 

Then again, sometimes even when you love something so much, it may feel like it doesn't love you back.  When you love your team more than anything, and your team plays poorly or loses, it can make you feel that way sometimes.  Your team can, to make a play on the words of Tom Petty, do U like that.

I love the University of Miami.

Through the first four games of the 2009 season, it was easy for fans to love the Miami Hurricanes.  Some of the haters had boldly predicted that the 'Canes would go 0-4 through the murderous early season schedule.  Yet the Canes managed to post a surprising 3-1 record and hope, like love, was alive and well in Coral Gables and all across the quickly growing CaneNation (band-wagoners included). 

There was the miracle finish at The Doak that led to UM fans (me included) walking out of the stadium chanting: "It's great, to be, a Miami hurricane." 

There was the return of swagger against Georgia Tech that saw Miami impressively dominate the Yellow Jackets at The Shark.  Sometimes, payback, like swagger and love, hurts sooooooo good.

There was the heartbreak that was the loss against the highly ranked 2008 ACC champion Virginia Tech at rain soaked Blacksburg.  The Hurricanes almost drowned in their own tears that day, and some Miami fans may have even fallen out of love that day, but as U know, breaking up is hard to do. 

Miami was then thrown the life jacket known as the Oklahoma Sooners who would provide the opportunity to fall in love all over again.  That day at The Shark, true love between Hurricane fans (me included) and their team and even their stadium was on public display.  Love was in the air again and it felt good.  Really good.

Next Miami would jump into the top 10 for the first time in several years after disposing of pesky UCF in Orlando.  UM turned out the lights on the Knights as Hurricane fans (me included) walked through the heart of the lovely UCF campus shouting: "We got some Canes over here...WHOOSH-WHOOSH!"

Then Miami took love for granted and made the mistake that ruins so many good relationships: They were caught looking at another object of desire known as the ACC championship.  Well, the temptress came to The Shark dressed up as the Clemson Tigers and proceeded to spoil everything.  The Hurricane defense was caught standing around and staring at the fast, hot and sexy C.J. Spiller who apparently was just too tempting to touch.  So the Canes defense just stood around and watched "Spiller Gone Wild" over and over again as they wound up losing the game, their shot at the ACC title and their mojo, all in overtime.

Yesterday, the Miami Hurricanes beat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons by one point just as long time Canespacer "pb" had predicted during the first quarter of the game.  This call will forever live in Canespace legend and lore and almost assuredly result in his election into the Canespace Ring of Honor in 2010 (more on this on Tuesday in a special feature here on Canespace).

Even though UM won the game, there was some serious pain, hurt and heartbreak felt by Hurricane fans throughout the game.  For anyone who loves the University of Miami as much as I do, yesterday's pathetic performance by the Hurricanes was simply disheartening.  While I hung tough and stuck to my 28-27 final score after many "fans" had given up on their team, it was not a fun game to watch.

After all, Miami was playing a team that had just lost to Navy 13-10 in a game in which the Midshipmen did not complete a single forward pass.  The Hurricanes trailed the entire game and needed a gift that was a fumbled punt deep in Deacon territory to get back in the game. 

My 2009 Legend of the Fall Sam Shields recovered the ball at the three yard line to set up the score that allowed Miami to get back in the game.  Travis Benjamin may have caught the winning score, but it was Aldarius Johnson (My 2008 LOF pick) that made the catch of the day on a deep slant for a TD that got the Hurricanes fired up after a dismal first half.  Everyone's favorite Hurricane Matt Bosher also played well for UM as this time Miami's special teams made a significant contribution to the victory.

Miami's defense made another average QB in Riley Skinner look All-ACC and even All-World until he was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter.  His back-up then came in and continued the assault against UM's decimated and depleted defense.  The Hurricanes pass defense, if you can even call it that, was thoroughly embarrassed by the Wake offense that passed at will against the Miami secondary.  Brandon Harris, who supposedly is UM's best defensive back was abused almost as badly as one of Michael Vick's pit bulls.  Swiss cheese was back in style as Miami's defense had more holes in it than the U.S border with Mexico.  It was that ugly. 

On offense the alleged genius that was Mark Whipple has looked surprisingly not so smart lately.  Hurricane fans are back to questioning play calling again and that is never a good sign.  Most fans thought the offensive problems were solved with the removal of Patrick Nix, the transfer of Robert Marve and with Jacory Harris firmly established as the next great QB at Miami. 

