With the Washington Redskins' NFC East title-clinching 28-18 win Sunday night over the Dallas Cowboys, 18 Miami Hurricanes are headed to the NFL Playoffs beginning next week. Not surprisingly the 18 #ProCanes on active NFL playoff rosters are the most of any college.
Georgia is second behind Miami with 15 players in the playoffs, followed by USC, Notre Dame and Ohio State with 13 each. Florida has 12 players in the playoffs. Here are the Miami Hurricanes that will play for the NFL's ultimate prize starting next weekend:
Houston: Brandon Harris, Andre Johnson, Chris Myers, Darryl Sharpton.
The sixth-annual Under Armour All-America Game spotlights the country’s top high school seniors. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. ET on January 4 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Individual tickets for the 2013 Under Armour All-America High School Football Game presented by American Family Insurance will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 19. General admission tickets can be purchased for $18; Family Four packs are available for $48. Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or at Ticketmaster outlets.
The 2013 Under Armour All-America Game roster features 90 of the nation’s premier high school football players, including three of the ESPN 150’s Top 5 athletes: Robert Nkemdiche (Grayson), Carl Lawson (Milton), and Vernon Hargreaves III (Wharton).
Notable alumni of the Under Armour All-America Game currently playing in the National Football League include: Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons), A.J. Green (Cincinnati Bengals), Trent Richardson (Cleveland Browns) and Alshon Jeffery (Chicago Bears). Current college standouts who participated in the Under Armour All-America Game include: Matt Barkley (USC), Manti Te’o (Notre Dame), Marqise Lee (USC), Braxton Miller (Ohio State) and Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina).
Listed below is the schedule of events for the Under Armour All-America Game. Players will be available to speak to media after practices; however, filming of the practices is strictly prohibited.
Media interested in covering Under Armour All-America Game practices, the American Family Insurance Skills Challenge and the Under Armour All-America Game can apply for credentials by e-mailing the media member’s name and affiliation to Andrea Kravitz at akravitz@intersportnet.com.
Monday, Dec. 31 Practice No. 1, 12-3 p.m. ET, ESPN Wide World of Sports (Orlando, Fla.) Fields 28-30 Tuesday, Jan. 1 Practice No. 2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET, ESPN Wide World of Sports Fields 7-9 Wednesday, Jan. 2 Practice No. 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET, ESPN Wide World of Sports Fields 7-9 Media Day Luncheon, 1-2 p.m. ET, ESPN Wide World of Sports Stadium Mezzanine American Family Insurance Skills Challenge, 2:30-4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Wide World of Sports Field 7 Thursday, Jan. 3 Practice No. 4, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET, ESPN Wide World of Sports Fields 7-9 Friday, Jan.4 Under Armour All-America Game, 5 p.m. ET, Tropicana Field
For more information on the Under Armour All-America Game, updates on current and past players and news from the Selection Tour, visit us at underarmourgame.com, like us at www.facebook.com/UnderArmourGame or follow us on Twitter at @UnderArmourGame.
Each year around this time we tend to lose certain bloggers who simply can't understand or agree to follow a few simple "rules of engagement" (ROE) when it comes to blogging.
Over the years we have lost many friends and bloggers due to "friendly fire" and the symptoms of the common off-season malaise. Recently, we lost another due to recent repeated incidents.
In an effort to prevent future blog issues and to provided a positive, safe, supportive, and family friendly environment in which to express our ideas and opinions we have established some ROE that govern behavior on the blog.
Here are the simple and concise Canespace ROE:
1. The blog is about University of Miami athletics. Stick to that as much as possible.
2. Attack ideas, not each other. Don't pick fights, we are all part of the 'Canes Family.
3. Spreading negative rumors and unconfirmed rumor mongering are not acceptable.
4. Do not feed the trolls. They will starve, be deleted soon enough and go away.
5. Do not repeatedly post the same thing every day, all day long. Post an opinion and move on.
And while this is not really a formal rule but more of a suggestion, once in a while if you must, especially during the offseason, try to have some fun, post something funny or off topic as long as it is appropriate, relevant and timely.
The list of names is so long that it is stunning to see and almost impossible to comprehend.
The University of Miami is well known throughout college football and the NFL(U) for developing big-time players at the tight end position. It is no surprise therefore that Miami is known as "Tight End U".
