Hang on. Here we go...

I originally planned on writing a preview regarding tomorrow's Miami v. Marshall match up, but I changed my mind. I really don't care who's on the other side of that ball on September 1st. I'm just glad the Canes are finally running out that Orange Bowl tunnel for the first time since last Thanksgiving.

We say it every year, but has there truly been a longer off-season?

Last time Miami played at home it was like a funeral. Senior night without a recently buried teammate. The eve of the firing of a sixth year head coach. The final home game of the worst season of Hurricane Football in a decade.

Rest in peace, sayonara and thank God - in that order.

Since then we've also found out this is the OB's farewell tour and there won't be an encore. Seven more home games in a legendary stadium which spanned just about seven decades. But let's not go there. The tone of this message is one of a positive nature. This is a well-deserved fresh start.

I truly don't care the opponent this Saturday and I refuse to bore myself breaking down Marshall's offensive and defensive numbers for 2006. For what? Tomorrow is about the Canes. I'm ready to see if my feeling about this team is warranted. I want validation for what my gut is telling me.

I've read that The U came in somewhere around #31 in the preseason top 25. Somewhere in that 'others receiving votes' category. Ouch. Been a while since we've seen that. But after 7-6 can you really complain? I mean outside the fact that Florida State flew in under the radar at #21 after 7-6 and their own litany of issues.

Last season ended with a thud, so the lack of media respect is actually warranted... for once. I just hope it means a lot of fools are eating their words in a few weeks. Nothing would make me happier.

Preseason rankings are biased, but us Canes rarely care as we're oft on the top of the hill looking down on the complaining masses. Staring up from #31, we're feeling this daunting task. Yet in reality the ranking meshes with everything coach Shannon has been preaching these past eight months on the job.

Forget the past. One game at a time. Control your own destiny. Take care of business. Make yourselves accountable. If ever there was a Miami team to not give a damn about preseason rankings and names on the back of their jerseys, I feel this can be it.

The media masses haven't been paying attention to the noise coming out of south Florida this off-season. It's a lot easier to base your predictions solely on last year's results.

Doesn't take much thought to regurgitate the same ol' same ol' - new coach, coming off a down year, issues with the facilities, looking at a few years to bounce back, etc.

Bristol, CT is a long way from Coral Gables and anybody can read a teleprompter. Those of us who follow this program like a religion, we know what's going on. That 'feeling' is coming back.

We're not sure how far away we are, but we know it's closer than the critics think. There's something in the air when Miami is on the rise and only the locals and crazies can smell it.

I'm not calling for a return to greatness this season. But I'm not ruling one out, either.

Everybody's going to know pretty damned quickly what kind of team The U will field this year. Miami returns 17 starters. Are these guys Cokerized beyond repair, or did they just need their new leader to raise the bar? 12-0, 12-1 and 11-2 became 9-3, 9-3 and 7-6 in the blink of an eye. How much of that was talent and how much was coaching?

Were the Canes void of talent or just missing a few playmakers here and there? Can a raised level of competition have an immediate impact? The college football world is about to find out.

You know my view from up here. I believe Miami's going to surprise this year. A few losses are understandable, but a few upsets are expected. This team is not as far off as the masses believe. But we're still one week away from that direction-changing statement game.

Right now, it's all about Marshall and that said, here's to a season which proves we're still Miami.

It's not 'New Orleans or bust'. At least, not yet. Let's start with first downs, touchdowns and some offensive firepower to match a top-ranked defense. Let's see if this new crop of Canes is up for the challenge. Lots of freshman making their mark after half a year of speculation and afternoon battles on Greentree. It's time to bring it. Showtime. Unload on the Thundering Herd and give the Sooners something to think about regarding next week.

Welcome to college ball in 2007. After last season, Miami deserve something to smirk about this coming Saturday.

It's time to take that first step back towards greatness. Let's do this thing already.


.:Canes305:.

Canes-themed GameDay Playlist....

Seems every few months I see a slew of posts online asking about game day mixes for The U. My issue with most mixes is that they get too heavy regarding 'flavor of the month' type stuff instead of sticking to the game day staples.

First off, if hip hop is your thing - remember you roots. This is The U. If you're gonna pop the trunk outside the OB and blare an iPod playlist, stick to local or regional artists. Your mix needs to be a Miami themed. Trick Daddy. Rick Ross. Pitbull. Old school 2 Live Crew. Opposing fans can hear Common or T.I. anywhere. Even our Marshall folk in West Virginia.

Smack up some opposing fans with that local flavor and some stuff that reminds 'em it's a Canes thing. Below are some of my game day faves:

Trick Daddy - "Let's Go" and "Can't F**k With The South" are game day musts. Same with "Shut Up". Any video 1) filmed in the Orange Bowl and 2) featuring a fresh to the NFL Edgerrin James is as big time as it gets. This cut is property of The U. Check the vid.

Pitbull - "Miami S**t" and "Born N Raised" are two musts from this product of the 305. I've also noticed that "Ay Chico (Lengua Afuera)" flat out scares our ACC brethren as they're waking down 16th Avenue.

Rick Ross - "Push It" and "Hustlin" were national hits, but Ross is a product of Miami and both songs are as Dade County as it gets.

J.T. Money - "Who Dat" and "War" are classics. If you're feeling nostalgic, toss some vintage Poison Clan on there. I threw "Action" on my mix.

2 Live Crew - Anything off of "As Nasty As They Want To Be" and "2 Live Is What We Are" is destined to bring up memories of the Decade of Dominance, while also offending opposing fans. Good times.

Goodie Mob - "Dirty South" - Even though the Mob is from Georgia, this cut can apply to the MIA.

DJ Khaled - "B**ch I'm From Dade County" - Do I even need to explain this one?