All the Heisman bound JaScory had to do was manage the unstoppable and soon to be famous Whiplash offense and points, like love, would just rain down from Heaven.  Not so much.  Offense, like love, is apparently getting harder to find.

So now Hurricane fans are back to square one in their on-going courtship with their team. 

Serious love, the kind that comes from beating Oklahoma, winning easy games convincingly and acquiring national championship rings has once again been pushed aside. 

Now it's back to just flirting and fun with no idea what to expect or what comes next. 

That is what keeps Miami fans falling in and out of love with The U.

I still love the University of Miami.

Comments

[canechic]

GO CANES!

[canechic]

The girl got game!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

GO CC!!!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Now, all you fools bytching and moaning about a comeback win against Wake need to grow up and leave your diapers at home.

This team is decimated with injuries on D and only youth has been able to fill the gaps, yet they still figured out a way to win.

So just STFU and accept the reality and support your troops. You all sound friggin ridiculous talking about Jacory as an INT machine. He's a GD true sophomore. Defenses have adjusted to him and Whip's playcalling.

Oh I'm sorry, that's just making excuses.

And as PB mentioned, he only has one more INT than Skinner a 5th year senior. So what's Skinner's excuse.

[Esteban]

aqua, i say we are a flawed team, not a bad one.

how many of the iowa wins have been pretty? it don't matter cause a wins a win. ohio state won a title with ugly win after ugly win (plus some ref help).

this could have been an ugly loss but became a win. gotta take those too.

[86Cane]

The girl got game!

Posted by: canechic | November 01, 2009 at 10:16 AM

INDEED SHE DOES!

[pb(CSROH10)]

Bad team...lol.

[86Cane]

I don't know what kind of "TEAM" we are, bad or flawed, young or injured, but I do know that our play and performance on the field is not acceptable.

[canechic]

How many Int's does tebow have as a Sr. QB with a Heisman? 2 for TD's in last week's game against MISS St. and do not tell me Miss state is any better than Wake Forest cuz I am not buying that garbage. But you know what they won and are still a #1 team!

Now hopefully these kids get ready for Virginia. I told you guys I get the feeling from this team that they were so amped up for the first four games....that these last ones are just not so exciting. Don't you even feel this way as a fan? Kinda hard to get pumped up to play a WF team that lost to Navy....I know I was kinda like ho hum.

[86Cane]

pb...read the article, U will like it!

[JSQ]

Nice article, 86.

[pb(CSROH10)]

Classic 86!! Thanks buddy, appreciate the props!!

[jimmy]

Solar, of course I am not happy with the fact we gave up 500yards to Wake. THEY ARE BACKUPS FOR A REASON. THE COACHES KNOW SOMETHING. IF JACORY GETS HURT, YOU WOULD BLAME WHIPPLE FOR HIGHSMITH NOT BEING AS GOOD AS THE STARTER. HE11 NO. BACKUPS ARENT AS GOOD AS THE STARTERS. THIS IS WHY THEY ARE BACKUPSThe guys who are starters are fr and sophomores. What could that say about their backups. Wake runs a very unique style of offense. They run nothing but misdirection everytime and your D needs to play disciplined. Young guys arent going to do this. They play on instinct. No matter what you learn in practice, when things start going wrong everyone starts to improvise and this is where Wake can take advantage..Since you and the rest of the BLOGGERS have it figured out, what would you have done? We blitzed and our best corner let his man to the inside. YOu learn not to do that in the 7th grade. BH has been taught that for 8-10yrs and still let it happen. I am sure Mcgriff, RS and Lovett have told him as much but what can you do if the player messes up? How many times in the last 2 games have teams run playaction to the TE? You seriously dont think some coach said to watch for it? You can tell Mccarthy to do it but he isnt fast enough. Did Lovett radio to RP. bite hard on the play fake so they can go deep? We have one good DL and thats Bailey. We have one good run d LB and thats Mccarthy. Our LB's are horrible on pass D and our MLB cant shed blocks. These guys have played for 4 years here. This means that they have had RS, Walton, YOung and Lovett as coach. That is pretty damning to say that none of those guys taught our players anything. We were young with some experience. All of those guys are hurt. We are back to being to being just young.

[86Cane]

I told you guys I get the feeling from this team that they were so amped up for the first four games....that these last ones are just not so exciting. Don't you even feel this way as a fan? Kinda hard to get pumped up to play a WF team that lost to Navy....I know I was kinda like ho hum.

