The Stock Report
By: Christopher Stock
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Summer Interviews |
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Mon Jul 19, 2010
With the team in the midst of summer workouts, we have caught up with a few players to discuss the summer and upcoming season and will continue to do until fall practices begin.
Fall camp is slated to begin August 5.
Here are the interviews:
QB Jacory Harris
RB Damien Berry
WR Leonard Hankerson
WR LaRon Byrd
OL Joel Figueroa
LB Sean Spence
CB Brandon Harris
S Vaughn Telemaque
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The U DVD Release |
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Mon Jun 14, 2010
The guys from Rakontur announced today that 'The U' documentary will be released on August 17.
The film, which displayed Miami's rise to national prominence in the 1980s, was ESPN's highest-rated film in the 30-for-30 series.
The DVD is expected to have a number of bonus features including a number of deleted scenes listed below:
The Locker Room
Schnellenberger's Pipe
QB Contest
Joe Namath 1984 Orange Bowl
Michael Irvin in the Cafeteria
Locker Room Speech
Tim Brown 1987
Discipline & Education
Tad Foote at the White House
Lamar and Irvin on the Phone
Ibis Arrest
Depth & Competition
For more information visit rakontur.com
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Bring on Notre Dame |
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Fri May 14, 2010
According to the Chicago Tribune, Miami and Notre Dame are in discussions about playing a game in 2012 at Solider Field in Chicago.
The two bitter rivals from the 1980s last played in 1990.
Notre Dame beat then-No. 1 Miami 31-30 in October 1988 on the way to the national championship.
The next season, Miami defeated No. 1 Notre Dame 27-10 en route to the school's third national title.
Notre Dame leads the all-time series 15-7-1, but Miami has won five of the last seven including a 58-7 thrashing in 1985.
It would be great to see Miami face Notre Dame again and hopefully the two schools can work this out.
Currently, the Hurricanes are slated to face Kansas State, Cincinnati, and USF in non-conference action in 2012.
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Contract Situation Affected Recruiting Says Shannon |
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Thu May 13, 2010
Head coach Randy Shannon and the University of Miami finally agreed on a four-year deal on Wednesday after plenty of discussions.
It was good that the deal finally got done because Shannon said the uncertainty of the deal began to affect recruiting as he was in the final year of his previous contract, something other schools used against Miami.
"It is part of it," Shannon said in a teleconference on Thursday morning. "Anytime somebody can use things against you, that's part of it. But I always say this and I think this is one of the greatest things about me is I will never, ever badmouth a school like use anything towards another coach. I know some coaches do that towards the University of Miami as far as myself or the University of Miami, which is in Coral Gables, Florida. I think that's the thing we do, we sell our program. We sell our coaching staff, we sell our university, and we sell everything about it.
"That's one thing that has made us if you look at what we've done over the last three years, it has really made us turn the corner because we sell what we have at the University of Miami. And not to be cocky, but we don't worry about what other people say about us. We get the bad knock on us from other coaches, but we praise the other coaches. The other coaches might say something bad about us, but we say 'hey, he's a good guy, a great guy' and we move on."
Miami currently has two commits in the 2011 class: OL Marcus Jackson (Vero Beach) and CB Albert Louis-Jean (Brockton, Mass.).
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UM Ranks 2nd in NFL Pipeline Survey |
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Mon May 10, 2010
An ESPN.com survey of NFL drafts from 1979 to 2009 revealed USC, Miami, Pittsburgh and Florida State produced the most fertile NFL draft pipelines over the past three decades according to Mark Schlabach.
The survey awarded one point for each player who was named NFL most valuable player, defensive player of the year, offensive player of the year or All-Pro (first- or second-team) and one point for each Pro Bowl appearance.
The Hurricanes, who produced an NFL first-round pick every year from 1994 to 2008 and had a whopping 19 first-rounders from 2001 to 2004, finished second in the survey with 164 points. Among Miami's most prominent NFL alumni: Ray Lewis (a 10-time Pro Bowler), Warren Sapp (seven Pro Bowls) and Cortez Kennedy (eight Pro Bowls).
Click here to read article
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QB Harris Cleared to Throw |
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Wed Apr 28, 2010
Junior quarterback Jacory Harris had off-season hand surgery in January on his throwing hand, which prevented him from participating in spring practices.
On Tuesday, he was cleared by doctors to begin throwing again.
Head coach Randy Shannon says he'll be ready for fall practices in August.
"He'll definitely be ready," Shannon said.
Harris threw for 3,352 yards last season, the fourth-highest single season total in UM history.
He also threw for 24 touchdowns and 17 interceptions and completed 60 percent of his passes in his first year as the team's starting quarterback.
In his career, Harris is 10-5 as a starting quarterback and has thrown for 4,547 yards and 36 touchdowns with 24 interceptions.
Shannon has not named a back-up quarterback to Harris, but sophomore A.J. Highsmith is the favorite to win that position. Junior Spencer Whipple and freshman Stephen Morris are also options.
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Shockey Interview on Jim Rome |
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Wed Apr 21, 2010
Former Hurricane Jeremy Shockey talks about winning a Super Bowl, his experience with the Giants, and more while representing his alma mater with a Miami shirt on.
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LB Spence Comments on Teammates |
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Tue Apr 6, 2010
Junior linebacker Sean Spence is expected to be one of the team leaders in 2010.
So we caught up with Spence to get his take on three of his teammates as well as which teammate stood out to him the most during spring practices.
Spence on WR Aldarius Johnson…
“I think he’s going to have a good season. His head is in the right direction right now. I’ve seen him after practice catching balls on his own, just going extra things and putting that extra work in. I don’t think his talents ever left. He just has to go out there and prove it on the field.”
Spence on LB Kylan Robinson…
“He is a smart physical linebacker who can make checks and the calls before the snap. He can get the defense lined up to where we need to be. He has made a big change. He is a totally different player mentally and physically.”
Spence on DT Curtis Porter…
“He has been keeping the offensive line off of me. He is been a big body in the middle and giving the offensive line a tough time.”
Premium Bonus: Click here to see which player stood out to Spence during the spring.
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Spring Game Info |
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Thu Mar 25, 2010
The Miami Hurricanes will hold their annual spring game on Saturday, March 27 at Traz Powell Stadium.
The game will start at 4:30 and will be televised live on CSS.
Gates will open at 3.
Players will take part in an autograph session from 3:30-4 p.m.
Traz Powell Stadium is on the Miami-Dade College campus at 11380 NW 27th Avenue.
What to expect: It will be a Team Miami vs. Team Hurricanes format as Miami's trio of backup quarterback take center stage as starter Jacory Harris has been out all spring recovering from hand surgery. Freshman running backs Lamar Miller and Storm Johnson are likely to put on a show as they have in previous scrimmages. On defense, look for sophomore safeties Vaughn Telemaque and Ray Ray Armstrong to be very active in addition to the dominance of senior defensive lineman Allen Bailey.
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Miami AD Kirby Hocutt Named Forty Under 40 Award Recipient |
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Mon Mar 8, 2010
Press release from UM:
CORAL GABLES, Fla.-- University of Miami Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt has been selected as one of this year’s Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal Forty Under 40 Awards recipients announced by the publication today.
Those selected will receive their awards in Los Angeles during a black-tie ceremony at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live on Thursday, March 18. Hocutt is the only Director of Athletics in the 40 person class.
The Forty Under 40 Awards program was initiated in 1999 to identify and honor the most promising young executives in sports business under the age of 40. Winners are selected by a committee of SportsBusiness Journal/Daily editors and writers.
“Our Forty Under 40 program recognizes the very best young talent from all the different segments of the sports industry, from teams and leagues, to agencies and media, to sponsors and partners,” said SportsBusiness Journal/DailyPublisher Richard Weiss. “This year’s class is another outstanding group of young men and women who are at the top of their game and who wield enormous influence in sports.”
The winners were chosen from hundreds of nominees and were cited for specific achievement in the sports industry, including demonstrations of innovation, entrepreneurialism, leadership and influence.
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March 6: Sean Taylor Foundation Hosting Celebrity Softball Game |
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Fri Mar 5, 2010
Join NFL’ers Jevon Kearse, Ed Reed, Sinorice Moss, and many more as they step up to the plate for our youth!
The Sean Taylor Foundation is hosting their inaugural event on March 6th at St. Thomas University. The festivities will kick off at 3pm with a Home Run Derby followed by the first annual Celebrity Softball game at 4pm! Don’t miss this great family event and performances by the Manatee’s as well as DJ LS One!
Event Details: Activities are planned throughout the day, including performances by the Manatee, give aways and raffles.
Location: St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, FL
Event Time: Home Run Derby 3:00pm, Game Time: 4:00pm
Ticket Price: Children $6 Adults $12 parking is free
*Proceeds go toward local youth programs as well as the development of the Sean Taylor Foundation mentoring programs.
*Spectators are encouraged to bring blankets and/or beach chairs however coolers and alcohol will not be permitted on the premises.
To order your tickets in advance call: (877) 877-7677 or click the button below.
Click here for more info
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FBU Camp Coming to Miami |
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Wed Mar 3, 2010
For players interested in attending camps during the spring, here's one provided by the Football University staff:
Top talent to be on display at the elite, invite-only Football University training experience. Modeled after a NFL mini-camp, top professional and college players and coaches have trained numerous top athletes within the past year. Over 230 FBU athletes signed letters of intent this February at signing day and FBU trained over two-dozen U.S. Army All-Americans in 2009!
Players interested in nominating themselves can log onto www.FootballUniversity.org to submit their credentials (although we utilize a national network of scouts to invite top players, we do encourage top players to nominate themselves as well for possible inclusion).
Football University South Florida
WHAT: Football University - Miami, invitation-only camp to train elite youth and high school prospects.
WHO: Former NFL players and coaches; 150 elite youth and high school football players from the region
WHEN: Friday, March 19 -– Sunday, March 21; On-field camp starts Saturday at 8:30am. Media welcome anytime.
WHERE: Cypress Bay High School; 18600 Vista Park Blvd., Weston, Florida
ABOUT FBU
Football University is an invitation-only experience for the serious football player, focusing on teaching technique and skill in a small-group setting with other elite athletes. Modeled after NFL mini-camps, each camp includes 14 hours of training and development—both on the field and off the field—including film study, classroom testing, and access to hi-tech equipment, all under the professional tutelage of former NFL players and coaches. Football University travels the nation to train players hand-picked by the organization’s network of regional directors and scouts.
Football University, produced by All American Games (formerly SportsLink), the company who runs the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, has been featured by USA Today and The Wall Street Journal. Two years ago, Sports Illustrated sent a reporter "undercover" to see what this new level of elite camp is all about. Last year, The Dallas Morning News, The Kansas City Star, The Boston Globe, The Birmingham News, The Orlando Sentinel and The Houston Chronicle all did feature stories about Football University!
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Buzz Around the Program |
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Mon Feb 15, 2010
There is plenty of buzz around the program with spring practices approaching, players changing numbers, Randy Shannon's extension, coaching changes, recruiting, and more.
So let’s get right into what we’ve been hearing from credible sources inside the program as we bring you “Inside The U”.
PREMIUM: Click here to read report
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Free VIP Tickets to Super Bowl Events |
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Wed Feb 3, 2010
InsideTheU.com supporters, I'm pleased to announce that I have acquired VIP tickets to two Super Bowl celebrity events on Friday and Saturday that we are giving away.
Just contact me by calling 305-661-6759 or emailing me at stock@insidetheu.com.
Friday - Stars vs. Studs Celebrity Sports Competition
On Friday from 4:00 to 6:30 at Peacock Park in Coconut Grove, check out the Stars vs. Studs Celebrity Sports Competition.
There is expected to be over 3,000 attendees including various local charities, pro football players, celebrities, and corporate sponsors.
The Pros vs. Joes type event will feature Miami Dolphins players against other top athletes and celebrities.
Dolphins players expected to be in attendance: Nate Jones, Anthony Fasano, Greg Camarillo, Lousaka Polite, and Brandon Fields.
The celebrity team consists of: Tae-Bo creator Billy Blanks, boxing legend Evander Holyfield, NBA champion Robert Horry, Florida Marlins superstar Hanley Ramirez, and NFL alumni Doug Flutie.
Saturday - Celebrity Flag Football Challenge
On Saturday at 1:00-4:00 at Peacock Park in Coconut Grove, check out the Celebrity Flag Football Challenge.
There is expected to be over 3,000 attendees including various local charities, pro football players, celebrities, and corporate sponsors.
Celebrities scheduled to attend are: Jon Beason, Antrel Rolle, DeSean Jackson, Doug Flutie, Sidney Rice, Darnell Dockett, Mike Jenkins, Richard Marshall, Bernard Berrian, Visanthe Shaincoe, Antonio Smith, Jared Gaither, Stephen Tulloch, Olindo Mare, Bryant McFadden, Matt Roth, Atari Bigby, Louis Murphy, Allen Rossum, and Eddie Drummond.
Again, just contact me by calling 305-661-6759 or emailing me at stock@insidetheu.com to get the free VIP tickets.
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Corey Lemonier Update |
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Sat Jan 23, 2010
We have inside information on Hialeah defensive end Corey Lemonier, the top player in Miami-Dade County and an Under Armour All-American.
Click here to get the latest info on Lemonier (Note: you must register for a username on the message boards and be a premium subscriber to read)
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New Feature: InsideTheU LIVE |
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Thu Jan 14, 2010
Hey guys, with recruiting in it's busiest month, we have decided to debut "InsideTheU LIVE" on USTREAM.
InsideTheU LIVE will start off as a live video feed show where I will answer questions users have on recruiting and the team over the video. This is a feature that I hope you will enjoy that will add a personal touch to your questions.
We will debut InsideTheU LIVE on Friday, January 15 at 2:30 p.m.
You can begin by asking questions here on the premium message boards.
InsideTheU LIVE on USTREAM
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New Hire by UM |
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Thu Jan 7, 2010
The University of Miami football program has made a new hire and he has been very active in recruiting since being hired.
Premium Subscribers: Click here for more info
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Radio Interview Reviewing the Bowl Game |
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Sun Jan 3, 2010
The day after Miami's loss to Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl, I discussed the game, recruiting, and more in an interview on 640 WFTL.
Click here to listen
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Ray Lewis' Mission in Baltimore |
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Mon Dec 21, 2009
Former Hurricane Ray Lewis talks to Rachel Nichols about his work in Baltimore's crime-ridden neighborhoods.
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Canes Resume Practice Dec. 18 |
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Mon Dec 14, 2009
The Hurricanes return to the practice fields on December 18 in preparation for facing Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl on December 29.
The team will practice December 18, 19, 22, and 23 in Coral Gables.
They will have a day off and check into their hotel in Orlando on December 25 and resume practice later that day.
UM will also have practices in Orlando on December 26 and 27 before a closed walk-through on the 28th.
The Champs Sports Bowl is at 8 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.
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'The U' Documentary on ESPN December 12 |
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Fri Dec 4, 2009
Hurricane fans, you definitely HAVE TO check out 'The U' Documentary by Billy Corben, which will debut on ESPN on December 12 at 9:00 PM as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 sports documentary series.
Click here for more information on the film
Here's our interview with Corben as he talked about a variety of topics about the film and the Hurricanes.
The film will also be shown on December 13 at 1:30 AM (ESPN2) and 11:00 PM (ESPN2) in addition to being shown on December 20 at 12:00 AM (ESPN2) and December 27 at 1:00 PM (ESPN).
For those interested interested in attending the premiere at The Historic Lyric Theater on December 9, you can register to win tickets here
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Kellen Winslow Started 'The U' Craze |
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Mon Nov 16, 2009
While at the UM, Kellen Winslow was probably best known for his post-game tirade following a loss to Tennessee in 2003.
And while his mention of being a solider is what people remember most, what should be known is that during that tirade, Winslow said, "We don't care about nobody except this 'U'."
The tirade made national news and still follows Winslow to this day. But ever since that afternoon in November, the University of Miami has embraced itself as being simply referred to as 'The U'.
Winslow started this.
He was the first person known to have publicly refer to Miami as 'The U'. Now the slogan has national appeal and nearly everyone refers to the school as 'The U'.
Interview with Winslow
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Freshman Updates |
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Wed Nov 4, 2009
The 2009 class has a few players making an impact this season with five players who have played in at least six of the eight games for the 16th-ranked Hurricanes.
Here's the top five (true) freshman impact players this season.
1. S Ray Ray Armstrong (17 tackles, 1 breakup, 7 games, 1 start)
2. DE Olivier Vernon (13 tackles, 4.5 loss, 6 games, 1 start)
3. FB Mike James (84 total yards, 8 games, 4 starts)
4. OL Brandon Washington (played in all 8 games)
5. CB Brandon McGee (1 tackle, played in 6 games
Redshirted players to watch in the future: RB Lamar Miller, DE Dyron Dye, OLs Jared Wheeler and Jermaine Johnson.
Here is a complete list of articles we have done with freshmen since the season began (not including fall practices):
QB #19 A.J. Highsmith
QB Highsmith Recaps Debut
QB Highsmith Discusses Possibility of Playing
RB #27 Lamar Miller
Miller Time Will Come in 2010
FB #22 Mike James
Freshman James Enjoying FB Role
OL #72 Brandon Washington
A Conversation with Brandon Washington
DE #35 Olivier Vernon
Freshman DE Vernon Making Quick Impact
CB #21 Brandon McGee
Freshman CB McGee Enjoys Getting Feet Wet
S #26 Ray Ray Armstrong
VIDEO: Ray Ray Discusses First Start
Armstrong Brings Excitement to the Game
Ray Ray Makes Nice First Impression
Shannon Discusses Freshman S Armstrong
S #15 Jamal Reid
Reid Vows to Play Two Sports
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Canes Up for Awards |
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Mon Oct 26, 2009
Official releases:
Jacory Harris
Sophomore quarterback Jacory Harris has been named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Narrowed down from all 120 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterbacks, the list highlights 15 individuals who will vie for the oldest and most prestigious award honoring the nation’s best college quarterback. The 2009 O’Brien Semifinalists represent schools from the following conferences: ACC (1), Big East (2), Big Ten (2), Big 12 (3), Conference USA (1), Independent (1), Mid-American (1), Pac-10 (2), SEC (1) and the WAC (1).
Through seven games, Harris has completed 64.6 percent of his passes while completing 122-of-189 passes for 1,774 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has a 155.51 passing efficiency which ranks 10th nationally.
2009 O’Brien Semifinalists
Matt Barkley, FR, USC, Pac-10
Daryll Clark, SR, Penn State, Big Ten
Jimmy Clausen, JR, Notre Dame, Independent
Jacory Harris, SO, Miami, ACC
Case Keenum, JR, Houston, Conference USA
Dan LeFevour, SR, Central Michigan, Mid-American
Jake Locker, JR, Washington, Pac-10
Colt McCoy, SR, Texas, Big 12
Kellen Moore, SO, Boise State, WAC
Tony Pike, SR, Cincinnati, Big East
Todd Reesing, SR, Kansas, Big 12
Zac Robinson, SR, Oklahoma State, Big 12
Ricky Stanzi, JR, Iowa, Big Ten
Bill Stull, SR, Pittsburgh, Big East
Tim Tebow, SR, Florida, SEC
Matt Bosher
Junior punter/placekicker Matt Bosher has been named one of three Lou Groza National Collegiate Place Kicker Award “Stars of the Week” after his performance against Clemson.
Bosher, who was named ACC Specialist of the Week last week, had another solid performance as he kicked three field goals and converted four point after touchdown attempts in Miami’s game with Clemson. He connected on field goals from 49 yards, 51 yards and 22 yards and extended his consecutive PAT streak to 66 straight. He also punted three times, averaging 46.3 yards per punt with a long of 55 yards and did not allow a return.
For the season, Bosher is 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) in field goal attempts with a season-long 51-yarder. He leads Miami with 53 points.
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Hoopfest on Wednesday |
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Mon Oct 19, 2009
Check out the Hurricanes basketball team in action on Wednesday...
Official release from the University of Miami:
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s and women’s basketball teams will hold their second annual Hurricanes Hoopfest at the BankUnited Center from 7-9 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 21.
Doors open at 7 p.m. with the men’s team scrimmaging for 30 minutes, followed by a 30-minute practice session from the women’s basketball team. Fans will be able to purchase seats for the upcoming season and meet the teams during an autograph session.
Sixth-year head coach Frank Haith is back at the helm for the men’s team, who also returns a pair of starters and seven letterwinners. Two of the team’s top-three scorers in Dwayne Collins and James Dews are back for the Hurricanes and joined by a recruiting class ranked among the Top 25 by ESPN.
Miami’s six newcomers in 2009-10 include Malcolm Grant, Reggie Johnson, Antoine Allen and ESPNU 100 picks Durand Scott, Garrius Adams and Donnavan Kirk.
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NFL Scouts in Coral Gables |
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Sat Oct 10, 2009
This week as many as 20 NFL scouts visited the University of Miami campus to watch practice and film as well as talk to coaches.
"They are just out here doing their job," head coach Randy Shannon said.
Typically, UM opens it up for scouts once or twice a year.
Although Miami does not have any current projected first-rounders in the 2010 draft among their seniors, there are underclassmen who could develop into high-round picks.
"Most definitely we like that they are here," sophomore wide receiver LaRon Byrd said. "Hopefully you put out an impression for those guys so they come back two or three years down the line for you."
Miami's top senior draft hopefuls include: S Randy Phillips, DE Eric Moncur, RB Javarris James, OL Jason Fox, TE Dedrick Epps, and TE Jimmy Graham.
Juniors RB Graig Cooper, WR Leonard Hankerson, and DT Allen Bailey are also considered potential picks if they decide to leave early.
Miami's streak of having a first-round draft pick was snapped last season after an NFL-record 14 straight years. Only LB Spencer Adkins was taken in last year's draft in the sixth round.
"It's every kids dream to play in the NFL," Byrd said.
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Check Out the ESPNU UM Road Trip Videos |
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Mon Oct 5, 2009
ESPN's Drubner visited the University of Miami as he went behind the scenes for all the sights and sounds of Miami including tailgates and traditions of game day as Hurricanes hosted the Sooners.
In case you missed the videos, they were pretty entertaining:
Drubner's Search for a Tour Guide
Gameday Experience at UM
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QB Bradford Out, Jones In |
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Thu Oct 1, 2009
Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford will not start for Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Thursday and that Landry Jones will start for Bradford.
"Sam has made daily progress, but we don't feel like he's quite where he needs to be yet," Stoops said in a statement. "Our team has a lot of confidence in Landry's ability and we're looking forward to going into the game with him at quarterback."
Complete story here here
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Oklahoma QB Bradford Injury Update |
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Tue Sep 29, 2009
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, injured his shoulder in the Sept. 5 season opener against BYU and has been out since.
Here's the latest injury update with Bradford, who could return this week against Miami.
Click here for an update
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My Thoughts on UM-Georgia Tech |
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Fri Sep 18, 2009
For those interested, I was on the radio Friday morning discussing the Miami-Georgia Tech game.
Here is the audio link to the interview
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On the Radio to Discuss UM-GTech Game |
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Fri Sep 18, 2009
Just a heads up for those interested:
On Friday, September 18, I will be a guest on Lesley Visser's radio show at 9:05 AM to talk about the Hurricanes victory over Georgia Tech.
(Click here to listen live)
Discuss on the message boards
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Live from Land Shark Stadium |
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Thu Sep 17, 2009
Hey there, I just arrived at the press box for the game tonight, which starts at 7:30.
I will be doing game day notes on the message boards tonight and also on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/insidetheu
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Best Basketball Players on the Football Team |
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Wed Sep 16, 2009
Tight end Jimmy Graham (pictured) is by far the best basketball player on the football team.
After all, Graham played four years under coach Frank Haith and ranks eighth in UM history with 104 career blocks.
The 6-foot-8, 260-pound former center scored a career high 19 points against Virginia, dropped his first double-double on his birthday with 11 points and 13 rebounds in 15 minutes against San Diego, and grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked five shots against eventual NCAA champion North Carolina.
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So Graham holds the honor as the best basketball player on the team, but which four other players would fill out a solid starting five?
“People keep telling me that they are good,” Graham said. “Colin McCarthy keeps telling me. Jason Fox, apparently is a beast, Chavez Grant apparently can hold his own, right there, there’s four right there. We just need one more. Oh and LaRon Byrd.”
With Graham at center on this fictional team, Grant (5-11), a former defensive specialist at Booker T. Washington, would assume the point guard role with McCarthy (6-3) and Byrd (6-4), a 20-point scorer in Louisiana, as the wings with Fox (6-7) down low.
There are plenty of other players on the team with basketball backgrounds. JoJo Nicolas reported basketball offers from FAU, Tulsa, and UTEP. Leonard Hankerson and Jermaine Johnson were both very good high school player at St. Thomas Aquinas. Kylan Robinson earned first-team all-state honors in Alaska.
Richard Gordon, Tyler Horn, Luther Robinson, and Jared Wheeler also played basketball in high school. Late edition, word is that Randy Phillips was pretty good too.
Discuss on the message boards
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Listen to Radio Interview After UM-FSU Game |
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Wed Sep 9, 2009
For those interested, I was on the radio Tuesday morning discussing the Miami-Florida State game.
Here is the audio link to the interview
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On the Radio 9:30 a.m on Tuesday |
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Tue Sep 8, 2009
Just a heads up for those interested:
On Tuesday, September 8, I will be a guest on Lesley Visser's radio show at 9:30 AM to talk about the Hurricanes victory over Florida State.
(Click here to listen live)
Discuss on the message boards
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Game Day Notes vs. FSU |
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Mon Sep 7, 2009
I have arrived in the press box and all set up for tonight's game against Florida State, which will be televised on ESPN at 8 p.m.
* Here's a list of guys that did not travel
* One note worth paying VERY close attention to is in the last 22 games between the two schools, the team that has had more rushing yards is 17-5.
* Here's who started against FSU.
* Just got done talking with an FSU writer and here's a little something to watch for this game.
* Third string QB is walk-on Matt Perrelli and wearing number 17. Former walk-on QB Jake Byrne is a tight end wearing number 87.
* Captains for Miami: LT Jason Fox, CB Chavez Grant, and S Randy Phillips
* Congrats to former Canes LB Spencer Adkins (Falcons), CB Bruce Johnson (Giants), and DT Antonio Dixon (Eagles) for making an NFL roster as rookies.
Also, just a reminder that we are on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace so be sure to add us.
More Gameday notes coming!
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FSU Week |
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Mon Aug 31, 2009
Finally! The season opener at Florida State is just a week away. I'm more than excited for the game and ready to put all the talk aside and see EXACTLY what UM has to offer this season.
We watched all of the spring practices and got a better idea of how guys are looking and where they are in their development. But in the fall, our access to practice is extremely limited. We've talked with players and coaches about the progress, but it's different than seeing it first hand.
Be sure to check out all of the articles on the team leading up to Monday's game by CLICKING HERE.
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Two More QBs Leave the Program |
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Tue Aug 25, 2009
Redshirt freshmen quarterbacks Taylor Cook (pictured), a 2008 Under Armour All-American, and Cannon Smith have decided to transfer with 13 days before the season opener against Florida State.
Neither have picked their new destinations, but both have been granted their release from the program.
That leaves the Hurricanes with sophomore Jacory Harris and true freshman A.J. Highsmith the only scholarship quarterbacks on the roster.
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In the last three years, four quarterbacks have left the UM program. Kirby Freeman, who started the 2007 season opener, transferred to Baylor after the season and Robert Marve, last year's starting quarterback, transferred to Baylor following the season. Four in three years is a disappointing number of transfers at the most important position on the team.
Harris will have to shoulder the responsibilities assuming he does not re-injure his shoulder. The biggest concern with losing two quarterbacks is the question of what would happened if Harris were to get hurt?
Would Highsmith get the nod? Would fifth-year walk-on Matt Perrelli be given an opportunity? Would another player be inserted in to run a wildcat-type offense? Regardless of what the decision would be, it would be a less-than-ideal situation.
The reason it is a concern is because Harris still has a slender frame at 190 pounds, although he has gained 15 pounds in the past year, and is one big hit away from being on the sidelines. Harris took a hit in the Emerald Bowl against Cal last season, which he injured his shoulder. UM, and coach Randy Shannon, cannot afford to have Harris get hurt as the team is trying to show fans and administrators that things ARE going in the right direction with much-needed results, not talk, in 2009.