Here is a list of some former UM TEs over the last 30 years who have gone on to play on Sunday:
That is 16 tight ends from the University of Miami that have been drafted by 14 different NFL teams and have played in the League over just the last 28 years (1984 - 2012). By any standard of measure that is pretty impressive, don't you think?
As much as we might like to relish in the glory of great Hurricanes past, it is just as important to examine the present and look towards the furure of the tight end position at Miami. So we thought we would take a brief look at the TEs on the current roster and the verbal commits for the 2013 class.
There are three players at the TE position who caught passes for the Hurricanes in 2012:
Clive Walford: 25 receptions, 451 yards and 4 TDs.
Dyron Dye: 4 catches, 48 yards.
Asante Cleveland: 2 ctahces, 12 yards.
Total TE production: 31 receptions for 511 yards and 4 TDs.
Simply put, that is not very impressive and is not going to get it done. Enter the 2013 recruiting class and the numerous targets that UM is recruiting. Some UM fans like Herbieibis may be questioning why Al Golden is recruiting so may quality tight ends this year in a year of limited scholarships.
Here is the short answer: It is the secret key that unlocks the full potential of the UM offense. With a dominant TE, Jedd Fisch's offense will simply put be unstoppable. Here are the recruits:
Standish Dobard: A total physical freak who is also a State Champ from Loiuisiana. Reminds some fans of a Kellen Winslow type player who can dominate games on his own.
Jeremy Kerr: Talented, physical player with good size and range from Tampa. Reminds some UM fans of former TE Greg Olsen.
Beau Sandland: JUCO transfer who reminds some fans like CaneRock of former Miami TE Jeremy Shockey. A big, strong pass catcher with great hands who is a fierce competitor.
The Hurricanes need a player who can play this year to compliment Clive Walford. Any of the three players above might fit that bill, but only time will tell. At least we can hope they do so that "TE U" can return to its rightful place among the college elite.
To all the bloggers out there in Canespace the UM Athletic Department and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Now, I know that a few of you somehow managed to be really nice all year long while others were being completely naughty, but all Miami Hurricane fans deserve at least a glimpse at a very special Hurricane Holiday wish list that I have put together for the 2013 season.
An ACC title in any major sport (baseball, basketball or football).
A year with no coaching changes and greater continuity at The U.
A baseball team with great pitching, solid defense and a productive offense, but most of all, one that can beat the Florida Gators and the FSU Seminoles on a regular basis.
A blog world with no trolls or haters.
A National Signing Day that is full of talented players, good students and maybe even a few wonderful unexpected surprises.
An offense that scores over 30 points per game, can run the ball with power and speed and can pass the ball down the field effectively while being efficient in the red zone.
A basketball team that plays with good fundamentals, fewer turnovers and fouls and more rebounds and points.
More consistent and improved play by Stephen Morris where the play book is wide open and the game plan is to win games from the position under center not simply to play not to lose.
A healthy Reggie Johnson to dominate in the paint and propel the 'Canes to many ACC wins.
A football team with a defense that is aggressive and attacks their opponent and is much more like a solid brick of sharp cheddar and not so full of holes like aged swiss cheese.
Pretty cheerleaders wearing orange and green that yell and scream and bounce all around
Hurricane fans that are positive and hopeful and encouraging to their team and each other.
OK, I know I was doing fine right there up until that last wish but hey, a guy can hope, right? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Your University of Miami men's basketball team has the terrible misfortune of having to spend almost their entire Christmas break suffering in Hawaii. So far reports from the island are that UM head coach Jim Larranaga and band of merry men are in search of three Ls: luaus, leis and lay-ups.
Yeah I know, it's a tough life being a Hurricane hoopster these days!
Last night Durand Scott scored 20 points and Julian Gamble added 16 points and 13 rebounds as Miami defeated Hawaii 73-58 in the first round of the Diamond Head Classic on Saturday night.
Rumors are that both players reportedly wore flowered shirts and beach sandals during the game.
Bob Cousy award nominee Shane Larkin had 12 points and Trey McKinney Jones 11 points for the Hurricanes (8-1), who face No. 4 Arizona (10-0) in Sunday's semifinals. Arizona beat East Tennessee State earlier Saturday.
