Real Talk : Miami Hurricanes 2016 Fall Camp Top Position Battles

By: Thierry Louis

This is a candid, uncensored-take about your Miami Hurricanes. No predisposed agendas or editor changing the tune of the article. Your sit down with your boys kind of piece where we keep it real and talk about the Canes and the start of Fall camp and what we are looking out for. So without further ado

5. Right Tackle : Sunny Odogwu vs Tyree St. Louis

The entire fan base loves Sunny doesn't it? He's charismatic, outgoing and has that personality and background that makes you want to root for him. When you  consider his physique..... we are all waiting for that "Blindside" moment where he taps into his African heritage and picks up a defensive lineman and blocks him through the goalpost right. His play at times however has been too inconsistent for the likes of some Cane fans. Whether it be whiffing on a block or a false start, he has made fans create the most unbelievable combination of curse words and throw their TVs out the window. Well I speak for myself in that matter. So enter Tyree St. Louis. Had a great spring and took full advantage of Sunny's absence. Although not as physically gifted he took full advantage of the weight room and is more natural and fluid at the position. Look for this battle to last the duration of camp.


4. Running Back: Joe Yearby vs Mark Walton

So if your a Canes fan it seems like your either a Yearby guy or a Walton guy right ? One of the morehighly debated positions on the team. Who is the better RB? I'm not going to lie....... I have my favorite and I would like to see Yearby take full control of the position as I believe he has more natural running back instincts and I just enjoy watching him cut and embarrass defensive backs. With that being said however how can anyone ignore what Mark Walton did this spring? Numero Uno wasn't messing around! He was on a mission and it appeared as if he took full control of the position and really impressed the coaching staff. The consensus scouting report in regards to Walton coming out of high school was that he was the most well-rounded, balanced running back in his class and although not elite at one specific thing he did everything really really good. That was on full display in the spring. Richt has indicated it will be running back by committee and Yearby had the majority of carries last year and ran for 1,000 yards so he is the projected starter. After the spring Mark had however I don't think anybody will be surprised if he was named the starter week 1.

3. Defensive Tackle: R.J Mcintosh Vs Gerald Willis

This day and age of recruiting is all about star rankings and even if your not a "star whore" as the message boards so eloquently call it, everybody gets excited at the arrival of a 5 star player. Cane fans have been patiently waiting to watch Gerald Willis play and are expecting big things out of him.  When I  first learned that R.J McIntosh lined up with the first team I like most fans thought nothing of it and expected as time passed for Gerald Willis to surpass him. So wasn't it a big surprise to see that by the end of spring R.J was yet to relinquish his starting spot? It only made me for example take more notice of him. He is a former defensive end so the athleticism is already there. Then add the fact that he gained considerable weight and strength and looks the part and you get it. This will be a fun battle to watch as Willis will certainly come on strong which will only make the group better.

2. #2 Cornerback: Sheldrick Redwine vs Adrian Colbert

If we did a poll on which position group most fans were worried about I would be willing to bet the majority would pick the cornerback position and It's a shame really. At a prestigious school like TheU in no way shape or form should there be a void of talent at the Cornerback position ( Thank You Al Golden). After Corn Elder the group is a bunch of unknowns and we won't really know what we have until the first couple of games.  Sheldrick Redwine had a solid spring and is the favorite to start. Graduate transfer Adrian Colbert will have something to say about that though. What We have heard about him so far is that physically he has the tools to be a very good CB. Tall at 6"1 with good speed and hips. He is certainly looking to throw his hat in the ring and expects to be the starter by the end of camp.

1. Wide receiver : Dayall Harris vs Ahmmon Richards vs Malcolm Lewis vs Darrel Langham

Losing Lawrence Cager is a big blow to this team and that opens up a spot at the #2WR position and there are a lot of candidates to fill that spot but there's only one name Cane fans want to hear..........Ahmmon Richards! So Yep that is all. The end.

