Flowers Powers

Back in December of 2011 long-time Canespace blogger Hassan and I were roaming around the Citrus Bowl wearing our 'Canes gear in Orlando on a relatively cool and overcast day during the FSHAA State football playoffs.

We, like many Miami Hurricane fans in attendance that day, were there to see Miami Norland RB Duke Johnson, the highly regarded and highly recruited high school phenom who had already verbally committed to Miami and would soon arrive in Coral Gables.

And sure enough Duke was as good as advertised as he put on a show for all the fans from the 305 there to see Miami Norland win a State championship.  Johnson scored on a few amazing returns and touchdown runs.

He later celebrated with his mother in the stands as we all witnessed a star in the making. We all knew that Duke would soon wear "The U" on his helmet and play for his hometown Hurricanes.

But what many fans did not see was two equally important things:

(1) #75 the big offensive tackle for the Norland Vikings that paved the way for much of Johnson's sucess during the game and the entire season; and

(2) legendary UM offensive line coach Art Kehoe sitting in the stands with Ereck Flowers' parents.

Forunately for Hassan and I, we quickly saw both. 

We watched Flowers dominate the line of scrimmage all game long as he pancaked defender after defender during the championship game.  By the end of the game we shared a laugh with several Norland fans in the stands who joked that "Flowers had served up more pancakes than IHOP!"

We also had the unique and rare chance to sit and chat with Coach Kehoe for about an hour. He was of course strategically positioned in the stands right next to Flowers' parents who were there to see their son win a FHSAA State Championship. Kehoe openly marveled about Flowers' size, talent and potential as a high school player and major college D-1 prospect.

Well apparently Flowers transition from a raw high school talent into a solid college player has gone without a hitch. Not only did the true Freshman start the first game of the season on the road against Boston College he also graded out at 94% for the game.

That performance drew praise from UM head coach Al Golden and left the UM offensive coaches wondering about where to play OL Seantrel Henderson who now sits behind Flowers on the latest depth chart.

While many Miami fans may be surprised at Flowers' starting the first game as a true Freshman it did not come as any surprise to Hassan or I.

Hassan managed to stick around for day 2 of the State playoffs and luckily had the chance to briefly talk to the big offensive lineman and his parents in the stands once again that following day.

That was when Flowers lowered his head, looked Hassan in the eye, and told him that he would be a Miami Hurricane and start at right tackle in game one as a Freshman.

Obviously Ereck Flowers is a man of his word.

We like that. Yeah, we like that a lot.

Comments

[Old Skool]

Yowza

[roachcane77]

Nice job O S... we've been "Skooled!"

[roachcane77]

Nice article... as you all know, I'm a proud Miami Norland and U graduate.

Great to see Ereck, and of course Duke, contributing SO well as true freshmen!

[Hassan]

FO FO FO

[Hassan]

FiF

[Old Skool]

Thanks Roach.

Hassan and all you other servicemen out there, you'll probably like the following;

Ever wonder what it's like to serve your country and play Div 1 football?

The football team at the United States Military Academy is not like other college football teams. At West Point, football players carry the same course loads as their fellow cadets, shouldering an Ivy League-caliber education and year-round military training. After graduation, they are destined not for the N.F.L. but to danger zones halfway around the world. These men are not just football players, they are soldiers first.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/sports/ncaafootball/for-new-cadet-football-season-is-a-break-from-plebe-year.html?pagewanted=1&_r
=1&hp

or

http://tinyurl.com/8vakht6

[Hassan]

I even was giving Flowers a hard time, I was like how are you so sure, I said Trel was the top recruit in his class and Bunche can bench press the whole weight room. Flowers was like I already am better then them so of course i will start lol Wow I knew he was good but I am not sure anyone but he knew he was this good

[Pbcfrcane13]

I just re watched the UM Kstate game from last year. Few things that I noticed was that Kstate D did not respect J12 arm or legs. They played there DB about 5-7 yds off the ball every play so we wouldnt go deep. Basically if Kstate did that again on Satuday Morris will pick them apart like he did to BC with the swing passes. They were daring J12 to make that pass and I really think we never called it beacause J12 couldnt make it fast enough. Also there were plenty of times that J12 could have ran for huge yards and just sat in the pocket and or just got caught. The last set of plays on the goal line if j12 makes a good pass to walford and or if he catches we win also the two running plays our line got killed which I dont see that happening this year. Also that last play were J12 got tackled at the one Morris would get in.

