There were all kind of nasty rumors floating around out there.
Some seemingly very intelligent people appeared to actually believe them.
No, I am not talking about some little known golfer named Tiger Woods who apparently shanked his drive and recently had a minor car accident where he allegedly took out a fire hydrant and a tree with his Cadillac Escalade at 2:30 AM near his mansion in the expensive and exclusive enclave of Windermere, Florida. Fortunately for Woods his lovely wife was there to get him out of trouble as the word on the street is that she used a five iron to hit a high fade and free him from the vehicle by breaking out two windows. Phew, that was close, huh?
No that's not it at all. You see it seemed to some relatively well informed people that some how while the good folks in Coral Gables, Gainesville and Tallahassee were not looking, a little upstart University over in Tampa had caught up to the "Big Three": Miami, Florida and Florida State.
Yes, some smart and educated people really thought that there was now a "Big Four"; one that included Big East Conference representative USF.
Clearly this smart and attractive young lady pictured above had fallen head over heels for her Bulls and was seen proudly representing the USF D-Fence early in the game. That was until Miami scored on their first possesion. Then she sat down and got real quiet just like the rest of the USF faithful on hand to witness the slaughter of their home town Bulls.
Others even went so far as to consider a "Big Five" that would include the ever growing University of Central Florida in Orlando.
Well, as Lee Corso from ESPN would say: "Not so fast my friend!"
Corso, who for the record predicted on College Game Day from The Swamp in Gainesville that USF would beat Miami, said he believed it: That USF had finally matched Miami in talent, speed and coaching. But Mr. Corso, who many claim is entertaining but at the same time question if he is playing with a full deck, was eventually exposed by his now obviously misguided prediction.
In some ways Corso fell victim to the hype. It might even be understandable from the outside looking in at the UM program. After all, Miami did get blown out by VT in Blacksburg early this season and more recently dropped two more ACC games to Clemson and UNC.
Add to that the fact that UM QB Jacory Harris was nursing a sore thumb, starting LT Jason Fox was out with an illness and the Hurricane defense was decimated by injury.
Miami seemed ripe for the picking.
The Grand Illusion over in Tampa had even our own Manny Navarro from the Miami Herald predicting a USF victory. Of course he then spent most of Saturday and Sunday apologizing for his embarrassing faux pas. If only the Mandingo would have listened to me and my prediction of UM 27, USF 17, he would have been fine. But nooooo! Well, we forgive you Manny (sort of).
But can you really blame Corso or Navarro for their swoon over the new kid on the block? Not really. Shoot, there were even some hard core Canespacers who openly stated here on the blog that they were "worried" or "concerned" about the USF game. They also were taken in by the hype, the misdirection and the smoke and the mirrors that Jim Leavitt was wielding over there in the 813.
After Saturday's 31-10 whipping of the Bulls by the Hurricanes anyone who might have subscribed to the theory of evolution of the Big Three becoming the Big Four can cancel their subscription.
That bull is over and done with. End of story. Period.
Sure they have a pretty stadium. They have won a few big games. They even were ranked in the top 10 a few times over the last couple of years. But with no Big East Conference titles or National Championship trophies in their case the delusions of grandeur at USF need to be treated with some serious psychiatric medication, not the respect of the college football world or the media.
And while I don't usually condone violence, especially that of the domestic kind, I am confident that next year when the Bulls come on down to the 305 to play the Canes at The Shark you can bet that they are going to get smacked around worse than an Ike Turner girlfriend.
Or a Tiger Woods owned vehicle might look like after an attempted late night run.
Or maybe like Canezilla and his crew might do to a bottle throwing USF fan at The Ship.
Not that any of that would actually happen. I'm just sayin'...
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/10457646/Florida's-Dunlap-arrested,-charged-with-DUI
more trouble in paradise
Posted by: DallasTX Cane | December 01, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Dallas you have canesport right?
Whats the update with OL and TE they are talking about int their story?
Posted by: CaneSawMassacre | December 01, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Why would an asst. coach want to make that type of horizontal move without a really good reason (ie thought the program direction was going down or that the new program was much better, better money, potentially a program that could raise better future opportunities, thought his job was in jeapordy at current position, etc.)?
Posted by: JCane | December 01, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Posted by: JCane | December 01, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Family maybe. Or change of scenery, connections, etc
Posted by: Loco | December 01, 2009 at 12:23 PM
At the University of Felons, UF Gators, it apparently goes from top to bottom when failing to be a law abiding member of society. In a report from the Gainesville paper UF president Bernie Machen hit another car in a parking garage and drove off without leaving any information as required by law. He was issued a citation after being found at a Gainesville restaurant. He said he didn't think he hit another car but paint evidence showed otherwise. He was turned in by a parking lot attendant. It is a criminal offense according to Gaineville police and he will have to appear in court. I always wondered what the numbers on the back of UF jerseys stood for, who knew it was part of the Alachua county jail football team. It all runs down hill at UF! What a CROC!
