What a worrisome (but exciting) weekend. UF gets LSU at home, and UCF travels to Miami to play the 'Canes. Despite the fact that the professional gamblers favor UF by 4, we're extremely worried that LSU will win. Frankly, they just look like the better team. Then again...their defense has not been what it should be. An anemic Auburn offense hung 21 on LSU in a game LSU edged them out with 5 points. Lowely Mississippi State put up 24 against LSU in a ten point loss. LSU's two other wins? DIV II App State and North Texas, one of the only two winless schools in Div I football.
Meanwhile, UCF seems to have no hope whatsoever. We've seen Miami play live this season, and despite their poor record, they look much better than a UCF team that had to edge out SMU. However, if UM is going to be vulnerable, this is the time. The team and fan are no doubt tropically depressed over two tough home losses. UM fans are notoriously fickle, and are not coming to this game. The team is young, the coaching staff is bad in terms of game day coaching. Also, UM has a ton of injuries, including several starters. UM's loss against FSU has shown that they're vulnerable to a mobile QB-- and I think Greco has better wheels than Ponder. Also, UM's passing game against UCF's secondary is a favorable match-up. Their receiving corps drops a helluva lot of passes. Joe Burnett any body? Sha'reff's also great.
If only UCF were a little bit better, this would be a great opportunity to beat UM and start boasting of being better than (at least) someone in the state. But, we can't control the football, can't complete a pass, can't do much of anything. We beat a DIV II school, and SMU, one of the worst teams in the country.
We'll see. . . but this one is going to go UM's way.
Showing posts with label UM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UM. Show all posts
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
UCF Kicker in Weird Position of Playing Team He Was on Last Year
Well . . . isn't that awkward?
The Orlando Sentinel notes that kicker Daren Daly transferred from UM to UCF and received a waiver in order not miss a year. He is taking graduate courses only offered at UCF. Here's what GOL had to say in the Sentinel blog post:
When I was in preseason when we got a call on that I was surprised what was going on, but the recommendations that came back on him were very good. We just followed up. He had to do all the work. We didn't do any work as far as applying for a hardship.
The Orlando Sentinel notes that kicker Daren Daly transferred from UM to UCF and received a waiver in order not miss a year. He is taking graduate courses only offered at UCF. Here's what GOL had to say in the Sentinel blog post:
When I was in preseason when we got a call on that I was surprised what was going on, but the recommendations that came back on him were very good. We just followed up. He had to do all the work. We didn't do any work as far as applying for a hardship.
"I think he is a very mature kid who has his goals set in mind. I was just talking to him last night. He wants to be a GA eventually someplace and eventually get a sports management degree and head off to the NFL in an administrative capacity, so he has his game plan set already as far as what he'd like to do with himself. I think the way the situation worked out, I don't know what happened at Miami. I never really even called there or asked about it. I do know he's a pretty good kicker, and he's healthy now. He kicked for us last week in all the phases and he'll do the same this week."
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Plebeians Speak
Mike Bianchi's Orlando Sentinel sports blog invites the plebeians to supply reasons why UCF will beat UM on Saturday, because he certainly cannot.
We'll keep our fingers crossed for one of the following (they'll be our only hope):
1. Entire UM team wiped out as the result of gang violence.
2. Mass overdoses whittle away UM squad.
3. Stray meteor destroys UM coaching staff.
4. Massive injuries continue.
Perhaps the best "reason why UCF will beat UM" that a reader supplied?
We salute you, sir or madam, we salute you.
We'll keep our fingers crossed for one of the following (they'll be our only hope):
1. Entire UM team wiped out as the result of gang violence.
2. Mass overdoses whittle away UM squad.
3. Stray meteor destroys UM coaching staff.
4. Massive injuries continue.
Perhaps the best "reason why UCF will beat UM" that a reader supplied?
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Ramblin'
1. Bullshit. We our denied our opportunity to gloat this Friday when USF escaped Kansas at the end of the game. We assumed that Mark Mangino would be hungry for beef, but apparently not hungry enough. We're very distressed about the very real possibility that USF will tear through the Big East undefeated. Sweet, sweet, schadenfreude denied...
2. ...kind of. Because at least we got to watch USC thrash Ohio State into utter submission. We wonder how long it takes before the voters and talking heads finally understand that they vastly, vastly overrate OSU. Can't beat Florida, can't beat LSU, sure as Hell cannot beat USC.
