Much Ado About Nothing

Recently there have been many rumors and much specualtion about soccer mega-star turned business mogul David Beckham and his desire to build a new multi-use stadium for his new and fledgling soccer team in Miami.

The rumors and specualtion center on the crazy idea being floated around by some that the stadium would also serve as a potential home to the University of Miami Hurricanes football team.

The soccer stadium, for which Beckham has yet to find an acceptable site to build on, would tranform from it's original 25,000 seat configuration into a 40,000 seat venue that theoretically at least would also be able to host football games.

The way some people are spinning it is that the Hurricanes, who still have over a decade left on their long-term lease at Sun Life Stadium, would somehow drop several million dollars in cash (that they don't have) to buy out of their lease at Sun Life and move into a cozy little 40,000 seat stadium possibly near the Port of Miami.

Surprisingly, even reputable sports writers have reported on these unfolding events as though they were legitimate stories worthy of coverage and the paper and ink they are written on or with. They apparently have tried to lend creedance to this possibility as though it had legitimate legs to stand on.

I can summarize my view of these rumors in one word: nonsense.

Taking the 14 teams in the ACC, including recent additions in Syracuse and Pittsburgh, the total capacity of ACC stadiums on any given Saturday is 766,841.

Divided by 14 teams that comes to an average size of 54,774 seats per stadium. And Miami is going to play in a 40,000 seat stadium? Yeah, so that's not going to happen!

The only teams that play in stadiums that have 40,000 seats or less are Wake Forest and Duke, while teams like FSU and Clemson play in stadiums that can hold over 80,000 screaming fans.

To address these rumors, here are the facts:

1. UM does not have the money to buy out of its lease at Sun Life. Period.
2. UM would never leave 75,000 seat Sun Life for a 40,000 seat stadium built anywhere.
3. UM has not complained about or expressed any desire to leave Sun Life Stadium, home to five NFL Super Bowls (1989, '95, '99, 2007, 2010) four BCS National Championship games (2001, '05, '09, '13) and a facility that is scheduled for major renovations to continue to attract major events like these.
4. The site at the Port of Miami is very likely never going to happen, is not significantly closer to the UM campus and is a terrible location for traffic and access from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
5. Not one of the articles written about this supposed "interest" by UM contains an official public quote from UM president Donna Shalala, UM AD Blake James or UM head coach Al Golden about their desire to change stadiums or play in a limited 40,000 seat venue.

So stop with the nonsense, stop the presses and stop spreading false rumors and speculation about this story. Because, in fact, there is not story here at all.

Sun Life Stadium is and will be the home of your Miami Hurricanes for many more years to come. And speaking for myself I am just perfectly fine and happy with that.

Now everyone move along, there's nothing to see here.

No seriously, move along, nothing to see here, move along...

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Beckham Backer Wants New Stadium On The Water

Beckham soccer stadium approval could go to Miami voters

PolitiFact: Will soccer stadium threaten existing PortMiami jobs?

Comments

[CaneRock]

98 is the new FIRST! JEROME BROWN! WHAT?!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Soup fantastic article for which I agree with 1000 percent. Go Canes!

[VA Cane]

3 The Great Intimidator Dale Earnhardt!!!!!

[Go Canes]

FRIDAY BUZZ COLUMN

Ballyhooed Hurricanes commitment Brad Kaaya graduates Chaminade High in Hollywood Hills, Calif., on Friday, and by the end of the weekend, he will be on UM’s campus, ready to enroll in classes and begin challenging Kevin Olsen for the quarterback job at the school that pursued him long before his stock skyrocketed as a prospect.

Whether Kaaya (or fellow incoming quarterback Malik Rosier) can mount a serious challenge against Olsen will be one of the fascinating stories to unfold over the next four months at UM.

This UM staff loves Kaaya and believes he’s further ahead that Stephen Morris was at the same age. They like his size (6-4), arm, intelligence, work ethic and desire and willingness to study film on his own.

“He’s way different than the [typical] teenager,” Chaminade coach Ed Croson told me. “He’s very mature, very intelligent. He’s a 4.0 student, took seven classes in one of the [top college prep schools in Los Angeles]. There are a lot of temptations and distractions that don’t affect him. He watches practice film at night. He’s way ahead of the normal curve.”

