The Short List: Week 10

While unbeaten teams fall all over the country the Shortlist is merely sweetly reduced to an exact 16 teams remaining in contention for the two top spots in 2010 and the programs rate by order of worthiness as follows:

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

The only team I called for to fall off the Shortlist last week survived as Nebraska locks down Missouri as always to the accustomed octaves of the usual applauding attendees in the stands.  Up next in the split proceedings is a road trip to Iowa State and no applause for Miami's favorite bowl game target as they hone in on one last division crown if not national title game upset loss if things break just right for the Huskers.

 
Balancing that fact out for this week is the precious counterpoint that Florida State started a retched weekend for the ACC third of the in state big three-teams by serving up the usual under a different sideline bumpkin's watch in Raleigh by losing to NC State 28-24. 

Gosh it would be just awful if Jimbo drops his homecoming game this week to North Carolina that someone put you on alert for a month ago to follow up wouldn't it now?  

 
I say good riddance to the ACC's favorite fallen addition in 2010 on the Shortlist, now I can just focus on Boise State-TCU III, "THIS TIME IT'S FOR THE OBLONG CRYSTAL MARBLE," with special-guest replay-supervisor official Terry Porter, as my last remaining nightmare for the rest of the year on the Shortlist.

No less than a trio of Shortlist Elimination games in the SEC and the Pac-10 between one-loss teams sandwiched around the Mountain West's day of on field reckoning amongst its two premier programs this Saturday will guarantee less competition in next weeks Shortlist.  I also expect the three surefire eliminations to be joined by a pair of unexpected Big 12 fallen that will all combine to read as follows when the weekend in done:

LSU, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona and Utah.

As the tried and true saying about the final regular season month goes in the college football, November should provide several more memorable collisions between the survivors of this week's games down the final closing stretch here on the Shortlist to the Site of the Shainghaied 'Ship as the final sixteen contenders are spared down to only the truly worthy next week.

Copyright 2010 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

Comments

[Sarasota 'cane]

moi?

[SOUP]

And canechic, I could be totally wrong, but that's not what I think soup meant.

Posted by: j.w. | November 04, 2010 at 06:21 PM

Of course not. Email sent canechic.

[Sarasota 'cane]

I know, I know...but I had to repost!

/////////////////////////////////////////

sota, How did you find out the Mullah was a Cane fan?

Posted by: NativeCane | November 04, 2010 at 06:22 PM

Funny you should ask. I was backpacking across Afghanistan looking for a new hashish supplier a few months back, and I'll be damned if I didn't run right into the Mullah, Osama bin Laden, and some other freaky looking guy.

Once I assured them that I hated George Bush worse than they did, we all laughed and got REALLY stoned on some of the Mullah's Kush!

Well a few minutes later I look over and I swear that bin Laden is doing the tomahawk chop! Out of pure instinct I throw up a "U" at the same time as the Mullah! I thought bin Laden was going to cry!

I really could not understand much of what they were saying, but I was looking at bin Laden while making a kicking motion with my leg, and a choke sign around my neck with my hand. The dude got so mad that he took his hookah and went back to his cave!

Just when I was ready to leave, the freaky looking guy started to do the Gator Chomp with his hands, and the Mullah shot him dead! We high fived, smoked a little more Kush, and I beat feet out of that dump! End of story!

Go 'canes!

[SOUP]

Sota...berry, berry funny!

[Sarasota 'cane]

The entire ESPN crew just gave Shannon a pass! Interesting analysis!

Go 'canes!

[Sarasota 'cane]

Maybe I'm reading into it, they also gave Rich Rodriguez, Jo Paterno, and Mark Richt a pass as well!

Go 'canes!

[WPB]

The only pass RS should get is a pass out the door!

[Sarasota 'cane]

TD GT!

Go 'canes!