3. Uh, Georgia not as good as advertised. Thank God.
4. We go to Boston this weekend. We'll be attending the annual meeting of a certain nonprofit organization we're a little bit enthusiastic about on Friday. On Saturday, we plan to squeeze in the UCF-BC game. Also: gorging ourselves on clam chowder. Or chowdah. Whatever.
Should be exciting since this is, you know, UCF's only reasonable chance this year to beat a "name" team. Having seen UM play this year, we're aware that they will stick a shiv into the Knights. Multiple, multiple times. And of course, that whole USF thing didn't work out too well...as usual. But at least BC is craptacular, as its performance against Georgia Tech indicates.
Mmm. Chowdah!
2. ...kind of. Because at least we got to watch USC thrash Ohio State into utter submission. We wonder how long it takes before the voters and talking heads finally understand that they vastly, vastly overrate OSU. Can't beat Florida, can't beat LSU, sure as Hell cannot beat USC.
3. Uh, Georgia not as good as advertised. Thank God.
4. We go to Boston this weekend. We'll be attending the annual meeting of a certain nonprofit organization we're a little bit enthusiastic about on Friday. On Saturday, we plan to squeeze in the UCF-BC game. Also: gorging ourselves on clam chowder. Or chowdah. Whatever.
Should be exciting since this is, you know, UCF's only reasonable chance this year to beat a "name" team. Having seen UM play this year, we're aware that they will stick a shiv into the Knights. Multiple, multiple times. And of course, that whole USF thing didn't work out too well...as usual. But at least BC is craptacular, as its performance against Georgia Tech indicates.
Mmm. Chowdah!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Fewer Arrests at UCF-USF than UF-UM
The Orlando Sentinel announces that there were fewer arrests UCF-USF game at the UF-UM game.
As if that were a good thing. When will people realize that we will not get the respect we deserve as a football school until there are more arrests at our game? At UCF there were 5 custodial arrests and 31 notices to appear (non-custodial arrests). UF police arrested 50 people.
We were saddened initially, until we realized this:
Attendance at the UCF game was about half that at the UF game. So proportionately, UCF may actually have had MORE arrests....
The UF statistic of 50 arrests does not specify whether notices to appear (non-custodial arrests) were counted separately (as UCF counted them) or incorporated into the "50 arrests" figure. If they were incorporated...then the UCF game DID in fact have a higher proportion of arrest-per-game-attendee!
Our quest for football school legitimacy continues!
As if that were a good thing. When will people realize that we will not get the respect we deserve as a football school until there are more arrests at our game? At UCF there were 5 custodial arrests and 31 notices to appear (non-custodial arrests). UF police arrested 50 people.
We were saddened initially, until we realized this:
Attendance at the UCF game was about half that at the UF game. So proportionately, UCF may actually have had MORE arrests....
The UF statistic of 50 arrests does not specify whether notices to appear (non-custodial arrests) were counted separately (as UCF counted them) or incorporated into the "50 arrests" figure. If they were incorporated...then the UCF game DID in fact have a higher proportion of arrest-per-game-attendee!
Our quest for football school legitimacy continues!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
See you in 2013
Gators 26, 'Canes 3.
Well, that was not as easy as it should have been.
We had a great time seeing a bitter rivalry renewed, and finally getting that damn UM monkey of our collective backs.
Miami should be proud of a ferociously physical team that will mature and be amazing. We'd like to get this one on the record: in a soft ACC with an incredibly favorable conference schedule, Miami is our pick for ACC Champion. You can begin chuckling now, but we feel it in our bones.
We were thrilled to see a huge Gator crowd, but disappointed to see so very few Miami fans.
See more of you in 2013, when the teams meet again.
Well, that was not as easy as it should have been.
We had a great time seeing a bitter rivalry renewed, and finally getting that damn UM monkey of our collective backs.
Miami should be proud of a ferociously physical team that will mature and be amazing. We'd like to get this one on the record: in a soft ACC with an incredibly favorable conference schedule, Miami is our pick for ACC Champion. You can begin chuckling now, but we feel it in our bones.
We were thrilled to see a huge Gator crowd, but disappointed to see so very few Miami fans.
See more of you in 2013, when the teams meet again.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
United States Chief Justice Roberts to Watch Gators Crush Canes
Chief Justice John Roberts will be on hand to watch the Gators win over the 'Canes this Saturday. Roberts will be in Gainesville to judge the University of Florida law school moot court competition.
