Happy Thanksgiving Hurricane Fans!

On this Thanksgiving Day 2010 I thought it would be appropriate to comment on some of the things that I am thankful for.  So here we go, and in no particular order, I am thankful for...

The University of Miami: I attended UM and where I earned my degree in 1986.  The University has made significant progress over the last 30 years and has established itself among the nation's elite academic institutions.  UM was recently rated in the top 50 Universities in the United States and has made huge strides in shedding its "Sun Tan U" image and earning the reputation as one of the top research schools in the U.S.

 
Howard Schnelleberger:  If not for "The Pipe" Miami may have never achieved college football greatness.  UM was literally on the verge of giving up football until Howard convinced the University that he could bring a winning product to Coral Gables.  And he did, winning Miami's first National Championship in 1983.  The rest is history.

 
Cheerleaders:  Nothing excites Hurricane fans more than Miami Cheerleaders!  These fearless, high-flying young ladies (and some guys too) participate in what is one of the world's most dangerous sport.  There are more injuries to cheerleaders each year across the U.S. than U would want to know about.  The UM cheerleaders have been very good to Canespace over the years and we want to thank them for all of their time and effort in cheering the team in victory and defeat.

 
Five National Championships:There are so many great memories of players, coaches and big games over the past 30 years and chief among them are the five rings that Miami has won under four different head coaches since 1983.  Schnellenberger, Johnson, Erickson (2) and Coker all had different styles and used different strategies and techniques and to win National Championships at Miami.  All were memorable and each National Title holds a special place in every Miami fan's heart, mine included.

 
Ron Frasier: "The Wizard" of college baseball took the Hurricanes to their first National Championship in 1982 and then won it all again in 1985.  Known for his ability to promote the sport he loved, he raised college baseball at UM to levels that had never been achieved previously.  He established Miami as a perennial contender and college baseball powerhouse.

 
Brandon Harris:A true Miami Hurricane in every sense of the word.  Yet more than that, Harris is a likeable person, a solid young man and an excellent student-athlete at Miami.  He embodies all that is good and right about college athletics in a era where money, fame and selfishness rule the day.  If we are choosing sides to play a football game with players on Miami's current roster, I'm picking Brandon Harris first.

Andre Johnson: AJ was one of the first interviews I did that really mattered.  He was already an NFL star when I met him at the pre-Super Bowl charity park build out in Tampa in January of 2009.  The former Miami Hurricane was so cool and so open to interviews that it was off the charts.  Maybe my best day ever as a Canes fan.  No make that definitely one of my top 5 days ever.

 
Four National Championships: No that's NOT a misprint, we are talking college baseball here.  In addition to Miami's five football titles the Hurricanes baseball team has collected four of their own thank U very much.  In addition to the two championships won by the aforementioned Ron Frasier, Jim Morris came along and collected two of his own trophies in 1999 and 2001.  And Morris led Miami to its only ACC title in any major sport in 2008.  Thank U Coach Morris.

 
Canespace:The blog has come a long way from the day we launched it back in June of 2007.  We want to thank all of the current and former bloggers who have made Canespace THE place for Hurricane fans to talk UM sports.  After all 4.8 million hits and 300,000 comments in just over three years is certainly a lot to be thankful for, right?

 
Sean Spence:  Too small.  Too slow.  Not physical enough.  Sean Spence has heard all of those things said about him since arriving at Miami.   However nobody has ever questioned his heart, his effort or his productivity on the field.  One of the most consistent and hard working Miami defenders over the last three years Spence has left it all out on the field for the Hurricanes.  Spence bleeds orange and green and U can't ask for any more than that.

 
Arthur Brown and Cheerleaders: Well I was just kidding about Sir Arthur but I was serious about the cheerleaders.  Do I really need to explain this to U again?  Yeah, I didn't think so!

 
Leonard Hankerson:  During his first two seasons at Miami Hankerson found himself going nowhere fast.  Now, after solid and then spectacular seasons in 2009 and 2010 he finds himself going to the National Football League.  Hank is on the verge of a huge NFLU payday for all of his hard work, and make no mistake about it, it was the hard work and extra time and effort he put in with former Miami Dolphin All-Pro WR Mark Duper that got him to where he is today. 

 
So see Hurricanes fans, there is a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day 2010.  Here's to hoping that U and those who matter to U are healthy and happy on Thanksgiving.

And that we will have even more things to be happy about in 2011!

Comments

[IraqiCane]

Happy Thanksgiving all.

GO CANES!!!

[NativeCane]

Happy Thanksgiving, we are blessed.

Salute to our Awesome Troops and also the
Mighty Turkey Creek Gobblers formerly from East Hillsborough Co.

Go Gobblers!!!

Go Canes!!!

[NativeCane]

MH

``I didn't think you could lose your job by being hurt,'' Harris said. ``Randy has been saying that since Jacory got hurt. Now, how are you going to open it up for competition late in the year? If they feel that kid is a better quarterback, then they need to tell Jacory that.

``Either way, that still wouldn't be fair. Jacory wasn't allowed to run the offense they're running now. He threw the ball 60 times a game. Put him in a position to succeed, let him run that offense.''

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/25/1942826/quarterback-quandry-for-miami.html#ixzz16HrEc3CV

Manny- Herbstreit defends Shannon

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2010/11/herbstreit-defends-shannon.html

Posted by: NativeCane | November 25, 2010 at 05:05 AM

[NativeCane]

SS

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris has known all week that he won’t start against South Florida this Saturday and privately “is not taking it well,” a source close to the situation said Wednesday.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_college_hurricanes/2010/11/morris-with-the-1s-again.html

Possum Bailey

Hurricanes DE Allen Bailey says the Thanksgiving spread back home in Sapelo, a remote island off the coast of Georgia, includes ham, macaroni, stuffing, collard greens.

There's also possum or raccoon.

"We go, clean it and cook it the day before or what-not," Bailey said. "It's the usual stuff, the whole Thanksgiving."

Thursday, there will be no possum or raccoon for Bailey to feast on.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/um-hurricanes/fl-miami-football-news-1125-20101124,0,4166526.story

Steve- B-Ball

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_college_hurricanes/2010/11/canes-at-their-best-when-sharing-the-ball.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sports%2Fumweblog+%28UM+Hurricanes+%7C+Sun-Sentinel+Blogs%29

Posted by: NativeCane | November 25, 2010 at 05:23 AM

[NativeCane]

So IraqiCane, whats on the menu today, they got possum over there? ha

[IraqiCane]

Native, it's a game I like to call "Name that Meat".

[NativeCane]

Native, it's a game I like to call "Name that Meat".

Posted by: IraqiCane | November 25, 2010 at 06:33 AM

Just one of the many sacrifices you guys make so guys like me can check out the blog, enjoy a REAL American Thanksgiving, and live the Dream.

I am humbled and greatful for your service Mighty Warrior, Thanks.

Go Canes!!!

[BahamaCane]

After reading that Manny article, RS better be careful. You cant say one thing for the past 3 weeks about not loosing your job to injury then turn around and do the opposite.

Morris may have better upside then J-12, but I have to agree with the statements his father made. Shannon said J-12 will start when healthy and will not loose his job because of injury, well, J-12 is healthy now.

I dont know what sources Adam Kuperstein has, but Kup's scoop has stirred the bee's nest and all week Shannon said nothing to kill the story. Why let that story marinate all week?

This isnt the way to handle this qb situation.

This isnt about who is the better QB. This is about the head coach making statments about a player's status for weeks while he was injured and now seems to be waffling.

Morris starts on Saturday, i will loose some respect for Shannon. Stand by your word, it has to mean something!

[francis w]

Happy Thanksgiving from Cooper City Fl ( guests of daughter and son-in-law
from Jean and Fran

[roachcane77]

Happy Thanksgiving Canespacers!

Hopefully, we're all able to find SOMETHING to be thankful for this year...

I want to also thank IraqiCane and all of our brave men and women serving to protect our nation both here and overseas.

Hopefully all of the QB and coaching issues will get worked out SOON! (Although BOTH situations look to have very little "upside" at this point.)

Have a great day everyone!

[solarcane]

Happy Thanksgiving Gang

I'm very thankful for the time we spend chatting,debating,laughing,mending,consolinghoping and dreaming together.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Happy Thanksgiving Legion! I'm at my mom's in Naples with my brother, my two nephew's, and my dog Gracie. My daughter, my dad and my stepmom will be joining us later this morning!!

It's a great day for family and football!

Win, lose, or draw, this family is Hurricane to the core! (Except for my daughter, she's a stinkin' nole! But she is graduating in 2 weeks from FSU College of Film and TV Production after only 3.5 years! She'll be moving to L.A. in January to produce made for TV 3D movies for some studio out west. We're very proud of our little Criminole!)

It's all about family around here today. It's great that my mom and stepmom like each other as well. I should be fat and sleepy by 4pm today!

On a side note, you guys would not believe how many private jets are flying in to Naples airport this morning! It's like an invasion! There is some serious "Jack" in this town today! They come in right over the beach as they approach the airport. It is so awesome here today!

Everyone have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Let's go 'canes!! (See U Saturday!)