[j.w.]

j.w., it figures yous be the type of character to listen to Michel Savage. Say it ain't so. LOL

Posted by: macjones | November 04, 2010 at 06:26 PM

mac- I get a kick out of him, for about 10 minutes once or twice a month, but mostly because he's like a cartoon character. He pretty much rips everyone, which I respect, but his views on most topics are so over the top that I don't take him too seriously.

[Sarasota 'cane]

14-0 GT!

Go 'canes!

[Sebastian]

Lets Go RS

Lets Go Whip

Lets Go `Canes

Speedy Recovery JSilk

[Sebastian]

Thanks again for the Short List

[Spif]

Ummmm... "Jsilk" isn't clever or catchy. Nobody uses it. It needs to go in the Nix file.

[Sebastian]

Thank you for your input on that Spif

Your opinion means alot to me so I had better check with you before using any other names

[Montreal-Cane]

Tyrod Taylor a monster in the weight room...
Not really the case with "Jsilk".

[Sebastian]

Im sorry maybe I should be like most of you guys and say RS should be fired along with Whipple and this team is terrible

Yep, thats what I should do, act like im some kind of know-it-all that can solve all the problems at Miami

Even if Miami wins this Saturday some of you web experts will complain even more

Again im sorry im not going to hitch up to your bitch and whine train

And you sure the heck wont see me coming on any `Cane site posting anything concerning the firing of a coach

Total classless move

Maybe it would be better if I go over every single post and see what name everyone uses for the players before I talk about them

[SinisterCane]

Cash sought for Cam Newton

During the height of star quarterback Cam Newton's recruitment out of junior college last year, a man saying he represented Newton allegedly was soliciting a six-figure payment to secure his signature on a national letter-of-intent, ESPN.com has learned.

Former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond told ESPN.com a teammate of Bond's at Mississippi State in the early 1980s contacted him soon after Newton's official visit to Mississippi State during the Ole Miss game in December, and said he was representing Newton.

"He said it would take some cash to get Cam," Bond said. "I called our athletic director, Greg Byrne, and he took it from there. That was pretty much it." Multiple sources told ESPN.com that Mississippi State called the SEC office with Bond's information shortly after he brought it to the attention of the school.

Sources told ESPN.com the former teammate is Kenny Rogers, who played at Mississippi State from 1982-85. Rogers operates a Chicago-based company called Elite Football Preparation, which holds camps in Chicago, Alabama and Mississippi. A Lexis search for that business lists Kenneth Rogers as the contact and his title as "agent." A Birmingham News story from 2008 said Elite Football Preparation "matches high school athletes with college programs."

Bond said the former teammate told him other schools had already offered $200,000, but since Newton really liked Mississippi State and had a relationship with head coach Dan Mullen dating to when both were at Florida, Mississippi State could get him for $180,000.

"I have no agenda other than protecting Mississippi State," Bond said. "We've done what we were supposed to do from the very beginning. Mississippi State has done nothing wrong, and I've done nothing wrong. It's been handed off to the NCAA, and it's in their hands now. I don't know what happened at Auburn. I don't know why he went to Auburn. That's not my concern. My concern is Mississippi State and making sure this doesn't cause us any trouble."

Bond said an NCAA investigator came to Mississippi to meet with him in early September, as well as with Mississippi State officials.

When interviewed by ESPN.com Thursday at the family's home in Atlanta, Cecil Newton, Cam's father, denied any wrongdoing.

"If Rogers tried to solicit money from Mississippi State, he did it on his own, without our knowledge," Cecil Newton said.

Cecil Newton said he first met Rogers two years ago, when Cam Newton left Florida. He said he talked to Rogers on several occasions to find out more about Mississippi State, but never met Rogers until Cam Newton's official visit to Starkville.

Cecil Newton said the family received a letter from the NCAA "about a month ago" asking for financial statements. He said he submitted bank statements and records for the church where he is pastor, Holy Zion Center of Deliverance in Newnan, Ga., along with other records.

The sign for the church where Cameron Newton's father presides in Newnan, Ga.

