The 7th Floor

WHO CAN SEND ME A BOX OF THIS.

2010-03-11T14:43:01Z

WHO CAN SEND ME A BOX OF THIS.

Jimmy Graham is the Best TE EVER!!!! (or how the Canes did at the NFL Combine)

2010-03-11T01:44:42Z

I know, another combine post from me, but this time it's our boys trying to go to the NFL. TGB's been stalking Jimmy Graham, but I wanted to give some info on the other Canes who took the trip to Indianapolis.

I. The Canes Invited to the Combine

II. How They Did

I really have no idea. The NFL has made it close to impossible to find any individual statistics for each player, and I didn't have the time (or willpower) to watch the NFL Network for 5 days to try to figure it out. What I did find though were the "top performers" per position and combine drill. Of course, not every player participates in every drill, so those results are suspect too. And as we all know, combine performance doesn't really mean shit. With that being said, on to the Canes' top performers.

Dedrick Epps: Combine FAIL. Wasn't a top performer in any drill. Sorry Dedrick.

Jason Fox: Combine FAIL. Wasn't a top performer in any drill. Sorry Jason.

Javarris James: WOOOHOOO. Javarris was tied for 8th in the vertical leap with a 36inch vert.

Darryl Sharpton: A great year put him on the map. However, at the combine he wasn't a top performer in any drill. Sorry Darryl.

Jimmy Graham: Someone decided to become a man's man at the combine and be a top performer in 5 of the seven drills (and I don't even know if he participated in the other two).

40 yard dash: Graham was second of all TE's, clocking a 4.56. He's 6'6", 260 and ran that. The top TE in the 40 was Pitt's Dorin Dickerson who's only 6'4", 226.
Vertical Jump: Graham finished 3rd, jumping 38.5". Again, he's 6'6", while the guys he finished behind are 2 and three inches smaller and 10-30 pounds lighter. Dickerson was first.
Broad Jump: Graham finished second (behind Dickerson AGAIN) with a 10' jump.
Three Cone (also called L Cone): Graham finished second, in 6.9 seconds. If you don't know what the 3 cone drill is take a look:

60 Yard Shuttle: Graham finished second running an 11.76".

WIth a performance like that, Jimmy Graham needs his own award:

That about sums it up...

III. Where They'll Be Drafted

This where I become Mel Kiper, Jr. (with better hair) or Todd McShay (but less of a douche):

I say James gets drafted in the 6th round, Sharpton in the 6th, Epps doesn't get drafted, Fox in the 4th (this is a reach) and Jimmy catapulted himself into the 2nd round. What say you guys?

Five-Star DB Latwan Anderson Commits to Track Team.

2010-03-10T15:36:53Z

According to the Sun-Sentinel, the #2 DB in the nation has confirmed that no one wants to move to West Virginia (or play for Bill Stewart).

"I felt that all things were equal between West Virginia and Miami," Anderson told SI.com about the two schools. "The only difference was the football. In my opinion, Miami is far and away closer to winning conference and national championships than West Virginia."

Along with having family in Florida, Anderson said one other major factor figured into his decision.

"Even if I don't make the NFL, I could see myself living in Miami after I get my degree," Anderson said. "I don't know if I can say the same if I went to West Virginia. I don't know if I can see myself living there after school."

How badly, exactly, do people not want to live in West Virginia? There was no room in the inn, so Anderson's commitment was given to the Hurricanes' track coach.

The DB never spoke with UM football coaches during the recruiting process - he wasn't even on Miami's radar until after signing day. That's when Cane coaches called his school to inquire why he never signed with West Virginia.

After that they turned his recruitment over to track coordinator Amy Deem; Anderson said the Canes had no football scholarship to offer him.

Anderson...has personal best times of 11.26 seconds in the 100, 21.54 seconds in the 200 and 50.03 seconds in the 400. The track scholarship will convert over to football as soon as he plays in a game for the Canes.

"It was a little strange not talking to them, but I understand the situation," Anderson said. "I picked Miami because me, my dad and mom, we compared everything from Miami to West Virginia. And everything stacked up. Miami's academics were step and step, and when it came to football Miami was on another level."

Anderson had a press conference scheduled for today, but has canceled. "I'll sign my papers as soon as they get here tonight or tomorrow," Anderson said. "It's a done deal."

Seantrel Henderson, this is how you do it.

New Baby Cane(Partial Confirmation) - UPDATED

2010-03-10T13:26:59Z

New Baby Cane(Partial Confirmation) - UPDATED

As pointed out in the comments and upon my own confirmation, SI is reporting the Canes just landed the 15th ranked player in the nation (Rivals) and the #2 DB in the Country with Latwan Anderson. He (allegedly) picked us over WVU.