Seriously though that's all most Cane fans want right lol? We all want to see the next Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley and we believe Ahmmon Richards is that guy. So far it's been rumored that he has already ran a 4.3 in pre camp testing and that he has been impressing in offseason workouts and 7on7s. We believe he will be the next great WR at TheU and only time will tell. Sam Bruce and Braxton Berrios will almost certainly occupy the slot in 3 WR sets so that leaves upperclassmen Dayall Harris, Malcom Lewis, and Darrell Langham who he must beat out.  Transfer WR Harris and Langham fit the bill of what you expect a Mark Richt WR to look like. Big, strong, lanky WRs who can go up and fight for the ball. They both have experience and will not be looking to give that open WR to anybody. What once seemed like a promising start for Malcolm Lewis was derailed by a serious injury. This is his last opportunity and he will be looking to make an impression.

Miami Hurricanes Recruiting Board 2017

*Rankings are not solely on talent level but rather a depiction of importance for the program, potential on the field, depth of the team, and how hard they are being recruited.

5 ⭐️ Impact player for us
4 ⭐️ Potential Starter
3 🌟Potential Starter/ Contributor
↗️ Becoming Priority
↙️ Moving Down the board

1. WR Jerry Jeudy  5⭐️
2. QB N'Kosi Perry 4 ⭐️ (Miami)
3. CB Trajan Bandy 4⭐️ ↗️
4. RB Anthony McFarland 5⭐️
5. OL Navaughn Donaldson 5 ⭐️(Miami)
6. WR Trevon Grimes 5⭐️
7. ATH DeeJay Dallas 4⭐️(Miami)
8. CB Marco Wilson 4 ⭐️
9. ATH Chris Henderson 4⭐️(Miami
10. CB Latavious Brini 3 ⭐️
11. OL Kadeem Telfort 4⭐️(UF)
12. DE Jordan Wright 4⭐️
13. RB Stephen Carr 5 ⭐️(USC)
14. DT Jon Ford 3 ⭐️
15. WR Kevaughn Dingle 3⭐️(Miami)
16. S Amari Carter 4⭐️
17. OL Nick Brahms 4 ⭐️
18. OL Kai-Leon Herbert 4⭐️
19. S Brian Edwards 3⭐️ ↗️
20. CB Shawn Davis 4 ⭐️
21. QB Cade Weldon 3⭐️(Miami)
22. RB Robert Burns 4⭐️(Miami)
23. S Daniel Wright 4⭐️
24. LB Bradley Jennings 3⭐️(FSU)↗️
25. S Cyrus Fagan  4 ⭐️ (FSU)
26. OL Zack Dykstra 3⭐️
27. WR Evidence Njoku 3⭐️
28. DE D.J Johnson 4 ⭐️↗️
29. RB Darren Felix 3⭐️
30. LB Deandre Wilder 3⭐️
31. OL Marcus Minor 4⭐️↗️
32. DT Kane Taylor 3⭐️
33. LB Waynmon Steed 3⭐️(Miami)
34. S Billy Gibson 3⭐️(Miami)
35. WR Rodney Scott 3⭐️(Miami)

Blue Chip Collections Presents The Bombers VS The Birdmen

By: Jimbo Brown 

Blue Chip Collection has put a twist to one of their previous designs that was influence the motion picture Above The Rim. BCC believes that the movie shows America that the road for the minority athlete has many obstacles. The athlete has decide whether their going to take the positive or negative route on the journey to success. 

The Blue Chip Bombers & Birdmen jerseys are symbolic of those triumphs and struggles. The championship game of the Shootout Tournament summarizes the film and BCC's collection. No matter what someone says, stay true to your beliefs and it will play out in your favor. 

You can pre-order your jersey starting tomorrow 05/31 at BlueChipCollection.net and receive 20% off by using the code: NutSo. 