The church has been in the news in Coweta County, Ga., often in the past year. According to stories in The Times-Herald newspaper Cecil Newton's church was in danger of being demolished by order of the Newnan City Council in 2009 for failing to meet the city's building code. One story said Cecil Newton told the council last September the building would be brought to code "inside of six months." After numerous delays, extensions and compromises from the council, renovation work began last spring and The Times-Herald reported last week that the church is in compliance with Newnan's building requirements.

"If you've ever seen our church, you'd know we don't have any money," said Cam Newton's mother, Jackie. "We have nothing."

Holy Zion Center of Deliverance is not the only church Cecil Newton is involved in overseeing. Cam Newton told ESPN.com last month that his dad is a bishop to five churches in Georgia.

"I'm just trying to protect my son's interests, because he's fought very hard to get back where he is," Cecil Newton said. "It's a hell of a fight when people give up on you and think they'll never see you or hear from you again."

NCAA officials declined comment on the allegation involving Newton on Wednesday.

"We do not comment on current, pending or potential investigations," said Stacey Osburn, the NCAA's associate director for media and public relations.

Julie Roe Lach, the NCAA's new director of enforcement, said it is the association's policy to neither confirm nor deny an investigation.

SEC associate commissioner Greg Sankey, who oversees conference compliance, said the league received "specific information" regarding the Newton allegation in late July of this year.

"When we get information, we share it with the institution when it is involved," Sankey said.

Without specifically addressing the initial call from Mississippi State, which came several months earlier, Sankey said what the SEC originally was told about the allegation was "limited information."

"We don't deal in rumor and innuendo," Sankey said. "We deal in facts."

He said the SEC is not an investigative body, adding that it can share information with NCAA enforcement as needed. He declined to say whether the Newton allegation was shared with the NCAA.

Sankey also would not directly comment on whether the league office considers this an ongoing issue or a closed case.

"We're attentive to a variety of issues at any given time," he said. "We pay attention to a lot."

"We are comfortable that representatives of Mississippi State University's interests conducted themselves appropriately and in compliance with all NCAA by-laws," Mississippi State said in a statement to ESPN.com. "Mississippi State is committed to operating our athletics programs within the rules of the NCAA and Southeastern Conference, and we expect those affiliated with our program to continue to do the same."

Sources said Mississippi State refused to get involved with Rogers, whose association with Chicago-based agent Ian Greengross has come under scrutiny from the NFL Players Association and the NCAA.

NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis told ESPN.com on Thursday the organization is "in the process of investigating [Greengross and Rogers] as we speak for violations of our rules and regulations."

A voice message left with Greengross by ESPN.com was not immediately returned. Attempts to reach Rogers, who also played for the Miami Dolphins during the 1987 strike, were unsuccessful. The voice mailbox at Elite Football Preparation was full Thursday.

At the time of Rogers' alleged solicitation, Mississippi State was perceived to have the inside track because of Newton's relationship with Mullen, who was the offensive coordinator at Florida when Newton was a backup to Tim Tebow. He later left Florida and went to Blinn College, a two-year school in Brenham, Texas.

After his official visit to Starkville, Newton took visits to Oklahoma on Dec. 11 and Auburn Dec. 18.

On Dec. 31, 2009, Newton publicly committed to Auburn, where this season he has led the Tigers to a 9-0 record and No. 2 ranking in the BCS standings. Along the way, Newton's dazzling running and passing have elevated him to Heisman Trophy favorite status.

"We have been made aware of the allegation. Unfortunately, we cannot comment at this time," Auburn assistant athletic director, media relations Kirk Sampson said. "However, Cam Newton is eligible to play football at Auburn."

Multiple media reports this fall have said Cam Newton preferred going to Mississippi State, but his father preferred Auburn. According to a story in Sports Illustrated last week, Cam Newton left the final decision to his father, who declared to the family last Dec. 23 that his son would attend Auburn.

[solarcane]

sebas,
Don't sweat it brudda you have stayed positive when most of us have all but given up on these guys.

