Canespace: Five Questions With Canespace: Michael Casagrande

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

In the third installment of our "Five Questions" series of feature articles with local media reps we are excited to have the opportunity to talk to "The New Guy" on the Miami Hurricanes beat: Michael Casagrande from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He will be joining us LIVE tonight to chat with Miami Hurricane fans for the first time.

It has been a busy five years or so at the Sentinel as the UM post has seen a parade of reporters pass through their ranks trying to satisfy the demanding and sometimes difficult University of Miami fan base. Casagrande took over the UM beat at the Sentinel from Steve Gorten, who had replaced Shandel Richardson, who had replaced Omar Kelly.

Since his arrival in June of this year from Alabama with a fresh perspective and what must have been a couple of cases of Red Bull, Casagrande has been nothing short of outstanding. He has been dominating the 'Canes coverage by tearing it up on the blog and providing excellent content on the Sentinel's other on-line media applications.

His blog is here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/um-hurricanes/miami-hurricanes-blog/

Here are our Five Questions with Michael "Big House" Casagrande at the Sun-Sentinel:

Canespace: Since arriving in South Florida and your new position at the Sun Sentinel what has surprised you most about the area in general, the University of Miami and the football team itself?

Casagrande: The pace of the city is an adjustment. It's the slowest, fast place on earth. (Does that make sense?) I enjoy the culture and the spirit of this place. I'm a big fan of New Orleans because it's unlike any other city in the country. Miami goes in that category, too. I've lived in several different places, but none compares to this place.

Canespace: I know before coming to South Florida you used to work in Alabama and cover the Crimson Tide. With all of their recent success, what was that like as a reporter covering that team and head coach Nick Saban?

Casagrande: Again, I get a kick out of unique experiences. The last three years were quite a trip. There are all kinds of legends about covering Nick Saban and his relationship with the media. Of course very few are true. Just remember the truth always sits somewhere in the middle, but that might not be easily expressed to Dolphin fans. From the perspective of an unbiased newsman, I have to say he has quite a system going up there. That place is a machine. Don't be surprised if he makes his South Florida return this January in Sun Life Stadium.

Canespace: Coming from the SEC and from the outside looking in at the University of Miami football program what would you say is the current national perception of the Hurricanes and the ACC in general?

Casagrande: I was thinking about this the other day. I was trying to remember my perception of Miami this time last year. To be honest, I was so focused on my job at the time, I didn't spend much time thinking about much else (much like I am with Miami right now). I caught parts of a few UM games on TV last year and remember being surprised at how small the crowds were at Sun Life Stadium (just being honest). Now that I know the geography of the situation, I see the issue. But that's another debate for another day.

On the ACC, the perception in the SEC isn't pretty. They don't really take anyone seriously outside of the SEC. If it's any consolation, the folks in my last state don't even respect the other half of the SEC. They're an elitist group, but after winning the last six national titles and supplying both contestants in January, it's hard to argue with them (not us for the record).

Canespace: The Legends of the Fall selection process is an annual ritual at Canespace. The bloggers select one player on offense and one on defense that they think will have a spectacular, break-out or legendary season each year. This year the most selected players were of course QB Stephen Morris and LB Denzel Perryman. Apart from those two obvious selections which two players do you think will show up and show out this season? In addition please also select one freshman player and one coach who you think will be difference makers for UM in 2012?

Casagrande: It's an interesting question. I'll be quite interested, after watching 15 minutes of practice every morning, who can play in a real game. I'm looking forward to seeing what Allen Hurns can do. He looks like a serious receiver. I'm also looking forward to seeing Mike James perform when the spotlight is on him. He's easily one of the most personable, friendly athletes I've ever dealt with. Though I'm not a homer, I wouldn't be disappointed if he turned into a star. With the freshmen, I'm going to cop out. Of course it's easy to say Duke Johnson. But I'm saying it. My first year covering Alabama was Trent Richardson's freshman season. He was a star from the very beginning and the running back position lends itself to making a more seamless transition than maybe a cornerback or offensive lineman. That said, it looks like he has to improve his pass blocking -- a skill Richardson had right from the beginning.

Canespace: OK, finally it is time to put you on the spot in year one of your coverage of the Miami Hurricanes for the Sun Sentinel. I need your overall season record prediction for this season? Just give it to us straight!

Casagrande: Honesty is my policy. So let's get real, folks. Five, maybe six games. The month of September is brutal. It might be a different story if the young team could ease into the year with two or three Bethune Cookmans, but there's only one. Road games at Boston College, Kansas State and Georgia Tech could easily come and go without wins. The 'Canes must hold serve in home games with NC State, North Carolina and USF. A road win at Virginia would be nice, but home wins against BCS caliber Virginia Tech and Florida State would be sizable upsets. Who knows, though. I've allegedly been wrong in the past, I guess.

Comments

CGNC, I'm about *this-close* to watching Broduer hang them up after the nuclear winter lockout clears in six months and then cutting my sports intake down to only college football. I've spurned the NFL years ago and don't miss it while being glad I didn't have to watch it get turned into what it's now, a touch league, it's just too bad the NHL did what they could to improve, rather than ruin, their game and can't find a way to split the record pie fairly between ownership and players and is going to make me say good-bye.

Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | August 24, 2012 at 07:49 PM