Posted by: canechic | November 01, 2009 at 10:29 AM

It's the coaches' job to get them ready to play. Everybody knew this, U knew it, Randy knew it. He is accountable for getting the team ready to play. U can't come out FLAT every week and expect to win.

Everyone here KNOWS that I like and support Randy 100%. But he is accountable for getting the job done and beating Wake by one point a week after they lost to Navy who didn't even complete ONE pass is just not acceptable.

Navy does NOT have a SINGLE player who could play at UM much less even be recruited to Miami and they held Wake to 10 points.

[canezilla]

i love my canes and go to every game at the shark plus ucf and usf.that being said i need to vent!!!I CAN DO WITHOUT...
people living within 2 hours of the shark and not going..all of our injuries..b harris being our best cb and getting rapped yesterday..cooper dancing in the backfield before hitting the gap...our god sent qb throwing in double coverage when the game is on the line..athur brown being the number 1 lb in the COUNTRY and cant even smell the field...cooper"s pass rush blocking...harris not being in shotgun to give him 2 more seconds to read the field...our coach with his arms crossed when we need him getting into someones azz!!!i can think of more but dont want to cry about it...i feel better go canes

[86Cane]

JSQ and pb...I was hoping everyone would like it. I was shooting for "Fair and Balanced". Hope I hit the target?

[canezilla]

what time is the phuckin game saturday? noon?

[86Cane]

Zilla...thanks for sharing. I'm sure MANY people feel the way U feel.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

UM's defense gave up 555 yards. It was the most allowed by the Hurricanes since Florida State got 565 in the famous 2000 game won by UM and highlighted by Ken Dorsey's drive and a touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey with 46 seconds left.

WHAT WE GAVE UP More Yards on our 2000 team?
I do not think anyone even remembered that but we sure remembered that we won that game. Food for thought!

Posted by: canechic | November 01, 2009 at 08:19 AM

>>>>>>

CC, you mean Dan Morgan and Ed Reed let a team get 565 yards on them? OMG!!!

For all you stat freaks, all you, we suck freaks.

And anyone dissing Jacory really needs to remember that DCs make their living by adjusting to what a QB does well and doesn't do well. By the 8th or 9th game, teams have a good read on what Jacory and Whip like to do, and they prepare for it.

Combine that with the fact that our running game disappeared and you have all the pressure on a true soph making his 9th start.

Go ask Christian lighting up the scoreboard Ponder how his first year as a starter went.

Or better yet, why don't one of you stat freaks pull up the proof.

[pb(CSROH10)]

Navy does NOT have a SINGLE player who could play at UM much less even be recruited to Miami and they held Wake to 10 points.

Posted by: 86Cane | November 01, 2009 at 10:35 AM

That game was a fluke. It supposedly was played in a monsoon, Navy runs the GT style offense and they didnt throw a single pass the entire game.

[Cat 5 Cane]

... Remember 2007

2007 Football Schedule and Results
DATE OPPONENT RESULT/TIME RECORD/TICKETS
September 1 Marshall W 31-3 1-0 (0-0)
September 8 at Oklahoma L 51-13 1-1 (0-0)
September 15 Florida Int W 23-9 2-1 (0-0)
September 20 Texas A&M W 34-17 3-1 (0-0)
September 29 Duke W 24-14 4-1 (1-0)
October 6 at North Carolina L 33-27 4-2 (1-1)
October 13 Georgia Tech L 17-14 4-3 (1-2)
October 20 at FSU W 37-29 5-3 (2-2)
November 3 North Carolina St L 19-16 5-4 (2-3)
November 10 Virginia L 48-0 5-5 (2-4)
November 17 at Vir Tech L 44-14 5-6 (2-5)
November 24 at BC L 28-14 5-7 (2-6)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

2009 Football Schedule and Results
DATE OPPONENT RESULT/TIME RECORD/TICKETS
September 7 at No. 18 FSU W 38-34 1-0 (1-0)
September 17 No. 14 GT W 33-17 2-0 (2-0)
September 26 at No. 11 Vir Tech L 31-7 2-1 (2-1)
October 3 No. 8 Oklahoma W 21-20 3-1 (2-1)
October 10 Florida A&M W 48-16 4-1 (2-1)
October 17 at UCF W 27-7 5-1 (2-1)
October 24 Clemson L 40-37 5-2 (2-2)
October 31 at Wake Forest W 28-27 6-2 (3-2)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

We're 6/2... and 4 to go... with Virginia on the horizon.

