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

[Calvin]

Also, i wouldn't be surprised though that Fu, got dent and we turn around and keep lamarcus joyner home, the way he talked about UM like he said, at 1st he wasn't even thinking about UM and than he got on campus, he started muzzling his words as well, shannon is "using the force" for sure!

[Calvin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xnEYve3Fuw

[DATcane]

http://www.vidoemo.com/yvideo.php?i=S3ZsVDJucWuRpQWRaX2s&miami-hurricanes-swaggin

U

[DATcane]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation

U

[86Cane]

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

Posted by: Six | November 27, 2009 at 12:05 AM

U sir have been VAULTED!

[ronnie]

fan talk is fan talk-- yes i know-- but this may be a telling barometer.

on tv, radio, blogs and various websites i hear a lot of folks saying that saturday's game will be usf's superbowl-- their national championship-- that they will be jacked up and hyped. what about us? this team (ours) plays with little to no emotion. i see that berry's recent comments seems to indicate that the bruh plays and runs with anger. besides him, i don't feel this team's emotion-- this is probably a product of randy's personality.

here's the thing-- if this team comes out flat, with no emotion, rage, roguishness even, then we're probably in for another va tech. and we'll be the nail and not the hammer.

[JCane]

No surprise about Dent. I was surprised he chose UM to begin with, other than as a tool given that he clearly hadn't gotten the offer he originally wanted to begin with. How often is his hs school coach, J. Hester, not going to push for FSU, and obviously Dent really wants some WR time. Not a major issue imo, although he's a good player, but there's enough similar type of talent to go around and other players the Canes can now get. Let's look at who we can get and who wants to be a Cane vs. the folks who aren't all that interested....

Hope all had a great Thanksgiving. Looking forward to the U hopefully coming out ready to play tomorrow!

[86Cane]

here's the thing-- if this team comes out flat, with no emotion, rage, roguishness even, then we're probably in for another va tech. and we'll be the nail and not the hammer.

Posted by: ronnie | November 27, 2009 at 09:39 AM

Good post!

BERRY, BERRY, BERRY.

CANES 27, USF 17

[mi@mic@ne]

U

[Calvin]

We come out and play like we did against Fsu that'll be good enough to win, g-tech was our most dominant performance because g-tech was 1 dimensional, besides the virginia game i don't count that 1 although it was a dominant performance, let's see if jacory can leave this game without an interception.

The atmosphere is going to make this game hype, that v-tech game an atmosphere had nothing to do with how we played, going their was no harder than going up to doak campbell against a rival, so going to usf with all the hype and crowd, etc. etc. No worse than last year when this same young team went to the swamp, this team is not fazed by crowds that's the 1 thing i see from them.

THe only thing that has hindered us all year, are the turn-overs, get those corrected, and by turn-overs i mean blocked punts, when you look at the plays that have really hurt us this year, yeah we all know jacory has thrown some interceptions and has fumbled on sacks, but in the 2 losses to clemson and v-tech, it was special teams that hurt us the most, take those away and jacory cuts down on his turn-overs, when ou here shannon talking about how we're not where we want to be but we're close, that's part of what you gotta look at when evaluating this team.

If people think this offense is explosive this year, lol, just wait until next year especially if whipple stays for the ride which i think he really wants to do unless of course the nfl comes calling but if he wants stability and longevity, he can pretty much stay here for at least another 4 to 5 years easily.

[CGNC]

I agree, cannot let USF hang around. We get Spence back this game, should help out. That Texas game last night was really good.

[CGNC]

Turnovers hurt us but lack of tackling and no pressure on QB's is just as bad. These quarterbacks have all day back there - Clemson, NC and Wake. I mean Yates and Parker - they are nowhere near as good as we made them look

[86Cane]

A couple of points on Dent:

1. Any player switching from UM to FSWho at this point needs a psych eval - pronto!

2. Dent has stated he wants to play WR. UM wants him as a DB.

3. At this point FSU is probably promising anything to lure players to trailerhassee, including positions, jersey numbers, playing time and dancing girls.