The Hurricanes broke open a close game with a 14-5 run to start the second half. The rally allegedly started after the Canes' chowed down on some grilled island spiced pork with pineapple slices which was washed down with a few tasty Mai Tais (reportedly the non-alcoholic version).
Miami scored the first six points of the second half in a two-minute span, forcing Hawaii to a call a timeout for some serious hula dancing during the break. Once play resumed and the sand was swept from the playing floor, UM's Rion Brown's hit a jumper to make the score 36-24 with 16:01 remaining.
The Hurricanes forced three Hawaii turnovers during the run, primarily because the Rainbow Warriors had some greasy hands from some pit roasted pig they ate during the timeout. Silly island boys.
After Hawaii's Brandon Jawato hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 36-29, Miami hit four 3-pointers and Gamble converted a three-point play to extend Miami's lead to 55-37 with 11 minutes left.
Jawato came off the bench wearing nothing but a loin cloth (is that even legal?) and some sort of Pacific island orchid head-dress but still managed to hit four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points for Hawaii (5-4). Word on the island is that the ladies liked his style and that he may have gotten a leis after the game, but again that is just an unsubstantiated rumor.
Even though your University of Miami Hurricanes voluntarily declared themselves ineligible for post-season play and thereby skipped playing in the ACC Championship Game and any potential bowl game that would have resulted from their season's accomplishments, several other ACC teams will be active and busy during the 2012 college bowl season.
So we thought we would take a look at which teams will be representing the Atlantic Coast Conference and who is playing who and where and when during the post-season. Now I know what you are thinking: "Why do 'Canes fans care about these other teams and their silly bowl games?" Well, that is why am here: To help you understand why these games are important to UM fans.
As everyone knows the ACC as a whole is still struggling to regain it's National footing and earn some much needed respect among the major college football conferences. What happens in these games will greatly affect the perception and viability of the ACC, and that will certainly impact Miami.
Six Atlantic Coast Conference Football teams are bowl bound this holiday season, led by ACC Champion Florida State and fellow top-15 team Clemson.
The post-season action gets under way on the evening on Thursday, December 27 when Duke makes its first postseason appearance since 1994 against Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
Virginia Tech takes the field on December 28 against Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando. The Hokies are making their 20th consecutive bowl-appearance - the third longest active streak among FBS teams.
This New Year's Eve will be a busy one for ACC teams with three bowl games on tap. NC State kicks things off at noon against Vanderbilt in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville.
Georgia Tech makes its 16th-straight bowl appearance (tied for fourth-longest active streak nationally) versus Southern Cal in the Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
No. 14 Clemson wraps up the day with No. 8 LSU in the Chick-fil-A bowl in Atlanta.
No. 12 Florida State, which leads the nation with 31 consecutive bowl appearances, is set for the Discover Orange Bowl on the evening of January 1. The Seminoles battle No. 15 Northern Illinois, which is riding a 12-game winning streak.
Miami Hurricane fans, as well as other ACC college football fans, can follow the ACC competition throughout the 2012-13 bowl season on:
Sure, like most Miami fans, I will also be paying attention to the ACC teams in the bowl games. But most likely, I'll probably be thinking something like this:
Since we've nowhere to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…
That is it: I am officially boycotting McDonald's.
Even I have to admit that occasionally I use the drive thru lane at McDonald's for a quick cup of hot coffee or even a greasy cheeseburger or a tasty fish sandwich every once in a while when I am on the road and in a hurry, but I had no idea that at least one UM coach does too.
University of Miami wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator George McDonald also apparently likes the always fast and efficient drive thru lane at the fast food restaurant named after him.
Or at least the one that now apparently exists a The U?
McDonald became the first UM coach on Al Golden's staff to leave his position at Miami when he accepted the same coaching position at the University of Arkansas. New Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema who was just hired away from Wisconsin selected McDonald to join his staff.
Obviously McDonald's experience in working in and recruiting South Florida was a big factor in the hiring process. As any head coach including Bielema knows, you have to have access to the South Florida talent pipeline if you are going to win and win big in college football.
That fact alone makes all Miami coaches attractive targets to other schools across the Country. As a result, it would not be surprising if other major universities with open coaching positions came calling on other UM position coaches and coordinators during any and every off-season.
With other cash rich conferences always at the door, it is always possible that other UM coaches could be tempted to leave for something we all want in life: more money.