Believe. Love. Unite. Empower

Miami Hurricanes Spring 2016 : 5 Things We Learned

Brad Kaaya
If it wasn't apparent already, the Miami Hurricanes have an "ELITE QB"! Couple that with the mind of Mark Richt and ............yeah you get the picture! The disparity between Kaaya and the other QBs on the roster is quite astounding and that is more of an indictment on Kaaya and how good he is. The strength and conditioning seemed to not only have an affect on the lineman but Kaaya as well. His throws were crisp and Mark Richt described him as "Deadly Accurate". In a matter of weeks he has already mastered the Mark Richt playbook and has a full command of the offense. To the point where he is actually correcting Coach Richt at times. If there is any hope for the 2016 Miami Hurricanes they lie clearly on the arm of Brad Kaaya. Cane Nation should be excited about a Kaaya led offense in 2016

The Defense
After the hiring of Mark Richt, next on the agenda of Hurricane fans was the Defensive Coordinator hire. That is where Manny Diaz comes in. The fans got an introduction and early glimpse of the newly implemented 4-3 one gap defense and by all accounts it was a successful transition. The hire of Coach Kool from Missouri was also a big deal for Cane fans as he is regarded as one of the best Defensive line coaches in America. Players have lamented how exciting it is to be playing for Coach Kool and this style of defense. "He's teaching us technique and aggression, just get after it. Stop guessing and get after the quarterback. That's what he likes. Get to the quarterback." said Gerald Willis.  Expectations are high for the defensive line led by Alquadin Muhammad. As we saw this spring the front seven is now attacking the line of scrimmage attempting to create negative plays and stop plays before the can develop. If this defense rises up to the occasion the 2016 Miami Hurricanes could have a big year.
 
Freshmen LBs 
 Shaq Quarterman, Miike Pickney, and Zach McCloud have been a real revelation this spring. Since their arrivals they have demolished everything in their paths! From the offseason conditioning program, to their playbooks, to their fellow counterparts on the other side of the ball. Since being elevated to the 1st and 2nd teams they have yet to relinquish their roles and have made their imprint on the defense. Shaq Quarterman in particular looks the part of a division 1 MLB. He has picked up the defense exceptionally fast and it was really a treat watching him calling the defense this spring and making plays. His forced fumble in the 1st scrimmage was a thing of beauty and shows what he brings to the table. His efforts have led to him earning a leadership award and from the look of things that might be the first of many awards he brings home for the Canes.   
 
Depth Concerns
Maybe the biggest issue this spring was the lack of depth at certain positions. Especially at the WR position. At The University of Miami, depth at the skill positions should never be an issue. Unfortunately the previous regime did not do their due diligence recruiting and that was very evident this spring. Once the second teams were on the field you could easily see a drop in performance and how devoid of scholarship players there was. Mark Richt and his staff luckily have some reinforcements arriving in the summer to help. With the help of freshmen's Sam Bruce, Ahmmon Richards,  Malik Young, Cedric Wright, and transfers Adrian Colbert and Dayall Harris the Canes should be okay for now. 
 
 
Play Calling 

Gone are the days of the infamous bubble screens and soft zone coverages and enter a fullback and lots of blitzing. One thing that was evident this spring is the flexibility of the offense and the aggressiveness of the defense. Mark Richt (taking over play calling duties) has implemented his pro style attack which has brought back the fullback and play actions passes. It was really a treat watching Kaaya play action and rolling out the pocket. The TE position really flourished this spring and the Canes appear  have one of if not the best group of TEs in the country led by David Njoku and Chris Herndon. The possibilities of the Mark Richt led offense that was on display this spring should leave Cane fans salivating. Manny Diaz has brought an aggressive style defense and has a propensity to blitz..... A lot! It really is refreshing to see the defensive line and LBs attacking the line of scrimmage getting TFLs and the DBs on the line playing press man coverage. This defense will be fun to watch at the very least which can't be said about Miami defenses the past couple of years.