On Monday, Shannon told reporters that the backup position to Harris was wide open although Cook earned the nod in the spring. Highsmith was being given an opportunity to throw his name in the race as a backup. Highsmith has made some plays this fall, but the learning curve is greater with him as opposed to Harris a year ago.
Cook was always someone to monitor with his status with the program considering how close of a relationship he had with Marve. Finally, he had enough and is likely headed to a school back in his home state of Texas. Here's an interview we did with Cook during fall practices.
It will be interesting to see how the team handles the adversity, how Harris plays in the opener, how Highsmith progresses, and what Shannon has to say about the transfers.
For those counting, 12 players have transferred and six more have left the program, in Shannon's three-year tenure at UM.
It makes you wonder who will be next.
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Futch Glad He Didn't Get Taped Up |
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Tue Aug 18, 2009
Sophomore linebacker Jordan Futch, aka Mister Knock Some Heads Off, was glad he didn't get taped up by his teammates on his birthday.
Futch, who turned 19 on Monday, enjoyed the love he received from coaches and teammates.
"You get all of the happy birthdays, Coach Shannon made sure he came down and said happy birthday, everybody showed love," Futch said. "Thank God I didn't get taped up. Usually that's the goal, you get taped up."
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Futch has enjoyed his time at UM and has one of the more outgoing personalities on the team. He's part of a young linebacking corps that are expected to do big things in their careers.
"Most definitely it's great celebrating my birthday with my teammates, these are my brothers," Futch said. "We come out here and fight every day. We fight with Swasey when we run and do training. Every day is a battle, but it has to be fun or else it's like a job. That's one thing Coach Shannon stresses."
And if you're curious about the nickname, every time I've talked to Futch, he always talks about knocking people's heads off.
Futch is looking to be headhunter on September 7 against the Seminoles, which would be his first action since October 25 as he missed the final five games of last season.
Discuss on the message boards
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Fox, Bosher Named Preseason All-ACC |
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Wed Jul 29, 2009
This release is from UM.
GREENSBORO, N.C. -University of Miami's senior offensive tackle Jason Fox and junior kicker Matt Bosher have been named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Football Team, as announced by the league office on Wednesday.
Fox - an Outland Trophy candidate - has started 36 games in his career and is entering his third season as UM's full-time starting left tackle. Last season, he led the `Canes in grading out at 97% for the year.
Bosher is coming off a sophomore season in which he converted 18-of-20 field goal attempts en route to becoming a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation's top kicker. Bosher led UM and ranked second in the ACC in scoring last season with 94 points.
In all, 17 players who earned first or second-team or honorable mention All-ACC honors in 2008 were chosen for the 2009 preseason team, including 2009 first-team honorees Russell Wilson, Jonathan Dwyer, C.J. Spiller (as specialist), Rodney Hudson and Travis Baltz.
Nine members of the 2009 preseason team earned second team All-ACC honors last year including Bosher (who actually earned second-team All-ACC as a punter and placekicker), Spiller (as a running back), Jason Worilds, Morgan Burnett, Anthony Castonzo, Sergio Render, Alex Wujciak, Ras-I-Dowling and Kendric Burney. The 2008 honorable mention All-ACC selections were Vince Oghobaase, Matt Tennant and Willie Young.
As a team, Miami was selected by media members to finish fourth in the league's Coastal Division, garnering 282 points. Virginia Tech (78 first place votes) was selected as the Coastal Division champion with 512 points while Florida State (56 first place votes) was picked as the Atlantic Division winner with 479 points.
The Hokies were picked to win the league's championship game with 69 votes while Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer was chosen as the preseason player of the year with 39 votes.
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WR Hurns Denies Report of Commitment Coming |
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Tue Jul 28, 2009
Okay, so there is a site out there saying that Carol City wide receiver Allen Hurns could commit this week in an "exclusive" report.
Well don't expect that to happen.
I talked with Hurns, who we've had a good relationship with, and he denied the report that he was going to commit, "I said I was going to visit, but I'm not ready to commit anywhere."
I believe Hurns will wait, which he has said he would do. It's just another example of false recruiting information out there.
That same site actually wrote an article of a kid and his interest in Miami only to take it down when they realized the kid committed to Florida State a week ago. Oops!
But they are not the only one making mistakes as last week the Miami Herald reported that Jakhari Gore committed to Miami and then later took back their report. Falsely reporting a commitment is about the worst thing you could do when covering recruiting and you rarely see it happen.
As a reporter, you have to be careful what you report and especially with recruiting.
Meanwhile, keep checking our site with plenty of interviews from CanesFest and we were in Orlando for the ESPN Rise 7-on-7 event, which had tons of kids with Miami offers.
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Preseason ACC Poll |
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Tue Jul 28, 2009
The ACC Media Days were held July 26-27 and here's how the voting went by the ACC Media with Miami expected to finish fourth in its division.
ATLANTIC DIVISION
1. Florida State (56)
2. Clemson (14)
3. NC State (10)
4. Wake Forest (7)
5. Maryland
6. Boston College
COASTAL DIVISION
1. Virginia Tech (78)
2. Georgia Tech (9)
3. North Carolina
4. Miami
5. Virginia
6. Duke
PREDICTED ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WINNER
1. Virginia Tech (69)
2. Florida State (7), Georgia Tech (7)
3. Clemson (2), NC State (2)
2009 PRESEASON ACC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1. Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech (39)
2. C.J. Spiller, Clemson, (28)
3. Russell Wilson, NC State (16)
4. Christian Ponder, FSU; Vic Hall, Virginia; Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech; Riley Skinner, Wake Forest (1)
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Plenty of Good Info at CanesFest |
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Sat Jul 25, 2009
CanesFest was held on Saturday at Land Shark Stadium. Because of the rain, the event was held inside, which I think turned out pretty good. Fans seemed to have very good access to the players for autographs.
I did a number of interviews at the event with a lot of players, which will be posted in the upcoming week.
Click here for a few tidbits from the event
Click here for photos
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CanesFest on Saturday |
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Fri Jul 24, 2009
Hurricane fans, it's that time of year again. Be sure to check out CanesFest, Saturday at Land Shark Stadium from 12-2 p.m.
Click here for more details
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Honored to be on Lesley Visser's Radio Show |
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Thu Jul 23, 2009
On Friday, July 24, I will be a guest on Lesley Visser's radio show at 9:05 AM to talk about the Hurricanes upcoming season.
(Click here to listen live)
I am honored to be on Lesley's show considering the type of impact she has made in the sports journalism industry. She's done everything you're looking to do as a sports journalist and has paved the way for women in the industry as well, which hasn't been easy.
It should be fun and I'll be sure to inform everyone about other radio appearances in the future.
Click here if you missed it
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My Experience with Jeremy Davis and Making "Time to Shine" |
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Wed Jun 17, 2009
We just released "Time to Shine", a documentary on Jeremy Davis, who has verbally committed to Miami.
I was very pleased with how the film turned out and I hope it is something that fans really enjoy.
I have been wanting to do something like this for a while after making "Respect the Speed", a film on Booker T. and Brandon Harris' trip to South Carolina. When focusing on an individual, it takes the right person and right timing to make it work. And without question, Jeremy did an excellent job.
Jeremy's story intrigued me because he is the younger brother of NFL cornerback Phillip Buchanon, a former Miami star, and I believe Jeremy has a very bright future ahead of him. I felt he would be a good fit for this film and he came through.
Although I was confident, I'll admit, I wasn't too sure how everything was going to go with the film because we didn't have a concrete plan as to what I would shoot. But I had a basic idea and grabbed my camera and drove to Fort Myers to meet up with Jeremy.
While writing takes up most of our time here at InsideTheU, I like doing video features, especially ones like this. One thing we like to do with InsideTheU is bring you as much information as possible especially with recruiting, which is why our recruiting articles are more in-depth that you will see other places.
When I first arrived in Fort Myers, I had a few ideas for Jeremy and he had a few too, although I know he didn't quite know what to expect either. I promised him that although the idea seemed a bit far fetched in the beginning, that everything is going to be good. He responded and performed very well in front of the camera. He had a lot of good moments in the film when he was driving and just offered his thoughts on a variety of topics. It had the feeling of him just communicating his thoughts as opposed to anything with structure.
Jeremy came across very real and I wanted to make sure I captured that in the film. His family members were great too and this project could not have been successful without their help. And his friends were very cooperative as well. Some people knew he was coming around, but other times, we just popped in and I had a camera in my hand. For those who welcomed me into your home, I thank you.
There were a lot of clips that I could not fit into the film and I apologize to those people who were not included in the final product. There were also some good moments that were not included either, but you can't fit everything in.
It was great working with Jeremy on this film and I wish him the best of luck at his new school, Cape Coral, after transferring from Fort Myers. Because of his talent, mindset towards the game, and his family support, I think he has a very bright future ahead of him and someone Miami fans will love to watch.
A big thanks goes out to everyone who was involved in the film and I look forward to a similar project.
If you have comments or ideas for the next InsideTheU Entertainment film, e-mail me at stock@insidetheu.com
Post your comments here
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CBs Noel and Allen Do Not Have UM Offers |
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Tue Jun 16, 2009
Despite recent reports of cornerbacks Merrill Noel (Pahokee) and Ricardo Allen (Daytona Beach Mainland) having offers from Miami, this is not true.
Both players have told reporters in recent interviews they have UM offers, but this is not the case.
Sometimes recruits get confused with coaches saying positive things about them, but that does not mean they have an offer.
It was a bit of a surprise that both players claimed an offer considering they are both undersized, something Miami is trying to stay away from at the cornerback position.
At the Orlando Under Armour combine in January, Noel checked in at 5-foot-8 and 161 pounds. Allen at 5-8 1/2 and 168 pounds.
Both players have scholarship offers and are good prospects, but as of now, Miami has not offered them and it appears unlikely they will receive offers considering how many other cornerbacks they are after.
More Cornerback Buzz
Atlanta Westlake's Darius Robinson visited Miami this past weekend and has told some reporters he's close to a commitment, however don't expect that to happen and I'd be very surprised to see him sign with Miami.
Comment on the blog
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Spring Road Tour Awards |
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Mon Jun 1, 2009
We have completed our Spring Road Tour in the month of May as we made 29 stops to see various high school practices and spring games in South Florida.
After seeing plenty Miami recruits in 7-on-7 events, camps, and combines over the previous few months, we finally saw guys compete in pads. It was great to see the stars play at a high level as well as seeing sleepers and young players emerge as players to keep an eye on.
This was our second year doing the tour and it was even more successful than the previous year as we provided scouting reports on each stop as well as interviews from the top players, video highlights of practices and spring games, and more.
I want to thank all of the high school coaches that allowed us to stop by their practices and games while helping provide us with info.
Now while there were plenty of great moments and great performances that I saw, here are my award winners for the 2009 Spring Road Tour.
Top 3 Feel Good Moments
1. The Atmosphere at Ransom Everglades
I had heard about the field at Ransom Everglades, located in Coconut Grove, which sits close to the ocean. But I had no idea it is right there on the water. It was a great atmosphere in their spring game against Gulliver Prep as the students filled the stands and watched from a nearby building. One end of the field is less than six feet from the water and extra points/field goals all go in the water. I was told that they have kayaks that chase down the balls during the season, but they did not have them during the spring game. Players, if not paying attention, could run off the field and end up in the water. In addition to the water aspect, the sidelines were so tight that you couldn't fit more than three people deep before the stands or rocks, depending on what side you were on. Anyways, I loved it all. It was a great atmosphere and takes the top of my 'Top Feel Good Moments' of the spring. I definitely plan on going to a game there this fall regardless if they don't have a UM recruit in action. (Click here to view photo)
2. The Intensity of Miami Central's Practice
When watching high school practices, I'll admit, sometimes they can be a bit long. Which is why I definitely can appreciate the way Telly Lockett has his boys practicing over at Miami Central. They flat out get after it. The hits are hard and the practices are very intense. If you want to go to Central just to wear the sharp green and white uniforms (which I think are the best in the county), you better be prepared to get after it. Miami Central is a Class 6A title contender this year and they aren't taking days off. Their offense is as good as it gets as shown by their 500+ yard effort in the spring game and their defense is improving. Coach Lockett has his guys playing tough and if it continues over to the season, they'll be tough to beat. (Click here to view report)
3. The Rise of the Jackson Program
While I enjoyed seeing a number of kids and coaches play well in the spring, I was very happy for Jackson head coach Nigel Dunn, who coached the previous nine seasons at Norland. Dunn's Jackson squad, a former power in Dade County which has fallen on hard times lately, came away with an impressive 30-7 victory over Coral Reef in their spring game. There were a number of players that stepped up in the game and they should be a fun team to follow during the season. (Click here to read report)
Best Performance in a Spring Game
Miami Central junior running back Brandon Gainer rushed for 226 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries in a win over Glades Central. Gainer was a horse and reeled off six carries of 15 yards or more, pretty good for a guy that doesn't have the top speed as other backs. Gainer is easy to root for as he's always gracious for his teammates helping him out. Gainer rushed for 1,644 yards last season and could eclipse the 2,000-yard mark this season. (Watch post-game video interview with Gainer)
Best Breakout Performance
Sticking with Miami Central, let's go with 2010 wide receiver Derrick Knowles who racked up 116 yards with a touchdown on seven catches. Knowles, who had 151 receiving yards in 2008 and just started playing football as a sophomore, said he was going to have a big game and teammate Marcus Fairley predicted he would have a big game as well. Knowles was impressive in practice when I saw him and made sure I let him know that the next time I saw him at the Northwestern-Carol City game. He's under the radar right now, but don't be surprised to see him end up at a Division I program.
Best Performance by a Freshman
Northwestern DE Eric Kinsey, Carol City RB Ernest Freeman, and Edison CB Donaldven Manning all had solid performances in their respective spring games, but the winner of this award goes to Jackson wideout Deandre Jasper. Jasper caught two touchdown passes, a 2-point conversion, finished with three receptions for 54 yards, and had a 35-yard amazing reception along the sideline called back due to a penalty. Jasper has a bright future ahead of him and is adjusting well to Coach Dunn's offense after not playing much last season under the previous regime.
Best Play of the Spring
This award goes to Northwestern sophomore quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and junior wide receiver Michaelee Harris as the two connected on a 51-yard hail mary pass on the last play of the first half against Carol City. Bridgewater scrambled in the backfield before finding Harris in the back of the end zone with a number of defenders in the area. (Click here to watch video)
Most Entertaining Interview
While there are plenty of candidates in other categories, this one is no contest as Gulliver Prep sophomore wide receiver Tacoi Sumler takes the cake here. Sumler was a great speaker, very confident, and a bit brash. (Read interview here) It was the best interview of the spring and he'll be fun to talk to in the upcoming two years as he'll be a top recruit.
If you have questions or comments, you can e-mail me at stock@insidetheu.com
Discuss on the message boards
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Recruiting Road Trip to Athens & Tallahassee |
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Tue Apr 28, 2009
David Lake and myself just got back from a five-day road trip with stops in Athens, Ga. and Tallahassee to check out some of Miami's recruits.
And if you have paid close attention to what we do over here at InsideTheU, this shouldn't come as any surprise. We pride ourselves on seeing kids in person as we attend over 70 games a year, numerous practices, camps, and combines. There is not another fan website in the country, not just Miami, that sees as many kids in action as we do.
Our trip covered over 1,500 miles in the car as we took in two Nike Camps at the University of Georgia and Florida State University.
I have been to the FSU campus a number of times, but it was my first time at Georgia. I got to see their facilities including their locker room. Everything looked great, but sometimes when you hear how Miami's facilities are far behind everyone else's, you expect to see a huge difference especially from a prominent SEC program and I did not see that at UGA, although everything still looked very good.
The Georgia camp was great as we saw a number of Miami recruits in action including Tyrone Cornileus, Michael Thornton, Michael Taylor, Quenton Brown and Tai-ler Jones as well as star running back Marcus Lattimore, who I got to talk to for a long period of time about the recruiting process and his thoughts on the Hurricanes.
Lattimore is a high-profile recruit, but has a certain humility about himself that is very much appreciated. He's destined for great things in his football career wherever he ends up. For those curious to see Lattimore in action, Byrnes will play St. Thomas Aquinas this season in Fort Lauderdale.
Also at Georgia, I paid very close attention to Stephenson defensive back Kenneth Ladler, watching every single one of his 1-on-1 reps. He plays safety in high school, but played cornerback at the camp. He has an excellent build at 6-foot and 187 pounds and could play cornerback at the next level in my opinion if he continues to work on it. He's a 4.6 guy, but hoping to improve his speed in the offseason. He has a great passion for the game and gets after it. I'm very curious to see his development as a player and think his best football is still ahead of him.
Click here for more on Georgia Nike Camp
After the Georgia event, David and I hit the road for Tallahassee (and yes we got a Gut Box at Guthrie's).
At the Tallahassee Nike Camp, there was not as many prospects Miami has offered, but there were still some intriguing prospects that we will have articles on throughout the week including Tallahassee Rickards tight end Marcus Denmark, who shined during 1-on-1 drills and is a big, physical, athletic player.
There were a trio of wide receivers worth watching including: Ocala Trinity Catholic's Kadron Boone, Orlando Dr. Phillips' Kenny Shaw, and Jacksonville Raines' Sean Tapley. Shaw was the best of three constantly beating his man for long scores. He has an excellent stride in the open field and changes speeds very well. It seems like it is only a matter of time before he commits to FSU.
Boone was very good running routes, but sometimes didn't come down with the catch. He seemed a bit bored with the competition and let them off the hook at times. He's still a very good player, arguably the best receiver in the state, and it would be a shock to many if he doesn't end up at Florida.
In my opinion, Tapley is not at Boone and Shaw's level and lacks the top end speed to be a big-time threat at the next level. Miami likes him as a receiver, but I do not believe he's better than the top receivers in South Florida.
Click here for more on Tallahassee Nike Camp
We will have plenty of articles and videos from the events throughout the week and we will be hitting the road again next week for month-long stops in South Florida as spring high school football begins.
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Canes in the NFL Draft |
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Tue Apr 21, 2009
The NFL Draft has been very good to the University of Miami in recent years as at least one Hurricane has been selected in the first round since 1994.
However, this year, Hurricanes are just hoping their name gets called in the two-day event beginning on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Here is list of Miami's Top 5 2009 NFL Prospects:
1. CB Bruce Johnson, 5-9, 167, 4.42
Only Hurricane invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Recorded two interceptions in 43 career games.
And Then There Was One
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2. S Anthony Reddick, 6-0, 210, 4.54
Tore ACL in both knees during his career, but bounced back to have a solid senior season finishing second on the team with 75 tackles.
Reddick Just Wants an Opportunity in the NFL
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3. LB Glenn Cook, 5-11, 232, 4.68
A smart, coachable player who got better each year he was at UM. Led the team in tackles with 91 in 2008. Like Reddick, missed the '07 season due to injury.
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4. LB Spencer Adkins, 5-11, 230, 4.48
Always known for excelling in the weight room, is hoping to land a spot on a practice squad much like former UM weight room standout Tanard Davis, who earned a Super Bowl ring with the Colts.
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5. DT Antonio Dixon, 6-2, 324, NT
Dixon posted a career-high 31 tackles in 2008 including three tackles for a loss. Could be a late bloomer as he battled through conditioning throughout his UM caeer.
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While there doesn't appear to be an impact player in the NFL amongst this group, there are a couple of other players who have a bright future in life.
Senior wide receivers Khalil Jones and Kayne Farquharson both demonstrated maturity beyond their years and have personalities as well as the ability to work hard towards accomplishing goals despite what life throws their way. They both will be excellent representatives of the university moving forward with whatever they choose to do next even if football is not in their cards.
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UM Named Top Party School |
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Fri Apr 17, 2009
Just came across this link today, thought it was interested to see the University of Miami was named the top party school in the country according to Playboy.
Click here to read article
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InsideTheU Now on Twitter! |
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Thu Apr 2, 2009
Fans of InsideTheU.com, be sure to find us on Twitter and follow us!
We will be providing updates on the latest with the site, the latest with the Hurricanes, how things are going, and what we are up to.
Also, we would like to connect with Hurricane fans across the country and hear how you're doing.
Find us today!
Find InsideTheU on Twitter
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Nike Camp on Sunday |
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Sat Mar 28, 2009
The Miami Nike Camp will be on Sunday at the Greentree Practice Fields at UM.
ESPN now owns the Nike Camps and Combines, which means we will have exclusive access to the event.
We will provide plenty of 1-on-1 videos, photos, and interviews of 250 of the top prospects in South Florida.
Nearly all of the big names will be at the event. Here are just a few that are confirmed.
RB Eduardo Clements, RB Gio Bernard, RB Jakhari Gore, WR Chris Dunkley, WR Quinton Dunbar, WR De'Joshua Johnson, WR Ivan McCartney, WR James Louis, OL Torrian Wilson, OL Jose Jose, DT Todd Chandler, DE Lynden Trail, LB Jeff Luc, CB Lamarcus Joyner, CB Jaylen Watkins, S Jon Dowling, and S Matt Elam.
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Spring Game on Saturday |
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Thu Mar 26, 2009
The spring game is slated to start at 10:30 AM on Saturday at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Jacory Harris looks to shine as the team's starting quarterback while he has a number of options at receiver with Aldarius Johnson, Travis Benjamin, Thearon Collier, and LaRon Byrd back for their sophomore campaigns.
Also, check freshman running back Mike James as he has created quite a stir this spring. On defense, Sean Spence is the headliner with Vaughn Telemaque looking for a breakthrough season.
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Practice Resumes Tuesday |
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Sun Mar 22, 2009
The team has been off for spring break, but will resume their final week of spring practices on Tuesday.
The team will practice Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday before the spring game on Saturday morning.
Practices will continue to be open to the media and closed to the public.
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Miami Nike Combine on Saturday |
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Fri Mar 20, 2009
The Miami Nike Combine will be held Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m. at Milander Park in Hialeah.
We expect close to 1,000 participants to be in attendance as players will get their picture taken, have their height and weight measured, run a 40-yard dash, get timed in a short shuttle, have their vertical jump tested, and other various timing events.
Since ESPN now owns the Nike Combines and Camps, we will be there in full force with exclusive access that other websites and scouting services will not receive.
Prospects with Miami offers that have already pre-registered for the event are: RB Eduardo Clements, WR Quinton Dunbar, DE Corey Lemonier, OL John Ragoo, DE Lyden Trail, and OL Torrian Wilson.
We look forward to a great event and be sure to check back here on Saturday for a recap of the top performers of the event, video, photos, and most importantly, a ton of articles on top prospects.
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Bryce Brown to Announce Today |
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Mon Mar 16, 2009
Wichita East running back Bryce Brown will finally announce his college destination today at 2 p.m. Click here for live coverage
Brown committed to Miami in February 2008 and expected to join his brother Arthur Brown with the Hurricanes.
But things have changed, dramatically.
While Brown says he remained committed to Miami, there was some love lost in the process from both sides as he took official trips to Missouri, Clemson, Oregon, Tennessee, and LSU.
Now, it would be a surprise to everyone if he picks Miami.
Brown first told us in November that Oregon was his leader and everyone laughed at our report. He maintained that Oregon was his leader in the months following to various other outlets. When I visited Brown in Wichita last summer, he spoke highly of then Oregon assistant Chip Kelly.
Kelly was recently promoted to the head coaching job as Mike Bellotti stepped down to be the school's athletic director.
This has to help the Ducks, but I think Brown will be a Vol.
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Braun Throwing Out First Pitch on Friday |
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Fri Mar 13, 2009
UM Release...
Former University of Miami infielder and National League All-Star Ryan Braun is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of tonight’s baseball game between Miami and Duke at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
Braun is slated to throw out the first pitch at approximately 6:50 p.m., about 15 minutes before Miami's Chris Hernandez will open the three-game set against the Blue Devils.
An outfielder on the USA Baseball team, Braun was named National Freshman of the Year for the Hurricanes in 2003 as well as the 2005 ACC Player of the Year.
Braun, an All-American at Miami, was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers with the fifth overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft.
Beginning his third season in the major leagues, Braun has achieved several significant accomplishments, having been named the NL Rookie of the Year in 2007 and selected to the National League All Star team in 2008.
Braun and Team USA open second round play this weekend at Dolphin Stadium.
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New Team Unity Symbol |
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Mon Mar 2, 2009
Last season, each player on the team wore bracelets that read, 'No Excuses'.
This season, the team has a new symbol of unity.
During the first team meeting in January every player received a chain with a single link at the end of the chain.
The chain and link are supposed to be worn around a player's neck every day to show team unity.
"It means that everyone has a part of the team as a link and that everyone has to do their part," junior defensive tackle Allen Bailey said.
Head coach Randy Shannon told the team that a player on the team came up with the idea, but did not tell the team which player it was.
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Spring Practice Schedule |
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Sun Feb 22, 2009
We will provide plenty of coverage this spring including practice reports, in-depth player interviews, video highlights, audio recaps, and more during spring practice.
Here is the official release from UM...
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- The University of Miami Hurricanes football team will begin preparation for the 2009 season with the beginning of spring practice on Tuesday, February 24.
Practice will conclude with the BankUnited CanesFest at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (5201 NW 12th Avenue) on Saturday, March 28. CanesFest will feature a spring game at 10 a.m.
Spring practice will consist of 14 practices leading up to the spring game. The team will hold an intrasquad scrimmage, open to the public, at Traz Powell Stadium located on the north campus of Miami Dade College (11380 NW 27th Avenue) at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 12.
All practices are closed to the public.
SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
DATE TIME
Tues., Feb. 24 3:30 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 25 3:30 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 27 3:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 28 10 a.m.
Tues., Mar. 3 3:30 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 4 3:30 p.m.
Fri., Mar. 6 3:30 p.m.
Sat. Mar. 7 10 a.m.
Tues., Mar. 10 3:30 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 11 3:30 p.m.
Thurs., Mar. 12 6:30 p.m. (Traz Powell Stadium)
UM SPRING BREAK MARCH 14-21
Tues., Mar. 24 3:30 p.m.
Wed. Mar. 25 3:30 p.m.
Fri., Mar. 27 3:30 p.m.
Sat., Mar. 28 BankUnited CanesFest (9 a.m.)
*UM Head Coach Randy Shannon will open the first four practices, Feb. 24, Feb. 25, Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 to members of the media only. TV stations and still cameras will be allowed to shoot up through the 9-on-9 period, but following that period, all cameras must be turned off.
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How is Arthur Handling Bryce's Situation? |
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Thu Feb 19, 2009
Arthur Brown was a highly-touted linebacker last season that picked Miami over a number of top programs including USC and Oklahoma.
It was widely assumed that his younger brother Bryce would follow him to the same college. There was even talk that Bryce and their parents would be moving to South Florida.
Bryce committed to Miami last February, nearly a year to the date, but things have changed.
Bryce has yet to sign his letter of intent, has taken trips to other schools, and has received plenty of criticism in the process.
So how has Arthur handled all of this?
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Bryce Brown Says He Will Visit UM |
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Tue Feb 17, 2009
According to potentialplayers.com, Wichita East star running back Bryce Brown will take his fifth and final official visit to Miami on March 3.
Brown will take an unofficial visit to LSU on February 27.
LSU: "I want to see the offensive game plan, meet the people and get a feel for the city of Baton Rouge."
Miami: "They'll be in spring ball, so I want to see how the coaches interact with the players at practice and look at how the new offense is coming along. And most importantly spend some time with my brother."
Brown will sign his letter of intent on March 16 at the Kansas Hall of Fame.
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Off-Season Player Interviews |
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Sun Feb 1, 2009
I know everyone is paying close attention to recruiting in the past week, but I wanted to make sure you have gotten a chance to check out interviews with players we have done in the off-season.
