NCAA Football FanHouse

Three Years After His Murder, Bryan Pata's Spirit Lives On

Jim Henry — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The telephone conversation between brothers, as always, was friendly and upbeat.

The noise in the Miami bowling alley, however, made it difficult for Bryan Pata to hear, so he quickly squeezed his feet into a snug pair of bowling shoes and walked outside for better reception. Edwin Pierre Pata was 400 miles away in Florida's Panhandle, standing near his car, but their bond was not diminished by distance or time. Or school allegiance.

Bryan was a Hurricane; Edwin a Seminole.

It was Monday Nov. 6, 2006, late in the college football season. The pair talked about how their respective teams had struggled since FSU beat UM 13-10 in the Orange Bowl nine weeks earlier. They compared notes on their girlfriends' dogs.

And since the evening marked the one-year anniversary for Bryan and his lady, whom he planned to marry, Edwin urged his younger brother to get back to his game and enjoy himself. Bryan also had to wake up early the next morning for segment meetings at the Hurricanes football complex.

"The thing I regret the most is I ended the conversation -- I was like, 'I don't want to hold you up,'" Edwin told FanHouse. "I wish we had talked longer. Only God knows those things; what is going to happen."

Edwin heard the distinctive crunching sound of gravel as Bryan walked across the parking lot. He heard Bryan open the door into the bowling alley. The two had another quick laugh and said good-bye. It was the last time the pair spoke to each other.

Less than 24 hours later, Bryan Pata, age 22, was found by his girlfriend, shot in the back of the head, bleeding to death outside of his apartment complex just a few hours after leaving a UM practice. Edwin received the devastating news that night a few hours after leaving an FSU practice.

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 marks the three-year anniversary of Bryan Pata's death.

Police still haven't brought his killer to justice.

"I don't know what to expect in terms of how I will feel, but I think it's going to be one step closer to fully accepting that Bryan's gone from this earth," said Edwin, 26, a mere 15 months older than his brother.

"It seems like every year it feels a little better in terms of dealing with your emotions. One, it draws me closer to him and No. 2, I can still inch forward knowing that Bryan is gone."

Gone but not forgotten.

At least Edwin will also have his mind on football. He's the tight end coach at Florida A&M, which is at home against North Carolina A&T. The Rattlers, at 6-2, are enjoying a solid season.

A month after Bryan died, Edwin, a walk-on tight end for the Seminoles, graduated from FSU. He spent several months helping his mother and family cope -- Edwin is one of nine children raised by a single mother. Edwin trained and gave the NFL shot, but it didn't pan out.

He applied to several graduate schools, but a chance meeting with former Hurricane Rubin Carter, who was coaching Florida A&M, led Edwin back here as an assistant coach.

After Carter and his staff were fired after a 3-8 season, current coach Joe Taylor offered Pata an opportunity to stay on and establish himself. Pata did, and coaching has helped him move forward.

"Being around the game, being around the kids, has been extremely rewarding," Edwin said.

"It's the connection that Bryan and I had, too. There are days when Bryan is on my mind constantly. It's hard to explain, but I can just feel that he's around, his presence is there. It's the weirdest thing. I believe he's still around because he was such a huge piece of my life."

The pain of Pata's death will never leave the family.

Their mother, Jeanette, who moved to West Palm Beach after the family received a $2 million settlement from the apartment complex's insurance company for failing to provide security as advertised, is concentrating on her clothing and shoe business. Edwin talks to her daily and she will often stay with him in Tallahassee for two to three weeks at a time.

His siblings, meanwhile, have begun refocusing on their jobs and children.

"I try to encourage my mother, but we have to understand her pain," Edwin said.

"Many days [Pata's mother] will tell me that she dreamed about Bryan and that he was talking to her, and she feels that he's around the house. I try to tell her that Bryan is comforting her. I know it's difficult for mom."
- Edwin Pata
"Many days she will tell me that she dreamed about Bryan and that he was talking to her, and she feels that he's around the house. I try to tell her that Bryan is comforting her. I know it's difficult for mom."

When Florida A&M played UM at Land Shark Stadium earlier this season Oct. 10, a few family members attended the game. But it was still too painful for Jeanette, who elected to remain at home.

Earlier this summer, the family went to see Bryan's locker at UM and took pictures. Other than his helmet and cleats to the top of the locker, it "was pretty much the same way he left it," Edwin said.

Edwin stresses that nobody, including Miami police, has given up finding his brother's killer.

Pata was involved in an argument with an unknown person in the parking lot of the apartment complex shortly before his death after he stepped out of his SUV, according to police reports.

Edwin said that Pata had texted a friend at 6:48 PM, probably before he stepped from his vehicle, Edwin surmises. He doesn't venture to guess whether Bryan knew his assailant or not.

Pata was found just after 7 PM in the parking lot by his girlfriend. Pata's roommate had stopped at a nearby store for gas and pulled into the apartment parking lot a few minutes later.

"I try to remain confident and optimistic because I know how hard the police are working; we have appointments where they'll give us an update and tell us where they are at," Pata said.

"We feel like it's going to be solved. It's just a piece that's missing to the puzzle. There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle that have been put together, but it's still a mystery. We are just waiting on that one piece to solve it."

Pata said the recent stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard, a Miami native, was also difficult for his mother emotionally. At the same time, however, Edwin believes she may have tapped into an inner strength that could help her cope with Bryan's death.

Howard's funeral was held at the same church where Pata was eulogized and the two players are buried less than 100 yards apart, the length of a football field, in the same small cemetery near the church.

Edwin said his mother attended Howard's service, where she met and spoke with Howard's mother.

"I was proud of her and, I think in a way, it actually helped her," Edwin said. "I know mom gets frustrated because she sees these different murder cases being solved, but it's just a natural reaction and we believe every day that this case will be solved, too."

Bryan Pata, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive tackle, was in his fourth year with the Hurricanes and was expected to be selected in the 2007 NFL draft. Pata, nicknamed "King of Miami" because of his affable personality, also loved to detail cars. He would have turned 25 last August.

Edwin says he experiences daily reminders of his brother, and Thursday wasn't any different during the Rattlers' practice.

Freshman defensive tackle Padric Scott of Tallahassee wears jersey No. 95 for two reasons -- it was Pata's number with the Hurricanes and Pata was his favorite player.

"It's neat to know that young players admired Bryan, and how he played; when I catch myself looking at Padric in practice, I often think how happy I am that Bryan made a lasting impression on people," Edwin said.

That impression continues through the Bryan Pata Foundation.

Edwin held the foundation's second annual football camp in honor of his late brother at North Miami Stadium this past June. He said 25 players each from UM and nearby Florida International University attended and served as coaches and more than 300 local youth football players ages 6 to 15, attended and learned life lessons.

The foundation's mission is to work with underprivileged children to stop gun violence, secure better gun control and encourage students to stay in school by promoting academics and athletics.

"I am at the point now where I just want to make sure we celebrate Bryan's life, make sure his life and his name are preserved and lives on," Edwin said.

"I know I am going to see him again. I really believe there's more to life, an after life. Bryan's time wasn't just 22 years here on earth and that was it. I don't see it that way. There's something greater. I don't look forward to dying but I definitely look forward to the day I see Bryan again."

It's a good bet the two brothers, smiling and laughing, simply pick up their conversation where they left off.

Three Years After His Murder, Bryan Pata's Spirit Lives On originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spiller Makes All the Right Moves

Jim Henry — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:40:00 EST

Filed under: Clemson, University of Miami, ACC

It seems as if C.J. Spiller's career has been punctuated by big decisions and big plays.

Spiller selected the Clemson Tigers over childhood favorite Florida State and others out of Lake Butler (Fla.) Union County. A frustrating freshman season nearly prompted him to transfer to Florida. Spiller could have entered the NFL Draft last year as a possible first-round selection. Known as a quiet leader, Spiller promised to speak up this season.

Check, check and check -- Spiller has made all the right moves.

"It has gone by so fast," Spiller told FanHouse Tuesday morning. "It seems like I just got here, and now ... these last five [regular-season] games I am going to enjoy the best way I can with my teammates. Coming back was the best decision I've made in my life. You don't have a better experience than your college one."

Which leads us to Spiller's big plays.

A jack-of-all-trades who is literally breaking records almost every weekend, Spiller has helped put the Tigers in position to win their first ACC title since 1991. And, in the process, he has vaulted into Heisman Trophy contention following his incredible performance at Miami last Saturday that saw him amass a school-record 310 all-purpose yards.

And, by the way, did we mention that Spiller's smile is contagious, his spirit unwavering and his determination unrivaled? Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has spilled the beans many times when it comes to Spiller this season.

"If you're looking at MVPs and Heismans and all that, I don't know of a player in the country that's more valuable to their team than C.J.," Swinney said.

"Sometimes I feel kind of guilty because this is my first time to ever be a head coach and here's a lot of coaches that coach their whole lives and don't get the opportunity to coach a guy like C.J. Spiller."

Spiller is certainly helping make it a season to remember.

For starters, the Tigers can win the ACC Atlantic Division and advance into the conference championship game in Tampa with wins in their final three league games against Florida State, N.C. State and Virginia. And to think it was only a few weeks ago when the struggling Tigers were being questioned and grilled for their lack of consistency.

"We can't control what everyone says and everyone can voice their own opinion, but the thing about this team is we don't worry about the media or what anyone says about us," said Spiller, who has had a 60-yard play, either from scrimmage or on a return, in each of the first seven games this season and leads the nation in all-purpose yards per game with a 207.86 average.

"We care about the guy that's next to us -- to our right and to our left -- and as long as we do continue to do that, everything will take care of itself. I think every Saturday that we line up, and talent has never been an issue since I've been here, I think we have some of the best guys in the country who can play with anyone in the country.

"And that was on display last Saturday against a great Miami team."

It was a wild one in South Florida, for sure.

The Tigers prevailed 40-37 in overtime when quarterback Kyle Parker fired a 26-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Jacoby Ford. Spiller was super, recording a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown late in the first half and adding a 56-yard score in the second half. He also topped the 100-yard mark in receiving, catching six receptions for 104 yards, and he rushed for 81 yards on 14 carries.

Spiller's kickoff return for a score was the third of the season and sixth in his career, which ties the national record for kickoff returns for touchdowns in a career with Anthony Davis of USC (1972-74) and Ashlan Davis of Tulsa (2004-05). Davis also holds the national record for kickoff returns for touchdowns during a season with five.

Spiller and the Tigers will take a break from ACC and FBS action on Saturday as they play FCS rival Coastal Carolina for homecoming.

Spiller doesn't take credit for his good fortune, instead pointing to teammates and saying he has been blessed from above.

Spiller, however, credits his maturation to the birth of his daughter Shania, now 3, as a freshman. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Spiller has attempted to pattern his game and life after childhood hero Warrick Dunn, the former FSU and NFL star who is also well known for his playing toughness despite his small stature (like Spiller) and civic leadership and community service.

"He's a great running back and a great person, a guy who caught my attention," Spiller said.

Speaking of attention, Spiller is getting plenty.

Despite Clemson's preseason Heisman Trophy push for Spiller -- the university mailed out life-sized posters of Spiller to the media -- he refuses to get caught up in the hype.

"Yes, it's wonderful to see your name in the mix because you are getting recognized but, more importantly, it also means your team is doing well because there are a lot of factors involved," said Spiller, who, with 6,383 yards, is on pace to become just the fifth player in NCAA history to reach 7,000 yards in a career. He also continues to wear a protective walking boot to protect his lingering turf toe injury suffered in the season's second game against Boston College.

"I am just going out there and having fun really, playing hard for my teammates and my team," Spiller continued. "I can't control what other guys [Heisman hopefuls] are doing. I can just control what I do and how I can help our team win games and put us in position to compete for championships around here."

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Latest College Football Photos

Clemson tight end Michael Palmer (86) celebrates with guard David Smith (73) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against Miami during a NCAA football game in Miami Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Latest College Football Images

Hakim Muhammad, 20, has been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, which led to the death of University of Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard. (Photo Courtesy UConn Police Department via Hartford Courant/MCT)

MCT

Jamal Todd, 21, has been charged with falsely reporting an incident and reckless endangerment for pulling the fire alarm that preceded the altercation during which University of Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard was stabbed. (Photo Courtesy UConn Police Department via Hartford Courant/MCT)

MCT

John W. Lomax III, 21, has been charged with murder in the stabbing death of University of Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard, police said. (Photo Courtesy UConn Police Department via Hartford Courant/MCT)

MCT

Robert S. Hudd, chief of the University of Connecticut police, announced the arrests in the death of University of Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard in Storrs, Connecticut, Tuesday, October 27, 2009. (Rick Hartford/Hartford Courant/MCT)

MCT

Clemson tight end Michael Palmer (86) runs for a touchdown in the second quarter against Miami during an NCAA football game in Miami Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo taken on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, Miami quarterback Jacory Harris hands off the football during a NCAA football game against Clemson in Miami. Only seven quarterbacks in the country have more interceptions than Harris, who had three interceptions in last week's loss to Clemson. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, Hakim Muhammad is shown. Muhammad, 20, of Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with conspiracy to commit assault, in connection with the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/UCONN PD)

In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, John William Lomax III is shown Lomax, 21, of Bloomfield, Conn., has been charged with murder for the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)

In this booking photo released on Tuesday Oct. 27, 2009, by the University of Connecticut Police Department, Jamal Todd is shown. Todd, 21, of Hartford, has been charged with a felony charge of falsely reporting an incident and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment, in connection with the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard outside a school-sanctioned dance on Oct. 18. Police say Todd pulled the fire alarm that emptied the dance, triggering the fight. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut Police Department)

Psst, come on C.J. What did you really think the first time you saw the life-sized poster of yourself?

"It brought a smile to my face -- even though everyone was making fun of my smile," Spiller laughed.

"My mom liked it. But, honestly, it's neat knowing that so many people are pulling for you and so many young people look up to you. I want to be the person they can follow on and off the field."

And, in the end, make their own decisions and plays.

Just like Spiller has done at Clemson.

Spiller Makes All the Right Moves originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ACC Notebook: FSU Needs Victories

Jim Henry — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:26:00 EST

Filed under: Clemson, Duke Football, Florida State, Maryland, University of Miami, NC State, Notre Dame, ACC

It has reached this point at Florida State: panicking Seminole fans are searching for victories.

At 2-4, FSU and head coach Bobby Bowden need to find four more victories in their remaining six games to become bowl eligible. That challenge starts Thursday night in a nationally-televised game at North Carolina. The Seminoles close October against North Carolina State and tangle with Clemson, Wake Forest, Maryland and Florida in November.

FSU has played in 27 consecutive bowl games dating back to 1981, when the Seminoles went 6-5.

With all that's going on at FSU surrounding its porous defense, injuries and the emotional debate surrounding Bowden's future, the Seminoles' best-case scenario might be the program's second 6-6 regular season in four years. FSU beat UCLA in the 2006 Emerald Bowl to avoid its first losing season since 1976, Bowden's first in Tallahassee.

Bowden says FSU's struggles are not a secret.

"We'll go out there and stop a team, and stop a team, and stop a team and then whoop," Bowden said in reference to the Seminoles' defensive lapses.

"So if they ever get that squared away we'll be a pretty good ballclub. Another thing is, nobody's crushed us. We haven't been blown out. We've been right down to the wire with everybody, which maybe with one play less for them or one play more for us, we could be up at the top."

Both the Seminoles (2-4, 0-3 ACC) and Tar Heels (4-2, 0-2) are looking for their first ACC victories of the season. It's actually an intriguing matchup, considering FSU is No. 1 in the conference in offense and last in defense, while UNC is No. 1 in defense and last in offense.

The Thursday night game is also the first of its kind at Kenan Stadium.

"It's a big challenge for us and we have to execute and play as well as we can if we want to be successful," FSU quarterback Christian Ponder said. "It's a heck of a challenge and it's something that we can show up and shock the world and make a statement because it's a Thursday night game and it's the only game on. So we have an opportunity but a heck of a challenge."

Bowden, who has indicated he'd like to return to coach in 2010, believes FSU's season-opening defeat to Miami has haunted the Seminoles. The game wasn't decided until the final play, when Seminoles receiver Jarmon Fortson was unable to catch a low pass in the end zone for the win.

"I think the old expression that Lombardi said, that winning breeds winning and losing breeds losing and once you've lost, you have got to get your kids to have a positive attitude," Bowden said.

"With us, we've been in every ball game. Every game we've been in has come down to the last three or four minutes. If we score, we win. If we don't score, we lose. Against Miami, we're on the two yard line with a first down but the time caught us and we couldn't get in anything but two plays. Then we missed a touchdown in the end zone that would have won it.

"That might have changed our whole season if could have won that darn ball game."

And if you are wondering about Bowden's retirement plans, he continues to drop hints. The latest one Bowden gave that he will not slip quietly away after this season came in a radio interview he gave Wednesday to an AM station in Raleigh, N.C.

Bowden also told host David Glenn of Sports Radio 850 "The Buzz" that he will not discuss his exit strategy because he doesn't want a highly publicized countdown to the end.

"I know I am in the last years - I say plural - of my career," said Bowden in a transcript of the interview available on ACC Sports Journal.

"My days are numbered. I did not want to say, 'Well, I'm going to leave at this time.' I already know when I'm going to leave. And [coach-in-waiting] Jimbo Fisher knows when I'm going to leave. He and I have talked about it."

ON THE ROAD

Boston College has Notre Dame's number.

The Eagles have won six straight against the Irish, including the last three at storied Notre Dame Stadium. If Boston College prevails, the senior class will graduate having gone undefeated against the Irish.

The bad news is BC is 0-2 on the road this season, falling behind early and never recovering at Clemson (25-7) and Virginia Tech (48-14).

"It is very complicated," BC coach Frank Spaziani said in at attempt to explain the Eagles' road struggles.

"Early in the year we weren't where we are now so that attributes to it. It also depends on the opposition and how they play against us can also factor in. Everything is new to this team because we are so young so we have to learn from it and move
on."

YOUNG GUNS

The two youngest head coaches in the ACC will meet Saturday, when Clemson plays Miami.

Clemson's Dabo Swinney is the youngest head coach in the ACC at 39. He will turn 40 on Nov. 20, the day before Clemson meets Virginia in the final home game of the year. Miami's Randy Shannon is the second youngest head coach at 43. He won't turn 44 until Feb. 24.

If history is any indication, the showdown could generate some gray hairs. The last two games between the teams were decided in overtime. Clemson won at Miami in one overtime in 2004, while the Hurricanes won at Clemson in triple overtime in 2005.

UM is in the driver's seat in the ACC Coastal Division, while the Tigers continue to search for consistency. A win over the eighth-ranked Hurricanes would represent the highest-ranked team Clemson has defeated since the 2004 (end of 2003 season) Chick-Fil-A Bowl, where Clemson defeated No. 6 Tennessee.

"We are in the middle of a division race so at this point it is like a playoff every week in this conference," Swinney said. "We are trying to just stay in the hunt and get better as a football team. We have our hands full. This is a good team we are getting ready to play."

HISTORY LESSON

The Duke Blue Devils, off last week, will try to put together back-to-back ACC wins for the first time since 1994 when they face visiting Maryland on Saturday.

Duke, 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the ACC, says it hasn't lost any momentum from its biggest win of the season, a 49-28 victory over North Carolina State nearly two weeks ago. Thaddeus Lewis completed 40 of 50 passes and finished with a career high 459 yards. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils defense held the Wolfpack offense scoreless in the second half.

Duke and Maryland haven't met in five years.

"Kids don't see much past now, past today, so all they know is that Maryland's had a difficult start," Duke coach David Cutcliffe said.

"But when you put on the tape, they see that Maryland's a good football team. You really don't have to convince kids once they see tape. They've seen enough tape to know what a good team looks like and what a bad team looks like. Maryland is a good team."

ACC Notebook: FSU Needs Victories originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowden, Seminoles Feeling the Heat

Jim Henry — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Boston College, Florida, Florida State, University of Miami

With the exception of injured Tim Tebow, the top-ranked Florida Gators are right where they want to be one month into the college football season. The same could be said further South, where the Miami Hurricanes survived a brutal four-game stretch to merit top-10 consideration.

The mood in Florida's Panhandle, however, is far different. Slumping Florida State and its iconic coach, Bobby Bowden, are off to their worst start in more than a quarter of a century, creating an uncomfortable predicament that has left Bowden defending his program and fending off critics who are demanding immediate change in Tallahassee, Fla.

"I've been through it (before)," Bowden said Sunday during his teleconference with the media. "I don't do a lot of reading when we are doing bad. A lot of times people tell me but I don't do a lot of reading when we are doing bad. I will determine my situation, with Florida State University, when my move has to come."

Bowden further explained that any guesswork regarding his timetable to pasture is unnecessary, saying, "I already know in the back of my mind when I want to leave here. I won't let some guy's speculation tell me when to move or what decision to make. If it has something to do with that, it will be based with me and our president of our university."

Boston College recovered after blowing an 18-point advantage on Saturday to beat visiting FSU 28-21, sending Bowden and the Seminoles to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the ACC for the first time since joining the league in 1992. Even more gnawing to fans, FSU is 4-6 in its last 10 games against Division I-A competition.

It doesn't get any easier for the Seminoles, who are at home Saturday against 22nd-ranked Georgia Tech (4-1), a 42-31 winner over Mississippi State on Saturday. FSU has already dropped home games to Miami and to USF two weeks ago.

"We get beat here, we get beat there. ... It's just a matter ... you can't give up. You simply can't give up. I refuse to."
--Bobby Bowden Bowden, normally folksy charming and dadgum positive, was more feisty Sunday with media that quizzed him on the Seminoles' slumbering start.

"Fifty percent of the teams in the country last week got beat -- 50 percent of them," Bowden said.

"They are all asking the same questions. This is part of football; you win some, you lose some. You had a tied ballgame in the fourth quarter and we had a chance to win it. We miss a field goal that would have put us ahead, we had an intercepted pass in our chest that we dropped, so we don't score and they take it and do score. It's not the first time I've been through this."

In an oft-repeated theme the past few years, Bowden further explained he believed the Seminoles have the coaches and players to ensure the program's success.

FSU fell a completion away in the end zone on the game's final play to beat the Hurricanes in their season opener, they failed to score any points on three possessions inside South Florida's 10-yard line and also stumbled on four tries at the 1-yard line against the Eagles Saturday.

"I think there's enough quality on this football team and enough brains on this staff to eventually get this thing together," said Bowden, whose 384 wins are three fewer than Penn State's Joe Paterno, the career leader in victories among major college coaches. "We get beat here, we get beat there, we lose that, we lose this here. It's just a matter ... you can't give up. You simply can't give up.

"I refuse to."

Two Florida newspapers, including the hometown Tallahassee Democrat, called for Bowden, who turns 80 in November, to call it a career at season's end. Bowden has an option year to return in 2010, and offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, designated the head-coach-in-waiting, will be paid a bonus of $5 million if he doesn't take over in 2011.

Bowden also believes his players are prepared to handle any criticism directed at the program.

"If they are going to listen to talk shows, they are going to listen to the radio and TV and read the papers I can't guess you can keep it away from them," Bowden said of the surging negativity. "But I think they are smart enough to know that we are the ones that will determine what we do and what kind of progress we are going to make and not watch what speculation is.

"I imagine most of them have been through this very same thing in high school. Had the same criticism in high school, they get into college, it will go throughout their career. It doesn't change for us like it doesn't change for any of the other people that went through the same thing we did (Saturday). I saw some teams (Saturday) get beat that I didn't think they could possibly lose but they did. We are all going through the same thing, it's part of it.

"I think Oklahoma has even lost two games; I don't guess they are going to drop their program. But we all go through this. We expected better. We expected to win that game (Saturday)."

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are all grins after knocking off visiting Oklahoma.

UM vaulted six spots to No. 11 in the polls, while the Sooners, who are hoping to get back Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford (shoulder) for Saturday's Big-12 opener against Baylor, had the biggest drop among teams still ranked. While they tumbled from No. 8 to No. 19, they are also the first team to be ranked with a 2-2 record since 2003.

"The game was big for us," UM head coach Randy Shannon said Sunday.

"We found out that we still have some things that we have to get done, but as far as record-wise after the first four games, we achieved a lot of goals people didn't expect us to. We came so far."

While the Hurricanes should be able to catch their breath against visiting Florida A&M, the Gators face their most difficult test of the season when they travel to No. 4 LSU. It remains unclear when Tebow, who suffered a concussion at Kentucky on Sept. 26, will return to practice.

Bowden, Seminoles Feeling the Heat originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bradford Watches as Miami Puts on Show

Jim Henry — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:01:00 EST

Filed under: University of Miami, Oklahoma

MIAMI -- Dressed in a cap, an Oklahoma T-shirt and shorts, all Sam Bradford could do was watch and wonder. He had to be impressed, too.

With the 17th-ranked Miami Hurricanes, that is.

Miami can now catch its breath knowing it merits national relevance in the college football landscape -- no second-guessing -- after ending its four-game gauntlet to open the season Saturday night with an exciting 21-20 victory over the Bradford-less No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners. For Bradford and Co., they must regroup and turn their attention to next week's Big-12 opener against Baylor knowing they won't get another chance at a national title.

As the college football world turns.

The Hurricanes (3-1), who had won their first two games against FSU and Georgia Tech but saw some of their luster washed away by Virginia Tech last Saturday in rainy Blacksburg, Va., clinched their biggest win in years. When the final seconds ticked away at Land Shark Stadium, the Hurricanes rushed towards midfield in celebration, then soon changed course and made a beeline towards an adoring student section in the end zone.

Many Hurricanes didn't want to leave the field. Who could blame them?

"We're excited about this game -- we had a tough first four games but now we got to get ready," UM head coach Randy Shannon said, attempting to contain a wide smile and reminding the media the Hurricanes are home next week against Florida A&M. "We will enjoy it now.

"Don't think we won't enjoy it."

A sunny, 90-degree day turned into a beautiful, moonlit evening, and a boisterous, orange-and-green crowd of 62,790 did its best to help UM. The Hurricanes, who attracted around 45,000 for their home-opening victory over Georgia Tech Sept. 17 and struggle to sell season tickets, were also hoping to duplicate the late-night magic of past years against the Sooners before a national television audience.

Call it an '80s theme party.

For Oklahoma, it was just another frustrating trip to South Florida. The Sooners' last trip here was in January, when they lost the BCS national championship game to Florida. Oklahoma also lost three times to UM in the mid-1980s as Barry Switzer's team went 33-0 against all other opponents. That was a different era. Fast forward to Saturday night.

The Sooners are 2-2, losing a pair of one-point games to BYU, 14-13, in the opener when Bradford went down with a shoulder strain, and now to the Hurricanes in a game where they squandered an early 10-zip advantage. It remains unclear when Bradford is expected to return, though he gradually intensified his throwing routine in practice last week.

"I told my team after [the game] that we have to find a way to win in the fourth quarter, that we need to make a couple plays better, whether it's on offense or defense," Sooners head coach Bob Stoops said.

"Either way we need to keep pushing that. I still really believe in my team."

The pollsters may not come Sunday when the national rankings are released, but the Sooners can still win a Big 12 title. However, as Stoops indicated, they will need to play better with the game on the line. And he also refused to point at injuries that have slowed the team's progress -- talented receiver Ryan Broyles was lost against the 'Canes after pulling in a 37-yard completion on the Sooners' second play from scrimmage.

"Well, I am not going to sit here and accept it. As I told the team, we're not going to sit here and talk about that's why we can't win," Stoops said.

Following a Jimmy Stevens 39-yard field goal that pulled the Sooners within a single point at 21-20 with 4:18 remaining in the game, UM, behind the steely poise of quarterback Jacory Harris, played keep away against Oklahoma's nationally-ranked defense that was first against the rush.

In a stunning yet impressive sequence, the Hurricanes ran out the clock.