[1miamifan]

Happy Thanksgiving Cane Fans, enjoy the day and weekend.

[canesteeler]

RS has turned this program into a joke. Although I think Morris is our future, how do you tell a kid he is not going to lose his job due to an injury and then turn around and do the oposite? RS should start Jacory and pull his ass immediately if he is not getting the job done! At this point RS is the ringmaster of a circus which is UM football.

[canesteeler]

Sarasota highjack one of those jets, come to Miami and fly RS out of here ASAP. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[canezilla]

I THINK ON SATURDAY WE WILL BBQ SOME BULL.

[canechic]

Soup too funny last night :)

"I've never dropped anyone i believed in." ~ Marilyn Monroe

[SinisterCane]

Miami Hurricanes Category 5 Failure: Is Randy Shannon's Coaching Career Done?
By Marcus Session (Miami Featured Columnist) on November 25, 2010

Football at the University of Miami is at a cross roads, going into the final game against USF the Hurricanes have turmoil swirling around the entire program. The Virginia Tech game seems to be the straw that broke the Camel’s back even though the Canes played well for most of the game, the fourth quarter left a bad taste in the mouth of a large number of fans. Long time Shannon supporters are starting to jump ship, and former players are coming out in droves and firing pot shots and the head coach.

Randy Shannon won’t have much to be thankful about during Thanksgiving dinner, despite what he said about him “receiving support” from the university he has to be worried about his job. From Shannon’s history though he is not worried about himself as much as he will be about his players, who have staunchly supported their coach several times.

You can tell Shannon is feeling the heat because he has named Stephen Morris the starter for the game against South Florida even though Jacory Harris is healthy enough to play. Morris has looked good in the games he has played save one quarter against Virginia Tech, and Shannon has decided that he needs to move some of his investments to the Stephen Morris portfolio. Shannon seems to imply it will be good to have a true quarterback competition going into the spring, and Jacory Harris will have to earn the starting job back.

Shannon has already started locking up recruits for the 2012 class, and commenting on the difficulty of the schedule being the only team in the ACC that plays FSU and VT every year. Shannon is waging political warfare like he never has before in an attempt to stem the tide rising against him. Some of these are great moves by Shannon for self-preservation, but there is one problem it may already be too late to save his job.

There is virtually nothing Shannon can do to save his job at this point if that decision has already been made, but if there is a spirited discussion going on behind closed doors he has only one option available to him. Miami has to go out and beat USF 56–7 or something along those lines, the type of beating we have not seen at Miami over an FBS opponent in a long time. Then if he makes it past Monday whomever the Canes play in a bowl game better get blown out as well, that is the only way to buy back some sort of confidence that things might be able to change. That still would not be enough to get back any good will from the critics.

With the chatter of John Gruden being interested in coming to Miami seeming to gain steam very quickly, one has to wonder if his interest is true or not. It’s all rumor at this point, but it has desperate Hurricanes fans clinging to the idea because they have lost hope. Over at allcanes.com/blog an article was written recently about the Gruden situation, and there were a lot of good points made. Shalala and Hocutt have not gotten where they are by being stupid and reactionary, if they listened to emotional fans they would make knee jerk reactions and that would not be good.

They are not going to make a change for the sake of making a change to appease fans whining on message boards and blog posts, whatever they decide to do will surely be calculated and planned properly. Sure we don’t know how much money Miami has in the coffers to spend on a head coach, but a private school with no state funding and a smaller student population is at a disadvantage financially in some areas compared to public universities. The John Gruden discussion could have an extremely positive effect on the program, or plummet it to a point that it may be hard to recover from.

Gruden won a Super Bowl in his first year with Tampa Bay (some would say with Tony Dungy’s team), and some consider him the Larry Coker of the NFL. Gruden only had one other double digit win season after the Super Bowl year, and he had a continuous carousel of quarterbacks he collected and messed around with. Gruden is a big name, but there is not enough there to say he is a sure thing to lead the Hurricanes back to glory. These are the things Hocutt and Shalala have to look at when they make a decision on the coaching situation.

It is not an easy decision on what to do next, and the decision to fire Shannon is going to be based on what coaches are available to take the job and want to come here. Gary Patterson, Chris Petersen are two names Canes fans would love to have in Coral Gables, but who says they would leave the god like situations they are in right now? Firing Shannon for another young coach or an unproven assistant has a lot of risk as well.

Regardless of what decision is made Hurricanes fans will be waiting anxiously on Sunday to see if there is movement in Coral Gables. The fan base is split by those who want Shannon gone, and those who want to give him one more year. If the Hurricanes convincingly win the last two games of this season, then some of that bad taste won’t taste as bitter.

