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The Short List To South Beach: Week 14

The Shortlist to South Beach reaches the end of the regular season and only seven teams remain in contention as they reach the finish line, with one more guaranteed to fall by the wayside at weeks end, but until then, it reads as follows: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Kansas State, Oregon, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

Both teams that I called for Shortlist elimination won last week, putting a sobering damper on my perfect week prior in a hurry:

1) Florida feasts on a plethora of leftover turnovers by Florida State as they cruise in the second half to victory on the road 37-26.  A BCS bowl berth is now guaranteed for the man who is definitely not the second coming of Ron Zook in Gainesville, as this Sugar Bowl game was earned by coach Will
Muschamp, unlike the Zooker's hand out Rose Bowl berth to possibly the least deserving automatic qualifying conference team never to win their league in BCS history.

2) Oregon also cashes in on multiple rivalry game turnovers by their lesser ranked in-state foe as they flood the Oregon State Beavers with a deluge of touchdowns in Corvalis for a 48-24 win.  The Ducks might end up in a BCS game but their resume for earning it is much more slight when examined
closely this year, so if the do fall out of big bowl contention, they'll only have a weak conference this year that they couldn't navigate unscathed again to blame.

In addition to those major whiffs, three teams lost games last week I never called for them to lose and were eliminated from the Shortlist to South Beach just before the finish line this year;

1) FSU combines with Oregon State for 11 turnovers between their quarterbacks as I miss on both picks where I sided with the two teams in last week's blog.  I'm not that upset by it really, but I knew this was going to a lot longer of an article that it would have been otherwise as soon as I saw the level of ineptitude the two signal callers respectively brought to their rivalry showdowns Saturday.  Jimbo Fisher will never win anything of consequence as he's now really in year six of calling the shots in Tallahassee and this was the year he had both the easiest route to the title and the most stacked team in the nation.  ACC football in a nutshell ladies and gentlemen!

2) Clemson goes zero-for-two against ranked teams this year as the fall at home, and off the Shortlist in 2012, to South Carolina 27-17.  Dabo Swinney still can only say he beat the Gamecocks with Tommy Bowden's recruiting classes but will once again find his team in the Tigers' least favorite roll in program history, that of conference favorites, next year regardless of the least impressive 10 win season in college football this year.  Yet again, ACC football in a nutshell ladies and gentlemen!

3) Louisville comes out rusty after a bye week and loses at home to UConn in triple overtime 23-20.  They can still win the Big East with a win Thursday at Rutgers but they'll be out the door as soon as they can escape from their quickly crumbling conference once this season wraps up for them whether before or after New Year's.  Yes, you guessed it, ACC football in a nutshell ladies and gentlemen! By the way, good seats are still available for the football title game this week for the cost of a large cup of premium coffee.

I predict only one team to be eliminated from the Shortlist to South Beach this week, as a result of the de facto elimination game that serves as a national title play-in game for the SEC conference crown:

Alabama.

No back to back titles for title town this year.  Maybe some deranged fan of the Crimson Tide will go poison the water supply instead of the trees in Auburn this time, or maybe feed UGA chocolate in frustration?  At least there won't be any viral videos of elephant fans committing homosexual assault from bowl season being discovered next year if I'm right about the defending champs falling short this week, so they can stay somewhat classy and spare themselves further stereotypical embarrassment as a group.  Until the NCAA asks where Amari Cooper's friend got that new pickup truck, that is.

Enjoy the games this week and join me back here next week as the Shortlist to South Beach reaches its conclusion and the final five or less are weighed on their full merits of championship worthiness.

Copyright 2012 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com

Never Give In, Never Give Up

University of Miami redshirt junior defensive end Shayon Green has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2012 Brian Piccolo Award co-winner, ACC Commissioner John Swofford announced Thursday. Green shares the honor with Florida State senior running back Chris Thompson.  

