Canespace

No Time For Feeling Sad Against The Blue Devils

The one question University of Miami football players should be heard asking themselves before today's game against Duke is: FSWho?

Miami must leave behind the beautiful palm trees and supportive orange and green clad fans that filled Sun Life Stadium last week and completely erase last week's debacle against the Seminoles from their collective memories. 

 
The Hurricanes must be able to put that game in their rear view mirror if they are to be successful this week against the perennial ACC bottom dwelling Blue Devils.  

There is no time for feeling sad, moping around or self pity for this Hurricane team, a team that can still reach one of their most important preseason goals: winning their first ACC championship.

 
So as the Hurricanes take the field for the opening kickoff (seen below last year in Miami against the Blue Devils) today in North Carolina look for a fired up and highly motivated team to win convincingly on the road in what should amount to a tune-up game for next week's home game against another team from North Carolina, the UNC Tar Heels.

 
Next week Miami and head coach Randy Shannon will get a visit from their ACC rival North Carolina and former UM coach Butch Davis.  The mentor has beaten the student four straight times in this series and that trend MUST and WILL end this year when the Tar Heels come to Sun Life Stadium. 

A win against Duke today will jump-start the positive momentum for Miami's stretch run through the ACC.  With every game now a "must win" for the Hurricanes another loss is simply unimaginable, especially against Duke, a team much better known for their baketball team than their gridiron gang.

Two wins against teams from North Carolina in consecutive weeks is just what the doctor ordered.  And trust me, I'm a doctor.

Prescribed Medication: Miami runs the ball, rests Jacory and stops the effective Duke passing attack.

Final Diagnosis: UM 34, Duke 17 

The Short List: Week 7

A meager 28 teams remain on the Shortlist in 2010 at the halfway point of the season.  This is the last week that we will keep them grouped in their conferences, in no particular order, as follows:

Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, South Carolina, Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas State, Florida State, Maryland, NC State, Oregon, Arizona, Stanford, West Virginia, Syracuse, TCU, Utah, Boise State, and Nevada.

Two teams pull off big upsets in games I predicted they would lose last week to be struck through on the Shortlist and they are a pair of Miami foes of the highest order both, in one way or another:

1) South Carolina secures the biggest win in its programs history not by winning the ACC title once again in a lifetime, but by beating SEC measuring stick Alabama 35-21 in Columbia.  The Head Ball Coach appears to have the only competent team in the SEC East this year and has been waiting for a year like this since he returned to the college ranks.  At a school where three consecutive bowls actually lionized Lou Holtz as a miracle worker for the Gamecock fans, delivering an SEC crown would be akin to winning the Heisman at Florida for Spurrier in Columbus.  Though their schedule may be toughest in the nation, South Carlina looks like they might actually pull the tight rope trick and navigate it relatively unscathed the rest of the way, but they are no shoo-in to Shortlist contention just yet for the end of the year.

2) Florida State draws first blood and then finishes the scalping over the course of an hour to stay on the Shortlist another week by a 45-17 final over some team dressed in orange and green that I couldn't really recognize for some reason.  The only thing worse than this result is when Jimbo Fisher loses his homecoming game this year to open November, just you watch.

For another week, three teams lost games that removed them from the Shortlist and all three are Floridian contenders who must refocus their seasons on more reasonable goals once again in 2010:

 
1) Florida loses a heart-breaker at home to LSU 33-29 on a scoring play with six seconds left on the clock as Urban Meyer fails muster in the battle of overpaid SEC coaches while Les Miles continues to frustrate his Cajun fan-base by continuing to win.  The second best football program in the state almost doesn't fall off the Shortlist fast enough for their aptitude displayed on field this year so it's somewhat of a surprise such a mediocre team ever had so many people fooled they were title contender material to start the year in the first place.

2) USF becomes the first of the, "big," 4 in Florida to lose to fallen power Syracuse since they joined Big East basement dweller status after firing coach Paul Pasqualoni.  I really hope there's no tax payer dollars being spent on that marketing campaign that's obviously been a blatant lie from the very start.  Wasn't there a time this team was ranked two team in the nation?  Try beating even the number two team in the state of New York first then winning a championship before you start making new big groupings instead.

