Golden Talks FAU

MIAMI HEAD COACH AL GOLDEN:

On team’s overall performance…“I thought we played really hard. I thought Florida Atlantic played incredibly tough. They were very physical, well-coached. I thought their punter was amazing - I thought he changed the field for them all night. As I just said to our guys, give them a lot of credit. Any time you play one of these rival games in the state, that’s what you’re going to get. Give Florida Atlantic a lot of credit – they played hard and they made us earn it. We were overzealous a little bit with some penalties early in the game. We dropped some passes that we hadn’t been dropping. Our timing wasn’t where it needed to be in some instances, but I thought our guys played hard. We didn’t play smart all the time, weren’t as good as we needed to be on third down on offense, but I thought our defense played really, really hard, played physical, and ran to the ball well.”

On the performance of Duke Johnson…“I don’t know what his overall numbers were…I’m guessing 20 touches. That’s kind of what we need him to be, somewhere around there. I thought he did a good job with that. He’s healthy. He cut two guys down on the [Herb Waters run] where we scored. He’s a very unselfish player.”

On his assessment of the team’s passing game…“I didn’t think it was as sharp as we have been, for sure. We were really humming coming into this week in the pass game, and obviously it wasn’t where it needed to be. We need to go back to work. We’ll go back tomorrow, watch it, and we’ll get back on the passing game. We certainly didn’t do a good enough job on third down.”

On the Canespace crew showing up at 3 PM to tailgate for an 8 PM game...Well, those guys clearly understand The Process. Their level of commitment in supporting the team is unmatched. We heard that some of them would be out there like DeeCane (L) who came all the way from Alaska and Terrance (LC) who came from Alabama just to be there, but when NativeCane (RC) and Old Skool (R) showed up by complete surprise from over in Tampa, well clearly that tipped the scales in our favor. We talked to our coaches and our team about the 5 P's before the season: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. The Canespace crew's game-day preparation is unparalleled. We can sense it when the team buses pull up to the stadium. The players get goosebumps just knowing those guys are out there.

On nerves affecting the passing game…“That’s something that’s disappointing to me. Monday and Tuesday, I thought we were really sharp in the passing game. It’s a shame. It is. We didn’t look like we had our timing, so we have to get back to work on that. Obviously that was reflective in our third downs – not where we need to be. We need to be on more third and shorts too, we weren’t in enough of them.”

On the play of his team’s pass rush…“We have more depth and we have more guys that can rush the passer now. Certainly Quan [Muhammad] made a difference, I thought [David] Gilbert made a difference. I thought we had more power inside, so I think that helped. We need to get takeaways, but we were physical, we were running to the ball. We made some errors, but I thought we played hard. I really did. We didn’t put the defense in good situations too often, and they battled their way out of it. We need to do a better job on offense on third down - that would really help us in time of possession and help our defense.”

On rotating young players in…“Those guys, there were a lot of freshmen that were redshirting that we were not going to play. Those guys that played, we made the decision in camp that they’re going to help us at some time this year and help us significantly. That’s why we played them. We have to get Stacy [Coley] to forget about this one. He had a tough first quarter – he just has to forget about it and move on. He’s very talented, he just needs to relax and let it come to him. He has worked really hard, but I think he was pressing a little bit. Obviously he and Stan [Dobard] and Gus [Edwards] and Artie [Burns] and Corn Elder and [Jermaine] Grace, and all those guys, they’re all in the mix. They’re all going to be helping us this year.”

On the comparison between the Eastside tailgating vs the Westside...There are some great fans that tailgate all around Sunlife Stadium. The East-siders have their traditions and rituals and the West-siders have theirs too. The East-side has more of a family feel to it with some wanna-be tough guys like Canezilla (C) mixed in. The West-side by comparison is much more wild and crazy. Let me just put it this way: The West-side is not for the meek or faint of heart. There are some hardcore tailgaters over there and you have to get your game face on or you will simply not fit in. We heard that 86Cane took DeeCane over there right before the "CaneWalk" and let's just say that he was very impressed with the festivities.

On managing an excited team playing in its season opener…“All of those things you think about, we don’t think about until it’s the eventuality. We don’t talk about any of that, because all of these first games – they’re hard. We have idea what they were going to do. We saw three different quarterbacks. Opening games are hard – you have no track record to go by, really. I thought they were well-coached, tough as can be, physical. I thought they were excellent on special teams, and I thought their punter gave us a long field all night. As well as Pat [O’Donnell] was hitting the ball, this kid changed the field for them. That was the big difference in the game.”

On the performance of Eduardo Clements…I’m happy for him. We had the first scrimmage, then the second scrimmage, now it’s the first game - these are all baselines, and he’s moving up every time. He’s in better condition. He’s feeling more confident and we’re feeling more confident that he’s ready to go. He has had a great attitude. I’m happy for him that he got going on that.”

