Hard Ball Rules

Head coach Jim Morris released the University of Miami’s 2017 baseball schedule Wednesday.

The Hurricanes, coming off their second straight College World Series trip and 25th in program history, feature 17 returners from a 2016 team that finished 50-14 overall and 21-7 in the ACC.

“It’s a very competitive schedule, just like last year’s,” Morris said. “It’s very tough, starting with the Atlantic Coast Conference and playing Florida out of the SEC, along with all the teams from South Florida. We’re playing just about everybody three or four times from down here. It’s another tough schedule.”

Three-time defending ACC Coastal Division champion Miami hosts 34 games inside the friendly confines of Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, where the Hurricanes finished 34-6 in 2015.

Rutgers (Feb. 17-19) arrives for the first regular season series of the spring before the Hurricanes travel to Gainesville, Fla., for their annual rivalry series with the Gators (Feb. 24-26).

Miami will also play crosstown foe FIU four times in 2017, splitting the games home and away. A classic home-and-home will take place March 7-8, when the Hurricanes host the Panthers in the first game and make the short drive to FIU Baseball Stadium for the second.

“All the teams down here are very good,” Morris said. “I expect FIU to be better now under their current coach. They’re tough games.Sometimes a team down here will hold their top guy back or No. 2 starter for us….it challenges our team to play good every day against everybody, not just ACC games. I spend a lot of time talking to our team about the importance of playing on Wednesdays, not just Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.”

Miami also battles FAU and FGCU three times, as well as single showdowns with St. Thomas and UCF.

ACC series include home matchups with Georgia Tech (March 10-12), Wake Forest (March 31-April 2), Duke (April 7-8), Florida State (April 21-23) and Virginia Tech (May 18-20). Road series include trips to NC State (March 17-19), North Carolina (March 24-26), Pittsburgh (April 14-16), Boston College (April 28-30) and Virginia (May 12-14).

In 2016, Miami won the ACC Regular Season Championship for the second time in the past three seasons, was ranked the No. 1 team nationwide during the regular season and earned the No. 3 national seed for the NCAA postseason.

“Coming to Miami from Day 1 was a tremendous challenge, following Coach Ron Fraser and what had been done in the past,” Morris said. “Every year is a new year, for me, for our players and for our fans. The expectations are very, very high. We have to go out and prove that we’re good this year. Next year we’ll have to go out and prove that we’re good next year. Every year is a new year, and we want to compete, we want to go to Omaha, and we want to have a chance to win.”

Comments

[Herbieibis]

Crock,
All the coaches on Dee look like UM material.

[TonyCane]

Canerock....wholeheartedly agree. Bad at developing and coaching talent, and too stubborn to change. All I'm saying that regardless of what he did with them once they came, he still averaged around six four star players per class. Some other coaches might have left Miami with a Wake Forest or Syracuse level of talent. And because he brought talent in Richt had a bedrock to work with.

[TonyCane]

Yep, I've been tempted to want Manny as HC.

[Go Canes!]

Joe!s stone crabs is still the shit.

[Go Canes!]

Joe's

[Dude, Where's My Hurricanes?]

Posted by: CaneRock | December 16, 2016 at 09:00 PM

Amen. Richt has got himself a bowl game to win. And then he needs to realize 9 wins is the lowest floor.

[Dude, Where's My Hurricanes?]

Sarkisian is replacing Kiffin at Bama. Not surprising. A good promotion for them. Now I wonder who they'll poach for Sark's spot. Richt needs to hire an OC. That needs to be made clear to him.

[Dude, Where's My Hurricanes?]

Hire a great OC and Miami will win the Coastal. Wash, rinse, repeat. Winning is bigger than what Richt wants to do to enjoy himself. Rob Chudzinski, Mike Yurcich, Jedd Fisch would all be good hires, heck, I'd take Dorsey right now.

[WWIN]

Hell, if it wasn't for WWIN & Da' Space, we don't land Corn LOL.

Posted by: CaneRock | December 16, 2016 at 08:39 PM

DAMN STRAIGHT!

[WWIN]

I'm not sold on Diaz yet... not saying he's bad... but how did he go from a NOBODY when we hired him to a HC candidate now? 😂

I'm sold on Kool tho!!!

[WWIN]

How about this handle?

