And so it begins with a Penn State tight end on the sidelines, an orange and green tie, a tough conference road game to open the season, and still, a puff of smoke.
We start with one hundred and twenty teams, two spots to fill in January in a water-logged city still recovering from one of the greatest American disasters in the history of the country. Not to mention millions of dollars, bragging rights, championship rings, and still most importantly, one crystal football all on the line.
College football is finally back and the happiest time of the year is once again upon us.
The Shortlist returns in 2011 with a theme of: "To The Superdome". We will be keeping track of just who really still has a shot at one of the coveted berths in the title game, not who's in the top twenty-five, not the top ten or conference titles, it remains about who's got a shot to put their names in the pantheon of champions for our time and all time.
As always, we start with the usual list of suspects, everybody. So Duke's noted home-field advantages can carry them all the way if they play like champions for three months, Temple's old and new coaches might have switched likelihoods of being in the catbird seat since the last Superdome Shortlist but they're still sitting in the same section to start.
Even the Army, Navy and the Air Force teams still stand equally with the Notre Dame's, the Southern Cal's, even the mighty Miami Hurricane's of the world.
The ground rules remain the same for staying in contention. Pay attention, these are the rules:
1) DON'T LOSE. This is VERY detrimental to a team's case to stay on the Shortlist. Don't even think about it. If you do lose, you better be from a BCS conference to have ANY shot of staying on the Shortlist. Non-BCS teams not only better not lose, they also better hope that there's no undefeated BCS conference teams left at the end also. Of course I still just make the rules, I don't make them fair.
2) IF YOU DO LOSE AT LEAST MAKE IT CLOSE. Nothing gets your invite rescinded to the Superdome quicker than getting blown out. Anything more than a one score margin of victory will do serious damage to a team's chances of staying on the Shortlist. Having the refs screw you out of a win is the most forgivable of sins here, but you're going to need a fifth down, a blown rule interpretation, or a flag being thrown by a ref with the last name of Porter in overtime to really have a case to plead when it comes to the Shortlist. Thanks to the new pull the points off the board taunting rule, I can almost see the screw-job at the top of the Shortlist coming in early September already this year.
3) BCS LEAGUE TEAMS CAN SURVIVE A LOSS TO ANOTHER BCS TEAM BUT NON-BCS LEAGUE TEAMS CANNOT SURVIVE A LOSS TO ANYBODY. All you non-BCS teams should just consider yourselves lucky that Boise State, Utah, and TCU have even allowed you a chance to sit at the grown-up table this year thanks to their inspired undefeated giant killing seasons over the last four years of the Shortlist. This still doesn't apply to Notre Dame, even here, they still get special treatment as the only independent that truly plays a national schedule, they can drop one game to somebody from a BCS league and stay in contention, but if they fall to Navy or Air Force, it's one and off the Shortlist.
Now that formalities are out of the way for 2011, let's get to the picks for this week. These are the teams who I see will be off the Shortlist after week one:
Mississippi, Georgia, Baylor, UCLA, Colorado, New Mexico, UNLV, Tulsa, SMU, Rice, ECU, Marshall, Memphis, Fresno State, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, Utah State, New Mexico State, Army, Western Michigan, Ball State, Miami (OH), Kent State, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Akron, Troy, ULM, Middle Tennessee, Arkansas State, North Texas, Florida Atlantic, WKU, and Louisiana.
While the blue-bloods of the sport eye a season where the age old hierarchies stay firmly entrenched at the top of the game, the last four years of the Shortlist have coincided with the greatest roll-back of traditional order college football has ever witnessed. I contradictorily see the Crimson Tide as well as the covered wagon enthusiasts going astray on their presumed road to coronation as the two best teams on the field of play this year.
