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The Cavalier mascot is a historical reference to the time when the Commonwealth of Virginia earned its nickname, the "Old Dominion."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?

Comments

[NativeCane]

Soup got this!

Go canes!!!

[NativeCane]

MH- Telemaque

Along with cornerback Brandon Harris and linebacker Sean Spence, Telemaque called the integral players-only meeting last week that fired up the Hurricanes and helped spark the turnaround.

Speaking of fiery, Telemaque was the player seen on TV Saturday, screaming toward the sideline at UM's offense after North Carolina scored on a 76-yard run in the second quarter. Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, an outspoken, aggressive personality himself, screamed something back. And Brandon Harris, another leader, gently pulled Telemaque toward the

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/26/1891147/telemaques-turnaround-sparked.html#ixzz13SH9mrKM

Two UM players were honored by the Atlantic Coast Conference as Players of the Week on Monday.

Senior defensive lineman Allen Bailey, who plays both tackle and end, finished the North Carolina game with 3 ½ sacks, had six tackles, second on the team.

The Hurricanes sacked UNC's T.J. Yates five times, the most by an opposing defense this season.

On the other side of the line, junior center Tyler Horn was honored. The center graded out at 97 percent and registered six pancake blocks against the Tar Heels. Miami produced 442 yards of total offense.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/26/1891259/miami-hurricanes-bailey-horn-honored.html#ixzz13SI194Ka

[NativeCane]

SS- Benji

Randy Shannon celebrated with his players several times during Saturday night's game, but one particular play got the Hurricanes coach so ecstatic he chest-bumped massive left tackle Orlando Franklin.

It was made by the receiver he has tried all season to spur with criticism.

Travis Benjamin jumped high for the pass, and as he made the grab in mid-air, a North Carolina defender nailed him low and knocked him back about 3 yards. Benjamin stayed on his feet and ran the final 15 yards or so for a 24-yard touchdown.

Two plays earlier, he leapt for a catch on third-and-8 and was crushed from behind. Benjamin held onto the ball for a 16-yard
gain.

"I was really, really proud," Shannon said. "Coach [Aubrey] Hill has been working with him the last three or four weeks. I've been on Travis pretty hard about going up in traffic and coming down with some balls and he did [Saturday] night.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/um-hurricanes/fl-miami-jacory-harris-1026-20101025,0,3646840.story

[NativeCane]

SS- Defense

The Hurricanes forced three crucial turnovers in Saturday's 33-10 win against North Carolina – all in their own territory, including a fumble at the goal line trailing 3-0.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/um-hurricanes/fl-miami-football-notes-1026-20101025,0,3183481.story

Steve

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_college_hurricanes/2010/10/bailey-horn-receive-acc-weekly-honors.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sports%2Fumweblog+%28UM+Hurricanes+%7C+Sun-Sentinel+Blogs%29

[NativeCane]

U- Off the chain

"The whole team got together and showed that we are still the University of Miami," tight end Asante Cleveland said.

At times, the Miami of old, too.

Shannon played for the Hurricanes when their on-field antics played a big part in changing the rules of college football, and he's been leery of seeing his players act in that fashion.

http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102410aai.html

[NativeCane]

Go Canes!!!

Beat the royalist supporters of King Charles I!!!

[NativeCane]

U

Two months into the 2010 college football season, the ACC divisional races are beginning to take form and the ‘Canes are right in the thick of things. Miami (5-2, 3-1 ACC) is off to its best start in league play since 2005 and controls its own destiny in search of its first ACC title.

Read more:

http://theufootball.com/

[NativeCane]

CO- If my aunt had a set of goobers

If the Tar Heels had managed to get more than three points out of their two trips inside the Miami 10-yard line in the first quarter Saturday, there might have been a fifth win in that streak. Instead, there were only more injuries, one after another, and an already-shallow depth chart became as dangerously thin as the Tar Heels' remaining hopes of winning the Coastal Division.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/24/1783587/missing-players-chances-costly.html#ixzz13SYdhxxN

[CaneRock]

Here's a link Rusty provided of VT going off on the sidelines:

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/268/telemaquewhipple.gif

[NativeCane]

Solars eyes only: Talk about your team spirit, check photo # 14

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/sfl-cheerleader-extravaganza-20101025-pictures,0,936171.photogallery

[SOUP]

Go Canes!!!

