The Short List To South Beach: Week 9

Only 18 teams remain on the Shortlist to South Beach in 2012 and they rank by order of worthiness for one of the two national title game invites as such:

Notre Dame, Florida, Alabama, Kansas State, Oregon State, Oregon, Ohio State, Louisville, Rutgers, Mississippi State, Ohio, LSU, FSU, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Clemson, Georgia and Southern Cal.

Just a single team won last week to avoid their Shortlist to South Beach elimination call for at least another seven days:

1) Texas Tech goes on the road to Fort Worth and escapes with an overtime 56-53 win over TCU.  Tommy Tuberville is too old to get the job done at a high level?  Sure, that's why yet again he's a winner everywhere he's been a head coach.  It must be because he saves wasting time over worrying if his tie is on straight and his hair looks good on camera.  It's definitely not because he has the sharpest AD in all of college football overseeing his program, that's for sure.

On the other hand you have this trio of Shortlist unforeseen knockouts finding themselves exiting the  chase as October works its way to a close:

1) West Virginia laps up the home cooking and gets blown out even worse than the week before as they go two in a row and off the Shortlist at the hands of Kansas State 55-14.  Geno Smith's Heisman chances appear as finished as the Mountaineers national championship hopes this year but there's plenty of opportunity left on the schedule to revive the former, the latter however is out of play until next season, no matter what.

2) TCU has its 11 win season streak pushed to the breaking point by Texas Tech, their former South West Conference rival.  Just where did Mike Leach spend that off week last Saturday exactly after-all?  Did anybody see a man with an eye-patch, parrot on his shoulder and cutlass on his belt in the play-calling booth in Fort Worth last week getting a jump on Halloween costuming?

3) Cincinatti gets ejected out of the Shortlist orbit in Toledo as they lose for the first time ever in the Glass Bowl 29-23.  Now with a three game overall losing streak against the Rockets, the Bearcats must refocus on plotting a course through what's left of the Big East obstacles on the schedule the rest of the year to salvage what had been shaping up as yet another great Butch Jones salvage job to a Brain Kelly exit.

I expect a pair of Big 12 teams to fall by the wayside on the Shortlist to South Beach this week, one each from the opposite ends of their traditional conference pecking order: Oklahoma and Texas Tech.

Enjoy the games this week and join me back here next week as the Shortlist to South Beach sets the table for the final sprint through the last month of the 2012 season right here on Canespace.

Copyright 2012 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

Comments

[LB]

"hell the 5*'s have been a curse to us for the last 8 years"

Careful, bro. The gazers may riot.

[jiggafras]

We need to go back to start redshirtng players. I care not what they are rated. Unless they are something special, like 1000 yard back special, 60 catch WR special, 7-10 sacks DE special etc. We need to to tell first time we offer them schollies, there is a great chance you get redshirted...and here is why. These undersized players particularly on D is not cutting it. A redshirted 3 star like Eddie Johnson will perform better than a 5 star FR like Arthur Brown. 1 full year to get to the right weight and get strong as hell.

It doesn't make any sense we keep on burning these kids redshirt. If they want to leave, then fine. VT gets second rate players 75% of the time and redshirt them all and they turn them into all Americans. We simply have to look at the programs that are consistently successful and see what they do, from Prestige programs like Bama and LSU to up comers like TCU and Boise St. They redshirt all the players they get, period, no matter their star rating. Why the fuck are we not doing the same. Take a couple year lumps and ball the fuck out in year 3. Quite simple.

[pbcfrcane13]

One problem with that if you start telling all these kids your going RS them they won't come to your school. Need to becareful with how you go about it.

[LB]

Redshirting also depends on need. Luckily we didn't have to burn them on the QB's this year (I believe). We needed Deon Bush, especially after losing Armstrong.

I'm going to assume that a true freshman tight end, wide receiver, and member of the d-line will start at some point next year. Honestly, we need them. A Dobard or Jean-Louis could absolutely start by Week 3 or 4 next year. The way our d-line looks, it should be cake for Golden to pitch them for immediately playing time.

[jiggafras]

If they are physically mature and learn the playbook like Flowers...of course we wont redshirt them but if they are small as DTs, OL and LBs im letting them know off rip. You may have a 5 star rating but you are not going to hold up against 320 pound SR linemen. This is for your future and for you to have the best chance of being the best player you can be, not burnt out after one season. If VT can do it to their players why can't we? Like i said, if we lose a 5 star player but get a 3 star like EJ44 who takes a redshirt...is it not worth it? Look at a player like Marcus Forston, His body broke down after his FR year and these are the type of examples we need to show kids that it is in their best interest to redshirt. Forston could have definately do with a redshirt and alot of the 08 class could have done the same.

