Well, That Was....Something

Hello All,

Last night’s Maryland game can best be summed up with one word: annoying.

As annoying as the Granny from Beverly Hillbillies (Lou Holtz) spittling all over the camera while her sidekick, the fat, ugly version of Idris Elba (Mark May), chuckles along smarmily.

More annoying than Maryland and Georgia’s uniforms.

More annoying than the commercial for Jeep that claims you can make it to a morning round of golf in Monterey and an afternoon meeting in LA on a single tank of gas.

(You know, because roads are always wide-open in California…never any traffic mucking things up)

More annoying than Baylor finally pulling the upset special that I have been saying they will for two effing years the one week I don’t pick them.

More annoying than the seat I was in Saturday at The Coliseum pushed up against a 300 lb man (who apparently didn’t get the memo that said AXE Body Spray is not deodorant) in 95 degree heat.

The loss was depressing and it made me angry and it felt like a gut punch. By now we have all read the break downs of what happened against Maryland.

There is one group that will say this team is trash, not improved from last year, in over its head, etc.

There is another that will find excuses for every problem that was exposed and blame suspended players, weather, etc.

I personally find myself somewhere in the middle (where the correct answer usually lays when it comes to assessing a football game).

On one hand, I definitely got a sense of déjà vu at the end of this football game. On the road, managing to have a chance to win despite self-inflicted wounds, blowing it at the end.

(Yes fans, despite popular belief, we actually had a chance to win every game on our schedule last year late into the contest, with the possible exception being the FSU debacle.)

On the other, I saw a team that made mistakes but fought through them, not relenting after a fumble returned for a touchdown, or an illegal formation call that negated a first and goal, or two consecutive delay of game penalties (just…wow). Last season, the team would have visibly gone in to a shell.

Last season was frustrating because The ‘Canes were (with the exception of the Ohio State game) the more talented team and yet seemed to lose because we would coast through large segments of games, always banking that we would be able to turn it on when it was crunch time.

This strategy worked at times but, as it usually does, backfired in the end.

Last night was frustrating for a different reason:

Last night the players fought their ass off for 60 minutes but were undone by a bad gameplan.

Miami failed to dictate the pace early, and as a result they were stung late.

Football is a game of running and striking. Much like tennis, the server has the advantage. If you dictate the terms of the game, the game generally rewards you.

The first quarter was an exercise in frustration in that regard. Maryland came out time and time again throwing screen passes, which are generally effective against very soft coverage or blitzes.

Blitzing is a way of telling an offense “here we come, I dare you to beat us”. You win some, you lose some. However, you win or lose on your terms. We can all appreciate that.

Soft coverage is just that…soft. It is reactionary. It is telling the other team “you tell us where we are going and we will try to stop you from getting there”. It is the stuff that makes me throw a phone.

Al Golden has talked of bringing Miami back to where it used to be for 9 months. Bringing back the old school mentality. Part of that means reinstituting the aggression that has been lacking these past few years.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and anyone who expected the ‘Canes to immediately channel the 1986 defense in their first game under Golden was mistaken. Possibly deranged. However, my problem was that the defensive gameplan at the start of the game did not set a tone of aggression and running and hitting. That must change.

The team fought hard. Letting this one get away stings, but it is not without its positives, as I said before.

Stephen Morris (until the last five minutes) and the receivers looked good, like they will make some things happen this year.

The Smash ‘N’ Dash tandem at running back is going to do some great things.

Ramon Buchanon looked awesome at linebacker and so did Vaughn Telelmaque at safety. The shorthanded defense certainly battled hard to slow down the Maryland offense that was in rhythm most of the night.

Special teams was as good as we have seen it in years.

Maurice Hagens, Allen Hurns and Jimmy Gaines all showed that they will be heard from this season.

The team was locked and loaded for all 60 minutes.

Having said all that, it is a loss that should not have happened and that is the takeaway from this performance. As Al Golden said, “there are no moral victories”.

This will go down as an opportunity lost for Miami. It certainly does not diminish my enthusiasm for the program or the season or the coach or the players. Years from now it may be laughed at, like the idea that Howard Schnellenberger could lose Florida A&M (he did).

However, today, it is not funny and the moral victories do not help. It is only another stumble for a program that seems to have been at a perpetual crossroads for the better part of a decade. And it is annoying.

Always guard the inbound passer.

It Is Upon Us

Hello All,

We are drawing very close to to the kickoff of this season, and I can not be happier. I have never NEEDED football in my life more than right now, for a number of reasons.

