"Save The Orange Bowl" Rally on August 4th...

allCanesBlog.com is all about spreading the word and fighting causes today. Outside of all The Orange Revolution talk, I've also been asked to help spread the word regarding an upcoming "Save The Orange Bowl" rally which will take place Saturday August 4th at 11am ET outside the West End Zone of the Orange Bowl.

While it sounds like the move to Dolphin Stadium is a foregone conclusion, there's still an outside chance things could change. Why not voice our collective opinion and let those in power know what this legendary stadium not only means to The U, but to college football as well as in sports history?

The flyer for this event reads, "Bring cold drinks, signs, noisemakers and friends". A great day to get out to the OB a month before the season opener, a chance to see friends and an opportunity to have your day in the sun regarding how you feel about this legendary stadium and the Canes continuing to call it home.

Anyone with questions, email Mike Mangini, the diehard heading all this up.


.:Canes305:.

The Orange Revolution chimes in...

Last fall we got behind Rory Ellis and the rest of The Orange Revolution. Sick of the doom and gloom surrounding the program, a handful of fans decided to do something productive and actually rally the fan base. Ellis and his buds we're all about spreading the word and getting the fan base to sport orange when they showed up for games.

On Thanksgiving night, these were the guys responsible for the Bryan Pata banners in the West End Zone, taking up donations and putting in their own cash to make sure #95 and his family were represented on Senior Day. Few will forget the lasting image of several Canes marching midfield with a Pata banner after the 17-14 upset of Boston College. The fallen Pata's teammates circled, knelt and prayed around the banner, one lasting memory of a heartbreaking seasons.

Randy Shannon is leading a new regime in Coral Gables and The Orange Revolution is ready to get on board and do their part to get the fan base excited about the new product on the field this fall. Rory emailed earlier today to let me know his cause has received recent media attention this past week and like last year, I promised to help them spread the word.

From WVUM to the Miami Herald to MySpace, Facebook right down to flyering Canesfest this past weekend - these guys are on a mission. There's a revolution calling.

Ellis' mission isn't groundbreaking or earthshattering, but as we know, it only takes one person to rise up and start a movement. No one ever said it had to be complex. Sometimes it's as simple as wearing an orange shirt to a ball game.

The idea was borrowed from a Canes basketball game last season when fans were urged to wear green to the game. It also has a little bit of the "White Hot Heat" campaign in 2006 when the Miami Heat relied on home court advantage to help bring home the NBA crown, with fans urged to unite and wear white to the game.

What some thought was simply a gimmick last year for a flailing team, has rolled over into a new season, complete with a new head coach and new attitude. Ellis is not only urging fans to rock the orange against Marshall in the season opener, but for all home games in 2007.

"This thing is really starting to take on a life of its own," said Ellis. "Just in the last few days, Susan Degnan (Miami Herald) mentioned The Orange Revolution in her Sunday recap of Canesfest and assistant AD Mark Pray told us to expect word from UM's marketing department regarding the idea and if it's something they'd like to take to the next level."

Between media support, on campus support (WVUM promises to promote on air, hand out fliers, etc.), a game plan to spread the word on line, as well getting big mouthed bloggers to talk the talk, this thing promises to grow some legs. Get on board and sport the game day orange, people.

Questions for Rory and the Revolution? Fire 'em an email and make sure to check out their MySpace and Facebook pages.



.:Canes305:.

Shannon already delivering as promised...

I'm a self-proclaimed "anti-recruiting process" guy.

I'm absolutely 'all time' regarding my analytical/critical nature. I've no time for the 'process'. Talk to me when that ink dries on the Letter of Intent. Until then, it's all in theory and I don't respond to 'maybe' or 'we'll see'. I might get mildly excited, but I'll hold off on popping the bubbly until things are official.

Miami has been burned a few times in recent memory regarding recruits enjoying the process a bit too much and not sticking to their word. That said, the Canes also landed some last minute kids out of thin air that no one saw coming. It goes both ways, mostly in your favor, you hope. It's the way the game is played.

Where the 'process' loses me is the media circus. High school 'stars' with mics shoved in their faces. Overused sports cliches from teens imitating their favorite NFLers. Message boards crawling with "Sources tell me..." or "My barber heard from a coach..." predictions. Rival fans arguing over the services of a 17-year old. Pretty passionate chit-chat from outsiders when in all reality, no one but the player involved knows his collective fate.


THE SHANNON ERA IS UNDERWAY

Randy Shannon recently celebrated six months on the job. Two months from now he runs out that tunnel for the umpteenth time in his career, but first ever as head coach. His era begins September 1st against Marshall, but it's been a half year of laying the blueprint which will remind the college football world that Miami can start the comeback as quickly as it fell off. Last year was a fluke, not a trend.