[Zakkee]

Just keeping note:

1. Coker- "left cupboards bare, player accountability not stressed"
2. Shannon- "left cupboards bare, player accountability not stressed"
3. fans- not patient enough
4. former players -"turncoats, not good anyway, couldn't hack it, quitters, weed heads, no loss, not needed, didn't buy in."
5. 5 star recruits- "our curse" 4*s, 3*s, 2*s, and 1*s as well. F' it stars in general are holding Us back"

feel free to add on, I'll keep up with the list of why our football team has been structurally unstable, inconsistent, and not winning much the last 7 seasons! This is good stuff fellas!

[UpNorthCane27]

I wish recruiting kids was as easy as it is in NCAA lol shoo, I always lock up the south Florida talent and pick and choose players from California, Texas, Louisiana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania...

[pbcfrcane13]

I dont have any inside info I just go off of what I read and see. To me the may problem with the 08 class was a lot of those kids were given there spot from day one and did not have to fight for it. We will see with Golden how he handles the kids from this class. So far he hasnt handed Howard a thing which is good to see and the freshamn who are playing look like they should be.

The question is if the players from 08 were given the spots from day one how hard would you work as an 18 y/o kid when you know you have nobody pushing you for playing time? So maybe if Forston had another two or three DTs pushing he would have worked harder in the weight room and his body wouldnt have broken down. Maybe he and the rest of them did work hard....its sure not Ive read and heard though.

[Zakkee]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/commitments/2008/miami-11

How many of these kids started at their positions from day one^^ with no competition?

[jiggafras]

Forston broke down physically, he was a starter in 08 and he was not ready for it. He was injured every single season after that, he was not injured in 08 or injury prone coming in. He would have been great as a 3rd down pass rusher not a every down players getting run at by VT. It would have been great to compare those kids bench numbers in 08 to these kids now. Like Earl Moore is not a 5 star but he is strong as a Ox. The physical grind it takes in the trenches these kids NEED to redshirt and Golden needs to start communicate this to these players. Thats why am very glad a player like McCord is only a situational rusher. It would not be good if teams start running the ball at him. Im telling you guys the lack of redshirt on these players particularly on the DL is a big problem. The OL have no problem redshirting. Hence a player like McDermott can take over from Horn and do a even better job. Flowers is a manchild, his body can hold up. A player like Grimble and Pierre, those type of player should be redshirt off rip no question.

[pbcfrcane13]

I got 14.

[86Cane]

feel free to add on, I'll keep up with the list of why our football team has been structurally unstable, inconsistent, and not winning much the last 7 seasons! This is good stuff fellas!

Posted by: Zakkee | October 25, 2012 at 02:27 PM

Well we definitely need new uniforms and the quality of cheerleading talent has also declined. If we had new unis and better cheerleaders we would be undefeated.

[pbcfrcane13]

Hey ive been on the uni and black socks and shoes since we changed them!

[86Cane]

Fras...you can't keep comparing apples to oranges. The HUGE difference between VT and UM is that VT has had coaching stability for decades and over that time has managed to BALANCE their roster out so that there is a natural progression year after year from seniors to juniors to sophomores. Heck we have had more coordinators in the last 10 years than VT has players on their roster! VT has had time to build depth so that now they have adequate depth to redshirt incoming Freshmen.

Golden can't do that in less than two years especially given the fact or the early entrees to the NFL draft and the terrible failure of the 2010 class that was posted the other day. We have very little depth or experience at several positions and therefore HAVE to play whoever is most capable regardless of their time at UM.

Also Golden knows he has to win soon because he will not get 5-7 years to build this program up, he gets 3-4 with the Miami fan base and their impatient need for immediate results. He has gotta play whoever he can to win and win soon or now.

[tjl3909]

Since its halloween week we need to dig up the yamma yamma guy and prop him up next to the va tech bench

[jiggafras]

Posted by: 86Cane | October 25, 2012 at 03:01 PM

Have no idea who said he needs to do it in 2 years dude. I am talking about what we need to do going forward. He has no excuses for the upcoming class. I for one am not talking about this season. It is what it is but if we don't see it start happening with the future classes we are gonna be stuck in this predicament for a while

[Zakkee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5FzK1K0AuM

Good video for perspective and memory

There are many upperclassmen playing (on NFL rosters now) and freshmen sprinkled in (AJ, Benji, Jacory, Spence, B. Harris, and some Forston). They all competition. Joe Joseph and Antonio Dixon played over Forston. Marve over Jacory. Kayne Farq, Khalil Jones, and Hank started at WR.