Offensive coordinator James Coley pursued Kaaya long before UCLA and Southern California did, and Kaaya was loyal to Coley and the Hurricanes when those schools started calling him.

UM likes Olsen, too, obviously, but his primary recruiter initially was former Hurricanes offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, who moved on to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As for Kaaya, “he has three things that are ahead of his age group,” Croson said. “He’s ahead of kids his age when it comes to throwing mechanics, to reading coverages and to poise. There are a lot of moving parts to our offense. You have to read the safety like receivers do.

“He can throw deep passes, outs, comebacks, has great velocity. Good arm strength. Can throw the ball 70 yards. He throws well on the run, though he’s not super mobile like Drew Brees.”

Croson also coached Erik Kramer, who threw 92 touchdowns and 79 interceptions in a 10-year NFL career. How did they compare at the same age? “Kramer had the poise at that age, like Brad, but not the mechanics.”

Kaaya was 23-3 as a starter and threw for 27 touchdowns and a school-record 3855 yards last season. His rankings, out of high school, were slightly better than Olsen’s, for whatever that’s worth.

Rivals.com rated Olsen the nation’s 12th-best quarterback and 200th-best prospect overall in the 2013 class. Kaaya was tabbed the 8th-best quarterback and 189th overall by Rivals for the 2014 class.

Olsen, who took over as the starter late in the spring following Ryan Williams’ knee injury, has left the door open for Kaaya and Rosier by struggling in the spring game (7 for 21 accuracy).

Rosier, who also arrives this weekend, also was told he will get snaps with the first team (like Olsen and Kaaya) and will be given a chance to win the job. Unlike Kaaya, Rosier set protections at the line of scrimmage in high school.

Rosier, out of Mobile, was rated by rivals.com as the 22nd-best dual-threat quarterback and could give opponents something extra to prepare for if Coley deploys him a few times a game in read-option situations as a freshman.

But Rosier, at 6-1, is shorter than Kaaya and more of a dual-threat quarterback than the prototypical pro-style passer. Kaaya is viewed as Olsen’s most serious competition, more so than current backup Gray Crow, who doesn’t project as a starter.

Olsen remains the favorite, but if he struggles and Kaaya or Rosier is exceptional this summer, Coley has said UM won’t hesitate to play a natural freshman.

UM coach Al Golden said he hopes Williams can return at some point in September, but UM won’t know for sure for awhile, and the Hurricanes aren’t counting on him necessarily coming to the rescue.

“Nobody wants to play with a true freshman,” Croson said. “But if you have to, Brad is the guy to do it. You’ve got him!”

### UM, earlier this spring, sent assistant coach Brennan Carroll to California to do due diligence on Max Wittek, rivals.com No. 3 quarterback in the 2011 recruiting class who is transferring from USC and planned to go to Texas before reports surfaced this week that Texas has “backed away” from offering a scholarship for off-field reasons that have not been publicly disclosed.

Carroll met with Wittek’s high school coach at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, and the coach passed on Carroll’s number to Wittek’s father. UM certainly cannot be ruled out until Wittek signs somewhere.

But Miami, to this point, hasn’t been reported among schools Wittek is strongly considering, among the limited number of media outlets who have spoken to the family. Wittek always has indicated a preference for Texas, with Louisville, Hawaii and Pittsburgh among other schools mentioned.

And UM, while not addressing Wittek specifically, has indicated if feels no great urgency to add another quarterback for this season because it has four healthy quarterbacks on scholarship and a fifth when Williams returns.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2014/05/kaaya-ready-for-battle-with-olsen-um-dolphins-heat-chatter.html#storylink=cpy

[86Cane]

much ado about nothing
Cliché a furor over something unimportant.
"All this arguing is much ado about nothing."

much ado about nothing
a lot of trouble and excitement about something which is not important.

Usage notes: Much Ado about Nothing is the title of a famous play by Shakespeare.

[CaneRock]

You gotta admit though SOUP, that stadium does look nice. But it ain't nothin' like 27th Ave after a big UM or Dolphin game. I remember when the Dolphins beat the Bills and Doug Flutie, 27th Ave was BANANAS!