Nate Brooks - "Hurricanes That's Us" - Not the best tune, but it's a former Cane rapping about the Canes. Judge it by it's content, not it's musical value.

No Good - "Ballin Boys (Canes Mix)" - The Miami-themed version of this song hit just before the Canes headed to Pasadena for the 2002 Rose Bowl. A classic.

Regarding bringing some rock and roll to the mix, I advise you to stay away from the cliche and played out stuff. Case in point, "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC. Any tune used in a high school football movie (Varsity Blues) can no longer be taken serious on game day for the Canes. Same to be said for "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. Great cut, but Virginia Tech made it theirs so this one can no longer be played within 10 miles from the OB.

You get the point. Here are some choice rock cuts to throw into the mix:

Guns N Roses - "Welcome To The Jungle" - Mildly played out, but 'welcome to the jungle' fits with the Banana Republic feel down south when opposing fans enter Little Havana.

Filter - "Hey Man, Nice Shot" - Great build up. In your face. Great for night games. Play at dusk. Another one which scares people.

Scorpions - "Rock You Like a Hurricane" - Played out? Sure. But it has 'hurricane' in the title and was released in 1983, the year of Miami's first national championship. This tune isn't ever leaving the master list.

Metallica - "For Whom The Bell Tolls" - Vintage Metallica. Great tune. Makes you want to run through a wall. Even non-metal heads now get this one after Miami fan 31SpoonerStreet used it in his nine minute highlight reel on YouTube. Check it at the 3:50 mark. This tune sends chills up the spine.

Phil Collins - "In The Air Tonight" - Ray Lewis made this song his back in the mid-nineties and it's vintage Miami Vice era. Nothing better than hearing this one through the ratty OB speakers for a night game while the teams are warming up.

I also recommend people get online and download some audio clips. In my mix I've included Michael Irvin's speech from 2005, Santana Moss' "big time players" post-game speech from the 2000 win over Florida State, etc.

Toss in some Band of the Hour stuff like the University of Miami Fight Song and you have the ultimate Hurricanes-themed game day mix for tomorrow.



.:Canes305:.

Senioritis not an option at The U...

Randy Shannon promised to instill some old school Miami Football tactics into his coaching style and he's doing just that. In a throwback to the Jimmy Johnson era, Shannon scrapped the depth chart months ago and stated that performance is what gets you on the field, not seniority.

Shannon stuck to his word when this week's depth chart was released. Freshman corner DeMarcus Van Dyke will make his first start on Saturday. Back up John Rochford got the starting nod at center over senior Derrick Morse. Freshman Orlando Franklin unseated senior Andrew Bain at offensive tackle.

Sixth year senior Francesco Zampogna takes over kicking duties instead of the heralded Daren Daly even though the walk on didn't even make the 2007 media guide.

Injuries and suspensions shook up the depth chart as well. Sam Shields is sidelines and Khalil Jones will assume his receiving duties. Tavares Gooden starts at middle linebacker over slightly nicked up Darryl Sharpton. Injuries also have Dwayne Hendricks starting over both Josh Holmes and Antonio Dixon.

Old school is new school again at The U. Shannon is taking a page out of Jimmy Johnson's playbook in his promoting competition and repeating over and over that nobody's job is safe. Whether it's lethargic play or injury, players have to earn their jobs back. No more promises that your starting gig will be waiting for you when healthy again. You want to start again? Earn your way back to the top on the practice field.

Hunger can't be fabricated. You have to want it more than the guy next to you. Hear those footsteps? That's the #2 guy on the depth chart breathing down your neck for your starting job.

Just one more example of what's been wrong at Miami. People want to know how 12-0 became 7-6 over five years? It was a slow erosion due to the wrong mindset.

Thankfully this new tactic by Shannon will have an immediate impact.


.:Canes305:.

A whole 'lot of Coker going on...

Am I crazy (don't answer that) or am I hearing the name Larry Coker way too much lately? I say way too much in the sense that the former Miami coach and current ESPN U analyst seems to be getting a lot of press coverage for a guy out of work regarding his profession.

Coker is a decent man, he had a great record at Miami, et al. I get it. I just don't get why this past month has been full of sports reporters sitting down with the ex Canes coach to discuss his thoughts on why he was fired and what his next move it. I've seen no less than a half dozen articles or quips this week alone.

There was a blurb in the Herald today where Coker was asked his thoughts on Kirby Freeman being named the starter over Kyle Wright. Coker stated he was "not totally shocked, but a little surprise" and stated, "He apparently had a great off season and I think the players identify with Kirby and his leadership."

Huh? Does the media really think anyone cares about how the former coach feels about who this year's starting quarterback is at The U? Why not call Jimmy Johnson and Howard Schnellenberger and ask how they feel about Kirby v. Kyle.

Look, Coker was a good guy. We won a title in 2001, choked one away/had one stolen in 2002 and made our third straight BCS game a year later on his watch. That said 12-0, 12-1 and 11-2 became 9-3, 9-3 and 7-6. Personally, I'm shocked when I read that our former coach can't fathom why he was let go, pleading his case and regurgitating overall stats instead of seeing the decline the past three seasons. The Canes were eroding from within. Change was necessary.

LC in the booth for the Marshall game makes absolutely zero sense to me. Coker was fired after the season finale, yet stuck around to coach the bowl game. Understandable on a personal level, thought it makes little sense regarding the direction of the program. The Canes haven't seen the field since that game and now Coker will be in the booth calling Randy Shannon's first game when he's still bitter over being fired? Makes no sense to me.

I equate it to your girlfriend dumping you for someone else and you offering to chauffeur the new couple around. Bow out gracefully, head held high. Don't stick around so closely to watch this new chapter develop.

There's a team out there who'd benefit from Coker's expertise. Hopefully come 2008 he'll be back on another sideline and out of the booth on game day.