Instead, for the second year in a row, I predict you see the Boise State orange and blue taking on an appropriately color schemed opponent for the only game that matters in January. The orange and green clad players of the Miami Hurricanes have what it takes to come from the blind spot of the rest of the pack and revel in the detractors' hate as they don their more traditional "bad guy" role in the national title game against their replacements in this generation of the sport as the up and coming upstart for the title in 2011 the way I see it.
While both UM and OSU failed to deliver at the levels of on field performance they should have last year, those failures are just as relevant to this new season as a sweater-vest is to college football in Ohio during this one. The best program per booster-dollar spent in the game versus the best recruiting ground in the game per square mile to campus are destined to meet on the field at some point in time and I say just after New Year's looks as good a time as any to finally lock it up between these two gate crashers of the modern era.
Next week we'll review who survived, preview who'll be done in, and see if more or less than a quarter of all teams on the Shortlist to start the season are gone out of the 34 I've called for this week as well as which teams turn the tables to stay on and which team upset the tables to find themselves off unexpectedly.
I recommend that you stock up on your favorite adult beverages, enjoy the weekend and embrace the start of what should be a great season of college football. I'll see you back here next week as we revisit The Shortlist To The Superdome.
Copyright 2011 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com
Football season!
(Couldn't resist.)
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | September 01, 2011 at 05:00 AM
Man... I thought I started early! Nice job o'ng...
Let's Go Canes!
Posted by: roachcane77 | September 01, 2011 at 05:47 AM
Unhappy the NCAA started investigating so late in Fall camp, but happy they concluded their investigations so quickly and before the beginning of the season. Now Golden knows what to expect. I think we are about to see how good Head Coach Al Golden and his assistants really are. Coaching a team in turmoil to victory in a nationally televised road game will mean that this Canes team is poised for a special year.
I wonder if the suspended players can work out or practice during their suspensions?
Posted by: WindyCane-Forcast1 | September 01, 2011 at 05:58 AM
The Hebrew hammer got attacked by the clay monster last night! Poor guy, very embarrassing and too many cameras to mark his fail :(
Posted by: canechic | September 01, 2011 at 07:01 AM
Hola
Posted by: 2002nemo | September 01, 2011 at 07:59 AM
Can you smell it? Ah yes, college football has finally arrived.
Posted by: raizecane | September 01, 2011 at 08:03 AM
OGV..great job as always! GO CANES!!!
Posted by: SOUP | September 01, 2011 at 08:17 AM
OGV outstanding!
" Of course I still just make the rules, I don't make them fair. "
GO CANES!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: solarcane | September 01, 2011 at 08:57 AM
The Miami Dolphins Top Five Front Office Fck-Ups
By Francisco Alvarado
The Miami Dolphins decision to honor the 2008-2009 national champion Florida Gators football team during the October 23 home game against the Denver Broncos shouldn't surprise Dolfans.
The franchise hasn't had its act together since 1983, the year the team drafted Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.
So in honor of the Dolphins' front office ineptitude, we give you our top five worst management moves by Miami's oldest professional sports team:
5. Jeff Ireland asks Dez Bryant if his mom was a ho.
Before the Dallas Cowboys made Bryant their number one pick in the 2010 draft, the former Oklahoma State wide receiver was interviewed by the Dolphins general manager. Ireland inquired if his mother had been a prostitute, which an insulted Bryant flatly denied. After the story went public, Ireland issued a mea culpa: "I used poor judgement in one of the questions I asked him. I certainly meant no disrespect and apologized to him." What Ireland really wanted to know if Dez's mom provided the full girlfriend experience.
4. Partnering with Jimmy Buffett.
In addition to renaming the team's stadium after Buffett's bitter-ass Landshark Lager, the front office also agreed to stop playing the Dolphins fight song in favor of a new ditty composed by the old time crooner. Now every time we go to a home game, we have to put up with that insufferable chorus line: "We got fins to the left, fins to the right, we're at the only game in town. Oh Oh Oh Oh!" We'd like to take a fin and jam it into Buffet's guitar.
