Friday, September 6, 2013

[gatortalk] Fwd: [gatornews] GatorNews from the Palm Beach Post and the Miami Herald, courtesy of JunoGator

Just who is Marc Caputo?
If you're wondering why anyone would hate the second rate Miami school, read this article. Your blood will soon start to boil. 

Oliver Barry, CRS, GRI
Real Estate Broker
Bob Parks, LLC
1517 Hunt Club Blvd
Gallatin TN 37066
615-972-4239
615-826-4040 


Opinion: While Florida fans are arrogant, Miami Hurricanes own series record

 
 

Unlike the fake genteel Southern charm emanating from Gainesville, UM fans are cosmopolitans. And oh by the way, we do own the series record.

MCAPUTO@MIAMIHERALD.COM

What do you call the Gator fan section at Saturday's UM-UF game?

A full set of teeth.

OK, that was low. But brace yourself nonetheless, Miami: They're coming. So break out the earplugs to shut out the banjo music. Pinch your nose to block the stench of the moonshine.

Everything South Florida hates about the Sunshine State's hinterlands will wear orange and blue and worship the dumbest and meanest of graven-image reptiles at Sun Life Stadium.

Unlike the simple gator of the swamp, though, the Gators of The Swamp are actually complex creatures, walking contradictions. Gators carry themselves like cosmopolitans, replete with a sense of entitlement and an affectation of Southern noblesse oblige entirely out of proportion to the charmless burg of Gainesville.

Make no mistake: Gators are more Honey Boo Boo than Scarlett O'Hara.

They're pretenders. They're takers not makers, a constant drain on a state budget funded by taxpayers from places like, say, Miami.

"What bothers Miami fans is the arrogance the Gators have, that they're so powerful they own the state," former quarterback Steve Walsh explained. "They have this attitude that they're the best."

And they're not.

Florida's national titles: three.

Miami's titles: five (about 67 percent more for all you Gators who can't do something called "math").

Miami also holds the lead in the series: 28-26.

The statistics are a clear indicator of why UF dropped UM from its regular-season schedule after 1987, when Walsh led the Hurricanes to a 31-4 victory.

The Gators do hold an edge in classlessness. They made the rivalry an official grudge match in 1971 with what became known as "The Gator Flop." Up 45-8, UF had its defense fall down on the field to let Miami score so the Gators' quarterback could surpass a passing record.

"The infamous 'Gator Flop' was a story that was drilled into my head at a very young age to explain just how shallow the Gators are," Miami native Chuck Todd, NBC's political director and chief White House correspondent, said in an email.

"As someone who was raised a Cane fan, the very first team I was taught to loathe was the Gators … not just hate, but something a step further," Todd said, adding that he hoped Hurricanes coach Al Golden will get the chance to run up the score the way Howard Schnellenberger did in 1980 when UM kicked a gratuitous late field goal because Florida fans pelted the Miami sidelines with oranges.

Like former Gov. Jeb Bush, Todd supports the Canes because they're the home team. Neither went to UM, but each identifies with the program, with the city. Like the city, the fan base is dynamic, multinational, multicolored.

To wit: UM was proudly one of the first major Deep South schools to have a black player on scholarship, Ray Bellamy, in 1966. Two years later, the school band stopped playing Dixie.

UF has historically been a school for elite Old Florida. Multicultural Miami is the future, a newcomer. And as such it will always have, as Todd calls it, "an orange-and-blue chip" on its shoulders.

Gators talk endlessly about the scandal at UM involving Ponzi-schemer-booster-liar Nevin Shapiro. They don't want to talk about the NCAA record 44 Gators players arrested since 2005.

And pious former UF quarterback Tim Tebow threw in his college days to two unsavory characters: former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez (facing murder charges) and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper, who used the "N" word on video.

Cooper said it at a lily-white Kenny Chesney concert. Of course.

Cue the banjo music.




HIGH SCHOOLS

Clash of Dade football powers Central and Booker T. has national impact

 
 

Booker T. and Central meet Friday night in what is believed to be the first meeting between teams from the same county ranked 1 and 2 in multiple national polls.

Booker T. Washington running back Krondis Larry (3) escapes a tackle and scores against Central on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. 
ANDREW ULOZA / FOR THE MIAMI HERALD

A1FERNANDEZ@MIAMIHERALD.COM

South Florida has had huge high school football games in the past.

Coral Gables and Miami High nearly filled the Orange Bowl in the late 1960s.

Miami Northwestern and Miami Jackson did the same in their epic Soul Bowl battles in the late 1990s.

A few others have played on national TV in recent years.

But one of the nation's most notable hotbeds for high school football talent has never had two teams ranked No. 1 nationally face each other.

Two of Miami-Dade County's powerhouses – Miami Booker T. Washington and Miami Central – meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Traz Powell Stadium in what is believed to be the first meeting between teams from the same county ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in multiple national polls.

"It's real special and it says a lot about South Florida being recognized nationally," Booker T. Washington coach Tim "Ice" Harris said. "Hopefully both of these teams can show the nation that they can perform at this level consistently and show the teaching and the development of student-athletes that's going on in South Florida."

The game is the first clash between teams ranked Nos. 1 and 2 since 2009 when Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas defeated South Carolina's Byrnes High 42-34.

It is the first such game involving a Dade team since Miami Northwestern defeated Texas powerhouse Southlake Carroll in 2007 in Dallas. The Bulls went on to become national champions that season as well.

In 2001, California powerhouses Concord De La Salle and Long Beach Poly met when ranked the top two teams in the country.

But a case of two teams within the same county playing for a national title is believed to be a first in the modern era of national high school football rankings.

But unlike most games in this era of ESPN and other networks broadcasting high-profile matchups, the game will not be televised. It is expected to draw a capacity crowd of 7,500.

"In nearly a decade of being involved with Rivals.com and covering high school football, I can remember a handful of out-of-state games that generated a lot of buzz nationally," said Rivals.com national writer Dallas Jackson, who said this will be the first 1 vs. 2 game in the six-year history of the RivalsHigh100 poll. "None were even as high profile as state finals … let alone a Week 2 clash. I think this one is topping the charts in terms of excitement and national awareness. People are legitimately upset that it isn't a nationally televised game."