[SOUP]

The fan base is split by those who want Shannon gone, and those who want to give him one more year. If the Hurricanes convincingly win the last two games of this season, then some of that bad taste won’t taste as bitter.

Posted by: SinisterCane | November 25, 2010 at 10:35 AM

IF we play well, don't quit and win against USF and then the bowl game then I am in the one more year camp.

IF not...

[SOUP]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

May all of U and those that matter to U be healthy and happy on this day of thanks.

[canezilla]

I AGREE SOUP...THERE IS NO REASON WE SHOULDNT BEAT THE BULLS BY 30.THEN THE BOWL GAME IF WE PLAY THE IRISH OR ANY LOW SEEDED PAC 10 TEAM AND BLOW THEM FOOLS OUT THEN HE GETS ANOTHER YEAR IN MY BOOK

[MDCane]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I'm all for giving Shannon one more year with a big "BUT"...he must take a long hard look at his assistant coaches, and replace a few.

[BEERicane]

I'm all for giving Shannon one more year with a big "BUT"...he must take a long hard look at his assistant coaches, and replace a few.

Posted by: MDCane | November 25, 2010 at 11:40 AM

They ALL should go, except for Cassano and MAYBE Petri (I am not sold on the Guy). Swasey should be out too. He is an agility and athleticism coach, but a horrible STRENGTH coach. Our players need to get bigger and stronger. Seantrel will be 325 by next fall.

[BEERicane]

Happy Canesgiving everyone! Gotta start up that bird now.

[pepe perez]

After the USF game Shannon is gone!!! Whipple will take over as new HC!!!
We'll see what happens next year!!

[WGT22]

Happy T-Day ... Be safe.

[Playa..The Blogger Formerly Known as Rashad]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2010/11/mike-james-to-miss-usf-game.html

Mike James out--Someone get the Powerade ready for Lamar!!

[Tcoak]

Comment on another blog in reference to Harris' dad whining about INT12 not being the starter.

LOL at "Not giving the kid a chance" ARE YOU F***ING KIDDING ME!? Jacory played this whole season plus the last season entirely how is that "NOT a chance!?" He is a very poor Div. 1 football QB. Watch College football everyday Saturday like I do, watch game after game, you will see it is extremely common to see a supperior QB behind center. Better arm, smarter decision, sells the play action better, pump fakes better, scramble better, physically tougher, better leaders etc. Harris is horrendous. "

Those comments are very accurate and sum up the truth about Harris.

It raises THIS question...why on earth have fans been calling Jacory "special" for so long? Seriously, there is absolutely nothing about this kid that is special. Winning in his school? Meh. Standing emotionless in a GT blowout? Meh. Fourth quarter comebacks against crappy teams that were tired? Meh.

I hope Harris is doing his school work because he'll need his degree. No NFL GM in their right mind will even give him a glance. What would ONE hit from Troy Polamalu do to this kid?

But I digress. Harris just isn't a good QB. The hoopla that has surrounded him seems to indicate that The UM fan base is so battered that it will cling to anything that has a ray of hope.

[CGNC]

Happy Thanksgiving! So much to be grateful and thankful for. Have a great day everyone

[Hurri]

Good stuff SOUP.

I'm not a big Happy Holiday guy, but I know what it means to be thankful. I'm thankful for my actual family, as well as my extended Hurricane family.
Thankful for the chance to chat with you folks, from time to time. Thankful to have a CFB team to root for, wether they're 0-14 or 14-0.

You guys and girls enjoy yourselves.

Peace.

[CGNC]

Wow I saw that Chris Henry story on CBS - his mother is amazing. Sad and inspiring at the same time. Made me cry........

[MaryLouAlumni]

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Legion brothers and sisters. Great article on this blog Tom. Probably the best.
I'm thankful for being alive and hope I get better day by day. I have no family,except all of you and my boyfriend Richard, of course.
God bless everyone.

[KillerBeez41]

Jacory has gotta put himself in S.Morris' shoes he knows he'd want the opportunity to compete for the position. I think the way the offense is being called right now for Morris should have been used with Jacory. Coach can say what he wants, he let the ball rip a lot more with play action with the Jacory than he does with Morris. Mr. Harris is trying to look out for his boy so obviously hes going to defend him, but what if the roles were reversed? If Jacory wants his dam job back, put his dam hand down b/c no ones going to hand him ISH, earn it back. Its a challenge, are you gonna man up to it or just sit back whining? If you're the BEST QB, prove it. Randy's job is to win ball games and get you an education, thats ultimately his job. Right now everyone is calling for it b/c he lost 4 games and his record against ranked opponents isnt so hot. I think if the SOME players stepped it up a notch and played disciplined football everyone will be singing to Randys tune. Just my thoughts, Im going back into seclusion.