Mr. Chief Justice will be tailgating with Senator Mel Martinez and Governor Charlie Crist. We do not anticipate that many beers will be chugged.
Too bad, really.
Mr. Chief Justice will be tailgating with Senator Mel Martinez and Governor Charlie Crist. We do not anticipate that many beers will be chugged.
Too bad, really.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Post-Draft Mash-Up
We wanted to gather some of our post-draft thoughts in one place. There were obvious stories, and then there were little nuggets of information too interesting to be left out, and too unimportant to justify their own posts:
1) DARREN MCFADDEN'S MOTHER WAS A CRACK ADDICT? DO YOU UNDERSTAND? CRACK ADDICT! CRACK ADDICTS SMOKE CRACK, WHICH IS WHAT DARREN MCFADDEN'S MOTHER DID, MAKING HER A CRACK ADDICT. Thank you, thank you for that, ESPN. If you hadn't reminded us every three minutes that Darren McFadden's mother was a crack addict, we might have never remembered. Now, we very sure of this fact. Very, very sure! After all, we heard it dozens and dozens of time during your broadcast! We now feel comfortable approaching strangers on the street to have discussions about the all-important fact that Darren McFadden's mother was a crack addict. Granted, when I close my eyes, I have visions of Darren McFadden's mother inhaling crack smoke out of an apple. Price you pay, I guess! Thanks ESPN!
2) Kevin Smith went in the 3rd round. HE IS NOT A CRACK ADDICT. DON'T CONFUSE HIM WITH DARREN MCFADDEN'S MOTHER WHO IS A CRACK ADDICT. The third C-USA running back taken, Smith should get a lot of carries early on for the Lions. We predict a short but fruitful NFL career before the hits wear him out/break him down. This guy is going to get more carries then...uh...something that carries quite a lot.
2.5) Josh Sitton of the Knights went dead last in the 4th round. To Green Bay. Wow. Geez. Not a lot to say about that, other than whenever we mention Green Bay and UCF in the same sentence, it makes us nostalgic for Atari Bigby's hair.
No, this post isn't really about you at all. But when else do we get to shoehorn in a reference to our favorite player whose name is the Japanese word for "attack?"
Quatro) Oh, some Gator boys were picked, too. Derrick Harvey went to the Jaguars as the result of a surprising trade up. Andre "Bubba" Caldwell got snagged by Cincinnati. Tony Joiner (of "breaking-into-a-tow-lot-to-steal-back-a-car") fame was signed as a free agent. Carlton Medder and Drew Miller were also signed as free agents.
<*) Miami's going streaking! 14th year in a row! Everybody to the Quad. UM, like Will Ferrell, is still streaking. But just barely.
%) GGGGGEEEEE-NOOOOOO. FSU's Geno Hayes went in the sixth round. Uh, wow! This is of course the same guy who said he was going to "end" Tim Tebow, shortly before UF clobbered FSU 45-12. He made one tackle the entire game, and pushed an elderly journalist after it. Oh, he also had to be tasered outside a Tallahassee club one time. Drafted in the sixth round? Couldn't happen to a nicer guy, as far as we're concerned. Oh yeah, FSU Players fared pretty badly in the draft overall.
3+2+1) Mmm...Sweet Schadenfreude. One of our least favorite players, Colt Brennan, was taken in round six at pick number 186. Astute readers (Hell, we guess you don't really need to be astute to pick up on this) know that we hate/love-to-hate Colt Brennan: we gloated when he failed miserably at the Senior Bowl, and we watched gleefully as his poor performance in the Sugar Bowl got Don Ho kicked out of Heaven. We normally like felonious football players-- it's fun as Hell to write about them-- but this guy's felony convictions arose out of an incident in which he entered the room of a female student at Colorado and "exposed himself and fondled her." Yeah, yeah. We know the court vacated the unlawful sexual contact conviction (though the felony burglary and trespassing convictions stuck)--- But guess what? There are no burdens of proof on the internet!
Anyway, buried in the sixth round is a fine place for this guy. Unlike DARREN MCFADDEN'S MOTHER, COLT BRENNAN IS NOT A CRACK ADDICT. Or, at least, so we think.
...or so this adorable cat informed me.