4. If he wants to be a Cane he will. If he doesn't he will get beat by the Canes. Either way NBD!

Dear Mr. Dent:

We wish U the best of luck in your football career and choice of colleges to play for. We highly recommend Miami. Thank U!

[86Cane]

I mean Yates and Parker - they are nowhere near as good as we made them look

Posted by: CGNC | November 27, 2009 at 10:04 AM

U are correct! I think it is a combo of lack of pressure and poor coverage and old schemes. With USF the key is to keep their QB in the pocket and make him throw it. If he is scrambling all over the place we are in big trouble!

[tortugacane]

As usual, great article ogv. Cool pics 86.

[CGNC]

LOL 86 - I know some stuff huh? I can be taught ;-D

[moneycane]

This weeks injury report per ESPN

MIAMI

Probable

RB Lee Chambers – Lower Extremity

WR Thearon Collier – Lower Extremity

DB Sam Shields – Lower Extremity

Doubtful

OL Jason Fox – Illness

Out

FB Patrick Hill – Lower Extremity

Surgery and Out for the Season

DL Dyron Dye – Lower Extremity

DL Marcus Forston – Lower Extremity

LB Jordan Futch – Lower Extremity

TE Richard Gordon – Upper Extremity

LB Shayon Green – Lower Extremity

DE Gavin Hardin – Upper Extremity

DB Ryan Hill – Upper Extremity

DB JoJo Nicolas – Upper Extremity

DE Adewale Ojomo – Jaw

[CGNC]

OGV u are in Southern Cal right? are people jumping off buildings because the condoms have lost 3? LOL!

[CGNC]

Not having Jason Fox is going to hurt - #65 already struggles and has the tight ends helping him - if USF has decent coaches they will look to exploit this - J12 needs to be in the shotgun

[moneycane]

I don't really understand why some people get upset at Shannon about the injury report. Why does it matter what they hurt. If they can play they will, if not they won't.

[canezilla]

86 any meet up before the game?u have to drive in together to park together..nice weather outside down here i hope it is cold up there...go canes

[DATcane]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/fl-skolnick-sean-taylor-1127-20091127,0,6177509.column

great read

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

BOSS' TALK AND BOSS' WALK....

>>>>>

Damien Berry has one philosophy when running the ball.

He always want to be the one dishing out the punishment.

"If you're not a defensive lineman or a legit linebacker, I'm going to run through you," Berry said. "When I look up and see nothing but one guy (in front of him), I'm going through him,"

Berry, normally bland in post-game press conferences, recently talked about how his running style has been the biggest reason he's become a fan favorite. It's simple. Berry refuses to take detours on the field. He runs where he wants, with power.

"They say I can't shake (defenders)," Berry said. "I got moves, but why use it when you don't need it? I'm more of a power back. I'd rather run straight through you than try to run around you."

Berry ranks right up with there with Jimmy Graham and Leonard Hankerson among the best stories for the Hurricanes. We all know his tale by now. He was recruited to play safety, switched positions and worked his way up the depth chart.

He entered the season as the fourth-stringer, but now is the No. 2 rusher (473 yards) and leads the teams with eight touchdowns. The coaching staff calls him the change of pace back because Berry's straightforward style is different from Javarris James and Graig Cooper. Not to say James and Cooper aren't hard runners, but Berry just punches defenders in the face.

"You’re going to know I ran through you," Berry said. "I’m going to talk to you. I’m going to look at you. I’m going to let you know that I got you and tell you that you better come harder than that.”

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Dent de-commited like Kayvon should've done. No beef here, pops, as Sugar Ray Robinson used to say.

It just opens up another slot for someone like Lemonier, Ego and Ari, or I-Mac and Harris.

No loss. He's the Prince Kent of this year's class though clearly more talented.

And if Collier's hurt Kendall, time to shine!!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

CGNC, those fools didn't just lose three, they gone blown the F out! lol By STANFORD of all people.

How you doin' darlin?

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Dayton, FSU had their heads in the clouds against USF. They thought everything was back after they destroyed BYU. Similar to our game against VT.

