Gators Flop in Miami

Sheldon McClellan scored 24 points Tuesday, and No. 17 Miami overcame an off night offensively with scrappy defense in a 66-55 victory over rival Florida.

The Hurricanes held Florida to 39 percent shooting, including 1 for 12 from 3-point range. Miami shot a season-low 39 percent overall, but made 7 of 17 3-pointers and shot 79 percent from the free-throw line.

The Hurricanes (8-1) won their third straight game since losing at home to Northeastern. The Gators (6-2) lost to their instate rivals for the second consecutive year.

Tonye Jekiri, Miami's leading rebounder this season, went to the locker room after being shaken up when he fell under the basket. He missed eight minutes before returning early in the second half, and finished with nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

Miami had a 42-31 edge on the boards.

Angel Rodriguez scored 17 points for Miami and had three steals. Depth has been a strength for the Hurricanes, but their reserves were outscored 10-3.

John Egbunu scored 14 for the Gators, who had two players foul out and never found their shooting touch. KeVaughn Allen scored with 5:51 left to cut Miami's lead to 56-46, but Florida didn't make another basket until only 1:38 remained.

The Gators' point total was a season low.

Both teams tried to make up for their offensive deficiencies with hustle. One sequence included a blocked shot by Miami and a prolonged scramble for the ball before the Hurricanes finally wrestled it away to start a fast break that ended with a layup by Davon Reed.

The sellout crowd of 7,972 included a large contingent of Florida fans. The teams, which have played each other only six times since 1991, have no more games scheduled in the series.

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Comments

[trianglecane]

first!!

[trianglecane]

GO CANES!! Way to close the series!!

[SinisterCane]

GO CANEZ

[Terrance Sullivan]

Boom.

[30CINCO]

CINCO!

[SOUP]

RoachCane77...I am going to have to charge U double the regular rate for the blog title. LOL

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

In the immortal words of Keoki, "F the Turds!"

[Lur-ker]

Love the title and the article.

References to the swamp lizards' many proven instances of cowardice never grow old!

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

I've been saying the Warriors would go on a Bullsesque run for a couple of years now, but I don't think they'll get the Lakers @33 straight wins

[Go Canes]

They looked invincible last night. It was beautiful to watch.

Posted last night, they hit six 3 pointers AND had 16 points in the paint against Indy...in the first quarter.

That is sick.

[Lur-ker]

j.w. Bear with me on this point by point rebuttal

• Sun Life's amenities aren't drawing people.

You're right, amenities don't draw people, winning teams draw people. But, lack of amenities can keep people away. If there is EVER a new stadium built, by necessity, it won't even have 10% of the amenities at SLS.

• Sun Life doesn't deliver the experience that draws enough fans.

The experience is 99% about winning. A stadium with significantly fewer amenities, and significantly longer driving distances for most fans, will make it even less likely that people will show.

• People have complained for years that it is too far from campus. ... I've read tons of complaints about the stadium since we moved there from others.

No offense, but this is the weakest argument of all. You're talking about reducing a bus drive from campus by 10 or 15 minutes. That's it. how many people are we talking about from campus? 3000? 3500? Really? This is an issue?

• The primary complaints that are repeated:

location : The current location is actually ideal. Centrally located more or less, for the Tri-County area. Most of the fans are not coming from campus. Delusional to even think that.

parking costs: does anyone actually think the parking cost will go down for a new stadium? What's more probable, is that they will go UP! Stadiums has to be paid for somehow. And even if somebody comes up with the 200 or $300 million, they will charge out the Ying Yang for parking. You know why? Because they can.

too sterile an environment: that was addressed with the renovations this year and it will be addressed with the final renovations for 2016. Field is a lot closer to the stands now. Trust me, it will not be sterile if we win and start getting good crowds.

overbearing security: sorry, but meaningless point. Welcome to 2015 and the future. Security may actually be more overbearing at a college own stadium. Hey, and guess what? No beer sales, no liquor sales, no mixed drink sales, just people sneaking alcohol in. how do you think most of us have gotten through the last 10 years?