Athlete Talk Mock Draft 1.0

By: Jimbo Brown 

1. Tampa Bay: Jameis Winston, QB,  Florida State-- They need a quarterback and he's #1 on the board. Take EM!
2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT/DE, USC-- They will pass on a QB right now and get the best player in the draft.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, UF--I'm a gator and the Jags need a game changer to come off the edge. He will give them a Jamie Collins type hybrid player.
4. Oakland Raiders: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska-- HE will join a talented front seven with Justin Tuck and Khalil Mack. Immediate impact because those two can demand double teams at any time. 
5. Washington Redskins: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri-- With Brian Orakpo entering free agency, they will need a pass rusher to step in and Shane was very productive for multiple years in the SEC.
6. New York Jets: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson-- With Revis and Cro returning back to New Tork, a dynamic pass rusher will make them a force in the AFC East.
7. Chicago Bears: Alvin "Bud" Dupre, DE, Kentucky-- With a great resume as a Wildcat, he will bring that toughness and talent of the SEC to the bears. Who need to add more pieces to a depleted defense.
8. Atlants Falcons: Lando Collins, SS, Alabama-- An All-American wit the Rolling Tide. He was a playmaker throughout his career; know for big hits and causing mayhem. 
9. New York Giants: Ereck Flowers' OT' Miami-- I'm  not going to lie I got a text message telling me that Flowers will be drafted by the giants. He will be a great addition because they need to protect Eli to have any chance in the NFC East.
10. St. Louis Rams: Kevin White, WR, WVU-- Another West V receiver that has the size, speed and ability to be a #1 receiver. The have a good possession receivers and White will be the deep threat to make the defense "Kiss the Baby"  Chad Johnson voice.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama--Coop will be reunited with the doctor Teddy B and be the playmaker to compliment Adrian Peteson. He will get immediate separation due to his crisp routes.
12. Cleveland Browns: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon-- Even though I got a feeling that Chip is going to make a way to get Marcus, Cleveland needs a back-up plan incase Johnny doesn't be fully rehabilitated. Marcus will be a project but they have a good defense to protect him earl in his career.
13. New Orleans Saints: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota-- With the departure of pro bowler Jimmy Graham, you have to get first round potential to replace em. 
14. Miami Dolphins: Devante Parker, WR, Louisville--With Mike Wallace not living up to his potential and the lost of productive veterans. He will be a vertical threat early in his career. He is arguably the best receiver in the draft if he was healthy throughout his career.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Eddie Goldman, DT, FSU-- With the lost of Justin Smith , they need a good interior d-linemen. Goldman is a run-stopper and can put pressure on the quarterback. 
16. Houston Texans: Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas-- You add this talent with Watt and Clowney and be one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL. 
17. San Diego Chargers: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin-- Ryan Matthews leaves to Philly, so this is a excellent replacement. Melvin is the best running back in this drive. He does have fumbling issues.  
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri/Oklahoma-- A big receiver that KC need to be more effective on offensive. He has some red flags but he will be a red zone threat early similar to Mike Evans this past season.
19. Cleveland Browns: Cameron Erving, OL, FSU-- Lets protect whoever is the starting QB next season , whether its Mariota or Manziel. Erving is a great talent who protected Winston for two years and looked good doing it. 
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Trae Wayans, CB, MSU-- A long, fast lock down corner who has an incredibly high ceiling. This will allow the Eagles to push Thurmond into the inside and like Maxwell and Wayans handle the outside. 
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford-- A former five-star recruit who has major potential, he had some lapses during his career but with the right coaching he will be a great professional.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: P.J. Williams, CB, FSU-- A 2-year starter at Florida State, who is talented enough to upgrade the Steelers secondary who desperately need corners. It will be interesting to see P.J's game translate to the next level.
23. Detroit Lions: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington-- Sometimes you have to take the best available. 
24. Arizona Cardinals: Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU-- With his lanky build, he brings strength and agility to this team. In this pass happy league he will fit i. 
25. Carolina Panther: DJ Humpries, OT, UF-- An outstanding player for the Gators. He will be a starting RT but needs to be groomed into a LT. 
26. Baltimore Ravens: Todd Gurley, RB, UGA-- Even though they need a corner back and maybe a interior d-linemen, I believe you have to take the best available prospect. Especially when healthy fits the culture that's already in Baltimore.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon-- He will bring size and athleticism to a Cowboys defensive that will have to get better now that DeMarco is gone now. 
28. Denver Broncos: Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma--With the lost of Knighton they will need first-round talent to fill his shoes. 
29. Indianapolis Colts: Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA-- A fast linebacker who can play sideline to sideline. He is alittle undersized but can make big plays all over the field. His big brother being in the NFL already, he have someone to show him how to represent himself on and off the field.
30. Green Bay Packers: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington-- Former safety with the Huskies, he will transition into the NFL perfectly. He has the skill set to be that hybrid safety that can play in the box and cover RB's and TE's.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Jaelen Strong, WR, ASU-- He will add to the recievers corp they already have. HE is big, fast strong and will win on most 50/50 balls.
32. New England Patriots: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest-- Will be an immediate starter due to the lost of Darelle Revis. He has the talent to survive in the AFC East. 

