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Jay Paves The Way

World Series champion and University of Miami baseball All-American Jon Jay will headline the 2019 First Pitch Banquet on Feb. 8, head coach Gino DiMare announced.

The banquet will take place in the University of Miami Fieldhouse adjacent to the Watsco Center on campus. A cocktail reception will be held at 6 p.m., while the First Pitch Banquet is set to begin at 7 p.m.

"I am excited to announce that Jon Jay will be our First Pitch Speaker for our 2019 banquet," DiMare said. "I can't think of anyone that represents the University of Miami baseball program better than Jon. He is a great example of what a Hurricane baseball player is all about both on and off the field."

A Miami native, Jay starred at Christopher Columbus High School and helped the Explorers win the 2003 Class 6A state championship before a standout career with the Hurricanes from 2004-06. Jay produced one of the best freshman seasons in Miami history in 2004, earning Freshman All-America honors by Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America, and was selected for the All-Tournament teams of both the Atlantic Regional and College World Series. Jay was first-team All-ACC and third-team All-America after leading the Canes with a .408 batting average as a sophomore. 

In 2006, as team captain, he turned in another stellar performance, leading the team with a .361 batting average, 31 stolen bases, 77 runs scored and a .490 on-base percentage. Once again, he was selected first-team All-ACC, second-team All-American by Baseball America and was voted UM's Most Valuable Player. For his UM career, Jon has the fourth-highest batting average (.378) and the fifth-highest hit total (254). He also had two 17-game hitting streaks, both listed in the top ten in school history.

Selected in the second round (74th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2006 MLB Draft, Jay made his big league debut in 2010 and was a valuable member of the Cardinals' 2011 World Championship team. He has also played with the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks. A 2016 inductee to the UM Sports Hall of Fame, Jay will begin his tenth year in Major League Baseball in 2019.

U Are Smart And Talented

Three Miami Hurricanes football student-athletes were recognized for excellence in the classroom with their selections to the All-ACC Academic Football Team, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Running back Travis Homer, safety Jaquan Johnson and offensive lineman Hayden Mahoney were all honored by the ACC.

Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one's academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.

Homer, who elected to forego his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft, majored in management during his academic career. Mahoney, who made 10 starts in his final year at The U, also majored in management, while Johnson, who was named to the All-ACC Second Team and recently competed in the Reese's Senior Bowl, majored in human and social development.

Seminoles Scalp Hurricanes

The University of Miami men's basketball suffered a 78-66 loss against No. 23 Florida State Sunday night at the Watsco Center.
 
The Hurricanes (9-10, 1-6 ACC) were led in scoring by Zach Johnson (20 points), his third 20-point outing as a Cane. The redshirt senior guard was joined by a trio of teammates in double figures, including redshirt sophomore forward Sam Waardenburg(13 points), junior guard Dejan Vasiljevic (12 points) and senior guard Anthony Lawrence II (11 points).
 
Overall, Miami shot just 23-of-55 (41.8 percent) from the field, while the Seminoles (15-5, 3-4 ACC) posted a 28-of-50 (56.0 percent) shooting performance. Shooting lights out from beyond the arc, FSU finished the night 60 percent (12-of-20) of its 3-point attempts, while Miami finished just 7-of-29 (24.1 percent) from long range.
 

Florida State was led in scoring by M.J. Walker, who finished the night with a game-high 22 points while also converting on 6-of-7 of his attempts from long range. Mfiondu Kabengele followed closely behind with 17 points, while Terance Mann posted a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds).
 
Trailing 27-18 with 7:53 remaining in the opening frame, the Hurricanes brought the game back within two, following a 7-0 run led by Waardenburg and Vasiljevic. However, FSU countered with an 18-3 run of its own to close out the final 5:54 of action to take a commanding 45-28 lead into the locker room.
 