Spence played the most (aside from B Harris), but even he was behind MCCarthy, Cook, and Romeo Davis and Sharpton.

[tjl3909]

Thanks for the Video Zakkee-I saw something that brought tears to my eyes..a TE caught a ball over the middle and scored!!

[herbieibis]

I agree reshirting would AB So-Lutely be the way to go but the Herb realizes this, Most of the so called soup-eeh staz are not going to roll with that. They got their mugs plastahed all ova Duh internet and are going to combines everywhere and told how great they R, do you honestly think, these kids are going to want to reshirt? Nah, not unless this is their dream school. If I'm looking for linemen, i'm looking at kids like Flowers, already strong and big and has been coached, not some big dough bellied weekling that's been beating up on weak competition, but has great size and great speed. Now we can all look at Mr. Motivation, the great Sean Henderson, Trell if you will, all 6'8 340, give or take LBS. We've been waiting for this dude to shine for 3 years but alas, he looks like he's going to keep the *5 jinxs alive, what a dubious destinction.

[86Cane]

fras...your comments above directly implied that UM and Golden should have redshirted players last year and this year (Grimble and Pierre) and we should have always redshirted the incoming players regardless of the roster composition.

Right now it is simple NOT possible to do so because of the reasons I mentioned and the roster imbalance that will take 3-4 years to fix. Comparing the situation at UM to VT is foolish and what the term "comparing apples to oranges" was invented to represent!

[pbcfrcane13]

Well hank didnt come in 08 he came in the year before.....and I would disagree Spence started and if not played most of the game is freshman year. Marve played and split time with Harris. The WR all freshman played. AJ, TB, Collier, Davon, Bryd were the ones that got most of the playing time. Yes Hank started the season, but saw less playing time as the year went on. Cook was in the middle Spences fresman year McCarthy was hurt and and Spence played on the outside.

[Zakkee]

I got 14.

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | October 25, 2012 at 02:51 PM

Please name them?

Remember:
1) Given the position from day 1
2) with no competition

I have 0 that fit that category.

[pbcfrcane13]

Forston played a lot his freshman year...maybe not started but we already know starting doesnt matter. its about playing time and playing in the 4th.

[Zakkee]

I added them 86 lol!

[86Cane]

Fras...now that you have clarified your position about redshirting players "going forward" it makes a little more sense, but just a little.

It is still likely that next year Miami will still need to play Freshman on defense and maybe some special teams.

And IF Olsen is that great he or RS Freshman Gray Crow may wind up with the starting QB job.

Yeah I said it!

[pbcfrcane13]

Starting doesnt matter in my books. PT matters more Spence played and Harris on D played a whole lot

WR: Hankerson and Kayne got pushed aside fast and early by AJ, TB, Collier, Davon, Byrd.

Harris split time with Marve everybody knew that Harris was going to be the started no matter the next year.....even so that Marve left because of it.

[pbcfrcane13]

Leading in WR stats were all fresman.

[86Cane]

Harris split time with Marve everybody knew that Harris was going to be the started no matter the next year.....even so that Marve left because of it.

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | October 25, 2012 at 03:30 PM

Marve did have some of his own issues but yes, I agree with you on everything you posted above about each of the players U mentioned, not just the QB.

[calGary Cane]

Leading in WR stats were all fresman.

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | October 25, 2012 at 03:32 PM

Linemen have the most need to RS. Those who make it to play college ball suddenly find that there size is matched up in college.

WR are probably the least required to RS in college. They may be expected to block if it is a run play, but that's kinda optional.

[pbcfrcane13]

Sean Spence was third in tackles for the team that year. Marcus Robinson was 5ht

Harris was 8th ojomo 14th Forston was 18th

[pbcfrcane13]

In the end to me it doesnt matter to me that a new coach lets his first class to come in and play right away while you have the SR, JR sit and watch. The problem is when you start bringing in other player behind that "big class" and dont let those kids compete for playing time.

[canezilla]

Hey ive been on the uni and black socks and shoes since we changed them!

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | October 25, 2012 at 02:59 PM
NOW WE ARE TALKING REAL FOOTBALL.WHY CAN'T PEOPLE SEE THIS IS THE MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS TEAM.HOPE THE NEW AD FIX THIS RIGHT AWAY!!!!

[pbcfrcane13]

LMAO!!! Zilla you damn right!!! You cant play good if you dont look good go ask Oregon damn it!!

