22 Days to Kickoff

Hurricane Nation is experiencing a palpable atmosphere of anticipation leading up to the season opener on Saturday, August 31st. The nationally televised contest against the Florida Gators will be played at the legendary Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with a 3:30 pm kickoff.

Ben Hill Griffin has an official capacity of 88,548 but it’s a sure bet that there will be 90,000 plus extremely loud fans in attendance for the Gators-Canes clash. Canes Corner has been around many rabid Miami fans in recent weeks and I can only describe their collective expectations as that of ‘cautious confidence,’ an oxymoron for sure. Still, I know not, how else to describe the incongruity and dichotomy of their hopes and fears.

This will be the first of four columns leading up to the Florida game. Today, the focus will be on head coach Mario Cristobal. Canes Corner is a strong believer in Coach Cristobal. This will be his third season in charge, but only his second full recruiting class. The expectations of the Miami fan base were high, and many expected immediate success.

A 12-13 record in the first two years, a 1-5 record against ranked teams, and a bowl game loss to Rutgers have, no doubt, been disappointing. Canes Corner has always written that it would take at least four years for Cristobal to completely turn the program around and bring it back to where it could compete with the big boys of college football. I believe he’s done it in three. Canes Corner predicts that UM will prevail at Florida, win the ACC Championship, and be a part of the upcoming season’s 12-team playoff for the national championship.

When asked recently about the Florida game, Cristobal had this to say, “It’s a tremendous rivalry. I know our fan base and everybody is incredibly fired up about that. But we’re not talking about the Florida Gators. We have a training camp coming up. For us to be the best team we can be on August 31st, we have to have a great training camp, we have to improve our systems, our techniques, our fundamentals, and our ability to communicate and execute. Without any of that, nothing else is really possible. All focus is on Miami. In due time, we’ll be addressing our first game.”

I was at the first practice last week and Cristobal had this message for his players, “You cannot practice soft, be coached soft, and be expected to play hard in games. You must commit yourself to a level of physicality on a daily basis…people have to earn it out here every single day. There’s an extremely high level of respect between these players and what they’re trying to do.”

In post-practice remarks, Cristobal noted he was pleased with the enthusiasm and intensity but added there were positives and not-so-positives regarding execution. “The best thing a coach can do is prepare and conduct and organize a challenging practice,” Cristobal said. “At the end of the day, it has to be driven, and it has to come from within. We are getting a really good push from internal leadership.”

The coach added that the players were not in football shape yet. He promised that by practice day 16 they would look different and by day 22, way different. I have no doubt that will be the case. Next week the focus will be on the defensive side of the ball.

THIS AND THAT -

SOCCER- Miami has a great Women’s Soccer program. They play four home games in the next month, all on campus at Cobb Stadium (on San Amaro Drive, behind Mark Light baseball field). All games are FREE ADMISSION! The dates are 8/15 at 6:00 pm vs North Florida, 8/29 at 7:00 pm vs the Missouri Tigers, 9/1 at 7:00 pm vs FIU, and 9/5 at 7:00 pm vs Southeastern Louisiana. We will keep readers aware of the home schedule as the season goes on.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL- Miami Volleyball is on par with the nation’s top collegiate teams. Home matches are played in the Knights Sports Complex (on San Amaro Drive behind Cobb Stadium) All matches are FREE ADMISSION! Dates are 8/13 at 6:00 pm Orange and Green scrimmage #1, 8/23 at 7:00 pm vs Miami Dade College, and 8/24 at 6:00 pm Orange and Green scrimmage #2. The team has three tournaments on the road before returning home on 9/19 to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks at 6:00 pm. That’s all for now, be well and Go Canes!