Canespace

The Morning After

Unbelievable.  Unacceptable.  Intolerable.

That is what your Miami Hurricanes performance against the Virginia Cavaliers was on Saturday in Charlottesville.  After a season that began with so much promise of talent, coaching and success how has it now wound down to a state of complete despair and undeniable misery?

Your Miami Hurricanes went on a road trip to face the Virginia Cavaliers in what was supposed to be a light dress rehearsal for a "real game" against UVA's in-state brethren the Virginia Tech Hokies at Sun Life Stadium on November 20th when the ACC Coastal division title would be on the line. 

Instead the Hurricanes got completely undressed and embarrassed by the lowly Cavaliers.  Miami was beaten early and often (UVA led 24-0 before Miami woke up in the fourth quarter and tried to make a game of it), roughed up (UM QB Jacory Harris was knocked out of the game on a legal yet vicious hit) and then b*tch slapped by a Virginia team that was 3-4 and previously winless in the ACC.

The loss to Virginia is certainly going to leave a big, ugly mark on Miami's season record.  No make it worse than that.  This could be fatal.

 
Miami was humiliated by the Cavaliers and Hurricane fans everywhere, many of whom predicted that Miami would win easily, were nothing short of ashamed, embarrassed and dejected after the loss. 

The Hurricanes once again showed up but were not ready to play as Virginia took a 24-0 lead before Miami came back late in the fourth quarter to make it a game before losing 24-19.

 
Miami starting QB Jacory Harris was hurt early in the second quarter and may be out for the season.  After Harris' exit from the game and straight to the lockeroom Miami was running on less than all eight cylinders and the game, and their entire season, seemed to be instantly over.

I said before the UVA game that: I got this!  This saying had been infallible for five years in a row.  But now obvioulsy I don't have this and the famous saying will now be retired.

 
So now the question is if I don't have this then who does?  Is it UM President Donna Shalala?  UM Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt?  Head Coach Randy Shannon?  Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple?  Defensive Coordinator John Lovett?  Special Teams Coach Pannunzio?

The $64,000 question is: Who is responsible for this situation and who is going to fix it?

Game Day Blog: Miami vs Virginia

Today at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville Virginia your Miami Hurricanes will face the Virginia Cavaliers in an Atlantic Coast Conference match-up. 

Here is a little more information about Scott Stadium:

Scott Stadium is situated on the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  The stadium was built in 1931 and is the oldest football stadium in Virginia still used today. The stadium has a seating capacity of 61,500 and had a record capacity of nearly 65,000 for the season opener of the 2008 UVA football season. Scott Stadium was built as a replacement for the old Lambeth Field, or Colonnades as it was called. The stadium bears the name of UVA benefactor Frederic Scott and is one of the most picturesque settings in college football with a wonderful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

 
The game is scheduled for noon and will be shown on ESPN as Miami looks to take another critical step towards their first ACC title. 

If the Hurricanes can manage to get past UVA and Georgia Tech on the road, and overcome Maryland at home in between those two games, the final conference game on November 20 against Virginia Tech at Sun Life Stadium will likely be for the ACC Coastal Division crown and a spot in the conference championship game on December 4 in Charlotte, NC.

 
But first Miami must keep its focus squarely on Virginia today and avoid a mid-season let down that the Hurricanes have been prone to over the last few years.   It would appear on paper that the Hurricanes (5-2, 3-1 ACC) enter this game with several advantages over the Cavaliers (3-4, 0-3 ACC ). 

 
Miami is a heavy favorite (+16 points) to win their third game in a row (after the tough loss at home to FSU) and to notch their fourth ACC victory of the 2010 season.

However, Miami must be cautious not to come into this (or any) game over confident and play slow, sloppy or lethargic and the Virginia game appears to be a perfect set-up for this to happen: A road game against an over-matched opponent after a big win at home against a bitter rival. 

 
After the Hurricanes big win last week at Sun Life Stadium over ACC rival North Carolina, Miami must stay motivated and play with the same level of energy, enthusiasm and sense of urgency that led to the victory over the Tar Heels.

