Canespace: August 2014

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Are U Ready For Some Football?

Your Miami Hurricanes finally get into the 2014 college football season action on Monday night at 8 PM against Louisville at Papa John's Stadium.

Here is what you need to know about the teams before the game and where to watch it in your area at a UMAA watch party (open to all Canes fans).

This information is courtesy of www.hurricanesports.com:

GAME INFORMATION – GAME 1

RV/RV MIAMI HURRICANES (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at RV/RV LOUISVILE CARDINALS (0-0, 0-0 ACC)

Monday, Sept. 1, 2014 • 8 p.m. ET • ESPN • Louisville, Ky. • Papa John's Stadium (55,000)

SERIES HISTORY

Miami leads 9-2-1 ... Teams met in 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl, with Louisville coming away with a 36-9 victory in Orlando ... Miami has a 4-1 all-time record at Louisville, but lost last its last visit 31-7 in 2006 ... Miami had won seven in a row against the Cardinals before dropping its last two matchups (2006, 2013).

BROADCAST INFORMATION

ABC • Rece Davis, PxP • David Pollack, Analyst • Jesse Palmer, Analyst • Samantha Ponder Sidelines

WQAM 560 AM • Joe Zagacki, PXP • Don Bailey Jr., Analyst • Josh Darrow, Sideline Reporter

RADIO CARACOL 1260 AM • Pepe Campos, PxP • Joe Martinez, Analyst

WESTWOOD ONE RADIO • Scott Graham • Kelly Stouffer • Jason Horowitz • Aaron Cummins

GAME WATCH PARTIES:

Atlanta

Big Kahuna
303 Peachtree Center Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
All games.

Mazzy's Sports Bar & Grill
7160 Jimmy Carter Blvd.
Norcross, GA 30092
Florida A&M, Nebraska, Duke, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia, and Pittsburgh games.

Tavern at Medlock
3230 Medlock Bridge Road #101
Norcross, GA 30092
Louisville and Arkansas State games.

Austin

BlackFinn Ameripub
11410 Century Oaks Terrace
Austin, TX 78758
All games.

Boston

Lir
903 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 2115
All games.

Broward County

Bull Market
210 SW 2nd Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Louisville, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Virginia games.

Jersey Wings & Raw Bar
12592 Pines Blvd., Suite #104
Pembroke Pines, FL 33027
Louisville, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Virginia games.

Charlotte

Draught
601 S. Cedar Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
All games.

Chicago

Flagship Tavern & Grill
1622 W. Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
All games.

Dallas

Pluckers Wing Bar
5100 Belt Line Road, Suite #520
Addison, TX 75254
All games.

Stan's Blue Note
2908 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75206
All games.

Denver

The Tavern Downtown
1949 Market Street
Denver, CO 80202
All games.

Detroit

Bar Louie Novi
44375 W. 12 Mile Road #152
Novi, MI 48374
Louisville game.

Houston

Mugsy's
2239 Richmond Avenue
Houston, TX 77098
All games.

Jacksonville

World of Beer
9700 Deer Lake Court Unit #1
Jacksonville, FL 32246
Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Virginia games.

Las Vegas

Miller's Henderson Ale House
594 Stephanie Street
Henderson, NV 89104
Florida A&M, Duke, Virginia Tech, and Florida State games.

Miller's Las Vegas Ale House
6683 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Florida A&M, Duke, Virginia Tech, and Florida State games.

Los Angeles

Barney's Beanery
8447 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
All games.

The Happy Ending Bar and Restaurant
7038 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
All games.

Louisville

Buffalo Wild Wings
4600 Shelbyville Road
Louisville, KY 40207
Nebraska, and Florida State games.

Miami

Brother Jimmy's BBQ
5701 Sunset Drive
Miami, FL 33143
Nebraska and Virginia games. Hosted by UM Athletics

Carolina Ale House
8669 NW 36th Street, Suite #120
Doral, FL 33166
Louisville and Georgia Tech games. Hosted by UM Athletics.

Hooters
3301 Coral Way
Miami, FL 33145
Virginia Tech game. Hosted by UM Athletics.

Nashville

Sam's All American Sports Grill
1803 21st Avenue S.
Nashville, TN 37212
Louisville, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, and Florida State games.

New York City

Ainsworth Park
111 E. 18th Street
New York, NY 10003
All games.

Brother Jimmy's BBQ
181 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10016
All games.

