I'm not certain how the 2018 season will go - there is a lot of youth and a lot of variables (QB) - but I am confident of one thing. One year from now, during the 2019 offseason, we will be talking about a Hurricanes football team that is a legitimate national title contender threat. That is probably the first time that any of us could feel that since the 2009 offseason, and this would probably be the first time the talent and coaching are truly at that level since 2003.

Crow to Payton for 6! Posted by: 86Cane | February 21, 2018 at 08:52 PM Little did you realize that "Gray" is merely a title of UM football lore, passed on to certain chosen apprentices. Much in similarity to the Sith, who took upon the title of "Darth" to accompany their name. So while the Master, Gray Crow may be gone, there likely is an apprentice. Gray Perry. Or Gray Rozier. Or Gray Williams. There will likely always be a Gray on the roster.

There are a multitude of political sites and social media platforms for people to go an express their viewpoints on politics and current events. This site was created with the express purpose of discussing the various programs of the Miami Hurricanes. I will hate to see it go if that is in fact is what happening. In line with the purpose of this blog, how many of you know that Vernon Carey's son is currently projected to be the SECOND pick in the 2020 NBA Draft? He's being recruited by a multitude of schools for 2019, including Miami. https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2019/vernon-carey-jr-179828 http://www.nbadraftroom.com/p/2020-nba-mock-draft.html

I could be wrong, but with the transfers and graduations we have 61 scholarship players returning, plus an addition 5 early entries this month. So room for 19 more players.

Could anyone quickly post a list of the current transfers as well as those whose eligibility expired after the bowl game?

LOL..."Nothing to see here...please disperse!"

How much of that bag man thing u guys think really goes on I recruiting today? It would seem very difficult to be throwing money around like that and not end up w a yahoo sports article. Posted by: 1mg of Epi | January 20, 2016 at 10:04 PM If anything like that happened at Miami, various ESPN reporters would be saying that this is an anomaly and represents the worst of college football. Somberly they would be say that this time, the NCAA needs to come down in the firmest fashion, so that a difference can be made between the Hurricanes and honest schools, such as those in the SEC. And if it were another school, the reaction could best be summed by this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NNOrp_83RU

How much of that bag man thing u guys think really goes on I recruiting today? It would seem very difficult to be throwing money around like that and not end up w a yahoo sports article. Posted by: 1mg of Epi | January 20, 2016 at 10:04 PM http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/4/10/5594348/college-football-bag-man-interview http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/college-recruiting/2013/jul/29/alabama-football-signee-posts-pic-wads/ http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/four-star-auburn-recruit-flips-from-texas-posts-money-picture-012015 http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2013/1/29/3929224/laquon-treadwell-money-ole-miss http://thebiglead.com/2013/03/05/justin-manning-a-texas-am-recruit-posted-a-picture-of-himself-with-a-stack-of-cash-explains-it-is-income-tax-season/

Thankfully Richt was molded in the trenches of the most volatile recruiting area in the country. He's no stranger to the bag men, handlers, and chaos that runs rampant among recruiting in the south. He ain't scared. Sack up and take note. Posted by: SinisterCane | January 20, 2016 at 09:36 PM I get that, but we cannot get into that sort of enhanced recruiting. That's the sort of thing that the NCAA would love to catch us doing.

Denver: Richard Gordon Posted by: Ohio_Cane | January 19, 2016 at 02:24 PM Regarding Richard Gordon, why did we ever use a tight end as a kickoff returner?

Step 1: 2 Elite DL Step 2: 2 Elite DB Step 3: 2 Elite OL You have 24 days. Posted by: The Dude | January 08, 2016 at 08:13 PM Elite EVERYTHING.

This is a fantastic staff so far. We're CLEARLY spending $$$ now. Big time $$, too. Feels GREAT! Posted by: Ohio_Cane | January 03, 2016 at 11:00 PM I almost never thought that we would see this, at least not at this level!

Posted by: TonyCane | January 03, 2016 at 08:23 PM None of that star crap will matter with good coaching!!! Lol Posted by: WWIN | January 03, 2016 at 08:36 PM It's a piece of the puzzle. Let's see if Saban coaches in the NC final with less than 10 four star players.

