Thank U Mark Richt

It was a scene Mark Richt knew well.

Midway through a practice on Greentree last week, the Hurricanes were on the move, headed out of the elements and into the safety of the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility.

Once it became clear that move wasn’t part of the Hurricanes’ original schedule, but was happening because Miami’s lighting prediction system indicated conditions were ripe for a strike, Richt couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride.

The former Hurricanes quarterback and coach – now an analyst with the ACC Network, which was on Miami’s campus Friday as part of its preseason coverage for the upcoming football season – had not only helped design the facility the Hurricanes were now using, but was an integral part of helping it get built.

To now see that facility being used – in real time, as intended – was special.

“I can’t tell you how many times we had to go to the Wellness Center, put our tennis shoes on, start practicing in tennis shoes – which is no good – and then 15 minutes later, it would clear up and you could go outside, but it was too late. You’ve wasted time,” said Richt, who coached at his alma mater from 2016 through 2018. “Now, they never miss a day of preparation. And also, the benefits of an indoor being right next to your grass fields is the ability to start practice here, maybe do some drill work that would normally tear up your grass but doesn’t tear up your field turf. Then you can get outside, do your work, and come back and finish inside.

“And if lightning strikes, you take, what, a five-minute transition and then you’re back up and running? … When you see it functioning as you hoped it would function, it’s great.”

The Hurricanes, who were in the midst of preparing for their Sept. 1 season opener against Miami of Ohio during Richt and the ACC Network’s visit last week, opened the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility in August 2018.

One of the big reasons they were able to do that? The efforts of Richt, who along with his wife Katharyn, donated $1 million toward the construction of the 90,000-square foot facility.

But the financial investment was far from Richt’s only contribution.

The former coach spent countless hours helping design the facility, from researching the safety margins the building would need to allow the Hurricanes to practice at full speed to expanding the scope of the original project so that coaches’ offices could be built into the facility, along with some expanded team meeting space.

And on Friday, during his visit to Coral Gables, Richt shared more than a few moments with Soffer, whose family donated the lead gift that helped make the facility a reality.

Those moments, too, were memorable.

“Every time we’re in Miami, we always call Carol and try to set up a dinner, lunch or some time to spend with her because it became more than just a business relationship,” he said. “It’s a true friendship. We love Carol and we think she loves us, too.”

For Richt, connections like those are what make each return visit to Miami special.

As he made his way around the Hurricanes’ facility on Friday, he exchanged countless handshakes and hugs with former teammates, longtime friends and the new generation of coaches and players now wearing the same orange and green that have always meant so much to him.

The former coach had a front-row seat to Friday’s practice, and he took full advantage, soaking up the opportunity to see how the Hurricanes were faring in their preparations for the season ahead, and chatting extensively with Miami head coach Mario Cristobal.

“As an analyst, you don’t just see Miami. You see 13 other schools and as good as these guys are practicing, as hard as they’re working, I’m highly confident they’re on the right track and great things are on the way,” Richt said. “But there’s other teams that are doing the same thing and you get to see that up close as an analyst. You know there’s going to be some really good competition in this league. Miami’s got a lot of the ingredients you need for success and I’m proud to say they’re my school.”

Comments

[58 Straight]

The defense was fierce and gang tackled. Special teams were special. We spread the field with 3 and 4 WR's, with only difference was we under center. Dam where did them days go.

Posted by: Herbieibis | August 25, 2023 at 05:32 PM

They left the building in 2004.

Have not returned since.

[Terrance Sullivan]

God Continue To Bless Coach Richt! Thank You Sir! Go Canes!

[Sarasota 'cane]

The slate of kickoff games today is the worst that I can remember.

[JCane]

Halftime of game vs. St. Frances for Patterson announcement. Wish I could say I felt great about it, but...

[JCane]

Patterson to UM!!

[JCane]

Huge pickup! Stone announcement is tonight at halftime of 7pm IMG game.

Also, lots of Chaminade players have their college pick logos on their helmets, including J Trader with the U. Is it my imagination, or does Jeremiah Smith not have anything on, in spite of a supposedly strong Buckeye commitment? Maybe I just didn't see it, but...

Really need a top DT now. Have a good Saturday, all.

[Herbieibis]

Good pick up but tonight is the important one. We needed safety talent and now let's bring Mincey into the fold, win the dam games we are supposed to win and a couple that are toss ups and we should Start to be in business.

