Just For Kicks

University of Miami senior punter Dalton Botts is one of the candidates for the 2012 Ray Guy Award, the Augusta Sports Council announced Friday. The Ray Guy Award is given to the nation’s top collegiate punter each year.

Botts, who was on the Ray Guy Award Watch List in July, ranks fifth among ACC punters with 40.5-yard average on 36 punts. He has pinned 15 punts inside the 20, while booting four kicks of 50-plus yards. He is one of five ACC punters named as Ray Guy Award candidates, joining Will Monday (Duke), Sean Poole (Georgia Tech), Thomas Hibbard (North Carolina) and Alex Vozenilek (Virginia). 

The list will be narrowed to 10 semifinals on Nov. 9. Following the semifinalists announcement, a national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, coaches, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists, who will be identified on November 19.  

The presentation of the Ray Guy Award will be featured on “The Home Depot College Football Awards” live Thursday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The show, hosted by ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard, will feature live presentation of nine player awards, along with the recipients of Disney’s Spirit Award, The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contributions to College Football Award, and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team.

Comments

[canezilla]

MORNING!!!

[canezilla]

MIAMI OPENS AT A 2.5 UNDERDOG? WE ARE AT HOME,ON A THURSDAY NIGHT,LETS GET SOME TURKEY...

[86Cane]

Canes better beat VT. The future of the free world, and this blog, depends on it.

[86Cane]

Funny, I thought with no UM football game this weekend that the basketball and baseball articles would be a nice and welcome distraction from football? Not a lot of UM baseball or basketball fans here?

[raizecane]

86 - I am sure there are but since those sports have not kicked into high gear, people are still focused on football.

The fact that we are a 2.5 underdog, at home, against a 4 - 4 team is pitiful.

[pbcfrcane13]

Love the basketball team and like baseball, but those can be talked about when Conf play starts....IMO

[panamacitycane]

I cheer for the UM baseball and basketball teams. But im not really into college basketball or baseball. It kind of bores me. Mainly because I live far away and can't make the games. But I think miami plays fsu in tally this year? If so ill definetly be there. I was at the womens game last year and watched the last second three for miami to win that was pretty fun

[Ohio_Cane]

Al Golden to WQAM's Joe Rose on DE Kelvin Cain: "My gut is he'll return" to team.

Miami commitment Ray Lewis III selected for the Semper Fi All-American Bowl.

[BigWindyCane-Forecast1]

Canes better beat VT. The future of the free world, and this blog, depends on it.

Posted by: 86Cane | October 29, 2012 at 08:46 AM

This might be the biggest game of Al Golden's tenure at UM. Its a home game, national TV, Canes are a slight underdog, Canes had a bye week to prepare, they face a rival that year-after-year stands in their way and the Canes players are getting better and healthy.

A win could launch a young Canes team into their first-ever ACC-CG, extinguish the dominance VT and GT has had over the Coastal and give the Canes an important edge on recruiting and building Golden's program next year and beyond.

A lot is riding on Thursday.

[86Cane]

Panama...I will be in Tally for the UM vs FSU mens BB game on Wed. 2/13. We should hook up at Barnacle Bills for some oysters and beer and go to the game together.

Raize...remeber, UM vs UCF is on Tuesday 12/18 @UCF.

Zilla...UM vs FAU baseball @FAU is on Wed. 2/20.

UM plays UF in baseball on March 1-3 in Gainesville. Ocala and OGV U up for that?

[CaneRock]

Besides BCC, have we been favored in ANY games this season?

[Lou of M]

What time do you guys think the USF game will be at?

[Ohio_Cane]

3 of our 4 losses: #2, #3, and #9 in the country.

Blowouts, yes. Still a silver lining.

[86Cane]

Lou...USF game will likely be at noon.

[Lou of M]

I hate F'n noon games. They blow worse than UF fans

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Chokie special teams have been pretty close to atrocious all year long also, so being a FG dog at home with both teams coming off a bye is basically Vegas saying that UM talent is the same but their coaching is just that much of a TD worse than slightly better than Bill Dooley.