• The new renovations to the stadium look nice. But I just don't see any evidence that more fans are inclined to actually go to the games (ticket sales differ) because of them

Again, answered previously. Winning cures all ills. Fewer amenities may even actually mean fewer people. I actually think the more amenities will help assuming everything else is equal, and create somewhat greater demand and people coming. Protection from the weather, excellent security, no long lines for the bathrooms. And on and on.

[CaneRock]

YAWWWWWWWWWWWWWN!!!

[j.w.]

LurKer, appreciate the response, here is my rebuttal:
Amenities: Actually, the OB had virtually zero and that didn't keep people away. I don't think any college fan base cares about the amenities offered in a pro sports stadium. Several friends of mine are Washington alumni, I never heard one talk about how great the Seahawks Stadium was, and every one of them was happy to be at Husky Stadium after it was renovated. Again, Filet Mignon doesn't sell when the kids want corndogs.
2. The experience isn't only about winning. Cal draws 50-60k per year game even when they suck, and even with a student body that generally couldn't care less about any sport. The stadium is on campus, which we'll never get at Miami, but it adds to the experience. The Rose Bowl is as far from UCLA
as Sun Life is to Miami (if not farther), but the experience of seeing a college game is 100 times better at the Rose Bowl. Even when the home team is consistently mediocre.
3. Distance- it seems to matter a great deal to people on several Miami message boards. Every commentator who talks about Miami mentions it as well. It matters a lot more than you think, and you're the first person I've ever heard say the location was ideal.
4. Parking Costs/Security_ I was simply listing the complaints that I repeatedly read. Not saying it's any different anywhere else, though I don't hear it from any friends who go to other games, for whatever reason. I do hear it a lot from people who go to Niner games, Raider games, etc. (although usually Raiders fans don't think there's a strong enough security response)
5. Sterile environment- again, not my words, just what I've heard. And as I said the renovations look nice, hopefully that takes care of that particular complaint.

[Ohio_Cane]

Read this on Richt (off the field): http://www.macon.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-georgia/article30134277.html

[30CINCO]

The roof on the stadium in 2016 will alleviate majority of concerns from the people that I know, who want to go to the games. People who want to go but dont want to sit in the sun or have their kids in the sun.

From my point of view, the only people who say the stadium is too far and have a legit reason are the students. In saying that, since there are so few of them (around 4-6k who actually live on campus) it doesn't really matter, to me at least.

Other than the students, who else is complaining about the stadium being to far away? My guess would be it is people who live south of 836. I have always lived in north dade and or Broward county, yet I was able to make it to the OB. At that time, I was a person complaining the stadium was too far, but I still went. UM fans are from everything in S. Fla, from West Palm all the way down to the keys.

The experience at SLS is GREAT for big games, not so much for the others, same as it was at the OB.

[Lur-ker]

Excellent points, cinco.

As an alum, I have to say sometimes our students piss me off. They practically have to be begged to go to most basketball games, which are a 30 ft walk, right on campus. Last night they showed. Bully for them. It's Florida, they damn well better show. But I mean, they get free t-shirts and light up wrist bands for showing.

[SOUP]

3. Distance- it seems to matter a great deal to people on several Miami message boards. Every commentator who talks about Miami mentions it as well. It matters a lot more than you think, and you're the first person I've ever heard say the location was ideal.

DISTANCE FROM WHERE??? FROM UM CAMPUS?

As Luker indicated about only 3000 come from campus and maybe another 3000 from surrounding area. If you move it South to TP you are actually making it LONGER distance for all who commute from Broward, WPB Orlando, Tampa Jax etc. and TRUST me a LOT of people do! And further South means into the heart of Miami past the Airport and onto 836 and 826 and can U say F**k me very much IF U do that!!! Your audience is not in Homestead, Kendall, Sweetwater or Calle Ocho it is Dade, Broward and Palm Beach and beyond. I could say SO MUCH MORE but then I would called prejudice or politically incorrect and GOD forbid that ever happens.

Let me just say this. here is a headline U will never read in your lifetime:

Mexicans and Nicaraguans Pack Tropical Park Stadium For UM Football

[SOUP]

The experience at SLS is GREAT for big games, not so much for the others, same as it was at the OB.