QB Jacory Harris
QB Harris Excited About Whipple
QB Harris Speaks About Starting Role
RB Damien Berry
RB Berry Hoping to be in the Mix in '09
WR Travis Benjamin
WR Benjamin Sets Goals for 2009; Prepares for Track
WR Davon Johnson
WR Johnson Looking to Build on Freshman Season
LB Sean Spence
VIDEO: Spence Talks Spring Practices and More
CB DeMarcus Van Dyke
CB Van Dyke to Star with Track Team
CB Brandon Harris
CB Harris Using Track to Build Speed
S Randy Phillips
Phillips Ready for Spring Practices
S Vaughn Telemaque
Telemaque a Promising Young Player
Discuss on the message boards
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Talked with Bryce Brown on Tuesday |
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Wed Jan 28, 2009
I talked with Miami star recruit Bryce Brown on Tuesday night. Here's what he had to say about the hiring of offensive coordinator Mark Whipple.
Click here to read comments
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Whipple Press Conference Today |
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Tue Jan 27, 2009
Miami will hold an official press conference today at 1 p.m. to announce he hiring of Mark Whipple as offensive coordinator.
We will be there to give you all the latest from Whippple.
Here is the official release from UM:
http://insidetheu.com/news/viewnews.php?v=497f34c9eae8a
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Latest Buzz on Whipple and DC |
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Sun Jan 25, 2009
There is a lot of talk about the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator vacancies at Miami.
Here is the latest from sources close to UM.
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Too Many Coaching Changes |
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Tue Jan 20, 2009
It looks like Bill Young is headed to Oklahoma State to coach at his alma mater.
Sure, he's a bit torn with leaving Miami after one season, when he has shown to be a reliable coach in his 40 years of experience, but it's hard to turn down your alma mater in the state where you grew up.
So if Young does leave, that would bring the total to four. Four assistant coaches--including two defensive coordinators--that have been replaced in Randy Shannon's two seasons. Three of which have been fired by Shannon.
That's not how you build a program. (Speaking of building, I'm tired of hearing about this so-called re-building process at Miami. Larry Coker's final season resulted in a 7-6 season in which a player was shot before the season, a brawl with nearby FIU, a player being shot to death during the season, an injury to the starting quarterback, and constant speculation of the coach's firing. But the team still went 7-6 and won their bowl game.
Shannon's first year resulted in a 5-7 season with no real distractions other than a quarterback controversy he started after replacing a two-year starter with a back-up whose stint ultimately lasted two games. Not to mention, that team had two high-round draft picks.)
Anyways, back to the point.
Miami is already looking for an offensive coordinator, which is going on three weeks now.
And now it appears there will be an opening at defensive coordinator. Sure, you can't completely Shannon if Young leaves, but the bottom line is that four coaches in two years is too many changes.
Personally, I am also concerned with nine players transferring in two seasons, which says a lot. A few leave each year, it happens.
However, this past season, it was a disappointing seeing four players transfer out especially when all four signed with Shannon just two years ago.
Hopefully Shannon can fill the staff and get some direction back in the program, which includes establishing an offensive identity. By the way, if Bryce Brown doesn't come, the personnel on offense better suits a spread offense as opposed to a pro-style, which Shannon wants to move towards.
Whatever happens with the coaches, the players need to make huge improvements this spring, and the team needs to win games in the fall.
Otherwise, we could be talking about more coaching change at the same time next season.
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TE Billy Sanders De-commits |
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Mon Jan 12, 2009
One of Miami's first 2009 commitments has de-committed in favor of UCLA.
Tight end Billy Sanders (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) has decommitted according to ESPN's Greg Biggins.
He said of the decision, "I want to get into cinematography, so that is one of the reasons I committed. I told Miami what was going on the whole time, so they know. Right now, UCLA likes me as a defensive end, but I like both positions. And I long snap, so whatever gets me in there to play is fine," the Daily Breeze reports.
My thoughts...
Sanders (6-4, 230) was a solid prospect and filled an area of need for Miami. He moved to Idaho prior to his senior year from Phoenix, Ariz. and always seemed like a stretch that his commitment would stick given the distance.
Miami still needs to grab a solid tight end in this class with commitments Stephen Plein and Cory White expected to be offensive linemen.
We ran across a sleeper tight end prospect that Miami has showed interest in. For more information, click here
San
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Seminole Trio Buzz |
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Sat Jan 3, 2009
I have been in Orlando all week for the Under Armour All-American game, which features two Miami commitments: Prince Kent and Jamal Reid as well as three other high-profile Miami recruits: Andre DeBose, Ray Ray Armstrong, and Dyron Dye.
I've talked to a number of people about the Seminole Trio and here's something I found very interesting.
Click here to read more
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Spring Practices Just Around the Corner |
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Sun Dec 28, 2008
The team is off until they have a team meeting on January 20.
They will begin off-season workouts with strength coach Andreu Swasey at that time for 4-5 weeks.
Coach Randy Shannon said spring practices will start the last week of February with the spring game on March 28.
Linebacker Colin McCarthy and tight end Tervaris Johnson will not be participating in spring practices due to injuries. Defensive end Eric Moncur is "50-50" on whether or not he will be healthy enough to participate.
Redshirt freshmen wide receivers Tommy Streeter and Kendal Thompkins will be healthy enough to participate in spring practices.
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$50 Yearly Subscription Special Through Dec. 31 |
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Fri Dec 26, 2008
Happy Holidays! On behalf of everyone here at InsideTheU.com, we want to wish you and your family the best during the holidays.
We also want to offer you a chance to purchase a yearly subscription to InsideTheU.com for just $50, which is our lowest price ever!
We know times are tough for a number of people with the economy and we want to make sure all Hurricane fans have the chance to get as much information on the most prestigious football program in the country, a baseball program that is a perennial national power, and a basketball program that is one of the hottest in the country.
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Note: The yearly subscription is automatically renewed until cancelled.
Click here to sign up today
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Friday Practice Report |
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Fri Dec 19, 2008
We just got back from practice and there were some interesting notes including an injury update on Travis Benjamin, thoughts on players leaving early, and more.
Click here to read practice report
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Practice Resumes Thursday |
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Wed Dec 17, 2008
Practice resumes Thursday afternoon in preparation for the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 27.
The team will practice Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Coral Gables before flying out to San Francisco on Monday.
Even if they practice every day in San Francisco, that would only give them 11 practices although they were allowed 15.
It was interesting to see that the team took so much time off in preparation for finals as opposed to taking advantage of the 15 practices, which could be beneficial for the development of younger players.
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UM Banquet - Dec. 14 |
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Mon Dec 8, 2008
From UM...
Tickets still remain for the 2008 University of Miami football awards ceremony that will be held on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Westin Colonnade Coral Gables.
The 2008 senior class will be recognized and individual awards will be announced in a variety of categories, including the team’s Most Valuable Player. Don Bailey Jr., a former UM lineman and color analyst of WQAM's radio broadcasts of Hurricanes games, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. The cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m., with the awards ceremony at 7 p.m.
Fans will also have the opportunity to mingle with UM football players.
Tickets to the banquet are priced at $50 and may be purchased by calling the Hurricane Club at 305-284-6699. Fans calling from outside the local area may call 1-800-GO-CANES (option 6).
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Happy Thanksgiving |
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Thu Nov 27, 2008
I want to thank everyone over the past year or so that has shown us support with InsideTheU.com. We have met a lot of great people over the past year and I definitely have appreciated all of the support.
We will continue to work hard to provide you with the best website covering the team and recruiting. Any ideas are always welcome.
I hope everyone enjoys Thanksgiving with friends and family members or enjoys time off.
David, Rudy, and myself, like you, will be busy throughout the day, but no need to worry, we will be back with plenty of articles on Friday.
In the meantime, I will be plenty busy cooking and taking a nice break.
Enjoy the day!
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Live From Atlanta |
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Thu Nov 20, 2008
Hey everyone, how's it going?
Things are good here in Atlanta, David and I just got to the stadium. David picked up his photo credential to be on the sidelines for the game and I just sat down in my seat in the press box.
One of my favorite pre-game topics is seeing what color the Hurricanes are wearing.
They are going with green jerseys and white pants--something they have not done this year.
Georgia Tech is going with a White Out theme with their student sections and as much of the fans as possible. The team is also going all white with white jerseys and white pants.
The dress list just came out and there are no notable omissions.
I am very excited for this game and think Miami has a real opportunity to make a statement to the rest of the ACC in terms of being the best team. If the Hurricanes win this game, they will be the favorites to win the ACC Championship.
And that's where you want your program. You want to be the favorites. You want to be the highest ranked team. You want to be the best. Enough of this underdog stuff, it's time to be the top dog.
I have been talking to a lot of former players from the 2004 and 2005 teams, which were considered disappointing seasons at 9-3 and back-to-back Peach Bowl appearances. Sometimes we forget how talented those teams were. There are guys up and down the roster from those teams who are in the NFL.
That's where you want your program. You want it to be a disappointment and an upset if you lose.
Tonight, a loss would be a disappointment.
Let's see how the Canes play with the opportunity to be the top dog.
Prediction: Miami 20, Georgia Tech 17
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Monday Practice Report |
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Mon Nov 17, 2008
Just got back from practice. Here's a few notes:
* OL Jason Fox has his ankle heavily taped, but says he "definitely" wants to play on Thursday. He said he felt good at practice. If I had to guess, I would say Fox is going to play.
* Recruit OL Brandon Washington was at practice. He's expected to enroll in January. Washington has an immense amount of talent.
* WR Travis Benjamin practiced a lot more on Monday than he did on Sunday. He should be able to go. We will find out more on Tuesday.
"He practiced today," coach Randy Shannon said. "He did some good things. He did a whole lot more than he did yesterday."
* QB Jacory Harris is back to the clean cut look for the rest of the season. He says he doesn't want to have attention on him down the stretch.
* The main focus was working on third down situations during practice.
We will have plenty of video interviews and articles on the team in the next three days as they prepare to face Georgia Tech in a pivotal ACC game.
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Fox Out, Jimmy on the Sidelines, and More Pregame Notes |
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Thu Nov 13, 2008
Junior LT Jason Fox is not dressed for tonight's game against Virginia Tech.
Fox was listed as doubtful on Tuesday's injury report after spraining his ankle against Virginia on Nov. 1.
Reggie Youngblood is expected to start in his place with Chris Rutledge starting at right tackle.
Other tidbits...
* Five former Hurricanes will be inducted in UM's Ring of Honor at halftime. QBs Jim Kelly and Gino Torretta, DT Cortez Kennedy, and OL Jim Otto are in attendance. RB Edgerrin James is also being inducted, but was unable to make it due to playing for the Arizona Cardinals.
* Ten NFL scouts are in attendance. Miami's top NFL draft senior prospect is CB Bruce Johnson.
* Former Miami head coach and Super Bowl champion Jimmy Johnson is on the UM sidelines.
* Miami's top committed 2009 prospect RB Bryce Brown is in attendance.
If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email me at stock@insidetheu.com
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Shannon's Final Words |
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Wed Nov 12, 2008
Coach Randy Shannon addressed the media on his weekly ACC teleconference as his team prepares to take on Virginia Tech on Thursday. Here are a few notes on some of the things Shannon discussed:
* Miami RB Graig Cooper arrived to Miami from Milford Academy (N.Y.), which has also produced Pittsburgh star RB Lesean McCoy. Shannon was asked what does Milford teach to their running backs before they get to college and Shannon said they do a good job of teaching patience.
* Shannon is expecting more of an electrifying atmosphere at night.
* Shannon noticed that the atmosphere at Dolphin Stadium has been "wonderful" and "unbelievable".
* The team has been watching film in preparation for the 'Wild Turkey' offense with moving TE Greg Boone around in different formation including at quarterback. "He's a big guy that can move the pile," Shannon said.
* Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor is back practicing with the team.
* There isn't one Virginia Tech player that stands out to Shannon, but instead, noted their schemes as a whole that make their team good.
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Monday Practice Update |
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Mon Nov 10, 2008
Hey guys, just got back from Monday's practice as the team prepares for Virginia Tech on Thursday.
Here's a few tidbits:
* QB Robert Marve has decided to grow out his hair and his facial hair for the rest of the season.
* QB Jacory Harris said Marve needs to get a haircut. But also said he is growing out his facial hair because too many people have commented on him having a baby face. He said he wants to get it long like rapper Rick Ross.
* Harris has grown comfortable into the No. 12 jersey he has doned since high school, but says his favorite number has always been 5, but over the years, teammates have always scooped up that number instead. Now, he plans on sticking with No. 12 the rest of his career.
* Coach Shannon says he spotted defensive coordinator Bill Young years before Young was the coordinator at Kansas in last year's Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech.
* Freshman WR Travis Benjamin insisted he has no idea what "Beamer Ball" is.
* Miami is 12-1 all-time on Thursday night. Virginia Tech is 15-3. The two have never met as Virginia Tech has won the last two in the series.
* Practice will resume Tuesday at 6:15 a.m.
* In-depth interviews and video will be available on InsideTheU.com in the upcoming days.
* Here are news and notes from Monday's press conference: Press Conference Notes
If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email me at stock@insidetheu.com
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Shannon Silences Coordinators |
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Fri Nov 7, 2008
Following Thursday's practice, head coach Randy Shannon told reporters that offensive coordinator Patrick Nix and defensive coordinator Bill Young are now off-limits to the media.
"You guys had one shot," Shannon told reporters.
Nix and Young have each been available once since the season started.
Miami held practice on Friday at 5 a.m., which was closed to the media.
They will have a day off on Saturday before resuming practice Sunday afternoon, which players are available to the media following practice.
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Impressive Win at Virginia |
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Sat Nov 1, 2008
Jacory Harris, once again, led the team to a come-from-behind ACC victory in thrilling fashion with a 24-17 overtime win at Virginia on Saturday.
Harris appears to look more comfortable with the Miami offense, his receivers, and improvising to make plays.
He has appeared to be what the coaches are looking for--a smart, dependable quarterback, who limits his mistakes and gets the ball to his playmakers.
I'm curious how long it will take for Randy Shannon to name Harris the starter.
If I had to guess, I'd say Shannon still plans on sticking with Robert Marve in the Canes next game against Virginia Tech on Nov. 13.
I think Shannon wants to avoid controversy and stick to what they have done all season with rotating them both in.
But right now, one would have to say Harris has had the better performances this year and Marve continues to throw interceptions.
Other Thoughts...
• WR LaRon Byrd told me this week that he felt he was an average receiver right now. Well, LaRon, that play you made in the fourth quarter--a 26-yard touchdown--that was not a play an average player makes. Byrd has a very bright future ahead of him and he's an easy guy to root for. At first, he was unsure about wearing the coveted No. 47 jersey, but he's going to work hard to honor the number well.
• It was no surprise to see WR Aldarius Johnson come down with the touchdown in overtime. Johnson is a dangerous threat inside the redzone and should be given the opportunity to catch a pass as much as possible. He is great at adjusting to the ball and catching it regardless if the ball is low or high.
• Before the game-tying drive, my thoughts were that if there are big-time playmakers on this team and if Harris really wanted to show he deserved to be the guy, then he would make plays, however possible. And he did. Congrats to Harris for stepping up and doing whatever it takes to get the team down the field. And yes, the comparisons to Ken Dorsey are fair and have been since he was in high school.
• LB Sean Spence and S Lovon Ponder did a great job of forcing fumbles late in the game. Again, playmakers step up and it was good to see guys on defense come up with big plays.
• Everyone should be excited about the win, enjoy it. It's the fourth straight win and this team is becoming fun to see develop.
New Feature Worth Checking Out
We have been checking in with the baseball team and junior outfielder Jonathan Weislow has been interviewing his teammates in a weekly free video feature. Weislow keeps it light and has a good time with his teammates.
Click here to watch the latest video
Basketball Team Has Exhibition Game Tonight
The 17th-ranked Hurricanes basketball team will host Florida Memorial tonight at 5:30 in their first of two exhibition games.
If you are going, check out freshmen SF #31 DeQuan Jones and C #42 Reggie Johnson. Jones is the best recruit coach Frank Haith has signed and Johnson has been practicing well lately and could avoid a redshirt this season.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year of covering the Miami Hurricanes and can be reached at stock@insidethe.com
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Ojomo, Buchanan, and Brown |
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Wed Oct 29, 2008
Redshirt freshman DE Adewale Ojomo is starting to show signs as being a very good player.
Ojomo had a key forced fumble in Miami’s 16-10 win over Wake Forest and is currently tied for the team lead with three sacks.
Coming out of Hialeah High School, Ojomo was a mid-level prospect, who had a nice upside.
Now, it appears he is coming into his own.
“I think this is a much bigger stage so that gives me a lot more inspiration to go out and perform,” Ojomo said. “In high school, I wouldn’t say I slacked off, but once I knew I was a national recruit and I was going to any college I wanted to, by my senior year, I don’t think I had the same hunger.”
Buchanan on Second Team
Freshman S Ramon Buchanan is now listed as a second-team safety in place of JoJo Nicolas.
Buchanan has played primarily on special teams since making his debut in the fifth game of the year against Florida State.
Brown Moving up the Rankings
Miami commit RB Bryce Brown (Wichita, Kan.) moved up to No. 10 on the ESPNU 150 and the second-highest ranked running back. Previously he was No. 14 overall and the third-best back.
On the season, Brown has rushed for 1,681 yards and 28 touchdowns in eight games. He also has 12 receptions for 125 yards and a score.
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Spence a Future MLB? |
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Fri Oct 17, 2008
Linebacker Sean Spence is having a very good freshman season as he has stepped into the starting weakside spot.
Spence currently has 27 tackles, four for a loss, one sack, and one interception returned for a touchdown.
The 6-0, 202-pounder is clearly a bright spot for the future on the team and people have begun wondering if he is the future middle linebacker of this team once senior Glenn Cook departs.
So I asked Spence about the possibility of moving to middle linebacker down the road.
“I just want to play football and have fun,” Spence responded. “It don’t matter what position they put me at.”
It’s true. It doesn’t matter where Spence plays.
He will make plays.
And at the middle linebacker spot, he might have the most opportunities to make plays as the role of the middle linebacker is important in Bill Young's defense.
“They have to make most of the tackles, that’s about it," Spence said. "The middle linebacker in this defense, makes all of the tackles. We are spilling everything to the middle.”
Coach Randy Shannon discussed the role and responsibilities of the middle linebacker.
"He's got to be kind of like the quarterback on offense," Shannon said. "He's got to be able to get guys in the right situation and get guys lined up. He's really the guy that calls all of the plays."
Spence will be given consideration to being the team's middle linebacker although it would not be a surprise to see a veteran guy like Colin McCarthy or Darryl Sharpton move inside for their senior seasons.
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Top 10 Freshmen |
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Wed Oct 8, 2008
The Hurricanes are sitting at 2-3 through five games including 0-2 in the ACC.
Not exactly the start UM fans were hoping for.
However, there are plenty of bright spots with a talented group of freshmen.
So let's take a look at the top 10 freshman rankings this season. This will include redshirt freshmen as well as true freshmen.
1. QB Robert Marve
Marve earns the nod at the top spot for showing flashes of greatness at the hardest position on the field. He has had his ups and downs during his freshman season as he has thrown for 538 yards and five touchdowns with five interceptions in four games and is 1-3 in those games. However, Marve showed a lot of composure against Florida although his stats were not overly impressive and had a very productive day against Texas A&M with 212 yards. Marve has shown he is the right man for the job as he also picks up key first downs with his running ability.
2. LB Sean Spence
Spence was inserted into the starting lineup last week and responded with 10 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown. Through five games, he has 21 tackles, which ranks fourth on the team. Spence will start the rest of the way with Colin McCarthy done for the season and don't be surprised to see Spence's name at the top of this list later in the season.
3. WR Aldarius Johnson
Johnson has been a primary starter for the Canes this season and currently leads the team with 12 receptions. His 111 yards and one receiving touchdown also ranks amongst the top on the team. Johnson has not had any drops and should get more balls thrown his way in the upcoming weeks.
4. KR/WR Travis Benjamin
Benjamin shot up the list with an outstanding performance against Florida State last weekend as he had 274 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. Benjamin is the fastest player on the team and has shown a unique ability to keep plays alive with his vision and speed.
5. CB Brandon Harris
Harris earned his first start last week against Florida State and struggled mightily with being flagged for three penalties. However, Harris has had a good freshman season as a whole and should be thrown back in the first this week. He's a competitor and has the ability to put a bad game behind him.
6. DT Marcus Forston
Forston was one of Miami's top recruits in the 2008 class and has been steady. He has seven tackles, one for a loss, in four games. Forston is continuing to adapt to the style of play at the college level and is playing a position that is tough dominate early.
7. PR/WR Thearon Collier
Collier is second on the team with 113 receiving yards despite missing last week with an injury. He has done a very good job as a slot receiver, which is exactly what kind of player he is. He has excellent hands and the ability to go after a ball as well as make defenders miss with his quickness.
8. QB Jacory Harris
Harris has played in every game this season like Randy Shannon promised before the season. He earned the start in the opener against Charleston Southern with Marve suspended and threw for 190 yards and a touchdown. Since then, he has completed 13-of-24 passes for 108 yards and an interception in a back-up role.
9. DE Adewale Ojomo
Ojomo has been steady at defensive end this season and has earned a lot of playing time. Only sophomore Steven Wesley has more tackles (10) than Ojomo's nine amongst defensive ends.
10. WR LaRon Byrd
Byrd's stats aren't that impressive with six receptions for 26 yards, but he is in the rotation and like Johnson, has caught the ball when asked to do so. It would be good to see Byrd stretch the field a little bit more as opposed to be thrown to on screen plays.
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Live at the Stadium |
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Sat Oct 4, 2008
We are about 40 minutes away from kickoffs and a steady rain has already began to fall.
Looking at the weather forecast, it should rain throughout the game as rains are coming in from the east.
Now, about the game.
I'm very interested to see how Sean Spence fills in for Colin McCarthy at weakside linebacker. McCarthy was ruled out Friday night with a shoulder injury.
Spence has 10 tackles in four games this year and has showed a lot of flashes of excellence in his first season.
Freshman CB Brandon Harris will start in favor of Chavez Grant. Harris is another freshman who has really played well in the times he has been used. Harris is a fiery competitor, who will have his hands full with the FSU receivers.
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On ESPNU Recruiting Insider Show Tonight |
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Thu Oct 2, 2008
For those interested, I will be appearing on Thursday night's ESPNU Recruiting Insider show tonight at 6:30 p.m. with a phone interview talking about the Hurricanes recruiting updates.
It replays late Thursday night at 2:30 AM, then on Friday at 7:30 pm and 11:00 pm.
My segment appears in the second half of the 30-minute show.
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WR Collier Doubtful, James Out |
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Wed Oct 1, 2008
The team practiced on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for Florida State before a heavy rain hit the area.
Coach Randy Shannon said the team continues to stress the importance of finishing games.
Freshman WR Thearon Collier, who was hospitalized with a chest/stomach injury on Saturday, is doubtful for Florida State, coach Randy Shannon said following Tuesday's practice.
Shannon said RB Javarris James will miss his third straight game, but is hopeful he will be ready for UCF next week.
Ryan Hill will remain at safety, which is where Miami needs more depth right now with Randy Phillips and Vaughn Telemaque out. Hill played corner in high school and when he first arrived at UM in 2006.
Click here for complete coverage
Practice resumes Wednesday afternoon.
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Luginbill High on Jamal Reid |
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Fri Sep 26, 2008
A few months ago, ESPN national recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill asked me why Jamal Reid wasn't getting very much attention from other schools.
Well, my best guess is because Reid goes to 1A school that isn't known for turning out high-level prospects.
Sometimes it just takes longer to garner interest.
Reid, who verbally committed to Miami on Thursday, has 18 offers and is headed to the Under Armour All-American game.
I caught up with Luginbill following Reid's decision to get his take on him once again.
"As you can see in our evaluation report on Reid, we think he is one of the best “sleeper” prospects in this class and an underrated Florida prospect. We understand that he does not play in the higher classifications and is at a smaller school, but when you turn on the tape, his production cannot be ignored. Reid’s versatility is by far his best asset. He will be joining our 2009 Under Armour All-America game as a wide receiver and kick return specialist, but he is also a legitimate candidate to play corner and safety at the next level.
"He has good size, competitive speed and excellent change-of-direction skills. He is an exciting player in all three facets of the game and as a junior was a touchdown machine. Averaged over 24 yards per catch as a junior and scored 15 touchdowns. When you can play as many positions as he can, you give coach’s a lot of options to work with."
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Congrats to Shannon as the Canes Roll |
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Sun Sep 21, 2008
Before the game against Texas A&M, I said coach Randy Shannon must coach his team to a victory because it was a game Miami needed to have.
He did. And his team responded.
I was particularly impressed with the way the team responded after allowing a 62-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.
The UM offense responded with a 29-yard pass on their first play and marched down the field and scored a touchdown of their own taking away the momentum the Aggies had.
Shannon said on Sunday that this year's team is different and if that happened to last year's team, they might have folded.
He might be right.
The 2008 team might be different. This one actually gives you the feeling they have a shot at winning the ACC.
Yes, winning the ACC.
Through three games, we have seen this team play very well for a majority of the time and they have shown they have the ability to win games.
The biggest thing for the rest of the season will be consistency and how they will deal with adversity. They are certainly capable of playing with every team in the ACC, which is extremely weak.
Miami easily defeated a better Texas A&M last season and followed with a win at Florida State before falling apart losing six of their last seven.
This year's team appears to have a better grasp of what is in front of them and there is a lot more excitement with the freshmen. Remember, these freshmen are used to winning games and in their minds, they should be competing for a conference title this year.
And it might just happen.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering the Miami Hurricanes. In addition to InsideTheU.com, he is the recruiting writer for the Sun-Sentinel and is a UM correspondent to the Associated Press and Tampa Tribune. He can be reached by emailing him at stock@insidetheu.com
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Shannon Must Coach Canes to a Victory |
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Fri Sep 19, 2008
Miami is 1-8 in their past nine road games as they head to College Station, Texas to take on Texas A&M (1-1) on Saturday.
Miami (1-1) must prove they are capable of winning on the road this week with ACC road games on the horizon.
Coach Randy Shannon must have his team ready to play this week against an opponent that is still trying to figure out their identity under new coach Mike Sherman, the former Green Bay Packers head coach.
Shannon's team is four-point favorites against a team that lost to Arkansas State in the season opener.
Miami defeated Texas A&M handily last year 34-17 and it's a team they do not have a history with so there is no reason to dislike the Aggies.
It's just a game. Nothing special. Nothing to prove.
However, it's one of those games you have to win and it will be important for Coach Shannon to coach his team to a victory.
There cannot be a letdown after facing the rival Florida two weeks ago as the team did an admirable job of hanging with the top five Gators through three quarters.
If Miami plays like they did against the Gators--on defense especially--then they should be just fine.
But you see, these are the same Hurricanes coached by Shannon that went to Chapel Hill last year and found themselves down 28-0 at halftime, lost to a struggling N.C. State team at home after a big win vs. FSU, and a 48-0 loss against Virginia in the final game at the Orange Bowl.
This is a game that is a defining game for Coach Shannon and the job his staff does in preparing the team.
Texas A&M ranks 83rd in the country in total defense (393 yards/game) and 113th against the run (236 yards/game).
It is time for Graig Cooper to take control of the offense and there isn't any reason he can't run for over 100 yards against the Aggies.
Random News & Notes...
• I caught up with freshman WR LaRon Byrd to talk about wearing the No. 47 jersey, which was made famous by former Hurricane great Michael Irvin. Coach Shannon gave Byrd No. 47 and told him that if he wanted to change it during the summer, he could, but Byrd stuck with the number after talking with uncles.
"Now it goes both ways, the fans are saying this kid better come in here and do something big and as a freshman, you don't want the pressure to get to you, but at the end of the day it's just football and you have to do what you've been doing all of your life," Byrd said.
Byrd has not met Irvin, but hopes to. Shannon said Byrd had a very good two weeks of practice following the Florida game.
• Junior CB Chavez Grant has settled in to a starting position this season and has had a solid career thus far. I caught up with Chavez to ask him about some of his favorite things away from the football field, which should interest a number of fans who like to know more about the players.
I also asked Chavez which player's abilities on the team he wishes he had. He response: Bruce Johnson.
"He has the speed. He has the quickness. He has the footwork. He's strong. Just overall, he's the guy if I had to pick one," Grant said.
• We recently caught up running backs Lamar Miller, Eduardo Clements (2010), Jakhari Gore (2010), who all have Miami offers. Also, keep your eye on Gulliver Prep junior QB Michael Strauss, who has thrown for nearly 600 yards and seven touchdowns in two games.
• We still are offering 20 free monthly subscriptions to InsideTheU.com to new users on the message boards who make 50 posts. All you have to do is register on the message boards for free, make 50 legit posts (no spam), and send us an email to get your free monthly subscription to the most comprehensive team and recruiting website covering the Miami Hurricanes! Click here to visit message boards
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering the Miami Hurricanes. In addition to InsideTheU.com, he is the recruiting writer for the Sun-Sentinel and is a UM correspondent to the Associated Press and Tampa Tribune. He can be reached by emailing him at stock@insidetheu.com
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20 Free Subscriptions |
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Tue Sep 9, 2008
Hurricane Fans! We are offering 20 free monthly subscriptions to InsideTheU.com to new users on the message boards who make 50 posts starting today!
All you have to do is register on the message boards for free, make 50 legit posts (no spam), and send us an email to get your free monthly subscription to the most comprehensive team and recruiting website covering the Miami Hurricanes!
Click here to visit message boards
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Live From The Swamp! |
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Sat Sep 6, 2008
7:58 p.m. The national anthem is complete.
The crowd is packed.
I am excited!
It's great to be at a big-time college football game. This is the reason why we love doing what we do. For these types of games.
It will be interesting to see if this Miami squad has the fight to stay with one of the nation's best teams.
Last year, there were times the Canes just didn't compete.
Tonight, it must change.
Regardless of the outcome, the Canes must compete.
7:06 p.m. I just got back up to the press box after going down on the field to take some pictures and soak in the atmosphere.
Javarris James and Graig Cooper look extremely focused while listening to their iPods.
I said hi to Lamar Miller, who was sitting next to Frankie Telfort. In my opinion, both players should be a part of the Hurricanes 2009 recruiting class. Unfortunately, both players are likely to head to other schools.
Once again, the Canes look good in all white as the quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers are on the field.
I'll check in one more time before kickoff.
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6:02 p.m. The Gators just walked across the field still in dress pants and a tie led by Urban Meyer, who was accompanied by three security guards. Tim Tebow was the last player to walk across the field and had a couple of security guards with him.
We are told Miami was scheduled to arrive at the stadium at 6 p.m., which is 30 minutes earlier that they did last season for road games. Coach Shannon plans on keeping the 2-hour pregame schedule for the rest of the season.
A number of recruits just arrived on the field as well. Florida is anticipating at least 50 recruits at the game.
South Florida standouts Eugene Smith, Lamar Miller, and Frankie Telfort were amongst those in attendance.
4:58 p.m. The Hurricanes will be wearing all white jerseys tonight, which is my personal favorite.
White on white is very sharp and they rarely ever wear it. A UF official was not sure what they are wearing.
The official dress list just came out.
WR Jermaine McKenzie, QB Taylor Cook, WR Daniel Adderley, S C.J. Holton, S Jared Campbell, S Joe Wylie, FB John Calhoun, LB Ramon Buchanan, LB Jordan Futch, LB Brandon Marti, OL Harland Gunn, WR Davon Johnson, DE Gavin Hardin, and DT Jeremy Lewis did not travel.
McKenzie is still hampered by an ankle injury.
There are a couple of interesting personnel moves as Kendal Thompkins is making the trip over Davon Johnson and Arthur Brown is making the trip over Jordan Futch. Also, Eric Houston is favored over John Calhoun.
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3:50 p.m. Hey there! David and I are here have arrived at The Swamp and ready for the game.
Just received word that kickoff is set for 8:06 p.m.
We stayed in Ocala (the team stayed there as well, but we weren't at the same hotel) last night after watching the trio at Seminole High play. Andre DeBose put on a show against an overmatched Hagerty squad. Ray Ray Armstrong (More on Armstrong) also looked very good and Dyron Dye (Video Interview with Dye) had a good game although Hagerty ran the wishbone offense.
It was good to get back to Seminole after visiting there in the spring. DeBose was surprised once again that I drove 250 miles to come see him play.
"You came all the way up here from Miami?," he asked me.
Yes and it might not be the last time.
Video Interview with DeBose
For those curious, I believe DeBose is a better player than current Hurricane receivers Travis Benjamin, Davon Johnson, Thearon Collier, and Kendal Thompkins. DeBose is an extremely smooth player with effortless speed and body control. He has great size at a legit 6-foot and length.
All three guys are interested in Miami and I believe the Hurricanes have a good shot with all of them. The key will be to continue to recruit them throughout the season and let them know they are high priorities. Also, I think they will pay very close attention to the direction of UM's program. They would like to play together and want to see positive signs this season.
I'll be back later to talk more about the game tonight. I just wanted to stop in and say hello.
Premium subscribers, feel free to ask questions you might have on the game or recruiting on the message boards and I'll be sure to answer them.
Click here to visit premium message boards
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10 Reasons to Be Excited |
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Thu Aug 28, 2008
Finally!
It's finally here!
Talk about a LONGGG off-season (277 days to be exact).
But it's finally here. The 2008 season opener. It might only be Charleston Southern, but it's still very exciting.
I know many of you have your reservations about Dolphin Stadium. I'm still trying to get used to the idea myself especially since I've been practically living there this summer covering nearly all of the Marlins games (63 of 66) and I've covered both Dolphins preseason game. And going back to the 2008 Orange Bowl between Kansas and Virginia Tech, this will be my 67th game at Dolphin Stadium this year.
But it will have a different feel for me--and for all of the fans out there--seeing the Miami Hurricanes play their home games.
For those curious, Miami is 3-0 while playing at Dolphin Stadium. In 2004, they defeated Florida State 16-14 in the Orange Bowl. Miami defeated North Carolina State 46-23 in the 1998 Micron PC Bowl and Virginia 31-21 in the 1996 Carquest Bowl.
Miami is hoping for similar success this season with home games against Charleston Southern, North Carolina, Florida State, UCF, Wake Forest, and Virginia Tech.
With that being said, here are 10 reasons to be excited about the Hurricanes this year:
1. Freshmen Are as Good as Advertised
Jacory Harris will start at quarterback in the opener as the only true freshman starter. However, a number of freshmen have made an impact in practices this fall. Junior safety Ryan Hill says the freshman have raised the bar for the rest of the team. It's odd hearing that from an upperclassman, but when you go 12-13 in the past two seasons, there needs to be some new faces. Look for WRs Aldarius Johnson, Travis Benjamin, and LaRon Byrd to have good freshman campaigns as well as DE Marcus Robinson, DT Marcus Forston, LBs Sean Spence, Jordan Futch, and Arthur Brown, CB Brandon Harris, and S Vaughn Telemaque.
2. Robert Marve Will be Good--Possibly Great
It's time for Robert Marve to show what he can do. He hasn't participated in a game since he threw a game-winning touchdown pass with 17 seconds left in the 2006 Class 4A High School State Championship Game. He will start on Sept. 6 in Gainesville--which is 636 days in between games or 1 year, 9 months, 27 days. But based on everything we have seen from his high school days, practices at UM last year, spring performances, and fall scrimmages in addition to what people close to UM are saying is that Marve has a bright career ahead of him. He has great pocket presence and can pick up key yards in tough situations when he rolls out of the pocket. He'll need some playmakers on the edge to help out, but look for him to put the suspension behind him and have a good redshirt freshman season.
3. Allen Bailey Will Be Special
Surely you haven't forgot about Allen Bailey this fall. Bailey has practiced sparingly after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in the off-season and won't be ready for the opener. However, Bailey is going to be a monster this season off the edge and should excel in stopping the run. He's close to 290 pounds and should make an easy transition to defensive end from linebacker. Don't be surprised to see Bailey make some big plays this season.
4. Randy Shannon Has a Year Under His Belt
He's learning. We all get better at what we do through experience and time. Last year was a learning experience for then 41-year old first-year head coach. Shannon has been through a season with the Hurricanes and although 5-7 isn't what he had in mind, he is getting the guys on the same page and he is learning what it takes to be a head coach at a major university. Last year was mainly about getting the team to adapt to change and commitment to the direction he wanted them to go. Now, Shannon is going to have to get this team to win some games this year. He's going to have to be a good game day coach and get the most out of his team while balancing the playing time between upperclassmen and freshmen.
5. Bill Young's Defense
I am willing to bet that the Canes will exceed their 2007 interception total of 13 this season. Bill Young's defense is getting the most out of a number of players including Chavez Grant and Bruce Johnson, who I believe will have solid years although I think DeMarcus Van Dyke will re-gain his starting cornerback spot over Grant, who would be solid again at nickel. Young's defense mixes blitz schemes and man/zone coverage in the secondary as opposed to the basic cover-2 defense the Hurricanes have been accustomed to running, which features a lot of man-to-man responsibilities by the cornerbacks.
6. Glenn Cook and Anthony Reddick Return
Cook was granted a sixth-year of eligibility after missing the 2007 season with ligament damage in his foot. He redshirted in 2003. Cook is currently the team's starting middle linebacker and returns after posting a career-high 64 tackles in 2006. Now, Cook is not going to be a guy that enters the season with a lot of buzz, but he is a very important piece to the success of the team because of his maturity, calmness, and knowledge of the defense. Reddick also returns after missing the 2007 season with a torn ACL. Both Cook and Reddick enter the season as starters. Reddick was a freshman All-American safety in 2004 when he registered 73 tackles and one interception. Since then, he has played in just seven games. Don't be surprised to see Reddick eclipse his freshman season numbers even though he has made just one tackle in 1,088 days or 2 years, 11 months, and 23 days.
7. Kayne Farquharson, Antonio Dixon, and Orlando Franklin Are Easy to Root For
Farquharson did not play high school football, Dixon was homeless as a youth, and Franklin, a 6-7 monster, has only played three seasons of football. All three players have unique personalities and are easy to root for. All three are expected to have elevated roles this season, which is great to see. Farquharson is the most outgoing player on the team, who shows compassion to his surroundings, Dixon has improved his stuttering immensely since he arrived on campus and always has a smile on his face, and Franklin has a little bit of a crazy side, which shows with his extravagant tattoos.
8. No NFL Draft Buzz
Recent teams have had players accused of thinking only about where they will be drafted following the season. There is not of that right now. In fact, there's not a senior on the roster that is guaranteed to be drafted at all. Last year, Calais Campbell was supposed to be a leader for the team, but fell short of expectations and admitted to thinking about the draft too much. Well, it's time to worry about winning games and producing. That's it. All of the NFL stuff will come later if you handle winning because winning means producing. It is extremely hard to take a player seriously if they come from a losing program.
9. Florida and Florida State are on the Schedule
Now, I know Florida is contending for a national title and it is a road game in a tough environment with the player in the country returning. However, it is fun to see the Gators on the schedule, which won't happen again until 2013. I vividly remember former UM assistant Art Kehoe speaking adamantly about how Miami and Florida should face each other every year. And he's right. Who cares about if it's a tough game for either team or not. Line them up and play. Everyone wants to see it. Same with Florida State although they are a conference foe and the Canes will face them every year. By the way, Miami leads the all-time series 30-22. And in case you're curious, I do want all three Florida schools back on top winning. It is a lot more exciting when the three teams are up as recruiting becomes more intense and the rivalries between fans heat up.
10. Travis Benjamin's Dreads, Randy Phillips' Goatee, Lovon Ponder's Wedding Ring, Darryl Sharpton's Sense of Humor, Thearon Collier's Nickname, and Xavier Shannon's Mannerisms Like His Father's
There are a lot of unique things about this team, which sometimes doesn't get mentioned enough. Sometimes when the wins aren't there, fans tend to forget about the little things and why they are fans. Sure you root for Miami because it's Miami and you want everyone wearing a 'U' on the side of their helmet to be successful. But as you hear more and more stories about the individuals, you begin to be interested in them as well. Kids look up to some of these players for their play on the field and the things that make them unique. So this season, don't forget about the little things that makes it fun to be a fan.
Feel free to post comments about my blog here or send me an e-mail to stock@insidetheu.com.
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New Tattoo for Former Cane QB |
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Sat Aug 16, 2008
Everyone wondered what Kirby Freeman would do with his tattoo of the "U" he got on his back following the 2005 season to show his devotion to the school after speculation of a transfer.
Freeman opened the 2007 season as the starting quarterback before relinquishing his job to Kyle Wright and transferred to Baylor following the season.
Freeman will be able to play this season in his final year of eligibility after graduating from UM last year. He is currently in a battle for the starting job with the season opener against Wake Forest on Aug. 28 just days away.
So what did Freeman do with the tattoo? Did he get it removed? Did he keep it? Did he change it to something to promote his new school?
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Well, he changed it. He made the 'U' into a dark 'O' and has plans of getting a red cross in the middle.
Other News From Former Canes
• Andrew Johnson, a highly touted running back who arrived at UM in 2004, transferred to Akron following the 2006 season and had to sit out in 2007 per NCAA transfer rules.
Johnson is currently battling for playing time for the starting position and led the team in rushing during their first scrimmage of the fall last week.
Akron opens up at No. 13 Wisconsin on Aug. 30.
• Former Orange Bowl MVP Jarrett Payton will be unveiling the inaugural Walter Payton Achievement Award, which will be given to one player from each team in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, the annual Historically Black College football game.
This year, Hampton and Jackson State will battle it out on the grid iron on Aug. 31 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando and be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 2pm EST.
• Baltimore Ravens rookie linebacker Tavares Gooden is having a good fall camp and will be pushing for playing time this season. He's hoping to make a type of splash that former linebacker teammate Jon Beason made in his rookie season, when he recorded 140 tackles with Carolina last year.
• Last year's kicker Francesco Zampogna is keeping busy with his company he co-owns--Bioactive Skincare--which features high-quality sun screen products. Many professional athletes use their products.
• Quadtrine Hill (2002-05) had very good seats behind home plate at the Marlins game on Friday night against the Cubs.
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Video Games a Big Hit |
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Wed Aug 6, 2008
A number of players on the team have been spending their time away from the field playing NCAA Football 2009--a popular video game.
Especially since classes don't start until Aug. 27 so when the team is not on the field or in a meeting, they have some free time on their hands.
So I caught up with some guys to find out who are some of the best players are on the team.
Freshman Sean Spence is one of the better players on the team and says he plays every day--always with the Canes.
"It's a good feeling knowing that we are on the game," Spence said. "When we were younger we would always create ourselves on games, but now we are already on there and we just have to edit ourselves."
Spence doesn't touch the attributes, but he added a dark visor and some wristbands to himself on the game.
He insists he doesn't put himself in the starting lineup, instead he goes with the highest rated guy. And for those wondering, he goes with whatever quarterback is first on the depth chart--which is Robert Marve.
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Spence feels he's one of the better video game players on the team, but he can't get by Brandon Harris, who takes either LSU or Florida.
DeMarcus Van Dyke and Damien Berry are also formidable players.
Word is that Marcus Forston's gimic tactics of putting a fast receiver at tight end and running fly routes to try to create a match-up problem aren't very successful.
"He don't know how to play," one player said.
Robert Marve and Leonard Hankerson constantly play the game constantly on Marve's big screen TV.
Playing videos games is a good way to develop camaraderie within the team and it's a good break from the competitive play during fall camp.
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Monday on the Radio |
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Sun Aug 3, 2008
Hurricane fans!
Just a head's up that I will be on two ESPN radio stations on Monday.
The first one is at 8:25 AM and you can listen live by clicking here.
The second one is at 7:00 PM and you can listen live by clicking here.
I definitely appreciate the support and feel free to listen in as I talk about the Hurricanes practice, the upcoming season, recruiting and more.
Also, keep checking the website on a constant basis as practices will be held in the morning all week except for Friday. We will continue to provide practice reports, photo galleries, player features, video updates, and more!
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Media Day Tidbits |
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Fri Aug 1, 2008
Miami held their media day on Friday, a day before fall practices are set to begin.
There were 20 players available to the media including all four quarterbacks--Robert Marve, Jacory Harris, Cannon Smith, and Taylor Cook.
Here is a photo gallery from media along with some tidbits.
Practices start Saturday morning and are closed to the public.
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Shannon Makes Changes |
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Wed Jul 30, 2008
Coach Randy Shannon met with reporters earlier this week to announce changes in various media policies. The biggest one was closing the access to the locker room after the games.
Shannon cited the reason was because players complained to him about seeing female reporters in the locker room and in class.
Access to players after practice will also be more limited, but we will still continue to bring you plenty of coverage as we enter our second year at InsideTheU.com.
While at UM, I ran into a few players on the team and they are definitely excited to get going. I ran into DeMarcus Van Dyke, Damien Berry, Kayne Farquharson, Brandon Harris, Sean Spence, Aldarius Johnson, Ian Symonette, Adewale Ojomo, Jordan Futch, and Micanor Regis.
Futch was noticeably bigger than the last time we saw him in the spring, Spence looks about the same, Aldarius is still the man, Symonette is still a monster, and Ojomo has put on weight.
It's definitely good seeing the guys again and there is definitely an excitement around UM.
It will be even better to see the guys on the field. It's been a long off-season.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. In addition to InsideTheU, he is also the recruiting writer for the Sun-Sentinel and the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune as well as a regular contributor to the Associated Press and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Two QB System? |
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Thu Jul 17, 2008
Coach Randy Shannon recently said he will play two quarterbacks this season.
"Whichever quarterback that we name, we're going to play the other one," Shannon said at the Florida Sports Writers Association College Football Media Days.
That should bring music to everyone's ears, right?
Wrong.
Everyone is hoping ONE of the two quarterbacks--either Robert Marve or Jacory Harris--steps up as the man.
UM needs a face at quarterback again especially after the struggles Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman had in their careers.
In my opinion, whoever wins the job, let them gain the confidence needed and give them as many reps as possible early in the season. They don't need to be looking over their shoulder wondering when they are going to be pulled. There's one thing to try to create a competition, there's another to force a player to play scared. It doesn't work.
The team needs to rally around one guy and that one guy needs to be given the opportunity to succeed and fail on his own without getting yanked. I worry that this quarterback shuffle idea will hurt the team's offensive performance, which needs as much camaraderie as possible after struggling mightily last season finishing 110th out of 119 teams in total offense.
I think the mishandling of the quarterback situation early in the season will result in a losing record after five games, which could spell disaster later in the year.
Fans have been pretty accepting of a 5-7 season last year because it was Shannon's first season, it wasn't his kids, the recruiting class was the best in the nation, things will get better, etc.
However, I don't think fans will be too forgiving of a team with a similar record in 2008.
And it all starts with THE quarterback.
Poll Update
Our poll on the front page asks what will the Canes record be in 2008?
Through the first 100 votes, most people (24%) believe the team will go 8-4 and 76 percent of people think the team will go at least 8-4.
That number seems a bit high considering I believe if this team wins eight games, it would be a huge step in the right direction and that should be a realistic goal for a team with four freshmen quarterbacks, no superstars, a couple of proven defensive players, and a tough schedule with road games at Florida, Texas A&M, and Georgia Tech.
Basketball Update
I ran into coach Frank Haith at the Breakdown Hoops Festival on Monday and he was excited about freshman DeQuan Jones, a 6-6 swingman from Georgia. "I think he might be able to help us," Haith joked. Jones will provide the team with the ability to get to the rim especially in transition, something they did not have last year.
Jones will wear No. 31 and freshman Reggie Johnson will wear No. 34.
Baseball Update
Blake Tekotte is the latest underclassmen to sign a pro contract joining Jemile Weeks, Carlos Gutierrez, Dennis Raben, Mark Sobolewski, and Adan Severino. Yonder Alonso remains unsigned.
Signee Nathan Melendres is having an outstanding summer with the Florida Legends batting .418 with three home runs, 22 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 29 games. He has primarily been playing left field for the Legends and can also play the corner infield positions.
Other top signees Harold Martinez (.395-2-20) and Rolando Gomez (.347-1-13) are also having good summers.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. In addition to InsideTheU, he is also the recruiting writer for the Sun-Sentinel and the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune as well as a regular contributor to the Associated Press and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Only Two Running Backs |
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Fri Jul 11, 2008
"Miami only wants two running backs in this class."
This statement has been echoed by Mike James, Lamar Miller, and Jaamal Berry in the past two weeks.
James, a relative unknown from Davenport, Fla., became the second running back commit after All-American Bryce Brown and raised a lot of eyebrowns when he made this statement:
"They said me and Bryce Brown will be the only two," James said. "They only want two in the class and that will be me and Bryce Brown."
So we caught up with Berry, a Miami product and an Under Armour All-American, to get his thoughts. Berry did not receive a UM offer despite having offers from Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, LSU, and more.
Berry was a bit surprised James received an offer over him.
“I was kind of surprised, but there is nothing I can do about it," Berry said.
Miller, another high profile prospect from Miami, was still hoping he had an offer from Miami.
We have also confirmed from a source that Miami is only planning on taking two backs.
So Brown and James will be it.
Brown won't be questioned by the fans because of being a high-profile prospect and one of the best backs in the country.
However, James will consistently be judged by fans--fair or unfair--and compared to Miller and Berry. The coaching staff felt Miller and James were both better than Berry, which is why he did not receive an offer.
The UM staff did not want to go through the recruiting process with Miller, which I believe is disappointing. Asking a kid to commit before July is a bit too much pressure. Recruit the kid during the season, bring him in on an official visit, let him visit other schools, and then let him make his decision.
Brandon Harris received that treatment a year ago. Why not Miller?
A lot can happen with the recruiting process and the running back situation will be one to follow closely as UM needs playmakers in the backfield.
What if Brown or James change their minds? Will Miller and Berry be okay with being a back-up plan?
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. In addition to InsideTheU, he is also the recruiting writer for the Sun-Sentinel and the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune as well as a regular contributor to the Associated Press and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Position with Sun-Sentinel |
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Thu Jul 3, 2008
I just want to inform our readers that have I have accepted a position with the Sun-Sentinel newspaper to be their recruiting writer.
This will not interfere with my involvement with InsideTheU.com or the productivity I will have on this site.
I am very excited about the position and very thankful for the opportunity the Sun-Sentinel has provided me. I've been very fortunate with how new opportunities have came along in my career and this is something I'm extremely happy about.
I will have an online blog there so stop by and say hello. I'll also have a monthly print column as well as online player features throughout the week.
It's very exciting to see the growth of recruiting and my position with the Sun-Sentinel is just an extension of providing more recruiting coverage.
You can read my blog on Sun-Sentinel by clicking here.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. In addition to InsideTheU, he is also the recruiting writer for the Sun-Sentinel and the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune as well as a regular contributor to the Associated Press and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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A New Design |
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Tue Jul 1, 2008
As you can see, we have just tweaked our website with a new design.
We are very excited about the new sharper look and have created a few new elements.
At the bottom of the page, you can see a "What's Hot" section. This section will feature some of our most popular articles. Currently, we have our Dade Top 50 article there now.
Also, underneath the ESPN Portal, you will find the latest Videos and Photo Galleries that we have posted on our site.
The site does have larger ads, which will in turn help you out as the consumer by helping keep our costs down and less than our competitors. Feel free to click on the ads and see what these companies are all about. Remember, it helps keep the price of our subscriptions down.
We will constantly look to improve our product and this is just one example of doing so.
Facebook and MySpace
I know there is a lot of people that have an account on Facebook and MySpace.
Be sure to add InsideTheU.com as one of your friends.
Click here to see InsideTheU.com on Facebook
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Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Thoughts on Bryce, Recruiting |
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Mon Jun 23, 2008
It’s good to be back.
I just returned to Miami after making a trip to Kansas to visit friends, family, and to attend a wedding. Everyone there was still buzzing over KU’s national title, Micheal Beasley, gas prices, and tornadoes.
A few random highlights of the trip included watching 8-year olds play baseball, the nightlife in Lawrence, happy hour at Sonic, attending a fish fry,
Also, on my trip, I was able to make a stop in Wichita to meet up with Miami’s top 2009 recruit, Bryce Brown.
Brown, the nation’s number one ranked running back, was participating in off-season workouts with mentor Brian Butler and about 15 other high school kids including another UM recruit, Riley Spencer. BONUS: Watch Brown's Workout
It was good to meet up with Brown and see how his summer was going. He’s currently 6-0, 215 and looks every bit of it.
He's got a great blend of humility and confidence, which should be fun to follow in the next few years. If he continues to work hard, there's no reason why he can't be a very productive player in college.
Other Recruiting News
I caught up with Riley Spencer in Wichita and we talked about the recruiting process. Spencer holds a UM offer and had just received an offer from Kansas State the day we talked. And on Sunday, he verbally committed to Kansas. When we talked, it didn't seem like he would be making a decision soon. However, I'm not at all surprised to see him stay in-state based on his personality and is from a very small town. I won't post the interview on the site and we have his highlight video, which we will put up if things change.
Two other UM targets, with offers, made decisions this weekend as well as Naples RB Carlos Hyde and Louisville (Ky.) DB Justin Green both committed to Ohio State. Hyde was always set on the Buckeyes throughout the process, but Green's decision was interesting considering he appeared to enjoy his visit to UM last weekend.
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Three prospects who we are very familiar with at InsideTheU--CB Ricardo Dixon (pictured right), ATH Victor Marc, and WR James Green--each announced their decision to commit to the University of South Florida over the weekend.
Dixon is a huge pick-up for the Bulls and I think he'll be a very good player at the next level. I was hoping to see Miami get ahold of him as he possesses good speed along with good height at the cornerback position.
Marc is talented, but it's hard to say what position he'll play at the next level. And I've always been intrigued by Green's size/speed combination when he played at Dr. Krop last season.
ESPN Radio on Tuesdays
For those interested, I will be a guest for 10-15 minutes on an ESPN radio station on Tuesdays at 9:25 a.m.
You can listen live here
Five to Watch in 2009
The 2008 baseball team finished their successful season with a 53-11 record despite their struggles in the College World Series. A number of key players have finished their UM careers and will sign pro contracts, but here are five to watch in 2009:
SS Ryan Jackson – Jackson was very impressive as a sophomore hitting .360 with four home runs, 50 RBIs, and a team-leading 19 doubles. It was definitely a much-improved campaign after hitting .236 with 25 RBis as a freshman. Hopefully he continues to develop as his bat will be needed next season.
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OF Iden Nazario – Nazario (pictured right) was the team’s starting DH after last fall, but struggled in the spring as others passed up on the depth chart. Injuries slowed his campaign in the bullpen, but should be an exciting player to watch in ’09. Nazario had three hits in 12 at-bats this season.
C Yasmani Grandal – Grandal showed flashes of excellence this season including hitting a home run in the College World Series. His batting average of .234 should improve dramatically in year two. Defensively he threw out 29 percent of basestealers and committed six errors.
LHP D.J. Swatscheno – Swatscheno was sidelined in ’08 with Tommy John surgery, but there are high hopes for him. As a junior at Flanagan, he went 12-2 with an 0.87 ERA and 142 strikeouts.
3B Harold Martinez – Martinez is not expected to sign a pro contract and will honor his letter of intent at Miami. He has the potential to be a talented hitter similar to Ryan Braun and Yonder Alonso.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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College World Series Time |
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Mon Jun 9, 2008
The No. 1-ranked Miami Hurricanes (52-9) will face Georgia (41-23-1) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, which will be televised on ESPN.
Florida State will face Stanford on the same side of the bracket.
The double-elimination eight-team tournament will conclude with a best-of-three series June 23-25.
Miami is looking for their fifth national title and their first since 2001.
Georgia is led by two first-rounders in SS Gordon Beckham (pictured) and RHP Josh Fields.
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Beckham was selected eighth overall by the Chicago White Sox--one pick after Miami's Yonder Alonso was taken.
Beckham, a 6-0, 185-pounder, is batting .401 with 26 home runs, 72 RBIs, 21 doubles, and 17 stolen bases.
Fields, a flame-throwing reliever, has a 2-2 record and 2.76 ERA. He has struck out 59 batters in 32 innings.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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DE Harris Injured |
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Wed Jun 4, 2008
Junior defensive end Courtney Harris suffered a torn Achilles and is likely to miss the 2008 season according to the Sun-Sentinel. (Click here to read more)
Harris (No. 49 pictured) was expected to fill a key role in 2008 especially with the off-season injury to fellow defensive end Allen Bailey--a projected starter.
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Now, that leaves senior Eric Moncur as the lone healthy starter and he has dealt with nagging injuries throughout his career.
Look for Adewale Ojomo to get the next crack at being a guy that can be depended on. Earlier in the spring, it was rumored Ojomo was not going to be on the team this season, but Randy Shannon denied those rumors.
Steven Wesley is another guy looking to make an impact at defensive end this year, but has yet to put together a consistent performance in practice to earn the coaches' trust.
Incoming freshman Andrew Smith should be a good, solid player in time, but it might be too much to ask of him to compete for playing time right away. Gavin Hardin, another incoming freshman, has said he wants to play linebacker in college although he could play defensive end as well.
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Game Times Announced
Miami's 2008 season opener against Charleston Southern on August 28 will be at 7:30 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN360.
The second game at Florida on September 6 will be at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
The rest of the game times have not been announced yet.
Post your comments here
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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2009 Class Has Talent |
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Tue Jun 3, 2008
Make no mistake about it, the 2009 class in Miami-Dade County is talented.
You just haven't heard about them yet.
The 2008 class will go down as one of the most talented groups in recent memory, but that does not mean it's a down year in Dade.
Nope.
There is plenty of talent and a number of players will sign with Division I-A programs next February.
We just released our Top 50 in Dade County on Monday and all 50 of those players are Division I-A prospects.
Click here for the complete list
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One thing that stands out to me about this Top 50 list and the one from 2008 is the number of schools represented. Last year, a lot of the talent was dispersed amongst Northwestern (11 Top 50 selections) and Booker T. (9).
This year, there are 22 schools with at least one selection in the Top 50. And it's good to see the talent is dispersed amongst a number of different programs.
It should be a fun year in Dade as a number of players are sure to make a name for themselves.
Super Regionals
No. 1-ranked Miami (50-8) will host No. 23-ranked Arizona (41-17) in the Super Regionals beginning on Friday.
First pitch is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN.
The best-of-three series will resume Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., again on ESPN.
The third game, if necessary, will be on Sunday at 7 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN2.
UM leads the all-time series with Arizona, 4-2. The last meeting between the two programs came in 1989 when the Hurricanes defeated the Wildcats, 11-1, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Arizona was the preseason No. 1 ranked team by Collegiate Baseball, Miami was 14th.
The winner will advance to the College World Series in Omaha, which begins June 14 through June 25.
Miami is likely to go with a rotation of LHP Chris Hernandez (11-0, 2.55 ERA), LHP Eric Erickson (8-1, 4.13 ERA), and RHP Enrique Garcia (6-2, 4.80 ERA).
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Arizona is expected to counter with RHP Preston Guilmet (6-4, 4.29 ERA), LHP David Coulon (8-3, 3.54 ERA), and LHP Eric Berger (8-3, 4.43 ERA).
Guilmet (pictured) has struggled this year after going 12-2 with a 1.87 ERA in 2007.
The Hurricanes are hoping the MLB Draft on Thursday does not interfere with their focus.
Juniors 1B Yonder Alonso, 2B Jemile Weeks, OF Blake Tekotte, and OF Dennis Raben are expected to be high draft picks. Sophomore 3B Mark Sobolewski is draft-eligible after turning 21 in December. Junior OFs Dave DiNatale and Adan Severino are also expected to be drafted.
Arizona draft-eligible players Guilmet, LHP Daniel Schlereth, RHP Ryan Perry (who owns a 98 mph fastball), and OF T.J. Steele could be high draft picks as well.
Miami is 46-4 in the postseason at home under coach Jim Morris.
Post your comments here
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Canes to Face Ole Miss |
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Sun Jun 1, 2008
Miami (49-8) will take on Mississippi (39-25) today at 4:35 p.m. in the championship game of the Coral Gables Regional.
If Miami loses, the two teams would play again on Monday at 7 p.m.
Mississippi defeated Missouri 9-6 earlier today after Logan Power hit a go ahead-grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Miami will send sophomore lefty Eric Erickson (7-1, 4.31 ERA) to the mound.
Ole Miss will counter with a sophomore lefty of their own in Nathan Baker (3-5, 4.41 ERA).
Baker's last start on May 25 against LSU, he gave up four runs--three earned--in four innings as he took the loss.
His best outing was on April 22 against Murray State when he struck out 11 in six innings, allowing two earned runs.
For UM's sake, hopefully Scott Bittle is gassed after striking out 12 in 4 1/3 innings in relief.
Miami defeated Ole Miss in 2006 during the Super Regionals. Miami is 3-1 all-time against the Rebels.
UM's starting lineup:
1. Blake Tekotte, CF
2. Jemile Weeks, 2B
3. Yonder Alonso, 1B
4. Mark Sobolewski, 3B
5. Ryan Jackson, SS
6. Dave DiNatale, LF
7. Dennis Raben, RF
8. Jason Hagerty, DH
9. Yasmani Grandal, C
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Tough Break for Bailey |
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Wed May 21, 2008
Allen Bailey tore a pectoral muscle on Monday and will have surgery this week.
We are hearing that he could be back in August, but could also miss some fall practices
It is hopeful that he returns in time for the August 28 season opener.
Bailey was one of the stars during spring practices after switching to defensive end from linebacker and was expected to have a very productive season this year. Observers felt he could be an All-ACC caliber player this season with his rare power and size at the end position.
Bailey considers the injury "a bump in the road" according to his profile on Facebook and there's no reason to believe he can't bounce back from the injury as long as he's able to put it behind him mentally.
He should still be a very effective player in 2008 and one of the team's best players on defense. The Hurricanes need a playmaker on defense and this is a guy who has shown signs of being that playmaker.
McKenzie Back Running
Wide receiver Jermaine McKenzie suffered a high ankle sprain in the spring causing him to miss the spring game.
McKenzie was able to run routes two weeks ago for the first time and is continuing to rehab. He is another player that will be counted on this year.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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The Tour, Marve, and More |
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Sun May 11, 2008
We have been on the road this month touring different high schools in South Florida.
(Click here for complete list of school reports)
It’s been going well, although watching a 4-hour practice was not exactly something I had anticipated.
It’s great getting to know the top prospects in the area and actually seeing them perform in offense-defense drills as well as individual drills. It’s also a great time to meet with high school coaches to find out who the under-the-radar kids are.
Here are three kids without any offers that are really intriguing to me thus far. They are very under-the-radar without hardly any publicity, who could see their stock rise tremendously in the next year.
In other news…
Marve Throwing with Receivers
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Robert Marve is throwing twice a week with receivers Jermaine McKenzie, Kayne Farquharson, Leonard Hankerson, and running back Javarris James (pictured right), who is looking to improve his hands this summer as he is expected to be used a lot in the slot this upcoming season. Summer workouts with Swasey begin on May 29.
Weight Room Results
I caught up with strength coach Andreu Swasey this past week to get the spring testing results. The players went through testing in the 40-yard dash, short shuttle, vertical jump, bench press, power clean, and squat. Spencer Adkins and Allen Bailey were two standouts during spring testing.
NFL Canes Return to Campus
Jonathan Vilma on campus working out last week. Vilma is preparing for his first season with the Saints after an off-season trade. Edgerrin James, Willis McGahee, Reggie Wayne, D.J. Williams, and Roscoe Parrish are amongst the former NFL players who have returned in recent weeks to workout at UM.
Morris Not a Fan of Barton’s Dreads
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Former Hurricane Brian Barton (pictured right) is a rookie outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals where he is batting .288 in 28 games. One of the differences with Barton, an undrafted free agent, since he played at UM in 2003-04 is that he now has long dreadlocks compared to having short hair, which coach Jim Morris is not a fan of.
“I’m not real happy with his hair,” Morris said. “I told him that, but that’s up to him what he does. It’s very long right now. I think it gives the wrong image of Brian Barton because he’s a very, very nice young man—very religious, very smart, very thoughtful of everybody, and I think maybe sometimes you look at those dreadlocks and you think, ‘Who is this?’ He’s far from anything bad you could possibly think. He’s a super young man.”
Braun Returns to South Florida
Former Hurricane Ryan Braun faced the Florida Marlins in South Florida for the first time since being in the big leagues. I was able to catch up with Braun on Tuesday before the first game of the series. He's doing well and was glad to be back in the area. He had lunch with UM coach Jim Morris on Monday. Braun was 2-for-13 with a double in the series as the Brewers were swept. Click here for complete story on Braun
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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High School Road Tour |
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Sat May 3, 2008
Hurricane fans,
InsideTheU.com has hit the road once again.
This time we are touring South Florida high schools to talk to the best prospects at each school, find out who the sleepers are, and which underclassmen to pay attention to.
In these school reports, we provide a scouting report on each prospect as well as an update with recruiting.
May 1 was the first day of spring practices in Florida and we have already posted some of our experiences here:
Spring Road Tour
Each article has a number indicated on a star to show which number in the series it is.
Here's what we've visited thus far:
May 2: Miramar
May 3: Gulliver Prep
May 4: Southwest
May 5: Palmetto
Keep checking every day to see the latest reports from the schools, articles from the top kids, new photos, and highlight videos.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Draft Day Eventful |
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Mon Apr 28, 2008
Congratulations to Kenny Phillips, Calais Campbell, and Tavares Gooden for being selected in the NFL Draft over the weekend.
And best of luck to the seven Hurricanes who signed free agent contracts as 2007 Team MVP Darnell Jenkins signed with Houston. Kyle Wright (Minnesota), Lance Leggett (Cleveland), Teraz McCray (Buffalo), Vegas Franklin (Tampa Bay), Andrew Bain (NY Giants), and Glenn Sharpe (Atlanta) also signed contracts.
Busy Day
On Saturday, I attended Kenny Phillips' Draft Party at The Shore Club on Miami Beach (Watch video. I got there around 5:00 p.m., met with some of The Shore Club staff for a bit before watching the draft.
It's one thing to watch the draft from home, but it is another to be there with the family members and draft hopeful as their lives are about to change dramatically--especially financially.
I briefly said hello to Phillips' agent Drew Rosenhaus, who was extremely as one could imagine and saw Michigan State receiver Devin Thomas, another Rosenhaus client in the same party as Phillips, but the families had different rooms.
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Kenny received the call around 6:30 from the Giants and there were as many as 60 friends and family members in attendance. After Kenny met with the media, I made a few calls to report the story including to the AP (See story here.
I left The Shore Club around 7:15 p.m. to head to the Sheraton Hotel in Fort Lauderdale to attend Tavares Gooden's Draft Party. I fought through terrible traffic on I-95, but was glad I could make the event.
It was a different setting and situation with Gooden, who was a borderline prospect to be drafted in the first day. The two different situations reminded me when I was in college and worked with the Minnesota baseball team as we watched the NCAA Selection Show only to see the squad not get selected as a bubble team and then covering the Miami baseball team a couple years later watching their reaction as they did not get the No. 1 overall seed.
Gooden was not selected on Saturday, but it was good seeing his name scroll across the bottom of the screen as Mel Kiper's best overall prospects. He was chosen early on Sunday morning by Baltimore as his friends and family members gathered at his home.
Tavares is a guy I developed a close relationship over the five years he was at UM. I saw him go through plenty of ups and downs. After he was drafted on Sunday we reminisced about some of the memories he's had including when I remember talking to him after the win at Florida State in 2003 when he was a true freshman wearing a shiny grill. He remembered that game, flying down the field on a kickoff and popping Seminoles highly-touted linebacker Ernie Sims, also a true freshman.
After leaving the Sheraton, I turned the radio to WVUM to listen to the UM baseball game against Virginia. As I got closer to the stadium, I realized I could catch the end of the game, which was tied 3-3 at the time.
I got to the game in the bottom of the ninth inning and saw Jemile Weeks score the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning in front of a sold-out crowd at 10:21 p.m. I caught up with Jemile after the game and headed home around 11.
It was a busy day, but it's fun going to a number of different events despite the rush and stress of getting the story.
Alonso Hurt
Hurricanes star first baseman Yonder Alonso, who is batting .371 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs this season, left Sunday's game after running into the Virginia catcher at the plate.
After the game, coach Jim Morris said, “Yonder is ok, he won’t miss any time.”
I received confirmation from a source on Monday that Yonder is fine, suffering just a bruise.
Miami's next game is Friday against St. Mary's.
On the Radio
I will be back on the radio for about 10-15 minutes on Tuesday morning at 8:45 a.m. You can listen to the interview live here.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Stadium Update |
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Fri Apr 25, 2008
If you've been by the baseball stadium recently, you have probably noticed more construction going on.
"It's exciting, it's going up quick," coach Jim Morris said. "We expect it to be ready for next season. Every day I go look and it is very exciting."
On Thursday, Morris took time to show me, David, and Alex (with WVUM) a look at the new additions from the top of the stadium. It was a great view as he pointed out where the new weight room, trainer's room, and locker room will be. It was a great view as opposed to walking by a bunch of concrete walls.
Morris said he expects to have 2,000 more seats added along the right-field line for the May 15-17 series against No. 2 North Carolina. The additional seats would give the stadium a capacity crowd of 5,000.
The bleachers will also stay there for the Regionals assuming Miami is named as one of the 16 host schools.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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No Offer for Receiver |
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Tue Apr 22, 2008
Every year, there are kids that come up with stories about how they have offers from different schools when they don't.
Kids are either delusional, like the attention, or just flat out lie.
It happens.
(See Kevin Hart)
Recently there was a report that Jamaal Fleming, a local wide receiver, has a scholarship offer to Miami.
He does not. The report is false.
Fleming is an unknown and does not have an offer.
There are others out there that are not telling the truth including a 5-foot-3 cornerback, who ran a 5.2 40 at a local combine. I think kids keep the dream alive by telling everyone they are being recruited, but in the end, they are not being realistic with themselves and they suffer a major disappointment when they do.
There's another fraud out there who has told reporters he is the younger brother of a former collegiate All-American.
It's important to be careful when reporting various recruiting stories and we will do everything we can to double-check sources especially if the story sounds fishy.
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Road Trip to Gainesville |
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Mon Apr 14, 2008
David and I went up to Gainesville this past weekend to check out the Gators spring game Saturday and the Nike Camp on Sunday.
It's always good to see different scenery, but of course, it's always good return back to Miami.
Here are some observations on the spring game:
1. Orange vs. Blue
The Orange vs. Blue format is definitely more entertaining for the fans as evident by having a record 61,000 fans in attendance for the game. Hopefully UM will go back to this format instead of the Offense vs. Defense format which has taken over the UM spring in recent years although Randy Shannon did elect to have Orange-White last year. It's definitely a lot easier to keep score, that's for sure.
2. Tebow Impressive
The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner was 13-for-21 for 200 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The thing that stood out to me with Tebow was his ability to slow down the game and make simple plays. On one particular play, he dropped back and found receiver Riley Cooper coming across the field and Tebow simply dumped off the pass to Cooper despite a heavy rush. He knows where to go and has confidence in making every throw.
3. Rainey, Moody Stepped Up
If Florida is going to make a run at the SEC Championship and beyond, running backs Chris Rainey and Emmanuel Moody are the guys to help lead them there. Both players showed good quickness and cut-back moves en route to rushing for 186 yards on 25 carries. Rainey (5-9, 177) emerged in the spring game with Percy Harvin out with an injury. His 65-yard touchdown reception was one of the top sports plays of the day on ESPN.
4. Patchan Excelling
Former Miami recruit Matt Patchan could start on the defensive line this fall according to defensive line coach Dan McCarney in an article on GatorCountry.com. Patchan played both defensive end and defensive tackle and did a nice job of getting in the backfield. He also switched it up throughout the spring game playing on the offensive line. The UF coaches want Patchan on the field and he is doing everything he can to play in his first season.
5. Back in a Few Months
We will be back in Gainesville on September 6 to follow the Hurricanes as they look to make a statement against the Gators, who are expected to open the season as a Top 10 team.
Note: On Sunday we talked to a number of Miami recruits and some of the best prospects in Florida at the Nike Camp. We will continue to have articles throughout the week from the event.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Q&A Segment |
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Mon Apr 7, 2008
Here is a transcript of a question and answer segment I did with Canespace.com on Sunday night...
Hey Chris give us your prediction now for the Canes in football for 08...
The future looks bright at UM, without question. But I think it's important to be patient with this group--it's very hard for a collection of freshman and sophomores in football to make a huge impact to lead the team to a conference championship.
There are a number of players that stepped up as playmakers this spring, its a start in getting this thing turned around.
I think a realistic goal is 8-9 wins, which would put the team in prime contention to win 10-12 the following year.
Chris...what about the LB position? How do you see this shaking out?
I think these 3 will be the starters in 2008:
WLB Sean Spence
MLB Glenn Cook
SLB Colin McCarthy
I think Darryl Sharpton will be the team's 4th linebacker who can play a number of the positions, but is best suited at SLB. Arthur Brown should receive substantial playing time in favorable downs and should be allowed to grow into a future starter at MLB when Cook leaves.
Spencer Adkins would be great behind Spence and can be used effectively Bill Young's new blitzing schemes.
At this time, I dont see any other linebacker cracking the top 6.
What about the WR position? Does AJ start? I have predicted that AJ will be the next GREAT Canes WR. Do U agree or is there another WR that U think will excel?
I think Aldarius will be a great player, but in his first year, I expect him to be used as a key possession receiver.
I think it is imperative for Sam Shields to emerge from the pack as the go-to guy like Darnell did a year ago. Shields needs to be a downfield threat to ease the pressure off the other receivers.
Jermaine McKenzie will be a good one, but once again, we are talking about his first year. His ankle injury, which I've been told is a high ankle sprain, didnt help his development.
Kayne Farquharson has the makings of catching 20+ passes this season and Leonard Hankerson could also be a productive player as well.
I believe the other incoming freshmen will likely redshirt unless they can prove to be playmakers on special teams or be a big-time threat downfield such as Tommy Streeter showed throughout the season.
Chris...what about the safety position? There is a lot of speculation about what might happen here?
Safety is an interesting position, but the two players I think will emerge are Anthony Reddick and Randy Phillips.
Reddick is a physical player, who can excel against the run and Phillips is great being around the ball making plays in the air.
Those are the two I would go with and then have Lovon Ponder ready to go in for either one if they need a break.
Damien Berry and JoJo Nicolas will have their time, I just dont think it's 2008. C.J. Holton is probably the most college-ready safety amongst the incoming freshmen and would be good to have on special teams.
Chris...as a member myself I know the value of www.insidetheu.com. But please tell readers here why they should subscribe to wwww.insidetheu.com?
It's very simple. We provide the most comprehensive coverage of the Miami Hurricanes football, basketball, and baseball teams and recruiting. The website is great for the die-hard fan or the casual fan that wants to receive information on their favorite university in the country.
We stress the importance of getting 'U' the consumer information as fast as possible and having extensive, detailed reports for you to read.
We constantly are coming up with new ideas to keep things fresh on the site such as producing an online movie on a star recruit, taking road trips across the state of Florida in search of the hottest new recruits to meet them in person, podcasts and analysis from the staff, keeping up with the latest Hurricanes in the pros, and more.
Our staff consist of three members whose lone goal is provide you with the best product around. We know you have options, but we want you as a subscriber and we don't want to let you go.
Our staff also has years of experience covering the Hurricanes, high school sports, and professional teams. Our professionalism and dedication to be the best journalists we can be is for 'U'!
ALSO, don't forget that a subscription to InsideTheU.com will get you a complimentary subscription to ESPN Insider and ESPN the Magazine.
So check out InsideTheU.com!
If you have questions, you can reach me at 305-661-6759 or stock@insidtheu.com, I'd be more than happy to answer your question.
Go Canes!
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News & Thoughts |
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Fri Mar 28, 2008
Here are some various news items causing some buzz around the Coral Gables campus...and a couple of other things.
Offense vs. Defense
The format of the spring game, which begins at 10 a.m. will be offense vs. defense instead of the orange vs. white they had a year ago. I've always been vocal about disliking the offense vs. defense format and think the game is a lot more entertaining and interesting when you watch orange vs. white. My opinion hasn't changed, but hopefully the offense scores touchdowns on Saturday. I picked Kayne Farquharson as my sleeper MVP in the mid-spring open scrimmage and he shined leading the team with four catches for 42 yards.
I don't consider freshman Aldarius Johnson is a sleeper, but he's my pick for a guy that will have a big day on Saturday.
The game is at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Address is 5201 NW 12th Ave. Take the commercial blvd. exit off of I-95.
McKenzie Ailing
If you are going to the spring game on Saturday, don't expect to see redshirt freshman receiver Jermaine McKenzie. He has been hobbled this spring with an injury, which has kept him out of practice and is not expected to play on Saturday.
2009 Under Armour Game
A number of top players in Florida will be participating in the 2009 Under Armour game held in Orlando, Fla. Some of the top Florida stars who will be in attendance include: Andre DeBose, Ray Ray Armstrong, Jaamal Berry, Frankie Telfort, and Ryne Giddins. Other top UM recruits who will be there include Prince Kent and Darrell Givens.
Shannon in the Middle East
Coach Randy Shannon is one of five NCAA coaches who will be traveling to the Middle East, May 20-26 to visit military bases. Mark Richt (Georgia), Charlie Weis (Notre Dame), Tommy Tuberville (Auburn), and Jack Siedlecki (Yale) are the other four coaches.
“I am excited about joining my colleagues on the trip to the Persian Gulf. This is an exceptional opportunity for me to interact with our military personnel overseas as well as a chance to experience the cultures of the host countries,” Shannon said in a release.
2009 McDonald's Game
The University of Miami has been selected to host the 2009 McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Boys and Girls Games ON on April 1, 2009 at the BankUnited Center and will be nationally televised on ESPN. American Heritage guard and UM recruit Kenny Boynton is a likely favorite to be in the game.
NCAA Tournament
Good to see the Hurricanes basketball team put together two solid games in the NCAA Tournament and hopefully they will build from that. As far as the rest of the tournament goes, I still feel confident that KU will win it all this year (David picked UCLA and Rudy picked North Carolina) and I'll stick by my prediction of having all number one seeds in the Final Four--I know it's not a crazy prediction, I just think the top four are that much better than the rest of the field.
Erickson, Santana Out
Ace Eric Erickson is out 7-10 days with stiffness and is not making the trip to Duke this weekend, neither is No. 4 starter Jason Santana who is also out 7-10 days. Freshman Chris Hernandez moves up a day in the rotation and will pitch tonight in the series opener against Duke. Enrique Garcia will take the mound on Saturday night and a starter has not been named for Sunday. John Housey has been the team's No. 5 starter thus far and is the likely candidate. However, coach Morris could turn towards Michael Rudman or Alex Koronis.
Marlins Season
I have covered a number of Marlins games since 2004 for various companies, but this year I have received the assignment of being the lead reporter for their home games this season. I'm very excited about the opportunity, but don't worry, we'll stay plenty busy with this site after spring practices.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Yonder's Blast a Rare Feat |
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Mon Mar 24, 2008
Yonder Alonso hit two home runs in the second game of the double header on Sunday afternoon against Wake Forest, but neither will count because the game was shortened due to weather.
However, it doesn't take away from his monster shot that he hit over the 30-foot batter's eye in center field, which stands 400 feet from home plate.
A rough estimate on the distance would be at least 450 feet.
"I really didn't feel it off the bat," Alonso said. "But I saw it went over the fence and the hitter's eye so that was pretty impressive."
Alonso, a lefthanded hitter, hit the blast off of 6-3 senior righthander Charlie Mellies.
"I've never done that before," Alonso said. "I didn't really see it, but the guys were telling me about it and I was like, 'Oh man, that's pretty cool."
His teammates were pretty impressed as well.
"I couldn't believe it," pitcher Chris Hernandez said. "At first I lost it off the bat and then when I saw it again, it went right over the hitter's eye. I couldn't believe he hit a ball that far. I was shocked."
"That was a pretty good poke there, it was pretty far," shortstop Ryan Jackson said. "I wasn't that surprised, he's got great pop to the middle of the field, but it was pretty impressive. That was a bomb."
The ball landed near the track in Cobb Stadium.
It's not uncommon to see UM power hitters to send balls into the parking garage in right field, but a blast to center over the batter's eye is a rare feat.
The Hurricanes hit 10 home runs in the first two games of the series with Wake and five more in game three, but they won't count.
Alonso will look to add to his home run total on Tuesday against Bethune-Cookman as he remains just three away from tying Jim Burt for 10th on UM's all-time list.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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The Scrimmage Video |
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Thu Mar 20, 2008
The University of Miami football program used to pride themselves on lining up and beating teams even if their offensive scheme was considered basic and their defense lacked creativity.
Practices were frequently open because UM was not scared to show anything to the competition. There was an aura around the program, a confidence, a swagger that has attracted fans from across the country.
Fans grew to love the Hurricanes because they were unique, fun to watch, and dominant.
It is different now.
Two weeks ago, we posted a video of UM's open scrimmage--their only one of the spring--and recently it drew criticism of head coach Randy Shannon.
We did not break any rules when we posted the video. The scrimmage was open to the public and close to 5,000 people showed up. There were no rules against bringing in video cameras and taping the scrimmage.
Even Urban Meyer and all of his staff would have been allowed to bring their own cameras into the stands and filmed the scrimmage if they really cared to do so.
They didn't.
But we did.
And because we did, Shannon made it a point to address it after practice this week 12 days after we posted it and one of our competitors quickly pointed the finger at me when Shannon asked who posted it, another competitor wanted to point it out after their practice report to say why they didn't copy us again, and another guy that writes blogs felt it was necessary to make it the lead story and post the audio clip.
It's quite hilarious how Shannon over-reacted to the situation, but it is even more humorous how other people in the media liked talking about it.
Our site is less than a year old, but we're consistently monitored by our competition and copied on a routine basis. (By the way, it gets annoying interviewing players and coaches only to have the competition hold their recorder in, ask zero questions, and post everything as their own.)
Anyways, we have taken the scrimmage video down. (Highlights can still be seen here and more highlights will be released after spring practices). It's not worth fighting for, although all of our subscribers enjoyed it, especially those who were unable to make it to the scrimmage because they do not live in South Florida.
In the meantime, we will continue to bring everyone as much quality content as possible in innovative ways.
And a note to Coach Shannon, I understand your paranoia about other people watching your open scrimmage.
But hopefully in time, the program will get back to where it used to be where it doesn't matter who is watching because the Hurricanes will still prevail.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Josh Howard on Haith |
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Mon Mar 17, 2008
I caught up with Dallas Mavericks all-star forward Josh Howard following their 98-73 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday evening.
Howard, 27, is having a career year averaging 19.5 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Mavericks after starring at Wake Forest for four years where he was named a first-team All-American in 2003.
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Miami head coach Frank Haith was an assistant coach at Wake Forest and was responsible for helping lure Howard to Wake.
"He was a fiery guy and always wanted you to do your best," Howard recalled. "That was one thing I always took from him was to always play hard and do your best."
Haith coached Howard for two years at Wake Forest before taking an assistant job at Texas. The 6-foot-7 swingman is considered the best player Haith has coached in his career.
During the game with the Heat, Howard found out that Miami received an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance under Haith.
"I was proud of him when I heard that during the game, he worked hard just like I worked hard and he taught me a lot when I was in college," Howard said.
Howard says he has not talked to Haith in a while, but his mother, Nancy Henderson, still keeps in touch with him.
"He texts me when he has time, but I know he is busy," Howard said.
Miami faces St. Mary's on Friday in the first round.
"I'll be watching them and showing my support," Howard said.
ESPN analysts break down the South Region
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Road Trip to Sanford |
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Wed Mar 12, 2008
I had a great trip up to Sanford earlier this week to visit Seminole High School located just north of Orlando.
There has been a lot of buzz about the three talented junior prospects at Seminole so I decided to talk with them in person and talk to the coaches to find out more information on the players.
QB/S Ray Ray Armstrong, WR Andre DeBose, and DE Dyron Dye all hold scholarship offers to Miami as well as a number of other programs.
Click here for complete coverage of Seminole High
I was able to sit down with head coach Mike Cullison, a former quarterback at UCF, and watch their highlight film.
All three were very impressive and the thing that stands out is how many big-time plays each one of them made.
They are arguably the most talented trio of 2009 prospects at a particular high school in Florida and will be interesting to see where they end up.
In addition to talking with Coach Cullison, I sat down with assistant coach Kerry Wiggins and he talked about the community and what the trio means to the Sanford community, a population of close to 45,000.
Some of the best kids in the Sanford community often times choose to attend Lake Mary or Winter Springs High School, but these three decided to stay at Seminole despite a rough start to their high school careers as the varsity team finished 1-9 during their freshman and sophomore seasons before a 5-4 mark a year ago.
Coach Wiggins talked about how the trio is generating a buzz again like when he played at the school in the early 1990s.
After talking with the coaches for a bit and waiting on the players to come down to the football office after talking to a local elementary school, I was able to catch up with them 1-on-1 before putting them all in a video interview.
You never know how a video interview will turn out, but these three were great and I think it’s definitely something everyone will enjoy watching.
They did a great job of showing their personalities and having fun with the 12-minute interview on camera.
Before the trio arrived, Coach Cullison told me about another junior prospect he thinks very highly of in linebacker Jarkevis Fields (6-0, 215) who has consistently run a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and is a beast in the weight room. Fields had 111 tackles in nine games last season.
It was definitely good visiting with a program that we don’t hear too much about in South Florida and it was a good change of scenery.
On the way back to Miami, I stopped at a nearby Sonny’s BBQ, had a pulled pork dinner and a raspberry lemonade (big fan of flavored lemonades, and no, ‘Hi-C pink lemonade doesn’t count).
Premium users, click here for more thoughts on the trio
Note: UM practices resume on Tuesday
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Scrimmage on Thursday |
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Thu Mar 6, 2008
The Hurricanes will have an open scrimmage tonight at Traz Powell Stadium beginning at 6 p.m.
It is the first time fans will have a chance to see the team in action this spring as all other practices have been closed. The only other time practice will be open this spring will be at the spring game on March 29.
There will be more passing tonight than last year's mid-spring scrimmage, which saw a number of walk-on quarterbacks handing the ball off to the backs.
If you go...
Be sure to watch QB Robert Marve, QB Jacory Harris, WR Aldarius Johnson, WR Leonard Hankerson, OL Joel Figueroa, DE Allen Bailey, DT Marcus Forston, LB Sean Spence, CB DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB Chavez Grant, S Anthony Reddick, and S Randy Phillips.
MVP Prediction
Marve. He has been throwing the ball very well in the first two weeks of spring practices and has been looking forward to this night for a while now. He wants to show everyone what he can do and it is a big stepping stone in his development to win over his teammates for the first time in a game-type situation.
Sleeper MVP Prediction
Every mid-spring scrimmage or even spring game, an unknown player steps up to make plays from George Timmons to Phil Gyulai to Carlos Armour.
My prediction for the sleeper MVP is: Kayne Farquharson
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Imitation is... |
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Tue Mar 4, 2008
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery: To imitate someone is to pay the person a genuine compliment—often an unintended compliment.
Imitation is often annoying, but flattering and thanks for being a fan. Only six months in and constantly imitated.
Ok, moving on...
The first week of spring practices have been completed.
The team held four practices last week including two in full pads. All practices have been closed, but we have been hearing a number of positive things throughout the week.
Here are 10 things that have stood out including a number of players creating quite a buzz: Click here for a Week 1 Recap of Spring practices
Week 2 begins today followed by practice on Wednesday before an open scrimmage at Traz Powell on Thursday.
We caught up with a number of players last week and you can find all of our football team-related articles here.
BASKETBALL TEAM ON THE BUBBLE
In ESPN.com's latest Bubble Watch list, Miami is listed as a team that should be in. Click here for more on the Bubble Watch
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Last week I caught up with former Hurricane John Salmons, who is averaging 13.2 points a game this season for the Sacramento Kings. He said he's been keeping up with the team this season.
"I've been following them as much as I can," Salmons said. "I know they beat Duke and Maryland so that is two good wins for them."
Miami (20-8, 7-7) resumes action on Wednesday with a home game against Boston College (13-14, 4-10). Their season finale is on Saturday at Florida State (17-12, 6-8).
BASEBALL IN ACTION TONIGHT
Miami (5-1) will host Lehigh tonight at 7 p.m. Junior RHP Jason Santana (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the start for the Hurricanes.
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"He is throwing good lately and we're still searching for our four or five starter right now," coach Jim Morris said. "We feel that we have our 1-2-3 and those guys have proven they can win and pitch. We are searching for number four and five and we think Santana can be that guy."
Santana has made two appearances this year and has not allowed a run in 6 1/3 innings. He has struck out seven and walked one.
For all of our in-depth baseball coverage, be sure to click here.
REID EASY TO ROOT FOR
Now, I don't usually talk about too many other non-rev sports, but I covered a women's basketball game last week against then No. 2-ranked North Carolina.
Senior Maurita Reid, the team's best player, was fun to watch and worked hard throughout the game despite going up against a tough team. Despite being down big late in the game, Reid was upset with Coach Meier for coming out of the game.
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That is the competitive attitude that all athletes should have and frankly, that kind of attitude would help turn around 5-7 football team very quick.
On a negative note, the team's second-leading scorer senior Albrey Grimsley decided to quit the team with just a few games to go. It hardly deserves mentioning until I read an article on her exit in The Hurricane, UM's student paper, and how she talked about her reasons for leaving--such as getting into an argument with another player. That kind of attitude is a reason with the women's hoops team is struggling through a 9-20 season.
GROSS FOR PRESIDENT
I just wanted to take time to endorse Brandon Gross for UM Student President. Gross is one of two finalists for the position and voting can be done through Wednesday. Click here for more information on Gross
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Practice Q&A's |
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Thu Feb 28, 2008
Here is a quick look at three interviews this week from new defensive coordinator Bill Young, safety Randy Phillips, and defensive end Allen Bailey.
Bill Young, Defensive Coordinator
Have you been able to implement your defense this week?
"What we are doing as a defensive staff is putting our heads together and trying to come up with the best scheme that matches our personnel. It will be a lot of things they did last year and some things that we did at Kansas and come up with a scheme that works really well for us."
How does the personnel at Miami compare to the players at Kansas?
"It’s hard to tell, we have had two practices, but we have some really eager, hard-working young men and it is exciting being around them."
What is the biggest difference between here and Kansas?
"The University of Miami has been a great, great football power forever and Kansas just now stepped into the forefront a little bit winning 12 games last year so the tradition is really the biggest thing that I see."
Randy Phillips, Safety
How good was it getting back on the practice field?
"We are back at it, everything we did wrong last year we are trying to do it right this year. The first day was real intense and real good on defense.
This is your last year, what are trying to get done out here?
"Just leave it all out on the field. Team, team, team. That’s it."
You’re back at safety, how much are you enjoying it?
"I love it, I feel home, I feel comfortable. I work out at corner every now and again and at nickel."
Allen Bailey, Defensive End
Talk about the decision to change to defensive end from linebacker.
"Coach gave me a few weeks to think about it and then I came up with the decision to go ahead and make the move for what is best for the team. We have seven linebackers back and seven more coming in and at defensive end, we are weak in that area."
Did you expect to get up to 290 pounds?
"I knew I was going to grow, but I didn’t expect to be 290 just yet. I thought I would be 290 in two years, but it came fast."
Would you have liked to have tried to play linebacker at 290?
"I tried already at 270 so it was time for a change."
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Baseball Opening Weekend |
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Sun Feb 24, 2008
The No. 10-ranked Miami Hurricanes baseball team just completed a three-game sweep of Cincinnati outscoring the Bearcats 17-5 in the three games.
I was at all three games and was happy to see a number of fans in attendance. The first two games had capacity crowds of 3,000 with a number of people standing to watch the game. On a warm Sunday afternoon, the Canes drew 2,515 fans.
The Canes host Florida for a three-game series on Friday so make sure to get your tickets as soon as possible.
Game 1: Erickson Strong, Canes Win Opener
Game 2: DiNatale's Home Run Lifts UM
Game 3: Hernandez Impressive in Debut
Here are five things that impressed me this weekend:
1. Starting pitching
The starting rotation of sophomore LHP Eric Erickson, senior RHP Enrique Garcia, and freshman LHP Chris Hernandez combined for a 2-0 record with a 1.13 ERA in 16 innings. All three starters were held to an 85-pitch count and were very effective in their outings. They struck out 20 led by Hernandez's eight strikeouts and only walked three--all by Garcia. For Miami to have a great season, these three starters must remain effective especially Hernandez as the team's third starter.
2. SS Ryan Jackson
Jackson led the Hurricanes with a .500 batting average over the weekend going 5-for-10 at the end of the order. Jackson batted .236 with 12 extra base hits last season making 49 starts. Over the weekend, Jackson had three extra-base hits and narrowly missed a home run in the season opener. Jackson came back to the bench and told strength coach Jimmy Goins that he missed the home run by an inch. Dennis Raben believes Jackson will be the team's breakout player in 2008.
3. 2B Jemile Weeks
Weeks struggled the first two games at the plate picking up just one hit in seven at-bats, but hit a home run and a double on Sunday. Weeks appears to be 100 percent and looked good in the filed as well. Last year was tough for Weeks who missed 11 games and was relegated to the designated hitter role for another 11 games due to a bad groin.
4. Pitching and Defense
Miami committed just one error on the weekend and walked just eight batters in 27 innings. The Hurricanes infield is as good as it gets defensively in college baseball with 1B Yonder Alonso, 2B Weeks, SS Jackson, and 3B Mark Sobolewski. Catchers Jason Hagerty and Dave DiNatale, Joey Terdoslavich, and Adan Severino all had solid performances this weekend. DiNatale, a .233 hitter a year ago, hit a key eighth-inning homer in Saturday night's game. Terdoslavich, a freshman, hit .333 (4-for-12) while starting all three games at designated hitter in the five hole. Severino, a junior college transfer, hit a two-run homer in Sunday's game. All three players are competing for playing with Jonathan Weislow and Iden Nazario at left field assuming Dennis Raben returns soon as the rigthfielder from a sore back. All five players would be consider in the DH role if they are not starting in the outfield.
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Thoughts on the '08 Class |
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Sat Feb 16, 2008
Signing day was a very exciting day for Hurricane fans as Miami had the best recruiting class in the nation according to ESPN.com.
Twelve of Miami's 33 players were ranked in the ESPN 150 led by LBs Arthur Brown and Sean Spence, DT Marcus Forston and CB Brandon Harris, who were all ranked in the Top 30.
Brown, Spence, and Forston are already on campus along with QBs Jacory Harris and Cannon Smith, FBs Patrick Hill and John Calhoun, WR Aldarius Johnson, and K Jake Wieclaw.
All nine players will participate in spring practices, which begin on Feb. 26.
There are a few things that stand out to me with this year's class:
1. Elite Playmakers
Miami signed a top-tier player at each position they signed a player. QB Jacory Harris, WR Aldarius Johnson, OL Brandon Washington, DT Marcus Forston, LB Arthur Brown, CB Brandon Harris, and S C.J. Holton are all expected to be great players at their respective positions.
2. Speed at Receiver
Miami signed seven wide receivers and a number of them possess outstanding speed including 6-foot-5 wideout Tommy Streeter. Davon Johnson, Thearon Collier, Travis Benjamin, and Kendal Thompkins are four players, who have the ability to stretch the field with their speed--something UM has not had in recent years at the wideout position.
3. Winners
Miami signed 12 players from Northwestern, Booker T. Washington, and Pahokee--three schools in Florida that finished a combined 43-0 in 2007 and all three programs were ranked in the Top 10 by ESPN.com. A number of other players came from perennial power programs such as Travis Benjamin (Glades Central), Ramon Buchanan (Melbourne Palm Bay), Jordan Futch (Chaminade-Madonna), Zach Kane (Toms River North), Antonio Harper (Melrose), and Vaughn Telemaque (Long Beach Poly). I strongly believe that players, who have been around a top-tier program that is used to winning will carry over their winning traditions at the next level especially in football.
4. Tough Pulls
Arthur Brown (Wichita, Kan.) chose Miami over a number of top programs including USC and LSU. Vaughn Telemaque (Long Beach, Calif.) chose Miami over nearby USC. C.J. Holton (Crawfordville, Fla.) chose Miami over Florida State, despite having both of his parents working at FSU. A lot is being made of the number of South Florida players, who chose UM, but I think Randy Shannon did a great job in getting these three great players from areas that are hard to pull players from and against schools with great reputations.
5. Verbally Committed
I was impressed with the number of players, who stayed loyal to Coach Shannon after giving him their verbal agreement that they would be Hurricanes. A number of players took official visits to other schools, but in the end, nearly everyone stuck by their word. Lerentee McCray (Florida) was the biggest name that changed his commitment during the process. Ramon Buchanan changed his commitment to Florida with a week left before signing day, but in the end, Buchanan signed with Miami.
One final thought...
The key for the coaching staff in this class is to find 10 guys who can play. They don't need all 33 players to be all-stars, but they do need 10 players to emerge as guys that can be counted on to lock down starting positions in their careers and of those 10, they need about 4-5 great players. That is how a class is defined--by great players. There are a lot of average players across the country, but for Miami to return to a top 10 team, they need the elite players, the difference makers.
Only time will tell who will emerge...
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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LIVE Signing Day Updates |
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Wed Feb 6, 2008
Finally!
Signing day is upon us and what a great day to be a Hurricane fan!
Here at InsideTheU.com we will bring you live updates throughout the day as we have announcement times of every UM recruit today.
Be sure to keep checking the site throughout the day as the news will come fast and we will talk to as many players and coaches as possible to bring you the best coverage on signing day.
Click here for the signing day updates
Also, we will be on location today at a number of signings to give you an up close and personal account of the day's action!
For those interested, I will be on ESPNU today at 2 p.m. to talk about the Hurricanes recruiting class.
I will also be on ESPN radio today at 9:25 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. to give updates with the class.
We will keep the site updated throughout the day and look forward to a very exciting event!
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Prince and Lamar in '09 |
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Wed Jan 30, 2008
With one week left until signing day, I know everyone is excited about who the Hurricanes will bring in the final days.
But I wanted to turn my focus to the 2009 class as we have begun preparing our list of top prospects and have already began doing player features on the site for guys to keep your eyes on.
There are two top prospects that have caught my eyes the most and I believe both would be key components in Miami's 2009 recruiting class.
Miami Killian running back Lamar Miller and Norcross (Ga.) athlete Prince Kent are two individuals that would be a great start to UM's 2009 class. Both Miller and Kent are great kids that would be beneficial to any program as they possesses humility, confidence in their ability, and are not afraid to work hard.
Miller, who is considered the top junior prospect in Florida, is a speed back with a powerful 5-foot-10, 200-pound frame that faced a lot of nine-man fronts this year, but still managed to run for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns in Dade County. Next year, look for Miller to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark.
Talking with Miller a few times already, in person and on the phone, I believe he wants to be a Hurricane.
Prince Kent is a prospect you've likely never heard of. I had the opportunity to watch Kent's junior highlight film this week and I think he is a phenomenal prospect. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, he has the agility and quickness to play cornerback in college. He looks similar to Antonio Cromartie, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound Pro Bowl corner and has similar athletic ability.
Kent allowed just four passes completed on him all season and played for one of the top programs in Georgia. He already has a number of scholarship offers from programs in the South and could player corner, safety, or wide receiver in college.
I talked with Kent on Tuesday night and he seemed like a great kid and will be fun to follow throughout the recruiting process.
We've developed a lot of great relationships in the 2008 class, and will tell some of the stories after signing day, but we are very excited about building the relationships for the class of 2009 already.
In case you've missed our 2009 coverage, here are over 20 junior prospects we have already featured on our site:
QB Eugene Smith (Miramar, Fla.)
Junior QB Has Miami Ties
QB Aaron Murray (Tampa, Fla.)
Junior QB Murray Has UF Offer
RB Lamar Miller (Miami, Fla.)
Junior RB Miller Continues to Rehab
RB Vincent Smith (Pahokee, Fla.)
Junior RB Smith: "Florida State and Miami"
RB Jaamal Berry (Miami, Fla.)
Jaamal Berry Highlights
WR Nu'Keese Richardson (Pahokee, Fla.)
Next Pahokee Star: Nu'Keese Richarson
WR Xavier Rhodes (Miami, Fla.)
Junior WR Rhodes A Special Talent
WR Dwayne Difton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Junior WR Difton Getting Noticed
WR Larry McCoy (Miami, Fla.)
Junior WR on UM's Radar
WR Ronnie Kennedy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Junior to Watch: WR Ronnie Kennedy
WR Duron Carter (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
WR Carter Shines in Spotlight
WR Dontravious Floyd (Homestead, Fla.)
WR Floyd: Die-Hard Hurricanes Fan
WR Rantavious Wooten (Belle Glade, Fla.)
Rantavious Wooten Highlights
WR James Green (Miami, Fla.)
WR Green a Top Junior Prospect
OL Jared Wheeler (Plantation, Fla.)
Miami First to Offer Junior OL Wheeler
OL Nick Alajajian (Naples, Fla.)
Alajajian a Top Junior OL Prospect
DE Ryne Giddins (Seffner, Fla.)
Junior DE Has Miami Offer
DE Ed Stinson (Homestead, Fla.)
Meet South Dade DE Ed Stinson
DE Oliver Vernon (Miami, Fla.)
Hidden Gem: DE Oliver Vernon
LB Quan Fletcher (Miami, Fla.)
LB Fletcher Expects UM Offer
LB Frankie Telfort (Miami, Fla.)
Junior LB Telfort Has 12 Offers
S Tevin McCaskill (Miami, Fla.)
Northwestern Junior One to Watch
S Nat Turner-Harris (Miami, Fla.)
Junior Profile: Nat Turner-Harris
ATH Prince Kent (Norcross, Ga.)
Prince Kent a Star to Watch
ATH Greg Pratt (Naples, Fla.)
Junior ATH Pratt One to Watch
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Dear Mr. Bill Young |
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Fri Jan 18, 2008
Dear Mr. Bill Young,
Welcome to Coral Gables and sunny South Florida. The Hurricane family welcomes you with open arms.
First off, congratulations on a banner season at KU. I actually grew up in Kansas and was a big KU fan. I'll be honest, mainly KU basketball. However, I do remember the glory days with the football team as Tony Sands nearly rushed for 400 yards and I was at the game when Herman Moore came into to Lawrence and lit it up. And of course, I remember Glen Mason's stint before he departed for my alma mater (I've got a great story about Mason, but I'll save that for a different blog).
I was very happy to see KU rise to the national ranks this year and enjoyed following them. I just couldn't believe it was the football team creating the national attention. And when you guys came down to Miami for the Orange Bowl, I was right outside the airplane at MIA as a reporter (I have to make that clear because some might think I was there throwing oranges to the team as they came off the plane).
I was in Orlando all week for the Under Armour All-American Game, but I drove down the day of the Orange Bowl (again, as a reporter) and drove back the next morning. I was glad I witnessed a great game as the team represented the state well. It was good to be at the game as I ran into a former high school teacher and another friend at the game, small world.
Okay, enough of the small talk.
Let's talk football.
I liked what I saw from the KU defense this year, in particular, I loved watching the efforts of All-American cornerback Aqib Talib and the toughness of linebacker Joe Mortensen, who was sporting a nice beard at the Orange Bowl. It was also great to see a number of guys making plays on defense and active on the defensive line. It was a very impressive performance as Virginia Tech struggled throughout the entire game.
The Hurricane family hopes you can bring your 20 years of expertise as defensive coordinator to Coral Gables and provide results.
Miami gave up over 300 points for the first time since 1984. Meanwhile, your defense ranked fourth in the country in points allowed and had four games in which you allowed just seven points allowed.
Sounds good to me.
Here's what you have to work with in Miami:
Your best defensive player returning is linebacker Colin McCarthy. He's athletic and tackles well in one-on-one situations. He's also great in pass coverage and has a knack for making a big play such as an interception or fumble recovery. Don't be afraid to utilize his athleticism.
You will be glad you to have Glenn Cook back for a sixth year. Develop a strong relationship with Cook because he will be your leader on the defense and his teammates respect him. Randy Shannon loves him. If you love him too, it will make things a lot easier. But don't be shocked if the fans don't share the same love for Cook. See, Cook wasn't the biggest, fastest, strongest guy coming out of high school and doesn't have future NFL first-round draft pick written all over. However, he will work hard and should be a productive player.
The secondary will keep your head scratching as all four spots are up for grabs. All of the cornerbacks have their moments. Bruce Johnson is the most fun, you'll like him. He'll keep you on your toes, that's for sure.
Anthony Reddick is back from two ACL injuries. He had a good freshman year and can be a solid safety. He keeps to himself a lot, but that's okay. He'll be a hard-worker in practice and play hard on game days.
Lovon Ponder thought about leaving after last year for the NFL Draft, but decided to return. Initially you might be excited hearing that he decided against the NFL Draft. But don't be fooled, Ponder had just 15 tackles last year. However, if you and Lawana need marriage advice, Ponder is your guy as he's the only married guy on the team.
Now the defensive line, these guys need some work. I know this is your expertise so I'm very interested to see what you can do with this group. Eric Moncur is your most experienced player and Antonio Dixon has shown flashes, but other than that, you've got guys that need some coaching. By the way, if you're looking for a good suit to wear on South Beach, ask Dixon, he has the best eye for suits on the team.
Well Mr. Bill Young, I'm about done here. I hope your move to Coral Gables is a good one. I'm sure you'll adjust just fine. There's no Mass Street down here, Yello Sub, or Abe & Jakes, but that's okay.
There is plenty to do in Miami.
But all anyone cares about you doing, is winning.
You will find that out soon enough.
Best of luck.
Sincerely,
Christopher Stock
Christopher Stock is in his sixth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com.
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Busy Time of Year |
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Tue Jan 15, 2008
Talk about a busy time of year!
We've been keeping busy on the recruiting front this month talking to a number of prospects and high school coaches to find out how things are going.
One thing we've been doing a lot lately is holding daily chats, which has been a tremendous success and it's been great to see the amount of support we have received.
We've answered a lot of questions on a number of topics, but here are some more news and notes that the die-hard Hurricane fans are interested in:
Premium Stock Report
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Live in Orlando |
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Wed Jan 2, 2008
Just wanted to check in...
David and I have been keeping busy here in Orlando this week for the Under Armour All-American game. It's been a great week thus far and we've talked to a number of UM recruits at the game. Be sure to keep checking the site for more articles.
A few thoughts...
1.) It was good to finally meet QB Taylor Cook, a UM commit, but he's not able to play after suffering an injury in his final high school game. Cook is having a lot of fun enjoying the experience and I was able to sit down with him for a while to talk about the latest with his injury, the battle at quarterback, and his thoughts on his fellow recruits in his class. (Read the latest on Cook)
2.) CB Janoris Jenkins will enroll this semester at Florida ending all speculation he might end up somewhere else. He is a player in South Florida that Miami should have locked up. Jenkins has been fun to watch all year and this week, he's went up against Julio Jones, the nation's No. 1 prospect, and Josh Jarboe, another high-level receiver, every day in practice. Jenkins has done a great job staying with the bigger receivers.
3.) WR Aldarius Johnson is making plays and continues to show versatility in the air when he's competing for a jump ball. Johnson has always came down with the tough catch and he is doing it this week as well regardless of who he lines up against. One thing I like about Johnson's game is his ability to adjust speeds in his routes, which allows him to run by cornerbacks downfield. (Read the latest on Johnson)
4.) Brandon Harris, Sean Spence, and Johnson have been inseparable all week. Harris and Johnson are on the Silver Team--Spence is on the red. (Watch Spence and Johnson interview Harris)
5.) Spence is having a great week of practice and all of the coaches on the Red Team love his attitude and playmaking ability. Spence will have the task of containing USC commit TE Blake Ayles, who has been very impressive thus far.
6.) It's great to see OL Brandon Washington was able to make the trip as he replaced Mike Goodman, who left after one day of practices.
7.) DE DaQuan Bowers is a monster. He's arguably the best player at the Under Armour Game. Bowers grew up a Clemson fan and is expected to play right away for the Tigers.
8.) RB Jamie Harper has Miami in his Top 5, but the Hurricanes will have to compete with other top schools to get his services. Harper is a very well-spoken, humble individual, who is looking forward to leading the Silver rushing attack. (Read the latest on Harper)
9.) LB Ramon Buchanan played a lot of middle linebacker today in practice and is close to 200 pounds now. Buchanan is a quiet kid, who generally keeps to himself, but he has been talking to Spence throughout the week. (Read the latest on Buchanan)
10.) The skills challenge should be exciting as players will tape it on Thursday and it will air on Friday on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.
Keep checking the site throughout the week as we will continue to bring you up-to-date information and interviews.
NOTE: The Canes basketball team hosts Penn tonight at 8 p.m. in their final non-conference game before hosting Georgia Tech on Jan. 12.
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
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PJ, Kirby, and More |
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Sun Dec 30, 2007
Patrick Johnson’s de-commitment comes as no surprise to UM coaches according to sources. Johnson would not set-up an official visit in December and did not fill out the necessary paperwork needed to enroll early at UM, which he had originally planned.
There is no question that Johnson is a great player with outstanding game-breaking talent. However, for Johnson to be a great in college and reach his goal of playing in the NFL, he will need to step foot on campus and leave the games behind and immediately be a hard-worker.
Coaches, players, fans, and the media don’t care about how highly-regarded you were as a senior in high school when you step foot on campus. It is a whole different ballgame with plenty of players already on campus with experience and guys competing for your position.
The Hurricanes must turn their recruiting focus to signing cornerbacks as Johnson was the only cornerback that was committed.
It is believed T.J. Bryant is at the top of their list with Brandon Harris not too far behind. There are a number of names that could surface in the upcoming months.
UNDER ARMOUR GAME
The Under Armour Game presented by ESPN U will be played on Saturday with a number of UM recruits in the game including: WR Aldarius Johnson, LB Ramon Buchanon, QB Taylor Cook (injured, but will be there), LB Sean Spence, CB Brandon Harris, TE Tyler Edwards, and RB Jamie Harper.
It should be an exciting week in Orlando.
THOUGHTS ON FREEMAN…
I am not shocked or surprised at all that Kirby Freeman has decided to transfer to Baylor. He wants to play and knew he would not be given an opportunity to play this season with Robert Marve expected to take over.
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Freeman had his chance at UM and did not prove to anyone that he deserved to be the starting quarterback in 2008. Although it would have been nice to have a veteran back, it was made clear by Randy Shannon that Freeman was not in their plans and in my opinion, it was best for both parties to part ways.
Freeman leaves UM throwing for 1,311 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
SIGN UP TODAY
Our yearly subscription deal for $59.95 ends on Dec. 31. Premium subscriptions included ESPN Insider and ESPN the Magazine. The subscriptions are a great gift idea especially in the heart of the recruiting season and the NFL Draft just around the corner.
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CANES BASKETBALL
• It was disappointing to see the Canes lose to Winthrop on Saturday at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, but as coach Haith said, this team was not going to go 38-0. They played hard, but just ran into a team they came up short against. One loss by six points is not a big deal. Winthrop started four seniors and have been to the NCAA tournament three straight years. They beat Georgia Tech earlier this year. I’m curious how the Canes will bounce back against Penn, another NCAA tournament team, on Jan. 2 in their final game before ACC play. If the Canes can beat Penn and go 7-9 in the ACC, they would finish the regular season, 20-10, which I believe will be good enough to earn an NCAA tournament bid.
• Cause of concern: Point guard play. I strongly believe in solid point guard play for a team to be successful. Haith played Jack McClinton at point a lot in the game as Lance Hurdle and Eddie Rios struggled, but for this team to be successful, Hurdle or Rios have to be counted on to bring the ball up, avoid turnovers, and hit open shots when McClinton needs a break. McClinton is not a great ballhandler, but is a great shooter and great scorer and will need to be relieved at the point in order to get settled into the offense and look for his shot.
SPOTTED
• After the Canes game, I stayed to watch Florida face Temple. Heat guard Jason Williams was also there in attendance courtside watching the Gators play, which I found to be interesting considering the Heat were playing the Washington Wizards at the same time. Williams did not make the trip to Washington due to a knee injury although MRI results came back together.
• Heat forward Dorell Wright recently attended a UM game to watch close friend Jack McClinton play. The two played one season together at South Kent (Conn.) Prep School.