On Duke Johnson being issued a concussion test…“That’s our protocol. We follow a strict protocol for anybody that we think is woozy or got their bell rung. We have a great concussion institution, and we have great sideline protocol with Vinny Scavo and Dr. Kaplan. We just do that to make sure that we’re protecting any kids that have any kind of head trauma.”

So who was your tailgating MVP...That's a really hard decision, there are so many talented and committed tailgators out there that picking one is so difficult. But If I had to go with one, I'd have to go with DeeCane. First, he proudly serves his Country in the Army, came all the way from Alaska to be at the game before being stationed at Fort Hood in Texas, and then well, he showed he has some serious tailgating skills from what I hear on the street.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: SOME OF THE QUOTES IN THIS ARTICLE ARE FICTITIOUS AND NOT FROM UM HEAD COACH AL GOLDEN.

Related articles

FAU: Please Report For Your Beat Down

FAU And UM To Honor Former Coach Schnellenberger Friday

Golden Gets His Game Face On

UM Begins Final Preps For Week 1 Matchup With FAU

Comments

[BEERicane]

One

[BEERicane]

Now that Clemson has topped the Dawgs and after the U dismantles the Turds, the SEC can no longer claim to be the undisputed top conference in CFB. Oh, I almost forgot WKY owning KY.

[SOUP]

READ the article SLOWLY.

[WWIN]

Beer, that's right

[orange 'n green in the vein]

At first I was a little apprehensive about the precedent this article is setting with the tailgating 'quotes.'

Then I realized we live in a world where un-funy has-been, like Dice, impersonations are being passed off as something noteworthy by the athletic department based simply off the fact that his parents conceived in the same place the coach's did and figured, "Hell, this is actually funny compared to that trash."

So I approve this misinformation message in the final analysis!

[Account Deleted]

top 10.....I'll take it!!!

[VA Cane]

Excellent article, pretty much summed up what we all felt....except AG is a first hand expert. 1-0, put it behind as far as criticism...first game we did ok. Now the Big Push starts....lets get ready for the Gators. This is our last shot at them for awhile.

[Old Skool]

Good article Soup

[VA Cane]

Making sense has never been the strength of Ray Lewis’ oration game, but now the retired Baltimore Ravens linebacker is careening past motivational nonsense and into the realm of the conspiracy theory.

Remember when the lights went out during Super Bowl XLVII? Lewis says that was no accident.

"I'm not gonna accuse nobody of nothing — because I don't know facts," Lewis says on an upcoming installment of NFL Films’ "America’s Game" series. "But you're a zillion-dollar company, and your lights go out? No. (Laughs) No way.

Conspiracy theory? Maybe RL was flashing back to the SB in ATL.....OUCH!!!!!

[WWIN]

Zilla,

Where in da hell wuz yo black socks at????? No wonder we didn't play good

[WWIN]

Bridgewater better be glad he didn't get to play for RS!!! I still have MUCH LOVE for Randy tho, no disrespect to him

[Mountain Cane]

Ray communicated in a metaphysical manner, which is probably why Flacco didn't understand. I'm pretty sure with the intensity delivered, Flacco got the general drift.

Btw, the spell check tries to change Flacco to flaccid, which tells us something, I'm just not sure what.

[SOUP]

So I approve this misinformation message in the final analysis!

Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | September 01, 2013 at 06:14 PM

DID U NOTE THE LEGAL DISCLAIMER AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE?

[SOUP]

Good article Soup

Posted by: Old Skool | September 01, 2013 at 06:20 PM

Finnaly, a sense of approval?

[SOUP]

Did anyone note NativeCane's shirt in the photo with Sun Life in the back?

[dj moonbat]

"I'm not gonna accuse nobody of nothing — because I don't know facts,"

Posted by: VA Cane | September 01, 2013 at 06:20 PM

...and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that if you don't tell anybody the facts, they can't pin anything on you.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Great article Soup. Friday was a blast looking forward to Saturday. Go Canes.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Finnaly, a sense of approval?

Posted by: SOUP | September 01, 2013 at 07:13 PM

Badges? You don't need no stinkin' badges!

Go 'canes!

[BigWindyCane1]

Great article. Great pics!

[antcane]

Canes vs Convicts.

[UpNorthCane27]

Tsully you ready for saturday my dude? Soup we gonna get it poppin , UMike lets get it army fatigue shorts and hat

[SOUP]

This guy is GOOD:

Matt Edwards came to FAU from Miami University-Ohio where he served as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. After 10 years, Edwards will be reuniting with another former Red Hawks' defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis, who also served as defensive coordinator during Edwards' first year with the team.

"I'm blessed with the addition of Matt Edwards," said Pelini. "He has extensive experience as a defensive line coach and as a special teams coordinator, but more importantly, he is a good person who genuinely cares about his players."