The Hurricanes will return to the Watsco Center on Wednesday, with a matchup against No. 10 Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

FSU Comes To Coral Gables

The University of Miami men's basketball team returns home Sunday for a rivalry game against No. 23 Florida State at the Watsco Center. Game time is set for 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
 
The broadcast also streams online via the WatchESPN app. The Canes' radio broadcast airs on WQAM 560-AM and also streams on HurricaneSports.com, Radio.com and the TuneIn app. The Spanish radio broadcast airs on WTIG 990-AM ESPN Deportes.
 

Things To Know
• Miami's next three games are against ranked teams.
• Miami is the only team among basketball's six power conferences with five players averaging at least 11.6 ppg apiece.
• DJ Vasiljevic has hit at least one 3-pointer in 31 straight games – the longest current streak in the ACC – and needs to connect on one more 3-pointer to reach the career top 10 in 3-pointers at UM.
• Chris Lykes is eighth in the ACC in scoring (17.5) and fourth in conference play (19.3 ppg).
• UM has led in the second half in 16 of its 18 games.
• UM averages 8.8 3-pointers per game (third in ACC).
• Zach Johnson is one of 11 players nationally with 1,500 career points and 350 assists.
• Ebuka Izundu is third in the ACC in rebounding (9.4), and fourth in double-doubles (6).
• As a team Miami ranks seventh nationally in fewest fouls per game (14.3).
• Junior forward Dewan Hernandez has been withheld from competition thus far as the University and NCAA review his eligibility.

U Ladies Rock

The University of Miami women's basketball team logged its biggest win of the season thus far Wednesday night at the Carrier Dome, toppling No. 13/14 Syracuse, 84-71.

Despite battling foul trouble, senior forward/center Emese Hof paced RV/No. 23 Miami (17-4, 5-1 ACC) with 21 points and tied the school record with an 11-of-11 mark at the free-throw line, as the Hurricanes defeated their third top-25 foe of the year.

"I just loved our toughness. It was a game where we didn't have a ton of time to prepare and the players knew what was required," Miami head coach Katie Meier said. "With eight minutes to go, we called timeout. [We told the team], the only minutes we are losing this game—the only time Syracuse has been better than Miami—is when they are out hustling us. So, when they were first to the floor and they're getting those backside offensive rebounds. I said we have to fix those things right now and I think that we did."

The second quarter featured seesaw action, opening with a 9-0 run by Miami in the first 2:11. The Orange answered with eight of the next 10 points, followed by the Hurricanes tallying 12 of the ensuing 14, with six coming on a pair of 3-pointers by sophomore guard Kelsey Marshall. Syracuse scored the last basket of the frame and the Hurricanes took a 45-37 edge into the locker room.

Miami shot 56.7 percent (17-of-30) in the opening 20 minutes, including 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from 3-point range. Meanwhile the Orange posted clips of 40.5 percent overall (17-of-42) and 12.5 percent (2-of-16) from deep.

The Hurricanes stretched their lead to 11 twice in the third session, but the Orange used an 8-0 run to pull back within three, 56-53. However, as the back-and-forth scoring continued, Miami tallied eight of the final 11 points of the period. A buzzer-beating 3-pointer by junior guard/forward Sarah Mortensen made it 64-56 with 10 minutes left.

"We didn't pout, we didn't drop our shoulders. When she hit that shot—I mean, that is what they do. No one made a mistake on that play," Meier said of Miami's answer down the stretch. "They had four shooters in at the time and their post play was killing us and we were in foul trouble, so we had to give that up. So I think, when he called that timeout, I wasn't mad at my team at all . . . [and I said,] 'We just have to execute down the stretch and we are fine.' I think the fact that we didn't pout in that situation was huge."

"We were just very focused, very locked in. I think it is fun to go on the road with this team," Meier said. "We had a little bit more time to do film; we had only one day of court prep for this game. It was hard to hear in here, so they kind of had to talk to each other and solve problems."

