Orlando Welcomes Miami

Although the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl will not take place on Christmas, the University of Miami football team would certainly have no problem waiting a few extra days for the team’s biggest Christmas wish of all – a bowl win.

On Christmas Eve, the Hurricanes returned to the practice field for the first time since Thursday as they began their final days of bowl game preparation for their matchup against West Virginia.

Miami is holding its bowl practices at Celebration High School, a location head coach Mark Richt is very familiar with in his previous bowl visits to Orlando.

“Great facility, great people at Celebration High School,” Richt said. “I was here one of those years with Georgia, we came here as well. They really made a lot of great improvements. Just to be able to practice on the field turf field makes a lot of sense since the game is going to be on one.”

Richt certainly knows what it takes to be successful in bowl games, as he owns a 9-5 career record in bowl games with his five losses coming by seven points-or-fewer. 

Following practice on Saturday, the first-year Miami head coach was pleased with the team’s mindset following a travel day.

“I thought the guys came back with a good attitude,” Richt said. “I say ‘came back’, but we only had one day off. But when you travel, and you change the venue and you change the practice field and you change where you meet, all those things are a little bit different. I thought the focus was good.”

For junior defensive lineman Trent Harris, Miami’s trip to Orlando is a homecoming of sorts for the Winterpark, Fla., native. 

“It’s awesome,” Harris said. “I’m about to meet with my family in a couple minutes. It’s awesome to be able to play football and be around my family at the same time.”

Harris, who played in all 12 games for the Hurricanes this season and posted 9.5 tackles for loss, will have plenty of family members in Orlando during bowl week. During his post practice media session, Harris thanked his teammates for giving up their game tickets, so he could give them to his family. 

“A lot of teammates were generous and gave them to me. I have a lot of family, pretty much my whole family is here. My mom and dad both have four brothers each, so I have a lot of family down here. It’s been pretty crazy, but I think I have enough.”

Despite being near many of his family members, Harris has remained focused on preparing for West Virginia.

“We have practice in the morning, so I’m going to be focused on football all though the morning. But we have some free time after that so I think I’m going to be able to go home and open presents with my family for the first time in three years. That should be exciting.”

This week’s bowl festivities are the first for several Miami student-athletes, including freshman Shaquille Quarterman, who had no problem voicing his excitement in Orlando during his post-practice media session.

“Russell [Athletic Bowl] has done an extremely good job with us and they’re treating us like we’re somebody special,” Quarterman said. “It’s going really well. I am looking forward to all the events. The Best Buy thing was pretty cool and the hotel is as nice as any hotel I’ve ever been to.”

 

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Comments

[VA Cane]

Rohan and ST!!!! Go Canes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[1mg of Epi]

Dammit va

[1mg of Epi]

Posted by: VA Cane | December 26, 2016 at 02:23 PM

I'm all for having as many bowl games as possible! The college season is too short as it is, and it doesn't get any better than watching games all day during the week.

[VA Cane]

While I love this game, I hate seeing a lot of bad football. I watch some....then I get that coaching fervor and wish i could teach some of these teams good football. I guess tolerance is the answer Birthday Brother!!!!!

[Herbieibis]

Love bowl season, love college football period but I can't get into watching second rate teams. Also don't believe teams should be rewarded for a five hundred or less. I don't want to be rewarded for being mediocre. I get the fact that it gives u 15 extra practices plus the money but most teams spend more than make..
I'm for an 8 team play off. 20 bowl games is plenty.

[Herbieibis]

Pretty sad when u look at the Florida top 100 and Alabama has 5 of the top 25 players and Osu has 3. Hell Texas A&M has 2 maybe 3. Da U has one. This ain't getting us over the top.

[VA Cane]

Agreed...you have to get these kids to stay in FL...you wont get them all but nice to get some at the U...and get other states kids like we use to do. That recruiting ability....HS, JJ, Erickson and Butch staffs had it....plus the great brand name....Clappy, Onion, AlPa flushed the brand name down the toilet...along with the program.

Two things concern me; Richts passive Offense that needs to be dynamic...he found that out and changed that, but it still has miles to go.

Two; can the guy recruit elite talent. Dont remember any elite talent at GA...Stafford was his best developed player.He has 35 or so in the NFL, which is pretty good. He never was in a race for a NC....thats what we want. To be fair, he will need several rounds of recruiting to get where he wants...will he? Not by letting the Brand names....(we are a brand.....kind of like Great Value at Walmart....not Gucci or Calvin Klein) get the best kids.

