Don't get your hopes up just yet...

I traded emails today with my bud Chris Fallica at ESPN. Diehard grad of The U, Chris Fowler's right hand man on GameDay and a vault of Hurricanes knowledge. He bleeds the orange and green.

I shot him a note lobbying GameDay to head south for the finale at the Orange Bowl next week and he assured me he's already doing all he can behind the scenes.

I let him know about the allCanes bash at the Mayfair next Friday night, the NFL alum and former Canes in town and what an event next weekend is going to be. When prying a little bit more today, he shared the following with me:

"It's definitely on the radar for next week. It's a light slate and I'm really pushing them on the idea of a different show. Do it from outside the tunnel at the Orange Bowl or inside the stadium. It'd be great PR for the show. Embrace the history of the game. I put together this list of memorable games/moments for them. Anything i should add? I need to have someone clip all these off for me when I need a good cry!"

The 'list' he mentioned had about thirty memorable Canes-themed moments on it. Dude does his homework and bleeds it like the rest of us. What a coup that fans of The U have a guy like Fallica working it behind the scenes.

Chris did want me to let everyone know that this is far from a done deal. Even with the lighter schedule and no "must see" high profile game next week. The suits at ESPN are definitely open to the idea, but they're not 1000% sold just yet. It's gonna take a lot of work - both on his part and the part of our fan base.

My suggestion? Email the hell out of ESPN and tell them WHY they need to get their asses down to the Orange Bowl next Saturday. Aside from a good match up of ACC Coastal Division teams, the OB deserves to be sent off in style. This is one of the most legendary stadiums in sports and has more than earned the right to be showcased one last time with the Canes running out of that tunnel.

How many epic games and rating points have the Orange Bowl handed to ABC/ESPN on a silver platter? Too many to count. This stadium deserves to go out with a bang - and it will, regardless of GameDay heads south or not. The party is on and you got your invite. The OB earned it's right to a nationally televised, high profile send off. Do the right thing, suits.

Make some noise people. Even if we can't pull this off, let's go down swinging! Do your part in bringing ESPN College GameDay south next weekend!

UPDATE: I was advised another angle to take would be shooting a note to College Football Live's viewer feedback section. Double up with an email there as well.


.:Canes305:.

Beating this dead horse for one more day...

Tuned into ESPN in passing earlier today and was floored by the "Good Call/Bad Call" segment regarding college football. The question was posed, "Good Call/Bad Call" regarding Georgia's celebration after their first touchdown against Florida last weekend.

Kirk Herbstreit said the call was 'good' as it was a motivational tactic use by Georgia's Mark Richt and seemed to spark the Bulldogs in their 42-30 beat down of Florida.

I'm shocked 68% of fans were actually cool with this. Almost 7 of every 10 people don't give a damn that Georgia rushed the field against Florida after a score and rolled a mosh pit all the way back to the sidelines? Why did our call-everything-out and dissect it (ad nauseam) sports community decide to give a coach, team and program a pass?

We're talking about a planned act that could've incited a friggin riot at the game better know as "The World's Largest Cocktail Party".

That means NASCAR caps, turkey legs and fists flying in the stands. Hafields and McCoys: The Remix.

What is the percentage of fans who let this slide if it's not Georgia taking out the defending champs after losing 15 of the last 17 to Florida? People wanted to see the defending champs go down, so the play makes good folklore in the rivalry's history.

Miami took more grief 'dancing' for ten seconds during a replay time out against North Carolina than Georgia did for a planned celebration after a score.

I still like the call by Richt and loved seeing Gators shell-shocked regarding what went down - but, I want more consistency from the media and the college football community. Everyone gets a free pass for this or nobody does.

It shouldn't matter if it 'worked' and the Dawgs won the game. College football is over-policed and if a handful of other programs pulled this stunt, they're getting raked over the coals for days, called thugs, chastised, etc.

The double standard sent out by the media and college football community makes me sick sometimes. Pick a friggin side, people. Excessive needs to be defined across the board; not case by case and a bias.

Either way, hats off to Richt. Maybe because of what was at stake, he knew he could get away with it. Guerilla Warfare. Better to just do and beg for forgiveness than ask and be told "no". I think it was a message for Georgia to fire their asses up. It wasn't about Florida. Or was it?

Whatever the case, Georgia beat Florida and added another layer of hatred to the rivalry. In the era of YouTube, no less. Even better, they flew under the radar and didn't get in trouble for the stunt. Talk about the ultimate win-win - whether carefully planned or just dumb luck.


.:Canes305:.

Brace yourselves for a rowdy one...

Some of the higher ups actually DO get it. After weeks of flipping and flopping, Miami landed the coveted night game for the season finale at the Orange Bowl. We're looking at a 7:15pm ET kickoff and as hoped for, the freaks will come out at night.

I shudder to even think what a noon kickoff would've felt like for the Orange Bowl's swan song. Even 3:30pm ET would've been decent, but not good enough. With all the tradition and history, this needs to be an all night thing. I can't even imagine how many lunatics will try to steal their seats or some sort of memorabilia.

Again, this was just reported by Manny Navarro at Herald.com and the kid is usually spot on, so I'll pass the news along here. I'm still trying to get conformation from a few ESPN contacts of mine. Will keep everyone in the loop.

Guess who got a free pass...

The beauty of the bye week. You get to watch everybody else, enjoy the upsets and live off your last game - which in Miami's case is a 37-29 win over arch rival Florida State. 

So what went down this weekend in college football? Check it: 


Let's start with the melee above. Georgia goes up on Florida in the early moments of the game and the Dawgs clear the bench and celebrate in unison, doing the 'jump around' in the end zone. Georgia rolled on to a 42-30 win and has caught zero grief for the Mark Richt-planned celebration. Dare I say, imagine the reaction had that been Miami.

The Canes would've been dubbed "thugs" and out of control, while any other program or coach is seen as being savvy this being a great motivational tactic against a program that's had their number over the years.

I don't mind the motivational rant because 1) Richt is a former Cane QB and 2) I hate Florida. Still, treat everyone the same straight across the board. Georgia got a pass that many others wouldn't have. That ain't right. 

All that aside, the real story here is loss #3 for the defending champs. No repeat performance, Gators. Florida looked one-dimensional offensively and the gimmicky ways of Urban Meyer are showing that outside a miracle season in 2006, the spread offense can expect at least three losses per year. Florida has been hit or miss all season. 


Safe to call all your Rutgers pals and let 'em know the Cinderella season hangover is in full effect, as everyone outside Piscataway predicted. Waxed 31-3 hosting West Virginia today, the Scarlet Knights were finally sent back down to earth losing their third of the season. 

Greg Schiano doesn't like the genius he was prematurely referred to last season and I doubt there's a Canes fan alive who would rather have Jersey boy over Randy Shannon.


Great 'no show' by South Florida today. Anyone care to still woof about this being the best team in the state and a National Champion contender? Please. Sure, the win at Auburn was nice, as was the upset of West Virginia - but back-to-back losses to Rutgers and now UConn after a big time scare against Florida Atlantic? Come on now.

The Bulls are full of it. Until USF beats Miami, Florida State or Florida head-to-head, let's can all the speculation and overhyping  of this program.

Nice little run this year, but get to a BCS game and win some titles like the Big Three before all this 'best in the state' crap. Hell, beat UConn for starters. 


I'm no Oregon fan, but I'll take another USC loss. Living in So Cal, I've grown tired of the locals white-knuckling that bandwagon the past five years. San Diegans hate everything L.A. - except for winning sports franchises. Seems everyone and their mother suddenly had a relative who graduated a Trojan and they blindly followed the program, not seeing an end to the gravy train. 

