ADVERTISEMENT

Clemson trying to find way out of ACC


Clemson’s legal filing centers mostly on the ACC’s grant of rights, which, in tandem with the ESPN television deal, binds members together until 2036 by owning each school’s broadcasting rights to their home games. Clemson argues that the ACC (1) does not, in fact, control its broadcasting rights if the university leaves the conference as it, apparently, plans to do; and (2) cannot enforce a $140 million exit fee if/when Clemson leaves the conference.

Could Miami be the next to make a move?

Or is this just smoke? Seems like just smoke to me.

Thoughts?

Miami Hockey Wins AAU D-III National Championship


After winning the College Hockey South Division III Championship in February, the team traveled to Pennsylvania this past weekend to play in five tournament-style games, winning all five, to advance to the national championship game. Playing against Florida Southern College, the team won with a riveting score of 10-0. Harlan Jackson, the goalie, was named player of the game after shutting down every attempt from the opponent, and Elian Estulin was named MVP.

The UHockey team, led by head coach Thomas Immello and captain Christopher Kourgelis, fought hard to turn the team around this year. Players and the coach felt that turning things around after a losing season to winning the Division III National Championship showed their resilience and determination. At the start of the season, Coach Immello asked the team to buy in, leading by his own actions and sacrifices. Having retired from FDNY, Immello commutes every weekend from New York to Miami for practices and games. “This season was dedicated to my niece Ava, who at 16, lost her battle with leukemia. That makes this team and this championship even more special,” says Immello.

Club Sports, under the Department of Wellness and Recreation, is student-led and a vital part of the university's culture. “Club Sports means a lot to me and has given me memories I will always cherish,” says Kourgelis. When you think about Miami, you may not think of ice hockey, but this team has demonstrated its fortitude this season. Next year, the team will move to AAU Division II and continue competing at the highest level.

“I am super proud of this team; they remained focused and professional and delivered dominating wins throughout the AAU championship in Pennsylvania. We look forward to honoring them on campus,” says Patricia Whitely, senior vice president for student affairs and alumni engagement. To celebrate the victory with the team, the Department of Wellness and Recreation will host a celebration at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, at Lakeside Patio.

Congratulations to the men’s ice hockey team on winning the AAU College Hockey Division III National Championship. To read more about the road to winning a championship, click here.

Courtesy of University of Miami News

Women's Basketball Snubbed by NCAA Tournament, Not Participating in WBIT

The Miami Hurricanes were not selected for the NCAA Tournament after most thought the Hurricanes would be in by late Sunday evening.

Last year, Miami had the best run in school history, making it to the Elite Eight. They entered the Big Dance as a No. 9 seed and beat No. 8 Oklahoma State, No. 1 Indiana, and No. 4 Villanova along the way. The Hurricanes lost in the regional final to eventual national champion LSU and held the Tigers to their lowest-scoring total of the season.

Miami was a bubble team last year as well. This season, it had a similar resume: an overall record of 19-12 (the same as last season when the ACC Tournament ended) with marquee wins over tournament-bound teams UNC, Duke, N.C. State, and SWAC champion Jackson State. Miami also had a better NET rating than Vanderbilt and Columbia, which earned at-large bids.

If Miami had earned a spot in the NCAA tournament, the ACC would have had a record nine teams in the field.

According to NCAA.com, the Hurricanes were scheduled to play Stony Brook on Thursday in the WBIT, but the Hurricanes notified the tournament that it is unable to participate.

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media

Miami Basketball players transferring

Miami basketball is losing sophomores A.J. Casey and Christian Watson to the transfer portal.

Casey averaged 1.4 points per game, 1.5 rebounds, and shot 37 percent from the floor. A former four-star, Casey was the sixth-rated power forward out of the 2022 class. In two seasons, he averaged 7.8 minutes per game.

Login to view embedded media
Christian Watson, a former three-star prospect and 42-ranked small forward of the 2022 class, averaged 1.4 PPG, shot 36.4 percent from the floor, and made only 27.0 percent of his three-point attempts.

Login to view embedded media
Miami is down to 11 scholarships for next season. The Hurricanes are likely to lose more players to the transfer portal. Several Miami players (Norchad Omier, Kyshawn George, Nijel Pack, Wooga Poplar) could enter the NBA Draft or play overseas.

Miami will likely return Paul Djobet, Bensley Joseph, and Michael Nwoko.