3. Hiring Dan Marino as a team executive.
In 2004, desperate to show fans he was serious about turning around the team's mediocrity, then-owner H. Wayne Huzienga hired the Dolphins' all-time greatest passer as senior vice-president of football operations even though Marino had absolutely no experience evaluating football players. Bringing back Marino was supposed to help everyone forget the Dave Wannstedt-Rick Spielman era of ultimate suckage. But three weeks later Marino came to his senses and quit. He's still enjoying a stellar career as an NFL TV analyst while the Dolphins continue down the path of consistent mediocrity.
2. Forcing Don Shula to retire..
Coming off a 9-7 season in which the Dolphins had acquired a plethora of free agents to get them back to the Super Bowl, Huzienga decided it was time for the NFL's all-time winningest coach to call it a day. He forced Shula out so he could bring in Jimmy Johnson, the guy who turned the Miami Hurricanes into a national power and brought the Dallas Cowboys back to glory. Three years after taking over, Johnson led the Dolphins to the team's worst playoff loss in team history: a 62-7 drubbing at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
1. Moving out of the Orange Bowl.
In 1984, Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre refused to cave into original team owner Joe Robbie's demands for a new stadium, so the Dolphins patriarch vowed his team would never to play in the Orange Bowl again once the lease was up two years later. Robbie paid for his own $100 million stadium where the Dolphins have been playing for the past 24 years, but he mortgaged just about everything he had to get the place built. After Robbie died, his family ended up selling the franchise to Huzeinga, who ignited the team's fall from perennial Super Bowl contender to perennial loser.
Posted by: solarcane | September 01, 2011 at 09:11 AM
Anyone here on the blog that speaks Russian or has a way of finding out something for me about a newspaper in Russia?.
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | September 01, 2011 at 09:24 AM
Gorten - #UM TE blake ayles not practicing, but out here and lightly jogging, doing few individual stuff in helmet and shorts. Good sign
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 09:29 AM
Joel Figueroa and Malcolm Bunche, battling for LT job, both wearing orange first-team jersey at #UM practice
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 09:39 AM
Tommy is in a yellow non contact jersey this morning
Posted by: solarcane | September 01, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Tim Reynolds - Best moment of practice came from offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, who saw video coordinator Jason Spitulnik in a full-length U raincoat... Fisch, from 30 yards away: "You've got to be kidding me with that outfit. You look like a green smurf."
Lmao
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 10:05 AM
FREE BEER! Be 1 of the 1st 25 people 2 come 2 the Titanic tonight AFTER 6:30p and say "I Stand With The U" and U get 1 free beer (must b 21)
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 10:16 AM
What to watch in the ACC: Week 1
September, 1, 2011
Heather Dinich
There’s always something worth watching in the ACC, but Week 1 is usually one of the most interesting Saturdays of the season because of the anticipation that has been building since the end of the Orange Bowl. Here are 10 things to keep an eye on this week in no particular order as the ACC starts the season:
1. Debut of three new head coaches. Maryland coach Randy Edsall and Miami coach Al Golden will kick off their first seasons against each other on Labor Day, while North Carolina interim coach Everett Withers takes on James Madison. Golden and Withers have both had trying off-field incidents to deal with, as NCAA investigations at both schools have added extra challenges.
[+] Enlarge
Joel Auerbach/Getty Images
New coach Al Golden is ready to shift Miami's focus onto the field.2. Rookie starting quarterbacks. Five first-year starters will be introduced this weekend in Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, NC State’s Mike Glennon, North Carolina’s Bryn Renner and Virginia’s Michael Rocco. FSU quarterback EJ Manuel is entering his first season as a full-time starter, along with Georgia Tech’s Tevin Washington. There are bound to be a few plays they’d like to have back this weekend, but there should also be some signs of a promising future at the position.