Booker T. Washington (1-0), ranked No. 1 by USA Today, got plenty of national exposure two weeks ago when it routed then No. 6-ranked Norcross (Ga.), 55-0 in a game ESPN televised.

The Tornadoes, who have won two state championships (2007 and 2012) since their high school reopened in 1999, enter Friday's game ranked either No. 1 or 2 in all four major polls.

Central (1-0) began the season ranked No. 1 by Rivals.com and surged to No. 1 in PrepNation.com's poll following a 42-20 victory against Plantation American Heritage, one of Broward County's best, last weekend.

The Rockets have won two state championships in the past three seasons and have not lost to another Dade team since 2008. Central beat Booker T. last season in the second week of the season at Sun Life Stadium, 37-26, after rallying from a 19-3 deficit at halftime.

The game will feature more than 35 combined players being recruited by Football Subdivision (Division I) schools.

"I feel it's as big as the University of Miami-University of Florida game [Saturday]," Central senior running back Dalvin Cook, a University of Florida commitment, said. "How me and my team take it, we just go out here and work. We don't worry about the hype. I feel it's very intense. I feel this is going to be for the national title right here. Everybody is going to be there. I feel it's going to be a sellout game."

Harris and Central coach Roland Smith were both part of the Northwestern coaching staff in 1998 when two Northwestern-Jackson Soul Bowl games drew more than 81,000 fans combined to the Orange Bowl.

"I was coaching defensive backs and Coach Ice was the offensive coordinator at the time," Smith said. "Antonio Bryant had the big catch and I remember everybody walking out the stadium. That was a game of the ages right there.

"There was more riding on the line in that one even though there is a lot riding on the line [in this one]. Even though we still have a chance to win state championships, both teams' ultimate goals are to win a national championship. We're both in each other's way. We're both looking forward to this game."

Although it is only the second game of the season for both teams, many believe the winner is unlikely to lose the nation's top ranking the rest of the season.

Central is two weeks away from a trip to New Jersey to play Don Bosco Prep, a 14-time state champion and winners of the national championship in 2009. Don Bosco Prep traveled to Fort Lauderdale last season and beat St. Thomas Aquinas. The Rockets also must play defending Class 3A state champion Fort Lauderdale University School as well as a tough district schedule.

Booker T. Washington, led by senior quarterback and FSU-recruit Treon Harris, still has to play one more nationally-televised game in Las Vegas Oct. 4 against Bishop Gorman High. The Tornadoes also play a few more local rivals including Northwestern and could face University School in the playoffs.

Neither is taking what lies

--------------- ---------------

beyond Friday's game for

granted. Following Aquinas'

victory against Byrnes in

2009, the Raiders were up

set in the state semifinals.

Both teams understand

the importance of a victory

Friday.

"I think the kids have been through it for the past two years and they're showing the ability to lead and the knowledge of what needs to be done," Harris said. "Both teams have coaches that have worked together in the past and have great respect for each other.

"Our kids have great character and discipline and sportsmanship. I hope we can show that having two teams like this in Dade County isn't a one-year thing. Hopefully, other teams will join in and we'll continue to have teams battling for a national title and keep this thing going in South Florida."

Miami Herald sportswriter Manny Navarro contributed to this report.



Dave George: Expect Florida vs. Miami to be a hot and sweaty struggle to the end


Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
It would be easy to say that Florida will manhandle Miami on Saturday if the Gators hadn't struggled to beat Louisiana-Lafayette on a blocked punt at the buzzer just five games ago.
Likewise, it would be easy to say that the Hurricanes will splatter Florida if Miami hadn't lost all three of its games against ranked opponents last year, including a 41-3 stinker against Notre Dame.
Come to think of it, there is nothing easy about this grumpy meeting of irregular rivals, and that is just how it should be.
This series has no future games under contract. It has lost its poll-bending national significance, as evidenced by the noontime start on ESPN. Miami vs. Florida, in other words, is only as important as backers of the two programs say it is right now, and here is what they are saying.
Remove the tarps from the upper deck at Sun Life Stadium, for openers, because we're coming to fill every seat, plus some temporary bleachers, too. This is no impulse buy, either. Single-game tickets were sold out in July and expectations are that a crowd of nearly 77,000, approaching the old Orange Bowl limits, will be at full roar from the morning tailgate parties on.
I figure they'll be howling until late in the fourth quarter, too, waiting for one team or the other to find its passing gear. We're talking about a Miami team that is strong on offense but shaky on defense, plus a Florida team that has it the other way around. Dovetail those dynamics and it might just be up to a pair of newly promoted placekickers – Austin Hardin of Florida and Matt Goudis of Miami - to settle the matter.
Stephen Morris and national rushing leader Duke Johnson are the Hurricanes most likely to spark a mild upset of the 12th-ranked Gators. Morris is a senior who topped 400 yards passing three times last season. Johnson is a home run hitter who ran for 186 yards in a season-opening 34-6 win over Florida Atlantic and had a 38-yard reception, too.
"It's going to be harder," coach Al Golden said. "(Florida) is big and physical up front. It's a great challenge for our offense but it's a great opportunity. They should prepare to be confident and let it rip on Saturday."
The Hurricanes can't waste opportunities like they did against FAU. Miami was just 5-of-17 on third- and fourth-down conversion tries against the overmatched Owls. Not nearly good enough.
Florida's offense isn't as flashy as Miami's and won't be until Jeff Driskel finds the time and the confidence to take a deep shot down field every now and again.
The Gators can really grind it out at times, however, and coach Will Muschamp is eager to see what running back Matt Jones can do in his return to action after a long illness. The methodical Gators, who kept the ball for nearly 40 minutes against Toledo, could be really tough to get off the field. They've got former Glades Day sensation Kelvin Taylor in reserve, too, for big-play potential.
In the end, neither team is strong enough to win the national title, but ESPN will get its ratings anyway. This series has been important to the network from the start. In 1984, when Kerwin Bell of the Gators and Hurricanes star Bernie Kosar both threw touchdown passes in the final minute of a wild Miami win, ESPN was right there at Tampa Stadium to do its first-ever live college football broadcast in prime time.
"It was total bedlam," said Paul Maguire, now 75, who worked the ESPN booth with Jim Simpson that night. "Jim and I went in there three hours before the game and we both said, 'Oh my God.' It was like those fans had been in there yelling and screaming at each other for three days.
"All I remember is it was hotter than hell and I was worn out when the damn thing was over."
Sounds about right for this September Saturday in 2013. Sounds exactly like Florida vs. Miami always has.


