Canespace

The Dancing Is Over, Now Who Are U Going To Bring Home?

With the last weekend of official visits now over it is time to get down to serious business. 

While some recruits were visiting their final schools of choice this weekend coaches at other universities were out there hoping, and wishing and dreaming that many of the most prized four and five star recruits would please "save the last dance for me."

If you are familiar with the song originally performed by The Drifters and more recently by singing sensation Michael Buble the words go like this:

Oh I know
That the music's fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart
To anyone
And don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling, save the last dance for me

So don't forget who's taking you home
Or in who's arms you're gonna be
So darling save the last dance for me
Oh baby, won't you save the last dance for me
Ooh, you make a promise
That you'll save the last dance for me
Save the last dance
The very last dance
For me

After this last weekend of dancing with high school recruits from all over the United States is done the dancing, flirting, courting and convincing that is all part of sometimes dirty and occasionally nasty little college football recruiting game is finally over. 

The time has now come for some serious committment.  Verbal committments are nice but now it is time to put up or shut up as recruits will be signing on the dotted line of a National Letter of Intent.

The moment fans all across the Country have all been so desperately waiting for is just around the corner.  National Signing Day (NSD) is now only three days away and the excitement and energy is growing and building into crescendo that will crest on Wednesday morning. 

As Phil Collins would say: "Can U feel it coming in the air tonight..." 

 

NSD has become so big and so important that it will absolutely make or break the entire year and/or football season for some coaches and fans.   The seriously addicted die-hards who follow recruiting as a religion are not sleeping well at night, are beginning having stress-related health problems and are trying to come up with reasons to call  in sick to work on Wednesday just so they can follow the recruiting news minute-by-minute on NSD. 

The day of reconing is Wednesday, February 2.  National Letters of Intent will beging streaming in via fax as early as 8 AM and continue throughout the day.

Here is a list of Miami's verbal commitments as of today courtesy of Canesport:

Committed/Not Yet Signed
Name	Pos	Ht/Wt	Stars	Rank
Dalton Botts	K	6-3/200		NR
Anthony Chickillo	DE	6-3/226		3
Dallas Crawford	DB	5-10/185		27
Phillip Dorsett	WR	5-10/170		38
Thomas Finnie	DB	5-10/170		43
Taylor Gadbois	OL	6-8/295		80
Matt Goudis	K	6-0/165		13
Kevin Grooms	ATH	5-10/165		19
Antonio Kinard	LB	6-4/215		NR
Gionni Paul	LB	6-0/227		33
Denzel Perryman	LB	5-11/217		25
Olsen Pierre	DE	6-6/280		NR
Rashawn Scott	WR	6-2/198		NR
Ricardo Williams	DE	6-5/210		12

Add to that list B.J. Dubose from Northeast HS in Oakland Park, FL who verbally committed to Miami this morning.  Dubose was the Class 5A-6A Defensive Player of the Year who finished the season with 60 tackles, 11 sacks and one INT.

Miami hopes to add QB Jacoby Brissett or QB Kevin Sousa to that list along with DT Jalen Grimble, OL Kaleb Johnson and a few others who may be secret "silents" to the Hurricanes.

UM will have a NSD special with live chats, live video and interviews with Um coaches and recruits as they sign their National Letters of Intent.  There is even a free party Wednesday night from 7-9 PM at Monty's in the Grove to celebrate the day's catch. 

Click on this link to join the activities, real-time conversation and party:

http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/012611aab.html

The Wizards Behind The Curtain

On any of the twelve regular season game days in a typical college football season Miami Hurricane fans from around the world gather to watch their teams' 85 scholarship football players and 10 coaches compete on the field of play.

But little does the average fan know about what goes on behind the scenes 365 days a year that greatly impact and influence the Miami Hurricanes football teams' success or failure between the sidleines on a few Fall Saturdays each year.

 
Here is some information about three very important employees on Al Golden's staff at Miami that you will probably never hear about but whose efforts are critical to the product you will see on the field of play on any given day.

Director of Football Operations: Tom Deahn

Deahn joins the University of Miami football staff as Director of Football Operations after spending five seasons in the same role at Temple. A native of Arcade, N.Y., he arrived in Owl Country after spending six seasons as the Director of Football Operations at the University of Maryland.