1) DARREN MCFADDEN'S MOTHER WAS A CRACK ADDICT? DO YOU UNDERSTAND? CRACK ADDICT! CRACK ADDICTS SMOKE CRACK, WHICH IS WHAT DARREN MCFADDEN'S MOTHER DID, MAKING HER A CRACK ADDICT. Thank you, thank you for that, ESPN. If you hadn't reminded us every three minutes that Darren McFadden's mother was a crack addict, we might have never remembered. Now, we very sure of this fact. Very, very sure! After all, we heard it dozens and dozens of time during your broadcast! We now feel comfortable approaching strangers on the street to have discussions about the all-important fact that Darren McFadden's mother was a crack addict. Granted, when I close my eyes, I have visions of Darren McFadden's mother inhaling crack smoke out of an apple. Price you pay, I guess! Thanks ESPN!
2) Kevin Smith went in the 3rd round. HE IS NOT A CRACK ADDICT. DON'T CONFUSE HIM WITH DARREN MCFADDEN'S MOTHER WHO IS A CRACK ADDICT. The third C-USA running back taken, Smith should get a lot of carries early on for the Lions. We predict a short but fruitful NFL career before the hits wear him out/break him down. This guy is going to get more carries then...uh...something that carries quite a lot.
2.5) Josh Sitton of the Knights went dead last in the 4th round. To Green Bay. Wow. Geez. Not a lot to say about that, other than whenever we mention Green Bay and UCF in the same sentence, it makes us nostalgic for Atari Bigby's hair.
No, this post isn't really about you at all. But when else do we get to shoehorn in a reference to our favorite player whose name is the Japanese word for "attack?" Quatro) Oh, some Gator boys were picked, too. Derrick Harvey went to the Jaguars as the result of a surprising trade up. Andre "Bubba" Caldwell got snagged by Cincinnati. Tony Joiner (of "breaking-into-a-tow-lot-to-steal-back-a-car") fame was signed as a free agent. Carlton Medder and Drew Miller were also signed as free agents.
<*) Miami's going streaking! 14th year in a row! Everybody to the Quad. UM, like Will Ferrell, is still streaking. But just barely.
%) GGGGGEEEEE-NOOOOOO. FSU's Geno Hayes went in the sixth round. Uh, wow! This is of course the same guy who said he was going to "end" Tim Tebow, shortly before UF clobbered FSU 45-12. He made one tackle the entire game, and pushed an elderly journalist after it. Oh, he also had to be tasered outside a Tallahassee club one time. Drafted in the sixth round? Couldn't happen to a nicer guy, as far as we're concerned. Oh yeah, FSU Players fared pretty badly in the draft overall.
3+2+1) Mmm...Sweet Schadenfreude. One of our least favorite players, Colt Brennan, was taken in round six at pick number 186. Astute readers (Hell, we guess you don't really need to be astute to pick up on this) know that we hate/love-to-hate Colt Brennan: we gloated when he failed miserably at the Senior Bowl, and we watched gleefully as his poor performance in the Sugar Bowl got Don Ho kicked out of Heaven. We normally like felonious football players-- it's fun as Hell to write about them-- but this guy's felony convictions arose out of an incident in which he entered the room of a female student at Colorado and "exposed himself and fondled her." Yeah, yeah. We know the court vacated the unlawful sexual contact conviction (though the felony burglary and trespassing convictions stuck)--- But guess what? There are no burdens of proof on the internet!
Anyway, buried in the sixth round is a fine place for this guy. Unlike DARREN MCFADDEN'S MOTHER, COLT BRENNAN IS NOT A CRACK ADDICT. Or, at least, so we think.
...or so this adorable cat informed me.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Incredibly Premature Predictions: UM Edition
The inimitable Sunday Morning Quarterback presents its assessment of Miami. You know, those guys whose team is wind...or water...or both, really. SMQ predicts a thorough beating at the hands of the Gators, a split of the VT and FSU games, and a winning conference record...or maybe just going 4-8.
On a more optimistic note, College Football News predicts a realistic record of 8-4. CFN says the Canes will be helped by a fortuitous schedule. Stuff orange and green people like? How about not having to play Clemson and BC, and getting VT and FSU at home.
And yes, we do believe UM willshiv in the gut thoroughly beat the Knights in Miami. Thank you, 24k, you and your bags and bags of NFL dollars.
On a more optimistic note, College Football News predicts a realistic record of 8-4. CFN says the Canes will be helped by a fortuitous schedule. Stuff orange and green people like? How about not having to play Clemson and BC, and getting VT and FSU at home.
