Happy Monday everybody. Hope your week is getting off to a good start. The Super Bowl is behind us, so now we’re sans football until college football Week 0 in late August.
Speaking of the Super Bowl…
1) It wasn’t a great result for most former Miami Hurricanes in the big game.
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots both had former Canes on their teams and/or in their organizations. The Patriots had the most by a mile, with Andy Borregales and Leonard Taylor III on the roster, and with AJ Highsmith and Alonzo Highsmith in the front office and Cam McCormick a scouting assistant. Seattle has tight end Elijah Arroyo on the roster.
Well, it was a one-sided affair on Sunday night, with the Seahawks dominating the Patriots 29-13 in a game that was, frankly, a tough watch.
Miami’s alumni didn’t do anything bad in the game. Borregales got one chance, an extra point, which he made. Taylor notched one tackle. Arroyo was active but didn’t log any stats in the game.
When I say it was a tough watch, it’s because the game was low-scoring and ugly for a while……and because I do not like the Patriots, and I imagine that’s the case for many South Florida residents/Hurricanes/Dolphins fans. However, I would have liked to have seen as many Hurricanes as possible win a ring (and as a Tennessee alum, I also was hoping to see backup QB Joshua Dobbs get a ring as well).
Oh well. Perhaps next year. The good thing for New England is that they’re built really, really well on defense and have a great defensive coach in Mike Vrabel. If they can figure out their other issues, i.e., an offensive line that was flat-out embarrassed by Seattle’s defense along with finding a true No. 1 wide receiver, then perhaps the door isn’t shut on them reaching the mountaintop soon.
2) Canes hoops has a big opportunity this week.
Miami rebounded nicely after having a full week to chew on the smelly brown sandwich that Cal fed them a little over a week ago. The Canes went up to Boston College and got the win on Saturday 74-68. At this point, the Canes are sitting right near the cut line on the bubble for the big dance. They have to avoid the terrible losses and try to pick up some big wins. Step one: bad loss avoided.
Now, can they get a huge win at home this week? North Carolina comes to town on Tuesday night fresh off a last-second 71-68 win over Duke in the game of the weekend. A letdown seems possible here from Carolina after being on Cloud Nine after Saturday night, and the Canes need to take advantage.
I don’t live in South Florida, so I can’t be there, but the Watsco Center needs to be dialed up to eleven. If you can make it, please go. Should be a hell of a game.
3) Canes baseball also gets underway on Friday against Lehigh at the Light.
I will be watching that, as — with so many transfers — I have no idea what to expect. I’m hopeful, and with Daniel Cuvet leading the way, they’ll have a shot to score on anyone.
But I’ll be watching the pitching. The staff, the bullpen, all of it. That’ll be the key to how good this team can be this season. No idea as far as a season prediction. Just get in position for a good look at finally getting back to Omaha.
Go Canes!