• I ran into Hurricane second baseman Jemile Weeks in Lakeland a couple weeks ago as he was there with his family watching his cousin playing in the FACA North-South All-Star game.
OFF CAMPUS…
• On Sunday, I was back at the BankAtlantic Center as I covered the Florida Panthers-Philadelphia Flyers game. I always enjoy going to games although hockey in South Florida is definitely different than hockey in Minnesota and even when I played on the club team at Wichita State when I went there for a year.
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• Speaking of Wichita State, it was good seeing former Shocker Maurice Evans on Friday with the Orlando Magic. Dwyane Wade was unreal on Friday dropping 48 on the Magic, but in a losing effort. After the game, I was in the Magic locker room and they were definitely in a good mood. Dwight Howard was especially in a good mood and cracking jokes. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis also chimed in while Carlos Arroyo maintained his calm demeanor.
• Recently, I picked up some smoked swordfish at Jimbo’s on Virginia Key on Biscayne Bay. For those who haven’t been, they have great smoked fish at Jimbo’s and usually a decent variety.
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
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A Great Deal |
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Tue Dec 18, 2007
Just want to pass the word on about a great deal as we are offering yearly premium subscriptions to InsideTheU.com for $59.95, which include a complimentary subscription to ESPN the Magazine and ESPN Insider. Take advantage of the great offer through Dec. 31.
Note: Due to our partnership with ESPN, regular rates will be in effect on Jan. 1 with monthly subscriptions at $9.95 and yearly subscriptions at $99.95. Current subscribers will be locked into their current rate so be sure to sign-up before Jan. 1 to assure your discounted rate.
THOUGHTS ON DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR...
Randy Shannon now has an interesting decision to make and I'm very intrigued to see what he will do.
He just fired defensive coordinator Tim Walton, who has worked with Shannon for the past four seasons after the defense ranked 30th in total offense and 53rd in scoring defense in 2007. They were 10th in total defense in the ACC.
Just a few quick thoughts on Walton--he was a fairly nice guy, but not a guy that the media is going to miss. He was also hit or miss with the players, some liked him and some didn't.
So Shannon must hire or appoint someone he feels confident in running the defense. Micheal Barrow might be a good fit with his knowledge of the game, but is inexperienced. Ed Orgeron would be a great fit at Miami, where he was the defensive coach and a graduate assistant coach from 1988-92. Orgeron, a native of Louisiana, is known for being a great recruiter.
The thing Shannon will have to decide is if a coach like Orgeron would be a quick fix or if he will stay for awhile. Also, how would Shannon react to another defensive scheme or philosophy after having success with his basic 4-3 defense?
RECRUITING THOUGHTS...
• LB Arthur Brown chose the Hurricanes over USC, LSU, Florida, and North Carolina on Monday afternoon. Brown, the No. 6-ranked prospect in the country by ESPN.com, is the most touted linebacker recruit since Willie Williams signed in 2004. Shannon will be expected to mold Brown into an All-Confernce/All-American-type linebacker like all the former greats before him such as Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams. Brown is very explosive on film and does a good job of finding the ball on running plays, which is a fixture of Kansas football.
• As a staff, we offered our predictions on where 13 of Miami's top recruits are headed.
• We just posted new highlight videos on Northwestern WRs Aldarius Johnson and Kendal Thompkins.
• Rutgers currently has a billboard on I-95, near exit No. 4, titled, 'Fly North for the Fall'.
SPOTTED...
• I ran into former Hurricane and Chicago Bears rookie tight end Greg Olsen in Orlando last weekend at the Mall of the Millenia. We stopped and chatted for a bit. He’s doing good adjusting to life in the NFL and did say things are a bit tough this year with the team not winning as many games as they would have liked.
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• On Sunday night, I ran into Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antrel Rolle, another former Hurricane, at Club Mansion on South Beach. Rolle flew into Miami following a 34-27 loss at New Orleans and was hanging out with former Hurricanes Quadtrine Hill and Marcus Maxey. Hill was recently waived by the Bears and Maxey was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs before the season.
• This past weekend, Hurricanes wide receiver and Northwestern alum Khalil Jones made the drive up to Orlando to see the Bulls win their second straight class 6A state championship. Jones was on the sidelines for the game along with former Northwestern receiver Snoop Minnis.
BASKETBALL NEWS...
• The basketball team, ranked No. 22 in both polls, improved to 10-0 on the season after an 89-53 win over Stetson on Monday night.
• PF Jimmy Graham did not play due to a sore ankle. Raymond Hicks started in his place.
• Miami hosts North Florida on Thursday and North Carolina A&T on Sunday.
• Five players are averaging at least 8.9 points a game this season led by Jack McClinton's 14.3 scoring average.
BASEBALL NEWS...
• LHP Eric Erickson was named a preseason third-team All-American by NCBWA after going 10-4 with a 2.50 ERA during his freshman season.
• LHP Eric Erickson, 1B Yonder Alonso, 2B Jemile Weeks, and 3B/LF Mark Sobolewski were named to the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year watch list. Miami is one of four schools with at least four players on the watch list.
• The 2008 season begins on Feb. 22 with a home series against Cincinnati.
AROUND THE NBA...
• I covered the Heat-Timberwolves game on Monday night. While it would have been considered a less-than-marquee matchup by most, I was especially interested in meeting Timberwolves point guard Sebastian Telfair. I talked to the former New York City star after the game and wished him the best of luck and let him know that he has plenty of fans back in my home state as a number of kids look up to him. For those interested, check out Telfair’s documentary, Through the Fire, about his senior season at Lincoln High. It's a pretty good movie if you're into those kinds of things. Telfair, 22, is averaging 9.7 points and 5.5 assists this year.
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• Speaking of movies, I saw, 'I Am Legend' on Sunday. Pretty good film although I'm hardly a movie a critic as I like just about everything I see. I will say this, not very many actors can carry a movie completely by themselves the way Will Smith did in the movie. 'I Am Legend' had an opening weekend draw of $76.5 million.
• I'm happy to see Sixers 21-year old guard Louis Williams is off to a great start this season (10.9 ppg). I went to a high school basketball game at his alma mater, South Gwinnett (Ga.), the year after he was drafted and talked to a number of people about what that season was like as a number of stars would come watch him play including Michael Vick.
• When I lived in Long Beach, Calif., I was a fixture at NBA Summer League games at the Pyramid. I remember watching when Amare Stoudemire and Caron Butler were rookies. (For those who haven't been, it's worth going to as you can sit close and see the guys up close). While in Long Beach, I also remember seeing Mike Dunleavy as well and how Butler was going at him hard, Dunleavy was picked 3rd in the Draft, Butler 10th. I remember Butler coming back to the Heat bench, cursing about Dunleavy. Pretty funny stuff. Anyways, Dunleavy just dropped 36 last night and it reminded me of that story.
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Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
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Patrick Johnson |
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Fri Dec 14, 2007
Star recruit Patrick Johnson will not visit Miami this weekend.
Premium Members can click here for more information
It is an interesting decision by Johnson, who has been all over the place with his recruiting.
When he gets fed up with the media, he blames the media for trying to get specific answers out of him. I have no idea how people from other fan websites around the country ask questions, but Patrick has not handled the pressure the best and brought this whole circus on himself. It happens to kids every year.
Will he be a Hurricane or not?
It will be interesting to see how this scenario shakes out as he is a very talented player--in fact, he's the best player I've seen play this year after going to at least 20 games.
He would be a great asset at Miami if he comes in and works hard and leaves the circus act behind him.
OTHER NEWS...
* According to multiple sources, DE Calais Campbell will turn pro.
* Here is the list of visitors for this weekend.
* ESPN's national recruiting expert Tom Luginbill held a chat and answered a number of topics concerning the Canes including QB Taylor Cook, CB T.J. Bryant, and LB Lerentee McCray.
* Congrats to the basketball team with a tough road win at Mississippi State as they improve to 9-0. Jack McClinton scored 29 points and is proving to be one of the best, if not the best, leaders in any of the Hurricane sports teams. I had a close eye on the game while I was at the Heat game (another tough loss for the Heat, ugh!)
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
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My Award Winners |
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Sun Dec 2, 2007
Later tonight at the annual UM Football Banquet, they will announce a number of awards.
Here's a few that I believe should win:
Team MVP - Tavares Gooden
Gooden switched to middle linebacker a week before the season after playing outside linebacker his first four years at UM. Gooden responded by posting a career-high 100 tackles as he led the team. He would have had more if he was not banged up towards the end of the year. Gooden also had one interception and three fumble recoveries. Gooden is likely to be a first-day pick in the NFL Draft and could sneak himself into the first round because of his speed although his past injuries could be deterrent.
Honorable Mention - Darnell Jenkins and Derrick Morse
Freshman of the Year - Graig Cooper
Cooper is the obvious choice as he led the team in rushing with 682 yards. Cooper trailed off late in the year as he dealt with nagging injuries and should benefit from a full year with strength coach Andreu Swasey. Cooper needs to improve his strength in order to be a reliable ballcarrier.
Honorable Mention - Orlando Franklin and DeMarcus Van Dyke
Most Improved Player - Vegas Franklin
Franklin led the team with seven sacks and had 39 tackles. Coming into this season, Franklin rarely saw the field and had just 1/2 sack in 28 games. Before this year, the most tackles he had in a season was seven.
Honorable Mention - John Rochford
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There are going to be a ton of awards handed out Sunday night, but that is the only three I'm going to weigh in on.
Speaking of awards, I believe Colt Brennan should win the Heisman Trophy Award.
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It is 3:45 AM and I just got done watching Brennan's final regular season game against Washington. (Yes, I know it is a bit crazy to stay up just to watch him play.)
He was amazing as he led his team back from a 28-7 deficit as he threw a game-winning 5-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left to give the Warriors the 35-28 win. He completed 42-of-50 passes for 442 yards and five touchdowns.
Hawaii (12-0) is the only undefeated team in college football this season and it is because of Brennan. He was the best player in the nation last year and should win the Heisman this year despite missing nearly three games due to injuries. When he did play, he wasn't completely healthy.
Brennan finished the season 4,248 yards and 46 touchdowns (eight rushing).
After the game-winning touchdown Brennan and a teammate were shown by the camera crew on the sideline. Brennan showed the camera the back of his helmet and pointed to the 'ST' initials for Sean Taylor and pointed to the sky.
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The University of Miami will honor Taylor on Sunday, December 2. Immediately following the 4 p.m. Hurricanes men's basketball game (at 6 p.m.), a candlelight vigil will be held on the lawn adjoining the BankUnited Center's Hurricane 100 Room. All members of the University community as well as the general public are encouraged to attend.
On Monday, December 3 all members of the UM community are asked to wear orange and green clothing in honor of Taylor.
OTHER NEWS...
• We just finished our fourth month at InsideTheU.com and we cannot thank you enough for the support. It has been an amazing start and personally, I want to thank each and every one of you that takes the time to check out our site daily, read our articles, and spread the word about the site. THANK YOU!!!
• As you can see, we've been on top of everything going on with the recruiting front, not just Miami-Dade kids. One thing that is becoming a trend is the recruits are not happy with the lack of communication between them and the UM coaches. Multiple recruits have been disappointed about not talking to a coach for weeks at a time even though coaches were allowed to call once a week. Hopefully, the coaching staff can re-assure some of these recruits in the next couple of months because everyone knows there is a lot riding on this recruiting class.
• Assuming Miami still wants to bring in 30-33 recruits, there will have to be other non-seniors leaving, other than the ones we have reported, in the off-season. Some could return, but not be on a football scholarship.
• I've been talking with players on the team since the end of the season and most believe Kenny Phillips will leave for the NFL Draft and the consensus thinks Calais Campbell is "50/50".
• Former UM signee LeSean McCoy rushed for 148 yards for Pitt in their upset over No. 2 West Virginia on Saturday night. I caught up with McCoy earlier this season and he talked about changing his mind about UM after Larry Coker was fired.
• Our article on UM baseball commit Harold Martinez has created quite a national buzz on message boards around the country.
• For those curious, my book that I've been working on this past year will be finished this month and will be available in the spring. I'll post more details about it as it gets closer to completion.
POST COMMENTS HERE
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
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Sean T. & Other News |
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Tue Nov 27, 2007
It is a sad day as former Hurricane Sean Taylor has passed away.
Taylor was 24 years old.
The Hurricane family has lost their second member to a shooting in 12 months.
My first season covering the team was in 2003 when Taylor had one of the best seasons ever for a Hurricane recording 10 interceptions in 13 games. He was the best player I have covered at UM.
Taylor didn't talk to the media very often that season as he kept to himself most of the time. It wasn't that he couldn't talk, he just chose not to.
But I remember a few times during that season that we would see each other outside of UM practices and games and we'd shake hands, hug, talk for a bit, and then move on.
While he was known for having a tough exterior, I remember seeing a kind side as well.
On the field, he was one bad boy. He was the definition of swagger. Taylor would intimidate players, hit hard, and come up with big plays. He could do whatever he wanted to on the field.
His size/speed combination will always be a benchmark for comparisons of the future players at his position.
FOOTBALL NEWS
Players will meet with the coaching staff this week for their annual end-of-the-year meeting. This is when players will find out if they are going to be a part of the future for the Hurricanes. Look for a number of players to consider looking into other options at different schools and some players that are not seniors that will not be back.
We reported on Saturday that senior RB Charlie Jones will not apply for a medical redshirt and will opt for the NFL Draft. Jones will sign with an agent and hope his career 713 rushing yards and 3.7 yards a carry average will land him a spot with a team.
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Sophomore WR Sam Shields wants to switch numbers and get No. 4 next season, which will be left vacant with Glenn Sharpe's departure. Shields (pictured right) wore No. 4 at Booker High.
Freshman CB Doug Wiggins will not return to the University of Miami and is taking a visit to another university this weekend. Find out where Wiggins is headed.
I was able to have a conversation with QB Kyle Wright leading up to the final game of the season and we talked about his career, recruiting, and Robert Marve amongst other things. Wright and I talked about the number of receivers that came to visit UM when he was here, but chose other schools. Most notable USC's Fred Davis and LSU's Early Doucet. I know Kyle would have liked to have those two as options during his career.
Kyle talked about Marve and feels it really worked out well for Marve this season to sit back and watch what was going on as opposed to being in the middle of everything. He thinks the year of preparation will really help his future.
Wright is hearing good things from NFL scouts, who have said that they know what he has been through in his career and won't hold him entirely accountable for UM's struggles on offense. Wright finished his career with 5,835 yards, which ranks seventh on UM's all-time list. His 38 touchdown passes ranks eighth.
Sophomore WR Ryan Hill still has aspirations of playing on both sides of the ball during his career at UM. Hill was a highly touted cornerback out of Tallahassee in 2006, but has strictly been a receiver in his first two years at UM catching 19 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
BASKETBALL NEWS
I was at the FIU-USF game on Monday night, which by the way, Miami should beat the Golden Panthers by 20 points when they meet on Dec. 8 unless they let former Jayhawk Alex Galindo shoot at will.
Anyways, I saw some familiar faces at the game including C Freddy Asprilla, who signed with UM in the fall of 2006, was at the FIU basketball game Monday night. Asprilla (6-9/260) was not admitted to UM and is now at the Patterson School in North Carolina. Former AAU coach Art Alvarez says Asprilla is considering FIU, USF, Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Miami—although it is highly unlikely he would try to re-surface with the Hurricanes.
Alvarez also said former Hurricane G Denis Clemente is doing good at Kansas State and has added 18 pounds.
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On Saturday, we found out that G Jack McClinton has a sprained thumb on his non-shooting hand and will be in a cast for 7-10 days. McClinton (pictured right) was leading the team in scoring averaging 14.3 points a game and could return for the matchup with St. John’s on Dec. 2.
St. John’s has a freshman I am looking forward to seeing play again in Justin Burrell. I covered an AAU tournament in July 2006 and Burrell was the MVP of the tournament. He’s off to a fast start and is very, very explosive. He’s a 6-foot-8 kid that loves to dunk and get after it on the boards. Other notable players I got to see play in the tournament up close and personal include Villanova G Corey Fisher, N.C. State F J.J. Hickson, and Michigan State G Chris Allen.
Back to the Canes. One of the reasons for their early season success is their commitment to playing defense. They are holding opponents to 36.9 percent shooting and 59 points a game. It definitely helps having C Anthony King back in the lineup averaging nearly three blocks a game and a team-high 9.2 boards a game.
The Canes return to action Wednesday night at home against Alabama State, who is coming off a three-point loss to Auburn.
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Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics. He is the UM correspondent for the Tampa Tribune and is a regular contributor to the Associated Press, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
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Happy Thanksgiving |
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Thu Nov 22, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
Happy Thanksgiving!
I just want to say thank you to everyone that has supported us since we started InsideTheU.com in August. It has been an amazing start and even better than we had planned.
We will continue to spread the word and improve on everything we do. Once again, we appreciate everyone who has taken the time to look at our site and we can't stress enough how much we appreciate our subscribers. THANK YOU!
So while you enjoy this day, be sure to relax from your everyday life and spend it with people you care about.
P.S. -- If you need a Hurricane fix today, go ahead and check out the Tavares Gooden in-depth interview. PART I | PART II | PART III Coming Tomorrow!
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10 Wins |
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Tue Nov 20, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
At the end of last season, I remember talking to Ryan Moore for over an hour after practice after all of the other players were in the locker room and all the other media members left.
We stayed and talked about everything.
I mean, everything.
Everyone knows about his career how he came in highly touted and had a great redshirt freshman season in 2003 leading the team in receiving, but struggled in the following seasons for a number of reasons.
One of the things Ryan talked to me about was how he believed the 2007 team would win 10 games.
He said they would win 10 games because they had enough talent and Randy Shannon would change things.
He was wrong.
We were all wrong.
While I didn't expect the team to win 10 games, I was thinking 8 and 9 would have been a very good year, this year has been a mess.
Not a mess as in having incidents and huge situations to deal with like the 2006 squad dealt with, but a mess as in the poor performances in the games.
We all hope Coach Shannon has a plan and hope things change drastically in the VERY near future.
There should be no excuses next year. This team must win 8-9 games next season and have a number of young players play well.
In 2009, they should be one of the top two teams in the ACC and possibly compete for a national championship if all goes well.
However, there must be great players on the roster.
The difference between an average Miami team and one that competes for the conference title is top-level talent. There are a number of players on this team that can play and do an adequate job, but there is not enough difference makers.
Difference makers win you 10 games. Shannon must develop them.
All of these guys on this team could have went to a number of big-time schools. Was Miami wrong in recruiting them? If they were, then so were a number of other schools.
For Miami to be great, they must develop their talent. The Northwestern kids have a great base with potential, but unless they are coached well, they will be average players with a good high school career. Coaches must develop players once they step foot on campus.
Do you honestly think that the Kansas Jayhawks brought in a number of great players when they stepped foot in Lawrence? Probably not, but they did develop their players and now they are playing great with a chance to win a national title.
I believe Kyle Wright was an individual that did not progress due to the coaches. He had three offensive coordinators and only this year was he coached by someone who really played the game at a high level. But this year was too late.
The job of the head coach is to get the most out of his players regardless of coaching style. Randy Shannon's style is not the right way, Larry Coker's style was not the right way, Pete Carroll's style is not the right way.
Everyone has their own coaching style and it has been proven year after year in sports that coaches can be successful at any level with any kind of coaching style.
To be successful, Shannon must implement his coaching style with his players to get the most of them. He said this week that he learned this year that he must do a better job of getting his players to understand his mentality.
Obviously.
The Miami program will only go as far as their leader takes them. And right now, Coach Shannon has some work to do.
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Fun & Games vs. Hokies |
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Fri Nov 16, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
Fun...
The team was loose this week in practice.
Very loose.
It was the most fun at practice they have had since Randy Shannon took over as head coach.
The team was apparently not phased by their 5-5 record and losers of four of their last five games including a 48-0 loss in the final game of the Orange Bowl last Saturday.
Instead of being uptight, they were joking around at practice, dancing, and having a slip-n-slide contest in the rain. On Thursday, one player threw a ball at a teammate who was not looking and hit him in the head. The player turned around, but the culprit had ran off.
The guys were enjoying themselves this week, which is something Shannon wanted to see.
"I took the pressure off of them the way I've been acting in practice bouncing around and having fun with them," said Shannon after Thursday's practice. "They were a little bit more upbeat than what I expected.
"Like I have said, it is my job and the coaches job to get them guys exciting about doing things and I think this was a good start for us."
The assistant coaches were also loose in practice such as Coach Mosely, who was more energetic than usual during a certain drill when players run through pads as they try to hold onto the football.
Shannon's message to the coaches: "I told them to be themselves, have fun. Don't worry about losing the game or anything else. You can't change what happened in the past, you have to move forward."
Earlier in the week, three players were laughing hysterically as they sat on a bench after practice talking about random things.
It was the most I've seen three guys laugh after practice in my five years covering the team.
It was definitely a different feel around practice this week.
Who knows what any of this will mean on Saturday as they travel to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech, currently ranked 10th with an 8-2 record.
Maybe they will take the positive energy this week and have fun on Saturday and pull off the upset.
Or maybe they have lost their focus and don't care about the rest of the season.
Maybe it was just one of those weeks.
We'll see on Saturday.
...And Games
Kayne Farquharson has not been to Blacksburg, but knows it will be a tough environment because when he plays PlayStation2, his controller vibrates indicating a tough environment.
"The joystick rattles real hard," he said. "So I got an idea."
The screen shakes during the game as certain teams have a home-field advantage.
So what does Kayne do to overcome the crowd during the game?
"Just go in there and make your calls, throw the ball and run."
And who wins?
"The Hurricanes always win. I'm the Heisman Trophy winner."
Shannon mentioned earlier in the week that he talked to his team about video games and how sometimes people will reset the game if they are struggling.
Kayne says he doesn't reset the game. He doesn't need to.
"We sticking to the game. When in doubt, 82's gonna bail you out."
Game Capsule: MIAMI AT VIRGINIA TECH
KICKOFF: 3:30 PM, Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Va.
RECORDS: Miami (5-5, 2-4), Virginia Tech (8-2, 5-1)
TV: ABC
NEED TO KNOW: Miami has lost four of its last five games including a 48-0 loss last Saturday against Virginia...QB Kyle Wright leads a struggling passing offense that ranks last in the ACC and 110th nationally....RBs Javarris James (572 yards., 3.9 avg.) and Derron Thomas (152, 7.2) will be expected to carry the load due to injuries...Virginia Tech has won seven of its last eight games after a 48-7 loss to LSU on Sept. 8....The Hokies are 3-1 against Miami in the last four games including a 17-10 victory last season as Brandon Ore rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns...Virginia Tech ranks third nationally in scoring defense allowing 15 points a game.
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"We Shannon Boys" |
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Mon Nov 12, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
"We Shannon Boys"
That is the motto of the 2008 recruiting class.
That is what they want to be called and yes, they are Randy Shannon's boys.
The 2008 recruiting class can't get to campus at Coral Gables soon enough. The 2007 team has appeared to have lost their confidence and their ability to win a football game.
48-0, at home.
The Shannon Boys won't let that happen.
One of "The Shannon Boys" was watching the game said, "This is ridiculous, give me a helmet."
Yes it was ridiculous. As well as embarrassing and humiliating for everyone a part of the University of Miami.
48-0, at home.
The Shannon Boys are talking about how they are going to change the direction of the program and bring the University of Miami their sixth national title.
Right now, many of them are preparing for the Florida high school state playoffs, which begin this week. Look for a number of The Shannon Boys to shine and step up when it matters most.
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The Shannon Boys (pictured right, Marcus Forston, Jordan Futch, Thearon Collier, and Jacory Harris) are eager to step foot on campus and we have been hearing they are going to have a very good shot of starting in 2008.
Start them. If they are close in talent and ability, start a Shannon Boy.
Enough is enough. There has been more than enough opportunities for the guys on the current team to win football games. While losses happened in the past, the problem now is HOW they are losing.
48-0, at home.
Currently, The Shannon Boys are busy touring the country on the weekends visiting other schools and enjoying the atmosphere and scenery. And don't think they aren't recruiting. The Shannon Boys have no problem telling recruits were the hot spot is in the country.
USC, LSU, Ohio State, and Florida are all great programs and are successful.
But don't forget about the "U". That's what The Shannon Boys are telling everyone from the east to the west coast. A number of them come from right here in Miami-Dade County with Kendal Thompkins being the latest addition to The Shannon Boys.
The Shannon Boys have swagger, confidence, pride, heart, desire, ambition, speed, athleticism, and game-changing ability.
If only they could suit up right now.
But their time will come. In the meantime, they will be piling up wins in the state playoffs and brining home championships to their community.
Which is the same thing they plan on doing in college.
MORE THOUGHTS & BUZZ
• InsideTheU.com's David Lake recently checked out the Muck Bowl on Friday to watch Pahokee and Glades Central. There was plenty of speed all over the field and David was able to interview a number of top prospects as well as get highlight videos from the game.
Muck Bowl Highlight Videos: Janoris Jenkins, Pahokee | Micanor Regis, Pahokee | Travis Benjamin, Glades Central
• On Saturday before the game, we were able to talk with a number of fans at a variety of tailgates. On behalf of the three of us, I want to thank everyone for inviting us in and talking Canes football.
• Miami is currently ranked 110th in passing offense of the 119 teams in the Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A). QBs Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman have thrown for 1,590 yards (159/game), 12 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions while completing 52 percent of their passes.
• As expected, we continue to provide consistent coverage on freshman QB Robert Marve. In this week's article, we talked to a number of players and coaches about how he is doing in practice. (Click here for complete article)
• Randy Shannon told reporters on Sunday what his ideal roster would look like in terms of number of players by position. A complete breakdown can be found here, but I will say that Shannon would like to have four quarterbacks on his roster. In 2008, Kirby Freeman and Robert Marve would be back and there are currently three verbal commitments from quarterbacks. Hmmmmm.
• As always, we will be at high school games this week checking out the state playoffs. We will continue to talk to big-time prospects and provide video highlights on the games as well as searching for under the radar players or underclassmen to keep an eye on.
• The basketball team leaves on Tuesday for three games in Puerto Rico and the baseball team is in their final week of fall practice concluding with scout day on Saturday.
• If the team does not make it to a bowl game, they will miss out on 15 practices they are allowed to prepare for a bowl game.
• I've gave recognition in my blog to my alma mater's pride in the athletic department so it's only fair I at least mention the home state as the Kansas Jayhawks improved to 10-0 on the season and currently ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll. Beat Mizzou!
• While most sports fans were tuned into Sunday Night Football, I was listening to the Cleveland Cavaliers-Los Angeles Clippers game. LeBron did his thing and led the Cavs to a win, but the Clippers should have a good season this year if they can keep their core lineup together. (FYI--I have been a big fan of Larry Hughes and Corey Maggette since they were playing college basketball)
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Buzz & Videos |
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Thu Nov 1, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
So it has been a little while since the last blog, I apologize.
We've just been hitting the road hard lately with attending high school football games to check out some of the best prospects in the state and country. More on that later...
But right now, in case you had not heard yet, INSIDETHEU.COM SUBSCRIBERS NOW GET ESPN INSIDER AND ESPN THE MAGAZINE
If you are already a subscriber to InsideTheU.com, all you have to do is log-in on the site. Then, click on 'My Profile' and follow the directions using your same e-mail address you use for InsideTheU.com and sign up for your complimentary subscriptions.
Please allow 3-5 weeks for delivery of your first issue of ESPN The Magazine.
Access to Insider on ESPN.com begins immediately.
If you would like to join InsideTheU.com, click here to sign-up today!
Now, that we have taken care of that important announcement...
Here is plenty of buzz around UM, recruiting, and other sports buzz:
HURRICANE BUZZ
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• Randy Phillips (pictured right)was not impressed with N.C. State receiver Donald Bowens after catching 11 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns last week. “I looked at the Virginia game, I could have had 200-something yards against Virginia. There was a lot of blown coverages.”
• Phillips also said that this year’s team is a lot like the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers team with a lot of talent, but did not win the title.
• The Canes are looking for their first BCS bowl appearance since the 2003 season, when they played in the Orange Bowl. Only three players: WR Darnell Jenkins, LB Tavares Gooden, and CB Glenn Sharpe have played in a BCS bowl game. The Canes need to win the rest of their games including the ACC Championship game in order to make an appearance in a BCS bowl game this season.