3. Miami’s replacements. With eight players sidelined because of the NCAA investigation, Miami’s backups have been promoted to critical roles. Players like Andrew Smith, Marcus Robinson and Jordan Futch will have to elevate their games quickly.
4. Georgia Tech’s B-backs. This could be the first season under coach Paul Johnson that the Jackets don’t produce a 1,000-yard rusher in their run-based offense, only because the B-backs work more by committee. David Sims will start against Johnson’s alma mater, Western Carolina, but Charles Perkins and Preston Lyons could both get some carries.
5. Florida State’s offensive line. This group has had injury problems all offseason, and if there’s one question about the Seminoles this year, the offensive line is it. How this group looks intact remains to be seen.
6. New schemes. Clemson’s offense made sweeping changes under first-year coordinator Chad Morris, and Boston College will have some wrinkles under first-year coordinator Kevin Rogers. Maryland should also unveil a new look under first-year coordinator Gary Crowton.
7. Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins. If he starts against Troy as expected, Watkins would be just the 14th Clemson first-year freshman to start the season opener since freshman eligibility returned to college football in 1972. Watkins would be the first wide receiver to start the opening game as a true freshman since Roscoe Crosby started the opener of the 2001 season against Central Florida.
8. Wake Forest placekicker Jimmy Newman. He’s on a serious streak. Newman has made 12 straight field goals, currently the longest streak in school history. He has also made all 65 PAT attempts in his career, the second-longest streak of extra points in school history behind Sam Swank with 121.
9. The Roccos. Michael Rocco will be making his debut as Virginia’s starting quarterback the same day his father, Danny, takes on NC State as the head coach at Liberty. Rocco enters the season with 25 career passing attempts, and his father is entering his sixth season at Liberty with a 40-16 record.
10. Revamped secondaries. Georgia Tech and North Carolina have both undergone significant transition in the secondary, and Boston College has also had some turnover. The Yellow Jackets had to replace all four starters in the secondary, and the Tar Heels have to replace three starters. At BC, senior safety Dominick LeGrande decided to transfer, and projected starter Okechukwu Okoroha was dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons.
Posted by: solarcane | September 01, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Anyone here on the blog that speaks Russian or has a way of finding out something for me about a newspaper in Russia?.
My girlfriend is Ukranian and speaks Russian-
send me what you need and I can have her translate:
[email protected]
Posted by: TJL | September 01, 2011 at 10:28 AM
hey thankx tjl i will def send it to you
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | September 01, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Behind the Facemask: Alex Irastorza
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- As Alex Irastorza buckled his pads in the training room at Marist College and made his final habitual preparations before taking the field against Bucknell, he waited for a glimpse of his high school nemesis. Right on cue, Miami Hurricane freshman running back Lamar Miller raced up the sidelines, returning a first quarter kickoff for a touchdown against Ohio State that sent the Red Foxes' sophomore kicker into a frenzied celebration. And though he was merely watching on television from a training room over 500 miles away in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., it was a moment Irastorza will never forget.
"I knew exactly what that felt like," Irastorza said. "We played Killian High School my senior year, and Lamar toasted me. I thought I had him, but he made one cut on me and I dove. He was long gone."
During the spring, Irastorza was once again the man punting and kicking to Miller and the other Hurricanes' return men. His high school defensive coordinator, on the sidelines for Irastorza's first practice at UM, jokingly gave the same advice to Alex he had only a few years earlier, "Don't kick it to Lamar!" After a year and a half hiatus, Irastorza had finally landed where he had always wanted to: Coral Gables.
"I loved Marist, I had a great time there," Irastorza said. "I respect the school, but I had to move on. I've lived ten minutes up the road from here my entire life. The only school I've ever had a heart for is UM."
Irastorza remembers quickly untying his pads, skipping shower time and sprinting to his dorm room to catch the tail end of any Hurricanes' games he could. He remembers wearing his Miami gear on campus until his Marist schoolmates were "sick of it." The University of Miami football program, says Irastorza's father Anibal, was a lifelong passion for his son.