Edwards began coaching in 2003 as the linebackers coach at the College of Wooster. He then spent eight seasons working at Kent State starting out as a graduate assistant and was eventually named defensive line coach. During his career with the Golden Flashes, Edwards coached numerous players who received MAC honors, including Roosevelt Nix, MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, and Danny Muir, former starter for the Indianapolis Colts.

In 2011, Edwards returned to his alma mater and coached the Miami Red Hawks' defensive ends before taking on the responsibility as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.

[Ohio_Cane]

Nice article. Lol @ Golden showing the tailgate crew some love! ;-)

[4-Real]

Even tho I ain't met nunna yall face 2 face I care 4 all yall, even Sarasota !!! After I refinance my crib I WILL b down in the 305, from the 205, by way of the 313!!! Tsully, gotta get @ u dude considering its just a hop, skip & a jump to da Gump!!!

[JCane]

Just gonna throw out the reminder to all of the Orange and Green coming to see the U take on FU this weekend, leave the orange at home! This is a weekend made for our GREEN clothes with just a bit of orange showing! Gotta make it clear what side we're on. I already hate seeing @ 1/3 of the crowd being pro 'turds at our home stadium.

Really looking forward to seeing where the team is truly at after the weekend scrimmage. Hopefully the schemes were completely vanilla and close to the vest, as one would expect, as it wasn't truly thrilling to see more bubble screens, etc. Some sloppiness in the opener is to be expected. Keep throwing it to Coley til he gets comfortable. Hope Scott's injury isn't as bad as I think it is.

How'd anyone like to be at Oregon State (sorry to Grimble) this past weekend, or worse, USF?

[orange 'n green in the vein]

The best thing about this article is DeeCane's grin being just slightly larger than inflatable #00 standing behind him. He apparently loved him some tailgating.

Second best thing, the clutch of not one, not two, but THREE beverages Terrance is controlling with one had in that picture of him with Old Skool, NC, and DC. That man required some hydration pregame apparently! Plus the red-bridge sighting is funny too since it's a callback to last week's blobbing.

[canezilla]

LOL WILLIE , NO BLACK SOCKS WITH SANDALS.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Posted by: 4-Real | September 01, 2013 at 09:07 PM

Even Sarasota??? I resemble that remark!!

Go 'canes!!

[LA3]

Great story! Had solid laugh....right up there with Canezilla telling troll to take Otown exit for tickets last week. Going to be short week.... See ya all Friday or Saturday!

[4-Real]

I'll get back at u Sarasota, as soon as I find out what resemble means...lol

[Ftmcane]

Watched the game again. Kamalu looked nice, Muhammad is fast and strong and figs hits hard, he's gonna be jacked with another year of weights.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Sounds good 4-Real. Lol OGV. Sounds good UpNorthCane.

[Canesfan _1]

Come on guys. Get with the program.

Saturday is a WHITEOUT.

White shirts only!

[SOUP]

White shirts only!

Posted by: Canesfan _1 | September 01, 2013 at 10:08 PM

This is true!

[BigWindyCane1]

Al Golden will be one of the better coaches that the Canes have ever had. I am going out on a limb on this one.

[WWIN]

Soup,

Not enuff "again"'s in the article for me lol

[WWIN]

Zilla,

When can we get da black socks out?????

[UpNorthCane27]

Dammit i wanted to rock my black the U invented swag shirt with y camp shorts!!!'

Guess ill bring a white short along also.

[SOUP]

UPNorth...do not worry, I have a WHITE shirt for U.

[Canesfan _1]

This white shirt thing is important, we don't want the TV cameras to confuse us with gaytors plus it will look great as long as the word gets out

Also, white will be cooler on a blazing hot day.

[Canesteeler]

Good article soup.

[The Dude]

This could honestly be the best blog article yet. Keep up the good work.

[JCane]

Sorry for my screwup. I went old-fashioned (green vs. turds) and should have checked before typing. White it is. However, there is nothing confusing about green being Canes vs. FU. :)

[JCane]

To include the whiteout link:

http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=28700&ATCLID=209248371

[j.w.]

Hoping soccer this week works out as well as softball last week and I'm home from 9-1 to watch this classic beatdown. Miami 27 FU 10

[j.w.]

I got my picks for LOF in last week, but forgot the coach- If its not too late, I'll go with Barrow.

[CalgaryCane]

Like the flea flicker and reverse plays...they take advantage of the opponents cueing in on Duke! I hope we have a strong back that can get the tough short runs against stout defences...ie. Mike James replacement. Barring that, our online needs to be capable of opening up the running lanes.

[hassan]

Where is the Source?

This week he should be dropping knowledge.

[Old Skool]

Second best thing, the clutch of not one, not two, but THREE beverages Terrance is controlling with one had in that picture of him with Old Skool, NC, and DC.

Yeah OGV, Terrance is cool. He's like tailgating 2.0. I've never seen anyone handle three beverages at once and smoke a stogie at the same time.

[hassan]

Souljaboy Tell'em

the stadium music is going to be rocking this weekend