Miami Hurricanes recruit Zach Kane was arrested over the weekend and charged with aggravated assault, back home in Toms River, NJ.
Around 11pm on Saturday, the linebacker prospect “allegedly” broke a bottle over the head of a fellow teen, causing the victim to receive upwards of nine stitches.
I know what I’m going to say here isn’t going to jive with some, but those who put life over football will most likely agree with my sentiment.
Randy Shannon needs to cut bait now. Pull Kane’s scholarship and send a message that this type of behavior simply isn’t acceptable.
Harsh? Not really. We’re not talking about a kid like Willie Williams boosting a few car stereos while in junior high school. We’re talking about a privileged 18-year old who obviously doesn’t realize the ramifications of his actions as well as the honor of being recruited to play for The U, while getting free education and showcasing his talent for the NFL.
During the recruiting process, some schools shied away from Kane, citing him being a bit of a hot head and a troublemaker. That said, he was a star athlete and got the preferential treatment that came along with being defensive player of the year in a podunk northeastern town.
Look where all that coddling got him.
The University of Miami had a handful of early enrollees this past spring. Recruits from the 2008 class who busted their ass to graduated early, only so they could have their asses busted on Greentree trying to get ahead during spring football.
While (potential) future teammates were doing all they could to help put Miami back on the map, Kane is running around his hometown – fresh out of high school and looking for summer trouble.
Late night underage boozing? Assault? All of this with a college scholarship on the line and a chance to play for a team he adores?
It’s moronic behavior by another modern day teenager with a sense of entitlement and an ‘above the law’ mentality.
I have two words for Kane; Jordan Futch. You want to talk about everything right with a 
college football recruit, look no further than the outside linebacker out of Chaminade-Madonna in Hollywood, FL.
Futch graduated early but couldn’t enroll until fall. Before he signed with Miami, his personal mission was spreading the ‘Gospel according to Randy’, contacting other potential recruits and selling everyone he could on The U.
While Kane is drinking his summer away and assaulting teens in Toms River, Futch is spending his summer as a plumber, working 7am to 5pm Monday through Saturday.
After a hard day’s work, it’s straight to L.A. Fitness for a two-hour training session and then off to bed to do it again the next day.
Futch doesn’t have to come out and say why he employs the 60 hour work and is a gym rat. It’s obvious. This kid puts football first and is doing all he can to avoid the pitfalls that come with being a teenage athlete with a scholarship awaiting and a bright future.
A week from today, Futch reports for duty at The U, having been cleared by NCAA Clearinghouse and having received his admission’s letter from UM.
Where will Zach Kane be a week from now?
What are the legal ramifications from this boneheaded act?
How will Randy Shannon respond?
The second-year head coach is a hard-ass and a disciplinarian. That much is known. What isn’t known is Shannon’s immediate reaction regarding a situation like this.
Miami gets a bum rap and has earned the ‘Thug U’ moniker from opposing fans and rivals, who ironically enough support programs that have seen a ton more off-the-field drama than The U. (17 Gators in hot water on Urban Meyer’s watch the past 3 years ring a bell?)
The Canes will forever pay for their brash ways in the 80s, being the anti-establishment bunch who not only won – but did so in a loud and proud manner than the traditional ‘rah-rah’ college football enthusiast didn’t appreciate.
Shannon is working tirelessly to change Miami’s image and Kane’s recent blunder is a black eye for a program that’s spent the past decade trying to heal.
A month ago, Shannon was overseas visiting injured soldiers and has spent the past few weeks applauding the efforts of these young men and women. He spoke of their team effort and the maturity it takes to do what the soldiers are doing on a daily basis.
“I’m watching 19, 20, 21 year olds do various jobs and do it with perfection,” said Shannon. “You get amazed because I’m coaching 20, 21 year olds in football and it’s the same thing – you want perfection.”
“I’m pleased with is the teamwork of the military forces, how they work together, mingle together. If the Air Force wasn’t effective, then the Marines and Army wouldn’t be effective. If the Navy wasn’t doing their job the right way, the Marines wouldn’t be a part of it. If the Army didn’t do the things they were doing, the air force wouldn’t be effective.”
It seems the military experience had a profound impact on Shannon, regarding their maturity, teamwork and camaraderie. It’ll be interesting to see how he chooses to deal with the immaturity, selfishness and boneheaded actions of Kane after seeing other 19 to 21-year olds hitting on all cylinders and mature beyond their years.