Posted by: 30CINCO | December 09, 2015 at 03:20 PM

EXACTLY!

I used to sit in the last row of section C-D at the OB under the overhang because I LOVE SHADE. During most games I could have a whole ROW to myself even when we were winning but playing a nobody school. Now having a whole row was very beneficial because i do like to move around quite a bit. There was one game against maybe FAMU or East Carolina or Temple or back in the day at the OB where my wife actually LAID DOWN AND TOOK A NAP on the row we had to ourselves! Now if it was FAMU she would wake up to see the band but that was about it. IJS

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

I've been to one Dolphins game, and one Hurricanes game @ The OB, back in 2003 and 2004. Pro Player was nicer than the OB back then, although the OB had a certain magic. Sun Life I'm sure is great now, Miami just needs to get people back in there, that's gonna take winning and a massive campaign by the ticket guys. Miami isn't a college town, for casual fans to show up, the team needs to be a happening. Like the Heat with LBJ, Miamians want to see excellence.

[mi@mic@ne]

Butch Davis Never Heard Back From Hurricanes After Interview

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/12/09/butch-davis-never-heard-back-from-hurricanes-after-interview/?cid=facebook_CBS_Miami

[Sinistercane]

Michael Felder's Top 5 Big-Time QBs of the 2016 Class bleacherreport.com/articles/25973… via @bleacherreport

[Ohio_Cane]

Canes Hoops ‏@CanesHoops 15s15 seconds ago

.@CBSSportsCBB has three Canes in their top 100 college basketball players list: http://gocan.es/1NcjkCw

[Sinistercane]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2597344-michael-felders-top-5-big-time-qbs-of-the-2016-class?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=web-des-art-top-23

[j.w.]

Soup- I know virtually nothing about Tropical Park, or why that location is always mentioned. But location of the stadium is always criticized and complained about by our fans, media, even opponents. I understand and recognize that your point of view is strong, but there is a pretty compelling argument on the other side as well.
FWIW, this guy agrees with parts of the argument in favor of each location: http://slicemiami.com/2015/11/26/tropical-park-miami-hurricanes-football/

[TheeMackJones]

Misinformation about the Sun Bowl point spread, which was posted by a Cane fan.

Mike Leach's Cougar squad OPENED as a ... - 4 chalk.

OPENING LINE: WSU - 4

However, after the line became available to the wagering public, a line movement went Miami's way ( Positive vibrations for Cane fandom. ).

MONDAY, December 7th, a day which will live in infamy. FDR ( Best POTUS in modern American history!! )

WSU - 2 1/2

What this indicates is the Wise Guy SMART MONEY wagered on the Hurricanes, which led to a - 1 1/2 line movement.

Stay tuned for any other line movement as December 26th approaches.

[TheeMackJones]

Let me just say this. here is a headline U will never read in your lifetime:

Mexicans and Nicaraguans Pack Tropical Park Stadium For UM Football

Posted by: SOUP | December 09, 2015 at 03:32 PM

In other words, what you're discreetly insinuating, is American football is mainly a WHITE MAN and brother man's game. LMFAO

Yeah, yeah, yeah. A few Native Americans and a handful of Asian-Americans, also, have an interest in football.

[1mg of Epi]

.... a massive campaign by the ticket guys. Miami isn't a college town, for casual fans to show up, the team needs to be a happening.

Posted by: The Dude | December 09, 2015 at 04:02 PM

They sold 500 season tix on Friday alone.

The atmosphere at SLS is a product of what's happening on the field. I remember the GA tech and Clemson games in 2008 (or 09?) and that place was packed and rocking. Neither school was top 10 at the time, but the canes were ranked and we had some hope for the the season.

If we're winning, everything else takes care of itself and the stadium won't be an issue.

[Lur-ker]

No, he's not saying that. He's saying there's very little interest by most Nicaraguans or Mexicans that live down here to attend football games in any significant numbers. Anybody that's spent any time down here and goes to football games knows that's true. Just a simple observation.