[86Cane]

"Kaaya is viewed as Olsen’s most serious competition, more so than current backup Gray Crow, who doesn’t project as a starter."

#GrayCrow

#CrowToJonesFor6

#DejaVu

[86Cane]

The ONLY reason that I can see for the serious sports reporters to spread this rumor is IF behind the scenes UM wants them to so that they can use it as leverage to encourage the Dolphins owner to speed up the planned upgrades to the stadium. Other than that it is pure HOGWASH.

[VA Cane]

Well written as usual. I think your points are all valid. I always hoped the OB would have been renovated and kept alive. There was something magical about it, but time marches on. Not a FL Marlins fan at all, but that is a nice stadium. Wish it was ours but hey thats life. SL is a fine venue. I do not know how long it takes for you guys to get these but it is nice.

The age old problem is this: getting Hurricane fans out to the games. Yes FSU and big names make it, it looks awful when it is not well attended. I do my part. If they play Wake, Duke, VT, UVA, NC or NCSU I go. Not easy and not always happy with the outcome, but I go.

Its like seeing the Stones 30 times since 72; you go no matter what!!!!!!

[86Cane]

Curious Bear:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/curious-black-bear-chews-hunters-rifle-video/

[hassan]

all my post are being ate

[UMike]

86... I think it is more that a rumor. UM has not come out and denied it or reassured Sun Life.

[hassan]

Teddy Bridgewater has lost his mind. He and someone named "David Rothrock" are suing Blake Bortles, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL, and UCF. The plaintiffs are seeking a restraining order preventing Bortles from playing any games for the Jaguars, and the NFL from televising any games Bortles plays in. The handwritten complaint is rather short, but quite entertaining. I quote:

"because Defendant Blake Bortles has been using stroids during his entire career at Central Florida University and we have the evidence. Plaintiff David Rothrock has been Blake Bortles steroid/HGH drug dealer and has been supplying Bortles with steroids for many years. Rothrock was approached by FBI agents to cooperate against Blake Bortles for using steroids and Blake Bortles found out and threatened Rothrocks life, Bortles said he is going to frame Rothrock for rape and he did, now Rothrock is serving an illegally 8-20 year. Blake Bortles is also HIV positive and if he plays football in the NFL he can affect other players and the NFL is hiding this. Also Bortles said he is going to use his NFL signing bonus to hire Philly and Pittsburgh blacks to silence David Rothrock after they confiscate his commisary and shove broomsticks up his anal area and make him perform oral sex on the SCI-Benner transvestites. Poor David Rothrock is mentally ill and even if he has performed fellatio and blown the transvestites he will stay quite because he known no better, he thinks its part of D.O.C. policy."

wow

[VA Cane]

This UM staff loves Kaaya and believes he’s further ahead that Stephen Morris was at the same age.

I like what I hear about this kid as well as Rosier. He may be the spark. Good size, smart, very developed it appears. This is a good QB who could be great.
The rub: how long has it been since UM developed a QB? Damn long time. I do not know if AG or anybody else on this staff is capable of developing a QB. I really worry. This can be frustrating to a player, to go somewhere and not have the coaches capable of teaching.

I never felt that J12 or Morris ever were developed as QBs. J12 was a HS QB. A nice kid, but not blessed with the abilities and talent to play CFB at a high level. He really was not developed any further. Morris had more physical ability, but never was an impressive QB either. He was not developed. Honestly, we did this a few weeks back. You cannot name a really good QB who jumps out at you from UM; KD11 was the last one, and he never fared well after UM.

Last really good QBs that "made it" from UM? Jim Kelly for sure, our best HOF. Vinnie T. pretty good one. Bernie was good. I have not been impressed by anybody since Dorsey. Thats a long time. I am interested in the new kids. I hope Olsen will come around, but I really do not know. Kaaya is impressive as to the kind of QB we MUST develop; Rosier is also very interesting.

I play the guy who can get mew wins!!!!!

[86Cane]

86... I think it is more that a rumor. UM has not come out and denied it or reassured Sun Life.