He can change the offense now...this bowl game would be nice to see us attack instead of run run run punt...he stepped that up.
Recruiting will take longer to improve....time will tell the results. While we had a better year, 8-4 for the next 5 years will not work here. JMO

[TonyCane]

Love bowl season, love college football period but I can't get into watching second rate teams. Also don't believe teams should be rewarded for a five hundred or less. I don't want to be rewarded for being mediocre. I get the fact that it gives u 15 extra practices plus the money but most teams spend more than make..
I'm for an 8 team play off. 20 bowl games is plenty.

Posted by: Herbieibis | December 26, 2016 at 04:59 PM

It's in some respects good for the players. They can legitimately be rewarded for playing in the bowls. It's not much, but it beats the nothing that they otherwise receive (outside of scholarships and SEC bagmen).

[TonyCane]

Pretty sad when u look at the Florida top 100 and Alabama has 5 of the top 25 players and Osu has 3. Hell Texas A&M has 2 maybe 3. Da U has one. This ain't getting us over the top.

Posted by: Herbieibis | December 26, 2016 at 05:23 PM

You can't really expect Alabama to have any less at this point. Right now Saban has constructed a machine the likes that college football has never seen before. If Saban was ten years younger, it would be realistic to expect the Crimson Tide to win no less than seven of the next ten national championships. What Saban has going right now is a perpetual motion NC-producing NFL factory - the equivalent of the New England Patriots with the benefits of fifteen first round draft choices each year.

The only saving grace is scholarship limits. If not, I'd be surprised if Saban did not have all 25 players locked up.

[1mg of Epi]

Pretty sad when u look at the Florida top 100 and Alabama has 5 of the top 25 players and Osu has 3. Hell Texas A&M has 2 maybe 3. Da U has one. This ain't getting us over the top.

Posted by: Herbieibis | December 26, 2016 at 05:23 PM

Maybe When the staff no longer takes 4 losses to make a Simple change we can expect recruiting to pickup

[Danny Kanell(casual commentator)]

I'll be at the RAB.

[AlPa (casual coach)]

I will be at the bowl; I will help with TEs and my half brother NoDPa will help Manny get the D back on course....in a 3/4 with corners off the WRs bt 20 yards!!!

[AlPa (casual coach)]

by 20 yards.....Clappy and Onionhead will help with the O and D from the booth just to be sure we have everything covered!!!

[AlPa (casual coach)]

.....and I heard CGNCPa will help coordinate it all from the sidelines!!!

[Ghost of Christmas Past]

Mullens is actually a pretty good coach.
Posted by: CaneRock | December 26, 2016 at 420

Thanks Canerock much appreciated but if I stick around "The Space" you'll have full comprehension as to why I am not worth to fucks.

Posted by: Dan Mullen | December 26, 2016 at 05:48 PM

Dan Mullen
I am not worth to fucks.

Posted by: Dan Mullen | December 26, 2016

As I was saying.

Posted by: Dan Mullen | December 26, 2016 at 05:49 PM

Dan Mullen
Wasn't my 1st choice for the UM job, but I wouldn't have been mad if we hired em'.

Posted by: CaneRock | December 26, 2016 at 04:20

And the U definitely wasn't mine, just trying to get more money for being average just like Al.

However, Albert was the better shit shoveler and they (BOD) knew it at the time. With the investigation about to happen they had no choice to hire him none of us really wanted the job and Temple read the writing on the wall when he was 0-fer against Coach Solich and whomever W.Michigan had coaching. If you got the dime I got the time to tell you stories of the great $EC.

Posted by: Dan Mullen | December 26, 2016 at 06:09 PM

Surprised He hasn't gotten a serious look from bigger programs.

Posted by: CaneRock | December 26, 2016 agai at 420

Does the name Cam Newton ring a bell?

Posted by: Dan Mullen | December 26, 2016 at 06:10 PM

Dan Mullen(Casual Coach)
Does the name Dal Presscot ring a bell?

Posted by: Dan Mullen(Casual Coach) | December 26, 2016 at 06:13 PM

Found this nugget from the last blog

[VA Cane]

Well we made 3 good hires at first, then we made 3 of the worst hires ever with the last 3 guys; terrible head coaches. We will see how CMR will do; it will take a bit to really be able to tell. Off to a good start in some areas, lot of work to be done i think. We will see.

