Canespace

I Hope The Canes Beat The Tar Out Of The Heels

The Miami Hurricanes return to Sun Life Stadium for their homecoming matchup against the visiting North Carolina Tar Heels. Kickoff for the game is set for 12:30 on RSN (Fox Sports Florida locally).

Miami (5-3, 2-2 ACC) is 12-1 in its last 13 home games at Sun Life Stadium dating back to the 2012 season. Single-game tickets are still available for Saturday's matchup - visit CanesTix.com for more information.

GAME INFORMATION – GAME 9
MIAMI HURRICANES  vs. NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 • 12:30 p.m. ET • Sun Life Stadium (74,916)

SERIES HISTORY
Miami and North Carolina are tied in the all-time series 8-8... Miami has won three of the last four meetings...The Hurricanes won the last head-to-head matchup as they earned a road win over the Tar Heels in 2013...Miami is 6-4 all-time against North Carolina in games played in Miami.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
RSN/ACC Network • Tim Brant, PxP • Dave Archer, Analyst • Hans Heiserer, Sideline Reporter
WQAM 560 AM • Joe Zagacki, PXP • Don Bailey Jr., Analyst • Josh Darrow, Sideline Reporter
RADIO CARACOL 1260 AM • Pepe Campos, PxP • Joe Martinez, Analyst
WVUM 90.5 FM • AJ Ricketts • Oliver Redsten • Neil Dwyer

HASHTAGS
#KellyTough
#UNCvsMIA
#Renewed

#5THINGS

1. Through eight games this season, freshman QB Brad Kaaya is one of only 25 quarterbacks in the country to throw for over 1,800 yards and 17-or-more touchdowns. 
2. Miami running back Duke Johnson has rushed for 100-yards or more in each of his last four games. 
3. Miami’s offensive unit has tallied 31 plays of 25 yards-or-more. 
4. Miami has allowed 93.5 yards rushing per game in its last two outings, which ranks 14th-best in the country over that span.
5. The Hurricanes are 13-0 in the Golden era when forcing three or more turnovers.

PARKING INFORMATION

• Green lot will open at 7 a.m.
• Blue, Orange, Maroon and Purple lots will open at 8 a.m.
• Stadium gates will open at 10:30 a.m.
• Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on RSN.

Canes don't let Canes watch the game alone. Here's a complete list of 2014 Miami Alumni Watch Parties.

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Jim Kelly Deserves Your Support

Sure, everybody knows that quarterback Jim Kelly is a Miami Hurricane football legend. But did you know that Jim Kelly the man is one tough guy?

Jim Kelly fought his heart out for the Hurricanes and led the team to many victories during his career. But the biggest victory he ever accomplished in his life was beating cancer this year.

Kelly will serve as the Grand Marshall for the UM homecoming weekend and as honorary team captain during the homecoming game against North Carolina on November 1 at Sun Life Stadium.

In celebration of the #KellyTough weekend events all Hurricane fans are asked to wear green to the game in support of cancer survivors.

You can buy your official #KellyTough T-shirt at AllCanes in person or purchase it on-line to be shipped to you before the game.

Jim Kelly the QB fought his heart out for the Hurricanes and won many battles on the field.

But Jim Kelly the man fought against cancer and won the biggest battle of his life off the field.

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Desert Storming: UM Sports Hall Of Fame Moment

This Date in Hurricanes History: October 26th, 1991.  

Brought to you by the UM Sports Hall of Fame...

The Miami Hurricanes continued their march to their fourth National Championship in 1991 with a 36-9 victory over the Arizona Wildcats in front of 53,349 fans in Tucson!

UMSHoF member Gino Torretta completed 26 of 50 passes for 350 yards and 2 touchdowns. UMSHoF member Horace Copeland had 6 receptions for 60 yards and WR Kevin Williams had 4 receptions for 52 yards and took a punt return to the house from 48 yards away in the 2nd quarter to stretch Miami's lead to 19-0 in the middle of the 2nd quarter. 

Later, UMSHoF member Lamar Thomas hauled in a touchdown pass from Torretta.  UMSHoF member Carlos Huerta added 3 field goals for the Canes.

The defense held the Wildcats to 238 total yards and forced 4 turnovers, including interceptions by UMSHoF members Darrin Smith and Ryan McNeil.  UMSHoF member Jessie Armstead had 10 solo tackles, 14 total.

UMSHoF member Dennis Erickson's team moved to 7-0 and remained #2 in the country...as fans around the nation began looking forward to a "#1 vs. #2" Game of the Century match up in Tallahassee!

