After spending about five hours perfecting all of my settings on my laptop, enabling me to hook it up to my plasma, I finally sat down to watch Miami at Duke on ESPN3.com.
I can appreciate the fact that a few years back this game wouldn’t have been broadcast anywhere, watching a whole game online (with announcers more suited to cover middle school dodge ball), it was far from a great viewing experience.
In the end, Miami got the win. Is any win a ‘good’ win? Depends what you’re looking for. This most recent ‘W’ keeps UM in control of its own destiny regarding Charlotte and the ACC Championship game on December 4th. On the other hand, the offense again left a lot to be desired.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Jacory Harris going through an entire game without an interceptions, however there were still way too many questionable throws into double coverage. If Duke’s secondary were up to the task, harris may have tossed three or more picks. It was also another Saturday with way too many dropped balls on both offense and defense.
Chase Ford is one guy not living up to the hype. I guess many of us saw a strapping JUCO transfer tight end from the Midwest and saw Jeremy Shockey incarnate. However, he’s no where close to that and nor should he be. As fans it’s our fault for having such high expectations (though it doesn’t excuse all Ford’s drops).
I believe the lack of a solid tight end has cost Harris a bit. A pass-catching tight end that can dominate the middle of the field – it’s such a great weapon for a quarterback and Miami hasn’t found “the guy” there yet. Asante Cleveland did some nice things when coming into the game, but he’s still a freshman and needs another year or two to fully come into his own.
The defense again played well, though I was a bit nauseous when I heard that Colin McCarthy didn’t make the trip. Kelvin Cain more than came through, which was a plus and you have to admire a freshman that founds out he is going to be thrust into a huge role 24 hours before game time and he went out and got the job done.
I’m loving the fact that turnovers are again coming in bunches, right down to seeing Micanor Regis getting that score. That really made my afternoon and it was a taste to throwback, old school “U”.
I read all of Shannon’s post game comments and I dialed into his day-after teleconference. I was looking to get some insight regarding why this team again came out flat. Randy talked about the stagnant environment at Duke and I can agree with that. I’ve been there a few times and it’s not really a football environment when you can literally hear individual conversations in the stands and from the sidelines all game.
Still, it’s no excuse. This team absolutely should’ve come out and dominated start to finish. That’s a mindset that’s not on Shannon and staff. That one has to be on the players.
I know there’s been a lot of talk about Shannon’s demeanor and personality, but it’s time we hold these players to a higher standard, expecting more. The point eventually has to come where someone steps up from within the confines of the locker room and on the field. Think about an Ed Reed or Joaquin Gonzalez. Larry Coker never anointed them as leaders. They took the reigns on their own and that’s how it has to happen.
Let’s officially put Duke in the rearview for now. North Carolina is on deck and this game is huge as Miami continues making a post season run. These players have to show that the FSU loss was the exception, not the rule. This game to Shannon is what games like Florida State and Virginia Tech were to Davis back in 2000 – teams Butch was a combined 0-10 versus going into that season.
At some point Randy has to show that he can outcoach Butch. With the Tar Heels wrapped up in scandals and violations, there’s no better time for Miami to prove it can protect its house. The team knows what it needs to do and as fans, here’s my challenge to you; GET TO THE FREAKING GAME!
I realize there are a lot of questions about this program but YOU can make a difference. Go to the game. Go to the game. Go to the game. We all saw what a half-full house did against Clemson last season. Don’t let that happen again.
Tune back in Thursday night for my official game preview.
Until then, tune back in for another edition of allCanes Radio – live this week from the Women’s Basketball Fantasy Camp. This is a new event put on by coach Katie Meier and her team, allowing them to interact with members of the community. There will be lots of activities for adults and kids, as well as some celebrity coaches. For more info, log on to HurricaneSports.com.
Good points on the fans needing to come out more.
It's a catch-22. The team struggles because of lack of fan support and the fans don't come out because of team's struggles.
I was at the FSU game when people started booing Jacory/the team. The FSU band and the fans made it worse with the damned war song. No wonder the recruits are second-guessing Miami.
Fans, come out and support, NO MATTER WHAT!
btw stop saying Mike Leach will work at the U, he won't and shouldn't. Tony Dungy on the other hand…
Tony Dungy, huh?
What a pleasant surprise, THAT would be if RS loses against UNC
what settings did u mess with to get that crap of espn3 to work better?? cause espn3 has been an utter disappointment. i agree with everything you said; but come saturday, unfortunately that stadium wont reach 60% capacity.. it will be a miracle if theres 30k in the stands.. unfortunately miami fans are the biggest band-wagonners in sports history and that really upsets me. its going to be embarrassing to see The U play on a half empty stadium on national television on a game that can decide if we still have a shot for the ACC.. i love this program and we need to find more loyal fans.. i be at every game if i didnt live 3000 miles away.. but at least i represent my city, my team with personalized THE U plates and wearing the few items of hurricane gear i owned!! great blog btw and love the show!