The Trojans in 2007 are simply the 2003 version of the Canes. Stellar defense yet an inconsistent offense. You can't replace a Leinart/Bush/White or a Dorsey/McGahee/Johnson without some sort of drop off. USC is finally seeing that. College football is cyclical. No one stays on top forever. 

I love the notion that the Trojans and Gators have pretty much played themselves out of the BCS (barring a miracle) when both programs and fan bases had such lofty expectations.

Now someone just needs to take out Ohio State... which will have to be Michigan or their foe in the National Championship game. Penn State got manhandled at home tonight. Not a pretty sight for Buckeye haters.  


In ACC-related news, Miami now has reason to crack a smile. As if Thursday night's Boston College win over Virginia Tech wasn't good enough, NC State rose up and knocked off Virginia today. With the Chokies and Cavs both falling, the Canes control their destiny in the ACC Coastal, facing both head-to-head in November. Win out, and Miami will be in Jacksonville.

Odds aren't in the Canes' favor, but better to control your destiny than to hope others get the job done for you.

All in  all a great week. U can't lose to "bye", your team has a week to get healthy and you get to watch those around you fall. Not as thrilling as a win, but infinitely better than a loss. 

.:Canes305:.

Game Eight: Miami 37, Florida State 29

Another year, another Miami/Florida State throwdown. I’m writing this a week after the fact, having been out of the loop with these So Cal wildfires. That said, in my down time I got to watch the game no less than three times since last Saturday, soaking up the Canes biggest win of the season.

The cynics have chimed in regarding how ‘big’ this one really was. Definitely not a high profile affair. Two multi-loss squads, two no name announcers and banished to Pay Per View for roughly 45 states after being “the” game of the past few decades.

All that said, when it’s finally teed up it’s still Miami and Florida State. Both sides go balls out and both fan bases are rabid for a win against a hated arch rival.

Defense definitely wasn’t the name of the game, but it played a big role down the stretch as the Canes clawed back from a late five-point deficit en route to an eight-point victory. Miami held Florida State to nine points in the second half, three coming in the fourth quarter as the Canes were making up ground.

Still, the story was Kirby Freeman. In a matter of two quarters we saw the best and worst of what #7 has to offer. 1 of 8 for 10 yards with two interceptions entering the final drive and then 3 of 3 for 49 yards and a water to wine-style, game winning miracle touchdown.

The Noles went 5-for-5 on field goals, but found other ways to self-implode. Stupid penalties. Not being ready for gimmick plays. Weak defense when they needed to make a stand. Oh yeah, and letting a second-stringer carve them up on the final drive.

Anyone who feels a game winning drive earned Freeman the starting gig over Kyle Wright needs to put down the pipe. The only thing those final three throws did was earn Freeman a place in this rivalry’s history. Without that, the kid would’ve been trashed for an all time tank job performance against a sub par Noles bunch. 

The final pass to Dedrick Epps bought Freeman an ounce of relief. Nothing more, nothing less. The first eight passes were closer to the real deal. Wright is still the better every down quarterback. 

Miami has four games on the roster and got a little boost the past 48 hours due to shake ups in the ACC standings. Boston College knocked off Virginia Tech and NC State upset Virginia. The result? Miami controls its own destiny. Win out and the Canes are in the ACC title game. Sounds great on paper, doesn’t it? Now a dose of reality.

The Canes have the slimmest of slim chances of pulling off the feat. NC State and Virginia head to the OB back-to-back weeks before consecutive road games at Virginia Tech and Boston College.

The days of penciling in wins are in hibernation. You can make a solid case for the Canes winning or losing each of the remaining match ups, but how can you accurately predict the fate of a team that can get beat at North Carolina, lose to GT a week later, roll up five straight road losses and then pull of a late game upset at Florida State?

Simply put, you can’t. There’s no rhyme or reason to this season. When Miami shows up, they can play some decent football. When they’re distracted or playing out of synch – it’s gonna get ugly. How can anyone be sure of what Miami shows up each of the next four weeks?

I’m neither optimistic or pessimistic regarding the final month of football. I’m hoping for the best, yet preparing for the worst. If this team plays with heart, starts on the right foot, finishes ball games and doesn’t play stupid (penalties), at best I see this team going 3-1 down the stretch. 2-2 could be seen as the ‘logical’ call and 1-3 could be the worst case scenario. |

Who shows up next week for NC State? I don’t know. Was the win over Florida State a sign of things to come? Or did the Canes shoot their wad and play the game of their season, with it all downhill from here?

Time will tell.

There were some positives against the Noles. Things to build on. Darnell Jenkins continues to be a solid threat at receiver. Graig Cooper and Javarris James can welcome Shawnbrey McNeal into their running back frat, as all three have proven to be capable backs with different strengths.

The offense line has shown some moxy and Wright has had some bright spots behind center. Quarterback play will remain erratic. The Canes just have to hope for more good than bad drives. Drive-making plays instead of drive-breaking plays.

Defensively the Canes are definitely beat and up and need to get healthy. Still, there are some playmakers out there getting their jobs done. Eric Moncur. Colin McCarthy. Teraz McCray. Even a guy like Randy Phillips, redeeming himself with two key interceptions after getting torched earlier in the game and season.

This has been a season of growth, this far. There have been pitfalls and set backs, but there have also been some big time moments where the kids seems to ‘get’ the message Randy Shannon is sending. When Miami has been “on” they’ve been on. Those moments are few and far between, but this team doesn’t look like the lost bunch we saw in 2006.

There have been some small steps forward that will pay off down the road and Miami gets four more chances to build on that. Every game is must-win from this point on.

Getting to the ACC title game can remain the goal, but it can’t be an “all or nothing” mentality. Meaning, this team can’t shut it down if they lose a ball game and check out like they did last year. One at a time. Win some ball games. 8-4 will feel a hell of a lot better entering bowl season than 6-6. 9-3 would be a dream at this point.

Miami showed some heart against Florida State. The most heart this team’s showed since Blacksburg 2005. The stakes weren’t the same regarding national rankings, but the Canes won a must-win game that a young team needed to net.

Let someone say that was a meaningless game. I guarantee you Florida State coaches would kill for that win as a building block for their new look program.

The Noles are reeling right now and have been since 2001. The Canes rectified the problem, canning Larry Coker and turning the keys over to a feiry old schooler and up and comer from the neighborhood. Miami has the blueprint for returning to prominence.

Florida State is wandering in the desert and will do so until Bobby Bowden calls it a career. The old man had all the success he’s gonna see, but is blinded by quest for one more ‘last hurrah’ and is killing his beloved program in the process. The Noles can’t rebuild until they find their next great coach, which is impossible if the ‘problem’ is still in charge.

Miami is a few steps ahead of Florida State in the rebuilding process, even with all their high profile, big name assistants. Supposedly an All-Star roster with the retreads like Chuck Amato rejoining and new offensive coordinator, Jimbo Fisher – the sideline whack job who yells at his kids all game.

The Noles got the big names, but they’re the same old disappointment who could reach a new low this season. Most likely 5-3 with a win over Duke tonight, Florida State gets Boston College, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Florida to close out the season. 6-6 or 5-7 is a harsh reality. Even harsher, Bobby and staff will be front and center in 2008 ready to do it again.

Miami should feel good about the road ahead. Four big weeks of football. Destiny in their hands. Represent at the Orange Bowl in the final two home games and prep for back-to-back road battles, most likely nationally televised sitting at 7-3.

Dream big for another week, Canes fans.

Reality sets in next Saturday at game time and then anything goes. Enjoy.


.:Canes305:.

Things finally winding down...

This should be my last fire-related blog as things have finally wound down around my neck of the woods. Tuesday proved to be the worst of it, but it looks like the worst is behind us regarding my family. 