Dave George: Miami's 21-20 victory over Florida in 1981 helped define a rivalry that retains its bite


Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Right down the middle and never in doubt, that's the way Howard Schnellenberger saw the 55-yard field goal that gave Miami a wild 21-20 comeback victory over Florida in 1981, and that's how he described it to reporters as they crowded into the steamy, old Orange Bowl locker room.
Just like so many other things about that famous flash point in the rivalry between the Hurricanes and the Gators, however, the details got lost in the delirium.
"I didn't know until later that it actually hit the left upright pretty solid," said Danny Miller, the Clewiston kid who kicked that game-winner through and who today, at 52, still gets asked about it on a regular basis.
Such is the chaos commonly associated with Florida-Miami games, and there's another one, probably the last in many years, scheduled for Saturday at Sun Life Stadium.
So you hope for a classic, something that strips away the pretense of BCS championship contention and leaves the teams to fight all the way to the finish just for the fun and the fury of it.
Using those criteria, it would be difficult to top 1981, a game played before either program had started stacking national titles. Why, the game wasn't even televised. Still, there was sufficient magnetism to draw 73,817 fans, Miami's largest home crowd since a 1955 game with Notre Dame.
Imagine how the old stadium swayed on the Florida side when the Gators built a 20-11 lead in the third quarter, and how it sagged on the other side, especially when Miami quarterback Jim Kelly left the game with a bruised calf.
That's when Schnellenberger turned to Mark Richt, a former all-state quarterback at Boca Raton High School who didn't play much at Miami once Kelly came along. Richt, of course, is the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs these days, and has been for 14 years. Beating Florida never loses its luster for a guy like him, however, even if his stats were pretty humbling.
"When Jim (Kelly) went down, I was just out there trying to survive," Richt said last week. "I guess I did enough to help us win. I can vividly remember the touchdown pass to Rocky Belk and the crossing-pattern pass to Glenn Dennison to set up the winning field goal.
"People like to remind me that I was 2-for-13 that day, but I always tell them I'm pretty sure we had 11 dropped balls."
He's joking now. It's easy to do 32 years after the fact, just like it is easy to picture Miller calmly trotting out to kick that long-range winner. He famously practiced as a boy booting balls over an imaginary crossbar formed by some banana trees behind his former Crescent Drive home in Clewiston. Al Morrell, Miller's old Clewiston coach, let Miller try a few from 50 yards and more in high school. Sometimes it worked, too, though never with a game on the line.
Think, though, about fourth-and-long at the Florida 38-yard line with 45 seconds remaining. Miller could have kept quiet and let somebody else take the heat. Instead, he stepped up to Schnellenberger and asked for a shot.
"I thought I could do it and I really wanted to beat them bad," said Miller, who turned down an offer to redshirt as a freshman at Florida.
When Miller made that kick, he couldn't have known that everything else he accomplished thereafter would pale in comparison, including a 57-yard field goal against FSU later that season and a 58-yard make for Baltimore in 1982 that still stands as the Colts' franchise record.
Here's what you probably didn't know, though. The Gators came right back at Miami that day, picking up a few quick first downs and giving Brian Clark a 59-yard desperation kick to win for Florida.
"He came up about 1 yard short," Miller said. "Against the wind."
What a twist it would have been if Clark had connected. The all-time series would be tied at 27-27 if he had.
A rivalry like this one isn't about numbers, though. It's about neither side being able to stomach losing, and not wanting to be reminded decades later that they did.

David Haugh: Playing Williams over Bostic is short-sighted of Bears

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

During a recent informative, entertaining question-and-answer session with fans on the Bears' website, in which we learned Phil Emery gets by on a cup of black coffee for lunch, the team's general manager revealed his pregame ritual.

Emery likes taking 90-minute walks downtown before heading over to Soldier Field and even encouraged people who pass him Sunday morning to stop and chat.

So if you see a man wearing black horn-rimmed glasses wandering deep in thought near Millennium Park hours before the Bears and Bengals kick off the 2013 season, feel free to ask Emery this: Why would he allow middle linebacker D.J. Williams to replace Jon Bostic on the starting defense?

Come to think of it, why is Williams and his $1.75 million contract still on the roster if the Bears are as committed to player development as Emery made it sound?

On Labor Day, Emery delivered a detailed, defensible dissertation that included his philosophy on valuing draft picks, complete with his own analytics. Emery's implication was the Bears needed a stronger commitment to developing homegrown players, a notion supported Thursday by an ESPN.com report. According to Elias, the Bears ranked 28th in the NFL with 31 players who have not appeared in a regular-season game for another team.

"I firmly believe the best way to build a team is your own original talent," Emery said Monday.

Two days later, the Bears defense opened the door to replacing a promising rookie second-round pick with a veteran on a one-year contract. The obvious contradiction sums up the delicate balance confronting the Bears between trying to win now and planning for later, a microcosm of the quest for synergy a GM and coach entering their first season together seek.

It also just seems wrong at this stage of Marc Trestman's regime.

While Williams missed all four exhibition games with a calf injury, Bostic made a lasting impression beyond big hits and plays. He quickly earned respect from opponents and teammates. Sure, Bostic blew coverages and assignments like every rookie. But you don't have to know as much about the position as Doug Buffone to realize the quickest way for Bostic to learn to play linebacker in the NFL is on the job. Bostic's good outweighed the bad.

"He did what he was supposed to do," Lance Briggs said.

His reward? When Williams returned to practice, he assumed the starting position he has done little to earn. Williams built up NFL equity during nine seasons in Denver, but in Chicago we haven't seen enough to think Williams contributing to the present means more than Bostic improving for the future. Had the Bears kept reserve linebacker J.T. Thomas, a sixth-rounder in 2011, instead of Williams, Emery could have justified the move because of special teams needs, money and his own stated mantra.

