Straight From The Source

Recently we had the chance to chat with University of Miami student Justin Antweil about the upcoming football season for the Hurricanes.

 

Justin is the sports editor for The Miami Hurricane, the student newspaper at UM.  He is also the sports director for WVUM, the student radio station.

 

 

You can read his articles at themiamihurricane.com and listen to him and his staff broadcast all Hurricane home football games at wvum.org. 

 

1.  We hear from the UM ticket office that sales are WAY up this year.  UM AD Kirby Hocutt and the newly hired Chris Freet as SID is changing the way UM communicates with their fans for the better. What's the general consensus on how students at UM feel about the players, coaches and direction of the team?

Students at UM are extremely excited and optimistic about the season. I think every student will put his or her name in the lottery to try and get the right to buy tickets to the Ohio State game. But I think students are ready to see this team win on a consistent basis. From a public relations standpoint, the school is happy to report high Academic Progress Reports and a great Graduation Rates but the bottom line is fans just want to win. The current seniors at UM have not seen UM win a bowl game in their four year tenure. Miami is a football school first and foremost and it’s time Miami gets back to its winning ways.

 

2. Many Canes fans feel that the 2010 team may go 10-2 and compete for an ACC title.  We have a group of hard core fans known as the 12%ers that believe (like every year) that the Hurricanes will be undefeated and compete for a BCS Championship.  Still other's have their doubts about the experience, talent and depth on this team and see another 9-3 season ahead with 2011 as the year the Canes once again grasp the Holy Grail.  Where do you fall along this continuum?

 

I would define a successful season as making the BCS National Title game. January 8, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona is the only date and place UM fans should have on their minds. Once you make it to the big game, you have no control what happens (cough cough pass interference call against OSU). Miami has improved every year under Randy Shannon going from five to seven to nine wins, now it’s time to make the next step. There is really no excuse. Players are not young, the same pairing of coordinators return and there is finally depth on the roster excluding tight ends and linebackers. It’s hard to believe Miami has yet to even make the ACC Title game since they switched conferences. The ACC is not a premiere conference in football, it’s known for its basketball prowess. This team has all the tools, the big question is can these athletes become football players and make plays on the gridiron. We hear a lot about All-Americans on Green Tree Practice Field, now let’s see it when it counts.

 

3. We know the offense is loaded with talent at the skill positions but some fans are still concerned about the UM offensive line.  Do you have any clear evidence that the OL will be able to keep QB Jacory Harris standing upright and most importantly staying healthy all season long?

 

I have an extreme amount of confidence in the offensive line. While they allowed 35 sacks last year and were abysmal in the bowl game against Wisconsin, this year they have depth and talent. Orlando Franklin will be solid on the offensive line and Joel Figueroa will make the seamless transition from guard to tackle. Tyler Horn can do a serviceable job at center like AJ Trump did last year. And there is plenty of depth. Players like Brandon Linder, Shane McDermott and Malcolm Bunche won’t even start and they could be starting at a lot of other BCS schools. The big wild card is what does Randy Shannon and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland do with Seantrel Henderson, the top offensive line prospect in the country. He’s too good to redshirt. I think he starts by the Florida State game. He’s just too talented to be watching from the sideline.

 

4. Now about the linebacker situation, what do your sources and senses tell you that Randy Shannon is going to do at MLB?  Kylan Robinson?  Surely U must be kidding?

 

Randy Shannon, a former linebacker himself, just loves veteran linebackers. We’ve seen him play Tavares Gooden, Romeo Davis, Glenn Cook, Darryl Sharpton and now he’s hyping up Kylan Robinson. There’s a reason why Robinson has not seen meaningful action during his tenure. I don’t trust K-Rob at all. I think Colin McCarthy will slide over to MLB and Jordan Futch, once healthy as he recovers from ACL surgery, will start at OLB.

 

5. The schedule, especially early on, is brutal.  What games do you see as Miami's toughest challenges or match-ups along the way?