[Harry Miller]

Happy Birthday Soup.

[BigWindyCane1]

An ACC team, NC State beat Vandy, an SEC team, by a pretty big margin in their bowl game today. The Canes beat a pretty good Wolfpack team at the end of the season, and this should help Canes strength of schedule. The Canes team that finished the season was a pretty good team, and they are building momentum toward this bowl game, national signing day and next season

[BigWindyCane1]

Though West Virginia has the better record (10-2) and is ranked 14th by the Associated Press (and 16th by the College Football Playoff committee), Greg McElroy isn’t surprised unranked Miami (8-4) is a slight favorite (2.5 points, as of Monday).

“As average as Miami’s been, their talent is still among the elite,” [Greg McElroy] said. “If you look at their bodies, guys along the defensive line, their quarterback is a marginal first-round pick, possibly — from a talent standpoint, they’re pretty outstanding. That doesn’t surprise me, given the perception of the Big 12 nationally, and how strong Miami has been when they’ve played their best ball.”

[VA Cane]

Nice compliments from GM.....a little heavy handed, a little too nice.....I do not buy elite talent...elite talent is not playing in a little bowl game...they are playing 12/31/2016....

[Dan Mullen]

They mentioned me on Monday night football.

[VA Cane]

Yes they did Dan.....

Dak Prescott is a pretty decent QB...quiet, unassuming, leader, calm.....great kid who will do well as a player...very good young man and player.

I never had a problem with Dallas...in the 60s and 70s they were great. 80s...not so good. Under JJ you respected them, loved JJ. BUT.....I rarely hate....wrong so I wont....I despise Jerry Jones....he is a complete idiot. I heard Perv Berman say him and Jimmy were legends....JJ is beloved by us...and others...who likes Jerry Jones? Nobody....you have to despise him even if you like the Boys. He is up for NFLHOF for non player? really? for being a horses butt. Business? yes! Football....an idiot!!!!

Player wise......I despise attitude people...Dez Bryant...yelling at teammates, coaches, a jerk... and he is good....but not great at all...why? his attitude plays when he feels like it.... The other 88....our boy MI....the only 88 that matters....he was the Playmaker...might have had some issues...but on the field...he was all biz. Dez is a jerk

Elliott....that feed me crap is ego BS. Fine back....but get rid of the feed me crap. Jumping in the SA bowl....showboat....other guys get fined....not him...cute...per league. Still a penalty. He went to OSU...so thats bad...but once told Urban they lost because he did not get the ball...Now Urban is not a fav....but a very good coach....you do not disrespect your coach....ever!!
So as many good players and people on the Cowboys.....so many of them are good and good people...
Dez Elliot and the King of Jerks Jerry make you want them to lose.
JMO

[VA Cane]

Dallas will be tough....Green Bay...possibly Seattle may be able to beat them....they are a good team.
AFC...hard to bet against The Pats....they are the best team....can Pittsburgh stop them on D....their DBs...our Artie....are young....could be a great game...

[SOUP]

Happy Birthday Soup.

Posted by: Harry Miller | December 26, 2016 at 09:41 PM

Thank U Sir!

[Go Canes!]

Bib, big money:

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/how-alabama-clemson-ohio-state-washington-make-and-spend-their-money/

[Go Canes!]

Well this certainly isn't good news:

West Virginia wide receiver Michael Harley (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) said he's shut down his recruitment, as first-reported by 247Sports.

Harley was slated to officially visit Miami January 13 and Florida January 27.

He will now only officially visit West Virginia January 20.

"I know that's where I want to go," Harley said. "I've always known that. I want to save face and not be one of these guys that say they're committed but they truly aren't. I don't want to worry (Mountaineers running backs coach JaJuan Seider)."

Seider offered Harley first.

"Coach Seider is family," Harley said. "I'm a great fit in their offense."

Harley will play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl next week. He plans to enroll at West Virginia this summer.

He originally verbally committed to the Mountaineers June 26.

The three-star recruit is ranked as the nation's No. 48 wide receiver and the No. 50 prospect in Florida in the 2017 class by 247SportsComposite.

As a senior, Harley caught 29 balls for 441 yards and eight touchdowns.