A highly-ranked, quality first recruiting class only one month on the job. Assistant coaches hired right up to the final hour. A new staff with Shannon-like qualities and potential to make some immediate changes for the better. Bringing discipline and accountability back. Making team speed a priority again. Ridding the program of the few guys who didn't see things his way.

Another Shannon-ism, in regards to promoting team over individual? The removal of names from the backs of jerseys this year. Some fans are crying the blues regarding the new coach shaking up tradition and stating that jerseys names didn't stop The U from winning five titles over a nineteen year span. I say, after our worst season since 1979 I'm all for any motivational tactic which will get kids believing in Coach Shannon's way of righting this ship. I'm a believer in this new coach.

I challenge even the harshest critic to point out where Shannon has fallen short since taking over New Years Day. Not landing Dirk Koetter as his first choice offensive coordinator was the only area he didn't deliver and that was a simple case of NFL money versus NCAA private school cash. No contest and no fault of Shannon.

Impressive as all that is, it's next year's class which is selling me most regarding the new coach.


RECRUITS ARE LINING UP

I won't yet dub Shannon him the second coming of Jimmy Johnson just yet, but I'm seeing a similar ability to find what are the overachieving, three-star Miami-type guys, while also selling the big time five-stars on into his vision.

South Florida is on U-Lockdown these days. Shannon is the Sunshine State coach getting the most recruiting hype right now. He's outhustling the rest with his quiet confidence and ability to sell his long-term vision. A welcomed relief from Urban's cockiness and Bobby's old school charm.

While UF and FSU faithful might be too stupid, stubborn or delusional to acknowledge it, deep down they know what's really going on. Miami isn't remaining on the bottom nearly as long as they originally thought or hoped. It's evident that Randy Shannon is a 'Miami guy' and it's obvious he knows how to sell The U and rebuild. The new architect knows the winning blueprint the Canes need to follow to get back on top.

I really don't get excited over this recruiting crap... and it is crap. A 'Verbal' means nothing more than, "Hold me a scholy. I'm taking some free trips. You're S.O.L. if I find somewhere I dig more than U."

Of course that approach only impacted and leaves a reactive head coach flat-footed. It's obviously that Shannon isn't resting on his laurels and letting the student dictate the actions of the teacher. If you're still taking visits and you're not 1000% committed, your scholarship might not be waiting for you when you come to that final decision. A nice reversal of fortune after a few years of The U being played by recruits.

Hopefully those type of kids are a minimum regarding Shannon's early jump on the 2008 crop. With fifteen verbals on the table for next February. Miami tied Texas for the most verbal commitments among ESPN's Top 150 prospects.


REASON TO GET EXCITED

What's that mean right now? Absolutely nothing. We're Miami. This isn't Florida or Texas. The Canes don't play for 'recruiting championships', so the celebration is minimal when a top high school baller gives his verbal commitment to The U.

But after 7-6 in 2006, media abuse for the brawl with FIU and the still unsolved murder of Bryan Pata, this fan base will soak up any good news it can get. Not only do our players need to reprogram themselves with a winner's mentality, but do does our fan base. Get excited over this new regime. The time for cynicism ended as soon as the Canes wrapped up the Blue Turf Bowl.

After all the media scrutiny regarding "settling" for Shannon, this guy has spent the past six months making people eat their words and I don't see that stopping anytime soon. The culture at The U is getting back to that comfortable place it's been in before another run was on the horizon.

My wish is for a 1999-caliber this year. The calm before a four year storm where Miami saw four straight BCS games, two national championship game appearances, one ring (debatable) and a 34-game win streak. The 22-First Round Draft picks are merely the exclamation point on the phrase "dominate".


RANDY MAKING HIS MARK

Miami is going to embark on a run in the near future. Is 2007 when it kicks off? Maybe. 2008 is more likely, but there's no reason a shot at the ACC title isn't in the cards. There's enough current talent on this team, simply in need of motivation and looking for a leader to follow. As for the future, it's beyond bright.

Robert Marve looks to be the next Quarterback U candidate, but don't sleep on Taylor Cook - a verbal commitment for '08. Cook is #88 on ESPN's 150 and was praised for "size and athleticism." Cook is said to have, "good velocity, accuracy and overall physical tools that the potential reward far outweighs the risk" and he's just one of many superstars saying "Miami is for me."

The decline of the once-dominant Miami offense starts with the lack of a superstar quarterback in the post-Ken Dorsey era. Blame that on a coaching staff which has failed to either recruit or develop talent at the position. The recently hired Patrick Nix is the fourth Miami offensive coordinator since Rob Chudzinski's final season in 2003; the Canes fourth straight BCS berth.

Since then, three straight goose eggs regarding earning a "real" bowl berth, not to mention a season finale upset of Boston College last season to even get an invite to glorious Boise. Miami's offense was at a two decade low in the three year tag-team of Dan Werner and Rich Olson.