Kane might not be a lost cause. 15 years ago, Pat Tillman was a high school senior arrested and charged with felony assault after coming to the aid of a friend in an altercation outside a pizza parlor.
Tillman had the charges reduced to a misdemeanor after spending 30 days in a juvenile facility, went on to have a stellar career at Arizona State and made his way to the NFL before being killed by friendly fire, overseas in 2004.
“I learned more from that one bad decision than all the good decisions I’ve ever made,” Tillman said, regarding the incident.
“It made me realize that stuff you do has repercussions. You can lose everything.”
Shannon and staff recruited Kane and obviously know the kid better than a hack writer, message board jockeys or fans of other programs who Kane spurned to come to The U. In the end, Shannon’s punishment will fit the crime – as it always does.
Whether Kane winds up at Miami or not, here’s hoping the kid learns his lesson pronto – be it on his own, through his future coaches, through a story like Tillman’s or even learning from a peer like Futch and his recent example.
One mistake can cost you everything. The older you get and with more on the line, there is little margin for error. Everyone is responsible for their actions and the hard-hitting needs to be saved for the football field; not weekend house parties.
Treating a peer like a human pinata and busting a bottle of one’s head like it’s the bow of a ship is inexcusable with all Kane has to lose.
For his sake, hopefully he gets a shot at redemption.
If I’m calling the shots, he’s figuring it all out somewhere other than Coral Gables.
Miami doesn’t need Kane’s baggage.
Everyone here in the Toms River, NJ area knows Kane has had other incidents regarding assualt that were brushed under the rug. In one incident, Kane sucker-punched a guy in the face who has trying to break up a fight Kane was involved in. The guy needed a lot of dental work. Charges were not filed because Kane’s father paid for the mans medical bills.
I’m with you, man. I have little desire to see this kid step foot on my alma mater. I have little patience for those who were blessed with talent and waste it all away on arrogance and an overblown sense of entitlement.
Great piece on Futch! Thanks for highlighting the many positive attributes of our more positive Canes.
Absolutely true, this isnt the first incident regarding an assult with Mr Kane. Daddy’s hush money kept him out of trouble with the law the first time.
On the field, the kid is NOT coachable. He does what he wants and runs to daddy when he doesnt get what he wants. Some people may deem his on the field talent as “aggressive”, but the kid is NOTHING more than a headhunter. He has no remorse and he is out to phyically hurt somebody.
Two ejections in two seasons should clearly define his on the field tactics… including stomping on kids helmet after the play was over.
Hopefully Coach Shannon does the correct thing and revokes his young man’s schloarship and gives it to somebody more deserving
He’ll end up at UF where they permit that behavior and cover it up.
His dad won’t have to spend anymore money if he goes there because the boosters will pick up the tab on his troubles.
Last thing your blog needs are a bunch of Rutgers idiots and other fans of schools from up north who Kane turned on when he sided with Miami. First thing I thought when I read this article was about all my idiot friends up this way who have been in my ear about Kane from day one.
The kid obviously has some baggage, as you said. That doesn’t mean Randy Shannon shouldn’t have taken a chance on him, but now that he’s proven that a college scholarship is less important than running around Jersey acting like a jackass, I agree with you. Drop Kane like a bad habit.
No one player is bigger than the program and like you, I have a problem with what this kid is doing while so many other players enrolled early and have been working to better themselves and better the team.
Kane needs to go. He’s not worth the bad press and something tells me this won’t be the last time we hear from this troubled teen.
Richard Lawson
Erie, PA
The “idiots” at Rutgers never recruited him in earnest, and given Kane’s ability that tells me alot. Schiano wouldn’t touch the kid. That speaks volmes.
When he was asked why he decided on Miami, Kane said; “They’re the Canes, and my name is Kane”.
Toms River is far from “podunk”. Three public high schools with enrollments over 2,000 per, and one of the largest districts in NJ.
Kane is simply a bad apple that fell from a bad tree.
Toms River is far from “podunk”. Three public high schools with enrollments over 2,000 per, and one of the largest districts in NJ.
In regards to Miami, one of the larger cities in the free world, Toms River is podunk.
As for Schiano, he passed on Kane but let’s not act like every kid that goes through RU is choirboy. Please.
This sentence should probably include the word “allegedly”…but otherwise, i enjoyed the article:
———————————-
Around 11pm on Saturday, the linebacker prospect broke a bottle over the head of a fellow teen, causing the victim to receive upwards of nine stitches.