 
3) Miami doesn't survive to even the halfway point of the season on the Shortlist in 2010 as Jimbo Fisher finds a way to make a native American impersonator with an Atlanta Braves fetish kick even more dirt on the last years of Bobby Bowden's career retroactively in regretful hindsight with a blowout win in Miami.  This would have never happened at the Orange Bowl, I'm certain of it.

Six teams should find themselves off the Shortlist this week as the BCS automatic qualifier schools begin to weed their true contenders from the shaft in 2010 and the schools expected to drop out are:

Arkansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas State, Maryland, and Syracuse.

 
As I say goodbye to my alma matter on the Shortlist to the Site of the Shanghaied 'Ship in 2010 I find it unfortunate that such enjoyable Hurricane contributors such as Leonard Hankerson and Allen Bailey, among others in the senior class of 2010, will not finish their careers adding to Miami's national championship legacy.  I still look forward to the future with a positive outlook as the program appears to be in capable hands on the field and on the recruiting trail going forward. 

To watch my first two, "Legends of the Fall," go from a guy who couldn't catch the ball to a guy who can make the spectacular grab in traffic routinely and an over-sized middle linebacker relegated to special teams because he extracted a promise to have the chance to prove he wasn't up to the job from a coaching staff sworn to honor that promise turning into a behemoth defensive lineman who can't be kept off the field due to his burgeoning talent while both developed into potential first round draft picks lends proof to the fact that the right players are being stockpiled in Coral Gables. 

Now the next step comes with consistent fortification of the players behind the starting 22 with similar hard working and capable recruits committed to wresting their opportunity to be selected in the first 32 on draft day from those enticed to compete before them.  The cliche, "Rome wasn't built in a day," is thrown around at every rebuilding job like Miami frequently, however I believe the building is almost complete despite last week's setback. 

Once Rome was built, the carnage that lined its roads was legendary for its reach and brutality.  When the rebuilding of the Hurricane's empire is complete, it too will be signified by the same scope and destruction lining its pathways from opening to close of a Shortlist to come.  For now, Randy Shannon's first recruiting class is must suffer the stigma of not being capable of compiling that swath of defeated opponents in its wake, but now is a chance to lay another stepping stone on the long, hard road back to the pinnacle of the sport of college football where they belong. 

What little consolation an ACC championship would provide is still easily within grasping reach for Miami in 2010 but for the rest of the year your Miami Hurricanes are no longer relevant here on the Shortlist.  At least the cowards from Gainesville went first this year!

Copyright 2010 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

Is The Top Talent Really From The Bottom?

This blog was written for Canespace by blogger 321Cane...

On the street and among many of the talented athletes in the Sunshine State South Florida is known as "The Bottom". 

Football players that hail from the muck of the 561 (Palm Beach County) to the beaches of the 954 (Broward County) to the mean streets of the 305 (Miami-Dade County) are recruited by and play for every major D-1 college football program in the Country.

 
Let's look at one quick example.  You may have heard about 2010 Heisman candidate QB Denard Robinson who has almost all by himself suddenly resurrected the Michigan Wolverines program?  

You might want to know that he's from Deerfield Beach in Broward County.

While the 561 and the 954 can certainly boast about their talent, it is the 305 that has a reputation of producing the best football players and athletes in the entire State of Florida.  You often hear people say: "That recruit has the 305 swagger.”  And many times they do and go on to prove it on the field.

 
But in actuality you could argue that players all around the State have as much talent and just as much swag as the balling boys from Miami. The University of Miami is known for catering to the local kids, and at times even claimed to have even have built a wall around South Florida dating back to the early 80's and Howard Schellenberger.

All of that is fine as long as the players are dominating on the football field while wearing "The U" on their helmet.  In my opinion, that’s simply not the case anymore and I think that is a reflection that the times have changed. 

Many players, some really good players, can be found all across Florida, and not just in The Bottom. 

 
I'll go as far as to say that you can't convince me that the local talent currently at UM is the same local talent with the same heart, soul and determination as the legendary players the Miami Hurricanes had in the championship years of 1983-1991, and of course the dominant years of 2000-2003, can you?  