The days of good talent regressing under the wrong style of coaching? Long gone. I'm absolutely convinced of that. This staff will get it done because Shannon will get it done. A disciple of both JJ and Butch Davis (himself a guy molded by Johnson), Randy has strong orange and green bloodlines. Winning ways pump through his veins and fuel his fire.

He recruits like his former mentor and predecessor. He's no-nonsense, just like them as well. He landed his dream job and is going after it with a vengeance. Shannon laid out his detail-oriented game plan to the Miami administration and we've spent six months watching it unfold. Two months from now the product will hit the field and you can guarantee these kids will play like Hurricanes.

No more of the Miami:Lite program we watched erode from within the past few years. Teams take on the personality of their head coach. Larry Coker's Canes played unsure. Fragile psychies easily rattled. Unable to win the big game with the money on the table (Virginia Tech, 2005 aside). Wilting down the stretch. A lack of pride took over for what was once an unshakable confidence.

This program lost more games between 2004 to 2006 (12) then it did from 1998 to 2003 (11) combined.

The change may have been overdue, but happened last November and the result might be the next great Miami coach. The Shannon Era is underway. How far has it come in six months? We'll see this fall. The Canes have enough talent to compete. It was there last year and will be there again this year. Sadly, too many on the squad mentally checked out last season.

An attitude adjustment and swift kick in the ass would've meant a 10-2 regular season instead of 6-6 in 2006.

Florida State (13-10), Virginia Tech (17-10), Maryland (14-13) and Virgina (17-7) were all Miami's for the taking. Holding up 'four fingers' in 2006? Meant to signify this team would wither as the game played out, not rise up.

A complete 180 of what it used to mean during Shannon's playing days.


RECLAIMING OUR PLACE A TOP THE MOUNTAIN

#22 has too much pride not to make these kids work to win the fourth quarter back. Our dominance was build on that final fifteen minutes of play. The fourth goes to the guys who want it more.

Back in the day, that was The U. The result? Four national championships and three title game losses in the span of one decade (1983-1992). Randy Shannon was a four year letterman on four of those teams and an assistant coach for two others. On hand for 60% of that ultimate era; The Decade of Dominance.

One choice regarding 'the guy' who could bring this program back to the top? Looking at it now, an absolute no brainer. In a state of shock after 7-6 last winter? This fan base had no prayer thinking straight, most of us calling for that quick fix and big name, big time leader.

To become a champion you need the players, chemistry, leaders, solid coaches, as well as the football gods smiling favorably on you. The first step in that journey begins with pouring that solid foundation and working harder than the other guys. Shannon is doing just that. Based on the current state of college football, Texas is supposed to have eight of the ESPN Top 150.

After 7-6 and the debacle that was last season, a first year coach isn't expected to top the nation in top recruits. You want to define "It's a Canes Thing"? There you go. What's the "Miami swagger"? You're looking at it.

After being 'reactive' the past few seasons, The U is starting to live up to the hype again. A top notch class in 2007 and already 15 verbals for 2008. A storm is brewing in Coral Gables.

Check back later this week for some info on the "Fab Fifteen" who've already told Coach Shannon they're buying what he's selling.

Buckle up, Canes fans. It's about to get exciting again...


.:Canes305:.

Marve to miss entire 2007 season...

Is it terrible news or a blessing in disguise? We'll see. Can't really answer until the 2007 season is underway and Miami fans see first hand if Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman can carry this year's Canes on offense.

It's been reported that super-frosh Robert Marve will miss the entire 2007 football season due to a non-throwing hand injury sustained as a passenger in a Monday evening car accident outside of Tampa. Surgery was a success, but the healing time looks to be much longer than expected. Eugene Marve, father, feels this could be a blessing in disguise.

"Robert will most likely redshirt, but that's the way it is," said the elder Marve, a former NFL linebacker. "We had a little setback in our program but he will recover. Even before the accident I went back and forth in my mind whether I wanted him to play or not this season -- whether he could beat out Kyle [Wright] or Kirby [Freeman]. All those questions go through your mind. Unfortunately he was in the best shape of his life and he's really disappointed all that training has gone down the drain. He's the biggest and strongest and fastest he's ever been -- up to 200 pounds."

"Mentally he's very disappointed. He's very hard on himself about what happened. You go through the could've, would've, should've. Maybe it's like a game you didn't win; you criticize yourself, you analyze, you go through the things you could have done better."

Colin McCarthy walked away from the wreck unscathed, but Jermaine McKenzie is still in a neck brace and will be sidelined up to "a few months" due to three hairline fractures in his neck.

Both Marve and McKenzie have since withdrawn from summer school classes and will use the time off to recuperate. The current roommates are expected back on campus on August 2nd for freshman orientation and dorm room assignments.