The Piccolo Award has been given annually since 1972 in memory of the late Brian Piccolo to the “most courageous” football player in the ACC. Piccolo was the 1965 ACC Athlete of the Year and played for the Chicago Bears before his career was cut short when he was stricken with cancer. His courageous fight against that disease was an inspiration to the Bears and the entire football community. 

Green had to overcome four different major injuries. He twice tore the ACL in his right knee, once tore the meniscus in his right knee and also suffered a wrist dislocation forcing him to miss all or a major part of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Finally healthy, Green led the Hurricanes in tackles and was one of the key leaders on the young Miami defense, with 38 of his 67 tackles unassisted. Green also added 2.0 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. He is the first Miami defensive lineman to lead the Hurricanes in tackles for a season in more than 30 years. 

“Shayon is an amazing individual with an unparalleled work ethic,” Miami head coach Al Golden said. “I cannot think of anyone who exemplifies the ideals of Brian Piccolo or is more deserving of this award than him. He has overcome a dislocated wrist and three separate knee surgeries to become our leading tackler and team captain. His commitment and perseverance is an inspiration to us all.” 

Green is the third Miami player to be chosen to receive the Piccolo Award in the eight years since the Hurricanes became an ACC member, joining Frank Gore (2004) and Glenn Sharpe (2006).

U Better Have A Plan B

The NCAA recently conducted a study to determine what percentage of college athletes go on to become professional athletes in their sport of choice. The study also compared an athlete's relative success rate and transition from high school to college and then from college to professional sports.

The numbers, statistics and facts are simply stunning. They clearly show that every aspiring high school athlete who is basing their entire life plan and future on getting a scholarship to attend a major Division I university and then play professional sports better have a Plan B.

And maybe a plan C and even possibly a plan D also. Here is a quick glimpse of how many amature football players make it to the big time:

• There are around 1 million high school football players in the U.S.
• There are approximately 70,000 college football players.
• There are about 1,700 professional football players.
• Only about .0017% of high school football players will go pro.

And the same goes for any of the many 150,000 college athletes who hope to see their name in lights and with dreams of going pro and the big paychecks just rolling in year after year also better think again and have a backup plan. Even they are not assured of anything.

Here are some of the findings from the September 2012 research study:

Men's Basketball

• Approximately one in 30, or approximately 3.3 percent, of high school senior boys playing interscholastic basketball will go on to play men's basketball at a NCAA member institution.
• About one in 75, or approximately 1.3 percent, of NCAA male senior basketball players will get drafted by a National Basketball Association (NBA) team.
• Three in 10,000, or approximately 0.03 percent of high school senior boys playing interscholastic basketball will eventually be drafted by an NBA team.

Football

• About 6.4 percent, or approximately one in 16, of all high school senior boys playing interscholastic football will go on to play football at a NCAA member institution.
• Less than two in 100, or 1.6 percent, of NCAA senior football players will get drafted by a National Football League (NFL) team.
• Less than eight in 10,000 of high school senior boys playing interscholastic football will eventually be drafted by an NFL team.

Baseball

• About five in 75, or about 6.7 percent, of high school senior boys interscholastic baseball players will go on to play men's baseball at a NCAA member institution.
• About ten in 100, or about 9.7 percent, of NCAA senior male baseball players will get drafted by a Major League Baseball (MLB) team.
• Approximately one in 200, or about 0.51 percent of high school senior boys playing interscholastic baseball will eventually be drafted by an MLB team.

Ice Hockey

• Approximately 11 in 100, or about 10.9 percent, of high school senior boys interscholastic ice hockey players will go on to play men's ice hockey at a NCAA member institution.
• One in 75, or about 1.2 percent, of NCAA senior male ice hockey players will get drafted by a National Hockey League (NHL) team.
• About one in 1,000, or approximately 0.10 percent of high school senior boys playing interscholastic ice hockey will eventually be drafted by an NHL team.

