It was a cold and gloomy night. The rising moon peaked out between the low, hovering clouds and glistened on the surface of the dark waters of Tampa Bay.
Three miles off the coast, in what looked like a simple shrimp trawler the warriors prepared to unleash their evil plot. With faces covered in camouflage paint and their weapons locked and loaded, they readied themselves for the dangerous mission behind enemy lines.
Hardened by previous battles and strengthened by months of practice these soldiers were anxious for action.
Frustrated by years of failure, their plan was to hijack the ACC Championship game and steal the trophy that they could not win on the field. But in the end it was not to be. At the last minute the plan was aborted when orders came down from General Shannon back at the Canespace Command Center and the warriors were ordered to stand down.
Miami would have to wait another year to win it on the field and then secure what has so easily eluded them: The ACC Championship.
OK, OK, so Tom Clancy I am not, but I was at Raymond James Stadium for the ACC Championship game in Tampa last night. Surely that must count for something, right?
While your Miami Hurricanes have yet to play in much less win an ACC title they were certainly watching as one team they beat convincingly (#12 Georgia Tech) and one team they lost to in overtime (#25 Clemson) battled it out for the title of 2009 ACC Champion.
The Yellow Jackets had to get a push start to get their offense going but once they got their motor running they would outlast and outscore the Tigers 39-34 in an offensive showcase for both teams.
As you can see from the photo above, these young ladies were going "all in" and after a short chat had me absolutely convinced that C.J. Spiller was a thriller. And he was! Number 28 for the Tigers was nothing short of spectacular once again as he collected 301 all purpose yards and scored four touchdowns. Spiller put on another performance that almost assuredly will have him among the top five candidates for the coveted Heisman Trophy.
Then I wandered over to the Tech side of the stadium and found these two young ladies effectively advocating for Georgia Tech's plan to use Head Coach Paul Johnson's grind it out, ball control, option offense to try to keep the ball away from the dangerous Spiller. While things did not quite go according to plan, the Jackets managed to generate enough offense and score enough points to overcome the Tigers' primary weapon. Well we can't all be right, right?
But enough about them, let's talk about us. So here it is: In 2010 Miami will not only play in the ACC title game but will win their first ACC crown. That's right, I am predicting it even before the 2010 recruiting class is signed, before Spring practice rolls around and way before the next football season even starts.
Yeah, I said it! Now, somebody vault that.
BTW grant doesnt start does he?
he shot really friggin well tonight...
no body rebounded!
CANES, baaby
Posted by: darCANEgel | December 06, 2009 at 06:22 PM
we're doing ok. Trying to have a normal Christmas. Not had one really since 2006.
We'll be ok (especially if UM ends up in the Champs)
Posted by: miamimike01 | December 06, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Loco, yeah you're right they do. But I think they are too one dimensional offensively and too slow defensively. We should put a hurtin on them like FSU did last year in the bowl game.
Posted by: Esteban | December 06, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Clay rushes for 172 yards, three TDs as Badgers win big!!!
John Clay Runs Over Hawaii In 51-10 Win
Associated Press
HONOLULU -- John Clay's relentless rushing helped Wisconsin run over Hawaii 51-10 win on Saturday night, dashing the Warriors' hopes for an appearance in their hometown bowl game.
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | December 06, 2009 at 06:28 PM
looks like we play wisco! cbs site
Posted by: 1caneinatl | December 06, 2009 at 06:48 PM
I hope Clemson doesn't fall to Orlando.
Posted by: sasser80 | December 06, 2009 at 06:51 PM
Meineke took UNC
Posted by: miamimike01 | December 06, 2009 at 06:51 PM
can someone throw up a link to the champs sports bowl website
Posted by: moneycane | December 06, 2009 at 06:52 PM
http://www.champssportsbowl.com/
Posted by: Lurker | December 06, 2009 at 06:53 PM
Clemple accepted a Music City bid,so the Champs bid is now officiall ours! Wisky is the opponent IIRC.
Posted by: j.w. | December 06, 2009 at 06:57 PM
I wouldn't mind seeing the canes vs Wisconsin.
Posted by: sasser80 | December 06, 2009 at 06:57 PM
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/wis/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/wisc-footbl-factbook-2009.pdf
thank, 86 ---
see y'all in O town...
darC
Posted by: darCANEgel | December 06, 2009 at 06:59 PM
WVU should give no quarter to FSU.
You get what you earned, and in this case, sorry Bobby, dadgummit, but you deserve a good old fashioned beat down.
Posted by: Lurker | December 06, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Clemson vs. Kentucky, Music City Bowl
official
Posted by: miamimike01 | December 06, 2009 at 07:02 PM
Auburn to face Northwestern in Outback Bowl.
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | December 06, 2009 at 07:06 PM
Anyone know if our side will be the east or west side?
Posted by: shwarma | December 06, 2009 at 07:07 PM
Darc
Good seein you around again my friend.
I was gettin worried for a while there ;)
GO CANEZ!!!!!
Posted by: Canez1 | December 06, 2009 at 07:07 PM
Champs Bowl this year.........
Champs next year.......
Posted by: Hurriphin | December 06, 2009 at 07:16 PM
Man can they make a damn official official announcement so I can buy tickets.
Posted by: moneycane | December 06, 2009 at 07:19 PM
DarC...good to see U around!
What's shakin'?
Posted by: SOUP | December 06, 2009 at 07:19 PM
Fox TV Sunday december 6 At 8:00PM
BCS Announcement...BCS Announcement The final BCS rankings reveal which college football teams will be headed to the most prestigious and lucrative post-season bowl games.