In my humble opinion, there needs to be some separation between the old coach's firing and Miami's first game in the non-Coker era. Coach Shannon doesn't deserve to have his former boss critiquing his every move game one.


.:Canes305:.

Sit down, Sammy...

Super soph Sam Shields has been suspended for the season opener against Marshall. Shields violated team policy, which could mean anything in the Randy Shannon era. Most likely the kid missed a class or something of that nature and Boss Cane is laying down the law.

Shields is practicing with the team, but won't have a chance to play again until the trek to Oklahoma next week. It also means he'll have to bust his ass during practice next week in an effort to re-climb the depth chart. Performance equals playing time and without getting to showcase his skills this week against the Thundering Herd, Shields is in a hole for week two.

In other news... Francesco Zampogna won the starting job at kicker over Daren Daly. Zampogna is a walk on and a sixth year senior who coach Shannon has stated reminds him of a Carlos Huerta type. We can only hope.

Shannon makes it official: It's a Kirby thing...

Well it looks like last night's little bird shed some wisdom on the quarterback controversy. The Rumor Mill was correct this time around as Kirby Freeman was named starter over the more experienced Kyle Wright.

The emails have been pouring in this morning. Most fans happy with the decision, some still on board with Wright and others still praying for a miraculous recovery by freshman Robert Marve a month after a scary car wreck which will most likely sideline him for 2007.

Personally, I'm torn. I haven't seen any action this spring, but I've been told by a few sources that Freeman truly did out perform Wright. That the staff called the race much closer than it really was in an effort to keep things under wraps until Marshall week.

I hope that's the case, because if it was really neck-and-neck, I can't fathom starting Freeman over Wright. I'd roll the dice with the experienced drop back passer and insert the mobile QB for his legs and ability to throw the deep ball. That said, there's a reason I'm behind a monitor instead of making seven figures, wearing the headphones on game day.

Randy Shannon stated early on that once a decision was made, there'd be no looking back. I'm curious to see if he still stand by that. Wright has a hyper extended knee, which supposedly didn't play into the decision - though it did force him to miss the final scrimmage which could've played into Freeman winning the starting job.

Of course I play the 'what if' game here. What if Freeman falters early on? What if Wright's knee gets healthy and he is an asset to the offense when in the game? Does Shannon stick with Freeman because he was so adamant in saying once a guy was chosen he'd remain 'the guy' for the season? Again, something which the first year head coach will be judged on as the season progresses.

Freeman is Miami's starter and I'm 1000% behind the kid. I do love that he's a gamer. I love that he got a "U" tattoo on his back to prove his loyalty to the program after transfer rumors swirled. I think his attitude is in the right place and feel he embraced the competition en route to earning the starting gig.

Had Shannon chosen Wright, I'd give the readers a list of reasons why I was behind #3. Sadly the majority of our fan base doesn't feel the same.

Message boards were in fire this morning. Ridiculous posts like, "RIP Kyle Wright" or commentary to the effect of "thanks for nothing", "enjoy driving the bus" or calling him team water boy.

We're talking about a 22-year old kid who's spent the past four years leaving it all on the field for this program. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Heart. Soul. You name it.

Wright's done more for the University of Miami over the past four years than a gross of Internet tough guys will do in a lifetime. Especially if they keep up with the idiotic and ignorant online posts. This is probably the same bunch who booed Wright relentlessly last season and cursed at he and his family during the 17-10 loss to Virginia Tech last year.

Stand by your man, people. Freeman is the guy. We're all behind him.

In the process, just make sure you don't step directly on the other man and crush him. In the blink of an eye, twist of an ankle or shaky start by Freeman, Wright could be back behind center before you know it. Let's attempt to have some class here. Anyone with half a brain realized Wright was only part of the problem these past few years.

If you're going to hate, feel free to spread some of the non-love to Larry Coker, Dan Werner, Rich Olson and Todd Berry as none of the above did anything to help Wright's career at The U.

Congrats Kirby. Hang tough, Kyle.


.:Canes305:.

The Freeman Show...

Word on the street is that Kirby Freeman will be named Miami's starter on Tuesday morning. I haven't heard anything official, but if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck... I've received several emails this evening from a handful of folks. Some in the know, others who heard from someone who heard it from their neighbor's barber.

Either way, I figured I'd pass it along. No one's writing to tell me Kyle Wright got the starting gig. Everyone is talking Freeman.

allCanesBlog.com will report more Tuesday morning when the news is official. For now we'll just fuel the rumor mill...

Gameweek is finally here....

The Monday before Marshall. Who hasn't been counting down to this week? My calendar started the moment Chavez Grant picked off what's his name from Nevada in the Smurf Bowl.

It's been a long eight months of eating crow. A 7-6 season. An on the field brawl. A murdered player. A bowl game in Boise. Some firings and some hirings.

There have been some bright spots, though. Randy Shannon appears to have the ship righted regarding recruiting, disciplining players and laying down his law and brand of football. |

Now he gets a chance to show it on the field and I believe he will.

My thoughts on what's going on around The U a few days before that opening kickoff:


Today's Miami Herald had a solid piece regarding true freshman who will see the field. Coach Shannon estimates at least six true and redshirt freshman will play for The U this year. Leonard Hankerson, Graig Cooper, Orlando Franklin, DeMarcus Van Dyke, JoJo Nicolas and Jared Campbell all expect to see some serious playing time and I love it.

Life isn't about seniority or putting in time. It's about efforts equaling results. Do your job well, bust your ass, perform better than the guy next to you regardless of age, experience, size, etc.

Pete Carroll runs USC this way, as do head coaches at other top notch program. It used to be the Miami way under Jimmy Johnson and Butch Davis, but that changed during the Larry Coker era, where freshman were only used as a result for sub par recruiting, injuries or early exits to the NFL.