Beat the royalist supporters of King Charles I!!!

Posted by: NativeCane | October 26, 2010 at 06:15 AM

Funny, I was thinking the exact same thing!

[SOUP]

Native...bang up job as usual. Thanks again for your efforts.

Now, off to New Port Richey then Jerome Brown's home town this PM.

See ya!

[NativeCane]

Welcome, Hey dont speed thru B-ville ha.

Go Canes!!!

[usagainstheworld&thereferees]

lebron's new nike commercial. well done.

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

‎"i am not a role model" (clearly a shot at charles barkley). do you like my shiny new shoes-- so should i just sell shoes (a shot at jordan?). lebron does rugged individualism too-- and folks don't like it. like leroy says-- "you do the dishes!"

[canezilla]

I GOT THIS!!!BERRY WILL HAVE HIS 5TH -100 YARD GAME IN A ROW.SAW ON ESPN NEXT SATURDAY VS MARYLAND ITS EITHER 12:00 OR 3:30

[SinisterCane]

GO HEAT
GO CANES

F the haters

[Ungar]

Wow, nice thorough article, and a little subtle inside joke, there, too.

Native, let me just say again, WECLOME BACK!

Not sure if anyone saw it this morning, but UM versus UNC was an instant classic, got replayed for morning drive-time.

[solarcane]

native,
now that was an example of sports blogging time well spent , thanks!

[solarcane]

One of the better pass defenses in the nation and the worst run defense anywhere.

That can only mean we throw a real deep ball 1st or 2nd down our first possession.

[OhioCaneFan]

44-7 Canes! VAULT IT!

[OhioCaneFan]

do you like my shiny new shoes-- so should i just sell shoes (a shot at jordan?)

Posted by: usagainstheworld&thereferees | October 26, 2010 at 07:15 AM
--------------------------------------------

Yep, that's at Jordan. Loved the pink donut towards Barkley. I thought the commercial was really well done.

I don't know if he's trying to help restore his image with that commercial or what, but a commercial won't do it.

[pbcfrcane13]

Dont thing Lebron cares about his image ence why he did that commercial. Basically I took it as a FU to everybody. I LOVED IT!!!!

[BahamaCane]

One of the better pass defenses in the nation and the worst run defense anywhere.

Posted by: solarcane | October 26, 2010 at 09:45 AM
---------------------------
Virgina secondary shouldnt scare anybody. If UNC can throw for over 300 yards against them, then i think the Canes will be fine.

Their run defense is so bad it looks like the teams they play just run the ball down their throats.

Virginia's strength on offense is in their passing game. Going up against the Canes secondary, i will take the Canes secondary any day.

This game shouldnt be close!

JUST WIN!

Go Canes.

[BahamaCane]

Yep, that's at Jordan. Loved the pink donut towards Barkley. I thought the commercial was really well done.

Posted by: OhioCaneFan | October 26, 2010 at 10:00 AM
--------------------------------------------
Barkley was on Letterman last night. Dude lost a lot of weight!

[Ungar]

We win this week, there are only two games ahead of us featuring ranked teams, so we might only move up two spots.

Pray for upsets....

[raizecane]

Where is Mr Negative Alberto this week?

Don't come on here blasting the Canes when they lose and not come on and give em props when they win.......

[carolinacane]

The next 2 teams we play, Virginia & Maryland are locks. I hope we don't play against Virginia, like we did against Duke. I don't want to hear it's a tough place to play. We have the talent to over a supposed tough place to play. We need to blow up these 2 teams and open some of these recruits eyes.
Has anyone got any info. on any LB & DT leans or possible gets? Oh, I forgot, "DA U" 31-14.

[solarcane]

Bahama,

yea I don't see any real threat this week
The only thing that could slow us down is us.

We seem to employ the WW L WW L WW L result sequence a little more often than is required.

