Used to be that guys got 24 hours to dwell on their victories or tend to their wounds.
Not anymore.
Not in Coral Gables.
Not when No. 8 Oklahoma, which put a 79-10 hurtin' on North Texas, is your next opponent at noon Saturday (Chs. 10, 25) in Norman, Okla.
Know what Randy Shannon did with the game ball his players presented him Saturday at the end of the University of Miami's 31-3 victory against Marshall in Shannon's debut as coach?
'I gave it to [equipment manager] Bobby Revilla as soon as I walked in the coaches' locker room,'' Shannon said Sunday. ``Game over. Nothing you can do about it. Game balls don't make or break you.
``You can get Gatorade dumped on your head, and everybody in Miami [could be] patting you on the shoulder, but you know what? It ain't going to ever help you win the game the next week against Oklahoma.''
Thus, Shannon's first victory was shelved in ''two, maybe three'' minutes Saturday afternoon in the Orange Bowl, Shannon noted.
''That's how life is with me right now,'' Shannon said. ``I don't get too emotional about a lot of things.''
Shannon said he was pleased with UM's performance, but blamed ''too many deep balls down the middle'' against his pass defense on ``miscommunication and coverage busts. It wasn't the scheme, because when we played the scheme right we got interceptions or sacks. Communication was bad when they got the big plays. Some guys were playing one coverage and other guys were playing another coverage.''
He said he wasn't worried that Oklahoma redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford debuted with 363 yards and three touchdowns, and that the Sooners passed for 403 yards.
''Not a concern,'' he said. 'Oklahoma is going to run the ball. Don't think they're not going to. Coach [Bob] Stoops does a great job in his run-pass and those guys over there on defense aren't going to say, `You know, this lineup against Miami -- we'll throw the ball 60 times.' They're going to run the ball and they're going to do some play-action to get deep balls on us. That's what they do best.
``The best thing about playing Oklahoma is the coordinator is still the same -- offensively and defensively, so we'll have an idea of what they do. And we'll have a good game plan.''
Offensively, Shannon said he thought Kirby Freeman played ``decent enough to win. Look at his stats [9 of 21 for 81 yards, a touchdown and an interception] and they're not tremendous. But we had too many drops. We got in a lot of third down and 3, 4, stuff like that, where the ball was in their hands and they dropped the pass.''
Added Shannon: ``I'm not concerned about it. I think those guys pressed themselves too hard, to be honest.''
The coach also said backup Kyle Wright is ``doing a wonderful job, still competing everyday in practice. . . . Kyle is not shutting it down.''
Shannon repeatedly praised the offensive line, as well as linebacker Tavares Gooden and the defensive line. He also praised freshman cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke and said coaches will ''ride him hard'' so he doesn't get too cocky and slack off.
• Injury update: Fullback Jerrell Mabry was on crutches after the game, with his left shin, up to his knee, wrapped heavily. His status is unknown. . . .
Wide receiver Darnell Jenkins was heavily favoring his right shoulder, but Shannon believes Jenkins was just sore.
Used to be that guys got 24 hours to dwell on their victories or tend to their wounds.
Not anymore.
Not in Coral Gables.
Not when No. 8 Oklahoma, which put a 79-10 hurtin' on North Texas, is your next opponent at noon Saturday (Chs. 10, 25) in Norman, Okla.
Know what Randy Shannon did with the game ball his players presented him Saturday at the end of the University of Miami's 31-3 victory against Marshall in Shannon's debut as coach?
'I gave it to [equipment manager] Bobby Revilla as soon as I walked in the coaches' locker room,'' Shannon said Sunday. ``Game over. Nothing you can do about it. Game balls don't make or break you.
``You can get Gatorade dumped on your head, and everybody in Miami [could be] patting you on the shoulder, but you know what? It ain't going to ever help you win the game the next week against Oklahoma.''
Thus, Shannon's first victory was shelved in ''two, maybe three'' minutes Saturday afternoon in the Orange Bowl, Shannon noted.