Opening up the depth charts is a great thing. It promotes competition and gets the best players on the field. What a breath of fresh air for a fan base who watched a Devin Hester rot on the sidelines during some three-loss seasons, yet he's taken the NFL by storm after year one.


The Kyle Wright v. Kirby Freeman riddle will be answered on Tuesday and I'm glad Shannon is making this decision, because I sure as hell wouldn't want to. I've received email arguments from fans of each QB and both sides make some valid points.

The Freeman camp cites that he's a play maker and what he lacks in arm strength he makes up for with his head. They also point out that Freeman has two years of eligibility left, to Wright's one, making him the wiser long-term investment.

The Wright camp is quick to point out that #3 is on his fourth offensive coordinator since signing with Miami in 2003. He has the physical tools, but no one has been there to develop them. Patrick Nix has been on board a few months now, but is that enough to have righted Wright's wrongs?

If it were on me, both quarterbacks would get significant playing time versus Marshall and I'd pick my starter going into the Oklahoma game. Practice is practice. I'd want to see both kids in game time situations before making the call.

My gut tells me Wright gets the nod as there is more potential for upside if he gets it together. That said, the leash is short and the doghouse close by if he can't get off to a quick start.


If you missed Dave Hyde's piece on coach Shannon in this weekend's Sun Sentinel, click here to read the article as soon as you're done reading my post. We've all heard the Cliff Notes version of Shannon's rough upbringing and tragedy which ensued, but this takes things to the next level. You want to know as much as you can about this no-nonsense coach? This article is for you. Miami landed a gem when they handed the keys over to Shannon. No doubt in my mind.


I'm livid I missed the ESPN broadcast of 16th-ranked Booker T. Washington @ 13th-ranked Summerville on Saturday night. High school football nationally televised? Future Canes showcased all night long? Shame on me for missing it. From what I've read, it was a real coming out party for Dade County and South Florida football as a whole. The boys from the bottom rolled to a 36-3 victory.

Miami verbal Davon Johnson was the game's most valuable player with 4 catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns, one of which came on the game's second play - a 62-yarder.


Miami will wear orange in the season opener against Marshall and fans are encouraged to do the same. The U's marketing department is calling it the "Wear Orange" campaign but it's really the work of Rory Ellis and the guys at The Orange Revolution, who pushed for something similar at the end of 2006. Orange is the call for game one, white is being discussed for the Texas A&M night game and for the finale against Virginia, there's talk of a split u with half the stadium in orange, the other in green and the west end zone in white.


Five days 'til kickoff. Are U ready?


.:Canes305:.

Charlie Jones latest injured Cane...

Charlie Jones is out. What does that mean for the Canes? We'll see.

Two years ago Jones was making highlights when he stepped in for an injured Tyrone Moss. A 97-yard one touchdown performance in a 27-7 upset of then #3 Virginia Tech helped put Jones on the map until 2006 when he was supplanted by freshman tailback Javarris James. Since then, #34 has been relegated to a back up role.

Jones entered this fall as third string tailback behind James an superfrosh Graig Cooper, so the injury isn't a huge blow at this point of the game. It also opens up the door for another highly touted freshman, Shawnbrey McNeal.

I never want to see our kids injured and I consider some of our fans sick regarding those who want to see one player go down so another will start. That said, I look for the silver lining in regards to the back up who will see the field by default. A lot of times seniority wins out and it takes an act of God to get a future star in the game.

Sort of like the injury to Glenn Cook. Miami's most experienced linebacker suffered a recent injury which will sideline him at least three games. In his place, sophomore linebacker Darryl Sharpton will take over. Sharpton came on strong late last season, looks to have 'superstar' written all over him and is primed to break out in 2007.

This quandary puts the coaching staff in a pickle. How do you bench the experienced senior for the promising sophomore? When do you pull the starter for the back up? How do you answer questions regarding if one is successful and the other fails?

An injury, though disappointing for the team and individual, can eliminate all of that. It almost provided head coach Randy Shannon the perfect scapegoat for his current quarterback dilemma.

The sore knee of Kyle Wright almost made Kirby Freeman the starter by default, keeping the heat off the coaching staff should #7 falter.

Instead, Wright will be good to go and the critics will be ready to pounce when a starter is named next Tuesday. And Godforbid the chosen starter doesn't "bring it" in a season-defining match up at Oklahoma in two weeks. Look out.

Here's hoping all injured Canes get healthy as soon as possible, but in the meantime let's hope the back ups prove to be superstars in the making.

For every suspended George Mira Jr. there's a Bernard "Tiger" Clark just waiting to take over a game and lift a team.

Is there a Tiger on this squad waiting in the wings? We'll see.




.:Canes305:.

Hallowed Ground: Can't be measured in dollars & cents...

A bud of mine sent me a message board post he came across the other day entitled "Hallowed Ground" in regards to the Orange Bowl. As I've said the past few days, I'm at the point where I can live with the move. It makes sense based on all the circumstances.

Doesn't mean I don't wish the OB received a $200M facelift and that we played there from here to eternity - but as a result of the city of Miami dragging ass and at the expense of playing in an unrenovated OB, I'm optimistic regarding the move to Dolphin Stadium... today. That could all change after a few cocktails this evening.

The "Hallowed Ground" post was a good one. I wish I knew who wrote it so I could give credit. Regardless, I'll post it here. Always great to hear another Cane fan's perspective regarding their personal Orange Bowl memories:

"Yes HALLOWED. I have been sitting next to my father in the same two seats in the West End Zone for nearly 30 years at that "dump" of a stadium. But let's put it in perspective. It is a building consisting of little more than brick and steel. However, for those of us lucky to have been there for those "special moments"; you would swear that the old son of a bitch had a heartbeat. But now, because of decisions made over money and politics; that heartbeat will be heard only a few more times. Soon it will be silenced for ever.