At Temple, Deahn served as liaison to university administration, athletic administration, football alumni and the Owl Club. He also handled NCAA and MAC compliance issues, home and away game operations, the walk-on program, the football budget and team clinics.

In 2009, Deahn was named the National Football Operations Director of the Year by FootballScoop.com, powered by Muscle Milk®.

Deahn spent seven years with the Terrapins overall, initially serving as assistant recruiting coordinator in 1999. He was instrumental in the team's turnaround under Ralph Friedgen that saw UM go from a losing record in 2000 to an ACC title in 2001. The Terrapins competed in three straight bowl games from 2001 to 2003, defeating Tennessee in the Peach Bowl and West Virginia in the Gator Bowl.

Assistant Director of Football Operations: Sean Desai

Al Golden hired Dr. Sean Desai to serve as assistant director of football operations at the University of Miami. Desai comes to Coral Gables after spending the last five years at Temple.

Last season Desai was elevated to special teams coordinator for the Owls after spending a year as the graduate assistant for the defense. During his tenure as the defensive GA, Desai groomed All-MAC safeties Dominique Harris and Jaiquawn Jarrett. Prior to that, he worked as a graduate extern for academics under Golden.

The 2009 was a special one for Temple as the defense helped win a program record nine consecutive games en route to a 9-4 overall record and first-place tie in the MAC East. The Owls earned a trip to the EagleBank Bowl for their efforts. In addition, a school record eight defensive players were named All-MAC, including five on the first team. Sophomore Adrian Robinson earned 2009 MAC Defensive Player of the Year accolades, and senior Andre Neblett became Temple's first three-time All-MAC honoree.

A native of Shelton, Conn., Desai attained his doctorate in educational administration at Temple University in May 2008. He received his undergraduate degree in philosophy and political science, with a minor in biology, from Boston University in 2004. A Cum Laude graduate of BU, he was recognized as a National Dean's List honoree. Desai earned a master's degree in higher and postsecondary education from Columbia in 2005 and was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society of Education.

Director of Player Development: Ryan McNamee

McNamee joined the University of Miami football staff as Director of Player Development after spending four seasons at Temple. McNamee joined the Temple staff in 2007 as the assistant director of football operations before being promoted to Director of Player Development where he spent the last three seasons.

A four-year varsity football letterwinner at Gettysburg College, he brings eight seasons of coaching and administrative experience to Miami.

McNamee assisted head coach Al Golden and director of football operations Tom Deahn in developing, organizing, and executing strategies to maintain the day-to-day operations of the program. He was also responsible for the coordination of the team's Owl Honor Roll, Team Accountability Program (TAP), and Owl Outreach programs, which flourished under his direction. 

The football team also set new records by accumulating more than 1,000 hours of community service during the 2007-08 academic year. In 2009, Temple received the T.E.A.M. Award and the Robert P. Levy Community Service Award.

McNamee also serves as the Owls' pro liaison and walk-on tryout coordinator, while assisting with recruiting and special teams. McNamee also has three seasons under his belt as the camp director for the Al Golden Football Camps.

Behind the scenes, like in the UM weight room, a lot of little things happen that matter.

 
Here is a list of the entire University of Miami Coaching staff:

Al Golden: Head Coach

Mark D’Onofrio - Defensive Coordinator

Jedd Fisch - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach

Micheal Barrow - Linebackers Coach/Special Teams

Brennan Carroll - Tight Ends Coach/National Recruiting Coordinator

Jethro Franklin - Defensive Line Coach

Art Kehoe - Offensive Line Coach

Geroge McDonald - Wide Recievers Coach

Terry Richardson - Running Backs Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Paul Williams - Defensive Backs Coach

Glenn Cook - Graduate Assistant (Defense)

Tom Deahn - Director of Football Operations

Sean Desai - Assistant Director of Football Operations

Benny Fernandez - Graduate Assistant (Offense)

Ryan McNamee - Director of Player Development

Andreu Swasey - Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

Kevin Blaske - Associate Athletic Trainer

Scott McGonagle - Head Athletic Trainer

 

Golden Breathing Life Back Into UM Football Program

If you had been listening to some Hurricanes fans over the last couple of weeks you would have sworn that the University of Miami might never win another football game much less a ACC title or BCS Championship.  