[Bad Bart]

I would love to see us play the next six games the way we played against UNC. If we do, then these are my predictions: (Thanks to help from NCAA '11 for PS3)

Miami vs Virginia 34-10 Canes
Miami vs Maryland 45-3 Canes
Miami vs Ga Tech 35-10 Canes
Miami vs Virginia Tech 28-24 Canes

Miami vs FSU (ACC Champ) 45-31 Canes

Miami vs TCU (Orange Bowl) 31-14 Canes

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

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.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Nice....haha

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

lebron's new nike commercial. well done.

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

‎"i am not a role model" (clearly a shot at charles barkley). do you like my shiny new shoes-- so should i just sell shoes (a shot at jordan?). lebron does rugged individualism too-- and folks don't like it. like leroy says-- "you do the dishes!"
Posted by: usagainstheworld&thereferees | October 26, 2010 at 07:15 AM

>>>>>>>>>>>

Love it....classic American tossing all this puzzified PC shyt aside.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Yep, that's at Jordan. Loved the pink donut towards Barkley. I thought the commercial was really well done.

I don't know if he's trying to help restore his image with that commercial or what, but a commercial won't do it.

Posted by: OhioCaneFan | October 26, 2010 at 10:00 AM

>>>>>>>

Ohion, I know how y'all took the whole TV show announcement thing and I agree it was very bonehead and immature BUT..it's his life and how many times do you get to play with some of your best friends AND win some rings??

To me it's not the decision. It was how he announced it that was so crass and clueless.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

CO- If my aunt had a set of goobers

If the Tar Heels had managed to get more than three points out of their two trips inside the Miami 10-yard line in the first quarter Saturday, there might have been a fifth win in that streak. Instead, there were only more injuries, one after another, and an already-shallow depth chart became as dangerously thin as the Tar Heels' remaining hopes of winning the Coastal Division.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/24/1783587/missing-players-chances-costly.html#ixzz13SYdhxxN

Posted by: NativeCane | October 26, 2010 at 06:31 AM

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Shoulda, coulda, woulda....love it when losers whine like that.

I bet they weren't sobbing about those missing players when they were whooping UVA two weeks ago or when they scraped by Clemson.

They need to shut the cheese pipe cause the last time I checked they had 3 more quarters to move the ball and didn't cross the 50 I don't believe.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

The next 2 teams we play, Virginia & Maryland are locks. I hope we don't play against Virginia, like we did against Duke. I don't want to hear it's a tough place to play. We have the talent to over a supposed tough place to play. We need to blow up these 2 teams and open some of these recruits eyes.
Has anyone got any info. on any LB & DT leans or possible gets? Oh, I forgot, "DA U" 31-14.

Posted by: carolinacane | October 26, 2010 at 10:38 AM

>>>>>>>>

It's all on Whipple bro. If he learned how to set up the passing with the run after watching it work so well against UNC then we'll walk all over these squads.

If he goes back to run, run, shotgun, shotgun, QB under center with no RB, we'll stall and stutter just like we did against Duke.

If he's smart, half as smart as he thinks he is, he'll work on some new running formations, run more out of the shotgun, and work more on throwing to the RBs in ways other than swing passes, which are easily defended.

I'll stand by my Bush League statement until he proves otherwise. I hope I'm wrong of course.

[Bad Bart]

Dear Mark Whipple,

To see how our offense is supposed to work, please review the game tape from the win over North Carolina.

Sincerely,

Bad Bart

Too bad I don't have his cell number, I would call him personally.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Dear Mark Whipple,

To see how our offense is supposed to work, please review the game tape from the win over North Carolina.

Sincerely,

Bad Bart

Too bad I don't have his cell number, I would call him personally.
Posted by: Bad Bart | October 26, 2010 at 12:55 PM

>>>>>>>>>

Ain't that the truth. Gary Ferman said the the same thing post-game on WQAM.

He thinks he's a Mini-Martz but he's nowhere near Martz. And he's missed the most important part of Martz's best offenses..THE RUNNING GAME.

[canezilla]

O.COR ASST.COACH-UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI-MARK WHIPPLE OFFICE(305)651-0034EXT221

[pbcfrcane13]

Ryan HIll chatting on and said his toughest cover this year was Varner...Hmm

[BEERicane]

Dear Mark Whipple,

When your son is in the game, please throw to give him a chance to put up some stats!

