Raymond James Stadium sure has seen more than its fair share of losing by the home teams during the 2013 football season. So far the local boys are 0-5 at home in the oppressive heat of the Florida Summer.
The "Ray-Jay" as most locals call it, is a stadium that primarily serves as a the home field for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers. The Bucs have started this season 0-4 and 0-2 at home while the University of South Florida Bulls are 0-4 on the current campaign and 0-3 at home.
That can't be very much fun for the hometown fans, now can it?
Starting QB Josh Freeman got benched for rookie Sean Glennon (from NCST) by former UM defensive secondary coach and current Bucs head coach Greg Schiano. Word on the street in Tampa is that Freeman may allegedly be suffering from a severe case of scurvy that is going around in the 813.
It appears to many observers and the local media that Schiano may be struggling to keep his team on track while he adjusts to the NFL game after leaving a successful stint as head coach at Rutgers. He has Dave Wannstedt and Butch Davis to back him up but the team has not yet responded to his leadership and some may have even jumped ship.
Much like the Miami Hurricanes share Sun Life Stadium with the NFL's Miami Dolphins, the USF Bulls share Raymond James Stadium with the Bucs. The stadium is nice enough and has good access and parking. We always enjoy our time there having made our third trip to Tampa for the USF game this year.
But the Ray-Jay stadium is completely different from the 305. To be honest, I like Sun Life much better for tailgating, watching a game and the general atmosphere. It was even as if Darth Vader showed up in Tampa because he had to, but would much rather be back in the 305 just chillin'.
The game last Saturday was a vivid display of absolute contrasts. It showed a game between two teams that are certainly headed in two very different directions, and fast.
Clearly, Miami under Al Golden is ascending up through the college football hierarchy while USF under first year head coach Willie Taggart is definitely descending into the bottom third of major college football programs.
Now before you read too much into that last sentence we realize the Taggart is a good coach who inherited a bad team left behind by the bumbling, stumbling Skip Holtz. Rule number one for Athletic Directors around the Country is never hire a coach named Skip. Trust me, it never turns out good.
So far in 2013 the previously porous UM defense (think swiss cheese) looks like a completely new animal under much criticized coordinator Mark D'Onofrio. The man who was recently called "D'No" apparently has completed a complete transformation into a new coach called "D'So".
How that happened we do not know but we do not care. Coach D'Onofrio has the current UM defense playing lights out and we can only hope it continues as ACC play starts against Georgia Tech this Saturday. Shutting down the Jackets offense should be easy enough for D'So's aggressive defense.
With that the Hurricanes will be 5-0 and ready to go as the conference schedule heats up even as the weather hopefully cools down. We have heard from reliable sources that FSU is scared.Very scared.
Could that even possibly be true? Yeah, we think so!
Yeah you're probably right. Running into Drew Bree's when he's hitting on all cylinders didn't help either!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | October 01, 2013 at 07:09 AM
The Saints are just a really good team and the Fins are still growing and improving. Still got plenty of football left.
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 07:10 AM
Running into Drew Bree's when he's hitting on all cylinders didn't help either!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | October 01, 2013 at 07:09 AM
On this we agree 100%.
But why U wouldn't spy a CB or safety on Sproles is beyond me.
Posted by: SOUP | October 01, 2013 at 07:42 AM
There goes SOUP again..hasnt learned lol
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 07:49 AM
Hush yo mouf!
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 08:50 AM
Good comment from CIS..
Brandon "Playmaker" Powell
Easily, my favorite recruit this year..Every week , he is tearing **** up.. This kid is so versatile.. He is electric! This kid is truly a game breaker..
Highlights from his game this week.. Vs Coral Springs.. It is my understanding that he had 21 Carries -200 yards with 3 TD's.
I dont know if im being biased, but Powell is arguably the best playmaker in the State of Florida.. Kid scores any where from the field,, Running .,Receiving, Punt return and even on Defense.. I know DMoney was high on this kid.. Good eye !!
"Recent Videos"
http://sfhighschoolsports.com/videos/
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 09:04 AM
Government shut down.....this government....all of them are morons who know nothing about freedom, governing, jobs, and reality. From WH down each and every one of them are incompetent and unqualified to be there. They are idiots who are ruining this once proud nation that has slipped into mediocrity. Glad our team got rid of the so called leaders Coker, Onion, Holcutt who were not qualified to lead either.....Hell AG for PRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | October 01, 2013 at 09:36 AM
The Saints are just a really good team and the Fins are still growing and improving. Still got plenty of football left.
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 07:10 AM
Didn't the Saints barely beat a 0-4 Tampa Bay team.....I would call the Saints a good team, not a really good team.
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2013 at 09:37 AM
I still think the Dolphins DB's are very suspect out there and I don't know why Dolphins moved up to the third pick to get Dion Jordan. These moves that the Phins make, makes me scratch my head.
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2013 at 09:44 AM
Government shut down.....this government....all of them are morons who know nothing about freedom, governing, jobs, and reality. From WH down each and every one of them are incompetent and unqualified to be there. They are idiots who are ruining this once proud nation that has slipped into mediocrity. Glad our team got rid of the so called leaders Coker, Onion, Holcutt who were not qualified to lead either.....Hell AG for PRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | October 01, 2013 at 09:36 AM
I 110% concur!!!!!
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2013 at 09:47 AM
Guys relax about your dolphins no need to go crazy over them becuase as long as my boy the best to ever do it Tom Brady and BB are in New England yall aint gonna be winning much lol.....
Cant believe my boy Vince Wilfork is done for the year and with an injury like that and with his weight its gonna be tough for him.
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | October 01, 2013 at 09:55 AM
The Saints are just a really good team and the Fins are still growing and improving. Still got plenty of football left.
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 07:10 AM
Didn't the Saints barely beat a 0-4 Tampa Bay team.....I would call the Saints a good team, not a really good team.
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2013 at 09:37 AM
Its the NFl, any team can barely beat a bad team on any given week. They also beat Atlanta and blew out Arizona. Their 4-0, have an elite offense and don't even have their best defensive players on the field yet lol...Im going to stick with my opinion that they are a very good team.
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Vince is heavy but he is in shape. He will bounce back, he has been playing at a ver high level the past couple of years and he has good football in front of him. He will prob be in the NFL for another 3-4 years.
Posted by: Hassan | October 01, 2013 at 10:12 AM
OFF TOPIC: Does anybody else find Facebook to be completely boring and almost obsolete?
I rarely even go there anymore and when I do I always ask myself: "Why?"
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Cause your old? hahaha jk jk
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 10:13 AM
86 im with you man facebook doesnt make sense to me anymore.....
Hassan i hope your right man and i know vince is a beast, i need him on the pats dline...
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | October 01, 2013 at 10:16 AM
I wouldnt be surprised if Marcus forston gets promoted from practice squad to the active roster now.
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | October 01, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Soup I'm with ya. I haven't been on FB in 11 months.
Of course, if I'm ever in the mood for baby pictures or party posing or even inspirational posters with sparkly unicorns. I know where to go
Posted by: Old Skool | October 01, 2013 at 10:27 AM
Cause your old? hahaha jk jk
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 10:13 AM
I am old but that doesn't have anything to do with my opinion on Facebook. Look I run a blog, I have a twitter account, pay all my bills on line, use the computer for PowerPoint presentations for my work and am on the Internet all day long most days.
It is not that I don't like or appreciate technology it is that Facebook has lost its appeal to me. I used to really like it a few years ago before Twitter came around. Heck I even have a MySpace page from WAY back in the day that I haven't seen in 7 years! I think that facebook is going the way of MySpace that's all.
If I were what's his name (Zuckerberg?) I'd be selling ALL of my stock as fast as possible.
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 10:32 AM
Of course, if I'm ever in the mood for baby pictures or party posing or even inspirational posters with sparkly unicorns. I know where to go.
Posted by: Old Skool | October 01, 2013 at 10:27 AM
There IT is right there.
If I have to see one more photo of a cat wearing a sweater or what somebody had for lunch or dinner one day I might explode!
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 10:34 AM
OFF TOPIC: So which State will be the first to seceed from the Union: Texas, Arizona or North Carolina?
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 10:43 AM
Yeah Facebook is the past. Twitter, Instagram, vine are the trend now
Posted by: Brevardcane | October 01, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz 1m
And Saints LB Junior Galette said:"We kept taking advantage of their weak tackles and inside guys.I wish we could play them again...(continued Saints' Galette)...so we could tee off on them again. I don't think that team was as good as everybody was saying."
