If you were not able to attend the University of Miami or never had the opportunity to set foot on the beautiful UM campus in Coral Gables, then you might not be aware of the of the two on-campus sports outlets available to students at UM: WVUM radio station and The Miami Hurricane Newspaper.
Both are completely staffed and operated by students on campus.
After having already interviewed our friend Chris Whittyngham from WVUM in our now famous "Five Questions" series, today we have the privilege of speaking with Ernesto Suarez, the Sports Editor of the Miami Hurricane student newspaper. Here are our five questions with The Miami Hurricane:
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 assistant or position coach who you think will be difference makers for the 2012 UM football team?
Suarez: On offense I would probably have to say Allen Hurns. He had his spurts last year where he would show the potential of being a big time receiver, especially in the beginning of the season against Maryland and then his two-touchdown performance against Ohio State a week after. Right now there’s no clear-cut established No.1 receiver on the roster, but of them all I think Hurns has the ability to become that guy. The key is consistency.
On defense, I would have to select Ladarius Gunter. He had his on and off moments during the spring while he was still picking up the playbook, but he seems to feel comfortable with it at this point and figures to play a big role in the defensive backfield this season. He also has freshman Tracy Howard right behind him gunning for that spot, so he can’t afford to let down.
Freshman to watch out for would have to be Tracy Howard. Although you have a couple of good choices in Howard, Deon Bush, and Duke Johnson, I think Howard’s impact will be felt whenever he is on the field. At one point during fall camp he was spotted wearing the starters black jersey, and coaches have credited him with his ability to make plays. It remains to be seen how it will translate on the field when it matters, but there’s plenty of upside with him.
Coaching wise, I would say Jedd Fisch. Consistency at the coordinator position is important, especially for a new regime still looking to form an identity. For an offense that is currently looked upon as the strongest part of the team, Fisch has the opportunity to put the team in a good position to win some of the toss up games.
Canespace: Which position(s) on the field worries you the most about this team going into the 2012 season in terms of talent, production and depth?
Suarez: I’d be most concerned over at linebacker. Denzel Perryman is expected to be a force, and as long as he can stay healthy that shouldn’t be an issue. Jimmy Gaines, behind him on the depth chart, also has experience and was really impressing coaches during fall camp last year, but it never really translated well on the field. Besides those two and Ramon Buchanan, who is coming off of a torn ACL, there isn’t much experience to speak of there.
Canespace: What is the mood around campus in class, the dorms and the Student Center about the 2012 team? Are the students unanimously in support of head coach Al Golden or are there some doubters among the current student body? Will the majority still remain supportive even IF the Hurricanes struggle this season and finish at 6-6 or worse?
Suarez: Right now, the vast majority of the student population is in love with the work that Al Golden and his staff has accomplished. For the most part, they understand that not everything has gone the way he had envisioned to start off, but they are pleased with the way that things have been handled. No one on campus is expecting a national championship this year (the reasonable ones anyways) but if the team can make a bowl game and show significant progress as the season goes on, give them a little something to be excited for next year, I think they’ll be alright.
Canespace: Golden has indicated and the depth chart shows that as many at 10-12 Freshmen are likely to play at least some during this season and a few could possibly even start a game or two be season's end. Apart from likely candidates RB Duke Johnson and CB Tracy Howard who do you see as the most likely Freshmen to get some serious playing time in 2012?
Suarez: Undoubtedly has to be Ereck Flowers. Heading into camp, he wasn’t a household name, and it was almost a given that Seantrel Henderson was going to be platooned over at right tackle. But Henderson has missed out on a significant amount of time at camp taking care of personal issues, and Flowers has thrived in his absence. Growing pains are to be expected once the games start to matter, but expect Flowers, especially early on, to be lined up at right tackle for most of the snaps.
Canespace: OK, time to get real and get down to business. I need your season record projection for the 2012 Miami Hurricanes football team? Give it to us straight!
Suarez: I don't think too many nationally would agree with me, but I think a 7-5 record is certainly possible. I can see the Hurricanes going, at minimum, 2-1 through its first three games (loss likeliest at Kansas State). Depending on how the defense looks in those first few games, Georgia Tech is a toss up. Their big ACC matches (UNC, FSU, VT) are all at home too, so that works out favorably.
Ernesto Suarez
The Miami Hurricane
Sports Editor
sports@themiamihurricane.com
Posted by: Laquinton | August 30, 2012 at 02:04 AM
None but him could physically match up with those guys. He was the only one.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | August 30, 2012 at 02:32 PM
You got it Boss i will def email you photos
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | August 30, 2012 at 02:34 PM
Posted by: LB | August 30, 2012 at 08:17 AM
LB,
I am wanting to serve this dish on Saturday, but the local market is out of fresh out of Denzel Perryman and I only have 15 cloves left. They have recommended I substitute the last 5 cloves with a healthy dose of Anthony Chickillo and a teaspoon of Tracy Howard. Your thoughts?