Every snap Williams plays is one fewer Bostic progresses. For a linebacker, taking mental repetitions on the sideline just isn't the same as taking on a pulling guard on third-and-2. Which of those two players can you foresee starting at middle linebacker for the Bears in a Super Bowl? Start that man Sunday and the rest of the season.

"The good thing about Bostic is whether he's ready or not ready, he doesn't have to be right now," Briggs said.

But there is no reason to wait. Credit Trestman for trying to articulate how tricky it can be to marry game-day needs with long-term interests. The Bears did that nicely on the offensive line with veteran free agents Jermon Bushrod and Matt Slauson anchoring the left side opposite rookies Kyle Long and Jordan Mills on the right.

"I try to compartmentalize it," Trestman said. "We've got a 53(-man roster) and a 46. We're going to play the best guys during games that give us the best opportunity to win on that play and eventually in that game. Part of coaching is developing players, so I look at it as two separate issues."

Trestman carefully avoided declaring Williams the starter, but Briggs sounded much more definitive - and a tad defensive - when I asked how effective a linebacker might be after missing the preseason.

"I did it," Briggs said, referring to the 2011 preseason. "Brian (Urlacher) did it."

So now we're comparing Williams to two of the greatest Bears linebackers ever?

"I named two linebackers who have played in the league for a long time, (and) D.J. is one of those guys," Briggs said. "Let's clarify this. When we opened camp, D.J. was our starting middle linebacker. D.J. got injured, which gave an opportunity to Jon Bostic not only to showcase his skills but learn."

Let's clarify something else: The Bears aren't going to catch the Packers by playing 31-year-old stopgap free agents ahead of high draft picks.





Valdez Showers latest Florida Gator to successfully switch from defense to offense



Related

Florida's Valdez Showers (10) runs for yardage during the second half against Toledo on Saturday. Valdez moved from safety to running back for the Gators. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
GAINESVILLE — 
One of offensive coordinator Brent Pease's favorite ways to mess with Florida's defensive players is to tempt them with the idea of coming over to his side.
"Hey, I've got a play for you," he yells to cornerbacks and linebackers and whoever else catches his attention during practices.
But when he said it to safety Valdez Showers, he was not kidding.
Showers, a red-shirt sophomore, moved from defense in early August to fill what Gators coach Will Muschamp calls "the Omarius Hines position," meaning he is a hybrid weapon who can line up at running back, tight end, slot receiver and wide receiver. After about a month of working with the offense, he seems suited for the job.
"We use him in a lot of different roles, and it's always difficult for a defensive coach as far as how you count that guy," Muschamp said. "Is he a running back? Is he a slot receiver? How are they going to utilize him this week?"
Those are the questions Miami must answer when No. 12 Florida visits Sun Life Stadium on Saturday (noon, ESPN).
Toledo's confusion was evident in last week's season opener, which was Showers' offensive debut. There was no film available of his skill or how he fit into the Gators' scheme, and he caught four passes for 31 yards and ran twice for 31 yards. His 54 total yards was UF's third-highest output behind starting running back Mack Brown (108 yards) and receiver Trey Burton (70).
It was a strong starting point for a player who had not been with the offense for much time, though it did not surprise Pease. He sensed high potential with Showers' speed and 6-foot, 190-pound build, and was even happier when he saw how quickly he learned the playbook.
"Once you teach him something, he can take one rep and you feel pretty comfortable and trust how he's going to handle things," Pease said. "There are so many changing parts with defenses these days, and he still has to be responsible for protection. People start to move with the snap of the ball, and he can handle that. He's got a great awareness."
Since Muschamp's arrival in 2011, he has experimented with several players switching sides. Six offensive players on this team — including No. 1 tight end Clay Burton — were previously on defense, plus the Gators are using cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy in a limited role at receiver this season.
In Showers' case, the move was likely his fastest route to the field. He worked on the scout team his first year and played mainly on special teams last season. Heading into this fall, he likely would've been a second- or third-string safety. At running back, starter Matt Jones was out with a viral infection and the other options were two true freshmen and a walk-on.
Furthermore, Showers' heart was always set on playing offense.
"That's something you can't let go," he said. "Offense comes natural to me. The transition was pretty much easy. I have natural instincts running the ball, and some of that never left."
UF considered using him on offense for at least two years, possibly even before he signed. He was a 2,000-yard rusher with 29 touchdowns in his senior year at Madison Heights (Mich.) High School before joining the Gators as a safety.
In his first year, injury-plagued Florida nearly pulled him out of his red-shirt status to fill in at running back, but resisted and preserved his future eligibility.
"For whatever reason, I can't remember exactly, we ended up not doing it," Muschamp said. "But watching his film from high school, I always had that resonate in my mind. He was a guy that was pretty special with the ball in his hands.
"When I approached him in fall camp about possibly moving over, he was all for it. I said, 'Right now I think you can help us more at running back. There's no question you would compete for the starting job at safety, but we are going to create a role for you on our offense. Give it a couple of days.' After two days, he was very natural with it."
CHART: GATORS MOVING FROM DEFENSE TO OFFENSE
Player Yr. Old pos. New pos. Moved Result
Valdez Showers r-So. S RB 2013 54 total yards in debut
Gideon Ajagbe r-Jr. LB FB 2013 2 rec. for 16 yards and TD in debut
Tevin Westbrook Jr. DE TE 2012 Blocking specialist; one catch in 14 games
Clay Burton Jr. DE TE 2011 2 rec. for 12 yards total; seven career starts
Quinteze Williams r-Fr. DL OL 2013 Has not played
Rhaheim Ledbetter r-Fr. S FB 2013 Debuted last week



UM NOTEBOOK

Record crowd expected for Miami Hurricanes-Florida Gators matchup


 

MNAVARRO@MIAMIHERALD.COM

RECORD CROWD

The largest crowd in Sun Life Stadium history for a Hurricanes game is expected Saturday when the University of Miami hosts the Florida Gators in what could well be the final regular-season meeting between two rivals.

