Latest recruiting news 1/30/14

Per Caneinsider this morning: Valentine has officially cancelled the OV for tomorrow, This confirms what Ryan Bartow said yesterday. So on Wednesday, its expected that Valentine will commit to LSU. As I said yesterday, this is a HUGE LOSS and Al's rep as a closer just took a big time hit with it.

To me, its yet another example of why still having D'Onofrio on this staff is killing us in recruiting. This really hurts because its in a NEED AREA: DL. Heads need to roll inside the football offices of the Hecht/Schwartz Center(s) for this one. 

A loss like this of a stud DT is going to take another 3-5 years to recover from. Anyone that thinks losing Valentine is no big deal needs to have their heads examined. This is a stud, a gamechanger in South Florida that's about to get away. Valentine going elsewhere sends a message to this staff, but D specifically: "I don't want to play in your defensive scheme." Bottom line, this loss hurts big time. DTs like Valentine don't come around every day. That's a once every 5-10 year type of player. 

We had the heavy hitters, but in the end, it seems that it wasn't enough. When Al flirted with Penn State, Valentine de-committed and the damage was done.

On another front, I was just told a few minutes ago by another reliable source that Brad Kaaya was likely gone. However, his source was incorrect. Kaaya put the rumors to bed with this tweet a few minutes ago: "I will be signing the National Letter of Intent issued to me by the University of Miami on National Signing Day February 5th" . It seems that while Boise State made a late push for him, his tweet puts that possibility of him bolting to Boise to bed for good.

However, Kaaya's teammate, Brayden Lenius has cancelled his trip to Coral Gables tomorrow and will be going up to Seattle instead to visit UW. That trip was set up by Kaaya as he didn't want to leave him at the altar sorta speak.

We will not lose Kaaya after all. 

My take on Travonte Valentine cancelling OV to Miami on Friday

NSD is 6 days away. However, according to Ryan Bartow this afternoon, Travonte Valentine has cancelled his OV to Coral Gables on Friday. Its expected now that when he makes that announcement on NSD, it will be LSU that he goes to.

We sent the heavy hitters on this one (Al, D, Jethro, Hurlie, Williams). The tide really turned when Valentine de-committed at the US Army game because of Golden having one foot out the door to Happy Valley and he met that Saturday with PSU officials in Miami. On that Sunday, when Golden gave Penn State a 4 p.m. deadline, PSU brass balked, and once Munchak was fired by Tennessee, everything changed dramatically, and in the end, PSU said no. Hence, the statement from Al that night that he was staying. However, the damage was already done with Valentine. 

On that Monday, in the interview with Joe Rose, he wasn't going to discuss PSU at all. When he defended D, to me and I've been a big supporter of Al through all this, it told me that kids weren't going to come here and play in D's failed scheme. 

How it relates to Valentine, Al and Hurlie went up to Palm Bay to meet with Valentine's mom yesterday or this morning. D and Jethro, according to Bartow, were at the Champagnat Hoops game last night meeting with Valentine's coach Mark Tunsil. 

Here's what it all tells me, once Al had one foot out the door, Valentine decided to walk and open up his recruitment. This is also a message to Al from the kids in the area, who are very smart, they don't want to play for D and with Valentine likely going to LSU, and the hat (Miles) is coming in tonight to meet with Valentine's mom, to likely seal the deal, is a major indictment on Al, D'Onofrio and the entire staff and why D needs to go yesterday. Al keeping D, to me, is scaring away top defensive recruits who have made it clear (See Bethel), they don't want to play for D and his system. 

This is a MAJOR loss, and those that say it isn't, is just fooling themselves. This was a player we could NOT afford to let get away and in a need area too. The fact that he's likely going to get away to me, speaks volumes about the ineptitude of this staff and Al's rep being a closer taking a big time hit here. The kids are starting to see through Al's sell job. This loss is clearly on Al because a) he had one foot out the door to Penn State, and B) having D still around. Also, this loss is also on Hurlie because this was his responsibility. 