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 10:47 AM
Facebook has become a lot of people re-posting pictures with words on it lol..Twitter is better since you get information without a lot of the BS
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 10:47 AM
Texas
Posted by: Old Skool | October 01, 2013 at 10:47 AM
Texas has the easiest road to secession and the strongest economy to do it also. If they leave like 1/10 of the U.S. economy goes with it. They should:
1. Implement a flat tax or fair tax.
2. Develop their own health care system.
3. Develop their own education system.
4. Convert the Texas National Guard for their own defense (don't really need one?).
Call it a day.
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Then Texas will immediately become overcrowded and have "immigration" issues lol
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 10:58 AM
UMike...U are correct, people would flock there by the thousands. They would have to secure their borders!
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 11:12 AM
lol... yup.
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 11:13 AM
Virginia may be the first to go. We have beaches, waterways, natural ports, natural gas and coal, farmland, mountains, good roads, good economy, great schools, beautiful women, love of God, state, family, guns, fiscally conservative.....just think...Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe are from VA....the cradle of Democracy and real govt..." as Patrick Henry, another great Virginian said "give me liberty or give me death"!!!.... with this government in DC I really would love to see States Rights come to the front.....don't need the Federal government....let them keep up an army, regulate commerce, food inspection and the basics....get them out of education, housing, energy, The Federal Reserve, health care....handle the basics let the states run their own business without interference!!!!!
the only thing we do not have is a good college football team.....Go Canes!!!!
Posted by: VA Cane | October 01, 2013 at 11:15 AM
VA...I had not thought about Virginia, but yeah, that makes sense too. The question is is it actually doable? Import/export issues? Health Care? Defense?
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 11:17 AM
86 whats the plans for the weekend the usual Duffy's on Friday and Party on Patio on Saturday evening. Looking forward to it man. Go Canes Wreck Tech. I am amending my score for this game to Canes 31 Jackets 17.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | October 01, 2013 at 11:18 AM
OK, back to UM football!
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Terrance...YUP, same plan as always. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. U at the Hampton or the LQ? I'll be at the LQ Friday but at the Hampton on Saturday.
Score: UM 34, GT 20
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 11:21 AM
I don't have a facebook account (wife does) and I could give 2 shyts of what people eat, what they look like when they take a photo of themselves in a mirror, and ruining a nice photo with a pair of legs.
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2013 at 11:25 AM
ruining a nice photo with a pair of legs.
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2013 at 11:25 AM
Depending on the legs!.....LOL
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | October 01, 2013 at 11:26 AM
I am at the Hampton 86 and cool.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | October 01, 2013 at 11:34 AM
"Government shut down.....this government....all of them are morons who know nothing about freedom, governing, jobs, and reality. From WH down each and every one of them are incompetent and unqualified to be there."
That's why I dig the Space. Smart people post here.
Trash the Jackets!
Posted by: LB | October 01, 2013 at 11:49 AM
86 I like that score of 34-20 Canes thats about right. See U Friday. Also it will be good to actually play a meaningful game again lets face it we have played one very good team in Florida, and the Ham and Eggers in FAU, USF, SSU. GT is what I call a pretty good team or above average. your typical 8-5 team. Cant wait got South Florida on my Mind.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | October 01, 2013 at 11:57 AM
I like any score that has the Canes winning lol
Posted by: UMike | October 01, 2013 at 12:00 PM
86 we have natural ports in Richmond on the James River and then you have the cities of Newport News, Norfolk, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Portsmouth all at the Chesapeake. Needless to say it is a huge import export area, along with Richmond and all the areas along the Potomac River. VA Beach area is home to Langley AFB, as well as one of the huge naval base areas in the world. Newport News and Norfolk shipyards construct many of our ships, most of nuc subs. Great economy, tourism, we got it all. You guys do too. Hope our govt gets shit together big time, as it is time to stop playing games and do the peoples will. Love USA....hate giant overbearing Fed Govt. Lets get it smaller, get in the black, stop waste and fraud.....be great not good....JMO
Posted by: VA Cane | October 01, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Do not sleep on the ACC opponents, even though they are probably more flawed than us. The conference continues to be weird.