Oh how it rocked when Kenny Calhoun started it all. When a lanky 19 year old freshman shocked the college football world by beating the almighty 1983 Nebraska team.

I swear it danced along with all the rest of us on September 3rd, 1988. Preseason #1 FSU came in with a rap video and left with a 31-0 ass whooping.

Third and 44 anyone? Most teams would run and punt against the #1 team in the nation. Not Miami, not with ND on the other side......NOT IN OUR HOUSE.

And how it let out tears of joy when (Willis) McGahee took a screen pass 68 yards in 2002.

These are just a few moments that are etched in my heart and soul. Do other teams and stadiums have memories like this? Of course they do. But these belong to us. I have plenty of friends who are fans of the Michigans, Floridas, and Florida States of the world. And you know what, they are right when they say their stadiums are nicer. That they have replay screens, comfortable seats and clean bathrooms. They poke fun at our old friend; the chipped paint, the neighborhood, the parking, and anything else they can repeat over and over again. Funny thing is, they are right. The funnier thing is, we use their insults as a badge of honor.

So yes; we play football in the hood. We have bleacher seats in the west end zone and the bathrooms reek of piss. But after November 10th; no Saturday afternoon will ever be the same. I hope we win again soon and power is restored back to where it belongs once we move to Dolphin Stadium. Winning and getting back to our ways will certainly ease the pain. But winning will be a little emptier knowing that we left our old friend behind.

So thank you Old Buddy. For after divorces, moves, and relocations; you have been my most consistent home. I have seven more dates with you. Only seven more times of tailgating next to a polluted river and walking down an avenue where barely a word of English is spoken. Only seven more times will I feel the nostalgia I felt so many times before. So after providing a home for me and my family for so long. It is our turn to give you shelter in our hearts and memories. Good bye old friend."

More on the OB and the QB...

The morning after I'm still sort of miffed over how the Orange Bowl debacle played out. I see pics of the old girl and all I can do is recall the amount of memories made in that legendary stadium. But I'm also attempting to be logical instead of emotional.

I'm thinking back to the mere 75 or so uber fans who showed up for the Save The Orange Bowl rally a few weeks back in comparison to the amount of emails and message board posts stating what a tragedy this move is. Where were all the keyboard cowboys on that Saturday during the rally? What would the fate of the stadium have been if 7,500 showed up instead of 75? Would it have made a difference?

Probably not. The more I think about the situation and read about what went down, it seems there was truly no way the Orange Bowl could've been saved unless the city of Miami was proactive in their efforts. In the end, it's not really about the $1.5M a year in extra revenue the school will pick up. It's about the city truly doing what needs to be done to get this historic stadium up to par and the faith Miami's administration had that city officials would get the job done.

I wasn't in the meetings. I'm not one of seventeen Board of Trustee members. I'm not Donna Shalala or Paul Dee. I don't know what was said at those meetings, but from what I read it sounds as if Miami's admin left it all on the field. Everything from trying to bring FIU on board (a state school would receive state renovation money) to getting a soccer franchise on board, finding another location, raising financing, etc.

At day's end, there was trepidation by both the university and the mayor's office regarding forcing tax payers to pay upwards of $200M to fix a stadium which hosts 6-7 games per year.

It is what it is. Right now the thought of no longer playing in the Orange Bowl is a punch in the gut, but the decision has been made. There's no reason to lament over it anymore. This fan base has six Saturdays and one Thursday night this season to soak up the environment. My advice is to get out there and make the most of it.

For those who missed today's article in the Miami Herald by Dan LeBatard, check it out. Definitely not a piece for the bleeding heart Orange Bowl enthusiast, but if you think logically instead of emotionally, there are some good points here.

I'm still working on keeping logic in front of emotion right now because at day's end, this situation still sucks and I can't fathom playing anywhere other than the OB.

In other news... the quarterback controversy continues.

Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman questions remain off-limits to members of the media. Ask other current Canes about who they feel is going to be 'the guy' and you won't get a peep out of them.

Sam Shields: "I can't say nothing about that. They're both competing. Whoever is going to start is going to have to work hard."

Lance Leggett: "Honestly, to tell you the truth, you never know who's in. If you don't look in the huddle, you won't know who the quarterback is."

Darnell Jenkins: "We trust both of them. I just feel both of them are competing."

Boss Cane has laid down the law regarding players talking about who's behind center and right now these guys remained tighter lipped than members of the CIA.

Talk remains that both #3 and #7 remain neck and neck for the starting gig. Is that the truth or nothing more than coachspeak or playerspeak as we're nine days from kicking off the 2007 season?

Those supposedly in the know or the behind the scenes guys at practice are flooding the message boards stating that Freeman is outplaying Wright. He's making bigger plays, throws a nicer deep ball and has that 'gamer' quality about him. Freeman feels this is his team and he's ready to step up and lead.

As for Wright, things have been mum since a recent knee injury sent the senior to the sidelines for a few days. Word is that during the Wright hiatus, Freeman has picked up the pace.

If both guys are neck and neck skills-wise, the intangible has to be attitude and confidence level. Freeman seems to have the slight edge there as Wright has oft been knocked for being stoic and reserved. Almost robotic at times. Freeman got his feet wet last season when Wright was injured and the experience seems to have whet his appetite, making him hungry for another shot as starter.

If I had to place odds, I'm calling it 60/40 in Freeman's favor right now. Wright has a few practices left to swing the naysayers back his way. We'll see.

Stay tuned.


.:Canes305:.

Tragic...

It was decided this morning that the University of Miami is abandoning the Orange Bowl and is headed north to Dolphin Stadium as early as 2008. I don't think I could be any more sick over the news.

