For The Love Of The Game

This article was written for Canespace by blogger UMike

 

Ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you there isn’t much I love more than Miami Hurricane football. 

For as long as I can remember I've bled orange and green.  From watching as a child when my grandmother would yell at the TV whenever the Hurricanes were playing to cheering my beloved 'Canes on to victory at the historic Orange Bowl as an adult my love for "The U" never faded.

 

But over time, and as you grow older, you find out that there are some things you love maybe even more than the 'Canes...like children.

 

Some of you here on Canespace have meet my son in person, and to some he is just UMike’s kid, but his love for Canes football runs just as deep as mine. As a lot of you may know, he is in the process of trying out for his middle school football team and is just about a lock to make it.

 

I can’t express the joy I feel watching him play or talking to him about football. I feel closer to my son now more than ever and football is a big reason for it.

 

I have been part of the Canespace family for a few years now and I have received personal advice, legal advice, football knowledge and more on here. Whenever I have posted something non-football related, people were always eager to help out.

 

I have tried to return the favor by writing articles when I can and telling anyone who will listen about “Da Space”, but now I need to ask for a huge favor.  Plain and simple, my son’s football team needs help. 

 

The help is not just for my boy, but all the other kids busting their humps every day out there in the heat to get better. This team reminds me of our ‘Canes in a lot of ways. They are a team with a rich tradition that has recently fallen on hard times with a new coach bringing in old school discipline and hard work to turn things around.

 

 

In 1976 and 1977 the Soddy Daisy middle school team went undefeated and were HCL champs both years.  In 1984 they were the HCAC champs and the runner-up in 1987, 1992 and 1993. However in recent years there has been a steady decline as evident by the JV’s 1-7 record a year ago.

 

Not only haven’t they played like winners as of late, they also didn’t look like winners. From speaking to other parents and listing to coaches comments I learned that last year these kids played with holes in their pants, out of date helmets and on a muddy, dirty field.

 

 

The school hired Coach Ron Cox to turn this program around and I firmly believe he will. Parents like myself and the players have all bought into his system and style of play. Coach Cox is from the old school and is a disciplinarian, much like coach Shannon. He has put academics and hard work first and is doing all he can do to build these kids into winners.

 

And just like coach Cox, I believe these kids deserve more.  After all, it is the kids’ fault they live in a small town with limited revenue or that the economy has caused a lot of budget cuts? These kids love football and their team just like we love our ‘Canes and they are putting in the work every day in practice to get better.

 

They don’t care that the field is a mess, or that the bleachers may fall apart at any moment. They don’t even care that their pants and jerseys may have holes in them.  They just want to play.  They want to play because they love football.  These kids play football for one reason and one reason only:

 

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME.

 

For that they should be rewarded. They deserve to look like winners, because they are certainly acting like winners. They deserve a nice field to play on, new and safer helmets and uniforms that don’t have holes in them.  These kids deserve our support.

 

Since the start of practice we have had a car wash, sold t–shirts and Coke-Cola products and stood outside of Wal-Mart and begged. We even spent a few hours cleaning up an old run down cemetery to help out the community. 

 

These kids did all this without hesitation, for the community, for their teammates and for their love of the game.  Although they managed to raise some money, they need more. They are trying to install a new sprinkler system, refurbish the bleachers and buy new pants, helmets and jerseys.

 

I think we can help. In fact I know we can.  

 

I know that here on Canespace we don’t always agree on a lot of things, but we can always agree on one thing: our love for football. 

 

I’m asking you to help these kids, because they deserve it. Not because they asked, but because they have earned it with their hard work and dedication.  Let's help these kids become winners again.

 

You do not have to give a lot, but I encourage you to give what you can.  Please follow the link below to donate to the Soddy Daisy middle school football program.  And, to make it easy, you can donate via PayPal, credit card, check, money order or cash. 

