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

[caniak aka true cane]

is Shannon still the coach? oh I must have been dreaming. Stop making excuses for Randy Shannon, He deserves to be fired. I have a feeling that it is not going to happen, this is brutal. I was once a fan of Randy but I am done drinking the cool-aid. We need leadership, we need Randy Shannon fired now...

[solarcane]

elliot ,
I didn't say the Canes suck.
I said they are going to be a little better than average team for the next 5 years.

People that were in denial of that, have reconsidered the future and are beginning to post realistic non homer posts.

The very last of the
Everybody hates the Canes
Everybody fears the Canes
We play the toughest Schedule
It's always 2001
I wish we could catch Boise in a Bowl
The refs all hate us,

are beginning to realize we are no more important to college football than 100 other schools right now, and for a pretty good while to come.

We certainly hold the edge in NFL players, and can be proud of that fact.

[Sebastian]

A wild guess here but I figure the Fs have to be the bombs but what are the T@Y

It cant be something good

[solarcane]

monte,
I'll do a complete big dog show just for you soon good idea.

[BEERicane]

refs still hate us. that hasn't changed. : )

[BEERicane]

FTFY = Fixed That For You

: )

[Sebastian]

BEERicane,
I didnt read what I thought was my copied post

Good one.....You got me there

Point for you my friend

[BEERicane]

I'm planning on hitting up the tailgate at 8am (8:30 at the latest). Any realistic guesses at how many people will be there at that time?

I am going to say around 6K people

[SOUP]

Blogging is cool, but I'd rather be fishing...

[BEERicane]

Blogging is cool, but it's the only thing I have to do while I wait for the old lady to get back from work.

[solarcane]

efs still hate us. that hasn't changed. : )

Posted by: BEERicane | November 05, 2010 at 07:23 PM

Actually no they don't, they don't care as much as you do.

What does happen is our teams have never had any discipline as far as staying on sides, blocking in the back, etc, we used to overcome the penalties and we never felt it nessasry to use the refs as an excuse as to why we were losing..
It will come to you. Just like us being just another football team did, it just takes awhile.

The more anybody on here watches other teams play the more they will realize every team thinks they are getting ripped off, every team is feels the refs are against them.
I have never heard a fan on the blog point out all the exceptionly good ball spots we have gotten this year.
I think the refs actually love how hard Berry runs and he has gotten great spots a lot that I have seen.

[Sebastian]

The 4-1 Heat going to N.O. to face the 4-0 Hornets

That should be another good road test for the Heat and another chance to how they will defend another top PG

It wasnt very pretty against Rondo last time

[SOUP]

That should be another good road test for the Heat and another chance to how they will defend another top PG

Posted by: Sebastian57 | November 05, 2010 at 07:42 PM

Should be fun to watch!

[solarcane]

UCF receivers and backs block nice down the field

[Sebastian]

Not a very good start for the Heat and trying to contain CP3

[solarcane]

166

[solarcane]

Godfrey and his offense are in sync.
Looks like a confident SoFl kid is supposed to look playing on the road

[canesteeler]

Canes don't suck they lick!

[Sebastian]

Im not just basing this off the few games this season but Chris Bosh is going to end up being a disappointment for the Heat

He doesnt bring the toughness in the middle and doesnt have a postgame

He will have his games but the Heat sure could of used that $ elsewhere

[BEERicane]

Bosh just needs to develop a post game. It will take a year or so to do on a consistent basis, but this year could be a rough go. Nonetheless he is a legit scoring threat when LBJ and DW3 aren't feeling it.

[BEERicane]

Z was a nice addition though. Guy has a sweet stroke.

[Hurri']

31-20 The U.

Mar' Millz gets loose on fools for over a buck, and two touches.

[Sebastian]

Z was a great addition for them

IMO I just dont think Bosh is going to be quite the player people expect him to be with the Heat

Hes going to need to get tougher and hit those boards harder

[BEERicane]

Are you suggesting that Bosh is the Power Forward/Center equivalent of J12? : )

[Sebastian]

Hes listed at 6`11" 235lbs and im not sold on either stat

JSilk would eat him alive on the boards

[solarcane]

Z was a nice addition though. Guy has a sweet stroke.

thats what she said

[solarcane]

Man how did we not pick up Godfrey the kid is as slick as wet glass out there.

[j.w.]

Oh, the ' petty-minded ' generalizations of a j.w. LMAO

It seems yous do listen to Savage. LOL Because you've absolutely never took the time to respond to moi. LMAO

Posted by: macjones | November 05, 2010 at 05:08 PM

LMAO! You got me, Mac- I have to admit that I listen to the show every now and then!
Re: Shannon's interview: Just when I thought I couldn't be more disappointed, he comes out with the no depth argument. That's all on you, Coach. And I guess we'll see tomorrow if the team wasn't playing hard just because they didn't like Jacory or if it's something else/.