Legends Of The Fall: Frank Gore

This Date in Hurricanes History, October 25th, 2001...

Brought to you by the UM Sports Hall of Fame:

Freshman Frank Gore highlighted his skills in front of a nationally televised audience by rushing for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 6 carries to lead the top-ranked Hurricanes to a 45-3 victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers in front of a Thursday night crowd of 44,411 in the Orange Bowl!  

Miami moved to 6-0 on the year with a balanced offense and a relentless defense that held WVU at bay, including safety James Lewis' 74 yard interception return for a touchdown. 

UMSHoF member quarterback Ken Dorsey also looked impressive completing 16 of 27 passes for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Canes moved back to # 1 after a 49-27 victory the week before at FSU, a spot they would not relinquish, and finish 12-0 and capture their 5th National Championship with the Rose Bowl victory over Nebraska!

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Best Win Ever!

Tonight your Miami Hurricanes beat the lights out of Virginia Tech 30-6 in Blacksburg. The Hurricanes dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage and looked like a solid team. It was a fun game to watch!

To all of U haters out there (and there are many): "Choke on it!"

To all of U real Canes fans out there: "Celebrate like there is no tomorrow!"

Any negative comments will be immediately deleted.

All positive comments will be highlighted and responded to.

Choose to be a a fan, choose to be positive.

And choose to love your team and your coach.

Is It Now Or Never?

OK, who here knows about the "KISS" principle?

Keep It Simple Stupid! So, I'll keep this short and simple.

Strap up, boots on, lock and load, face paint, arms at the ready.

The time has come for your team to fight for it's life 'Canes fans!

Miami faces ACC rival Virginia Tech tonight on ESPN in what some, no make that many, have called a "must win game" for Al Golden and his Hurricane football team.

Win and the rest of the season has meaning.

Lose and the whole thing may go down the drain.

It IS now or never for UM tonight vs VT in Blacksburg.

Canespace Prediction: UM 41 - VT 27

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So This Head Coaching Thing Is Hard?

Will Muschamp was a can't miss candidate when hired by Florida.

Kevin Sumlin was gonna rock the world when hired at Texas A&M.

Brady Hoke was certainly going to absolutely kill it at Michigan.

Charlie Strong would surely be as successful at Texas as he was at Louisville.

So after a few seasons, or even after just one, then, well maybe not so much?

Miami Hurricane fans are fond of constantly criticizing their head coach without realizing that this head coaching thing is a pretty difficult task to tame.

Coach Muschamp is clearly stalled in the Swamp in Gainesville. His team is 3-3 and 2-3 in the SEC. He just got beat down by Missouri at home by 29 points. His special teams gave up three scores and his defense can't catch a break. His offense, well we can't even talk about his offense, because if we do the NSA will crack down on us. They have these spies and drones and all. If only the Gators had some of those then they might score, right?

Coach Sumlin was the talk of the town. He was the King Bee and all about this and that. Then he went to Texas A&M where Johnny Football left and the team was left without a leader and seems to still be searching for one. But that leader may not be Coach Sumlin who often look lost and pondering on the sidelines during TAMU games. Oh so you don't believe me? Well the Aggies are 5-3, with all of their losses coming in the SEC. They lost to Ole Miss by 15, to Mississippi State by 17 and then lost embarrassingly to Alabama 59-0 last Saturday. Now that is clearly going to leave a mark!

You do the Hokey-Pokey and you turn it all about, that's what it's all about. Head coaching savior Brady Hoke was going to resurrect the Michigan team from their desperate struggles and bring them back to competing with the big boys like Ohio State and Notre Dame. Then he failed miserably at that task and turned to other more manageable issues like taking out the garbage. And apparently, there is a lot of garbage in Michigan. Hoke is 3-4 this season and 1-2 in his conference. He got shut out by Notre Dame 31-0 and also lost to Rutgers and Minnesota. Oh my, that can't be good?

Charlie Strong walked out of Louisville, Kentucky and confidently into the big, proud State of Texas proclaiming that he would do what Mack Brown could not do. He openly said that he would return the Texas Longhorns to being a National Championship contender and that he would do it soon. Well his first season is not going so well and who knows what is next for the confident Mr. Strong in the Lone-star State. He is 3-4 overall and 2-2 in his own conference. Yeah, not so good, right?

What I am saying based on these examples is that even with the most highly respected and most highly qualified candidate for a head coaching position is that success is NOT guaranteed at any school at any level. And that should be a a lesson well learned by all college fan bases. Including those in the 305.

But those fans have no brains, just some worthless banners to fly, right?