The largest home crowd for a Hurricanes game at Sun Life was 75,115 for Florida State on Oct. 9, 2010. Miami, which has averaged about 48,560 fans a game since moving from the Orange Bowl, has only drawn better than 60,000 for a game five other times.

The demand for Saturday's game has helped increase Miami's season ticket sales.

According to Chris Freet, assistant athletics director for communications and marketing, only 350 to 400 of 30,000 season ticket packages remain. The cheapest are going for $390 with the most expensive costing up to $1,400.

Cortez KennedyEdgerrin JamesClinton PortisRay Lewis and Bernie Kosar are among the former players who have already confirmed with UM they will attend.



UM VS. UF

Hurricanes-Gators game an opportunity to sway coveted recruits


 

UM has assembled a stellar recruiting class for 2014, but the Gators have picked a few gems out of Miami's backyard. The chance to impress or flip them comes Saturday.

MNAVARRO@MIAMIHERALD.COM

Dalvin Cook and Joseph Yearby have a big football game Friday, a showdown of No. 1-ranked national powers featuring their Central Rockets against Florida State-bound quarterback Treon Harris and the Booker T. Washington Tornadoes.

But there's also another football game on the minds of two of the nation's premier high school running backs – Saturday afternoon's tilt between the Gators and Hurricanes.

"This is going to be the first time since Optimist we'll be rooting against each other," said Yearby, considered the Hurricanes' top committed 2014 recruit by ESPN (21st overall in the ESPN Top 300 recruiting rankings).

Cook (5-10, 195), considered the Gators' top recruit by ESPN (23rd in ESPN Top 300), said when he and Yearby have walked past each other in school this week there's been a bit of trash-talking.

"I'll say Gator Nation and do the chomp. He'll shout Canes Fam or something like that and hold up The U," Cook said. "We're just trying to enjoy every moment of our last year together. Well, what might be our last year together."

While Duke Johnson tries to zoom past the 12th-ranked Gators and lead the three-point underdog Hurricanes to a win Saturday, Cook and Yearby will be among the "who's who list" of recruits – as Hurricanes coach Al Golden put it this week – watching Miami and Florida's every move from the seats at Sun Life Stadium.

If you didn't know by now, high school football commitments these days often last about as long as Kim Kardashian's first marriage. Cook was once committed to Clemson before switching to Florida. Yearby was Florida State-bound before James Coley got the offensive coordinator job at Miami.

DOMINO EFFECT

Wins and losses on Saturdays affect allegiances too. So do friendships. Where some of the nation's elite players – such as Cook and Yearby – decide to go usually has a domino effect.

Cook said he's proud he has been able to help the Gators sway commitments such as Central teammate and 2015 star receiver Da'Vante Phillips (11th ESPN Top 300), and Homestead High senior receiver Ermon Lane (28th ESPN Top 300). Yearby says he's trying to get Central cornerback Deatrick Nichols (USF commitment) to join him and offensive lineman Trevor Darling at Miami.

"I feel me and Joe are program changers," Cook said. "Can we flip each other and other players? Yes. It doesn't really end until February."

Said Yearby: "[Saturday's game] probably will help some people decide where they're going because they look at the game based on who's got the better program, how the offense or defense looks."

Aesthetically, recruiting experts will tell you, it's the Hurricanes who have ground to make up even though Golden, with an NCAA probe still lingering, has been able to put together what is considered the fourth-best 2014 recruiting class in the country by both ESPN and Rivals.

IS MIAMI BACK?

The Gators (ranked 8th by ESPN; 14th by Rivals) are still viewed as the more elite of the two programs, especially since they are coming off a Sugar Bowl appearance and their last two national titles (2006, 2008) are more recent than Miami's last crown (2001).

"This is truly a 'Is Miami back?' football game," said Corey Long, editor-in-chief at FuelRecruiting who has covered the state's recruiting battles for decades. "A close loss doesn't hurt them at all. I think it shows them they're close. But a victory in the mind of people is 'They're back' at least temporarily, especially nationally. If Miami wins I think everything opens up for them – the whole Southeast, national recruits. Miami still has that brand name. But proving they can play with an elite SEC team goes a long way."

As much recruiting success as Florida has had (the Gators have been in ESPN's top five recruiting rankings every year since 2006 except once), they've only cherry-picked Miami's backyard – Dade and Broward – over that span for about a handful of players the Hurricanes badly wanted, such as safety Major Wright, offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert, receiver Quinton Dunbar and cornerbacks Marcus Roberson, Jabari Gorman and Willie Bailey.

This year, though, defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson, a former standout at Miami Coral Park High and area recruit for the Gators, has plucked quite a few gems. He has nabbed commitments from Cook, Lane, Plantation cornerback Chris Lammons (85th in ESPN Top 300), Hollywood Chaminade defensive tackle Khairi Clark (162nd in ESPN Top 300) and University School safety Quincy Wilson (203rd in ESPN Top 300). Of the five, Wilson, the son of former Hurricanes cornerback Chad Wilson, is the only player UM didn't pursue strongly.

"The Gators would always go into Broward, but when it came to Dade it was like a 'Do not enter sign,' " Long said. "Is the class going to be a bunch of Dade kids? No. But if you look at Ermon and Dalvin, you're talking about arguably the best receiver and best running back in Dade County, two of the top three playmakers in the county. Are you kidding me? Miami definitely wants both of them."

MAKING INROADS

The Gators aren't necessarily stopping there either. UF is also zeroing in on 2015 standouts Tyrek Cole of Miramar (cornerback, 53rd in ESPN Top 300) and Killian safety Jaquan Johnson (117th in ESPN Top 300). Many of those juniors and seniors have been invited to come watch Saturday. Yearby said seven Central players – all committed to FBS programs – will be at the game.

"It doesn't hurt to win," Golden said. "In terms of us selecting the kids that we want to recruit and going after them ... everybody's got their own plan. At the end of the day we're responsible for how we play and who we recruit."