Obviously, I get it. Money won out as did the lack of trust issues with the city of Miami. We all know this issue should've been rectified a decade ago. It wasn't and that's why Miami admin and the board of trustees bailed out today.

If you're looking for the lone gunman here, there truly isn't one. You can partially blame the city for draggings its collective feet for over a decade. You can blame the admin for selling out over $1.5M per year when there had to be other options regarding fundraising. Pretty pathetic that a relatively small amount of cash (for an athletic department) was chosen over decades of tradition, but hardly a surprise.

I could go on here, but it'd pale in comparison to Greg Cote's comments regarding this tragic situation. Make sure to check out his article in today's Miami Herald.

The city pledged a $206 million OB renovation to keep the Canes, but, characteristic of its method of operation, the full commitment is lacking. Less than half of that total ($88 million, barely enough to cover structural improvements that are not an option) is firmly accounted for.

The rest of it relies on tax credits and revenue bonds, the usual sleight of hand.

In that respect you can hardly blame UM for favoring a new stadium that has been renovated rather than trusting OB improvements that should have been done years ago instead of existing now only as desperate, last-minute promises.

To be fair, share the blame. Put the majority in the city's lap, but do not absolve UM entirely. Wouldn't an option have been to give the city more time to guarantee the balance of the money while the structural renovation was taking place? Isn't 70 years of tradition worthy of a bit more patience and even a bit of financial sacrifice?

Cote refers to the Orange Bowl as "one of the most unique, tradition-rich home stadiums in all of American sports" and calls Dolphin Stadium "a soulless building in the middle of an expanse of asphalt, a place where the Canes will be the third tenant after the Dolphins and Marlins."

What more is there to say after that?

Check out Cote's article - http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/209424.html - I'll blog more about this over time. Right now I'm just pissed off. The Canes belong at the OB and there's no price tag you can put on that.

Oh, what the OB could be...

What could and should be versus what probably will be. Saw these pics months back and had them forwarded to me over the weekend. Artist renditions of what COULD be done to the Orange Bowl IF the City of Miami held up their end of the bargain, IF our administration chose to head down that path and IF things fell apart regarding talks with H. Wayne.

The Canes move north to Dolphin Stadium seems fait accompli, but I'm still holding out hope that something can be saved. There are rumors that some Board of Trustees members aren't 100% sold on the move, will miss the tradition, prefer the Canes stay put, will only sign off IF the deal to move north is damn near perfect.

Donna Shalala has backed some of that talk up, but again, we know business is business and if there's a way to generate a few million per year in revenue for Miami's athletic department, tradition can't hang with dollar signs.

Again, I'll go on record saying that leaving the Orange Bowl would be an absolute blow to the program. All the money in the world won't give the Canes they home field advantage they receive on Saturdays at the OB. There's nothing in the world like it, when the Canes are clicking on all cylinders.

This is Canes305 officially putting a hex on Miami moving north. Down with Dolphin Stadium. Long live the Orange Bowl. B.O.T. members, think with your heads AND your hearts when making this decision.

There are some things money can't buy and years of tradition are one of them. Don't rip the soul out of this program for the sake of concessions revenue and a Jumbotron. That's pathetic.

What's going on @ The U... Cliff Notes version

Information overload seems to be the case right now with all things regarding Miami Football. The local papers and their new bloggers, long time Canes-themed sites, new site popping up, old sites in overdrive. I haven't seen anything this trendy since New Coke.

Those who've been reading my articles this past decade know I try to go heavy on killer and less on filler. Any writer can report the facts. I prefer to give a long-time fan's opinion based on those facts. Some random thoughts this week:


Fall ball is underway and from the sounds of it, intense practices have again found their way back to Miami, which is great news. Depth charts gone and competition at every position. It's all part of the new Randy Shannon attitude which will trickle down to every pore of the program. I don't want to bash the old regime, but the way you practice is the way you'll play and the product on both fields has been lackluster the past few seasons.


Everyone says it's a neck and neck race for quarterback between Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman. Both QBs are working hard, putting their best foot forward and are vying for the starting job. Unless one separates himself from the pack, it still looks like Wright's job to lose, with Freeman as the mobile, capable back up.

Personally, I'd like to see a starter named after the Marshall game and watch both QBs get significant playing time in the season opener.


I've heard that Calais Campbell has been a vocal leader thus far and has started screaming "New Orleans" during drills; home to this year's National Championship game. I think it's a little early to start worrying about a title run. Especially unranked and coming off of 7-6, but I do like the fact someone is stepping up. I mentioned weeks ago I felt Campbell could be due for an Ed Reed-like breakout season as a team leader. It's been a while since Miami had one of those guys and I think a vocal leader is necessary to a team's success. Hopefully this trend continues. Wanted: An offensive team leader. Someone needs to step up.


I'm curious to see how Shannon's "National Championship or bust" approach works out. He stated at ACC media day that Miami wanted more than to just win the conference. I'm all for aiming for the stars and landing on the moon, but the current BCS system isn't kind to teams outside the top 25. It'd take a yeoman's effort and a slew of upsets for the Canes to reach the title game.

Personally, I'd rather have heard the goal stated as an undefeated season. Especially seeing that Miami started the 2000 season ranked #4, lost early to #15 (Washington), beat #1 (Florida State) and #2 (Virginia Tech) during the regular season and attempted to impress voters with a season ending beat down (52-6, Boston College) and still was snubbed at a title shot, while a team they beat wound up in the Orange Bowl. Should Miami lose early on and the title hopes are dashed, will the team respond in regards to secondary goals?