No wonder Tebow is so good at prison ministries!
Posted by: RandyCane | December 01, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Ya'll check out The Boss Man layin' the wood at 7:25...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kmf7SEwwPc
Posted by: CaneRock | December 01, 2009 at 12:29 PM
No wonder Tebow is so good at prison ministries!
Posted by: RandyCane | December 01, 2009 at 12:27 PM
LMAO, Randy. That whole place is corrupt.
FYI: the Crocs in my office are actually crazy enough to believe that Urban will suspend Dunlap for the next two games. Riiiiiiight, because he cares so much more about the players developing into upstanding young men over national championships.
My prediction: Dunlap sits out during the national anthem and instructed to think real hard about how his actions affected his team and the community of Gainesville.
Posted by: JSQ | December 01, 2009 at 12:31 PM
BOSSES AND HAWGS!!
Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | December 01, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Why with Urban Meyer lying to recruits, the University president leaving the scene of an accident and 31 players in trouble with the law during Meyer's tenure would any parent want their kid to go to play for the Gators? What a great bunch of role models by the leadership at UF. It takes a young player(Tebow) to lead the way?
It will be interesting to see what Meyer does with the Dunlap issue.
Posted by: RandyCane | December 01, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Tennessee has a coach named Wilson that's also in the hunt for LSU running back position (sounds like something Cajun kinky). He looks like he might be a better fit: New Orleans native, Former LSU coach etc.
Posted by: Old Skool | December 01, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Feldman talks a lot about him in Meat Market. He was a very succesful high school administrator down there and would have GREAT recruiting ties to New Orleans (the main reason, I think, that Kiffin hired him at Tennessee). He was on the Ole Miss staff with Orgeron, who is now with him at Tennessee.
Eventually he'll end up back in La. but this might just be a way to get a raise/promotion.
Posted by: DZ8 | December 01, 2009 at 12:38 PM
I've played both and there's every bit as much strategy in rugby as in football. If not more.
You think Brian O'Driscoll skipping himself, or Dan Carter hitting kicks from 50+ meters away on the run don't give room for individual improvement and growth?
There's a reason Dhani Jones tried to play rugby.. and failed.
The only reason football was created was because Teddy Roosevelt thought rugby was too dangerous. Instead, he created a stop and go sport with more danger, and fatter kids.
Rugby may be the more "primitive" sport in terms of time, but its much more involved in terms of character and class. If there's anything I wish football had, it would be that.
Posted by: Loco - looking for quality christmas gifts? check out www.cutco.com and then email me at tjl516@aol.com | December 01, 2009 at 12:40 AM
>>>>>
Loco, first of all YOU SAID SOCCER WAS THE GREATEST SPORT. Now you're changing your tune. Suddenly you're the ambassador for rugby.
Football as around way before Teddy. And the reason it spread is because it's American. If fit OUR national character and essence. If you like rugby so much you take your azz to Ireland or Australia.
Like I said, Rugby's a fine sport but it's nowhere near as complex or dangerous as football has become, as you yourself admitted in the past, because of the pads and helmets.
Did I say there was no skill in rugby? No.
But ask Mark Sanchez or Ken Dorsey about the difference in the complexity of football just between CFB and NFL. Or ask Arthur Brown about the difference between KS and Miami.
As far as one football player suddenly deciding to play rugby and failing, what does that say about YOU not being able to play football at the highest levels? Does that somehow make football greater just because you couldn't play it. A lot of football players couldn't play rugby, esp. OL and DL, QBs and many WRs and DBs. At the same time a lot of RBs, SS and LBs would make incredible rugby players.
So get off this dumb shyt. You've found a new sport that you like. GOOD FOR YOU.
Bottom line, if Rugby were so great why don't billions of people tune in to watch ONE RUGBY MATCH in countries who don't even know wtf rugby is.
You've dodged every point I've made so take this silly shyt somewhere else.
Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | December 01, 2009 at 12:44 PM
http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wilson_frank00.html
It has him here as an assistant coach/wide receivers. Maybe the LSU gig would come with more role in the overall offense. If I was LSU I'd be looking for some ideas on offense as well.
Posted by: DZ8 | December 01, 2009 at 12:46 PM
IF JIMBO FISHER HAS BEEN THE DEFACTO COACH AT FSU, HOW COME HE HASN'T TAKEN HIS SHARE OF THE BLAME FOR THEIR MISERABLE TEAM THIS YEAR?