And yes, we do believe UM will
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A Blast From the Past: Sport's Illustrated's Indictment of UM Football
From SI.com, a blast from the past: the June 12, 1995 article "Broken Beyond Repair: An Open Letter to the President of Miami Urging Him to Dismantle His Vaunted Football Program to Salvage His School's Reputation."
Now breath, because that's quite a title. The article lays out concisely the many crimes of UM football. Among others:
And perhaps our favorite:
"[T]he 1986 episode in which your mascot pointed a toy machine gun at a visiting team just before a game."
Read it and understand why this more recent screw-up wasn't really that much of a big deal:
Now breath, because that's quite a title. The article lays out concisely the many crimes of UM football. Among others:
During the past decade your school enrolled and suited up at least one player who had scored a 200 on his verbal SAT—the number you get for spelling your name correctly. An on-campus disturbance, involving some 40 members of the football team, required 14 squad cars and a police dog to quell. Fifty-seven players were implicated in a financial-aid scandal that the feds call "perhaps the largest centralized fraud upon the federal Pell Grant program ever committed." And among numerous cases of improper payments to players from agents was one in which the nondelivery of a promised installment led a Hurricane player to barge into an agent's office and put a gun to his head.
And perhaps our favorite:
"[T]he 1986 episode in which your mascot pointed a toy machine gun at a visiting team just before a game."
Read it and understand why this more recent screw-up wasn't really that much of a big deal:
Saturday, April 5, 2008
9/6 Gators-Canes
Saurian Sagacity has a phenomenal article detailing the rivalry between UF and UM. The post is actually over a year old, but does a phenomenal job of describing why you need to be passionate about the 9/6 Gators-Canes game.
Read it and be born anew.
Read it and be born anew.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Amazing Comments #2
Yes, yes . . . we know we're going back to the Miami Herald. Um, Again. It's easy pickings, but we promise to be more equal opportunity by mocking fans of other Florida schools in the future.
Miami Herald Gator blogger Joseph Goodman posted an article inviting readers to "Call [him] Crazy" because "UF Should Hire Roland Smith." Unsurprisingly, many posters left comments to the article calling Goodman just that.
Our Amazing Comment today comes from one such enthusiastic poster:
For whatever reason, Goodman in a subsequent post proclaimed this to be the "Post of the Year so far":
Clearly, the "Post of the Year so far" bar is set astoundingly low. A better candidate would be this individual, who responded to the second post:
Love the rivalry's. Especially the rivalry's. And angry fan.
Burning car!
Crashing plane on burning car!
Miami Herald Gator blogger Joseph Goodman posted an article inviting readers to "Call [him] Crazy" because "UF Should Hire Roland Smith." Unsurprisingly, many posters left comments to the article calling Goodman just that.
Our Amazing Comment today comes from one such enthusiastic poster:
Your not only crazy your a f9cking loser and a moron and I hope you die in burning car. The day Coach Smith thinks about going to the Gay-Turds I will hunt you down.
Why don't you stupid ignorant girlie-men get a life. The jerk who says 'gayturds' all the time is an imbecile and a LOSER. Anyone who always belittles the opponent and people is stupid, lowlife, slimey, scUM. Learn to respect all people and opponents. UM is going to get better. FSU is going to get better. Florida has a long ways to go defensively before they can compete at the highest level again. The Miami and Florida game coming up in six months will be a high-scoring game that is a toss-up. The FSU/Florida game in eight months will be the same -- high scoring and a toss-up. RESPECT all people and all opponents. Then we can all have fun here and enjoy the STATE OF FLORIDA dominance in football again. Please people - GROW UP.
Clearly, the "Post of the Year so far" bar is set astoundingly low. A better candidate would be this individual, who responded to the second post:
Davey, just shut up! FB is not for girls or friendship, it's for rivalry’s.
Love the rivalry's. Especially the rivalry's. And angry fan.
Burning car!
Crashing plane!
Crashing plane on burning car!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
UM Football Schedule Released
UM has released its football schedule for 2008. The highlights as far as we're concerned?
- UM v. UF at Florida on 9/6.
- UM v. UCF at Miami on 10/11.
Both should be decent games. Florida hasn't beaten Miami since 1984. The two teams haven't played on a regular basis since 1987.
- UM v. UF at Florida on 9/6.
- UM v. UCF at Miami on 10/11.
Both should be decent games. Florida hasn't beaten Miami since 1984. The two teams haven't played on a regular basis since 1987.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Recruiting Run-Down
UF recruitment went well, despite two defections. Rivals.com has the UF class at number 3 overall.