Can you prove to me that they are better than players from other places around the State?  For example a couple of years ago Sanford Seminole High School had a three man army of QB/S Ray Ray Armstrong, DE/TE Dyron Dye and WR Andre Debose.  They even managed to knock off eight D-1 recruits from Miami NWHS at the time.  That's some talent right there.

In 2009 5A Manatee HS beat perennial powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas who according to everyone apparently had a larger number of talented players when compared to Manatee.

In 2009 Cocoa High destroyed Belle Glade in the class 2A.  This year Cocoa has beaten three powerhouse teams across America that were above their class this year. With back-2-back State championships the Cocoa program still feels like they are not getting any attention they respectively deserve. 

The fact is that the Hurricanes have some 4 and 5 star recruits that came from the Miami area that won a lot of games in "The Bottom" and even won some State Championships that are not producing on the field. Some are not even seeing the field because of a lack of talent, technique or mechanics and they are already into their Junior season.

 
Miami has left a lot of kids hanging from different areas from Florida that are currently playing at a high level right now in college.  Recruits from different areas of Florida may feel that the University of Miami only cares about the local kids.  Some of these players are dreaming of an offer from The U and at times other college coaches are using that against UM in the recruiting game.

So with all this said, I have five questions that need to be answered:

1. Is Miami talent overrated?

2. If not are they coachable?

3. Is it the high school football being played or coaching down there?

4. If not, is it our coaching staff fault for not developing players?

5. Or is it all of the above?

Somebody please tell me because I've been pondering this for a while!

Maybe what I’m just trying to say is: "WHATS GOING ON?" 

ACC Title Game Still Within Reach For Miami

In spite of the demoralizing, humiliating and confidence shaking 28 point loss to Florida State this past Saturday at Sun Life Stadium your Miami Hurricanes still have a lot to play for this season.

With their toughest games likely behind them and what appears to be an easier stretch of opponents ahead of them, this Hurricane team can still achieve one of their goals for this season: Winning their first ACC title.

 
While the loss to FSU ended the Hurricanes' dreams of another National Championship in 2010 it did nothing to dampen Miami's chances of a conference championship this season.  However, the 'Canes must show some resilency, put the loss to the Seminoles behind them and focus clearly on the remanining goals and games that lie ahead.

The next four games on Miami's schedule all appear to be winnable: @Duke, North Carolina, @UVA and Maryland at home.  If Miami wins these four straight games they will be exactly where they need to be going into their last remanining difficult games against Georgia Tech in Atlanta and Virginia Tech at home.

 
If the Hurricanes can find a way to win out and emerge victorious in all of their remaning games they could possible face the Seminoles for the ACC title on December 4 in Charlotte, NC.  And wouldn't that be a nice way to get some serious payback against a team that took away your dreams?

But first, Miami must sharpen their focus on the next four games to set themselves up for a meaningful late stretch run.  To do that the Hurricanes offensive and defensive lines must improve, tackling must become more reliable and the UM wide recievers must learn to catch the ball more consistently.

 
Miami fans don't jump off of this ship just yet. 

The ACC title is still within reach this season. 

Anything less would be unacceptable.

Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda

When your Miami Hurricanes played the Florida State Seminoles at Sun Life Stadium on Saturday night on national television, they coulda made a statement that they are back in the National Championship picture.

 
Four years into the Randy Shannon era, with all of the "Cokerites" now purged from the team and with the current players that were recruited and coached by Shannon himself having enough experience and talent, the Hurricanes probably shoulda beat the Seminoles, especially playing at home.

 
If Miami had won at home against FSU the 'Canes certainly woulda moved back into their rightful place among the top 10 in the Nation, especially with the many shocking upsets that were happening all over the Country on this second Saturday in October.  

Fans like John and Tammy of Sebring (pictured below) shared their tailgate goodies with other Canes fans but were worried about their team's ability to prevail in this tough and always competitive intra-State rivalry. 

