Sun Bowl blog: UM-Notre Dame

EL PASO -- Time to renew the rivalry. The Miami Hurricanes (7-5) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-5) will meet for the first time in 20 years at the Sun Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on CBS. UM is a 2.5 point favorite.

> REWIND: In it's heyday, the rivalry was called Catholics vs. Convicts. UM is 7-15-1 all-time against the Irish, but won five of the last seven meetings. The series opened in 1955. Notre Dame won the last meeting 29-20 in South Bend in 1990.

> ABOUT NOTRE DAME: The Irish, who played the nation's toughest schedule, enter Friday's game on a three-game winning streak. Those wins were pretty impressive -- at home versus a ranked Utah team, Army and at USC. Sophomore linebacker Manti Te'o leads the Irish, who run a 3-4 scheme, with 127 tackles, 17th most in the country. Notre Dame's pass defense (ranked 40th) can create problems. The Irish have produced 28 sacks this season and are giving up under 10 yards per completion, one of only eight teams nationally to do that. The Irish have also picked off 14 passes. Darrin Walls has returned two of his five interceptions for touchdowns. The Irish are also very experienced at safety. Freshman quarterback Tommy Rees was called into action after Dayne Crist went down against Tulsa with three games left. Rees has thrown at least two touchdown passes in three of his last four games. His favorite target, junior receiver Michael Floyd (73 rec., 916 yards, 10 TDs) ranks second all-time in touchdown catches at Notre Dame and needs only one more to tie Jeff Samardzija. Notre Dame kicker David Ruffer, a former walk-on, is 20 for 20 on field goal attempts since last year -- including a career-long 50-yarder this season.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON FOR THE U...

> How starting quarterback Jacory Harris plays... Harris' play is an obvious key for the Hurricanes to win this game. But for his own future, he needs to have a good game. Harris has struggled with interceptions throughout his career and this game could go a long way toward deciding his future. New coach Al Golden, who will be watching the game from a box, will probably prefer to go with freshman Stephen Morris going forward anyway. But if Harris continues to struggle, he could make it easier for Golden to make that decision.

> The emotional life Mike James delivers... The sophomore has been dealing with the death of his mother, who passed away in a car accident Dec. 20. Her funeral is today and he's missing it to be with his teammates. Interim coach Jeff Stoutland said James would provide a huge lift to his teammates being with them. He also promised James would play in this game. Let's see if James and the players' motivation to play for former coach Randy Shannon play a factor.

> If the Canes look like a cold team standing on the sidelines... You remember last year's Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, right. UM players huddled up on the sidelines as temperatures dipped into the 40s. This game will be played in similar -- if not colder -- conditions. UM players came out for warmups wearing ski masks. I didn't notice any heaters on the sideline. Notre Dame? The Irish play in this weather all the time and brought their own special heated benches for the game.

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Comments

[Denedios]

Let's go Canes!! #BeatNotreDame #WEOUTCHEA

[Gary]

I just severely punk'd the BRAINDEAD "author" of the current thread over at Canespace. I called out his absurd statements with facts. Its all a winter wonderland (no pun intended) in the world of delusional cane blog "authors." He couldn't muster up enough sak to respond so he just started deleting. He's the absolute definition of chykenshyt. Soup, or Nuts or Six or Twelve or whatever his clueless name is.

They could play hockey on that field today and this guy is predicting 34 points against a cold weather team. Now THAT is what I call research.

The Space, where idiots reaffirm the ramblings of other idiots.

[Eudocimus]

Nobody cares Gary.

Why would you waste your time on all these UM blogs if you're not a UM fan?

[Eudocimus]

I'm thinking that cold weather might actually be a good thing if it keeps the ball in Storm Johnson and Lamar Miller's hands and out of the air.

[MiamiMoe]

Remember last year how they stood on the sidelines during the cold. I worry that they will do the same today.

[hbcuclassics]

HBCU Classics All-Americans

Offense:
QB Matthew Johnson, Bethune**
QB Stanley Jennings, Albany St**
RB Walter Sanders, St. Augustine
RB DeAngelo Branche, Norfolk St
RB Frank Warren, Grambling - broke Walter Payton's rushing records
WR Raymond Webber, UAPB
WR Ronnie Childs, Albany St
WR Lennel Elmore, SC State
OL David Mims, VA Union
OL Johnny Culbreath, SC State
OL Mike Mavromichalis, Albany St
OL Natiel Curry, Bethune
OL Josh Harrison, SC State

www.hbcuclassics.com

[Let it snow let it snow let it snow]

bRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Let it snow let it snow let it snow]

Hey the game is on CBS not ESPN.