They converted a crucial third-and-6 from the Sooners 36 at the 2:35 mark on a 8-yard Harris completion to Dedrick Epps. One play later, Javarris James scooted 13 yards for another first down to seal the victory and end a four-game start against ranked opponents. It was also sweet redemption for James, who lost a fumble that he believed changed momentum in the pair's last meeting two years ago -- a 51-13 Oklahoma victory.

"We went out there two years ago and got embarrassed," James said.

"Two years ago, for the players on the team, it was kind of shaky. But this year we came here, played at home and took advantage. Playing against four ranked opponents is big for us, and it showed what kind of team we are."

Harris survived a shaky start and threw three touchdowns, while James ran for a career-high 150 yards.

"It hurts real bad but that (last drive) was on us," said Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, slowly shaking his head side-to-side.

"Give him (Harris) credit. He got better as the game went on. We had him rattled early but he kept his composure and played well in the end when he needed to. It's hurts that we weren't able to answer when we needed to."

Harris had plenty of (late) answers.

"The offense came out there and executed," he said. "The offensive line made big blocks in the last four minutes and we just took care of business."

Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones, a redshirt freshman, threw for 188 yards and a touchdown in his third start -- and first road game -- in place of Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner. Running backs DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown combined to rush for 151 yards and a score. But the Sooners didn't do enough when needed, despite registering 341 total yards of offense -- just one less yard than UM.

"Everybody is disappointed -- nobody likes to lose around here," Landry said.

Sooners offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson echoed Stoops' statement and said his unit must be more explosive.

"I thought we had a decent mix, as far as run, pass -- a decent balance -- we just didn't make any big plays," Wilson said.

"It's a little frustrating not to make [more plays] ... credit Miami for playing [well]. Again, other than just not being able to execute protection or timing of a route to make a big play, I thought we moved it well. I thought we had some balance, we thought we could wear them down. It's a little frustrating to lose two games by two points and be 2-2. We are going to have to learn win close, tough games. That's what we are not doing."

As expected, the Sooners relied on their nationally-ranked defense to set the tone, and Landry to set the tempo. It worked perfectly early as Oklahoma led 10-0.

Oklahoma picked Harris twice in the Hurricanes' first eight plays, both times on deep throws over the middle in Sooners territory. But Oklahoma, which leads the country in scoring defense and had posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1987, was nicked for a touchdown on Harris' 18-yard pass to tight end and former UM hoopster Jimmy Graham in the second quarter.

James' 50-yard scamper, which represented UM's longest play from scrimmage this season and James' longest run in three years, set up the touchdown pass. The score was the first points Oklahoma had allowed in a span of nine quarters (144 minutes and 43 seconds, to be exact).

Landry, meanwhile, refused to be rattled in his first road start.

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Miami's Joel Figueroa (61) and Travis Benjamin celebrate after Benjamin scored the second touchdown of the third quarter against Oklahoma during NCAA college football action Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 in Miami. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

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South Carolina's Stephen Garcia looks on from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against South Carolina State in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. Garcia threw two touchdown passes and scored a touchdown as South Carolina defeated South Carolina State 38-14. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

Miami's Dedrick Epps (18) celebrates as he scores a third-quarter touchdown against Oklahoma during NCAA college football action Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 in Miami. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

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South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery(1) and Moe Brown (9) celebrate Jeffery's touchdown as South Carolina defeated South Carolina State 38-14 in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

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He directed the Sooners to a touchdown on their opening possession, marching 84 yards in eight plays and ending it with a 16-yard pass to Cameron Kenney. Landry completed 3-of-4 passes for 62 yards in the series. Stevens' 21-yard field goal in the second quarter capped a 95-play scoring drive -- Oklahoma's longest of the season -- and pushed the Sooners' advantage to 10-zip.

It wasn't a problem for UM, or Harris, who barely blinked following his two picks. He completed 12 of his next 13 passes as UM roared back.

Harris connected with Dedrick Epps for an 11-yard score that put UM up 14-10 in the third quarter. That's when the Sooners got rattled. After a pair of 15-yard penalties on their next possession led to a fourth-and-42, Harris hit Travis Benjamin on a 38-yard score and a 21-10 advantage. Murray's 2-yard run late in the third quarter pulled Oklahoma within 21-17, and the Hurricanes defense held Oklahoma to only a field goal in the final frame.

Shannon, who stressed humility to his team during its opening month, said that message won't change. He even had help from Harris.

"We worked on a lot of different things and we kept everybody focused," Shannon said.

"When I came in, Jacory told the team, 'Listen, the only thing we're going to watch on TV from now on is SpongeBob. We ain't watching ESPN, CBS or ABC. If SpongeBob is talking about us, then we deserve it."

Go ahead and talk about it SpongeBob. The Hurricanes deserve it.

So says this Bob, too.

"They did an excellent job in all phases of the game," Stoops said. "They are well-coached and their players played hard and it was a well-played game."

Bradford Watches as Miami Puts on Show originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miami Is Back, in Doubt

Jim Henry — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: University of Miami, Oklahoma

MIAMI -- Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford or mustachioed Landry Jones?

Miami coach Randy Shannon has said all week that it doesn't matter which Oklahoma quarterback starts against the Hurricanes on Saturday because they are both dropback passers. Of course, that was settled Thursday, when Sooners coach Bob Stoops announced Jones would make his third consecutive start in place of the recovering Bradford. Truthfully, that might be the least of UM's concerns.

The Hurricanes' showdown with No. 8 Oklahoma at Land Shark Stadium represents their fourth consecutive game against a ranked opponent. No team in ACC history has opened its season with four games against nationally ranked teams.

UM and Oklahoma rekindle their rivalry in the second game of a home-and-home series that started two years ago in Norman, Okla., with a 51-13 rout by the Sooners. If there's ever a chance for the Hurricanes to show what kind of strides they've made since that 5-7 season, this is it.

It's also a better opportunity for UM to erase last week's 31-7 thrashing at Virginia Tech and further prove its national resurgence isn't a fluke. It would also represent the biggest win in Shannon's early tenure.

"It's just exciting with the tradition and histories of the programs," Stoops said.

"We recognize that going down to Miami is a big challenge. They have been very impressive, they have a very difficult schedule and they have handled it really well, especially with great wins their first two games."

Oklahoma, even without Bradford, enters as a seven-point favorite. Tickets sales suggest this could be one of the biggest home crowds in years, with a crowd in excess of 60,000 expected.

While current players don't know much about the rivalry -- for instance, Barry Switzer's Oklahoma teams went 33-0 against all other opponents during a three-year span in the mid-1980s, but were 0-3 against the Hurricanes -- the game still carries plenty of significance.

With all the upsets in September, the Sooners can vault themselves back into championship relevance in October with a victory. Stoops, however, isn't concerned with rankings ruckus, even if the Sooners played in the same stadium here nearly a year ago for the national title.

"I don't have time to think about anybody else," he said.

"I am just trying to focus on trying to get our team better, working for improvement, playing smarter and more disciplined. I just focus on that and working on what we are able to control."

UM needs to rebound from its loss to the Hokies or the optimism for its 2-0 start will certainly lose its luster.

"We're not perfect," UM quarterback Jacory Harris said.

"Nobody said we were. People kind of made it that we were, but at the same time, we understood that we slipped up and we let VT come out with a win. That's something we can't do."

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UAB running back Justin Brooks (30) runs for a first down past Southern Mississippi defender Anthony Gray (95) during an NCAA college football game on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

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Southern Mississippi receiver Quentin Pierce (85) runs for a touchdown past UAB defender Chase Daniel (31) during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Southern Mississippi receiver Quentin Pierce (85) holds on to the ball after catching a pass over UAB defender Elliott McGaskin (36) during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

UAB's Hiram Atwater (32) dives over the goal line for a touchdown past Southern Mississippi lineman Micah Brown (69) after intercepting a pass during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)

UAB linebacker Daniel White (34) hits Southern Mississippi quarterback Austin Davis (12) and sacks him for a loss during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

West Virginia coach Bill Stewart stands along the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Colorado on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 in Morgantown, W.Va. West Virginia won 35-24. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

West Virginia's Ryan Clarke crosses into the end zone past Colorado's Benjamin Burney during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in Morgantown, W.Va. West Virginia won 35-24. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

West Virginia's Ovid Goulbourne sacks Colorado's Cody Hawkins during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in Morgantown, W.Va. West Virginia won 35-24. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

West Virginia's Noel Devine attempts to stay inbounds as coach Bill Stewart, left, looks on, during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game against Colorado on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in Morgantown, W.Va. West Virginia won 35-24. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

West Virginia's Noel Devine looks to run past Colorado's Jalil Brown during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in Morgantown, W.Va. West Virginia won 35-24. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner)

That's why the Hurricanes really never got into a lather concerning the status of Bradford, who has been out since the season's opening week when he suffered a shoulder injury against BYU.

Landry, known for a mustache he was too lazy to shave off, has played well. He has completed 49-o- 81 passes for 673 yards and nine touchdowns with three interceptions. He threw a school-record six touchdowns against Tulsa.

"He does what he needs to do to get the job done," Shannon said.

"He drops back, sees the coverage, and goes to his reads. It's a timing offense and he does a great job of dropping back and getting the ball out."

Oklahoma, ranked 18th in total offense, has also allowed just two sacks -- tied for fewest in the nation. The Sooners are also averaging 40.7 points per game.

"I really don't care," UM offensive guard Joel Figueroa said when asked who the Hurricanes would rather face behind center. "The only thing I am worried about is the 11 guys on defense."

Good observation.

UM must contend with a Sooners defense that is one of the nation's best. Where does it rank? The red carpet, please.

-- The nation's No. 1 run defense, allowing 40.6 rushing yards per game.

-- The No. 1 scoring defense, allowing 4.6 points per game.

-- The No. 4 sack defense, averaging four per game.

-- The No. 1 team in tackles for loss, averaging 11.3.

"They have a lot of talent and depth," said Harris, who was sacked three times and threw for just 150 yards in the rain in Blacksburg, Va., last Saturday. (Shannon counted eight drops, seven of which would have been for first downs or touchdowns).

"It's probably going to be one of the hardest defenses we face this year."

Miami Is Back, in Doubt originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ACC Notebook: Pack Ready for Fall Rise

Jim Henry — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State, Maryland, University of Miami, NC State, UNC, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, ACC

Tom O'Brien teams traditionally get better as the season goes on -- as North Carolina State did in winning four of its last five games last year. With Wake Forest, Duke and Boston College coming up in the next three weeks, the surging Wolfpack could be 6-1 going into its bye week prior to an Atlantic Division showdown at Florida State.

O'Brien, however, isn't about to get caught up in such nonsense. He's a game-at-a-time head coach, and Saturday's meeting at Wake Forest is N.C. State's first ACC game and first road game.

"All I know is what team I got this week against the team I am going to play," O'Brien said. "I don't know who is going to be here next week. We continue to march on and try to be the best we can weekly."

The Wolfpack, winners of three straight following Saturday's come-from-behind victory over Pittsburgh, has plenty of reasons to grin.

For starters, N.C. State is ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense. Through four games, the Wolfpack is yielding just 201.2 yards per game after holding the Panthers to just 300 yards. Pitt came in averaging 380 yards per game.

State's defensive coaches were credited with doing a tremendous job of adjusting to Pitt's offensive schemes during the game. O'Brien, of course, wasn't ready to do cartwheels. He noted that the N.C. State defense missed more than 20 tackles, just as it had done in the season-opening defeat to South Carolina.

"It doesn't really say anything," O'Brien said of the unit's national ranking. "It's only after four games and one month of the season. If we're there after 12 games then it will say a lot about our defense."

Then there's the stellar play of quarterback Russell Wilson.

Wilson was 21-of-35 passing for 322 yards and four touchdowns against the Panthers. The majority of that came in the second half, when he led his team from two touchdowns behind by scoring the game's final 21 points. He also rushed the ball 10 times for a career-high 92 yards, including a 21-yard dash on fourth-and-14 from deep in Pittsburgh territory to prolong what turned into the game-tying drive.

"That was just Russell being Russell," O'Brien said.

"That turned the game around for us. He was able to break contain, they were in man coverage and everybody was run off. He took off down the boundary. That was the key scramble of the football game."

In all, last year's ACC Rookie of the Year was personally responsible for 414 of State's 530 offensive yards in the game. Wilson also pushed his NCAA record streak of passes without an interception to 360. In his last 13 games, Wilson has 29 touchdown throws with zero interceptions.

Wilson credits preparation and his receivers for his streak.

"Each and every practice I'm trying not to throw an interception," Wilson said.

"Every throw I'm trying to move the ball up and down the field and help my team be successful. The same thing with the wide receivers. They know that in the back of their mind they're trying to make plays for me. They don't want to give up an interception. That's a pass that they could have an extra 15 or 30 yards. They don't want to give the ball up."

Tar Heels Run Over

North Carolina suffered its first loss of the season, 24-7 at Georgia Tech last Saturday, losing its ninth consecutive ACC opener.

The Tar Heels (3-1, 0-1) managed a meager 154 total yards, including just 17 on the ground. On the flip side, UNC surrendered 317 rushing yards, 160 more yards than it had given up in the first three games combined, and turned over the ball three times. The Yellow Jackets also had a significant advantage in terms of time of possession, 42 minutes, 6 seconds to 17:54.

The Tar Heels return home Saturday or their 114th meeting with Virginia (0-3), which is coming off a bye week. The Cavaliers have won two of the past three in the series in Chapel Hill and six of seven overall. Don't expect personnel changes from UNC coach Butch Davis.

"I think we're playing the best players that we've got," Davis said.

"We've got to look at what are their capabilities, what can they realistically do and how can they get better at what we're trying to do? I think the worst thing we can do is some kind of magical hodgepodge where you move the offensive line around. They've got to get some consistency and continuity over the course of the week and the course of the season. We've got to be more effective. We've got to get the ball in the hands of our play makers better."

