THE 'CANE CORNER - A LOOK AT MIAMI HURRICANE FOOTBALL by Matty C.

The once vaunted Miami offensive line that blitzkrieged Nebraska (and cost poor Frank Solich his job) in the Rose Bowl in 2001 is long gone.

Miami allowed an ACC-worst 36 sacks last year, 9 of which came against Florida State in the season opener. That ladies and gentlemen, is outrageous. Duke and Wake Forest allowed less sacks than Miami. DUKE AND WAKE FOREST! This has to improve if Miami wants to participate in its first ACC title game, much less a BCS or National Championship game.

1st-year offensive Line Coach (himself a Hurricane Offensive line standout from 1988 to 1992 and sports 2 National Championship rings from that era to prove it ) Mario Cristobal reminds the players every day that they are a big reason for last year’s disappointing 9-3 mark and a major question mark for this upcoming season. Cristobal has told his players that ‘football is a man’s game and the nation is questioning your manhood.’ Cristobal is a rising star in the football community and recently interviewed and declined overtures from the New York Jets organization.

So let’s see what these guys are all about:

Left Tackle will be 6-3, 305 lb Reggie Youngblood who backed up AA candidate Eric Winston last year and saw action in 8 games. Youngblood was the nation’s 2nd-rated tackle coming out Booker T. Washington HS in Houston and has reportedly power-cleaned 323 and squats 440 lbs.

Left Guard is Andrew Bain a 6-3 330 lb JR or r-Fr A.J. Trump at 6-3 297 lb. Bain has experience but lacks conditioning; Trump has more upside but is green.

Center – the leader of the O-line and one of the team leaders SR Anthony Wollschlager a 6-4 285 SR from Fort Lauderdale. Wollschlager might be one of the toughest, most vocal leaders on the team and will be looked upon to whip the newcomers into shape. His performance is key to the season, and from the quotes coming out of Miami, he is stepping up.

Right Guard – Derrick Morse who is undoubtedly one of the meanest, ugliest white guys you will ever meet. This 6-4 295 lb JR will look to plaster some poor VagTech Hokie this season.

Right Tackle is Tyrone Byrd a 6-5 295 JR from Texas who may be replaced due to a right knee sprain in practice. Coker seems optimistic that he will return, but who knows?

Standout freshman OL Orlando Franklin is still waiting to attend UM practices while the NCAA Clearinghouse tries to figure out what to do with overseas transfers; will those guys at the NCAA ever get their act together?

Backups include JR Cyrim Wimbs, SO Chris Rutledge, SR Alex Pou (who has yet to live up to his potential and seems a career backup) and r-FR Matt Pipho

The offensive line has been disappointing at best and oftentimes atrocious the past few seasons, costing longtime assistant Art Kehoe his job. See ya’ Art.

But the word on the street is positive….and nasty. Reports from Hurricane practice tell of offensive lineman roughing up the D-Line, even sparking a huge 30-person brawl during one practice when starting linebacker Jon ‘The Beast’ Beason was tired of getting pushed around and retaliated. There went the neighborhood and to paraphrase Coach Coker….’the way they played last season…they better get themselves fired up’.

Florida State is less than two weeks away.

Go get ‘em coach.

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