Two Tickets To Paradise

On one field, Michael Irvin and Lamar Thomas demonstrated how to run routes. On another, Joaquin Gonzalez and Brett Romberg led offensive linemen through drills. Clearly, these current and former UM players were in paradise.

And at one point in the evening, as young football players milled about, Calais Campbell pulled Greg Rousseau to the side and showed him some of the moves that helped him earn the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017. Soon after, Jaelan Phillips joined the conversation.

On Saturday night, nearly two dozen former Hurricanes football stars returned to the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility and the Greentree Practice Fields to participate in one of the more well-known events hosted by the Miami program: Paradise Camp.

For many of them, whether they are an NFL Hall of Famer or a alum still playing in the league, the opportunity to be part of Paradise Camp was a no-brainer, their chance to give back to the program they believe changed their lives.

“You come to The U and you’ll always have support. It’s a deep thing. You will always have support,” Irvin said. “All of us showing up all the time, it’s important to show whatever kid is thinking about coming here…we want them to know, right here, buddy, you will always have that support and I think that’s very important…It’s not like a family. We are a family.”

Added Gonzalez, “Any excuse to come back to Coral Gables, even though I live in Miami, is always welcome. It’s always awesome. To do it under these circumstances, such a beautiful backdrop, all about football and talk to the younger generations, to me, I thoroughly enjoy it, maybe more than the kids do. It’s an opportunity.”

Irvin, the Hall of Fame receiver who has been at several past Paradise Camps, helped kick off the evening’s festivities by addressing a large crowd that included approximately 300 campers, their families and high school coaches.

Behind him, Miami head coach Manny Diaz smiled and an awe-inspiring group of Hurricanes nodded along as Irvin spoke. Among them were Edgerrin James, Lamar Thomas, David Njoku, Calais Campbell, Trent Harris, Ufomba Kamalu, Jon Beason, Sean Spence, Antrel Rolle, Duane Starks, Deon Bush, Kenny Phillips, Sheldrick Redwine, Brian Monroe, Javarris James, Lamar Miller and K.J. Osborn.

Also there were the three newest members of the Hurricanes’ NFL fraternity, Jaelan Phillips and Greg Rousseau, who were both first-round picks in this year’s draft and kicker Jose Borregales, who signed a free agent contract with the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While past Paradise Camp events have primarily featured Miami greats who have already completed their careers, Diaz felt it was important to make sure Hurricanes currently still playing in the NFL could share their perspective with the campers in attendance.

“It’s really neat. It’s fun to have them share the stories of their first minicamps and things like that,” Diaz said. “The alumni that were here in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s are awesome. But I do think it’s important that our recent alumni feel that you don’t have to be 20 years removed to have the pride of the program. To see guys like K.J. Osborn, [Sheldrick] Redwine, Trent Harris here…the more we can do that, the better we all are.”

Comments

[roachcane77]

...finish 12-2 and Top 10 Ranking which would be our Best Season since 2003 our last year in Old Big East and Best Year in The ACC in 18 Seasons Daddio!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | July 24, 2021 at 08:55 PM

Yeah... What HE said... (Daddio!) 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Let's Go CANES!

[AeroCane]

Who’s next to commit?
Hopefully all 3:
Isaiah Horton
4 star WR
6-3, 190

Trequon Fegans
4 star CB
6-2, 181

Jacob Hood
3 star OT
6-8, 342

[AeroCane]

Need to lock these 3 up as well:
Wesley Bissainthe
4 star LB
6-1, 200

Shemar Stewart
5 star DL
6-5, 260

Nyjalik Kelly
4 star DL
6-4, 240

[CGNC]

Hi Peeps, hope everyone doing well. Marylou - belated happy birthday!

[86Cane]

And THAT is all she wrote folks...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/texas-oklahoma-leaving-big-12-conference-as-college-football-shake-up-begins/

[86Cane]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/texas-oklahoma-leaving-big-12-conference-as-college-football-shake-up-begins/ar-AAMzI7m?ocid=sf

[Terrance Sullivan]

Hello CGNC How Are You Doing?

[nemo2020]

After two tumultuous seasons at Miami that saw him throw just one pass, former four-star recruit Tate Martell decided to transfer again this offseason. A latest report indicates that he’s selected his destination.

According to Josh Poloha of WFNY Cleveland, Martell has decided to attend UNLV this fall. The 23-year-old quarterback played his high school ball at Bishop Gorman in the Las Vegas area and will now head back to try to salvage what’s left of his rocky college career.

Martell last saw game-action in 2019 with the Hurricanes. He completed the lone pass that he threw and ran seven times for seven yards. After he was suspended for the 2020 season opener, Martell opted out of the campaign all together.