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | August 30, 2012 at 02:39 PM
5 wins puts Golden on a very hot seat. 6 wins and there will be grubling. 7 wins and the grumbling will be ignored. 8 wins most will be happy. 9 and above in this year and fans might build a statue, lol.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | August 30, 2012 at 02:46 PM
Well they better start building the Statue and a Stadium, which they should name The Golden Hurricane Stadium, because we are going 12-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | August 30, 2012 at 03:00 PM
http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/43018/top-25-player-countdown-no-2-2
ESPN's top 25 in the ACC and not s SINGLE UM player made the list. OH MY!
Posted by: 86Cane | August 30, 2012 at 03:08 PM
The Dude...agree with your season record summary above. Seven PLUS wins in 2012 and I think we coast into 2013 with MUCHO confidence and a touch of swagger.
Posted by: 86Cane | August 30, 2012 at 03:10 PM
Posted by: LB | August 30, 2012 at 01:56 PM
Agree. WQAM sucks!
Posted by: Montreal-Cane | August 30, 2012 at 03:13 PM
I honestly don't see how 7 games is a stretch, Duke, BC, USF, Bethune, GT, UNC, NC State should all be wins imo..and I think we pull out at least one from kState, VT, FSU and ND
Posted by: UMike | August 30, 2012 at 03:26 PM
UMike...NCST is getting LOTS of love from the media going into the season. I guess we need to be careful with that one?
Posted by: 86Cane | August 30, 2012 at 03:38 PM
UMike...NCST is getting LOTS of love from the media going into the season. I guess we need to be careful with that one?
Posted by: 86Cane | August 30, 2012 at 03:38 PM
Lots of teams gets LOTS of love..check FSU last year lol
Posted by: UMike | August 30, 2012 at 03:41 PM
One thing I THINK Golden brings to UM or changes is that we beat teams we should beat..last year we were close in all our losses except the BC game when Harris finally imploded..the year before that we lost ugly..so I think those close games will be wins..Golden has weeded out the guys that dont want to work, or they left the team, either way this group is full of either old guys that have bought into Golden's plan (see UTough results) or are young and hungry and all about Golden's plan. Look at what Fisch did with Harris (outside of the BC game), imagine what is in store for Morris? IDK if we win 9 or 10 games, but I think we will do better than the "experts" think.
Posted by: UMike | August 30, 2012 at 03:45 PM
"I am wanting to serve this dish on Saturday, but the local market is out of fresh out of Denzel Perryman and I only have 15 cloves left. They have recommended I substitute the last 5 cloves with a healthy dose of Anthony Chickillo and a teaspoon of Tracy Howard. Your thoughts?"
Hmmm... perhaps also a teaspoon of Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood, and I think you have your base.
A good call. Sometimes the markets run out of cloves before you can get to them.
Posted by: LB | August 30, 2012 at 03:47 PM
Herbstreit - "I think if they (UM) gets to 5 or 6 wins, that'd be a lot to ask."
Shut it, Herbie!
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | August 30, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Relax dudes this is a good sign, Herbstreit is ALWAYS wrong when it comes to the Canes!!!
Go Canes!!!
Posted by: NativeCane | August 30, 2012 at 04:12 PM
True ^^^
Posted by: CoCane | August 30, 2012 at 04:36 PM
they should name The Golden Hurricane Stadium
Thats the nickname of The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes stadium (Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium) known to locals as The Golden Hurricanes stadium.
Posted by: solarcane | August 30, 2012 at 04:54 PM
Unlike quite a few of his Hurricanes teammates, Luther Robinson doesn’t go by a nickname.
But if the 6-3, 290-pound junior defensive tackle did, he says with a smile, “pepperoni” might be fitting.
“I’m a pizza man,” said Robinson, who used to frequently order a large pepperoni pie from Papa John’s and eat it all by himself in his dorm room.
“It’s been a minute. I had to slow down because it was slowing me down.”
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/30/2975623/miami-hurricanes-luther-robinson.html
Posted by: UMike | August 30, 2012 at 05:00 PM
Posted by: NativeCane | August 30, 2012 at 04:12 PM
Thinking exactly the same NativeCane. The Herbster gives us tons of LUV...we suk. This is the best thing to happen to UM all year!
No talking head can give us love this year because our players haven't done anything. How can anyone not intimately familiar with the Canes predict what this group will do? There's nothing to base any predictions on.
