Those of you asking about shirts/jerseys...

We've received a ton of emails asking if there's going to be a memorial shirt for Sean Taylor or if we have the ability to order in jerseys. Please stay tuned. The wound is still fresh and we're letting the dust settle a bit. We want to do something to honor #26, but that said it needs to be done correctly and we need to make sure a portion of proceeds go to charity. That takes a little bit of time to set up.

For now, let everyone mourn Sean's passing and as soon as we can come up with something in his honor that can help the fan base heal, we'll post both at allCanes.com and allCanesBlog.com.

We should know more by next week. Our GM Harry Rothwell will be attending the funeral on Monday and at some point will attempt to speak with the Taylor family next week.

For those interested in simply having "something" before we get all the details ironed out, you do have the option of ordering a blank jersey and having us affix "26" and "TAYLOR" to it,
as we've done for decades - years back with the Russell Athletic jerseys.

It's not an authentic and it's hardly even a replica, but it's "something" for those of you who are clamoring for anything right now.

If you are interested in that, call us at 800.226.4247 (IBIS) or 305.661.9011 and we'll get you squared away. Not offering online, but we can treat as a mail order for out of town fans.

Sean Taylor 22, Florida State 14

In an effort to get my mind of all that's wrong with the world, I wanted to take a few hours to think about Sean Taylor in the "present" tense by watching my old VHS copy of the Miami/Florida State game from 2003. 

We've all seen the game. It's an all time classic. Sadly, it took the tragedy to make me remember that.

Watching it live in 2003, most of us were too burned from the Fiesta Bowl and watching the program backslide an wee-bit in post-Ken Dorsey, Andre Johnson and Willis McGahee era.

Brock Berlin, Kevin Beard and Jarrett Payton didn't really have the same ring back then. Four years later, they'd be welcomed with open arms. Too bad most of us didn't realize we were still in the golden era then and bitched our way though 2003. 

2003 was no 2000-2002, so it was seen as a bit of a 'down' year with two losses. Sad thing is, 99% of that team would've started for Miami in 2006 and 2007.

I'm mad I didn't appreciate that game more at the time. I remember watching it at the Venetian in Las Vegas, wearing the green Taylor #26 jersey shown in the photo above. Miami was coming off a nailbiter against West Virginia and there was almost this sense of despair surrounding the program, as the Canes didn't look as invincible as they did in years passed. 

My how times have changed.

I miss those times and those great Canes teams and after watching that game, I miss #26 even more as a talent. What a statement was made on the field that day. Bar none the most impressive performance I've ever seen a lone defensive player make in a game of that magnitude. 

Sean Taylor absolutely owned Florida State on October 11th, 2003. Thank God for videotape and vintage memories preserved.

No news out of Miami today, but the story in Phoenix was Antrel Rolle sharing his thoughts on the tragedy and called it like he saw it; a targeted hit.

Hard to argue with Rolle, another kid from the neighborhood. Rolle is from Homestead, Taylor from Perrine. He and Taylor had played ball together since they were knee-high. Rolle the starting running back and Taylor, starting linebacker for the Homestead Hurricanes. They were six years old. Their dads, both police officers. 

A dozen years later, they were playing for the city's real-deal Hurricanes, north in Coral Gables. Making a name for themselves and helping their hometown program dominate the collegiate landscape. Both earned national championship rings together in 2001 as freshman. 

Taylor was taken fifth in the 2003 NFL Draft and Rolle selected eighth the following April. 

Rolle knows the city. He knows there are a slew of bad seeds out there who'd love nothing more than to take out someone who made it and is perceived to have 'sold out' by choosing a different lifestyle and turning one's back on old school, long-time friends and acquaintances.

Taylor turned his back and left some guys in his wake when he became a dad. No more room for any bad seeds. Sounds like Taylor took some personal inventory and made the right choices this past year and an effort to protect his daughter and long-time girlfriend. 

Sadly, in a place like Miami it can be the right decision that gets you killed.

Two days later, nothing feels better. It doesn't add up and it doesn't feel right. I don't know if it ever will. Bryan Pata was bad enough this year. Seeing it happen again just over a year later... it stings even more. Taylor made it. He had gotten out. The world was his.

Fame and fortune were part of his make up and he was the fiercest hitter in the game - but it was his growth off the field which makes this such a bitter pill to swallow. Taylor made that change for the two ladies in his life. He was cutting ties with his past. 

According to Rolle, he had a fear of his past life in Miami and wanted to distance himself. He had, but one random weekend back home due to injury proved to be fatal. So random. So tragic. 

Still hurting. Watching the game last night, brought a smile to my face but talking about it a day later and hearing someone in the know like Rolle calling it the way he sees it... I'm crushed again tonight.

I can only imagine the wave of emotions Sean's friends and family are dealing with. If I feel this bad, I can't even imagine their pain. My prayers are with all of you. Keep on. 


.:Canes305:.

Sean Taylor: 1983-2007

I logged on this morning with baited breath.

I was praying for a miracle, but expecting the worst.

I said a quick prayer in my head when I woke up. Something along the lines of, "Please tell me he's still hanging on. Don't let him die this way." I wanted that miracle. Football was meaningless. I just wanted the kid to live.

Seconds later, ESPN.com confirmed my worst fears. "Taylor Dead at 24".

Sean Taylor died this morning in a Miami hospital bed just over 24 hours after being gunned down in his Miami home. Numb is the only feeling for Hurricane Nation... again. It's Bryan Pata a year later. Another Cane senselessly executed down. It's tragic, sickening and so damn wrong.

I never knew Taylor, but pulled a little bit more for him than the average Cane. He was from the neighborhood. He was a Gulliver kid. I went to Westminster. He played his high school ball on both our fields.

I grew up off Old Cutler Road, played at Perrine Khoury League and know the west Perrine area he called home.

Not too many kids from that pocket of town end up playing for the Canes, go fifth in the NFL Draft or wind up a Pro Bowl level safety -- so when anybody from the neighborhood makes it, you tend to pull for them a little bit more.

A guy like Taylor connected me to my youth and the old neighborhood. Especially living on the west coast these days. Any connection to Miami means everything to me, so seeing a kid from Perrine achieving the ultimate success; it hit me on a completely different level.

A long-time bud of mine is a Palmetto Bay cop and was on the scene yesterday. A mutual friend was texting me updates all day and keeping me in the loop. By day's end, he told me to expect the worst - even though ESPN was reporting things were looking better, with Taylor squeezing his doctor's hand.

By then, my head was swimming. I didn't know what to believe. Like I did when Pata was murdered, I logged off and tried not to think. I got out of the house.

No more Internet or TV. It was time to say some prayers, find a distraction and simply wait out the night. There wasn't going to be any "new" news and I couldn't read the same stuff over and over again, like so many other Canes and Skins fans riding out the storm.

This morning, everyones worst fears were realized.

Taylor is gone at 24-years old, his whole life ahead of him. In the prime of his career and now leaving behind an infant daughter who will never know her father. Even worse, it was all over some 'stuff' - be it property some thugs were looking to steal or some scumbag looking to settle a beef.

A few pathetic jackasses have already started pointing fingers and blaming this on what some are calling a checkered past for Taylor, instead of simply focusing on the tragedy itself.

True, the former Cane found himself in a little trouble years back. In and out of hot water with Redskins management. A few run ins with the law. Taylor wasn't perfect - but he was a boy still growing into the man he'd become as well as learning how to handle his newfound fame, fortune and success.

At 24 years old he was already turning things around - which is a hell of a lot sooner than most of us get our 'wake up call' in life. Lessons had been learned, old ways had been changed and through the birth of his daughter, Taylor had seen the light. The young, new father had that lifechanging experience and was a new man.

Ask his coaches and teammates. Ask his friends and family. This was a new Taylor. A twentysomething professional athlete smitten by his one-year old daughter, Jackie - the biggest and best reason for any man to turn over a new leaf.

The rebirth of the new Sean Taylor was underway and now we'll never know what could've been. He was taken from us too soon... like so many who have gone before him.

I'm sure many are now playing the inevitable "what if" game. What if Taylor wasn't injured? He'd have been with his Redskins teammates and a thousand miles or so away from any trouble in Miami. At worst, he could've been in DC recovering from the injury instead of back home for a few days - a week after there was reported trouble and a burglary attempt at his home.

Instead, he's gone and everyone is left here picking up the pieces and asking God, "why?"

Another Cane shining bright in the prime of his career and taken from us. It feels like Jerome Brown all over again, but worse as so many members of The U Family have been taken since JB in 1992.

This is cruel and unusual punishment for this fan base, for Miamians who mourn the loss of one of our own and for anyone with a heart.

As a diehard Cane, like the rest of my brethren, I'm crushed beyond words. On one level, these are just kids who play football for the program we all pull for. But we all know it's much more than that.

You live, eat, sleep and breathe The U for the better part of your life and these end up guys becoming more than just nameless faces wearing numbered jerseys their predecessors wore. They become part of the history and as big as the program itself. When we utter the words "U Family" we mean it.

The University of Miami is family. When one succeeds, we all succeed. When one hurts, we all hurt. When one is taken, we all mourn.

When these kids get drafted every April, you find yourself sitting back like a proud parent watching graduation day. You know that they have their whole lives ahead of them and you look forward to rooting for them on the next level - doing well for themselves, their families and doing right by their alma mater.

Even if you're not a fan of the team they're drafted by, you find yourselves rooting for the one time Canes out there to make plays and make The U proud.

God bless the Taylor family and The U Family as everyone is suffering and struggling to get through this. We search for answers, but there truly aren't any. Another sick and senseless tragedy that never should've happened. It can't be explained or reasoned. You simply have to lean on your faith - whatever it may be - and try to cope.

The pain lessens over time, but the memories remain. U Family forever. #26 was our star.

Please feel free to comment below and talk about Taylor. Share your stories, memories, thoughts and prayers please.

Just one more reminder that there are things bigger and much more important than 5-7 seasons and trashing coaches or players. Hopefully we can all learn from this one...

R.I.P. #26 (#21).



.:Canes305:.

You've got to be kidding me...

Sean Taylor is in critical condition after being shot in the leg/groin area during a home invasion on Sunday night in Miami. Taylor was shot around 1:45am ET. 

There's speculation regarding how many times Taylor was shot. A family friend, asking not to be identified, said twice. The Taylor family has requested that no information about his condition is released at this point.

A tragic story regarding an NFL athlete, the role guns have in society as well as the fact Hurricane Nation is now processing the fact that another former Cane has found himself faced with tragedy.

Keep the Taylors in your prayers and let's hope #26 can pull this one out. 

The Wright Era: Who failed who?

"My goodness, that's a lot of touchdowns. Good for him. You want to see a bad quarterback, put a bunch of bad players around him and you officially have yourself a bad quarterback, including Tebow. We don't have bad people around him." --- Florida coach Urban Meyer discussing Tim Tebow and the soph's run for the Heisman with 51 touchdowns in 2007.

The majority of the Miami fan base has been all over Kyle Wright since 2005 and now that the era is officially over, maybe some of the harshest critics will finally attempt to be logical regarding what #3 had to work with his tenure at The U.

There was no Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis or Najeh Davenport in the backfield the past three seasons, yet Ken Dorsey had all three for his run in 2001. The previous year he had Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne, Jeremy Shockey and a young Andre Johnson catching balls during an 11-1 campaign and BCS berth in 2000.

The offensive line was a brick wall in '01 with Bryant McKinnie, Joaquin Gonzalez, Martin Bibla, Brett Romberg and Sherko Haji-Rasouli blocking for Dorsey.