Frazzled by Turnovers

The struggling Maryland Terrapins have a minus-10 turnover margin. That's bad. In fact, the Terps already are more than halfway to last year's 13-game turnover total of 25. They've been costly, too, leading to 61 of the 153 points allowed this season.

That's why coach Ralph Friedgen has unveiled a new practice tactic this week as Maryland prepares for Saturday's visit from Clemson. Turnovers are met by immediate punishment.

"We're going to do something to recognize the turnovers, whether it's up-downs or whatever," Friedgen said. "I think we have to make a conscious effort to not do this. I think it (turnover) has to be something that we avoid at all costs."

Let it Rain

Blacksburg, Va., is a tough place for a visiting team to win, especially when Virginia Tech is playing Beamer Ball to perfection -- as the Hokies did against the visiting Miami Hurricanes Saturday. A blocked punt for a touchdown, three sacks and a couple of turnovers turned their showdown with Miami into a laugher.

Let's not forget about the rain either. Word is more rain fell over a 24-hour period Saturday than on any other day in Blacksburg since 1987.

Average at Best

Following Saturday's home defeat to South Florida, Florida State's record over its past 48 games (dating back to its October, 2005 loss at Virginia) is 25-23.

Corey Clark, a sportswriter with The Tallahassee Democrat, pointed out in his blog that if fans toss out victories against non-BCS conference teams (Troy, UAB, Rice and Western Michigan) and Duke, that record is 19-23.

And, Clark also pointed out that using that same qualifier (which means fans exclude non-BCS teams and Duke), the Seminoles are 5-11 in their last 16 home games against regular FBS football programs.

Quotable

When asked where he thought the ACC stood in the collegiate landscape this young season, N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien indicated he had no idea.

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Washington State running back Dwight Tardy, runs past Southern California safety T.J. McDonald during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. USC won 27-6. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops answers a question during a news conference in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. Oklahoma takes on No. 17 Miami in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 3 in Miami. (AP Photo)

Penn State coach Joe Paterno listens to a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 in State College, Pa. Penn State takes on at Illinois in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

Penn State coach Joe Paterno jokes with reporters prior to his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 in State College, Pa. Penn State takes on at Illinois in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

In this Sept. 12, 2009, photo, Southern California running back Stafon Johnson runs for a touchdown against Ohio State during an NCAA college football game in Columbus, Ohio. Johnson had emergency throat surgery Monday, Sept. 28, after a weightlifting accident. The senior who scored the No. 7 Trojans' go-ahead touchdown against Ohio State was bench-pressing when the bar slipped from his right hand and fell onto his throat. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

In this Oct. 18, 2008, photo, UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft looks to pass as Stanford defensive end Pannel Egboh puts on pressure during an NCAA college football game in Pasadena, Calif. The Bruins won the game on a last-minute touchdown pass by Craft, who's back in the starting lineup as UCLA prepares to face Stanford on Saturday, Oct. 3. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

In this Oct. 25, 2008, photo, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford drops back to pass during an NCAA college football game against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops doesn't know whether Bradford will be ready for Saturday night's game at No. 17 Miami on Oct. 3, but said it won't be a game-time decision. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Baylor sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin is examined after sustaining a torn ACL in his right knee during an NCAA college football game against Northwestern State on Saturday Sept. 26, 2009 in Waco Texas. Griffin is out for the year. (AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald, Rod Aydelotte)

In this photo taken Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless is tackled by Iowa's Pat Angerer, upper right, and Tyler Sash, bottom, during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, in State College, Pa. Iowa's defense handed the Nittany Lions their first loss for the second-straight season. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In this photo taken Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark (17) throws the ball away and was charges with intentional grounding as Iowa defenders Christian Ballard (46) and Jeremiha Hunter move in and clear Penn State offensive lineman Nerraw McCormack (72) out of the way during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, in State College, Pa. Iowa's defense handed the Nittany Lions their first loss for the second-straight season. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

"Who knows in today's college football," O'Brien said.

"It seems like this is going to happen more and more. What was the quote I read in USA Today, I think probably USA Today or somewhere where Bobby Bowden said, 'Where did these guys come from?' Today everybody's got players. As I've said earlier, there are no free Saturdays, and you better be ready. I think people are coaching. There's a lot better coaches out there.

"Guys used to just roll out the ball and have talent and play the game and win. That doesn't happen anymore. I think guys are well-coached, teams are well-coached, they have players in position to win, and if you're not ready to play on a Saturday, anybody can win, anybody can lose."

ACC Notebook: Pack Ready for Fall Rise originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heisman Situation Suitably Uncertain

Brian Grummell — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: California, Florida, University of Miami, Oklahoma, Texas, Heisman

Crazy as it sounded but a few weeks ago, there is a chance neither Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy or Sam Bradford will win the 2009 Heisman Trophy. Maybe that's a good thing. Their journey of inevitability has taken on some water surprisingly early this year.

When BYU's Coleby Clawson slammed Bradford to the turf causing a shoulder injury, Bradford's repeat hopes were finished. He has still yet to play a down since then. Last Saturday against Kentucky, Tebow also sustained a concussion injury while being driven to the ground. It is unclear whether he will play Saturday against LSU in Florida's first real test this season.

Meanwhile, Colt McCoy already has five interceptions although he completed 80 percent of his passes Saturday against UTEP as the Longhorns appear to have turned a corner offensively in pouring 64 points on the Miners.

If Tebow can't go or he struggles and the Gators drop a game or two, McCoy will certainly be the clear favorite. He has the added benefit of widespread public sympathy being the only member of the fabled trio without a Heisman Trophy. Mix in a little awareness that Texas was left out of last year's BCS National Championship game and there's the data necessary to build a sympathy coalition.

All that said, neither Tebow or McCoy are inevitabilities at this point. Their cases aren't runaway trains and a field of competitors is emerging. The most obvious choice would be Cal running back Jahvid Best. Many are writing him off after he fizzled against Oregon, gaining just 55 yards as his Bears were humiliated 42-3. But he should rebound and get into that 1,500- to 2,000-yard range by the end of the year. He has a great redemption opportunity this upcoming Saturday against a USC team that while weakened, has been almost impenetrable on defense. That story writes itself if he goes off.

It is an opinion shared by Heisman Pundit, who also notes, 'Heisman sentiment is extremely fluid and will remain so until the outcome of the October schedule'. That October schedule, by the way, includes a date between McCoy's Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners who may just have Bradford behind center again. A poor McCoy performance or upset loss could do significant damage to his otherwise sparkling credentials.

A McCoy slip is unlikely but in any event it takes two to Tango, meaning other candidates have to be positioned in a manner to take advantage. Whether that is Best, or Miami quarterback Jacory Harris (who also had a rough Saturday against Virginia Tech), Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, Houston's Case Keenum, USC's Joe McKnight, Alabama's Greg McElroy or whoever, they too have to be scintillating from here out.

A recent example that comes to mind is that of Wisconsin tailback Ron Dayne. Before the 1999 season he was expected to set the NCAA career rushing mark, but stumbled in one game early in the early going. The opportunities were there to unseat him but a reliable challenger never emerged and by the final weeks he was once again the favorite on the way to winning the award.

So we see something similar here, with Bradford out, Tebow possibly missing a game and/or playing ineffectively against a solid opponent, and McCoy possibly staring down upsets to Oklahoma or even Oklahoma State.

Bottom line is McCoy's a slightly vulnerable favorite but like his peers Tebow and Bradford not a runaway favorite. This is the best that could be asked of the Heisman race for folks bored by the seeming inevitability of the three major preseason candidates.

Heisman Situation Suitably Uncertain originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ACC Notebook: A Devilish Homecoming

Jim Henry — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Clemson, Duke Football, Georgia Tech, Maryland, University of Miami, Virginia Tech, ACC

Matt Daniels doesn't even want to think about the repercussions if Duke loses to North Carolina Central University on Saturday.

The two campuses are just five miles apart, and locals in Durham, N.C., have been chatting for months about whether the Eagles can compete against a Blue Devils team that already this season has lost to a Football Championship Subdivision school.

"A lot of heads are going to be turning," said Daniels, Duke's sophomore safety.

"It's going to really affect the rest of our season. It's a confidence thing, oh, man, if we lose to Central -- they are five minutes away from us -- you are probably going to have to deal with the fans, the coaches, the Duke community, the employees here at Duke... (it will) stick on you. if you lose this game this week and win the rest of them, it's still going to stick on us."

City officials have dubbed the first-ever meeting between the pair as the "Bull City Gridiron Classic." Groups from both schools have planned community service projects before the game at Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium. Players from both teams have, in past summers, participated in 7-on-7 passing drills against each other.

Daniels played recreation football as a youth in Atlanta with NCCU's Rickie Hubbard. The showdown also features family ties. Sophomore linebacker Chris Drew is the older brother of Duke defensive lineman John Drew.

After losing its season opener to FCS Richmond, Duke beat Army but was hammered at No. 22 Kansas 44-16 last Saturday. NCCU is 0-3 with losses to Hampton, Liberty and Morehead State. After a quick rise to prominence in the Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Eagles are in the third year of their move into the Football Championship Subdivision.

"I was an optimist, and a lot of people have been pessimistic about this ever happening," NCCU head coach Mose Rison said.

"I don't know enough history, but I do know this: People are very excited about this, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we've had success here in football, and people have always wondered how good we can be. Are we good enough to play with a school like Duke in the ACC? Wondering minds have always wondered if indeed that could ever happened, because we were just good enough at the Division II level."

NCCU last played at Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium in 1974, when the Eagles defeated North Carolina A&T, 29-18.

Daniels said the Blue Devils can't take a victory for granted.

"We have a chance to win -- nothing is definite," Daniels said. "We have a chance to win all of our games but it's our duty to commit and understand what's at hand."

Like Old Times

Miami and Virginia Tech head into their game at Lane Stadium on Saturday both ranked for the first time since 2005.

With opening victories over Florida State and Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes are looking to win three consecutive games against top 25 opponents for the first time since 2001. That was a good year for UM, which won its final three regular-season games against ranked teams, then beat fourth-ranked Nebraska to win the National Championship.

The Hurricanes are averaging 35.5 points and lead the ACC with 465.0 yards of total offense per game this season. While much of that success has been attributed to quarterback Jacory Harris, he has deferred to UM's defense.

"We're clicking because of the defense," said Harris, who has completed 69.5 percent of his passes. "The defense ... they go out there and they show us that they can stop the team (Georgia Tech) that last year put up over 400 yards rushing on us and when they showed us that, it gave us motivation."

Poll Watching

Georgia Tech fell out of the AP and USA Today poll this week after last Thursday's loss to Miami. Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson was emphatic about his feelings concerning the polls.

"I do not care about the polls. That is ridiculous anyway," he said.

"I can look and see so many different things that do not make any sense. How can Oklahoma be ranked ahead of BYU or Oklahoma State sitting ahead of Houston. Teams that have beat teams head-to-head are nine spots behind them. Right now, this time of year, the poll does not mean anything."

How 'Bout Some Love

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney believes C.J. Spiller is underappreciated outside of the Tigers program.

Spiller, a senior, has scored a touchdown on a play of more than 60 yards in each of the Tigers' first three games. He also needs just 291 all-purpose yards to become the ACC's record holder in that category. While the school launched a Heisman campaign prior to the season that included a life-size poster featuring his likeness and he currently ranks in the top five nationally in three different statistical categories, there hasn't been much buzz surrounding Spiller.

Despite being hampered by a sore toe, Spiller needs just 2 return yards and 12 receiving yards to become the first ACC player ever to have 2,500 rushing yards, 1,500 return yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a career.

"I don't think anybody in this room or in our stadium really appreciates what C.J. has done so far this year, or in his career at Clemson," Swinney said.

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Allyson Duckworth of Oxford, Miss., sets up an open spread of eats at her tent at "The Grove," Ole Miss' famous tailgating site, outside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, hours prior to the school's home opener NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Swine flu is swirling through the nation's campuses, but despite all the warnings, flu kits and prominently displayed jugs of hand sanitizer, many students just aren't that worried. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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An Ole Miss decorated dispenser of hand sanitizer rest next to football themed napkins and an almost empty tray of crackers and dip, at the tailgate setup of the Deaton family of Booneville, outside the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., Saturday Sept. 19, 2009, prior to the home opener NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana. Lori Deaton, who works as a medical technician, said her concern about Swine Flu led her to bringing the hand sanitizer. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Two University of South Florida students take turns drinking from a cup during a college football game Saturday Sept. 19, 2009 in Tampa, Fla. Swine flu is swirling through the nation's campuses, but despite all the warnings, flu kits and prominently displayed jugs of hand sanitizer, many students just aren't that worried. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Thousands of Mississippi fans mill around "The Grove," a tented tailgate site outside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, prior to the home season opener NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana. The threat of both seasonal flu and Swine Flu virus being spread, is especially great among such type gatherings with open food and drink being served and a lack of available hand sanitizing dispensers at each tent. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

In this Aug. 5, 2008 photo, North Carolina Central head coach Mose Rison, center, calls a play for the offense during the team's NCAA college football practice. North Carolina Central and Duke will meet this week for the first time in football, as the schools hope to bridge a gap that has stretched beyond the five miles that separate the campuses. (AP Photo/The News & Observer, Jason Arthurs)

Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini reflects on last week's 15-16 loss to Virginia Tech during his weekly news conference, in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. With the exception of a few unguarded moments, Pelini refused to let his weekly news conference turn into a pity party. Pelini said that he and his Cornhuskers are going to turn the fallout from last week's crushing 16-15 loss into positive energy. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno answers a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Iowa in an NCAA college football game on Saturday in State College. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

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Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee talks about his bandaged thumb, due to a splinter fracture, during a news conference in Lincoln, Neb., on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Nebraska takes on Louisiana-Lafayette in an NCAA college football game on Saturday in Lincoln. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno listens to a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Iowa in an NCAA college football game on Saturday in State College. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

"This guy is a once in a lifetime guy. He is special. It just shows you how dynamic he is. He can just impact the game in so many ways. He is just as complete player as you can be. When you turn the film on he picked up a blitz in the [Boston College] game and jacked that linebacker up. He is just doing a super job for us in every area. I am really proud of C.J. He has a little bum toe and he just plays right through it. He doesn't complain, doesn't say anything."