I think they will, so I am making the now infamous call once again: 

"I GOT THIS!"

Score Prediction: Miami 34, Virginia 13

The Short List: Week 9

After a tumultuous week of play only 17 teams remain in competition for the two top slots on the Shortlist in 2010 and the schools read by order of worthiness as follows:

Auburn, Missouri, TCU, Michigan State, Boise State, Utah, Oregon, Alabama, LSU, Florida State, Stanford, Nebraska, Arizona, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

As is par for the Shortlist in 2010, another week means yet again a pair of teams pull off upsets in games I predicted them to lose and they are:

1) Wisconsin refuses to make me look smarter than they are as they earn a 31-30 win to take home against Iowa in the battle of Big 10 also-rans.  Whether Iowa uses this week to turn Michigan State into another also-ran to join them remains to be seen but I'm left to wonder for a third week in a row, why won't the Badgers just die?

 
2) Nebraska regains its footing on the way out of the Big 12 front door as they stay alive on the Shortlist witha 51-41 win over Oklahoma State in Stillwater.  I still expect them to enjoy watching their home fans applaud another victorious visitor this week against Missouri but the Big 12 is as unpredictable a league as you can find especially it seems this year so chaos could be just a week away instead.

 
Again for yet another week, three teams fumble away games that drop them from the Shortlist and this week are the banished read as such:

1) Iowa comes up a point shy in its Shortlist elimination game against Wisconsin at home as Kirk Ferentz continues to pull in the big money for the little results in the 11 team league with a major identity crisis.

2) West Virginia falls for homecoming in Morgantown to traditional conference nemesis Syracuse 19-14 as the no-longer Orangemen reset the pecking order to a more natural state of being in Miami's old stomping grounds.  Bill Stewart once blew out Bob Stoops in a BCS bowl game, as rarely as that happens you know, and can still win out to play in another one this year but yet another 9-4 finish is more likely now instead.

3) Kansas State gets pole-axed in Waco against Baylor, and should find themselves poll-axed due to the fact this week, by a 47-42 score in a shootout.  The rest of the schedule is a tossup for the Wildcats so we'll see what magic if any is left in coach Bill Snyder's guiding hand.  At least he scheduled a trip to North Texas to ensure bowl eligibility to end the year yet again.  No wonder he's in the college-football-cupcake-scheduling-Hall-of-Fame.

I expect a single team to fall off the Shortlist this week as each elimination becomes more monumental and upsets are the only way to get some of these teams left out of contention the rest of the way:

Nebraska.

 
The option is a high-school offense that can and should be blitzed to death up the middle and off the edge with linebackers and safeties.  Then again, it's Missouri trying to beat the Cornhusker's and history isn't a big fan of that particular breed of college football tiger so cross your fingers and enjoy what should be a cathartic grudge match for the winner between near-future divorcees. 

Meanwhile, the specter of a TCU-Boise State national championship match-up, or at least one of those two teams facing a one-loss, best-argument-in, BCS automatic qualifying champion grows ever more real with each week of games while I'm continued to be forced by circumstance to actually cheer for Florida State to win.  Why couldn't the Aztec calender just stop at 2009 instead to spare me the indignity? 

Enjoy the games this week and join me back here next week as the final contenders get under the, "sweet," number count with efforts that are anything but in time to wrap up October here on the Shortlist to the Site of the Shainghaied 'Ship.

Copyright 2010 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

Dear Virginia

You have heard the tag line and seen the ads on TV: "Virginia is for lovers." 

Well whoever made up the 2010 Miami Hurricane football schedule must have known a little about love and also knew what they were doing because just in the nick of time Miami Hurricane fans have fallen in love with their team all over again.

 
After a rewarding, reassuring and at times downright raucous victory against North Carolina at Sun Life Stadium last Saturday night, your Miami Hurricanes hit the road this weekend to face another Atlantic Coast Conference rival in the Virginia Cavaliers.