No seriously, I mean never.  As in not today, not tomorrow, not EVER!

It seems that a small, select group of extremely negative Miami fans tried to do all on their own what Sports Illustrated suggested and what the NCAA could not do over 20 years ago: give the University of Miami football program the Death Penalty.

It appears that for some Hurricane fans that the Kool-Aid, even the rare and recently discovered Golden Nectar flavor, has finally and completely run out, leaving faith dead and hope on life support in the land of orange and green.

 
Now let me be clear before we get too far into this conversation:  I am NOT among this group.

I find it hard, if not nearly impossible, to even wrap my head around the fact that after only three weeks on the job and before his first National Signing Day at UM, before he conducts his first practice at Greentree Field, and well before he even walks on the field to coach his first football game, that some Hurricane "fans" are ready to announce that it is clear to them that new Miami head coach Al Golden is going to be a failure. 

Golden hasn't even stepped on the field but he has already been placed inside the (gold) fish bowl of scrutiny by the Miami media and Hurricane fans alike.

 
Some fans don't blame Golden they personally blame UM Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt for failing to hit what they considered a "home run" during the hiring process.  You see they really, really, really  wanted the one and only Jon "Chucky" Gruden as their head coach. 

When Hocutt didn't land Gruden they simply could not handle it.  So now these crybabies choose to sit around all day with their panties in a wad, pouting and whining like little school girls and talking about Kirby as though he is some kind of vacuum.

 
A deranged few even think it is none other than UM President Donna Shalala who is to blame for all this mess.  No, I am not kidding, stick with me here, I am being totally serious.

Apparently they now believe that it is Shalala and NOT Larry Coker (as they originally suspected) who is also to blame for various illnesses, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, global warming, the economic recession, high unemployment rates and the National debt spiraling out of control. 

Oh yeah, that and tsunamis, earthquakes and ingrown toenails, but we digress.

 
According to some of the lunatic fringe Shalala's desire to turn UM into a top-notch university (perish the thought) has "interfered" with the football team's mojo and directly caused WR Travis Benjamin to drop the ball, OL Orlando Franklin to false start over and over again and QB Jacory Harris to throw interceptions at a record pace. 

Give me a break!  Stop blaming Shalala and Hocutt for your miseries and all of the world's problems.  Nothing could be further from the truth. 

And please while you are at it give new head coach Al Golden at least a fighting chance to get this Miami Hurricane football program turned around.  It will take time, and patience, which unfortunately is something Hurricane fans have proven not to have very much (if any) of. 

 
Golden has filled out his new coaching staff at UM with young, intelligent, energetic and highly motivated individuals.  His last hire even brought back the heart and soul of the Hurricanes football program: Offensive Line Coach Art "Five Rings" Kehoe.

 
He has hit the ground running in the recruiting game and despite a late start his aggressive approach has already landed a few more recruits and even managed to turn a few players from their previous verbal commitments to Miami.  Most important of all he managed to get top recruit Anthony Chickillo to renew his verbal commitment to "keep it in the family" and stay at home with the Hurricanes.

Al Golden is slowly but surely breathing new life into a tired University of Miami football program.

So try to be positive, have some hope and don't be such Negative Nancys.

And don't be such a bunch of Jack-wagons.

Or maybe I should trot some of you on over to Mamby-Pamby Land and get you some self confidence?

Tissue?

Cry babies...

A Heartfelt Homecoming

The heart and soul of the Miami Hurricanes football program is coming home.

 
University of Miami head coach Al Golden has officially annnounced that former UM player, graduate assistant and coach Art Kehoe was hired to coach the UM offensive line. 

The only Hurricane coach that was part of all five National Championship teams at Miami, Kehoe triumphantly returns to his Alma Mater where he rightfully belongs.  Now Kehoe cane once again proudly wear all five rings he won at Miami and be an integral part of the Hurricanes pusuit of #6.

Canespace collectively wants to say: "Welcome home Coach Kehoe!" 

Here is more on Art Kehoe from the official UM web site at www.hurricanesports.com:

A former offensive lineman and the modern day "Mr. Miami Football" to many fans, Kehoe was on the University of Miami coaching staff for 25 years (1981-2005). 