[KillerBeez41]

Oh forgive me...Happy Thanksgiving to all.

[WindyCane1]

But I digress. Harris just isn't a good QB. The hoopla that has surrounded him seems to indicate that The UM fan base is so battered that it will cling to anything that has a ray of hope.

Posted by: Tcoak | November 25, 2010 at 12:46 PM



Happy Thanksgiving!

I agree with this post. JH started with a lot of promise, but he digressed over the last year which is a sign that he is not as devoted as he should be to getting better.

Rodney Harris has crossed the line of being a supportive dad to a selfish distraction who does not care about team. Linder's, Morris's and Miller's dads have never given interviews and they have something to complain about. They are/were arguably better than the upperclassmen playing ahead of them, but they have not complained and put team first.

There is no "I" in "team"!

By complaining, Rodney Harris is hurting his son in the eyes of the coaches and players.

[TJL]

Marcus R had season ending knee surgery. He got a cheap shot by the VT TE in the game.

[TJL]

Happy T-Giving from Wellington, Florida!

[SOUP]

The University of Miami football team will close out its regular season schedule when it steps out of conference play to host USF on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 12 p.m. at Sun Life Stadium. The game will be televised live on
ESPNU.

Miami (7-4, 5-3 ACC) is coming off a 31-17 loss to Virginia Tech while USF (6-4, 3-3 ACC) is also coming off a defeat at the hands of Pitt in Tampa, 17-10.

Despite the loss, the Hurricanes will finish second in the ACC Coastal Division this year with an ACC mark of 5-3. The finish is the highest for Miami in Randy Shannon’s four years as the Hurricanes’ head coach.

[SOUP]

Happy Thanksgiving! So much to be grateful and thankful for. Have a great day everyone

Posted by: CGNC | November 25, 2010 at 12:53 PM

Same to U CGNC!

[SOUP]

God bless everyone.

Posted by: MaryLouAlumni | November 25, 2010 at 01:33 PM

And U too Mary Lou!

[SOUP]

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Posted by: KillerBeez41 | November 25, 2010 at 01:36 PM

Back at U Killer.

[SOUP]

Happy T-Giving from Wellington, Florida!

Posted by: TJL | November 25, 2010 at 02:08 PM

Same to U TJL.

[SOUP]

Harris just isn't a good QB. The hoopla that has surrounded him seems to indicate that The UM fan base is so battered that it will cling to anything that has a ray of hope.

Posted by: Tcoak | November 25, 2010 at 12:46 PM

There IT is right there.

[SOUP]

Tcoak...welcome to The Space! Post here, post often.

[SOUP]

Brandon HARRIS IS A THORPE SEMIFINALIST:

University of Miami junior cornerback Brandon Harris has been named as one of 10 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award. Harris is the only student-athlete from the Atlantic Coast Conference to be named a semifinalist for the award, which is given annually to the nation's best collegiate defensive back.

This marks the second straight year Harris was named a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award. Other Hurricanes to be named semifinalists for the award include Kenny Phillips (2007), Brandon Meriweather (2005), Antrel Rolle (2004), Sean Taylor (2003), Ed Reed (2001), C.J. Richardson (1994), Ryan McNeil (1992) and Bennie Blades (1987).

Taylor was named a semifinalist in 2003 and Blades won the award in 1987.

[NativeCane]

Check... check...1-2...check...

Go Canes!!!

[usagainstheworld&thereferees]

with this fiasco-- there goes bridgewater. this is a joke. . .

[SOUP]

FROM GORTEN AT THE SS:

There’s a good chance the ‘Canes will finish the season with two players topping 100 tackles – a rare feat.

Entering the regular-season finale, Colin McCarthy has 95 tackles (eight for loss) in 10 games and fellow LB Sean Spence has 92 (team-high 16 for loss) in 11 games.

“Usually, your safety is involved a lot,” Shannon said. “That means if the linebackers are doing a lot of tackles, there ain’t a lot of big plays. When your safeties start being the first and second-leading tacklers on your team, [then] that’s a problem. That shows you where we’re at on defense.”

Shannon said McCarthy started to adapt well to MLB three or four weeks ago, and both he and Spence have played physical.
“They complement each other very well,” Shannon said. “You know how you see guys start to get in a rhythm and get a feel for each other? If you notice, they’re starting to get a feel for each other.”

[CaneRock]

SHAKE WHATCHA' MOMMA GAVE YA! Pretty good article on Luke.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/25/1943497/rappers-delight-luther-campbells.html