Men's Soccer

• Less than three in 50, or about 5.6 percent, of high school senior boys interscholastic soccer players will go on to play men's soccer at a NCAA member institution.
• Approximately seven in 1,000, or about 0.7 percent, of NCAA senior male soccer players will be drafted by a Major League Soccer (MLS) team.
• More than two in 7,500 or approximately 0.03 percent of high school senior boys playing interscholastic soccer will eventually be drafted by an MLS team.

Sean Taylor's Legend Lives On

Sean Michael Maurice Taylor was born in Miami on April 1, 1983. 

Perhaps by fate, maybe by coincidence, it was later that same year that the University of Miami, behind a quarterback named Kosar and coach named Schnellenberger (seen below with QB Jim Kelly), would win their first college football National Championship by beating Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. 

That game, which put the UM program on the big-time college football map, has often been referred to as the "Miracle in Miami".  Sean's Taylor's birth in April of that year could also be seen as a miracle for what this young man would soon bring to his team and its fans in his home town.

Sean grew up in a tough South Dade neighborhood and later attend Gulliver High School where he would help them win the Class 2A State Title. His spectacular play would help him become the #1 ranked prep player in Miami-Dade County by the Miami Herald.  Sean was so dominant at the high school level that he played multiple positions including running back, linebacker and defensive back. 

After a spectacular Senior season and a hotly contested recruiting battle, Sean decided to attend the University of Miami.  It would prove to be somewhat ironic that Sean would wind up being one of only four true freshmen to play in 2001 on the Hurricanes fifth National Championship team. 

Even at this early stage, Sean's life had seemingly come full circle.  From being born during the Miracle in Miami season of 1983 to contributing to what was arguably the best UM team ever, the Canes 2001 championship team.  Sean Taylor, a hometown boy had already grown to become a hometown hero and would eventually become a true legend to Canes fans in the 305 and beyond.

As Junior at UM in 2003, after beating FSU at Doak Campbell Stadium in the pouring rain seemingly all by himself, Sean would win a slew of college football awards.  After that season, Sean decided it was time to take the next step in his carrer and would opt for the NFL draft.   

He would be the first of six Canes selected in the first round that year (an NFL record) when he was drafted fifth overall by the Washington Redskins. 

By 2006 there was no doubt that Sean Taylor had become the dominant player at his position and was honored by being selected to the NFL Pro-bowl that year.  He was nicknamed "Meast" by teammates for being part man, part beast.  Taylor would become one of the most feared hitters in the NFL and gained the respect of his peers at the highest level of competition.       

Entering his third year as a Redskin, Sean seemed to be at the top of his game and the NFL talent pool.  By the tenth week of the NFL season he was tied for the league lead in interceptions and was considered an automatic selection for his second straight Pro-Bowl. 

Then came the fateful night of November 26, 2007.Sean Taylor, while at home asleep with his wife and 18 month-old daughter, awoke to a loud noise in his home.  In an effort to protect his family, Sean confronted the would-be burglars.  He was shot once and would later die from the severe loss of blood as his femoral artery was torn apart by the single bullet.   

That night would end the life of a real Hurricane hero.

Sean Taylor's sudden and tragic death shocked his family, friends, teammates and the Hurricane faithful.  When he died the day following the shooting, we promised to never forget his contributions to the University of Miami.  This blog article is our simple way of proving that we have not forgotten Sean Taylor, #26, who played at The U and was proud to wear the orange and green. 

Some memories and images never fade.  And even now, if you close your eyes, you can probably still see him, #26 back peddaling into open space, picking off another deep pass, splashing through the rain and the mud at the Doak, weaving down the field behind several blockers, refusing to be denied and diving into the end zone for a pick six. 

 

That is how we will remember Sean Taylor. As a miracle of a man who at times seemed completely capable of  beating the other team all by himself.

Now Ain't That The Truth?

Once upon a time there was a self-serving and somewhat arrogant blogger here on Canespace who referred to himself as "The Truth". You have to have quite an ego and some serious attitude to refer to yourself as the truth. Of course, as usually happens in cases like this, in the end it turned out that he never was, and still isn't, the real truth.