On D holy crap I forgot how bad Klein bet us down. I was shocked that it took all the way up to late in the second half for UM to start blitzing this guy almost every play. All they did all game was a zone read which Klein would actually hold on to it longer than I ever seen a QB hold on to and wait and wait for th last second to hold it or hand it off. We would take so long to get to him that he would take about 3 to 5 seconds before he had to make his read and hand it off. SO what Im saying D'no is blitz this guy like crazy and if he bets you with his arm so be it!!!

I really see the first play on for the canes on O to be a fake swing pass to the outside and go deep mark it down!!

Btw who else is goingo Chicago for the game any words on pre game parties before the game?

[Old Skool]

If you're looking for places to eat and things to do in Chicago I believe it was WindyCane gave a pretty complete breakdown earlier in the year

[LB]

"That was when Flowers lowered his head, looked Hassan in the eye, and told him that he would be a Miami Hurricane and start at right tackle in game one as a Freshman."

Yeah! Well, that puts Miss Cleo out of business.

[Tsully76]

Mad props to Hassan and 86, I really like both Flowers and Johnson. Btw Pbcfrcane13 yea it was J12 fault oh wait let me see he completed 70% of his passes that game threw for 275 yards 2/Tds to 1/int but it was all his fault. simply amazing. So I see every game its gonna be this year was we gonna win because we don't have that alledged worthless bum as our Qb. Smh.

[canezilla]

GREAT ARTICLE LETS JUST USE TREL IN GOALLINE SITUATINS AT FULLBACK!!!

[Pbcfrcane13]

Actually I never said it was his fault...I was saying that the way Kstate was playing D was the same way BC was playing D the differnce is that Morris can make that pass to the outside and J12 didnt have the arm strength to make it. Go re watch the game You'll see what Im talking about and the pass he made to Clive was way low to a wide open TE Im not saying it was his fault, but I am pointing out that he was a reason you will see a diffenent O this year. If anything is was more on the D for not stoping a Qb who could only run on us. Just pointing out what I re watched today if you dont like it or agruee with it so be it.

[Tsully76]

I feel that Pbcfrcane13. Let's get revenge on the Wildcats. Lets go Canes.

[solarcane]

soup

I got the article title, yes it was clever indeed!

[WWIN]

Yeah! Well, that puts Miss Cleo out of business.

Posted by: LB | September 05, 2012 at 07:30 PM

And you too lol. Just messin witcha LB : )

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

I have to think that KST will play right up on Miami WRs. The whole strategy for BC was to get the ball outside and see if one of our guys could shake, rattle and roll for a TD. We tried to keep the down and distance manageable. One of the TEs has to assert themselves over the middle and I think Fisch will have to take a few shots down field to keep KST honest. BC was starting to jump those short throws late in the game.

[Keoki]

Btw who else is goingo Chicago for the game any words on pre game parties before the game?

Posted by: Pbcfrcane13 | September 05, 2012 at 07:26 PM

I'll be there and will see U there.

[86Cane]

Keoki and PBCFR...and anyone else going to the ND game in Chicago email me at:

[email protected]

I will connect U.

[86Cane]

Solar...at least ONE person got it. I try to get the titles right but rarely do. LOL

[HawaiiCane]

I'll be pre-gaming with my dad and a few friends. Greg Cox, the '87 Champ kicker, will be joining us. I'll give Canespacers a heads up to where we'll be at!

[SJMPARMAN]

I sort of remember that game last year. It was an offensive snoozer in the first half. Any good offensive play was negated by mistakes on the offensive line. The defense shoved K State back to its 3 yard line. K State had like 2nd and 30 and Klein made a huge run right through the defense. We had played so well against Ohio State the previous week and that first half performance was a shocker.

The 2nd half was much different. Jacory came out like a man on a mission and played very well. He got us back in the game. But our defense just couldn't stop their running game at all. K State ran for over 265 yards. Still we drove down the field at the end. We had a first and goal at the two. We had one incomplete pass, two Mike James runs and we were still at the 2. Jacory ran, it looked like he got in real time but the replay showed his knee did hit the ground at the one before he got into the end zone.

Jacory deserved a better ending in that game. It should have never come down to him having to try to run it into the end zone. The game showed how being a big offensive lineman was no good if you didn't have the strength to push the defenders around near the goal line. It showed that Mike James did not have the physical strength to be the goal line back, a role that Eduardo Clements would eventually take from him. The game showed that the linebackers playing at that time, Buchannon was hurt in that game if I remember, and Gaines played alot of snaps, just weren't up to the physical challenge of stopping a running team.