We keep hearing about how young wideouts Jermaine McKenzie and Leonard Hankerson are primed for breakout freshman seasons. That's on top of all the heat our current crop of receivers have taken. While the newbies' efforts will certainly be helpful, don't count out Darnell Jenkins, who I believe will have a stellar senior campaign. Jenkins showed tons of promise last year as the leading receiver in all three games he played before going down injured. He had some solid grabs against Florida State and Louisville and should've had a breakout in 2006. He's back for more in 2007. Healthy and sans the dreads, Jenkins knows this is his last shot to get it done and will do so, unlike Ryan Moore.


As crazy as it sounds to have a 6'4" and 260 lb. DL/TE returning kicks, I love the message being sent by this staff by putting Richard Gordon back there. Get your playmakers on the field whatever it takes. Listed as a 3rd or 4th string TE depending on the day, Gordon has been described as freakish in size and ability.

This mindset is the complete opposite of the old regime who let kids like Devin Hester ride the pine, citing an issue to pick up the playbook. Something which hasn't proven to be the case for the current Chicago Bear. Whether Gordon is a success at KR or not, it's all about the attitUde of this new staff. Proactive instead of reactive.


Romeo Davis and Glenn Cook are nicked up at the linebacker position. Both are capable LBs, but neither have that 'wow' factor of past Miami backers. Two guys I believe do have that 'wow' factor are Colin McCarthy and Darryl Sharpton. McCarthy, mostly for his special teams work last year and Sharpton for how he came on late in 2006. I won't go as far as to call this addition by subtraction as both Davis and Cook are needed, but Sharpton will step in for cook and senior Tavares Gooden will get one last go around at SLB.

Gooden has been up and down, but recently got the stamp of approval in a Canespace.com article by none other than Rohan Marley. When asked who looked impressive at camp, the former #2 stated that Gooden looked primed for a breakout season. With Sharpton in the middle, McCarthy starting weak and Gooden at strong, this has the potential to be a solid group at a position where Miami has recently struggled. Time will tell.


Speaking of time will tell, same to be said for the offensive line. Another weak point for Miami as of late, new OL coach Jeff Stoutland is doing his part to right the wrongs. Guys are shedding weight at a record pace and multiple formations are being tried out until the unit gels and players fall into place. After the Art Kehoe era and the one year Mario Cristobal stint, it's refreshing to see Stoutland bring his Big Ten mentality to the o-line, combined with Shannon's discipline regarding guys being in shape. Wright, Freeman and the rushing attack will only go as far as this group of guys lets them. It's time for some accountability on the offensive line and it seems Stoutland will bring it.


Much more to come. Season is only 18 days away. Stay tuned...


.:Canes305:.

Breaking it down for SportsProjections.com...

I was contacted last week to chime in with my two cents regarding how Miami will fare in the ACC and nationally this year. I'm not really familiar with the site I wrote for, nor do I care. I just want to spread the word and didn't want some other hack giving the 'standard' answer for how the Canes will fare in 2007.

Seems those not close to the program are calling for Randy Shannon to have his ups and downs this year and are safely calling for Miami to fare a little better than last year's 7-6. They've also picked the Canes third in the ACC Coastal division behind Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.

I'm not chest thumping and screaming "New Orleans or bust" just yet, but I do have greater expectations for Miami than the likes of Athlon, USA Today, Lindy's, Sporting News and the other rags who fail to scratch more than the surface regarding this rejuvenated bunch.

Check out my season preview below at SportsProjections.com:


Miami Hurricanes Football Preview

Contributor: Chris Bello (Canes305)
Website: www.allCanesBlog.com
Last Year Record: 7-6

Last Year Summary: Faux swagger. Coaching staff in over their head. Misuse of talent. Inability to motivate. Do I need to go on? The Larry Coker Era had been on life support for three years, but finally came to a thud on the heels of the first six loss season since 1979. (5-6 in 1997 was the probation era.)

Returning Starters:

Offense: Kyle Wright - QB, Javarris James - RB, Lance Leggett - WR, Sam Shields - WR, Reggie Youngblood - OT, Andrew Bain OG, Derrick Morse - OG, Jason Fox - OT.

Defense: Teraz McCray - DT, Calais Campbell - DE, Darryl Sharpton - MLB, Glenn Cook - WLB, Glenn Sharpe - CB, Randy Phillps - CB, Kenny Phillips - FS.


Offensive Strengths: The departure of former offensive coordinator Rich Olson. Having Olson on the heels of two years of Dan Werner as OC, Miami will finally have a signal caller in Patrick Nix. I'm not calling Nix the next Norm Chow, but he'll get Miami's putrid offense back to good; somewhere it hasn't been since 2003.

There's enough offensive talent to find success in the ACC. Guys just have to step up and respond to their new coaches. The Canes are coming out of a three year stretch with the worst offensive play calling since the 70s.

Offensive Weaknesses: No consistency at QB or WR. Inexperienced OL, though they could surprise this year. Breaking in a new TE after sending fourth straight player at the position to the NFL in the first round.


Defensive Strengths: Calais Campbell. He can have an Ed Reed-like impact on this team. Freak of nature size-wise (6'8") and skills-wise; a team leader ready to take over. One of the best secondaries in the nation. A linebacking corp as deep as we've seen since 2003.

Defensive Weaknesses: Depth at cornerback. Replacing a defensive line which lost three starters. Inexperience at linebacker, though I believe the unit gels as the season progresses.


Players to Watch This Season: Calais Campbell, Kenny Phillips, Darryl Sharpton, Colin McCarthy, Kyle Wright, Graig Cooper, Darnell Jenkins, Lance Leggett, Jason Fox


Big Games of the Year: @Oklahoma - 9/8: Biggest statement game for Miami since 2000 showdown with #1 FSU.

@Florida State - 10/20: Two straight losses after six straight wins. Both teams can have no more than two losses if they want the rivalry to regain its national luster.

@Virginia Tech - 11/17: The ACC Coastal representative will be decided this game. A must win.