[JCane]

They're all important, Herb. I agree about the need for Stone given the DT whiffs. Stone would be a very pleasant surprise, while losing Patterson to FSU would have been a kick in the nuts.

[Old Skool]

Bob Barker RIP
Yepp, the game show host.

[W]

Stone to OU (not The U).

So near, yet so far.

Damn it!

[Sarasota 'cane]

I want to withdraw my statement about today’s slate of game. While there are no marquee games this FIU game is fun to watch.

[Herbieibis]

So much for being a Doc. If your mom loves the U that is the kiss of death. I guess that makes us 0 for 4 heads up against Oaklahoma.

[Sarasota 'cane]

FIU let tech score just now and I don’t blame them.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Yeah that LA Tech vs FIU game was fun to watch indeed

[58 Straight]

win the dam games we are supposed to win and a couple that are toss ups and we should Start to be in business.

Posted by: Herbieibis | August 26, 2023 at 02:09 PM

Sounds simple enough to me!

[Herbieibis]

No Stone shall be left unturned, in our elusive quest to find 2 DT's in a recruiting cycle! Not one 2. That sounds simple enough.

[MLALUMNI 1970]

How is everyone doing on this Sunday morning?? Beautiful here in Michigan. Trying not to get too excited about the beginning of football season, but I can’t help myself! Love my Canes no matter what. But, I love them more, if possible, when they win!!🧡💚🧡💚🏖️🏝.
Will be back in Florida by October. Back and hips hurt, but some wins will help.💚🧡

[W]

No Stone shall be left unturned.
Posted by: Herbieibis | August 27, 2023 at 09:31 AM

Clever! How about this one:
We who live in a glass house should be the last to whine about losing Stone.

[Old Skool]

TVD 50/50 to play next weekend
Banged his thumb on a helmet

[86Cane]

TVD 50/50 to play next weekend
Banged his thumb on a helmet

Posted by: Old Skool | August 27, 2023 at 05:53 PM

And so it begins...

[86Cane]

The slate of kickoff games today is the worst that I can remember.

Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | August 26, 2023 at 12:21 PM

I agree with you. #WeakSauce

[Ohio_Cane]

Bad reporting by local media. Happened weeks ago. It's his ring finger. And he's starting friday lol

[MLALUMNI 1970]

Any TV coverage this weekend? I doubt it, but just checking.

[Old Skool]

Mitchell Agude cut by Fins. Hope he lands somewhere else.

[RCCF]

Gary Ferman is not for TheU ....

RCCF12%

[Sarasota 'cane]

It’s on the ACC network. You should also be able to stream the game on the ESPN app with your cable credentials if you are out of market and have a cable subscription.

[RCCF]

Seems a lot of CANES were cut from NFL Rosters today

RCCF12%

[Old Skool]

Yepp add Philip Dorsett and Deon Bush to the list

[Old Skool]

Lou Hedley has won the Saints punter position.
Not bad for a 30 year old rookie
Deon Bush and Philip Dorsett are the same age as Lou and have been cut after 8 years in the league

[MLALUMNI 1970]

Thanks for the TV update. I pay for ACC Network. So hope I can get it on that channel. Not fun like that old great lady, The Orange Bowl.
Go Canes!!🟧🟩🧡💚🟠🟢 Hope you all are going!! Cheer loudly, so I can hear you all the way up here in Michigan. Is the game still broadcast on WQAM?,??

[Ohio_Cane]

Ahead of the season opener again Miami (Ohio) on Friday night, Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes added a massive body to Jason Taylor and Joe Salave'a's defensive line room.

After entering the transfer portal in June, InsideTheU learned that former Alabama defensive tackle Jamil Burroughs is enrolled at Miami and has been practicing with the team this week. The 6-foot-3, 309-pounder played 161 snaps for the Crimson Tide last fall and generated 14 pressures and ten quarterback pressures. Burroughs played in 11 games.

His most productive performance of the 2022 season came against Mississippi State, where the now redshirt junior played 39 snaps and was credited with a 75.7 grade against the run, according to Pro Football Focus.

[Ohio_Cane]

^^ A Powder Springs, Georgia native, Burroughs was considered a industry-generated 247Sports Composite four-star prospect in the Class of 2020 and was named an Adidas All-American. He was at one point in his process committed to the in-state Bulldogs.

[Herbieibis]

FINALLY, a DT with some dam size.I got to give to Mario, he was getting slapped back and forth In the portal and via High School recruiting but the worm finally turned for him. I know we got Horton and Moton but we can bring these dudes along at a more leisurely pace.

