THE MIAMI TOUCHDOWN CLUB
Invites you to attend its annual
UM Coaches Breakfast
Friday June 14th at 8AM
Riviera Country Club
1155 Blue Road, Coral Gables
Join fellow Miami Touchdown Club members and friends at an exclusive event with the University of Miami assistant and position coaches. Throughout the breakfast, coaches will share stories, talk X’s and O’s and discuss the upcoming Hurricanes football season.
•WHAT: UM Coaches Breakfast
•WHEN: Friday, June 14th @ 8AM
•WHERE: Riviera Country Club, 1155 Blue Road, Coral Gables, FL 33146
•PRICE: Members $25 / Guests $40
•RSVP option1: Email rsvp@miamitouchdownclub.com
•RSVP option2: Call the TD Club hotline at 305-477-1815
•RSVP DEADLINE: June 7th
University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Introduces K.C. Jones as President and Names Other Officers, 2008 Hall Inductee, Two-Time Super Bowl Winner with Denver Broncos Begins 2013-2015 Term
“Our officers are beginning their term at a pivotal time for the UMSHoF,” said Jones. “Not only are we preparing for our largest annual fundraising event, the Celebrity Dolphin Fishing Tournament June 28 and 29, we are finalizing our plans for the renovation and expansion of the facility on the University of Miami campus. It is clear that the UMSHoF has exceeded the vision of its founders. We want to make it a destination for UM fans nationwide who visit us in Coral Gables or on the Web. Ultimately, we intend to unveil a new website on which fans can experience Hurricanes sports history and participate in online auctions of unique sports memorabilia.”
Ray Lewis, a former Hurricanes linebacker and two-time Super Bowl winner with the Baltimore Ravens, will host this year’s activities June 28 and 29 in Islamorada, Fla. The schedule includes a captain’s meeting, full day of fishing, awards dinner and live and silent auctions involving sports memorabilia as well as a variety of gift packages. Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to anglers in eight categories. A portion of the tournament proceeds will go to The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys and the UMSHoF. For information about tournament participation, including boat entry or sponsorship opportunities, visit 
Former Hurricanes sports stars slated to participate include NFL Hall of Fame Inductee and 2012 Tournament Host Warren Sapp (Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders), NFL Hall of Fame Member Ted Hendricks (Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers, Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders), Brett Romberg (Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons), Gary Dunn (Pittsburgh Steelers), Damione Lewis (St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and Houston Texans), and Randal Hill (Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints).
Although one of my favorite characters is known for saying “[t]here’s no place like home” repeatedly, I have to tell you: I LOVE AWAY GAMES! They give you a chance to catch up with friends who don’t live in south Florida, expose you to a different (and often better) tailgate environment, give you the opportunity to travel and meet new people, and for me, the opportunity to challenge myself to find a decent nail salon in a new city. What’s not to love? I think some of the best weekends of my life have actually been in a little place I like to call “Trailernasty.”
Oh… that’s right. Fans of the opposing team. Grown men who will chase you into the concourse of Wallace Wade Stadium to taunt you because you were a little emphatic with your singing of the fight song when Duke Johnson scored his eleventy touchdowns. Almost getting in a fight at Choke Campbell Stadium in 2009 for sneaking in to the student section and refusing to put my awesome foam []_[] hands down so the hillbilly behind me could watch his team lose. Men in Jorts who will roll up their posterboard proclaiming their homosexual feelings for Tim Tebow to use it as a spanking device on me while singing a dirty version of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” 6’5″ Irish pro hockey players buying you beer at Soldier Field because your wide receivers can’t catch a ball unless the temp outside is 80+ degrees. Okay maybe the last one wasn’t as bad … but still. It’s a jungle out there and as a superfan, you need to plan ahead.
Well, the fine folks at the Hurricane Ticket Office have a solution for you and if you are a Hurricane Club member, it starts NOW! Between today and May 31st, you may submit your requests for the away games of your choice. To request tickets, click 
Tickets may be requested for all away games, though there is no guarantee your requested games will be fulfilled.
McGee is the 12th Miami Hurricane drafted by the Rams and the first since Damione Lewis in 2001; James is the 13th Hurricane drafted by the Buccaneers and the first since Nate Webster in 2000. With the selections, Miami now has had at least NFL draft pick in each of the last 39 years, one of the longest streaks among FBS programs.
With players from the MAC conference, other ACC schools, as well as a couple dozen players from rival schools getting picked up like crazy, there really wasn’t much for ‘Canes fans to talk about until Saturday afternoon.
I think all of us as fans should take a moment to let it sink in exactly where we are, and what we have been able to do with the lack of personnel on the field.