I am this close to renouncing my first love.

2010-03-08T23:57:25Z

I am this close to renouncing my first love.

Pat Hill Ran.

2010-03-06T21:33:46Z

If you felt the earth turn slightly on its axis this morning, it was Tilikum gaining 13 yards. Whoooo!

How did the scrimmage go?

The guys we're depending on at receiver had too many drops, the tight end position had too many drops. Just as a total offense we had too many dropped passes. Now, the best thing about it was the running backs really performed well. Damien Berry performed unbelievable today, Lamar Miller did some great things, Storm Johnson did some great things and Mike James. Each one of them had an opportunity to carry the football and make somebody miss in space, which was a positive thing. We went about 100 plays. Every play wasn't electrifying. They might get tackled for a two, three yard loss, but they came back and would have a 40-yard run or 20-yard run. They were patient. On defense we had too many missed tackles. We had opportunities to make tackles. Yeah, we've got running backs that can make people miss, but we have defensive players that should make those tackles. I'm very disappointed by the way we tackled. I thought we chased the football hard on defense, but that's the first scrimmage. You're going to miss tackles. We have a long ways to go, but a lot of positive things happened.

Who did really well on defense?

I can't really say. We had some sacks and things like that, but you can't ever tell till you watch film. They chased well, just the missed tackles stood out. We had a couple of tackles for loss, had some gang tackling, some hard hits collectively as a group. But you always want more. We had balls hit defensive backs' hands, dropped about five of those. Those can change the momentum of the game. We have to capitalize on things like that.

How did the quarterbacks look?

Don't know, too many drops from the receivers, tight ends and running backs. They throw the ball, hit guys in the hands. A guy drops a pass, that kills a drive. There were too many of those to give the guys a full assessment.

Some players said they were impressed with the poise of true freshman Stephen Morris.

All of them are poised. When you're recruiting quarterbacks, you have to have quarterbacks with confidence in themselves. All those four quarterbacks we have have those qualities. If a receiver dropped a pass they didn't get down, just keep going. And then they moved the ball.

Have you seen a change in AJ Highsmith from last year?

Yeah, he's a whole lot different person than last year, totally different. When you're a different person you get a lot of confidence and the players look up to you that way.

Kylan Robinson started in the scrimmage. What have you seen from him?

His body has totally changed, the structure of his body has changed. He has more confidence. He just looks more toned. He takes things seriously. He looks better, is feeling better, playing a lot better, he's making tackles. We're excited about the way his progress is going, and he has to keep progressing. Is he where needs to be? No. But we put him in those situations now to make it tough on him and he's accepting it.

He wanted to play running back at UM and was put at LB. How do you deal with that?

You do what's best for the team. Not saying he can't play running back, but like Sam Shields - we had a lot of receivers. I'm not saying Sam is not a real good receiver, it's just for our team, who can play cornerback? At that point in time we moved KRob we were trying to find out who else could play linebacker. Because at that time we had no linebackers. Those are things you try to do is find a body and a mentality. He's a kid, body structure and mind mentality, he can do it. It just depends.

Ken Dorsey was at the scrimmage. Talk about the impact he made on this program.

When Dorsey was here I was a coach here, so it was great to see him. You had Ed Reed, Dorsey, Jon Beason out here today. It's always good to see those guys come back and watch practice. They continue to be part of this program. Dorsey, you remember the days he was here. I've been fortunate enough to be around him and a lot of great ones.

* Orlando Franklin and Jared Campbell continue to be held out due to injury.

Scrimmage stats released by UM:

Rushing
Lamar Miller 9 carries, 32 yards, 2 TD
Damien Berry 8 carries, 48 yards
Mike James 6 carries, 46 yards
Storm Johnson 6 carries, 34 yards
Pat Hill 2 carries, 13 yards

Passing
A.J. Highsmith 9-for-18 95 yards, 3TDs
Spencer Whipple 2-for-10 60 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Stephen Morris 6-for-11 63 yards

Receiving
Travis Benjamin 4 catches, 49 yards, TD
Thearon Collier 3 catches, 19, TD
Leonard Hankerson 2 catches, 50 yards, TD
Kendal Thompkins 2 catches, 32 yards
LaRon Byrd 2 catches, 30 yards, TD

Wieclaw 3-for-3 Field Goals (32 yards, 25 yards, 22 yards) (!!!!!!!!!!!)

Scoring
Highsmith 5-yd TD pass to Hankerson
Miller 9 yd TD run
Highsmith 17 yard TD pass to LaRon Byrd
Spencer Whipple 15 yard pass to Travis Benjamin
A.J. Highsmith 14 yard TD pass to Thearon Collier
Miller 3 yd TD run

Defense
Colin McCarthy 5 tackles, Fumble recovery
Vaughn Telemaque 5 tackles
Shayon Green 4 tackles
Steven Wesley 3 tackles, 2 sacks
Ray Ray Armstrong 3 tackles, 1 INT

Kill us now.