Highlights of NBA All-Star Weekend

By: CandyMan

Last weekend was one of the better weekends for the NBA All-Star weekend in recent history. Every event was fun, engaging & competitive. The weekend started with the celebrity game where Kevin Hart won his 4^th straight MVP. There were more deserving candidates though, as his East team lost to the West 57-51. Mo’ne Davis probably had the play of the night after driving down the lane with Hart in her face and hitting him with a spin move that opened up an easy layup for her. Next, there was a new format in the Rising Stars Challenge. Freshmen & sophomores from the USA & international countries would compete against each other. The World team beat the U.S. 121-112 as Andrew Wiggins (from Canada) scored 22 points and won MVP. Victor Oladipo & Zach Lavine were the leading scorers for team USA with 22 points each.

Saturday night started off with the first ever fashion show in which JR Smith, who just got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, finished in first place. The Shooting Stars competition got off to a fast start with all 4 teams finishing und^rd straight Shooting Stars win. Next up was the Skills Challenge with a new tournament format where 8 players competed against each other 2 by 2 side by side. Patrick Beverly won the event after struggling with the chest pass in the last 2 rounds, but came from behind & hit his first 3 point shots with ease against Jeff Teague in the semifinals and Brandon Knight in the final round. 

er a minute. But only 2 could advance into the second round, Team Westbrook (Russell Westbrook, Penny Hardaway, Tamika Catchings) & Team Bosh (Chris Bosh, Dominique Wilkins, Swin Cash). Team Westbrook couldn’t make their half-court shot after using up the whole minute & thirty seconds. Team Bosh came out on top after a half-court shot from Wilkins with just under a minute. It was their 3

The 3-point contest itself was an All-Star roster and ended up meeting expectations as one of the best 3-points competitions ever. The roster included James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kyle Korver, Wesley Matthews, Marco Belinelli (last year’s winner) & JJ Redick. Matthews scored 22 points in the 1^st round but it still wasn’t enough to get into the 2^nd round as Curry, Thompson & Irving all scored more. Curry finished with the title after scoring 27 points and hitting 13 straight shots at one point. Many consider Curry to be the best 3 point shooter in the game and he solidified that status with this win. The final event of the night was the dunk contest. Everybody knew Zach Lavine was going to win and he did just that. He had two perfect score dunks in the first round that brought the whole crowd on their feet. Honestly, they were his best dunks of the night and there was no competition. The Greek Freak was hyped up coming into the event but failed to finish a dunk which basically knocked him out. Victor Oladipo had an impressive first dunk and advanced to the 2^nd round but couldn’t keep up with Lavine.

Now on to the main event on Sunday night. A few stars missed the game due to injury including Kobe Bryant, Anthony Davis & Blake Griffin (all starters for the West). DeMarcus Cousins & Damian Lillard got to play in the game at last, after being snubbed when the initial roster was announced. It was the usual All-Star game: fast-paced, little defense, plenty of turnovers, many 3-pointers and a lot of highlight plays. The West’s stacked roster beat the East 163-158. Westbrook was very explosive from the start and scored 41 points for the West and won MVP. LeBron James scored 30 points for the East and finished 2 points shy of tying Kobe for most career points in an All-Star game. The West is 4-1 against the East in the last 5 All-Star games.