 

To donate, and make a difference in the lives of these kids, please visit:

 

http://www.centralvacuumplanet.com/sdms.htm

 

Thank U!

Comments

[Sebastian]

Teams are going to call the NCAA over anything now

Nobody is willing to catch the wrath of the black suits

[autumn]

ungar, to repeat what someone said half a moon or 3 ago:
you get my vote for best rookie blogger

[CGNC]

Posted by: DZ8 | July 27, 2010 at 02:51 PM

Great post

[CGNC]

Solar, you have mail

[orange 'n green in the vein]

VA Cane, he's overrated and hasn't won jack. solar posted his record post probation against UM to try to change my mind, it just reminds me why he's overrated. Also he has a scar, on his face, since childhood after he fell into a machine on a farm. Oops. If you can't get past my opinion of all those wins with nothing to show for meaning he's not worth the general consensous of his coaching abilities, well in the "immortal" words of the endeared Manny Navarro . . .

[BEERicane]

Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | July 27, 2010 at 05:14 PM

OGV, I would tend to agree with your opinion of Frankie just not for the same reason listed above. By that logic you must reject Shannon as our head coach because he doesn't have a Conference title, Division title, Bowl Win. Not even a winning record in the conference, and we are talking the ACC here...

[DZ8]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/27/1747869/a-little-help-from-my-friends.html

I'm sure most of you have seen this article but it reminds me of what Howard said in The U. "We would know more about these players then anyone else could." Now Schnelly was talking about from the recruiting angle and this article is after they've gotten to school but the point is the same.

This is our town. Shannon has eyes and ears all over town looking out for him, and The U.

(And we probably already reported or were reported on if there were any 2ndary violations re:SH.)

[86Cane]

Just arriving in the 904 via the 386.

New blog later tonight...sorry for the delay, but somtimes life gets in the way.

[solarcane]

cg,
I replied.

[DZ8]

To fly in to watch a game which airport should you fly into... MIA or Ft. Lauderdale...mapquest shows them both about 20 mins from Sunlife.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University says former football star Maurice Clarett has been granted re-entry to pursue his degree after he spent more than three years in prison.

Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch says in a statement that Clarett started classes on Monday after he was readmitted by the College of Education and Human Ecology, where he was originally enrolled.

Clarett says in a statement that it is a "surreal feeling to be back at Ohio State" and that he doesn't want to be a "distraction or nuisance" to the football team or other students.

Clarett led the Buckeyes to the 2002 national championship in his only college season. He pleaded guilty in 2006 to aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon, and served 3½ years in a Toledo prison, where he took college-credit courses.
Posted by: UMike | July 26, 2010 at 09:30 PM

>>>>>

That's good to hear.

[DZ8]

Thanks CGNC.

[Canez1]

DZ just bust in to FLL. Usually cheaper and much more accommodating.

Just grab a car and you are off.

What did I miss?? What happened to Cat??

VACane you need to relax Francis. All non canez are fair game. Remember where you are.

It really isn't a big deal. I make fun of everyone. Get over it and move on.

Makes life alot easier.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[DZ8]

Normally do but it's just cause I got friends in Hollywood. Going to price out tickets for the FAMU game. Fly down, sleep, fly back. Shouldn't be too bad.

[RBLCane]

By that logic you must reject Shannon as our head coach because he doesn't have a Conference title, Division title, Bowl Win. Not even a winning record in the conference, and we are talking the ACC here...

Posted by: BEERicane | July 27, 2010 at 05:27 PM

In the famous words of Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friend!"

Shannon's been HC at Miami ~4 years; Beamer's been at VaTech since 1987! The two coaches aren't comparable. Moreover, NO coach would last at Miami as long as Beamer has without a national title.

Simply put, Miami and VaTech have different standards when it comes to judging their coaches, and rightfully so since Miami and VaTech, despite the fact they play us so well, are on different stratospheres when it comes to college football.