[Six]

DTX - you gotta admit though, I don't talk about the Yankees in almost every other post

As for the Rays, well, I understand it b/c you're a Rangers fan, ha .... but at least the Rays had some Canes on their team, and a guy in Sean Rodriguez that was born/raised in Miami and is a die hard Cane - so, I can use that excuse in tying it into a Canes blog

Tomorrow at noon can't come soon enough to get the taste of the sh*tbox cookie we had to eat last week, out of our mouths

[raizecane]

I'm planning on hitting up the tailgate at 8am (8:30 at the latest). Any realistic guesses at how many people will be there at that time?

I am going to say around 6K people

Posted by: BEERicane | November 05, 2010 at 07:28 PM

Canechic, Angry, Playa and myself will be watching the game from the friendly confines of the Hurricane Grill and Wings in less than 12 hours

[SJMPARMAN]

D-Day: War's over, man. Wormer dropped the big one.

Bluto: Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Otter: Germans?

Boon: Forget it, he's rolling.

Bluto: And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough...
[thinks hard]

Bluto: the tough get goin'! Who's with me? Let's go!
[runs out, alone; then returns]

Bluto: What the fuck happened to the Delta I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? This could be the greatest night of our lives, but you're gonna let it be the worst. "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Wormer, he's a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer...

Otter: Dead! Bluto's right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part.

Bluto: We're just the guys to do it.

D-Day: Let's do it.

Bluto: *Let's do it*!

Six gave us the "they are shooting the lights" analogy from Die Hard. But when I think of the way I have felt since the Virginia game, the anger, the hurt, the sense of loss, and then I read his post, it occurs to me he really is playing the Bluto for us, and his point is well made, in his extremely lengthy but poignant way.

The Canes don't have Jacory, we are so screwed. Berry won't play against Maryland, we are so screwed. Shannon sucks, we are so screwed. The players suck, we are so screwed. We are all so down on the team, we are all so screwed. We are just one of a hundred teams out there, we will never be good again, we are all so screwed. We sound just like the Deltas did.

Now we can't bomb FIU, and we can't create mass mayhem on Miracle Mile since it isn't homecoming (or is it?) but we can dare to do something different. We can look at this situation in a different light, and support the guys who are on the field.

Jacory is not on the field, this is true. But most of us believe he has been a big part of the problem. I expected big time improvement in year two as the starter and he didn't get it done. So Morris gets his chance. And if he throws on time, with accuracy, maybe the days when our mental health and well being are tied to Jacory will be over, and, if he gets the job back, he will do so with the fear that Morris will take his job again, and he will play like the QB some of us thought he was capable of. And if he doesn't we get a new QB, and we end the misery of being an also ran. So instead of dreading our reality, maybe we should be embracing it.

Berry is out. Ok, he has played well, and he hasn't fumbled but once, but man that was a big fumble. Maybe Miller and James takes his job, and Storms gets more reps, and instead of a diet of five year runs, we get backs breaking off huge gains. Each of those guys are clearly capable of it. Maybe we shouldn't dread the misfortune but embrace the possibilities. I am not saying Berry has not played good but he hasn't broken a single long run all year, like the run the Clemson did against us.

Randy is hurting right now. He can't believe this bs anymore than we can. He knows he has to step up. He motivated these guys against NC and they dogged it on him against VA. I do think he is going to start yanking guys for poor play. Orlando Franklin is high on that list. Those penalties against NC and then VA were horrible for a senior. If he repeats it, I do think Randy will play the freshman which will be an upgrade. I still believe McCarthy needs to be moved out of the inside, and MD will attack him. It is time for Randy to step up and play who he thinks is best inside regardless of what the fans think.

Bosher needs to be challenged. Missing two extra points is ridiculous. Yes, I have missed three footers but not enough to lose my name. He needs to be challenged, by the other players, and told that we didn't sweat blood and tears out there to watch you miss makeable kicks. And if you do it again, we will kick your butt.

I disagree with anyone who says we will lose to GT. While that kid has a nice arm, he was totally ineffective on anything other than the dive play against VT. Our defense will dominate GT up front. GT did do us a big favor though. They showed how to shut down VT's offense. Play a three - four look, spy Tyrod and make him throw. He looked somewhat shaky. It is still a tall order, but if we believe like the Deltas did, and pack the stadium, we might make a difference in that game.