Undefeated in conference play: Clemson, FSU, Maryland, Syracuse, Va. Tech, and us (though the Canes, Turtles, and Orange have yet to play a game).
This is the biggest weekend for the ACC in a while, as we've got three top ten teams and four undefeateds. An additional three teams have only lost one game. This will change extremely quickly, but make no bets.
Atlantic: Maryland at FSU and Syracuse at Clemson, the first steps in clearing the fog for the Atlantic. Maryland hasn't played anyone, but it's interesting to note that also have allowed the least amount of points in the conference (10.3) per game. Clemson's high ranking is going to be tested starting late October, with back to back games vs. FSU and Maryland.
N.C. State is at Wake (yawn). BC plays Army (double yawn). We play Wake a couple of steps down the road. They stand at 107th in points (18.4) and 53rd in scoring defense (23.8). They are 93rd in passing and 107th in rushing. Shut down their primary receiver (Campanaro) and you've beaten them.
Coastal: Georgia Tech and Pitt have already played three conference games and both achieved a 2-1 record. Pitt's off, and we get the Jackets.
Va. Tech is an interesting case study. They're not very good offensively (99th in passing, 90th in rushing, and 94th in scoring). But they are descent in defense (21st, 15.8 per game). We're not going to know a lot about them until they face us, as their schedule is fairly easy. Don't be shocked if they're ranked.
Duke, despite their ineptitude, has a winning record this far. That probably change immediately. They may make a bowl game again, as they only have to win three more games.
North Carolina actually looks like the worst team in the Coastal, even though they're good at throwing the ball (23rd). I'd say they're a touch undervalued at this point, but not much. They're 112th in rushing, and lost to East Carolina (no joke).
UVA is 2-2, but they've lost to Oregon and Pitt (who some argue is a good team). This is a wait and see team. They don't score well.
Pitt is an okay team. Wait and see if they're a threat. Don't overhype Tom Savage: his 6 TD's were vs. Duke. Stephen Morris could throw for 6 vs. Duke in his sleep.
Georgia Tech is stout on defense and good at running the ball. Shut down the running game and you've got them. Turn the ball over... and it's going to be a tough day.
Kill the Jackets!
Posted by: LB | October 01, 2013 at 12:09 PM
VA..Texas and Florida also have all of what U just highlighted. I would like to see one State actually threaten it but not actually do it to get these idiots in DC attention and fix it once and for all.
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 12:11 PM
LB...good post. Lots of info and facts. Me likey!
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Games which may sway the Canes ranking:
#12 UCLA at Utah, Thursday (interesting).
#4 Ohio State at #16 Northwestern (both undefeated).
#15 Washington at #5 Stanford (also both undefeated).
#6 Georgia at Tennessee (puke).
#25 Maryland at #8 FSU (Ninja Turtles vs. Satan's team).
#10 LSU at Miss. State (boring).
TCU at #11 Oklahoma (even more boring).
Kentucky at #13 South Carolina (Clowney's overrated).
Posted by: LB | October 01, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Thanks, Soup.
The only negative that we can't overcome is the media. UM has some really bad reporters covering them. Too bad Casagrande left.
Viva la Space.
Posted by: LB | October 01, 2013 at 12:16 PM
Touching on Stephen Morris's comments:
USF is full of it. There were multiple times during the game where tacklers were around the ankles. Also, you could tell that Morris was in a foul mood as soon as he came off the field and the rest of the game.
Posted by: LB | October 01, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Those of you who are nervous about Ryan Williams in 2014: I'd relax a little.
Not only will you have an emerging Walford, Dorsett and Scott in their fourth year under Golden, Duke as a junior, Lewis, Waters, Sandland, Crawford, Los Pollos Hermanos, and Coley.
Oh yeah, and Derrick Griffin.
Posted by: LB | October 01, 2013 at 12:25 PM
Update: Walter Tucker is #4 at tailback (hoping not to redshirt). Clements is out.
Scott and Isidora are practicing, but still in red jerseys.
Posted by: LB | October 01, 2013 at 12:28 PM
Who is this Ryan Williams U speak of?
GRAY CROW!!!
Posted by: 86Cane | October 01, 2013 at 12:29 PM