[BahamaCane]

He thinks he's a Mini-Martz but he's nowhere near Martz. And he's missed the most important part of Martz's best offenses..THE RUNNING GAME.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | October 26, 2010 at 01:11 PM
----------------------------------
Cav, the thing that gets me is, if Whipple wants to bring Martz scheme to college football, shouldnt he know that the chances of a 19,20,21 yr old picking up that scheme is not good?

What i saw him doing last week was by order, not choice. We all know Shannon told him to run the ball and call more play action, but still incorporate some elements of his down the field scheme.

hopefully he realizes the running game is what his scheme was missing and that once that is established, you can throw the ball where ever you want.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Ryan HIll chatting on and said his toughest cover this year was Varner...Hmm

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | October 26, 2010 at 01:40 PM

>>>>>>>>>

Vernon can ball y'all. Do not sleep because we shut him down. He leads the league in receptions for a reason. Part of it is because they throw so much but part of it is because he can ball. And he's only a sophomore.

[calGaryCane]

Is it Whipple or Jacory, or the WRs or the RBs that are lacking?

I don't think that we can pin the blame on anyone person/position yet. What strikes me though is that we do not have a strong tandem of RBs yet. The stats show that we are good at 10+ yards but not in the 20+, 30+, 40+. This is because is not totally bulked up for the job yet. Barry is good but he is not explosive. Mike is complete, but he too is not explosive. LM is explosive, but he need to build in some power.

I think that if Coop or Miller could be depended to get a minimum of 5 yrds each thime they carry, then we could be really good!

[OhioCaneFan]

Saw that. I was chatting as Wes

[calGaryCane]

This is because Miller is not totally bulked up for the job yet. ^^^^

[OhioCaneFan]

Bah forgot to paste... "Saw that" was about Ryan Hill talking about Varner from Duke

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Bahama, it was clearly an order to me too. I still hold on to hope for him because he showed his own knowledge of how stupid and low-percentage a play that empty backfield, QB under center play is when he or Shannon called a TO on that 4th and 2....they came out in a play-action set and completed an easy pass to Cleveland for 25 yards.

If he didn't really learn his lesson after that, I don't know what it will take. To answer your question, he tries to run HIS version of that offense in college but he's totally missed the key ingredient to success in that system....THE RUNNING GAME. Martz's best teams ALWAYS had a dangerous running game. He lost when he became too stubborn and refused to run the ball enough to keep teams honest. Whipple didn't seem to understand that much and instead just went straight to the shotgun, empty backfield the second a running play didn't work.

Hopefully he learned his lesson and will now explore offensive formations other than the shotgun and the Idiot Play.

There's a lot that can be done with our talent other than just a jumbo, unbalanced line with a FB off-set. I gave my suggestion of what we could do but there's plenty that can be done. He's just such a fukin prick, know-it-all.

That's why I'm so glad VT cussed his azz out. lol

[BahamaCane]

That's why I'm so glad VT cussed his azz out. lol

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | October 26, 2010 at 01:59 PM
-----------------------------------
i really would like to know what VT actually said!

[THE MAN]

Captain,

I agree with you 100% that that play with the empty backfield and JH under center has got to be the all time dumbest play ever put together! Who is that fooling? AND, when they do play action on 3rd and 13! Are you f-ing kidding me. Those types of plays should be erased from the playbook immediately. I saw Minnesota and Favre do that empty backfield and Favre under center play on Sunday night and I was thinking there can't be this many dumb OC's out there...

[Six]

The guy who has to wear that outfit for Virginia and ride on the horse looks like a Liberace

Sad thing is, he probably thinks it's some kind of honor to wear that and he takes it dead seriously

Being the Stanford tree is a hell of a lot cooler than wearing that UVA get up

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

The guy who has to wear that outfit for Virginia and ride on the horse looks like a Liberace

Sad thing is, he probably thinks it's some kind of honor to wear that and he takes it dead seriously

Being the Stanford tree is a hell of a lot cooler than wearing that UVA get up

Posted by: Six | October 26, 2010 at 02:15 PM

>>>>>>>>>

Six, I kinda like that outfit. lol Capes and swords on horseback, what's better than that? haha