The loss for Syracuse was its first at home since an 84-77 setback versus fourth-ranked Louisville on Feb. 4, 2018.

The U Gets Some New Blood

The University of Miami football program has hired Taylor Stubblefield as wide receivers coach and Stephen Field as tight ends coach, head coach Manny Diaz announced Friday. 

"We're excited to welcome these coaches to the Miami family," Diaz said. "Taylor was a Biletnikoff Award finalist as a college receiver and he boasts a terrific track record coaching that position. He has strong ties to offensive coordinator, Dan Enos, which is significant as we begin to build and shape our offense.

"Stephen is an outstanding coach who has had great success at the college and high school levels. He is a proven recruiter on a national scale, and has strong ties to UM and to South Florida. They will be excellent additions to our staff." 

Stubblefield, a record-setting wide receiver during his playing days at Purdue, comes to UM after two seasons as wide receivers coach at the Air Force Academy. Field, a veteran coach from the college and high school ranks, comes to UM from Louisville, where he was hired as Director of Recruiting earlier this month. This is his second tour of duty at Miami, having served as a defensive graduate assistant and special teams coach for the Hurricanes from 2007-08. 

Stubblefield had college coaching stops at Utah (2014-15), Wake Forest (2013), New Mexico (2012), Central Michigan (2011), Illinois State (2009-10), Eastern Michigan (2008) and Central Washington (2007).

Stubblefield coached under Hurricanes offensive coordinator Dan Enos at CMU, where he coached three third-team all-Mid-American Conference receivers in Titus Davis, Courtney Williams and Cody Wilson. In his two years at Illinois State, Stubblefield coached three all-Missouri Valley Football Conference players, including first-team wide receiver Eyad Salem, who set a school record for receptions in a season with 92.

As a wide receiver at Purdue, Stubblefield was a consensus All-America selection and a 2004 finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, presented to the nation's outstanding receiver. He finished his career (2001-04) with a then-NCAA record 316 receptions, ranking second in Big Ten history with 3,629 receiving yards. His 16 receiving touchdowns in 2004 are a Boilermakers single-season record.

Field spent last season as the Director of Recruiting at Oregon, where he helped the Ducks land the top-ranked class in school history. Oregon's 2019 class was ranked first in the Pacific-12 Conference and ninth nationally by 247 Sports. 

In 2017, Field served as Louisville's Director of High School Relations and NFL Liaison, helping the Cardinals sign 19 student-athletes during the initial early signing period, eight of which enrolled in January. The 2018 signing class featured a school-best 11 four-star recruits and a pair of Under Armour All-Americans.

Field was named the 2015 Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) Coach of the Year, guiding North Marion to the regional quarterfinals, after his squad led the county in passing, rushing and scoring. Field was also selected as the offensive coordinator in the 2015 Offense-Defense All-American game in Orlando, Fla., and produced six players selected to play in the All-American game, a Marion County record.

Prior to his stint at North Marion, Field served as head coach and offensive coordinator at Miami Northwestern High (2012-14), where he restored the perennial prep power to prominence, guiding them to a regional appearance in his first season. During his tenure at Northwestern, 46 players earned scholarships, including future Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Artie Burns.

Before his stint at Hampton, Field coached two years at UM (2007-08) on the defensive side of the ball, working with future NFL draft picks like Kenny Phillips, Tavares Gooden, Sean Spence, Darryl Sharpton, Brandon Harris and Allen Bailey.

In 2005-06, Field was the offensive run game coordinator, running backs coach and academic coach at Glades Central High in Belle Glade, Fla.While at Glades Central, he coached back-to-back 1,000 yard rushers in Aston Samuels and Damien Berry. In 2006, Glades Central won the Class 3A championship.

Field also spent a season at Deerfield Beach High, where he coached 1,000-yard rusher Roderick Ferguson, and four years at Miami Central High, where he coached the top two statistical ranking wide receivers in Dade County in 2002.

