The Short List: Week 13

The stagnation on the Shortlist to the San Fernando Valley's among the final eight entrenched teams remains immovable as a slate of rivalry games bring determined opposition onto the field of play for the remaining 2009 title contenders.  They continue to list in worthiness of championship consideration as follows:

Florida, Alabama, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, Boise State, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh.

I essentially was forced to play a check on calls for eliminations last week and across the board, the Shortlist to the San Fernando Valley contenders held up their end of the bargain by winning all their games.  This week however, I expect a few long-shot upsets to impact the rankings here on the Shortlist as the teams I believe will be eliminated by conference championship read as follow:

Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh

As much as I would rather see the Panthers win and the Bearcats to lose to Illinois this week to set up a Shortlist Elimination Game for the Big East Championship between the two next Saturday I unfortunately see the exact opposite happening over the 48 hours of Friday and Saturday evening. 

Even if the very distinct possibility of the Panthers winning in Morgantown doesn't make me any more hopeful that The Zooker can pull the upset against Cincinnati to help ratchet up the pressure for the best team in the state of Ohio when they play for their conference BCS berth. 

As for the Yellow Jackets, their SEC rivals are coached by a former Hurricane who has firsthand experience in how to defend the triple option to uselessness, which combined with the Bulldogs propensity for winning in an opponents stadium makes me believe that Old Fashioned Hate might be reserved for the tarnished bigger name in this game due to the home fans' disappointment at the final result.

Boise State's home winning streak and Shortlist consideration hopes will have to tackle one of their toughest conference challenges in years as well this weekend, the Broncos are the anti-BCS-establishment's poster child for reform but will Chris Petersen even be around to coach them when and if anything is done to assist them out of their second class status in the game?  Hall of Fame Coach Chris Ault brings the first ever team with three 1,000 yard rushers in Idaho in a game that matches the Pistol offense against the blue cloaked precision of Petersen's program. 

Can the seniors who came up a 2-point conversion short, thanks to a diving Chavez Grant interception, of upsetting Larry Coker's final Hurricane's team on the same surface pull what would amount to an even bigger upset?  As mind blowing as that sounds being true, that result would reshape the big money bowl scenario in their final game of the year to win the WAC against it's better wishes. 

Bigger titans have fallen to lesser accomplished foes already this year.

All the other undefeated teams on the Shortlist can clinch a spot on the final Shortlist to the San Fernando Valley with a win against their opponents this week, join me here next week as the final composition of the championship picture comes clearly into focus as we see who stands the test and who decides to sit out until next season here on the Shortlist to the San Fernando Valley.

Copyright 2009 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

Comments

[86Cane]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING CANESPACE!!!

[Old Skool]

Slow night 55 minutes later and I'm number two.

[raizecane]

dang......3rd?

[KLCaneFan]

Happy Thanksgiving, 'Spacers. It is a slow night! I guess everyone's passed out from overeating! :)

Anybody watching the Texas/Texas A & M game??? Wow A & M is pumped!

[86Cane]

KL...No, I'm watching myself on TV.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is on.

Priorities U know!

[canechic]

Yes they are KL and I ate way too much!

Go Canes!

[KLCaneFan]

Who started the tradition of overeating on Thanksgiving anyway?? I feel like I just ate a week's worth of food!

It looks like Texas settled down a bit... they really need to beat the Aggies because the thought of watching UF/Alabama in the SEC Championship and then again in the National Championship makes me physically ill.

[canechic]

Me too KL.....I will just vomit!

Here is some fun facts about thanksgiving and overeating

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/25/7-things-you-didnt-know-a_n_368968.html

[Lurker]

Just managed to waddle over to the computer after partially recovering from my post-engorgement stupor, I couldn't even tell you who won the first two NFL games as I half watched them through a turkey-induced haze.

I said it before, but Happy Thanksgiving to all and a special shout out to 86 and all the other regular contributors for making this site an oasis for us cane fanatics.

Go Canes!

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

gobble! gobble! texas 14 a&m 14

[86Cane]

a special shout out to 86 and all the other regular contributors for making this site an oasis for us cane fanatics.

Posted by: CanesCanesCanes | November 26, 2009 at 08:59 PM

Triple C...it ain't no thang, It's what we do. A&M giving Tejas all they can handle!