[Terrance Sullivan]

This is hilarious the people that actually spend their money and time and Season Ticket Holders have no issues with Sun Life Stadium Hmmmm, its the people who don't go and aren't Season Ticket Holders that constantly bring up this load of garbage. Seriously WHAT The ****! Don't U All who don't go to games and aren't Season Ticket Holders have something better to talk about than this beyond tired argument. Flat Out Pathetic.

[SOUP]

Miami isn't a college town, for casual fans to show up, the team needs to be a happening. Like the Heat with LBJ, Miamians want to see excellence.

Posted by: The Dude | December 09, 2015 at 04:02 PM

There IT is right there.

[SOUP]

1. Soup- I know virtually nothing about Tropical Park, or why that location is always mentioned.

2. But location of the stadium is always criticized and complained about by our fans, media, even opponents.

3. I understand and recognize that your point of view is strong, but there is a pretty compelling argument on the other side as well.

4. FWIW, this guy agrees with parts of the argument in favor of each location: http://slicemiami.com/2015/11/26/tropical-park-miami-hurricanes-football/

Posted by: j.w. | December 09, 2015 at 05:11 PM

OK, so now U done pissed me of with this utter and complete NONSENSE! I'll take them one at a time before I explode and go straight from from ballistic to nuclear:

1. OK, so I was born at Doctors Hospital on the UM Coral Gables campus and grew up in Miami for over 30 years. I lived in Little Havana/Calle Ocho area until I was 13, then moved to Kendall, went to Miami Killian (GO Cougars) and then UM from 1980 to 1986. I know the 305 from top to bottom and east to west better than most anyone including all of the know it alls that ain't from my hometown and some who moved there later in life and a few who have never even been there from and ain't nobody gonna tell me shyte about Dade County, Miami or the 305.

I moved to the 954 (Ft Lauderdale/Coconut Creek/Margate) and then the 407 (Orlando), the the 352 (Clermont) and finally the 863 (Winter Haven). I have attended UM football, baseball and basketball games since 1973 and continue to do so having moved all over the State of Florida so you would lose that argument too. I have attended more AWAY games than most people clamoring for a stadium have attended HOME games so choke on that while you are at it.

I grew up playing in Tropical Park, Tamiami Park, Larry and Penny Thompson Park, Ron Ehman (God rest his soul) Park, Greynolds Park, Matheson Hammock Park, Halouver Park, Crandon Park Beach and every other park from Homestead to Hialeah.

TROPICAL PARK is the only location ever mentioned for two reasons: it is closest to UM (irrelevant that's not where the fan base is except for 3000 students) and it is the ONLY place even remotely possible to build a stadium. It is NOT mentioned because it is a GOD place, or the BEST place but simply because it is the ONLY place. There is simply no land left in the 305 to plop down a stadium anywhere near UM.

Traffic is HORRIBLE 24/7 on the 826 and 836 (yeah I know you have no idea what I am even talking about here) MUCH LESS on Coral Way (24th street), or Bird Road (40th street, Miller Drive (56th street), Sunset Blvd (72nd street). Cross traffic on LeJune Road (42nd ave), Red Road (57th ave), Ludlum (67th ave) or Galloway Road (87th ave) crawls along most of the time on two or max four lane roads.

The location further from the REAL fan base and traffic alone makes a stadium at Tropical Park a non-starter for the get go.

#StopTheNonsense

[Go Canes]

Mexicans and Nicaraguans Pack Tropical Park Stadium For UM Football

Posted by: SOUP | December 09, 2015 at 03:32 PM

I get your point but this is a silly statement.

We have people who claim to be hard core fans, actually live in Miami and still don't go to games.

That's the real issue, not Juaquin from Managua or Jesus from Tijuana.

[Go Canes]

The stadium could be across the street, doesn't matter.

[mi@mic@ne]

I lived in miami..from Kendall...was born at Doctors hospital which is next to the campus..lol and lived around the airport as a child . To me the tropical park location is about he same as the OB but west of the campus instead of east.

[mi@mic@ne]

The OB was in the middle of a neighbor hood and had no expressways that emptied into it..maybe 836 ...but tropical has the what we used to call the Palmetto expressway...its about the same in my opinion.