Virginia, remember them... 48/0 and the worst game that I can remember in a game with nothing but quiters in the last game at the OB... I FELT LIKE I WAS BENT OVER A RAIL AND POUNDED ALL NIGHT LONG...

VIRGINIA... I'LL NEVER FORGET

CAN'T WAIT!

Posted by: Cat5Cane

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Soup, why did you only talk about the mistakes and poor play? You could've easily said we played like crap until it mattered most then we donned our U Cape and snatched the game away from Wake leaving them in tears....

Just sayin'

[Windy]

86 called it early in the third quarter 28-27, UM. 86 is like RS, calm under pressure and never pushing the panic button like the bandwagoners.

Jacory is the top rated passer in the ACC. I don't think the Canes ever had a QB like Jacory since entering the ACC, and he is just a sophomore. The weaknesses are that UM gives up too many sacks. A couple of the sacks are on Jacory, but most are on the OL and the RBs (esp. Coop) who stay in to block.

On D, the Canes have a few good players. On D, the Canes just have too many injries to be consistent and great. Certain individuals have stood out. Bailey is first-team all ACC (7 sacks), and McCarthy is our best LB. I love SS because he never gives up and plays hard. He is also the Canes fastest DB, as we showed some speed to run down that WR who beat Brandon on that slant to the house. When the game was on the line, SS made the plays to win and he was 2nd on the team in tackles yesterday (he always seem to get more tackles than Sharpton).

Shannon is a finalist for the Broyles Award! He is definitely a good HC, and you have to remember everything that goes into being a good HC (recruiting, developing, planning, selecting coaches, etc.) and Shannon is doing it.

If the Canes can stay focused and win out, they have good shot at making a BCS bowl.

GO CANES!

[dawgmeatcane]

Sharpton does not have it at all, there should be a RING OF SHAME with name all ovet it along with Glenn Cook

Author Brown has to be clinically retarded not to play next week

[MDCane]

Navy does NOT have a SINGLE player who could play at UM much less even be recruited to Miami and they held Wake to 10 points.

Posted by: 86Cane | November 01, 2009 at 10:35 AM

Hey, Navy is suppose to win on the water. That's why I pay taxes.(-:

[canechic]

Cav you know no one will get it but at least we try. Randy could scream focus in these kids ears evey day but it is up to the kid to come out prepared and ready to play. I tell you I raised twins with the same style same rules.....one is an overachiever prepared for everything that comes at her....the other not so much. I did the exact samething with each about their grades one came home always with A's, in fact she has not had a B since 3rd grade , one with mainly C's. SO AM I A Failure?

86 it is so easy to blame the parents and blame the coach but some responsibility has to layed at the feet of the kid.

So you think we fire Randy and the team will be better? Do you really believe that?

Didn't you call this season 9 and 3? Isn't that what you thought would happen before the season started? Why do you feel differently now?

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

JSQ and pb...I was hoping everyone would like it. I was shooting for "Fair and Balanced". Hope I hit the target?

Posted by: 86Cane | November 01, 2009 at 10:38 AM

>>>>

Soup, it's not even vaguely fair and balanced.

It's clear you've jumped on the "bash the coaches then the players" bandwagon.

And comparing the Navy team that almost beat OSU running that triple O is wrong. I bet their starting LBs don't whiff like ours do. They may not be as big but I bet they don't whiff.

[pb(CSROH10)]

86 its certainly been as up and down a season as I can remember. Two different trips to the Top 10 followed by big time disappointment.

I think the article tells it like its been!!

One last thing about yesterday's game then I'm over whatever people say about a game we won.

How much of a difference does Spence make in that game, both in pass coverage instead of C-Mac and in blitzing instead of Sharpton?

After a slow start the kid has made 3-4 spectacular plays a game, along with his 8-10 tackles.

That is just one of the guys we had out.

What does Ojomo do instead of Vernon, a true freshman who also has been injured and looks like he's hit the wall.

How about Fortson instead of a kid forced to burn his redshirt?

Does Ray Ray make more plays than a broken down Randy Phillips?

Think Moncur disrupts the pocket a half dozen times as he has all season when healthy?

We dont have the depth to replace that kind of loss.

Call it excuses if you like. I call it a fact.

JMO...

[86Cane]

86 called it early in the third quarter 28-27, UM. 86 is like RS, calm under pressure and never pushing the panic button like the bandwagoners. GO CANES!

Posted by: Windy | November 01, 2009 at 10:48 AM

Yes I did. Yes I am. GO CANES!!!

