University of Miami sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya was named to the watch list for the 79th annual Maxwell Award on Tuesday by the Maxwell Football Club, proving that young Kaaya has quickly become the king of his domain.
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell's contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.
Kaaya received the preseason honor after he authored one of the finest first-year campaign’s in school history, while guiding the Hurricanes to their second-consecutive bowl appearance.
During his rookie campaign, Kaaya was the only true freshman quarterback in the country to throw for over 3,000 yards, 26-or-more touchdowns and 12-or-fewer interceptions.
In addition, Kaaya rewrote the Hurricanes’ freshman record book as he set the single season freshman standard for passing yards and touchdowns. He finished the year with 3,198 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes. His 26 touchdown passes from a year ago tied him with Heisman Trophy winning signal-caller Vinny Testaverde for third all-time.
This is the third preseason honor Kaaya has received this summer. In the month of June, he was named to both the Phil Steele and Athlon Sports Preseason All-Conference Team.
Kaaya is one of 20 sophomores that were named to the Maxwell Watch List and was one of just eight sophomore quarterbacks that were recognized nationally.
While I certainly agree you must use talent to your advantage, since 2003 I seriously question that we have such an advantage. The talent level has been drastically reduced in 11 seasons, and what talent is here has not been developed to higher potential by any of the 3 average coaching staffs. Average middle of the pack coaches recruit the same average players. Lets hope we start a surge this year and move upward.
Posted by: VA Cane | July 11, 2015 at 01:48 PM
Well said VA.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | July 11, 2015 at 01:50 PM
That may be true in 3 games a year VA. Not 7. Miami has much more talent than most teams in the ACC, especially in the Coastal. The fact is Al Golden is an underachiever who lost his tram last year. No doubt in my mind that this team CAN go 10-2 as people like Go Canes has suggested, but with the way the wheels fell off for this staff last year, I shudder to think of what will happen if Nebraska puts it on us.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 02:40 PM
team, not tram. Stupid iPhone.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 02:41 PM
Of course if Nebraska does whip us I can already gear the excuses... just focus on the Coastal blah, blah, blah.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 02:42 PM
What if we beat Nebraska and Cincinnati and have a 10-2 season then what because that can happen also U know lol or we could go 6-6 and AL Golden will be gone. I want the first scenario. Just win baby.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | July 11, 2015 at 03:52 PM
^^^ not the point I'm making TS.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 04:11 PM
It is an interesting scene Dude. Yes....on paper stats stars hs records, all star games, etc all look grand....we look to have talent...BUT....as a coach I have been a true champion not a paper champion. I think you are correct though. ...it is not the kids....while there is a sense of apathy in the program....it is the failure of the last 3 staffs to develop strong fundamental skills and dominant skilled players who are up to and excel at winning. That is most likely the reality at this time....coaching failures. Hope that changes this year....it is time to stop making excUses and win. 10-2, division and ACC title, win a big REAL bowl. Thats my expectation got to happen. ...or change partners again.
Posted by: VA Cane | July 11, 2015 at 04:15 PM
I am with you both T Sully and Dude....just win baby....thanks to Al Davis....and good old Snake Stabler....winners! RIP
Posted by: VA Cane | July 11, 2015 at 04:26 PM
I am tired of being average I want to win. We all are accustomed to winning...is there any other way? I am certain AlPa wants to win and I want him to win big....question is can he? Must have great year!
Posted by: VA Cane | July 11, 2015 at 04:28 PM
If FSU doesn't kick Cook off the team, I would lose all respect for that university. Actually, they already lost it!!!!
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | July 11, 2015 at 04:44 PM
I'm all for winning under Golden. That's the best case scenario, but people seem to forget we ended 2014 in a death spiral. Nebraska matters because the first two games should be cake walk wins. Should Nebraska rough us up, the most toxic situation in CF is going to explode. The "Fire Golden" crowd has been relatively quiet lately. Golden needs to prove to the fans and especially his players that he actually knows what he's doing, otherwise it's deeper down the death spiral we go.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 04:45 PM
Uniforms are being unveiled bext Saturday.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 06:18 PM
*next
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 06:18 PM
And Randall Hill is running for Congress.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 06:20 PM
Hope Thrill keeps those pistols in their holsters.....then again maybe pistols might get attention and get this fucked up country back on the path!
No Hillary Clinton, no Ass kissing Iran deal, no more sanctuary cities in Amerika!
Posted by: VA Cane | July 11, 2015 at 06:50 PM
Lol @ "death spiral"
Over-dramatic much?
If Golden poops the bed this year, we'll be fine. The new coaching 2016 will bring us back in short order.
Of course some people here are big fans of other teams, so they'll have their fave team to cheer for.
