Randy keeps Graig...
Another feather in Randy Shannon's cap as he kept Graig Cooper on board with The U.Cooper originally signed with Miami last year, but didn't have a high enough test score to enroll. He headed off to prep school to get his academics together and began wavering from his commitment after former coach Larry Coker was fired. After meeting coach Shannon face to face, Cooper was sold on The U and was told he'd be an "instant contributor" in 2007 in a "Reggie Bush-type role."
The past few weeks had Cooper visiting Oklahoma State and North Carolina, but in the end it was still Miami.
"I just had to build a relationship with coach Shannon, see what type of person he was," said Cooper. "I met him. He's a good guy. He's been in the program, not too much is going to change. I just sat down this past weekend and thought it over and decided I was going to stick with them."
Cooper is the highest-rated recruit to ever commit to the University of Miami and for those keeping score, this is the 13th commitment for Shannon, the first year head coach.
OTHER NEWS & NOTES: Dirk Koetter and family are either in Miami or are en route, ready for The U's best sales pitch... The nation's top quarterback recruit Robert Marve is headed to Coral Gables this coming weekend to unofficially check out Miami. Calling this Shannon's biggest signing is a huge understatement. Marve was originally headed to Alabama before Mike Shula was fired. Will he still head there with Nick Saban in the fold - or is Miami his new top choice? We'll see... John Palermo has officially resigned and it appears Clint Hurtt will take over the defensive line... Some sources are saying Jeff Stoutland of Michigan State has been hired as Miami's new offensive line coach. Nothing official from The U on that yet... Former Miami FB Quadtrine Hill was picked up by the New England Patriots as they enter the playoffs... Mario Cristobal has hired former Miami assistant/player Jeff Popovich over at FI-who.
.:Canes305:.
posted by allCanes at
5:20 PM
10 Comments:
I think Randy Shannon should try to get Art Kehoe to come back to the U. He is a great coach and he was there for all 5 national titles. It was a damn shame that Larry Coker let go of a true Miami guy. Honestly I wouldn't come back if I was Art but the U sure could use his unique knowledge of this program. Let me know what you think.
The Caneiac
My picture made the official MPC computer Bowl webite check it out:
http://www.mpccomputersbowl.com/news.asp?article=1903
I would disagree about Cooper beingthe high rated recruit at UM ever. Jesse Armstead was the # 1 overall recruit in the country coming out of Dallas. Jammi German was the top prospect when we landed him. And most recently D.J. Williams was #1 or 2 on everbody's list.
Don't get me wrong Cooper is a major, major pick up and he will make an impact rightaway. But to say that he is the highest rated recruit is a bit of a strech.
Marve News:
TAMPA - Alabama landed the coach it wanted. Now Nick Saban must see if he can obtain one of the most coveted high school football players of this year's recruiting class: Plant senior quarterback Robert Marve.
The Tide officially named Saban as Mike Shula's coaching replacement Wednesday. He reportedly received an eight-year contract worth $32 million in guaranteed money.
However, it will take more than a recognizable name for Marve to honor the verbal commitment he made to Alabama during the summer.
"The one thing Coach Shula and his staff did was treat me like their No. 1 draft pick. They saw me as their top guy. I don't know how Coach Saban sees me," Marve said. "Alabama did get the guy they wanted, and they are expecting him to turn around the program. It's really exciting to see him named as coach."
Marve turned his attention away from Alabama once Shula was fired and is entertaining other offers.
Miami has made a late surge for Marve and the Hurricanes are running even with Alabama. Marve and Plant High coach Robert Weiner visited the Miami campus Wednesday, even though they were not allowed to speak with coaches during the NCAA's current dead period. Marve is attending the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Fort Lauderdale today, and though originally slated to participate, decided to rest after a long season.
Marve is waiting on a possible offer from Florida State. Weiner said the Seminoles have only nine available scholarships, and coaches are unsure whether they need to sign a quarterback.
South Florida also remains a strong contender, but Marve probably won't use one of his five official visits on the Bulls because of his familiarity with the program. Also considered: Hawaii, Purdue and Maryland.
Essentially, Saban will have to recruit Marve, who threw for 4,343 yards and 48 TDs, and was named Class 4A Player of the Year."For sure, I'm going to take five visits. I plan to visit Alabama, and now I get a chance to meet their players and make sure I'm a good fit," Marve said. "The biggest thing I want to feel is that I'm a college's No. 1 guy. It's not to say I don't think I need to play and earn my spot, but I want to be at a program where I'm really wanted."
JMG
Tampa
I think if we can get Keotter or another actual offensive mind, we have the pieces already to do great things and contend next year. I don't buy for one minute when the national broadcasters say The U has dropped off in talent. We have the talent. We just have to put them in positions to succeed. We do need a coupe more playmakers, but we're on the brink already. For some reason I don't think we have a real shot at Marve. Sounds like he wants his a** kissed, which is the whole problem nowadays with highly touted high schoolers- ask Houston Nutt if it's worth it. We want players who want to come here, compete and be the best.
On a side note, I was enjoying seeing Notre Shame get waxed yet again. I don't think the team is any better under Weis than Willingham. There offense maybe a bit better, but they still don't run well and they still haven't beaten anyone other than the academies. Outside of the BCS Championship, bowl game team are chosen by their draw as much as if they deserve to be there or not. Robert Smith on ESPN was exactly correct when asked why ND is 0-9 in their last bowls- they are in over their heads. Weis has pulled the wool over braodcasters' eyes with his false ND is back bravado. Any legitimate team beats them still. Funny that they have so much tilted in their favor with the system and tv and they're still an average team. Weis won't succeed until he realizes he's not smarter than everyone else. Even I saw the fake punt coming. It doesn't reek of confidence, but of desparation. At least next year we don't have to worry about them at all. RIP ND. Get a new coach again.
DJ, armstead, german, and pharms were all bigger recruits.
Columbus,
I agree totally with your assessment that Miami has not dropped off in talent. The problem has come from the coaching and teaching side of things in my opinion. Take Kyle Wright, he has not shown any measurable improvement over the course of two years. I don't think there was anyone on the staff capable of developing young QB talent.
As far as Marve, I too do not believe that he will end up in Coral Gables. His comments in the article I posted were kind of surprising for me to read as he has always been extremely humble and level headed throughout his high school career. Maybe his success this season has gone to his head a bit. Regardless, he is an excellent QB prospect though I have a feeling that he will wind up in Alabama and play for Larry Brown,,,errrrrrrrrr,,,,, Tricky Nick Saban.
JMG
Tampa
FIU will be a monster program soon, with them stealing all of UM's coaches and an actual competent AD. They have low standards to get into school and they have state money as well as the 3rd largest university in the state, soon enough they will get their act together and win some games and get better recruits.
Does anyone know when they are going to post next years schedule?
FIU will be a monster program soon, with them stealing all of UM's coaches and an actual competent AD. They have low standards to get into school and they have state money as well as the 3rd largest university in the state, soon enough they will get their act together and win some games and get better recruits.
Dude, get off the drugs. FIU can be a GOOD team, but no better. A decade ago everyone was calling for UCF to surpass Miami as a top three program in the state and we all saw how that worked out. The Canes endured probation, won a title, played for another and the Golden Knights have done little since Culpepper left.
Miami, Florida and Florida State are your top three. End of story. Those three programs have played for TEN National Championships since the 1991 season. Don't sleep on that.
FIU still has to surpasse FAU, USF and UCF before even THINKING about getting after the three state powers. Right now FIU is #7 in state and will never crack the top three.
Does anyone know when they are going to post next years schedule?
The schedules usually come out the final week of January.
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