Miami Hurricanes : The Latest At “The U”

The Miami Hurricanes are coming off of a 45-0 win over the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats last Saturday night at Sun Life Stadium.

Next up; a shortened week as the Canes will “travel” to Boca Raton for a road showdown against the Florida Atlantic Owls, in what should be another scrimmage (compared to what’s coming once ACC play gets underway), though much more of a challenge than week one.

Below, the latest ins and outs regarding “The U”, head coach Al Golden, injured players and preparations for a program started by a former University of Miami legend.

Heavily-relied upon receivers Braxton Berrios and Stacy Coley will miss Friday night’s contest at FAU. Both wideouts were injured in the season opener—Berrios’ knee and Coley’s hamstring—which Golden spoke about days back.

“Both of them are doing great and doing a really nice job, but I don’t think either one of them are going to be able to make it for Friday,” Golden said during his weekly appearance on the ACC football coaches teleconference.

“Very pleased with both of them on the field today. Obviously, we knew Braxton was out going into [Wednesday] morning and we just wanted to see where Stacy was before we released, so I guess this is officially releasing it. After watching him out there today, he’s close and maybe would have an outside shot, but I would say he’s out right now.”

The obvious question; will either or both be ready for Nebraska next Friday? Miami recently lost running back Gus Edwards to what was initially reported as a foot bruise. Days later the junior rusher was put on the shelf for the entire season.

Are Berrios’ and Coley’s injuries as minimal as reported? Will this impact the showdown against the Huskers, or beyond? Miami should be able to handle Florida Atlantic with Rashawn Scott, Malcolm Lewis and Herb Waters—who practiced in the slot this week—while Tyre Brady, Darrell Langham and true freshman Lawrence Cager should see extended playing time.

Also a safe bet offensive coordinator James Coley will work his tight ends more into the equation. Expect junior Standish Dobard to get his fair share of looks. Still, the Canes lack depth and experience at the position, which could make for a long season if either or both receivers are out for an extended period of time.

Golden gave an emphatic, “no” when asked if Berrios would require surgery—so let’s hope that remains the case.

With Coley out, Golden was asked on Tuesday about special teams, where he stated that running backs Mark Walton, Joe Yearby and Trayone Gray are all available, as are cornerbacks Artie Burns and Corn Elder, who had a 72-yard score and another called back last week. Waters is also an option.

Whoever is back there, the Canes finally have some viable options again and after seeing Elder’s efforts last weekend, here’s to Miami breaking off some big special teams plays—as that dynamic has been lost for way too long.

Defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio spoke earlier this week about his unit’s effort against Bethune-Cookman.

D’Onofrio stated that Miami played 30 guys in the contest, praised the team’s intensity-level and had the standard comments regarding execution; need to tackle better and what not.

The Canes mixed in more blitz packages against the Wildcats, which could be in effect this week for Owls’ quarterback Jaquez Johnson, though D’Onofrio came off a bit mathematic and clinical when pressed for answers—stating that the packages Miami ran last week were the same as last year, giving stats about bringing a fifth rusher half the time and what not.

Things worked defensively against Bethune-Cookman and Miami should be able to keep Florida Atlantic in check (thought the Owls did put up 44 points and over 500 yards in an overtime loss at Tulsa last weekend.)

The Canes should even be able to hold the Huskers’ offense in check, but will face a rowdy Thursday night road game at Cincinnati (10/1) before a brutal three game stretch; at Florida State (10/10), Virginia Tech (10/17) and Clemson (10/24). At Duke (10/31) won’t be a stroll in the park, either.

Another wait-and-see situation regarding the Miami defense and how it handles the meat of the schedule. Too hard to dissect in early September.

Defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad missed all of last season after a brawl with his roommate and his would-be return last weekend was postponed due to one-game suspension for violation of a team rules.

While infraction after infraction doesn’t bode well, Muhammad made the most of his downgrade; recently earning Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week honors.

The next few months will show if Muhammad has truly learned from the err in his ways, but to dive in on the scout team and the attempt to work his way back into his coaches’ and teammates’ good graces is the right start; especially attitude-wise.

While it’s hard to get super-fired up for Florida Atlantic, there’s something special about the Canes and Owls going at it, knowing what it means to former Miami head coach Howard Schnellenberger.