Kehoe began his coaching career in 1981 as a student assistant at UM. A 1982 graduate of UM, he has been an integral part of the Miami football renaissance since its beginning in the late 1970s.  He came to Miami in 1979 as a transfer from Laney Junior College in Oakland, Calif., and started at guard for the Hurricanes for two seasons under head coach Howard Schnellenberger. 

Kehoe's tenure at Miami ranked among the longest of any UM athletics figure, a span during which he has either played or coached for five head football coaches. In 20 seasons working with the offensive line at UM, Kehoe produced six players (Brett Romberg in 2002, Bryant McKinnie in 2001, Joaquin Gonzalez in 2000, Richard Mercier in 1999, K.C. Jones in 1996 and Leon Searcy in 1991) who received first-team All-America honors, plus 18 more that went on to play professionally, 14 All-Big East honorees, one Outland Trophy winner and the 2002 Rimington Award winner.

 
Kehoe was on the staff of all five UM football national championship teams. Two Heisman Trophy winners and six of Miami's eight 1,000-yard rushers passed or rushed behind the blocking of Kehoe's offensive linemen. His 2000 and 2001 units are widely considered among the finest offensive lines in recent college football history and the 2002 unit was considered the nation's finest by many observers.

A native of Conshohocken, Pa., Kehoe played an instrumental role in the rebirth of Miami football, playing on the 1979 and 1980 teams that returned UM to national status with a victory in the 1980 Peach Bowl (UM's first bowl win since 1966). After his playing days ended, Kehoe stayed at UM as a student assistant coach in 1981 and a graduate assistant coach from 1982-84. He ascended to full-time status in 1985 and has worked with the offensive line since then. From 1992-94, Kehoe also tutored tight ends in addition to his duties with the offensive line. 

As a coach, Kehoe went to 20 bowl games with the Hurricanes and tutored some of the greatest players in Miami history including Searcy, Mike Sullivan, Jones, Mercier, McKinnie, Gonzalez, Bibla, Romberg and Vernon Carey.

A contemporary of legendary UM quarterback Jim Kelly, Kehoe developed offensive lines that have protected many of the Hurricanes' outstanding quarterbacks including Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, Steve Walsh, Craig Erickson, Gino Torretta and Ken Dorsey. 

 
Kehoe worked for five Miami head coaches, from Howard Schnellenberger to Jimmy Johnson, from Dennis Erickson to Butch Davis, and also under Larry Coker. In addition to his numerous coaching accomplishments, Kehoe was inducted into the University of Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. 

Kehoe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Miami and an associate's degree in general studies from Laney J.C. in 1979. 

Coaching Accomplishments: 

Inducted into the University of Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 for his contributions to UM athletics as a student-athlete and coach.

Recruited and coached 2002 RimingtonTrophy winner Brett Romberg

Recruited and coached 2001 Outland Trophy winner Bryant McKinnie.

Instrumental in the development of six Hurricane offensive line men to earn first-team All-America honors: center Brett Romberg; tackles Bryant McKinnie and Joaquin Gonzalez in 2000 and 2001; guard Richard Mercier in 1999; center K.C. Jones in 1996; and tackle Leon Searcy in 1991.

Over the 2000 and 2001 seasons, his offensive line was at fault for only 7 quarterback sacks and produced a rarity in college football - two first-team offensive tackles in LT Bryant McKinnie and RT Joaquin Gonzalez - in both seasons.

His offensive lines have helped produce 6 of Miami's 8 thousand-yard rushers.

Inducted into Laney Junior College Hall of Fame.

Prominent Players Coached

Brett Romberg (Miami) - 2002 Rimington Award Winner

Martin Bibla (Miami) - Atlanta Falcons

Bryan McKinnie (Miami) - Minnesota Vikings

Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami) - Cleveland Browns

Carlos Etheredge (Miami) - Indianapolis Colts

Leon Searcy (Miami) - Jacksonville Jaguars

Kipp Vickers (Miami) - Indianapolis Colts

Dave Heffernan (Miami) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Sullivan (Miami) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

K.C. Jones (Miami) - Denver Broncos

Sam Shields Leads Green Bay To The Super Bowl

Don't shake your head.  Don't even try to laugh out loud. 

And definitely don't say it isn't so. 