When McKinnie, Gonzalez and Bibla were NFL bound in 2002 and only 2 of 5 starters returned, that lesser line had Dorsey looking mortal at times and chucked around like a rag doll in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

Wright's lines from 2005-2007 made the 2002 offensive line look like 2001, in comparison.

The defense? Peaked in 2003 and progressively got worse every year since. Long gone were the days of short fields, forced turnovers and defensive scores which paved the way to the 2001 title. Even without that, how long is a defense supposed to overcompensate for a stagnant offense, unable to turn it around for half a decade?

I'm not going to make excuses for some of Wright's personal shortcomings as a quarterback. Throwing into triple coverage in the red zone against North Carolina, with a comeback on the line?

No QB part of a major program like Miami should make those mistakes. Wright made a lot of them and he'll have to live with that.

Still, it'd have been nice to see Wright settle in with one offensive coordinator instead of three and it'd have helped the kid out of the Canes recruited these past few years like they did the earlier part of the decade.

How good is Dorsey with the 2006 or 2007 Canes? How does Tebow fare this past season with a "U" on his helmet instead of in the orange and blue? How does Wright's story play out had he landed in Coral Gables in 1999 instead of 2003?

Obviously we'll never know, but it's worth thinking about before piling on and trashing the kid in the wake of his career. Amazed that I'm going online days after Wright played his final game for The U and cries of "good riddance" are still echoing from this frustrated fan base looking for anyone and everyone to blame.

The kid left it all on the field and was let down by a coaching staff who didn't surround him with big time talent, nor did they develop him into all he could've been.

Look at first year coordinator Patrick Nix. His impact on Wright showed most in the final two games of 2007. Now pretend Wright is a freshman and he has three more years to pull it together under Nix's tutelage. Imagine someone had this impact on his game in 2003 instead of 2007, when it was too little and too late.

It's bad enough the program failed this kid and that this fan base had to endure such a horrendous run the past few years, but attempt to class it up a little bit here people.

The body isn't even cold yet and you're already dancing on the kid's football grave.

Rather pathetic, if you ask me. Especially when we're talking about a University of Miami grad who just gave four years to a football program and former coaching staff that failed him infinitely more than he failed it.


.:Canes305:.

Game Twelve: Boston College 28, Miami 14

I never thought I'd utter these words, but I hate all things college football right now.

Can't stand any aspect of it. Still sick that I wasted twelve Saturdays since September getting roped in loss after loss. Too numb too even enjoy the slew of heartbreaking let downs so many teams endured in 2007.

I couldn't even enjoy a three-loss Florida campaign because they actually looked good doing it and have the second coming in Tim Tebow behind center. The soph will win the Heisman. Everybody's All-American. Dude even teaches Sunday school and will have the Gators in the hunt next year while the Canes are still figuring things out. 

Miami bit another big one today, losing 28-14 to Boston College. 5-7 on the season. No bowl game. Worst outing since the 1970s. The probation teams weren't even this bad.

The Canes have become the polar opposite of what they once were. Now the lesser team in most match ups, Miami can temporarily hang in there - but the better team overcomes the ebbs and flows of the game and does what they're expected to do.

Boston College looked suspect for a few drives around the middle of the game, while Miami was overachieving and making some plays. Eventually, as the ACC Atlantic Division rep should do, the Eagles turned it up a notch, pulled away from the lesser Canes, putting the game out of reach.

Remember when The U used to do that? This feels like some kind of bizarro world.

Worst part of all this was being duped into expecting more. 7-6, an on the field brawl, a murdered player, a blue turf bowl game and a fired coaching staff? The only thing missing were the plagues. It couldn't get any worse. Impossible. Things had to turn around. Rock bottom seemed to be already witnessed.

Randy Shannon took over. He was one of "us". Miami-bred and a three-headed Hurricane threat as a former player, grad assistant and defensive coordinator. Three rings. One earned at each level. Shannon will bring Miami back. He has the blueprint and simply has to implement it.

The U won't be rebuilt in one day. We know that. We just didn't expect 5-7. No one saw 51-13 coming at Oklahoma, a 23-9 dogfight with lowly FIU or a 27-0 halftime deficit at North Carolina.

Tashard Choice never should've rushed for 204 yards in a third straight loss to Georgia Tech. Kirby Freeman never should've gone 1 of 14 in a season-defining OT loss to NC State.

Then again, he never should've gone 3 for 3 down the stretch in an upset of Florida State - the brightest spot of 2007.

48-0 in the Orange Bowl finale? File that one under "unforgivable" - as are back-to-back losses against Virginia Tech and Boston College, outscored 160-28 the final three games.

I won't quite say this team lacked heart, though it didn't come out in large enough doses. There was some fight in the Canes against the Hokies and Eagles. Just not enough to hang four quarters.

Miami used to beat up on middle of the pack teams. Now it's become one. Pretty bitter pill to swallow. But I'll focus on the silver lining.

The 2007 season has been taken out to pasture. I'd rather have seen a bowl game, but with it all coming to an end today it officially became 'recruiting season' at The U. An area Shannon and staff can shine and the only place the ghost of Larry Coker doesn't lurk.

Shannon has a few more years with his predecessor's players, but he'll rebuild with his own.

Rebuild. Get used to the word. These aren't your turn of the century Canes. The talent is few and far between. Tons of holes to fill and Shannon needs to seek out Miami-type players.

Shannon has to rebuild this thing from the ground on up.

Great teams are made, not born. They usually start with a "special" freshman class and the weeding out of upperclassmen responsible for the team's decline. New players start making an impact, experience some growing pains but said team improves.

A few more great classes are signed and a few years later, you see the chemistry. That "special" freshman class reaches their junior season and you start seeing a turnaround. Close to or in a BCS game that season and in the hunt a year later.

To rebuild, plant some good seeds, nurture them and watch 'em grow. It's a fool proof recipe.

I'll say it again - great teams are made, not born. Look across the current collegiate landscape and top-ranked teams for further proof.

Kansas rolls into this evening ranked No. 2 in the land and 11-0. The past five seasons of the Mark Mangino era? 25-35. Mangino started out 2-10 year one with the Jayhawks. A first-year head coach in 2001, MM cut his teeth calling offenses for Oklahoma and Kansas State the eleven previous season.

A respected, big time assistant earning his first shot as a head coach. Sound familiar?

Regardless of where Kansas winds up this season, they're on the right track. Mangino planted some seeds a few years back, nurtured the project and it's harvest time.

Same can be said for Les Miles. LSU may be out of the title race, but not many would want to face this two-loss team in a playoff. This year's redshirt seniors were on the bench for the 2003 title, set out to win one of their own and although recruited by Nick Saban, all benefitted from the past four classes brought in by Miles and his four year effort to bring home a title. 

Look at all the top teams and see a similar pattern. Nobody came out of nowhere. Every team up there has been progressively getting better the past few years. All programs were on the rise. Even second tier teams like Southern Cal or Florida. Both in the hunt at some point in 2007, beaten and strongly improved down the stretch and entering 2008.

Miami had a great run 2000-2003 and unfortunately, most of us remember those days as being a lot more recent than they were. The Canes have fallen off big time as of late. It's now been four down seasons to counterbalance the four straight BCS games the preceding years.

That's a lot of time to be out of the mix for a recently proud and tradition-heavy program. A big mix of poor recruiting and even worse development of players helped make it a reality. Each year, this program eroded a little be more. On top of the college football world for four semi-recent years and some giant steps back every year since. 

This thing didn't crap out overnight and sure as hell can't be fixed that quickly either. 

These current Canes don't have rings. Hell, they haven't even reached the ACC title game, even after The U was the crown jewel in the conference expansion four seasons ago. The ghosts of Miami's past earned that right to talk as part of an era built from the right way from the ground on up. Talented players. Leaders. Solid chemistry. Character-defining losses which helped earn the program some unforgettable wins down the road. 

Ask ol' Ed Reed and Mike Rumph if their blown coverage against Chafie Fields in 27-23 loss to No. 2 Penn State in 1999 didn't fuel their fire for a title run in 2001. Ask ol' Ken Dorsey if a 34-29 loss at Washington in 2000 didn't help his composure weeks later in a 27-24 upset of No. 1 Florida State, a title run and a 38-2 career record.

This was a horrid football season for anyone who bleeds the orange and green. Make no mistake about it. But plans for the rise from the ashes are being worked out as we speak.

Shannon will recruit and the talent will return to Miami. Bank on both. Late November and almost two dozen kids ready to sign with The U. Kids from winning programs are being targeted, hence the half dozen or more potential signees from No. 1 ranked Miami Northwestern and currently No. 1 rated recruiting class, according to ESPN.com.

Even on the day the Canes take their seventh loss of the season, Miami reeled in a linebacker recruit already committed to Wisconsin. Losses on the field right now have nothing to do with what the future generation feels they'll be able to do the next four years in Coral Gables.

Top talent and some under the radar, special kids. Miami-type recruits are coming back to the program. The type of kids who buy into Shannon and staff. No mutiny or divided team. Everybody will eventually get on the same page. It'll get better class by class. 

It sucks to be in this position - counting down to recruiting season and missing a bowl game for the first time in a decade. I can't deny that. I'm sick over it and do what I can to keep my mind off it. Much more fun to be on top riding it out than to be on the bottom rung prepping to start the climb. That said, the rebuilding process helps us all appreciate getting back on top again and makes you realize all that goes into being a champion.

2007 or 1997, both feel like one in the same right now. Five-win seasons, but strong recruiting classes the next few years as you're bringing in kids who "get it" and want to be part of of the resurgence instead of hanger ons who are riding the gravy train. It was the case then and will be the same moving forward. 

We've seen it before and we'll see it again. The 1997-1999 classes at Miami were special and based on how things are unfolding, 2008 is going to be a gem reminiscent of yesteryear.

A few good classes and you'll see this program start its climb back. Until then, chill. Attempt to absorb a handful of losses and enjoy the ride as much as you can. Quit trashing your fellow Canes and bickering over unanswerable, hypothetical questions as to how it got this bad or when exactly this program will re-turn the corner. Who really cares "why" or "how" it came to this. We're knee-deep in it, we all want out and bringing in better talent is the first step in the journey. 

Miami will rebuild. Kids still want to play for The U and the right kids take pride in rolling up their sleeves, jumping in on the ground floor and starting to fix this mess. This ain't a fire sale. Big time players want in and Shannon will bring them home. Ignore the Internet rumors. Come February, the Canes are going to reel in a stellar class.

Until then, pray for lesser of a few evils and a Kansas/Missouri vs. West Virginia championship game, hope the teams you hate find a way to lose and put your faith in February's signees and future Canes. Don't let yourself stay shortsighted about the current situation, in denial about what it'll take to turn it around or simply bitter that it had to come to this.

The present is a mess, but the future looks promising and the talent is lining up to help rebuild. It'll take time, but with the kids Shannon has coming in, Miami will be back.

Simply bleed your orange and green and realize better days lie ahead. Or remain bitter and bury your head in the sand until The U is back. Your call.


.:Canes305:.

Not since Flutie...

Eleven games later it all comes down to this. Miami at Boston College. The Eagles are in the ACC Championship game next weekend while the Canes are in a must-win situation if they want to go bowling this post-season.

2007 isn't how any of us envisioned it. My gut told me 8-4 entering bowl season, at worst. I never saw 6-6 or 5-7 and losses to the likes of North Carolina, NC State or Virginia. I expected more out of this defense and thought that a Randy Shannon attitude adjustment could have more of an immediate impact than it did. I believe the future's still bright, but the present remains murky.

Make no mistake about it, Miami needs to win on Saturday. All this talk about the program being better off losing, focusing on recruiting and the fan base preferring no bowl over another lower-tier post-season game? Hogwash. Nothing good comes from the season ending tomorrow. Give these kids one more month of practice and something to play for.