 
With all of the storied history of Miami vs FSU series in the record books something had to give on this lovely Fall day in the 305.  Miami fans felt that the breaks and Lady Luck would certainly be on their side.  I mean seriously, how many times had she reared her beautiful head for the Hurricanes against the Seminoles and their former coach Bobby Bowden?

 
While the odds-makers had the Hurricanes down as 6 point favorite and many Miami fans thought that theIr team might actually blow out the 'Noles this time around, what most Hurricane fans like Canezilla and his lovely wife (seen below) were hoping for was another wide right, or a wide left, and a win.

 
Unfortunately, someone obviously either didn't get the memo, the email, the Tweet, the text message or simply forgot to tell your Miami Hurricanes that they had to play the game and win to make all of the "shoulda, coulda, woulda" stuff actually happen. 

 
Instead, the team with "The U" on their helmets decided to take the night off and spend their time watching these three girls above and the team with "The Spear" on their helmets dance in the end zone on Miami's home turf. 

But then, who can blame them, right?

 
But fear not loyal Hurricane fans, a record of 10-2 will get you a rematch with these same Seminoles in the ACC title game in Charlotte, NC on December 4, 2010.  And oh, what sweet, sweet revenge that would be.

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This: Canes vs Noles

In the last thirty years no single rivalry in college football has brought about more excitement, garnered more attention or decided as many National Championships as Miami vs Florida State.

 
The storied history between the Hurricanes and the Seminoles is chocked full of tremendously competitive games, memories of famous dramatic endings and an incredibly long list of star-studded players from both teams who would go on the excel in the NFL(U).

 
Wide right?  Wide Left?  No matter how you kick it this series has been center stage under the serious spotlights since 1980.  It is now wonder why four of the top 7 rated games ever shown on ESPN are between Miami and FSU. 

 
Former FSU head coach Bobby Bowden had his coaching career defined and ruined by losing to Miami a few too many times.  He could have shed a thousand tears over the sudden, tragic losses and dreams of National Championships squandered against the Hurricanes. 

 
While Bowden left his disbelief and his crimson and gold bleeding heart on the Orange Bowl turf more than several times over the years, there was one occasion at Doak Campbell Stadium when UM safety Sean Taylor decide to all by himself demolish the Seminoles on a rain soaked day in Tallahassee.

Former University of Miami coach Art Kehoe who coached at Miami for over 25 years (1981-2005), all of the great rivalry games and all five UM National Championships was once quoted as saying something like: "Miami versus Florida State in October is what college football is all about." 

 
I would like to go on record as saying: "Kehoe was absolutely correct. "

Here are some UM-FSU series stats as the two teams get ready to square off today at Sun Life Stadium:

Florida State and Miami have met 54 times with Miami holding a 31-23 advantage.

The last nine matchups in this series have been decided by 10 points or less, with Miami holding a 6-3 advantage over Florida State.

After losing six consecutive times to Miami from 2000 to 2004, Florida State has won three out of the last four games. Two of those victories have come on the road, giving the Seminoles their first winning streak at Miami since winning back-to-back games in 1996 and 1998.

The 2010 matchup is the first time both teams are ranked since 2006.  However, from 1999 to 2006, the teams were ranked and featured four games with both in the top 10.

The teams have met twice since 2000 with one ranked No. 1 in the nation. Miami defeated No. 1 Florida State 27-24 in 2000, and the Hurricanes ranked No. 1 when they won 28-27 in 2002.

Score Predcition:  Miami 31 - FSU 27

The Short List: Week 6

Conference play is in full swing this week as the survivors on the Shortlist in 2010 number only 35 and read as follows still linked to their conference peers in no particular order:

Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, Florida, South Carolina, Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, Northwestern, Indiana, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas State, Miami, Florida State, Maryland, NC State, Southern Cal, Oregon, Arizona, Stanford, West Virginia, USF, Syracuse, TCU, Utah, Boise State, Nevada.

Only one team survived a game I called for them to lose last week to be ejected from the Shortlist and stays on for another week due to it:

1) Colorado edges Georgia in Boulder 29-27 as Dan Hawkins cools his seat while dialing up the temperature on Mark Richt's seat simultaneously as a result.  The Buffs stay on the Shortlist this week but I don't expect them to last much longer from here.