By VaTech standards, Frank Beamer is a legendary coach. VaTech is a program that values a coach who will bring them 10-win seasons and conference championships, even if they can't hang with any of the elite national powers or compete for a national title. Conference championships are as good as it gets at VaTech and Beamer is an elite coach at meeting this standard.

However, by Miami standards, conference titles alone won't fly. We're The U! After you've had a taste of the national title--and we've had plenty of tastes!--there's no going back. By our standards, Beamer is a failure and would've been canned at The U a million years ago.

GO CANES!!!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

...so pick a better way of addressing this man besides Scarface....try Coach Beamer.

Posted by: VA Cane | July 27, 2010 at 12:24 PM

>>>>>

VA, we hear you on Beamer but OGV's style in general is to go over the top. lol

Thanks for the Beamer brief though. This is the sort of information that needs to be well-known instead of tucked away on a blog.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

And I don't think VT is average, they're just not great. A lot of room between those two places.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Yeah, Beamer would've been run out of Miami a long, long time ago. But he's a very good fit for VT. I know he hates losing Travis Williams though. haha

But I'll tell you one thing. I'll be a gobbler fan when they play Boisie. I hope they beat the snot out of them and force them to join a real conference or forever be on the outside looking in.

[SOUP]

DZ8...as Canez1 said before, it is a no brainer: GO TO FLL.

[SOUP]

Cat5...U gotta be kidding me? It was a JOKE U fool. U know me better than anyone here and U go all sentimental and soft on me all of a sudden? I'll call U you old fart!

[DZ8]

I was thinking the same thing Cav... When they play Boise might be the only time I'll ever root for them, I think I rooted for them against UNC though, not sure.

CFSIC- exactly. If Shannon goes a couple more years without winning anything then we can call him a failure and praise our new coach.

[DZ8]

Whats the hotel you all stay at?

[solarcane]

ESPN
Canes making waves

Miami off to solid start on recruiting trail and could be poised for a top class in 2011

ESPN Recruiting

Miami closed out the last recruiting season with a solid but unspectacular class, finishing No. 13 overall. It wasn't a sexy class because the Hurricanes loaded up on linemen, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Then the Canes got a huge boost in the post-signing day additions of five-star offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson, who left USC after sanctions there were announced, and four-star defensive back Latwan Anderson, who was once committed with West Virginia but signed with the Canes in March. Those recruits, coupled with coach Randy Shannon's contract extension and expectations of good things this year in Miami, should give the Canes a boost in recruiting.

Who the Hurricanes have
Miami already has six commits for the 2011 class, including Miami Northwestern High School four-star QB Teddy Bridgewater. Some say that this ESPNU 150 member will not be a quarterback at the next level, that he projects higher at receiver or even safety. Maybe, but how could you at least not give him the benefit of the doubt as a quarterback? Bridgewater has size (6-foot-2, 179 pounds), great athleticism, a strong arm and the ability to make plays with his legs and extend a play. He is the high school version of Vince Young. In fact, at the same stage, Bridgewater is much further along as a thrower than Young was in the fall of 2001. It's not even close and athletically, they are the same player. Bridgewater is confident, fearless and a leader. He could be the heir apparent to Jacory Harris at the U.

Coach Randy Shannon and the Hurricanes are marching toward a strong 2011 recruiting class.Two South Florida receivers are already committed to the Canes in Miami Northwestern's Eli Rogers and Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas' Phillip Dorsett. Both Rogers and Dorsett are very explosive and certainly big play guys who should fit in nicely at Miami.

Rogers, a four-star prospect and an Under Armour All-American, is an ESPNU 150 member and the No. 20 rated receiver in the nation. Dorsett is a three-star prospect and the No. 43 wideout in the country, but don't be surprised if Dorsett makes an official visit to Chapel Hill this fall.

Some offensive linemen might not look at Miami because of the number of players it took from that position last year, but that didn't stop Marcus Jackson, a four-star offensive guard from Vero Beach (Fla.) Senior, from committing to the Hurricanes.