[canechic]

MD cane that was a good one!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Cav you know no one will get it but at least we try. Randy could scream focus in these kids ears evey day but it is up to the kid to come out prepared and ready to play. I tell you I raised twins with the same style same rules.....one is an overachiever prepared for everything that comes at her....the other not so much. I did the exact samething with each about their grades one came home always with A's, in fact she has not had a B since 3rd grade , one with mainly C's. SO AM I A Failure?

>>>>>

CC, haha, I used a similar analogy when I explained the game and the Canes situation as a whole to my cousin last night.

I said, of the bytchers and whiners, "You can tell the people who have never tried to teach people things or tried to lead a large group of people, because they think everyone's the same and it's the coaches fault if everyone doesn't play like superheroes every time they step on the field."

But your analogy is much better. I guess you just sucked as a mom. It's all your fault. lol Ridiculous.

[86Cane]

Soup, it's not even vaguely fair and balanced.

It's clear you've jumped on the "bash the coaches then the players" bandwagon.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | November 01, 2009 at 10:54 AM

Captain, oh my Captain...STFU and LMAO!!!

U know I LOVE U but U wouldn't know "fair and balnced" if it bit U on the azz! The LAST person in the world I would ever ask if it was F&B would be U. U are by far the most BIASED person on any subject on any blog I have ever seen. It is bordering on delusional, seriously.

Just enjoy your blogging and quit attacking other who don't agree with U. Blog on...

[canechic]

Cav now that I have 18 year olds and watch my daughter struggle at times in her freshman year at UM....I see things totally different than I did just a year ago. Kids are dumb, kids make mistakes and you know what sometimes (no matter how good they are) they struggle with the adjustments of life. And being around 18 and 19 year old boys really has opened my eyes as to how immature these kids are.

[Windy]

I just differ with 86 on his assessment of the readiness of this injuy-depleted team. They are young and not as deep as we would like, but they found a way to win a game when things were not going well.

Look across the college football nation - a more talented USC team was spanked by Ore. and a more talented VT team lost at home to a UNC team that was beaten by FSU at home the weak before.

In college football, anything can happen on any given day. The great teams find a way to win and our Canes are getting there.

If the Canes win the rest of their games by one point, they will likely be in a great bowl at the end of the year and have a top 10 ranking guaranteed!

[JSQ]

JSQ and pb...I was hoping everyone would like it. I was shooting for "Fair and Balanced". Hope I hit the target?

Posted by: 86Cane | November 01, 2009 at 10:38

Honestly, I think people (not you in particular, but "people") are being overdramatic.

Our D is decimated by injuries and we have guys starting that have no business suiting up.

We have a young QB who is still making mistakes.

We had an Olineman who was probable because of an illness who missed some crucial blocks making J12 look worse.

BOSH PLAYED SICK TOO! AND HE DID A GREAT JOB!

We had receivers dropping balls or not running routes correctly.

Every team brings their A game with us and treats it like they are playing a national championship.

BUT WE STILL WON.

These kids had every reason to throw in the towel, and our teams of the past (2006-2007) surely would have. But they didn't. They kept fighting. And the kid who everyone wants to write off and blame for bad coverage, Sam Shields, arguably saved the day.

It sucks that we have to worry about all of our remaining games where before it seemed like a foregone conculsion that we "got it." But that's reality. We could win out or lose out, but either way, the U needs our support.

I thought they made a fantastic comeback last night and I AM SO PROUD OF THOSE BOYS!

Focus on the positive. We won. Enjoy it. I'll take every W we can get after what we have been through the last few years.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a UVA tailgate menu to plan. I'm BRINGIN' IT with the tailgate just as much as I expect our boys to BRING IT on the field.

. . . and a sidenote - J12 and many other verbals from the 2008 class were there at the OB to see how UVA disrespected the Old Girl. I think they will be pumped for this game.

GO 'CANES!

[86Cane]

I said, of the bytchers and whiners...

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | November 01, 2009 at 11:01 AM

Cav...U can't lump everybody into that category. I am CERTAINLY NOT in that group. I can offer objective, critical analysis without being lumped into that category.

If U remember I was the one who held steady in the face of defeat yesterday and stuck with my 28-27 final score even when others had jumped ship.

Back it down homey, and give it a rest.

[canechic]

86 I don't think we attacking just think maybe some are being a little ridiculous and not seeing things as they really are.

[86Cane]

"And the kid who everyone wants to write off and blame for bad coverage, Sam Shields, arguably saved the day."

Editors Note: My 2009 Legend of the Fall pick.