Field was a two-time all-state selection at Palm Beach Lakes High, helping them to the only undefeated season in school history.He played tight end for two seasons at Tuskegee University. Field later earned a bachelor's degree in business management from University of Phoenix, and a master's degree in liberal studies from UM.

Hurricanes Announce 2019 Schedule

The University of Miami released its 2019 football schedule Wednesday, highlighted by a season-opening matchup against Florida in Orlando, as well as six home games at Hard Rock Stadium. 

The Hurricanes kick off their 2019 season against the Gators on Saturday, Aug. 31, in the 2019 Camping World Kickoff at Camping World Stadium. Manny Diaz's first game as head coach of the Hurricanes is also UM's first meeting with Florida since 2013, a 21-16 Miami win at then-Sun Life Stadium. 

This is the first time the two teams have played at a neutral site in the regular season since Miami's 32-20 win at Tampa Stadium in 1984. The Hurricanes lead the overall series, 29-26, and have won seven of the past eight meetings. 

Miami's home schedule includes non-conference games against Bethune-Cookman and Central Michigan, as well as games against ACC rivals Georgia Tech, Louisville, Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes have posted a 16-3 regular season mark at Hard Rock Stadium over the past three seasons. Miami has five consecutive home games on its schedule for the first time since 1987. The Hurricanes open and close conference play with trips to Tobacco Road and play their first-ever game at Marlins Park against FIU. The Hurricanes also have two bye weeks, one on Sept. 28 and another on Nov. 16.

After its season opener against Florida, Miami hits the road for its ACC opener at North Carolina on Sept. 7. The Hurricanes defeated the Tar Heels, 47-10, last season at home to take the lead in the overall series, 11-10.

Miami returns home on Sept. 14 to face Bethune-Cookman, the first of five straight games at Hard Rock Stadium. The Hurricanes have won all four prior meetings with the Wildcats, the most recent a 41-13 victory to begin the 2017 season.

On Sept. 21, the Hurricanes host Central Michigan, marking the first-ever contest between the two programs. Miami is 7-0 all-time versus schools from the Mid-American Conference. Hurricanes offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Dan Enos was Central Michigan's head coach from 2010-14.

After its first bye week, Miami welcomes Virginia Tech to Hard Rock Stadium on Oct. 5, the earliest matchup between the two ACC Coastal Division rivals since 2009. The Hurricanes have won four of the past five meetings, including a 38-14 victory in Blacksburg last season. Miami then hosts Virginia on Friday night, Oct. 11. UM has won five of seven home games overall against the Cavaliers.

The Hurricanes square off against Georgia Tech to end their five-game home stand on Oct. 19. Miami lost to the Yellow Jackets last season in Atlanta, 27-21, after winning eight of the previous nine matchups.

The Hurricanes then hit the road for four of their last five contests. First up is a trip to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa., to face the Panthers on Oct. 26. Miami then treks to Tallahassee, Fla., on Nov. 2 for its annual date with Florida State. The Hurricanes have won the last two meetings between the in-state rivals and lead the overall series, 33-30. 

Miami returns to Hard Rock Stadium on Nov. 9 for its home finale against Louisville. The Hurricanes last played the Cardinals in 2014 – Louisville's first season as a member of the ACC. The Cardinals last played in Miami in 2004, when the third-ranked Hurricanes defeated No. 18 Louisville, 41-38.

After a second bye week, the Hurricanes will travel just eight miles from campus for their penultimate road game of the season on Nov. 23, a date with FIU at Marlins Park -- current home of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins and former site of the Miami Orange Bowl, where UM played its home games from 1937-2007. Marlins Park opened in 2012 and hosted the Miami Beach Bowl from 2014-16. This will mark the fourth meeting between Miami and FIU. The Hurricanes have won all three previous matchups, including a 31-17 victory at Hard Rock Stadium last season.

Miami wraps up the 2019 regular season at Duke on Nov. 30. The Hurricanes have lost just once in eight games at Wallace Wade Stadium.