In fact, he made his Miami pledge in December and has the highest grade of any player in the Canes' class so far. Jackson, an Under Armour All-American, attended Florida's Friday Night Lights camp over the weekend but insists he's 100 percent Hurricane. Jackson is the No. 6 offensive guard prospect in the nation and is No. 86 in the ESPNU 150.

Miami has two defensive prospects in linebacker Nick Menocal from Miami (Fla.) Belen Jesuit and cornerback Albert Louis-Jean from Brockton (Mass.) HS. Menocal is 6-2, 225 pounds and has speed and athleticism on the edge, while Louis-Jean is a big corner at 6-1 and 175 pounds. So how does a defensive back from Massachusetts end up at Miami? It's simple: Miami is his dream school. Louis-Jean is raw at this stage but has all the tools to be an outstanding player.

The lasting question for the Canes with him is can they hang on to him? Despite his love for the Canes, teams like Penn State are not giving up on Louis-Jean.

While Miami isn't loaded with commitments like some other schools, it is still off to a good start with these six recruits. Shannon & Co. did well in their backyard of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties last year, but this year they are doing even better.

Who the Hurricanes still want
Miami is setting itself up for a really good class and is in some classic recruiting battles with Florida, FSU, Clemson, Alabama and many others for some of the nation's top prospects.

Miami's Class of 2011
Miami is off to a solid start on the recruiting path and if the Canes have as big of a season as some predict, it could be a big year for coach Randy Shannon.
2011 commit list
Running back is a tough sell for Miami because it is so loaded at this position. Still, there are two at this point to keep a close eye on with five-star James Wilder from Tampa (Fla.) Plant and four-star Savon Huggins from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's. At one point Wilder named Miami his leader. Many think he's Florida's to lose, while others say he could be headed to Athens. He spent this past weekend in Tallahassee. So where he ends up is anyone's guess. One thing is for sure: Wilder will likely make a decision very soon, and the Canes are in the hunt. Huggins recently trimmed his list to 10 schools and Miami made the cut, joining Notre Dame, Penn State and Georgia among others.

The Hurricanes are in big-time battles for four-star Belle Glades (Fla.) Central WR Kelvin Benjamin (Belle Glade, Fla.) and four-star South Fort Meyers (Fla.) HS wideout Sammy Watkins. Both the Canes and Gators have huge ties to Benjamin's high school, but Miami is reportedly the team to beat at this point for the 6-5, 210-pound receiver. Watkins, on the other hand, has been going back and forth between Clemson and Miami. Now it seems as though the Tigers are in the lead but that could change. His brother, Jaylen, signed with Florida this past season.

Miami is the leader for four-star Cleveland Glenview ATH Shane Wynn, who will likely end up as a receiver, and could be in the mix for four-star wideout DaVaris Daniels from Vernon Hill (Ill.) HS and Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra five-star WR George Farmer (Gardena, Calif.), though many feel that he will likely end up at USC.

A huge recruiting battle is underway for Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) Dwyer's five-star TE Nick O'Leary. This is shaping up to be a battle between Miami, FSU, Florida, Alabama and Georgia, and many think he could end up in Coral Gables. This should be an interesting recruitment with plenty of rumors and innuendo, especially considering O'Leary doesn't like talking to the media.

Four-star Brandon Fulse from Ft. Meade (Fla.) Senior is another highly-rated tight end prospect who is very interested in the Hurricanes. But he also likes Auburn, FSU and many others.

Two offensive tackles to watch are Charleston (S.C.) Goose Creek's Brandon Shell and Lakeland (Fla.) Lake Gibson's Errin Joe.