Orlando

CaddyShanks Virtual Golf & Sports Pub
4882 New Broad Street
Orlando, FL 32814
Louisville, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, and Virginia games.

Palm Beach County

Duffy's Sports Grill
11588 U.S. 1
North Palm Beach, FL 33408
Louisville, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Virginia games.

Miller's Ale House
1200 Yamato Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Louisville, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Virginia games.

Richmond

On the Rox
119 N. 18th Street
Richmond, VA 23223
Florida A&M, Duke, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, and Virginia games.

San Francisco

Golden Gate Tap Room
525 Sutter Street #2
San Francisco, CA 94108
All games.

Sarasota

Serendipity Racquet Club
3600 Torrey Pines Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34238
All games.

SW Florida

Bokampers Sports Bar
8990 Fontana Del Sol Way
Naples, FL 34109
Louisville, Nebraska, Duke, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia, and Pittsburgh games.

Tampa

Cheval Athletic Club
4142 Cheval Blvd.
Lutz, FL 33558
Florida State game.

Lee Roy Selmon's Restaurant
14457 N. Dale Mabry Highway
Carrollwood, FL 33618
Louisville, Florida A&M, Arkansas State, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, North Carolina, Virginia, and Pittsburgh games.

Soho Saloon
410 S. Howard Avenue
Tampa, FL 33606
Louisville, Florida A&M, Arkansas State, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, North Carolina, Virginia, and Pittsburgh games.

Posted at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (212)

Milo Raises The Bar

When practice ended at West Hills Chaminade on Wednesday, all 6-foot-6, 280-pound of big, bad and beastly offensive tackle Bar Milo gathered his teammates around and announced his college choice.

He's going to be joining the player he protected last season, quarterback Brad Kaaya, at Miami. And, as we all know, a QB can never have enough protection.

Milo credited Kaaya, named Miami's starting quarterback as a freshman, for helping pave the way for him to join the Hurricanes.

Apparently, it seems that success breeds success.

Milo is one of the best offensive linemen in California. He was a key member of last season's CIF state championship Division II bowl team and will play both ways this season.

He is a big, bold and physical offensive lineman that any college team would love to have. Now, we are told that he loves "The U".

Same Time, Same Place, Same Cane Channel

Sandbar Sports Grill (@SandbarGrove), located on 3064 Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove, will once again serve as the location for the always popular Hurricane Hotline on WQAM, which begins on Monday, August 25.

Fans are encouraged to join fourth-year head coach Al Golden, various assistant coaches and players each week during the 2014 football season.

The Hurricane Hotline, hosted by Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey Jr., will air from 7-9 p.m. on WQAM.

This year, most of the Hurricane Hotline shows will occur on Monday nights with exceptions on Sept. 3, Oct. 14, Nov. 25 and Dec. 3. The full schedule of live radio shows is listed below for your listening pleasure:

2014 HURRICANE HOTLINE DATES

Monday, August 25

Wednesday, September 3
Monday, September 8
Monday, September 15
Monday, September 22
Monday, September 29

Monday, October 6
Tuesday, October 14
Monday, October 20
Monday, October 27

Monday, November 3
Monday, November 10
Monday, November 17
Tuesday, November 25

Wednesday, December 3
Monday, December 15

Revenge will be in the air when Miami opens the 2014 season on September 1 against new ACC member Louisville at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

Secure your seats to Miami’s home games vs. Florida State and North Carolina (Homecoming) today with a Two-Game Mini-Plan. Plans start at just $108 and include the same seat to both games plus a complimentary hat ($30 value). For more information or to order online, visit CanesTix.com.

Posted at 07:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (120)

Kaaya Is King Of The Heaps

So apparently, the quarterback quandary has finally, mercifully, been solved.

True freshman Brad Kaaya has been named the starting QB of your Miami Hurricanes for the 2014 season. Now that is big news indeed!

Today University of Miami head coach Al Golden officially named the player affectionately known as "Trinidad Brad" the starting QB for the 2014 season.

And it couldn't have happened soon enough for UM fans who desperately wanted an answer.

“I think the biggest thing was we saw how much he was devoted to it, how many sacrifices he made, how well he learned and how it translated to the field,” Golden said. “A guy can be good in the film room or out of the book, and then it doesn’t translate. It has translated here.”

After watching Kaaya battle with senior Jake Heaps, redshirt freshman Kevin Olsen and freshman Malik Rosier over the previous three weeks, Golden decided on a starting quarterback Sunday morning and informed the players of his decision prior to practice.