Monday night at 5:00 PM is so close I can taste it. I will put Kanye's"Amazing" on repeat when I go to bed on Sunday night. I will wake up and get an intense workout in. I will spend the day watching Miami pump up videos on YouTube. An hour before kickoff the pre-game playlist will kick in..."Take Me Home Country Roads" (don't ask), "Ballin' Boys", "Take it to the House", "Rock You Like a Hurricane", "Hell's Bells", "Enter Sandman", "Swagga Like Us", and of course the "In the Air Tonight" crescendo as we reach kickoff.

I will have Budweiser and guacamole and whiskey shots for touchdowns. I will keep my running notes. I will call my dad roughly a million times. My phone will be thrown. I will answer a hundred text messages. I will have noise complaints against my apartment. I will feel truly, 100% alive for the first time in at least 3 months. We are done talking about recruiting and scandals and Nevin Shapiro and all the peripheral crap that brings out the worst in the sport I love the most.

We are finally back to the part that matters. Gameday. Tailgating. Rivalries. School colors. C-A-N-E-S. Swagger. Two teams and one winner. Football.

Since we are here, let’s start off with my first set of picks. As usual, I will not be picking Miami games. It is bad luck of the highest order and I do not deal in bad karma.

(Yes, we are a little superstitious here at Stein on the Sidelines.)

Florida Atlantic over UiF
Louisiana-Monroe over Free Shoes University
Appalachian State over Vagina…errr…Virginia Tech
Chattanooga over Nebraska
Western Carolina over Georgia Tech

Just kidding. I don’t think any of those things. Just wanted to point out who these guys are playing.

USC over Minnesota

Because I will be there watching and I hate the Big 10. Oh, yes, a new season brings a new wave of unconditional despise for the most boring, overrated conference in football.

Ole Miss over BYU

The mini-upset. The Mormons are going to have a tough time going into the Deep South and getting a win over a bunch of pissed off rednecks. Houston Nutt is coaching for his job. I have looked into the man’s eyes and shook his hand. I am pretty sure he would strap his players to a cotton gin if it meant that he would draw a paycheck. (Wait, was that a bad joke? We still too soon on this?) Anyway, that is this week’s UPSET SPECIAL. Weak sauce.

UGA over Boise State

Another mini-upset. Georgia is my sleeper team to win it all this year. I am not of the camp that disrespects Boise; in fact, I think they consistently get screwed. But I think Georgia is as close as you get to this year’s version of last year’s Auburn team. Minus the smoking, smoldering money trail proving flat out that they bought their best player.

(And that was this week's obligatory $EC joke!)

Notre Dame over USF

If Notre Dame actually had any balls and went to Tampa to play this team, I would be tempted to make the upset pick. But this is at Notre Dame and the refs would NEVER let USF go in and win a close game at Notre Dame. Christ I hate Notre Dame.

(And that is what we like to call the worst pun of the day.)

LSU over Oregon

Jordan Jefferson missing this game for LSU sounds bad. It does. Then you remember that he threw for 2 TDs in LSU’s first game last season and then 2 THE REST OF THE SEASON. And then you see that LSU went 11-2 anyway. And then you see that LSU has one of the top 5 defenses in the nation. And then you see how Auburn beat Oregon in last year’s title game: crash the middle and much up the offense while using your speed to contain LaMichael James on the outside...exactly what LSU is built to do. Damn, the SEC wins both their big games.. I hate their teams (minues Ole Miss...and Georgia...and I have sort of a soft spot for Tennessee). But they sure as hell know how to play football.

As for the ‘Canes, it is going to be a tough one against Maryland.

I honestly don’t care whether we win a game or not this season, I will just be happy to have ‘Canes football.

Having said that, I think we are going to shock some people. Imagine the following scene:

It is opening night. National television. On the road, in a hostile environment (Maryland) which is frothing at the mouth with negativity in light of the recent allegations made against your program. The players are gathered in the locker room 5 minutes before the coin toss. All is silent. Men are seen sitting in their locker stalls listening to their iPods, receiving final tape jobs…many are praying. First year Miami head coach Al Golden walks into the center of the locker room. All eyes turn to him. The man has imparted his way on this team but has now seen his first fall camp disrupted by a scandal seeded years before his reign was even a rumor. He lingers for a beat, and then two, as he soaks in the scene.

“Gentlemen,” he states---nay---declares in a voice which is not a scream but demands immediate attention, “on a knee.”

The players gather around the man that has become their leader.

“Men,” he commands as the locker room falls silent once again.

Another long beat goes by.

“You have all worked hard over the past months,” he says with a calculated delivery. “You have poured sweat, tears and blood into furthering the legacy. What you hear now are the sounds of a stadium full of people who want to take that dream away from you. Outside this stadium, there is a national media calling for you to have your dream taken away. Everyone but the people in this locker room wants YOU to fail. It is now up to YOU to show the world what happens when you back the Miami Hurricanes into a corner. It is time to take all the frustration, all the hard work, and all the fury you have gathered over the past year and put it into the opposition. Go out and show me what happens when someone tries to take what you love away from you. Deserve victory.”