[86Cane]

Aggies 21, Horns 21

[Canez1]

Stuffed!!!!!

This texas game is awesome!! Back and forth shootout.

GO AGGIES!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[roachcane77]

Is it Saturday yet?

[Canez1]

Shipley is the best WR in the country by far.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[roachcane77]

Fox is sick?

[pb(CSROH10)]

I dont want UT to lose, they can definitely score enough to beat Satan and Cryer's teams.

God I'm stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sebastian]

When its a rivalry game like the one tonight, you just never know what can happen

Who knows, maybe we do see a few "how in the hell did they beat them" type of games

[Canez1]

PB good point.

I take that back.

GO UT!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[86Cane]

Nicknamed "The Granddaddy of Them All®" the Rose Bowl Game has been a sellout attraction every year since 1947. That year's contest was the first game played under the Tournament's exclusive agreement with the Big Ten and Pacific Coast Conferences. (The Pacific Coast Conference's name was changed to Pacific-8 in 1968, and to Pacific-l0 in 1978.) The 1998 Rose Bowl Game was the 52nd anniversary of that agreement, the longest standing tradition of any collegiate conference and a bowl association.

Following the 1998 regular season Big Ten and Pac-10 Teams were eligible to compete for the national championship in an arrangement with the Bowl Championship Series. The Rose Bowl hosted the National Championship Game in 2002, 2006 and will host it again in 2010.

[86Cane]

Potential LOSERS this week:

#1 UF to FSU

#2 Alabama to Auburn

#7 GT to UGA

#9 Pitt to WVU

#12 OSU to OU

#18 Clemson to USC

Even if half of these teams lose it will shake things up quite nicely.

First, Miami has to take care of their business against USF and then let the chips fall where they may.

GO CANES, BEAT USF!!!

[Sebastian]

#15 LSU to Ark ?

#6 Boise to the Pistol ?

#25 Miss. to Miss St for the egg ?

[JSQ]

52 individual-sized pumpkin pies - check

103 green jello shots - check

102 orange jello shots - check

car loaded with tailgate equipment - check

new and improved game day CD made for road trip - check

bag packed with new "cold-weather" game day outfit - check

I'm ready to see the Bulls get beat down!

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

C - A - N - E - S 'CANES!!!!

[Canez1]

^^^^^^

Dreamgirl!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[pb(CSROH10)]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_college_hurricanes/

[86Cane]

103 green jello shots - check

102 orange jello shots - check

Posted by: JSQ | November 26, 2009 at 10:35 PM

GO ORANGE!

[86Cane]

fROM SHANDEL:

It's almost like Berry plays with a mean streak. He credited anger for last week's performance against Duke, when he had 10 carries for 58 yards on the momentum-swinging drive.

"The majority of the season I’ve been mad," Berry said. "Last game I was angry. We were down, and we were playing Duke. If I’m mad, I’m not going to make a move. I’m going right after you. I’m coming straight at you. I’m ain’t trying to be your friend."

I THINK WE MAY HAVE FOUND OUR NEW ROHAN MARLEY!

[Sebastian]

~86- Is it quite possible he was reading the Space and saw a few comments saying we needed that kind of a talker and player on this team?

Did the ~Spacers unleash a monster that cant be contained and are you willing to accept what may occur to our opponents?

[404Canes404]

Drunk and no Canes to cheer on, damn I was 24 hrs early! Ok, reset tomorrow and see U all on Saturday in Tampa! Go Canes! And Go Baby Noles, beat FU!

[SJMPARMAN]

Happy Thanksgiving.

In looking at the list of potential losers, I don't see a lot of possibilities. Probably Auburn if Alabama fumbles a few times has a chance. FSU's problems this year have been on the defensive side, they just don't have the horses to compete. Former Cane Willie Martinez at Georgia should know how to stop an option attack but they have been dismal all year. WVU and Pitt is an intriguing game. Morgantown is a tough place to play. And I am not sure Pitt has seen a back like Noel Devine. The more I think about it, I like WVA in that game. OU has packed it in for the year already. Clemson and SC will be close I think. That is probably the best game of the bunch. Clemson is due for a so-so game but USC doesn't have an offense (can't believe Spurrier hasn't generated one this year). The old ball coach looks tired and may step down after this year. He realizes he will never consistently win there, and he hates losing.