A quick point to remember... Miami entered 2015 with 27 four and five star players. They lose six to graduation. The current 2016 recruiting class has six 4 star players. CMR needs to at least hold firm at the current number in order to avoid a net talent reduction. Previous 4/5 star levels: 2006: 46 (7-6) 2007: 42 (5-7) 2008: 42 (7-6) 2009: 41 (9-3) 2010: 39 (7-6) 2011: 28 (6-6) 2012: 21 (7-5) 2013: 22 (9-3) 2014: 25 (6-7) 2015: 27 (8-5) If CMR can raise that class number of 4/5 star players from 6 to 9 (or higher), we can go over 30 for the first time since Shannon's last year.

Depth issues at quarterback

Bullseye on Strong. Very pampered team with depth issues at Wb. Players used to have smoothie bar in weight room and would take a leather seated bus for the .25 mile distance to practice. Strong took that away, and suspended or kicked off a dozen players.

Hopefully, I think all of us just want to win. It doesn't matter if it is Golden, Davis, or whoever. I just want the Canes back to dominance and maximizing the potential of the program. I'd even take Lou Holtz or Bobby Bowden as coach if it would get us a national championship and back to where it belongs. This isn't 2012, where the majority of the most talented members of the team are freshmen. So the excuses are limited. That said, the talent level is still not where it needs to be, and is literally half that of Florida State. And half of where it was when Coker was coach. It's at a level on par with Virginia Tech, slightly above Nebraska, and moderately above Louisville. I do have some cause for hope in that Butch Davis was losing games to East Carolina (twice!), Pittsburgh, Arizona State, and Syracuse in 1995 - 1999. Once the talent level got to a certain point, those "threats" fell away. Hopefully the current coaches are evaluating everything that they are doing and making adjustments. They cannot wait for the talent level to get to the point where they simply bully a Nebraska or Louisville the same way that we pushed around Cincinnati or Arkansas State. That's 2-3 years of great recruiting away. And if they don't make adjustments, then that is on them. I lack the knowledge to criticize the Xs and Os, but I certainly do not like the results that I am seeing on screen. However I have said several times this year that Miami would be a better team this year, but have a lesser record than 2013. The true freshman at quarterback was going to be a big issue, along with the much harder schedule. To me, it seemed a little reminiscent of the 1999 Canes vs the 1998 version. Ultimately, I want to let the season play out and see if the Canes get to the 8-4 regular season record that I anticipated.

Please note that I did not include penalty related first downs, which would factor into the total first downs along with rushing and passing.

As this was brought up recently, I'd thought I'd look at the number of first downs allowed by the Hurricanes in the first 7 games. First Downs Allowed: Year, Pass, Rush, Total 2000: 78, 47, 146 2001: 48, 62, 127 2002: 35, 74, 131 2003: 37, 47, 100 2004: 59, 57, 127 2005: 39, 43, 099 2006: 57, 25, 099 2007: 52, 55, 118 2008: 53, 46, 115 2009: 51, 54, 118 2010: 49, 51, 106 2011: 72, 74, 148 2012: 76, 95, 188 2013: 62, 60, 128* 2014: 61, 63, 142 *only 8 first downs were given up against Sv. St. Interestingly, the final team of Butch Davis gave up 2,541 yards in their first seven games. The 2014 Canes have given up 2,242 yards.

Jammi German!

FSU level of talent. And that takes four years of classes with at least 13 four and five star players each year. And not losing 10-20% of each class to suspensions, dismissals, transfers, ect.

Dude, the 2009 class no longer has relevance, and the 2010 class was a mirage. It's all about who actually makes it on campus and stays, and too many players have not qualified or transferred.

New UM President candidates: 1. Jimmy Johnson 2. Butch Davis 3. Sean Spence 4. The Rock 5. Ray Lewis

Raize, it's possible if he recruits really strongly, and if outside events (FSU sanctions) transpire. Miami is more talented than NU and LU, but not exceedingly so. The margin was s bit better with G Tech. IF Golden could get Miami to an FSU level of talent, Miami will do to mid level competition what it is currently doing to the Cincinattis of college football. The question would still remain what would happen if we face a top flight program.

Possibly Canerock. At one point in 2006, a 3 bedroom house in S Florida cost 300% more than its equivalent in Austin.