2007 Season Projection: Can I answer that mid-September?

Miami opens with Marshall at the OB, heads to Oklahoma a week later, hosts brawlmates FIU in week three and then a Thursday night home match up against Texas A&M. The college football world will know pretty quickly what's up with Randy Shannon's Canes. Some early challenges will dictate where this season will go. There's no margin for error.

The Patrick Nix Experiment needs to be a success. Miami will go as far as their new OC takes them. He'll need to get through to his two QBs immediately. Wright will most like be the starter and Freeman will have plays designed for his mobility. Many have been hard on Wright, but this is his third offensive signal caller in as many years and his first two failed him. Third needs to be the charm.

Highly touted freshman RB Graig Cooper will have to be as good as advertised and needs to immediately impact a sluggish special teams unit. Nix talked about lining him up in the slot a la Reggie Bush. Should that work, a whole new dimension to a recently-bland Miami offense.

Miami needs to steal one at OU to get the momentum flowing early; something this team hasn't seen since winning their last season opener in 2004.

Should the offense gel, Miami could see the ACC title game and a 2-3 loss season. Sputter out the gate and road games at Florida State, Virginia Tech and Boston College just got that much scarier.

I think this season will be similar to Miami in 1999. Won a few big games, gave a few away, but the team played hard and the young talent was evident. The nation could see that the Canes were close. That'd be a great result for 2007.

People need to see that 7-6 was a fluke, not a trend.


2007 Projected Record: Most likely 10-3. A better record wouldn't surprise me as much as it would the nation.

2007 Projected Bowl: Gator Bowl. but the Orange Bowl is reachable.

The Playmaker enters the NFL Hall of Fame...

"... I went on to the University of Miami. I think most of y'all know how I feel about the U. Yeah, the U. You better believe it." - Michael Irvin, Saturday August 4th, 2007 - Canton, Ohio.

Michael Irvin was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame this past weekend. As proud as the Dallas community is of an all time Cowboys legend, the sentiment back home in South Florida is an even greater sense of pride that 'one of our own' got out and achieved the highest level of success.

The Playmaker wasn't perfect and was oft hung out to dry by the media due to some poor decision making. Even then, no one ever questioned Irvin's heart, his work ethic or his, dare I say, swagger. #47 or #88, depending on how you knew him best, was always "on" and going full force - whether it was practice, game time, post game or free time.

All the Hall of Fame articles this past week recap Mike's greatness. Working out in 102 degree weather during a Cowboys off-season, puking all over himself, not missing a beat and continuing with his route running. Stories from past teammates about the attitude, work ethic and ability to have others follow his lead.

Hardest working guy on the squad. Never threw a teammate or coach under the bus. Treated a walk-on kicker with the same respect he did guys like Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith. Over time, found his heart for God and seems to have gotten things straight with his maker.

On Saturday, Irvin free flowed and spoke from the heart. No need for notes. This speech had been coming a long while. He spoke of his upbringing, St. Thomas Aquinas, The U, the Cowboys, coaches, teammates and of course, his family. Jeff Pearlman of ESPN.com summed it up best:

Irvin was who he has always been -- spontaneous and heartfelt. Rambling and babbling. Poignant and insightful. Most of all, Irvin was humbled. He spoke of gridiron triumphs, but the most jarring moment came when Irvin discussed his two sons, Michael, 10, and Elijah, 8, and how he prayed for them to avoid the lapses that, sadly, pock his brilliant 12-year career. It was a page out of latter-day Mickey Mantle; a snapshot of a flawed hero succumbing to his shortcomings.

"I say, please, help me raise them for some young lady so that they can be a better husband than I," he said. "Help me raise them for their kids so that they could be a better father than I. And I tell you guys to always do the right thing so you can be a better role model than dad."

The tears streamed from Irvin's eyes, forming small puddles alongside his nose that refused to dry.

They told the story of a broken man. Of a redemptive man. Of a triumphant man. Of a Hall of Famer.

I've had three encounters with The Playmaker over the years. I first met him at All Sports back in the day as a junior high school student and was star-struck. I was 12 and Irvin was 20. I got an autograph and life was good.

Like all Canes fans, I followed Irvin during his Dallas year and with Russell Maryland, Darrin Smith and Jimmy Johnson in the fold, I had no issue pulling for the "Miami Cowboys" during that era. I crossed paths with Irvin during that era, around 1995 when he spoke at a Broward County high school sports luncheon and blew off an autograph seeking buddy and I.

Mink coat and all, it was my lone brush with Michael Irvin, the stereotype and he lived up to the hype. He blew right by us, the only guys near the parking garage elevator. There was no one within a half mile of the three of us and he shut us down. It changed my perspective of an all time favorite Cane.

Thankfully our chance encounter eight years later changed all that.

I last met The Playmaker on the Best Damn Sports Show Period, when a PGA bud of mine was on the show in February 2003. "U" hat on and rocking the "Robbery In The Desert" tee a month after the Fiasco Bowl, I was (re)introduced to Irvin, received a bear hug and 20 minutes later finally came up for air.

We talked Miami and he gushed about it being the best years of his life. He talked about the program and his teammates, his love for The U as well as getting jobbed by Ohio State. He was as crushed as anyone after that game. Talked about his reaction as he watched it and kept shaking his head saying, 'they stole our title'.

Since that day, my faith in The Playmaker was renewed and that's why I'm thrilled to congratulate him today on the allCanesBlog. Irvin paid his dues and had his highs and lows, but yesterday he was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame and that's something they can never take away to the kid from Ft. Lauderdale, FL.


.:Canes305:.

Your friendly, neighborhood NFL U reminder...

No idea who created the banner below, but a fan posted it on the allCanes MySpace page. Either way, just a reminder for all the haters - as well as any potential future Canes looking to play at the next level some day. We are NFL U. Enjoy!