I don’t know how I feel about this kid. I would say that, if after Randy does his research and finds out that there have been other incidents, then you have to tell him thanks but no thanks. The U is being rebuilt right now and we don’t need any cracks in the foundation. He can go to Gainsville or Tallahassee and have free reign like the rest. BUT, if Randy gives him another chance, then I’m sure the kid will be on a short leash. We don’t need any knuckleheads not getting with the program from Day 1.
As far as our image, we can be fine for 100 years and the general public and writers will still go back to the 80’s. It sucks but oh well. We all know there are plenty of programs much worse than us (at least 2 in Florida) but they live in college towns and are protected. Just watch our games this year and our opponents will be the ones talking way more than Miami (hello VTech, FSU, UNC). It’s all relative, so we just need to focus on W’s and graduation with the right young men, and all the rest will sort itself out.
-Columbus Cane
I agree with the statement that Randy will do the right thing.
First blush tells me to drop this piece of garbage though. Who needs it??
I absolutely despise the perception nationally of the “U”. I even completely stopped speaking to two close friends whose first utterences after the Sean Taylor tradegy were, “that’s what happens when you run with thugs.”
That being said, I have ZERO problem with pulling the plug on this clown right here and now.
if that first poster’s stories are real, I think Kane might be on the roids
This sentence should probably include the word “allegedly”…but otherwise, i enjoyed the article: “Around 11pm on Saturday, the linebacker prospect broke a bottle over the head of a fellow teen, causing the victim to receive upwards of nine stitches.”
In an effort to appease my peeps, I added the word… but I don’t think it really matters. “Allegedly” is a lawyer’s word and will buy Kane more time, but odds are we know what happened here. It’s hardly the kid’s first offense.
The Toms River newspaper that reported the incident Asbury Park Press also had a comment section attached to the article. Within hours the three articles about Kane had over 150 comments, none of which were positive. People (presumably students he went to H.S. with) were reporting all type of Kane assualts, GETTING KICKED OUT of the H.S. Championship Game in the 2nd QTR!!! etc.
I find it suspcious that the newspaper removed the comments section after a few days. In Toms River it is just considered another Zach Kane attempted cover-up. Unfortunately, this one made the papers. Miami newspapers will have a field day with this kid.
Within hours the three articles about Kane had over 150 comments, none of which were positive. People (presumably students he went to H.S. with) were reporting all type of Kane assualts, GETTING KICKED OUT of the H.S. Championship Game in the 2nd QTR!!! etc. I find it suspcious that the newspaper removed the comments section after a few days.
It’s not ‘suspicious’ – it’s an attempt at fair journalism.
As another poster reminded me, this is ‘alleged’ as this point. If Kane is guilty, he should pay and pay dearly. I am all about Randy Shannon revoking this kid’s scholarship if this is the case.
That said, having a bunch of high school clowns and local-yokels logging on to a ‘comments’ section and getting their ’15 minutes’ to tell their own “why Zack Kane is a thug” story – completely unsubstianted – isn’t slanderous.
Message boards are full of shit. Everyone has a source. Everyone knows someone who knows someone that was directly involved. It’s a crock. There’s no reason to have that crap floating around out there.
The facts will surface soon enough and when they do, the critics can have their say.
I don’t doubt in my mind that Shannon will cut bait if these stories are true.
I also don’t doubt that the haters will run their mouths no matter what happens, considering the kid guilty without allowing him to be proven innocent (if that’s the case).
Relax. It’ll all play out.
Dump him. Playing for Miami isn’t an opportunity this spoiled brat should be given.
You’re an idiot.
Some kind of fan you are.
You turn your back on Cane over some accusations? Wow. This is why I hate fellow Cane fans so much.
Instead of waiting for all the facts to even come to life you want to bash the kid over some allegations. Over what basically amounts to hearsay. Kane denies the incident ever happen and the kid who was allegedly assaulted doesn’t even know who did it because he was probably to drunk to remember. As were any possible witnesses.
I hope you’re proud of yourself. And I hope this Kid becomes a star so you can sit back and look like an idiot.
Dump him. Playing for Miami isn’t an opportunity this spoiled brat should be given.
———————-
Send him to Penn State or FSU!
You’re an idiot. Some kind of fan you are.
Ah yes, I’m the idiot for not blindly backing a kid who sounds like a bad seed, simply because he signed with Miami.
I guess everyone who chimed in on this thread is an idiot as well as damn near every Cane who wrote in agreed with me as well.
You turn your back on Cane over some accusations? Wow. This is why I hate fellow Cane fans so much.