[Sebastian]

Thanks Solarcane

Of course, just like everyone else I want much better but I will never give up on any Miami team and im not about to give up on RS or Whip either

Go `Canes

[Montreal-Cane]

Solar you are the only one who succeeded in making Donna look good...Lol...

[canesteeler]

I can't say I have given up on the team but my faith has certainly been shaken. I will root the Canes on from my livingroom this Saturday! The couch may be my permanent spot for Cane football the rest of the season.

[Sebastian]

Posted by: canesteeler | November 04, 2010 at 09:56 PM

Just get and stay healthy my man

The `Canes will reward those of us that have stuck around

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Solar, Six, Soup, our boy is a goner. He's stabbing himself in the back and shooting his own feet, then looking at the wounds and saying, "I can't figure out why this is happening."

Worst nightmares of his personality have become true, for a while it seems.

It's really sad cause he was close talent-wise but so, so far away in the most important areas of leadership....unity, favoritism, and not really connecting with your troops.

And I don't know all the details just enough to see how clueless he is about the gray area in between the Xs and Os.

Six, Mini-Martz still sucks though but I understand his plight more. I'm curious to see what he does with Morris back there, I must admit. His arm is better suited to Air Coryell.

Hopefully he proves me wrong. haha

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Vince, Shannon's killing himself. It's all on him. Don't worry about it any more. He's not the leader we thought he was or could be.

[solarcane]

monte,
thanks!
I had to use the free lego actors Cause i was too cheap to pay for the really cool ones the animators had
Randy does look pretty good in those custom threads hes wearing.

did hyou check out the recruiting trip with Randy and Whipple I did also?

[NativeCane]

Just when I was ready to leave, the freaky looking guy started to do the Gator Chomp with his hands, and the Mullah shot him dead! We high fived, smoked a little more Kush, and I beat feet out of that dump! End of story!

Go 'canes!

Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | November 04, 2010 at 07:34 PM

Just as I suspected!

Go Canes!!!

[solarcane]

Hi Capt,
Yea don't think Randy is the boss and hogs builder we all thought that first year.
I'll give him next year because I said I would 4 years ago.
To me Randy is letting his confusion show and looking more overwhelmed each week.
He is a good man, I just think Miami is a tough place to break in as a D1 coach.

[Sarasota 'cane]

I'm afraid GT has left too much time for Taylor, but what a game!

Go 'canes!

[solarcane]

Man
A very average GT playing with without there star, using their 2 string QB on the road against thne best team in the conference.
And they are confident enough to stay right with VT right to the late 4th qtr. They will probably lose on the kick return for a TD but they played their azz off.

[BEERicane]

David Wilson > LM6.

He is faster, better vision, period.

VT has a STABLE of Running Backs. We have ok RBs. Nothing great.

[BEERicane]

Solar,

Neither of these teams is worth a crap. just like the rest of the ACC. Which makes this season even more embarrassing. How pathetic.

[Sarasota 'cane]

That TD was a blessing in disguise if GT has any shot at winning. They have 2.5 minutes and 4 downs a drive to get it to OT. VT was going to kick a cheap FG to win it anyway, so at least GT has the game on their shoulders now!

Go 'canes!

[pbcfrcane13]

Because we choked away the UVA game it's all up to NC to beat this team!!! Man the ACC was ours for the taking this season and our players litereally DROPPED the ball!!!! AHHH!!!!! Night space!

[BEERicane]

Ball game.

Another year, another disappointing season. Thanks for not showing up vs VA Canes. The team doesn't deserve to win the ACC championship. It's time to start from scratch, fellas. Gotta start over. I'm sorry this team is a god damn embarrassment. Morris will show promise, we will be all up on the canes jock then we will all realize that JaSucky is our QB next year too and we still won't sniff the ACC again. This team is f*#&%#g soft and full of Bums.

[BEERicane]

Because we choked away the UVA game it's all up to NC to beat this team!!! Man the ACC was ours for the taking this season and our players litereally DROPPED the ball!!!! AHHH!!!!! Night space!