"Those Orange Bowl years and those games, especially against Florida State, were special. The noise when you're there, the atmosphere, it leaves an impression on a kid," Anibal said. "It was always his dream, and the dream of my wife and I, that he would be a Hurricane."
A football career with the Hurricanes, however, never seemed a realistic goal for the Miami native in high school. After seasons spent on the junior varsity team for 10th and 11th grade at Columbus High School, Irastorza still wasn't promoted to varsity. During his senior year, he split time with another kicker on kickoffs, extra points and field goals.
"You have to admire his persistence," Anibal said, "He never let anything get in his way, even when things were going against him. He was determined. He always said he would be a Hurricane, and we hoped so, but it's not easy playing football at this school."
But Irastorza never gave up hope. The 20-year-old, who inserts a picture of his late grandmother into his kicking sock before every practice and game, is a firm believer in his faith. Two challenging seasons at Marist did little to deter Irastorza from his dream.
"I got to Marist and there was a senior ahead of me there too," Irastorza said, "I stayed patient. After a year and a half went by, I thought, I could be the starting punter next year, but I might not be."
He decided to take a chance. Irastorza applied to Miami with hopes of making the football team. During Thanksgiving break of his sophomore year at Marist, he assembled a highlight tape and sent it to the coaching staff. After receiving a positive response from the Hurricanes, he immediately requested his release from Marist.
"I remember opening the decision letter with a little trepidation," Anibal said. "I remember calling him and saying, `Alex, you're a Cane!' and he couldn't believe it. My wife shed a tear or two, and while I won't admit to that, my eyes were definitely a little moist."
After their son's acceptance, however, the late season change of coaching staff became a point of concern for the Irastorzas. After reaching out to the newly hired Coach Golden and his staff, the sophomore kicker was still uncertain of his future with the team, and the beginning of his academic career at Miami was looming. After attending a spring orientation event with his mother Eileen, Irastorza received a text message on his phone, "Reminder: Team Meeting Monday."
"I'll never forget walking in," Irastorza said with a smile, "I showed up to that meeting more than a half an hour early. I think it was an 8:00 meeting and I showed up at like 7:20."
Ever since that day, and the first team meeting with Coach Golden and his staff, Irastorza has been living his dream.
"It doesn't get any better than this," Irastorza said, "I tell myself every morning how blessed I am, and I realize I have to take advantage of every moment I can."
To say both father and son are looking forward to Irastorza's first game in a Hurricane uniform would be a vast understatement. After conducting his first media interview in the spring and spending over three hours perfecting his autograph for young fans, Irastorza is ready.
"It's crazy to think how much my life has changed since January," he said, "I learned about patience in high school, learned it in college, and I'm going to continue to be patient. I'm going to get on that field, and I will play. But I'm going to have to be patient and continue to work hard."
http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/083111aaa.html
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Interesting, conflicting story regarding AJ4.
Glad to see parents fighting the fight. Hold the adults accoutable, too.
Ray-Ray has a good fight, too. If a coach, recruiting coordinator, says it's "ok" then by all means...
Posted by: 360Canes | September 01, 2011 at 10:51 AM
AJ4's story is interesting and thats my boy ever sicne his freshmen year so ima stick by him through thick and thin and hope he makes it back onto the team and becomes productive.
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | September 01, 2011 at 11:05 AM
The NCAA will certainly hold the adults accountable...to our detriment next year when the sanctions come down.
What Armstrong and Johnson's parents are missing is the NCAA is on a real tear about recruiting violations. They create a "competitive advantage" over other schools. If Shapiro paid players after they came to Miami...bad, but not so bad...if he paid them in order to get them to come to Miami...real, real, bad.
Hence the stiffer penalties for recruiting violations...Armstrong and Johnson's folks should just be quiet and let it be lesson learned...