True, Shannon and staff could spend some more time on the recruiting trail if not prepping for a bowl game, but what about the recruits headed to town mid-December for their official visits? Those kids want to see some action. Greentree can't be a ghost town from now until spring.

Opinions have varied regarding effort and whether this team has thrown in the towel or not. I lost some faith after the 48-0 beatdown Virginia served Miami, but remained mildly optimistic after last week's loss 44-14 at Virginia Tech. 

Kyle Wright got his ass beat, took a lickin' and kept on tickin. The senior quarterback has been an overall disappointment since taking over in 2005 and while you can question his decision-making, you can't question No. 3's heart. Wright wants to go bowling and has one more shot to make that happen.

Rumor has it, the Canes will get the invite to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, CA - miles away from Wright's hometown of Danville if they can upset the Eagles on Saturday. The fans may lack steam, but to some of these players it may as well be a BCS game. 

Of course talk is cheap and it's time to prove it on the field. 1-5 in their last six games, Miami needs to quit talking about what it'd mean to make the post-season and get it done come game time. Boston College is beatable. They're not the physical bunch Virginia or Virginia Tech were. They don't boast a running back like Georgia Tech's Tashard Choice. They're not loaded top to bottom like Oklahoma.

The Eagles have a hell of a quarterback in Matt Ryan, some capable receivers and the nation's second best rushing defense - but they're a team the Canes match up well against. Miami is 23-3 against Boston College lifetime and haven't lost to the Eagles in fifteen games; Hail Flutie in 1984. 

Of course all streaks are made to be broken and stats are for losers. I won't argue that. If there's any year Miami should go down at Chestnut Hill, it's 2007. Still, many felt the same in last year when the Canes were in a similar position (5-6) and pulled the 17-14 upset to earn a berth in the Blue Turf Bowl. Kirby Freeman handed BC the game on a platter (3 interceptions, one for a TD) and defense stole the show. 

Come Saturday, it'll be Wright who has to steal the show and a bend, don't break defense who can't give the game away. Miami will need more production than the -2 rushing yards at Blacksburg last weekend, but senior leadership from a much maligned quarterback has to will Miami to a win. 

Freeman got his signature game weeks ago at Florida State - one of a few bright spots this horrendous season. Wright is still searching for his and has one last shot at redemption. The table is set. Can Wright deliver and will his teammates get on board and get their jobs done?

We'll see. Dropping 5 of the last 6, there's little reason for optimism. That said, watching college football this year, how can you count anyone out? Since sitting pretty at 8-0 and ranked No. 2 in the land a few weeks back, the Eagles are 1-2 since and have been exposed. 

Sunshine State rival Florida State was the first to prove Boston College's vulnerability, forcing Ryan into three interceptions in a 27-17 loss. The Noles threw for 371 yards that Saturday, didn't turn the ball over, outrushed the Eagles (81 yards to 63) and dominated the time of possession (35:04 to 24:56).

The up and down Noles needed a near flawless game and a defensive score to pull the upset, but the then 5-3 bunch dug deep and did just that... as did Maryland a week later. 

The Terps pulled the 42-35 upset with 421 yards in the air, a 21-point fourth quarter lead and hung on down the stretch to steal the win. 

Based on the past few weeks, a Miami loss should be in the cards tomorrow. There's no reason to truly believe the Canes will string together the near flawless game it'll take to steal one in Chestnut Hill. That said, I'm waking up with my last remaining ounce of optimism and going into game day believing Miami will deliver one final time in 2007. 

The same way the odds are in BC's favor to finally topple The U, after losing 5 of 6, the once 4-1 Canes are also due to wake up and play to their potential one last time this season. We'll see. 

One last shot. That's what Saturday is all about. A meaningless game? Sure. On most levels. BC is already headed to JAX and at best, Miami earns a slot in a lower-level bowl game. That said, there's still a streak on the line here. Fifteen straight. 

As if this Miami bunch doesn't already have enough baggage; back-to-back six-loss seasons, getting worked in the OB finale, 13-14 in its past 27 games, etc. do they also want to be the team who Boston College finally stepped up and smacked down? Pride is on the line... again. It's a test these Canes have failed all too many times this season. Can they finally respond?

This still-full-from-Thanksgiving critic is in bleeding heart mode this final weekend of the season. If I sit here as a fan feeling like enough is enough, I can only imagine how this team feels. Backed into a corner. Repeatedly beat up - both on the field and in the press. At some point, you come out swinging. No one wants to remain a punching bag forever.

I have no logical reason to expect Miami to get it done, but I'll go with the gut on this one. Call it a feeling. I've been wrong oft, but in my heart of hearts I believe things finally go the Canes way on Saturday. Wright steps up and plays a solid game. The Miami defense finally shows up. The U gets some early momentum and pulls one out against a BC bunch already focused on the ACC title game and a match up against Virginia or Virginia Tech. 

At least that's my best case scenario on a cozy and comfy Thanksgiving weekend. If logic and reality have anything to say about it, the Canes continue fizzling out and are less than a day away from 5-7. Until then, I'm keeping hope alive. 

We'll reconvene on Monday. For now, go enjoy one last weekend of college football and spend some time with your loved ones instead of online reading this pointless drivel. 

Happy Thanksgiving from Canes305, yo.


.:Canes305:.

Miami Basketball wins Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic

Friend of allCanesBlog.com, Kartik Krishnaiyer is crazy about Miami Basketball and will be providing content for us all season long. Check out his thoughts below regarding the Canes winning the Puerto Rican Tip-Off Classic:

Tonight's sloppy first half by the Hurricanes was a definite cause for concern. However poor as the offense was though, the defensive intensity never waned and ultimately you can win on cold shooting nights if your defense holds up.

The Canes held Providence to under 36% from the field, and began to make some plays in the second half to win the Puerto Rico Tip Off Classic. This is Miami's first in-season tournament title since Tito Horford's Miami team in 1987 won a late season event against a bunch of Division II teams. In other words, this was a historic night for Miami Basketball.

What makes this accomplishment all the more remarkable is in recent years Miami has been invited to smaller less prestigious tournaments with weaker fields and have embarrassed themselves and the conference in the process of losing to such minnows as Buffalo, Cleveland State, Air Force and Rhode Island. In this event Miami beat three teams that played in the post season last year and easily looked like the best team in an event which had some big name teams: most notably Arkansas and VCU (whom Miami beat), as well as always tricky Temple and Houston.

I've been asked over the last few months why I'm so pessimistic about Miami Football and so optimistic about Miami Basketball. My Football pessimism came from the same source as my Basketball optimism: Analyzing the roster and player attributes for myself and not relying on pre-season previews or recruiting services to do so. Miami has a good team. I knew they would before the season. Quite frankly this team is a ball handler away from being very good, good enough to compete for an ACC Title.

Sadly, we don't have that ball handler this year because the guy we had was foolish enough to get kicked off the team and of course now is with Kansas State.
Some other thoughts:

- The Canes look lost without Anthony King in the lineup as we saw in the first half. With him they look almost impenetrable in the paint. King's shot selection is so good, his passing efficient and his defensive presence second to none. I'm sure other ACC schools will be wishing the NCAA had repealed that 5th year injury redshirt rule already!

- Jack McClinton's lack of floor savvy is really bothering me. While he has a great work ethic he takes so many ill advised shots, still can't handle the ball against pressure and bails out way too many players with dumb fouls on the defensive end.

- I love Brian Asbury. He's tough in the lane, has a sweet outside shot and fights for every lose ball. He could be all-ACC this year.

- Jimmy Graham and Dwayne Collins both took major steps backwards tonight with poor shot selection, and an inability to pass out of double teams. Their struggles opened the door for Ray Hicks to get his most meaningful playing time in over a year.

- Eddie Rios scares me, but when he had to settle down late in the game he did. But he's still miles away from being the player the recruiting services seemed to think he was.

- Frank Haith's quality as a coach shows in the sets Miami runs coming out time outs. It seems he always gets the right matchup and puts the team in a position for an easy bucket.

- Nice to get some national love from ESPN. Fran Frascillia was a good color commentator this whole week in Puerto Rico, and I hope we see him calling another Miami game or two soon.

One of many off-season considerations...

I'm sick of it. What used to be a strength has now become a weakness. It used to be the guys on the other side of the ball who were sucking wind in the South Florida sunshine and unable to last four quarters.

My how times have changed.

If you talk to Canes from the earlier part of this decade, it's all about Swasey, as in Strength & Conditioning coach Andreu Swasey. These NFLers head back to The U in the off-season, train alongside current Miami guys and employ the practices of the Miami-bred, Carol City Cane. Swasey has run the show since 2001 but was an assistant at The U 1997, 1998 and 2000.

Whatever was in the water back then, sure ain't the same in 2007. I'm not knocking Swasey but I'm also not buying into his hype simply based on past Canes who sing his praises. I look at the product on the field and I see a Miami team getting its ass handed to them weekly. I see other teams better conditioned than the Canes and it's time to at least entertain a new option regarding making Miami into "Miami" again.

Actually, I want to see a new old option.

Lloyd Carr is stepping down at Michigan on Monday and rumors are swirling that LSU's head honcho Les Miles is the top candidate on the Wolverines' radar. Miles has deep Michigan roots and if he can get the job done for the Tigers this year, it'd make all the sense in the world to head north. Hell, even if LSU loses the rest of their games, it'd be a no-brainer move for Miles. The money, the new challenge and a chance to return home?

If and when this happens, Randy Shannon needs to get on the horn with Tommy Moffitt immediately. For those not in the know, Moffitt has been the strength and conditioning coach at LSU since 2000. Before that, he did his time at The U between 1998-1999, whooping a Butch Davis led bunch to the promised land.

Moffitt was named Big East Strength & Conditioning coach of the year (1998) and was as big a part of Miami's return to prominence as any other coach or player on roster back then.

Some tidbits from Moffitt's bio:

Since taking over his current position at LSU, Moffitt's offseason program has helped the Tigers post a 70-20 mark.

Moffitt was appointed as LSU's Strength & Conditioning Coordinator on Jan. 10, 2000. In February of 2000, Moffitt was named the 1999 Collegiate Football Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.

In seven years with the Tigers, Moffitt has developed LSU into one of the most durable teams around by combining a program that focuses on both strength and speed. Moffitt has also incorporated a weekly karate routine in the Tigers' offseason program. The karate program increases the player's flexibility, while forcing the team to stay focused for a lengthy period of time.

Durability? Certainly an issue with the amount of Hurricanes injuries we've seen these past few years.

Flexibility? More flexibility couldn't hurt. Especially on defense where we've seen a lot of stiffness and tightness at the linebacker position.

Focus? I dare someone to tell me these Canes couldn't use a little more focus come game time.

I realize Swasey has the support of the past and current Canes, and why not? 36-year old local guy who gets down and dirty with the kids, training and working with them during the off-season and in fall. That said, where's the innovation? The science of strength & conditioning is ever-changing. New practices need to be employed when old ones aren't working.

Moffitt was an instant success with the Canes in the late 90s and since leaving Miami seven years ago, he's still one of the best in the game. LSU is No. 1 in the nation, is chock full of conditioned, stud athletes and they're in the hunt every year. Lest not forget it was Moffett's Tigers who out-conditioned and out-hustled the Canes en route to a 40-3 beating a few Decembers ago.

You remember that one. It was the kind of beating Miami used to give other less conditioned programs.

I don't even know if Moffitt would be interested, but with Miles heading north there would definitely be a shake up with the coaching staff in Baton Rouge. Who heads to LSU? Does Moffitt want to work for the next coach? He stuck around for the Nick Saban to Miles transition and his seven years with the Tigers is much longer than his two year stint at The U or four year run under Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee (1994-1997).

As fate would have it, Shannon and Moffitt have no history at Miami. The two years Moffitt was running strength & conditioning, Shannon was a defensive assistant with the Dolphins. That said, if I'm Shannon this is one of the first calls I make in the off-season.

Many things need to change for the Canes to be a contender again, but first and foremost is conditioning. Coach Swasey either needs to reach into his bag of tricks and come up with some new tactics regarding turning our kids into machines again or it's time to look elsewhere and find someone ready for the challenge of rebuilding Miami.

Worst case, head over to the strength & conditioning offices and look for any of Moffitt's old notes and files regarding the blueprint used to whoop this program back into shape a decade ago.


.:Canes305:.

Game Eleven: Virginia Tech 44, Miami 14

Another Saturday, another loss. 44-14 this time. I guess it's better than 48-0. Sort of. 

I don't really care to rant and rave about this one. Been there, said that. The Canes fell short. Talent is lacking. Coaches aren't making adjustments. Players aren't playing up to their potential. Losses are piling up and the natives are restless. 

At Boston College next week and by Saturday's end this team should be put out of its collective misery. A miraculous win and a worthless post-season game... maybe. No guarantees a 6-6 Canes team even goes bowling this year. 

A loss most likely in the cards. Oklahoma. North Carolina. Georgia Tech. NC State. Virginia. Virginia Tech. The way Miami performed against all the above, you can all but go ahead and pencil in next week's "L" today. This team is done. They have been since the OT loss to the Wolfpack. 

Credit where credit is due, there were glimpses of heart today. Kyle Wright again proved his grit. Dude stood in the pocket, absorbed some serious blow and delivered a few solid throws, runs and hits. The same scratch-your-head type mistakes were there, but Wright showed his will to win and certainly isn't this team's lone scapegoat regarding another disastrous season. 

The receivers had their moments as well. Darnell Jenkins shows his throwback Cane persona every time he takes the field. Sam Shields is pulling out of his sophomore slump. Leonard Hankerson will be a stud next year and it was refreshing to see the true freshman get his shot now that Lance Leggett has blown all his. 

Of course -2 rushing yards isn't going to cut it. Javarris James was held to 7 yards on 10 carries. Graig Cooper and Shawnbrey McNeal were sidelined, adding injury to insult - and junior Derron Thomas was again a non-factor.

5-6 and a week from 5-7. Brutal. This season can't end soon enough. Time for Randy Shannon to make some serious off-season decisions and personnel moves; player-wise and regarding some assistant coaches. Year one was a bust, but a first time head coach inheriting a 7-6 team a deserves a mulligan. 

Year two is a different ball game. Recruit well. Figure out what didn't work in 2007 and come up with something better for 2008. Time is of the essence and stubbornness isn't an option.

Miami needs fixing and it's up to the man in charge to re-right the ship and start the rebuilding process already. Another season like this simply isn't acceptable.

A long-time Canes like coach Shannon has to understand that.


.:Canes305:.

What are U playing for?

Miami takes on No. 10 Virginia Tech at 3:30pm ET on Saturday and nobody cares.

Actually, let me rephrase that. The fans care. It's just not the national affair it was two years ago when the No. 5 Canes headed to Blacksburg and whooped the No. 3 Hokies, 27-7 in front of a nationally televised audience.

Sadly, that big time win feels as recent as Kenny Calhoun deflecting a game-winning two-point conversion attempt from Turner Gill. Miami is 14-13 since schooling Virginia Tech in 2005 and things aren't expected to start looking up anytime soon.

In years passed, I'd roll out one of my 'rally the troops' type blogs. In 2005, I was dropping quotes from Rage Against The Machine and playing the 'backed into a corner' card. Luckily, it all came together for the Canes that night and my prediction looked much more on par than that of Dennis Dodd (CBS Sportsline), who called for Miami's demise.

Heading into Saturday, there's no rah-rah speech coming from Canes305. If stats mean anything, the Canes are in big trouble tomorrow. The Hokies are a top ten squad with two losses.

Regarding common opponents, Virginia Tech took it to North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Florida State. No miracles necessary; just some smashmouth football. Solid defense, solid special teams and an offense which doesn't make too many mistakes. Pretty much the complete opposite of the 5-5 Canes.

If Miami has any shot as an underdog, it can be placed on the proverbial pitfall game for Tech. Next week, a road trip to rival Virginia - a game with state bragging rights, but also national ones this year as both are ranked and in the ACC Coastal hunt with two losses a piece. 

Sad that the Canes have gotten to a point where they can actually be 'overlooked' but welcome to Miami Football 2007. Beggars can't be choosers and right now, it ain't all about The U. It's all about a "W". The Canes need a win and need it bad. A bowl berth is on the line and this team has to get another win under its belt, pronto.

Say what you will, but 5-7 vs. 6-6 vs. 7-5 are a big deal regarding this fragile, in transition mode team. Don't want to see another bowl game on blue turf? Tough. This team needs to take any bowl game it can get right now. Miami needs the extra month of practice as they prep for next year. No one needs this season to end next Saturday at Boston College, no matter how ugly it's been at times.

The Canes have two shots left and the turnaround needs to start tomorrow. Will it? Doubtful, though I'll never count this team out. Especially against Virginia Tech, who have been known for late season collapses. Miami could rise up and steal one tomorrow, though personally I believe this team is broken beyond repair and will most likely mail it in the next two games. 

Once adversity strikes, the 2007 Canes simply seem to fold. Yet one more reason so much attention and focus is being paid to the recruiting game. 

The conspiracy theorists have been en masse lately regarding who will sign with The U come February. Everyone knows someone who knows someone ready to guarantee the fate of a few dozen football-playing teenagers.

Rumor of the week has uber-defensive back Patrick Johnson heading to LSU and today's Sun Sentinel article talked about a few other recruits possibly rethinking their decisions.

Dare I say, who cares?

Miami needs kids who want to be part of this program. This isn't going to be a class chock full of front runners who want their spot on the bandwagon. The 2008 class will be a bunch who has their work cut out for them, wants to help reestablish the Canes a top the college football world and will take pride in doing just that. The Northwestern kids know that and I believe Johnson does as well. 

While 5-7 and 7-5 are night and day regarding this current team, don't fool yourself into thinking that will be a difference maker in the recruiting game. News flash, people - both records suck. One gets to you a lower tier bowl game and the other has you home for the holidays. 

Unlike the fan base, these recruits are thinking playing time and aren't as fazed by wins/losses they're not a part of. Potential Miami-bound recruits are sizing up the competition and when they see 48-0 ass kickings and holes on both sides of the ball, they're licking their chops and envisioning themselves making plays for the Canes next year.

The recruiting game will play itself out. No need for this fan base to pull its hair out or trash potential recruits on message boards for the next three months. Hang in there. What will be, will be. Kids that are meant to be Canes will sign on the dotted line in February. The ones who want to be part of the rising will be on board and those are the only kids we need to care about. 

Until then, there are two more games left. Two more Saturdays to be optimistic until the clock reads 0:00. We wait all year for football in the fall and have the entire off-season to be pessimistic and cynical. With two games left, it's time to support the squad, hope for a few upsets and dream of better days ahead. 

.:Canes305:.

As far as your quarterback will take you...

No. 2 Oregon went down to Arizona last night, 34-24 but the loss talked about this morning is in regards to quarterback Dennis Dixon. The Ducks QB re-aggrivated a nagging knee injury and is most likely done for the season.

Those who watched the game saw the Tale of Two QBs unfold on the ESPN Thursday night telecast and while Duck Nation watched their National Championship dreams crumble. Meanwhile, this particular Canes enthusiast found a way to relate the situation to the current debacle that is The U.

Oregon rolled into this contest 8-1 and en route to New Orleans for the BCS title game. Arizona, UCLA and Oregon State were all that stood in the way - and all were very beatable teams with Dixon behind center and the Ducks continuing to play their brand of football. The Pac 10 has no title game, so all Oregon needed to do was hang on for twelve more quarters of football.

Early on, it looked more than doable. Dixon scampered for a 39-yard touchdown and after a two-point conversion, Oregon was up 8-o in just 156 seconds of play. 70 yards in 7 plays.

The Ducks defense held on Arizona's ensuing drive, Dixon threw an untimely end zone interception off the hands of Derrick Jones. Gone was a two touchdown lead. Arizona made it 8-7 within minutes, but again Dixon had his team downfield and at the Wildcats' 15-yard line before injuring himself halfway through the first quarter.

From that point on, the Brady Leaf show and goodnight Oregon. Leaf went 22 of 46 for 163 yards, 2 interceptions and no touchdowns. Dixon was 5 of 8 for 62 yards in the air and rushed for 34 on 2 attempts.

I tie this to Miami in regards to quarterback play and the fact the Canes have lacked a stud behind center since Ken Dorsey was tossed to the turf on that final 4th down in Tempe.

Brock Berlin looked all world compared to what the Canes have sported since, but that was still the beginning of the end. Berlin also sported one of the best Miami defenses in history. Without that, his 20-5 record is closer to 15-10.

You're not going to win big time college football games without a quarterback. Sport fans oft toss out the Trent Dilfer analogy in regards to sub par quarterback play + stout defense = ultimate success. The Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV, even with the liability that was Dilfer, all due to a dominating defense.

Of course this is the only analogy you hear because the other 99% of the time poor quarterback play results in losses and nothing resembling championship runs. This is the lone example teams with no quarterback cling to, keeping their hopes alive that their squad can overcome the liability and pin it all on the defense and find a way to win.

Fat chance.

Oregon was a completely different team without Dixon last night. Granted, the Ducks run a spread offense with their starter in the game and a more pro style offense with Leaf under center, it was still night and day. The Ducks were out of synch without Dixon. The pace of the game was slower, as seen by the injured QB on the sideline trying rally the troops, play cheerleader and encourage them to speed things up.

Leaf's first interception resulted in a pick six and that can't be blamed on the two different styles of quarterback play. That one is directly attributed to the quality of player behind center. Leaf can't hold Dixon's jock and without their Heisman worthy QB, Oregon isn't 8-2 today. They're most likely a 6-4 middle of the road Pac 10 team.

The bad news for Miami? This team will remain a joke until there is better quarterback play. The good news is that help is on the way.

Robert Marve is already being dubbed a savior on message boards and Canes sites even as a redshirt yet to take a snap this year. Jacory Harris is currently leading No. 1 Northwestern to the top on the high school level, will graduate early and enroll at The U by December. Also in the mix, Taylor Cook out of Texas and most recently, Cannon Smith, transferring in from Hargrave Military Academy.

Uncertainty remains regarding who will emerge as the starter and how quickly that impact will be felt, but I can't imagine it'll be any worse than the 1-of-14 performance a "scared" Kirby Freeman put up a few weeks ago or the 9 TD to 12 INT performance of Kyle Wright thus far in 2007. Miami is officially in "bust" status regarding all current quarterback options.

Even scarier are the recruits Larry Coker lost along the way in the post Dorsey era.

Derek Shaw spurned Miami last minute for Arizona State, fizzled out there, transferred to Texas Tech and currently isn't even on the roster. Pat Devlin played the role of mama's boy to a T, bailing Miami at the final hour to stay closer to Penn State and hasn't seen the field.

Last year, Miami got Alabama-bound Marve and lost almost-Cane Nick Fanuzzi to the Tide. Fanuzzi is yet to see the field and most don't expect much from the Texas native. The Canes also lost quarterback recruit Daniel Stegall at the final hour as he headed to the big leagues to try his hand at baseball.

Not only did Coker fail to sign the aforementioned kids, but he was played in the recruiting game as he hooked them all early, got verbal commitments and then stopped recruiting the position, leaving the Canes in the lurch when all four bailed.

For those keeping score, that's four lost quarterback commitments over the past three seasons, two current busts and a Gator transfer who had a few magical moments and was bailed out by a defense the two years he was behind center.

Any mystery why the Canes are in the mess they are today? Any question where this team would've been in 2006 or 2007 with a Dixon-caliber quarterback behind center? Pay attention to the Ducks final two games with Leaf calling the shots instead of Dixon and try to tell me any different.

Sure, Miami has a slew of issues outside the QB position, but you can guarantee that this team would be better than 13-13 since the 2005 loss to Georgia Tech. The Canes are at worst an 8-2 team right now with solid quarterback play and last year certainly doesn't end up 7-6. Not with that schedule.

Better days lie ahead, Canes fans. Miami might not be Quarterback U again anytime soon, but a capable player will be under center soon enough. As witnessed last night, a solid quarterback makes all the difference in the world. He dictates the momentum on offense. He makes plays when you need them. He rallies the troops when faced with adversity. A solid quarterback in the heartbeat of any championship-caliber team.

Every big time Miami team always had a stud under center. Until that's the case again, this team will continue to flounder.

Hang on folks. Only two games left. The new era begins in 2008.


.:Canes305:.

BreakDown: What, why and how it went wrong...

I saw a post on Miami-Hurricanes.com from Shadow which gave a detailed description of the Miami/Virginia game and I had to poach it and post here.

Most rants are based on emotion instead of fact. After a 48-0 ass kicking, nobody is safe. The boo birds are in effect. The coaches suck. The players suck. The game plan sucks. Some of it true and some of it blown way out of proportion.

Based on Shadow's break down, I braved the storm and watched the first half of last Saturday's debacle to see if his assessment matched up with what I saw on TV. Having been at the game, a lot was missed. Sometimes you need that 'rewind' and 'pause' button to analyze where and how a play broke down, before pointing that finger of blame.

Below is the Canes/Cavs game broken down play-by-play, drive-by-drive and an explanation regarding what went wrong, who was to blame, etc.

A lot of fans have been critical of the coaching staff after this loss. While I definitely feel there are some things Randy Shannon needs to do to get this thing back on track, the majority of this loss is on the players.

I know fans want coaches to own up and take responsibility for a loss, but the main issues I saw were based on poor execution. Sure, some personnel decisions and play calls were off - but they paled in comparison to plays the players failed to make.

Coaches aren't responsible for missed assignments and blown tackles, nor are they responsible for players simply playing football and doing the things they've learned since Pop Warner.

There were some very elementary mistakes made by these Canes last Saturday. Momentum-killing plays that took Miami out of it very quickly. Read Shadow's thoughts below, cleaned up/edited by Canes305:


Virginia's First (Televised) Offensive Possession

- Rush, Kenny Phillips big tackle for loss.
- Pass to TE, big gain. Randy Phillips didn't pick-up, got caught inside corner/receiver.
- Screen pass. Good execution, Joe Joseph had only shot, didn't recognize it
- Rush for 29, all 'backers did the right thing, Tavares Gooden missed 5-yard TFL.
- QB rush, unpicked up blitz call, Darryl Sharpton didn't make play for 10-yard loss.
- Rush, Calais Campbell/Willie Cooper good tackle.
- TD pass, KP/RP covered the TE, left receiver open (RP's fault, outside of KP who came down to pick up the TE. After RP released his guy deep to Bruce Johnson he didn't pick-up Johnson's guy over the middle went with TE instead).

Overview: Two missed tackles for losses, two blown assignments by R. Phillips.


Miami's Ensuing Drive

- Three wide, Javarris James: Direct to Darnell Jenkins (hold on Jason Fox).
- Three wide, James: Pass to DajLeon Farr, crossing, wide open for 10 yards.
- Two backfield: Jerrell Mabry up the gut.
- Three wide, Mabry H-Back: Mabry turned route back in (no chance for 1st down) instead of going to open right hash and first down marker to make the defense come to him. INT, catchable ball.

Overview: This is a completion with an actual TE in the game, and potentially a 1st down if he flows to the right and has but a corner to run over. Good play call, poor personnel decision. (Also, the 2nd down FB dive, questionable.)


Virginia's Ensuing Drive

- INT, R. Phillips starts to redeem with a great safety deep read.


Miami's Ensuing Drive

- 2 RB, 2 WR: Open to strong for Graig Cooper, but both Fox and Richard Gordon can't hold blocks for him to get there. Shame because Kayne Farqhuarson had the block downfield and Cooper had one safety to beat outside for a lot of green.
-3 Wide, Cooper: Farq drops a 4-yard out.
-3 Wide, Dedrick Epps H-Back : No real pressure, Wright throws right in to coverage instead of Cooper who came free underneath and made the tackle after the interception.

Overview: All three plays the guys on the field blew it. At this point, Miami's pass blocking has control and picked up every blitz.


Virginia's Ensuing Drive

-Rush, Campbell sheds and tackles at LOS.
-Rush, Campbell again makes play closing down, TFL.
-Vegas Franklin offsides, Colin McCarthy fumble recovery for TD called back.
-Gooden blitz, Franklin sack around the backside (coverage credit, KP picked up the guy from the backfield)

Overview: Good execution all around, defensive stop as a result.


Miami's Ensuing Drive

- 2 RB, 2 WR: Cooper for 5 straight ahead (good push upfront).
- 3 Wide, Cooper: Jenkins 15 yards downfield, drops the ball on the hit. Wright left it high, but Jenkins got his hands on it brought it to his chest and then got hit to drop it. Look like Jenkins didn't have body control, gotta make plays sometimes.
- 1 Back, 2 WR, Mabry H-Back: Mabry (open again, goes right all the way this time) drops a first down crossing route where the ball hits him right in the hands. That's twice this play is there, its a safe pass and we can't complete it.
- Punt block, right up the gut against the LS. No chance for Matt Bosher to get kick off.

Overview: 2nd drive in a row, where calls are there and the players didn't make plays.


Virginia's Ensuing Drive

- Rush, Sharpton and K. Phillips meet him TFL.
- Rush TD, Miami 'backers moving at the snap, never set. McCarthy gets cleaned up, pulling guard takes care of K. Phillips and Gooden - who was unblocked the entire play - didn't get through the hole in time to get in the backfield because he was jumping around before the snap.


Miami's Ensuing Drive

- 1 Back, 2 WR, Mabry H-Back: James cutback for 5 yards. Good push, good sustained block by Gordon on the edge for the play to work.
- 3 Wide, James: Flip outside, James for 10. Epps throws key block (taking out two), Lance Leggett holds his man back and Fox gets downfield to cut the angle for him to pick up the first down. Well executed.
- 2 Wide, 1 Back: Play action, good protection, Jenkins wide open on the up and out. Wright sails the ball to the sidelines. After two successful runs this play call worked, the defense bite on James, easy 10 yards with some accuracy.
- 2 Wide, 1 Back: Morse good pull, James for three.
- 3 Wide, Epps H-Back: Plenty of time for Wright, 20 yards downfield for the 1st down in traffic low to the ground so only UM gets it and Leggett doesn't make a simple catch for a major D-I receiver that hits right off his pads. INT, on the bounce.

Overall: Good drive, play calls are right on the money. Wright floats a 15 yard pick-up and Leggett drops an easy 3rd down conversation for an INT. Its unbelievable when you watch this - without the emotion of the moment.


Virginia's Ensuing Drive

- Pass, blitz call with Sharpton, well timed. Flushes the QB, who's mobility allows him to throws it away at LOS
- Pass, nowhere to go, Campbell flushed him, QB runs out of bounds at LOS
- Pass, TE in the flat for 4 yards. HE was in motion, and it was Chavez Grant that had him, miscommunication before the snap, and as a result fell behind him coming across.
- FG

Overall: Pinned back again due to a turnover and held to 3.


Miami's Ensuing Drive

- Ryan Hill ridiculously catches the ball at the 3 yard line and steps out of bounds.
- 2 RB, 2 WR: Up the gut to Cooper for a pair of yards, he got armed tackled by the only guy that touched him. If he doesn't the entire middle is open to him.
- 2 RB, 2 WR: Cooper again for about three, solid blocks again. To the LOS before touched.
- 2 Wide, Chris Zellner H-Back: Wright gets stepped on and falls, they were going to go with a sweep that wasn't getting the 1st down anyway

Overall: Here's Nix pulling back near the end zone with the QBs and stopped throwing the ball.


Virginia's Ensuing Drive

- Pass, roll out TE wide open, big gain. Sharpton bite on the play fake to the right, thats how the TE was left alone on the left hash (first time a 'backer was burned on the fake, 20 mins in).
- Rush, run blitz they ran away from KP, Gooden blew up the lead blocker with a huge hit and Eric Moncur/R. Phillips stop for three
- Pass, TE release off of a block on Sharpton. Phillips doesn't pick him up and its down to the 1.
- QB sneak for TD

Overall: Its funny everyone is screaming for Willie Cooper to sit and they replaced him with R. Phillips in this game and he's gotten eaten alive with missing his assignments. Interesting, no?


Miami's Ensuing Drive

- 2 Wide, Zellner H-Back: First OLine BUST, 30 mins in. Derrick Morse gets tossed to the ground and the guy is release right up the gut into Wright.
- 2 Wide, Cooper: BIG hole, untouched for 25 yards. Morse credit for getting to the 'backer.
- 2 WR, 2 RB: Pitch to Cooper, lost yards.
- 3 Wide, Cooper: John Rochford is beat right up the gut on Wright, thrown away.
- 3 Wide, Cooper: Wright forced to run on 3rd long.

Overall: Bad decision to go outside with a slow developer following the big straight up run. But the O-Line now starts to break down in pass protection.


Virginia's Ensuing Drive

- Pass, UVa TE, big gain. He rolled off a McCarthy block. No safety to pick him up
- Rush, Miami blitzed and McCarthy was knocked down on the side the rush went towards. He powers through the block instead of hitting the turf and its a no gain or at least less of a gain. Cooper (back in) did get chipped by the guard to spring more yards.
- Rush, 7 yards pulling center cleared McCarthy. K. Phillips overpursuses the play.
- Pass, TE for big gain. 1st time on Spencer Adkins, he didn't cover the flat w/guy in motion, instead stayed inside. Rookie mistake on the motion guy changing his responsibility.
- Rush, Sharpton in the right spot needs to tackle better.
- Rush, up the gut Joe Joseph got moved out. Still short, Gooden fought a big block.
- Rush TD, Gooden makes contact in the backfield through the right gap untouched and is carried in to the end zone.

Overall: This is the drive where the TE ate us up, but it was two different folks.


Miami's Ensuing Drive

- 2 WR, James, Zellner H-Back: Run up the gut, big block by Zellner on the 'backer springs James for 1st down.
- 3 Wide, Cooper: Jenkins in motion, then rush to him, 5 yards.
- Direct snap to Jenkins, small gain.
- 3 Wide, James: Wright is sacked on a corner coming all the way across the field.

Overall: Even though Wright could've just thrown the ball away numerous times on that play, I think that was a bad decision to throw the ball on 3rd and 3 for the sack. You are running the ball, it's still the first half even though the game is over, no need to do something you wouldn't normally do. Nix paid for it.


Virginia's Ensuing Drive

-Rush, Sharpton makes a good TFL
-Rush, stopped for loss again
-Rush, stopped.


Shadow went on to say: "My initial reaction to everyone just blaming the coaches was that it's about time we stop blaming everyone but the freakin' players, and now watching this...BINGO!!! Those that want the coaches' heads watch the ****ing game!

You guys want Nix to make it easier, I don't know if it can get easier short of running every down and thereby ruining receiver recruiting. Coach Nix is calling plays and getting guys open, mixed up the balance extremely well (we can't abandon the pass folks), the OL is pass blocking this year and we can't execute a damn thing in the air despite it always being there.

Is this Pop Warner at Miami? It feels like it when we are blaming the coaches only. Do we need to teach these kids how to catch and how to throw? 2-yarders for clear 1st downs are dropped, 20-yarders for clear 1st downs are dropped, 15-yard wide open passes are sailed in to the sideline, UVA's defense isn't even be asked to make any plays...

Walton is a disaster right? Multiple missed tackles when the guys are put in a position to make plays on the first TD drive (which is what you can ask of a coach) and then three straight in UM territory. They get the punt block that starts at the four-yard line for the next one, the INT starts them at the inside the 40-yard line for the next one. The kickoff field at the 3-yard line starts them inside the 40 on the next one.

On top of the offensively piss-poor positions, now the TE, we should adjust right? During the 1st half, R. Phillips, Grant, W. Cooper and Adkins all blew the coverage on a wide open tight end for gains. How the hell do you scheme around that as a DC? Miami didn't get run out of this thing at the opening snap either, nobody on offense makes any plays and the punt block made it 14-0.

What's disappointing is they quit after the Leggett pick and the three and out deep in our zone that UVA scored on because they probably started to realize that they had let down the stadium.

The last comment I have is that those that think Shannon isn't overly excited about this year's team anymore, 100% dead on. You could see it in his eyes in the 2nd Quarter when simple pitch and catch passing plays that are there can't be completed. Miami starts getting some guys in here that can make the play when its in front of him and this is a different football team. From this terrible game, its honestly not that far away.

There will be growing pains with the youngsters coming in, but this game was a perfect example of the talent drop off where plays are not being made when they are in the position to make the play.

Again, watch the game. Unless you don't want to let facts get in the way of your opinions based on emotion."

Hard to disagree with Shadow's break down of a large portion of this game here. How much is coaching? How much do these coaches have to work with? How much is execution and how much can be blamed on the players' attitudes? I have a hard time believing it was "nerves" which Jenkins put the onus on in today's Miami Herald.

Nerves can account for a loss or playing tight, but 48-0? That's a complete collapse. No one stepped up. No one made a play. This entire team rolled over and simply let UVA have their way. That's pathetic.

Props to Shadow for his breakdown. Great to see some logic out there as opposed to the standard rants and raves which shed no real light on things.

Looking forward to some comments below and hearing other fans' thoughts on the game breakdown.


.:Canes305:.

allCanes Party Pics forthcoming...

I received an email today asking about the allCanes party pics. I wanted to let everyone know they're forthcoming. We have a slew of pics and we're in the process of cropping and adding to a Flash photo gallery which we'll post on the blog and on the main site. Same with the in store shots we took on Saturday before the Orange Bowl finale. Please check back in the coming days! - allCanes.com

Game Ten: Virginia 48, Miami 0

A few days later, I don’t feel any better about things.

Honestly, I probably feel a thousand times worse regarding Miami’s pathetic display in the Orange Bowl finale. How in the hell does this team lay a goose egg and give up 48 points to a nobody Virginia team who lost to Wyoming in the season opener?

Of course that said, if the Cavs are a nobody, I shudder to think how insignificant the Canes are at this point in time. Uber nobodies? Nobody infinity?

There's no excuse for 48-0. Everybody involved with this program is accountable for the abortion this fan base witnessed on Saturday night.

in the past when Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma, Nebraska or Leading up to kickoff, the OB was electric. You couldn’t “feel” it in the air the way you might’veNotre Dame were on the other side of the field – but it was as rowdy as we’ve seen the past few years and the fan base was treating this one as a prime time, big time affair.

Miami faceplanted on a damn grand stage Saturday night.

Where was the magic this team displayed against Texas A&M or late in the contest against Florida State a few weeks back? Non-existent, outside of a Colin McCarthy fumble returned for a touchdown - called back moments later for a hold. Another penalty. Typical. Momentum lost for the next three and a half quarters.

The Canes went into shut down mode. It’s been the case more than once these past few seasons.

The past 72 have been surreal, bittersweet and nauseating for me. I trekked back to Miami from San Diego for the Orange Bowl, the same way I would’ve had an old relative passed. I was there to pay my respects, win or lose and to pay tribute to past UM legends who built this legacy.

I knew Saturday eve would be a funeral in Little Havana and I knew it’d take some OB magic for the Canes to pull the win. My gut told me the old girl didn’t have any more tricks up her sleeve. I was simply there to represent the OB, pay tribute to former UM legends and hope The U could simply find a way to squeeze out one last "W" for the record books.

Miami’s dominating 34-17 Thursday night win over Texas A&M earlier in the season had that ‘last hurrah’ feeling while it played out. The OB came alive that night and I remember thinking that might’ve been all the juice the old estadio had left.

Looking good in a nationally televised, prime time event and up 31-0 at the half – how could it get any better? A sad twist of fate when we saw the polar opposite in the finale, down by the same margin the Aggies faced and showing none of the life aTm did in their failed second half comeback attempt.

These Canes have zero heart, outside of a few guys who seem to give a hell. You don’t respond like this program has recently if you do. Miami is now 13-13 in its past 26 games. It never even got that bad in the probation era. This is a new low in the modern era.

I can already hear my critics praising these kids for their effort on the practice field, working hard, wanting to win, et al and questioning who am I to criticize a bunch of college age kids I don’t know aside from a few hours during game time.

Screw the critics, idiots and bleeding hearts. The truth is the truth. I judge these kids by their efforts and results come Saturday - or a random Thursday. Based on what I’ve seen the past two seasons, I am absolutely disgusted by anything and everything about Miami Football.

48-0 was the largest home shutout the Canes endured in their home stadium. This 2007 bunch made history, all right. They took losing to a whole new level. This one will be in the record books all right. Congrats, I guess.

You don’t get shut out in you home finale in the Orange Bowl by a Virginia team barely in the top 25. You don’t fold up the tent in the face of adversity. You don’t waste or take for granted the energy given off by a rabid Miami crowd when fan turnout and support is oft criticized. You don’t “no show” on Senior Day and send the upperclassmen out with the loudest thud in the OB’s storied history.

You also don’t roll into Flanigan’s off Bird Ave post-game around midnight, choke down a burger and sip on a beer amongst a bar full of dejected Canes fans like a certain defensive lineman I saw.

I’ll give him that he looked somewhat bummed out over the loss, but when this team has been knocked by local media - and most recently offensive line recruit Matt Patchan - for yucking it up on the sidelines and being more concerned with post-game plans... seeing a current Cane defensive star sitting in a bar is about the last thing I want to witness the night of the Orange Bowl’s funeral.

At the beginning of the season I expected upwards of four losses this season. I thought a three-loss season was best case, but four should be expected.

Miami is now 5-5 entering their final two games of the season – road games at Virginia Tech and Boston College. 6-6 would be a ‘dream’ season right now, allowing the Canes to get back to a garbage bowl game instead of the season coming to a crashing halt in two weeks.

Any betting man will tell you Miami is done. Stick a fork in this divided team. It’s over. For the second year in a row, the Canes have quit on their coach. I hoped Randy Shannon would have more of an impact year one, but I was wrong. It’s going to take more than a hard ass mentality and 'press forward/never look back' approach to change attitudes/mindsets and win football games at The U.

I haven’t lost faith in Shannon. I still believe he can be ‘the guy’ regarding bringing the Canes back. The caveat there is that he’ll have to alter his approach in Miami’s climb from the basement to the penthouse.

Personally, I don’t buy that the players are scared of Shannon. This isn’t a newbie in the program. This is a long-time Cane who spent the past six seasons as defensive coordinator to some and mentor or sounding board to others. We’ve all heard about Shannon’s open door policy regarding talking and hanging with the kids who need him to be more than a coach, so can all this “the kids are scared of him” b.s. That’s not the case.

The Canes are definitely playing tight under Shannon and might be pressing for fear of letting their coach down, but they’re not scared. You really want to tell me that some of these inner city kids playing for Miami are scared of their inner city-raised head coach? Please. Fear bullets whizzing by your head growing up in a rough neighborhood – not a coach or his reaction to a dropped pass or missed assignment.

Fear isn’t doing these kids in. A lack of talent, heart and effort is. Shannon's goal was to rid this program of it's loser mentality and ten games into the season, it seems as prevalent as ever. Everyone said all the right things at 0-0, but at 5-5 you can hardly tell the difference between 2006 and 2007.

There might be some bright spots on this Hurricanes team, but they're few and far between. It’s time to stop judging these kids based on their high school accolades or potential and start grading them out by how they’ve produced since entering the program. What is potential if it remains untapped? How long do you make excuses for an upperclassman that’s shown next to nothing a few years into his playing days at Miami?

Damaged goods. That’s a good majority of the players on this team. Broken beyond repair – the headline for the old Sports Illustrated in 1995, urging Tad Foote to shut down the program. Seems pretty fitting regarding the current state of many players on this squad.

This program can rise again, but not with the majority of this team. Some of these bodies here are simply taking up space and pulling the rest of the program down. Sad but true.

For that, I’ll beat the Larry Coker dead horse again. I don’t know which coaches are responsible for recruiting specific players that proved to either be busts or ballers, but at day’s end it all happened on Coker’s watch. He had the final say and in at least two dozen cases, he chose wrong. He didn't sign Miami-caliber kids. He didn't sniff out the leaders and winners his predecessors recruited to build this program, or simply reload when graduation or the NFL came calling.

Most bright spots in this current team are the underclassmen – freshman either signed by Shannon this past February or guys who only spent one year in Coker’s system and are still able to be saved.

The recruiting class for 2008 looks to shape up nicely and one more big time class in 2009 will officially make this Shannon’s team. Until then, the waiting game where we can individually choose to be optimistic, pessimistic or somewhere in the middle.

I’ll get a little bit more optimistic each milestone that’s reached between now and when Miami is officially ‘back’. Shannon needs to reel in a big time class in February. Not a bunch of five-star blue chippers, but kids who want to be part of this program. Kids with a winner’s mentality. When was the last time Miami had a big time, on the field leader? I can’t recall any since Ed Reed and Joaquin Gonzalez. The quality of players at The U slowly eroded each February when Coker inked another class.

The Canes need those ‘special’ players to return. That’s the make up of this program. The a little bit under the radar guy who have more heart than the coddled, high-profile recruit. Guys like Patchan, who have the balls to call out current regime and rip guys for not caring enough. I love it.

Patchan, if you’re reading this, please get your ass down to Miami and be a building block for the rebuilding process. Spend the next few years blocking for Robert Marve, who you’ve raved about, and be part of the solution. You had the stones to open your mouth, so back up the big talk and come be part of the rising.

I believe Shannon will sniff the right guys out and get them on board, but that’s only part of the process. Before a new class is signed, some dead weight needs to be cut. Miami needs to take a few steps backwards before moving forward. It’s plain as day that a handful of the kids on this team need to go.

Don’t buy into the Shannon way? Get lost. Miami can’t afford to be a divided team. Get on board, or get shown the door. There’s no other option. Thanks for your time, thanks for “trying” and good luck. If you’re not helping the program, you’re hurting it. Time to sever some ties.