The Gators have also picked up their first verbal commitment for 2009-- Greg Reid. Reid visited the campus on Junior day, and is a long time Gator Fan.
Miami kicked ass, ending up #4. FSU ended up in the top ten as well.
USF ended up with the 55th ranked class, with UCF just behind them at #56. If that sticks in your craw, Knight fan, note this: only one mid-major program had a better ranked recruiting class than the Knights did. Of course, that's in-division rival Southern Miss. who somehow managed to entice a 5-star recruit into playing for its humble program.
The Gators have also picked up their first verbal commitment for 2009-- Greg Reid. Reid visited the campus on Junior day, and is a long time Gator Fan.
Miami kicked ass, ending up #4. FSU ended up in the top ten as well.
USF ended up with the 55th ranked class, with UCF just behind them at #56. If that sticks in your craw, Knight fan, note this: only one mid-major program had a better ranked recruiting class than the Knights did. Of course, that's in-division rival Southern Miss. who somehow managed to entice a 5-star recruit into playing for its humble program.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Brandon Harris Goes to Miami
Ah....well. Brandon Harris chose Miami over Ohio State and UCF.
Miami fans get to revel in a great recruiting year, and also chant DA U DA U DA U any number of times.
UCF gets another reminder that it's still eating at the kid's table, rather than with the grown-ups.
....and OSU still sucks.
Miami fans get to revel in a great recruiting year, and also chant DA U DA U DA U any number of times.
UCF gets another reminder that it's still eating at the kid's table, rather than with the grown-ups.
....and OSU still sucks.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Brandon Harris...Still up in the Air
Brandon Harris is still up in the air as far as the commitment issue goes, according to the Miami Herald. UCF is still in it:
''It was a nice trip. It was productive. I got a lot of it touring the campus and facility,'' Harris said. ``I know people think I'm crazy, but UCF -- they're in it. People don't see what I see and the experience I had. It was a wonderful time.
``The best part about it was the direction they're headed in with Coach O'Leary. He has a vision and a plan of where he wants the program to go. They just got a new stadium on campus. They're like a college town atmosphere. It's not too close to home, it's not too far from home. It's in the perfect location.''
``I'd say it's them three -- Miami, Ohio State and UCF -- and LSU is closing in. It's a possibility I could go to Florida. I feel good about those five. But it goes back to those three. It's just what I feel.''
Inside the Mind of a UM Recruiting Fan
The Sun-Sentinel delves into the mind of an obsessive, over-excited UM recruiting fan:
UM5STAR: Guys like me are what we call DACs. Distant Assistant Coaches. Our job is to go on every message board and basically plea and beg for top recruits to become a Cane. We are like Randy's soldiers. We give the recruits the added attention. We make them feel like stars before they even arrive on campus. I do my flyin' around for Coach Shannon at the keyboard.
Hilarious. Even better: Canes fans on other message boards getting obsessive, over-excited, and overheated about the parody article:
UM5STAR: Guys like me are what we call DACs. Distant Assistant Coaches. Our job is to go on every message board and basically plea and beg for top recruits to become a Cane. We are like Randy's soldiers. We give the recruits the added attention. We make them feel like stars before they even arrive on campus. I do my flyin' around for Coach Shannon at the keyboard.
Hilarious. Even better: Canes fans on other message boards getting obsessive, over-excited, and overheated about the parody article:
Shandel from sun-sentinel is making fun of UM fans!!!!
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Stadium That Care Forgot
As many of you know, the last game ever played in the Orange Bowl happened just the other day-- flag football between former Dolphins and former 'Canes. Here's an essay written by Scott Holtz memorializing the Orange Bowl. It was penned shortly before the last college game played in the stadium and is reprinted with permission.
The Stadium That Care Forgot
By Scott Holtz
Scott dot Holtz at gmail dot com
I find myself sitting in Natural Resources Law (much more boring that
it sounds, if you can believe it), and instead of the usual course of
Cricklers, Chess, and College Football blog checking, I want to talk
about the black cloud that hangs over me this week- the death of the
Orange Bowl.
The Critics
1. No one will miss that old dump.
2. Why do you even care about that toilet?
3. Miami sucks anyway.
- a representative sample
Yeah, all of you who have said one of the above (or a variation) to me
are right. The Orange Bowl is a dingy, old stadium. It's full of
obstructed views. There's a mysterious yellow liquid that comes down
from the upper deck onto the people directly below the vents in the
overhang (everyone prays it's beer). I just wish that you all could
look at it and see what I see.