A Tough Situation

Not much has gone right for the Maryland Terrapins this season.

Maryland is 1-2 after a 32-31 loss to Middle Tennessee State, the second season in a row the Terps have been upset by the Sun Belt Conference team. Maryland is at home Saturday against Rutgers (2-1).

"We are in a tough situation right now," Terps head coach Ralph Friedgen said.

"This is a time where a season hasn't gone along exactly as we wanted it to. I think we've played three very good teams. We are facing some hard luck. Sometimes you have to change your luck to make your luck, I understand that. I think our kids are playing hard. I think we are getting better. But you have to eliminate mistakes."

The Terrapins have surrendered 119 points this season, the worst three-game total since Friedgen took over as coach before the 2001 season. Friedgen hired defensive coordinator Don Brown in January with hopes that the success he had during five seasons at Massachusetts would continue at Maryland.

So far, it hasn't happened.

Maryland ranks 111th among 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total defense, yielding an eye-popping 466 yards per game.

ACC Notebook: A Devilish Homecoming originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hurricanes Not Affected by Hype

Jim Henry — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: University of Miami, ACC

A quick glance at Miami's opening month of the college football season generated raised eyebrows. At Florida State, Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech and Oklahoma, oh my. Many believed the Hurricanes would be OK if they split the games, two up and two down.

Don't look now but the expectations in Coral Gables, Fla., are rocketing skyward. UM players appear to have once again taken ownership of the program, pointing to opening victories over Florida State (38-35) and last Thursday against Georgia Tech (33-17).

While the undefeated Hurricanes are getting love from fans and the media, stoic UM head coach Randy Shannon says the hype won't affect his players. Shannon believes his team has learned its lesson from the past few years. He also credits players for their ability to stay focused and demonstrate a trait that some may not associate with UM teams -- humility.

And, just in case the Hurricanes feel too good themselves and get lost in this hugfest, they will have to answer to Shannon.There are a lot of people in the community that are praising us now, and they are hyping us up, but this team isn't taking anything to the head. We are very humble."
-- Randy Shannon

"It won't. I won't let it affect them," Shannon said Friday during his session with the media.

"They've been there before, that's what I keep telling you. Sometimes you have something bad happen to you before you learn your lesson. This team has learned its lesson.

"One thing I want to congratulate this team on is our ability to stay focused. There are a lot of people in the community that are praising us now, and they are hyping us up, but this team isn't taking anything to the head. We are very humble. We understand we have other teams at hand we have to beat."

UM certainly made that point against Georgia Tech, snapping a four-game losing streak in the series. The Hurricanes jumped out to a 17-3 lead in the first half and extended that with a touchdown on the first drive of the third quarter to win going away.

Quarterback Jacory Harris, who is quickly becoming the poised face of the program, completed 20 of 25 passes for 270 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions after he enjoyed a 386-yard outing against the Seminoles. Nine different players caught passes against Tech.

Graig Cooper and Javarris James combined for 165 rushing yards. The Hurricanes finished with 458 yards of total offense (7.1 yards per play) and held a commanding advantage in time of possession, specifically in the fourth quarter (10:33 to 4:27) to thwart any type of comeback.

"He's using all his tools," Shannon said of Harris. "He's not a selfish guy. He's going to use what the defense is allowing him to use and he makes plays that way. And those guys are making plays for him, too, by catching the football."

Not to be outdone, UM's defense slowed Tech's triple option after the Yellow Jackets left a tire imprint on UM a year ago. Tech had just 95 rushing yards and averaged 2.4 yards per attempt.

Shannon said his team played like it practiced.

"They were focused," Shannon said.

"It started in practice with intensity -- they didn't let up. When you watch that as a coach you see those guys can really have something going for them in this game. We dominated in some phases, certain parts of the game. You look at the guys now, they're a lot older.

"Last year they ran up field, were taking too many chances. Guys understand we did all this last year; if you stay sound in what we're doing we'll be okay. And that's what we did. They learned their lesson. It's like a kid - they screw up, you say stop and they don't. You hit them on the hand and they stop. That's basically what it was in that type of game."

Last year UM rebounded from a 2-3 start to win five consecutive games. But, right when people thought UM was pointed in the right direction, the Hurricanes lost their last three games to Georgia Tech, North Carolina State and Cal. Many then wondered if UM's opening schedule in 2009 was simply too much, too soon.

"A lot of people expected us to go 0-4," strong safety Randy Phillips told CanesSport.com. "I don't know what they were thinking. They hadn't seen this team play. They hadn't seen our offense. We're ready. We're ready for anyone. We embraced the schedule, and we're still embracing it." Added sixth-year defensive back Eric Moncur: "Winning those first two games on national TV, all the doubt is turning into belief. They know the U is back."

The Hurricanes, of course, must continue to move forward. Off today, UM will certainly have an eye on the Nebraska-Virginia Tech game in Blacksburg, Va. The Hurricanes tangle with the Hokies next Saturday at Lane Stadium in a pivotal Coastal Division showdown. Oklahoma awaits on Oct. 3 at Land Shark Stadium.

Shannon isn't about to let his team become blinded by distractions.

"I thought the football team improved," Shannon said of UM's effort against Tech.

"They showed some signs of where we are at as a football team, showed maturity as far as coming out and playing the way they did, especially on defense starting out the game holding them to a field goal and responding back. They got a lot of push up the middle to get them in third and long situations, keeping them off balance. It was a tremendous job in the run game from last year, (and) was the difference in the game."

It also raised eyebrows across the nation.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Graig Cooper #2 of the Miami Hurricanes breaks tackles against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami defeated Georgia Tech 33-17. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Graig Cooper

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Fresno State's Ryan Mathews runs for a 60-yard touchdown past Boise State's Jason Robinson, left and Kyle Wilson in the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Sep. 18, 2009 in Fresno, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

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Boise State's Kellen Moore looks to pass in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Fresno State on Friday, Sep. 18, 2009 in Fresno, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

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Boise State's Jeremy Avery gets by Fresno State's Marvin Haynes and A.J. Jefferson in the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Sep. 18, 2009 in Fresno, Calif.(AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

In this photo taken on Sept. 5, 2009, Texas senior quarterback Colt McCoy prepares to receive the snap during an NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Monroe in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns are set to host Texas Tech on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)

In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, photo, Minnesota fans tailgate outside the new on-campus home of the Minnesota Gophers, TCF Bank Stadium, before an NCAA college football game against Air Force in Minneapolis. As college football returns to the University of Minnesota campus, school officials will try to minimize the problems from student drinking. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)

In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, photo, Minnesota fans Bob Link, of Inver Grove Heights, Craig Folven, of Lakeville, Matt Link, of Farmington, and Joe DiRico, of Farmington, from left, tailgate outside the new on-campus home of the Minnesota Gophers, TCF Bank Stadium, before Minnesota's NCAA football game against Air Force, in Minneapolis. As college football returns to the University of Minnesota campus, school officials will try to minimize the problems from student drinking. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)

In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 photo, Minnesota fans tailgate outside the new on-campus home of the Minnesota Gophers, TCF Bank Stadium, before an NCAA college football game against Air Force in Minneapolis. As college football returns to the University of Minnesota campus, school officials will try to minimize the problems from student drinking. (AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)

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Hurricanes Not Affected by Hype originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miami Is Back, as Discipline U

Ray Holloman — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:07:00 EST

Filed under: University of Miami, ACC

On the Miami sideline, Randy Shannon was busy either trying to get his kicker's attention or turn every steel support beam in Land Shark Stadium into a boiling puddle. Given the atomic stare coming from the third-year coach, either seemed like a fair bet. As place kicker Matt Bosher walked by, Shannon clenched a granite jaw a heavyweight champion would be proud of, and burned his gaze into the side of the kicker's face.

Bosher did the smart thing. He never looked up.

He had just missed his second field goal in as many possessions and the steam coming out of Shannon's ears could've boiled a Cup of Noodles for each one of the 45,000 on hand.

After all, the Hurricanes were only beating their old nemesis by 16 points late in the fourth quarter.

"We need to get better," Shannon would say after the game. "Those kicks could come in critical situations."

But they hadn't Thursday night. The 20th-ranked Hurricanes upset 14th ranked Georgia Tech 33-17 in a manner so thorough and unquestioned that even Yellow Jacket coach Paul Johnson would admit his team had lost in every facet of the game.

And yet when Bosher's second field goal went awry with less than four minutes to play and the Hurricanes up by what felt like an utterly out of reach 16, Shannon sent a message every bit as strong as his team's kickoff-to-kneeldown win.

Miami is back. And this time, no mistakes are tolerated.

What a difference a year can make.

A season ago, Georgia Tech hammered Miami into the ground with its rushing attack, snapping a five-game Hurricane winning streak with an embarrassing 41-23 romp. The Yellow Jackets ran for 472 yards - a par 5's worth of yardage -- all televised live from coast to coast. The misdirection of Georgia Tech's triple-option offense confused the young Hurricanes. They gave up assignments, followed fakes instead of footballs and, in general, looked like a group of guys playing three-card monte with a deck with no queens.

Thursday night, Miami was in no mood for games. They made no effort to pick the right shell. They picked them all. They followed every assignment as it was drawn up, swarmed the ball like a search-and-destroy unit. They blocked on the offensive line, they ran routes as crisp as Autumn air.

They were less a football team than a drill team and they were every bit the U, Randy Shannon style. Disciplined. Agressive. And an elite team.

"There's a lot of people ... that are praising us now and they are hyping us up, but this team isn't taking anything to the head," Jacory Harris said." We are very humble and we understand that we have other teams at hand we have to beat."

Humble and Miami? The words go together like baseball and ballet.

But on the field and in the history books, they look the part.

After Week 1's Monday night win over Florida State and Thursday night's victory over the Yellow Jackets, the Canes have beaten two consecutive ranked teams to open the season for the first time since the Gatorade was bouncing off Jimmy Johnson's Aquanet hairdoo during the program's late-80's peak.

These aren't the Larry Coker Canes, who, in 2006, turned a cupcake tilt against a forgettable acronym school (It was FIU, for the studious) into a Royal Rumble, stooping to the level of a Sun Belt also-ran, a team that wouldn't have earned notice from Miami during the school's heyday, let alone be able to crawl under its skin so easily.

These aren't the Canes whose rap sheets had more pages than the playbook -- Quick, name the last time a Miami player was arrested -- or the groups that flashed the U sign around every few seconds, apparently believing it stood for "underwhelming" or "under indictment."

These are Shannon's Hurricanes, exactly what Miami fans hoped for when the school turned the program over to its no-nonsense defensive coordinator.

And the swagger is still there, even if the stupidity isn't.

There were still heavy hits. Yellow Jacket Sylvan Sylvester's head is almost certainly still ringing in the key of Jordan Futch after the linebacker walloped Sylvester on punt coverage, and freshman Vaughn Telemaque bounced Georgia Tech's Roddy Jones off the ground like a six-foot tall pogo stick.

There was quarterback play that must've sparked a few Heisman whispers with former winner Gino Torretta on the sideline. Jacory Harris threw for another 270 yards and three touchdowns. There was start-to-finish dominance that left an otherwise fine football team looking shocked in South Florida.

But Miami's statement Thursday night was simply how well they played the game. They rarely missed defensive assignments, turning the triple-option of Georgia Tech's offense into the right to run left, right, or in reverse, anywhere but up the field. Georgia Tech earned just 95 yards on the ground.

The offensive line blocked everything that came its way. If you paid for the good seats in Miami, you got closer to Harris than anybody in gold and white.

The Hurricanes did commit eight penalties, but almost all were garden variety holding and false start penalties. Only one -- a roughing the passer call after the game was all but technically finished -- demonstrated poor judgment. Another was an intentionally taken delay of game.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Hurricane cheerleaders perform as the Miami Hurricanes take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami defeated Georgia Tech 33-17. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Josh Nesbitt #9 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is brought down by linebacker Colin McCarthy #44 of the Miami Hurricanes at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami defeated Georgia Tech 33-17. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Nesbitt;Colin McCarthy

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Paul Johnson, R, of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets congratulates head coach Randy Shannon of the Miami Hurricanes at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami defeated Georgia Tech 33-17. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Paul Johnson;Randy Shannon

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Graig Cooper #2 of the Miami Hurricanes looks to avoid being brought down by cornerback Mario Butler #2 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami defeated Georgia Tech 33-17. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Graig Cooper;Mario Butler

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Tight end Jimmy Graham #80 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates his touchdown catch with offensive linemen Matt Pipho #65 and Jason Fox #64 against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami defeated Georgia Tech 33-17. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jimmy Graham;Matt Pipho;Jason Fox

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive back Randy Phillips #6 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates after making a tackle against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami defeated Georgia Tech 33-17. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randy Phillips

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Graig Cooper #2 of the Miami Hurricanes looks for room to run while taking on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami defeated Georgia Tech 33-17. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Graig Cooper

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Cornerback Mario Butler #2 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and teammates watch from the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Land Shark Stadium on September 17, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami defeated Georgia Tech 33-17. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mario Butler

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"Our guys came out and played hard and did what we asked of them," Shannon said. "They stayed within the game."

But if the last two weeks were a coronation for Miami, then consider the next two the first palace coup. Even after ousting Florida State in Tallahassee and wrecking Tech in Miami, the Hurricanes must travel to Blacksburg, Va., in nine days to face Virginia Tech, and then return home to host Oklahoma, which will be looking to do a little reputation repair itself.

Don't expect the schedule maker to get a Christmas card from the Shannon household.

But the Hurricanes seem ready, as mentally prepared by their coach-slash-drill sergeant Shannon as they were physically prepared for Georgia Tech.

"There is a different mentality," senior safety Randy Phillips said of this season. "A lot of people expect us to fold, but I don't know what they are thinking. We are ready for anyone."

They better be. Because as Bosher found out Thursday night, the only thing worse than losing might be answering to Randy Shannon. At Discipline U. mistakes aren't tolerated.

Miami Is Back, as Discipline U originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ACC Notebook: Miami Gets Its Wish

Jim Henry — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Georgia Tech, Maryland, University of Miami, Virginia, ACC, Coaching

Playing consecutive Thursday night games has left Georgia Tech checking its calendar.

The Yellow Jackets relied on dramatics to beat visiting Clemson last Thursday, squandering an early 24-point advantage, only to have Scott Blair save the day with a 36-yard field goal with under a minute to play. After catching its breath, Georgia Tech meets Miami in an ACC Coastal Division showdown Thursday at Land Shark Stadium.

"Like they say, it is a fast turnaround," Tech coach Paul Johnson said. "We are trying to figure out what day it is. It is a huge challenge this week going to Miami, a very talented team. They have a lot of great athletes and a lot of history and tradition."
Georgia Tech, however, has recent history on its side. The Yellow Jackets have won the last four meetings in the series, including a 41-23 victory last season in Atlanta. The Hurricanes were so embarrassed by their performance, also on a Thursday night, that they wanted and asked the ACC for a Thursday night rematch in 2009. They got their wish.

UM should be fresh. The Hurricanes beat Florida State 10 days ago in their season opener. And take one guess what the Hurricanes have focused on during practice -- slowing Tech's triple option. Not that Miami head coach Randy Shannon needs to be reminded, but the Yellow Jackets had 472 yards rushing and 518 yards in total offense a year ago.

"They do run a triple option and they have about four or five different scenarios on how they will run it," Shannon explained.

"The biggest factor will be [Jonathan] Dwyer. The fullback must be accounted for on every single play. If he happens to get into the open field, we have to get him down for a 10- or 12-yard gain and then line up again. We cannot afford him to get long runs against us and that's what makes their offense go."

Tech's offense has certainly been a go-go. The Yellow Jackets have scored 30-plus points in each of their first two games of the season for just the second time in seven years. Tech might not pass that often -- 27 attempts through two games -- but the Yellow Jackets are averaging 25.4 yards per completion.

Let's not forget defense or special teams. The Yellow Jackets have not allowed a rushing touchdown this season and have allowed just one rushing play of 20 yards or longer. Sophomore Jerrard Tarrant has returned punts for touchdowns in each of the first two games -- 68 yards against Jacksonville State and 85 yards against Clemson.

Johnson also has calculated the importance of winning a division game.

"I think to get to where we want to go we certainly have to beat our division opponents," Johnson said.

"The last one (against Clemson) was huge in that you can't afford to lose a conference game at home. But you can say the same thing for when you play a game out of your division because it almost counts as two games. We saw how that worked last year when we lost the first division game to Virginia Tech and it came back to haunt us at the end as we were tied in the record, but we lost the (title) head-to-head."

Oops, Penalty Flag

ACC officials have reviewed the tape and a ruling has been made -- Georgia Tech's fake field goal that went for a touchdown in the opening quarter against Clemson was actually an illegal play and violated substitution rules.

On the play, Georgia Tech scored on a 34-yard pass from kicker Scott Blair to Demaryius Thomas off a fake kick. Thomas remained on the field, near the Tech sideline, while the rest of his teammates were subbed for the kicking team.

Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson said he alerted officials about the play prior to the game and said he was surprised by the ruling.

"The ACC after the game interpreted that as a violation. Alright, well, we're in the league. If that's illegal, we won't do it anymore," Johnson said. "But I've done it before and it hasn't been a problem. If you've got a trick play before the game you tell them what's going to happen, and I told them. If it had been illegal, they should've told us then."

ACC coordinator of football officials Doug Rhoads said Monday that the play should have been flagged and nullified for violating a rule prohibiting substitution tactics that may confuse opponents. The ruling, of course, won't change the game's outcome.

Shovel, Flashlight or Worm?

Virginia coach Al Groh has relied on a number of motivational strategies during his career. He may need one soon as the winless Cavs travel to Southern Miss on Saturday.

Groh's most famous example was bringing a shovel to the sideline, which he did as an assistant with the New England Patriots under Bill Parcells in 1994. After starting the season 3-6, the shovel was meant to symbolize his players digging themselves out of a hole. The Patriots would not lose another regular season game as the shovel remained on the sideline.

Other examples include passing out flashlights to the players -- Groh did this as the head coach of the New York Jets in 2000. The gesture was a dig at the previously traded Keyshawn Johnson, who called himself a "star" in comparison to Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet, who was just a "flashlight." Going back even further, Groh, as the head caoch for Wake Forest in 1984, ate a worm after referencing an Alaskan ice fisherman, who kept worms in his lower lip in order to keep them warm and catch the best fish. On both those occasions, his teams pulled of an upset in the next game.

"I might go to something," Groh admitted. "I might put the worm third though."

Call Heads or Tails

North Carolina State's Eddie Gardner, who has been involved with the Wolfpack program in some capacity since the late 1970s and has been the football team's equipment manager since 1986, will provide the ceremonial coin toss in Saturday's game against Gardner-Webb. Gardner is retiring at the end of the month.

"He's the flipper," N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien

And, in case you are wondering, O'Brien says it's a mere coincidence and has nothing to do with his last name being Gardner and the opponent Gardner-Webb. Gardner has served in his role as equipment manager under the past four head coaches and has worked for every coach since Bo Rein (1976-79).

Don't Remind Me

Maryland's Ralph Friedgen has called last year's 24-14 loss at Middle Tennessee as one of the worst defeats of his coaching career. Saturday's rematch in College Park, Md., is also expected to be a tussle.

The Blue Raiders (1-1) are riding high following last weekend's impressive 31-14 win over Memphis. They showed improvement in all phases of the game after falling to Clemson in the season opener. Maryland, meanwhile, needed overtime last Saturday to beat visiting James Madison, 38-35. The Terps have won eight of their last nine at home dating back to the 2007 season.

While the Fridge isn't big on revenge, he expects his team to be.

"I think our kids want to win this game for what happened last year," Friedgen said. "If they don't, I don't know what's going through their veins."

By the Numbers

Boston College's two-headed quarterback -- Justin Tuggle and Dave Shinskie -- combined to throw for 223 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Kent State. ... Clemson scored 27 unanswered points in the 30-27 defeat at Georgia Tech. ... FSU quarterback Christian Ponder completed 22 of 35 passes for a career-high 324 yards in the win over Jacksonville State. ... Maryland's young defense surrendered 418 yards of total offense, including 268 rushing, in a win over James Madison. ... Quarterback Russell Wilson bounced back from a poor performance against South Carolina a week earlier, by completing 15- of-21 passes, for 228 yards and four touchdowns in a win against Murray State. N.C. State's defense allowed just one yard rushing (net) and 36 total yards in the game. ... Riley Skinner, who had all kinds of problems in the opener against Baylor, completed 18-of-26 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown in the victory over visiting Stanford. ... Quarterback Thaddeus Lewis became only the second player at Duke and 14th in ACC history to amass 50 career touchdown passes with a strike against Army. Linebacker Vincent Rey and defensive end Ayanga Okpokowuruk each had 10 tackles in the game. .. Anthony Allen averaged more than 25 yards on his five carries and finished with 127 yards, including a 82-yard score in the first quarter, in the win over Clemson. ... North Carolina has now allowed just 16 total points in the first two games, its lowest total to start a season since 1996. ... Virginia had just 177 yards of total offense and failed to snap even one play in the red zone (inside opponent's 20-yard line) in home defeat to TCU. ... Virginia Tech had 605 yards of total offense (most since 2001), including 444 rushing yards, in win over Marshall.

ACC Notebook: Miami Gets Its Wish originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hurricanes, 'Noles Take Week 1 by Storm

Jim Henry — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State, University of Miami

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State may have fallen from the Associated Press Top-25 poll Tuesday, but that's not to say the Seminoles have fallen out of favor, at least in the eyes of veteran coach Bobby Bowden.

Bowden never gets much sleep after a loss, and FSU's exasperating 38-34 defeat to rival Miami Monday night at Doak Campbell Stadium was enough to keep Bowden tossing, turning and wondering what if. Yet he remains optimistic about a team that helped put an exclamation mark on the opening week of the college football season.

Fans actually needed the Labor Day drama in the Florida Panhandle. In a weekend when most of the marquee games failed to deliver -- and another delivered a sucker punch to the chin -- with a pall coast over the BYU win, thanks to the Sam Bradford injury, FSU-Miami showed that a good time can still be had by all as summer advances into autumn.

Of course, it was the Seminoles who had to swallow hard and search for a silver lining after they tumbled to the Hurricanes on the game's final play less than 24 hours earlier. That's when quarterback Christian Ponder's pass on third-and-goal from the 2 was a tad low -- but it could have been caught -- by receiver Jarmon Forston in the end zone. An open Forston was unable to hold on to the ball as he tried to scoop the pass near the ground.

"You watch the game and there are just so many times you could have won it," Bowden said Tuesday.

"I guess they could say the same thing. The first ballgame, we looked at it and we see mistake after mistake after mistake. We probably out-mistaked them."

Clock management was one of those mistakes for the Seminoles in a game that featured seven lead changes and 72 total points, 32 scored in the fourth quarter. FSU could have benefited by saving a few more seconds on the final drive. It also needed the timeout it had burned earlier in the fourth quarter to set up a two-point conversion after the kicking team sprinted out on the field.

With a crowd of 81,077 whipped into an emotional frenzy, 36 seconds remained in the game when Ponder hit tight end Caz Piurowski for an 8-yard gain to the UM 4. The Seminoles, however, lined up incorrectly on the next play as the clocked ticked down. UM, shuffling in personnel, called timeout with 23 seconds remaining. Thirteen ticks were lost.

The Seminoles were forced to use their final timeout after Ponder, on the option, lost a yard to the UM 5 with 17 seconds left. Not even a pass interference call on the Hurricanes that gave FSU first-and-goal from the 2 with 14 seconds helped the Seminoles. Ponder fired three incomplete passes to end the game, the last on a rollout to his right as UM blitzed.

"Boy, we would have used that timeout," Bowden said.

UM coach Randy Shannon agreed.

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Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden, center, runs the sidelines trying to get the attention of an official during an NCAA college football game against the Miami Hurricanes, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009, in Tallahassee, Fla. Miami won 38-34.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)

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Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops answers a question during a news conference in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham will have arthroscopic surgery to determine the extent of damage to his injured right knee. Coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday that it's unknown whether Gresham will be able to return this season(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh (93), and Jared Crick (94), surround Florida Atlantic's Alfred Morris, in the first half of their NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb. In his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini said his team's defense against Florida Atlantic was soft.(AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, Nebraska nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) goes after Florida Atlantic's William Rose (46) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb. In his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, , Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini said his team's defense against Florida Atlantic was soft.(AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

Missouri wide receiver Danario Alexander runs with the ball during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, in St. Louis. Alexander had a big opening game with 10 catches for 132 yards in Missouri's 37-9 victory . (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Missouri wide receiver Danario Alexander runs with the ball during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, in St. Louis. Alexander had a big opening game with 10 catches for 132 yards in Missouri's 37-9 victory . (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Penn State coach Joe Paterno answers a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Syracuse in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 12 in State College. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

The Top 25 teams in the Associated Press college football poll

In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, Brigham Young's Lee Aguirre (20) celebrates with teammates following their 14-13 win over Oklahoma in an NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas. In the first regular-season Top 25 poll by The Associated Press, BYU jumped 11 spots to No. 9, while Oklahoma drops 10 spots from No. 3 to No. 13. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

"One thing that saved us is the timeout situation for Florida State," Shannon said Tuesday. "They didn't have a chance to call timeouts - they had the one run, had to call timeout, then that was the last one. So the next opportunity they had to throw the football. That was a big part of the plan - when it came down to those last seconds we knew they had to throw it, not run it."

Bowden also believed there was still on second left on the clock following Ponder's pass to Forston. A TV replay showed there was one second left with the ball on the ground, but the whistle had not yet blown. The whistle stops the clock.

"We thought we had a second left on the clock when that ball hit the ground," Bowden said. "But the officials said no, we didn't."

Bowden also called it a "game of quarterbacks," with good reason.

Ponder, who ran for 144 yards in last season's win at UM, completed 24 of 41 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns. (He completed 15 of 20 for 175 yards in the first half). Bowden says it's the most settled FSU has been at quarterback since Chris Weinke.

UM's Jacory Harris, in just his third career start, threw for 386 yards, the most by a UM quarterback since Ken Dorsey had 422 yards against West Virginia in 2002, and the most ever by a UM quarterback against FSU. Harris also completed 7-of-9 passes for 122 and a touchdown after he was leveled by a hit in the second half that led to an interception for a touchdown and left him clutching his arm to his body as he made his way to the sidelines.

"Our guy could have won it as easily as their guy did. I need to hand it to their guy," Bowden said.

Harris helped make sure FSU was left to pick up the pieces, while UM is determined to build on its effort. Shannon reiterated on Tuesday that one victory doesn't make a season and he warned about pronouncing the once-proud program as being "back." Up next for the Hurricanes is 13th-ranked Georgia Tech, followed by 15th-ranked Virginia Tech and 14th-ranked Oklahoma.

"It's one win,'' Shannon said.

"We got coming up Georgia Tech, which is going to be a tough stretch for us. This now becomes like an NFL season. You've got to do certain things. You can't wear them out in practice. You've got to make sure the guys are healthy.

"[Are] we back as far as beating Florida State? Yes. Coming in the first game, which is good for us. They're still a young football team but we've got some veterans stepping up to carry the load for us. We're back in that instance.''

Since UM visits Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium every other year, the Hurricanes next trip isn't until 2011. That means Monday night's game could have been Bowden's last home game against UM. It seems likely that Bowden will have stepped down after two years; his expected successor, FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, has a deal that says he'll be due $5 million if he isn't the coach after the 2010 season.

Shannon, for one, appreciates his pregame handshakes with Bowden.

"He's always been good to me, even when I was an assistant coach," Shannon said.