Got back to my neighborhood yesterday afternoon when the evacuation was temporarily lifted. Got a chance to head in, pack up a few belongings and get ready for Evacuation: Round II should it happen. There were fires a good 10 miles away in a desolate area, so we were still fearing the worst.

Our issues here didn't compare in the least to my folks and brother/sister in law. They're all out in the Escondido and Lake Hodges area and things got nasty there on Tuesday. My brother had several neighbors lose their homes and my folks had the hillside behind their home go up in flames before firefighters put it out. The pic above was taken down the road from my brother's place off Del Dios Highway.

The fires in Rancho Santa Fe on Monday had personnel in the area that when things shook down Tuesday out at Lake Hodges, they were ready. Over 200 firefighters on hand and multiple helicopters dipping into the lake and showering the area all day.

Beyond surreal. Still can't fathom what happened and what's happening in others parts of Diego right now. Praying for the best and hoping this all comes to an end soon. 

Thank you again to everyone who commented, checked in and gave a damn about us on the west coast out here. Your thoughts and prayers were not only appreciated, but based on the small miracles which occurred with my immediate family yesterday, I believe it all helped tremendously.

.:Canes305:.

Thanks, U Family...

To my Canes brethren who dropped a line today, thanks. Still hanging tough. No idea what kind of coverage this is getting back east, but I can't imagine it's too much as I'm still getting stupid joke emails from long-time pals all day who obviously have no clue I've been displaced. A few old school buds did shoot me a text and that was appreciated. 

Holed up in Dana Point at a hotel riding out the disaster. Part of being married as I trekked north with the wife and in laws while my folks, brother, etc. are holed up at a friend's place on the coast. 

My brother attempted to negotiate the terrain a bit to check out the homes, but was turned around halfway there. Seems no matter if you're in Dana Point or coastal San Diego, attempting to get a little bit inland is simply brutal.

Got some updates from neighbors and it's hit or miss. For now, my neighborhood is out of the woods. That said, they say you can see the flames miles away and there's a lot of dry brush between there and where our place. With Santa Ana winds in full force again tomorrow and the next few days, this is far from over. The evacuation was lifted in my 'hood but everyone was basically told to sleep with one eye open and ready to go again, hence my staying 40 miles north. 

My folks and brother/sister in law (Escondido) and my in laws (Rancho Santa Fe) are still in danger regarding their homes. I'm glued to the news and have been online all night checking local media sites, blogs, etc. and it's nervewracking as things change on a dime. At least when it was hurricane season, I knew I could grab a few hours of shut eye when the storm was on the move. With this firestorm, leave for dinner, come back and it's a brand new day. Friggin scary.

Beyond surreal, my friends. I've done hurricanes. Now it's full on firestorms. I feel like I've lived through two Biblical plagues and this is hell. San Diego is going up in flames. I'm stunned with every news clip that flashes on the screen.

Weather-wise, we're f'ed again for Tuesday. 8% humidity and 44 mph gusts and climbing. Santa Ana winds remain in full force. Started Sunday and will roll through Wednesday night. Great timing, nature.

Obviously I didn't get to my post Canes/Noles blog. I apologize. I've had nothing but time, but I couldn't get my head straight. I'm in 'natural disaster mode' right now - reading, watching, praying, questioning, hoping.

Keep the thoughts and prayers coming. They're beyond appreciated. 


.:Canes305:.

Pray for So Cal...

I planned on blogging about the Canes/Noles game this morning, but sometimes things don't go as expected. Those of you who've seen the national news heard about the fires in Southern California, as did I. Late afternoon yesterday, I smelled the smoke as I left a sports bar when the late NFL game ended. 

Rolled home, business as usual for a Sunday night and around 3am all hell broke loose. Police rolling through the neighborhoods, mandatory evacuations, smoke everywhere. Beyond scary.

I had seven minutes to snag my most personal belongings and a change of clothes. Sadly, my Canes memorabilia didn't make the cut. I grabbed my three guitars, computers, passports, a sweatshirt and ran out the door with the wife not knowing what we'll come back to. 

My folks, brother, sister in law, grandmother and in laws were all evacuated from multiple parts of San Diego county. Everyone is displaced and confused. The city looks like a war zone, depending on where you live. Santa Ana winds are in full force and it's dry as a bone

For those who ever wondered, la familia ended up on the west coast back in 1993 six months after Andrew smoked our South Dade home. I stuck around Florida for another five years before my trek left, but at day's end we were brought west by a tragedy and 15 years later are facing another one.

Keep ol' Canes305 and the fam in your thoughts. Trying times out west.

Do U even care?

Let's pose a question.

If the Canes travel to Tallahassee to take on the Noles with both teams unranked and some D-level announcers covering the regionally televised event, did the game really happen?

Seriously, what alternate universe are we living in where Miami at Florida State has become as meaningless as any other middle-of-the-pack ACC match up? More importantly, when the hell is this game going to mean something again?

Classic Sports Network did nothing but tease Canes fans this past week running the 1991, 1992 and 2002 throw downs. Top ranked teams. Thrilling finishes. The nation's then-best talent. Packed stadiums. It was the way it should be. The way we've all grown accustomed to these past few decades.

In all seriousness, we'd see a better match up between the second string Noles and Canes from those great teams than we would this 2007 version of this rivalry.

I've received a bunch of emails this week asking me what to expect. I've also seen a fair share of outlandish predictions and 'gut feelings' regarding tomorrow's game. My answer? Who the hell really knows.

Miami and Florida State are almost two in the same right now. A few bright spots here and there, but more questions than answers. More heartache than celebration. Once-great programs merely playing average football and losing to lesser teams they used to beat like a drum.

Georgia Tech taking three straight against Miami? Wake Forest punking Florida State back-to-back seasons? I'd say it's almost impossible to fathom, but it's been the reality a handful of years now.

I'm curious what Randy Shannon said to his kids this week. At 4-3, Miami is past the rah-rah speeches and motivational tactics. Names have been removed from jerseys. Playing time has been taken away. Depth charts have constantly been reshuffled. These coaches have yelled at these kids ad nauseam since spring and you really have wonder what remains in the bag.

Manny Navarro had a rather telling blog this week at Herald.com, questioning who on this team is a "real Hurricane" and hinting at those who aren't being weeded out by next season.

Sitting rather unpretty at 4-3, those comments make a ton of sense - but let's not forget that seven games ago this new staff and it's players were talking about a national title being the goal and using the phrase "New Orleans" as a preseason motivational tactic.

My question - how could everyone be so far off?

I was beyond disappointed when "National Championship" was muttered late summer. Based on what? A 7-6 season, a new coach with some Miami bloodlines and a new attitude? Ridiculous. Winning the ACC was a noble goal, but all this woofing about bringing it all home was just plain stupid when starting the season unranked and with so many holes and/or question marks surrounding this team.

Those expectations were way too lofty for a program that has crumbled in the face of adversity the past few seasons. The "National Championship or bust" days are long gone at Miami and in college football as a whole. There's too much parity in the game and no team - not even the Canes - can be so absolute in their thinking.

Miami got tagged early at Oklahoma, limped through a sloppy win against crosstown rival FIU, played their game of the year against Texas A&M and have been a mess ever since. A lethargic win over Duke, a loss to North Carolina and a week later, falling to Georgia Tech for the third year in a row.

As we've seen so often these past four seasons, these Canes can't respond from a loss. This isn't a 'bounce back' type of team like the Miami of old. Credit much of that to the Larry Coker. This program is trying to fight its way back from Cokerization. The Canes now unravel when backed into a corner, instead of coming out swinging.