''That's how life is with me right now,'' Shannon said. ``I don't get too emotional about a lot of things.''
Shannon said he was pleased with UM's performance, but blamed ''too many deep balls down the middle'' against his pass defense on ``miscommunication and coverage busts. It wasn't the scheme, because when we played the scheme right we got interceptions or sacks. Communication was bad when they got the big plays. Some guys were playing one coverage and other guys were playing another coverage.''
He said he wasn't worried that Oklahoma redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford debuted with 363 yards and three touchdowns, and that the Sooners passed for 403 yards.
''Not a concern,'' he said. 'Oklahoma is going to run the ball. Don't think they're not going to. Coach [Bob] Stoops does a great job in his run-pass and those guys over there on defense aren't going to say, `You know, this lineup against Miami -- we'll throw the ball 60 times.' They're going to run the ball and they're going to do some play-action to get deep balls on us. That's what they do best.
``The best thing about playing Oklahoma is the coordinator is still the same -- offensively and defensively, so we'll have an idea of what they do. And we'll have a good game plan.''
Offensively, Shannon said he thought Kirby Freeman played ``decent enough to win. Look at his stats [9 of 21 for 81 yards, a touchdown and an interception] and they're not tremendous. But we had too many drops. We got in a lot of third down and 3, 4, stuff like that, where the ball was in their hands and they dropped the pass.''
Added Shannon: ``I'm not concerned about it. I think those guys pressed themselves too hard, to be honest.''
The coach also said backup Kyle Wright is ``doing a wonderful job, still competing everyday in practice. . . . Kyle is not shutting it down.''
Shannon repeatedly praised the offensive line, as well as linebacker Tavares Gooden and the defensive line. He also praised freshman cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke and said coaches will ''ride him hard'' so he doesn't get too cocky and slack off.
• Injury update: Fullback Jerrell Mabry was on crutches after the game, with his left shin, up to his knee, wrapped heavily. His status is unknown. . . .
Wide receiver Darnell Jenkins was heavily favoring his right shoulder, but Shannon believes Jenkins was just sore.
Ten, 20, 30, 40. Go ahead and count them off, 10 at a time.
That's what the University of Miami wide receivers do every day after practice. It's a house rule at UM: If you drop a pass in practice, you have to stay after and do 10 push-ups for every ball that hits the ground.
''It's hot and you're tired, and the last thing you want to do is stay after and do push-ups, so you don't want to drop a pass,'' UM receiver Darnell Jenkins said.
A dropped pass in practice might cost a player push-ups, but a drop Saturday against fifth-ranked Oklahoma probably will cost a lot more.
''You don't want to drop anything in this game,'' senior Lance Leggett said. ``Everybody knows how big this game is and how important it is, and we know it could come down to one play. You want to make plays, big plays in this game. One catch could turn the whole game around.''
``We can't afford [to drop one this week]. Every receiver has to make plays now. Not just me, Sam [Shields] and Darnell, but every receiver.''
OU IS A DIFFERENT GAME
UM dropped three passes in its season-opening victory, but the Canes could have dropped a few more and still won against an overmatched Marshall team.
It's different this week, and just making routine catches might not be enough if UM hopes to pull off the upset. Leggett missed a deep pass against Marshall that was overthrown. No one blames Leggett, not even quarterback Kirby Freeman, who admits it was a bad pass.
But that pass also is a good barometer for OU week.
''The ball I dove for against Marshall, I've got to make that catch this week against Oklahoma,'' Leggett said.
``Everybody is ready to play this game. That's why we came to Miami. This is going to show Miami is back.''
Oklahoma has a talented, experienced and physical secondary. That's one reason when UM coach Randy Shannon was asked this week what he would like to see change from Game 1 to Game 2, he didn't hesitate in saying, ``Catch the football.''
Sounds easy, especially at UM, where so many wide receivers have made so many memorable catches before catching on in the NFL. But UM's critics will tell you one reason the Canes have slipped is because they are not making those big plays.
''That's [a reputation] we want to end,'' Leggett said. ``We want people to think of us as one of the best group of wide receivers to ever play at UM.''