For another week, three teams lost games that removed them from the Shortlist without me calling for them to and the surprise departures are:

1) Texas Tech goes to Aimes and gets walloped at Iowa State 52-38 as Tommy Tuberville's team drops a second straight game after a bye week to fall off the championship track in 2010.  Meanwhile Paul Rhoades continues to work magic at Iowa's second school in year two as he narrows in on another elusive bowl berth for the Cyclones.

2) Boston College gets juxtaposed on the home scoreboard in Chestnut Hill as their Irish rivals from Notre Dame beat them 31-13.  The Eagles still have the ability to play spoiler in ACC play but only for a division or conference title, not the big prize thanks to the loss.

3) Rutgers reverts to the Scarlet Knights of old in New Orleans as they fail to siege the Superdome successfully and lose 17-14 to Tulane.  Bob Toledo's exile to the Big Easy has been as hit or miss as his stay in UCLA in the 1990's but for one week at least they send Greg Schianno back to square one on the drawing board in New Brunswick.

Once again, I expect seven teams to fall out of Shortlist contention this week and each one is a BCS automatic qualifier school:

South Carolina, Indiana, Texas A&M, Colorado, Florida State, Southern Cal, and Syracuse.

With the rivalry game of the year in the state of speed on tap in Miami this week your ACC favorite Hurricanes face suspect 1-B to represent the Atlantic Division for the ACC title at the end of the year when they christen the Jimbo Fisher Florida State epoch with a showdown between top 25 teams.  For years I've been hearing how sharp an assistant coach Fisher is while his teams did nothing to ease the pressure on his boss with their on field performance.  Now completely in charge of the tertiary program in Florida a rivalry win would go a long way to dissuading any dissenters to the new regime in charge. 

 
The Seminoles have the weapons to put up points but honestly, their program has fallen several steps behind with so many resources due to factors that require more than a force out changing of figureheads at the top to fix.  While the rankings of both teams for this edition of the Hurricane's encounter with their rivals from the capital may not be in the single digits, as fans have grown accustomed to when these teams play, there won't be a lack of talent, speed, and ability between the sidelines on the field on display this year. 

 
A word of caution: Anything can and will happen this week during such a deep running rivalry so predictions are futile at best and an exercise in folly routinely during the build up to these games. 

I however expect a focused, peaking Hurricane team to remind their rivals just why they have a new coach this year as they outpace the visitors as the game goes on with a balanced attack and a punishing defense to keep the Seminoles in their proper place in the pecking order for another year.  Whether they get a return engagement for the ACC title will be determined over the remaining month and a half of conference play but in the interim I expect Randy Shannon to hold bragging rights despite any beginner's luck Fisher may be the recipient of in his first go round as the man who stepped into Bobby's shoes on the sideline in this perennial peak of Florida football events. 

 
Even if the Hurricanes uncharacteristically come up short this week, expect them to rebound with the promise of revenge in a rematch, but more likely, expect this rivalry installment to be the turning point where your Hurricanes go from team continually displaying promise to the team delivering on aforementioned promises consistently with a three-phased, all-out, old-school, decade-of-dominance-reminding outing before a raucous home crowd. 

Who knows, if you squint your eyes just right you might be able to see an open end-zone and feel a little of the old Orange Bowl energy in the big teal box before the final gun sounds Saturday. 

 
Enjoy the game, and maybe even some other college football contests as well, this week and join me back here next week as The Shortlist to the Site of the Shainghaied 'Ship draws just a few upsets closer to the magic number of 25 remaining teams and ranking those left by merit instead of conference affiliation here in 2010.

Copyright 2010 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

The Natives Are Restless: It Must Be FSU Week!

To be, or not to be?  Will it be wide right or wide left?  That is the question.

One thing is for certain this week in college football: When Miami and Florida State meet at Sun life stadium this Saturday night on national television (8 PM / ABC) both teams with have their throttles stuck WIDE OPEN in their effort to beat their arch rival and ACC foe.

 
Both Miami (3-1 / 1-0 ACC) and FSU (4-1 / 2-0 ACC) come into the game unbeaten in ACC competition and fairly evenly matched talent in a game that either team could win. 