The 2013 Hurricane Club “Building Champions” tour continues this Friday in UM’s backyard (or maybe UM students’ grandparents’ back yard), Boca Raton. These events provide an opportunity for ‘Canes fans to interact with UM coaches and fellow ‘Canes fans while also contributing to a great cause – the Hurricane Club and the Student Athlete Scholarship Fund. Usually these events have a brief question and answer session with the coach, and also provide time to get pictures and autographs, all while getting a meal and drinks in transit. Auction items (including autographed game helmets and jerseys, game tickets, travel packages) are usually available, as well as other UM items for purchase. Good times.
Friday, April 26: City Fish Market in Boca Raton, FL
Wednesday, May 8: Brickhouse Tavern & Tap in Tampa, FL
Featuring Head Football Coach Al Golden, and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jim Larranaga
Featuring Head Football Coach Al Golden
Thursday, May 16: Brother Jimmy’s in NYC
Featuring: 
Last night, ‘Canes alumni were awarded for their service and dedication to our common true love – the University of Miami. At the Newman Alumni Center, alumni gathered to celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in service to their Alma Mater. Our very own Coach Eye Candy, er, Golden was in attendance and both a former football player and two former football coaches were recognized. Below are those who were honored:
Edward T. Foote Alumnus of Distinction Award: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, B.G.S. ’95, Entertainer
Leonard Abess, Chairman and CEO, ThinkLAB Ventures
2012 Pre-Season Outlook: I saw this cutie at the UM Hall of Fame fishing tournament in June and let me tell you: HE’S FREAKING HUGE. I wouldn’t want to have that staring me down across the line of scrimmage. I expect 3G to be a dominant DLineman like we have not seen since the “good old days” (my college years at UM) of the early 2000s. Although he’s been wearing a yellow (limited contact) jersey at recent practices, it is reportedly just a minor illness. Get well soon, Chick! We all can’t wait to cheer you on in Boston in 12 days!
2012 Performance: Started all 12 games along defensive line … One of nine Canes to start every game and one of only three on defense … One of six Hurricanes to earn All-ACC honorable mention from league coaches … Ranked eighth on team with 45 tackles and third with 6.5 tackles-for-loss for team-high 31 yards lost … Also led team with 4.0 sacks for 24 yards lost … One of two Canes to record multiple fumble recoveries … Recovered fumble in season opener at Boston College … Second fumble recovery came in home win vs. Bethune-Cookman … Had seven tackles – all solo – and added season-high 3.0 TFL in OT road win at Georgia Tech … Chipped in six tackles, 2.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks in road loss at Virginia … Blocked FG in home win vs. USF … Added four tackles and 0.5 TFL in road win at Duke.
2012 Pre-Season Outlook: We have returned to a bygone ‘Canes era where positions are no longer guaranteed and no one, regardless of year or experience, is entitled to a position. Morris truly earned this #1 nod. After playing back-up to Jacory Harris for 11/12 of last year and sitting out the spring to recover from surgery, you have to hope Morris isn’t rusty. I expect Golden and co. to have shaken the rust off Morris by the time the ‘Canes arrive in Chestnut Hill next weekend. What I am concerned about for the long haul, is our offensive line (especially given Seantrel’s absence) and our receivers’ ability to do . . . anything.
012 Performance: Started all 12 games under center … Showed no adverse signs from offseason back surgery, throwing for career-best 3,345 yards and 21 touchdowns, while completing 58.2 percent of passes (245-of-421) … 3,345 yards are fifth-most in single season in UM history … 245 completions are second-most in UM history, while 421 attempts set single-season school mark … Set UM single-season total offense mark with 3,415 yards, eclipsing previous mark by three set by Bernie Kosar (3,412) in 1984 …
Second QB in Miami history to amass three 400-yard passing games in career and first to throw for multiple 400-yard games in season … Threw for 207 yards and TD on 28-of-45 in season-opening road win at Boston College … Tossed then-career-high 436 yards and 2 TD on 31-of-52 passing in OT road win at Georgia Tech … Followed with another electrifying performance, throwing for Miami- and ACC-record 566 yards and UM record-tying 5 TDs in Canes’ last-second victory over NC State … Threw game-winning 62-yard TD pass to Phillip Dorsett with 19 seconds remaining to upend Wolfpack … Named ACC Offensive Back of the Week for Oct. 1 … Threw 2 TD passes and 170 yards in Thursday win over Virginia Tech … Tossed 3 TDs in heartbreaking road loss at Virginia … Posted third 400-yard game of season with 413 yards and 3 TDs in home rout of USF … Threw for 369 yards and 3 scores in ACC Coastal Division-clinching win at Duke … Over final four games of season, completed 60 percent of passes (66-of-110) for 1,131 yards and 11 TDs … Recipient of Captain’s Award and Offensive Most Valuable Player honors at team’s end-of-season banquet.