One player who could certainly end up at Miami is defensive end Anthony Chickillo (Tampa, Fla.). He would be a third-generation Hurricane and it would be a stunner if he ended up somewhere else. Other defensive ends to keep an eye on are five-star Jadeveon Clowney (Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe) and four-star D-linemen Ishaq Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln), Aaron Lynch (Cape Coral, Fla./Island Coast), Giorgio Newberry (Ft. Pierce, Fla./Central), and Bryant Dubose (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Northeast). Clowney lists Alabama and South Carolina as his favorites, but the nation's top prospect really wants to visit Miami. And remember, that's all you can ask for if you are Randy Shannon.

Coral Gables (Fla.) HS three-star linebacker Denzel Perryman (Coral Gables, Fla.) should ink with the Hurricanes, while Miami trails Clemson for five-star ILB Tony Steward from St. Augustine (Fla.) Pedro Menendez. Miami is also in the hunt for four-star Curtis Grant (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) and four-star OLB Lateek Townsend (Bennettsville, S.C./Marlboro County).

Miami wants to add some help in the secondary. Watch out for Marcus Roberson (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas), Jabari Gorman (Miami, Fla./Pace), Dallas Crawford (Fort Myers, Fla./South Fort Myers), Robenson Therezie (Miami, Fla./Jackson) and athlete Dominique Terrell (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park).

Bottom line
Miami could very well close with an unbelievable class. The key will certainly be how the Hurricanes play this fall. There is plenty of talent on the roster but the schedule is brutal, including a three-game stretch of games at Ohio State, Pitt and Clemson. A good season and Miami will reap the benefits on the recruiting trail. An underwhelming season where Shannon gets placed back on the hot seat (considering he just signed an extension, it would take a total collapse for him to be fired) and all bets are off.

Jamie Newberg has been covering recruiting in the Southeast and nationally for 19 years. He can be reached at jamienewbergbw@yahoo.com.

[solarcane]

UM coach Randy Shannon has community helping him keep his Hurricanes out of trouble AP

Miami native Randy Shannon gets plenty of feedback from the community on his players.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — It takes a village to keep University of Miami players out of trouble.

While several major college football programs are under the spotlight of NCAA investigators looking into inappropriate contact between players and agents, coach Randy Shannon said the Hurricanes have managed to stay clean thanks to help from supporters in South Florida.

When a night club or individual is promoting a party using a UM player, Shannon gets a call. When trouble is looming at a night spot where players congregate, Shannon gets a call. When agents loom, Shannon gets a call.

"I get a lot of stuff from the community," said Shannon, who was born in Miami and has lived there nearly his entire life. "That's the one thing that saves me.

"We get a lot of feedback, kind of a share and share deal. They want to see us be successful and not have any problems."

That's why Shannon said he wasn't bothered when he learned the NCAA was looking into a South Beach pool party reportedly thrown by ex-UM running back Frank Gore that was attended by several prominent college football players.

Shannon said he emphasizes educating former players on NCAA rules regarding improper benefits as much as he does current players.

Ex-players, Shannon said at the ACC Football Kickoff, are made to "understand that OK, you can communicate and talk to players on the team, but you cannot have your agent around when our players are around. That's a no-no and they understand that."

Shannon did not say if any UM players attended Gore's party.

He did say, however, that much of the support he gets from locals is due to his ties to the area as well as his efforts to involve himself and the team's players in the community.

"I'm not saying it's not tough (to keep players out of trouble)," Shannon said. "It is tough. (But) if I don't get this help that I'm having, it would be more difficult."

Other subjects discussed by Shannon on Monday:

•Tailback Graig Cooper, recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in the Champs Sports Bowl loss to Wisconsin in December, has been working out with his teammates but Shannon is unsure if the junior can contribute this season. Fall practice begins Aug. 5, but Shannon said "we're not going to throw (Cooper) out there. We're going to take it slow and get him into certain drills to build his confidence."
•Asked about LeBron James signing with the Heat, Shannon cracked: "It took the pressure off of me. They got to win a championship now."
•Quarterback Jacory Harris, coming off thumb surgery in January, will be "full go" in fall practice. Shannon spent most of last season saying there was nothing wrong with Harris, but admitted on Monday that he was "probably done" after he aggravated his thumb injury against North Carolina on Nov. 14.
•Shannon declined to discuss incoming recruit Seantrel Henderson, an offensive lineman from Minnesota regarded as the nation's top high school prospect last year. Henderson reportedly will enroll at UM on Aug. 3.
•Joel Figueroa, a senior who started nine games at guard last season, has been moved to right tackle.

