Another one is movin' on...
Kirby Freeman is movin' on. His playing days at The U were numbered and with three new quarterbacks being added to the roster come February, Freeman has wizened up and is looking to use his last year of eligibility back home in Texas instead of riding the pine at Miami.I've read some mixed feelings regarding losing a senior and the only experienced quarterback on the roster. I say, good riddance. Nothing personal against Freeman. All I've ever heard and read is that #7 is a stand up kid. That said, he was never Canes material as a quarterback.
How much leadership could Miami really expect out of an upperclassman whose career has been an all around disappointment? Does anyone really believe that Robert Marve, Jacory Harris, Cannon Smith or Taylor Cook would really benefit from Freeman's tutledge?
A few weeks ago Freeman spoke about returning even though Randy Shannon let him know that Marve or Harris would most likely be penciled in as the 2008 starter. Freeman said all the right things about competing for the starting gig and doing what he could to help the quarterbacks of the future. In the end, it looks as if the semi-recently engaged Texas native will return home with degree in hand and is rumored to be heading to Baylor, near his hometown of Brownwood.
Freeman's career numbers at Miami were 92 completions on 197 attempts for 1,311 yards, 12 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. His signature moment, going 3-of-3 for 49 yards and throwing the game winning touchdown at Florida State midway through the season.
One game later, Freeman found himself 1-of-14 with three interceptions in an overtime loss to N.C. State. The polar opposite of his heroics in Tallahassee and inevitably, the end of Freeman's career at The U.
A hearty thanks to Freeman for his time spent at Miami. While he certainly bottomed out late in the season, the kid is still a Cane. He gave it his all, took a beating at times and went so far as to get a giant-sized "U" tatted on his back in spring 2006 amid rumors of a potential transfer. Freeman definitely bled the orange and green.
That said, it's all about the fUture from this point forward. There's no need for a fifth year senior to return when the cupboard will be full, albeit young. It's time to throw some dirt on the recent era of Miami football.
Bring in the young blood and let these kids start making a name for themselves. The Canes need to start distancing themselves from the Larry Coker era and the program gets one step closer to doing so each time one of those kids moves on.
posted by allCanes.com at
8:26 PM
9 Comments:
I can understand why Freeman is leaving the U (thanks for the FSU game btw). Like you said, his days were numbered, and everyone wants some new blood in the offense. Hopefully these new QBs will enjoy some stability in coaching.
What I don't get is why he wants to use his final year of eligibility. Yes he was talented coming out of HS and plays with a lot of heart...but I don't think he's cut out for the next level. If you don't have the physical ability to be 1st or 2nd string, you need to be very cerebral to get a position watching film.
Seeing as he already has a degree from the U and it doesn't seem like he'll be auditioning for any NFL teams...why go to Baylor?
CuriousCane
Considering he won us a bowl game almost single handily (recall Baby J couldn't run the ball and our defense was giving up loads of yards to Nevada a foreshadowing g of this years disaster on D) our only bowl win of the last three years I wouldn't call his career a washout. This year he was terrible but that owed itself largely to the inability of our offensive staff to put Kirby or Kyle Wright for that matter in positions where they could make plays.
Art Briles is now the coach at Baylor and he is one of the bertter minds when it comes to the passing game in all of college football. either he'll determine Freeman is trash and use him to run the scout team, or he'll play and put up inflated numbers which will have people coming here and to the other sites complaining about Shannon. Remember you heard it here first- he's going to a gimmicky system and that's probably why he choose Baylor instead of all the other schools in Texas.
I agree with CuriousCane's comments. I guess I can understand that he is competitive and wants to play, but you have one year left so why not just ride it out? Who says he'll even play at Baylor? I guess he already has a degree which is what really counts, but why not stay with the program for one more year? I was kind of shocked when I saw this last night on the bottom of the scren during the UT-ASU game, just the fact that we'll have a RS Freshman or true Freshman under center. I guess we would have had that anyway, but I was still surpirsed. With Harris and Marve, I wonder if whomever does not get the start will stick with the program or move on as well. Nowadays, if you lose out in a job especially at QB, they leave. It's a good move by Shannon to be bringing in 3 in this class. You can almost guarantee 1 will be leaving. I wish Freeman good luck, but he just does not fit the system and what a U QB needs to be strong at - standing in the pocket and delivering the ball to playmakers. He's more of an on-the-run passer, scrambler. His 1 completion performance was unreal but I thank for the years he put in for us and am sorry that it didn't work out for both parties. It's time for The U to move forward and turn the page on guys not getting the needed results. Good luck Kirby!
-Columbus Cane
Its all about the love of the game. He knows the NFL is not for him and he has one more year left to be in the game. Why not transfer to say a Baylor for one last chance to play College ball.
Last i checked we will have 4 qb's on the roster; Marve, Harris, Smith and Cook. Marve has already redshirted so I think one of the other 3 will definitely redshirt and i look for it to be Harris. I'm most intrigued about this Cannon Smith kid. I don't know anything about him other that he was the #1 rated prep school QB.
Kirby was never U material. I'm glad he helped us win the smurf turf bowl last year and the FSU game this year, but i was at Oklahoma and he looked shell shocked. When Kyle entered the game they just looked like a better team. Then don't get me started on the 1 of 14 and 3 Ints. If the OK game was bad, that was worse. Good luck to him. As far as transfering, hell give me a chance to play. At miami he would have been a 5th year senior with a marginal chance to play. thanks but no thanks. in his mind he's a football PLAYER, not a benchwarmer. He's gotta do what's best for him. I'm sure looking forward to spring practice.
This is a good move for all involved. I didn't really want to see that guy stinking up the Swamp in '08. I mean, we Gators have played some bad teams there, but Freeman would probably be the worst, bar none, that our defense has played in the last five years. I'd rather they get some better game experience in the early season to build upon for the conference slate.
Looks like Patrick Johnson is no longet commited to Miami. It's down to LSU, Florida and FSU. I can half understand LSU and Florida since they're the flavor of the month and on top right now, but FSU? They're worse off than we are by far. That program is pretty much on the lack of institutional control road. But whatever. Good luck to you and move out of the way. We want players who want to be there for the turn around, not just when times are good and easy.
-Columbus Cane
He just never seemed to show any confidence at all in his ability.
Can probably attribute that to the same lack of guidance and teaching that also affected Wright.
Sad really, when you think of the waste.
On another, brighter note: Not sure if anyone has missed this, but Sports Illustrated did an outstanding article on Kevin Everett in it's December 17 issue.
Please check it out, promise you will enjoy it.
until the u brings big time offensive line players it doesn't really matter who is the qb, when the last time miami's oline dominated the game, it's gonna be awhile folks before we see the bcs games again.
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