A game between the two schools got more attention as it was the inaugural meeting, but for those out of the know, Schnellenberger was the architect of the Florida Atlantic program; finally bringing football to the school back in 2001.

Even more impressive this time around; it’s Miami going to Boca Raton for the game.

“I dreamed of Florida coming here, Florida State coming here, Notre Dame coming here,” Schnellenberger recently told the Palm Beach Post. “In time, all the great teams will come here, because we’ve got a stadium, we’re sitting in the hotbed of high school football players, and we’ve got a university that’s in the heart of the heart of paradise and is growing like a weed. All great things lie ahead for us.”

Schellenberger has constantly referred to this weekend’s meeting as “bittersweet”—the program he lead to a national title, playing an away game at a field named in his honor; with a statue of his likeness to boot. Regarding where his loyalties lie this weekend:

“I’m pulling for the team that’s paying me,” he told the Miami Herald, speaking of an FAU job that mostly involves fund-raising and giving speeches. “That doesn’t take anything away from my feelings for Miami. For this game, my heart and soul are involved with this [FAU] team.

The game is sold out and best believe no one is happier about that than the man who put one program on the map, while bringing the other from middle of the pack, to championship-level.

A hearty thank you to trustee Pete Piechoski, who donated a cool million dollars to his alma mater this week.

Piechoski graduated from Miami in 1976 with a degree in accounting and his donation will support Miami’s Student-Athlete Excellence Fund—which provides operational and scholarship support for all Hurricane teams, and its Basketball Victory Fund.

Piechoski’s donation is the sixth of $1M or more for Miami athletics in the past 13 months; which is worth noting as yahoo fans continue to pool money and resources to fly game day banners.

As long as the donations keep rolling in, those will remain the loudest voices—not the few who forked over a few bucks for a crop-duster to pull a sign pre-kickoff.

To that last point, the banner-flying remains a head-scratcher in this day and age and one has to wonder how a portion of Miami’s fan base can be so dated and stuck in such pre-millennium ways.

A quick search gives the impression that it’s roughly $750 to $1,000 to fly a banner at Sun Life Stadium prior to kickoff. Said banner will be seen by some drunk tailgaters or folks at the stadium early; which isn’t much of an audience against the likes of a Bethune-Cookman.

The shelf-life is short, the exposure is minimal and the act itself is pretty much forgotten by halftime. The most attention the defiant act gets is by way of social media—if someone like “The U” director Billy Corben catches wind and decides to tweet it out.

I’m all for people having a voice, shaking their fist at the man and coming together to fight a cause. Whether I agree with said cause, or not—doesn’t matter. I respect he we’re-not-gonna-take-it attitude and approach.

What I don’t get; poorly executed plans and half-baked ideas.

Flying a banner (sort of) made sense in 1997 when folks were frustrated with Butch Davis; on the heels of an embarrassing losing streak and some uncharted waters for Hurricanes football—fresh off the Decade of Dominance.

What makes no sense; pulling a sign behind a plane in 2015—unless you’re promoting a nearby strip club at a sporting event and mention of the banner gets patrons free entry.

Those who are so over-the-top in their frustration for Golden; here’s a pro tip—rally behind an organizer who understands web, social media, how to make things go viral and can get things to trend.

Do these folks know how much further $1,000 would take them in Facebook and Twitter ads? Acquire some signed Canes gear and have Instagram contests for folks who share and like your content. Safe to assume that amongst the masses of angry fans, some have some memorabilia they could donate to the cause and greater good.

Use a laser focus to target those diehard Canes fans online (by way of targeted social media ads) and start showing up in the feeds of Miami fans on a daily basis—hitting them over and over with good, quality content; not just knee-jerk rants and far-fetched ideas.

We’re living in a golden age of technology, yet these folks remain prehistoric and lazy in their thinking.

As long as alumni are giving $1M donations, your banner plane will remain a drop of water in the ocean. In short, think with your head here—not just frustrated hearts.

Your voice can be heard; just not in your current medium.

Miami and Florida Atlantic will tee is up at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday September 11th, with Fox Sports 1 providing game day coverage.

The Canes will then get an extra day of rest for next Saturday’s showdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Sun Life Stadium at 3:30 p.m. ET with ABC Sports coverage.

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