Most of all please do not doubt it for a second when I say that former University of Miami defensive back Sam Shields took it upon himself to lead the Green Bay Packers over the Chicago Bears and into the Super Bowl.

 
Sure it is true that Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers was the Packers MVP and played a bigger role in leading the Packers to the Super Bowl during the season. 

But it was Sam Shields from "The U" that won the NFC Championship game by playing amazing defense, intercepting two passes, and recording the final turnover that sealed the game for Green Bay with just seconds to play.

 
Shields, a speedy, talented WR coming out of high school in Sarasota admittedly had his issues and struggled while in college at Miami, but he has excelled since arriving in Green Bay. 

Shields has taken his speed and talent, combined it with some serious NFL coaching, left his demons behind and turned his game around.

In the process he has earned the praise of his coaches like DB Coach Joe Whitt, his teammates like Charles Woodson, and helped his team reach new goals that had eluded them in years past. 

 
The Packers had not been to the Super Bowl since 1997.  In those 14 years since Brett Farve worked his boy wonder mircales for the Packers the Cheese Heads had suffered and failed to reach the NFLs biggest game . 

On the fourth Sunday in January of 2011 former Hurricane Sam Shields helped deliver them from that suffering with his perfromance in the NFC Championship game.  Of that there can be no doubt.

As most Hurricane fans know, Shields spent much of his time at the University of Miami in head coach Randy Shannon's dog house, and admittedly, at times for good reason.

 
In Green Bay though throughout the season and most importantly in the NFC Championship game with everything on the line, it was Sam Shields who was finally free at last.

He proved what he was capable of and what he could do in the NFLU.

Sam Shields led his team to the Super Bowl.

For Sam, and all Hurricane fans, that is a story with a pretty good ending.

East Beats West In 2011 Shrine Game

The East team impressed the small but satisfied audience on hand by winning the 86th East-West Shrine Game 25 - 8.

The longest running college all-star football game took place on a sunny but cold, blustery Central Florida day at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

 
Fans gathered to watch the best college football players in the country showcase their talents for numerous NFL scouts while supporting the beneficiary of the game, Shriners Hospitals for Children. 

We found several Hurricanes fans, including the group seen below, having a really good time in the mixed crowd of college and pro football fans.

 
“What is special about our game is that in the end the kids are always the winners,” said George Mitchell, Imperial Potentate of Shriners International. 

Players had the opportunity to learn the true purpose of the game during a visit to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa earlier in the week.

 
The East squad, coached by Dan Reeves, set the tone defensively early in the game over Wade Phillips’ West squad. Delone Carter from Syracuse University was the offensive MVP of the game and rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries, including a 16-yard touchdown. The defensive MVP of the game went to defensive tackle, Martin Parker from the University of Richmond.

For the West squad, the second play of the game represented just how the day would go.  A fumble by Hawaii's Alex Green was recovered by the East who turned it into a 16-yard touchdown run by offensive MVP Delone Carter (Syracuse).

"We probably had one of the worst starts that I've ever seen in a ball game," West coach Wade Phillips said following the loss.  

 
The East used a balanced attack, passing for 132 yard and rushing for 169 yards in winning its third straight Shrine Game.

On their third possession, West's Scott Tolzien (Wisconsin) was sacked on back-to-back plays, the latter resulting in a fumble into the end zone recovered for a safety and a 9-0 lead.  Penn State's Evan Royster scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to extend the East's lead to 16-0.

The West got on the board with 2:44 in the second quarter when Idaho's Nathan Enderle hit Portland State's Julius Thomas for a 5-yard touchdown pass. A two-point conversion made it 19-8 until North Carolina's Marvin Austin recovered a fumble in the end zone for the final score.

 
The University of Miami was represented in the game by two: RB Graig Cooper and DB Demarcus Van Dyke.  In the above photo they are #28 (at L) and #21 (at R) lined up on the kick return team for the East squad. 

Both UM players had solid performances for the East and appeared to enjoy the opportunity to spend the week in Orlando and play in the annual All-Star event. 

 
Cooper (seen above wearing #28), who returned to the stadium where he blew out his knee in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl, was welcomed by many loud cheers of "COOP!" from the crowd.  He rushed for 26 yards on 8 carries and returned two kickoffs for 26 yards on the day.  