 
Miami's big ACC win over North Carolina was at least a little reminiscent of the good old days when you were certain the Hurricanes would win (I even guaranteed it) and then watched as the 'Canes went out and did exactly what they needed to do to take care of business and send the Tar Heels home pouting and straight to bed with no lovin', no soup and no supper. 

This coming Saturday as Fall firms its grip on the Country and the leaves continue to change into their colorful shades of yellow, orange and red as a result of cooler temperatures the Hurricanes will travel north to face the Cavaliers in another ACC matchup on the road in Charlottesville, VA. 

 
Here is a little history lesson about University of Virginia athletics and their school mascot:

Virginia's athletic teams have had a somewhat confusing array of nicknames. The most prominent and widely accepted of these monikers are "Cavaliers," "Wahoos" and "'Hoos," although "V-men," "Virginians" and "Old Dominion" also have been used to refer to UVa athletic teams through the years.

 
Although the terms "Cavaliers," "Wahoos" and "'Hoos" are used almost interchangeably to refer to University teams and players, "Cavaliers" is more often used by the media, while "Wahoos" and "'Hoos" are frequently used by Virginia students and fans.

The Cavalier mascot is a historical reference to the time when the Commonwealth of Virginia earned its nickname, the "Old Dominion." The Commonwealth was a hotbed of persons loyal to the English crown, called cavaliers in the days of the English Civil War.

 
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War (1642–1649).  Prince Rupert, more commonly known as Captain Optimist, was the commander of much of Charles I's cavalry, and is often considered an archetypical Cavalier.

Cavalier derives from the same Latin root as the Spanish word caballero, meaning “horseman”. 

The first documented Cavalier on horseback was Francis Bell, a Virginia student from Dublin, Va. Bell and another member of the Student Independent Party, a non-fraternity political group at the University, rode onto the field dressed as Cavaliers for Virginia's home football game with Harvard on the afternoon of Oct. 11, 1947. 

After a brief hiatus in the early 1980's the mounted Cavalier made its return in the Florida Citrus Bowl at the end of the 1989 football season. Due to its instant popularity, the Cavalier on horseback returned the following season on a regular basis and continues to lead the Virginia football team onto the field at the beginning of all home games.

Miami will beat UVA.  And don't worry: I GOT THIS!

The Hurricanes will win by the score of 34-13.

Any questions?

Take That U Little Butch

University of North Carolina head coach Butch Davis had owned Randy Shannon and his Miami Hurricanes. 

For four straight years UNC had beaten UM and for the last three seasons Butch the Mentor had beaten Randy the Student in head to head competition between the two Atlantic Coast Conference rivals.

 
For Shannon it was like having a four hundred pound gorilla hanging over his head since becoming head coach at Miami in 2007. 

No more.

That all ended Saturday night at Sun Life Stadium as your Miami Hurricanes laid an old fashioned whoopin' on the Tar Heels.  Trailing 10-3 in the second quarter, the Hurricanes scored 30 unanswered points to win going away by the score of 33-10.

The gorilla was dead.

 
Take that U little Butch! 

In what appeared to be their coming out party, Shannon and the boys from "The U" decided they had had enough and simply were not gonna take it any more.  The Hurricanes came out fired up, played some inspired football and proceeded to shut up the Tar Heels in the second half of the game.

 
Miami players and coaches actually looked like they were finally having fun again as they jumped and jostled and celebrated (almost) like the good old days.  Talk about getting the proverbial "monkey off your back" the Hurricanes may have put to rest the criticism and complaining for at least a little while if not for good with their performance Saturday night.

 
While things did get a little shaky after the opening kickoff and through the first quarter, Miami showed what had been missing in previous weeks: heart and courage and desire. 

On this night in what amounted to be a season making or breaking conference game, the Hurricanes did not quit and instead played like champions.

 
And for the fans it was twice as much fun as ever.  With much concern about the new "rules" at Sun Life Stadium and what would happen to tailgating traditions and relationships forged over many seasons, everything turned out just fine thank U very much!