Posted by: Dude, Where's My Hurricanes? | December 16, 2016 at 04:15 PM

That's the dumbest name I've ever heard of... I'm not gonna lie that's a AWESOME name! (Ricky Bobby)

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Posted by: WWIN | December 16, 2016 at 11:12 PM

Diaz's scheme is tailored perfectly to SoFL talent I think. Especially if we can grow DEs into DTs.

[Go Canes!]

Diaz=HC in waiting

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

This WV game has JaQuan Johnson defensive player of the game written all over it. On O, shots will be there for Kaaya and the RBs should be able to get a head of steam because WV doesnt get behind the LoS often. Thats great news because our running game philosophy is poopoo.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

This game will tell us a bunch about Richt as a HC. If Miami looks sharp with all that practice I will be very encouraged. If sloppy, that could be very telling. Either way, Dude needs an OC.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

^^^ Lol, some kind of Freudian slip there? *Either way, dude needs an OC.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

I want to see Njoku & Elder get drafted in the 1st round and I think Kaaya should come back. Next year Miami wins the Coastal and a bowl and Kaaya breaks every single Miami record, throws for 30 TDs.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Looking at the garbage QBs available in this year's draft and thinking Kaaya, with a good combine, could be the 1st QB taken. He's taller and has a better arm than the rest. When he's on he's certainly a very good passer even when he makes poor choices. His character is through the roof which NFL teams love... interesting choice for him because I think he'd look better than many players on ability. I dont know what everyone sees in Trubisky. A system QB. Makes a bunch of throws to wide open guys and has a super long wind up.

Brad Kaaya's NFL comparison is Phillip Rivers although not as good. A solid senior outing, which I think he'll have, could be a high pick.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Does anyone know if Kaaya graduates this year? I'm wondering if he can do that Matt Leinart thing where he just takes 1 class.

[Ohio_Cane]

What Diaz did with that side of the ball, including losing Grace and AQM, injuries to Colbert, CT9, Trent, etc, bad safeties in Jenkins and Carter, with 3 true freshman LB's, was nothing short of a miracle. The only coach who should be questioned less is Kool

[Ohio_Cane]

Oh, and Ariz doesn't expect Haskins to be at Miami much longer, so we def need a TE in this class if that's true. Missing McKitty hurt

[Go Canes!]

Don't think there's any way Corn or Njoku go first round.

Kaaya either. He's not athletic enough and won't really wow anyone at the combine imo.

[CaneRock]

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | December 17, 2016 at 07:44 AM

Hope not, kid looks like a beast.

[Go Canes!]

Man that video of OU's running back breaking that girls jaw makes Stoops and the university look really, really bad.

[CGNC]

Luckily for us golden wouldn't fire anybody or he still would be here, that's the only smart thing he did.

Posted by: Herbieibis | December 16, 2016 at 05:40 PM

LOL that is FUNNY and true

[CGNC]

LOL our bowl game is ranked 14th most watchable by somebody

[CGNC]

Posted by: The Dude | December 17, 2016 at 02:38 AM

I want to see Elder get drafted in the first round and Kaaya and Njoku come back.

[CGNC]

#RespectYourElder

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Posted by: Go Canes! | December 17, 2016 at 08:00 AM

I only say that because if Trubisky is the #1 guy out there, then Kaaya has a shot because he's better than Trubisky. Kaaya's combine will be all about arm talent, footwork (needs lots of work), and character. Last point is that the NFL reaches on QBs all the time, I wouldnt be shocked is what I'm saying.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Posted by: Go Canes! | December 17, 2016 at 10:32 AM

NCAA gets their V all sandy whenever a kid gets some free food. But when a university makes up fake punishments... crickets.

See what I did there?

[roachcane77]

#RespectYourElder

Nice one CGNC!

Yeah, if we can show the world a BIG Bowl win, our recruiting should be solid, (and stable.)
A big Bowl LOSS, and decommits won't be far behind.

(Nothing new there, I know.) But I'm REALLY hoping for a great showing in Orlando.

[VA Cane]

Very proud of 5 of my young men who play for James Madison University, FCS division, who knocked off 5 time defending champs North Dakota State last night....several of my kids played very well.NDSU won 5 in a row....22 straight playoff games....and my kids helped knock off a great champion!!