Once he arrived on the UM campus a few years ago from Miami Killian High School, and even as recently as last season, running back Lamar Miller was commonly known by fans as "The Truth". Miller, who played well and was a fan favorite, may actually have been able to live up to that label if he had stayed and played another season as a Miami Hurricane instead of becoming a Miami Dolphin. Instead he never quite achieved that all-time great status at UM that would have made that moniker accurate enough to stick forever.

Miller has played in eight games for the Dolphins this season and has rushed 27 times for 145 yards  one TD. His early departure for the riches of the NFL opened the door for Senior Mike James to take over the starting RB role along with a true freshman named Duke Johnson. While James had a solid season and was a major contributor to the 'Canes' success on offense in 2012, it was the true freshman who stole the national spotlight and most Miami fans' hearts and minds this year.

On Monday, University of Miami freshman Duke Johnson was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Week for the fifth time this season.  With Johnson’s league-leading fifth ROW honor, the Hurricanes finish the 2012 season with 12 ACC Player of the Week accolades, eight of which were freshmen. 

Johnson rushed for a career-high 176 yards and a career-best three touchdowns in Miami’s 52-45 season-finale win at Duke. Included in his three rushing touchdowns was a 65-yard score, his 11th play of over 50 yards in 2012. He finished with 277 all-purpose yards, his sixth game with 200-plus all-purpose yards this season. 

In the third quarter against the Blue Devils, Johnson broke Miami’s single-season freshman rushing record held by Clinton Portis (838 in 1999). His 2,070 all-purpose yards are the most by a Miami freshman the second-most in program history behind only Willis McGahee (2,108 in 2002). 

Johnson concluded his rookie campaign with four 100-yard rushing games, 957 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 139 carries. He also finished 2012 with a single-season school-record 892 kick return yards and two touchdowns. Johnson’s 13 touchdowns on the season are tied for the fifth-most in
program history.

If there was ever a player who accomplishments in their first season with the Hurricanes has earned him the nickname of "The Truth" it has to be Duke Johnson. Johnson was the difference maker in several games this season as a true freshman and really sparked the offensive success for Miami this season.

Every time he touches the ball, to steal a phrase from ESPN's Chris Berman, "He could go all the way!" And if he continues to remain healthy and progress each year there is every reason to believe that he could surpass all of the previous greats at UM and own all of the rushing records at Miami by the time he is done.

Now ain't that The Truth?

Welcome To The Jungle

You are invited to the 2012 Miami Hurricanes Football Banquet:

Sunday, December 9, 2012
Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom
1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, FL 33132

Cost is $60 per person. There is a NOON check-in and reception in addition to the luncheon & awards program which begins at 1 PM. Appropriate business attire for this formal annual event is highly recommended.

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets will not be available the day of the banquet.

To purchase tickets, visit http://www.uhurricaneclub.com/ to register online or call the Hurricane Club at (305) 284-6699. Advance registration & payment is required by Monday, December 3rd, 2012.

Miami vs Duke: Game Notes

MIAMI (7-5, 5-3 ACC) 52, DUKE (6-6, 4-4 ACC) 45

WALLACE WADE STADIUM • DURHAM, N.C.

Nov. 24, 2012 • ATTENDANCE: 26,895

TEAM NOTES

• Today’s offensive starters: WR Herb Waters, LT Malcolm Bunche, LG Jon Feliciano, C Shane McDermott, RG Brandon Linder, RT Seantrel Henderson, TE Clive Walford, QB Stephen Morris, FB Mike James, RB Duke Johnson, WR Phillip Dorsett.

• Today’s defensive starters: DE Anthony Chickillo, DT Curtis Porter, DT Olsen Pierre, DE Shayon Green, OLB Thurston Armbrister, MLB James Gaines, OLB Gionni Paul, CB Tracy Howard, S Rayshawn Jenkins, S Kacy Rodgers II, CB Brandon McGee.