Al and the staff better have someone in mind on the interior of the DL between now and 2/5, because losing Valentine is a MAJOR LOSS. To me, this sets us back at least 3-5 years. Valentine is that type of player that comes around once every 5-10 years. 

Latest recruiting news 1/23/14

Here's the latest recruiting news from The U:

An article from Bleacher Report, per Peter Ariz of CanesInsight.com on our chances to land top recruits still on our radar.

1. Travonte Valentine - DT Hialeah Champagnat - We're sending the heavy hitters on Defense here (D, Franklin, Williams, and Hurlie). Tomorrow will be an important day because that's when Valentine will be in Baton Rouge on an OV. If he comes back to Miami without saying he's going to LSU, our chances go up on NSD to land him. This, for The U, is the #1 priority to land this kid. Not landing this kid means this class is mediocre at best. Landing this kid, makes this class great. Valentine is a MUST GET here. Chances of getting him: 55%. 
2. Gavin Bryant - LB Jackson (AL) - A Tennessee commit here. We're going to get him to listen as Al and Company will pursue him, but at the end of the day, look for him to remain at Tennessee. Chances of him: Just about 0%. 
3. J.C. Jackson - ATH Immokalee - Right now, we are in the lead for him. However, look for this to be settled on NSD. Jackson's dad, Chris, told Luke Stampini, that the Gators and Muschamp made a visit. Something very interesting, FSU hasn't made a move yet, according to Mr. Jackson. He already visited us back on Dec 13, and was in Gainesville last week on an OV. Chances of landing him: 40%
4. Treon Harris - ATH BTW - As I said last week, Auburn is a player here as well as UF. Harris' Brother (Brandon - Former CANE), said to Safid Deen last week in the Herald that he's "open to listening to [the 'Canes], but they’re trying to make up a lot of ground in a short time." . Though he's currently committed to FSU, Auburn, I believe is going to make a very strong play for him, as I was told on by a source very close to BTW and Ice. Don't be shocked if he ends up at Auburn in the end. Chances of getting him: 15%
5. Brayden Lenius - WR West Hills (CA) Chaminade - He's visited Washington State already, and will visit the Twin Cities tomorrow for an OV there at Minnesota. We get the last shot with a visit from him next weekend. This is a teammate of Brad Kaaya, who has committed to us for a while now. This looks like a package deal here. If we get Kaaya, as expected, then Lenius will come here as well. Chance of getting him: 90%

Here's the link to the article from Bleacher Report. 

Latest recruiting tidbits 1/20/14

According to a source close to the BTW and Ice Harris Camp, here's some interesting information that will be very interesting to discuss: 

1. This source confirmed what I thought all along about the Kirkland Fiasco last year 72 hours before NSD. The Kirkland fiasco is was on Al Golden's head. What I was told was that Ice TOLD Al and our staff that we had Kirkland lock, stock, and barrel. However, Kirkland wanted to do the whole hat deal, and Al wasn't very happy about it ata all. From what I was told by this source, Al sent Barrow there after their championship parade, to give him an ultimatum, either commit right there and then and dump the whole ceremony, or we pull your 'ship. 
You know what happened after that. Denver was devastated!! and you could see Al's face on ESPNU that day when he was interviewed. You could see the beaten look on his face. 

2. I had always though we were the favorites for #6 Matthew Thomas. However, I was told by my source, that Ice said to Al that #6 was never coming. The Thomas camp was very stubborn and thought they could get him to change his mind and come to the U, but that was not to be at the end of the day. As for Skai Moore, he really wanted to come here, but we never offered him a 'ship and that was another mistake by Al and the staff.  