"Before the game I said 'How you doing, coach?' He said, 'Well, another one of these games, football, ESPN, nationwide TV.' He said, 'You can't get better than this.' We talked Miami-Florida State rivalry and good times. After the game he said `Gosh, I've never been around a game more exciting than this - maybe one or two others.' We wished each other good luck. We always say whatever we can do to help each other we will, and that comes from him and his coaching staff. A lot of coaches on his coaching staff I know very well, too. We all have great respect for each other as a coaching staff and as a football team."

That respect was demonstrated before the game when the two head coaches decided to follow through with a pre-game handshake as encouraged by the American Football Coaches Association and the NCAA. The teams went to their respective sidelines and then met each other at midfield to shake hands before heading to their locker rooms.

"It's a good thing to do," FSU Athletic Director Randy Spetman told the Tallahassee Democrat. "It doesn't matter when you do it. What matters is that you did it and show you're a good sportsman."

Of course, FSU has had to be a good a sport many times following its games against the Hurricanes.

"Some of the greatest games we've had since I've been here was 1987, when they beat us 26-25 -- that was one of the greatest games I've been around we've lost," Bowden said Monday night. "Next greatest game I've been around was Notre Dame in '93 when they beat us up there (South Bend, Ind.). This one here was probably the next greatest football game, and we've lost."

The Seminoles, however, should easily rebound at home on Saturday against Jacksonville State University, which is expected to have quarterback Ryan Perrilloux. Perrilloux, who threw for 2,318 yards last season, was suspended for the team's opening 37-17 defeat at Georgia Tech last week. Perrilloux played in all 12 games and started three for LSU in 2007.

FSU, which has dropped its last three home games, doesn't have much time to lollygag, however. The Seminoles will need to correct their mistakes and improve in obvious areas -- more productive in the red zone, tighten up their secondary, find a pass rush -- before its showdown at No. 9 BYU Sept. 19. That will be FSU's next opportunity to put an exclamation mark on another college football weekend

Hurricanes, 'Noles Take Week 1 by Storm originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For One Night, Miami Regains Swagger

Jim Henry — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:05:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State, University of Miami, ACC

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- It remains to be seen if the University of Miami is back on the national scene. But as many of the Hurricanes made the program's famous "U" hand signal as they rushed into their victorious locker room Monday night, it certainly sounded like old times. Call it a U-turn in UM's quest to become relevant again after the last few years of mediocrity.

"I think it's the first step," Hurricanes head coach Randy Shannon said as the cheering from UM fans above in the south end of Doak Campbell Stadium reverberated off the walls in the cool, cramped interview room below. The Hurricanes had just escaped with a dramatic 38-34 victory over 18th-ranked Florida State in a game that wasn't decided until the final play in the garnet-colored end zone just outside the tunnel.

"We still have things we need to get corrected and the players know that. We know that we can be a good team but we have to do the right things and we'll see when we play Georgia Tech."

Sure, we'll see if UM can build on its effort when the Yellow Jackets visit Land Shark Stadium in UM's home opener Sept. 17 -- the second of four consecutive games against ranked opponents to open the season -- but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Shannon also wanted his team to enjoy the moment, and rightfully so. It was the program's fourth win its last five trips to Florida's capital city, and the outcome only added to the nausea that FSU coach Bobby Bowden and Seminole fans feel when it comes to their South Beach neighbors.

"It was a great game, though," Bowden said. "I guess it sounds funny to hear a losing coach say that."

It also sounded funny to hear UM players afterward. As excited and as numb as the Hurricanes were -- especially the ring finger and pinky on the right throwing hand of quarterback Jacory Harris -- they actually displayed poised restraint when talking about the game and their future. There weren't any outrageous boasts or chatter of knowing how to win over FSU or the talk of having bigger hearts in the clutch, descriptive phrases of past UM teams against the Seminoles that caused a slow burn in Bowden's belly.

"We are just glad to be in this position and we feel blessed and we are going to move forward," senior strong safety Randy Phillips said as he multi-tasked, sending an email on his cellular telephone as he was talking to the media. "We understand what we need to do and where we got to be. We are just happy to get this victory."

FSU and UM made nice before their game Monday night, meeting at midfield and conducting a pregame handshake to demonstrate sportsmanship in support of the American Football Coaches Association initiative. The long-time rivals then proceeded to generate the 'tude, drama and theatrics that once made this game the nation's most entertaining.

The Seminoles-Hurricanes rivalry is still very much alive, even if it's more on the state level these days.

The game went down to the very last play, a pass on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line that FSU's Jarmon Fortson nearly scooped off the grass in the end zone as time expired. Replay officials, stationed near the Seminole sideline and shadowed by FSU coaches and players, confirmed that Fortson didn't have the ball. The Hurricanes flooded the field in celebration, while the Seminoles slowly turned away in disbelief and disappointment.

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Tight end Jake Byrne #87 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates with fans after defeating the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jake Byrne

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Quarterback Jacory Harris #12 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates victory over the Florida State Seminoles as he leaves the field at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jacory Harris

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Quarterback Jacory Harris #12 of the Miami Hurricanes throws a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to Graig Cooper #2 against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jacory Harris

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Running back Mike James #22 of the Miami Hurricanes tries to avoid being brought down by safety Jamie Robinson #20 of the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike James;Jamie Robinson

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Renegade and Chief Osceola prepares to bury his spear on the 50-yard line before the Miami Hurricanes take on the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Renegade;Chief Osceola

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Tight end Richard Gordon #84 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates after a fourth quarter touchdown by running back Graig Cooper #32 against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Richard Gordon

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Renegade rears up as Chief Osceola prepares to bury his spear on the 50-yard line before the Miami Hurricanes take on the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Renegade;Chief Osceola

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Running back Graig Cooper #2 of the Miami Hurricanes is brought down by linebacker Mister Alexander #16 of the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Graig Cooper;Mister Alexander

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Running back Graig Cooper #2 of the Miami Hurricanes scores the game-winning touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Graig Cooper

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 07: Wide receiver Travis Benjamin #3 of the Miami Hurricanes tries to avoid a tackle attempt by cornerback Patrick Robinson #21 of the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 7, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida. Miami defeated Florida State 38-34. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Travis Benjamin;Patrick Robinson

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"That was our 2-point play that we practice every practice and Jarmon was wide open," said FSU quarterback Christian Ponder, who rolled to his right after taking the shotgun snap with five seconds remaining and was pressured by a blitzing Phillips from the backside. "I take full responsibility. The throw was a bit low and that was my fault."

Ponder completed 24 of 41 passes for a career-best 294 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to keep FSU from dropping its third straight home game dating to last season, a first under Bowden.

"That was another one of those great games you lost," Bowden said. "We had a chance to win it. I thought we would win it when we had four downs down there -- we'll get one of them in there. Just have to brag on Miami."

One of the last players off the field for UM was Harris, who was simply sensational when needed most He completed 21 of 34 passes for a career-high 386 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Harris, however, was injured on the second interception when he was pancaked by blitzing cornerback Greg Reid and his throw fluttered into the air and into the arms of Markus White, who returned it 31 yards for a 31-24 FSU advantage with 11:45 remaining.

Harris, who experienced shoulder soreness last season, walked to the sideline, holding his right arm tightly to his chest, hah-hah. Not even ESPN cameras that showed true freshman A.J. Highsmith warming up on the sidelines was a cause for concern in Harris' mind.

"I guess I must have had a bad, bad, bad funny bone injury because my whole arm, when I got hit, just died on me," Harris said.

"I didn't know whether it was broke or not so I just looked at it. It wasn't out of place, so I knew I couldn't let my team down. I knew I had to go right back in. I was just basically throwing with three fingers; I couldn't feel my ring finger and my pinky. I still can't feel them."

FSU fans can certainly feel somebody's pain.

Harris connected with Graig Cooper for a 24-yard score to tie the game at 31, and after FSU took the lead again on Dustin Hopkins' 45-yard field goal with 4:11 left, Harris went back to work. His beautiful 40-yard lob pass over double coverage to Travis Benjamin set up Cooper's 3-yard touchdown run with 1:53 left.

"I saw the coverage and I thought I could get on top and [Harris] put it right there and I just made the catch," Benjamin said. "When I made a move the [FSU defender] went outside of me and I knew I had it over the top. You don't have to worry about Jacory. He never puts pressure on himself. He came to the sidelines and just worked it (the injury) out. When you hit your funny bone, your nerves just go numb but he was all right.

"We pulled out a miracle. It's a big win and everyone is happy and proud."

Miami outgained FSU 476-404. While the rivalry hasn't meant much for most of this decade, both teams still have a chance to make national noise this month and could very well tango again in the ACC Championship. UM faces the powerful Jackets, while the Seminoles -- following Saturday's home game against Jacksonville State -- travel to Provo to play BYU Sept. 19. By that time, both teams also need to develop a pass rush that will help provide the relentless pressure that filled the air here Monday night.

"That was a great team we just played, a great coaching staff, a tough environment at night on a Monday and we just rose to the occasion," Phillips said.

"I am proud of my teammates and our coaches. We played hard and we kept fighting and we came out on top some kind of way."

But, really, no other words were necessary after Shannon walked through a side door into the interview room.

"Whew!" he said.

Whew indeed.

For One Night, Miami Regains Swagger originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miami-Florida State Rivalry Is Back!

Brian Grummell — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:18:00 EST

Filed under: Florida State, University of Miami, ACC, General CFB Insanity

The Florida State and Miami football rivalry is back if just for a thrilling Labor Day night after the Hurricanes rallied to a 38-34 victory that went down to the game's very last play. The Hurricanes stymied six Seminole tries from within the 10-yard line, punctuated by an incomplete pass as time expired, to secure victory.

It was simply the best game of a great, sometimes controversial opening weekend of college football. The fourth quarter was a see-saw of excitement, the teams trading leads right to the final minute. The Hurricanes rallied from 31-24 and 34-31 deficits before claiming the final margin thanks to a Graig Cooper touchdown run with just under two minutes left.

Miami almost blew the game in flubbing a squib kick that left Florida State with plenty of time and the ball at midfield. Florida returned the favor by turning quarterback Christian Ponder loose on third and three, running wild to the Hurricane 12 setting up the dramatic finish.

Unlike the heartbreaking night against Ohio State in the 2002 BCS Championship, the Hurricanes held off three successive Seminole efforts before getting an eerily similar late penalty that reset the downs with nine seconds left. Again they repelled another three efforts, the final pass sneaking just below a Seminole receivers' hands, incomplete.

The star of the game was 'Canes quarterback Jacory Harris, whose calm demeanor and mobility hid a killer's mentality as his arm went wild on the way to 386 passing yards, a Hurricane record against Florida State. It didn't help that the Seminoles' secondary and tackling was atrocious, but he made great plays throughout. Miami's secondary wasn't much better as Christian Ponder threw for 294 yards of his own.

Previous Miami-FSU affairs have been lacking, to put it mildly, but those who weren't burned out by the previous few games and tuned in Monday were treated to something special. Neither team showed enough to be considered a top-10 power right now, but for the first time in several years both looked like they might get their act together over the course of a season.

The larger picture is that both programs appear to have found a steady presence at quarterback that's been missing for some time. Harris has a knack for never letting a play die, at one point converting on three straight third downs on the way to tying the game at 31-all. Ponder's simply a great decision-maker with good straight-line speed that makes him a dangerous run threat. Another star was Florida State freshman defensive back Greg Reid who made plays all over the field, including a blitz that rerouted a Harris pass into the hands of Markus White who returned the ball untouched for a 31-yard touchdown that put the Seminoles ahead 31-24.

Virginia Tech remains the Atlantic Coast Conference favorite this year, but this was an impressive enough showing for both the Seminoles and Hurricanes to put a dent in the absolute certainty some have felt about the Hokies in an otherwise reeling ACC.

Miami-Florida State Rivalry Is Back! originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miami Football Loses 2 Quarterbacks

Brian Grummell — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:43:00 EST

Filed under: University of Miami, ACC, Coaching

Miami's quarterback depth took a major hit Tuesday as two backup quarterbacks have decided to leave the program. Redshirt freshmen Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith announced their departures, effectively leaving the Hurricanes with just two scholarship quarterbacks.

This is on the heels of quarterback Robert Marve announcing he would transfer in January and the program replacing offensive coordinator Patrick Nix with Mark Whipple. Sophomore Jacory Harris remains the starter but true freshman A.J. Highsmith has been elevated to backup.

The Miami Herald ran an all's-well story on Cook Monday, only to report his departure the very next day. In it he said, 'my drive is insane. I'll be ready if my name is called because that's what a backup quarterback's job is to do -- be ready.'

Or not.

It appears he wants to play and soon, telling the Herald he's "going back home to play football" at a FBS school in Texas.

This is Randy Shannon's third year at Miami and while he's managed to put a vice on discipline issues and provide a socially responsible face for the program it sure looks like he's bungled the once formidable Hurricane offense chasing away quarterbacks and coordinators.

Miami Football Loses 2 Quarterbacks originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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College Football Twitter Mailbag: Who's Overrated, Who's Underrated?

Michael David Smith — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:22:00 EST

Filed under: University of Miami, West Virginia

The Associated Press Top 25 is out, and that means it's time for college football fans to debate who's overrated and who's underrated, which we do in our latest college football Twitter mailbag.

Are Miami and West Virginia underrated? Are Alabama and Oklahoma State overrated? Join the discussion below.

padrickbrewer: Miami is way, way, wayyyyyyyyy underrated. A top 15 finish in 2009. Count it.
I wouldn't be surprised if Miami ends up better than the AP voters think (No. 35), but I think a Top 15 finish is a stretch. With Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma as the first four games, we're going to find out a lot about the Hurricanes very early in the season. An 0-4 start is entirely possible, 2-2 would be a major accomplishment, 3-1 would mean you're right that the Canes are a Top 15 team, and 4-0 ... well, that's not going to happen.