• With DB Tracy Howard starting today, Miami started 10 different freshmen this season (DB Deon Bush, DB Tracy Howard, RB Duke Johnson, WR Malcolm Lewis, DB Rayshawn Jenkins, LB Eddie Johnson, DL Corey King, DL Earl Moore, OL Ereck Flowers, WR Herb Waters). Johnson and King are redshirt freshmen.

• The Canes had a different starting lineup on defense all 12 games this season.

• With the win, the Hurricanes take a share of the ACC Coastal Division for the first time since joining the league in 2004. The Canes were picked fifth in the preseason poll.

• Miami won its final game of the season for the first time since defeating Nevada at the MPC Computers Bowl on Dec. 31, 2006.

• The Hurricanes improve to 9-1 all-time against Duke and are undefeated against the Blue Devils since joining the ACC in 2004. UM has won all five meetings in Durham.

• UM had five touchdown drives that lasted under two minutes.

• Miami scored at least 40 points for the third consecutive game and for the sixth time this season.

• Miami’s 52 points were the most scored since a 52-17 win over Virginia on Nov. 7, 2009.

• The Hurricanes 646 yards of total offense was the third-most in program history and the most since totaling 689 yards against UCLA on Dec. 5, 1998.

• Duke’s 45 points tie record for most points by an opponent in a loss matching Virginia Tech (2002)

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• RB Mike James and DB Vaughn Telemaque each saw action for the Hurricanes for the 50th time in their careers today, tying for the fourth-most games played in program history. James played in all 50 games in his career, tying for the second-most consecutive at Miami.

• TE Clive Walford racked up 99 receiving yards in the game, including a touchdown. Adding in the 35-yard reception in the first quarter and 36-yard catch in the second, Walford now has nine catches for at least 25 yards this season. Walford had 135 yards receiving last week against USF - the last Hurricane tight end to have back-to-back games with at least 100 yards receiving was Kellen Winslow II in 2003 (104 vs. West Virginia & at Florida State).

• RB Duke Johnson recorded 176 rushing yards in the game to bring his season total to 947, setting a program freshman rushing record. Clinton Portis (1999) previously held the mark. Johnson found the end zone three times in the game to bring his total to 13 overall scores for the season. It was the fourth game with at least 100 rushing yards this season for him and second one with three touchdowns.

• Johnson’s 13 TDs on the season are tied for the fifth-most in program history.

• Johnson finished with 2,060 all-purpose yards on the year, the second most in school history (Willis McGahee (2,108 - 2002).

• QB Stephen Morris has thrown at least one touchdown pass in nine games this season - he ends his season with 21 overall.

• RB Mike James plunged into the end zone at the end of the first half for his 21st career touchdown. In the second half, he took a screen pass 72 yards for his longest career play from scrimmage. His previous best was a 36-yard catch at home last season against Duke.

• K Jake Wieclaw connected for his 11th straight successful field goal attempt in the third quarter. The UM record is held by Dane Prewitt, who made 13 in a row in 1994.

• Wieclaw finished his career with 30 field goals, while hitting all 80 PAT attempts - fourth-most in school history.

• Morris finished the season with 3,415 yards of total offense, the most in the history of the program, edging out Bernie Kosar’s 1984 total of 3.412.

• Morris’ season-total of 3,345 passing yards ranks fifth in program history, while his 421 attempts and 245 completions rank first and second respectively. His 21 TD passes on the season are tied for 10th all-time with Vinny Testaverde’s 1985 total.

Duke Beats Duke

Miami Head Coach Al Golden 

On the win: “We’ve given up a lot. We gave up a bowl game last year. We’ve given up a bowl game this year, now we’ve given up a postgame in Charlotte, a championship game in Charlotte. We’ve given up three games in the postseason to right the ship and [we’re] really grateful to the team and the seniors. I’m not surprised it was this type of game. I just told the team, it was such an emotional week. If you think about the range of emotions on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then when [Duke] came storming back and just the way they did it … you know with a 99-yard play. I felt like, ‘Oh man, now we got respond. Do we have enough in us in the tank to respond?’ And then Herb [Waters] came back with a big play. I’m proud of them. As I said in the beginning of the year, it wasn’t going to be perfect. We were picked to finish fifth in the league. We didn’t have anybody on the preseason all-conference team. We didn’t have many starters coming back. We had the toughest schedule, too. We started 10 freshmen this year and played 21, and we just finished tied for the Coastal lead. And [we’ve] got a whole slew of guys coming back. I’m excited. Can’t wait to go back on the road and sign a real good class to compliment last year’s class and move this thing forward.”