No one wants dropped passes to be the label that haunts UM.
''We are trying to put that behind us,'' UM receiver Ryan Hill said. ``But it's never really behind us. Amongst ourselves, we talk about it. It's something we really focused on this summer. It's one thing we're really trying to correct. We really have worked hard on that this summer, running our routes and catching the ball. If we can do that, the sky's the limit.''
PEER PRESSURE
They don't just talk about it; they enforce it. It's not the coaches who make the receivers do push-ups and run their routes after practice. It's the players.
''We stay on each other,'' Hill said. ``It's something that has always been here, but last year we got kind of lackadaisical about it. This year we are back into it, and we got on each other about it.''
Leggett said he would rather face the coaches.
''Coach Shannon and [receivers coach Marquis] Mosely, they are going to get on us, but the receivers will get on you a lot more,'' he said.
The Hurricanes should get a lift with the return of Shields, who was suspended for the first game. Shields caught four passes for 101 yards in the MPC Computer Bowl in his last game with UM.
''I don't know who will step up. It could be anybody,'' Shannon said. ``In all good receiving corps, somebody will step up and another guy won't. Any of them could step up.''
Ten, 20, 30, 40. Go ahead and count them off, 10 at a time.
That's what the University of Miami wide receivers do every day after practice. It's a house rule at UM: If you drop a pass in practice, you have to stay after and do 10 push-ups for every ball that hits the ground.
''It's hot and you're tired, and the last thing you want to do is stay after and do push-ups, so you don't want to drop a pass,'' UM receiver Darnell Jenkins said.
A dropped pass in practice might cost a player push-ups, but a drop Saturday against fifth-ranked Oklahoma probably will cost a lot more.
''You don't want to drop anything in this game,'' senior Lance Leggett said. ``Everybody knows how big this game is and how important it is, and we know it could come down to one play. You want to make plays, big plays in this game. One catch could turn the whole game around.''
``We can't afford [to drop one this week]. Every receiver has to make plays now. Not just me, Sam [Shields] and Darnell, but every receiver.''
OU IS A DIFFERENT GAME
UM dropped three passes in its season-opening victory, but the Canes could have dropped a few more and still won against an overmatched Marshall team.
It's different this week, and just making routine catches might not be enough if UM hopes to pull off the upset. Leggett missed a deep pass against Marshall that was overthrown. No one blames Leggett, not even quarterback Kirby Freeman, who admits it was a bad pass.
But that pass also is a good barometer for OU week.
''The ball I dove for against Marshall, I've got to make that catch this week against Oklahoma,'' Leggett said.
``Everybody is ready to play this game. That's why we came to Miami. This is going to show Miami is back.''
Oklahoma has a talented, experienced and physical secondary. That's one reason when UM coach Randy Shannon was asked this week what he would like to see change from Game 1 to Game 2, he didn't hesitate in saying, ``Catch the football.''
Sounds easy, especially at UM, where so many wide receivers have made so many memorable catches before catching on in the NFL. But UM's critics will tell you one reason the Canes have slipped is because they are not making those big plays.
''That's [a reputation] we want to end,'' Leggett said. ``We want people to think of us as one of the best group of wide receivers to ever play at UM.''
No one wants dropped passes to be the label that haunts UM.
''We are trying to put that behind us,'' UM receiver Ryan Hill said. ``But it's never really behind us. Amongst ourselves, we talk about it. It's something we really focused on this summer. It's one thing we're really trying to correct. We really have worked hard on that this summer, running our routes and catching the ball. If we can do that, the sky's the limit.''
PEER PRESSURE
They don't just talk about it; they enforce it. It's not the coaches who make the receivers do push-ups and run their routes after practice. It's the players.
''We stay on each other,'' Hill said. ``It's something that has always been here, but last year we got kind of lackadaisical about it. This year we are back into it, and we got on each other about it.''
Leggett said he would rather face the coaches.
''Coach Shannon and [receivers coach Marquis] Mosely, they are going to get on us, but the receivers will get on you a lot more,'' he said.