I don't see us in a BCS game, or a 2010 game for that matter. The North Carolina loss sealed our fate, although I think NC State may beat NC.

[Calvin]

For yall looking for more confidence, the one player people keep over looking is leonard hankerson. The man has been saying things straight up, remember before the clemson game, he told their secondary, they can't cover us in man, in fact he said nobody can cover our receivers in man, he went out their and showed out.

hankerson doesn't have that boisterous voice but his confidence level is justt he same as any receiver out their now that he knows he can catch the ball with on a regular basis now. His confidence is about as high as any receiver whoever came thru here, he's been smooth since highschool, made it look easy their, and he's starting to make it look easy in college as well. You can't jam hank at the line he's bigger than what people realize in person, than if he gets behind you, he's aboutt o get separation, hankerson is what jones could have been.

Both of those guys got open but just didn't catch the ball, now that hank is catching the ball, he's becoming a threat on every play.

Now if jason fox is out, it's going to be real interesting what we do now, ben jones, get ready dawg.

[86Cane]

86- Is it quite possible he was reading the Space and saw a few comments saying we needed that kind of a talker and player on this team?

Posted by: Sebastian | November 26, 2009 at 10:58 PM

Berry is a legacy Cane, he should know what it's about, right?

What a game between A&M and Texas! Unbelieveable changes in momentum.

[pb(CSROH10)]

Go Longhorns! They will smoke Cryer and that piece of chit offense the Gators run.

[86Cane]

DAMIEN BERRY
Defensive Back, 5-11, 197
Belle Glade, Fla. / Glades Central HS

Son of former Hurricane Kenny Berry (1987-89). Played running back in high school but will be a defensive back in college.

OR MAYBE NOT!

Speedy player played at Suncoast High School his first three years, then transferred to Glades Central.

As a senior in 2006, rushed for 1,080 yards and 19 touchdowns. Suffered a torn ACL and partially torn MCL and PCL in the fifth game of the season but continued to play (underwent surgery on December 26).

ONE TOUGH SOB!

As a junior at Suncoast High School, missed two games because of a knee injury but still had 530 yards rushing and five touchdowns to go along with three interceptions on defense. As a sophomore, had four interceptions, more than 500 rushing yards and 300 more all-purpose yards, finishing with 14 total touchdowns.

Chose Miami over Louisiana State, UCLA, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Rutgers. Coached by Willie Snead.

Rated the No. 7 safety prospect and No. 14 on the Florida Top 100 by Rivals.com.

Ranked the No. 27 safety and No. 26 on the Florida Hot 100 by Scout.com.

Rated the No. 26 player in Florida and the No. 42 defensive back in the nation by SuperPrep.

In the state of Florida, ranked No. 9 by the Orlando Sentinel and No. 19 by the St. Petersburg Times.

[404Canes404]

DAMIEN BERRY
Defensive Back, 5-11, 197
Belle Glade, Fla. / Glades Central HS

I thnk we might gave 20,000 + chanting his name on Saturday!!!

[Six]

fROM SHANDEL:

It's almost like Berry plays with a mean streak. He credited anger for last week's performance against Duke, when he had 10 carries for 58 yards on the momentum-swinging drive.

"The majority of the season I’ve been mad," Berry said. "Last game I was angry."

******

Go back and read the last couple of blogs during the Canes games and look at what I say when Berry has the ball ... too many times I've said that Berry looks like he's straight up angry when he runs. Tell Shandel to stop jocking my thoughts for his own, and using the same phrases

Happy Turkey Day to everyone

Another thing, no one should be taking USF lightly - this is their Super Bowl ... this is their USA vs. Russia Miracle On Ice ... they're going to try and play out of their minds, and BJ Daniels is going to be running all over the damn place if he isn't spied. I've watched all their games, I've had to watch all their games, they have a legit Defense - yea, they crapped the bed against Rutgers, but they always have the past few years just like Peyton Manning always took a big dump against UiF every single year he played at Rocky Top