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/sites/default/files/article-pictures/football/t-z/usc_fans.jpg?1319679262
Posted by: Lur-ker | July 11, 2015 at 08:30 PM
^^^ Blog war on 86???
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 08:40 PM
And guys like Lurker wonder why shit spirals out of control here.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 08:41 PM
When the Miami Hurricanes go 6-7, it's a death spiral. At least it used to be until trolls started lowering expectations.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 08:43 PM
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/sites/default/files/article-pictures/football/t-z/usc_fans.jpg?1319679262
Posted by: Lur-ker | July 11, 2015 at 09:15 PM
Come on, dude.
Just saying that, in my opinion, death spiral is a huge over reaction. Why? Because this program will never die. If you've been a fan, like many others here, since the 80s, you know that there are dry periods and then great periods. We're due: with or without Golden.
The canes WILL will be back, with or without Golden.
Talking about blog wars or spiraling out of control is another huge overreaction. I'm not spiraling. That would be for someone else to do, not me
Posted by: Lur-ker | July 11, 2015 at 09:30 PM
Great blogging by all. This time 8 weeks or 56 days from now we better be 1-0 and either leaving outta Sun Life chanting M-I-A-M-I fight, fight, fight, or if U are at home watching it on your smart television or your computer, or if U are listening on WQAM or WVUM on Tune In Radio App. The Season is around the corner Fall Practice starts August 5th let's hope we can stay relatively healthy. Go Canes.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | July 11, 2015 at 09:44 PM
Death spiral?
Lol.
Posted by: Go Canes | July 11, 2015 at 10:41 PM
You guys are like parrots. Yes death spiral, as in the death of Golden's tenure at Miami. He is currently in a death spiral.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 11, 2015 at 10:49 PM
Me so tired...
Posted by: 86Cane | July 12, 2015 at 12:05 AM
Morning Soup!
Posted by: NativeCane | July 12, 2015 at 12:24 AM
Mourning Soup and Native.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | July 12, 2015 at 12:39 AM
T, heres hoping your feeling better.....Natives burning the midnight oil.
Brotha, I am ready for some Sun Life, cant wait to see my Cane family and hear those pads crunch!
Dem Canes!!!
Posted by: NativeCane | July 12, 2015 at 04:15 AM
Most toxic?
Lol
Posted by: Go Canes | July 12, 2015 at 08:24 AM
A man your age acting like a child is so sad.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 12, 2015 at 09:36 AM
Most toxic?
Lol
Posted by: Go Canes | July 12, 2015 at 08:24 AM
I know, it's funny to me too. But too many assholes in the administration supported bringing him back. A few really troll-like fans did too.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 12, 2015 at 09:55 AM
A grown man can see beyond his own myopic views.
There are tens of thousands of Canes fans looking forward to this season, none of which are in the "toxic, death spiral" frame of mind you can't ever escape.
Posted by: Go Canes | July 12, 2015 at 10:54 AM
And then there are people like you that want to glaze over some facts. Like the fact that Al is in a tailspin, his tenure at Miami is hanging on a season and a huge amount of fans want him gone yesterday. It's a very toxic situation, in my opinion the most toxic in major college football. It doesn't make me myopic for pointing it out. You're one to criticize others frame of mind when yours is so consistently slanted.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 12, 2015 at 11:29 AM
There are tens of thousands of Canes fans looking forward to this season, none of which are in the "toxic, death spiral" frame of mind you can't ever escape.
Posted by: Go Canes | July 12, 2015 at 10:54 AM
--------------------------------------------------
I am looking forward to the tailgating!!! The football team not so much!! This is probably the first year which I'm not optimistic in the team. Maybe that's a good thing, usually the opposite thing happens to my liking.
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | July 12, 2015 at 12:21 PM
^^^ Too bad we can't schedule Jacksonville State 12 times?
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 12, 2015 at 12:40 PM
It will be interesting and important to AlPas future as well ad the program. We have been rebuilding and "back" for 11 years....and yet we are no better than when this fall from grace started....we may be worse.
I hope we come out dtrong and aggressive and play 1 game at a time. Focus on task at hand, don't look gorward. Need a big year.
Posted by: VA Cane | July 12, 2015 at 12:40 PM
As the program and strong forward ...phone spelling little letters big fingers lol!
Posted by: VA Cane | July 12, 2015 at 12:43 PM
Thanks Native I Appreciate it my Canes Brotha look forward to hanging with U at Sun Life this year and in Tallahassee as well on October 10th.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | July 12, 2015 at 01:33 PM
Serena's on a roll. And if She's hitting 123MPH, what are the dudes hitting...
Posted by: CaneRock | July 12, 2015 at 01:45 PM
Too bad we can't schedule Jacksonville State 12 times?
