The Sporting News breaks down the 2009 Canes…

The preseason rags have been out for a month or so, but it’s summertime and there’s little to talk about… so let’s break down The Sporting News’ take on the 2009 Canes.

TSN didn’t show Miami much love, which is fine. After a 19-19 run the past three seasons, it’s tough to play the “disrespect” card. Truth be told, UM hasn’t really done a lick since joining the ACC in 2004 – which is more an of indictment on the state of the program than it is a feather in the conference’s cap. The ACC has been there for the taking any of the past five years and the Canes simply haven’t had the personnel – players and coaches – to compete.

TSN sees Miami finishing the season fourth in the Coastal Division. Regarding player accolades, Ray Ray Armstrong earned the ACC’s “Top Impact Freshman” award – partly due to physical skills, as well as the lack of depth Miami sports in the secondary. After Armstrong, the rest of the Canes top five newbies are Lamar Miller, Brandon McGee, Brandon Washington and Dyron Dye. “The Next Big Thing” award went to running back Mike James, applauded for his ability to ‘befuddle the defense’ during spring ball and a solid understanding of the offense.

The Canes also earned the “Best Stadium” award – proof that the move from the Orange Bowl to the newly dubbed LandShark Stadium was a necessary one. The OB’s mystique is missed, but you can’t argue with the upgrade to an NFL-ready stadium that’s hosted its share of Super Bowls.

Recruiting-wise, TSN ranks the Canes third in conference, behind Florida State and North Carolina. They’re also quick to mention that Miami didn’t need a big class and that only 19 prospects were reeled in last February.

The “Game To Watch” is Georgia Tech – a program that’s inexplicably had the Canes’ number four straight seasons. The bowl projection has Miami going to a “Lower Tier Bowl” and landing in the Humanitarian.

Regarding the commentary, much of the focus was obviously on Mark Whipple and what the new offensive coordinator can bring to the table. With Miami’s offense looking lifeless since the 2002 season, it’s no mystery that Whipple’s O is the linchpin this season, making or breaking the Canes.

The piece ended with another quote from the Mr. Soundbite, offensive lineman Jason Fox.

“We’re Miami,” Fox said. “We have a lost of talent at this school. We’re always going to have talent. If we put it together the right way and things come together at the right moment, there are a lot of things that come in and factor to make a good team great.”

“Every year I’ve bee here we’ve gotten closer to accomplishing that goal. And hopefully this is our year.”

Big talk, big expectations and big potential. It’s been the story the past few seasons. Time will tell if thing play out as Fox predicts come fall.

Comments

comments

8 thoughts on “The Sporting News breaks down the 2009 Canes…

  1. Nice write up, Canes. Every year I'm a sucker for these preseason rags, even though Miami hasn't gotten any love there in years.

    I've read Sporting News, Athlon and all those mags. Safe to say most of those clowns don't know anything about The U and the talent that's being stockpiled.

    Like you, I think the Canes are still a year away – but I still think they can be a force this year IF certain things fall into place.

    Keep up the great work.

  2. Seems interesting they project such a lowly finish while saying "harris will thrive," and that they're deep in RBs and WRs. It also says in the teachers comments that Sean Spence leads a deep D as well.. not sure how this all adds up to the Humanitarian Bowl and 4th place finish in the coastal but we'll see..

  3. If we stay healthy, the sky is the limit. The ACC is still wide open in my opinion.

  4. Seems interesting they project such a lowly finish while saying "harris will thrive," and that they're deep in RBs and WRs. It also says in the teachers comments that Sean Spence leads a deep D as well.. not sure how this all adds up to the Humanitarian Bowl and 4th place finish in the coastal but we'll see..

    Fully agree. I think that's the inconsistency you get with rags like this. Writers who cover all of college sports and don't really know too much about specific teams. I'd be curious to know if this or these particular writers watched Miami last year, paid attention to recruiting the last two years, etc.

    As 'anonymous' said below you, the ACC is absolutely wide open. The fact Miami is picked fourth in such a competitive conference – based on the talent the Canes are now suiting up, the upgrade at offensive coordinator, etc. – seems like they're definitely selling UM short.

    As I said in my piece, you don't really *deserve* respect when you go 19-19. I think Georgia Tech deserves their ranking and you can give Virginia Tech the benefit of the doubt, being the won the conference again last year. North Carolina is the head scratcher.

    The Heels lost a lot of offensive talent and don't have much of a 'legacy' as a program. 8-5 last year and 4-4 in conference compared to Miami's 7-6 run and 4-4 in conference.

    Is what it is. Miami needs to get out there and win games. No more soundbites from our guys. Play football. Score points. Win ballgames. The respect will return.

  5. For me, the rags just help me get through the long days of summer. I'm not a baseball fan at all, not into Nascar, so these just help me buy some time. They're pretty bland, glossed over, generic takes by writers who still think players come to games in fatigues (which I happened to have loved, but that's another story).

    It doesn't really matter where they put us at this point. They mean nothing. We need to win games. Do we get the same benefit of the doubt as FSU or Notre Dame who have done less than we have but are still somehow cracking the top 25? No, but what else is new when it comes to Miami. Whipple is the key this year and I hope he can press the right buttons to wake this offense up. I have to think he can.
    -Columbus Cane

  6. I agree that most of these rags are very wishy-washy in their approach to pre-season rankings. They figure VaTech is getting tons of national hype (which means squat, by the way; look at what happened to Clemson last year), so they should be ahead of the Canes. The Canes have lost to Georgia Tech for four years in a row (even before the triple option) and were embarrassed by them last year, so there's no way the Canes are ahead of them. And finally, North Carolina has beat Miami two years in a row, so they'll probably do so again this year.

    I think it's bogus. Even if we lost to one or two of these teams it doesn't mean they'll have a better record than us at the end of the year. Moreover, WE BEAT VaTech last year, and the game against Carolina was very close. Almost everyone agrees the Canes WILL be better this year, not just because of The Whip, but simply because the freshman who did pretty good last year are entering their second seasons well-rested, stronger and wiser than before.

    For these reasons, I think we'll end up first or second in the ACC Coastal. We can beat VaTech and we will beat Carolina. GaTech? Who knows? Whatever happens, we'll probably be ahead of them at the end of the year if not tied since they are beatable (cases in point are Carolina, who beat GT 28-7 last year, and LSU, who won 38-3).

    Whatever happens, I can't wait! I haven't anticipated a season like this since we were robbed by the BCS in 2000. The season before that was also one of high anticipation, which feels a lot like this season.

    Thanks for the great article AllCanes!

    GO CANES!

    -CanesFanStuckInNYC

  7. Seem's like everyone is high on the Cane's this year but that scare's me because it's alway's the hype that hurt's us, we are better at being the underdog. But I love it either way! Check out the article on ESPN.com/college football about Jacory Harris. Let the season start already!

  8. Seem's like everyone is high on the Cane's this year but that scare's me because it's alway's the hype that hurt's us, we are better at being the underdog. But I love it either way! Check out the article on ESPN.com/college football about Jacory Harris. Let the season start already!

    Call me crazy, but who's "high" on the Canes? Every publication has Miami 3rd or 4th in the Coastal Division and headed to a mid-tier bowl.

    All these articles talk about the talent returning to UM and the potential this team has. That said, everyone is being realistic about the schedule and the fact the Canes need to get out there and prove it already.

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