The Few, The U, The Air Force

It was a conversation Marshall Few knew he had to have.

What the receiver didn’t know was how his message would be received. After all, not many coaches want to hear a veteran player say they’re stepping away from the game – even if their reason for doing so is to pursue a lifelong dream.

“To be honest, I was expecting a little bit different reaction,” Few said of the heart-to-heart he had with head coach Manny Diaz in early April. “I was expecting him to be upset and be like ‘Oh, man, are you sure?’ But he realized how big it was for me and he just said, ‘Dude, that’s freaking awesome.’”

For Few – a former walk-on who was put on scholarship shortly after Diaz was named coach – there aren’t very many good reasons to walk away from the game he’s loved all his life and the team he’s been a part of for four years.

The opportunity to join the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command program, though, is one of those reasons.

Becoming an elite Airman has been one of Few’s goals for as long as he can remember. His father, Marshall Sr., is a 30-year Army veteran and Few grew up with a deep respect and appreciation for the military.

He considered attending one of the service academies after graduating from Ponte Vedra High School in 2017, but he landed at Miami, where he joined both the football team and UM’s Air Force ROTC program.

With help from his coaches and his commander, Few has been able to balance the demands of both playing high-level college football with his ROTC responsibilities. He is set to graduate next month as an Air Force officer and had expected to start graduate school and play one more season with the Hurricanes before truly beginning his military career.

But in March, Few took some time away from football to attend a special training session at Hurlburt Field, the home of Air Force Special Operations Command near Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

There, Few was one of 31 aspiring officers who went through a demanding one-week program that challenged participants both physically and mentally.

Of the 31 trainees who started the Phase II program, only 18 finished the week, which included everything from water confidence exercises to IQ testing and psychiatric evaluations. Only a handful of the applicants were selected for the special tactics officer program.

Few was among them. The time to start his military career had officially arrived. 

Read more here: Ready To Serve

Comments

[AfriCane]

AfriCane
Wow! Should have known! Had to come to canes pace to get the negative view on a spring game that was the best in a longbwhie, even with starters out.
The problem is LB, middle linebacker to be specific. Keyontre was the truth at weak side. The open field tackling was focking orgasmic. I don’t know the problem at DB u all talking about. We have safeties stacked. Our DBs r descent with the Georgia transfer, couch and our 2 older guys and another badass kid with a funny name I forget. I don’t see our DEs as a problem. They r just not known, same as when we lost the older guys dating back to 2017. Just watch. And I think the other D groups will cover up for sorry mike LB play, especially strikers.

[KYcane]

Posted by: AfriCane | April 23, 2021 at 11:44 AM

AC
Consistency is key

[HerbieIbis]

I know this, now that the Spring season is in the books, Manny needs to get with it on the recruiting trail. The covid helped us out last year but everything should be getting back to normal and we are stuck on one recruit a QB, which usually the last thing we get. A lot of players, at present don't have us as the lead dogs. There is a ton of defensive talent in the fenced in back yard. Looking at the crystal balls and they don't seem to be spinning in our direction.
Yes it is early but I figured we would at least have 4 or 5 in the hip pocket.
Manny better hope he has the dudes right because covid ain't helping us this year.

[AeroCane]

Miami losses game 1 to unc 4-2

Miami is 1-9 against ACC teams with a .500 conference record or better

They are 12-2 against ACC teams with a conference record below .500

Gino is NOT the right guy! Coach L is not the right guy! I will give manny this year to see if he is the right guy!
Blake James is definitely NOT the right AD!

[AfriCane]

Herb, the years we stack 1000 commits by now, what happened? We would lloose them all to the sec by opening day. Remember manny came right out and said to recruits that miami wasn’t a stepping stone to getting other offers. That if they r not sure, not to commit. Kids don’t fuck us over anymore because of that thanks to manny. So let’s take it slow and build solidly. I’ve seen nana with 2 recruits till opening day before and still end up with number 1 class. I’m not worried.

[HerbieIbis]

Yeah Aficane, I know all about losing them verbs. I think like in a 2 yr. period of time a few years back we lost like 22 kids.
I get the slow walk but having only 1 is to slow. All I was saying, once kids are able to take visit, it won't be like last year.

[HerbieIbis]

Canes got swept by UNC in a DH, 4-2 & 6-5.

[roachcane77]

But he realized how big it was for me and he just said, ‘Dude, that’s freaking awesome.’

Well said, Coach Manny D... Well said...

Follow your dream Marshall Few, and thank you for your service!

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[AeroCane]

7-1 canes in the 9th. At least we didn’t get swept ( assuming we hang in to win)!

[AeroCane]

Canes win and don’t get swept lol

[86Cane]

Saw the game ended 8-1.

#GoCanes

[VA Cane]

Nice couple charts from state of the U......very interesting data.....damn we need to get back on top!

https://www.stateoftheu.com/2021/4/8/22360056/miami-hurricanes-2021-nfl-draft-jaelan-phillips-greg-rousseau-jose-borregales-brevin-jordan

[AeroCane]

Canes beat fgcu 6-0
Yawn!

[CGNC]

Somehow, It doesn't feel solid the way I remember it?