Bill Dooley > Al Golden?

Awesome work Special K. I actually think UM wins this game. Of course I felt like that before UNC too so that's not saying much either.

Yeah, I'm tentatively down for a three game road stand in the old hometown 86. As long as Jim Morris is still coaching UM that is. ;)

[86Cane]

Ohio...yes, there is no shame in losing to those three teams, but being blown out was NOT pretty. Those were the three losses I had assumed or expected MIGHT happen this season and entered them into my 9-3 season prediction. But winning ONE of them (FSU) was really necessary to say we had turned the corner. And losing to UNC was totally unacceptable by anyone's standards. It makes beating VT absolutely necessary to salvage this season.

A win against the Hokies would be totally HUGE for this coaching staff and the team's confidence going forward. A loss would simply be devastating and would likely result in the hounds of war (so-called Miami fans) being unleashed with no mercy. It now appears they are always at the door.

[86Cane]

I hate F'n noon games. They blow worse than UF fans

Posted by: Lou of M | October 29, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Everybody hates noon games and Gator fans Lou, but early games are a result of losing. If U want 3:30 PM or 8:00 PM games U better start winning ALL of the games U are expected to win (UNC) and some of the games U are predicted to lose (FSU).

[86Cane]

OGV...I'll be in G'ville at least for the Friday night game. I'll stay for an early game on Saturday if they play at 1 PM or something like that.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Honeymoon is over 86, time to see some results, you can't get repeatedly blown the hell out regardless of who it is but especially against rivals and expect everybody to bury their head in the sand.

As bad as Shannon's roster was in '07 and as underclassmen filled as they were in '08, they still got that rivalry win in Doak and then edged VT late the next year to make people settle down some. Golden's signature win so far; a sub .500 OSU team or a sub .500 USF team that has fallen to pieces this year. Not very inspiring to date in any way you want to spin it.

[86Cane]

From @Orlando_Magic: GM Hennigan Happy With Final Roster, Praises @DequanJones5 - http://on.nba.com/S7S0YG

[86Cane]

HurricaneSports‏@hurricanesports

With short game week, Coach Al Golden will answer questions today at 12:15 p.m. before press conference. Tweet us questions using #AskAl.

[86Cane]

Torn ACL and all, Marve to get the start for Purdue

Posted by John Taylor on October 29, 2012, 11:23 AM EDT

AP
This is how bad it’s gotten for Purdue at the quarterback position: the Boilermakers are willingly opting for a player with a significant knee issue over a healthy one.

With Caleb TerBush struggling — eight interceptions, completing just 58 percent of his passes — and Purdue riding a four-game losing streak, head coach Danny Hope announced that sixth-year senior Robert Marve will get the start against Penn State Saturday.

Marve started the season opener thanks to a TerBush suspension, but suffered a torn ACL — the third of his career — the following weekend. Hope had hinted earlier this month that Marve could return this season, and that came to fruition with back-to-back appearances against Michigan and Wisconsin.

TerBush was then pulled during the third quarter of the most recent loss to Minnesota in favor of Marve, who responded with two touchdown passes. That was enough for Hope to pull the trigger on a change to his starter.

“Robert got a chance to play (Saturday), and he played very well,” the coach said.

[canezilla]

Besides BCC, have we been favored in ANY games this season?

Posted by: CaneRock | October 29, 2012 at 10:22 AM
BOSTON COLLEGE.IT STARTED AS US UNDERDOGS THEN FLIPPED

[86Cane]

Football Rumor Mill‏@fbrumormill

Jon Gruden is looking more unlikely at Tennessee. He now appears more likely to land in the NFL. Bobby Petrino could emerge as a candidate.

Kentucky appears to be targeting David Cutcliffe and Tommy Tuberville as potential replacements for Joker Phillips.

[CaneRock]

Fight talk

Golden was asked Sunday whether there was an incident with freshman linebacker Gabe Terry, who, according to Internet chatter, is suspended for fighting with freshman defensive lineman Jelani Hamilton.

“Is he suspended?” Golden said. “I don’t even know what incident you’re talking about. I have no idea.”

Golden said both players were at practice Sunday.

“Gabe is playing a lot of special teams,” Golden said. “Jelani is competing right now with [Jalen] Grimble for the second end spot. Neither one is a finished product by any stretch of the imagination. But good attitude, keep moving forward and live and learn.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/29/3071837/miami-hurricanes-tyriq-mccord.html#storylink=cpy

[86Cane]

Hassan...where U at with your rumors bruh? LOL

[UMbooster]

A member of the University of Miami Board of Trustees who is extremely close to the NCAA investigation at UM has told me that the university and the ACC have asked the NCAA to delay announcing their findings and potential sanctions againt Miami until after this season has ended.

The source has said that the ACC has appealed to the NCAA on behalf of UM and the conference because it want's a marquee matchup (UM vs FSU) for the ACC title game and does not want a Duke vs FSU rematch for TV and revenue reasons.

The source has said that the NCAA is taking it under consideration and may delay the announcement and any pending sanctions until after the 2012 season to ensure that UM is eligible for the title game should the Hurricanes win out.

In addition I have been told that the NCAA is considering significantly reducing the potential sanctions against UM due to the university's excellent academic standing and top 10 NCAA GSR rate over the last 7 years. So there is a very good chance that UM could get off easy in terms of sanctions and penalties from the NCAA.

Posted by: Rumor Monger | October 28, 2012 at 08:20 PM

**************

I am close to several people on the Board of Trustees and a large donor myself, although not on the board.

I'm telling anyone that reads this, that the above is a totally unsubstantiated rumor and not likely to happen.

I know exactly what's going on inside UM, boosters, BOT, and the athletic department and I can say with strong conviction, that no one knows what is going to happen. The NCAA is playing their cards face down, as they usually do.

No one at UM knows of any deal even being discussed between the ACC and the NCAA. The fact that this is out on a message board negates its credibility. Were something like this actually be in the works, there is no way it would ever get out, but that's moot, because its not happening.

It's actually cruel to get people's hopes up on this nonsense. Nobody knows what the NCAA is going to do, go easy, hard, or in between. Not only have they not even decided what the punishment is, they even haven't decided what their allegations are going to be.

[j.w.]

Soup- love UM Basketball, and baseball, but I don't get into either until the season starts for each team.

[canesteeler]

One of my ex travel baseball players just committed to the U in baseball. His name is Michael Medavilla. Another friend with a son who is a stud and possible high draft pick in the 2014 draft also committed to the U. His name is Brian (Big B) Gonzalez.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Tubbs would be stepping down to take the Kentucky job. At this point it's barely a step up for Cut to leave Duke for the other basketball school.

I'm sure Golden's agent will try and use a basketball school opening to wrangle an extension and raise out of UM though, good thing there's no AD just stopping through to be dumb enough to ink it for another .500 year this time!

[raizecane]

Lou...USF game will likely be at noon.

Posted by: 86Cane | October 29, 2012 at 11:08 AM

****************************************

Looks like I will be heading down friday night then.

[raizecane]

Food for thought....Urban Myeres takes over the OSU program and could go undefeated. Yes, the talent was probably there but to incorporate a new system and still possibly go undefeated is pretty good coaching if you ask me.

[Ohio_Cane]

Prayers out to any of U 'Spacers over on the East coast. I'm kind of close, but won't be that bad here. Atlantic City and Rehoboth beach, etc will be devastating.

[Old Skool]

Outside of an FSU game, this could be the first time a hurricane affects the preparations of a school we're due to play.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

raize, he's always gotten the most out of his roster but the Big 10 is really mediocre this year, like almost historically mediocre. Still that offense he runs is going to be tough for your traditional Big 10 defensive roster to ever catch up to, even with Saban's blueprint easily referenced on how to shut it down though, and I liked the Withers hire as his co-DC.