In 2003 it was back-to-back losses against Virginia Tech and Tennessee. In 2004, North Carolina and Clemson took out Miami in a matter of eight days. In 2005, knocked off by Georgia Tech, followed by a drab win over Virginia when the ACC crown was out of reach and then throttled by LSU in the Peach Bowl.

All of which built to a six-loss campaign in 2006 and a four-game losing streak late in the season.

Don't look now, Canes faithful but that feat could be topped this year with Florida State, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Boston College on the docket. Things could get much worse before they get better. Think of how dejected we all are as fans. I can't imagine this team's psyche is much better.

Theoretically you'd have liked to believe Miami 'could' run the table after the aTm beat down but after recent back-to-back losses, some have hinted at the fact the Canes could lose most of their remaining games and not reach the bowl eligible six-win plateau needed to see the post season.

Momentum. It can turn on a dime, acting as your best friend or worst enemy.

Miami lost it's mojo and all the fire in the belly rants from Shannon and staff aren't going to remedy that. It's time these current Canes look within and start figuring things out. No one has the answers for them. These kids have played this game the better part of their lives. It's not about Xs and Os right now. It's about having a pulse and showing some heart. Can the sound bites and cliche terms spewed into reporters' digital recorders. Talk less. Play more.

A win at Tallahassee isn't really going to make or break this season, sadly. Even if Miami musters up enough to pull off the "upset" tomorrow, which team will show up for NC State after the bye week? That's how out of whack things have gotten at The U. The only guarantee is that there are no guarantees.

Keys to the game? Smart football. End of story. Enough of the stupid penalties and turnovers. Wrap up and tackle. Step up and make plays when the money is on the table. It's nothing these kids haven't heard daily at Camp Shannon. This team can talk for days about needing to execute, yet they rarely do just that. Put your money where your mouth is, fellas.

We're looking at the third and fourth best teams in the state, but this is still Canes v. Noles. This rivalry will be back. Recruits will be watching. Bragging rights are on the line and Florida State has won two straight after Miami owned the six previous match ups.

Kyle Wright, you are on track to go a Chris Rix-esque 0-fer against your biggest rival. Not exactly the way you want to be remembered in the record books, is it? Unlike Rix, you have one last chance to write your history. Wright can't win this game on his own, but as we've seen in the past he can damn near lose it all by himself with a few poor decisions.

Tomorrow is not the day to force anything. Play smart, yet loose. The Noles have beaten up #3 physically and mentally. This is one last chance to exact some revenge. Receivers need to step up and help their quarterback. Running backs need to dig for those extra couple of yards. Offensive lineman need to hold their blocks that extra second; the difference between another sack or completed pass.

Offense is half the battle. Defensively these Canes are in shambles and it's time to at least attempt to get back to form and play like Miami. Defense literally saved this program 2003-2005 and has since become a big time liability. If Florida State can't get Miami's juices flowing defensively, consider this season mailed in and start thinking 2008. A corpse should be able to find motivation and wrap up in a throw down of this nature.

The nation may not care this year, but every kid on that field better play like it's 2000. A win is a win and a loss will haunt you until next fall.

I'm done talking. Tomorrow is 'find a way' Saturday for this team. Come 3:30pm ET it's not about records, rankings or history. It's about Miami and Florida State and the future of these once-great programs.

The journey back to the top has to start somewhere and it'll be accomplished one step at a time. Put one foot in front of the other and use the other to kick Florida State square in the ass.

We need this one, Canes. Bring home the 'W'.


.:Canes305:.

Recent UWIN winners at allCanes.com!

Here's a list of this week's UWIN Winners at allCanes.com. Check back next week for more! UWIN winners can expect their $10 gift cards within two weeks:

Kelly Patterson - Covington, VA
Amory Makell - Cocoa, FL
David DeCosta - Cranston, RI
Joe E. Papuyo - Albuquerque, NM
Dennis Moody - Homosaasa, FL
Bobbi Bennett - Bryson City, NC
Morgan Smith - Stuart, FL
Thomas Reyes - Bronx, NY
Wesley Brown - West Somerset, KY
Gabriel Buigas - Menlo Park, CA

Click here to register for the UWIN @ allCanes contest. One entry is good for the entire season. Multiple entries will not only be deleted, but we'll remember the culprits and will toss out previous entries! (Seriously, only enter once. More entries don't help your chances and just give us more work to go through.)

Good luck and GO CANES!

When We Were Kings.... The U Edition

Miami is 3-0 against Florida State this week in the virtual world. ESPN Classic is rebroadcasting three classic Canes/Noles match ups. The first two are in the books - Wide Right I & II - shown yesterday and today. Sorry for the lack of the heads up. I was too busy crying the blues and recording on my DVR.

Next up, Miami fans will be treated to Wide Left I this Friday on ESPN Classic. Tune in for that stellar throwdown where Miami found themselves down 27-14 in the final quarter before rallying to a 28-27 victory, made possible by Xavier Beitia sending his potential game winner left into the stands of the open end zone. Check your local listings.

Sadly, the days of #1 vs. #2 (1991), #2 vs. #3 (1992) and #1 vs. #9 (2002) are currently in the rearview mirror for Miami and Florida State. Both squads enter this weekend unranked for the first time since 1977, where the Canes pulled out a 23-17 victory at Tallahassee.

At 4-3 and 4-2 respectively, Miami better hope for a similar feat this weekend. 5-3 can help save an already down season whereas 4-4 will be a disaster.

Either way, tune in Friday to see a REAL match up between two gladiators and then catch the modern version of this once great rivalry at 3:30pm ET on Saturday.

Do U believe in miracles?

Reports surfaced today that former Hurricanes TE Kevin Everett is walking independently. This is nothing short of a miracle thanks to modern medicine - a big part of that due to the Miami Project and their state-of-the-art medical treatment.

The Miami Project invented a cooling technique to lower body temperature and reduce swelling after a tragic event such as Everett's where paralysis once looked to be the long-term option.

One week after Everett had a four hour operation on a fracture dislocation of his third and fourth cervical vertebrae, he had movement in both his arms and legs. This was on the heels of doctors giving Everett virtually zero chance of ever walking again.

Since then, Everett has been rehabbing back home in Houston and today the former #84 walked for the first time since the injury.

For those Canes fans consistently crying the blues over a 4-3 season and lighting up the message board daily, bitching that this team has no heart - hopefully this is an eye opener and dose of reality.

As caught up as we get in things, here's another daily reminder that there are some things bigger than football. Congrats, Kevin. Keep up the good work, fellow Hurricane.


.:Canes305:.

What started out as a GameDay blog...

This post was originally a game day blog, but after a 17-14 embarrassing loss, no one needs to waste their time on that rant. I can sum it all up in about 1/3 of the space.

This team sucks. End of story. I expected more, as did the coaching staff and majority of the fan base. We were wrong. There are some bright spots, but as a 'team' and collective unit, the Canes are a joke. Six years of Cokerism aren't going to be erased overnight. Nor can Miami rebound immediately from some horrid recruiting.

I've heard the coaches imply this team doesn't lack talent. That's bull. It does. Miami is a joke at all too many positions. Linebackers. Defensive line (outside of Eric Moncur and Calais Campbell). Secondary (Kenny Phillips, excluded). Some of the underclassmen show promise, but the majority of the upperclassmen have Miami in "stick a fork in 'em" mode.

This was the last hurrah for a slew of Canes this year. One last chance for some upperclassmen to prove they weren't Cokerized. We wanted to expect the best and hope for some lucky bounces to help momentum. Instead it's been the opposite. A season full of untimely injuries and underachieving has done the Canes in.