Posted by: The Dude | July 12, 2015 at 12:40 PM
---------------------------------------------------------
I will be the first one on the bus if that happened....Lol
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | July 12, 2015 at 02:28 PM
VA Cane...it has not been a decade long rebuild, but two rebuilds in a decade:
2007: Infuse the team with Shannon players, make up for recruiting shortfalls and wide receiver and quarterback that left us perilously low on numbers.
2012: Restock the team after poor 2010 signing class (a third gone by 2011), 2011 class decimated by defections, and raft of early departures to NFL. Progress slowed two seasons by NCAA investigation.
Posted by: TonyCane | July 12, 2015 at 05:35 PM
If Shannon had followed up the very strong 2008 class with strong 2009 and 2010 classes the rebuild would have ended there. Or if there was no NCAA investigation, it's reasonable to believe that Goldens 2012-2014 classes would have been significantly stronger. The bottom line now is that the team is the strongest it has been top to bottom in four years, and when they outperform expectations this season will be on an upward trend going forward.
Posted by: TonyCane | July 12, 2015 at 05:39 PM
^^^ you can get a ton of 4 & 5 star HS player in America every year and still not develop players or scheme games well enough. Larry Coker recruited a bunch of talented guys, but let them get fat and lazy. Even if Randy recruited a number 1 class the whole time he was here, he still wasn't putting them through a bonafide S&C program. Randy wasn't the answer either, he was in over his head. Al seems to have the S&C part down fine, he just doesn't seem to know how to maximize his advantages on the field.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 12, 2015 at 06:07 PM
Therefore, I'm not anticipating a "death spiral" or maybe I just have an eternally optimistic outlook. Either way, I prefer to function with a positive outlook on life, knowing for a fact that the future is unwritten.
Also, like any fan, while I have my doubts about this coaching staff and the HC, I'm also aware of the common sense facts and chronology which TonyCane posted above. To not acknowledge these issues, is to be blinded to the reality of the situation.
The ball is in the staff's court, and I can't wait until this season plays out.
However it goes, I'm 100% cane through and through. I don't have a backup plan, you know, like another team to root for.
Ride or die.
Posted by: Lur-ker | July 12, 2015 at 06:45 PM
Hi everyone Just checking in. Have had a nasty pinched nerve in my lower back, where the scar is. Just horrible.
Is anyone going to the Cincinnati game? it's the closest one for me.
I saw Ken Dorsey play in Syracuse. Just an incredible player. When he got out of the pocket!! he would stare at one side of the field, and throw down the other side,with such great precision. Just loved that guy!
Last night on Celebrity Feud, big Calais Campbell was on the NFC side. I NEVER realized how big and tall he was, when e played for the U. Anyway, the AFC won.
I'm just hoping that the season isn't over right away. Disappointment has prevailed so many times. I get my hopes up and BAM, the season is over.
Hi Tom. Give my love to Maria.
Posted by: MaryLouAlumni | July 12, 2015 at 07:08 PM
Anyone ever been to Mount Rushmore? Is there anything to do but take a picture?
Also CR, Serena is an absolute freak and I mean that in the nicest way. She could take a set from just about any of her male counterparts.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 12, 2015 at 08:16 PM
Hi Tom. Give my love to Maria.
Posted by: MaryLouAlumni | July 12, 2015 at 07:08 PM
Will do!
#BeWell
Posted by: 86Cane | July 12, 2015 at 10:46 PM
^^^ you can get a ton of 4 & 5 star HS player in America every year and still not develop players or scheme games well enough. Larry Coker recruited a bunch of talented guys, but let them get fat and lazy. Even if Randy recruited a number 1 class the whole time he was here, he still wasn't putting them through a bonafide S&C program. Randy wasn't the answer either, he was in over his head. Al seems to have the S&C part down fine, he just doesn't seem to know how to maximize his advantages on the field.
Posted by: The Dude | July 12, 2015 at 06:07 PM
Yep, that was all part of the first rebuild...getting rid of the "Coker guys" and replacing them with "Shannon guys". However he had one great class, then followed them up with a decent class and then struck out in 2010. The Mack Browns, Urban Meyers, Jimbos, and Sabans of college football have repeated good classes. Another thing Shannon did which boosted his class rankings was to sign larger numbers of 3 and 2 star players than Coker.
2002: 6 three star players, 2 two star players
2003: 10 three star players, 2 two star players
2004: 9 three star players, 6 two star players
2005: 3 three star players, 2 two star players
2006: 8 three star players, 3 two star players
2007: 8 three star players, 2 two star players
2008: 8 three star players, 8 two star players
2009: 8 three star players, 2 two star players
2010: 18 three star players, 4 two star players
Posted by: TonyCane | July 12, 2015 at 10:47 PM
^^^ good stuff TC.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | July 13, 2015 at 05:14 AM