“It was a tight battle,” Golden said. “It was a battle that none of us could have foresaw at the end of June or July or the beginning of camp. I’m excited about that position. In Ryan’s absence, those two had a great battle. I think Kevin Olsen really improved, so I am excited about him. Right now, Brad nudged out Jake and he’s our quarterback.”

Jake Heaps, the senior transfer who was in strong contention to play for Miami this season, will play a back up roll to Kaaya. Apparently Trinidad blew the UM coaches away with his talent, work ethic and dedication to learning the system.

So, QB Brad Kaaya is now King of your Miami Hurricanes.

How do U, as Miami fans, feel about that?

Posted at 05:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (295)

Quarterback Quandry

There is no question that the question about who will be the Miami Hurricanes' starting quarterback when they take the field on Labor Day against Louisville is still desperately awaiting an answer.

In this #CanesCamp Report video just released the question is addressed by UM offensive coordinator James Coley who sits down with Joe Zagacki for a one-on-one session:

The divide that exists between UM fans on this issue is amazingly wide.

Some fans strongly believe that senior transfer Jake Heaps is the right guy for the job right now for the opening game against the Cardinals. Other fans are completely convinced that true freshman Brad Kayaa is not only the best man for the job right now but is also the future and should start if the two players are really even in the competition for the QB spot.

What most fans really want from UM head coach Al Golden and his Miami Hurricanes is simple: a win over Louisville on Labor Day.

Which also makes the answer to the QB quandry very simple: whichever QB is most likely give his team the best chance to win should start the opening game.

See, that wasn't so hard after all, now was it?

Posted at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (195)

Frank Gore: Dedicated, Dependable, Durable

Former University of Miami and current San Francisco 49ers running back running back Frank Gore is known for his many talents on the football field.

Among them are his remarkable longevity and durability at what many consider the most punishing position in football.

It could be said that Gore let’s his actions on the field speak louder than any words he might use to describe himself off it. In fact, he is fairly content at letting others do the talking.

One of his peers who should know what he is talking about is talking with great admiration about the consistent and dependable Frank Gore. Steve Young, a former 49er himself, current ESPN television analyst and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, described in great detail how he views Gore as a player.

In a recent radio interview Young praised for the former Miami Hurricane:

“Frank is the most underrated football player – and this is not hyperbole – honestly that I’ve ever known,” Young said on KNBR. “He’s a well-known player, but no one understands how great he really is. He’s one of the best backs I’ve ever seen or watch play. The things he does, the things he helps with in all facets of the game, the kind of guy he’s on the field, he’s just a really good player.”

The compliments and kudos from Young also included Gore’s incredible value to his team from a very practical and even more concrete perspective.

“He might not explode for 80, but wouldn’t you rather have a guy that made every first down?” Young said. “Third-and-four and he got you five because of his unique, incredible ability to wait and hold. He has made more first downs just purely on guts and guile.”

It is easy to see how many consider Frank Gore, former Hurricane and current 49er, as not only one of the most talented athletes to ever play the RB position at “The U” but also as one of the NFL’s best in the business.

Posted at 09:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (73)

The Floodgates Have Now Officially Opened

U might have been wondering to yourself COULD it happen?

U might have wondered out loud WHEN was it going to happen?

U might have even doubted your friends IF it was ever going to happen again.

Well tonight the long awaited powerful recruiting storm actually DID happen!

The floodgates of recruiting the most talented players in South Florida to the University of Miami opened today with the verbal commitment of DB Jaquan Johnson from Miami Killian High School.

The key player and essential cornerstone to the University of Miami's 2015 recruiting class announced tonight that he will be playing for your Miami Hurricanes. And with that the recruiting floodgates opened.

And with that the rest of the talented players in the 305, 954 and 561 all stood up and took notice that UM head coach Al Golden and "The U" was back on the national map of who matters most.

Forget Alabama, my sweet home is in Miami they said.

Trash Tallahassee, Miami is for me they proclaimed.

I'm leaving LSU and the bayou, I'm going to The U!

South Bend is lame, Miami puts it to shame.

Clemson is so done, get yourself a clue son!

It is hard to imagine that one player could change the face of South Florida recruiting in one night. But many here said that is exactly what would happen.

And that is exactly what Jaquan Johnson did tonight by committing to the University of Miami. Then and now: "It's all about The U!"

Posted at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (246)

Hurricanes Complete Second Scrimmage

Will it be Heaps or Kaaya, Kaaya or Heaps?