Kynon Codrington, the Southeast Recruiting analyst for Rivals.com, like Long believes the Hurricanes already have a top-flight recruiting class for 2014. But he thinks the Canes can add to it by flipping Lane and impressing former Florida commitment and St. Thomas Aquinas defensive tackle Anthony Moten (175th in ESPN Top 300). Moten has UM up high on his list of schools along with South Carolina and Florida State.

"If Ermon Lane sees Jeff Driskel and the Gators' passing offense struggle and Stephen Morris and his receivers throwing the ball over the field, he may just say 'Man, Miami really is back,' " Codrington said. "This is an opportunity to impress [Dwyer receiver] Johnnie Dixon (42nd in ESPN Top 300) too. But lose or lose bad and there definitely could be a few guys who say this gives them something to think about."




Opinion: Miami Hurricanes just a small blip on Florida Gators' radar


 

For University of Florida fans, Miami is like the pesky little brother who just won't go away. Sure, he's annoying, but we've got bigger fish to fry.

COGLE@MIAMIHERALD.COM

We don't like you, Miami Hurricanes. Really. But we hate so many other people so much more. To the great Gator Nation, you're sort of like the palmetto bugs scurrying around the kitchen floor after dark: When you force us to acknowledge your presence, we reach for the nearest heavy object to squash you. But we're really more worried about the tornado (in the form of Nick Saban) blowing off the roof.

There are reasons our favorite jokes don't involve the Miami River but the St. John's (which flows north because Georgia sucks). There's only so much hostility to go around. We play in the Southeastern Conference, where teams have traditionally loathed each other since Biblical times (Judas, I have it on good authority, wore a Herschel Walker jersey).

There are other factors, too: The beloved Ol' Ball Coach who helped us win our first national championship now competes against us in the same division! Teams from Mississippi actually beat us once in awhile! Auburn always gets all the calls! Every other year, we must venture into Baton Rouge on a dark Saturday night to play in front of drunken lunatics led by a man who eats grass. Every other year, we are forced to gaze upon the horror of Tennessee's fluorescent orange uniforms and absurd checkerboard end zones (admittedly a small price to pay for beating Peyton Manning four years in a row).

Saban's deal with Lucifer prevents any other teams from winning the conference championship, so we don't even have that to look forward to anymore. And now that Johnny Football has joined the gang, we have to start hating him, too. Playing in the SEC is akin to stewing in an ever-boiling cauldron of bile, and we have more than enough ingredients to keep our relationships hostile for centuries — or until one of us wins the national championship again, at which point we all hold hands, chant "SEC!" and howl with laughter at the idea that anybody else ever had a shot.

Yes, we know you're still mad about something called the Gator Flop that happened in the 1800s. And we're getting a little sick of the Aaron Hernandez jokes and the way every time one of your quarterbacks completes a pass for 20-plus yards you start shouting about the Heisman and how you believe your team requires "swagger" more than a decent pass rush.

So we do enjoy your suffering. We think it's hilarious that you have to play in someone else's stadium and that the NCAA is still trying to come up with ways to punish you for Nevin Shapiro, even though the players involved with him are now officially eligible to collect Social Security. And in our hearts, though many of us cheer for the Miami Dolphins, we rejoiced and sang "Hallelujah!" when Tim Tebow beat the Fins in OT, back when he still had an NFL job.

But we don't need another instate rival, even one that is fond of calling us hillbillies (we're from Fort Lauderdale and Tampa and Orlando, not Arkansas or Kentucky).

We have Florida State, whose fans are capable of producing the most annoying sound known to mankind, which happily can be reversed on them in a crude manner should they start losing. We know you hate them too, but we actually appreciate all those wide rights over the years. After all, the enemy of my enemy might not exactly be my friend, but I don't have time to wish him ill 24/7.

Maybe if our teams could play every year — and make no mistake, we lovers of the orange and blue would prefer that over grappling with Missouri, which I am pretty sure is not even in the South — we could work up a good head of steam and despise you in the way you deserve. But for now, swagger or not, you're way down the list. So thank us for helping you sell out a game for a change, and let's play.



Florida-Miami Preview

  1. While the Hurricanes have won six of the last seven meetings and lead the all-time series 28-26, the Gators picked up a 26-3 victory in their last matchup in 2008 behind 311 yards of total offense by Tim Tebow.
  2. With its 24-6 win over Toledo last week, Florida extended its mark to 24 consecutive opening day wins, the second-longest streak in the nation (Nebraska 28).
  3. Florida totaled 415 yards of offense in the opener against Toledo. Last season, UF had just three games over 400 yards of offense: 403 vs. Kentucky, 403 at Vanderbilt and 555 at Tennessee.
  4. The Gators were one of five schools on opening weekend to have a kickoff return and a punt return of longer than 30 yards, joining Alabama, Michigan, Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss.
  5. Over their last two home games, the Hurricanes have allowed a total of five field goals but not a single touchdown.
  6. Jeff Driskel, who did not throw an interception last week, has thrown an interception in just three of his last 15 games for the Gators.
By JONAH ROSENBLUM
STATS Writer

(AP) -- The Florida-Miami rivalry has undergone one 13-year hiatus. There's no telling how long the next one might be.

With the SEC potentially moving to a nine-game conference schedule, Saturday's meeting between No. 12 Florida and Miami might not be repeated for a long time.

"You never say never, but it's really, really difficult," Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said Monday.

The teams met every year from 1944-87 and then didn't play again until 2001.

Foley cited financial concerns, noting that the Gators had to set aside $700,000 to compensate for a lost home game Saturday, when they'll visit Sun Life Stadium instead.

What would be left behind is one of the most bitter rivalries in college sports, from Florida fans throwing peaches at the Peach Bowl-bound Hurricanes in 1980 to a Bourbon Street tussle involving players from both teams prior to the 2001 Sugar Bowl.

The enmity only continued in their latest matchup in 2008, when then-Florida coach Urban Meyer was accused of running up the score in the Gators' 26-3 victory, which broke the Hurricanes' six-game winning streak in the series that included two bowl games.

Miami coach Al Golden hopes this won't be the last chapter of the fabled rivalry.

"It has great significance in the state, so I would be for (another game), for sure," Golden said.

This installment will see the season debut of Florida running back Matt Jones after the sophomore missed the opener while recovering from a viral infection. Jones rushed for 275 yards last season.