While there was a significant increase in police presence and a few stressed out and very serious stadium security personnel directing you where to park, most people found their friends by chance or by cell phone to share a good time before the game.

 
Fans still showed up, the tailgating was till fast, fun and furious and a good time was had by all.  We found these two guys above getting their groove on and also managed to find most of our usual tailgate crew.  Canespacers Fran and Jean followed us to the game from the Hampton and we even found Canezilla and his crew hanging out as usual. 

College students still shot-gunned a few beers, got drunk and then got friendly.

 
Fearless pretty young girls had their picture taken while they danced on the roof of vehicles with 400 pound gorillas. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.

 
In the end it was the result on the field and not the new stadium rules that had everyone talking.  For the first time in weeks, Hurricane fans had something to be happy about and a reason to celebrate.

The four hundred pound gorilla had finally been castrated for all to see. And although we are not particularly fond of watching medical procedures being performed this one was somehow pleasurable to watch!

 
So much fun in fact that we will be back for the next game against Maryland on November 6.  We will see U at the stadium for more fun and games then when the Canes face the Terrapins in another important ACC game. 

Game Day Blog: UM vs UNC

This message is brought to you via email by the UM Athletic Department (with photos and commentary by Canespace).  Note to Kirby: U should have asked us first before you initiated this knee-jerk repsonse to what happened at the FSU game.  I'm jus sayin...

Dear Hurricane Fan,

In an effort to provide an optimal game day experience for all patrons at University of Miami home football games, the UM athletics department and Sun Life Stadium have planned several enhancements to the game day operations including an increased security presence, opening parking lots 5 hours prior to kick-off for North Carolina and directional parking.

 
"The game day staff at Miami and Sun Life Stadium are committed to providing a first-class college football environment," said Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt (seen above R).

"We have, and will continue to work diligently in an effort to improve the traffic and parking flow at the stadium, increase the security presence, provide a higher level of customer service at the pass gate and further emphasize the shared policies for fan conduct.

 
"We want all of our fans to help by taking pride and abiding by the U Respect code of conduct: respect the game, respect the fans, respect the U."

Beginning with this Saturday's game against North Carolina (7:30 p.m. on ESPN2) the following changes will be instituted.

Increased Security Presence
UM and Sun Life Stadium have increased the ratio of security to fans to the highest level. UM and Sun Life Stadium have asked security and local law enforcement authorities to be more vigilant and make every effort to arrest or eject individuals that act outside the law.
What to Expect on Gameday: A more visible presence of security staff, law enforcement and university personnel monitoring game day atmosphere.

 
CANESPACE COMMENT: This increased security is for people like RaizeCane and his friends (seen above) who consistently test the limits of proper fan behavior and therefore require constant sight and sound supervision by heavily armed military personnel.  If you do go to the game you will almost certainly be arrested and if you are lucky you might get shot.  But hey, life is full of risks anyway, right?

Opening Time of Parking Lots
Parking lot gates will open at 2:30 pm for the North Carolina game.
What to Expect on Game Day: By opening the parking lots 5 hours prior to kick-off for this game our fans will experience less traffic and parking congestion.

 
CANESPACE COMMENT: We like this new rule.  We always arrive early anyway so the earlier the better as far as we are concerned.

Directional Parking
All parking, both pre-purchased and those purchased on-site, will be directed by stadium personnel to individual parking spots at Sun Life Stadium.
What to Expect on Gameday: All cars will be directed to spots in the lot relevant to their parking privileges and fans can expect a more efficient and organized drive into the stadium and to your specific lot. Groups of fans that want to congegrate together for tailgating purposes will need to enter as a caravan of cars and/or plan to arrive at the stadium at the same time.