That was the most prominent question before Monday's scrimmage, the second of Fall practice, at the University of Miami.

Then when Hurricane fans learned that Al Golden kept QB contender Jake Heaps on the sidelines resting a sore throwing arm while watching Brad Kayaa lead the action they went into a tizzy trying to make sense of what that meant in terms of who had the edge for the starting job.

Here is the irrepressible and omnipresent Joe Zagacki with a rundown of the days events including the always exciting "Plays of the Day":

With scrimmage number two in the books a decision on who will be the starting QB on opening day will be made soon by UM head coach Al Golden. Until then every Hurricanes fan will either be on pins and needles or on the edge of their seat awaiting the decision.

Until then tell us who you think will be at the controls of the Miami offense: Kaaya or Heaps?

Posted at 03:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (68)

Legends Of The Fall 2014

One tradition that we have established here at Canespace over the last seven years is that each year, when Fall practice starts and before the season begins, we ask bloggers to select their personal choices for what we like to call "Legends of the Fall".

This tradition actually started when CGNC, who is without a doubt a legend herself here on Canespace, started a series of player features with the same title. Years ago she wrote features about former UM players QB Kenny Dorsey and TE Jeremy Shockey and called them "Legends of the Fall".

In our fan selection process true "Legends of the Fall" are those players who the fans feel will have outstanding or "breakout" season for the Canes on offense and defense this year.

It's not about simply picking the Hurricanes' best players, but your personal favorites among the UM players apart from the usual suspects and most obvious stars. Some bloggers choose first or second year players who are likely to break on the scene as freshmen or sophomores.

Former winners include LB Sean Spence and WR Aldarius Johnson and QB Jacory Harris and DL Allen Bailey. other winners were WR Leonard Hankerson and CB Brandon Harris. Then there was RB Lamar Miller and LB Sean Spence as the LOFs. Last year it was RB Duke Johnson and LB Denzel Perryman.

There are your unusual selections and surprises like kicker, punter and lead body slammer Matt Bosher who just happened to be the Canes 2008 MVP. The man was an absolute beast on special teams but who woulda thunk it?

Other bloggers are more traditional or conservative in their picks and select juniors or seniors who are projected to finally have that one incredible breakout season that leads them to become a high round NFL draft selection.

These picks could really be any defensive or offensive player who may be primed to explode on the scene after a solid previous season or a spectacular Summer with Swasey. Offensive and defensive linemen may not be popular or sexy picks but they are just as eligible as any other position player.

And don't forget special teams standouts too who can change a game with that one big play that shifts the entire momentum of a game. Some bold predictions even result in selections of completely unexpected dark horse candidates for this honor like Sam Shields a few years ago.

If these long-shot picks actually play out, the blogger who picked them look like an absolute genius. This is the most risky, but potentially most rewarding, approach of all.

Then again if you decide to take a leap of faith on a player and they don't ball out like you might have hoped or expected then you might wind up like old time blogger Cat5 who selected LB Arthur Brown or SolarCane who selected WR Thearon Collier and then well, U know what happens then.

It's your choice. Here are the 2014 LOF rules:

Ineligible players on offense: Duke Johnson
Ineligible players on defense: Denzel Perryman
Pick one player on offense and one player on defense.
Pick one freshman for "Freshman Impact Player of the Year".
Pick one assistant coach or cooordinator for "Coach of the Year".

Now make your choices and you may win Canespace prizes and other fun stuff like tickets to a 2014 UM football, basketball or baseball game.

And remember: U gotta be in it to win it!

Posted at 10:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (311)

Canes Take Plane, Land In Spain

Information courtesy of www.hurricanepsorts.com...

The University of Miami men’s basketball team defeated Eurocolegio Casvi, 79-68, Friday night in the Hurricanes’ first game of their educational and competitive tour of Spain.

Junior Sheldon McClellan and freshman Ja’Quan Newton posted team-high points with 17 apiece. Madrid native Ivan Cruz Uceda pulled down 17 rebounds, 14 in the first half, and added five points, two steals and an assist for the Canes. McClellan added eight rebounds and two assists while Newton notched three rebounds, two steals and a pair of assists.

Redshirt freshman Deandre Burnett added 10 points while rookie James Palmer recorded 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and an assist.

The game, which the Canes led from start to finish, was played in four 12-minute quarters, and using FIBA rules, with a deeper 3-point line and wider lane, to name a few of the changes.