What's So Special About That?

Here are three facts about football that we know to be true:

• Special teams are as important as offense and defense and account for approximately 30% of all plays during a football game. 
• Special teams are obviously a critical part of any football team's success or failure. They are game changers and momentum breakers. 
• Special teams have been anything but special for the Miami Hurricanes over the last five years under current coach Joe Pannunzio.

 

Sure we all know that Miami (seen above returning the opening kickoff against Clemson) returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns this season in one game against Ohio State.  That was a good effort and kept the Hurricanes in the game against the Buckeyes.

However, nine  games into the 2010 season Miami ranks last in the ACC in point after touchdowns (12th), next to last in kick off coverage (11th), next to last in punt returns (11th), ninth in field goals made, eight in kick off returns, and fourth in punting. 

 
What's up with Matt Bosher?   Why has he suddenly gone into a funk?  Why is he missing PATs and not kicking the ball into the end zone as a Senior?  Is he distracted or has he found a new love?

Why is Graig Cooper returning kick offs while recovering from knee surgery when the speedy Lamar Miller, the dynamic Storm Johnson and the elusive Travis Benjamin are available?  And by the way, where the heck is the dependable Thearon Collier when U need him? 

 
Head Coach Randy Shannon said before the season that he was taking a more "active role" in special teams.  But one has to wonder why should he have to with all of his other responsibilities?

And now the question that is on the minds of all Hurricane fans out there is this: Should special teams coach Pannunzio should be fired?

Please discuss amongst yourselves... 

Comments

[roachcane77]

VA Cane... so sorry for your loss. What a great role model and friend you've lost. Continue coaching, it's what helped to get me through both of my parents' passings. Those kids have a way of giving your life meaning, and a chance to share what you learned from your Dad.

Again, so sad for your loss, and thank you for sharing your feelings with us...

[emorycane]

hey what's the deal with tailgating for the GT game. I need a place to go at 9 am and get drunk with like minded folk.

[solarcane]

Vegas

Miami -4 to GT
VT -3.5 to UNC
Md -1.5 to Virginia
NCSt -18 to WF
FSU -8 to Clemson
BC to Duke ?

[SOUP]

hey what's the deal with tailgating for the GT game. I need a place to go at 9 am and get drunk with like minded folk.

Posted by: emorycane | November 09, 2010 at 07:48 PM

U NEED CANEZILLA.

[solarcane]

This was a headline for an Article in the SS on Oct 7, 2007

Randy Shannon: UM players 'don't trust coaching staff'
===========================================

Maybe the players were a whole lot smarter than we gave them credit for.

[UMike]

emorycane..I will be there around 9 or 10..I wont be drinking cause I dont drink and I will have my son..but there will be 4 of us looking to tailgate and hang...I hear Canezilla is going with 17 people...we both need to contact him lol

[solarcane]

Pata loses life shortly after leaving field
By: The Associates Press, November 8, 2006

University of Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata was shot and killed Tuesday night, shortly after leaving the practice field, school officials said.

The shooting occurred at the apartment complex where Pata lived, about 4 miles from campus. His death was ruled a homicide, Miami-Dade police spokesman Roy Rutland said.

“Right now, we’re just gathering ourselves and just trying to pull ourselves together,” Miami athletic director Paul Dee said.

Rutland said police were called at 7:30 p.m. to the scene and found Pata’s body in the parking lot. The 22-year-old senior who grew up in Miami was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Tonight the University of Miami tragically lost a member of our football family, Bryan Pata,” the university athletic department said in a release. “Bryan was a fine person and a great competitor. He will be forever missed by his coaches and teammates. We offer our thoughts and prayers to his family.”

The circumstances around Pata’s death were not immediately clear, and Miami-Dade police did not say who made the 911 call after the shooting.

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound lineman was in his fourth year with the Hurricanes. He appeared in 41 games, making 23 starts, and was expected to be selected in next spring’s NFL draft.

Word spread quickly around campus, and grief counselors were quickly summoned to work with Pata’s teammates.

Annette Ponnock, Miami’s student body president, said Pata — a fierce player on the field and a somewhat soft-spoken one off it — was well known and popular on campus.

“Everyone is just more surprised than anything else,” Ponnock said. “He’s such a personality on campus. It was just really, really shocking to have such a loss. ... He was a big guy so it was kind of hard to miss him. He just had a presence about him.”

The Hurricanes used Pata primarily at defensive tackle this season, and he had 13 tackles and two sacks.

Miami is supposed to play at No. 23 Maryland Saturday. There has not been any announcement about whether that game will happen as scheduled.

Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford was aware of the shooting and was working with Miami officials to gather information, conference spokeswoman Amy Yakola said.

[solarcane]

Another gem from back in 2007 this from one of the best bloggers of all time.