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Just The Facts

My friend and fellow blogger TonyCane did his research and put together some very interesting statistics to show us where (and why) we are at today (instead of just ranting or bloviating about it) and where we need to go to be back at the top of the college football heap.

Louisville Rushing & Passing Yard by game:

Miami - Passing: 206, Rushing: 130
MrSt - Passing: 278, Rushing: 325
Virg - Passing: 203, Rushing: 79
FaIn - Passing: 324, Rushing: 12
Wake - Passing: 206, Rushing: 215
Syrc - Passing: 174, Rushing: 178
Clem - Passing: 212, Rushing: 54
NcSt - Passing: 203, Rushing: 166

Nebraska Rushing & Passing Yard by game:

FAU - Passing: 286, Rushing: 498
MSt - Passing: 242, Rushing: 195
FSt - Passing: 282, Rushing: 280
Mia - Passing: 113, Rushing: 343
Ill - Passing: 166, Rushing: 488
MSt - Passing: 282, Rushing: 47
Nws - Passing: 237, Rushing: 234

Georgia Tech Rushing & Passing Yard by game:

Wof - Passing: 282, Rushing: 226
Tul - Passing: 015, Rushing: 344
GSo - Passing: 144, Rushing: 348
VTc - Passing: 125, Rushing: 250
Mia - Passing: 053, Rushing: 318
Duk - Passing: 201, Rushing: 282
UNC - Passing: 235, Rushing: 376

Excluding Florida A&M, I did see some interesting results when comparing how each of our opponents' offense did against Miami when compared to the rest of their opponents:

Louisville: 5th out of 8
Arkansas State: 5th out of 7
Nebraska: 5th out of 7
Duke: 7th out of 7
Georgia Tech: 6th out of 8
Cincinnati - 4th out of 6

I came into this expecting to see Miami at 3 or 4, but in most cases we held them to fewer yards than most of our opponents.

Here's Miami's total defense during Golden and Shannon's tenure over the first seven games:

Year, Pass, Rush, Turnovers:

2007: 1298, 0932, 15
2008: 1296, 0716, 09
2009: 1359, 0885, 09
2010: 1044, 1075, 21
2011: 1394, 1256, 11
2012: 1770, 1776, 13
2013: 1404, 0992, 19
2014: 1231, 1061, 14

Obviously the numbers have inflated under Golden, but this could be reflective of the overall talent level. Overlay that with the number of 4 and 5 star players on each team's Week 1 roster:

2007: 45 
2008: 42 
2009: 42 
2010: 40 
2011: 28 
2012: 28 
2013: 23 
2014: 24

So, with those facts in mind, what do you think about the team's performance?

Things That Need Fixing

TonyCane provided us with this informative breakdown of what the Miami Hurricanes need to do to fix their performance on the field. So here we go...

Flash-forward to now and on paper, the 2014 Canes are only incrementally more talented than last year's squad. Which was the worst on paper since the 1990s. However my concern is twofold:

1) Even at the current talent level, we were better on paper than any team on our schedule except FSU, and on par with Va Tech.

2) The team is relatively unchanged from a year ago. The key variants are some changes in the OL and starting a true freshmen quarterback. But the defense essentially returned intact, and should have shown continued progress.

Perhaps the considerably harder schedule in 2014 is a factor. Still, this is a team that has declined in offensive production and should be better on defense, yet neither has taken place. So then, we have to ask why?

Year, Average Points For, Average Points Against (first 7 games):

2007: 24-21
2008: 33-24
2009: 30-24
2010: 30-18
2011: 29-21
2012: 28-32
2013: 40-18
2014: 31-24

So, what do those stats tell you about the team's recent performance?

And, what can be done to fix it in the short term?

Go Kelly, Go Green

Sure, everybody knows that Jim Kelly the QB is a Miami Hurricane football legend. But did you know that Jim Kelly the man is one tough guy?

Jim Kelly fought his heart out for the Hurricanes and led the team to many victories during his career. But the biggest victory he ever accomplished in his life was beating cancer this year.

Kelly will serve as the Grand Marshall for the UM homecoming weekend and as honorary team captain during the homecoming game against North Carolina on November 1 at Sun Life Stadium.

In celebration of the #KellyTough weekend events all Hurricane fans are asked to wear green to the game in support of cancer survivors.

You can buy your official #KellyTough T-shirt at AllCanes in person or purchase it on-line to be shipped to you before the game.

Jim Kelly the QB fought his heart out for the Hurricanes and won many battles on the field.

But Jim Kelly the man fought against cancer and won the biggest battle of his life off the field.

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