Posted by: 86Cane | April 23, 2021 at 11:04 AM

Nope. We got run into the ground by UNC and lost yet another bowl game.

[AeroCane]

Here’s hoping Grier and Flores don’t screw up a potentially awesome draft for the Fins

[Sarasota 'cane]

Alabama just tied Miami’s 2004 class for most 1st round NFL picks in a single draft (6). I’m betting they break the record tonight.

And the two Dolphin 1st round picks look good to me.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami

Go ‘canes!
Go Dolphins!

[The Herb]

Yeah Sota, thanks to my dumbass Raiders taking Leatherwood in the first round. They should of went defense and maybe could have gotten him later or not.

[AeroCane]

And the two Dolphin 1st round picks look good to me.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami

Go ‘canes!
Go Dolphins!

Posted by: Sarasota 'cane

Agreed!

Herb, bad pick by overthinking Gruden!

[AeroCane]

I wish the Fins had traded their 36 and a second next year to get to 23 to pick Harris! That would of sealed my night! (If thats even possible LOL)

[Sarasota 'cane]

Well we now share the title of most 1st round picks with Alabama. Honestly I could care less. I’m more impressed that our Hurricanes stuck two kids into the 1st round and one of them is now a Miami Dolphin!

Think back a few weeks when the knee jerk talking heads and armchair QB’s wanted Flores to give away the farm to get Deshaun Watson! Miami has a real coach and it looks like the Dolphins front office is professional and legitimate as well. We’ll see what these folks can do in the remaining rounds but from my perspective the future looks bright for the Dolphins!

Go ‘canes!
Go Dolphins!

[AeroCane]

Sota
Not me / no Watson
I’m happy with Tua - I think Flores made a boneheaded hire with the ancient, retired Chan gailey as the mentor and coach for Tua - cost Tua a year of development
I love the waddle/ Phillips picks
As I said above, I wish they would of traded up before the Steelers (I said 23 thinking Steelers were 24, but it would of been 21 as the Steelers were 22) and gotten Harris! What an offense with waddle, fuller, gesicki, Harris and Tua! Oh well maybe we will get williams from unc

[AeroCane]

Well Grier has definitely proven he’s incompetent as a GM!

And, Gino and the canes - losing in the 5th to the mighty baseball eagles of Boston college 9-0 in the 5th
We have a whooping 1 hit. It keeps getting worse and worse for this team and Blake sits around making excuses for why Gino is the right guy, why coach L is still with the basketball team and how manny is a stud when it comes to the transfer portal and spring!

[58 Straight]

It keeps getting worse and worse for this team and Blake sits around making excuses for why Gino is the right guy.

Posted by: AeroCane | April 30, 2021 at 08:58 PM

$$$$$$$$$$$

[HerbieIbis]

Drubbed 13-0 by a bunch of losers. Canes now 0-4 when they travel to the frigid north.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Brevin Jordan slipping to the 4th round was a great pick up for Houston.

Go ‘canes!

[AeroCane]

Brevin should of stayed and proven he could stay healthy and he could of moved up to the 2nd round IMO (and made lots more money)
But I feel he knows he couldn’t last a season without missing time so he had to go pro - again my opinion

[Sarasota 'cane]

Clemson had a 1-2 round DE prospect that got Covid last season and will never play another down. I can’t knock a guy for leaving early in this environment.
And did you see how many 1st rounder’s drafted who sat out last season? They made the right decision IMO.

[TonyCane]

58 straight...you can say the same thing about the basketball coach. It’s past time for a change.

[AeroCane]

Sota
IF you’re responding to my comment about brevin you’re confusing my point. He skipped this upcoming season and declared early - nothing to do with Covid - just him (like many other canes in the last few seasons) declaring too soon and making a monumental financial mistake. There’s a lot of money that he potentially lost getting drafted in the 5th round vs playing this season, balling out and possibly going as high as the 2nd

[AeroCane]

Canes beat BC 2-1 today. This is the same BC team that is 7-19 in acc play this year.

[Sarasota 'cane]

My point was there are no guarantees that he makes it to the league regardless of the circumstances. I would love to have Brevin come back for another year, but I understand why he left.

[AeroCane]

Mighty BC up 7-3 in the 3rd. Lol
What a freaking joke Gino and this team is!
Can you say Brad Kelly? The only difference is our AD currently is a wussy and won’t make a change!

[HerbieIbis]

Canes get beat down by low life BC 11-6. This brings our awe inspiring record to 1-5 to our up North counter-parts Pitt & BC. To really bullies of Baseball.
What a effing waste. Punked again.

[Terrance Sullivan]

We Have Had Guys come back and play senior years to go undrafted Aka Mike Pickney so spare us all on the Should come Back Stuff. The Draft is a Crap Shoot. Besides the key is getting to a 2Nd Contract.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Our Baseball Team is stinking up The Baseball Diamond Sadly!

[TonyCane]

I don’t blame Brevin for leaving, although he was drafted later than his team probably thought. What I don’t like is a player who is a 6th or 7th round grade going early and not even getting drafted. Jeff Thomas could have greatly improved his draft stock under the right circumstances, and helped
a college team in the process. Yearby could have improved his NFL prospects. Both left early. Neither were drafted at all.