 
CANESPACE COMMENT: This rule is the worst of all of the new rules and the one we hate the most. Apparently it was implemented for fans like Canezilla and Canechic.  Canezilla has a monster crew that tailgates together in East 22 but arrives in different cars at all different times.  Canechic (seen above) always arrives late and then complains about the traffic and the parking hassle she goes through at West 32.  Even when we went to the UCF game last year near Orlando where she lives she was over an hour late. 

Either way tailgating with your friends as you know it has ended.  That is sad, very, very sad.

Revocation of Ticket Privileges
Any ticket holder that is ejected or arrested during a UM football game will be subject to the revocation of their ticket privileges for the remainder of the 2010 season, subsequent UM football seasons and/or other ticketed events at Sun Life Stadium.

   TEXT ALERTS: Report Unruly Behavior
   Should you encounter any problems, please:
   • Notify the nearest usher, police officer or guest services staff member
   • Send a text to 41513, type the word FAN followed by a space and your explanation of the situation.

 
CANESPACE COMMENT: This rule was obviously implemented for fans like MoneyCane, AngryCane and CaneSteeler.  Money (seen above) kills people, grinds them up and dumps them in the ocean for a living.  Well not really, he just studys weather at GT. Angry has been known to clear out entire rows if not sections at Joe Robbie, ProPlayer, Dolphin, Landshark and Sun Life Stadium.  One time when we went to The Swamp in 2003...well I will not say exactly what went down, but you had to be there. CaneSteeler has clearly stated that he is willing to throw down with people who make racist comments on the blog (we are totally with him here) or anyone who in his presence on game day criticizes The U, the coaches or the players (again we think he may be entitled). 

Traffic Alerts
UM, Sun Life Stadium and security will utilize permanent highway/turnpike electronic signage, temporary roadside electronic signage and 560 WQAM to better communicate traffic and parking information throughout the `Canes four hour pregame show. As parking lots fill and congestion areas develop on the streets and highways leading into the stadium, WQAM will alert fans to alternate and/or more efficient ways to get into the stadium.
What to Expect on Gameday: Updates on a regular basis, as often as every 15 minutes, on the home of the Miami Hurricanes.... 560 WQAM

 
CANESPACE COMMENT: NEWS FLASH...Traffic sucks in Miami.  Mean people suck too.  Canezilla and LT#36 (seen above) on this agree.  Some people drive agressively and others simply don't know how to drive.  A small car fire on the Turnpike prior to the FSU game derailed thousands of fans plans to arrive early.  We plan on either stealing a blimp or repelling from a helicopter Swat Team style, with our coolers, grills and all, for the next game.

Tailgate Policies
UM, Sun Life Stadium and law enforcement will monitor the tailgating area at the same level as inside the stadium.
What to Expect on Gameday: A greater presence from law enforcement and security personnel in an effort to provide a collegial and positive game day atmosphere.

 
CANESPACE COMMENT: Fun is bad, tailgating is fun and therefore, tailgating will no be longer allowed.  If you do want some fun that's gonna cost U extra.  A LOT extra!

So basically here are the new rules at Sun Life Stadium:

1. Arrive early, or you will be arrested.

2. Lose your friends; you never really liked those people anyway.

3. Don't tailgate or have fun.  If you do, you will be arrested.

4. Find your seat, remain in your seat and please be quiet during the game. 

 
If you don't stay in your actual seat, or if you sneeze, burp or God forbid pass gas during the game, you will be arrested, or shot, whichever comes first or might best prevent you from coming back to Sun Life Stadium.

Thank U for spending your hard earned money to attend the game. 

And please...don't ever come back!

The Short List: Week 8

Only 21 teams have a seat at the high stakes table here on the Shortlist in 2010 as the second half of the season begins and now are ranked in order of worthiness as follows:

Auburn, Oklahoma, TCU, Michigan State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Boise State, Utah, Oregon, LSU, Alabama, Iowa, Florida State, West Virginia, Stanford, Kansas State, Nebraska, Arizona, Northwestern, Wisconsin and Ohio State.