2010-03-05T14:49:51Z

Kill us now.

Wednesday Practice Report: Olsen, Gore, The Truth, A Tooth

2010-03-04T01:53:14Z

Greg Olsen and Frank Gore attended practice.

CB Brandon Harris says he "feels great" getting back into football coming off his track season.

Yesterday I had a pretty solid day just getting back into the play book and things like that. Today I'm starting to feel better than I did last year at this point. The depth is not really there, so we're pretty much in the whole practice, get a lot of reps. That helps get me back faster.

Asked how hard it is to take down RB Lamar Miller, Harris responded:

Miller time! That's my boy there. It's tough, because Lamar is a very fast kid. He's a guy that will sneak up on you. If you think he's going to fake you out he'll lower his shoulder on you and get in your chest. You have to pick your poison with Lamar and just hope you get him on the ground. He won't go down easy, though.

LaRon Byrd was a standout on offense in Wednesday's two-hour practice. Kendal Thompkins also had a nice 20-yard gain on a drag route. Damien Berry enjoyed a long run in team drills.

On defense Demarcus Van Dyke had the lone interception in team work on a corner route, his second practice in a row with a turnover. The team also came close to getting two other turnovers. Sean Spence had a couple of big stops during the third down period, keeping the offense from converting.

Brandon McGee is getting over the effects of a tooth problem and hasn't practiced the last two days.

Brandon Washington has his left knee in a brace and can't bend it, but he will not need surgery and is expected back before the end of spring.

LB Sean Spence says his progress is "coming well. I'm taking it day by day, trying to get better each and every day."

Of the defense overall, Spence said, "We're coming along pretty well. We have the same coordinator. We're building on what we did last year, working on finishing and trying to create turnovers."

Spence is up to 217 pounds, five pounds more than a year ago. On areas of his game he wants to work on this spring:

Everything. I feel like there's always room for improvement. I'm not satisfied with any parts of my game. I'm just trying to get better each and every day.

On his play last season:

It was not what I wanted it to be. I wanted to come out and help the team win games. I wasn't able to do that. I got hurt and had a setback. Now, I just need to bounce back.

On expectations as a junior:

A lot of leadership. I want to be able to keep my composure on the field. I want to help my defense stay together when we're going through rough times on the field. Just being a natural leader.

On tight end Richard Gordon:

He's looking good. He's a load. He's catching a lot more balls. He's being physical. He's always been physical. Catching the ball and getting on the field has been a big part of his game already this year.

Freshman OL Malcolm Bunche is working as the second team right guard.

"It's tough. Blocking Curtis (Porter), he's good ... It ain't no cupcake. I'm still trying to work on some of the plays, some of the blocking schemes. I'm trying to help however I can."

Bunche tested at 435 pounds in the bench press and had a 420-pound squat. He currently weighs 340 pounds; he said he'd like to play at 315 pounds next season.

Helping the cause - Bunche's mother and sister are both personal trainers. His mother has given him a diet to follow.

"(My mom's) a health junkie, so it's a lot of fruits and vegetables, protein, stuff like that," Bunche said.

WR Kendal Thompkins said of his progress this spring that "It's coming along well. Everyone is trying to get better."

Thompkins is working at slot and outside receiver. "I'm working on everything," he said.

While there was some speculation pre-spring that Thompkins could move to defensive back, he says he's set on playing wide receiver.

"I'm staying with receiver, am focused at receiver right now," Thompkins said.

The team doesn't practice on Thursday but will return to the field on Friday. Randy Shannon's comments:

We had an emphasis today on run game with the offensive line, defensive line, linebackers, tight ends - the running backs all went at the D line, went at it with no receivers seeing who can line up and knock some guys off the football, who can tackle. I thought it was a good physical time today. We ran maybe 12, 15 plays of it, so we really got a lot of work on that. We finished up on a third down situation, third and three, see if we can get the three yards or stop them, see if you can convert on third down and seven. See if you can tackle and make plays. I thought that was big to get a little taste of it before this weekend coming up with scrimmage work.

How do you balance things in the spring - if the offense plays well, does that mean the defense isn't playing well?

You know what I go on? If you're improving or staying the same. Like LaRon Byrd made some plays today still. So he's improving still. You see guys keep making plays, improving. Now the guys who go up and down, that's when you get discouraged about it. You always want guys to be focused on getting better as a football team, getting better individually.

How is Malcolm Bunche picking up the offense?

