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 

Second Annual UM Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Dolphin (as in fishing) Tournament set for June 29-30

HERE IS A RELEASE I JUST RECEIVED IN CASE THERE ARE ANY FISHERMEN OUT THERE WANTING TO HELP OUT THE UM SPORTS HALL OF FAME, AS WELL AS SHAKE-A-LEG AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY -- ALL GREAT ORGANIZATIONS:

 

MIAMI, June 12, 2012 – More than 200 former Hurricanes football greats and sports fans are expected to take to the waters off of Islamorada, Fla., later this month for the 2nd Annual University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame (UMSHoF) Celebrity Dolphin Tournament.

 Hosted by Warren Sapp, a Hurricanes defensive lineman who starred for 13 years in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders and who is known today for his work as an NFL television analyst, as well as for his runner-up finish in season seven of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, the event will provide anglers with the opportunity to fish alongside former University of Miami sports stars while raising money for several non-profit organizations. The tournament, slated for June 29 and 30, will benefit the UMSHoF, which is set to undergo a renovation of its on-campus facility in Coral Gables, Fla., Shake-a-Leg Miami and Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys. 

 “The registration numbers have already surpassed those of last year’s tournament,” said K.C. Jones, president-elect of the UMSHoF, a 2008 hall inductee, two-time Super Bowl winner with the Denver Broncos and founder of the tournament. “However, we still have space for individual participants and groups with or without their own boats. In keeping with the UMSHoF’s mission of recognizing, showcasing and celebrating the achievements of athletes who brought acclaim to the university, the tournament is an ideal venue for Hurricanes fans to network, socialize and have fun with former UM athletes while contributing to important causes.”

 Former Hurricanes sports stars expected to participate include Brett Romberg (Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons), Bubba Franks (Green Bay Packers), Gary Dunn (Pittsburgh Steelers), Damione Lewis (St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and Houston Texans), Jeremy Shockey (New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers) and Randal Hill (Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints).

Tournament Information

 For information about tournament participation, including boat entry or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.canesfish.com, send an email to info@canesfish.com or contact K.C. Jones directly at (305) 925-3660.