[DZ8]

thanks solar

[OCALACANE]

Canes

[Old Skool]

Bryce and Arthur Abducted by Aliens or Kansans (Same difference)

“Bryce left town without a face-to-face request (with UT football coach Derek Dooley) for a transfer,” a school official told the News Sentinel on Tuesday evening. “There’s still no news on where he wants to go.”

“I said in February that I was open to Bryce coming back on the condition that he wanted to unpack his bags and put his heart into this program,” Dooley said. “I fully expect Bryce not to be on our team.

“The reason it has continued on is because Bryce has not come to me, looked me in the eye and said I want a release to so and so school. At some point, that’s got to happen.”

It's interesting that both guys play positions that require quick decision-making. And yet .... still no commitment to play anywhere else.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

VACane, how about I address him as, "Coach Beamer, who teaches his players to twist knees underneath the pile and coaches a BORING brand of football that will never win a national championship while it puts people to sleep, while having a scar . . . on his face."

Too long huh? And CanesFanStuckInCali takes the prize for why you can't equate fourth year head coach The Randy with 24th (!!!!!!) year head turkey man. Again, he's a little better than Bill Dooley, wow. If Petersen was there Miami would have real trouble rather than this farcical annoyance on our hands now.

[xxcanes305xx]

i'm planning on going to the ohio state game and need to no one which hotel will we be taken over?

[VA Cane]

In the Vein,
Coach is a good man who has done a good job at a quality educational institution. He is not in the hunt every year; he made it once and failed. The schedule is not too tough, and he wins. He has done a good job of putting VT on the map. He has taken care of his coaches and cares about his players. His special teams are very good. He has played UM better than most; probably anybody else in the last 15 years. He is a good coach. End of statement. It is not even about that. When one calls a man a name because of a accident, that is going too far. You can talk all you want about him; he is Coach Beamer or Frank if you prefer.

I have friends I went to high school and college with who hate UM. A prominent banker friend of mine thinks that all of UMs players are dumb blacks (he used a different word), they cheated their way to 5 NCs as all our players are dumb ghetto kids or rich white boys who do not attend class, and that 80% of the fans in Miami are ignorant Latinos who are here illegally. He told me this yesterday, and I blasted his azz big time!! He's my banker and handles my business, but he was way out of line!! My point: don't judge or put down people because of physical characteristics, race, or things you do not know about.

Yes Coach is a good fit at VT, they are not on our level regarding NCs. I hope RS is going to get us there...again. We have slipped a long way since 2001....the last OB game loss ....to UVA of all teams.. has to be an all time low. That team from UVA was not good...so what did that say about us? We really have been below VT in the last few years...BUT I think RS has righted the ship that was sinking, and we are going to be on the scene again. I respect Coach, and go to a game a year in B-burg...I was at that debacle last year, and they crushed us. I do not worry about them, and I love Coach. Ultimately, my concern is the success of UM. They are my team, and have been since the mid-70s. I just want to see us really compete again for NCS. We need to win our division, conference and NC to be considered a national powerhouse again. It is time to take that step...I want multiple titles for us.

RIP Jack Tatum, The Assassin...my favorite player of all time, got to meet him several times in CA. Jack, the illegitimate father of our fallen son Sean Taylor.!! Can you imagine the D those two will be playing up there?!!!

[SOUP]

NEW BLOG IS UP!

[DZ8]

.

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