The Best in Florida: Gators, Hurricanes or Seminoles?

By: Candy Man

            Who can lay claim as the best football program in the state of Florida? College football in the Sunshine State took off in the 80’s when Miami won their first national championship in ’83. The U went on to win 3 more titles before UF or FSU won their first. FSU got on board in 1993 with Heisman Trophy winner, Charlie Ward. Soon after, the Gators joined the club in 1996 when they beat the Seminoles in the title game. Since the 1980’s, the rivalries between the U, FSU & UF have grown into the national spotlight and these 3 programs combined to win 11 national championships, about 1/3^rd of all the championships in that time period. That is a great accomplishment and a testament to the quality of football being played in this state at the college and high school level. But who can say they have the best football program out of the three?

The team that invented swagger makes a good case as they have the most national championships with 5. The U was the most dominant and most hated team in the 80’s when head coaches Schnellenberger, Johnson & Erickson led them to 3 championships. They spoiled many teams’ shots at winning a title including Florida State, Nebraska, Oklahoma & Notre Dame. That success carried over into the 90’s until a Pell grant scandal knocked them off for a few years. They came back strong with Larry Coker and won another title in 2001 with the “greatest team in college football history.” Their cocky & flashy style created a brand & a legacy that is recognized throughout the college football landscape. You can say they produced the most talent in the state also. 2 Heisman Trophy winners have played for the Canes, quarterbacks Vinny Testaverde & Gino Torretta. They have set multiple NFL draft records & they could field a complete NFL team, 2^nd string and all, with just their own players. Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Edgerrin James, Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, Andre Johnson, Clinton Portis, Devin Hester, Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss, the Blades brothers, Jonathan Vilma, Jim Kelly, Jerome Brown, Bernie Kosar and many other stars at every position.

The Florida Gators are the oldest team in the state but didn’t reach consistent success until the 60’s when they had Steve Spurrier, 1966 Heisman winner, at quarterback and Ray Graves as head coach. This is also the time when Gatorade was first invented. The 70’s were so-so with head coach, Doug Dickey, and the 80’s were more successful but tarnished with major infractions that resulted in severe penalties from the NCAA. The Gators rebounded in the 90’s & reached national prominence with multiple SEC titles and a national championship in 1996 under head coach, Steve Spurrier. They won 2 more championships with Urban Meyer & arguably the best college football player ever, Tim Tebow. Some of the Gator greats include Heisman Trophy winners, Danny Wuerffel & Steve Spurrier, Emmitt Smith, Fred Taylor, Ike Hilliard, Jevon Kearse, Brandon Spikes, Percy Harvin, Joe Haden, the Pouncey Twins, Kevin Carter, Rex Grossman, Jack Youngblood & Wilbur Marshall.

           

The Florida State Seminoles, the former all-girls school & the youngest team out of the 3, started playing D1 football in the 1950’s. It’s impressive what they’ve done in a short amount of time when there are schools that have been playing D1 since the 1800’s. One of the greatest coaches in college football history, Bobby Bowden, took over in the 70’s and led the program to great heights. FSU ran the 90’s, fell off in the late 2000’s at the end of the Bobby Bowden era and have rose back to the top under Jimbo Fisher. Now you can say they are on the same level as UF with both having 3 national titles and 3 Heisman winners. No question, the best team right now are the Seminoles. Jameis Winston led them to a championship last year & he is on his way to becoming the 1^st overall pick in this year’s draft. They’ve racked up on a lot of talent with top 5 recruiting classes and are sending them to the league more than any other school besides Alabama. Their most impressive accomplishment, in my opinion, are the 14 straight years they finished in the top 5 beginning in the late 80’s to the end of the 90’s. That’s consistency and they could’ve added a few more championships if it wasn’t for Miami & Florida. Some of the greatest athletes to come through Tallahassee are “Primetime” Deion Sanders, Heisman Trophy winners, Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke & Jameis Winston, Warrick Dunn, Peter Warrick, Terrell Buckley, state of Florida legend Derrick Brooks, Marvin Jones, Ron Simmons, Peter Boulware, Anquan Boldin, & Fred Biletnikoff..