But since then Ponder's been on fire against legit defenses. He's better than any QB UF has faced all year. Far better actually, so I'm not sure what your point is.

[mi@mic@ne]

We need to have good mojo on this one... everyone leaving it on the field because there is a lot of rest coming... everyone putting themselves our for the other guy... when one guy makes a mistake we got his back.

We need to have the guys playing smart football.. early recognition... encouraging the other guy... communicating so that everyone feels like they are on the same page.
This will translate into gang tackling... big hits... the knock out punch... opponent fearing of the middle of the field.
And on o it will mean busting into their d back field with big gains ... so that we got guys running down the field with open lanes... and accurate passing with receivers timing their adjustments to the ball. Man if we could put four quarters together it would be the biggest message that we deserve to be in the top ten!!! Lets put it out on the field and jump on them early!!!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

fan talk is fan talk-- yes i know-- but this may be a telling barometer.

on tv, radio, blogs and various websites i hear a lot of folks saying that saturday's game will be usf's superbowl-- their national championship-- that they will be jacked up and hyped. what about us? this team (ours) plays with little to no emotion. i see that berry's recent comments seems to indicate that the bruh plays and runs with anger. besides him, i don't feel this team's emotion-- this is probably a product of randy's personality.

here's the thing-- if this team comes out flat, with no emotion, rage, roguishness even, then we're probably in for another va tech. and we'll be the nail and not the hammer.

Posted by: ronnie | November 27, 2009 at 09:39 AM

>>>>>>

Ronnie, welcmoe to the Space.

I don't think you know much about Shannon's emotions. Berry's style and attitude are PURE SHANNON. You need to find some of his pre and post-game speeches on Youtube to see the truth and not all this nonsense because he doesn't jump up and down on the sidelines like a fukin fool.

And even though he doesn't jump up and down you'd have to be damn near blind not to see the intensity in his facial expressions on the sidelines.

Now as far as the players are concerned, esp. the OL, they're not Bosses, at least not yet, so it's a toss-up about how they'll play.

On D, you have a mixed bag. C-Mac is always fired up but Sharpton, not so much. He's still thinking a lot out there. You can't be amped if you're thinking.

But then you got VT and RR and BH behind them, but DVD is still young and uncertain in many ways.

DL isn't so amped but Bailey's a Boss with his play. Holmes, Joseph, then the youngins, so the intensity's iffy.

But after the second half of the Duke game, and all the shyt USF is talkin just might hype these upperclassmen up to the point that they play like they did against GT.

One thing is for sure though, it ain't Shannon who lacks intensity.

Ask yourself how many times you saw Tom Landry, Bill Walsh or Bear Bryant jump up and down and shout and scream on the sidelines?

That's Spurrier's, Vermeil's and John Madden's style, not Shannon's.

JJ was somewhere in between.

[mi@mic@ne]

I agree with the Whip.. you set up tendencies to break them... every one should be trying to get out of that mold... its time to play the whole game... this in my opinion is the only way we can get beat in this game... not playing like we are capable of playing!!!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Calvin, yeah, Whipple's going to stay for a minute or two. He has a lot to prove and I think he's genuinely enjoying the teaching and learning process. And once Jacory and the Jets are really up to speed he can really show what he can do, that along with a legit OL.

Right now he's kind of hampered by the OL but still putting up 5,000 yards with a true sophomore QB.

[phillyscott]

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

Posted by: Six

I can remember Memphis beating UF in the swamp, Temple beating VT in blacksburg (as something like 38 point dog), and more recently, App State beating Michigan...I would like nothing more than UF and Bama to lose, so this SEC crap would be done..