The Space Is The Place

So when you think about all of the Miami Hurricanes fan blogs you have to consider Canespace as one of the best. 

Over the years we have won some and lost some games, and some fans, but the reality is that in the end we have held it together as best we can. And better than most other sites who have tried to do the same.

Sarasota Cane recently demonstrated his love for the bloggers here by donating his time, effort and money to recognizing two bloggers here at Canepsace: VA Cane and myself. The results are very rewarding.

While we do not always agree, in fact, we probably disagree more often than not, we all have much more in common than we think. And we all have the love for "The U" in our hearts and bleed orange and green.

The relationships that have formed here over the last twelve years have been tested and tried over time. Like any good family, we have been through good and bad times, have fought for what we believe and have left our scars on each other from time to time. But that does not diminish our loyalty to Canespace.

Yet still, here we are in 2019 cheering on our team and helping each other find our way through the maze of life and sports. We are rooting for new head coach Manny Diaz to lead us to victory in games that are ahead.

And we remain hopeful for what is yet to come in the long and storied history of Miami Hurricanes football. Go Canes!

Diaz Tackles Saban For A Loss

The University of Miami defense, led by their defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, led the Nation in tackles for loss during the 2018 college football season.

On Friday, Diaz tackled a even bigger objective when he snuck into Tuscaloosa, Alabama and stole his new offensive coordinator from none other than Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Now that was impressive!

Diaz and the University of Miami formally announced on Friday that Dan Enos would become the new Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach at UM.

That announcement was met with overwhelming support and wide-sweeping approval by Hurricane fans who had been waiting rather impatiently (you know who you are) for this critical decision to be made.

Even long time UM fan and Canespace blogger MaryLouAlumni (seen above with some of the early Canespace gang) had some extra giddy-up in her step!

UM released the following statement on www.hurricanesports.com: 

The University of Miami football program has hired Dan Enos as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, head coach Manny Diaz announced Friday.

Enos, a 28-year college coaching veteran, spent the 2018 season as associate head coach/quarterbacks at Alabama, which won 14 games and the Southeastern Conference title while advancing to the College Football Playoff national championship game.

"Dan was my primary target for our offensive coordinator position from the outset and I'm thrilled that he's now a Miami Hurricane," Diaz said. "Dan is one of the most innovative play-callers in college football and he not only has a remarkable track record of coaching quarterbacks, but also developing players for the NFL at numerous positions. His experience as a head coach will also provide invaluable insight to our entire program."

And yes, even our own CGNC (one of the original Canespacers) approved and had not felt so "high" since our early days at the Miami Orange Bowl.

Other rumors yet to be confirmed about other offensive position coaches being hired at Miami continued to swirl around on social media and other sports news web sites throughout the day. Once more formal announcements have been made we will continue to update you on any progress made to fill out the coaching staff prior to National Signing Day 2019.

Until then keep your chins up Miami fans. Better days are sure to come! 

Carry On My Wayward Son

Looking back over the past decade or so, the University of Miami football program appears to have lost it's way on the long and winding road.

For over 14 years, from roughly 2003-2018, the Hurricanes seem to have been wandering the desert in search of their new identity and destiny.

Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high.

Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man
I hear the voices when I'm dreaming,
I can hear them say.

Now, former Defensive Coordinator and current Head Coach Manny Diaz is the guy who is supposed to fix all that and in record time.

We hope that he can and will pray that he will bring about the change needed.

Masquerading as a man with a reason
My charade is the event of the season
And if I claim to be a wise man,
Well, it surely means that I don't know

On a stormy sea of moving emotion
Tossed about, I'm like a ship on the ocean
I set a course for winds of fortune,
But I hear the voices say

Time will tell, but trust me, three years pass by really, really fast.

Just ask Larry Coker, Randy Shannon, Al Golden and Mark Richt.

Carry on my wayward son,
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more