Eye on the U

Hot time in MIami: Gators at Canes in football: noon on Sept. 7 on ESPN.

University of Miami tailgaters might want to get to sleep early on Friday, Sept. 6th. That's because the highly anticipated Florida Gators at Miami Hurricanes football game was announced for a noon kickoff at Sun Life Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7 on ESPN -- upsetting fans who would rather have a night game.

A night game would certainly be a great draw and the event to party around at Sun Life. UM would get heavy-duty exposure. And let's face it, night games are always more fun (unless you're on deadline or savor getting broiled outside).

Turns out that ABC has NASCAR from Richmond, Va., that night and ESPN is broadcasting the Notre Dame-Michigan football game in prime time. A game has not yet been announced for the prime-time ESPN2 slot.

"We requested and lobbied ESPN for an evening slot for the game vs #BeatUF.'' tweeted UM athletic director Blake James. "Unfortunately, they were unable to accomodate.'' 

 I just got off the phone with ESPN spokesman Mike Humes, whom I asked about the noon start.

"Essentially, we looked at all the options and this was the best available window for the game,'' Humes said. "We average probably around three million viewers for that time slot. So it wasn’t like, 'Let’s put the worst game on at noon.' The noon window does really well with fans.

"We view this as a great matchup. Scheduling games is like putting together differrent puzzles with different time zones and commitments, and this was the best window.''

 UM AD James also tweeted this: "espn/abc wanted to take game national 3:30 slot is regional coverage."

Humes said the 3:30 p.m. ABC game is Oregon at Virginia.

In other Canes football news, the Aug. 30 season opener at Sun Life Stadium against FAU will kick off at 8 p.m. Aug. 30 -- a Friday -- and will be aired by ESPNU.

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN 

Yet another UM Canes football depth chart released after Fort Myers scrimmage

UM Coach Al Golden released yet another depth chart after last Friday night's Fort Myers scrimmage.

Again, you shouldn't be surprised at some of these changes, because Golden already has let his feelings be known about various positions.

Denzel Perryman has obviously secured that spot at middle linebacker, but Gionni Paul now has an "or'' between himself and Tyrone Cornelius on the outside.

Shayon Green is off the depth chart because of his injury, with Anthony Chickillo back where he belongs -- on top at defensive end.

Also, notice that at strong safety, there's an "or'' between A.J. Highsmith and Vaughn Telemaque now -- and an "or'' between Brandon McGee and Thomas Finnie at cornerback.

The offensive line and receivers are the same, as are the quarterbacks. But at fullback, because both C.J. Holton and Maurice Hagens are injured, 6-4, 275-pound redshirt-sophomore Sean Harvey -- formerly listed as a tight end -- is first-team fullback.

I'm figuring there will be at least one more depth chart released after the April 14 afternoon spring game, which is at Sun Life Stadium and free to the public.

OFFENSE

QB

First team: Ryan Williams

Second team: Gray Crow

Third team: Preston Dewey

RB

First team: Mike James

Second team: Eduardo Clements

Third team: Dallas Crawford

FB

First team: Sean Harvey

Second team: Mike James

WR

First team: Rashawn Scott

Second team: Allen Hurns

Third team: Garrett Kidd

WR

First team: Phillip Dorsett

Second team: Kendal Thompkins

TE

First team: Asante Cleveland

Second team: Clive Walford

LT

First team: Malcolm Bunche

Second team: Ereck Flowers

LG

First team: Jermaine Johnson

Second team: Jeremy Lewis

C

First team: Shane McDermott

Second team: Jared Wheeler

RG

First team: Brandon Linder

Second team: Ben Jones

RT

First team: Seantrel Henderson

Second team: Taylor Gadbois

DEFENSE

DE

First team: Anthony Chickillo

Second team: Ricardo Williams

DT

First team: Darius Smith

Second team: Luther Robinson

DT

First team: Curtis Porter

Second team: Olsen Pierre

DE

First team: Kelvin Cain

Second team: Dwayne Hoilett

OLB

First team: Jimmy Gaines

Second team: Eddie Johnson

MLB

First team: Denzel Perryman

Second team: Raphael Kirby

OLB

First team: Gionni Paul or Tyrone Cornileus

CB

First team: Ladarius Gunter

Second team: Larry Hope

FS

First team: Ray-Ray Armstrong

Second team: Kacy Rodgers

SS

First team: A.J. Highsmith

Second team: Vaughn Telemaque

Third team: Andrew Swasey

CB

First team: Brandon McGee

Second team: Thomas Finnie

SPECIAL TEAMS

K

First team: Jake Wieclaw

Second team: Matt Goudis

P

First team: Dalton Botts

Second team: Jake Wieclaw

KR

First team: Phillip Dorsett

Second team: Dallas Crawford

PR

First team: Phillip Dorsett

Second team: Dallas Crawford

H

First team: Dalton Botts

Second team: Ricardo Williams

 

SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN