Head Coach Al
Golden press conference remarks before the FAU game:
Opening
remarks…“Welcome
back. I know we’re excited to get going again. We thank you for covering
University of Miami football. Friday night we get to open the season against
FAU. It’s a game that we thought would bring a lot of interest in South Florida,
and we feel like it will. Obviously so many of the kids know each other. It will
be real competitive, it should be spirited, it will be a great challenge for us.
Clearly with FAU going to Conference USA, and how they played in similar games a
year ago - 14-14 at Athens – I think they have our guys’ attention. Today was
our first practice and we did a good job. I’m excited with where we’re at. We
have a lot of work to do Friday, but we’re getting ready to kick it
off.”
On the
uncertainty regarding an NCAA investigation...“I hope we have a mature group, I
really do. I hope our guys are focused on just one thing - that’s Florida
Atlantic and getting better today. I feel like we came over here with a purpose.
Now, all the distractions that may come along with it being the first day of
school, hopefully our guys will treat them as blessings and not be stressed out
about it – if we have to change a class, or have to go get a book, and all those
little things. I hope our guys take care of it and treat them as blessings. I
believe our guys are focused 100-percent on Florida Atlantic and they have trust
and faith in President Shalala and our Athletics Director and legal counsel that
we’ve done everything we can do at this stage.”
On the
differences between this team and teams of the past two
seasons…“Clearly
we’re a more mature team. I have to be honest with you, it feels like “50 First
Dates” to me - the [NCAA investigation] question has been coming up for every
game since I’ve been here. From that standpoint, we’re looking forward to that
closure and moving forward. But clearly this is a more mature team than we’ve
had. It’s a deeper team. The team has embraced competition. I think they look at
Friday night as an opportunity to prove to themselves what they are developing
and what they want to become, in terms of their brand and what they want to be
on the spectrum of a Miami Hurricanes football team. There’s a lot of urgency
right now. There are only 14 of these games, and I think our guys are
approaching it in that manner - which is important.”
On his
concerns heading into the season…“I have a lot of concerns. As
experienced as we are on the offensive line, we have had some injuries so we’re
not as deep as we want to be. There are some other positions where guys need to
step up quickly, and others where we’re relying on guys that are mature but
haven’t been practicing with us a long time, and they need to step up quickly.
I don’t think there is any question there are concerns at a number of places.
That’s the head coach’s job to worry about that and make sure we’re practicing
right the combinations on offense, defense and special teams and looking to
leave no stone unturned. That’s my job. I also think it’s a team that is going
into the season with a lot of confidence, which comes from demonstrated
performance over a long period of time. There hasn’t been a lot of setbacks,
hasn’t been a lot of distractions. Everything we have asked them to do along the
way, they have achieved. They work all year for these 14 opportunities. Man,
what a great opportunity for us on Friday. I’m sure FAU feels the same
way.”
On starting
offensive line combination…“For me right now, we’re playing seven in
the game. If [Taylor] Gadbois can make progress this week, there will be eight
in the game. There are five that start, but they are all going to play a lot. If
it stays the way it is now, Seantrel [Henderson] will be the sixth man, [Jared]
Wheeler the seventh man and Gadbois the eighth man. But there’s a chance
[Malcolm] Bunche will be the sixth man, or whoever. They are all going to
compete, they are all going to play, but there are only five that start. That’s
the way it is today, but we’ll see how they practiced, and that’s where we’re
at.”
On
expectations changing heading into year three…“I think the expectations have never
changed. I don’t want expectations to change. As I said many times, even when we
were going through all the adversity when it was fresh, I think the expectations
are the reasons the kids choose Miami and certainly why I came to Miami. I want
to chase the bar. Leave the bar where it is. We want to chase it. We want to
chase the people we see on our fence, the greatest teams that have ever been
through here. At the same time, we’re just trying to build it one day, one piece
at a time. We’re excited about where we are, but we have a long way to go to be
that kind of program.”