 
Thankfully the hybrid turf field at the Citrus Bowl is a brand new, state of the art surface as compared to the dangerous, slippery, muddy quagmire the last time Cooper and The Hurricanes visited Orlando.

 
DVD also played well and registered two tackles and fumble recovery (seen above celebrating that play with some UM fans in the crowd) during the game.  He was getting coached up by the East defensive staff after several series where he held the West receivers without a catch. 

 
Our friend and Canespace blogger Six (seen below filming the East huddle including DVD before the opening kickoff) was on hand and on the field to film the game.  We chatted about Cooper and DVD and he later told me that the chatter on the sidelines was interesting as always. 

 
After the first sack that resulted in a fumble for a safety for the East, Six (seen below at L filming DVD #21 lined up at CB) quoted UNC DT Marvin Austin as saying: "They (the West OL) can't block us!  We are gonna be there (in the West backfield) all day long." 

 
East coach Dan Reeves who also coached in the 2007 game had this to say about the week-long event:

“You cannot help, but be touched when you visit the hospital the Sunday before game. Words cannot describe the feeling that you get from bringing so much joy into these children’s lives. I’m so proud to be back coaching at the East-West Shrine Game and help raise money for such a special cause.”

 
About Shriners Hospitals for Children:

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to age 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. The organization depends on the generosity of Shriners and donors, as well as funds raised by special events, such as the East-West Shrine Game.

East Meets West Today In Orlando

OK, here is a tough Hurricane football trivia question for U:

Q: What do former UM players QB Ken Dorsey, P Todd Sievers, S Mo Sikes, RB Jarrett Payton, OL Rashad Butler, LB Rocky McIntosh, DL Braka Atkins, RB Tyrone Moss, RB Javaris James and OL A.J. Trump all have in common?

A: They all have played in the annual East-West Shrine game.

Since 1925 the East-West Shrine Game has been more than just a football game. It’s been a showcase for the next generation of NFL greats and a priceless benefit event for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The East-West Shrine Game is the longest-running all-star college football game, combining great football with a great cause and creating experiences for players that will last a lifetime.

 
Playing for the kids at Shriners Hospitals for Children:

Shriners Hospitals for Children specialize in treating orthopaedic conditions, spinal cord injuries, burns, and cleft lip and palate, for children up to age 18, regardless of their ability to pay.

• Players and coaches tour a Shriners Hospital before the game.
• Games, crafts and other activities bring together college football players and children for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
• Coaches and players gain an understanding of the meaning of the game.

Shriners International – the men behind the hospitals:

Shriners International was founded in 1872, and now has 340,000 members in 193 temples in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and the Republic of Panama. Shriners Hospitals for Children was founded by the fraternity in 1922 and they continue to support the hospital system.

 
A storied legacy. A thrilling event. A future without limits...

Players like Johnny Lujack, Dick Butkus, Alan Page, Bob Lilly, and Gale Sayers.

Coaches like Don Shula, Dick Vermeil, Paul "Bear" Bryant, and Steve Spurrier.

Some of the greatest players in the NFL got noticed in the East-West Shrine Game®, and some of the game’s greatest coaches have made history on that same field.

Since 1925, the East-West Shrine Game has pitted the best college football players from the East and West sides of the United States against one another in a thrilling all-star game played to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children®. The game – and the practice sessions before it – attract dozens of NFL scouts and is often a launch pad to a career as a professional football player.

Here is a partial list of East West Shrine Game Hall of Fame Inductees:

• Kellen Winslow (University of Missouri) - 54th Game - 1979
• Larry Csonka (Syracuse University) - 43rd Game - 1967 
• Brad Van Pelt (Michigan State) - 48th Game - 1972
• Charley Taylor (Arizona State) - 39th Game - 1963
• Doug Williams (Grambling) - 53rd Game - 1977
• Jerry Kramer (Idaho) - 33rd Game - 1957
• Carl Eller (University of Minnesota) - 39th Game - 1963
• Forrest Gregg (Southern Methodist) - 31st Game - 1955
• Lenny Moore (Penn State) - 31st Game - 1955
• Gale Sayers (Kansas) - 40th Game - 1965
• Joe DeLamielleure (Michigan State) - 48th Game - 1972
• Paul Warfield (Ohio State) - 39th Game - 1963
• Randy White (Maryland) - 50th Game - 1974
• Bob Lilly (Texas Christian) - 36th Game -1960
• Joe Greene (North Texas State) - 44th Game -1968
• Michael Haynes (Arizona State) - 51st Game - 1976
• Raymond Berry (Southern Methodist) - 30th Game - 1955
• Pat Tillman (Arizona State) - 73rd Game - 1998
• Gino Marchetti (San Francisco) - 27th Game - 1951
• Mike Garrett (USC) - 40th Game - 1965
• Tom Matte (Ohio State) - 36th Game - 1960
• Alan Page (Notre Dame) - 42nd Game - 1966
• Craig Morton (California) - 40th Game - 1965
• Gene Washington (Stanford) - 44th Game - 1968
• Merlin Olsen (Utah State) - 37th Game - 1961
• Dick Butkus (Illinois) - 40th game - 1965
• President Gerald Ford (Michigan) - 10th Game - 1935

 
Last year RB Javaris James and OL A.J. Trump represented the Miami Hurricanes in the 2010 Shrine Game.  The East won that game 13-10 over the West squad. 

This year graduating seniors RB Graig Cooper and DB Demarcus Van Dyke will be representing the University of Miami in today's game. 

 
A complete roster for the East and West squads can be found at this link:

http://www.shrinegame.com/Teams/Watchlist.aspx

Former NFL head coaches Dan Reeves and Wade Phillips will coach the East and West teams in today's game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando at 4PM.

Big Games, Big Names, Big Weekend

As most college football fans already know, this weekend is one of the most critical times for high school football recruiting all across the Country. 

And this year in particular nowhere is this more true than in the warm, lush, and beautiful tropical paradise known as Coral Gables, Florida.  

 
You see the University of Miami campus is located is located near Miami but not actually in Miami. 

Surprisingly enough, many high school football recruits and their families all across these great United States are not exactly aware of this fact.

Many of the big names that will be playing in big games over the next few seasons will be in South Florida for a official recruiting visit.  Of all of those names one stands out above the rest:

Anthony Chickillo

Chickillo verbally committed to Miami some time ago when Randy Shannon was still the head coach of the Hurricanes.  New UM head coach Al Golden, along with Defensive Coordinator Mark D'Onofrio have tried their best to keep Chick in the family.  

"Blood is thicker than water" Chickillo said while holding up the T-shirt.  The four-star defensive end gave his verbal commitment to Miami and plans on being the school's first third-generation football player.

Anthony's father, Tony, and his grandfather, the late Nick Chickillo, both played for the Hurricane.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Under Armour All-American has been linked to Miami since the Hurricanes offered him during his junior season. In the end he gave his longtime favorite school the nod over Florida, Florida State, South Florida, Ole Miss and Tennessee. 

"I really sat down and talked about it with my dad," said Chickillo, who's No. 80 in the ESPNU 150 and the No. 8 DE in the country. "We went over each school and the benefits for me in each situation.

"Miami was the best school for me; it was where my heart was at."

Recently awarded his fifth star from Rivals.com after his complete domination of the Under Armour All-American game in St. Petersburg, Chickillo is the ONE player that this recruiting class now depends on to move it over the top.

We will bring you updates all weekend long as we get them regarding where the recruits go, what they are saying and which players will commit to the University of Miami.

We suggest that you pay attention and stay thirsty my friends...

Go Fisch!

When it comes to Offensive Coordinators the University of Miami is kinda like Pamela Anderson and boyfriends: They've had quite a few. 

 
In fact in recent years Hurricane fans basically had to keep their collective heads on a swivel as the revolving coaching door saw an incredibly high number of play callers at The U.

Over the last ten years the Hurricanes have had seven, count them SEVEN, coordinators on the offensive side of the ball.  None of them have proved capable (yet) to make the kind of impact that their head coaches were looking for in terms of offensive productivity.

During Larry Coker's six year stint as UM head coach (2001-2006) he had four offensive coordinators.  We can't even remember all of their names so we will not even try.  What we do know is that under Coker the Hurricanes changed offensive coordinators almost as often as they changed their Nike uniforms: ANNUALLY. 