Offensively, Miami is done as well. Graig Cooper can't carry this team on his own. Bruce Feldman told me months ago that Shawnbrey McNeal was going to be a stud and we saw glimpses of that today. Javarris James has looked average lately. Cousin Edgerrin needs to can all the "Baby J will be better than me" nonsense. No way in hell that's ever the case.

Kyle Wright killed the Canes today, but with missed opportunities instead of turnovers. Overthrowing receivers on sure touchdowns actually hurts more than four interceptions. Wright showed some grit at times, but he left at least 14 points on the field today by not hitting receivers in stride. Pathetic for a fifth year senior. I can't even blame that one on four offensive coordinators the past few seasons. It's inexcusable.

It's time to split reps between Wright and Kirby Freeman. I'm not wavering in my belief that Wright is the better of the two, but with the ACC out of reach it's time to let your junior get some reps. No need to solely play the senior as his career ends in five games.

And for the record, I am vehemently against burning the redshirt of Robert Marve. Hell no. Had there been no car accident and halt in his progress, he'd have competed early on. He needed to be ready to return with Miami at 1-1 after the Oklahoma loss. At 4-3 it is absolutely a waste to let this kid get a handful of reps against the likes of Florida State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Boston College.

Miami needs Marve from 2008-2011, or at least 2010 if he's all that and bails early. The bigmouths need to stop all this Marve talk for 2007. It's pointless and stupid.

The ACC is out of reach. Maybe not numerically, but anyone with a clue knows Miami is screwed with this remaining schedule. At Florida State next weekend. NC State and Virginia at the Orange Bowl the next two weeks and then road games at Virginia Tech and Boston College. The Canes are looking at 6-6 with this remaining schedule. 7-5 would be a miracle right now.

Miami has been outcoached in the past, but that's not the case this year. These Canes are simply being out-hustled, out-talented and absolutely lack the heart shown by their opponents. You can see the wear and tear on the face of Randy Shannon. He's preaching his gospel and only a few Canes are getting it.

Andre Ware provided color for the game and when he wasn't dropping lame "New Jack City" references, he continued to drive the point home how he believes Shannon will right this ship. From hanging out on campus this week, sitting in on meetings and being around the new Miami coach, he believes that recruiting will bounce back under the first year leader.

I agree 1000%. I have all the faith in the world in Shannon. I know the talent will return to Coral Gables and that playmakers will take over this roster in the next few seasons. It's just not going to happen today.

2007 just became a funeral procession. Five games left on the docket and two more at the Orange Bowl. For those keeping score, Miami is 0-5 in it's last five road games and hasn't won a meaningful home game since Louisville in 2004. It's time to wipe the slate clean.

Good riddance, OB. There were some amazing times there, but this is hardly a farewell tour. The 34-17 win over Texas A&M was the last home hurrah. The homefield advantage is gonzo and has been since for over two seasons. These final two games are the equivalent of life support. Head by for the last eight quarters of ball there, pay your respects to the old girl and pull the plug.

Dolphin Stadium isn't a dream venue for the Canes, but it's a fresh start. It's a step forward. A modern facility which many say puts Miami from the worst stadium in the ACC to the best. Shannon and staff feel it'll help recruiting tremendously, as the youngins of today are into Jumbotrons and a cutting-edge NFL stadium.

Bring it on. Whatever it takes to weed out the current lack of talent and bring in the stars of tomorrow. I'm all in.

Ride out the next five games. Bench the dead weight. Get the freshman some reps, start building for tomorrow and pray for an upset here or there to provide a few bright spots of what will be a very bleak second half of 2007.


.:Canes305:.

The Nix Factor...

Yesterday I rambled on about the Canes needing to shut up and simply show up today.

Same goes for this coaching staff. Jeff Stoutland better have his offense line ready for Georgia Tech's sneaky blitzing, Tim Walton needs to give his defense a wake up call after last week and Randy Shannon needs to have these kids playing like they did the second half against North Carolina, not the first.

That said, "the guy" today is Patrick Nix. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Nix was the Georgia Tech offensive coordinator for years and won the chess match the past two seasons against Shannon.

Today it's Nix versus defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta - who won the chess match versus Rich Olson and Todd Berry last season and Dan Werner the year before.

Nix has to bring 'it' today if Miami is going to pull off the win. He knows Tenuta's tendencies and needs to counter them by bringing the unexpected.

Let's watch this one play out. It's kickoff. Let's roll.

.:Canes305:.

Canes' Choice...

The Canes welcome the Yellow Jackets this weekend and I've been rather mum on the subject all week. I'm in my "wait and see" mode, again. I was at this same point last season when the Canes headed to Atlanta with a 6-1 record late in the season, before losing 30-23 with an ACC title berth on the line.

Of course, I became a skeptic in 2005 when #3 Miami went down 14-10 to Georgia Tech while sitting pretty at 8-1 and eight quarters away from an ACC title game berth.

Last year Miami went into Georgia Tech weekend with false hope and a win/loss record of a paper champ. 1-2 out the gates, losing to Florida State and Louisville in a three-week span, the 5-2 Canes beefed up their winning percentage against the likes of Houston, UNC, FIU & Duke.

A road game against the Yellow Jackets would be the measuring stick and the Canes failed for the second year in a row? Hence, my 'wait and see' approach for tomorrow.

Can Miami beat Georgia Tech? Absolutely. Will they? Depends who shows up.

We don't need to relive the tale of two halves last week in Chapel Hill. We saw what the Canes are capable of on both sides of the ball. A lethargic bunch who looked like the quitters seen at Oklahoma, Louisville or against LSU in the Peach - or the kids who played like a team and kicked some ass, be it for 3/4 of the game against Texas A&M or the final two quarters against North Carolina, outscoring them 27-6 en route to a 33-27 loss.

I won't even speculate an outcome. Why bother? There's no way to have a clue which Miami team will surface at any given time this year.

The Canes did deliver against the Aggies - on a Thursday night, in a packed Orange Bowl on national TV. It was vintage Miami and something we haven't seen enough of the past few seasons. But a few weeks later fell flat on their faces at North Carolina (for two quarters) after struggling a week earlier to put away Duke.

Similar to last year, Miami isn't as good as their record. Of the four wins, we're talking Marshall, Texas A&M, FIU and Duke. For a half last week, UNC smacked around The U harder than Oklahoma did (27-0 vs. 21-10). What's to lead any of the bleeding hearts to call for 38-10 style beatdowns on the message boards this week?

Amazing what I've read online regarding the contingent who can always list a dozen reasons the Canes SHOULD win. Those reasons aren't worth squat if the product on the field isn't getting it's job done. Talk is cheap. Stats are for losers. Time to shut up, buckle in get busy if this team has any dreams of getting to the ACC title game. Another loss and it's a 'guaranteed' lower-tier bowl.

Miami needs to come to play on Saturday. A Texas A&M-like performance would be ideal, but a one-point win would feel equally as satisfying right now.

These kids are 'talked' out. They've had the gospel according to Randy Shannon preached to them for the better part of 2007. The message has been delivered and if it hasn't sunk in now, it won't over the final handful of games.

Sign a solid class and start programming them early, just like this current group of freshman. Remember, it was first year running back Graig Cooper calling and texting coaches, apologizing after multiple fumbles a few weeks back. How many upperclassmen owe apologies and never thought to step up like that? Too many.

For some of these Canes, it's too late to 'deprogram' all the effects of the Larry Coker era. Cut bait. Make it a youth movement from here on out. Play the kids who "get it" and let the others ride the pine.

This is the fork in the road - a chance to save or ruin a season.

Win and it's a respectable 5-2 heading into Florida State weekend. Limp in 4-3 and the wheels most likely fall off big time with NC State, Virginia, @Virginia Tech and @Boston College closing out the season. Gain a little momentum this week and next, and the Canes are right back to controlling their own destiny.