On improvements from running back Duke Johnson…“He is in better condition. He’s stronger. He’s bigger. He’s playing with a more quiet mind. He has more experience. He should play better. He’ll do a number of things for us. He’ll play better because the wide receivers should be better, the offensive line should be more experienced, the tight ends are blocking better than they ever have. I think he would be the first to tell you he has a really good fullback in Mo Hagens, who doesn’t get enough credit.”
On
expected improvements in the pass rush…
I think [Al-Quadin] Muhammad
has helped us there. I think [David] Gilbert is going to help us there. Tyriq
McCord, who is starting for us in the nickel package at defensive end, is kind
of a hybrid for us who can play SAM or defensive end. He will do a nice job.
Shayon [Green] can do a nice job, [Anthony] Chick, [Justin] Renfrow, [Curtis]
Porter – all of those guys will be rotating through. When we do bring the
linebackers - [Tyrone Cornileus] and Denzel [Perryman] - they have to play at
that speed. When they do come, they have to get to the
quarterback.
On honoring Howard Schnellenberger and the 1983 National Championship team…“That was the genesis of the game that we would celebrate - what he has done for both programs and really starting both programs at the end of the day. He is a man who owes me nothing but treats me with great respect, imparts great wisdom every time I see him, really approachable. We’re blessed to have him in our family - I know FAU probably feels the same way. What a great moment for him on Friday, certainly as the guy who really got this kicked off here in South Florida.
IN SOME WEIRD WAY I FIND LADY GAGA BANGABLE?
Posted by: canezilla | August 28, 2013 at 03:31 PM
Johnny Football suspended for first half vs Rice after agreement reached between A&M and NCAA.....wow that was fast.
Posted by: raizecane | August 28, 2013 at 03:31 PM
Johnny Football suspended for first half vs Rice after agreement reached between A&M and NCAA.....wow that was fast.
Posted by: raizecane | August 28, 2013 at 03:31 PM
And Dyron Dye got kicked out for what again...
Posted by: CaneRock | August 28, 2013 at 03:38 PM
Johnny Football suspended for first half vs Rice after agreement reached between A&M and NCAA.....wow that was fast.
Posted by: raizecane | August 28, 2013 at 03:31 PM
Wow. I guess he now instead of working for the first half of the game, he gets to sleep in and show up in the second half.
Posted by: j.w. | August 28, 2013 at 04:04 PM
THe first half?????. The Soup Nazi is more strict than that.
Posted by: Old Skool | August 28, 2013 at 04:07 PM
To clarify, the NCAA didn't suspend him. TAMU did. NCAA had no paper trail to prove it, so they let him go. TAMU suspended him for being an idiot.
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | August 28, 2013 at 04:13 PM
Wow, so it takes the NCAA 2 plus days to decide the Manziel case but 2 plus years to decide the Miami case. Which Miami's fate has still not been decided... REALLY???
If this does not show bias and corruption I am not sure what does.
And how long does it really take decide on sanctions? What does committee really do? They should be able to knock out a decision within a week after hearing case. One of numerous things wrong with NCAA!
Posted by: Mia Chi 'Cane '98 | August 28, 2013 at 04:19 PM
I know the first game is taken but for the second game we should honor the heroes of the Asiana Airlines crash: Wi Tu Lo and Ho Lee Fuk
Maybe Bang Ding Ow and Capt. Sum Ting Wong if they're available.
Posted by: Old Skool | August 28, 2013 at 04:50 PM
http://blogs.herald.com/random_evidence/2013/08/inside-the-mind-of-nevin-shapiro-a-letter-from-federal-prison-i-wrote-a-blog-item-earlier-this-week-blasting-the-ncaa-for.html
Posted by: Pbcfrcane13 | August 28, 2013 at 05:35 PM
I know a lot of people are poised at Cote for posting this but I like felt like he had to put this out to the public and I did like his response.
Posted by: Pbcfrcane13 | August 28, 2013 at 05:36 PM
NEW BLOG IS UP!
Posted by: SOUP | August 28, 2013 at 07:00 PM