[raizecane]

Cant wait to attend the bowl game with my fellow canespacers.....

[SinisterCane]

Our Nole' double agent receiving coach can't recruit

[CaneRock]

"I want to save face"...smh...phuck yo' face.

[CaneRock]

Our Nole' double agent receiving coach can't recruit

Posted by: SinisterCane | December 27, 2016 at 10:42 AM

Neither can Michael Irvin...what good is He?

[CaneRock]

But I wouldn't say Dugans can't recruit. He got some good classes at Louisville, and we got a pretty good haul this year. Hopefully He makes up for it next year.

[mi@mic@ne]

The old motto of a Cane is equivalent in this day and age ...should be Im a Cane not a 5 star...the 5 star will get you to another team but can only be family at the U. Its time to start the education from the mighty mites

[Go Canes!]

Will be interesting to see how that kid feels if we beat the snot out of WVU convincingly.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Is there some kind of cloud I'm not aware of with Richt?

VA, I dont think the hires were necissarily the reason we havent won the Coastal though. To me thats on the administration letting the coaches put them over the barrel and giving coaches the opportunities to ruin their business. The U admin is probably the worst run admin among so called football schools.

[thirstybuzzardcane]

McElroy is spot on about Kaaya:

McElroy is excited to watch Hurricanes running back Mark Walton, whom he called “the most underrated player in the country. I really believe that. He’s really good.” McElroy was impressed that Miami has been able to keep Walton’s workload down; he averages 16 carries a game.

Incidentally, Walton’s season-high (24) came in a game McElroy worked (North Carolina-Miami on Oct. 15). McElroy also manned the mic for Miami’s game at Appalachian State on Sept. 17 and West Virginia’s 34-10 win over TCU on Oct. 22.

More McElroy on Miami:

“I think Walton is fantastic,” he said. “I think David Njoku is fantastic. I think he’s as good a tight end as you’ll find in college football, when it comes to putting stress on a defense in the passing game. I really like Brad Kaaya, but he’s inconsistent. His best is as good as anybody, but his worst is below where he should be. He’s not as consistent as I’d like; he’ll get that sorted out if he comes back, which I’d recommend.

“If he plays like he did at Pitt and Duke, no doubt he’s a first-round pick. If he plays like he did earlier in the year when he was inconsistent, he looks very average.”

[Herbieibis]

Well back to the drawing board with wr recruiting. Let's see, the one area besides cb that we really need to be stacking up and we've got 2,, wonderious! It's either back to IHOP and start flipping or plan C because the plan b's are rejecting us. Same story just a different position.

[Go Canes!]

He is definitely spot on with that assessment. Kaaya's definitely not NFL ready.

Looks like he is definitely going to go, which is a big mistake imo...

[tjl3909]

I guess they take the golden domer transfer

[Old Skool]

Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) RIP

[CGNC]

.....and I heard CGNCPa will help coordinate it all from the sidelines!!!

Posted by: AlPa (casual coach) | December 26, 2016 at 07:12 PM

False LOL!

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Wow! Carrie Fisher! May the force be with her. Just saw Rogue One.

[1mg of Epi]

Not surprising we have one wr commit when u look at the offense. Even when it wasn't so bad, it wasn't too good.

[VA Cane]

C'mon CGNCPa help the cause....thought you would get a laugh out of that!!!! Help AlPa and NoDPA out!!!

[WWIN]

Posted by: 1mg of Epi | December 27, 2016 at 03:49 PM

Who's woulda thought that 3* WR's don't like run blocking??? 4* and 5*'s LOVE it!

[TruCane81]

Make Pitt game the base O from game one and they would line up to play in that offense.

[BigWindyCane1]

Another mediocre ACC team, Wake Forest, beating 24 ranked Temple.

[BigWindyCane1]

Wake Forest 31, Temple 7, with 3:00 left in first half

[TJL]

Just saw Syracuse is our other crossover game next year (home game)
Would they allow Gus Edwards to transfer there and have him play against us?

[nemo2002]

Just saw Syracuse is our other crossover game next year (home game)
Would they allow Gus Edwards to transfer there and have him play against us?

Posted by: TJL | December 27, 2016 at 05:10 PM

I could be wrong. However, as a graduate student, I think he can transfer to any other school. UM can't stop him. (But again, I don't know for sure).
Regardless, I hope he stays!

[nemo2002]

Gus graduated, didn't he?