Another week means another pair of teams pull off big upsets in games I predicted they would lose last week to be stricken from the Shortlist as a result and they are:

1) Wisconsin reminds everybody that Jim Tressel isn't anything more than the sum of his bought and paid for pass interference call after all, once again by demolishing the Buckeyes of Ohio State 31-18 in Madison.  Terrell Pryor's 1990 step-flat-top haircut is the only thing more embarrassing for the Buckeyes this week instead of the most embarrassing thing as usual for them.

2) Kansas State rips cross state rival Kansas 59-7 in Kansas.  Let's just hope Jimbo in Tallahassee wasn't paying attention so he doesn't try to outdo them in the ACC title game rematch this year.

For yet another week, three teams lost games that drop them from the Shortlist and they culprits this week are:

1) South Carolina throws away its chance to prove it's not just the, "Same old South Carolina," as they fall off the Shortlist with a loss in Lexington to Kentucky 31-28.  They're used to it in Columbia, don't worry too much, but this is the end of the SEC East being a real football division as it now has turned into the Big 12 North just in time for that league to dissolve.

2) NC State begins it's traditional late-season fade right on cue as they lose to East Carolina in overtime, 33-27 in Greenville as Ruffin McNeil continues to defy the odds in his first season in charge by going 1-3 against the ACC.

3) Nevada still can't win in Honolulu as the come up a score short on the scoreboard 27-21.  Boise State's case for a national championship sideline takes a serious hit as well thanks to the upset.

I expect just three teams off the Shortlist this week as the race for the title enters the backstretch and the marginal contenders are cut aside in rapid order from here on out:

Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Northwestern.

Somehow, these fine institutes of higher learning, or learnin' in the expatriate school's case using the block, "N," should be able to combine their brainpower to figure out how to count to 12 properly in time for next season, shouldn't they?  In the meantime, enjoy the games this week and join me back here next week as I answer threats of mean things against me from another former number one team in the land here on the Shortlist to the Site of the Shainghaied 'Ship.

Copyright 2010 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

This Week In Space

The Game:  This week your Miami Hurricanes face ACC rival North Carolina at Sun Life Stadium at 7:30 PM.  We encourage all Hurricane fans to come on out to the game and support the team. 

 
UM head coach Randy Shannon faces his former boss and mentor as well as current nemisis in Tar Heel head coach Butch Davis.  Davis has taken Shannon to the woodshed for four straight years, but we predict that trend will end in 2010.  

As I have stated previously several times publicly here on the blog: Miami will beat UNC this year.  I am guaranteeing it.  I GOT THIS!

 
So come out to the stadium, eat some delicious tailgate food, have a beverage or six, enjoy the game and go home happy after the Hurricanes beat the Tar Heels.  Can U think of a better way to spend a Saturday evening?

Hotel Accomodations: As you know by now the Canespace official hotel is the award winning Hampton Inn in Plantation.  Here is more information on the ONLY place to stay for Hurricane games:

If you are traveling to South Florida for a University of Miami football game this year then we highly recommend that you stay at the designated Canespace hotel for these events: The Hampton Inn - Plantation. 

 
This award-winning, luxury hotel is situated in an ideal location just West of University Drive and just a few blocks north of I-595.  The Hampton Inn is located near numerous restaurants and several sports bars, is in walking distance to the Broward Mall and only 20 minutes from Sun Life Stadium. 

 
Hurricane fans from near and far literally take over the hotel lobby and patio before and after UM home games.  There are always opportunities for car pooling to the game, purchasing tickets and snatching up one of the prized  Canespace T-shirts.

 
Canespace usually throws a "Party On The Patio" after every home game with free food, beverages and prizes for UM trivia contests.  With a lush, tropical setting and a large pool and jacuzzi, the Hampton Inn patio is THE place to celebrate each Hurricane victory in 2010! 

The special Canespace Rate is $89 and includes a FULL hot breakfast.