Thank U!

The Management

[canechic]

And I do not want to go down the fire Randy road. We have been firing coaches for 5 years now and now finally see some improvement....We fire again and I promise another sucky 5 years.

[86Cane]

CC...the PAIN I mention is in coming to accept that we are not who we thought we were.

Based on our performance yesterday on the field we are not great (top 5), we are not even good (top 10).

We are still a young, inexperienced and inconsistent team that is another year or two away from being what we thought we were after OU game.

That is a shock to the system, creates some serious cognitive dissonance and damn it, it hurts!

OK, all better now, thanks for listening!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

PB, to add to your post about the defensive players, to me the biggest loss is the depth and the time to recover from one play to the next.

When they can rest, somewhat average players like Joseph, can make big plays here and there. But when they have no rest, they just go back to being average.

And when was the last time the U's starting CBs were a true sophomore and a converted WR????

ANYONE??????

[hillviewcane]

86 there is no great team in college this year. Maybe a couple at most of very good ones but no great team. That may change over the next few weeks but I am hard pressed to name a team I would look at and call great.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

If U remember I was the one who held steady in the face of defeat yesterday and stuck with my 28-27 final score even when others had jumped ship.

Back it down homey, and give it a rest.

Posted by: 86Cane | November 01, 2009 at 11:07 AM

>>>>>

That's the whole dam point. Your blob doesn't sound like the person who predicted that.

[[email protected]@ne]

The winning drive engineered by JH was old Cane football. Some great catches... it was worth watching the butt kicking these young men took the rest of the game

[86Cane]

And I do not want to go down the fire Randy road.

Posted by: canechic | November 01, 2009 at 11:12 AM

NOBODY wants that and MOST who are complaining don't want that either (except the radical few). I certainly never said that or even implied that. I sadu Ilike Randy and support him 100%.

But there are NOT only two radical options:

1. Love Randy as say everything he does is great, great GREAT!

2. Hate Randy and ask for him to be fired.

There is a HUGE middle ground between those two extreme polar opposites. I suggest we all try to find some!

[86Cane]

That's the whole dam point. Your blob doesn't sound like the person who predicted that.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | November 01, 2009 at 11:20 AM

OK, so U are delusional and I am bi-polar. I can live with that! LOL

[canechic]

Glad you feel better because we still may loose one more...I surely hope not but if we do not get back some players on D we just may. It is very difficult to overcome those injuries and I know it affects the O too.(Saw that yesterday)

This really could be worse we could have lost that game to FSU...because really canes are very lucky that kid dropped the ball.

Just be real guys good things will come as these kids mature. I know human nature is to have everything now but watching kids mature, watching mistakes and then sharing their success.....no greater feeling in the world.

GO CANES!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Soup, EXCEPT for the first sentence and bit on Sam. lol

[[email protected]@ne]

It had nothing to do with his playing days, but when he returned for the infamous final game at the Orange Bowl in 2007. Remember: Virginia 48, UM 0?

“Toughest thing in the world was watching the final game at the Orange Bowl,” said Irvin, who had a Hall of Fame career with the Dallas Cowboys. “I was on the sideline with some of those guys and just watching.”

Irvin, whose reality series “4th and Long” debuts tonight on Spike TV, said he was disappointed with the attitudes of the players that night. He felt there was a lack of emotion, almost as if the once mighty UM program had began accepting losing.

“Forget the records,” Irvin said. “Sometimes, you just line them up and they’re better than you. But I want to see some fire. I don’t want to see you getting your butt kicked and you’re just accepting it. I don’t want them to do nothing about it. Don’t just come over and sit on the sideline. Come over and fight your own guy, fight somebody. Do something. I just had issues with that.”

Irvin said UM coach Randy Shannon “has things going in the right direction,” but knows this year is vital. He said the Hurricanes need to make that leap back to the national stage because he feels two years is enough for a coach to place his stamp on a program.

Irvin has never shied from bluntness, which is what you can expect from his reality series. The show gives 12 hopefuls a shot at earning an NFL contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

“I won’t take it easy on them,” Irvin said. “That don’t work on the football field. There’s going to be some serious language. I’m just letting you guys know.” .

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

CC, you're absolutely right about the rest of the season.

Like I said before the keys to the rest of the season are Sharpton and the OL and they both showed how shaky they are yesterday.

If #11, B. Jones or B. Wash could turn the corner just a little and get Pipho and Sharpton off the field on running plays at least, we'd be a lot better.