3. As for Ice's son, Treon. his committment to FSU, was all Jimbo, as he personally recruited him.  This was his baby. In Treon's workouts, Jimbo spent an entire Day with him getting to know him better and in the film room, office showing him how he would use them in their offense--as a QB (to me is unlikely considering there's Jameis Winston that will be starting for another 1-2 years up there). Jimbo personally assured the family, over and over how he can be effective in their offense--as a QB 

4. Here's something to watch here: It seems that Auburn is about to get in the game for Treon at QB and from what I'm told, he will visit the Plains very soon.  Gus (Malzahn) loves Treon and he loves Gus. Watch that one very closely in the final weeks leading up to NSD, though I read this morning that UF is also in the mix here for Harris. In Malzahn's offense, Harris could be a great one that people talk about after he leaves for the League.  

5. On Mark Walton. this kid loves our team, the school and wants to stay home. However, according to my source, unfortunately, he will NOT be able to re-classify. From what I'm told, Ice said that Mark is a good student, but there's still much he needs to do here, more on the mental end, than physical. This young man was given very bad advice that those inside the Walton camp. This kid will be an animal to deal with. He will be on the track team this offseason in order for him to get FASTER and once fall camp starts, this kid will be pounding the rock very often. 

On the issue of who the better recruiter is, this source said that it's clearly Randy. He likes Al a lot, but when it comes to in-homes, Randy was better "in the home" and also he was the one who was able to get momma, grandmother, daddy, uncle, aunt - whoever - on board. When it comes to Al, he's more about the media and PR. Al wins the media game, and can win over the Mom and Dad through the Media, as opposed to in the homes. 

As for the one of the two grand prizes in this class, Chad Thomas: Ice was very funny when asking about Chad. He said, to my source, you guys don't have to worry about Chad. in his words-- "He was at the UA Game throwing up The damn U every chance he could get. He told Al, you don't have to worry about Chad, he's in, you good." I was told by this same source yesterday not to worry about Bama, Texas, and FSU getting involved possibly. At the end of the day, I was told emphatically that at the end of the day, Chad will be a CANE. 

State of the U

This post from clg003 on Canestime, pretty much is dead on on the state of the U recruiting right now: 

People really amaze me with this motherly need to protect a coach. 

In in the same post you state where our current coach is failing with a huge what if. 

The truth is this... and it doesn't matter how many of you back Golden like his your little brother.

Golden and this staff have no idea how to use Miami talent on D. We have never been a big team and we have always been a fast team. That's simply the types of kids you get in SFL. Golden is slowing us down by killing our kids in the weight room which is not Miami football. And coach D is killing our aggressive play on D by playing a failing zone after zone. High school kids and high school coaches see this and understand it. In the eighties we used to say we are better than there traditional schools because we bleed speed and they think bulk is better. Well we proved them wrong time and time again, but now we have one of those bulk gurus trying to run our program. Golden speaks about when he played Miami how bad ass we were. Well he evidently had no idea why were bad. It wasn't because of the coach it was because of the players and how their elite team speed dominated the bulked up traditional powers. We were not a throw off the blocks type of Defense were always a you cant block us because we are past you type of defense. You couldn't beat us to the edge. You couldn't stop our blitzes even if you knew they were coming because we would blow by you. 

So our only hope is to get every single stud kid from South Florida in positions of need that we go after.

Quit with non qualifying BS. The school is still going on and kids are still taking classes and still taking tests. 

Every time we lose a SFL stud at a position of need people say he couldn't qualify or we don't need him which is total denial BS. 

Its the same people who say we didn't need Bridgewater. 

People think the U is a coach or a helmet. Sorry guys but the U is SFL studs and without them there is no U. Its really that simple. So if we have to live with Golden and Coach D then you better get every single SFL stud you can to make up for their deficiencies. 

So when we lose an elite kid like Bethel it is a huge sign of concern. Especially when he comes out of that damn school we have already burned the bridges with and who has two other stud players that we desperately need. If you guys cant see that then your really 100% in complete denial. Right now recruiting is the only thing that we have, the only thing. We are so behind that we cant survive with top 10 classes, we need top 3 classes full of SFL studs. Its that simple.