[Al]

MIAMI OPENS AT A 2.5 UNDERDOG? WE ARE AT HOME,ON A THURSDAY NIGHT,LETS GET SOME TURKEY...

Posted by: canezilla | October 29, 2012 at 05:56 AM

Is that within the margin of error?

[herbieibis]

Will see if Goldie knows how to coach or not. Tech has been our nemisis forever and a day and usually the roof caves in on us when we play them. Great article in the Herald about our superior defensive line talent, Yeah Right! Goldie better not flub this game up. He's had 10 days to reserect this mess we created for ourslves. No excuses, about youth, injury or whatever, this has got to be a win

[WWIN]

Posted by: raizecane | October 29, 2012 at 01:01 PM

I would add that he could have easily lost two games tho

[tjl3909]

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/2012/oct/29/tdsport03-trip-to-miami-could-test-tech-ar-2318690/

[CoCane]

So the NFL scout says we don't bring enough pressure & the CB's are playing too far off the ball. WHY THE FUKK DOES EVERYONE SEE THIS EXCEPT GOLDEN & NO'D???!!! This pizzes me off to no end! (Mean mugging & pulling my dreds)

[Da U N Houston]

CoCane, of course I do not know what all goes in the building, but if ur D line can not get pressure you have to play your DB's off b/c you don't want to get beat beat. With a weak pass rush, u play off and give the underneath stuff and come up and make a tackle. Yes this will cause you to give up a lot of yards, but it will 1 keep the score manageable, 2. Hide ur inefficiencies (the d-line rush) and 3 help with confidence. With the youth we're playing with his is the best approach.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Do we control our destiny in the coastal?

[orange 'n green in the vein]

At this point, yes.

[Tonycane]

Totally agree, orange and green. Meyer takes over a team that was one year removed from a decade of dominance of the big 10. Most of the talent is still there. And the big 10 is in a state of flux, with Wisconsin and penn state trending down and Michigan treading water. Perfect scenario this year for an innovative, top level coach and recruiter to step into.

[Tonycane]

Did marve have surgery or is he playing with a super-thick brace? I hope he goes out there in his last few games and makes an impression.

[Al]

CoCane, I feel what you feel. Watching our NoD is torture. They give you the slow death. I have to drink 12 beers to help relieve the pain and prevent a heart attack. The worst part is that they tell you it is going to get better. Well, when you are this bad, it's really hard to get worst.

[CoCane]

So Da U in Houston. You know more than an NFL scout??? Psyche. Playing Your CB's & LB's off of the line in zone coverage is to help a young or slow secondary when your d-line can get pressure with 4 or 3 down lineman. Not when your CB's & LB's are decent but your d-line is the weakest link & can't get pressure. Even in that case, you don't sit your CB's & LB's 10 yards back. When you do that, you just end up giving up 5 yards to the RB before he gets touched & give up easy 1st downs with a slant or an out with the pass on 3rd & 5-7 yards. You sit the CB's & LB's 5 yards back at most.

The point the NFL scout is making is if your LB's & CB's are decent but your d-line can't get pressure, you protect your d-line by blitzing more. That way you force mistakes against the pass that allows your speed in the secondary to make the play. Sitting in a zone without pressure just lets the WR settle in a soft spot in the zone. That's easy pitch & catch. Any QB can pick that apart, no matter how much they suck...

Trust the NFL wisdom over your own... Ijs

[86Cane]

I have to drink 12 beers to help relieve the pain and prevent a heart attack.

Posted by: Al | October 29, 2012 at 10:38 PM

Twelve? Just twelve? Shoot OGV drinks that many before we even get to the tailgate.

LIGHTWEIGHT.

[86Cane]

I bet the have to retire the name "Sandy" from the Hurricane list before this is all over. I feel bad for the folks in the NE.