• CB Doug Wiggins is currently on the team according to coach Randy Shannon, but the freshman from North Miami Beach is not happy and is not practicing. Wiggins has not played in a game this season after enrolling early in January. It is a situation to monitor as Wiggins could be on the verge of finding a new home.
• P Matt Bosher had his best game of the season against Florida State, when he averaged 46.3 yards a punt. Coming into the game, the first-year starter was averaging 36.5 yards a punt. Bosher said the biggest difference in his improvement was in his drop.
• WR Jermaine McKenzie’s twin brother, Tremaine, is a defensive back who was at Milford Prep, is down to three schools: Minnesota, USF, and Texas Tech.
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• QB Kirby Freeman (pictured right)went back to Texas as planned last week for four days and saw his alma mater, Brownwood High, play for the first time since coming to UM. Kirby’s father Steve, coaches Brownwood and received a surprise visit from his son in the locker room before the game. Brownwood went on to win the game, 48-19.
• DT Antonio Dixon expects to play next week after suffering a knee injury on Oct. 6. Coach Shannon has been stressing to Dixon about continuing to watch his weight despite not being able to do a lot of cardiovascular work. Dixon told InsideTheU.com’s David Lake that he is down to 321 pounds.
• Almost everyone we talked to said the team really needed the bye week despite having momentum after the exciting victory against Florida State. Many players were dealing with nagging injuries and mentally, they needed a break.
• The UM baseball team will host its annual alumni game on Friday at 5 p.m. The nine-inning game is free to the public. Notable alumni expected to participate include: Jim Burt, Brandon Camardese, Eddy Rodriguez, Javy Rodriguez, and Danny Valencia.
• The UM men’s basketball team begins play on Nov. 6 with a home exhibition game against Barry. Their regular season begins on Nov. 9 with a home game against Florida Southern before they take a trip to Puerto Rico, in which they will play three games beginning with the opener against Marist.
• The UM women’s soccer team is currently ranked 25th in the nation with a 9-4-4 record. Freshman sensation Brittney Steinbruch has scored 16 goals, tying a UM single-season record.
RECRUITING VIDEOS
In the past couple of weeks we have been at a number of high school games and put together a number of highlight videos on 23 top prospects.
In case you missed them, here they are:
Seniors
QB Jacory Harris, Northwestern, WATCH VIDEO
WR Davon Johnson, Booker T. Washington, WATCH VIDEO
WR Thearon Collier, Booker T. Washington, WATCH VIDEO
WR Frankie Hammond, Jr., Hallandale, WATCH VIDEO
WR Aldarius Johnson, Northwestern, WATCH VIDEO
WR Tommy Streeter, Northwestern, WATCH VIDEO
WR Kendal Thompkins, Northwestern, WATCH VIDEO
WR T.Y. Hilton, Miami Springs, WATCH VIDEO
OL Brandon Washington, Northwestern, WATCH VIDEO
OL Benjamin Jones, Northwestern, WATCH VIDEO
DT Marcus Forston, Northwestern, WATCH VIDEO
DE Andrew Smith, Monarch, WATCH VIDEO
LB Marcus Robinson, Homestead, WATCH VIDEO
LB Sean Spence, Northwestern, WATCH VIDEO
LB Quavon Taylor, Northwestern, WATCH VIDEO
CB Patrick Johnson, Pompano Beach Ely, WATCH VIDEO
CB T.J. Bryant, Tallahassee Lincoln, WATCH VIDEO
CB Brandon Harris, Booker T. Washington, WATCH VIDEO
Juniors
RB Lamar Miller, Killian, WATCH VIDEO
Sophomores
QB Jeffrey Godfrey, Central, WATCH VIDEO
RB Eduardo Clements, Booker T. Washington, WATCH VIDEO
WR Edward Alvin, Central, WATCH VIDEO
DT Todd Chandler, Northwestern, WATCH VIDEO
RECRUITING BUZZ
• Earlier this week, I stopped by FIU and sat down with head coach Mario Cristobal. It was good catching up. He’s doing well and staying positive despite an 0-8 record in his first season. I believe he is going to get the program heading in the right direction because he is putting in a lot of time with recruiting and expects his assistants to do the same.
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• LB Jordan Futch (pictured right), a UM commit, is set to be at UM in the spring. Lately, he has been at practice and around campus. Last weekend, we caught with him at the Northwestern-Central game and he did a good job letting us know his thoughts on the game. Check him out on video here
• Krop LB Etienne Sabino is down to two schools: Ohio State and USC. I expect him to choose the Buckeyes like his teammate CB Travis Howard did. Both players were recruited by Miami, in fact, Miami was the first school to show major interest in the two. However, once schools found out UM offered the two, more schools got involved.
• People around the UM program feel LB Sean Spence is a better prospect than Sabino, although it is Sabino who is rated higher in every recruiting ranking.
SPORTS BUZZ
• I am exciting the NBA season is underway. Kobe gets booed, scores 45, and almost leads his team to a comeback victory. Now, he might finally be traded. Yesterday, I was talking to another member in the media about the Heat and he was talking about what it would take for the Heat to trade for Kobe (extremely hypothetical, of course). Here’s what it would take: Jason Williams, Dorell Wright, Udonis Haslem, Earl Barron, a first-round pick, and the $1.8 million exception. Sounds good to me!
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• My pick for the 2007-08 NBA MVP…Kevin Garnett. (Yes, he is my favorite player.)
• I am working the Heat game tonight for their season opener. Wade is out, but it will be good to see how Ricky Davis blends in with Shaq and J-Will (also, a personal favorite). Adding Ricky will take the scoring load off of Dorell Wright, who I believe is more efficient getting scrappy buckets, rebounding, and filling in as opposed to having a huge scoring role.
• Gopher Hockey update: The Gophs are currently ranked 8th at 4-2-0. But don’t worry, they will be fine—just need to get Barriball and Okposo going. Big weekend coming up against No. 7 Denver.
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Style Points |
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Fri Oct 19, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
Last week, a Hurricane, who will remain nameless (and don't ask me who it is), was seen at a high school football game wearing an FSU hat.
With all of the criticism LeBron James and Tom Brady have received for wearing hats of their home city’s competition, I figured this would be quite interesting.
While I have not talked to the Cane about why he was wearing an FSU hat with the big game coming up or during the season or at all, for that matter, I find it intriguing and disappointing.
Some people might not have a problem with it and think it’s not a big deal, but I’ve got to believe many would not like to see this.
In other related UM fashion news…
Junior Antonio Dixon has been the best dresser on the road. The guys have to look nice on the road and Dixon takes it to the extreme with a variety of suit colors with matching shoes. Burnt orange and cherry red are two colors he has worn, but it is his peach suit that received the most attention.
Dixon has a black suit he wants to wear, but will not be traveling to FSU this weekend because he is out with an injury.
With Dixon out, he says Khalil Jones assumes the title of being the best dressed Hurricane on the road. Generally, Khalil is considered the best-dressed Cane around campus with his Nike/Jordan gear.
Dixon has also been impressed with Calais Campbell’s improvement in his style. “Last year, he was an ‘F’,” Dixon says. “Now, he is an ‘A’.”
However, Campbell is still sporting the UM Crocs.
More style news: Graig Cooper has a new UM headband he wears on gamedays, Chavez Grant continues to wear a motorcycle bike helmet when riding his bicycle, and Tavares Gooden still believes he is good-looking enough to be featured in GQ magazine.
Here’s a couple of plugs worth mentioning: A fan of Graig Cooper created a website dedicated to the freshman running back: www.craigcooper.org. E-mails to the fan who created the site were not returned, but I was able to talk to Cooper about it. He said he has seen it and loves the fan support he has received.
Another site that I thought was sharp was www.frankhaith.com. A pretty well-designed to feature UM’s men’s basketball head coach.
Speaking of Haith, myself and three other media members had lunch with him at The Palm in the Gables earlier this week. The talk was informal, but he did say he was more confident in this year’s team than in year’s past and felt the post players were the biggest strength of the team.
So back to Hurricane football…
Here are 3 guys that go unnoticed, but really need to have a big game:
1.) CB Bruce Johnson – With Glenn Sharpe limited due to his recurring hamstring injury, it is time for Johnson to step up. He’ll have his hands full with FSU WRs De’Cody Fagg, Greg Carr, and Preston Parker.
2.) DT Teraz McCray – Three DTs are out and McCray is the only one with playing experience. He must be productive regardless of who he lines up next to.
3.) P Matt Bosher – He must be effective early in the game to avoid the Canes getting down and not winning the field position battle.
Recruiting note…
David and I went to watch Patrick Johnson play Thursday night and he has been the most impressive player I have seen this season. It was good as we were able to talk to a number of people about their thoughts on Johnson including one of his teachers.
They all said he was a good kid.
After the game, about 20 of the junior varsity players from Ely wanted to take a picture with him while he held up the 'U'.
Some might question Johnson's status with UM, but at least he was not wearing a hat of different school.
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If Players Quit... |
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Sat Oct 13, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
After another loss, the Canes are currently 4-3 on the season and 12-11 in their last 23 games.
At some point, players might begin to quit--physically and/or mentally.
"If they quit, then we can always bring new guys in," coach Randy Shannon said. "That is just the bottom-line. If guys want to quit, then you've got to get new guys in here."
Shannon is aware some guys might not be on board with his coaching style and changes he's made around the program.
And the losing is not helping either.
"There will be some guys that go in the tank, but you know what, that's my job to get them out of it and if they don't get out of the tank, we'll just get someone else and say, 'Hey, you just out for a couple of games and you get your education, we're not going to take your education away from you, finish your education, graduate, and we'll move forward."
There has been talk around the team about players transferring to look for more playing time and a coaching style more suitable to their needs.
With the changes that might incur, Shannon reflected back to when he was an assistant coach under Butch Davis during the probationary period.
"Recruiting was hard, it was tough, but we got guys in here," Shannon said.
Even if guys do leave and the season continues to be a struggle, there is help on the way.
"If you look at the class we have now, if we can get those guys to stay together--these commitments that we have coming here--then, within a year or two, we will be back where we need to be," Shannon said.
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The top verbal commitments include: CB Patrick Johnson, WR Aldarius Johnson, DT Marcus Forston, LB Ramon Buchanan, LB Marcus Robinson, QB Jacory Harris, and LB Sean Spence (pictured right).
Regardless of how the 2007 season finishes, the 2008 team is sure to have a new energy and excitement around the program as Shannon brings in his guys.
BEATING MICHIGAN
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Just a plug for my alma mater as the Gopher hockey team defeated Michigan tonight, as usual. The Gophs, No. 5 in the preseason poll, started the 2007-08 season last night with a win. Attending games at Mariucci Arena still remains as one of my favorite sporting events.
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Thoughts on Darnell |
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Wed Oct 10, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
There are times as a reporter when an athlete feels like opening up about what they are really feeling and this is what happened on Tuesday when I spoke with Darnell Jenkins in a 1-on-1 interview. (Click here for complete article)
I originally went into the interview thinking we would just talk about his individual performance against UNC and talk about it as a bright spot with the team, but the way the interview was progressing, I could tell Darnell had a lot on his mind so we just kept talking.
Darnell is clearly frustrated with some of the main players on the team, who should have more of an interest in winning and listening to the coaches as opposed to talking about what they could do on game day.
“When (the coaches) try to make corrections, some people just let it go in one ear and out the other," he said. "We are looking to find those weak links and we trying to remove them off our team or put them on scout team or something, get away from us."
Premium subscribers can listen to the interview here: Interview with Darnell
Darnell has been a guy that I have developed a good relationship with throughout his career, but it goes deeper than that.
When I sat down with him for an in-depth interview for a cover magazine article in the fall of 2004, we talked about everything especially his rough upbringing. The article is my favorite piece I've ever done in my five years of covering the Hurricanes.
After I completed the interview on campus with Jenkins, a few days later I went to the Brown Sub area of Liberty City to go by the house he grew up in. I had to. He revealed so much information to me that I wanted to get a better feel of who he was so I went by his surroundings. It definitely helped me write a stronger piece on him.
Darnell flat out loves the game of football going back to his days when he set an Optimist youth record with 53 touchdowns in a season.
He wants to win. That's it.
Hopefully his teammates take notice of Jenkins' comments or Jenkins stands up in front of the team to get his thoughts across.
He just wants to win.
It probably hasn't even crossed his mind that he needs just 26 more receptions to rank 10th on Miami's all-time receptions list.
Here's to hoping he cracks the all-time list while winning games in the process.
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Harold, UNC, and USF |
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Mon Oct 8, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
As you can see, we did something new today with InsideTheU.com as we had Harold Martinez, a UM baseball commit, as the lead story. He is a remarkable talent and has a great future ahead of himself. It will be fun to watch his career regardless if he becomes a Cane next fall.
Here's a quote that I didn't include in the story, but I thought was interesting:
“It’s tough because I haven’t really had a childhood because everything has always been baseball. I go out a lot, but some kids play every sport and can do whatever they want. I haven’t had that ability, I’ve always had to play baseball. I have a small time for my friends, but you always have to make sacrifices.”
I enjoyed sitting down with Martinez at Braddock for nearly an hour as he talked about the pressures of the comparisons to Alex Rodriguez, the MLB Draft, USA Baseball, representing Miami, etc.
So here are my thoughts on the UNC game..
The game was disappointing so there's no sense beating a dead horse on that one.
As bad as it was, it could have been worse. Imagine if the team didn't comeback and just took at 35-7 loss to North Carolina, can you imagine how bad that would be?
Yes it was bad, but that's what happens when you have an inconsistent team that has not been used to winning in recent years. They can still rebound and beat Georgia Tech this week. I really believe Patrick Nix will unload all of the goods about the Yellow Jackets and although some of the personnel has changed, he should have a good understanding of what they are trying to do.
The offensive line was not effective enough against North Carolina, which has to change this week or the Canes will get beat.
Bottom line is this.
Players have to step up and make plays. If you're a player, you make plays. Regardless of your playing time, what the coach thinks, the score, the weather, the opponent, etc. Good players step up and make plays.
More plays need to be made on both sides of the ball for this team to contend for the ACC title this season.
That's all it comes down to.
Here are three players who need to step up and make more plays.
1.) Javarris James (130 yards on 46 carries, 2.8 avg, in the last three games)
2.) Calais Campbell (I know he gets double-teamed, but he has to find a way to make plays, the defense needs him in crucial situations)
3.) Kyle Wright (Has thrown an interception in six of his last seven starts)
USF Bulls
Since I did not travel to Chapel Hill, I received the assignment from the Tampa Tribune to cover the USF-FAU game at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. It was a good change of pace and although I only saw the first half of the UM game live (yes I watched the whole game later that night), it was interesting to see a different team in action.
Here's a few quick thoughts on their game:
1.) QB Matt Grothe was fun to watch and interesting to talk to after the game. And yes, I'm digging the mohawk, although it's not nearly as cool as Colt Brennan's hair with the Hawaiian islands dyed in. But as some of you know, I'm a huge Brennan fan.
Back to Grothe, you should check out his website: MattGrothe.com and make sure to turn the volume up when you visit the site as kicker Delbert Alvarado created a rap song titled "Grothe". Good stuff, I'm impressed.
2.) RB Benjamin Williams, a 5-foot-7, 190-pound former walk-on rushed for 186 yards and four touchdowns. It sure would be nice for UM to find some hidden gems like that, who can make plays. (Here's my story on Williams)
3.) Jim Leavitt seems like a good guy on TV, but was a bit frustrated with the media after the game for some reason. Every coach has their style, that's for sure.
Recruiting Update
We've been putting up highlight videos the past few days on: Lamar Miller (Best Junior Prospect in Florida), Davon Johnson, Thearon Collier, Aaron Winchester, and Andrell Smith.
Also, I caught up with Brandon Harris last night while he was waiting for his plane to take off after his visit to LSU. Pretty good stuff, as always, from Brandon.
And don't forget to check out the ESPNU Insider Video on our site, which will have up since our partnership with ESPN. Looks very sharp, click here to check it out.
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The Buzz Around UM |
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Thu Oct 4, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
It's been quite a week around UM as the team improved to 4-1 with a 10-point win over Duke.
Here's what Kyle Wright said about the win:
"If anyone was disappointed about a 24-14 win, you go home and watch all the games around the country and having to scratch at the end of the game to go down and score a touchdown to seal the deal sure was a lot better than losing this weekend."
That should give you a good understanding of how things are remaining positive around the team despite less-than impressive wins over Duke, FIU and even Marshall to a certain extent.
But, the team is beginning to show positive signs and the offensive playbook is looking creative. Some players have said that there will be new wrinkles shown this weekend against North Carolina.
While things were busy around UM this week, I was at Miami Heat Media Day on Monday (See picture below as I'm in the middle of the pack with Antoine Walker). It went well as I talked to a number of guys including newcomer Smush Parker. I think he needs to provide this team with plenty of energy off the bench. He's definitely glad to be out of the situation he was in with the Lakers. And although the Heat didn't make any major moves, Penny Hardaway lost 25 pounds and is supposed to be a good role player and there seems to be a new attitude around the team. I'm excited for the season.
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Now back to UM...
FOOTBALL BUZZ
• It has to be a rough season for a number of seniors, such as Charlie Jones and Romeo Davis, but none can be more frustrated than Glenn Sharpe. Sharpe has been through a lot during his six-year career at UM, but this is probably his most trying as he is on the sidelines watching four other cornerbacks play ahead of him. Sharpe was the team’s top cornerback last season after recovering from two ACL injuries.
• There has been a lot of buzz around the UM receivers lately, but one name that has been fairly quiet is Lance Leggett. Look for Leggett to utilize his speed and size against North Carolina this weekend and be the next receiver to create a big buzz.
• Speaking of North Carolina, Kyle Wright is hoping he can put the past behind him. In his two previous starts against the Tar Heels, Wright has not thrown for more than 150 yards.
• Derrick Morse got quite the news this week as he was informed teammate Kayne Farquharson was a junior college transfer. “I thought he was a freshman,” Morse told reporters. Morse also said he respected the receiver a lot more after finding out about his improbable journey to UM.
• The word is that Robert Marve will change numbers in the off-season to get No. 9, the number he wore in high school at Plant. Currently Marve is wearing No. 12 and Lance Leggett, a senior wideout, has No. 9. Marve wore No. 9 for the first time last week as the scout team quarterback as players on scout team wear the respective numbers of their opponents.
• Darryl Sharpton was expected to have a breakout season this year, but now is a forgotten player as he started fall camp with an injury. Tavares Gooden was moved from the outside to the middle, Sharpton’s spot, and hasn’t looked back. Sharpton has been relegated to special teams and was even passed up by Romeo Davis last week.
• Did you know Francesco Zampogna is 11th nationally in field goals per game? He’s made 9-of-13 on the season. By the way, Zampogna hit a 58-yard field goal in practice on Wednesday.
• 82. That’s Graig Cooper’s rank nationally in rushing and punt return average. More on Cooper
• Is anyone having a more surprising season than Vegas Franklin, who leads the team with five sacks. Franklin, a senior from Louisiana, plays defensive end and tackle and has never been considered as an impact player in past years. In fact, Franklin had just a ½ sack in 28 games coming into this year.
• Roland Smith, the former Northwestern High School head coach, continues to be a fixture at UM practices. Smith and Shannon were teammates at UM for two years.
• The Rock gave $1 million to UM this week. It was great to see such a large donation from an alumni. Click here to read complete story
• I was talking to a player about college football around the country and he made an interesting observation about first-year starting quarterbacks Sam Bradford at Oklahoma and Tim Tebow at Florida, as they suffered upset losses last weekend. He said the key for their opponents was to stack the box heavy on first and second downs to force third-and-long situations, which makes it uncomfortable for a quarterback, especially a first-year guy. Don’t be shocked if you see UM’s opponents to go with the same game plan to try to force Wright into making bad decisions down the field.
RECRUITING BUZZ
• LB Antonio Harper (Memphis, Tenn.) gave a verbal commitment to UM yesterday making him the 18th player to give a verbal agreement. (Click here for story
• Eight Northwestern players are taking an official visit to Tennessee this weekend.
• Carol City safety Robert Sands claims an offer from LSU, but wants to stay in-state. More importantly, he wants to go to UM. Click here for complete story
• Marquise Law is a 6-foot-4 receiver at American with offers. Click here for complete story
BASEBALL UPDATE
• Ryan Braun’s remarkable rookie season came to an end this weekend as the Milwaukee Brewers failed to make it to the post-season. Braun hit .324 with 34 home runs and 97 RBIs in 113 games. The 23-year old third baseman is the favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award. We caught up with Braun a few weeks ago.
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• C Yasmani Grandal (pictured) and LHP Chris Hernandez are the two newcomers expected to make an immediate impact this season. Look for Grandal to hit anywhere from 4th-6th in the lineup and Hernandez to be in the starting rotation.
• The NCAA changed the rules this year and teams have a 45-day window to practice 37 times in the fall instead of just having 14 practices. There will be two games this fall with other colleges, but will not count towards their 2008 record. Also, teams begin spring practice on Feb. 1 instead of Jan. 6 and the season won’t begin until Feb. 22 instead of the first week of February. The new rules are to help the northern teams compete.
BASKETBALL UPDATE
• I ran into Jack McClinton this week and we talked about the new uniforms. He’s especially a big fan of the shorts with ‘Canes’ spelled out down the side of the shorts. The biggest noticeable difference on the jerseys is the ‘U’ on the upper left chest.
• Also ran into Lance Hurdle this week as well, he’s doing good adjusting to campus life at UM and is ready for the season. For those of you, who are interested, we have video on Hurdle working out in the gym where you can see him dunking and taking jump shots around the perimeter.
• Other news: Fabio Nass has a cast on his right arm, but the extend of his injury is unknown at this time…Curtis McGowan is a long, slender player who transferred from Arkansas and will sit out the season due to NCAA transfer rules.
• NBA training camps have begun and there are five former Hurricanes in camp including: John Salmons (Sacramento), James Jones (Portland), Darius Rice (Cleveland), Guillermo Diaz (L.A. Clippers), and Robert Hite (New Jersey).
SOCCER UPDATE
• The women’s soccer team is 6-2-2 after their big win over North Carolina on Sunday. Freshman star forward Brittney Steinbruch scored the game-winner and already has 11 goals on the season and is sixth nationally in goals per game. Watch Steinbruch on video talk about the big win
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In-Game Blog |
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Sat Sep 29, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
The Canes are leading 10-7 in the third quarter to Duke.
They will lose this game if they do not attack.
Let me say that again, they will lose if they do not attack.
They must go down the field and the defense must starting making plays. The team looks half-asleep, the crowd is dead, it's a typical noon game atmosphere at the O.B.
Kirby Freeman is beginning to warm up.
Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis is completed a ton of passes and is getting more and more confident as the game goes on.
Watch the UM secondary as the game progresses.
On offense, it sure would be nice if Sam Shields and Ryan Hill were not suspended.
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Freeman has replaced Kyle Wright at quarterback to begin the fourth quarter with UM up 10-7.
Wright is 18-of-22 for 197 yards and one touchdown. He has thrown two interceptions.
Kayne Farquharson leads the UM receivers with six receptions for 46 yards. Coming into the game he had one catch for 12 yards in the first four games.
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Good to see the Canes make a play on defense and get a pass interference call in the endzone to set-up Cooper's 2-yard touchdown run as the Canes now lead 17-7.
Announced attendance: 30,614
Eron Riley just toasted Bruce Johnson on a 31-yard touchdown reception from Lewis. Canes lead is now 17-14 with 9:46 remaining.
It was Duke's first points in the fourth quarter all season.
This can't be happening.
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Eric Moncur sacked Lewis on 4th-and-5 from the UM 30-yardline and the Canes took over on downs.
Cooper had a 27-yard run followed by a 33-yard touchdown reception by DajLeon Farr, who lined up at receiver, from Kyle Wright.
Canes are up 24-14 with 2:15 left.
Whew, that was a close one.
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The ESPN Deal |
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Thu Sep 27, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
We have had a lot of fun in our first two months of existence, but it very excited to announce our deal with ESPN. (Click here for details)
It was our goal since day one when we first thought about leaving the Scout network.
Why did all of the big-time schools leave the Scout network?
USC, Florida, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. They all left.
We did our research and decided it was in the best interest to move on with a new website and getting involved with a new network.
The ESPN network is very exciting to be a part of and will continue to grow. The resources they have are going to be a big asset to our site. We will continue to utilize every resource possible and continue to look for new ideas for the site.
As it was stated in our release, the sky is the limit with ESPN and we have heard plenty of positive feedback with the other sites in the network. We expect similar feedback with our site as well. (The Buzz on the ESPN Deal)
One aspect of joining forces with ESPN that can not be overlooked is having a relationship with their radio affiliates. For example, last night I was a guest on The Sports Fix, 1230 AM in Gainesville to talk UM football for 15 minutes. (Click here to listen)
Speaking of Gainesville, there is word that Deonte Thompson will play this week against Auburn, which would be his season debut. Surely, Urban Meyer is not playing him because we reported his highly-touted freshman was unhappy and looking to leave UF? If he plays, does that mean some people in the media will step forward and admit we were right like a GOOD MAN would do?
CANE CHATTER
I talked with linebackers Tavares Gooden and Colin McCarthy about their relationship and their battle on the basketball court. The article will be up on Friday.
Speaking of friendships on the team, Sam Shields and Ryan Hill are clearly in Randy Shannon's doghouse and will need to prove to him that they are responsible enough to take care of their duties as a student-athlete.
Regarding that situation, Coach Shannon was very interesting in the way he handled it in the media yesterday. After going back and forth answering questions while avoiding other questions with the media, he was in the middle of answering a question when he challenged a reporter about news they reported a week ago that was irrelevant to any topic being discussed at the time.
BRANDON HARRIS MOVIE REVIEW
Booker T. Washington coach Tim Harris offered a review on the movie I put together featuring Brandon Harris and the team's trip to South Carolina this year titled, "Respect the Speed".
"I think Chris did an excellent job with his coverage during the trip to Summerville. He talked to student-athletes, parents, fans, assistant coaches, and really got to gauge the whole picture in being able to put it in the video and stories. Other people heard about the trip, but they were able to see it through the video. We even played it where the people in the school could actually see how the trip really went. It brought our school so much closer together. It really put everything in a great light. I watch it all the time. That was a great, great video."
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Streeter's a Good One |
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Mon Sep 24, 2007
Christopher Stock is in his fifth year covering University of Miami athletics and currently covers UM for the Associated Press, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post, and Daytona Beach News-Journal. He can be reached at stock@insidetheu.com
I have covered a number of athletes over the years from the high school, college, and professional ranks and have developed good relationships with a variety of players.
That is one of my favorite things about being a sports writer is getting to know the athletes we watch on the field.
And one guy I enjoy rooting for is Tommy Streeter.
Streeter is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound athlete with speed, who plays wide receiver for Northwestern High School in Miami.
Many of you already know who he is, especially after he caught three touchdown passes against then No. 1-ranked South Carroll on ESPNU to help lead the Bulls to a win. Right now, Streeter is uncommitted and is not in any hurry to make a commitment.
On Sunday night, I talked with Tommy for 20 minutes about his trip to Boston College, his recruiting process, the attention he has received lately, and more. He is a great student, who is studying television broadcasting and production at William H. Turner Technical Arts School, and is very insightful with his answers to questions.
He's a good one to talk to and a breath of fresh air. He was honest about his trip and went in-depth why he liked his three days in Chestnut Hill, Mass. It was great to listen to him explain certain things.
One thing that caught my attention, in addition to his ability to communicate in-depth, was his statement about feeling needed and not wanted.
There is a difference.
We have all felt the difference whether it be in a relationship, our current employer, or with family members.
I think it is important to feel needed to be a part of the solution, not just wanted because there is nobody else to do it, or nobody else we'd rather have. We want to feel needed.
And I think that is what Streeter is going through with the recruiting process. He is wanted by many schools, but the school he chooses is a school that needs a bright kid in their program that can make plays down the field.
Streeter is a difference-maker and will be a great addition to any program.
Selfishly, I'd like to see him at UM so I could watch him progress on a daily basis, but regardless of where he ends up, I will definitely follow his career closely because Streeter is one of the good ones.