Posted by: Texascane | September 01, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Its tough for the parents to be quiet Texascane and i dont think any of us who are parents and see our kid suffering would just take a back seat through it... well at least i wouldnt.
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | September 01, 2011 at 11:17 AM
NCAA = MAFIA.... if those old geezers are not getting private dances by strippers and popping bottles with strippers than they are not gonna allow it. all they care about is money and if they are missing out on a piece of that pie than its a no no... asshol**
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | September 01, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Someone will call for an audit of the NCAA...this will get ugly!
Posted by: dg | September 01, 2011 at 11:25 AM
AJ wouldnt get drafted this year even if he was eligible. If he told her the truth she would know why he is suspended. Just an instance of when keeping it "hood" goes bad...
Posted by: 3G Cane | September 01, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Hence the stiffer penalties for recruiting violations...Armstrong and Johnson's folks should just be quiet and let it be lesson learned...
Posted by: Texascane | September 01, 2011 at 11:10 AM
They shouldn't of been quiet. They should of got the Newton Daddy Deal!
Can't wait to pimp my son out to our rivals. Please name our top 5 for his 5 official visits. lol
And I'll worry about the money coming from the school he actually goes to, cause you know, that's not against the "rules"...
Posted by: 360Canes | September 01, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Bruce Feldman has left ESPiN. Now there is officially no one there that I care to follow.
ESPiN IS DEAD TO ME.
Posted by: 3G Cane | September 01, 2011 at 11:48 AM
They create a "competitive advantage" over other schools.
Posted by: Texascane | September 01, 2011 at 11:10 AM
I doubt it, Armstrong would've come to Miami regardless of if the ratfacephuck was here or not. This "competive advantage" talk by the NCAA is bogus, I don't see Nick Saban's ass asking for a pay cut, I've never heard Him ask where my salary comes from. Hell, the NFLs model for competitive equity is better than the NCAA's, it blows it out the water...
Posted by: CaneRock | September 01, 2011 at 11:51 AM
They should at least put a cap on the amount of improper benefits you receive. lol
Posted by: 360Canes | September 01, 2011 at 11:59 AM
All we know about Johnson is that the school suspended him...not the NCAA. What if we find out that the suspension was really for violating team rules...does Golden have that right...would you support him?
From experience...as soon as your kid files with the NCAA Clearinghouse, the NCAA sends you a ton of info about what is legal and illegal about recruiting. At some point, the adults (Ms. Johnson and Mr. Aramstrong) also need to be held accountable about what their kids do. It's not that hard...
Posted by: Texascane | September 01, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Canerock...you doubt that Cam Newton would have gone to Mississippi State (where he really wanted to go) instead of Auburn if State had come up with the 80,000...it's not just about Miami, you know.
In addition, if that was true about Armstrong, why did Hurtt think he needed to sweeten the pot for him?
Posted by: Texascane | September 01, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Thats like asking people to read all 68 pages of apples app store changes, texascane....
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | September 01, 2011 at 12:05 PM
...and a lot of people do that...especially if you or your kid's future depends Apple apps...
Posted by: Texascane | September 01, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Really people do that? well thats surprising to me i havent heard of anybody doing that besides a couple of characters on south park ....but idk texascane i guess i feel for AJ4 and want him to succeed and at the end of the day he has or had the most potential out of all of the wrs
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | September 01, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Miller-Degnan - aldarius johnson suspended indefinitely and doesn't expect to be back unless cleared. Not expected to happen
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Manny - #UM QB Stephen Morris said reason Rashawn Scott/Phillip Dorsett on two deep is because they aren't playing like freshmen
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 12:26 PM
What about AJ's game lead people to believe he was the most talented WR of his class that came UM? Streeter always looked more explosive, faster, taller than him in high school. The recruiting sites had AJ rated a 5* because his body was already developed at 6'2 200 in high school. He never showed the ability to make the big plays Streeter did. He ran a 4.7 his freshman year... I know a 40 time ain't everything but he's also not that quick. If you're slow & not agile how can you get open in college? I'VE ALWAYS SAID AJ WAS OVERRATED
Posted by: CoCane | September 01, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Not to argue, UpNorth, but all I am saying is that I get a little tired of these parents coming out and blaming everyone except their own kids, and by extension, themselves.