The fathers of Marve and McKenzie both visited the tow yard where the totaled 2007 Dodge Charger sits and both were equally as amazed the three Canes walked away from the wreck.

"Scary," Eugene Marve said. "Way scary."

Said John McKenzie: "For those three gentlemen who made it through that accident, there's no doubt God has a plan for them. You just don't walk out of an accident like that with a minimal amount of injuries."

All this begs the question, what could this 'plan' be? Personally, I believe Marve redshirting truly could be a blessing in disguise. There's no shortage of insane message board posts and rants demanding that the freshman quarterback starts immediately.

I haven't heard that kind of talk since 2004, when folks wanted the freshman Wright to replace then-QB Brock Berlin. Now, in an ironic twist of fate, it's Wright that much of this fan base wants to see benched. Oh you gotta love the virtual head coaches pecking away at their keyboards.

News flash, people. Marve wasn't going to come in, sweep the program off it's feet, win games at Oklahoma, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Boston College year one. He's a freshman and is going to make some freshman mistakes.

Even the great 38-2 Ken Dorsey looked like a deer in headlights when thrust into the spotlight as a freshman against #2 Virginia Tech in 1999 when starter Kenny Kelly went down injured. 6 of 17 for 45 yards and 1 INT as he was tossed around Lane Stadium like a rag doll in a 43-10 loss.

A year later, Dorsey still looked lost in his first road start (at Washington) early in the 2000 season, but picked up steam over the next few games and had his coming out party in a 27-24 comeback over #1 Florida State.

Marve will eventually be 'the guy'. I don't doubt that in the least. I just worried about the pressure put on him this early by a rabid fan base who wants immediate results and retribution for a 7-6 season last year. As if an inexperienced 18-year old deserves to carry the burden placed on the program after three straight sub par seasons.

All this talk about Wright, Freeman or Marve? 1/3 of that equation has now been solved. Marve can heal, workout, learn the playbook and rest up for 2008. The coaching staff won't have to hear a delusional fan base call for a freshman to start over a senior (or junior) and it's now a two-man race between two guys who have been around this program the past few years.

A tragic event which could've been worse and an intriguing question now answered.


.:Canes305:.

Marve, McKenzie & McCarthy in auto accident...

Robert Marve, Jermaine McKenzie and Colin McCarthy were in a Monday morning one-car accident on Interstate-75 South. Marve and his two new teammates were visiting the home of his high school quarterback, Robert Weiner. Marve allowed McKenzie to drive his 2007 Dodge Charger back to campus. McCarthy was riding shotgun with the freshman QB in the right rear seat.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, McKenzie fell asleep at the wheel around midnight. The car veered left, entered the grass median an struck a guard rail. McKenzie awoke, attempted to regain control, overcorrected and lost control.

The report goes on to state that the vehicle traveled across both southbound lanes and rotated clockwise, entered the grass shoulder on the west side of the road and overturned several times before striking a tree. The vehicle stopped flipping and came to an upside rest. The FHP estimated $30,000 in vehicle damage.

Weiner stated that Marve's left hand (non-throwing hand) was injured and that surgery was scheduled for Monday evening. Regarding McKenzie, his father (John) stated that his son sustained hairline fractures in his neck, but that surgery would not be required. McKenzie was fitted for a neck brace and will not be ready for the start of fall practice on August 4th. McCarthy escaped from the wreck unscathed.

This three-Cane crash is eerily reminiscent of another Miami Football accident in the summer of 2001 when Jarrett Payton, Clinton Portis and Clint Hurtt were in a late July wreck near downtown Miami. The trio his a guardrail on I-95 and while all three were treated at Jackson Memorial for bumps and bruises after being hurled out of the car into traffic.

Ironically, Hurtt was driving Payton's car just like McKenzie was driving Marve's.

The U represents at The ESPYs...

The Canes were well represented at the 2007 ESPYs. Devin Hester won the first award of the evening for Breakthrough Player of the Year. He was the lone Cane to win an award, but both The Rock and Kellen Winslow II were spotted on the red carpet pre-show.

One noted exception from this year's ESPYs? Any mention of Bryan Pata. Even in the segment where ESPN created their 'heartfelt' montage regarding those who left us in this past year - not one shot of the slain Pata. Absolutely pathetic.

ESPN had zero issue using the Pata murder as their lead story for several days, in an attempt to drive ratings - yet eight months later, #95 doesn't even garner :02 of screen time during a slideshow of last year's deceased. The same channel who ran UM/FIU brawl footage ad nauseam and will always talk Miami if the talk is negative, could find one moment in their overblown, overhyped telecast to pay respect to a slain Cane.

Ignore the Pata murder, yet keep running footage of the several dozen NFL Canes every Sunday and trash Miami every Saturday in an effort to drive rating, you hypocrites. ESPN may have forgotten about Bryan Pata, but The U never will. R.I.P., #95. U FAMILY for life.