I could easily explain the Orange Bowl's cemented place as a football
shrine. (As if ubersentimental ESPN won't do enough of that on
Saturday.) Here's a very inexhaustive overview:
NFL- Super Bowl III (Jets over Colts), The Longest Game Ever Played,
Miami gives Chicago it's only loss of 1985- on Monday Night
Football-preserving the 1972 Dolphins' record, home of the 1972
Dolphins, hosted 5 Super Bowls, Finkle is Einhorn-Einhorn is Finkle,
the debut of Dan Marino.
NCAA- Record 58 game home winning streak, Miami won three of 5
National Championships in Orange Bowl, home of the Orange Bowl-the
second oldest bowl-from 1937-1995 and again in 1999, Wide Right II and
Wide Left that decided trips to the National Championship for Miami
and FSU, the Gator Flop, 1989 #2 Miami ends #1 Notre Dame's 18 game
winning streak and a bid for a repeat National Championship winning
before the largest crowd in OB history and converting on 3rd and 43
from inside the 5 yard line, Miami Florida State's first National
Championship, Tom Osborne's first National Championship.
But when I shed a tear as a walk out of the Old Lady for the last
time, those great moments will likely be far from my mind. The Orange
Bowl is where I saw my first football game when I was four years old.
It's where I spent practically every fall Saturday until I was
thirteen. Only there would they put the Family Section in one half of
the endzone and the rowdiest, drunken fans of the cheap seats in the
other half of the same endzone. I was a six-year old kid when I was
taught how to turn the "Tomahawk Chop" into the Italian gesture for
"Fuck You" and to call them "Semenholes." I was eight before I figured
out what that meant. Sometimes when I cross the street I flash back to
my dad grabbing my hand screaming, "Let's Go!" and yanking me across
the street to the stadium as cars bore down on us. I'll miss the
80-year old ladies who can't speak English beyond calling out,
"Shiski! Shiski!" The first Gator player I can remember recognizing?
#9 Shane Matthews. Know why? The mural on the wall of the Orange Bowl
Bar that faces the stadium. First memory at a sporting event? Nov. 25,
1989- Miami 27 Notre Dame 10 in front of a then record 81,000 plus. At
night. The stadium was so packed that we were two to a seat on the
bleachers in the West Endzone. There won't be General Admission at
Dolphins Stadium, so next year some little kid won't get the same
experience I did of being put up on Dad's shoulders while he and Mom
raced up the ramp to get good seats. Dolphins Stadium won't thunder
the same way the Orange Bowl does when everyone stamps on the floor
during a big play or when Sebastian beckons a the stadium to make as
much noise as possible before a C-A-N-E-S, CANES! I had my first beer
at a game in the Orange Bowl. I shook Warren Sapp's hand when my
friend and I snuck onto the field before a game-they almost kicked our
parents out.
So, excuse me if I wax nostalgic this week for a grand old stadium
that like so many other things and people was let down by the City of
Miami. I'm not just saying goodbye to a building, I'm saying goodbye
to a big part of my childhood. And a big part of my love of the Canes.
Oh, and if you just don't get the bond someone can have for a stadium
that houses so many memories, or for the profound effect that sports
can have on a person's life, then I pity you.
The Stadium That Care Forgot
By Scott Holtz
Scott dot Holtz at gmail dot com
I find myself sitting in Natural Resources Law (much more boring that
it sounds, if you can believe it), and instead of the usual course of
Cricklers, Chess, and College Football blog checking, I want to talk
about the black cloud that hangs over me this week- the death of the
Orange Bowl.
The Critics
1. No one will miss that old dump.
2. Why do you even care about that toilet?
3. Miami sucks anyway.
- a representative sample
Yeah, all of you who have said one of the above (or a variation) to me
are right. The Orange Bowl is a dingy, old stadium. It's full of
obstructed views. There's a mysterious yellow liquid that comes down
from the upper deck onto the people directly below the vents in the
overhang (everyone prays it's beer). I just wish that you all could
look at it and see what I see.