Whichever team does win will once again have an inside track to competing in the ACC title game on December 4, 2010 in Charlotte, NC.

As usual, Canespace will be on hand to witness history being made as the Canes and Noles battle for State bragging rights and recruiting dominance.  Here is a brief update on happenings this week:

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 on the windshield of my white Isuzu Rodeo 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 support the party.

Grab Your Hurricane Gear Here: If you are looking for some new 'Canes gear to wear to the game or a special tailgating item then you need to visit the new Canesport merchandise site. 

 
Gary Ferman of Canesport.com who has visited Canespace on occasion emailed me some info about the new site.  The Canes Shop web site can be found at: www.canesshop.com.

They have some great stuff, good prices and even a really cool Hurricane memorabilia section too:

 

If you are lucky you may be eligible for some additonal "insider" discounts if you shop now (see below).  We suggest that you shop early and often at this great Canes gear site offered by Canesport.com!

 

 

Hurricanes Alive And Well After Trip To Death Valley

Your Miami Hurricanes and several thousand of their diehard fans walked right throught the heart of the Death Valley on Saturday and walked out alive and well as winners in their big ACC showdown against the Clemson Tigers. 

 
The road victory moved Miami up to 13th in the polls and ahead of in-State rivals Florida (14th) and Florida State  (23rd) for the first time in a long time.

 
Before we move on to next week's showdown with FSU at Sun Life Stadium we want to take one more look back at the Hurricanes beat down of the Tigers and note some of the facts and stats that made the difference in the game.

When the game was over the teams met at mid-field to shake hands in front of the already empty stands that were once packed with 81,000 screaming orange-clad fans.

 
Clemson's hopes and dreams of victory had long since evaporated into the brilliant Fall sky like ballons drifting away to nowhere while Miami's dreams of their first ACC title grew ever closer.

 
Here are some interesting FACTS from the Clemson game:

• Clemson led the ACC in fewest turnovers coming into the game with just two in three games this season. But Miami had six takeways in the game by forcing the Tigers into three fumbles and three interceptions. It was the worst T/O ratio in a game for Clemson since they played GT back in 2008.
• Clemson had held it's opponents to 10 points in the first half of their first three games on 2010.  Miami was having none of that nonsense and scored 27 against the Tigers to take a 13 point lead (27-14) going into half time.
• The road team has won the last four meetings between these two teams.  Miami's win marks the third straight year that the Hurricanes have won their opening ACC game of the season and also is the third straight year they have started 3-1 under randy Shannon.
• This was just the fourth Clemson loss on Homecoming since 1971. Clemson is now 34-4-2 on Homecoming over the last 40 years. Clemson had won eight in a row on homecoming prior to today. Clemson's Head Coach Dabo Swinney had been 7-0 as an assistant and Head Coach on homecoming prior to today.

Some say that STATS are for fools, but we tend to disagree:

• Miami outplayed Clemson in evefry offensive category.  Miami had the advantage in first downs 19-15, rushing yards 171-162 and passing yards 205-149.
• Miami's Damien Berry topped the 100 yard mark on the day with 101 yards while Lamar Miller added 53 of his own on the ground for the Hurricanes.
• Miami's Leonard Hankerson continues his meteoric rise to fame and fortune that started in 2009 and has grown even brighter in 2010.  Hankerson led the Hurricanes with 7 catches for 147 yards and three touchdowns against the Tigers.
• Miami had eight, count 'em EIGHT, tackles for loss against Clemson.  The Hurricanes coninue to lead the Nation in this category thanks to a deep and solid defensive line and some excellent coaching from new DL Coach Rick Petri.

Here some comments and opinions for Hurricane Fans on Canespace:

Question for the team: how does it feel to silence 82,000 fans in death valley?

Posted by: usagainstheworld | October 02, 2010 at 10:34 PM

I thought this game would be a nail biter and it really wasn't except the 4th down play. Miami just had better players across the board. Me thinks Dabo Swinney is also overrated, and benefited greatly from the talent Bowden left him. A smart coach always keeps his team within a field goal in the fourth quarter and does not go for it on fourth and better than a yard.