For reservations please contact the hotel front desk or speak to: 

Susan Stern, Director of Sales, Hampton Inn Plantation: 954-382-4500 

Or reserve your room on line with Canespace Corporate Code 0002702804 at: 

www.ftlauderdaleplantation.hamptoninn.com

Tailgating Information: The Canespace tailgate can be found in the East 12 area of the Sun Life Stadium parking lot.  Enter the stadium off of Florida's Turnpike, turn right and park as close to the stadium as possible.  We suggest you get there early (4 PM) as the game is basically sold out and the crowd will be eager to arrive and get their mojo working and their buzz on. 

 
Look for the Canespace banner in the East 12 parking area when U arrive.  Some food and beverages will be available for all that show-up but we ask that you bring some additional snackage and your favorite beverages and do what you can to help support the party.

GO CANES, BEAT UNC!

Score Prediction: UM 27, UNC 20.

This Week, More Than Ever, The U Needs U

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I've listened for weeks about all of your complaining: 

"Miami can't win the big game."

"Our coaching isn't good enough."

"Our offense is inconsistent and helter skelter."

"We can't tackle and our defense is soft in the middle of the field."

Yadda, yadda, yadda...man do we love to complain!   

The fact of the matter is that the current status of the 2010 Hurricane football team is what it is and you need to accept reality.  The Miami Hurricanes are not yet back to where they want to be and their fans wish they were: In contention for BCS National Championships year in and year out. 

But really, is four weeks of complaining going to change things?  Sure it might make you feel better for a while, but ask yourself, "Does it have a positive impact on the team?"  For quite some time now I have wanted to ask you out loud: "Would U like some cheese with that whine?

The first six games have resulted in a 4-2 record and a #25 ranking in both the AP and the Coaches polls.  So far this season Miami has notched wins against FAMU, Pittsburgh, Clemson and Duke and suffered losses to Ohio State and FSU. 

No offense to the Rattlers, but the FAMU game doesn't really count so let's just skip it.

Everyone in their right mind, except for Captain Optimist, knew that going on the road to play the then #2 ranked Buckeyes in Columbus in front of over 100,000 screaming fans on National television in prime time would be Miami's toughest game and very difficult to win. I even tried to gently prepare you before the game when I told you Miami would lose the game to Ohio State.  Just as I predicted, Miami lost but you wouldn't listen.

The Pitt Panthers are horrible.  That game also doesn't count, so again, please hit the skip button.

Miami went to Clemson and OcalaCane, SolarCane, HersheyCane and I went with them.  Hurricane fans across the Country stated that they were afraid of Death Valley and the supposedly formidable Clemson Tiger team.  But it was I who told you repeatedly before the game: "I GOT THIS!".  And I did.

Everyone in the world, except for Captain Optimist, knew that FSU had the speed, talent and coaching to test Miami even playing within the friendly confines of Sun Life Stadium.  The Seminoles speared the Hurricanes and shot a flaming arrow right through the hearts of Miami fans everywhere as they won going away and laughing all the way home.  That one hurt, and hurt bad.

Miami beat Duke in an unconvincing fashion 28-13 last Saturday once again to the dissatisfaction and dismay of Hurricane fans who are still trying desperately to find a way, anyway if at all possible, to express their love for this 2010 Miami team.  Sure it wasn't pretty, but a win is a win is a win. The only thing that makes the Duke game even worth mentioning is that Miami won again on the road in the ACC.  Other than that the Duke game was more like, "Move along, nothing to see here, move along..."

This week Miami faces their nemesis Butch Davis and his North Carolina Tar Heels.  First a short history lesson on the origin of the team's nickname:

Tar Heel (or Tarheel) is a nickname applied to the State and inhabitants of North Carolina. "Tar Heel" is also the nickname of the University of North carolina athletic teams, students, alumni, and fans.

The exact origin of the nickname is unknown, but most experts believe its roots come from the fact that tar, pitch and turpentine created from the vast pine forests were one of North Carolina's most important exports early in the state's history.

Because the exact history of the term is unknown, many legends have developed to explain it. Many believe it to be a nickname given during the U.S. Civil War, because of the state's importance on the Confederate side, and the fact that the troops "stuck to their ranks like they had tar on their heels".