[mi@mic@ne]

The neighbors are are gonna make good money if it goes to tropical...ive parked in so many yards around the ob its to many to count..lol

[mi@mic@ne]

there was absolutely no parking at the ob..i mean not enough to make a dent

[mi@mic@ne]

I went to see the Canes beat the Gators a couple years ago at Sun Life and in my opinion there was more parking around the stadium but it was dam near impossible to get out in a timely manner.

[mi@mic@ne]

I used to get in my car at the ob and find a side road out...fast lol

[SOUP]

2. But location of the stadium is always criticized and complained about by our fans, media, even opponents.

OK, my first response is to see my comment from this morning about complainers and why Donald Trump is so popular and why the blog goes dead when there is nothing to BYTCHE about. Complaining is a full time profession for about 70% of the US population and with opinionated South Floridians being among the best in the nation at it. Half of the "fans" complaining NEVER even go to games they just like to complain and even IF the stadium is ever built (No chance in hell) they will just start complaining about something new like the traffic, or the seats or the lack of concessions and bathrooms or cost of parking or the friggin cheerleaders.

Second, now U are listening to THE MEDIA? Really, the empty suits, the talking heads, just REALLY? The same media that can't get the names right half the time, have no idea that UM is in Coral Gables and not Miami, that don't know Miami Gardens from Opa Locka and that says the same tired thing of "lack of facilities at UM" as if Miami has not upgraded facilities to be a million times better than when I was on campus in 1983-1987 when Miami was winning championships. Back then players lived in Bldg 36, an old dilapidated apt building built in the 40's or 50's that was a roach infested wreck with players turning other players cars on their roof as a joke. The Hecht Center (yeah I know U never been there either), locker rooms, weight training rooms and practice facilities were pathetic and we still won and kicked their collective azzes. The entire campus and facilities are LIGHT YEARS ahead of where they were when I was on campus and are JUST FINE THANK U VERY MUCH. OK so they are not top 10 in the Country but they are MORE than nice and MORE than enough to attract top recruits and MOST importantly more than enough TO WIN!

How we doing so far? U still breathing?

[mi@mic@ne]

When Charlie tate was the coach my dad used to walk to the ob from our house on 8th street. about a half mile from us1..when i was about 6 i walked with him...when the canes were we the wearing gold helmets...lol

[mi@mic@ne]

When Snells was their the o line used to pull a Volkswagen around the parking lot..lol

[mi@mic@ne]

A full back that played for the Bucs started the Volkswagen drama..lol cant remember his name..

[SOUP]

3. I understand and recognize that your point of view is strong, but there is a pretty compelling argument on the other side as well.

There is absolutely no compelling argument AT ALL except for people who do not go to games that want to argue for arguments sake which is what we are doing right now! LOL

The site is inadequate, the traffic is a non-starter and there are certainly not $200-$300 million good reasons to even consider building a new stadium I can tell you that.

The movers and shakers in the 305 are using this as a publicity stunt, a weak attempt to make money if they somehow get lucky and sucker the city or county (see Marlins Park) to pay for the damn thing with a new tourist or sales tax to build something nobody really wants anyway.

Trust me this a sham wrapped in a con game seen through smoke and mirrors, nothing more, nothing less.

[SOUP]

When Snells was their the o line used to pull a Volkswagen around the parking lot..lol

Posted by: mi@mic@ne | December 09, 2015 at 06:40 PM

YUP, then they turned it upside down one day as a prank. Not sure the car even ran?

[mi@mic@ne]

lol ...miss the innocence of those days when the money the force that moved the college train...lol

[mi@mic@ne]

not the force

[Go Canes]

I'm going to say this is the most fired up I've seen Soup in about 2 years.

Thankfully he is 100% correct in everything he's said and even if he wasn't there's 0% chance of us going anywhere until we are much, much older and far more gray.

[SOUP]

Oh yeah, well, there is the one small sticking point of the 18 years left on a signed lease contract to play at Sun Life. I'm sure the Dolphins owner will just let UM walk away with a smile, nod and handshake, because he likes us, and is really a generous guy, right?

[Ohio_Cane]

Barry:

Per UM: Since Richt hiring, volume of calls for UM tickets and demand highest since winning nat. title in Jan. 2002: miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/20…