Coming into this season, the expectations for this offense were incredibly high. They were supposed to be BETTER than our defense and the true bright spot of this team. A more mature and poised Jacory Harris as a junior, a stable of excellent running backs, and a veteran recieving unit that was considered "dangerous". All of that has transformed into a regressed Harris, an underachieving ground attack and a butterfingered, drop-happy recieving unit. When you score 21 points on offense against a 1-4 Duke team with arguably the worst defense in the league, I don't see how any fan of this team can be content with this win. I understand that a win is a win, but they could've and should've dominated this game from the opening kick until the end of the contest. I tell you what, if they have that kind of offensive performance against UNC, a tough defensive-minded team, Miami will lose. You can't rely on your defense to single handedly win every game for you. You can't get to the ACC title playing like that.
here's my challenge to you; GET TO THE FREAKING GAME!
I agree. The fan base for most games is around 45k. Even back in the hay day it was still 45k for regular games(slaughter). Asking the fans to show up,is a great idea. Problem is the Canes need to defend that house.
Fans came out for FSU and nuff said.
All the other BS aside, can this team play it's A game in all 3 phases (O, D & spec teams) if yes Canes Win. Come with the same game as FSU and lose.
I am sorry Beast but how can you in good conscience tell fans to go to the game. When the team gets its first sellout in years how do they reward the fans? By not showing up and laying a goose egg. Seriously, why should fans support this team. If you looked up "Underachievers" in the dictionary you will find the Canes Team Picture. Whether you like it or not, Miami is a front running city. This team will have to do more than struggle on the road against Duke before that Stadium is ever filled up again.
"I am sorry Beast but how can you in good conscience tell fans to go to the game……" Dude if this statement is how you feel, then you are not a fan.
"Why should fans support this team?" you ask. Because that is what a fan does. Plenty of schools fill their stadiums even when the team is not winning. You are nothing more than another bandwagon jumper. I won't miss you at the stadium at all, so leave your sorry ass at home.
The guy was just giving his opinion…why do you have to resort to name-calling?…you were making some good points and then you had to screw it up with childish insults…petty…
One guy gave an opinion and another fan resorted to the name calling.
Not a fan of the childish behavior, but the guy who originally jumped on Beast for telling people to get out there to support the team, was completely off base.
Part of being a fan means supporting the team win or lose.
If you don't want to buy gear, donate money to the program and have issue with Randy Shannon, so be it – but North Carolina is one of the better home games this year, it's a night game and fans better turn out.
To have the mindset that "hey, we showed up for FSU and the team didn't so we're not coming back", again that's foolish. There's a winner and loser for every game played. Fans have to deal with that.
If a fan has time to troll message boards to talk smack, they can at least get out there and support their team for a few hours per week.
Yeah,but no matter what we should be able to discuss topics without having to be told to go "suck a dick".It's just silly jr high school crap…
That being said,get out there and support the team!!!
You guys realize that we are in a down economy?
I love all the 'down economy' talk. Dolphins are still putting asses in seats, LeBron jerseys are flying off shelves, every mall is packed everytime I'm looking for a parking spot, tough to make dinner reservations and South Beach bars / clubs / restaurants are packed nightly.
Nothing's changed with the economy in the past two weeks when the Florida State game was sold out.
This game will be far from a sellout and everyone knows there will be cheap tickets available day of. If you want to be there, you'll find a way to bet there.
Yeah,but no matter what we should be able to discuss topics without having to be told to go "suck a dick".It's just silly jr high school crap…
Agree and I will delete the comment.
That said, the insults reign down from both sides — the anti-Randy camp and the pro-Shannon folk. Respect needs to come from all sides.
I am sorry Beast but how can you in good conscience tell fans to go to the game. When the team gets its first sellout in years how do they reward the fans? By not showing up and laying a goose egg. Seriously, why should fans support this team. If you looked up "Underachievers" in the dictionary you will find the Canes Team Picture. Whether you like it or not, Miami is a front running city. This team will have to do more than struggle on the road against Duke before that Stadium is ever filled up again.
I'm sorry but that is absolutely a moronic logic.
Beast is telling fans to get to the games BECAUSE that's what you do as a f'n fan — support your f'n team.
You want a cookie because you showed up for a game that your team lost a few weeks back? Welcome to being a sports fan, bro.
Across the nation every week FIFTY PERCENT of the teams that play LOSE and the other half win. Get used to it.
Florida State kicked Miami's ass just like Oklahoma kicked Florida State's ass. Wisconsin beat Miami in the bowl game last year, Ohio State beat Miami earlier this year and now Wisconsin just handed Ohio State their ass.
Alabama lost to South Carolina.
Florida just scored 7 points against shitty Mississippi State.
It happens.
Miami is a front running city, but more should be expected from Cane fans as UM has done more for local sports than the Dolphins, Heat, Marlins and Panthers.
The U has more football titles than all the other local pro sports combined.