Incoming freshman Five-star Jahlil Bethea is likely to start for Miami as a true freshman. Other freshmen, Austin Swartz, and Isaiah Johnson-Arigu, will be development prospects.

Who will emerge as RB2 this spring?

Mark Fletcher and Ajay Allen are out for spring ball, which allows other running backs to step up.

Henry Parrish will certainly be deemed RB1. He does not have much to prove about his ability. When healthy, he is the most consistent back.

Christopher Johnson Jr., Tre'Vonte Citizen, and Chris Wheatley-Humphrey have golden opportunities to prove themselves and develop.

Of the three, sophomore Johnson Jr. is the only back with college football experience. He has 11 rushes for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Redshirt Sophomore Tre'Vonte Citizen was the highest-rated prospect coming out of high school but we are nearly two years removed from his torn ACL, and we have yet to see the power and explosiveness we saw on the gridiron during his prep years.

Freshman Chris Wheatley-Humphrey will have difficulty cracking the lineup with so many seasoned veterans. However, I would not count him out as he has exceeded my expectations on how he's looked in week one of spring practice.

Who do you think should be RB2 in the spring or RB4 for in the fall?

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media

Pro Football Focus ranks Rueben Bain as 6th best-returning edge rusher

Login to view embedded media
If Akheem Mesidor can return to his form from 2022 and stay healthy the entire season, Miami has a chance to be the best pass rush in college football.

Mesidor was often doubled during the 2022 season, and Bain started to see double-teams toward the end of the season.

People may have forgotten that Mesidor was an All-ACC honorable mention in 2022 and defensive player of the week for his 3.5-sack performance against Virginia Tech.

With both on the field, two players will have one-on-one matchups. Blitzes and stunts can confuse opposing offensive lines.

For this line to advance to the next level, it needs big jumps in production from budding stars Nyjalik Kelly and Jayden Wayne. Kelly is returning from injury, and Jayden Wayne is positioned to step up in year two. Elijah Alston is a vital addition to this line and should contribute early and often.

In the middle, I expect veteran Jared Harrison-Hunte to get plenty of reps at D-Tackle. Fans hope transfers C.J. Clark, Marley Cook, and Ahmad Moten will be the answer going into year three of the program.

Add the addition of the best defensive line class of 2024, and this could be the most vaunted pass rush in the CFB.

The backup QB Role may be a tight race


The clear-cut favorite quarterback that Miami will trot out is Cam Ward for game one versus Florida, but if Ward goes down, many assume it will be Reese Poffenbarger.

I'm not totally convinced of that notion.

Poffenbarger put up big numbers against FCS competition (3,603 yards passing, 36 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions last season), but the FBS and Power Five levels will be a different story.

What's concerning is his completion percentage. At Morgan State, he completed 11-of-25 (44%); at Hawaii, he completed 10-31 (32.3%); and in a home game against Richmond, he completed 12-of-23 (52.2%) of his passes.

Many players have made the jump form FCS to FBS and had success. Last season, two players had much success- Jared Verse - Albany to Florida State, DJ Coleman - Jacksonville State to Missouri, and Cam Ward - Incarnate Word to Washington State.

Ward did have one game under 55 percent completion, 13-30 (43.3%) against Nicholls State, but Ward threw for more yards 4,648, more touchdowns (47) and less interceptions (10) in his final year in FCS.

Jacurri Brown finished one game under a 55 completion percentage - 46.2% in a 40-10 road loss to Clemson, his second start of his career. Emory Williams's only game under a 70 percent completion percentage was 34.8 percent against FSU last year.

From a sheer size and athleticism perspective, Brown has the edge over Poffenbarger. Brown is 6-4, 220 pounds while Poffenbarger is 6-0, 208, and Williams is similar to Brown in size 6-5, 220 but not nearly close in athletism. Brown is widely known as one of the fastest players on the team.

We are hearing that Jacurri Brown is making progress and is certainly pushing both Poffenbarger and Emory Williams for QB2.

Who do you think should be the backup quarterback?

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media

Nick Saban comments on the state of College Football on Capitol Hill


Login to view embedded media
Seems like a salty Saban that couldn't keep with the times here.

All of a sudden student-athletes are legally getting a piece of the pie and Saban wants out?

Thoughts?
ADVERTISEMENT

Filter

ADVERTISEMENT