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | November 04, 2010 at 10:54 PM

You gotta be smoking some serious crap to think that UNC has any chance of even competing in that game. UNC blows. UVA has a better chance which is about a 1-2% chance.

I'm sorry, I hope VT loses to MIA and wins the rest. The Canes DO NO DESERVE TO WIN THE LOWLY ACC! period. they are a bunch of over-rated bums.

[BEERicane]

And I'm sick and tired of all of the god damn excuses on here year-in, year-out.

Our guys are young. They are still young. We were injured. We had new coordinators. We committed too many penalties. If you take away the turnovers. If you take away the drops. If we could cover the tight end. If we could tackle. If we wouldn't have dropped those INTs. etc.

We are all full of excuses (myself included). I am sick of that BS. Face it. We are mediocre at best and if we played in the Big 10, SEC, PAC 10, and maybe Big 12 we would be a sub-.500 team. That is who we are. Not very good.

[Montreal-Cane]

NC can beat VT as Butch got a big vote of confidence today...

Updated: November 4, 2010, 6:51 PM ET

Holden Thorp stands by Butch Davis

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- University of North Carolina Chancellor Holden Thorp is again publicly supporting coach Butch Davis.

"A lot of people have looked for a long time, and no one's found anything that makes me think Butch shouldn't be the coach," Thorp said in a phone interview afterward."

[Sarasota 'cane]

I'm sorry, I hope VT loses to MIA and wins the rest. The Canes DO NO DESERVE TO WIN THE LOWLY ACC! period. they are a bunch of over-rated bums.

Posted by: BEERicane | November 04, 2010 at 10:57 PM

But how do you REALLY feel?

I hope Morris comes out and shows us something special myself.

These kids seem awfully young to be "bums", don't you think?

Go 'canes!

[BEERicane]

NC can beat VT as Butch got a big vote of confidence today...

Posted by: Montreal-Cane | November 04, 2010 at 11:05 PM

Get over that idea people. It's not going to happen. We whopped up on a horrible UNC team.I don't know why you guys are clinging onto hope when there is none. IT'S OVA. yet again. You should be DISGUSTED that you have to hope for VT's shitty ass remaining opponents to do the impossible.

[BEERicane]

These kids seem awfully young to be "bums", don't you think?

Go 'canes!

Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | November 04, 2010 at 11:08 PM

Look at the game experience for these "kids" Tons of JRs on the roster with the game experience of RS Seniors. They are not young any more. and you can't even make an argument to convince they are.

And I did say that I expect Morris to shine. Only to have RS's jock boy JaSucky to undeservedly take the reins again.

[BEERicane]

Sota, I forgot:

The awfully young ones just to name a few:

C-Mac, Bailey, Bosher, Forston, Regis, K. Robinson, Nicholas, Harris, Harris, Spence, Coop, Berry, Franklin, Horn, P. Hill, Gordon, Hank, Bryd, Johnson, Gunn, R. Hill, Ojomo, Smith, Benjamin, DVD, Campbell, M. Rob, Holmes

Yeah, those guys have gotten some serious burn over the past couple of years. They are not "awfully young" Go a head and count-em and tell me if you think this team is awfully young. then get back to me.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Hi Capt,
Yea don't think Randy is the boss and hogs builder we all thought that first year.
I'll give him next year because I said I would 4 years ago.
To me Randy is letting his confusion show and looking more overwhelmed each week.
He is a good man, I just think Miami is a tough place to break in as a D1 coach.

Posted by: solarcane | November 04, 2010 at 10:28 PM

>>>>>>>>

Solar, he has issues that will prevent him from succeeding at HC at ANY level. It ain't Xs and Os. It ain't recruiting. It's his inability to connect with his players and apparently his inability to treat ALL his players the same. That's a serious, serious problem for anyone in a leadership position that relies on buy-in and enthusiasm.

It's just amazing that he can't see it. So he's left trying to find needles in haystacks when it's staring him in the face. Forest for the trees....