Don't even think BJ can beat us. He sucks.

Reading the blog just makes me think of this last AH line.

Neidermeyer: You're all worthless and weak! Now drop and give me twenty!

Embrace the future in the same way you melancoly the present. Dare to believe. At least that is what I plan to do at noon tomorrow. I do reserve the right to be a raging lunatic tomorrow night. Enjoy the game all! (hopefully)

[WGT22]

32 - 19 Canes

special teams ?

[SOUP]

Embrace the future in the same way you melancoly the present. Dare to believe. At least that is what I plan to do at noon tomorrow. I do reserve the right to be a raging lunatic tomorrow night. Enjoy the game all! (hopefully)

Posted by: SJMPARMAN | November 06, 2010 at 12:49 AM

Nice post, well done.

I have no idea which team will show up tomorrow: (1) the one the blows out MD; (2)the one that wins a close game against MD; (3) or the one that gets blown out by MD.

Either way I will try to be positive and cheer the Canes on to victory. It is the right thing, no make that the ONLY thing to do.

GO CANES, BEAT THE TERPS!

[Hurri']

I second that opinion.

[NativeCane]

MH

It's tough to say who's feeling more pressure to get the job done on homecoming Saturday against Maryland -- University of Miami coach Randy Shannon or new starting quarterback Stephen Morris.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/05/1911262/the-heat-is-on-for-morris-shannon.html#ixzz14V4hn9eN

[NativeCane]

SS

LaRon Byrd declared with a huge grin this week that for the first time in his life he was going to be the biggest Georgia Tech fan.

If Georgia Tech had beaten Virginia Tech Thursday night, Byrd and his Miami teammates would have been back in control of their destiny. Instead, the Hurricanes have to hope some more as their chance to play in the ACC Championship Game shrivels.

That's assuming the 'Canes (5-3, 3-2) can even win their next three games, starting with Saturday's noon game against Maryland (6-2, 3-1) on Homecoming. There's considerably less belief in that happening from those outside the program after last week's 24-19 loss at Virginia.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/um-hurricanes/

[Hurri']

I'm sure Shannon would give his righty AND lefty to only have the pressure Morris will have today......

[NativeCane]

PBP

As Stephen Morris walked toward the University of Miami's bench last Saturday following his first series as a college quarterback, TV cameras zoomed in on the freshman's eyes.

"They were looking for that deer-in-the-headlights look," said Joe Zaccheo, Morris' coach at Miami-Monsignor Pace High School. "Nah, nah, nah. That's not Stephen. The kid is mature beyond his years."

Morris proved that a little later. He rallied the Hurricanes to three fourth-quarter touchdowns against Atlantic Coast Conference-opponent Virginia on the road. And while the comeback fell short (UM lost 24-19), the quarterback earned rave reviews for his gutsy performance

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/hurricanes/miami-hurricanes-freshman-qb-stephen-morris-to-start-1024778.html

[NativeCane]

Ledger

http://www.theledger.com/article/20101105/NEWS/11055062/1002/sports?Title=QB-Morris-to-Make-First-Ever-Start-for-Canes

[NativeCane]

U

THE MIAMI-MARYLAND SERIES
Despite sharing the same conference, Miami and Maryland have not met since 2006, the year before Randy Shannon became the Hurricanes’ head coach.

Maryland holds a one-game edge in the all-time series with Miami, 8-7. In the only meeting between the two teams since Miami joined the ACC, the Terps came away with a 14-13 win in College Park on Nov. 11, 2006.

A ‘CANES WIN OVER THE TERRAPINS WOULD…
- Improve Miami’s home record to 3-1 this season.
- Move the Hurricanes’ record to 4-2 in ACC play with two regular season conference games remaining.
- Make the ‘Canes bowl eligible.

http://theufootball.com/

[NativeCane]

CFT

Only in Alabama:

Cam Newton, alleged middleman deny wrongdoing
Posted by John Taylor on November 5, 2010, 9:33 PM EDT
Following up on what’s fast becoming the story of the college football season, Cam Newton has addressed the accusations that someone acting on the Newton family’s behalf solicited payment in return for the quarterback’s football talents on their campus.

And, as expected, the Auburn player denied anything untoward occurred on his end.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Newton said according to Auburn Undercover. “I’m blessed to be at Auburn right now. I’m sure the smoke will settle. I’m looking forward to the game tomorrow.”

Right now, there’s not only a tremendous amount of smoke that needs to settle as Newton noted, but perhaps a fire or two that needs to be extinguished as well. And, much like Newton, one of the pivotal figures in the burgeoning scandal — Kenny Rogers — grabbed a fire hose Friday night and attempted to douse the flames.