This kid isn’t a “Cane” yet. Please. He signed a letter of intent and he’s spending his summer up in New Jersey acting like a jackass. Not one drop of sweat has been left on Greentree, on the field or in the weightroom.
He’s yet to strap it up or do anything for the program yet – other than bring some bad publicity.
nstead of waiting for all the facts to even come to life you want to bash the kid over some allegations. Over what basically amounts to hearsay.
Sure seems to be a lot of heresy surrounding this kid.
It’s also a rather strong “allegation” and the kid has had a reputation for being a hot head since before Miami even started looking at him.
Kane denies the incident ever happen and the kid who was allegedly assaulted doesn’t even know who did it because he was probably to drunk to remember. As were any possible witnesses.
Gee he denies it ever happened. Real shock there. Like he’s going to admit what he did?
Being found guilty or getting off – doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Sounds like a rich father and being a football star in a small town has gotten Kane out of a ton of trouble thus far and has given him a sense of entitlement no one should have.
I hope you’re proud of yourself. And I hope this Kid becomes a star so you can sit back and look like an idiot.
You’re a moron.
Yes, I’m “proud” of myself for getting to write a piece where I chastised a kid who signed on to play for The U. I’m the idiot here – for holding Miami’s student athletes to a higher standard and not wanting one troublemaker to taint the image and reputation of a hundred other kids who were busting their asses in the spring heat, prepping for this upcoming season.
Call me crazy, but maybe you should direct your venom and criticism for the root of the problem here – Zach Kane. I’m just a writer. I’m not the one giving the program a bad name, nor am I accused of breaking a bottle over a peer’s head, sending him to the ER.
Whether Kane is a star or not, that has nothing to do with anything if this kid has character flaws, issues and has off the field woes while at Miami.
Hopefully Randy Shannon does the right thing… and hopefully you get your priorities straight.
There’s plenty of hearsay surrounding this kid, along with enough fact for me to say “let someone else wait for the explosion”.
MOST RECENT FACT: Despite being named the starting MLB, he wasn’t permitted to suit up for the June 8 NY-NJ Coaches All Star game. ALLEGATION: Caught breaking curfew with girlfriend and alcohol in his room.
The following weekend, he gets arrested in the “Beer Bottle Incident”. If it looks, quacks, and walks like a duck maybe it’s a duck.
I have followed this Kane kid for years and he has had a number of fights and anger issues on and off the field. Between sending a fellow teenager to have dental reconstruction, stepping on an opposing players helmet, hands, etc., manhandling girls and now the bottle. Any college program that takes him will have their hands full.
Word from a person in Toms River: They are yet again trying really hard down there to swipe this most recent Kane incident under the rug. And how does him getting a personal foul and kicked out of his H.S. teams championship game in the 2nd quarter, along with being banned from the NJ/NY coaches all-star game make ‘Canes fans excited about having him? Please.
Since I can’t vent on anything else involving this issue I might as well do it here where I have a voice and someone that probably agrees with me.
An Alabama FB player got arrested today for selling cocaine and rolls. He got kicked off the team as soon as it happened. Here’s the getter, I’m reading that it’s the 10th Alabama FB player arrested since Saban took over?!?!
ESPN, The Worldwide Leader in Double Standard, didn’t report the first 9!!!!!!!!!!!!! But a Miami player farts and it’s headlines with arrows, neon signs, and streamers as if it’s a celebration for everyone to see. I know, Iknow, expect it. But I am FED UP with it. I hate FSU & UF but they suffer from it also. Hell, an FSU 2nd string offensive lineman fails a test and isn’t elligible and it’s a story on ESPN.
Just needed to vent my anger @ ESPN for the bias that they have for certain programs and the hatred they have for football players in the “Football Factory of Florida”.
Why is ok for Willie Williams to do things that are illegal? Priviledged or not, wrong is wrong.
Why is ok for Willie Williams to do things that are illegal? Priviledged or not, wrong is wrong.
Wrong is wrong. Agreed.
My point was more in relation to age. Williams wasn’t getting in big time trouble after he was signed by Miami. Most of his stupidity occurred when he was younger.
A 14-year old from the ghetto, boosting a stereo is wrong — but I’m going to be more critical of the privileged 18-year old who assaults someone by breaking a bottle over their hear.
Stealing is stealing, but it doesn’t directly hurt another. Physically abusing someone is a different ball of wax.
Is this the Same Willie Williams that was being recruited by almost every college in North America but once he chose Miami all his problems came to light becaue of UF?