If Jacory is throwing floaters b/c his thumb is still jacked up, USF is going to track them down in a hurry, ala UNC game. He's going to have to put some mustard on his throws and stop staring down his WRs - use his checkdowns. Canes can't just say anymore that they have better athletes or better players - they're not to that stage yet

Leavitt has taken USF as far as he can, Sebastian knows this as well as everyone else in this town. I hear it, have preached it and have seen the mediocrity of USF under Leavitt - they need someone to get them over the hump. USF doesn't need Leavitt anymore, anyone that thinks that needs to immediately erase that from their hard drives in their coconuts. USF needs a new Head Coach ... still, the USF kids will be so jacked up for this game, wanting to prove everyone wrong - if Miami comes out flat or just has a game like they did against Wake/Duke, they'll get their teeth kicked in ... that's reality ... b/c USF won't let them back into the game

[Sarasota 'cane]

Happy Thanksgiving Canespace! Hope to see you all Saturday!

Go 'canes!

[Six]

Another thing, there's no way in hell that FSU can beat UiF ... no ... f'in ... way

Even with Christian Ponder, they wouldn't win. FSU's defense can be picked apart so easily, they give up way too many big plays

Think about it. It's Senior Day up at The Puddle, last game ever up there for Tebow of Nazareth, Riley Cooper, Brandon Spikes, Carl Moore, David Nelson, Dustin Doe, Jermaine Cunningham, Ryan Stamper ... and possibly the last games for Major Wright, Joe Haden, Ahmad Black, Carlos Dunlap simply b/c they might jump to the NFL"U"

No way they're going to have a let down against a team on all those Croc player's last game ever, esp. FSU, whom they have completely OWNED the past 5 years

45-15
45-12
21-14
34-7
20-13

Delusional isn't even the word to try and describe a person that thinks FSU has a chance. Even with the whole "that's why they play the game" - no. No. And, NO.

I beg every single religious deity to help out FSU and prove me wrong, I will gladly admit to being wrong for the rest of my life about it ... but it's not going to happen

[SJMPARMAN]

Six

I agree with you. Games like this make a community. I remember how it was in Miami before we won the championship in 1983. We had the Authur McDuffie riot in 1980 and then the Neville Johnson shooting in Miami in 1982 led to a second riot. People were looking for some common thing they could believe in. The 1983 Canes were the perfect fix.

In economic times like now, I am sure you have a splintering of the community in Tampa Bay. The community came together for the Super Bowl win for the Buc. They want this game so badly for the Bulls to relive that spirit. So this is NOT an ordinary game for the Canes. The players at USF are jacked, the fans are jacked, and the entire city is jacked. I did not attend the 1983 game for UM but I felt, without a doubt, I screamed enough from North Miami that it reached the OB. That is what happens when pride of a city is on the line.

USF will be fired up, ready to prove they belong. We need to score early to win the game. My prediction is 28-24 UM, but, that score requires us to score an early TD. If they score a TD early, look out. It will be a tough momentum for us to stop.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

"The majority of the season I’ve been mad," Berry said. "Last game I was angry. We were down, and we were playing Duke. If I’m mad, I’m not going to make a move. I’m going right after you. I’m coming straight at you. I’m ain’t trying to be your friend."

>>>>>

That's called BOSS TALK, and that's what we haven't seen from anyone on defense yet. We all know who the first Boss quotes will come from though...RR, C-Mac and Forston. Spence doesn't talk it but plays like a Boss.

So when we start hearing guys say they're angry because it's Duke, that lets us know he's True U. It also means he's probably been hearing it from his dad and other Canes.

Get ready next year, because the Bosses like Berry, Spence, Hank, C-Mac, Bailey et al will be the only players left, no deadweight, no half-azz, no lots of heart but little talent.

Those days are over.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Six, if Ponder had played they'd beat UF. FSU hasn't had a QB since I don't know when. Ponder's the first one in a long time. He would make all the difference in this game because UF couldn't key on anything. I don't think UF has played an offense as talented as FSU's with Ponder.

But that's all for naught. Ponder tried to play hero and ruined his team's season.

[Daytoncane]

didn't USF beat FSU with Ponder playing? and don't blame it on the rain either because both teams had to play in it.