Okay, a freshman. Those guys, anyone who comes in January is going to struggle a little bit. Midway through spring football or the last week of spring football he'll probably be understanding the tempo and things like that. But he's doing okay right now.

Talk about his physical side.

He's a little bit heavy right now, about 340, 350. But he looks good physically, is still strong. He's a very athletic guy. The thing that's slowing him down now is the learning process. In due time he'll be able to go full speed.

Sean Spence wasn't as productive last year.

Spence was a little banged up last year. That was the biggest thing. It's a new season, new year, and he's starting off fast right now in spring football.

It was last spring that Damien Berry broke out.

He emerged as a guy that can come in and run the football inside. He came in last year and ran the ball hard. Like we told him, `Now you have to become the complete guy. You've got to be a guy that can pass protect, run routes, run outside and do other things beside just run up the middle.'

When Berry switched positions from defensive back, why did you do that? At the time you had all those running backs.

We were looking ahead. When we had all those running backs we kept getting injured. I said let's look at a guy that has the potential to play running back, and we had some DB's. I said maybe a year from now he can help us, we can build some depth there.

Berry didn't play last year till the fourth or fifth game.

It was because of the footwork, handling the football - guys not used to carrying the football are going to fumble a lot. But now he's getting used to it every day. Back then he was getting used to the shots and the cuts and reads. He came along pretty well.

How is Vaughn Telemaque progressing?

He's doing well, a lot better than this time last season. He's starting to make a lot of plays.

You've said you feel more comfortable with the team this season. Why is that?

Because we have more depth. I'm not worrying about five offensive linemen making practice or five defensive linemen. You have depth now. You feel good about your team, the progress you've made. You feel good because you have numbers to work with. You see guys that are growing, getting bigger. You look at LaRon Byrd, how big he's gotten, the offensive line, the defensive line is big and physical. When I took over we were small. Right now we're really starting to do the things we need to get done.

Marcus Robinson, do you look for him to be more of an all-around player instead of just a pass rusher?

For all of them. Always your third year you have to expect guys to do something.

The things he does, I've never seen a running back do things like that. It's very exciting to go...

2010-03-03T21:07:32Z

The things he does, I've never seen a running back do things like that. It's very exciting to go against him.

Dyron Dye, on Lamar Miller

Tuesday Practice Report: Ed Reed, Scufflin', DVD As Quote Machine

2010-03-03T20:40:18Z

WR Leonard Hankerson had a touchdown on a post route in team drills, and RB Lamar Miller also ran in a pair of 20-yard plus scores.

"On one we were running a counter, I saw the hole and just cut back and outran everybody," Miller said. "The other was a stretch play and I cut it back to the inside because everyone was swarming to the outside."

In 7-on-7 work Travis Benjamin had a nice 20-yard gain. Spencer Whipple had a nice gain to Thearon Collier in team drills, and Kendal Thompkins also had a couple of nice grabs during 11-on-11 work.

On defense Demarcus Van Dyke and Vaughn Telemaque had interceptions. Telemaque almost had a second interception as well.

"We're trying to get interceptions every day so when game time comes we know how the ball feels, are okay with it," Van Dyke said.

DE Dyron Dye is enjoying his first spring after missing almost all of last year due to injury.

"My last practice was the Tuesday of the Oklahoma game - I had surgery that Wednesday," Dye said. "It was real hard; I talked to my mom and dad every night, prayed, got through it."

Dye is rotating around getting reps with the ones on both sides. He currently weighs 250 pounds; when he arrived he was 235.

According to DVD, Dye "has a good motor. He reminds me of a younger version of Adewale Ojomo, a tough-minded kid out to play ball. When he first got here I thought he'd play linebacker, but over the (off-season) he put on a lot of weight."

Redshirt freshman Billy Sanders has missed a couple of days with a minor injury this spring, but he's back now and is pleased with his progress.

"I'm getting the plays down," he said. "Things are coming together. The tight ends are doing well."

Sanders has made a name for himself with his toughness.

DVD says Sanders "has a tough mind. When you try to touch him (in non contact work) he'll try and run you over. He's a tough-minded kid. I like him."

For his part, Sanders said, "I guess when I was on scout team I (had that hard-nosed mentality)."

Redshirt freshman RB Lamar Miller says he hopes to become a touchdown maker using his tremendous speed.

But one thing he's working especially hard on is "my blocking on pass protection. I just have to come out here and compete, make everybody better."

Asked how the redshirt year made him better, Miller said, "It made me better as a runner, and my pass protection (improved). I'm just trying to stay focused on and off the field, and just stay healthy."

Miller says he currently weighs 212 pounds; he arrived at UM at 203 pounds. He says he'd like to play around 205 pounds. "I'm trying to lose a couple."