The Hurricanes should get a lift with the return of Shields, who was suspended for the first game. Shields caught four passes for 101 yards in the MPC Computer Bowl in his last game with UM.
''I don't know who will step up. It could be anybody,'' Shannon said. ``In all good receiving corps, somebody will step up and another guy won't. Any of them could step up.''
UNT is not even as good as the High School team Coach Dodge left. You can have no indication of how good/bad OU is from this game.
You need to look at OU's offense from last year, subtract Adrian Peterson, add new QB/RB and use that as your basis. OU definitely has the talent year in year out, problem is that once they get rattled they self destruct. This will be their 1st test.
UNT is not even as good as the High School team Coach Dodge left. You can have no indication of how good/bad OU is from this game.
You need to look at OU's offense from last year, subtract Adrian Peterson, add new QB/RB and use that as your basis. OU definitely has the talent year in year out, problem is that once they get rattled they self destruct. This will be their 1st test.
UNT is not even as good as the High School team Coach Dodge left. You can have no indication of how good/bad OU is from this game.
You need to look at OU's offense from last year, subtract Adrian Peterson, add new QB/RB and use that as your basis. OU definitely has the talent year in year out, problem is that once they get rattled they self destruct. This will be their 1st test.
Self Destruct??? OU Offense fromo last year subtract Peterson?? You obviously didn't pay any attention to last years team.
They kicked Rhett Bomar off the team the first day of fall practice last year. He had started all but the first game the previous season and had all the snaps during spring ball, etc. Paul Thompson was playing receiver up until the day Bomar was booted off, that gave him less than 3 weeks to relearn how to be a QB in this offense again.
This years QB, Sam Bradford won a 3 way competition to become the starter and ran the practice squad offense all last season. He has as much or more experience coming into this season than Paul Thompson last season, and probably has more raw talent and ability.
Peterson goes down with a broken collar bone in the Iowa State game and is out for 8 games, Sooners go 8-0 in that stretch. The OU offense was without Peterson more last season than they were with him, and their yards rushing yards per game went UP!!
So how exactly do they self destruct?
They return a veteran O-line, underrated receiving corps, a slew of terrific running backs, and one of the best secondary's in the country. Their line backers and D-line are mostly made up of guys with shared playing time from last season.
Admittedly UNT was horrible, but I don't think Marshall is anything special either. Don't hurt your arm patting yourselves on the back Miami, you'll need your strength for Saturday.
UNT is not even as good as the High School team Coach Dodge left. You can have no indication of how good/bad OU is from this game.
You need to look at OU's offense from last year, subtract Adrian Peterson, add new QB/RB and use that as your basis. OU definitely has the talent year in year out, problem is that once they get rattled they self destruct. This will be their 1st test.
Self Destruct??? OU Offense fromo last year subtract Peterson?? You obviously didn't pay any attention to last years team.
They kicked Rhett Bomar off the team the first day of fall practice last year. He had started all but the first game the previous season and had all the snaps during spring ball, etc. Paul Thompson was playing receiver up until the day Bomar was booted off, that gave him less than 3 weeks to relearn how to be a QB in this offense again.
This years QB, Sam Bradford won a 3 way competition to become the starter and ran the practice squad offense all last season. He has as much or more experience coming into this season than Paul Thompson last season, and probably has more raw talent and ability.
Peterson goes down with a broken collar bone in the Iowa State game and is out for 8 games, Sooners go 8-0 in that stretch. The OU offense was without Peterson more last season than they were with him, and their yards rushing yards per game went UP!!
So how exactly do they self destruct?
They return a veteran O-line, underrated receiving corps, a slew of terrific running backs, and one of the best secondary's in the country. Their line backers and D-line are mostly made up of guys with shared playing time from last season.
Admittedly UNT was horrible, but I don't think Marshall is anything special either. Don't hurt your arm patting yourselves on the back Miami, you'll need your strength for Saturday.
Self Destruct??? OU Offense fromo last year subtract Peterson?? You obviously didn't pay any attention to last years team.