[RBLCane]

ESPN reporting that Greg Dent decommitted from the Canes:

"Three-star safety Greg Dent Jr. (Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central) has decommitted from Miami-FL in favor of Florida State, ESPN's JC Shurburtt reports. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior was also offered by Florida International. Dent is the 16th Class of 2010 commitment for the Seminoles."

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/school?schoolId=52&page=briefingroom&season=2010&action=login&appRedirect=http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/school%3fschoolId%3d52%26page%3dbriefingroom%26season%3d2010

This kid had been waiting for an FSU scholly and got one the day AFTER he committed to the Canes.

Here's another link on this story: http://www.tomahawknation.com/2009/11/26/1065250/glades-central-fl-db-greg-dent

FSU's secondary should be NASTY in the future, with Greg Reid, this kid, AND STA's Lamarcus Joyner. Can't wait to see our WR corps dismantle them. Haha!

Happy Turkey Dsy everyone!

GO CANES!!!

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

So is it too early to label Dent as the 09 version of Kayvon????

Let the hatin' begin!

Next yr we'll be callin for this kids head!

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

Then again, he might be just pullin' a cookie-switch-e-roo!

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

Then again, he was smart for using miami to pull an offer he have always wanted from the Noles, and now he gets to play WR.

At the same time, it was very two faced of him to do it, ahhh the game of recruiting.

Atleast Randy don't BS kids and promise them things.

You can do things right and still win at the same time.

You can never question Randy's Integrity.

[DATcane]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/um-hurricanes/fl-damien-berry-1127-20091126,0,4039032.story

U

[Old Skool]

Dent probably wants more drama in his life or else decided to major in geriatric studies.

[404Canes404]

Get ready next year, because the Bosses like Berry, Spence, Hank, C-Mac, Bailey et al will be the only players left, no deadweight, no half-azz, no lots of heart but little talent.

Those days are over.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | November 27, 2009 at 01:13 AM

that right, Grant is gone after this season...

Go Canes!

[Calvin]

This dent decision shouldn't come as a surprise, i would've been surprised if he had signed with us. At Fsu, he could play alot more, his hed coach is an Fsu man, Fsu need db's and receiver competition, they've picked up a few good ones this year. Just like us, they're getting back to recruiting the players they are suppose too. Now if they add lamarcus joyner to that group, look out.

As far as we are concerned though, we're going to get the players we need to get, and as it stands right now, se still got the players that have the mentality that we're better than Fsu, and they are playing like it. Fsu has a chance to close out this recruiting real strong if they add joyner, snatch up giovanni bernard or get james white, and a few other players, i like that Fsu is getting stronger again.

When ever Fsu gets stronger, it makes us play even better. Right now, we're starting to get it back from a mental standpoint. Having a guy like brandon harris back their in the secondary, he goes all out every play. dvd plays solid for most of the game, just don't put him on an island with a more physical receiver. While dvd is fast, he's not as quick and fast, at the same time though, the more dvd's body increases in strength, the beter he'll become, physically he just not their yet to be a dominant corner.

I can see him getting better though as time goes on. As long as we're recruiting mentally tough guys, we'll be alright, right now, and for the most part, we've been doing that a whole lot lately. THings are beginning to heat up, which program is goign to excel and rise and work to be the best.

I'm like how our defense is the bend but don't break type, right now, that's a good thing, it's also showing that we're getting better as a defense as the year has gone on, real important. Now here's the thing, usf has kevin patrick from what it sounds like he just works with the defensive ends, not the whole d-line, ok, if we can bring in somebody like rusty medaris or darren krein or russel maryland(i chose these guys because i feel like they can actually teach the position, a guy like warren sapp's attitude and mentality more than likely would make guys play better or give more effort, but make no mistake about it, he'll be an A-HOLE supreme)we need a guy who can give hurtt just a litle more help.

I'm luving the recruiting competition going on right now, and at the end of the day, gotta play on the field. Next year, look out college football, they chanting damien berry's name this year, next year, might be the truth miller's name. As much as guys want to play, i don't think it's a bad thing to have a bunch of redshirts on a team like kendal thompkins, streeter, truth miller, ben jones, wheeler, cory white, plein etc. etc. The 2008 class, only about 5 players got a chance to redshirt, the 2009 class, we got about 10 guys that have been redshirted tis year, that's how the team continues to become stronger right their.