I’m not going to call out individuals, but there are at least a dozen kids on this team who have no business returning in 2008. Talented on paper, but half the heart of the two-star kids and no names this program saw during the late 90s when on probation.

The more I write here, the sicker I get. I think of all the big talk we’ve heard the past few years; the sound bites and stupid, hollow promises about winning a conference title or getting to the championship game. Based on what? A history no one on this team was part of outside it's head coach? No one has a right to woof about National Championships being the goal when you're 13-13 since losing to Georgia Tech (2005) when ranked No. 3 in the land. That's embarrassing.

There are a couple dozen teams per year who have a shot at reaching the National Championship or BCS game and it’s not reputation or the history of your program that gets you there. Team unity. Blood, sweat and tears. Sacrifice. Leaving it out there every snap. Believing in yourself, your coaches and trusting your teammates.

There’s a reason that with all the Canes' success the past three decades, there are only five trophies in the case. There’s a reason other major powers and big time programs haven’t won consistently since the leather helmet era ended. Alabama. Notre Dame. Michigan. Ohio State. Those four combined don’t have as many rings as Miami since 1983. College football is growing leaps and bounds. There's more parity in the game. Keep up, or get left in the wake of programs who were a non-factor a decade ago.

These current Canes have no business talking about National Championships being the standard at The U. News flash – win a ring before you talk the talk. Your predecessors helped build this program, not you. They earned the right to boast, walk with a swagger, run their mouths and show that classic Canes spirit.

This current bunch has done zilch except take a once proud program and recent big time power into the gutter. Miami players and coaches should be ashamed of themselves right now. I can’t imagine how the legends who built The U are processing all this.

This ship needs to be righted. Shannon needs to reassess the situation, not just player-wise but personnel as well.

I’ll give Patrick Nix a temporary pass until he gets a quarterback and some capable receivers, but there better be big time signs of improvement in 2008. As for Tim Walton, that experience has been an utter disaster thus far.

Defense had been a constant and the Miami staple for decades. This current bunch ranks right up there with some probation era teams, minus the heart. The proof is in the 48-0 ass kicking.

On Walton’s watch Miami gave up 51 points to Oklahoma, 27 in the first half to a garbage North Carolina team and almost half a century to a nobody Virginia team. That ranks right up there with the Bill Miller era (1998) when Miami gave up 66 at Syracuse and 45 a week later to UCLA. Miller was canned a week later - and rightfully so.

I’m not calling for Walton’s job… yet, but Shannon needs to get re-involved with this defense until Walton is ready or a replacement is found. I’ve never seen a Canes bunch look more lost defensively. Out of position. Clueless as to what the opposing offense is bringing. Always disheveled before the snap and running around figuring out who’s doing what. It’s downright pathetic when your strongest suit has now become your weakest link.

Miami’s recent mantra on defense was "17-points". If the offense could muster up two TDs and a FG, the defense would do it’s job and win the game.

That’s so not the case these days, it’s disgusting. The Canes don’t even look like a middle of the pack ACC program right now. It’s absolute rock bottom when Virginia comes into the OB and whoops your ass 48-0.

At least 47-0 at Florida State in 1997 was against the No. 1 team in the land and on the road in a hostile environment, in the midst of probation and the first losing season since 1979. This is 2007. Virginia is no FSU circa ’97. This was the last game ever at the Orange Bowl and over 62K were there to see a team that gives a damn. The Cavs were a beatable opponent. This was hardly an impossible feat, though the scoreboard proved otherwise.

These Canes absolutely no showed on the biggest night of the season.In hindsight, I’m almost wishing like hell I no showed instead of making the cross-country trek to see that train wreck.

I could’ve lived with a competitive loss for the sake of saying goodbye to the OB but no fan who spent decades going to that sacred stadium deserved that swan song and finale. I can't recall a more pathetic display by a bunch of Canes. This team broke some hearts last Saturday night and spit in the face of the Orange Bowl and Miami football legacy.

I never imagined the day someone would come into the OB and do The U dirty like that.

I'm homebound and it couldn’t have come at a better time. A week ago, I couldn’t get to the stadium fast enough and right now, I can’t get far enough away. The Orange Bowl is history, as are the 2007 Canes; in my rearview mirror and no longer breaking my heart this season. If they’re done caring, then so am I... for the remainder of the year. I'm all for a pleasant surprise if Miami can pull an upset, but I've lost faith and will watch the remaining eight quarters of ball expecting the worst.

Best of luck, Hurricane Nation. Great time seeing the crew at W2 and the allCanes bash on Friday night. I only wish this team had the heart this fan base displayed for 48 hours last weekend.

Back to the drawing board, Randy. You have some serious work to do, coach. I'm still on board, but it's time to look yourself in the mirror and determine what's working, what isn't and figure out what it'll take to right this ship pronto.


.:Canes305:.

Beyond disgusted...

Saturday night's Orange Bowl finale was part funeral, part abortion. I've never been so embarrassed watching a Canes game in my life. Canes305 flew in from San Diego for this one - to pay respect to the stadium that provided me a million and one memories growing up in Miami. I even gave up Chargers/Colts tickets to head back to the 305... something which really sucks laying here hungover in my Mayfair bed and 3,000 miles away from Qualcomm Stadium and my west coast buds.

Thanks a whole hell-of-a-lot, 2007 Canes. I put more effort into my travel plans than you or the coaches did on the field last night.

I entered nostalgic, with a slew of emotions overcoming me and I left cursing everything about the current state of the program. The Orange Bowl deserved better. Sadly the only people who realized that were the 62K+ in attendance.

I hope the future recruits were watching this one - partly to see what not to do with their game once reaching the collegiate level as well as to solidify the fact that ALL positions are opening entering next season and that many kids on this team lack heart and will be beat out by true freshman next year. Bank on that. The dead weight is headed to the bench.

I have one last day in South Florida before trekking back to Cali in the AM. That said, I'm not going to waste it writing about a team which showed zero heart, passion or emotion last night. Screw that. If they don't care, then for today - neither do I. I'm off to enjoy my old hometown. My trashing of this team, heartless players and confused coaches can wait until I return to SD.

I'm disgusted, as are all Miami fans today. Sadly, at 5-4 I could live with losing last night. Go down with a fight and keep building for next year. But 48-0? The worst home shutout in history? The worst home loss since the 1940s? That' unforgivable. Some scholarships should be burned after what was witnessed last night and I can think of at least one coordinator who should pack his bags before 2008. Actually, he can do so just after Thanksgiving weekend since this team won't sniff a bowl game this year.

We'll break it all down later this week and on a positive note, will post photos from from the allCanes 'Farewell to the OB' bash at the Mayfair on Friday night. If the team had the heart of the Canes fans in attendance, the score would've been 48-0 in the other direction. 

More later this week. Hang in there Miami faithful. I'm headed out for a cocktail and to drown my sorrows like a drunk uncle at an Irish wake.

.:Canes305:. 

A year's gone by...

One year. No answers. It doesn't add up, it still hurts and it'll never make sense. Rest in peace, Bryan Pata. We haven't forgotten about you and we never will... A candlelight vigil was held Wednesday night in Pata's honor. Read about last night's event at Herald.com. 

Game Nine: NC State 19, Miami 16 (OT)

The body language of Kenny Phillips says it all, doesn't it?

Head slung low. Dejected. The long, slow walk back to the tunnel after yet another home loss. That field must've felt 200 yards long as these Canes trekked back to the locker room moments after a 19-16 OT loss to Wolfpack, who entered the contest 3-5 on the season.

Any notion of winning the ACC is now a pipe dream. Sure, mathematically Miami could still take the next three and hope for a for a few miracles - but if the Canes can't knock off N.C. State how can wins over Virginia, Virginia Tech and Boston College even be considered logical? Simply put, they can't. It’ll take an act of God for Miami to get to Jacksonville. Maybe a few.

I said after the North Carolina loss Miami faithful could expect a few more epic wins and a few more embarrassing losses in 2007. We're seeing just that. Two weeks ago, a big time comeback against Florida State - sandwiched in between inexplicable losses to Georgia Tech and now N.C. State. The result, 5-4 with a brutal three-game stretch to end the season.

I checked out the message boards after the loss, perused my share of online articles and even had a heated debate with my old man regarding the state of the program. Two days later, I'm still sick over all of it.

I'm sick of the product on the field, I'm sick of the flip-flopping regarding fan’s opinions about the coaching staff or players and I'm flat out sick of seeing the Canes lose these types of games. Miami has been on the down cycle for too long now. It's time to rise from the ashes like the f'n phoenix already.

Let's start by attacking the obvious - the Canes are quarterback-less. All the Kirby Freeman supporters, where are you now? 1 of 14 for 84 yards, 1 TD and 3 interceptions? For those keeping score, since entering the game in the second quarter at Florida State, Freeman has gone 5 of 25 for 143 yards, 2 TDs and 5 interceptions over six quarters of football.

Safe to say, The Freeman Era is officially over. God love this kid's heart, attitude and moxie, but #7 is not Miami QB material. Never was. Never will be. Now we’re hearing that Freeman was nervous, his confidence was shot and that even with all the in game pep talks from teammates, there was no shaking this kid’s fear.

When Freeman hit Dedrick Epps for the game winner and laid on the ground convulsing after being sandwiched by two Noles, a few things ran through my head. First and foremost, the kid’s health. #7 didn’t look that good, writhing on the ground in pain, with hands shaking.

From there, I honestly hoped it was the last down Freeman ever played as a Cane because he’d never top the moment. 3-for-3 and a come from behind game winner in Tallahassee? That’s as good as it’ll ever get for this kid on the football field.

A week later, an all time low in the loss to N.C. State. Kyle Wright playing with an amputated ankle couldn't have put together a worse performance on Saturday. The Miami Herald’s Manny Navarro asked a current Canes’ recruit if he could do better than Freeman’s 1 of 14. The high school senior laughed and said, “with my eyes closed”.

Call me crazy, but I’ll take the confident true freshman next year before I bank on a senior who seems broken beyond repair. Thanks for the good times, Kirby but an injured Wright is better down the stretch than damaged goods.

Moving on to the play calling. Definitely suspect at times. A few days later I’m still sort of second guessing some moves. I don't really get the notion of back-to-back jump balls to the barely six foot, on the bench all day, in and out of hot water Sam Shields in the waning moments of regulation.

Instead of wasting the skills and stamina of Darnell Jenkins on two consecutive direct snaps earlier in the game, I’d have preferred to see Miami’s lone proven receiving threat in the end zone fighting for those two last passes, instead of Shields. In fact, it sounds like Sam Sr. might feel the same way.

The elder Shields actually called Shannon to thank him for teaching his son about life on and off the field and laying down the law where need be. Shields Jr. was benched for the Marshall outing, the early part of the loss to North Carolina and the first half of the game against N.C. State due to his practice habits.

Shannon’s ways, beliefs and actions are either going to make or break these kids – and I am fine with that. If a player is too fragile to handle the disappointment of a head coach, that kid lacks what it takes to become a champion on the field.

I’m sick of all the “he’s too hard on the kids” chatter. Those who can’t take it, can leave. Those who can will be joined by more who can come February 2008 on Signing Day. If Shannon is such a hard ass, how come almost two dozen kids are on board to play for Miami next fall? ESPN.com rated the Canes future incoming class No. 1 in the nation.

Recruits are showing up weekly for home games and they’re bringing other potential recruits. Miami Northwestern quarterback Jacory Harris is spends every free moment as an ambassador for The U.

Planning to enroll this December to get a jump start on next year, Harris is in the ear of every recruit he comes in contact with. This past week, offensive line recruit Matt Patchan. The five-star prospect was in tow for N.C. State to watch his old man honored as part of the 1987 National Champs team and returns for the OB finale as his official visit.