[mi@mic@ne]

The reason Berry is stepping it up is because he wants more than to be a situation back... so he puts his anger where it should be... hes facing that he needs to be successful so that he wont be frustrated... he runs with more than anger... he runs with true passion!!! Berry ssssssssssss

[Six]

If Fox doesn't play, Kevin Patrick will be having to hold his boys back on a leash to run over and line up across from whoever is filling in for Fox at LT

Either Selvie or Pierre-Paul will be fighting each other to line up on Jacory's blindside

The thing with BJ Daniels, he earns the nickname I've given him .. "Tecmo Bowl" .. b/c after the ball is snapped when he's in shotgun, he'll drop back another 8 yards on top of that b/c he has a cannon for an arm and he thinks he can just drop back as far as he can to survey the field and then fire it in there

He will scramble and he will scramble often. The kid doesn't care, he'll just take off and has the wheels to move the chains

Canes can't have their DBs peeking into the USF backfield, they better stick their man or stick their assigned area or else they're gonna get toasty

Hopefully the Canes are all pissed off from having to ride on a bus from Gables up to Tampa and they take it out on the Bulls -and- also, the best thing that could possibly happen would be security being breached and allowing some fans to go rock the Canes bus a little bit or throw stuff at it .... it would be like poking a stick through a cage at a pitbull to piss them off, get their balls to grow a little more before the fight

[Charlie Brown]

I don't really understand why some people get upset at Shannon about the injury report. Why does it matter what they hurt. If they can play they will, if not they won't.

Posted by: moneycane | November 27, 2009 at 10:17 AM

Because we know more about what the CIA is doing to interrogate (waterboarding) terrorists that want to kill U and me than we know about some (in the big scheme of things) irrelvant, insignificant college football player, that's why!

Do U think the world would completely come to a STOP if we found out that Patrick Hill had a high ankle sprain or turf toe instead of a "lower extremity injury."

It is stupid, childish and even insulting to your customers (READ: fans) to withold important information.

It's like going to a restaurant and the waiter telling U in hushed tones that there are some "specials of the day" and then saying it involves some sort of seafood but that's all I can tell U.

It's like going to Wal-Mart and them telling U there a "blue light special" in sporting goods but I can't tell U what it is, good luck finding it.

It's like going to a car dealership and the salesman telling U we have a $5000 incentive rebate on one of our new car models, but which one it is I can't tell U, it is a secret.

Stupid, childish and insulting...what we can't handle the truth?

Oooh the big bad "enemy" is gonna gain a tactical advantage beacuse they know the injury even if the player is OUT for the game? Does it matter to USF if Hill is out for the game because of a toe, and ankle or a knee? Hell no, he's OUT for the game!

It is nothing more than silly reindeer games. Oooh I've got a secret and I'm not gonna tell U. What is this third grade?

Childish, stupid and insulting...that's what it is.

[CGNC]

Six - LOL or like poking a stick at the trunk monkey!

[CGNC]

Cav doing good - had a nice T-giving - saw New Moon - staying away from the shopping today - I hate that - unless there is some great sale on an Arabian horse at the mall, count me out...;-D

And how are u this Friday?

[SlingBlade]

im picking two games for upsets this weekend...ARKANSAS UPSETS LSU and OKLAHOMA UPSETS OKLAHOMA STATE....and we move up two more spots in the rankings...

[mi@mic@ne]

I got to admit Six you got a special gift with words ... always lmao at your metaphors

[Charlie Brown]

It's college football for God's sakes, not a matter of national security! Here is the injury report for the Miami Dolphins of the PROFESSIONAL National Football League where many more MILLIONS of dollars are at stake than in college. It is from the Dolphins web site and gives more details and lists the specific injury:

INJURY UPDATE: Center Jake Grove (ankle) was held out of practice again for the third time this week and was riding the exercise bike on the side. Sparano said Grove is "coming along, maybe not as fast right this second as I would like, but he is coming along and getting a little bit better." Defense end Kendall Langford was the only other player to miss today's practice and his was an excused absence as his wife had a baby yesterday. Defensive end Lionel Dotson (ankle) was limited in practice and backup center Joe Berger (knee) and running back Ricky Williams (chest) participated in a full practice.

For the Bills, offensive tackle Demetrius Bell (knee), linebacker Nic Harris (non-injury), defensive tackles John McCargo (calf) and Marcus Stroud (knee) and cornerback Ashton Youboty (ankle) did not practice. Cornerback Terrence McGhee (knee) and safety Jairus Byrd (groin) were limited.