Golden walks away as the players boil over in the locker room.

As Golden walks into the tunnel, heard in the background is a locker room full of men acting like rabid dogs. They spill into the tunnel behind their coach. It is time to play, and the players who were silently on edge two minutes ago have now boiled over.There is only one thing which can sate their sudden bloodlust: violent contact.

A Hurricane has been unleashed in College Park, Maryland.

END SCENE

There are few trump cards that motivate a man quite like the “no one believes in us” trump card. To say that the Hurricanes will be playing with that mentality this year is probably an understatement. I am willing to bet Al Golden’s Master’s Degree in Sports Psycology on it.

This will not be the same Miami team that played down to the level of its competition and sleepwalked through games last season. Every man on the field will be on a mission: hurt the sumbitch that is unlucky enough to line up across from you. This will be a team that plays with an edge. This will be a team that forces you to fight them on every play.

They may not win every game, but you can bet your ass they will not go silently. If you have that mentality, the “next man up” persona that every great program possesses, then you are able to fight through the tough times. You are able to weather the storm and, indeed, turn it on others. You do not beat yourselves, but you force others to beat you. And that is a lot easier said than done.

- - -

There is one set of players left to break down, and it is maybe the one with the most question marks on the roster.

Last year, the secondary was much improved but still left something to be desired. And that something was playmaking ability.

Brandon Harris, DeMarcus Van Dyke and Ryan Hill, the top three corners, are all playing in the NFL now, with Harris and Van Dyke impressing so far. So the issue was not talent. The problem was that our guys always seemed to drop the interception in a key spot. They didn’t give up many big plays through the air but they also didn’t necessarily come up with any big plays for our side either. Van Dyke was also a particularly weak tackler, and while this year’s group of corners is certainly not the most talented or polished, they will probably not have that same problem.

At safety the play was much more solid, as Ray Ray Armstrong and Vaughn Telemaque both started to show the promise that created so much hype around them coming out of high school. The only player lost at safety is Jared Campbell, who was never anything more than a situational guy anyway.

CB

Jo Jo Nicolas, Sr.

JoJo was supposed to play corner, and will at times, but will be a starting safety until Ray Ray Armstrong returns from suspension. He is the perennial Stein on the Sidelines whipping boy, the Romeo Davis of the secondary, but I am hopeful that he proves me wrong. Perhaps a new regime has unlocked what was missing and he will turn into the star I thought he could be. Frankly I would be happy if he doesn't spike himself. On a completely serious note, all the best wishes go out to Jo Jo and his family in the wake of the death of his young son within the past week. I may not like him as a player but I hope no one mistakes that for actual vitriol toward the person. He is a hard worker, a leader, and a good person.

Ceiling: Surprises Stein on the Sidelines by not being a total stiff. Really anything beyond that is gravy.
Floor: Same Ol' JoJo

Lee Chambers, Sr.

The injury prone former running back is hoping to be the next Sam Shields. He is less talented than Shields was in terms of pure skill set, but he seems to have taken a good approach and has put his name in the ring for a starting spot with a solid spring and now a solid fall. Certainly has a thicker body type than a lot of the guys on the roster.

Ceiling: Starter
Floor: Injured

Michael Williams, Sr.

A one and done guy who is a grad student transfer from Wake Forest. Has consistently earned the praise of the coaching staff and with the current limbo of the position and the depth issues presented will be at worst the nickel back.

Ceiling: All ACC Type
Floor: Nickel corner

Brandon McGee, Jr.

Has a world of talent, probably the most of any corner on the team and possibly the most of any player on the team overall. Will start the season as a starter and someone will have to take the job from him.

Ceiling: Starter
Floor: Kick Returner

Keion Payne, RS- Fr.

Payne came in with the label of silky smooth cover corner from St. Thomas Aquinas and as far as I can tell has done nothing to disprove that label. He is one of those guys that is on the roster and you don’t hear much about. Those guys have a way of sneaking up on you. Creepers.

Ceiling: As the season goes he earns more playing time and becomes a starter
Floor: Continue to not hear about him

Kacy Rogers, RS-Fr.

Rogers is starting to draw the praise of the staff for being a solid special teams player and being able to play both corner and safety. Will be on the travel squad and with the uncertainty of the roster, could end up playing a large role by the end of the season.

Ceiling: Starter by end of season
Floor: Special teams flyer

Thomas Finnie, Fr.

Finnie is a below the radar freshman that made waves in spring and has continued to insert himself into the starting conversation in the fall. Will contribute. Tough and has a lot of speed.

