... and Flori-duh wonders why we hate them.

A bunch of idiot Gators sent me the above picture last week. I was going to comment on it days ago, but I was too busy enjoying the State of The U to let their nonsense irk me.

As we're hours away from Signing Day and Miami has stolen a few last minute recruits from Florida, I figured now was as good a time as any to address this notion that the Gators are staring at the Canes in their rear view.

Seriously, Florida faithful... do you even have to ask why we loathe you? You back into your second title in your program's history and you're ready to toss dirt on the coffins of Miami and Florida State? Please. Get over yourselves.

This decade alone, you have a title and so does Miami. You've been to one title game. We've been to two, were undefeated heading into both and were snubbed of a shot of playing for one when we beat FSU and they got to play OU.

You've been to two BCS games since 2000 and we've been to four. We've had one season with more than three losses, you've achieved that feat three times. You're 65-24 since 2000 and we're 71-16. As for talent at the next level, it's 22 to 5 regarding first round Draft picks the past seven Aprils.

I'll give credit where credit is due. 13-1 and a convincing beat down of #1 Ohio State. Florida won it all and deserves their kudos. Problem is you can't even give it to them as they're too busy stroking themselves and talking smack about everyone else.

We know the Gators are egomaniacs, hence why I was actually pulling for them to lose this year's title game. I knew what the rest of us were in for if and when they won that cute, little second title. I lived in Gainesville back in 1996 for Round I of that garbage.

Now we're all living it and are forced to hear that Year of the Gator crap after UF won the basketball title months back and now one in football.

Thank God former Florida quarterback Rex Grossman wet the bed on the game's grandest stage in last Sunday's Super Bowl.

We've come to expect the arrogance of Florida, but they cross a line when they take shots at Miami. Yes, we're embarrassed about a 7-6 season - just as I'm sure Florida was embarrassed after posting three consecutive five-loss seasons (2002-2004). Larry Coker was fired, Randy Shannon was given the keys the the program and the rebuilding process is on.

In his first month on the job, Shannon is hours from arguably Miami's best recruiting class since 1999. There are a few four and five-star kids, but there are also those kids with that 'Hurricane mentality' and the type that would run through a wall for their new coach.

Coker let things spiral out of control, but it seem Shannon will have that opposite effect. Current players are already talking about how he's making his presence felt inside the walls of the football program. It's a steady dose of fear and respect.

All of this just makes the Urban Meyer image, with Shannon in the rear view, seem that much more idiotic and delusional. Miami was stripped of scholarships during the probation era and settled on Butch Davis, the fourth choice would be head coach, to clean up the mess. A few years later a 34-game win streak ensued and the Canes were the hottest team in the nation from late 2000 through late 2002.

The image above is wishful thinking. Florida wishes Miami would go away. The piss-ant private school with 20% the student body, worse facilities and less money in the athletic department, has been a thorn in the Gators' side for three decades now. Miami has more than twice as many titles and has beaten Florida six straight times, dating back to 1986. Even as National Champions, that doesn't sit well with Florida alum. Bring it up and stand back as they're quick to lash out.

Miami isn't going anywhere by up. Florida fans might not buy it, but a few on the fence recruits sure are. As Shannon has put together a stellar class, under the gun, he's swayed some potential Gators and brought them back from the dark side.

Come Wednesday, Demarcus Van Dyke is expected to commit to Miami after verballing to Florida weeks back. Van Dyke is a four-star corner who liked the Canes early on, looked towards the Gators when Coker was fired and was won back over when seeing what Shannon has been putting together these past few weeks.

A few days ago, another Gators defect was Georgia prospect Allen Bailey. This freakish-in-size, five-star linebacker picked Miami over Florida and come tomorrow, there could be one more top-ranked baller headed to The U. Five-star wide out Deonte Thompson is supposedly deciding between Miami, Florida and Florida State. I am not ready to bust open the bubbly just yet, but two sources have told me to day that Thompson is "Miami's to lose."

Again, we'll see. I believe that stuff when the ink is dry. Two years ago Antone Smith to Miami was a done deal and at the last second he pulled the rug out from an entire fan base - and even his mama - when he chose Florida State.

Should Miami land Thompson, this will be a top ten recruiting class for a program many - especially the Gators - were ready to stick a fork in. One month on the job, Shannon has landed what many experts predict will be his "worst recruiting class" which is a tongue in cheek reference based on the job he did this year with limited time to recruit and without a full staff in place.

Just wait until late fall when Shannon is operating like a well oiled machine and cleans up the Sunshine State and the rest of the nation.

As for our Gator brethren and their lame picture, the only thing Meyer will be checking out in his rear view a year from now is the city of Gainesville after he's packed his bags and is NFL bound.

Enjoy your one year on top because Shannon's Canes will be ready to knock you off that perch in the very near future. Bank on it.


.:Canes305:.