 

While it is brutal, that’s why you come to Miami. To play in big time games. But the schedule is not as tough as it seems. Miami’s toughest ACC games are at home at Sun Life Stadium. They play Florida State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina all in Miami Gardens. That’s a big advantage. I think the biggest game will be October 2^nd against Clemson in Death Valley. That will set the tone for ACC Play. Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker is expected to return and not sign a pro deal with the Colorado Rockies.

 

6. Now for the REALLY important stuff: How are the cheerleaders looking in tryouts and early practice this year and do you have any video or photos of the 2010 squad?

Unfortunately I have no inside nuggets about any five star recruits the cheerleading squad brought in. Personally, I prefer the Sunsations over UM’s cheerleaders.

Comments

[Canestruck]

Might have missed this, what was the diagnosis of Byrd's knee? All I saw was x ray negative....Am I missing something?

[Zakkee]

Yea I noticed that too solar!

I've been watching the UM vs. USF game (I still have recorded on DVR all summer) just to see his theatrics..lol! He was going in all game, jawing, clapping, and screaming "wooooooo...yeaaaah....what!" after every hit. The announcers even noticed and said, "Man, that Colin McCarthy kid is really rev'd up for this game...he was even over jacking with some of the South Florida players during pre-game warm-ups"! I think it was Brad Nessler that noticed CMac wildin out during the game.

[Hurri']

All the more reason C-Mac should be in the middle.

He and Coop go harder than anybody on that squad, as far as I'm concerned.

[Nashvillecane]

All the more reason C-Mac should be in the middle.

He and Coop go harder than anybody on that squad, as far as I'm concerned.

Posted by: Hurri' | August 19, 2010 at 09:50 AM

"There it is right there"

[Nashvillecane]

IMO Shannon is giving #36 the reps there in camp so he'll be ready when need bcoz we all know that um has had injury probs at lb the last 3 seasons...he already knows what CMac brings to the field he understands he's got to get the back ups ready...and in regards to COOOOP he only sees meaningful action if truly healthy considering the crowed backfield... IMO if COOP ain't going to be the primary rb then he def needs to be the main kr/pr!

[NativeCane]

DZ8- We are eager to serve you!
http://media.photobucket.com/image/hillbilly/Chokezilla17/Hillbilly.jpg?o=37

[Canez1]

Yo for everyone in for the Allcanes pregame party on Friday in Columbus get in now and payup suckaz!!

They fill up fast!

http://allcanes.com/osuparty.html

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[PhillyCane]

DZ8. My girl sweats Hester soooo hard, ever since I took her to Temple v Miami 4 or so years back she is in love with the guy. Im obviously from Philly and shes a f'in Bears fan cause of him. I took her to the Bears Eagles and I had to hide her as she wore a Hester jersey.

Now we all know he isnt the best thing to look at in the least, but she loves the way he plays, I mean who doesnt. Though she would marry him lol, but its not for his looks, prolly the money

[PhillyCane]

So in regards to zakkees girl n c mac, i can see her sweatin not cause of looks but on play cause my girls like that.. sometimes

[the "U" is America's team]

Thanks solarcane, I think "know" Jacory will do great again this year, I have no doubt in that. It was just that I was amazed with how the 2001 receivers were so cat quick....it was the first thing I noticed as I watched the youtube video.

[Sarasota 'cane]

u

[CaneRock]

I don't care what anybody tells me, but C-Mac and John Cena are the same people. I mean c'mon, when's the last time that ya'll saw them at the same place at the same time...

[DZ8]

NativeCane- I thank U!

PhillyCane-Is she a Canes fan? That was my point. I was just "dropped off" in Miami while my parents traveled the world with the State Department (they had to take me along with them). So I became a Dolphins/Hurricanes/Heat fan. It doesn't matter *how* you find Allah... just that you find him. haha

[Six]

C-Mac is the kind of guy that you'd go to a bar with .. have a couple of drinks or shots .. then he'd turn to you and say:

"F*ck it, let's start a fight" - and the scary thing is, you'd probably think it was just as good an idea as him to do for fun

I know that C-Mac loved that USF game, he kept saying how it's good to be home

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Cav

Thomas Sowell IS actually an economist. Not a pretend-intellectual with a bunch of diplomas that mean nothing. U and him are on the same side on many issues but your anarchist mentality occasionally causes you to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
Yes he was a photographer with the Marines. He didn't join the Marines and they didn't ask him what he wanted to do.
Every step of the way he was true to his independent beliefs.
You know how much ridicule a "conservative" teacher faces? You know how much ridicule a "conservative" black man faces?
Ask Clarence Thomas.