Ceiling: Freshman All ACC
Floor: Chavez Grant

S

Vaughn Telemaque, Jr.

Telemaque started living up to his reputation as a ballhawk last season and became one of the leaders of the defense. Is poised for a big season if on the field, as the new defense will look to make better use of his roaming capability.

Ceiling: All Conference type of player
Floor: Solid performer at safety that can make all the calls for the secondary

Ray Ray Armstrong, Jr.

Aggressive player who LOVES contact and has better range than he gets credit for. Is seen as a future first round draft pick and showed the best nose for the ball of anyone on the team last season not names “Spence”. Must serve 4 game suspension to start the season.

Ceiling: All America type of player
Floor: Suspended and loses momentum

A.J. Highsmith, So.

Highsmith is a guy who I had meant to target as a guy who could come from completely off the radar and be a factor by the end of the season. Thanks again, NCAA. He may now be forced into a starting role in his first season switching over from QB. I think he has all the athletic skills and certainly is smart enough to learn the position. He also comes with the added intangible of being the son of perhaps the greatest ‘Cane of them all (certainly the baddest), Alonzo.

Ceiling: Nickel Back
Floor: In way over his head as a starter and loses confidence

Andrew Swasey, Jr.

Son of the strength coach and a bit of a revelation as a walk-on performer this spring, he has become a special teams nightmare and shows a willingness to mix it up with guys much larger than he is. Has shown a knack for blocking kicks, which is a skill this team desperately needs to regain.

Ceiling: Surprise of the year as the third safety/special teams gunner/kick blocker. You know how NBA teams have energy guys like Renaldo Balkman and Ronny Turiaf who are limited in ability but able to pick up a team for 4 or 5 minute bursts, knowing they only have 5 minutes to do it anyway so they might as well max out? He could be the football equivalent of that.
Floor: Walk on for a reason

Tyrone Cornelius, So.

Hard hitter who KO’d a UNC return man last season, Cornelius will be one of the special teams leaders this season and is prized by Coach Golden for his ability to run and strike. Moved from linebacker this offseason so he is learning the ropes at safety, but we will hear his name called this fall.

Ceiling: Special teams captain
Floor: Special teamer

Eduardo Clements, So. (Moved to RB)

Clements is fast and built very compactly. Would have been a great DB but for now is needed at running back with Kevin Grooms a Clearinghouse casualty.

Ceiling: Third running back and special teams stud
Floor: Not on the travel roster

Dallas Crawford, Fr.

This kid defines the type of player we are trying to bring in to the program but probably needs a year to adjust before getting any major playing time. Future leader.

Ceiling: Special teamer
Floor: Redshirt

Thurston Armbrister, Fr.

The leader in the clubhouse for “Black Guy Who Sounds Like He Should be The Lily-White Son of a Northeastern Shipping Magnate” Award. Redshirt city.

Ceiling: Redshirt
Floor: Redshirt

On special teams, the ‘Canes lose the only kicker that has ever truly mattered to me, Matt Bosher. The kid kicked, punted and body slammed returners. He was one of the few last season that played Miami Hurricane Football. He is now punting, holding and body slamming returners (got called for a personal foul for horse collaring in a pre season game) for the Atlanta Falcons. I am not going to give a ceiling and floor for each of the guys in the running to be his replacement(s) this season because the ceiling for each of them is Matt Bosher and the floor for each of them is “kicker that isn’t used”. I am not of the school that does not respect what kickers do, but I do not know nearly enough about them to break them down in any great depth. The punter will be Dalton Botts, a JUCO transfer. The kicker will be Jake Wieclaw (finally won a job). The others in the mix will be freshman Matt Goudis and walk-ons Ben Hopfinger and Cameron Dean.

(Again, Bosher was so great that he once inspired my brother to say "if we had a sister, Bosh could definitely (date) her." Oh Bosher, you will be missed.)

At returner, the ‘Canes have a lot of options. There are the usual options: Travis Benjamin (if eligible), Lamar Miller and Brandon McGee. Others in the mix will be Phillip Dorsett (probably will be one of the two primary guys), Eduardo Clements, Davon Johnson, Kendall Thomkins and Kevin Grooms (if on the roster).

And with that, you now have your unofficial, possibly irrelevant Stein on the Sidelines media guide. You are (semi?) prepared for the season from a personnel standpoint.

The team might be surrounded by turmoil, but one thing is for sure: Miami football is back.

They’re going to be angry. They’re going to be motivated. There’s a storm brewin’ in Coral Gables, and suspensions or not it’s about to be unleashed on the world.