The team never really recovered after that game. I am not sure what will happen up there this week. It is a huge challenge. Even though I think the personnel on this year's defense is actually better than last year, primarily because I love Perryman as the middle linebacker and we have more speed in the secondary, we can't do what we did against BC and show them the same defensive plan we played against them last year.

Klein proved an adept passer against a basic zone defense last year. He can't be allowed to sit back there and scan the defense and pick it apart. Stop the run first, and then blitz him and force him to get the ball out of his hands. That is the winning strategy against K State.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Soup your blog has been on fire this season!! My brother and I will be representing the Legion at the GT game. I'm going to watch the KSU game at the Atlanta Hurricane Club gathering this Saturday and I will probably hit up the pep rally on Friday night before the game. Wish you were coming up!

Go 'canes!

[Zakkee]

I agree SJM!

I'll be in Chicago

After re-watching the BC game: Flowers is a beast for sure, Tyrik McCord was getting manhandled, Shayon Green & Olsen Pierre were bright spots on the defense, Gabe Terry & Eddie Johnson play with passion and Telemaque is not very good.

K State is going to blitz us as well. Morris and Duke are gonna make them pay.

[86Cane]

Zakkee...good to see U back on the blog.

McCord is a pass rush end ONLY.

Gabe Terry and Eddie Johnson will be stars.

Telemaque? Well, not so much.

[Laquinton]

Wish they would just bench Telemaque. Ill never forget against osu posey caught that 60 yarder over him and DVD and he jumps up clapping and talking mess.... Im like man you just gave up a biiiigg play. Worst player out of lb poly

[Hassan]

t showed that Mike James did not have the physical strength to be the goal line back, a role that Eduardo Clements would eventually take from him. The game showed that the linebackers playing at that time, Buchannon was hurt in that game if I remember, and Gaines played alot of snaps, just weren't up to the physical challenge of stopping a running team.
-------------------------------------------

Mike James is plenty strong pound for pound the strongest guy on the team and by far the strongest back, It is his running style that is not strong. for all his weight room numbers it does not translate well to the field, he does not break a lot of tackles over his career and just does not run the way you would think a 222 lb rb with his weight room numbers would suggest.

Zakkee good to see u

[Laquinton]

McCord showed flashes tho.. But 1 on 1 vs a veteran ol he was getting handled

[Zakkee]

Posted by: 86Cane | September 05, 2012 at 06:24 PM

This poll is a conservative tool devised to separate the poor/middle class vote along racial, sex, sexual orientation related lines. These divisive topics usual trump the dire socioeconomic issues that affect the poor American voter the most. They want us to think with our bias instead of our brains...and it works.

GOAL: Divide the 99%/poor vote with the bullsh*% bigotry that we instilled in them. Race is not biological, its fake and man-made. No one is white and no one is black.

The dead give away is the question at the end of the survey that asks the surveyor's reaction to the results: Confused, Satisfied, Disappointed, Proud, Shocked and Not Surprised.

One of the survey's intentions is to prove to a voting Democrat that his or her thoughts on certain issues are more aligned with the Republican Party than they thought (despite their education/economic struggles). They believe Democratic voters are blind followers...a view that is pure projection. I'm aligned with neither party myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y54rcz_L5Q4

This video could be made in blind support of Obama in any poor African-American neighborhood as well. That video would still prove my point...both parties are deceptive. The people who make the rules use our belief in God to divide us. They don't believe in God, they just say they do. The World Bankers God is G.old O.il D.rugs. So keep voting along those lines.

Sorry 86, I couldn't help it. This is not a shot at you, thanks for sharing the poll, as you can read-- it inspired some thought.

[Tsully76]

Great stuff SJM and Hassan. Sarasota man I will see you in the A in 16 days.

[Tsully76]

Great point Laquinton.

[Zakkee]

Thanks guys, its good to be back.

McCord was getting consistently stood up by their TE, let alone their OLinemen. I believe he will fill out into a beast eventually.

[SJMPARMAN]

Zakee

I took that same poll and answered all of the questions, including the subset ones that were optional. Most of that poll required thought because they offered generic choices about complex issues. I chose to see more options before I answered about half of the questions. I ended up more compatible with some female candidate I never heard of. But my second matchup aligned with my ultimate choice for President, and I was only compatible with the guy who I won't vote for 5% of the time.