The constant turnover was one of the main reasons that Hurricane fans cited as to why Kyle Wright, Kirby Freeman and other UM QBs may have failed at Miami.

Then came the Randy Shannon era and it appeared to be much of the same old, same old.

Patrick Nix?  Randy Shannon hired him because when Nix was at Georgia Tech he gave the UM defense fits.  Unfortunately for Shannon little did he realize that it was offensive guru Chan Gailey (who was the head coach at the time at GT and now coaches the Buffalo Bills in the NFLU) and not Patrick Nix that was calling the plays and making the Yellow Jacket offense successful against the Shannon directed defense. 

Nix was quickly fired just two years later and sent out to pasture and can currently be found coaching wide receivers at Charleston Southern University.

Mark Whipple?  Shannon allegedly hired him (there were rumors to the contrary) because he had been successful in both college and in the NFL.  Whipple was given credit for tutoring Pittsburgh QB Ben Rothlisberger when he was just a rookie.  Big Ben turned out to be pretty good and won a Super Bowl. 

Miracle Whip came to Miami as a highly recommended NFL level offensive genius.  He left Miami with his tail tucked between his legs and murmuring something under his breath about Jacory Harris and interceptions.

 
Into the fire jumps Jedd Fisch, the latest in a long line of job applicants looking to fill the offensive void at Miami.  Fisch, much like Whipple who preceeded him, comes to Miami with extensive NFL experience and several strong recommendations from some of the best head coaches in the NFLU: Mike Shannahan, Brian Billick, and Pete Carroll.

So now Al Golden, the University of Miami football team and all Hurricane fans are all in behind the new offensive coordinator.  The rallying call for 2011 is:  GO CANES, GO FISCH!

Here is an impressive video of Fisch breaking down the QB reads and progression:

Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris had better get busy studying don't U think?

Stroke Me, Stroke Me

High school football recruits have always sought and received attention from college coaches across the Country, but things are very different today than compared to just twenty or thirty years ago. 

The amount of media coverage, Internet content and financial profit that is now derived from covering and following college football recruiting has changed the way the game is played and made it easy to understand how it has become its own stand-alone industry.

With National Signing Day just two weeks away (February 2) and the last few rounds of on-campus visits taking place over the next two weekends this is the time of year when recruiting really heats up and the college football recruiting industry earns the big bucks.

 
High school recruits of today want to be shown some serious love and have their egos stroked by the college coaches that are in desperate pursuit of their respective talents.  Endless numbers of phone calls, text messages and campus recruiting visits are all part of the silly and sometimes sordid process of getting some 17-18 year old adolescent to choose your school.

Coaches are practically forced to walk around with signs around their necks that read "Pick me, pick me!" as they coddle and pamper and try to convince these recruits to sign a National Letter of Intent with their University.

Nowhere was this more evident than in the Brown brothers saga that unfolded a few years ago.  Both Arthur Brown, a linebacker, and Bryce Brown, a running back, were the #1 ranked recruits the two separate years that they were coming out of high school in Kansas. 

The National media attention these two received was completely off the charts and at time bordered on the ridiculous.  It got so bad that The Browns made The Beatles look like a garage punk band.

 
The highly coveted "Sir Arthur" (seen above), after much fanfare and National media attention, signed with the your Miami Hurricanes.  He then managed to successfully complete a few years of bench warming as he almost never saw any significant playing time. 

His brother "Bryce The Younger" (seen below) received even more accolades and media hype before he signed with Tennessee Volunteers.  Bryce had only a minimal impact during his two years at Rocky Top. 

 
Both brothers Brown would eventually ask for transfers from the original schools where they signed their Letters Of Intent and attempt to high tail it back to land of Dorthy, Toto and the Wizard of Oz.

Billy Squire wrote a song called "The Stroke" back in 1987.  It goes a little something like this (edited):

Now everybody have you heard
If you're in the game, then the strokes the word
Put your right hand out, give a firm hand-shake
Talk to me about that one big break

Stroke me, stroke me
Could be a winner boy, you move quite well
Stroke me, stroke me
Stroke me, stroke me
You got your number down
Stroke me, stroke me
Stroke me, stroke me
Say youre a winner but man youre just a sinner now

When it comes to recruiting high school football players the song fits quite nicely don't you think?