Thomas Sowell is one of my heroes.

Posted by: DZ8 | August 19, 2010 at 08:28 AM

>>>>>>

Nothing personal with you bro' but anytime I hear someone call themselves an economist or an intellectual, all of which he calls himself, I know they're talkers....

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Thats what I don't understand about Cavs comments. Sowell is, straight-up, you get what you earn. No favoritism allowed.

Posted by: DZ8 | August 19, 2010 at 08:39 AM

>>>>>>

Sowell gets a couple of basic things but that shyt is so obvious it's elementary, nothing to write home about.

The point is he's clueless about the bigger, deeper picture. In his own words, he's a talker.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

IMO Shannon is giving #36 the reps there in camp so he'll be ready when need bcoz we all know that um has had injury probs at lb the last 3 seasons...he already knows what CMac brings to the field he understands he's got to get the back ups ready...and in regards to COOOOP he only sees meaningful action if truly healthy considering the crowed backfield... IMO if COOP ain't going to be the primary rb then he def needs to be the main kr/pr!

Posted by: Nashvillecane | August 19, 2010 at 10:20 AM

>>>>>>

Nash, I thought that a week ago but now I'm not so sure. Even thought C-Mac knows the defense, he would have to spend some time at the Mike. From his own statements I'm starting to think it's a legit move and that K-Rob knows he doesn't have to be superman because he has a bunch of veterans around him.

We'll find out soon enough.

[360Cane]

I like what DZ8 is starting here, and I think it would be a great way to get to know how we all came to be Canes. So here it is:

How did U become a Cane?
What is your most memorable moment as a Cane?

Now, I'm not going to play this by myself, but will gladly add once I see we have other participants. Hee Hee!

GO CANES!!!

[Keoki]

Canez1 | August 19, 2010 at 11:32 AM

Done for Aqua and I
Thanks Canez1 & see U there!

Beat the F*ck out of the Suckeyes!!!

[Daddeh]

U

[solarcane]

1972 the Dolphins were on top of the world the Miami Hurricanes were the armpit of college football.

I was at Burdines and a disc jockey named Jim Dunlap gave me 5 tickets to see FSU vs Miami.

I had nothing to do, so a bunch of us went just to look at the cheerleaders and kill the day.
FSU had a running back named Mack Brown that went on to be a pretty decent football coach.

Even though the Canes sucked major azz, something about seeing a live college football game was so much cooler than seeing the Dolphins getting paid to stomp people into the ground.

Chuck Foreman, who was a cornerback, was converted to running back because Miami didn't have anybody with enough speed to play running back was there.

I think the Qb was named Coy Hall or Holt
I think Rubin Carter and Burgess Owens were there too but that might have been later.

I went again a couple years later and when I saw Ottis Anderson for the first time, I was a Cane for life.

[JUST CANE]

Let's hear it for Nassau

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMjpppudNkk

[solarcane]

Clip of the Day

Federer blasts a bottle off a guys head with a Tennis serve twice.

http://surfreport.msn.com/?from=en-us_msnhp&GT1=32074

[solarcane]

Just Cane

this comment on You Tube under the clip just about sums that one up lol!

i love this video - the level of douchebaggery is awesome and fitting

[DZ8]

nice solar

Good job 360Cane... now your turn.

[solarcane]

Heather Dinich goes up against Randy at 7 on QAM

[mi@mic@ne]

Grew up in Miami and played football at K land....i experienced the Dade County football machine.... actually it was 1975 and Dade County was a place where the big colleges like the Nebraskas ...Alabamas would cherry pick the local talent.
I played for a 2A school and was on the second page of the Herald in a big spread ...huge endzone photo after my td run.... the article took up the whole page. Thats how bad the Canes were.
But Howard Snells. came in and developed a pipe line to the Canes....he started the longest winning streak in at the OB... 58...baby... I bleed Miami football.