Yet big, bad, powerful TOP secret college football can't release details? GIVE ME A BREAK!

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

Not having Jason Fox is going to hurt - #65 already struggles and has the tight ends helping him - if USF has decent coaches they will look to exploit this - J12 needs to be in the shotgun

Posted by: CGNC | November 27, 2009 at 10:16 AM

CG, you might've just given them the blueprint!

[Charlie Brown]

Sling...I like the Hogs over the Tigers.

Are U aware that Arkansas has one of the top scoring offenses in all of college football?

[Six]

phillyscott - this UiF/'Nole game is going to be David vs. Goliath and David is S.O.L. b/c he forgot his slingshot at home and there are no pawn shops around to buy a semi-automatic with 1,000 rounds of ammo to unload

UiF's Defense is what will dominate in this game and it has been all year long. The offense can have the lackluster performance that people have been harping on, it doesn't matter. They do just enough when they want, to win

FSU's defense is awful

- 106th in the nation as an overall D (UiF is 2nd)
- 105th Rush (UiF is 7th)
- 92nd Pass (UiF is 1st)
- 95th in Scoring Defense (UiF is 1st)

Crocs could put in John Brantley and he'd carve FSU up - in fact, he'd do a hell of a lot better job than QB #15 will simply b/c he can pass the ball around the yard

All that talk that FSU fans have about what a badass Nigel Bradham is, how much he can bench, how much he can deadlift, bla bla bla

http://images.athlonsports.com/d/15613-1/NigelBradham.jpg

He meets QB #15 one-on-one, he'll lose. If he's their baddest man on D, that's simply not enough. I remember Geno Hayes talking all that smack last year and then proceeding to being a main cog in the curbstomping UiF laid on them in the big TeePee in Tally

The only real time I've ever heard QB #15 talk about someone he never wanted to face again in a press conference - and it was Allen Bailey

QB #15 and the rest of the Seniors and Juniors that are going to hop to the NFL"U" are going to put their lives on the line to make sure FSU doesn't have a chance of winning

[j.w.]

Good day, all. College football on Friday! Nice appetizer for our Canes game on Saturday. I'd love to see Auburn knock off Alabama, then see Alabama knock off FLorida and get the $EC out of the championship game. Probably not going to happen but still would be nice.

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

Man, how about that Marquise Goodman return last night for the horns huh????

The kicker didn't even come close, though if it was Bosher, he would've definitely used his 4.4 40 yd time and laid a wood on that kid!!!!

[Six]

CGNC - it is like poking a stick at the trunk monkey

And then the trunk monkey pulls out a Tommy Gun like this one does ...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pSm1yraKR-o/SaqJ0VI_rnI/AAAAAAAAAQs/68Eo0wPUPFo/s400/JokerHC102.jpg

instead of his crow bar

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

How many of ya'll are wishing the Pats gets destroyed by 40 pts. this weekend????

I sure do!

[mi@mic@ne]

phillyscott - this UiF/'Nole game is going to be David vs. Goliath and David is S.O.L. b/c he forgot his slingshot at home and there are no pawn shops around to buy a semi-automatic with 1,000 rounds of ammo to unload

You got to understand something about a warrior.. he brings his death angels with him. Its kind of like watching a game on film and then all of a sudden the fast forward button is increased on Davids side of the contact and the other guys in slow motion.. only to say that its a clean clock fa sure.. dont want to go up against the Psalmist.

[Sean Spence is a Beast!!!]

Mallet will pick apart that tigers secondary!

Peterson will look like our no.24

[canesteeler]

Getting ready to make the drive up to Tampa! Got some Canes over here!

[Six]

mi@mic@ne - that's pretty deep ... even for 11:40 in the AM

I like it though, ha

Speaking in your terms, I would say it's going to take an effort & upset of Biblical proportions for FSU to win

I don't think anyone on FSU is named Samson and I don't think they have the jawbone of a donkey in order to destroy UiF