(The cliche abides)

I Want Blood

Hello All,

I hate Virginia. Why, you might ask? For a few of the following reasons:

1.) The Orange Bowl. Enough said.

2.)They beat Hopkins in lacrosse sometimes.

3.) Their uniforms could be so much cooler than they actually are.

4.) Their "Cavalier" mascot is the worst and I spend half of every game I see him at dreaming up ways in which he might get knocked off hsi horse.

5.) They suck at football and basketball but win titles in non-revenue generating sports and then talk about how awesome their athletics program is.

6.) I really hate their mascot.

7.) Everyone that goes there is a douche.

8.) Those people think they attend an Ivy league school. This is kind of like UNC or UCLA or Madison or any other snobby, huge state school. If you're from the state, you really don't have to be all that great to get in. Not a dummy, but probably not winning awards as a student either. I know people that went to Madison (I went to high school in Wisconsin) that were very smart and could have gotten in a lot of other places (that's for you Doug). I know a lot of dumbasses that went there that wouldn't have gotten in to any good schools out of state but got in to Madison because they had decent numbers and were residents (Doug, I think we both know who I am talking about). And since 90% of these state schools are comprised of in-staters...you can put two and two together. Listen, they're good schools. I went to Miami. Another good school, but not elite. I would never compare Miami to Stanford or Harvard. I am very content that my education was great without that comparison. Why can't these people just be the same way?

9.) Navy and orange reminds me of Gators colors.

10.) The Orange Bowl. Guess it wasn't enough before.

Anyway, nothing made me happier than the 'Canes running it up on the Wahoos (a stupid nickname) last season. Here's to hoping they do it again. And here's to a blazing fast breakdown:

QB

Well, let's see. Would you rather have Jacory or...wait....looking it up...really?!...I thought they benched this guy two years ago...Marc Verica, PhD? I thought so. EDGE: Miami

RB

Damien Berry looks to extend his streak of 100 yard days to 5. Virginia is averageing about 5 ypc, but this ain't Eastern Michigan or William & Mary. Oh, and here's a fun fact: Virginia's run defense is 79th in the nation.EDGE: Miami

Receivers

Hankerson, Byrd and Benjamin all bounced back with touchdown catches last week for the first time in 2.5 seasons of playing together. Virginia's Kevin Burd is one to watch, as he has made some plays for the 'Hoos. The emergence of Asante Cleveland as a pass catching tight end for the 'Canes can not be discounted. EDGE: Miami

Offensive Line

Have you seen Allen Bailey lately? EDGE: Miami

Defensive Line

Seriously, have you? EDGE: Miami

Linebackers

UVa is giving up a ton of yards as it struggles to go from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme. EDGE: Miami

Secondary

Miami's guys, particularly Telemaque, are ballhawking and are 2nd in the nation in interceptions with 14. EDGE: Miami

Special Teams

Miami housed one against UVa last year. Hear that, TB3? Coverage still has to improve, although it was much better last week. EDGE: Miami

Miami should win this one by three scores minimum.

OTHER PICKS

Last Week: 3-3

Season: 34-21 (2-5 in upset specials...2 in a row!)

Clemson over BC

South Carolina (the REAL SC) over Tennessee

Tulsa over Notre Dame

Iowa over Michigan State

Mizzou over Nebraska

UiF over UGA (Cocktail Party!)

Texas over Baylor

Utah over Air Force

USC over Oregon (Upset, but not my upset special)

UPSET SPECIAL

Ole Miss over Auburn

Never underestimate Nutt. Divisional game, at home, an offense quitely averaging 30 points and a the feisty Landshark defense....

Always guard the inbound passer.

Bringin' the Noise

Hello All,

Well, let's not say The U is back.

Let's not book a trip to the ACC Title Game just yet.

Let's not look ahead to the two Techs.

We have been down that road too many times.

Instead, let's just talk about the ASS WHUPPING that Miami put on North Carolina the other night.

I know, 'Canes fans, UNC was playing without some studs. Blah blah blah. Before this game, everyone and their mother said that if Miami lost than Randy Shannon should be gone. So what happens? Miami puts an old school beat down on a team that has had their number for years, and they do it with style.

And in typical 'Canes fan fashion, North Carolina goes from an opponent to be feared to an overrated tomato can.

I don't buy it at all.

UNC was a scrappy team that won 4 games in a row, and was a few plays from being undefeated, for a reason. They came out and hit Miami in the mouth early, which prompted everyone in the stadium to pucker their butt cheeks and get ready for the inevitable 17-3 halftime deficit followed by a long-shot comeback attempt in the 4th quarter.

Instead, Miami stepped up and made a huge play to keep themselves out of the pothole. They played three quarters of highlight reel football and turned in a complete, even performance.