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | December 06, 2009 at 07:21 PM
It hasn't been announced yet?
Would Miami decline a bowl game?
Would Miami leave the ACC?
Would the JSQ blow a gasket?
Posted by: SOUP | December 06, 2009 at 07:21 PM
The Bowl System STINKS! Bowden and FSU will get DESTROYED by WVU and rightfully so. He should be a REAL ICON and decline because inside HE KNOWS its not right.
Posted by: bg1906 | December 06, 2009 at 07:22 PM
We are in Orlando vs Wisconsin.
Posted by: bg1906 | December 06, 2009 at 07:23 PM
Second best part of the florida bama game after Tebow's meltdown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vBvK4WoNds
Posted by: hillviewcane | December 06, 2009 at 07:25 PM
Lets see
no more Coker players to whine about
Tebow graduates, no more whining about him
Florida isn't in the Champ game can't whine about that
We go 9-3 maybe ten win season cant whine about that
life is great....
NO NO!!! wait a minute we can whine about a bowl game till some other kid decommits
wheww almost had a great season there for a sec
soup I said 9-3 and finish about 15th in the nation back in August... jus sayin
peace
Posted by: solarcane | December 06, 2009 at 07:29 PM
could it be?.... nahhhhhhhhhhh
Posted by: miamimike01 | December 06, 2009 at 07:30 PM
FSU plays dirty pool. Listen to how it went down.
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/11/30/daily22.html
Posted by: bg1906 | December 06, 2009 at 07:30 PM
Bowden should have retired with class and say the noles don't deserve to play in the Gator Bowl instead of Miami...
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | December 06, 2009 at 07:31 PM
You guys watching NBC right now?
Posted by: canechic | December 06, 2009 at 07:33 PM
Is anyone watching the Tim Donaghy interview on 60 minutes right now?
OMG, this only confirms what many believed about the NBA, its all fixed!
Posted by: BahamaCane | December 06, 2009 at 07:34 PM
it's official...
Champs Sports Bowl vs. Wisconsin
Posted by: miamimike01 | December 06, 2009 at 07:35 PM
bg monte,
If FSU told Bobby he was retiring, they can probably tell him where "his" team is playing.
I agree Bowden should defer to Miami but he isn't anything more than a symbol there anymore.
peace
Posted by: solarcane | December 06, 2009 at 07:36 PM
What's up on NBC cc?
Posted by: Lurker | December 06, 2009 at 07:36 PM
i think I'm the only one who sees FSU beating WVU.
Posted by: Esteban | December 06, 2009 at 07:39 PM
Este
Unless the play with outrageous emotion coast-to-coast, and WVU comes in flat, I see a blowout. But maybe that's just 'cause that's what I want to happen
Posted by: Lurker | December 06, 2009 at 07:42 PM
Gator Bowl Association Executive Director Rick Catlett is a jerk!
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/11/30
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | December 06, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Wisconsin will be a tough and good match up!
They destroyed Hawaii last night 51-10
TEY HAVE A VERY GOOD RUNNING BACK IN John Clay...
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | December 06, 2009 at 07:50 PM
They had a segment about the lack of black head coaches in the NCAA. Randy Shannon is the only one of those few who is in a BCS conference. It was pretty interesting.
Posted by: canechic | December 06, 2009 at 07:51 PM
Arizona, Nebraska headed to Holiday Bowl
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | December 06, 2009 at 07:52 PM
BCS Show will start in 5 minutes on FOX TV
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | December 06, 2009 at 07:54 PM
Much happier playing Wisconsin than Northwestern. Much more respected program. I don't really care that we don't get to play West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. Bowl games are all about money.
Posted by: JC | December 06, 2009 at 07:54 PM
Espn reported that UCF plays Rutgers in the St. Petersburg bowl (a friend of mine whose son plays at UCF purchased her tickets on Friday).
BC plays USC in the Emerald Bowl, FSU plays WVU in the Gator bowl, Clemson plays Kentucky in the Music City Bowl, UNC plays Pitt in Charlotte.
Still waiting for the official announcement for the Canes. My guess is the Champs Sports Bowl. Anyone know?
Posted by: windy1 | December 06, 2009 at 07:55 PM
thank you to Andre Johnson for being the only cane to score a td today.....
Posted by: SlingBlade | December 06, 2009 at 07:55 PM
I hope Pitt buries UNC right there in NC, the rest of the ACC teams I 'd like to see win... well except FSU this one time
peace
Posted by: solarcane | December 06, 2009 at 07:56 PM
ESPN is also having a BCS show at 8pm for 3 hours!
Posted by: BahamaCane | December 06, 2009 at 07:59 PM
Jimmy Johnson taking a swing at Ohio State...I love it...
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | December 06, 2009 at 08:00 PM
Canesx3, fsu can score all day on west virginia. WVU can do the same on FSU. going to be high scoring and probably close - i thinks.
Posted by: Esteban | December 06, 2009 at 08:03 PM
Man I can't lie I am looking forward to the Boise St vs TCU fiesta bowl. I think TCU will pull it out
Posted by: moneycane | December 06, 2009 at 08:05 PM
Sounds like Wisconsin has been up and down this year. Although the secondary clamped down on the Hawaii offense, that wasn't the case in the weeks leading up to the game.
The Badgers’ secondary has been torched in recent weeks as it has allowed 881 yards and eight touchdowns through the air over its last three games.
Indiana’s Ben Chappell (323 yards, 3 TDs) and Northwestern’s Mike Kafka in particular (326 yards, 2 TDs) looked like the second coming of Dan Fouts against the Badgers.
Posted by: Old Skool | December 06, 2009 at 08:08 PM