If they want to get angry, where is the outrage that a Miami coach/booster took their underage kid to a strip club and bought them liquor. Isn't providing liquor to a minor a felony...in addition, how did the kid get in...haven't heard a word from either parent about that.
The argument is...well they all do it and let's just wink and nod...until "our school/our kid" gets nailed...then it's the NCAA's fault for having rules, the coaches fault for allowing to happen, we didn't know, he don't lie, there was an earthquake, tsunami...locusts...anything except Little Johnny knew it was wrong and did it anyway...
Posted by: Texascane | September 01, 2011 at 12:38 PM
From Rivals:
"Miami at Maryland, 8 p.m., ESPN
THE BUZZ: This is one of three conference games this weekend and the only one in the ACC. This also matches two first-year coaches in Miami's Al Golden and Maryland's Randy Edsall. The off-field storylines have dominated the pre-game talk, but this is quite the interesting league matchup, as the winner stakes an early claim to being the third-best team in the ACC.
THE LINE: Miami by 5.5 THE PICK: Maryland 24-20"
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1258604
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 12:40 PM
I hear you texascane i think all parts can help out and be responsible but theirs also alot of factors....
People keep talking about streeter i love the guy but if your close to 6"7 and ur losing jump balls to a small safety continously then i have a problem with that. and until he shows consistency and cracks the starting spot AJ4 will end up having a better career then streeter
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | September 01, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Video: Jalen Grimble speaks to the media after practice. http://tumblr.com/xng4fx7jui
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 12:52 PM
ACC Football News: What To Watch: Miami http://bit.ly/qk3HsC
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 12:56 PM
All we know about Johnson is that the school suspended him...not the NCAA. What if we find out that the suspension was really for violating team rules...does Golden have that right...would you support him?
Posted by: Texascane | September 01, 2011 at 12:00 PM
What if the team rule he violated is "You gotta tell the NCAA the truth?"
Seriously: why would AJ be the only one NOT suspended if he had come clean? It's not like he was CLEARED, remember. The only thing that makes sense is that he lied.
Posted by: dj moonbat | September 01, 2011 at 12:58 PM
The only thing that makes sense is that he lied.
Posted by: dj moonbat | September 01, 2011 at 12:58 PM
-------------------------------------------
I read yesterday that it was more than that.
He lied twice, supposedly, then he broke a team rule when he posted something about "who knows where the best strip clubs in Miami are?". Something along those lines.
Regardless, it seemed as if he was making fun of the Canes situation, similar to that RB from USC...
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 01:00 PM
^^ The "lied twice" was allegedly to the NCAA in 2 separate interviews with them.
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | September 01, 2011 at 01:01 PM
...and you can ask Dez Bryant what the NCAA thinks about that.
The worst thing about Bryant is that he lied about something that was not even a violation...(See Scooter Libby)...
Posted by: Texascane | September 01, 2011 at 01:01 PM
but i think the rb's case is worse than what aj said to be honest with you. one player says "yea we get paid" while the other player says "wheres the best strip clubs" one is a serious matter the other one can be sarcasm
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | September 01, 2011 at 01:02 PM
Texas and Upnorth - to me this points out that all this social media (twitter, facebook) can bite someone if not careful.
Posted by: CGNC | September 01, 2011 at 01:05 PM
I agree CGNC it definatley can even here at the immigration law firm couples have been caught lying because theyve checked thier facebook its crazy..... but i just think that the two cases of the athletes are different.
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | September 01, 2011 at 01:09 PM