DVD says he's put a heavy emphasis on his tackling skills this off-season.

"The first couple of years I wasn't great at tackling, had to work on that with coach (Welsey) McGriff and coach (Randy) Shannon," Van Dyke said. "Now I feel my tackling game is up to my coverage skills."

Van Dyke is getting plenty of reps along with Brandon Harris now because Cory Nelms is still running track and Brandon McGee is out with a minor issue.

What makes Van Dyke think this group will take a big step up from last season, when there were some breakdowns?

"Maturity level," Van Dyke said. "Brandon McGee played a lot of reps last year, got his feet wet. Now he should come and make plays as a sophomore."

A goal for himself this season?

"I just want to help my team win," Van Dyke said.

Fullback Patrick Hill redshirted last year due to an injury that didn't require surgery. He says he was hurt on the opening kickoff return against Virginia Tech.

"I didn't believe I was hurt, went back in a couple of more times, but as I sat out, got back that Sunday, I realized something was really wrong," Hill said. "I was week to week, but as it got further in the season I knew I'd have an opportunity to take a redshirt and I thought it was smarter to do that than come back and play hurt."

Now he's back full go, and he's looking forward to contributing to the team.

"Last year was real tough for me," Hill said. "It's good to be back - I'm glad. It feels good. After expecting to be gone I have to be back now."

Hill says he plans to be a vocal leader on this team.

"I'm humble a lot more (since arriving at UM), and I've gotten better at certain things I wanted to get better at as far as getting quicker and becoming a better student of the game," Hill said.

Hill says he feels he has better flexibility than a year ago after going through rehab for the injury.

"(I'm) getting a lot quicker coming out of my stance, try to be a bigger threat in the offense in getting more catches, more runs," Hill said.

Hill hasn't changed his stance, but he says he feels more comfortable coming out of it.

"Now I can just sprint right out of it," Hill said.

He says he's lost five pounds since last year.

"I'm between 255 and 260," he said.

Of how Mike James did in his place last season, Hill said, "He did an excellent job. It's real hard, so I think he did a good job of taking one for the team and stepping in there."

Of backup fullback John Calhoun, Hill said, "I think he's doing a tremendous job. John, like we all are, is learning. It's tough when you're used to one thing and last year you get a new complex playbook. He's doing a great job picking it up this year."

Former Cane Ed Reed watched on at practice.

The bossman speaketh:

How do you think the first week went?

We didn't get scrimmage work in, but I was pleased especially with the progress of the young quarterbacks executing the offense, not getting nervous and things like that. And the enthusiasm on the football field has been great, a lot of energy, interaction between the players, guys taking pride in what you're doing. You're going to have confrontations here and there which is good, because each of them is trying to get better every time.

So there have been some scuffles?

One every now and then. But they break themselves up because it's all about fun. That' the one thing you like, that those guys are really going after each other. Instead of `you're my teammate, my roommate,' it's more of 'you're on offense, I'm on defense, now I'm going to get after you,' which is good.

You have a closed scrimmage on Saturday. What's the plan for that?

We'll try to get a 130, 140 play scrimmage in if we can, a long, physical type of deal. The quarterbacks will get equal reps; everyone will get equal reps. From the first scrimmage to the last you want to see how much better each player can get.

You have the Spring Game starting at 4:30 p.m. now instead of the morning like last year?

We're going to move it; every two years we try to move it. The Thursday night scrimmage will be at Lockhart. Traz Powell will be the spring game. They have a Nike combine so we have to move it back (to the late afternoon).

At least the kids in the combine can stay for the scrimmage after and watch.

Yeah, that'll be great for whatever number of kids, 800.

Talk about Dyron Dye's progress.

He's coming along, still a freshman. He missed a lot of work last year when he was injured and he's coming off an injury. He's coming back around, is practicing a little in certain drills which is good for him and for us. In the long run we want him to get full speed, ready to go. He's bigger; a lot of guys on the team are bigger now. His size and strength, now he has to get accustomed to running again. We expect a lot out of him. He's got a lot of intensity. When he gets back now he can show us what he really can do.

Lamar Miller, how has he looked?

He just got back today (from track). Him, Brandon (Harris), Travis (Benjamin), they probably went four or five plays each drill. You don't want to give them all the reps because that's when muscles pull. We eased them back into it. Saturday if we go 130 (plays) each will get 35-40 plays, which will be good for them. We'll see how their wind is.

Nice to have Pat Hill back?

Yeah, really good. Pat has been a tremendous lift for us. He's a leader now. Guys look up to him because of the way he plays the game - very smart, very physical type player. Also he's demanding from the younger guys what to get done.

Is he the kind of player that fans don't miss him until he's not there?