            

One thing for sure, each one of them had successful runs. It’s like a power cycle where one program is on top for a few years then comes back down to Earth while the others catch up & take over that top spot. Miami ran the 80’s, all three programs dominated the 90’s, UM was scary in the early 2000’s & the Gators were on top a few years later while FSU struggled. Now FSU is one of the best teams in the nation while the U & UF are struggling. Miami hasn’t done much in more than 10 years after losing their last title game to Ohio State & moving to the ACC. The Gators were in a great position just a few years ago but all that got derailed when Urban Meyer left & Will Muschamp was hired. It’s been years since Miami & Florida beat Florida State and both are trying to place themselves in the best position to knock off FSU & return to their glory days. Factoring in the history & present day of all three programs, who would you say is the best in the state of Florida?

The Great Urban Meyer

By:Candy Man 

​Ohio State just won the first College Football Playoff National Championship. Before the season, many people counted the Buckeyes out when their star quarterback for the prior two seasons, Braxton Miller, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Then they lost their first game of the season to Virginia Tech. But since then, backup quarterback & Heisman candidate J.T. Barrett led his team to 10 straight victories before he went down with an ankle injury during the Michigan game. In came the 3rd string quarterback, 6’5 250 pound Cardale Jones. Never before getting a chance to step ontothe field for Ohio State, he finished the season with a win in the B1G TEN championship game over Wisconsin, the playoff semifinals over Alabama & the national championship this past Monday over Oregon. It was an improbable season for Ohio State full of adversity and many people thought they were still a year or 2 away from reaching the championship game. When the playoffs committee picked them as the #4 seed in the playoffs over TCU & Baylor, it was a controversial decision and the general thought was that they didn’t deserve a spot. But with a coach like Urban Meyer, anything is possible.

​Meyer, who already won 2 championships with the Gators, will become a legend in the state of Ohio after winning another one at his alma mater. Urban Meyer got his Master’s in sports administration from Ohio State and also started his coaching career there in the 80’s. His first head coaching job was Bowling Green where he took a 2-9 team to an 8-3 season in 2001. He left after his second year to coach at the University of Utah. He won the MWC Coach of the Year award in his first year after winning 10 games, and followed that up with the first undefeated season at Utah in his second year. He then jumped at the chance to coach the Florida Gators where he won 2 championships in 2006 & 2008. He left the University of Florida in 2010, took a year off, then was hired in 2012 to become the next Ohio State football coach after a disappointing 6-7 season the previous year. In his first year, he went undefeated but couldn’t contend for the national championship because of NCAA violations that resulted in a bowl ban and a loss of scholarships. His second year started strong but ended in 2 straight losses in the conference championship game and the Orange Bowl. He then went on to win the conference and national championship in 2014. So in summary, he went undefeated at 3 schools and won national titles at 2 of them. It only took him 2 years to win one a title at Florida and 3 years to win another title at Ohio State. So you can see why many people and the media are already calling him the greatest of all time and even better than Nick Saban.

While Ohio State fans were celebrating Monday night, Gator fans were reminiscing to the good ol’ days when Meyer was theircoach. Many of them are grateful for the 2 titles that he brought to Gainesville while there are others that would never forgive him for how he left UF high & dry to suffer in the years after he stepped down for “health and family” reasons. Despite that, nobody can doubt his coaching success. He’s on his way to starting a dynasty at Ohio State and could be even better than Woody Hayes, a legend in Ohio who won 5 titles as the Buckeyes coach in the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s. With a young team that is returning most of its starters including the national championship MVP and possibly all three quarterbacks, Ohio State will have the best odds of winning the 2016 CFP National Championship.