Playmakers stepped up and made plays.

More importantly, leadership emerged.

I texted my friend Francis on Monday and said: "How great would it be to read a report that Damien Berry called a players only meeting?"

Turns out, it happened. The players got together and decided they were done with the lacksadaisical play. They decided they were no longer going to walk on eggshells.

There were several moments that stood out to me from the game. Spence and Vaughn Telemaque combining on the big turnover in the 1st quarter. Spence and Brandon Harris dancing their way off the field after Harris' pick. Jacory running down the field to celebrate another touchdown throw. Allen Bailey standing over a limp T.J. Yates. Travis Benjamin's highlight reel catch. Tyrone Cornelius going Robert Bailey on the UNC kick returner. Asante Cleveland's huge catch on 4th and short.

None is more important than Vaughn Telemaque and his offensive teammates scuffling on the sideline, however.

It showed accountability throughout the roster. It showed fight. It showed maturity. It showed a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

Some guys are stoic leaders. Randy Shannon and Jacory would rather lead by example than by words. That's fine. You do need some people that are willing to ruffle someone's feathers, however.

From the time of the sideline incident on, Miami loosened up and began to play like sharks that smelled blood in the water.

Randy Shannon realized his team was finally taking charge of itself and let his guard down a little.

This is what happens for good teams. It looks like the light might have come on for this group of young men on the field on Saturday night. They finally took the game by the balls and bent it to their will.

While all this was going on in Miami, my roommate Graham and I were freaking out in Los Angeles. The noise was not limited to the 'Canes woofing on the field; after the game, Graham and I found out that our property manager had gotten three calls complainging about our noise level during the game. On a Saturday night. Before the sun even set.

Even the fans had swag on Saturday night. It was a sight for sore eyes.

Always guard the inbound passer.

Pursuit of Happiness

Hello All,

Alright, I admit, I usually think it is cheesy when people try and write about sports mirroring real life. It is usually trite and cliche. So consider this a waiver. I am trying to do something with this post that I have never really done before and it might suck. But it is my blog and I guess that means I can do whatever the hell I want.


For the last couple of weeks I, like most 'Canes fans, have been unhappy with the way the team has played. That is an understatement. I have been thoroughly disappointed. We got our asses handed to us by FSU and then played with our food against Duke. It has not been pretty, to say the least.


Over the last two weeks, I have also been dealing with things outside of football for the first time in a while. Last football season, I was living at home and working a stable, 9-5 job. I had no real social life to consider, so I was able to devote all of my energies to watching college football and drinking beer with my Dad. I enjoyed the hell out of it, even though some might call it "arrested development".


This year, things are different. I work three jobs, one of which requires me to wake up at 3:30 every morning. I am starting over in a new city and doing just enough to keep my head above water.


I burn both ends of the candle and spend beer money that I don't really have. It's all good and normal and healthy. Hell, I am having a fantastic time. However, it sometimes leaves me feeling like I am not putting things in their proper perspectives. Every now and then I need to take a step back and refocus.

A few weeks ago I met a girl who I actually like (notice the tense). We hit it off. As the night progressed, it came to light that the girl has a boyfriend (of course she does, Dan).

I made a decision a couple of years ago after a 2 year saga with a girl took up too much of my life and time to ever get back.

After debriefing that situation I figured out that it went bad because I dilly-dallied. I am a firm believer that people know things instinctually and quickly;essentially what Malcolm Gladwell wrote about in "Blink". In other words, I messed up and paid for it because I went against my gut. As my father once told me: "Keep It Simple Stupid".

I decided that in the future I was going to find out what I really wanted and go after it one hundred percent. I decided that I would never be able to say that I had not given it my all. I will follow my instinct and ride out the storm, because at least at the end of the day I did what I believe. It lead to me moving to Los Angeles, amongst other things.

The reason I tell you all this is because as sad as it may sound, all of the above has enetered into my thought process lately as I think about this week's game against UNC. I have drawn some paralells.


I decided long ago that the Miami Hurricanes are something I will give one hundred percent to. When they lose, it is easy to see the impact it has on me. If you need proof, look at my last three blog posts. Not my strongest work. I spent a good part of this week thinking about the 'Canes and how I felt about various subjects.

That is when I realized that none of the micro-subjects matter. All that matters is the macro. Maybe this is where I differ from most of the Miami fanbase, which I am completely turned against at this point.

In the short term, bad things happen. It is part of football.

Just like with this new girl.

One of my favorite rappers is Kid Cudi. This is one of my favorite lyrics:




I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know,

Everything that shine ain't always
gonna be gold.

I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good.

It tells the tale perfectly of staying enthusiastic and passionate about things even when they seem crappy. The pursuit of happiness is long, and that is why it is called a pursuit.