Yeah. Look at the stats from the first three games from the running game (when Hill was playing) to toward the end. He was a vital part of our success the first three because of his blocking, protection, things like that which is tremendous. Pat, all he wants to do is be part of the team. He's not worried about his carries. When you have a guy like that, that makes the team tougher when you have a fullback like him that doesn't mind blocking. He's just going to go in there and get it done. He gains a lot of respect from players on this team because of what he's done.

Your thoughts on LaRon Byrd?

He made a lot of plays last week, improved from last year. We told him, and I told him Saturday, `Hey you had a great week. But now when we come back you have to have a different mentality; what you did last week is over with.' I'm trying to prepare those guys for next season, because we had success early in the season, guys were feeling good about themselves and probably slacked off. Now this is a time you can actually work on it to see if you take that next step, not relax now.

What do you want to see from Demarcus Van Dyke this spring?

For him to get better. All you want is guys to get better.

Have you talked to Jimmy Graham since the combine?

A little bit, not really. The combine is the combine. It's who likes you, which team wants to draft you and who is hiding you out. I'm happy for all those guys that had an opportunity to go to the combine and run.

Offseason Science Project: Inside Randy Shannon

2010-03-03T19:28:19Z

Recently, when asked about his own mental well-being in the days following the birth of his first giant, ornery child, a friend related the experience to seeing the inside of Randy Shannon's soul in the wee hours of the night.

"I think it's just a ceiling fan spinning in futile circles against the ceiling of a stifling apartment in Overtown," he said. "And someone crying."

Yep, that's our coach. Of course, we here at The 7th Floor aren't content with heresay, no sir. We used SBN Beta technology to zap ourselves into tiny, blood-cell sized pieces, and entered into Randy Shannon's system via a xanax-and-virgin-blood cocktail.

Like the Hubble telescope, except in an even darker and forboding space, we have sent back images captured from his innermost being.

Some of them may be disturbing.

Results: inconclusive.

Spring Scrimmage, Game Dates and Times

2010-03-03T16:56:34Z

Note a time change for the spring game:

The Hurricanes will hold an intrasquad scrimmage, open to the public, at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (5201 NW 12th Avenue) on Thurs., Mar. 11, at 7 p.m. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and players will take part in an autograph session from 6-6:45 p.m.

Spring Practice will conclude at Traz Powell Stadium located on the north campus of Miami Dade College (11380 NW 27th Avenue) on Saturday, March 27. UM's annual spring game which is slated to start at 4:30 p.m. Gates will open at 3 p.m. Players will take part in an autograph session from 3:30-4 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on CSS.

The Connect: Hey, A Connect!

2010-03-03T16:28:45Z

Established: our balls are still intact. Can't say the same for everyone else.

via

Baseballing Hurricane Gaby Sanchez will suit up at first in today's Marlins-Canes exhibition game in Jupiter, as a Marlin. And if that's starting job he can't win, he should probably quit baseball forever. Just sayin'.

Brandon Washington, from yesterday:

This can't be life... MCL sprain...possible tear...FML

FOL, we say, but this morning it would appear the injury is just a sprain and will only sideline our chocolate donut hole for a week or two. THANK GOD.

In which Jacory Harris claims Tommy Streeter "can keep up with" Travis Benjamin. We know this can't be entirely true, and yet we're sitting in a puddle. Scamps!

Game, over. Bullet, dodged. Who'd have thought two, and possibly three, of Rasputin's minions would fail into the pathetic clutches of Kansas State? Oh, right. Us.

Who has the object of Coach K's first-ever conchening? AN IDENTITY THIEF.

Only U

"They literally ripped [the conch shell] out of my hands," says [UM senior] Joey Difrancesco.

After the game, Joey -- who has been "mastering" the perfect blow for years and bringing the thing to games for months -- went to claim his makeshift horn. He was horrified to learn someone else had swiped it.

The shell originally belonged to his great-grandfather from Puerto Rico, he says, and it has more sentimental value than a baby book or a family heirloom. "It was passed down through my family for years -- do you know how valuable that is to me?" he says, completely serious. "My identity has been stolen."

Joey has since contacted the supervisor of security at the stadium to no avail. Still seething, he says: "Someone is sitting on a couch somewhere with my shell... laughing."

Actually, they're probably using it as a bong, but whatever. You're gonna live, son.

Basketball Loses Again

2010-03-03T04:45:40Z

As Boyz II Men said, is this the End of the Road?

Poll

Do you still have Faith in Haith?

It’s the first time I’ve finally felt comfortable in three years. It’s time to take that next step n...

2010-03-02T21:47:32Z

It’s the first time I’ve finally felt comfortable in three years. It’s time to take that next step now.