The recruits are coming, the recruits are coming. Everyone knows it. Especially the coaches, who told recruits at last week’s game to walk up to current Canes who play the same position and let them know they look forward to taking their jobs next year.

Explain to me why the majority of this fan base oft cries for the return of Jimmy Johnson and the hey day of the 80s – yet when they have a JJ disciple in their presence, running show the same way Johnson did they still can’t see the forest for the trees?

Lest not forget how the Johnson era began in Miami. A second choice head coach with no ties to the program. Miami coaches who were retained led a mutiny against him. Lost to Florida State, 38-3 – at home, no less. Blew a 31-0 halftime lead over Maryland , en route to a 42-40 loss. Had his defense shredded by a gnat in the Hail Flutie debacle a week later. Choked away the Fiesta Bowl to UCLA, making it three straight losses and an 8-5 inaugural season.

Remember, Johnson inherited the National Champions and lost five games. Shannon was given a damaged bunch coming off a 7-6 season with an on the field brawl, a teammate murdered and a bowl game in Idaho on blue turf.

Try to imagine the 1984 season taking place during Internet era. How would Johnson have survived the message boards, radio shows, ESPN segments and more-rabid-by-the-minute fan base? He’d have been absolutely crucified and run out of town.

Johnson loved the scare tactics regarding pulling scholarships and promoting competition. How come when he did it, he was a genius, yet Shannon instills a similar strategy and approach - learned from his former coach and boss - he’s chastised and told he’s being too hard on the kids?

JJ lost five games his first season and dropped two his sophomore year, getting worked 35-7 by Tennessee in the bowl game. Year three, Johnson’s Canes made the title game but were embarrassed by both the Heisman-winning Vinny Testaverde (five interceptions) and Penn State’s no name defense.

Year four, as dominant a performance as any Miami team. The 1987 Canes rattled off wins against Florida (#20), Arkansas (#4), Florida State (#4) the first three games of the season and closed out with Notre Dame (#10), South Carolina (#8) and a 20-14 win over top-ranked Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

I’m not calling Shannon the next JJ. He has to earn that and I have no doubt he’ll bust his ass in the process. What I am saying is he deserves some backing right now – not flip flopping and second guessing. That’s bogus.

Shannon can’t have the program going the right direction and be the right guy after a win over Florida State and then be the goat two weeks later because a quarterback and kicker he didn’t recruit had abysmal games and cost Miami a much needed win.

Patience. It’s a word sports fans loathe, but reality needs to set in regarding this program – presently and in the near future. Miami lacks some talent and depth, but it also lacks the ‘right’ kind of kids this program demands if it’ll be successful again.

KP hanging his head in the above photo. A guy like Derrick Morse still in uniform, staring at the ground in disbelief almost a half hour after the game ended. Since when were players like this few and far between? How about when Larry Coker was in charge and failed to recruit Miami caliber kids.

Can you name the recruiting coordinator last season? I bet you can’t. How do I know? Because Coker never appointed one.

Miami had no recruiting coordinator… which better explains the two verbal commits this time last year compared to the dozen and a half the Canes sport this year. Shannon appointed defensive line coach Clint Hurtt the coordinator and hired a coaching staff full of guys who were in charge of recruiting at their former universities.

The U wants to out-talent the competition. That’s this program’s bread and butter. Talent and harder workers. Miami wants the fast, hard-hitting local kids with some bounce in their step and a winner’s mentality. Guys that bring it on the practice field like other teams do come game time.

Like Johnson, Shannon knows battles are won on the practice field. Hence his no nonsense stand on playing time versus how players practice. That mindset isn’t necessary in the NFL, but at the collegiate level when you’re molding young men as well as football players? It’s crucial.

The day’s of being finesse under Country Club Larry or kids playing scared? No mas. Same to be said for all the big talk and lip service. This program has been talking about the road back to the National Championship since the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. In a few weeks it’ll be four years since Miami has even sniffed the BCS, yet every preseason these kids say all the right stuff and then fail to back it up during the season.

It was pretty embarrassing to hear chants of “New Orleans” by an unranked team who hasn’t even found its way to Jacksonville the past few years. Miami needs to learn how to become winners.

These kids have no clue what it takes to become a championship caliber team, but their coach does. So do the recruits from Northwestern. That’s no accident. Winning breeds winners. Shannon wants kids from winning programs to come to The U. Time to weed out the loser’s mentality which has plagued this program for years.

Give it time, people. Seriously, what choice do you have? The team you see today is light years behind what Miami will field in 2009 or 2010. We’ll start to see more change come 2008, but it is beyond unfair to throw Shannon under the bus nine games into the second largest rebuilding project the University of Miami football program has ever seen.

In other words, Coral Gables won’t be rebuilt in one day.

Pete Carroll went 6-6 year one at Southern Cal. Bob Stoops went 7-5 his first go around with Oklahoma. Jim Tressel went 7-5 his inaugural season at Ohio State, but beat Michigan - much like Shannon beat Florida State.

Urban Meyer was 9-3 year one at Florida, with a full cupboard thanks to Ron Zook, while Miami's cupboard was ransacked, depleted and bare when Shannon came aboard for Coker last December.

How about Charlie Weis? Back-to-back (underserved) BCS games his first two seasons, yet 1-9 in 2007 and coming off an overtime loss to Navy? I’ve never see a coach go from ‘hero’ to ‘zero’ in a quicker span.

Start judging Shannon come 2009. For now, ride out the final few games and start looking forward to 2008. Yes people, we’re in rebuilding mode and this is what you do.

Now isn’t the time to torch the staff and overanalyze the play calling. News flash, they’re doing all they can with the kids they have. Some there physically but not mentally – and vice versa.

When No. 7 lets a bomb fly on a 3^rd and 5 and overthrows his nearest receiver by 20+ yards – Patrick Nix didn’t call that ill-timed deep ball. Freeman simply missed the two receivers on a crossing patter at the first down marker, panicked and chucked the ball way too deep to avoid an interception.

Take this scenario and times it by a few dozen, because we’ve seen it often this season. The right plays are called, but a lineman misses a block, someone gets called for a false start, a player slips during his route, a quarterback never looks past his first option or forces a ball that never should’ve been thrown.

Try to remember these things the final twelve quarters of this regular season. This is a first year project. Give it time and judge accordingly.

One 'last hurrah' at the OB this weekend. Get your asses there and represent. It’s about the stadium, not the current state of this team. We’ve all taken so many big nights out of the Orange Bowl. We owe it to the stadium and our history to pay our final respects one last time. No excuses. Hell, I’m coming back 3,000 miles for this one. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.

From there, Virginia Tech and Boston College. Hope we steal one. Live with it if we don’t. Realize things will be better which each new Shannon-style recruit who signs on the dotted line.

We’ll be back. We’ve been here before and it’s in our blood to earn our spot back at the top. Nobody knows the blueprint better than Shannon. Fall in line. Good things are in store. There's a game plan being implemented here. Be patient and give it time to develop.

.:Canes305:.

Game of the Year, Part I

Welcome to the rest of this season. Four games. In the driver's seat.

Destination Jacksonville.

I have no idea how all this will play out, but I'm taking the higher road here and employing a more optimistic approach to the final four match ups of 2007. I'm not saying the Canes will win out - but I'm saying that with the right attitude and style of play, it's not crazy to believe Miami could make a magical run.

The phrase "game of the year" is played out and I definitely use it tongue in cheek here. But it's pertinent. This is Part I of a four-part series. Each of the next four weekends will feature a 'game of the year' by Canes' standards. They're all 'must win' situations, each is bigger than the next and it all starts this Saturday.

There are a few schools of thought regarding Miami right now. Log on to any message board and you'll see the fan base is absolutely all over the map. Pessimism. Blind optimism. Sheer stupidity. You name it, you'll find it.

I've had some folks share with me they feel the Florida State win was the turning point. That was the game. This team 'gets it' now regarding Randy Shannon and his message about starting games fast, playing smart and finishing with a bang. The win over the Noles followed that blueprint to a 'T'.

I don't have issue with those sentiments, but I need to see it proven on the field. I thought Miami turned the corner against Texas A&M, outside of a sloppy fourth quarter (i.e. - not finishing a game) but the Canes have lost twice since then. Corner obviously not turned.

There's some merit to the belief that Miami's win over Florida State can be that shot in the arm this squad needed to finish this season. A bye week to get healthy, two home games in a row - including the Orange Bowl finale next weekend - and then two difficult road challenges to close things out.

Players again are saying all the right thing. Dedrick Epps was quoted this week as saying Miami needs to play every game like its last. He's right - but will they? There's been a lot of lip service this year and not all of it has been backed up. I'm over calling people out individually, but I'll remind people of the quote, "it's not if we beat Oklahoma, it's when" days before the 51-13 ass kicking handed to The U.

This is do or die time. Put up or shut up. Money where your mouth is or whatever other trite, played out cliche you can muster up. The time for talking is done. It's time to "do" for the remaining sixteen quarters of football this season.

Another loss and I truly believe the wheels fall off for the remainder of the regular season. Miami isn't going to lose to an NC State or Virginia and then go out to beat Virginia Tech or Boston College. It's a head game right now similar to the mindtrip the Colorado Rockies had the final month or so of the MLB season. Once they were tagged in the mouth by Boston, the Cinderella story became a nightmare and the Rockies lost four straight to the Red Sox.

A drastic analogy, but I believe it works here. Miami needs to go on a four game tear and play some clutch football. Each win being a building block for the next week. One game at a time (cliche alert).

Word is Kirby Freeman will be the go to guy on Saturday, with Kyle Wright still hobbled. Again, whatever it takes. Freeman on his best day is still less than a pretty good Wright, but it needs to be good enough to beat the Wolfpack. NC State is a turnover-prone 3-5 bunch headed to the OB. Even with a Freeman behind center, there needs to be enough in the tank to run over this team offensively and defensively.

A year or so ago, Miami's defense boasted that 17 points per game was enough to guarantee victory. The Canes have lost 51-13, 33-27 and 17-14 this year and failed to reach that 17-point plateau one of three occasions. The mighty D has given up 101 total points in the three losses. That's unacceptable.

To win out, the Canes have to get back to basics and become a defensive-minded football team. Continue pressing for turnovers. Blitz quarterbacks who can't handle the pressure. Sounds simple, but Miami failed to do that against Taylor Bennett in the loss to the Yellow Jackets, yet when Virgina Tech rattled Bennett last night, he looked lost in the 27-3 beat down.

Miami needs to come up with the correct defensive formula these final four games and simply needs to minimize offensive mistakes. This Canes offense is no juggernaut, but it looks infinitely better than the product on the field 2005-2006.

There are enough playmakers. Darnell Jenkins proved he's the top go to receiver. Graig Cooper, Javarris James and Shawnbrey McNeal can more than carry the load on the ground. Epps and DajLeon Farr have come on at the tight end position, which offensive coordinator Patrick Nix completely ignored earlier in the season.

If Miami's defense can make that same pledge that 17+ points is all they need on offense to guarantee victory, the Canes have a great shot going 4-0 down the stretch. The D simply needs to tighten up. No more broken plays like we've seen against Oklahoma, Texas A&M, North Carolina and even lowly FIU.

Buckle down. Play like a unit. Every man has to do his job. There can't be any chinks in the armor like we've seen occasionally this season.

NC State in less than 24 hours. Be ready Canes. Part I of IV. Get it done out there tomorrow and we'll talk about Virginia come Monday.

Even with Freeman most likely in the mix, I believe we see some Wright and that the defense comes to play. Turnovers are the difference and the Canes pull out the win.




.:Canes305:.