Overall, I like what Randy Shannon is doing in Miami, but I think the Hurricanes are still one more year away. A Top 15 finish in 2010 strikes me as a very legitimate aspiration for the Canes, but in 2009 I don't see it happening.

leefgomila: Overrated- Ohio St, Alabama, Oklahoma St. Underrated- LSU, Florida St.
I definitely agree with you that Alabama is overrated. What Nick Saban did with the Crimson Tide last season was extremely impressive, but I really don't view them as a Top 5 team heading into 2009. And I agree with you about Oklahoma State as well. This is not a Top 10 team. Ohio State? I don't have a real problem with the Buckeyes at No. 6, although I think they're going to get spanked by USC in Columbus on September 12.

LSU is a good team, but I don't think they're underrated at No. 11. And as for Florida State? I don't know what to think of the Seminoles. I could see them being unbeaten when they face the Gators at the end of the regular season, or I could see them already having five losses by then.

TJ: Florida is #1 and always #1 no one in the Top 25 can beat them.
Florida is a clear-cut No. 1, but every team can be beaten, and I think Florida probably will be. With the SEC schedule, Florida State to end the regular season and then (possibly) the SEC title game and the BCS title game, I don't think Florida will go undefeated. That doesn't mean they won't win the national championship, though.

FBfollies: West Virginia should be a top twenty team. The Mountaineers will be good this year.
The AP voters have West Virginia relegated to the "others receiving votes" section, after Texas Tech and before Cincinnati. But I think West Virginia will be a Top 20 team when the season is over. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Mountaineers run the table in the weak Big East, and I think there's more talent left in Morgantown after the departure of Pat White than most people realize.

Want to be part of our next college football Twitter mailbag? Post a question or comment on Twitter.com, and be sure to start it with @MichaelDavSmith.

College Football Twitter Mailbag: Who's Overrated, Who's Underrated? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Football Camp for 'U' Men

Brian Grummell — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, University of Miami, Sun Belt, Tennessee, Texas, Conference USA, Heisman

Every week during college football's endless offseason, The FanHouse Walk will put last week's stories to bed and deliver the essentials to bridge that agonizing space between now and September.

U've Been Bad -- It seemed dormant for a while with the mediocrity coming from Tallahassee and Coral Gables, but perhaps rivalry football in Florida is back. A University of Miami commit was kicked out of a Florida-run football camp last week for supposedly flashing Miami's famous "The U" hand signal after several drills. Its unraveled into a he-said he-said drama concerning Florida's handling of his alleged actions, and his right as a paying participant.

If you're looking for an opinion we strangely don't have one, feeling rather stupid defending either side. The easy way out here is to blame who started it and move on. In this situation its alleged perp lineman Tavadis Glenn (edit -- of Terry Parker High). Sorry, big fella, you've been bad but here's to us seeing you on Saturdays stoking the flames between those two programs.

Nevada of the East -- Delaware wants it some sports gambling, something to which the entire apparatus of organized sport is opposed. Apparently several of those bodies jointly filed a lawsuit last week to put the brakes on tiny Delaware's cash grab.

I understand the opposition to this and their arguments make sense, but at the same time we can't ignore that Nevada still has sanction for sports betting. And, personally, although sports gambling doesn't really interest me outside of the occasional day at the track, America is a big country and Nevada isn't what we would call easily accessible to a huge chunk of the population. Perhaps we should reconsider the various prohibitions and let slip another state or two.

More NCAA Worries -- Lets be clear, amateurism is dead. The NCAA has managed to effectively restrain most athletes from capitalizing on their own personal brand in the open market, but those days are dwindling. Dr. Saturday points out several pending lawsuits against the NCAA concerning their licensing of athletes' likenesses and other matters.

They may or may not win these and similar challenges, but they can't hold out forever. A reckoning is a long time coming and I hope for the organization's sake and that of collegiate athletics, they recognize it at some point in the near future and work effectively towards a new future that protects the athletes and preserves academic integrity but no longer pretends it can enforce amateurism.

2009 Is Great And All, But Lets Talk Next Year Already -- In a bit of a repeat of the 2004 "neutral" site meeting between USC and Virginia Tech, Boise State will travel east next year to open their season against Virginia Tech in the hornet's nest that will be FedEx field in Washington. If they thought Georgia fans were tough between the Hedges, wait till they experience the Hokie road show.

Meanwhile, LSU will challenge North Carolina in an SEC-ACC match for Chick-fil-A's College Kickoff.

He's Not 40, But He's a Man

The Lane Kiffin Show's taken a break from the animation ...

Overtime, Ball on the 25

-- The authority speaks, and doth proclaim Colt McCoy the early Heisman Trophy favorite.

-- Texas will honor former coach Darrell Royal by donning a special throwback uniform against rival Texas A&M.

Nike has designed a uniform that will be a special version of the traditional Longhorn white road uniform, including a patch honoring Royal and helmets in the style of Texas' first national championship team in 1963. The patch, featuring Royal's initials "DKR" will be on the players hips while the helmets will include each player's number above the Longhorn logo. The size of the word "Texas" on the front of the jersey also has been adjusted slightly to reflect the eras where the jersey numbers were larger and the school's name was not featured on the front

Amusingly, in its advanced stage of perpetual insecurity the program seeks to remind people unrelatedly of their 2005 championship in these releases, noting at the bottom:

Texas captured its fourth national title in 2005 when the No. 2 Longhorns knocked off No. 1 and two-time defending National Champion USC, 41-38, in the Rose Bowl.

That's great, and in the interval Florida, LSU and Florida again have won their own crowns.

-- USC folks are taking their digs at Lane Kiffin. Buyer beware.

-- Smart, if under the radar: The Sun Belt and Conference USA are offering full-color preview magazines. College football is a game of banter and discussion, conferences and programs need to be willing to fight in the PR game to get attention (without being over the top Kiffin at Tennessee level) and get notice or get left out.

No Football Camp for 'U' Men originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Linebacker Sean Spence in the Middle of Miami's Make-or-Break Season

Jim Henry — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:17:00 EST

Filed under: University of Miami, ACC

Sean Spence doesn't need to be reminded of Miami's early schedule. Take a deep breath and slowly exhale.

The Hurricanes open at Florida State, host Georgia Tech, travel to ACC champ Virginia Tech and then return home to face 2008 national runner-up Oklahoma, thank you very much. Spence, proof that dynamite comes in small packages, realizes the gauntlet isn't for the timid.

Miami, of course, has never been about timid -- at least in its glory years. The Hurricanes would love nothing more than to recapture that past success, and getting off to a fast start this year would certainly help their cause. Quite frankly, there are two ways to look at the four-game challenge: It will either bury UM, 12-13 in the past two seasons under head coach Randy Shannon, or build its dreams.

"We are going to get back, but it's about working hard and putting in the time to be the best team we can be," Spence told FanHouse. "Before Florida was winning like it is now, it struggled. Every team has their droughts. We know our opening schedule is difficult, but we can't worry about it or overlook anybody.

"We need to focus on what's in front of us."

A key to that step-by-step process will be Spence, who may have been overlooked out of Miami Northwestern High School because of his size but is now arguably one of the nation's top young linebackers.

The 6-foot Spence, who played last season a milkshake under 205 pounds, was the ACC's Defensive Rookie of the Year and packed one of the biggest punches in the conference despite being no larger than some return specialists. He started nine of 13 games, was third on the team with 82 total tackles and led all UM linebackers with 7.5 tackles for loss.

While he may not fit the mold physically -- just yet -- of past great Hurricane middle linebackers such as Ray Lewis, Michael Barrow, Jessie Armstead, Dan Morgan, and Jonathan Vilma, there's no denying the size of Spence's ticker despite his soft-spoken nature. Spence flies to the football -- and wants his teammates to fly along with him.

"I am trying to stay locked in, keeping my mind on football and trying to be a leader," said Spence, who hopes to play at 215 pounds this season. Of course, size wasn't an issue last year as the freshman posted a career-high 10 tackles against FSU and had five or more tackles in eight games. But that's not to say Spence was satisfied. Far from it.

"The way I look at my game, I can make improvements in every area," he said. "We were a young defense last year and we all made mistakes."

Spence says the Hurricanes' summer strength and conditioning workouts have gone well. Included in that schedule has been the Hurricanes' 2009 Summer Tour, a community outreach program that has players making numerous appearances in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties in the month of July.

Latest College Football Images

University of Miami football player Sean Spence, top, works with kids at a football camp in Belle Glades, Fla. Saturday, July 11, 2009. After the drills football players talked to the kids about staying out of gangs and in school. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

University of Miami football players Travis Benjamin talks to home town kids during a football camp in Belle Glades, Fla. Saturday, July 11, 2009, about staying in school and out of gangs. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

University of Miami football player Randy Phillips (6) works with home town kids at a football camp Saturday, July 11, 2009, in Belle Glades, Fla. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

University of Miami football player Travis Benjamin (3) works with kids during a football camp in Belle Glades, Fla., Saturday, July 11, 2009. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

University of Miami football players Travis Benjamin (3) and Randy Phillips (6) talks to home town kids during a football camp in Belle Glades, Fla., Saturday, July 11, 2009 about staying in school and out of gangs. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

From left, Dick Mitchell, Babe Parilli, Clayton Webb, Bob Fry, and George Blanda greet each other upon arriving at a Paul "Bear" Bryant reunion at the Crown Plaza, Campbell House in Lexington, Kentucky, Friday, June 19, 2009. Kentucky football players who played for the famed coach get together every other year. (Pablo Alcala/Lexington Herald-Leader/MCT)

MCT

Babe Parilli, gets a bear hug from Dick Mitchell during a Paul "Bear" Bryant reunion at the Crown Plaza, Campbell House in Lexington, Kentucky, Friday, June 19, 2009. Kentucky football players who played for the famed coach get together every other year. (Pablo Alcala/Lexington Herald-Leader/MCT)

MCT

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 23, 2009, provided by the University of Arkansas, part of a new artificial surface at Reynolds Razorback Stadium is shown in Fayetteville, Ark. Arkansas' first college football game on the new surface is scheduled for Sept. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/University of Arkansas, Wesley Hitt) ** NO SALES

In this Sept. 22, 2007 photo, Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald looks at the scoreboard during the second quarter of a college football game against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Northwestern has extended Fitzgerald's contract through the 2015 season, the school announced Tuesday, June 23, 2009. Fitzgerald, a former All-American linebacker at Northwestern, has been the Wildcats' head coach since 2006. He joined the coaching staff in 2001. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

University of Cincinnati head football coach Brian Kelly speaks at a news conference at UC in Cincinnati Monday June 22, 2009. The University of Cincinnati on Monday said Kelly has signed a contract extension, adding a year at nearly $1.5 million. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)

Last Saturday was the first event, which saw Spence and teammates instruct youth in football and life skills.

"It was exciting to see the kids and reach out to them," Spence said. "They were excited to see us and we are just trying to teach them some of the things we know as players and student-athletes."

Spence and the Hurricanes are learning, too.

They have a new defensive coordinator in John Lovett, who spent the last two seasons as the special teams coordinator and defensive assistant at North Carolina. Spence says UM's defense is less complex than a year ago and provides more opportunities for players to make plays. Seven of nine lineman who started games last year are back, while the secondary remains unsettled.

Last year, the Hurricanes played like a soft breeze in most areas. They ranked second in the ACC in pass defense (165.6 yards per game), seventh in total defense (317.5 yards per game), 11th in scoring defense (24.2 points per game), and 12th (last) in rush defense (151.5) behind Duke.

Even with a roster full of young talent, however, UM was in the thick of the ACC Coastal Division race before a late-season meltdown -- the Hurricanes dropped their final three games to Georgia Tech, North Carolina State and California in the Emerald Bowl -- soured the team's offseason mood. Believe it or not, UM has not had a winning record in the ACC since 2005.

Spence was raised on the Hurricanes' punch and always knew he wanted to play at UM. He remembers the program's past glory. And he also believes the future is bright.

Off course, that future will be tested early. There's no need to remind Spence.

"We can't worry about it. We are trying to get better each time we step out on the field. If you work hard it will pay off," Spence said.

Linebacker Sean Spence in the Middle of Miami's Make-or-Break Season originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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QB Robert Marve Chooses Purdue for Some Reason

Mark Hasty — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:48:00 EST

Filed under: University of Miami, Purdue

Okay, so Danny Hope isn't the only hope in West Lafayette, Ind., this spring. Former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Robert Marve (pictured at right) ended the speculation about his next address Thursday, confirming that he will transfer to Purdue for his final two seasons of eligibility. Marve will have to sit out this coming season but will be eligible in 2010 and 2011.

Marve was Florida's Mr. Football in 2006 but missed all of his freshman season due to a car accident. His numbers from 2008 were not stunning, and when Jacory Harris was named the starter, Marve decided he wanted out.

There's nothing wrong with that, of course. Football players play football, and if Marve didn't want to stand around holding a clipboard, it's his right to walk away. Your head knows this and agrees with it. Your heart, however, is saying something like "Yeah, but ... Purdue?" O ye of little knowledge.

First of all, the history of Purdue quarterbacks goes back a lot farther than Kyle Orton and Drew Brees. The rest of the team hasn't always been world-beaters, but Purdue almost always has one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten. Len Dawson and Bob Griese went from Purdue to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and if they ever establish a Pro Football Hall of the Pretty Good, you'll find Jim Everett and Gary Danielson in it. Purdue is historically a pretty good place to be a quarterback.

More than that, however, is what Purdue offered Marve: opportunity. The Boilermakers are coming off a 4-8 season and have a brand new coach. Danny Hope has already proved he'll run the program his own way. How else to explain that his first recruiting class included 13 kids from Florida and exactly none from Indiana?

For Marve, who considered lots of options, Purdue gave him the best chance to be The Man when his one-year mandatory ineligibility ends. Walking on at Tennessee might seem like a better chance to most football fans, but Marve is at a point in his career where conventional wisdom no longer holds. Will he pan out? Nobody knows for sure. But at this moment, Robert Marve is probably no worse than the fourth-best quarterback in the Big Ten.

QB Robert Marve Chooses Purdue for Some Reason originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 21 May 2009 23:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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