As Canes' fans we need to let it roll. I like the role of the underdog and believe we're going to surprise a lot of people this fall. Have faith Legion! And, enjoy watching a bunch of youngsters turn into a TEAM. I'm really pumped to get the season going!
Posted by: DallasTX Cane | August 30, 2012 at 05:01 PM
The University of Miami injury report is out, and as Al Golden has been saying the past few days, the Hurricanes have made it out of fall camp relatively healthy.
In the first MIami ACC Injury Report just handed out to the media, there are no surprises.
Linebacker Raphael Kirby ("lower extremity'' -- that would be leg) and defensive tackle Curtis Porter ("upper extremity'' -- that would be appendectomy) are the only Canes listed as out for the game.
Actually, they're the only Hurricanes listed on the report. No one is listed as doubtful and no one is listed as probable, and no one is listed under the "Surgeries/Out for the Season'' category. Golden said he is hopeful Kirby returns by midseason.
SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2012/08/injury-report-looks-good-for-the-miami-hurricanes-as-they-get-ready-to-travel-to-boston-college-for-.html#storylink=cpy
Posted by: UMike | August 30, 2012 at 05:03 PM
I agree with the Dude on our teams win total and what it means for Golden and our perspective on the team status.
Posted by: Tsully76 | August 30, 2012 at 05:10 PM
Why y'all hatin on herbie? He's actually one of the few analysts that I like because he's actually objective(even if he is a suckeye). If you look at this current team without U goggles, you'd say the same thing,"who is that" at just about every position. And until the NCAA gives us our punishment, there will be this stupid cloud hanging over our heads whether we as fans want to believe or not
Posted by: Canezitis | August 30, 2012 at 05:13 PM
I will be happy with 8-4 and ACC Coastal division champions. Anything else is icing on the cake.
Posted by: Tsully76 | August 30, 2012 at 05:17 PM
Posted by: Canezitis | August 30, 2012 at 05:13 PM
Zitis, Herb is actually one of the few Bucknuts I like, he likes the Canes and has given much love in the past but... he's always wrong about the U! Haha
Go Canes!!!
Posted by: NativeCane | August 30, 2012 at 05:26 PM
For the second consecutive season, the Miami Hurricanes will open on the road at an Atlantic Coast Conference rival. Year
two of the Al Golden era begins Saturday at Boston College (3:35 p.m. EDT, ABC/ESPN2).
• In the first season under Golden, the Hurricanes fi nished 6-6 overall with a 3-5 ACC record.
• Miami is 56-29-1 all-time in season openers, winning three of its last four.
• Saturday will mark the 29th series meeting with Miami holding a 23-5 advantage over Boston College.
• Boston College and Miami are meeting in the season opener for only the second time. In 1993, then-No. 4 Miami defeated
then-No. 20 Boston College 23-7 in Chestnut Hill.
• Miami is making its first trip to Chestnut Hill since 2007 — a 28-14 Hurricanes loss.
• Miami is 7-3 against Boston College in Chestnut Hill; the last Hurricanes win at Boston College was an 18-7 triumph in 2001
(Miami was ranked No. 1 in the nation).
• Junior QB Stephen Morris was appointed the starting signal-caller following the Miami Hurricanes’ first fall scrimmage in
August. Morris has five career starts under his belt, posting a 2-3 record as a starter.
• Nearly of 70 of Miami’s 2012 roster hails from Florida (67 players), including 21 that hail from Miami-Dade County.
• Gone from Miami’s program are 25 seniors from the class of 2011 — all of which graduated. The senior class was also
honored with the Jack Harding Team Most Outstanding Player Award. The 2011 senior class included All-ACC performers
Sean Spence (LB) and Tyler Horn (OL) as well as record-setting QB Jacory Harris.
Posted by: 86Cane | August 30, 2012 at 06:19 PM
When is the depth chart coming out???
Posted by: WWIN | August 30, 2012 at 06:19 PM
Posted by: Canezitis | August 30, 2012 at 05:13 PM
I like watching him and he was our lone supporter a couple years ago. But when he went out on a limb for us, we returned the favor by suking. I'm hoping for the reverse this year!
Posted by: DallasTX Cane | August 30, 2012 at 06:24 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zPxXrA_oDg
CaneSport Publisher Gary Ferman and Managing Editor Matt Shodell break down the Miami Hurricanes defense a few days before the season opener at Boston College.
Show more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zPxXrA_oDg
Posted by: solarcane | August 30, 2012 at 06:29 PM
NEW BLOG IS UP!
Posted by: 86Cane | August 30, 2012 at 07:02 PM
Sean spence torn ACL out for season!
Posted by: Canesteeler | August 30, 2012 at 10:51 PM