Yes, these polls are garbage because they should lay out all the questions and clearly identify the source. It was fun for me to read between the lines of what they were asking. But you are right, most people won't take the time, and the intent is to influence voters for one side or the other.

[Felipe]

Read every word of the article. Was awesome.

[86Cane]

Sorry 86, I couldn't help it. This is not a shot at you, thanks for sharing the poll, as you can read-- it inspired some thought.

Posted by: Zakkee | September 06, 2012 at 12:10 AM

No problem my friend.

Not trying to influence people, JUST trying to get people to THINK before they VOTE.

[86Cane]

Read every word of the article. Was awesome.

Posted by: Felipe | September 06, 2012 at 12:23 AM

Hang out with us, have a REALLY good time!

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

None of the young DEs stood out at BC. McCord and Terry both got blown up on 3rd down. Hamiltion played only a few plays. Pierre consistanty handled the double team well in running situations and got a couple tipped passes. He had the best game of all the DL. Miami got pressure on the corner and safety blitz. I especially like blitzing VT7 because it means he wont be out there trying to cover anyone.

[Hassan]

Miami offensive line coach Art Kehoe earned a Hurricanes national championship ring for each finger of one hand. Along the way — since captaining the Canes as a guard in the late 1980s — he has witnessed many elite linemen.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/06/2986863/big-miami-hurricanes-are-drawing.html#storylink=cpy

Susan with a lack of basic fact checking. Kehoe came to the U out of JC in 1979 Grad in 1980 and was a GA in 1981, by the late 80's he was already a longtime coach....

[Tsully76]

Great point Hassan. Us old school die hard Canes fans know that.

[Hassan]

Not to mention the fact he could not have 5 rings if he started in the late 80's because we already won a ring in 83......

[Chi Mia 'Cane '98]

I will be at the ND game. Got lucky and scored free tickets (ND side) through my father in laws company.

I think allCanes is having party the night before at some pizza place in the city.

So in one of fantasy drafts I picked up Colin McCarthy as one of my IDP's. He is projected to have a BIG year.

[Harry Miller]

Long time reader first time posting. Just got off phone with Ricky Towns dad, looks like we will be at the NC game October 13th I have been a Cane fan since the late 40's. Grew up by the Orange Bowl. Now in California, but a Cane fan forever.

[Tsully76]

Exactly Hassan. Btw I am glad 86 asked Phil Steele about his predictions cause he had BC beating our Canes by 10 now he got K-State beating us by 14. Well he already had to eat one crow sandwich hopefully by Saturday afternoon he will be eating another.

[Hassan]

NATIONAL TELEVISION COVERAGE
* Saturday's meeting with Kansas State will be televised nationally on FX. Justin Kutcher (play-by-play), Eric Crouch (color analyst) and Darius Walker (sideline reporter) will serve as the talent for the telecast.

who here even knew FX had college football coverage lol

[Hassan]

The Canes join Rutgers as the only 2012 BCS teams that play on the road at least three times in the month of September. In addition to road games at Boston College and Kansas State, Miami will travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech on Sept. 22.

If the Canes can win in Manhattan we will have 2 weeks to prepare for GT as we play BC the week before at home. We can get up big early in the game rest our starters and get our 2nd unit ready for the GT game in ATL, we would be 3-0 and have a great chance to come out 4-0 and still have 5 home games left in the season in the last 8 games. wow who would have thought, this next game is obviously huge.

[Tsully76]

Very true Hassan. I think the GT and NC State games are our linchpin games we win both of those and our Canes are at worst 4-1 or hopefully 5-0 and more importantly 3-0 in ACC play with 4 of the last 7 games at home.

[Ohio_Cane]

Papa Cane - Recruiting Update: Recruiting guru Pete Ariz is reporting that 2013 UF commitment LB Quinton Powell's interest in Miami is very high.

[Ohio_Cane]

New Raising Canes video comes out today. Short preview of it here: http://ow.ly/dvEMz

[Pbcfrcane13]

Hey 86 I'll email you for the Chicago info once I get word I'm cleared to go just torn my pec muscle tendon and well need surgery so hopefully I can get it done ASAP and be good to go....AH already have my plane tickets to Tell this Dr im going no matter what see what he says lol.

[Ohio_Cane]

New Raising Canes, "Lay Your Brick" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhh4RrVlS9E&feature=player_embedded#