The 23-year-old former Ohio State and Miami quarterback has become well-known for his tendency to bounce around over the last couple years. He began with the Buckeyes all the way back in 2017 and will now be a part of his third program in five years. Still, he’ll have two years of eligibility remaining after the NCAA granted fall athletes an extra year of eligibility.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/college-football-world-reacts-to-the-tate-martell-news/ar-AAMxXAC?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531

[The Word From The Herb]

Aero, Kelly will be a tough pull. FSU seems to be rising back up and I guess it's got to be immediate P.T. because otherwise they stink.
I can see us getting Cull, Stewart, Bisainthe, Horton, Feagans and the Henderson twins, If we want them.
Hood, Skinner, Nelson, Gibson, Jones Jr. and Jackson will all be tough pulls.
Jollar Holley is transfering. Better dancer I guess, than player.
We should by the end of August have about 10 to 12 committed.
The dee line, especially at tackle is not looking to good. Tarbor is a kid that we can probably get but he comes in at about 6'1.
Daniel Lyons is someone else they are after but has been linked to Flo.
Manny's what and see approach will probably not bear the fruit as it did last year.
We will be lucky to get to 17 recruits, unless something changes, like busting up Bama or at least going 10-2, otherwise we will have to rape the portal, hard.
Speaking of Oak and Tex. moving to the SEC, they now potential have 8 teams that could be in the top 15.
That will truly be a super conference.
Notre Dame needs to be given an ultimatum, either join or dump them.
The ACC is already an average conference at best.
There are just not a bunch of high profile games from week to week.
The Big 10 is better than the ACC. They will have to do something and asking WVU to come ain't helping strengthen the conference. It would be nothing but another 7-5 8-4 team at best. What recruit wouldn't want to play in that conference.

[AeroCane]

Why don’t we see if us and Clemson can move to the SEC? Then even though we would be at the bottom, at least we wouldn’t be left behind
Lol

[86Cane]

We will be lucky to get to 17 recruits, unless something changes, like busting up Bama or at least going 10-2, otherwise we will have to rape the portal, hard.

Posted by: The Word From The Herb | July 26, 2021 at 05:28 PM

Once we wipe the floor with Bama we will have more leverage.

Miami 34 - Bama 13.

That is all.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/acc-predicted-order-of-finish-for-2021-clemson-picked-to-win-seventh-straight-title-over-north-carolina/

Picked to finish third overall, second in the division. That won't cut it if that's where they finish this year once games are in the book so better exceed media expectations.

Team First-place votes
Clemson - 125
North Carolina - 16
Miami - 3
Virginia, Georgia Tech, NC State - 1

Coastal Division; team - votes (1st place votes)
North Carolina - 979 (109)
Miami - 881 (28)
Virginia Tech - 582 (3)
Pitt - 576 (1)
Virginia - 540 (2)
Georgia Tech - 340 (4)
Duke - 218

[HerbieIbis]

What's wrong with this picture, ACC named it's preseason all First team players and Zion Nelson, whom is being projected by many to be a first round draft pick is not listed.

[AeroCane]

Herb
I’m not sold on Zion nor our OL at all - I’m in the prove it to me stage with manny, the OL, the team
So tired of being let down over the past 15 or so years and manny was the very worst in his first year, 2nd year some improvement but major let down against Clemson (we weren’t even competitive), of course UNC etc
3rd year is his year or IMO he must go!

[86Cane]

1. Picked to finish third overall, second in the division. That won't cut it if that's where they finish this year once games are in the book so better exceed media expectations.

2. Team First-place votes
Clemson - 125
North Carolina - 16
Miami - 3
Virginia, Georgia Tech, NC State - 1

Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | July 27, 2021 at 10:59 AM

1. When we wipe the floor with Bama 34-13 we will have more leverage and have exceeded media expectations.

2. The three media "experts" who voted for one each for Virginia, Georgia Tech and NC State should lose their credentials.

That is all.

[MLALUMNI1970]

Thanks CGNC for the wonderful birthday wishes. 73, and on to 74!!
Are you nervous about the game?? As usual, I am scared to death!
I want to bet the spread, but don’t really know how. Any suggestions?? If the spread is 17, I think that it is a safe $100 bet.

[MLALUMNI1970]

Hey, 86, You seem very confident about us winning. What makes you so sure? I am curious.

[HerbieIbis]

Aero,
U are exactly right. I was just stating what the experts were saying about Nelson. Nobody on that line has proven themselves against good competition. We couldn't run the ball with any regularity and teams stack the box against us because we had suck azz WR,'s who couldn't catch a deep ball or get open.
We ain't running against Bama. We might get lucky and break one but the rest of the time, it will be like running into a wall.

[AeroCane]

Against Bama, IMO, we need to be aggressive and get the ball to Rambo and/or Smith deep and that will open up Mallory over the middle and the run game. We need Chaney healthy and IMO, I’m not sold on Kings abilities throwing the ball downfield - but we will see (hopefully I am terribly wrong about that)
PS see how I totally ignored Pope and Wiggins! Lol

[AeroCane]

Wednesday afternoon, Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Oakland four-star wide receiver Isaiah Horton announces his commitment. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder will be choosing between Tennessee, Florida, Alabama and Miami at 1 p.m. ET.

[HerbieIbis]

I'm glad Bama has him as a backup plan or it would be a moot pt, same with Feagans.
After Horton, I believe Feagans and Cull are next to be announcing in the next few days. After these dudes announce, it may be a minute before we hear anything else. Hood and the Henderdon twins. I don't know if we get to 10 or 12 recruits by the end of August. Bisainthe and Stewertare probably going to wait until signing day, same with Skinner.
We will end up hitting the portal for a TE.
Forgot about the LB Jackson, he could announce any time, although he has been linked more to ASU but they will get hammered by the NCAA, eventually.
Both lines are the worry at this point, especially interior on defense.

[toledocane]

Horton to the U!

[DallasTX Cane]

Posted by: 86Cane | July 24, 2021 at 12:59 PM

Oh the unbridled joys of preseason!

[AeroCane]

Trequon Fegans is announcing tomorrow - canes in the lead
4 star CB
6-2,181
HIGH SCHOOL
Thompson
CITY
Alabaster, AL