Tragic really, cause we're about one class and one year away from really having a solid team. The OL needs to mature and gel and the LBs needs to get deeper, bigger, better and stronger but both units are in place to really excel.

We're basically a HC and an OC away.

Watch the highlights of the 2001 Sugar Bowl and a few things stand out.

#1 The simplicity of Coker's offensive attack. He NEVER used the shotgun or a set with no RBs, and used play-action 95% of the time.

#2 Everyone played fast cause they knew where they were going and the execution was sharp and focused and intense.

I honestly think this defense was almost on the verge of becoming dominant but the divisions on the team and the continually stupid playcalling and sputtering by the O made it very difficult for them to develop any confidence in the offense.

We're so close but so far. This is going to be an interesting finale.

[ColoradoCane]

I'm with you BEER....there are just no more excuses left for this train wreck. I am excited to see Morris as well but I'm with you in the fact that even if he does well it won't be enough once J12 is ready to go again. If I see Franklin false start about one more time I'm going to throw the f ing remote through the TV. And for the love of all that is holy get JoJo off the field and Ray Ray on it. I'm tired of seeing the best players ride the pine because they are younger.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Beer, I agree, we're NOT young anymore, except at OL. But the rest of the team should be clicking and they simply ARE NOT. These players shouldn't making the same mistakes they made as frosh and soph's. And where's the rest of the talent like KT, Streeter and Davon?? Is TB the ONLY deep threat we have?? He can't block so I know that's not it, and he's never played STs, so WTF is it that the others aren'd doing "right"??

It's RS, first, middle and last. We have the talent, minus a few players. He's just unable to get them to play hard, smart and hungry, unable to lead, unable to connect. I don't know why. It's amazing to me but he seems to be utterly clueless about his own shortcomings. CLUELESS.

That kid for VT is nowhere near LM. And their other backs are good but not much better than James and Berry, if at all.

The difference is their OC gets them the ball consistently and they get in a groove. Berry's our only back who gets the ball consistently but he's the least talented. LM's rarely had three carries on the same drive. You'll see this week and maybe next what he can do if he's fed the rock regularly.

As I said, Morris might show some sides of Mini Martz that we've never seen. haha

[Sarasota 'cane]

You expect Morris to "shine", but "Jasucky" is RS's "jockboy"?

The team has been a huge letdown this season for sure, but Jacory took one hell of a shot for the team last Saturday, and I know Shannon is doing all he can to win.

On top of that the administration is not even considering firing Shannon right now, so why would I waste my time bashing him or trying to figure out who could replace him! The guy is the Head Coach of my favorite team, plus it's wasted energy!

Go 'canes!

[solarcane]

capt o

You recall me telling you Randy didn't look like all that to me, before this season even started?
Remember I said we would win some games in spite of Randy?

I said over the next 5 years we would be a pretty good 8-4 to 9-3 team.
You said "No No Randy was putting his killing machine together, and only needed a couple more pieces of the puzzle" or words to that effect
You gave me dozens of reasons why anything I said didn't make sense as far as Randy not being too sharp.
You have defended his shortcomings for a long time you must admit. lol!

I'm sorry he isn't that guy, but I'm happy you are on the same page with me on a Cane's subject for a change
As Bob Dylan said " You don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."

[solarcane]

sorry here is the correct link to the updated Sports Anchor clip I did for the YouTube guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAPDBqi1f-I
all the ones with gottacane on them are ones i did

out

[SOUP]

Vince, Shannon's killing himself. It's all on him. Don't worry about it any more. He's not the leader we thought he was or could be.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | November 04, 2010 at 10:07 PM

Extra, Extra: Read all about it!

Cav...Between us, I've been reading so I get what U are saying. No need to say more.

[SOUP]

Canechic...U know we love U and respect U and want your comments here. But U are getting your "wires crossed" and over reacting. Relax, have a beverage and see U in the AM!

GO CANES, BEAT THE TERPS!!!

[SOUP]

Solar...I like the videos except for some of the language. Why the need to be crude?