Last night I had the displeasure of missing the 45th annual University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner because I’m still recovering from being sick. But, thanks to great friends, I still have pictures and videos for you all to enjoy. The seven (7) member class includes: Ed Contreras (baseball, 1957-59), Ken Dorsey (football, 1999-2002), Bryan Gillooly (diving, 1994-98), Norm Parsons (administration/coaching, 1972-2012), Brett Romberg (football, 1999-2002), Don Soldinger (coaching, 1984-88 and 1995-2006) and Jay Tessmer (baseball, 1994-95). With these additions, UMSHoF membership will increase to 274. Below is a brief recap of the contribution the 2013 inductees made to UM athletics:
Dorsey quarterbacked the Hurricanes to their fifth national championship in 2001 and was named MVP of the 2002 Rose Bowl. He was a 2002 All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The 2001 and 2002 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, Dorsey set eight UM career records, including total offense, passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions and attempts. He is the winningest quarterback in program history (38-2), and he won the 2001 Maxwell Award as the top player in college football. Below is Dorsey’s introduction, taped by my lovely boss who attended the banquet without me [sad face]:
Parsons [pictured here with the lovely, smart, kind and wonderful UM Vice President of Student Affairs, Pat Whitely] who served as the women’s golf coach from 1973-78 and men’s golf coach from 1980-88, coached the women’s golf team to the 1977 and 1978 AIAW national championships. He served UM as Director of the Herbert Wellness Center (1996-present), Director of Campus Sports and Recreation (1977-96), and Intramural Director (1972-73), among other positions. He coached current UMSHoF members Cathy Morse, Woody Austin and Nathaniel Crosby.
Soldinger was the linebackers and tight ends coach for Jimmy Johnson from 1984-88 and was the running backs and special teams coach under coaches Butch Davis and Larry Coker from 1995-2006. He was on the 1987 and 2001 national championship coaching staffs; he also coached six of the seven Miami running backs that rushed for 1,000 yards in a season (Willis McGahee, Edgerrin James – twice, Clinton Portis, Danyell Ferguson, Frank Gore and James Jackson). In his 16 seasons as a Hurricanes assistant coach, Miami won 158 games.
Tessmer was a first-team Collegiate Baseball All-American in 1995 after collecting 20 saves – tied for second-most in school history – and posting a 1.31 ERA to lead Jim Morris’s squad to the College World Series. He finished second nationally in Division I with a 1.16 ERA in 1994, while his career 1.24 ERA ranks second in school history. He holds the UM record for fewest walks per 9 innings (1.42 average) and has the second-most appearances by a pitcher in a season (45 in 1995). Tessmer finished his career fifth with 23 saves and played professionally for the New York Yankees.
I know that blogs about our sports teams are supposed to be POSITIVE ONLY. I know that a person calling for a coach to resign or be fired is a “bad” fan. And I know that Morris has won Miami a pair of College World Series and so like Don Shula and Ron Fraser should be given the chance to leave on his own terms.
Morris used to have the mojo, to the point where opposing coaches HATED him. It is as if our basketball coach 
Are the players taking hit by pitches, sliding hard to break up a double play, or sacrificing their stats for the good of the team? “Take one for the team” is something taught to baseball players in a close matchup, but I don’t see that happening anymore from these guys.
2012 Pre-Season Outlook: He will be the best running back the ‘Canes have ever had! Okay, maybe I am a bit biased here. I’m already getting misty-eyed now thinking about James’ senior day, [JSQ grabs tissue] but before then, I expect him to have a great season and our top RB. Perhaps more importantly, I expect James to show youngins like Duke Johnson what it means to be a team player, like James has always proven to be with the ‘Canes.
2012 Pre-Season Outlook: Finally, it appears we may have someone worthy of wearing that legendary number for the ‘Canes. Although Perryman has not been wearing a black jersey the last few days, I have no doubt that Golden will whip him into shape and get his mind right to be the crushing MLB we know he can be. The most exciting thing? He’s just a sophomore. No slumps allowed, Denzel. Keep busting heads and taking care of business.
2012 Performance: Played in nine games, making six starts mostly at middle linebacker … Third-team All-ACC selection by Phil Steele … Earned All-ACC honorable mention by ACSMA and league coaches … Finished second on team with 64 total tackles and led with 45 solo stops … Added 6.0 tackles-for-loss … Had seven tackles and 41-yard INT return for TD in season-opening road win at Boston College … Added five solo stops at Kansas State … Tallied 1.0 TFL in each of first three games … Missed Georgia Tech and NC State games due to high ankle sprain … Added eight tackles in loss to Notre Dame … Posted back-to-back double-digit tackles against North Carolina (11) and Florida State (12) … Career-high 3.0 tackles-for-loss vs. North Carolina … Forced fumble against Florida State … Finished season with 11-tackle performance at Duke.