Former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond told ESPN.com that a person who claimed to represent Newton and was a former MSU teammate of his was seeking between $180,000 and $200,000 from schools while Newton was being recruited last year. Bond claimed that the person, who ESPN.com identified as former Bulldogs player Kenny Rogers, contacted him shortly after Newton’s official visit to Mississippi State in December and said it would take cash to get the quarterback.

Appearing on ESPN-1300 in Dallas, Rogers categorically and emphatically denied all of the accusations that have been made against him, accusations that triggered what is now a months-long NCAA investigation.

“Heck no. I’ve never done that,” Rogers said when asked if he had been paid to steer Newton to a school. “A school has never paid me for a kid, an alumni has never paid me for a kid. Period. Point blank.”

Rogers said he has never spoken to anyone associated with Auburn about Newton — “No. No. No. None at all. None at all. None at all.” — and that he has spoken to MSU head coach Dan Mullen on just one occasion, when he was introduced to the coach by Newton’s father. Rogers also claimed that he hasn’t spoken to Bond in over 20 years, while Bond said the two spoke late last year.

So, again, we’re back to a he-said he-said situation, with no-grey-area accusations being met by explicit denials from the accused. In other words, either Bond is lying or Rogers is lying.

Short of a damning paper trail — the NCAA has asked for financial records from Newton’s father and his churches — this investigation seems as though it will come down to one man’s word against that of another. And I have no clue where my money would go, so to speak, on who’s telling the truth. Guess that’s why the NCAA gets paid the big bucks…

Permalink 1 Comment Back to top
Saban running as a Democrat ‘could not have beaten a one-legged child molester running as a Republican’
Posted by John Taylor on November 5, 2010, 7:37 PM EDT
Apparently, Democrats in Alabama took quite a beating at the polls Tuesday.

And, in an effort to explain just how bad it was for his political party earlier in the week, Limestone County (Ala.) Sheriff Mike Blakely decided to go with a little football analogy in describing the Republican’s one-sided victory.

“Alabama Coach Nick Saban running on the Democratic ticket could not have beaten a one-legged child molester running as a Republican.”

I’m quite certain there’s a message in there somewhere — probably a damn good one too — but I’m failing to see it at the moment. Although, much thanks to Mr. Blakley for letting his voice be heard and allowing me to cross off one of the items on my personal bucket list…

No. 97: Include the phrase “one-legged child molester” in at least one headline.

Thank you, Mr. Blakely. Thank you.

[NativeCane]

ESPN

Hocutt declined to comment about Shannon’s future at Miami, but it appears he has the support of university president Donna Shalala. Shannon’s four-year contract, coupled with the discipline he’s instilled and his nearly flawless graduation rate – are reasons he should still be sleeping well.

http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/18020/randy-shannon-remains-calm-through-the-storm

[NativeCane]

Fox- Mike Leach in Key West adventures

Leach and Clements were in the shallow water, but Simmons stayed in the boat eating fried chicken, having just watched “When Sharks Attack!” on television. As he tossed his chicken bones in the water, Simmons thought he saw something move.

And he did — an 8-foot shark.

Sadler and Simmons warned Clements and Leach, who were still some 40 yards away on a sandbar. As they waded back to the boat, the shark started swimming around them in ever-shrinking circles.

With each circle, they stopped and waited for it to pass before wading closer to the boat.

“At this point, I’m thinking, ‘I’m going to lose my job,’” Simmons says. “I can see the headlines tomorrow: Texas Tech head coach eaten by shark.”

Finally, Clements made it out of the water, but not yet Leach.

“That’s when Mike acts like Jesus and starts walking on water to get to the boat,” Simmons says.

As the group pulled Leach in, they looked down in the water and noticed that the shark’s mouth was right underneath his foot.

“He’s been swimming with sharks all his life anyways,” Clements says.

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/former-texas-tech-coach-mike-leach-enjoying-life-in-key-west-110410

[pbcfrcane13]

At the stadium wow this place is empty

[NativeCane]

At the stadium wow this place is empty

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | November 06, 2010 at 09:28 AM

pb, you are a hard core Cane fan, thanks!

Go Canes!!!

[SOUP]

At the stadium wow this place is empty

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | November 06, 2010 at 09:28 AM

SHOCKER.

[pbcfrcane13]

Lol yea I know just figure I'd give the breaking news lol

[SOUP]

Native, pbcfr13 and others...the new Game Day blog will post at 10 AM.

Native...I'll tarnsfer over the links.

[SOUP]

LAST

[DZ8]

200