Posted by: UMike | May 16, 2014 at 11:40 AM

U are entitled to think what U like. Never gonna happen. But maybe this will give U something else to "worry" about? LOL

[UMike]

86.. Im not worried at all.. dont care where we play. I dont think it will happen neither, but just saying I think its more than just a rumor.

[hassan]

who is deleting my post?

This says a lot. Says his improvement was due to learning technique that he did not learn in college......

By the way he made a huge jump from Rookie to Soph year with the Phins.

http://wqam.com/2014/05/16/olivier-vernon/

[86Cane]

UMike...I liked U better when you worried a lot. LOL

[86Cane]

Hassy...nobody is deleting your posts. TypePad is eating them. UMike or Ohio can U fix this?

[hassan]

I think Ohio is deleting them hehe

[Ohio_Cane]

Ha! I've been at lunch until just now. I have ppl to back my whereabouts!

[Ohio_Cane]

Fixing typepad is like fixing an igloo in Hawaii. U are fighting a losing battle, and eventually, U are gonna lose.

[Ohio_Cane]

Judging by the spam filter, Typepad has eaten a lot lately. I posted what I could, rest are deleted.

[Lurker]

Lurker...to me that seems like a "worst case scenario" but yes I guess it COULD happen. If it does most UM fans, including me, would want him out. Ticket sales will tank, crowds would decline significantly, recruiting would suffer.

The REAL question is will the UM admin want the same thing? Hard to say, very hard to say.

Posted by: 86Cane | May 16, 2014 at 10:16 AM

I don't believe the admin will fire him in that scenario. The school will be hemorrhaging money from drastically reduced ticket sales, club memberships, donations, merchandise sales, etc.

The money will force their hand whether they want to let him go or not. Not everybody at the school loves him, considering a couple of stunts he's pulled. But in any case, as they: money talks, bulls**t walks.

[Lurker]

Above should read: I DO believe the admin will fire him in that scenario.

[86Cane]

Lurker...I knew what U meant either way.

I guess best case/worst case scenarios are both to be considered. In my experience somewhere in between is what usually happens.

Time will tell, but I will continue to be supportive as long as it is still possible to do so. I am a long way from reaching that threshold unlike some others around here who claim to have already reached that point (IMHO prematurely).

Although I have to admit the bowl game last year raised some serious doubts for me for the first time. We have gotta get that bad taste out of our mouths and SOON!

[UMike]

From Ariz... He also says this guy is "pro-miami"...

Catching up with Flanagan OC Tyrell Conyers

I had a chance to speak with recently hired Flanagan offensive coordinator Tyrell Conyers, who also goes by “Coach T.Y.” in the South Florida community. Conyers was formerly the offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Miramar and worked with the likes of Ryan Williams, Ivan McCartney, Stedman Bailey, and Malcolm Lewis before heading up north for one year and coaching wide receivers at Tallahassee Lincoln last season. Conyers is finishing up the school year up in Tallahassee now before he will head back home to South Florida.

Q: How does it feel to be back home and how did the opportunity to coach at Flanagan arise?
TY: It’s a great feeling to be coming back home. It’s funny because Devin Bush (Flanagan Head Coach) is practically family to me. He is a little older than me, but we grew up together. It’s a good fit to be around family again and he had been trying to get my to Flanagan since last year, but I had already accepted the job up here in Tallahassee Lincoln. The opportunity came up again this year and I had to join his program.

Q: What did you learn from your experience up in Tallahassee?
TY: I appreciate everything that Coach Yusuf Shakir (Lincoln Head Coach) and some of the other guys up there did for me. It wasn’t just about the football aspect, but growing as a man as a whole. I feel like I grew as a person and I was able to learn different coaching styles. It got me back to doing what I love to do. I love the kids that are up here because they work hard, but I got the opportunity to do what I love back home, which is call plays. Up here I was just the wide receivers coach.

Q: A lot of people think Flanagan is a program set to take that next step. What is it going to be like coaching at an uprising program?
TY: Coach Bush is doing a great job. I believe this is his 5th year there now. He started on the defensive side of the ball and this is his second year as a young head coach. You have to like the direction he is taking the program in and he felt that I could come in and help with my experience since I helped build Miramar.