Between FSU winning the BCS title, us losing games we shouldn't and the Golden rumors about him bolting to Happy Valley (which he didn't in the end), its not a crisis yet, but its getting pretty damn close and we can't have any more defections, especially from South Florida, because, then it becomes a Crisis inside the Hecht Center Football offices. This staff, especially Al has to make changes. 

Post from Canestime on the State of the U recruiting

Here's a thread from Canestime on D. A player now says that many of his teammates do not like D, and even our staff doesn't either. You can see clearly D is the issue and has to go NOW! But with Al keeping him in 2014, if there's no Charlotte, there will be a housecleaning inside the football offices at the Hecht Center and the Schwartz Building and that housecleaning will be ordered from the Ashe Building. '14 is a critical year for Al and the staff. 

Al Golden going to Happy Valley after all?

Well according to NBC Philadelphia (Comcast Sports Net Philadelphia) last night, they're reporting that Al Golden is back in play for the Penn State job. 

Here's my take on the AllCanes.com blog post about this today. 

Its true that each time another job from a power 6 conference comes up, Al has turned them down. However, that's not the case with Penn State, his alma mater, and a school where he was a star TE back from 1987-1991 and a team captain. 

As I said a few days ago, when this first came up, Golden's name was near the top of the list, and at that point, no one in the Hecht was talking, they went into bunker mode over there. Freet, Yandle, James weren't talking because they were in Al's inner circle. 

The statement on Sunday saying that he was staying. I've had a few days to read it, and I believe it was a forced statement by those in the Ashe Building (I suspect that order came from Donna herself), that Al was forced to give just to wield off the media and the fanbase for a little while, maybe to give PSU more time to do their due diligence, before coming back to Al to offer him the job and maybe accept. 

As for the interview with Rose on Monday, Al went on Shutdown mode. He was not going to talk about the Penn State job and then went to defend D'Onofrio and saying in his final presser later that day that there would be no changes. Simple fact, he wants to prove people wrong and do this his way. 

Now, In regards to this comment that Bello and/or The Beast posted on AllCanes, "Regarding this currently-rocky relationship between Miami and Golden—a couple somewhat on the outs—things can always take a turn for the better, barring there’s growth, change, unity and an ability to both forgive and forget."  I'll tell you this now, that paragraph tells me that if there's no trip to Charlotte next year, then, Blake is going to put his foot down on this and either force Al to make changes on the staff, or can him totally if he refuses to make any changes after next year. Golden wants to do it his way. OK, fine, but, I'm sure Blake and the higher-ups in the Ashe Building will give him this edict, if he stays, "get to Charlotte next year, or you're gone. We appreciate you staying through the dark days of the NCAA, but now that's that gone, the clock is ticking." With our biggest rival up North in Tallahassee having the Crystal Football, the pressure to get back to a Major Bowl/CFB Playoff went up 1000 fold. That clock is ticking even faster now. If we're not in Charlotte next year, it's not going to end well inside the Hecht. 

As I said a while ago, the CANES are at a crossroads and so is Al here, read Hyde's piece in Sun-Sentinel and you'll see how big this decision is for Golden going forward. What will Al do? What identity will we have on D especially? Hopefully, those questions get answered in the coming days, weeks, and months ahead. 

My take on Golden's comments to Joe Rose on QAM this morning

Here's my take on Golden's interview this morning: 

On PSU, though he declined to discuss Penn State’s reported interest in him or whether he interviewed, repeatedly saying he and the program are “moving forward.” PSU sources, as I documented yesterday, say that this was a family decision. When he was asked if he was close to taking the job, he said he hasn’t in the past discussed similar situations., though very well placed sources say otherwise. I take Al at his word, when he made the statement he made yesterday, when he said that he’s not a candidate for any other position. Here's something that shed light on where he was last week, he said he was in the office inside the Hecht Center working on ways to get us better for the 2014 season. 

Asked if he was interested in the job, he repeated the answer above. Again, sources close to the situation say otherwise. If you look at PSU's boards last night and today, they are not happy they whiffed on Golden. They went all-in and came up snake eyes. 