Randy Shannon, in ESPN blog post Miami AD: 'It's our time'

Saturday Highjinks and Practice Report

2010-03-01T17:43:58Z

Never mind Black Jesus, Tan Marino, and Afro Butterfly.

According to one player's twitpic account, "This is wat spiderman does on the weekend the black spidy."

Of course.

Saturday practice report pon di jump.

QUOTES

Orlando Franklin

I'm strictly playing left tackle - I've been waiting for this since I got here," Franklin said. "I'm loving it. At the same time it's like I'm a freshman all over again.

It's quicker to process things at guard; I break the huddle, I'm still thinking guard sometimes. So I have to slow it down and go through what everyone has on the line before I go through what I have.

You have a full two groups (of line depth) going in the spring, a whole bunch of guys coming in the summer. It's going to be fun as far as guys getting better, learning their stuff.

Shane McDermott

Coaches want me to work hard on my footwork, pulling at a center spot, get to know the calls a lot better. I'm just a freshman, so it's hard to trust me sometimes. We're trying to get that trust together.

In the beginning of the week it was very tough. Now I'm starting to get the calls a lot better, the combo blocks all together. At the beginning of the week I had problems on four different plays, then I had two, and yesterday I had zero on the board. I just keep on improving.

I'm very comfortable at center (after playing mostly LG in high school). I've been working hard at that, doing snaps.

(The first full workout in pads at the college level) was a big adjustment. Coming from high school to here it's so much faster. The speed is just amazing, and the hitting is twice as much. I got used to it halfway through.

(Josh Holmes) hit me faster than in high school - it's a big transition. The first couple I was like, 'whoa, holy crap, what's going on?' You get used to it. I adapted to it.

Brandon McGee

I've gotten a lot quicker, a lot looser in my hips. We're doing a lot of lateral drills, footwork drills in the off-season. My feet have gotten quicker.

You're tired (being one of only two cornerbacks cleared physically to hit in live drills right now, with Demarcus Van Dyke) but you have to fight through the pain, through adversity. But getting a lot more reps is a great thing.

Leonard Hankerson

Yeah, [I expect a jump like mine from other third-year receivers], it's time for everybody to grow up and make more plays, do the little things.

[With Jacory Harris out], I'm seeing the same thing from all three of [the other quarterbacks] - the ball's getting there. They're doing fine.

I'm working hardest on looking the ball in, blocking, running routes.

Aldarius Johnson

[All the receivers working a multiple positions, including the slot, is] about injuries - in case someone goes down we have to know what that next guy's go.

I've improved my blocking, and finishing off every play - coming off the ball hard.

Johnson says he doesn't think any receiver unit in the nation is more talented than Miami's.

Not that I know of. And we compete against each other to get each other great.

Curtis Porter

We came out and started a little rocky [in inside run drills], but after that everything started tuning in. But everybody still has to get better

NOTES

Leonard Hankerson and LaRon Byrd both had touchdown catches in red zone drills. Richard Gordon had a 10-yard scoring catch in team drills.

Demarcus Van Dyke had an interception in team work and Vaughn Telemaque almost came up with an interception.

LT: Franklin, Cory White, Stephen Plein
LG: Joel Figueroa, Harland Gunn, Jared Wheeler
RG: Brandon Washington, Malcolm Bunche (Joel Figueroa when back from injury)
RT: Ben Jones, Jermaine Johnson
C: Tyler Horn, Shane McDermott, Brandon Washington (some reps)

Four healthy tackles are rotating for live drills - Curtis Porter, Luther Robinson, Jeremy Lewis and Josh Holmes.

Hurricane Baseball Starts 5-0

2010-02-28T16:18:40Z

Sixth game today at the Light - bundle up and go support the boys! First pitch at 1pm vs. the Manhattan Jaspers. I don't know what the hell a Jasper is either.

Under Armour Combine Wrap-Up: Better Late Than Never

2010-02-28T01:47:56Z

Ok, so I lied when I said I was going to do three posts on the Under Armour Combine. I really meant two. After sifting through all the stats and info I stacked up I thought, more is not always better, especially with Spring Practice under way and how well my last Combine report went over. Let's get right to the good stuff.

The Southridge Boys

I had a nice chat with Southridge head coach Pat Burrows, who was helping run the bench press station. You know a head coach thinks highly of his players when he starts talking them up to you even after you let him in on the secret that you're a blogger and not a scouting company rep.

When I asked what players of his were at the Combine, without hesitation, he named Gerod Holliman and Andrew Johnson:

WR Gerod Holliman

Coach Burrows told me that he's been talking to UM about Holliman and Johnson, and that Johnson would have been taking a visit on campus last weekend if not for the Combine.