[86Cane]

The historical evidence shows that:

1. Leaving early is NOT always in the best interest of the PLAYER regardless of what the FANS think, feel or say.

2. Staying an extra year is always NOT in the best interest of the PLAYER regardless of what the FANS think, feel or say.

The fact of the matter is that some players make good decisions some don't and for various reasons and different motivations. Those decisions have a direct financial impact of the PLAYER regardless of what the fans think, feel or say.

IMHO The problem I have with FANS is not having different opinions on whether players should stay or leave but when they try to tell other fans what their opinion should be. IJS

[Terrance M Sullivan]

TonyCane yeah JT and JY should have came back for a senior year no question! But Guys like MP and SQ came back for Senior Years and it didn't help their draft stock at all and most likely hurt it but they did get their degree extremely important and set some records which is also awesome. As The Soupster Says Its Not a one size fits all. Basically If you Get Drafted In The First 3 Rounds A Good Decision, 4th or 5th Round A Pretty Good Decision, 6th or 7th Round is Questionable depending circumstances, Going Undrafted is awful decision Period if you have eligibility left. LOL Just In Signing Bonus Alone Drafted Players Get Anywhere From 150,000 to Millions in Signing Bonus. Whereas a Free Agent Signing Bonus is between 5,000 to 30,000 Max.

[86Cane]

Preach, TSully, Preach!

[HerbieIbis]

I think with Quarterman & Pink, they knew they needed to come back, but tried to coast. Pink was hurt alot & Q got dinged up as well. It's a crap shoot either way.
Some just feel if they get drafted, they've made it, which we all know ain't true.
They nit-pick u for every little thing, size, speed, height, tude, work ethic just to name a few and they find a couple to be true, then being a 6 or 7th round pick is what the NFL truly means, Not For Long!

[VA Cane]

I would like to see every kid stay and play 4 years...thats how it was in the old days...I mean me...old!. But times have changed and so has the biz of pro ball...and the $. I see a lot of guys who leave early and it works...others not so much. Again I wish they'd all stay...I just hope the kid that goes for it makes it...hope they weigh it and talk with parents, people from UM in the pros coaches etc. I have 4 in the league, and they and their parents all came to me for advice...among others. I said if you go thats great....but somehow someway somewhere....get the diploma.....you may be a 12 year star...then again you may make some $...but need a job after a few years...most likely. So save as much as you can, be smart get the degree...and set yourself up either way.

I think its not in our hands as fans...none of know the answer...for the kids or for each other....free thought and reality...wonderful concepts!
God bless all hope you are all well!!!!

[MLALUMNI1970]

Hi everyone
Just checking in to see how all of you are doing, healthwise,etc.,during this awful pandemic. I am cooped up in Florida right now, but plan to go home, to Michigan, in June. I am fully vaccinated and happy about that. Scary times, I think. Hope being vaccinated, will help.
Can’t wait for football season to begin. But, I say that every year, and am so disappointed by the 3rd game. I dream of 2001 every year. I bet you do too.
What do you think about this season? Where will we end up and who will we beat??

[58 Straight]

What do you think about this season? Where will we end up and who will we beat??

Posted by: MLALUMNI1970 | May 05, 2021 at 01:31 PM

If RCCF was here to answer he would say: UNDEFEATED!

[86Cane]

Doing well Marylou and hope U are too!

Take care and be well.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

"Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | May 01, 2021 at 05:30 PM"

Funny you mention that . . .

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/31394795/defensive-end-justin-foster-announces-return-clemson-tigers-football-long-haul-covid-19

[Sarasota 'cane]

That’s awesome news for that kid. I was just reading an article about long haul Covid folks feeling better after they got their vaccination.

[86Cane]

Let's all hope that this kid's story has a happy ending.

[TonyCane]

I think Few will do just fine. Just hope he stays safe.

[The Word From The Herb]

Today is May 12th and in case most of u have not noticed, we have exactly ONE recruit.
At present a majority of the big dogs on defense, do not have us in the area code.
JACKSON, STEWERT, JONES AND LITTLE are not showing us to much love. Little not even visiting and being a legacy, seems like a smack in Da choppers. Jackson not even mentioned as well. Now we are in on fast riser Nyjaleke Kelly at DE. What was good for us last year, will be a whole lot different this year, unless we make some noise right off the bat.
Manny seems to be taking the approach it's big boys or bust. Banking on the portal if all else fails.
Same old story will prevail in recruiting, with Bama, OSU, Georgia, LSU, Flo. and Clemson raking in a vast majority of the top dogs. Then you throw in Oakie, USC, Texas A&M and now Texas, won't be to many leftovers. We may not get a bone thrown here or there but getting to the top starts with a class loaded with mainly 4 stars and a couple 5 star cruits. Don't see it happening, at present. Have ways to go and things can change but the only way is through showing dem suckas on the field production.
Until next time this has been.

[AeroCane]

Nice free article on ‘InsidetheU’ if interested

“Five cornerback targets that would help raise the depth and talent”