Now, on the matter of D, when read Al's comments, it seems to me D is going to survive all this and in that scenario, Al's time is shorter and the patience will be very thin. 

Here's his comments to Rose, verbatim: 

“I appreciate you asking the question. There’s no question, from the last game – I worked on it Monday and Tuesday of last week, and I worked on it again Thursday and Friday. I looked at everything, Joe. If you want me to really talk about it, we can talk about it. Do we have time to talk about this?”

Rose: “Oh no, we’ve got plenty of time for you, Coach. You go ahead.”

Al: “OK. What I don’t want to do is give you a half-ass answer and then it gets chopped up. I think the biggest thing is, we’re not coming from a place of 11 or 13 wins. We’re coming from, as you know, what amounted to be a train wreck two years ago, and we’re on an upward trend. So we won nine games. 

My take: That's fine, but losing to Louisville in Orlando, the way we did is unacceptable and inexcusable. 

He continues on the matter of change: “People think change is the answer. I want to get to the same place everybody else wants to get. I believe that continuity, the progress that we’re making, is really important. The recruiting that we’re making. All of that is on an upward trend. Recruiting, all of those things are on an upward trend.

Translation: We're staying status quo on that. To me, that's a big issue, in a year where we had to make changes and it seems, we're not going to make any. That being the case, the clock is ticking on Al to get to Charlotte next year. 

“If we look at the defense, for instance, again, we’re not where we want to be. But what are the trends? Those are the trends that I look at every day. We moved up 17 spots in terms of points per game, we moved up 36 spots nationally in terms of giving up rushing defense. We moved up 52 spots in interceptions. We moved up 25 spots nationally in forced fumbles. We moved up 40 spots in takeaways. We moved up 74 spots in sacks. We moved up 52 spots in red-zone defense. We moved up 36 spots in red zone TDs. We moved up 21 spots in yards per rush, and again, it’s still not where it needs to be, we’ve got to get that under 4 [yards per carry]. We moved up 17 spots in yards per play. Our mental errors were down. Our tackling percentage was up.” 

Al continues: “I want to make sure when I communicate, if everybody doesn’t hear the whole philosophy or whole approach that I’m making, then it’s easy to take a little, a piece out. We’re not where we want to be. On defense we have to be better in tackles for loss. We’re not very good there, Joe. We gave up too many plays of 20 yards or more. Many of them, as I looked at it, were attributable to missed tackles. We’ve got to do a better job of that. Our third-down percentage, on both sides of the ball, is really at the end of the day what’s hurting our defense. Our third-down differential, we’re not converting enough on offense and giving up too many up on defense.” 

My take: He's right when he says we're not where we want to be here on that. Yes, we've improved statistically, the issue to me is tackling. What's not said is missed tackles, poor angles, etc. When you hear recruits like Bethel call out the defensive staff for the scheme, you know changes have to be made there. With D likely back, the D cannot regress next year, because if it does, the calls for D's ouster will get louder and louder, and there will start being calls for Al's head as well.  His top priority this off-season on D: STOP THE RUN! His goal to under 4.0 ypc allowed. The pass rush was better, but I need to see more of a presence there. 

On the offensive side, Al said the biggest issue was lack of 3rd down conversions and he wants more balance there. He wants the running game to average 200 ypg and I think we can do that with the backs we have coming in and those that are back in '14. 

On the matter of personnel and numbers, he mentions 10 players playing over 400 snaps, some as high as 1,000. in fact, here's what he told Rose: 

 “All of those things, for me, are positive trends. We definitely need to fix some things, there’s no question about it. The first thing to do is look at our personnel and what we need to do better. Everything for me, right now, as I look at it, is positive.” 

My take: Yes, they are positive, and yes we have to get those fixed. He said he was going to look at the personnel. I would move Chick to the inside with Pierre and have McCord and AQM on the outside. The main thing here is the scheme, we have to be more aggressive with it. 

Here the interview for yourselves in its entirety and you be the judge: Al's interview with Joe Rose on WQAM 1/6/14