I coached them, and am proud of them, but make no mistake they got there on their own efforts, determination, and ability. I hope I helped them along the way; they are the focus and I give them all the credit...great young men! I spoke with them as a group today as they ate breakfast after their big win via cell nice of them to call their coach......I could not be prouder as they have a shot at the NS FCS...they are in final 1/7/2017 in Frisco TX. Speaking with them made me proud....and emotional....it was a touching moment for their old coach. They have a ball they are having th team sign and give me as a Xmas present to get me through my broken leg/ankle.

Very touching from a fine team and some fine kids.....This is why I keep coaching, why I do this for 37 years....great kids who feel that along the way you taught them, helped them. Its like having a million dollars....a great feeling for a coach knowing you helped and are remembered by them.

Go Dukes bring home the title to a proud state!

[VA Cane]

No coach in the history of CFB has produced a 2001 Miami team. That isn't the measuring stick.

Love that thought Epi.....no team has ever bee nthat good. Even Saban....his teams not even close re ability and talent!!!JMO

[Coolmac758]

We HAve The Worse Fans in College Football. We Finally got a Coach and now Fans are Still Complaining. We Lost a Receiver in Jeudy, but this is a Team Sport. Our Front Seven on Defense are Electric and The DB's We have coming in and what we already have will Make us Elite in that side of the ball. As far as Offense there are Fans Wanting Kaaya Gone. Are Yall Crazy? Bad Play calling and Terrible Offensive line. We need two or Three Decent Receivers with South Frida Speed as two Corners with it Also. We're going to be better on the Offensive Line for sure but we need two more Good ones. If the Recruits here out Fans belittling our Staff, Why Should they come. The Few of You who Never played Football and just base recruiting on Stars, pay attention to Washington, Boise State, South Florida and Houston. South Florida Talent is Four Star Everyday at The U. If They Don't Come, They Were Never Canes. To the Coaches, Please Get Dingle Back. He Will Help Us and We'll see him on Sunday's 4 or 5 years from now. Guaranteed.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Posted by: VA Cane | December 17, 2016 at 12:47 PM

Congrats!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Congrats VA

[WWIN]

Diaz's scheme is tailored perfectly to SoFL talent I think. Especially if we can grow DEs into DTs.

Posted by: The Dude | December 17, 2016 at 12:20 AM

Only things different from last to this year... 3-4 to 4-3 and most of the time we still use 3 down linemen...CB's still give WR's too much cushion. But the main difference is the D-line being AGGRESSIVE which is all Coach Kool!

[WWIN]

Diaz=HC in waiting

Posted by: Go Canes! | December 17, 2016 at 01:14 AM

Diaz=D'no at Texas 😂😂😂

Did you know about him last year???

[WWIN]

Posted by: The Dude | December 17, 2016 at 11:49 AM

Says who???

[TonyCane]

What do you think is the likelihood that FAU will join The Big 12 in the next five years?

[58 Straight]

341 and having fun!

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Posted by: WWIN | December 17, 2016 at 02:12 PM

Lots of things I've read.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Posted by: WWIN | December 17, 2016 at 02:06 PM

You're insane. We mostly play with 4 down linemen and the DBs are far more aggressive. Look at the freedom your boy gets to take chances on bubbles and runs. Its paid off big time. As far as cushion goes, we've played much tighter in the first half of the season than AG's staff did. You know we cant man up and jam every down with our depth, our CBs would be gased too fast with not much behind them.

[TonyCane]

WWIN...for a few games Diaz equaled DNo in Texas. He was fired after a ridiculous loss to BYU where they rushed for 400+ yards. To some extent he was made the scapegoat for a Longhorns program suddenly in decline.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Posted by: WWIN | December 17, 2016 at 02:10 PM

I sure as hell did and called it a really good hire the day I heard about it. I aint never done wrong by this blog.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Blaming Diaz for Texas is like blaming Solinger for Coker.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

*Soldinger*

[Go Canes!]

Yes I'd heard of him, but not much.

What's the point?

I'd never heard of JJ or Erickson, barely knew anything about Butch.

[TruCane81]

Diaz=HC in waiting

Posted by: Go Canes! | December 17, 2016 at 01:14 AM

May not be that bad an idea.

Larry and Randy have me leary of hiring a coordinator to learn on the job though.

Seems to run a good d, but what kind of recruiter would he be?

Also wondering about his offensive philosophy.

[WWIN]

Who wanted Diaz before we hired him??????

Now he's a HC candidate??? 😂😂😂