I'm done talking. These Canes should be as well. 

No one needs to here 'why' Miami will win. Prove it already. It's time to let the product on the field speak for itself.


.:Canes305:.

The U: No class... in 2004

To the Larry Coker bleeding hearts, relax. I'm not insulting the man or his character here. I am however taking a shot at his inability to recruit. Coker has oft stated he didn't deserve to be fired after a 7-6 season, but it's getting easier to pinpoint exactly where the wheels started falling off. The 2004 recruiting class was an abomination.

College football has become a game where players have an immediate impact as freshman and sophomores. Look at some of the kids Miami has on the field this year - some of which were playing high school ball at this time in 2006. Same to be said for dozens of other major universities and their young talent. Superstars don't stick around four years, so immediate playing time for ballers is now the norm.

I was reminded earlier today how putrid Miami's 2004 recruiting class was and how much it set The U back. Think back to the probation era, where the Canes lost 31 scholarships over a three-year period (1995-1997) and stumbled to 8-3, 9-3 and 5-6 seasons during that span.

Coker and staff doled out 26 scholarships in February 2004 and safe to say the lack of production almost rivals the losses the Canes felt in the mid to late 90s. Don't believe me? Check out the not-so-stellar class of 2004:

Ryhan Anderson - A DL bust. Kicked off the team entering 2007.
Carlos Armour - An average CB... before being exposed vs. UNC.
James Bryant - Freak athlete, big time head case, kicked off team entering 2007.
Tyrone Byrd - Average offensive line talent.
Calais Campbell - Surprise three-star of Denver, currently an All American DE.
Romeo Davis - Average linebacker. Smart, but lacks physical skills.
Kirby Freeman - Tons of heart, but not enough skills to play at Quarterback U.
Kellen Heard - Decommitted from The U, wound up at Texas A&M.
Dwayne Hendricks - Decent defensive lineman that's hot and cold.
Andrew Johnson - Back up RB, never materialized, no longer with team.
Charlie Jones - Back up RB, average, lost starting job to Javarris James in 2006.
Khalil Jones - Back up WR. Average. Never will be a consistent factor.
Rashaun Jones - Average DB, kicked off the team entering 2007. Character issues.
Joe Joseph - Average talent on defensive line.
Lance Leggett - More cold than hot WR, mentally checked out. Underachiever.
Tyler McMeans - JUCO transfer OL, nicknamed "The Matador". Average.
Eric Moncur - Solid defensive line talent. Four-star local kid (Carol City).
Lovon Ponder - Solid athlete, average safety.
Anthony Reddick - Top talent that's been banged up, injured and suspended.
Chris Rutledge - Average offensive line talent, at best.
Jonathan St. Pierre - Sub par o-lineman, two-star recruit no longer with team.
Derron Thomas - Third/fourth string tailback who hasn't done much.
George Timmons - Flip flopped between DB and RB. Out of football.
Bobby Washington - Head case, didn't qualify, ended up at E. Kentucky.
Willie Williams - Left before '06 and recently booted from Louisville for drug use.
Chris Zellner - Back up tight end. Average player.

Are you kidding me? Miami should add up at least 20 of those 26 scholarships and send Coker the bill. No disrespect to ANY player on there - seriously - but the majority of that crew flat out weren't Miami-caliber kids. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise.

The biggest difference between Randy Shannon and Coker - one of many - is the ability to evaluate, recruit and sell high school kids on their would-be experience playing for The U and attending the University of Miami.

He also knows the recipe regarding success in Coral Gables. Shannon won as a player (1987), as a grad assistant (1991) and as a defensive coordinator (2001). He learned from arguably the best - Jimmy Johnson - as a player and assistant and spent years dealing with Butch Davis as a coach, mentor and boss.

Shannon has the Miami pedigree and besides knowing the city like the back of his hand, he knows how to keep the local talent close to home.

You don't want to get to jazzed about recruiting season four months from Signing Day, but it's impossible to not be excited about the future. When you see five-star local kids like Marcus Forston and Patrick Johnson verballing, throwing up the "U" hands in photos and talking about bringing Miami back - I'm sorry, but that gets the juices flowing and makes 27-0 halftime deficits easier to deal with.

Sean Spence, Aldarius Johnson, Jacory Harris, Brandon Washington and Forston are rolling in from the #1 team high school team in the nation, Miami Northwestern. Thearon Collier and and Davon Johnson are a duo of wideouts from 12th-ranked Booker T. Washington, staying home to rebuild.

Jordan Futch (LB) from Hollywood Chaminade. Four-star Jeremy Lewis (DT) from West Palm. Eighteen verbals already compared to a handful last season. Miami currently sports the #2 ranked recruiting class entering 2008.

After seeing freshman defensive tackle Marvin Austin starting for North Carolina, I was already prepping for 2008 and seeing Lewis and Forston having an immediate impact on that line. For any complacent lineman, watch your back. Shannon is bringing in the talent and nobody's job is safe.

Those of you ready to end it all, relax. Seriously. It sucked to be in a 27-0 halftime hole and to lose the game. But take solace that the ship is in the process of being righted. These mistakes, the lackadaisical play and the players half-assing it are on their way out the door.

This is a new era of Miami Football. There will be some speed bumps, but Shannon is working tirelessly to reprogram this squad and teach them to win. I have no doubt he'll get the job done.

Be patient. The days of Miami lacking talent, discipline and passion are coming to an end. The right guy is in charge now. Give him some breathing room. It takes more than six games to clean up the other guy's six year mess.


.:Canes305:.

Game Six: North Carolina 33, Miami 27

Down 27-0 at the half against a 1-4 team when you're 4-1? Pretty pathetic any way you slice or dice it. Miami was supposed to be on the rise. The ship was supposedly righted after the 34-17 dismantling of then-#20 Texas A&M.

A road trip to Chapel Hill was supposed to be a tune up game for the meat of the ACC schedule. Not a buzzsaw which sent Miami to 4-2 with question marks entering a stretch where they'll face Georgia Tech and Florida State back-to-back.

Par for the course, the doom and gloomers are in full force. That in itself is almost as pathetic as a 27-point halftime deficit. I checked out some of the online commentary at halftime and didn't know whether to laugh or puke.

Let's get some perspective here, people. Seriously. Calling for the heads of Randy Shannon and/or Patrick Nix is flat out moronic. It took six years for the program to erode as it has and it'll sure as hell take more than six games to fix all the current problems.

The Canes have been a tale of three teams this year. We saw a young Miami squad beat up pretty badly at Oklahoma. Another rendition took it to aTm on a nationally televised Thursday night outing a few weeks back, playing an almost perfect game. This past weekend we saw The U 'finish' a game, as their new leader has taught them - but they forgot how to 'start it, striking fast and first.

I don't care who the opponent, 27-point halftime leads are damn near impossible to overcome. While I'm sick to see Miami come out flat and fall behind, there is something positive to be taken from this game as well as some things to harp on:

Kyle Wright. Is there any Cane more in discussion right now? No. As expected, the haters are running their mouths and the Kirby Freeman supporters are chiming in with their "I told you so" b.s. Note to everyone, can it. Wright threw four interceptions on Saturday and you're not going to win too many games where your quarterback puts you in a hole of that nature. That said, 27-points against North Carolina should be enough for a win.

You want to point a finger? Send it at Miami's defense and special teams. Call out Tim Walton and Joe Pannunzio. I can't recall a game where the Canes tackled worse, were out of position or didn't execute. A blocked punt? Arm tackling? Last I checked, Wright didn't play defense.