They kicked Rhett Bomar off the team the first day of fall practice last year. He had started all but the first game the previous season and had all the snaps during spring ball, etc. Paul Thompson was playing receiver up until the day Bomar was booted off, that gave him less than 3 weeks to relearn how to be a QB in this offense again.
This years QB, Sam Bradford won a 3 way competition to become the starter and ran the practice squad offense all last season. He has as much or more experience coming into this season than Paul Thompson last season, and probably has more raw talent and ability.
Peterson goes down with a broken collar bone in the Iowa State game and is out for 8 games, Sooners go 8-0 in that stretch. The OU offense was without Peterson more last season than they were with him, and their yards rushing yards per game went UP!!
So how exactly do they self destruct?
They return a veteran O-line, underrated receiving corps, a slew of terrific running backs, and one of the best secondary's in the country. Their line backers and D-line are mostly made up of guys with shared playing time from last season.
Admittedly UNT was horrible, but I don't think Marshall is anything special either. Don't hurt your arm patting yourselves on the back Miami, you'll need your strength for Saturday.
Hey Sonnersfan,
Take it easy. Let these east coast CFB know nothings bet this line down.
OU offense > U
OU Defense > U
OU coaching > U Stoops is a master
Special teams =
Home field. +3 points
1 st games mean nothing. OU wins and should cover because the U will make thug mistakes on the road and blow themselves up.
Self Destruct??? OU Offense fromo last year subtract Peterson?? You obviously didn't pay any attention to last years team.
They kicked Rhett Bomar off the team the first day of fall practice last year. He had started all but the first game the previous season and had all the snaps during spring ball, etc. Paul Thompson was playing receiver up until the day Bomar was booted off, that gave him less than 3 weeks to relearn how to be a QB in this offense again.
This years QB, Sam Bradford won a 3 way competition to become the starter and ran the practice squad offense all last season. He has as much or more experience coming into this season than Paul Thompson last season, and probably has more raw talent and ability.
Peterson goes down with a broken collar bone in the Iowa State game and is out for 8 games, Sooners go 8-0 in that stretch. The OU offense was without Peterson more last season than they were with him, and their yards rushing yards per game went UP!!
So how exactly do they self destruct?
They return a veteran O-line, underrated receiving corps, a slew of terrific running backs, and one of the best secondary's in the country. Their line backers and D-line are mostly made up of guys with shared playing time from last season.
Admittedly UNT was horrible, but I don't think Marshall is anything special either. Don't hurt your arm patting yourselves on the back Miami, you'll need your strength for Saturday.
Hey Sonnersfan,
Take it easy. Let these east coast CFB know nothings bet this line down.
OU offense > U
OU Defense > U
OU coaching > U Stoops is a master
Special teams =
Home field. +3 points
1 st games mean nothing. OU wins and should cover because the U will make thug mistakes on the road and blow themselves up.
???? who said I was a huskers fan? and what are you talking about? Sheep? huh. I've never seen one.
The only reason this games not at -17 is because The U has a reputation which will be thrashed in Norman.
Stoops has shown he can do more with less on the O. AD was hurt all the time and he had a psuedo QB last year and STILL won.
I hope I can get -10 by game time.
I love OU at home in this spot. I have no love lost for OU or the U but I'll take OU and the large chalk.
???? who said I was a huskers fan? and what are you talking about? Sheep? huh. I've never seen one.
The only reason this games not at -17 is because The U has a reputation which will be thrashed in Norman.
Stoops has shown he can do more with less on the O. AD was hurt all the time and he had a psuedo QB last year and STILL won.
I hope I can get -10 by game time.
I love OU at home in this spot. I have no love lost for OU or the U but I'll take OU and the large chalk.
Hey Sonnersfan,
Take it easy. Let these east coast CFB know nothings bet this line down.
Well said, Miami's offense may not score 10 pts....OU defense is ridiculus...east coast know nothings dont' realize this...this is what happens when you only watch ACC football which isn't much better than the Big East anymore....