I really like our chances next week. FSU is a good team but they have some defensive issues. Hopefully this team keeps the pedal to the medal and wins that game. After that, I think the schedule is not too tough until VT at the end. And VT is not who we thought they were before the year began.

Posted by: SJMPARMAN | October 02, 2010 at 10:47 PM

Once again the `Canes ride their outstanding D to another impressive victory. The D is nasty, fast and fierce.  It's not going to be the O that gets the `Canes to the ACC Championship game, it will be that gruesome D.  Big Daddy Fortson is really coming into his own this year!

Posted by: Sebastian57 | October 02, 2010 at 11:24 PM

The key for the Canes is execution and the elimination of mistakes. That is why these Canes cannot be complacent - for some games they will need style points to continue to move up the polls, and the only way the Canes can do that is to work hard and get that execution on the little things done right.

Posted by: WindyCane1 | October 03, 2010 at 09:17 AM

Anyone see this coming 5 weeks ago? Our biggest concern is our offense, specifically our WR's? And Jacory? Guess the LB situation is not as bad as we thought it might be and the O is not as strong as we knew it would be. If our offense starts to gel and come together we have a scary good team. Eliminate the penalties, picks, and drops and we are a really good team. All seems mental to me.

Posted by: 411 | October 03, 2010 at 09:35 AM

-

Solar, SOUP, Hershey, OCALA...We had a blast. Glad you enjoyed the tailgate. It's good to finaly meet you guys. Hope to do it again.  Great game for the Canes. Lots of room for improvement, but I think we are improving every game. If we continue to do that, it will be a great season.

WE GOT SOME CANES OVER HERE.......

Posted by: Aces & Canes | October 03, 2010 at 12:35 PM

Our defense is the real deal this season however winning our remaining games is possible only if we can run the ball. I have resigned myself to the fact Jacory lacks poise and is going to make bad decisons which results in turnovers. I am nervous as hell when he drops back to throw a pass. In closing I am convinced the officials nationwide have made it their mantra to punish the U for our brash behavior of the 80's and 90's. It seemed as if every freaking play was under review and they were saying we are going to make sure this game stays close. The officials during the Pitt game were no better.

Posted by: canesteeler | October 03, 2010 at 10:06 AM

After Further Review...Miami Beats Clemson!

There were so many official reviews during Saturday's Miami-Clemson game that it was absolutely ridiculous and completely disrupted the flow of the game. 

There were so many reviews that went against Miami early in the game that many Hurricanes fans felt that typical anti-Hurricane "fix" was in.

 
In the end, not even the referees or the 81,000 screaming Clemson fans could stop Miami from accomplishing their mission. 

The Hurricanes came, saw and conquered the Tigers 30-21 against all odds.

 
Jacory Harris threw four touchdowns and two interceptions in the Hurricanes win.  The Miami defense was again dominant and intercepted three passes on the day and have already almost equaled their entire 2009 total for picks in 2010.

 
Matt Bosher connected on the game sealing field goal late in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach as Hurricane fans celebrated in the stands.

By the time it was over, the Clemson faithful were nowhere to be seen but the UM football program and their fans were still alive and well in Death Valley.

 
Canespace was on hand to witness the solid Miami defense and the capable Hurricane offense.  The boys from the 305 looked talented, motivated and confident as they played on the road for the third straight week in a hostile environment.

We went to the game with SolarCane, OcalaCane (and wife), HersheyCane (and wife) seen below.

 
We tailgated with some great UM fans like Aces & Canes and G who hosted the tailgate party.  And oh what a party it was! 

They had the satellite TV set up, the grill cooking and the drinks flowing.  We were treated like family by people who we had never met before except on the blog. These good, down to earth people were true Canes fans and hard core tailgators.

 
Need less to say a good time was had by all!  The 'Canes won on the road against an ACC rival.  The tailgate was extreme.  The Hurricane family grew together once again in glorious fashion. 

We met some really nice Clemson fans, talked ACC football and then took some photos.

 
And then, as what always happens, of course happened once again.

U know, Veni, vidi, vici...it's what we do!