Q: How much do you know about your new quarterback Ryan Stanley?
TY: It’s funny because Devin used to coach at Pasadena optimist and I would go out there to watch his kids because he would tell me to see what they had. I always wanted Ryan since when I was back at Miramar.

Q: You have always been a spread offense guy. What type of flexibility will Ryan give you?
TY: I’m just going to come in and try to do what fits Ryan the best and put out the best scheme to move the ball. He can run the ball and also make every throw as a quarterback. The kid can play the position. I remember his sophomore year when I was still at Miramar, he threw the ball 40-something times against us and completed half of his passes and I was like ‘boy, this is the kid I wanted’ and I was glad to see him doing well. I wish more big-time colleges would pay attention to him because schools that don’t take this kid will really be hurting.

Q: Talk about some of the weapons you guys have around Stanley.
TY: You’ve got the UM commit Emonee Spence, who is a great kid. I have worked Emonee out before over the summer maybe last year and we were doing some drills together. He is a big-time playmaker. We also have Robert Foy, Keavon Mitchell, and Walter Jackson. Those are the four guys that can play D-1 ball off the top of my head. I’m looking forward to working with them and helping them improve. We also have Bradley Martin, a tight end who blocks real well and can catch the ball as well. There are also a couple receivers who are about 6-3 and I am ready to check them out as well.

Q: You have had the opportunity to coach the likes of Stedman Bailey, Ivan McCartney, Malcolm Lewis, and others at the wide receiver position throughout your career. What puts Spence in the same category as those guys?
TY: Emonee is a big-time player. You want to get the ball to him in crucial situations. He just needs to continue to work on the little things to better himself. It might be releases, running routes, or reading defenses. We just need to work on the fundamentals to take his game to the next level because the kid has big-time potential for the next level.

Q: Who are some names that maybe aren’t getting as much attention that we should be keeping an eye on?
TY: I haven’t gotten to meet all the kids just yet, but Stanford Samuels III (2017) is the back-up quarterback and he just got his first offer from Temple. There is a linebacker who wears #10 and plays with Devin’s son that I really like. The secondary has a kid named Devin Gil (2016) who has great size and runs well. We have a pretty good team right now who you could look at and say has a chance to be great by December.

http://www.canesinsight.com/threads/75526-Catching-up-with-Flanagan-OC-Tyrell-Conyers

[UMike]

^^^ Should be also noted that Flanagans head coach is a Nole lol

[CaneRock]

Testing?

[Lurker]

Posted by: 86Cane | May 16, 2014 at 12:57 PM

I agree. I have my doubts also, but just keeping my fingers cross that Golden figures it out. No matter what happens, I'll support the young men in any case, whatever the record. I'm a fan of the school and the team, not necessarily the coaches. The coaches are hired hands instructed to do a job, like any other employee. They do not become true canes, imo, until they've been there long enough, and have accomplished something. In the case of RS, he was a true cane that wasn't ready to be a head coach, and had to be let go.

[CaneRock]

UMike...Stanford Samuels III will be a STUD! in 2017. My boys played flag football with em' back in the day.

[86Cane]

1. They do not become true canes, imo, until they've been there long enough, and have accomplished something.

2. In the case of RS, he was a true cane that wasn't ready to be a head coach, and had to be let go.

Posted by: Lurker | May 16, 2014 at 01:18 PM

I agree X 2.

[CaneRock]

But recruiting wise, look where we swung and missed last year...DB. Seriously, Paul Williams ain't got no 305 in em'...sup with that dude?

[Ohio_Cane]

Ryan Bartow ‏@RyanBartow 58s

BREAKING: QB Daniel Parr commits to #FAU. Cancels #Miami visit, opts for the Owls. http://247sports.com/Player/Daniel-Parr-34542 … @LukeStampini @jcshurburtt

He clearly didn't have a committable offer and after Lawson committed, the writing was on the wall for him.