The Gators didn't miss him too much last week as Jeff Driskel went 17 of 22 for 153 yards and Mack Brown ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in a 24-6 victory over Toledo.

"I felt like I was useless for the last couple of years," said Brown, who had 40 carries in 25 games over his first three seasons in Gainesville. "Getting an opportunity. Just took it and ran with it. It felt good, man. I can't really express it."

The Hurricanes dealt with running back health issues of their own last week, as Duke Johnson recorded a career-high 186 rushing yards against Florida Atlantic but missed most of the second half after being shaken up on a play.

Before he left, he helped Miami overcome a slow offensive start with a 53-yard second-quarter touchdown run that gave the Hurricanes a 10-0 lead in a 34-6 victory.

"Duke Johnson is an outstanding player," Florida coach Will Muschamp told the team's official website. "He's very similar to a Chris Rainey, but a bigger version of that, a guy that can full-speed one cut and get the ball vertical and make people miss in space. He runs hard, runs tough and is an outstanding receiver out of the backfield."

The Hurricanes needed Johnson with their passing game sputtering. Stephen Morris, who ended last season on a tear and is expected to make a big leap this season, went 15 of 27 for 160 yards.

"We have to throw and catch better," Golden said. "We weren't as sharp as we need to be and that's it. No excuses. We protected well, except for one time, but other than that we have to throw and catch the ball better. We have to be more precise in our routes."

Morris chose to attend Miami after being heavily recruited by both the Hurricanes and Gators.

"What is there to talk about? Sept. 7, noon, it is what it is," Morris said, a sly smile on his face. "We'll be there."

Florida, which had five players suspended for the opener, will get back linebacker Antonio Morrison, defensive tackle Darious Cummings, cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy and offensive lineman Quinteze Williams. Purifoy finished fourth on the team with 51 tackles last year.

"We have consequences in our program. Our players understand that. They move forward," Muschamp said. "That's why you recruit and that's why you have a deep roster."



UF FOOTBALL

Florida Gators' Quinton Dunbar hopes to shine in front of family against Miami Hurricanes

 
 

When former Booker T. receiver Quinton Dunbar plays for Florida on Saturday, he will have his on cheering section.

Florida's Trey Burton (8) signals a touchdown as wide receiver Quinton Dunbar (1) crosses the goal line on for a 14-yard pass play past Florida State's Lamarcus Joyner (20) and linebacker Vince Williams (11) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida won the game 37-26. 
PHIL SEARS / FRE

MIAMI HERALD WRITER

Quinton Dunbar, a star receiver at Booker T. Washington, grew up gleefully rooting for Miami. He idolized the late Sean Taylor — a UM legend.

He was once orally committed to play for the Hurricanes.

But ultimately, Dunbar fled the Magic City: "[I had] to get out of Miami," he said. "Start a new life somewhere else."

For most — including Florida's redshirt junior receiver — Overtown is a tough Miami neighborhood rich in history, but, now, little else.

Overtown is among the roughest neighborhoods in the nation. The neighborhood's theoretical urban renewal in the 1960's actually further decayed an-already unraveling community.

CHANGING COURSE

The situation has only worsened.

"The success rate is low," Dunbar said, shaking his head. "Coming from a city like that where there's a lot of drugs and a lot of guns, it's very hard to get out of it. But if you put your mind to it, you can get out of that situation."

Dunbar rattled off names of friends who were killed in the community, but unlike so many others, he did get out — thanks to guidance from his mother, Twanette.

"It wasn't no temptation for me because my mom is a very great parent. She always kept me on point," Dunbar said. "She made sure I didn't do other things that other kids did."

When Dunbar came to Florida in 2010, his maturation was hardly complete, but offensive coordinator Brent Pease gushed over the wide receiver's steady development since arriving in Gainesville.

GROWING UP

"I can't say enough and feel more proud of that kid in how he's grown up as a kid," Pease said. "I say kid, I know he's a grown man and whatever they want to be called, but it's awesome."

Dunbar, who called UF "the perfect fit," said Saturday's homecoming — No. 12 Florida (1-0) visits Miami (1-0) — will be extra special for a South Florida native who avoided gang violence and drugs in his community.

Florida's No. 1 wide receiver will have close to 20 family and friends in attendance at Sun Life Stadium and will square off against childhood teammate Duke Johnson — UM's electric sophomore tailback — and his cousin, Denzel Perryman — a starting linebacker for UM.

"I imagine [Saturday] will be emotional for him," Pease said. "He wants to do really well. He just has to understand that you can't press. You have to just go with the flow and compete. That's what the good ones do. He'll show up."




UF NOTEBOOK

Florida Gators' Cody Riggs dissapointed in end to UM series

 
 

MIAMI HERALD WRITER

Gators safety Cody Riggs — a Fort Lauderdale native and former St. Thomas Aquinas standout — has waited a long time to play Miami, but at least he will have the opportunity.

Florida's redshirt junior was unaware Saturday's showdown is the final scheduled meeting in the foreseeable future for the storied series.

"That's kind of sad," Riggs said. "Two big-time programs in the state that don't play each other. I would hope to play them every year. Hopefully times can go back to old times, but that's kind of disappointing this might be the last time."

• Freshman wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was trumpeted as a potential savior for Florida's anemic passing attack, and despite not catching a pass in UF's opener offensive coordinator Brent Pease was pleased with Robinson's debut. "I went up to him in the locker room and told him, 'You know what: Just be patient. I'm going to do a better job of getting some things designed [for you].' He goes, 'Coach, I had fun and we won.' That's the kind of kid he is."


Fun With Stats (& more UF-UM tidbits)

Of note...

* The last time Florida won in Miami was Sept. 7, 1985 (35-23). Saturday's game is on Sept. 7.

* The winners of the last five regular season meetings between Florida-Miami have all finished in the top five of the final AP Poll

(Courtesy ESPN Stats & Information)

* Duke Johnson as averaged 9.0 yards per carry in his past four games, totaling 678 yards and six touchdowns.

* Only 12 FBS teams attempted fewer passes than the Gators (22) in college football's opening weekend, but 11-of-12 won their opener -- New Mexico was the lone loser. 

* Also according to ESPN Stats & Information: UF has allowed just two rushes of 50+ yards in the last 10 years -- tops in nation. Meanwhile, Johnson has six 50+ yard gains in 13 career games.

* Against the nation's top 25 rushing defenses in 2012 -- No. 3 Florida State, No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 21 Kansas State -- Johnson rushed for just 68 yards on 23 carries (2.95 y/c) 

* Miami quarterback Stephen Morris threw for a combined 1,415 yards in three games last year (Georgia Tech, NC State, South Florida). Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel threw for 1,646 yards total in 2012.

* Florida allowed 12 first downs to Toledo -- the nation's No. 32 ranked offense in 2012. Miami surrendered 18 first downs to Florida Atlantic -- the No. 105 offense last season.

* FAU rushed for 133 yards in the opener vs. Miami. Florida allowed 133 rushing yards> just twice in 2012 -- Kentucky, 159; Texas A&M, 134.

* The Gators haven't lost in September since Tim Tebow's famous 'Promise' speech following an upset defeat to Ole Miss (31-30).

* Miami has allowed just one touchdown -- a Logan Thomas 73-yard run -- in its last three home games (Virginia Tech, South Florida, FAU).

* The Gators have never played the Hurricanes in Sun Life Stadium, but UF is 2-0 all-time at the stadium -- 2002 Orange Bowl (56-23 over Maryland) & 2008 BCS National Championship (24-14 over Oklahoma) 





Joe vs. The Pro: Week 2

 

There are some enormous spreads in college football this week, which is another way of saying there is plenty of money to be made betting on terrible games. This being Joe vs. Pro — a social experiment of immense cultural significance — we're going to avoid those gimmies and focus on difficult matchups of national importance. Of course, we still have to pick games involving FIU, and if we've learned anything about this college football season so far, it's to never take the Panthers, regardless of the line.

Joseph Goodman, the Miami Herald's college football columnist, and Lee Sterling of ParamountSports.com took Maryland against FIU last week and hit it big. Of course, Sterling did more hitting in Week 1. The Pro went 6-2 against the spread and 7-1 straight up. Goodman was a respectable 4-4 against the spread and 6-2 straight up. On to this week's picks:

UCF at FIU, UCF by 24 (Friday)


Joe's pickConsidering FIU's defense allowed 399 yards of offense in the first half last week, we're going with quarterback Blake Bortles and the Knights here.UCF 39, FIU 14
Pro's pickThe Panthers lost 43-10 last week to Maryland, and it would have been worse if the Terrapins kept their starters in the game after the third quarter. The only hope Ron Turner's team has is that the Knights sit their starters after the first quarter. UCF 38, FIU 7

Florida at Miami, UF by 3


Joe's pickDo you pick the team with Duke Johnson or Jeff Driskel? Put that way, there's really nothing else to consider. UM 21, UF 17
Pro's pickIf Florida had a better passing attack, it would get the nod here. Miami's run defense is much improved, as it plays 10 defensive linemen, and its defensive linemen and linebackers are much bigger, faster and stronger than last year. Canes get their signature win outright. UM 27, UF 24

South Florida at Michigan State, Michigan State by 23 1/2


Joe's pickGet on the buss with Coach "T"? Bulls coach Willie Taggart is lucky USF didn't put him on the first bus out of town after last week's 32-point loss to FCS powerhouse McNeese State. Michigan State 45, USF 14
Pro's pickUSF's disturbing 53-21 home loss to an FCS opponent will scare away most people, but not me. Bulls wide receivers dropped six passes last week against McNeese State and only scored one offensive touchdown. New USF coach Willie Taggart 11-1 as a dog at Western Kentucky signals a buy sign. Michigan State 30, USF 13

South Carolina at Georgia, Georgia by 3 1/2


Joe's pickGamecocks coach Steve Spurrier called Bulldogs fans soft before their biggest home game of the season. Spurdogs 27, Bulldogs 24 South Carolina 27, Georgia 24
Pro's pickGamecocks throttled Bulldogs last year 35-7. Not enough has changed for me to back the Bulldogs. Aaron Murray is just 1-10 straight up against top-10 teams, and his defense looked gassed at the end of the game last week against Clemson. South Carolina 27, Georgia 21

Oregon at Virginia, Oregon by 22


Joe's pickVirginia somehow defeated BYU despite averaging 3.1 yards per play. Oregon won't be so forgiving. Oregon 45, Virginia 20
Pro's pickUVA is not as talented as Oregon but is built the same way as Stanford, with the emphasis on the running game. And Stanford has upset Oregon two of the past four years. The Ducks are just 1-4 against the spread in their first road games of the year. Oregon 38, Virginia 20

Texas at BYU, Texas by 71/2


Joe's pickCompletely ignore Texas' blowout of New Mexico State. LaVell Edwards Stadium is a difficult place to open a season. Texas 32, BYU 28
Pro's pickLaying more than a touchdown with Texas on the road against a team with a top-five defense is a recipe for disaster. Cougars offense should get boost from the return of wide receiver Cody Hoffman, and dual-threat quarterback Taysom Hill should be more on target than last week, when he was just 13 of 40. BYU 26, Texas 24

Notre Dame at Michigan, Michigan by 3 1/2


Joe's pickJust another rivalry game to pile on the scrapheap of history thanks to college football realignment and TV money. Michigan 28, Notre Dame 20
Pro's pickMichigan going back to smash-mouth football on offense but Notre Dame is the wrong opponent to get into a street fight in the trenches with. Dog is 14-3 against the spread in the series and this game could come down to the last play. Notre Dame 24, Michigan 20

Washington State at Southern Cal, Southern Cal by 15 1/2


Joe's pickUSC coach Lane Kiffin has been playing head games with his own quarterbacks. Bad idea.Southern Cal 33, Washington State 20
Pro's pickTrojans are playing musical chairs at quarterback, and on defense one starting cornerback is out for this game and another is a game-time decision. Playing a passing team like Mike Leach's bunch that threw the ball 65 times last week, you need all hands on deck. Southern Cal 33, Washington State 24












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