"R.S. is scaring alot of future recruits.
If he is sitting out players who do not work hard, than there should be more players sitting.
There is something more going on here. Maybe it's a personality conflict or stubborness??? "

Posted by: M.H. | November 15, 2007 at 11:46 AM

[emorycane]

Ya I'm down I just don't know the parking situation around the stadium. If someone would give me some info sometime this week that would be great. BeefCane@gmail.com

=================================

emorycane..I will be there around 9 or 10..I wont be drinking cause I dont drink and I will have my son..but there will be 4 of us looking to tailgate and hang...I hear Canezilla is going with 17 people...we both need to contact him lol

Posted by: UMike | November 09, 2010 at 08:17 PM

[WindyCane1]

Shields looks like he can be a really good CB in time. In a down year last year, the Canes generated several players who made NFL rosters.

As strange as it sounds, the fact that so many Canes (drafted and undrafteday made NFL rosters helps those current Canes get jobs and it will help the Canes recruit.

NFLU is still going strong. Still waiting for a few championships though.

[SOUP]

Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford was aware of the shooting and was working with Miami officials to gather information, conference spokeswoman Amy Yakola said.

Posted by: solarcane | November 09, 2010 at 08:36 PM

And the purpose of that was?

[solarcane]

I thought maybe because we give Sean Taylor our love and respect it might be nice to remember Brian on his anniversary.

[DallasTX Cane]

Hard to believe how much time has passed Solar.

RIP BP

[DallasTX Cane]

I remember that comment, about not trusting the coaches. Those were all Cokerites tho...just wait till we get some Shannonites.

Early Happy Bday to USMC & Thank U to all fellow Vets out there. Special Thank U to all on active duty; including my sister and 2 brothers-in-law.

Plus...Go Navy beat Army!

[solarcane]

DTX,
Yes, I read that again, and I remember how outraged, angry and sad I was all at the same time when that happened.
We the Cane family have lost a lot more important things than swagger and football games over the recent years.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

In a couple years maybe you suddenly realize something Alph, soup, Six or me told you this year, that you brushed off as inaccurate, was actually indeed just the way you finally see it is.
maybe you will say you guys told me so.
Posted by: solarcane | November 09, 2010 at 12:14 AM

>>>>>>>>>

Solar, those points have nothing to do with what I'm talking about.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Solar, also, I didn't see anything then and haven;t seen anything recently to make me think RS has some unusual incapacity on game day. He makes a mistake here and there like a bunch of coaches who have a ton of experience.

And the ploys of taking the U off the helmet was a great idea. Whether it actually had an impact or not is irrelevant. It was symbolic and a statement about what he thought of those players.

So again, nothing that you talked about has anything to do with what I'm talking about.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Solar, also, you know I don't have problems debating personality traits and such, whether certain things will be effective or not.

Those aren't things that can divided a team or sow seeds of division on a team and really undermine all the good things a leader does.

This is what I'm talking about with RS. But the good news is they are mistakes people in leadership positions often make when they don't have training or guidance in such areas. And RS has had neither. And he jumped into the deepest most shark infested waters in CFB....WITH A REBUILD from less than zero.

And a 3rd rate football budget to boot.

So while I'm disappointed in these things, I see how they can be corrected.

He got a gift with J12 going down and Morris stepping in though. That must is beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Hopefully J12 will be down the rest of the season and Morris can firmly take command of this offense and this team.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

And as far as Alph or any of us far away from CG, it's all speculation unless otherwise informed, and to try to draw conclusions based on next to nothing is ridiculous, esp. like Alp's.

[solarcane]

So again, nothing that you talked about has anything to do with what I'm talking about.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | November 09, 2010 at 09:40 PM

Like I said, three years from now you will enlighten me with something I explained to you a couple years before when you refused to accept it,and that will be fine.

Did you go back and read some of the archives and see how you knew exactly how everything would play out, and how many times me or someone else would say "Not so fast my friend."?

Like right this second you didn't bother to actually consider what someone else was trying to explain to you, you were busy composing your next prediction.
It's all good.

[canechic]

So sorry to hear about your Dad Va, my heart hurts for you. My Dad's b-day is Friday and I am having a pretty tough week.

My thoughts are with you!

[solarcane]

Capt,
I think randy being a DC in college and pros and back to college, he would have absorbed some of things he saw successful head coaches doing.
He hasn't.
Some guys are in over their heads and they don't know a graceful way to admit it and ask for help. That's stubbornness and maybe a little of fear of being found out too.

And I don't feel sorry for Randy.
Randy applied for the job, he should have started at a low profile school and found out if he could actually run an entire team.
He is a millionaire doing an inadequate job while how many other people that do their job correctly have been fired or laid off in this country?

[solarcane]

canechic,
I told my wife how you and your family were going to go out of your way to meet us, to make it easier for her.
She thought that was very considerate of you, thanks again.
I wish we were in shape money wise to make the trip, but there will be plenty of other games.

[SOUP]

I thought maybe because we give Sean Taylor our love and respect it might be nice to remember Brian on his anniversary.

Posted by: solarcane | November 09, 2010 at 09:20 PM

Now I get it. Smart man, GOOD CALL!

[solarcane]

125

[miamihurricane34]

huh?

[Ohio_Cane]

Ummm...?

[Zakkee]

It aint over