Johnson is a DB (5' 10", 170 lbs, which looked right, because we were about the same size). He told me that he's already been offered by Texas Tech. He ran a 4.55 in the 40 yd dash, had a 31.5 inch vertical, and did 8 reps at 185 pounds. Not the strongest, or the fastest, but he did look good in the 1-on-1 drills. He also told me that USC has been hinting at an offer. But come on, it's Lane Kiffin, don't believe him Andrew.

Holliman was stronger. Listed at 6 ft, 180 (which may be a pretty big stretch) he did 16 reps at 185 pounds, but ran a 4.65. He told me that he did have contact with both Alabama and Florida, but planned on taking a trip to UM soon.

(Just one thing to remember, most of these guys have never done any combine drills before in their life. Almost every one of them I spoke to said they never ran a 40 before and, if they did, it was always hand-timed and not lasered). Both looked good, but if I had to put money on it, I would say neither ends up at UM.

The Fastest Man at the Combine

4.33 - That was what Tacoi Sumler, a 5' 8", 150 pound WR from Christopher Columbus, ran. Right off the top of his head, he told me he already had 13 offers, including Cal, USC, FSU, UF, and UCF. Notice who hasn't offered him yet? The Canes. Want to know why? Size. He's smaller than Santana Moss. What current Cane WRs are that small now? Thereon Collier is 5' 10" but pushes 195 pounds. Either way, Sumler did tell me that Barrow has started to talk to him, but again, I don't think he ends up as a Cane.

The Strongest Man at the Combine

Nile Lawrence Stampler, did 32 reps at 185 pounds. This kid was a veritable unknown coming into the Combine but not after he left. A true 6'1", 299 pounds, he ran a 4.9 in the 40 yd dash. A big, strong, fast defensive tackle. A guy that not a lot of people know about, toiling away at Nova High School (in Davie), this is someone the Hurricanes pride themselves on snatching up, right? Well, it would have been a good idea, because they lost him. Going into the combine he only had offers from FSU and Colorado State. The next day he committed to FSU. Do you know how hard UM recruited? "Not consistently." Exact words. He would have been a great grab but looks like we missed this one.

The Combine Superstar

You take one look at Ryan Shazier and you can tell he is going to be something special. 6'3", 205 this DE (who will end up playing LB in college) from Plantation impressed everyone who watched him. So what did he do? 4.44 in the 40 yard dash, 38 inch vertical, and 11 reps at the bench press. He told me he's been offered by Oklahoma, FSU, UF, and Wisconsin (and he forget to tell me that Spurrier, Tressel, and Charlie Strong have offered him too). Again, guess who hasn't offered him: the Canes. Stoutland is recruiting him, so if you know him, tell him to recruit harder. This is definitely someone that impressed me, which means Randy Shannon should be blown away.

Some of the Rest of the Recruits

Teddy Bridgewater - was uninspired and uninspiring. I guess when you know every team in the nation is recruiting you, you don't have to put up great stats. He did run a few routes as a WR in the 1-on-1 drills, which I thought was interesting. He also told me that in the off-season he plans on working on taking snaps under center (in case you forgot, Miami Northwestern runs the spread).

Eli Rogers - One of the WRs (5'10", 180) that Bridgewater throws to at Miami Northwestern, told me that he was doing the Combine for experience because he never participated in one before.

At the time of the Combine (last Sunday) he didn't have any offers, but was being recruited by UF, the Canes, Alabama, LSU, and FSU. Good news: The Hurricanes offered him the next day. Bad news: he wants to leave Miami. He specifically said he wants to leave the area for college.

Phillip Dorsett - A St. Thomas Aquinas WR (5'10", 170) that put up the second fastest 40 time (4.43) and a 36.5 vert.

Dorsett's being recruited by Stoutland and told me he's met and talked with Whipple. UM hasn't offered him yet, but he said he's expecting one soon. I would be too, especially if UF, Ohio State, and ND already offered me.

Wrapping it up

What I took away from the whole event: there are a ton of great athletes in South Florida. Also, UM needs to start recruiting more consistently. Most of the recruits I talked to said if they were being recruited by UM, they weren't being recruited "consistently" by UM. Of course, UM may not want them, which I guess could be an option, but of the best players there, barely any were being heavily recruited by UM. I don't know what that means, if anything, so do what you will with that information.

In case you want to look at pure numbers, here's the link to the entire Under Armour Combine results.

Jimmy Graham Tremendous! TweetWatch

2010-01-26T20:44:07Z

It's not stalking if it's public, right? This post will update with Senior Bowl/NFL Combine eyewitness reports, and self-destruct if a certain freckled flower isn't drafted.

SENIOR BOWL

We've Got Le-egs! Pictures From Day 2

2010-02-25T16:54:27Z

These things are growing on me. It takes real men to pull off practicing in spanx.