[UMike]

FAU is racking up some talent over there. IDK about "clearly" not having a committable offer though lol

[NativeCane]

Well written as usual. I think your points are all valid. I always hoped the OB would have been renovated and kept alive. There was something magical about it, but time marches on. Not a FL Marlins fan at all, but that is a nice stadium. Wish it was ours but hey thats life. SL is a fine venue. I do not know how long it takes for you guys to get these but it is nice.The age old problem is this: getting Hurricane fans out to the games. Yes FSU and big names make it, it looks awful when it is not well attended. I do my part. If they play Wake, Duke, VT, UVA, NC or NCSU I go. Not easy and not always happy with the outcome, but I go.Its like seeing the Stones 30 times since 72; you go no matter what!!!!!!Posted by: VA Cane | May 16, 2014 at 11:24 AM

VAC! I had a dream once that I was hired to Sandblast and Paint the Orange Bowl (Got rust call us) That would have been a huge undertaking to control the corrosion in that place! LOL
Also have seen the Stones many times including running away from home at 15 to see them in Nawlins Superdome!

Dem Canes!!!

[UMike]

The first time I ever went to the Orange Bowl I was in 6th grade and it was for the "Pig Bowl" were cops play lol... I was in this special class for kids who were one step away from "alternative" school, and we went on a field trip to it. Was in 92 I think.

[TJL]

He has an offer from Yale per the website. U go into a job interview with YALE on your resume and the next guy has FAU...I wonder who they will hire???

[UMike]

I was ti busy trying to make-out with this cute Spanish chick to notice the stadium lol... Never thought I would fall in love with the place later in life.

[CaneRock]

UMike, did you almost go to "The Mac"? LMAO! I

[NativeCane]

UMike I guess that got U straightened out at the Pig Bowl and now youre a productive member of society! LOL

[CaneRock]

TJL...yeah, especially if He had a full ride to Yale. From what I've heard, they don't hand out that many full rides.

[Lurker]

He has an offer from Yale per the website. U go into a job interview with YALE on your resume and the next guy has FAU...I wonder who they will hire???

Posted by: TJL | May 16, 2014 at 01:56 PM

If that was my kid, I'd kick his ass all the way up to Yale. I seriously doubt he has an "offer" from Yale...mainly because they don't offer football scholarships

[86Cane]

BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN
[email protected]
Less than two months after Miami Hurricanes infielder David Thompson had surgery to remove a rib and repair a situation that caused a blood clot in his right arm, the former Miami Westminster Christian star is back in the UM lineup.

Thompson, who had six-hour surgery March 24 to address his physical ailments caused by venous thoracic outlet syndrome, was in the lineup to start at first base and hit eighth Thursday night at home against North Carolina — until the game was postponed because of torrential rain.

That game was rescheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, followed by the regularly scheduled 7:30 p.m. game at Alex Rodriguez Park.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/16/4120968/miami-hurricanes-infielder-david.html#storylink=cpy

[CaneRock]

Ohio_Cane, I don't even think Parr had an actual offer from us. Hell, He doesn't even look like FAU material.

[UMike]

UMike I guess that got U straightened out at the Pig Bowl and now youre a productive member of society! LOL

Posted by: NativeCane | May 16, 2014 at 02:03 PM

Well it took me a few more years.. but I eventually got there lol

CR.. I think it was "JAN MAN".. am I saying that right? All I know is we were the worst in the school... but yet our teacher was the best and she effected our lives for sure. Was a blessing to be in that class. Half that class went on to be exactly what the world thought they would be and the other half eventually changed. But Mrs. Davis sure did love us all... need more teachers like that.

[86Cane]

Football Foundation ‏@NFFNetwork 1h

@MiamiHurricanes Jerome Brown, Ray Lewis & @WarrenSapp on 2014 @cfbhall ballot. Live reveal May 22 on our website. pic.twitter.com/E3HKAnVm4l

[86Cane]

Ohio_Cane, I don't even think Parr had an actual offer from us. Hell, He doesn't even look like FAU material.

Posted by: CaneRock | May 16, 2014 at 02:15 PM

He knew he couldn't compete with Miami's BEST QB: Gray Crow!

[CaneRock]

UMike, NO DOUBT! My favorite teacher was a lady named Mrs.Sax at MC. That lady TRULY! cared about Her students.

[CaneRock]

And I've heard of Jan Mann, but I remember the "The Mac"...AKA McArthur. They used to talk about that place like it was Siberia. I was several referrals from going there, I straightened my butt out QUICK! LMAO!