UF telling ESPN know about the kids past because of jealousy of him picking U of Miami?
Are we talking about the same W. Williams?
“Message boards are full of shit. Everyone has a source. Everyone knows someone who knows someone that was directly involved. It’s a crock. There’s no reason to have that crap floating around out there.
The facts will surface soon enough and when they do, the critics can have their say.
I don’t doubt in my mind that Shannon will cut bait if these stories are true.
I also don’t doubt that the haters will run their mouths no matter what happens, considering the kid guilty without allowing him to be proven innocent (if that’s the case).”
It’s okay if you do it, but others
are “haters” if they do it?
It’s okay if you do it, but others are “haters” if they do it?
What am I doing, other than stating an opinion?
What I called out were the message board yahoos who claim to be “in the know”.
Read some of the comments on this post. Folks from Jersey who have followed the kid, have heard stories about other incidents being swept under the rug, know for a ‘fact’ that Kane’s dad paid off some kid whose teeth Jr. knocked out.
That’s the crap I was referring to.
I subscribe to the ‘if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck’ way of life.
Whether this stands up in court or Kane gets off with a slap on the wrist, there seems to be A LOT of baggage surrounding this kid.
We do know for fact that he’s been thrown out of ballgames for being a hothead and this isn’t the first accusation regarding an off the field incident where he used violence to problem solve.
My opinion? Shannon needs to cut bait, regardless of what happens legally. The warning signs are there and yes, technically, Kane could walk away from this without any legal ramifications – but that doesn’t mean he’s “innocent”.
A lot of schools in the northeast seemed to back away from Kane. Why is Miami recruiting him, but he’s in Greg Schiano’s backyard and RU stays away? Pitt stays away? Penn State stays away?
Something tells me there’s more to this kid than we’ve heard down in Miami and he sounds like bad news to me.
Take it or leave it. – C
Do we have any kind of follow up here. Did Zach Kane report to camp with the rest of the freshman or is this case still pending?
Do we have any kind of follow up here. Did Zach Kane report to camp with the rest of the freshman or is this case still pending?
No new news… which leads us to believe Miami coaches are letting the legal system work things out and from there a decision will be made.
Gut feeling… like all other stuff with Kane, this is swept under the rug and he is at The U by fall, with some sort of a ‘one strike and you’re out’ policy in place.
Just an update on this young man, local papers up at the Jersey Shore reported that Zach Kane did not report to football camp. According to Coach Shannon, the investigation continues in regard to beer bottle busting incident where Mr. Kane was charged with aggrevated assult
Just an update on this young man, local papers up at the Jersey Shore reported that Zach Kane did not report to football camp. According to Coach Shannon, the investigation continues in regard to beer bottle busting incident where Mr. Kane was charged with aggrevated assault
Word is that Kane is headed to Milford Prep. No way Miami is going to admit this kid with all the legal issues still pending.
Gut feeling- Kane never makes it back to The U after prep school. Trouble will either continue to find him, he’ll be fed up with UM’s admissions process and/or some laid back school will take a chance on him. I can see this kid headed to Louisville next spring, if things don’t pan out with Miami.
To the idiot who made the comment about Saban kicking a bunch of kids off his team, maybe it’s because he’s cleaning up the garbage and bad apples in his new program he has taken over. Isn’t it funny that same man currently has the #1 team in the country. Maybe you should open your eyes and realize that Saban is obviously a smart man and knows what he’s doing, character is obviously an important part of his recruiting and coaching process, and he isn’t responsible for mistakes made by former coaches.
Grow up with Kanes father he was always in fight and even had some drug problems with the police. Kane’s fathers real last name was Kuntz people use to pronounce it as (cunts) He changed it to Kane when he had his daughter. Son is just like the old man a lot of info has been buried.
hi haters….keep on hatin
This kid is the biggest POS I have ever met. He not only "manhandles" girls as one poster pointed out, he abuses them, both physically and mentally. He does not deserve to be at Temple University having tax payers and fellow students paying off his scholarship so he can toss a football around like the putz that he is. He is definitely an alcoholic and has been through several altercations and has had several issues and conflicts with people due to alcohol. He is a true hot head and he deserves to be in jail right now for everything he has done. If you live in TR or go to Temple U, STAY AWAY from this monster. He will screw up anyones life he comes into contact with…
hahahahah fuckn haters….hate on
He (Zach) fell out of a tree that should be pruned so as prohibit and further fruit from being pollinated. PS the Kanes (plural) always seem to cover themselves with moms' $$$$$