Miami's defense has spent the past few seasons saying if the offense could muster up 17 points, the defense could win the game. This D gave up 27 in the first half and two field goals in the second en route to a 33-27 loss.

Wright is who he is. Four years in the system, four offensive coordinators, a hot/cold offensive line, a pretty good running game and little stability from his wide outs - until recently. As the 2007 season rolls on, expect to see Wright play some games as he did against the Aggies and other days expect the guy who showed up against the Heels. That's what happens when you poorly develop a five-star, can't miss talent.

Look no further than the third quarter 97-yard bomb to Darnell Jenkins for the Tale of Two Wrights. The first attempt sails five yards over the head of Sam Shields and is a poorly thrown ball. One play later, a perfectly executed spiral hitting Jenkins in stride and in the mitts.

#3 is going to do some things exceptionally well and other times he'll look like the Wright of old. Deal with it. He could throw eight picks a game and he's still a better option for Miami than Freeman.

Wright's red zone struggles continues. Sadly, we didn't see any direct snaps to the running back, a la Texas A&M. Several times that game, either Graig Cooper or Javarris James took direct snaps inside the ten yard line.

With three interceptions under his belt and Miami driving to pull within six, Wright forced the ball into triple coverage. Seemed like the perfect time for a direct snap and to let your running backs work their way into the end zone.

As for the defense... I'm still shell-shocked by the product on the field right now. We're all accustomed to Miami simply reloading on D - but not this year. The offense is on the upswing, but the defense absolutely took a step back. Bar none, this is the worst defense the Canes have fielded in a decade.

The defensive line is red hot or ice cold. This hardly looked like the same bunch that was in A&M's backfield all night. The Canes' d-line was pushed around by a UNC o-line chock full of back ups and nobodies. There is some talent, but it all needs to come together. Right now a mix of guys that are either young, hurt, playing up to their potential half the time or simply doing a good - not great - job.

Linebackers are nowhere near where they should be six games into the season. Colin McCarthy will be a baller, but his youth shows at times. The absence of Darryl Sharpton and Glenn Cook hurts this squad. Spencer Adkins and Tavares Gooden are athletes, but neither has a good enough grip on the mental aspect of the position. Every play, the LBs seem to be shifting and figuring things out on the fly.

None of this helping the fact that Miami's secondary is another down unit. Kenny Phillips played the game of his season thus far, but when your safeties are leading your team in tackles, somethings gone awry. DeMarcus Van Dyke shows promise, but the freshman is still a work in progress. The experience of Glenn Sharpe is missed at corner and the same for Anthony Reddick at safety.

Too quick to judge Walton, but Shannon needs to micromanage until this side of the ball resembles the Canes of old. To do that...

...Coach Shannon needs to keep the headphones on at all times. The first half, Shannon was headset-less and letting his DC call all the shots. The result, a 27-point deficit. After a fiery halftime speech, the Canes came out and hit the ground running. Shannon sported the headsets, got involved in the play calling and Miami held North Carolina to two field goals the rest of the game. The Canes wrapped up, made plays and forced a fumble.

The word 'deprogrammed' was thrown around a lot this weekend regarding this team's mindset. I'm thrilled this is being stared in the face and acknowledged.

"It's almost like you have to deprogram these guys to get out of their heads and minds last year," Shannon said Sunday. "So many things that they went through in the past, they can't get it out of their minds."

Attitude. Swagger. A lot of people throw those terms around like it's a light switch that turns on and off. That's bull. Miami's attitude dulled over the past three years and needs to be built back up. Deprogram is the perfect adjective. Shannon oft talks about instilling a winner's mentality and he's right.

Miami found themselves in a 27-0 halftime hole the same way they wound up 7-6. Like putting on or taking off weight one pound at a time, the Canes fell apart play-by-play. The downward spiral kicks in and the wheels seem to fall off.

This team is getting some Shannon:101 regarding how to become a championship team in the future. Miami lost by six-point, but another valuable lesson was learned. This team fell short, but it never quit. Not even down 27 points. The Canes fought back on both sides of the ball. They'll grow from this game. Shannon will make sure of it. I don't doubt the direction this team is headed in the least. Just learn to absorb some speed bumps along the way.

24 of 40 for 364 yards, 2 TDs and 4 INTs. They might sound like Wright's numbers from Saturday, but they're not. Try 'former' Heisman candidate, John David Booty as the 41-point favorite second- ranked Southern Cal was dropped by lowly Stanford, 24-23. It was the Trojans first home loss since 2001.

Booty has a big time line, a stable of running back and top-notch talent regarding receivers. USC is loaded and the Cardinal aren't know for their defense. Still, the big time quarterback choked away their season - and 35-home game win streak.

Miami's NCAA record 58-home game win streak remains in tact. Thanks, Stanford.

The idiots trashing Miami for dancing and then "getting what they deserved" - could you be anymore off base? Godforbid a team bounces around a little bit in an effort to fabricate some motivation. North Carolina called the perfect play and executed. Good for them, but the Canes did nothing out of line.

Amazing that we're in a forgiving sports community that will look past all the recent woes at Florida (felony theft) and Florida State (assault on an officer, resisting arrest w/o violence and disorderly conduct) - yet trashes the Canes for bouncing around during a challenge.

Florida stomps out LSU's logo pre-game and not a word. Miami tries to wake up on defense and it's on everyones lips. Absolutely ridiculous. Get your eyes checked and your priorities straight, people.

For those still lamenting the loss to UNC, employ the Shannon tactic of forgetting what happened five minutes ago. It's the past. Move forward. Georgia Tech is this weekend and Miami is always sixty minutes from redemption.

College football was turned on it's ear the minute Appalachian State blocked a Michigan field goal to upset the #3 team in the land. There are no guarantees in 2007. Look at the past six weeks.

Ten of of the preseason top-25 are now unranked. Seven of the current top-15 and seven of the ten remaining unbeatens were unranked in the preseason.

Cal, Boston College, South Florida and Cincinnati are ranked higher than ever before. Missouri and Kansas haven't been ranked this high since 1981 and 1995, respectively. The defending national champs just dropped back-to-back games.

Add all those upsets, flukes and changes in the landscape and then tell me why it was impossible to fathom 1) that Miami could lose to North Carolina and 2) that the Canes couldn't overcome a 27-point halftime deficit. Expect a lot more surprises this season.Nothing is certain.

And yes, Florida losing a heartbreaker in the final moments - after sitting in the driver's seat most of the game - enhanced my three hour old Crown Royal buzz. The big mouthed Gators were somewhat shut up after being upset by Auburn last weekend (yes, I am still peddling the CandyAss Charley clip) but then Tony Joiner stole a page out of season three of Sanford & Son by breaking into a tow yard at 4am to retrieve his girlfriend's car.

You know the story from there. Charges dropped within 72 hours. No discipline regarding playing time as it was #1 LSU. Over 200 threatening calls to the tow yard owner about what would happen if he didn't drop the charges.

"I'm just glad it wasn't Tim Tebow, that's all I can say," Stan Forron told the newspaper. "I think I would be covered in ten feet of concrete right now if it had been Tebow."

I don't buy the whole karma thing, but for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. Joiner deserved to ride the pine and Urban Meyer wussed out. Same as he did last year letting Jarvis Moss play against South Carolina after failing a drug test. Moss sat out a week later against Western Kentucky, but only after blocking an extra point and field goal in a 17-16 win over Steve Spurrier and South Carolina.

Meyer has Florida right on par with Florida State with their 'football first' mentality and no one in the NCAA or media calls it out. I do. It was mierda last week when Bobby Bowden let recently Tasered Geno Hayes play against Bama and Meyer is equally as wrong this week.