[Hurri']

I was over my cousin Heem's (a big FSU fan) crib, and I remember he had the 95' FSU-UM game on TV.

Heem was always better than me at every sport, so I always had sort of a subtle, competitive rivalry with him. I figured I'd just root for whatever team he was against.

I didn't know ANYTHING about swagger this, or Old-School Cane that. I just simply didn't want the team he liked to win. It was a pleasant convenience that they happened to play in the same city as my favorite pro team, too.

That game put them on my radar, but I honestly didn't start following UM really hard though, until the late 90's. Around the time Santana got there.

The UCLA game, which I had to beg the girl whose house I was over to turn it on, was the game that locked it up for me, though. Tana was the man that day, along with Edge.

Before all that, when I did watch Col. FB, it was Mich., because of the fight song and the fact that their helmets have the same design as The University of Delaware.

[CGNC]

You'll be jumping out of your chair this year and you'll be watching Shannon teach these fools what Hurricane Football really looks like and what real HCing looks like.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | August 19, 2010 at 01:00 AM

Cavvy - as someone who has sat in extreme heat, rain, freezing cold and freezing rain to watch us burn timeouts like bad pot, almost lose to Wake, lose to Wisky, lose to NC State, lose to UNC TWICE.....I surely hope you are right

[UMike]

CGNC..it will feel SOOOO good to beat these teams were SUPPOSE to beat..freakin North Carolina???? COME ONE!!!! lol

[CGNC]

UMike yes it will - but I am not amped for this season like the last 6 or 7 where I would think "this year". I will watch every game I can, but not so sure I want to spend $$$$ on airfare etc until there is something better to see :\

[OCALACANE]

Grew up in Miami and played football at K land....i experienced the Dade County football machine.... actually it was 1975 and Dade

I also played @ K land from 72 to 75 or 76...

Where did U go to school?

[UMike]

GCNC..im going to the GT game because its my b-day weekend and its only 2 hours away..every other game I will be watching on tv or online

[PhillyCane]

UMike, did u by ne chance see my post about my nephew who just started pop warner here in pa?

[UMike]

Philly..I did not see it....but I can tell you this..from the first practice, I realized why these recruiting "experts" always get it wrong lol....my youngest son...I would take him to the field in the summer while training my oldet son...my youngest is big, fast and aggresive..would try and tackle my oldest son and get mean etc etc...well if anyone was evaulating him for a pee-wee league..he would of been a 5-star....then we get to practice....they put him at OLB..he is 100% clueless lol...they snap the ball he runs and pushes people blocking..has no idea where the ball is etc...my first thought was "Author Brown" lol...hes doing much better now..its a trip watching 5 & 6 yo's hit eachother

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

1972 the Dolphins were on top of the world the Miami Hurricanes were the armpit of college football.

I was at Burdines and a disc jockey named Jim Dunlap gave me 5 tickets to see FSU vs Miami.

I had nothing to do, so a bunch of us went just to look at the cheerleaders and kill the day.
FSU had a running back named Mack Brown that went on to be a pretty decent football coach.

Even though the Canes sucked major azz, something about seeing a live college football game was so much cooler than seeing the Dolphins getting paid to stomp people into the ground.

Chuck Foreman, who was a cornerback, was converted to running back because Miami didn't have anybody with enough speed to play running back was there.

I think the Qb was named Coy Hall or Holt
I think Rubin Carter and Burgess Owens were there too but that might have been later.
I went again a couple years later and when I saw Ottis Anderson for the first time, I was a Cane for life.

Posted by: solarcane | August 19, 2010 at 02:04 PM

>>>>>

Solar always has the greatest stories, no matter the subject.

[PhillyCane]

Lol thats funny Umike.. i guess it is more than just physical ability huh? Well my nephew just started and he is very small for a 5th grade and is prolly the smallest on his team. I went to his first scrimmage and they had him at corner but there were no WR so he was just protecting the edge on runs.