On Duke Johnson:

“He’s a special young man. He works hard and he wants the ball in his hands at the end of the game. With the entire offensive line coming back and the tight ends coming back and the full back coming back and the quarterback’s coming back and the receivers coming back … I think he’s going to
benefit from that greatly. The whole supporting cast is coming back and we’re going to add to it and get ourselves better. Duke’s a special young man.” 

On what he said to the seniors:

“Just how grateful we are. What a huge sacrifice when you think about it. They didn’t ask for it. They led us all week. This was tough. Don’t diminish for a second how hard it is to get the guys motivated and focused after … entering the Duke week we thought, ‘We win we’re in Charlotte,’
and then that got pulled. We needed that senior leadership and the seniors did. I thought they represented the program and the university with class - incredible amount of integrity. [They] didn’t displace anything on anybody else. [They] didn’t point the finger, years past or anything. It’s a credit to them that we won today because emotionally we didn’t have much in the tank.” 

On using trick plays:

“When you have a quarterback and a veteran offensive line you can do that. We became very veteran as the year went on on the offensive line. The same thing at the quarterback position. We’re getting to the point where those two plays … we wanted to go for the jugular on 4th-and-1. Obviously we all thought it was a touchdown and disappointed it wasn’t. You go for it there because you think, even if you don’t get it you’re going to get the ball back at midfield. Or even if they do change the field it’s going to take five minutes. Instead it takes 10 seconds. That’s a backbreaker there. With the wind I thought for sure Jake [Wieclaw] could end the game there. I think we were up by 14, so to make it 17. And we went for the win twice and it didn’t work out. It’s just one of those deals. We’re not good enough to put anybody away yet. Again, I’m just encouraged about moving the program forward.”

Game Day Blog: UM vs Duke

Game Prediction: Duke will beat Duke.

That's right, Miami's Duke Johnson will single-handedly beat Duke University today in Durham, North Carolina.

It says right here that the final score will be your Miami Hurricanes 34, the Duke Blue Devils 20.

 That is all.  Please discuss.

The Short List To South Beach: Week 13

The Shortlist to South Beach closes out November with major changes in the rankings of the ten teams still left in play for 2012, as they stand as follows:

Notre Dame, Ohio State, Kansas State, Oregon, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, FSU, Clemson and Louisville.

It only took three months but I'm finally pleased to announce that not a single team either won or lost a game that I did or didn't respectively predict them to be eliminated from the Shortlist as a result of.  I feel better than Maryland's athletic department getting invited to join the Big 10 after getting blown-out by a ranked team to secure a losing season for yet another year in a row right now.  So you can imagine how annoying it is that I even have to pick a winner in this weeks de-facto Shortlist to South Beach elimination game between the lesser two of Florida's Big Three programs, no matter how obvious the loser is this year. 

The teams I predict will be eliminated from Shortlist contention this week are: Oregon and Florida.

I've been impressed with the season Mike Riley and the Beavers have quietly turned in this year while exceeding expectations and think the trend of the visitor in the Civil War rivalry having a tough go will continue this year. 

Meanwhile, up in the Sunshine State capitol, the visitors lucky run is just about to reach the breaking point as one half a football team can only take you so far any given year, even if its the defensive half that knows what it's doing with any weekly competence. 

Enjoy the games this week as finally the contenders here step up into rivalry competition to set the final roster heading into postseason play and join me back here next week as the Shortlist to South Beach reaches this season's nail-biting finale.

Copyright 2012 by Christopher Whelpton for Canespace.com