Meanwhile, Shannon is sitting kids for being late to practice and study hall and Miami is still perceived at Thug U.

Stay classy media, NCAA, Canesville, Trailerhassee and double standards.

Keep it in perspective. 4-2 and a meaningful throw down with Georgia Tech this week. Great time for a bounce back game. Make it 5-2 and headed to Tallahassee for the first of three 'games of the year' - Florida State (10.20), Virginia Tech (11.17) and Boston College (11.24).

A lot of ball left to be played and a lot more to be learned. We're going to see some more big wins, teasing us and making us believe we're back - and we'll have more "huh?" type losses. Try to hang on and enjoy the ride. Miami is pointed in the right direction. This is a 1998-type season. Make the most of it. This is a bridge to better days.



.:Canes305:.

It ain't the Butch Davis Show...

Miami plays North Carolina at 12pm ET on Saturday and I'm seeing a lot of ink regarding Butch Davis, as the current Tar Heels coach spent 1995 thru 2000 as head coach of the Hurricanes.

No offense, but to hell with Butch the Heel. No disrespect to the former Miami coach, but this game has nothing to do with the past. Davis will tell you the same, oft quoted this past week downplaying his time spent at The U.

When asked if he felt at all nostalgic regarding his ties to this week's opponent, Davis said, "To be honest, not particularly. It's not like Tom O'Brien, who had to play Boston College two weeks ago and virtually every kid on the field was one he'd recruited in their homes. At UM, it's all new players."

"My wife and I spent close to 12 years in South Florida. Some connection will always be there, but little by little it diminishes," said Davis.

Thankfully coach, the feeling is mutual.

I'm not a Butch basher. If anything, I've always backed the guy outside of his cowardice exit in January 2001. I believe in absolutes and value a man based on his word as well as his ability to carry it out through his actions. Before bailing The U, Davis was adamant that he wasn't leaving and went so far as to say he planned to retire at Miami and had no desire to go anywhere else.

Days later, "Adios Miami".

I can appreciate the lure of the NFL money and prestige a head coaching position brings. Because of that, I never faulted Davis for leaving. He had the NFL bloodlines, following Jimmy Johnson from Coral Gables to the Dallas Cowboys in the late 1980s as a defensive coordinator. His boss succeeded at that level after coaching the Canes and now it was Davis' turn to make his run. Still, I never respected the way he said goodbye. It was wrong.

Entering tomorrow, this match up is being dubbed "Butch Bowl I" by a few fans - to which I ask, why? This game isn't about Davis. It's not even about his former pupil Randy Shannon, Miami's current boss. This one is about Miami and North Carolina. A 4-1 squad-on-the-rise playing a road game against a 1-4 bunch better than their record indicates.

The Canes are on the climb, getting better week-by-week. Miami sits at 1-0 in ACC play and Saturday is about improving that record to 2-0. Nothing more, nothing less.

Miami is a little more than two weeks removed from a 34-17 pasting of then #20 Texas A&M and grinded one out a week ago against a feisty Duke team, 24-14. Still, the Canes are yet to put together that perfect game - not finishing against the Aggies and needing a productive fourth quarter against the Blue Devils to put that one in the books.

That said, this season has been about improving week in and week out and Miami has truly grown each week since the 51-13 pasting Oklahoma sent their way.

The Canes haven't traveled to Chapel Hill since October 2004 when North Carolina knocked off then #3 Miami on a last second field goal, 31-28. Some have dubbed this a 'revenge game' - a term fans love anytime their team faces a first after a heartbreaking loss. Miami is 2-0 against North Carolina since, but with the first return to the scene of 2004's crime, it's taken on the 'revenge' tone.

The only important stat entering Saturday is 1-3; the Canes' ACC road record dating back to November 2005. Miami's last conference road win was a 47-17 win at Wake Forest almost two years ago.

Davis and Shannon are nothing more than a sub plot entering this weekend - and a minimal one at that. These Canes are trying to grow as a team each and every game. Unhealthy players are getting healthy, providing depth and entering the sixth game of 2007, Miami is expected to gel even more come game time tomorrow.

Beat North Carolina. Not as revenge for 2004 and not because a former Canes is wearing the visor on the opposing sideline. Get this win because an ACC title is the new goal. This is one final tune up game before teams like Georgia Tech, Florida State, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Boston College are on deck.

Work out any last kinks because the meat of the ACC schedule is on deck and Miami needs to strut in 5-1 with chests puffed out, not 4-2 with a boat load of question marks.


Miami 34, North Carolina 16



.:Canes305:.

Playing Saturday in a big time game near you...

Real shocker here. State prosecutors worked tirelessly around the clock these past 72 hours because ALL charges were dropped this morning against Florida senior safety Tony Joiner regarding felony burglary charges for breaking into a Gainesville tow yard Tuesday morning to retrieve his girlfriend's impounded car.

Towing company owner Stan Forron has since said the whole thing was a big misunderstanding and that Joiner "arranged" to pay the bill and pick up the car, but surprisingly NO ONE WAS AROUND during that 4:00am window when Joiner dropped by to push open the electric gate and attempt to take the car on his own and "settle up later".

Are you kidding me? Seriously, does anyone really buy this load of mierda? Where is the media backlash for this nonsense? Again, how is Florida getting a pass here?

Urban Meyer really laid the smack down, stripping Joiner of his captaincy. Ooooooh. I'm sure #19 is crying on his big giant pillow. That "C" on his jersey means very little when you let him get his reps in against #1 LSU this weekend and an effort to save Florida's season. Friggin hypocrite and b.s. artist.

Meyer hasn't specified how much Joiner will play, if he'll be suspended at all or if he'd even start. He did say Joiner would "pay a heavy price for his behavior internally for the next four weeks" yet in the next breath said "he will travel with the team for our game vs. LSU".

I wonder how many sets of stadium stairs Joiner will have to run for it to be considered a "heavy price" paid.

Bet the farm Joiner sees significant playing time this weekend as the out-manned Gators need every veteran defender they have to pull off the upset in Death Valley. And also bet the farm that ol' Mr. Forron is a diehard Gator and some sort of a booster who got a call from a certain higher up within the U of Florida athletic department telling him to drop those charges and consider "Towgate" a complete and utter misunderstanding.

Pathetic. As much as I hate LSU, I hope the Tigers run absolute train on the Gators this weekend.


.:Canes305:.

Headed back to Chapel Hill...

Remember this pic? Yeah, me too. Gross. Three years ago #3 Miami strutted into Chapel Hill a two-digit favorite and fell 31-28 to the Tar Heels on a last-second kick by Spicolli, a.k.a. freshman Connor Barth.

Miami beat North Carolina the following two seasons, but due to scheduling both games were at the Orange Bowl. This year, it's back to the scene of one of the more embarrassing Hurricane losses in recent memory. While this isn't a "revenge" game, per se - it's a statement game. Partially because of the 2004 loss, but also due to the Canes recent ACC road record.

Miami went 0-3 on the road in conference play last year and hasn't won an ACC road game since Wake Forest in 2005.

More on this match up coming Friday. Stay tuned.

Let's watch this one play out...

Florida senior and team captain Tony Joiner was arrested Tuesday morning doing his best Repo Man and trying to bust his girlfriend's car out of a Gainesville tow yard. As a result, Joiner has been suspended indefinitely and should be riding the pine this Saturday when Florida heads to Baton Rouge to take on #1 LSU.

I emphasize the word "should" after seeing Florida State allow recently arrested and Tased linebacker Geno Hayes to start against Alabama last weekend. Let's just say I have little faith in the leaders of the big time state powers in Florida. I'll believe it when I see it.

Last year Urban Meyer chose to let Jarvis Moss skate last November when South Carolina headed