I could easily explain the Orange Bowl's cemented place as a football
shrine. (As if ubersentimental ESPN won't do enough of that on
Saturday.) Here's a very inexhaustive overview:
NFL- Super Bowl III (Jets over Colts), The Longest Game Ever Played,
Miami gives Chicago it's only loss of 1985- on Monday Night
Football-preserving the 1972 Dolphins' record, home of the 1972
Dolphins, hosted 5 Super Bowls, Finkle is Einhorn-Einhorn is Finkle,
the debut of Dan Marino.
NCAA- Record 58 game home winning streak, Miami won three of 5
National Championships in Orange Bowl, home of the Orange Bowl-the
second oldest bowl-from 1937-1995 and again in 1999, Wide Right II and
Wide Left that decided trips to the National Championship for Miami
and FSU, the Gator Flop, 1989 #2 Miami ends #1 Notre Dame's 18 game
winning streak and a bid for a repeat National Championship winning
before the largest crowd in OB history and converting on 3rd and 43
from inside the 5 yard line, Miami Florida State's first National
Championship, Tom Osborne's first National Championship.
But when I shed a tear as a walk out of the Old Lady for the last
time, those great moments will likely be far from my mind. The Orange
Bowl is where I saw my first football game when I was four years old.
It's where I spent practically every fall Saturday until I was
thirteen. Only there would they put the Family Section in one half of
the endzone and the rowdiest, drunken fans of the cheap seats in the
other half of the same endzone. I was a six-year old kid when I was
taught how to turn the "Tomahawk Chop" into the Italian gesture for
"Fuck You" and to call them "Semenholes." I was eight before I figured
out what that meant. Sometimes when I cross the street I flash back to
my dad grabbing my hand screaming, "Let's Go!" and yanking me across
the street to the stadium as cars bore down on us. I'll miss the
80-year old ladies who can't speak English beyond calling out,
"Shiski! Shiski!" The first Gator player I can remember recognizing?
#9 Shane Matthews. Know why? The mural on the wall of the Orange Bowl
Bar that faces the stadium. First memory at a sporting event? Nov. 25,
1989- Miami 27 Notre Dame 10 in front of a then record 81,000 plus. At
night. The stadium was so packed that we were two to a seat on the
bleachers in the West Endzone. There won't be General Admission at
Dolphins Stadium, so next year some little kid won't get the same
experience I did of being put up on Dad's shoulders while he and Mom
raced up the ramp to get good seats. Dolphins Stadium won't thunder
the same way the Orange Bowl does when everyone stamps on the floor
during a big play or when Sebastian beckons a the stadium to make as
much noise as possible before a C-A-N-E-S, CANES! I had my first beer
at a game in the Orange Bowl. I shook Warren Sapp's hand when my
friend and I snuck onto the field before a game-they almost kicked our
parents out.
So, excuse me if I wax nostalgic this week for a grand old stadium
that like so many other things and people was let down by the City of
Miami. I'm not just saying goodbye to a building, I'm saying goodbye
to a big part of my childhood. And a big part of my love of the Canes.
Oh, and if you just don't get the bond someone can have for a stadium
that houses so many memories, or for the profound effect that sports
can have on a person's life, then I pity you.
Monday, January 21, 2008
SNIPED!
The Gators have sniped former Miami commit Ramon Buchanan. Earlier this weekend, the Miami Herald had reported that Buchanan would definitely be a 'Cane. Oops!
Buchanan is from Palm Bay High (Brevard County! What, WHAT!) and is the #2 safety prospect in the country. Palm Bay High also produced Reggie Nelson, who was crucial to the Gators' 2006 National Championship effort.
Buchanan is expected to play on defense, but may switch to offense as a wide receiver.
Buchanan is from Palm Bay High (Brevard County! What, WHAT!) and is the #2 safety prospect in the country. Palm Bay High also produced Reggie Nelson, who was crucial to the Gators' 2006 National Championship effort.
Buchanan is expected to play on defense, but may switch to offense as a wide receiver.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Recruitment Ranking Update
For what it's worth, Rivals.com says UF now has the 4th best recruiting class for 2008.
UF is the highest ranked class with under 20 members.
UM and FSU have the 5th and 8th ranked classes, respectively. UCF's class is ranked 60th in the country, not too far ahead of USF (#63).
UF is the highest ranked class with under 20 members.
UM and FSU have the 5th and 8th ranked classes, respectively. UCF's class is ranked 60th in the country, not too far ahead of USF (#63).
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Mike, UCF only needs two things to win. First, UCF must have a higher score than Miami. Second, Miami must have a lower score. If UCF can accomplish those two things, they are almost guaranteed a win.