Miami v. Florida State... a week away

We ready, we ready. 31spoonerstreet-style. Check out this vid from a few years back. Go Canes!

Another story you won't hear while ESPN talks "Favre"

Remember back in the day when sports journalism wasn't tabloid trash? When you actually heart compelling stories instead of pointless gossip?

While ESPN hunkers down and dedicated another segment to Brett Favre's ribs or Terrell Owens' big mouth, real stories exist and go unreported. Here's hoping someone with a clue catches wind of this Tim James story and puts it under a microscope. It'd be perfect for Bryant Gumbel's Real Sports or Bob Ley on Outside The Lines.

At 31 years old the former Miami Hurricane and Miami Heat first round draft pick has spent the last year serving his country in the Army. James made $2.5M in his NBA career and made money overseas playing professionally in Japan, Turkey and Israel.

The soft spoken James quietly enlisted, wanting to protect his country and start a new chapter to his life. Wanting to be 'one of the guys' he barely shared his past with his fellow soldiers.

"I wanted this experience to be raw,'' said James. "Start a new life. I wanted to understand new minds and new ways of thinking. I've been in basketball since I was eight. I didn't want to have a basketball conversation every day.''

I could go on, but in this case I employ you to read Dan LeBatard's piece in Saturday's Miami Herald. A rather incredible story about a professional athlete leaving the comforts of home (and professional sports) to fight for his beliefs. Not since the late Pat Tillman have we seen something of this nature - and thankfully in James' case he's not in harms way as Tillman was.

Check it out and for those media folk choosing to talk Favre over James, get your priorities straight. There's a hell of a story going on here, if anyone cares to notice.

Taylor Cook & Cannon Smith leaving The U

The University of Miami's depth chart took another hit today when back up quarterbacks Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith decided to leave the program to pursue other opportunities.

Obviously this is 'news' as its two players - from the same position - deciding to up and leave, seemingly out of nowhere. The timing is also off as they're choosing to do so before the third scrimmage of fall, when depth chart decisions are made.

Rumors have swirled that true freshman A.J. Highsmith was moving up to second string quarterback - which would make logistical sense regarding the timing. Still, this really is much ado about nothing... beside the lack of depth.

Cook was given a fair shake during spring and fall, while Smith sat out 2008 with an injury and has seen limited action in practice the past two years. The starting job was Harris' to lose and with no signs of that happening, as well as the potential #12 will start for Miami through the 2011 season, the back ups are looking for greener pastures and immediate playing time.

A tough situation as there are so many angles and vantage points - quarterback, teammates, coaches, parents of said players. On one hand, a situation like this makes you wonder what the word 'commitment' means anymore. If instant results aren't there for a player, they're ready to run - looking for what they think is the next sure-fire opportunity.

You have to wonder about their parents. As seen with Robert Marve, his daddy and his high school coach, they question then arises - who is doing the pushing? Who is in that 19-year old's ear, advising or pulling his strings?

Both Cook and Smith have left Miami in a lurch... should Harris go down injured. Especially Cook, who seemed to be learning the offense and was a legit threat to take over the number two spot come fall. That said, it's his life - as it's Smith's - and how can you fault a man for following his heart and doing what he needs to do? Teammates are teammates and the team is the team, but at day's end people have to do what is individually best for them - whether that means transferring two weeks before the season opener or skipping that senior season to chase those NFL dollars.

Stephen Morris of Pace has already committed to Miami for 2010 and it's safe to say Shannon and staff will now turn their recruiting focus to another quarterback (or two) by February. Interesting to see who winds up at The U as a result of these transfers and where that future Miami quarterback's career goes. For all anyone knows, the loss of Cook and Smith might open the door for the Canes next Heisman winner.

Take it all in stride, people.

Regarding those blaming Shannon, let's take a moment to address that claim. Harris is a true sophomore. Smith is a redshirt sophomore, Cook a redshirt freshman and Highsmith a highly-touted true freshman. Poor recruiting on the part of Larry Coker left Miami - and Shannon - in this lurch. Had Coker brought on a Pat Devlin, Derek Shaw, Daniel Stegall or Nick Fanuzzi, the lack of depth at quarterback wouldn't be where it's at today and there wouldn't be such a logjam with freshmen and sophomores at the position.

I saw a thread on a message board talking about Southern Cal's ability to build depth at quarterback and pot shots at Shannon for the fact Cook and Smith packed their bags.

Really? Someone wants to play the Trojans card? A program 59-4 over the past five seasons when the Canes posted a 37-25 record over the same span? Anybody and everybody wanted to play for USC these past several years - like Miami circa 2000-2003.

Aaron Corp is slated to be 'the guy' when back from injury. Corp is a junior and is battling it out with true freshman Matt Barkley. Should Corp hang on for two years, Barkley could redshirt and would still see three full seasons as a redshirt sophomore in 2011.

Mitch Mustain transferred in from Arkansas and hasn't seen much action his one year in Los Angeles (16 attempts in six games) and he enters his senior season. Garrett Green is another senior with one career completion, which happens when you back up John David Booty and Mark Sanchez. John Manoogian is a sophomore who's never seen a lick of action.

Five quarterbacks at USC completely staggered out from freshmen to seniors thanks to winning ball games, stellar recruiting, solid depth and rolling on as a well-oiled machine that's only lost four-games since 2005... all while UM has been sucking wind and had four quarterbacks, none older than a true sophomore.

Great analogy comparing Miami's quarterback woes to the success of Southern Cal and blaming a head coach whose been on the job no more than two full seasons.

Northwestern Bulls proving the validity of U Family

The media called them the Baby Bulls, but to fans of The U they just might be that nucleus that provides the stepping stone for the resurgence. Eight high school stars who played for Miami Northwestern, won the national championship and decided to stay local, signing on with a UM program coming off a five-win season with a first-time head coach.

Jacory Harris. Aldarius Johnson. Sean Spence. Marcus Forston. Kendal Thompkins. Tommy Streeter. Ben Jones. Brandon Washington. Six of eight saw serious playing time last year and all the above will make their presence felt as soon as this season kicks off. Years from now, you will see some - if not all - in the NFL, while the Miami program is again thriving based on the leap of faith all eight took a few years back.

Miami saw a similar class in 1997 when Butch Davis reeled in some superstars ready to make a difference. The Canes went 9-3 in 1996 and even with an influx of talent a year later, still stumbled to a 5-6 season. Some of the talent in that February '97 class - Martin Bibla, Najeh Davenport, Daryl Jones, Dan Morgan, Ed Reed and Reggie Wayne. Davis even brought Santana Moss in with that class on a track scholarship.

The Herald's Susan Miller Degnan did a write up on the Northwestern kids and the bond that's carried over to the U Family. Check it out when you get a chance. A great reminder of the bond that Canes have, in this case dating back to their successful high school days.

Irresponsible journalism hits too close to home...

I got my ass handed to me a few days back - verbally, not physically - though if I weren't a few time zones away on the left coast, the latter might've been the case. Regardless, it wasn't fun. A little life lesson on the power of words and the impact they have on real people.

It's easy to stare at a screen and write. Words lose their value when they pour out of your fingertips a sentence per second. Opinions and statements are easier to make when not looking a man in the eye - thinking out, articulating and delivering those thoughts in your head.

I'm not at liberty to divulge my mark, but there are University of Miami ties and our guy disagreed with my assessment of both he and the job he did. (No, it wasn't Larry Coker.) More frustrating, I look back at my dated words and know deep down what I wrote wasn't what I felt. Emotions got the better of me and logic flew right out the window. Back and forth banter and winning the debate became more important than the actual subject itself. A vicious cycle when taking these types

I won't go into the detail of the conversation, as it pales in comparison to the overall lesson.

I listen to the pundits criticize blogging and the open forum in which anyone and everyone has an opinion. To a point, I get it... but that's not the case here. My work is hardly world class, but I read enough and come across a fair share of hacks getting paid handsomely to do this for a living.

A trait I'm thankful we don't share - the fact I'm not afraid to take my medicine. I took the verbal beat down and I listened to reason. I apologized for my comments being out of line and I'm writing this rebuttal out of choice, not force.

I spend a fair share of time perusing UM-themed message board. CanesTime. CaneSport. Comment sections in the Herald's UM-themed blogs. At times I get roped into some banter, but for the most part I've learned to spectate. I've been venomous at times. I dove headfirst into my share of debates, sometimes arguing for the sake of arguing, simply wanting to 'win'.

What an utter waste.

There are things in life that can't be duplicated. You don't know the feeling of having a child until you have one. You can't know the pain of losing a loved one until you lose one.

In no way am I lumping this in that same category, but for those who write so freely online, it's humbling when the target of your aggression is on the other end of the line, quoting you verbatim and letting you know how your words crushed them. It then gets downright humiliating when they point out flaws in your argument; you unable to fight back being that they were actually there, while you built your case from archived articles or pointless stats. They lived through it and know the facts like the back of their hand, while you wrongly put something false out there for the world to read.

This situation knocked the wind out of me. Moving forward, I won't second-guess every word I write... though I'll always put myself in check regarding the intent. What's the purpose of what I'm about to write? Could I rephrase it without malice or forced wit instead of following the trends of trashy tabloid sports journalism that have taken over?

He who yells loudest is heard and he who throws out the most insults or outlandish statements get the most viewers. That's never been my intent with this blog. This was a hobby that turned into a passion and an online store enhancement. It's not a career. It's not a subscription-based site. It's not about the traffic or money. It's here for those who want to delve in, Miami fans and rivals alike.

We hit a new low here today and by we, I mean me. I went too far for no reason other than debating a point and winning. Hell, this piece was so old I had to Google it to remember when I wrote it. Upon rereading it, I felt like an utter heel.

To the party discussed here, again, I'm truly sorry. I never had the authority to question your efforts and wrongly assessed your accomplishments. I was wrong. I am man enough to admit that.

To the readers of this column, a commitment to no more low blows against the U Family. (Gators are still fair game, for obvious reasons.) The bush league digs are a thing of the past. I can't rip ESPN for their tabloid trash in one article and then do the same the next day. It's hypocritical.

A renewed sense of purpose with this blog moving forward. I've seen the light, though not in a way I ever expected.

I'll take it, as the end result was obviously necessary.

The 'supposed' ESPN bias proven again...

I've taken some grief over the years, implying that ESPN hates Miami. A lot of Miami fans have the same opinion and shout it from the rooftops. That's not my style, but when it's time to call b.s. I'm always ready to do so.

The Timmy T love affair continues with ESPN, as seen today in Mark Schlabach's piece. Always seeming out to make a name for himself with some outlandish take, Schlabach today stated that the SEC should "cancel" Florida's five games against SEC East opponents and just give them the division trophy now. He calls them a shoo-in for back-to-back national championships and doesn't even entertain the idea that the Gators could lose a game this season.

Year after year, college football fans hear about the 'mighty SEC' being the best conference... yet this year, no one in the division can hold UF's jock. How convenient.

Ironically enough this time in 2002 a piece ran on ESPN regarding top-ranked Miami, also returning as defending champs and a unanimous No. 1 across the board entering the season. The Canes lost eleven starters on offense and defense, but still brought back the nucleus of a team riding a 21-game win streak. Ken Dorsey. Andre Johnson. Jerome McDougle. William Joseph. Jamaal Green. Matt Walters. Jon Vilma. DJ Williams. Willis McGahee. Sean Taylor. Kellen Winslow. Antrel Rolle. Vernon Carey. Vince Wilfork. All were on board for oh-two, yet ESPN called for a Florida State v. Oklahoma title game.

Seven summers ago ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski chose to tear down the defending champs, calling the Canes "one of the most overrated teams in the country" and saying they had "no shot" at even reaching the title game - let alone a title. Miami would up going undefeated during the regular season, extending the win-streak to 34 games, before losing the title to Ohio State on a controversial call in overtime.

ESPN treats Tebow like it's lovechild, yet never cared much for the geeky Dorsey... who amassed a 38-2 record over three seasons. As for Florida - still a media darling with over two dozen arrests on Urban Meyer's watch, while Miami spends every season paying for sins committed in the 1980s.

Gotta love the sports media in this great land of ours.

The Latest at The U...

Some recent Miami Hurricanes related news going down right now. Let's dive right in:

Let's address the biggest elephant in the room right now; the injury to defensive end Adewale Ojomo. Story goes that an unnamed, unknown walk on sucker punched the sophomore defender and broke his jaw in two places.

With a jaw wired shut for the first third of the season, a loss of weight and an extended amount of time before being able to handle taking hits, it's safe to say Ojomo could miss the majority of this season - if not all.

Randy Shannon has talked a big game regarding discipline and it'll be interesting to see how this is handed. In all my years of following Hurricanes Football, I can't recall a time a player - let alone a walk-on scrub - took a swing at a starter. This wasn't an on-the-field incident that spilled over to post-practice. This is a nobody who is rumored to have challenged Ojomo to a wrestling match and took a shot after the fact.

Shannon needs to throw this scrub off the squad and a 'no fighting' rule needs to be implemented. Entering year three, this type of tomfoolery is unacceptable. Especially by some idiot who isn't even listed on the roster.

Shannon originally labeled this incident locker room horseplay. Now that the facts have started coming out, it's on the third-year coach to deal with this head-on. Some issues should stay in-house. Not this one. Step up, Randy. Draw a line in the dirt. Squash out a little issue before it becomes a big one. This needs to be the first and last player-on-player tussle in your tenure.


Ojomo's injury aside, Miami has dealt with a few minor blows this week. Defensive end Gavin Hardin is expected to miss an 'extended period' of time - making the Ojomo loss that much more of a setback. Andrew Smith and Oliver Vernon are other defensive ends who are banged up and Eric Moncur has been limited in action, as well.

Outside of the defensive line woes, Graig Cooper was spotted in a walking cast today and many are questioning the seriousness of the injury to the junior tailback. The Miami staff is calling the injury 'nothing serious' and the productive back is expected to be in the line up opening night at Florida State.

The Cooper injury is an interesting one as running back is a position where the Canes are loaded. Javarris James returns for his senior season and is ready to go. Back ups Damien Berry and Lee Chambers have shown flashes of greatness, albeit in practice or mop up duty and true freshman Mike James and Lamar Miller are coming along nicely, though getting their first reps against the Seminoles will be no picnic. (Ask Baby J, who carried 3 times for 3 yards as a true freshman against Florida State in 2006.)

Here's hoping #2 is ready on Labor Day. As witnessed in 2008, Cooper is a force with fresh legs... though he wore down as the year went on, asked to shoulder too much of the burden. A steady diet of James, Cooper and one more back should help the Canes cause in the season opener. That said, if there's a position that could take a minor hit, running back is second only to wide receiver.


Georgia-bred linebacker Tyrone Cornileus verballed to Miami on Tuesday night. The three-star product chose UM over Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan and a few others.

The family is on board, tradition played a part in the decision and like many other commits, Cornileus is a fan of the tradition, the U Family environment and knows the NFL looks favorably on talented ballers from The U.

Cornileus is the fifteenth verbal commitment of the 2010 class.


Miami Herald beat writer Manny Navarro posed a recent question regarding Miami's move to the ACC and a potential move back to the Big East, should the Canes' former conference come calling. The Big East needs an anchor school and while Notre Dame is the top choice, is Miami a potential fit if the Irish don't get on board?

There's been a lot of chatter these past few years regarding Miami's move to the ACC in 2004. The Canes have taken their share of grief after five seasons with no finish better than 9-3, while plummeting to 5-7 when the program bottomed out in 2007.

Rival fans have taken their digs, but I expected more out of a Canes beat writer. How come nobody is calling this as it is? Miami's decline has nothing to do with the conference move and everything to do with timing. Would the Canes have struggled in the ACC between 2000-2003? Hardly. Conversely, what kind of record would UM have put together 2006-2008 if still in the Big East? Safe to say the West Virginias, South Floridas and Cincinnatis would've taken down a depth-starved, talent-laden Miami program during that era.

Look no further than Louisville's 31-7 beating of Miami in 2006 for further proof. Same to be said for West Virginia's 22-4 run between 2006-2007, capped off by a 48-28 Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma. Even at 9-4 in 2008, the Mountaineer beat ACC rival North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

The Big East is no juggernaut, but safe to say the conference's best teams were all better than a below-average Miami team the past few years. That said, when Florida State dominated the ACC the past decade and a half, on many occasions the Canes found a way to beat the conference's best.

Give UM another year to stockpile talent, build depth and bring along young talent. This was a five-year rebuilding project, but we can start the clock year four. By 2010 let's see if the ACC is the problem or if the blame belongs on the shoulders of Larry Coker, the architect of the demise.

Last but not least, another bad week for those who have spurned The U.

A few weeks back it was former quarterback Robert Marve tearing his ACL in a Purdue practice. Today the hammer is falling on former Miami commitment and current Tennessee running back Bryce Brown.

Brown - a fixture at CanesFest and in Miami's locker room the past few months - is being questioned by the NCAA regarding his acceptance of money to make unofficial visits during his recruiting process. Brown's involvement with "advisor" Brian Butler is being questioned as well as Butler's pay-for-info website raised eyebrows from day one. Tennessee isn't being accused of any wrongdoing, but Brown's eligibility is in question three weeks before kickoff.

The Brown/Butler relationship was questionable from day one and the investigation is dating back several years. Should Butler be in the wrong and should Brown's ties with his 'mentor' be as deep as expected, this thing could get messy.

One more time for the record, kudos to Shannon and staff for backing off this kid late in the process. There were red flags and unlike the Willie Williams situation years back, it's a breath of fresh air to not see a program sell its soul and risk its reputation for one player.

Hayes: The type of story the media should focus on

The story of University of Miami walk on Chris Hayes is one that's coming to surface now, even though the event took place late October 2008.

For those out of the know, Hayes is a Miami walk on - short on talent, but big on heart. Five foot nothing and nowhere near two hundred pounds, Hayes was one of four 'nobodies' to make the Canes squad a few years back. Bred in Sarasota, Hayes walked on at The U even though his high school didn't have a football program. He never dressed for a game or made the traveling squad, meaning his football career consisted of getting the hell kicked out on him at Greentree, all to better the more talented Canes. Still, the kid they call "Make-A-Wish" forged on... until last October when he got the call that his father killed himself.

From there, Miami's "Rudy-like" moment ensued. Special teams coach Joe Pannunzio brought Randy Shannon up to speed, the suggestion was offered that Hayes dress out against Wake Forest - less than 24 hours after burying his father. On the game's final play, Hayes was shuffled into the line up at tight end - a position he'd never played. A forgettable final play, the post-game exit on his teammates' shoulders was the Polaroid moment. Cheers. Tears. A full on release. As Hayes climbed down from the pile. he ran straight to the stands and found mom, where their family moment took place.

Hayes is still with the Canes, is still taking a beating, still won't dress or travel and is obviously still hurting. Check out Dave Hyde's article and his blog... and to the media whores at ESPN and other news outlets, do the world a favor and pick up this story. There's more going on in the sports world outside Brett Favre's Mississippi to Minnesota travel itinerary.

2009 Miami Hurricanes Football Media Guide in stock

The 2009 Miami Hurricanes Football Media Guide is now in stock. The University of Miami only produced 1,000 media guides this year and allCanes was only able to allocated FIFTY. These aren't going to last long... and rumor has it this will be the last physical media guide produced in the Internet age. Comes with a sharp looking hologram-type cover and back featuring Canes of yesterday and today. Get yours while supplies last!

Click here to order your Miami Football media guide today!

Miami v. Florida State... 25 days away

A friend fired me this video the other day. I'm sure many of you have seen it over the past few years... but with Florida State just over a few weeks away, it seemed blog-worthy. Go Canes.

Swing by allCanes on Friday August 14th!

Cameras will be clicking and rolling at allCanes on Friday afternoon between 3:00 and 4:00pm ET. We'll be shooting a video/web commercial and would love to have some bodies in store. We'll also have Cane photographer J.C. Ridley on hand to take photos for our newly revamped website.

We'll have Joe Zagacki in to do the commercial voice over and Sebastian The Ibis is dropping by as well.

Drop on by during the dog days of summer and get that full-on midseason Canes vibe on a Friday afternoon!

The Latest at The U...

Some recent Miami Hurricanes related news going down right now. Let's dive right in:

Fall ball is officially underway. Amazing how the time is flying. Thanks to all the loyal fans who dropped by allCanes on Saturday before and after practice. Such a welcomed site to see a store full of people, fired up and treating it like a Saturday game day. Safe to say we're all backed up and we're all ready for this program to turn the corner and get back to winning ways. Stay tuned as better days are ahead... starting four weeks from tonight when Miami takes down Florida State in Tallahassee.

Football season is definitely around the corner based on the amount of ink coming out of South Florida these past few days. The Miami Herald has been on a tear, profiling several Canes -- in deep with a focused and thankful Eric Moncur, where Javarris James is at health-wise, the 'new and improved' Leonard Hankerson, offensive lineman Matt Pipho being referred to as 'The Brain', Arthur Brown appearing ready to step up in the middle, as well as talk of no new contract for Randy Shannon.

Commentary about the players and the first few practices is some fluff and easy reading, but the Shannon contract story is definitely worth checking out. Randy's story has been told time and time again. Inner city kid escapes the same streets his siblings and father couldn't. Drugs. Disease. Poverty. Shannon proved he was a one-percenter by getting out.

Lettered at The U, won a national championship and spent just about every year in his own backyard - minus a short-lived stint with the Dallas Cowboys. Even the three years spent coaching in the NFL were just up the street with the Dolphins. The other twenty years spent either playing or coaching were spent in Coral Gables.

As if Shannon didn't go through enough en route to earning his shot as Miami's head coach, he's dealt with nothing but criticism and second-guessing since moving into the big boy office in December 2006.

While Shannon doesn't have the universal support of a fickle fan base, the Miami administration is behind him and went as far as to offer a contract extension... which Randy turned down. Haters reign down cries of "Oh and four, out the door" in reference to Miami's brutal early schedule - @Florida State, Georgia Tech, @Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. Shannon chooses to ignore those critics, focusing on nothing more than recruiting the pants off most coaches in the game - rebuilding depth so he can rebuild this program from the ground up.

Shannon believes this team has the potential to go 9-3 or even 10-2 this year, with a major bowl on the horizon.. 'if' all goes according to plan. In the past he's mentioned that it'll take a stroke of luck as well as some solid ball.

Those who don't buy the 'luck' argument, look no further than Virginia Tech and their preseason #7 ranking. The Hokies lost Orange Bowl MVP running back Darren Evans to a torn ACL in practice on Tuesday. Tech has some capable back ups, but none at Evans' level. This stroke of bad luck could be the difference in a few wins or losses in a very competitive Coastal Division.

Shannon is banking on a turnaround this year, not next. He believes that a national championship run is in the cards for 2010 and that this team has a shot at the ACC this fall.

I read articles like this and continue to scratch my head regarding the portion of the fan base who questions this man. A protege of Jimmy Johnson and Butch Davis who also seeks counsel from Bill Parcells and Pete Carroll. A local kid made good. A national champion as a player and coach. A Broyles Award winner for defensive coordinator of the year. A tireless recruiter who has finally assembled the coaching staff he wanted... not to mention the fact he bleeds more orange and green out of one pore than an entire message board full of supposed fans.

On top of all that, Shannon just put his money where his mouth is. Don't pay me a little now; get my back when I turn this thing around and give me what I deserve then. Honestly, what's not to like here? Why don't more people believe?

Prove the idiots wrong, Coach.

While I'm thrilled that fall ball is underway, I don't generally get caught up in the August hype. I'm glad when kids do well... but Greentree Field warriors don't impress me. Do it on Saturday at Joe Robbie LandProSharkPlayer Stadium this fall.

Newbie running back Lamar Miller was today's star with two long touchdown runs -- the first a 50-yarder and the second for 70 yards. Thankfully Miller didn't geek out the same way the online folk have. He's taking it in stride, talking about it simply being practice and a whole new ballgame when he's in full pads later this week. The new #27 wants to help the Canes win ball games again and he realizes he needs to remain motivated and hungry. Hopefully he does just that.

Tommie Streeter grabbed Monday's headlines with a touchdown, while senior/first year tight end Jimmy Graham and junior Leonard Hankerson both had big grabs of their own. On the other side of the ball, the defense is focusing heavily on creating turnovers. Ramon Buchanan reeled one in off a deflected pass.

Guys are working hard... but that's what you're supposed to do in summertime after going 19-19 in the past 38 games. Shannon hasn't been overly impressed, again, because he knows what it will take for this team to compete in the ACC and win ballgames.

Following fall ball is always fun, but like verbal commitments leading up to signing day... there's only so much weight you can put into the reports coming out of Greentree mid-August.

A few weeks back, Randy Shannon was asked what it will take to win the ACC this year and some scoffed when he said "luck". We all know it takes talent, commitment, passion, heart and a slew of other cliches... but Shannon was spot on when he mentioned "luck". There are no guarantees once the season gets underway and besides backing into a few wins, you also need to stay healthy - which is requires luck as well as the football gods smiling down on you.

All disbelievers look no further than defending ACC champ Virginia Tech, sporting a #7 rank entering the season and predicted to win the conference again this season. Before you could even think about the season opener against Alabama, running back and Orange Bowl MVP Darren Evans blew out his ACL the first week of fall practice. The Hokies have a handful of capable backs, but none that 'wowed' like Evans did as a true freshman last year.

This will be an interesting sub plot as this season rolls on. Can Virginia Tech overcome this loss? What would a healthy Evans done for their 2009 campaign? Will a new star emerge or does this injury give Georgia Tech and Miami a leg up on the conference champs?

Luck has as much to do with winning as anything else. Better hope the Canes can stay healthy this year, avoiding the injury bug.

Speaking of Jimmy J, I stumbled across a great blurb from the former Canes coach regarding the State of Miami and stopping the highly-touted spread offense:

“It all comes down to talent. If you have more talent and more athleticism on the defensive side of the ball than the offense has, you’ll stop the spread. But Florida has so many good athletes and so much good talent, you’re not going to be able to have more speed and athleticism, so it all comes down to familiarity. Michigan lost to Appalachian State at the beginning of the year because they weren’t used to seeing the spread. They weren’t ready. If you see it week in and week out, you get used to how to read it and you get much better at stopping it," said Johnson.

"First you have to take away the quarterback, but with a guy like (Tim) Tebow with too much strength and power, he’s too effective running the ball and can produce even if you get to him. And then you need the defensive backs to be able to stay with the receivers so you can focus mostly on stopping the quarterback. Most importantly, you need fast, athletic linebackers. … Or you can be USC and you can pick your guys to stop the spread. They have the big, fast defensive linemen to take away the quarterback and let the big, fast linebackers and defensive backs take care of the rest.”

Sounds like JJ has the recipe... and thankfully Coach Shannon is following his mentor's advice regarding keeping local kids home and recruiting Miami-caliber players.

Hopefully someone can step up and put that blueprint to work this season. Florida will play with that bull's eye on their back. How will their opponents respond? Will teams roll over or will someone find a way to slow the spread and capitalize on the lack of Percy Harvin and his yards after catch? Stay tuned people, in a few weeks the journey begins.

Mark Whipple is talking the talk...

Soundbites are usually nothing but 'coachspeak' or hot air. You can't put much weight into the words as their either utterly contrived or never come to fruition.

Hearing an underachieving player talk about Miami's "swagger" or talent, predicting a win and the faceplanting come game time - it's enough to make you sick. That said, I'm feeling the exact opposite based on the what's coming out of the piehole of new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple.

Unlike players with a two or three year unproven track record, Whipple has the resume cash the checks his mouth is writing. Sixteen years in Division I-AA head coach and a national champion at UMass in 1998. Five years as a quarterbacks coach in the NFL and a Super Bowl ring, as well. Whipple will now assume the role of offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and Assistant Head Coach.

Some quotes from Whipple earlier this week when asked about the logjam at wide receiver and players too lazy to learn the playbook: "If you want something easy, you should've gone Division III. You could've been a star, but no one would've cared."

Classic.

Regarding guys wanting to play at the next level and his decision to have players breaking down NFL game film all spring, Whipple quipped: "What I said to the guys is that if you're here at the University of Miami, then your expectations are to play in the National Football League... here's what we do in the National Football League and here's what's been successful. We've played in three (league) championship games and won a Super Bowl. If you can't do it here now, don't think you're going to learn it five years from now."

Whipple saved the best for last regarding the logjam at wide receiver and the rotation: "We'll rotate when they drop the ball."

The 'white glove' treatment is over at UM, folks. Country Club Larry and his lackadaisical approach is a thing of the past. Seniority means nothing and competition is everything. You will produce or you'll ride the pine. You'll get your job done and make your mark while at Miami; not afterwards, riding the coattails of past players and a program's legacy en route to the NFL.

Hard knocks at The U. Weaker players who fear competition need not apply.

While everyone knows preseason rankings mean nada, I'm still shocked that few outside of Coral Gables are putting more weight into 'The Whipple Factor'. Top flight recruits are one thing, but the Canes now have an offensive guru who is going to get the most out of this talent. Miami is about to suit up their biggest name at offensive coordinator since Gary Stevens left town. Patrick Nix. Rich Olson. Dan Werner. All three are in the rearview and an established veteran is now on board, calling the shots. Look out.

Here's hoping Whipple shocks the outside world and lights up that scoreboard against Florida State. No better time to make a statement and prove the critics wrong.

Victoria Secret for the Lady Canes...

Victoria's Secret has teamed up with NCAA apparel leader Jones & Mitchell to launch the Exclusive Pink Collegiate Collection. We're promoting this online, but you can't purchase the gear at allCanes.com. The caveat is that this line is only available IN STORE. Those interested, check out the new gear this weekend before fall ball kicks off. allCanes will be open at 7:30am ET.

Also, 30% off any one item if you're there before noon. If you can't make it in or prefer to order online, we're offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $50 through Monday August 10th. Enter promo code "FSFP2009" into the 'Comments' section of the e-cart at the time of checkout. Click here to start shopping today.

Go Canes!

Wear Your Colors on September 4th!

Friday September 4th is officially "Wear Your Colors" Day, so suit up Canes fans! Head over to CollegeColorsDay.com for more info. Miami fans are encouraged to wear orange to work that Friday and to sport their favorite University of Miami gear. Get on board and represent three days before the Labor Day showdown at Florida State!

Will the real Leonard Hankerson please stand up?

I caught wind of the video below a few days back - Miami receiver Leonard Hankerson, jacked up and working with former NFL great Mark Duper this off-season. Check it out as it's definitely worth a watch.

Emotionally, it's the type of video that fuels your fire while waiting on a new season to get underway. Logically, you still employ an "I'll believe it when I see it" mentality, having been burned so many times by pre-season hype followed by regular season disappointment.

Hankerson is an enigma to me. I followed his recruitment in late 2006 while Miami was without a coach and the St. Thomas wideout was considering The U along with Ohio State, UCLA, Florida, South Carolina, Michigan and Georgia. Ranked the No. 43 wideout in the nation and No. 20 player on the Florida Hot 100.

I remember Hankerson's performance in a crushing 45-42 double overtime loss against Lakeland in the Class 5A championship game at Dolphin Stadium back in 2006. I recall all the stories of Hankerson working with his position coach and NFL great Cris Carter, wondering if the then 6-foot-1 and 200 pound wideout would be the Canes next great.

Almost three years later we're all still waiting.

Hankerson is gearing up for his junior season at Miami and unlike 2007, this year's squad is loaded with hungry, talented wide receivers. If Lenny can't cut it, back to the bench he'll go. Two years ago the Canes really needed Hankerson. Now with NFL aspirations and two years of eligibility remaining, it's the wideout who really needs the Canes. The rotation will be cut this year and only the best will play. Will #85 make the top three?

The knock on Hankerson is said to be his hands... which is hard to buy when Duper talks of the Miami wideout having bigger hands than him. The tools are all there, which means the issue here is between the ears. Can Hankerson turn it around mentally? Can he regain the focus that made him a high school great? Time will tell.

I'm hoping for the best, but I'm cautiously optimistic. Having 'the drops' entering year three of your collegiate career isn't where you want to be. Regarding regaining his focus, Hankerson fights an uphill battle as a father of two, in a relationship. Social networking has opened new doors regarding the insight fans have into athletes' lives and after a quick look at Hankerson's MySpace page, you see a young man carrying a heavy burden for a 20-year old college student.

Hankerson's headline on his page states, "If football was my job I'll be gettin paid overtime". Unfortunately those NFL dreams will remain just that - a dream - if Hankerson can't turn things around on the field over the next few years. Here's hoping this kid the best. He has the physical tools and has Duper says in the video below, he has NFL written all over him - if he can catch the ball.