ACCORDING TO BOWDEN HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THEN HE DID WHEN HE WENT 99-11 A FEW YERS AGO. HE LET HIS ASSISTANTS COACH. SO THE QUESTION IS, "IS JIMBO FISHER REALLY THE ANSWER?"
Posted by: RandyCane | December 01, 2009 at 12:47 PM
MY PREDICTION, NOTRE LAME GOES AFTER GREG SCHIANO. HE HAS EVERYTHING THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. HEAD COACH EXPERIENCE, SUSTAINED A PROGRAM HE BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP, GREAT RECRUITING TIES, ESPECIALLY IN PENN. AND FLA. GOOD ACADEMIC RECORD WITH HIS TEAMS, WELL RESPECTED WITHIN THE COACHING RANKS.
IT WOULD BE A REAL PROMOTION FOR HIM AND I THINK HE WOULD BE INTERESTED. LIKE IT OR NOT HE HAS DONE THE JOB AT RUTGERS, I MEAN THEY HAVEN'T WON MUCH IN THE 100 YEARS BEFORE HE GOT THERE. THYE COULD AND HAVE DONE ALOT WORSE. GOOD FIT?
Posted by: RandyCane | December 01, 2009 at 12:55 PM
And did you seriously say something about class and the lack of it being a reason why you like rugby more than football??
Man, get that candy-shyt out of here. If you want class, pick up a friggin tennis racquet, a sport where you APOLOGIZE if you win a point because the net helps you or the ball comes off your frame....a sport where you HAVE TO WIN BY TWO.....a sport where when you're just practicing you APOLOGIZE if you give your hitting partner a bad ball.
Take that shyt elsewhere....please (since you like that corn-ball British politeness BS.)
Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | December 01, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Not talking about our Canes though. Hope we end up in Champs Bowl playing Big 10 team. Have been reading that they would like a UM/Penn State game. That would be a winner!
Posted by: RandyCane | December 01, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Yeah, Randycane I agree with you!
Posted by: RandyCane | December 01, 2009 at 10:06 AM
>>>>>
LOL. Yeah, Randy, I agree with you, seriously. That would be a great matchup, esp. for TV. PSU travels very well I'm sure and it's close enough that U fans would go as well.
Hey, keep pluggin on the job front, something will turn up.
Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | December 01, 2009 at 01:04 PM
But one day the US will catch up with the rest of the world.
Football came from the quintessential sport. As a matter of fact, so did soccer.
Posted by: Loco - looking for quality christmas gifts? check out www.cutco.com and then email me at tjl516@aol.com | November 30, 2009 at 05:22 PM
DANGER! Will Robinson...DANGER!
Posted by: DZ8 | November 30, 2009 at 05:42 PM
I tried...
Posted by: DZ8 | December 01, 2009 at 01:05 PM
New blog is up!
Posted by: DZ8 | December 01, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Canes
Posted by: CGNC | December 01, 2009 at 01:16 PM
Why with Urban Meyer lying to recruits, the University president leaving the scene of an accident and 31 players in trouble with the law during Meyer's tenure would any parent want their kid to go to play for the Gators? What a great bunch of role models by the leadership at UF. It takes a young player(Tebow) to lead the way?
It will be interesting to see what Meyer does with the Dunlap issue.
Posted by: RandyCane | December 01, 2009 at 12:34 PM
i think you might be implying that these parents care about issues like this. you know why they send their kids there? because winning cures everything.
the parent aren't concerned about all the behaviorial issues, they only care about their son someday playing in the NFL. no matter how you look at it, they're looking for their meal ticket.
as long as the media doesn't care, parents and recruits won't care either.
Posted by: Daytoncane | December 01, 2009 at 01:17 PM
And I thought we should have blown out USF. Rutgers got them 31-0 just a couple weeks back. They got hyped for beating FSU but have been spanked over and over since. Physical teams ran over them each time.
Posted by: Esteban | December 01, 2009 at 01:04 AM
>>>>>
You'd think Manny would've done this little bit of research before making his prediction BUT NO.
Yet he wants to grade players and coaches after every game...
Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | December 01, 2009 at 01:39 PM
????
Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | December 01, 2009 at 01:56 PM
??
Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | December 01, 2009 at 02:01 PM
Across Rare,wage profit partly age often dog leadership public absence idea mention long worker know result definition summer medical master illustrate league living wall money young occasion both separate text ship merely future trouble terrible join nature wife total doubt thin ignore sheet night peace so attempt indicate revolution finding simple turn ring implication stage bloody urban count article enough declare breath instrument responsibility touch so that assume people employment component constant treaty staff clothes prisoner date program fill successful like walk heavy
Posted by: Technicalreality | December 19, 2009 at 08:47 AM