He had a couple tackles but a couple times he took a bad angle and wasnt fast enough to catch up and make up for it. My other nephew who is two years younger wants to play and is right now is faster and stronger. When we play in the backyard he can run right by the older one who is in pop warner now.

I was happy to see him stick is nose in there and atleast take a runner head on but he just isnt physically gifted enough, not like his younger bro. And he has confidence issues cause he knows hes small. I dont know what to do with him.. any suggestions to get his confidence up and make him a better player?

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Cavvy - as someone who has sat in extreme heat, rain, freezing cold and freezing rain to watch us burn timeouts like bad pot, almost lose to Wake, lose to Wisky, lose to NC State, lose to UNC TWICE.....I surely hope you are right

Posted by: CGNC | August 19, 2010 at 03:25 PM

>>>>>>

Haha, you keep those buns warm CGNC. You won't be disappointed. ;-)

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

My Canes 4 Life moment..

1st probably the '86 OU game. But it really happened in 1988 comeback against Meechigan and the next week's thievery against ND. Something about that combination and how fearless, confident and cocky Walsh and the rest of the team were AFTER Jerome, Irvin, Bratton et al were gone.

That's when I knew it was a system, a juggernaut.

[86Cane]

POLL RESULTS, DEAD HEAT:

32.2%

Miami will beat both OSU and Pitt on the road

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

32.2%

Miami will average over 35 PPG

[solarcane]

umike My birthday is Oct 3 you must be damn close to that.

CaptO, lol!!
I guess you live long enough you relate to a lot of stuff.

It was strange because though the Dolphins were THE team, they didn't seem like our team because the players were from everywhere else, cripes they were from places like Tulsa, we didn't even know where Tulsa was.

I think maybe Maulty Moore and Hubert Ginn were the only Floridians on that team.
I mean the typical Florida fans that jump on any winning teams bandwagon were all over them.

When you went to those Hurricane games back then you recognized some of the high school's names at least.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Brian Griese picked Miami to beat the Buckeyes today. I do not consider that the, "kiss of death," the honor for that belongs to Sunshine Corso.

[TJL]

geez I feel old! What I remember about my first canes games was the day after the headlines was not about the game, but how there was actually a traffic jam on the 836 for a game! We were playing Florida too! Happy to say I saw every game of the streak live, I was working (one of the guys in blue) but was there. We used to have our roll call before the games in the tunnel where the visiting team would exit the bus and enter to get to the locker room. There were always about 100 of us and 90% Canes fans, so the opposing players always got dirty looks from the guys with the guns n badges. After a few years we were not allowed to hold our roll calls at that location because several teams complained they were intimidated walking through a bunch of armed scowling cops!

[solarcane]

32.2%

Miami will average over 35 PPG

That one you can bank on.

The other one won't devastate us either way if we lose to one or the other, but not both.

[86Cane]

I'm stoked to see the WYPT shirts!

Posted by: solarcane | August 19, 2010 at 09:04 AM

U will like them. They have your WYPT decal logo on the front center (LARGE) and the Chattooga Section IV rapids listed on the back by name of the rapid and whiterwater level of difficulty.

[solarcane]

TJL

this is a tribute to you

One of my non Hurricane friends was at game with us at the OB.
He asked why no Miami fans ever rushed the field or tore down the goal posts.
I pointed to a couple of you guys.
he said, "yea I get it."

( special attention to the gigantic black cop that always seemed to be by the end zone on the upper right side as you face the endzone from the field. He was Darth Vader before we ever heard of Star Wars.

[solarcane]

Posted by: 86Cane | August 19, 2010 at 05:19 PM

now not only stoked I have a chubby!!!!

[86Cane]

GCNC..im going to the GT game because its my b-day weekend and its only 2 hours away..every other game I will be watching on tv or online

Posted by: UMike | August 19, 2010 at 04:17 PM

UMike are U in for Clemson? If so how many tickets?

Old Skool are U in also? If so how many tickets?

[TJL]

Solar-We never lost a goal post, Just put a K-9 next to it.

[solarcane]

TJL, remember the students with the Jack o Lanterns on their heads? and you guys letting it slide?

that was some funny kaa kaa