[jiggafras]

I did not say we should redshirt all our players, its just not possible nor is it probable. In any case...if we recruit DTs that are 270 pounds....even if they gain 30 pounds by seasons start, they should redshirt...even if we had to move Jeremy Lewis back to DT, there wouldnt be much difference...we are still giving up 500 yards and 250 rushing every game. IF we get DEs that are 220-230, either we used them like we used McCord and they get redshirted. In the long run its better. EJ44 is a prime example of the benefit of redshirting players. In fairness, they did redshirt EJ44 and GP36 and those two by the time they are JRs are gonna be beasts no doubt about it. Paul is already 230 and EJ44 is 238, both are bigger than Spence was his entire time here. And both of these guys have already land player of the week honors in the ACC. And i absolutely believe Golden should redshirt the DL players that are coming in. He has recruited alot of DTs since he has been here, Grimble, Pierre, King, Briscoe, Earl Moore and others....if he bring in 3 more DTs that will be around 10 he has brought in. This is where we are deficient and we better start redshirting some of them

[pbcfrcane13]

Yes this next class most of the kids should be RS.

[Ohio_Cane]

Kirk Herbstreit - "When you look at their roster and see all the true freshmen, I mean there are some specimens and some guys that are going to be some big time, big time players down the road"

[thewordfromtheherb]

I've been looking down that road and there is no end in sight.

[raizecane]

Raize...remember UM vs UCF basketball in December @UCF.

Posted by: 86Cane | October 25, 2012 at 01:43 PM

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

Roger that

[Zakkee]

I dont have any inside info I just go off of what I read and see. To me the may problem with the 08 class was a lot of those kids were given there spot from day one and did not have to fight for it.

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | October 25, 2012 at 02:35 PM

Please name them?

Remember:
1) Given the position from day 1
2) with no competition

I have 0 that fit that category.

Posted by: Zakkee | October 25, 2012 at 03:20 PM

Starting doesnt matter in my books. PT matters more Spence played and Harris on D played a whole lot

WR: Hankerson and Kayne got pushed aside fast and early by AJ, TB, Collier, Davon, Byrd.

Harris split time with Marve everybody knew that Harris was going to be the started no matter the next year.....even so that Marve left because of it.

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | October 25, 2012 at 03:30 PM

Who said anything about starting or stats? U didn't...I didn't.

You said that they were given their spot from day one without any competition.

None of them were...thats a fact.

Now that Shannon is gone, everything that he stood for and was praised for by Us fans is reversed. Shannon used to be Mr. Accountability and favored the seniors remember??

Now that he's gone: he favored the freshmen??

The upperclassmen were all over the field.

[Ohio_Cane]

SMD - #Canes DE Kelvin Cain's mother: "He's heartbroken. He said he did not quit the team.'' http://bit.ly/TiOygf

[pbcfrcane13]

I never said he favored seniors. I said he favored his 08 kids and they always started. Also I got this from what I saw and read from the reports who report on the team. I loved Randy till the end Ive said that before. I do believe he lived and died with that 08 class and he got fired becasuse of them.

Well see if Golden does the samething the only differance is Golden may not have a chances because of the sanctions we may get hit with.

[pbcfrcane13]

Sounds like a lot of confusion going on their.

[Zakkee]

I dont have any inside info I just go off of what I read and see. To me the may problem with the 08 class was a lot of those kids were given there spot from day one and did not have to fight for it.

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | October 25, 2012 at 02:35 PM

Starting doesnt matter in my books. PT matters more Spence played and Harris on D played a whole lot

I never said he favored seniors. I said he favored his 08 kids and they always started.

lol! Naw, you're clear

[pbcfrcane13]

Need to meet up with everybody on a Friday at Duffys I bet their is some great convo that goes on about our CANES!!

[THE MAN]

Kirk Herbstreit - "When you look at their roster and see all the true freshmen, I mean there are some specimens and some guys that are going to be some big time, big time players down the road"

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | October 25, 2012 at 04:18 PM

He probably said the same thing in 2008...

[Tonycane]

Willie will, I did a cursory check while at lunch and nothing I could find. Not going to devote too much time to temple stuff...lol.

[LaQuinton]

Herbstreit was with Miami 08,09 in 10 he jumped off....

[pbcfrcane13]

Thats because we all were buying into the treding up of Shannons team, 5-7, 7-6, 9-4, and than BOOM!!! AH!!

Now lets see if we can trust in the Golden progression

[Tonycane]

Yeah, we'll see. Golden has to have good classes year after year, and not rest on the laurels of one good class. To be labour the point again, we need at least the number of 4 star players as we do 3 star players.

[86Cane]

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