[Old Skool]

It appears Burroughs may not be eligible this year and will have to redshirt. He entered the portal after the undergrad deadline. To play he would have to apply for a waiver or graduate

[MLALUMNI 1970]

I hope you’re feeling excited for tomorrow night!! I am, even though I’m always nervous when the Canes play. Never used to be that way. I hope they pack Hard Rock, to give TV some beautiful photos. An empty stadium with be a curse. Give the tickets away, if necessary. Get out your Canes gear and wear it tomorrow. I am all set. ACC Network!🧡💚

[Old Skool]

From the Herald: these guys made it through the final cuts: Will Mallory (Colts), Tyrique Stevenson (Bears), DJ Ivey (Bengals) and Nesta Silvera (Raiders)

Canes who were cut: Robert Burns (Chicago), Mike Harley Jr. (Cleveland), Quincy Roche (Pittsburgh), Sheldrick Redwine (Dallas) and Jarrid Williams (Minnesota)

[TJL]

50% chance of rain tomorrow night and the moon will be Waning Gibbous

[Herbieibis]

i Used to never be nervous, win Da U played But that was then, this is now. U never know who is going to show up and most every game is a barn burner.

[Herbieibis]

Couldn't even watch the Crocs get that azz beat. Dam Spectrum and Disney in some kind of dispute. Can't watch any sports channels.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Gameday! Let the games begin!

Go ‘canes!

[Old Skool]

Napier Napalmed
Utes kick Gators in the glutes 24-11

[Old Skool]

ESPN reporting this morning.
The ACC presidents and chancellors met on Friday morning and voted to add three new schools -- Stanford, Cal and SMU. It will bring the league to 18 members, 17 of which will play football full time in the league. The additions will be in all sports and will begin in the 2024-25 school year.

[Old Skool]

Gators had a total of 13 yards rushing last night. They must really miss Lorenzo Lingard

[CaneWarrior]

Dam it! Herb- I am in the same boat as you. Is there any other way of watching the game?
They better get this resolved before next week.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Notre Dame has to agree to play at least one more ACC game a year in football now, kiss of death adding two non-factors in tv money out west, should have taken UNLV and Sand Diego State, if you're going slumming for SMU level additions for market share concerns, instead.

Offenses have to be in hurry up from the first snap now with the adopted pro clock timing arrangement. NC State will be a dogfight even if UM has an advantage at QB in the game when it happens. I expect this year to functionally turn on how quickly the offensive line can gel as a unit and how healthy the defensive depth chart stays primarily. Any year you can't finish in the top four nationally is a disappointment in the current era for the Hurricanes, as long as they show some improvement on the field if not scoreboard each week, they should be good in 2023 though. Oxford Ohio's Redhawks are a somewhat perennial stable low tier bowl contender program, so the Hurricanes will need to play well to win, much less build enough of a lead with the running clock on ready to play situations to get significant depth building garbage time possessions to benefit from late in the game.

[Herbieibis]

Ok, why don't we just add the sisters of the poor to the league. Wow, those 3 teams are really going to pump the ACC's value up.

The Herb's keys for tonight's game.
Can we run block
Can we tackle
Can we stop the run
Can we stop stupid penalties
Can the Wr's get separation.

[W]

The Herb's keys for tonight's game.
Can we run block
Can we tackle
Can we stop the run
Can we stop stupid penalties
Can the Wr's get separation.
Posted by: Herbieibis | September 01, 2023 at 11:04 AM

Can we score more points than the other Miami.

[jvcanes]

anybody going tonihjt

[DallasTX Cane]

Once the 4 big moves happen next season - OU, UT, UCLA, USC - there will be essentially a “Power 2” for football. ACC & PAC-12 lost their window of opportunity a few years back. Big 10 & SEC schools will start pulling in 3-4x more $$ than Big12 and ACC. FSU will bolt to the SEC once they figure out the payout. Difficult to see how the Canes become and then stay relevant in this scenario (or any other non Power2 team). There will still be good programs outside the Power2 that make magical runs, think TCU, but 9/10 NCs will be Power2 programs.

Yeah, maybe I’m in a Friday funk. Just don’t see the way IN right now.

[MLALUMNI 1970]

I pay for ACC Network. Otherwise, I would be shut out. Glad that I did that. Worth the money. I just hope that the stadium is packed. My nerves are on edge, but I have all my Canes stuff all over the place!
Can’t wait !!🧡💚Go Canes!