In the current culture that is college football that is just the nature of the beast. It is a beast that UM head coach Al Golden and the UM athletic department will have to try to tame when they can and simply understand and let go of when they can't.
As a small, private institution in the ACC, unfortunately that is reality.
Now, as for replacement candidates we like former UM WR Lamar Thomas who just so happens to be currently coaching wide receivers at Hampton University. Yeah, we like that a lot.
Does it seem like every year about this time things tend to go sour on the blog?
With the football season over and with no bowl game to look forward to this year it seems that many bloggers tend to go into a funk and go all negative about everything orange and green just about this time of the year.
It doesn't have to be this way; really it doesn't.
Basketball season is just starting and Jim Larranaga's boys are doing quite well thank you very much. The men's hoopsters are out to a 7-1 start as they look forward to upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Last night in Orlando Durand Scott scored 17 points and Reggie Johnson added 16 points and 13 rebounds to help Miami to an easy 72-50 victory over Central Florida.
Shane Larkin had 11 points and six assists and Kenny Kadji scored 10 for the Hurricanes (7-1), who led all game and won their sixth straight.
The Hurricanes now head out to Honolulu, Hawaii over the Christmas Break for the Diamond Head Classic Tournament which is a really nice gig if you can get it. Conference play begins in Atlanta against Georgia Tech on January 5.
Baseball season is also just around the corner, and after another great recruiting class by UM head coach Jim Morris, his diamond dogs should be poised for an excellent season.
In its annual breakdown of the country's top recruiting classes, Baseball America rated the Miami Hurricanes' 13-member group as the 10th-best incoming class in the nation.
The publication's rankings were the second to recognize the Hurricanes' 2012 class, comprised of 11 true freshmen, one redshirt freshman and one junior. Collegiate Baseball newspaper rated the Hurricanes' 2012 class the ninth-best in the nation in its annual rankings released in late September.
It was the first time the Hurricanes had a group ranked in the top 10 by Baseball America since 2006, as Miami was recognized with the second-highest rated recruiting class in the ACC (UNC was No. 5).
And speaking of recruiting the "silly season" has started once again as college football head coaches all over the Country beg, grovel and plead with high school seniors who all believe they are destined to be the next "great one" at their position and college of choice.
(Editor's Note to high school players: You better have a Plan B, trust me on this one).
This is the time of year when recruits begin to play their very own modern day version of the dating game with verbal comittments to teams that are on again or off again about as often as Al Golden says "certainly" or mentions "the process" or runs his fingers through his hair during a post-game presser.
If you are part of what now appears to be a National obsession when it comes to following the recruiting game and the whims and wishes of around 10,000 eighteen year old kids who are soon to be college football student-athletes then have at it. And, if you choose to waste your time by staying up all night worrying about who is going where then please, have at it.
Just don't count me among that crowd. Personally, I have no time for wondering what color shirt or hat a certain player wore to school one day or what he said, she said, he said. Especially when the great weather of the mild Florida Winter and the great outdoors reminds me why I live in the beautiful Sunshine State.
A wise man once said:" Worry is like a rocking chair; it keeps you busy, but gets you nowhere."
Call me on National Signing Day and then we will talk and compare notes.
Until then, well not so much. I'll be outside, playing.
Last year a very talented but very young Miami Central High School football team made it all the way to the FHSAA State Championship game but came away empty handed as they wound up losing to Armwood High School (who later had to vacate the win and State title due to recruiting violations).
This year a more experienced Central team fought their way back to The Citrus Bowl in Orlando and won the State championship. The Rockets' head coach Telly Lockette had his team prepared and focused and ready to play against Gainesville High School this past Saturday.
An enthusiastic crowd of over 5,800 high school football fans were there to see it. And from my perspective, some of these fans take their high school football just a little too seriously.
But hey, that's just me. If you think 'Canes fans are passionate you should sit next to some of these high school football fans during the playoffs and at the Championship game.
Lockette's Rockets dominated play on both sides of the ball. The game was fun, exciting, interesting and entertaining. Central beat Gainesville from start to finish and by the final score of 37-14 as the dynamic backfield duo of juniors Joseph Yearby and Dalvin Cook ran all over the Gainesville defense.
Teams from the 305 had a great post-season this year and as usual "The Bottom" is loaded with talent this year and next. The Miami Hurricanes and head coach Al Golden will certainly benefit from that fact.