[Been a long time]

No RS to blame, same results. bad coverage, penalties

[Ignignokt]

The cold is to suck , let's hope our Canes can run the ball .

GO CANES !!

[PAcane'91]

Blew a 3rd and long again!

[Been a long time]

always run your route 4 yards when you need 5

[2think]

Condolences to Mike James first.

Orlando Franklin again costs the team with his false start, nice going 5th year senior.

Miami punts on their first series while ND put 7 up on their first.

[Been a long time]

the penalty was actually on the TE. wrong player identified by the ref

[norm]

Miami looks like they don't want to be there.

[aoliver345]

im afraid our team is vey confuse today and can not tackel today!!!

[norm]

I'll be happy when we have a different kicker. Nothing against Bosher, but I think he has too much in his plate. This team can't tackle or cover.

[norm]

We look like we have an assistant of coach coaching Miami.

[Been a long time]

GAME OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[2think]

What a joke, ND 14-0.

Nice going Kirby. Way to sack the headcoach when you know we were eligible for a bowl game.

That's right, shake the team up before the bowl game!

Kirby Hocutt for UM employee of the year!

[JamesJaxon21]

It's just not the same anymore. It's going to be a long game. I hope this dude Golden makes a difference.

[elgrancane]

offense has to show up now. it's obvious the defense is struggling even to tackle

[scott]

are you kidding me, this team is not anywhere near prepared to play..3rd and 15 and you are playing 10 yards off the man and cannot tackle..this is a joke..when is the defense going to show up...the front line is going thru the motions, secondary is horrible

[Been a long time]

2think. nothing to do with Kirby. Have you forgotten how this team played the last two games. What you're seeing is a great coach schooling UM

[norm]

BH needs to stay for one more year. He needs to learn a few more tricks before he leaves to the NFL. Then again, if he keeps playing the way he is playing, he'll be lucky if he gets drafted.

[elgrancane]

Character checking time.... Canes have to believe they're not as bad and pitiful as they look up to now

[orlandocanfan]

Jacory Harris sucks

[Been a long time]

JH is one of the worst QB I've seen in a long time. He absolutely does not learn

[Sean Wilson is a cancer]

Absolute puke. This team is loaded with soft quitters.

The Coker/Shannon stench remains.

[indiacane]

no heart

[CanesfanRI]

Why are the players dressed like its -100? Where's the toughness? Team has to withstand the early onslaught. Need a break or 2 before ND scores again. Can't go down by 17 or more IMO.

[Been a long time]

too bad this isn't the NFL, we would be getting a higher draft pickj

[norm]

Character checking time.... Canes have to believe they're not as bad and pitiful as they look up to now

Posted by: elgrancane | December 31, 2010 at 02:51 PM

I agree with you

[Eudocimus]

Brandon Harris is the most overrated DB ever. What a fool.

Then Harris throw a pick.

UM SUCKS TOP TO BOTTOM!!!!

[vjhxxx]

Jacory Harry -- Mr. Interception

[Been a long time]

JH, 2-3 6 yards, 1 INT. fantasic

[Been a long time]

This is a true freshman playing for ND. crazy, he's looks the Jr and JH the FR

[Canesjunkie]

That's the last I want to ever hear about how sharp Jacory is in practice.

The guy is a scrub.

[Canesjunkie]

Bring in Morris already!

[scott]

thank god getting rid of some of the coaches also... whipple and lovitt both suck...harris is a wuss..its too cold for him..look at him ..what a joke

[Been a long time]

agree, if they want to win, Morris needs to play regardless if he's limping. JH cannot lead this team

[CanesSwag305]

Jacory is straight garbage! Take him out please! This team def. has no heart!

[Sean Wilson is a cancer]

Can we force Jacory to transfer?

[CanesfanRI]

Stay with the run until ND stops it!!!! Are you kidding me?

[Canesjunkie]

Enough of Harris already...go to the bench and put on your pimp suit, this way you can stay warm.

[Been a long time]

21 - 0

[Canesjunkie]

Agreed on coordinators...these guys have to go...at halftime, if possible.

I can call a better offense from my Madden playbook.

[CanesSwag305]

Wave the white flag already!

[JohnC]

This looks like the biggest mismatch of the bowl season so far. ND is faster, bigger and tougher. Funny, that's the same thing that was said in last years bowl game against Wisconsin. I hope Golden is taking notes. In the interview he just did with the CBS announcers, it sounded like he is.

[Been a long time]

this should do wonders for recruiting