The book Grandfather Tales of North Carolina History (1901) states that: During the late unhappy war between the States it [North Carolina] was sometimes called the "Tar-heel State," because tar was made in the State, and because in battle the soldiers of North Carolina stuck to their bloody work as if they had tar on their heels, and when General Lee said, "God bless the Tar-heel boys," they took the name.

Apart from the FSU game it has been Miami's defense that has played like they had a little tar on their heels.  The UM defense si ranked near the top of several defensive categories in the NCAA and the ACC.

• Nationally Miami ranks 21st in total defense while UNC ranks 33rd.
• Miami leads the ACC in total defense.
• Nationally Miami ranks first in tackles for loss (TFL) and is tied for 3rd in interceptions (INT).
• Miami leads the ACC in INT's and TFLs.
• Nationally the Hurricanes rank 4th in the NCAA pass defense while UNC ranks 22nd.
• Miami is first in the ACC in pass defense.

So if things get sticky at Sun Life Stadium this Saturday look for the Hurricane defense to be the ones to apply the tar to the Carolina offense in defense of their home turf. 

We encourage all Hurricane fans to come out and stop your complaining for just a few hours and support your team.  Have a beverage, enjoy the game and then go home happy.

This week, more than ever, "The U" needs you!

Someone once said: "Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships." 

The Miami Hurricanes are still capable of winning their first ACC title in 2010. 

If they do it will be their defense that takes them there.

Miami Sees Red, Beats Blue Devils

Coming off of a difficult loss against FSU at home last week your Miami Hurricanes (4-2, 2-1 ACC) decided they had seen enough garnet (and gold) so they decided to seek out a team wearing a nice pretty blue (and white). 

The 'Canes found their victims wearing the uniforms of the lovely little Blue Devils and then proceeded to take out their frustrations on Duke in Durham, NC on Saturday by the score of 28-13. 

 
It may not have been the crimson colored blood bath that some Hurricane fans wanted or expected but when it was over it was enough for most Miami fans: a solid if not predictable ACC win over lowly Duke (1-5, 0-3). 

Wrap it up, I'll take it.

The Hurricanes were efficient if not impressive against Duke, a university known more for their basketball skills than their football prowess.  Duke may dominate the hardwood but on the green grass they have been (and it appears that they will continue to be) a bottom dweller year after year in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

 
The Miami offense continued to show inconsistency and struggled in spite of being given numerous opportunities via turnovers delivered by a tough and at times dominating Hurricane defense.  The Hurricanes defense offered up seven, count them, seven turnovers to the starved Miami offense. 

And what did they produce?  A measly 21 points.  So the UM defense decided to score on their own when big, fat DT Micanor Regis took one in for a pick 6.  We like it when the big uglies score.  In fact, we like that a lot!

 

Two positives from the game were that the Hurricanes may have found a much needed MLB and a developing star at TE.  UM LB Kelvin Cain made his first satrt in the middle for a mysteriously missing Colin McCarthy and TE Asante Cleveland may have proved himself good enough to take over the TE spot for the 2010 season and beyond.  Both Cain and Cleveland are Freshmen.

Next up for the Hurricanes is North Carolina and former UM coach Butch Davis.  Many have wondered why Miami has lost four straight to the Tar Heels.  We have heard from the professional excuse makers that since 2007 Miami has either been too soft, too young, too injured or too something or other to beat UNC.  

Some have even questioned if Randy Shannon has what it takes to beat his former boss and mentor.  Officially and for the record I say he does and that in 2010 no excuses will be necessary as Miami will beat UNC. 

 

So join us at Sun Life Stadium at 7:30 PM this coming Saturday to see your Miami Hurricanes beat the Tar Heels and see for yourself as Swagger makes a jubilant return to the 305.  In case you missed it or have not been paying attention I am personally guaranteeing a victory over UNC this coming Saturday. 

And, like I have said many times before:

I GOT THIS!