Hate the sooners, but they will roll IMO
Hey Sonnersfan,
Take it easy. Let these east coast CFB know nothings bet this line down.
Well said, Miami's offense may not score 10 pts....OU defense is ridiculus...east coast know nothings dont' realize this...this is what happens when you only watch ACC football which isn't much better than the Big East anymore....
Hate the sooners, but they will roll IMO
Self Destruct??? OU Offense fromo last year subtract Peterson?? You obviously didn't pay any attention to last years team.
They kicked Rhett Bomar off the team the first day of fall practice last year. He had started all but the first game the previous season and had all the snaps during spring ball, etc. Paul Thompson was playing receiver up until the day Bomar was booted off, that gave him less than 3 weeks to relearn how to be a QB in this offense again.
This years QB, Sam Bradford won a 3 way competition to become the starter and ran the practice squad offense all last season. He has as much or more experience coming into this season than Paul Thompson last season, and probably has more raw talent and ability.
Peterson goes down with a broken collar bone in the Iowa State game and is out for 8 games, Sooners go 8-0 in that stretch. The OU offense was without Peterson more last season than they were with him, and their yards rushing yards per game went UP!!
So how exactly do they self destruct?
They return a veteran O-line, underrated receiving corps, a slew of terrific running backs, and one of the best secondary's in the country. Their line backers and D-line are mostly made up of guys with shared playing time from last season.
Admittedly UNT was horrible, but I don't think Marshall is anything special either. Don't hurt your arm patting yourselves on the back Miami, you'll need your strength for Saturday.
Paul Thompson also played QB in 2005 and is not a Freshman like the new QB.
Peterson was far and away the leading rusher for OU last year and remaining back totaled less than 50 carries last season. Allen Patrick was great in place of AP, but wasn't he a senior?
As I said, OU does have great players year in year out, but with a Freshman QB, Freshman RBs you cannot use North Texas as any indicator.
As for self destructing, see and of their losses from last season. The minute there is any doubt that they are being outcoached or outplayed, they become lost -- turnovers on offense, blown coverage on defense
Self Destruct??? OU Offense fromo last year subtract Peterson?? You obviously didn't pay any attention to last years team.
They kicked Rhett Bomar off the team the first day of fall practice last year. He had started all but the first game the previous season and had all the snaps during spring ball, etc. Paul Thompson was playing receiver up until the day Bomar was booted off, that gave him less than 3 weeks to relearn how to be a QB in this offense again.
This years QB, Sam Bradford won a 3 way competition to become the starter and ran the practice squad offense all last season. He has as much or more experience coming into this season than Paul Thompson last season, and probably has more raw talent and ability.
Peterson goes down with a broken collar bone in the Iowa State game and is out for 8 games, Sooners go 8-0 in that stretch. The OU offense was without Peterson more last season than they were with him, and their yards rushing yards per game went UP!!
So how exactly do they self destruct?
They return a veteran O-line, underrated receiving corps, a slew of terrific running backs, and one of the best secondary's in the country. Their line backers and D-line are mostly made up of guys with shared playing time from last season.
Admittedly UNT was horrible, but I don't think Marshall is anything special either. Don't hurt your arm patting yourselves on the back Miami, you'll need your strength for Saturday.
Paul Thompson also played QB in 2005 and is not a Freshman like the new QB.
Peterson was far and away the leading rusher for OU last year and remaining back totaled less than 50 carries last season. Allen Patrick was great in place of AP, but wasn't he a senior?
As I said, OU does have great players year in year out, but with a Freshman QB, Freshman RBs you cannot use North Texas as any indicator.
As for self destructing, see and of their losses from last season. The minute there is any doubt that they are being outcoached or outplayed, they become lost -- turnovers on offense, blown coverage on defense
[QUOTE]Allen Patrick was great in place of AP, but wasn't he a senior?[/QUOTE]
No. He's a Senior this year and was hurt last week. Will start Saturday
[QUOTE]Allen Patrick was great in place of AP, but wasn't he a senior?[/QUOTE]
No. He's a Senior this year and was hurt last week. Will start Saturday
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