Sometimes the team you think is poised for a title run loses.

Sometimes the girl you hit it off with has a boyfriend.


In either case, you have to keep pushing through and let things play out. The pursuit of either is long and difficult. It is full of speed bumps. Both are going to leave you feeling miserable some days. You will wake up one day and things will be great. The next, you might wake up and feel angry at the world. The next, you might feel helpless. Passion is a great thing but can be a double edges sword. And I wouldn't trade my passionate style of living for anything.

However, no matter how hard the traverse, there is always beauty to be found. Sometimes it isn't the destination, but the journey (again, thanks Dad).

It is fun to watch a young team learn how to win through difficult times. It is fun to develop a friendship with a new person, even if ultimately your goal is bigger.

The important thing to remember is that passion is what gets you through rough times in ANYTHING, whether it is work, relationships, sports, etc. If you find yourself in a daze, you have to ask yourself if the juice is worth the squeeze. If it is not, then walk away, because there is no use in half assing something. It just leaves you unfulfilled.


After a pensive week which resulted in this blog, I am a rededicated 'Canes fan. I think Randy Shannon is the right man for this job. Even if I didn't, I would support the hell out of him until a decision was made to go in a different direction. At which point I would support the hell out of the next guy in line.

That's called being a fan. And as such, with a new lease on fanhood (sparked by, of all things, a girl), I give you my UNC preview.


QB





TJ Yates is playing very well right now. Better than Jacory. I think Jacory is going to have a great game, but there is no denying the last few weeks, in which Yates has been lights out. EDGE: UNC





RB





Damien Berry and Mike James are running like men possessed. And now the 'Canes are going to get sparks from Coop and Lamar Miller. EDGE: Miami





WR

Hankerson continues to ball out for the 'Canes, although he is dropping some easy ones. Meanwhile, LaRon Byrd is quietly emerging as the No. 2 guy. UNC is badly hurt by the loss of tight end Zach Pianalto. EDGE: Miami



OL

UNC will play with discipline as usual. Miami will not, as usual. EDGE: UNC

DL

Miami's guys are playing with fire again, while UNC's two best are done for the season. EDGE: Even

LB

UNC has Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant, two potential all americans. Miami has Sean Spence and a few guys whose jusgement is still waiting, including Ramon Buchannon, Colin McCarthy and the new guy in the mix, Kelvin Cain. EDGE: UNC

Secondary

Miami's guys have been ballhawking, especially Vaughn Telemaque. Brandon Harris has locked his man down as well for the 'Canes, while UNC is without its two starting corners. EDGE: Miami

Special Teams

UNC plays with more discipline here. EDGE: UNC

While Miami would seem like the favorite, Sean Spence said it best when he told reporters that UNC owns the 'Canes until Miami finally beats them. Miami is certainly capable, but they have to come out and play great football for four quarters. We will see.

Other picks:

Oregon over UCLA


LSU over Auburn


Oklahoma over Mizzou


Iowa over Wisconsin


Nebraska over Oklahoma State


Baylor over Kansas State (Upset Special)





Always guard the inbound passer.

Real Los Angelenos?

Hello All,

You know what I get asked a lot?

"How the hell did you develop such stunning, magnificent pectoral muscles?"

Not really. What I do get asked a lot is why I hate the Lakers if I live in LA. Well, aside from the fact that rooting on a team just because you moved somewhere when you are 23 breaks just about every law of fandom (with the possible exception of the LMU Lions Women's Swim Team...bones), I hate them for several reasons. One is that Kobe Bryant is a bad person and yet people seem to have completely forgotten Colorado. Another is that I know that the LA fan base is the second most fair weather in the country (the first?... if you have to ask that you haven't read this blog enough). Another is that Pau Gasol averages .14 showers for every game played. Another is that purple and yellow are dumb uniform colors that have rubbed me the wrong way since I was 5. Honestly, the list goes on and on.

And the follow up question is usually something like this: "Well you can't be a true Los Angeleno if you don't like the Lakers."

My usual response, aside from laughter at the notion that I would want to be a Los Angeleno, is to state that NO ONE IN THIS TOWN IS FROM HERE. Everyone here is a transplant, either from the East Coast, the Valley, the Bay Area or Mexico (be it legally or illegally....which brings up my next question: If the word illegal is inherent to the term "illegal alien", then why all the fuss about their right to be here?). I have been here about 2 months and met literally 3 people who are actually from the Los Angeles Metro Area. 3.

What is the point of this rant?

I guess it is just to tell a story about people that have a ridiculous outlook on reality and to try and connect it to the fans of the University of Miami. For some reason, there is a disconnect between what is happening and what people perceive. People see a young team failing at times last year and assume that now, a year later with almost every key player returning, the team is doomed to the same growing pains. Are they? Maybe, but is that a logical assumption to make.

The lack of logic and constructive thought on the part of 'Canes fans right now is crazy to me. Any other fan base in the nation would be PUMPED for this coming season. A team full of young guys that all of a sudden have become upperclassmen lead by a star quarterback and brimming with young talent getting ready to face the toughest schedule in the country. THAT is exciting stuff when you take in to account the fact that this team has progressed every season and logically will do so again this season.

Maybe no group is more indicative of this than the secondary, which I will break down here. People assume they will fail again to make game saving plays. Well, logically speaking, I have to disagree with that. Just like I have to be excited for the season, even if other "fans" are already writing the epitaph for this team 4 days in to practice.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

The Season That Was: The secondary takes a lot of guff, but it is this blogger’s opinion that they actually were underrated. They did not make as many game changing plays as you would like to see, but they also were forced to cover for LONG periods of time due to the lack of pass rush generated. If you look at the four losses, the secondary was responsible for none. Virginia Tech was a full team collapse, UNC was lost (and then almost won) by Jacory Harris, Clemson was won by C.J. Spiller and Alex Uribe, and Wisconsin was won by the UW tight ends. Brandon Harris is very good opposite DeMarcus Van Dyke, who was better in coverage than he gets credit for. Sam Shields performed admirably for a guy learning a position on the fly, which is not to say that he played very well. All in all, there was promise shown by all members, and the combination of experience and a better pass rush will lead to more turnovers from this group.

What Was Lost: Sam Shields is fighting for a roster spot with the Green Bay Packers and Randy Phillips is doing the same with the Detroit Lions. Chavez Grant is gone, pursuing other career options.

Roll Call

DeMarcus Van Dyke (Sr.) – DVD is very good in coverage. Period. If you want proof, look at how many balls Brandon Harris had thrown his way, even as he kept batting them down. DVD is pretty bad in run support and lacks the playmaking bug, but he is the type of guy that you want on your side rather than the other guys’.

JoJo Nicolas (Jr.) – Injury plagued and not very productive when on the field. It is my hope that he is a special teams-only player this year, as he has taken one bad route and missed one tackle too many for me at this point.

Jared Campbell (Jr.) – Campbell made some plays last year and will be in the safety rotation if he can stay healthy. Not great in pass coverage but can support the run and blitz off the edge. Useful player that finds a way to help out.

Brandon Harris (Jr.) – All American Candidate and the leader of the secondary. Truly well spoken kid that gets “it”. Expect teams to avoid him a little more this year, which will open up some possibilities for other guys to make plays. Harris plays bigger than his size and is very well rounded, but needs to convert more deflections in to interceptions.

Corey Nelms (Jr.) – Former walk-on who has earned the chance to be more than a special teams guy. Will compete for the nickel and dime roles in addition to last year’s role as resident gunner. Track athlete who is amongst the fastest guys on the field.

Vaughn Telemaque (So.) – Has locked down one safety spot. Proved to be good in run support and now must prove to be a playmaker in the other half of the game, which everyone around the program seems to observe as a given.

Ray Ray Armstrong (So.) – Excited everyone when he lit up DeMarco Murray in the Oklahoma game. Like Telemaque, has to prove that he can be as good in the pass game as he is in the run game if he wants to hold off Jamal Reid.

Brandon McGee (So.) – Still learning the corner position but is very fast (track competitor) and will be given the first crack at the third corner/nickel back role. Also could return kicks. Some have said he was this summer’s most improved player after a rough spring game. Going up against Miami’s receivers everyday will make him better in a hurry.

Jamal Reid (R-Fr.) – Reid has emerged as a potential starter and will battle Ray Ray for his starting spot at safety. Reid is very athletic and has gone from someone that needed work on tackling to one of the secondary’s most physical players. Potential return man.

Latwan Anderson (Fr.) – Technically not on scholarship yet, but Anderson is almost a shoe-in to see the field at some point this year. The only question is when. He could play corner, safety or receiver, but will definitely be a returner.

Devonta’a Davis (Fr.) – Getting rave reviews so far in the summer, and could play either corner or safety. Tall and physical, best bet of the four true freshmen on football scholarship to get playing time as a freshman.

Kacy Rogers (Fr.) – Rogers is a good athlete from Texas that will be tried first at corner but most likely shifted to safety, according to coaches. Father is a professional coach for the Dolphins which means Rogers should have a leg up when it comes to football intelligence.

Keion Payne (Fr.) – Tall and skinny but a true cover guy, like DVD. Will have the benefit of a redshirt to put on weight, which DVD never did.

Always guard the inbound passer.