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Miami (FL) Hurricanes (1926-2003)

link

1/16/06
Quote:

Miami hires quarterbacks coach

Former Army coach Todd Berry was hired by the University of Miami as quarterbacks coach, the first hiring by the Hurricanes since four longtime assistants were fired this month.

Berry spent the past two seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Louisiana-Monroe. He was fired by Army in October 2003 after going 5-35 in parts of four seasons.
Coach Larry Coker said he hasn’t decided who will serve as offensive coordinator or if there will be any major schematic changes.
Surprisingly this hire has been generally welcomed by the Cane faithful.

LINK

(And by surprisingly, I mean in light of how touchy they can be down in the Gables.)
 
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ouch......interesting tidbit...

The Miami Hurricanes ranked seventh nationally last year and have finished in the top eight every year since Rivals.com began ranking classes in 2002. But Rivals.com recruiting analyst Jeremy Crabtree said they already were headed toward one of their worst recruiting class in years before coach Larry Coker fired four assistants this month.
-- Miami Herald
 
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Just saw on another board (let's make it a rumor at this point) that Pat Devlin - #4 QB recruit per Scout - has decommitted from Miami.
The likeliest beneficiaries of a Devlin de-commit? Penn State or the University of Virginia.

This was posted even before rumors of decommital surfaced.

LINK (1/19/05)

Canes recruit keeping his options open

BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN
[email protected]
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Top University of Miami recruit Pat Devlin, a quarterback from Downington East High School in Pennsylvania, called Hurricanes coach Larry Coker last week to tell him he was keeping his options open for other schools.
''He's exploring Virginia and Penn State,'' Mike Matta, Devlin's high school coach, told The Miami Herald on Wednesday.
Matta said he was with Devlin last Thursday when the senior called Coker.
``Coach Coker told me he understood Pat's feelings,but he was going to do everything in his power to make Pat feel comfortable -- because he's a priority.
``I explained that [former UM offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach] Dan Werner never said anything negative,and he told Pat he should go to Miami. I think he should, too. But ultimately, it's Pat's decision.''
Werner, who recruited Devlin and has been friends with Matta for years, was one of four coaches fired by Coker on Jan. 2.
A voice mail message left at Devlin's home Wednesday night was not returned.
''He said he's still committed to Miami,'' Matta said, ``but he might want to visit other schools.''
Devlin, Pennsylvania's Gatorade Player of the Year, has been heavily recruited by Penn State, where his father went, his mother was a cheerleader and his grandfather still lives (in State College). Devlin's high school quarterbacks coach was a two-year starter for Virginia.
``Since Werner got fired, Virginia quarterbacks coach Mike Groh has been by a couple of times, and so has a bunch of guys from Penn State.''
Matta said he met briefly with Devlin, new UM quarterbacks coach Todd Berry and tight ends coach Mario Cristobal on Tuesday at the high school, and Devlin seemed to like both a lot. But Devlin did not come to school Wednesday, and Matta said he and his quarterback haven't talked since the meeting.
Last year, UM lost top recruit Derek Shaw, another quarterback, when he changed his mind in mid January. Shaw also had been solely committed to UM before he decided to switch to Arizona State.
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The last line of that piece really underscores the depth of the problem for Miami should Devlin actually move to other pastures.

Kyle Wright would be their only remaining viable option. Should he go down, their depth at that position would be veneer thin.
 
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All not well at Da U?

Devlin decommits - verbals to Penn State.
Miami goes after a Plan "B/C" option, dual-threat QB previously committed to Arkansas State.

Needless to say there is "Trouble in Paradise" - should we start a poll on whether Coker makes it to the beginning of next season?
 
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From a local PA paper

Pat Devlin, one of the most sought-after high school quarterbacks in the nation, has made his college decision.

Again.

The Downingtown East High School star informed the Daily Local News late Monday night that he has decided to play for Penn State under legendary coach Joe Paterno next year, spurning Miami six months after he verbally committed to the Hurricanes.

"Once I reunited with Penn State, I knew it was home," Devlin said by telephone.

Devlin said he made the verbal commitment to the Nittany Lions around 8:30 p.m. Monday, calling Paterno and ending a swirl of rumors about where the state’s all-time passing yardage leader would matriculate. Devlin plans to accept a full scholarship Feb. 1, the initial day of the new signing period.
"It was the combination of everything," Devlin said of what drew him to State College. "The academics, the athletics and the integrity they have is very rare."

Devlin made his official visit to the Happy Valley campus last weekend, from about noon Friday until Sunday morning.

The Cougars senior -- who finished his high school career with 8,162 passing yards and also holds the state record for passing yards in a game with 511 -- was given the star treatment. At Saturday’s Penn State-Ohio State basketball game, Nittany Lions fans chanted Devlin’s name and implored him to stand up.

"That," the soft-spoken quarterback said, "was a little embarrassing."

Still, the atmosphere at the school and the conviction of the students played major roles in swaying Devlin, who has been a Penn State fan since he was a kid. His father, Mark, is a 1982 graduate of Penn State, and his mother, Connie, was both an undergraduate and graduate student at the university.

Connie’s father, Hub Endres, moved to Happy Valley after retiring with his wife and is, according to Devlin, a "Penn State maniac."

"Penn State is a favorite of mine and my family’s," Devlin said. "It offers what I need academically. After spending time there this weekend, I made the decision."

The sudden change of plans that had the entire state talking was set in motion by the Jan. 2 firing of four University of Miami coaches, including offensive coordinator Dan Werner, the primary player in recruiting Devlin last summer.

Almost immediately after Werner’s dismissal, Devlin told Miami coach Larry Coker that he wished to look at other schools. When that news leaked, Devlin heard from some of the Penn State people who had been heavily recruiting him last summer.

"Coach Paterno honored Pat’s original decision," Mark Devlin said. "It wasn’t until the major changes that he called. He simply offered a hand of help. That’s what opened the door for Patrick. It was nice to get a call, not a recruiting call."

On his official visit this weekend, Devlin met with all of the Lions’ coaches, including offensive coordinator Galen Hall, quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno, linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden -- who handles the recruiting in the Chester County area -- and, of course, JoePa himself.

"Penn State is a quality institution with a quality football program," Downingtown East coach Mike Matta said. "And he’s playing for one of the legends of the game. That’s kind of exciting. I think Pat seems less excited than I am."

After the younger Devlin informed both Paterno and Matta of his decision Monday, he called Coker around 9 p.m. The quarterback said the Miami coach was more understanding than he anticipated.
"I thought it would be a difficult phone call," Devlin said. "Coach Coker’s a great guy. He’s been very supportive. He wished me the best of luck."
Devlin -- a National Honor Society member who plans on majoring in either finance or accounting -- hopes to build a legacy on the field at one of the nation’s most storied programs.

As a kid, he said, he remembers watching Kerry Collins direct the Nittany Lions to the 1994 national championship. The Downingtown East senior also has in his possession a football signed by Curtis Enis, which he got after writing the former Nittany Lions great a letter.

"Penn State was always at the top of my list," Pat Devlin said. "We were real close in getting together. But the Miami mystique drew us to visit there. I was real comfortable with the quarterbacks coach (Werner) and I built a relationship with him. When he was dismissed, everything changed."
Devlin’s entire family is excited at the prospect of Pat staying inside the state’s borders. They also recognize the possible impact of a Pennsylvania high school star competing for the state’s most prestigious college football team.

"As far as playing in Pennsylvania, that’s outstanding," Mark Devlin said. "To be able to jump in a car with neighbors to watch my son play ..it’s a dream come true.

"This whole thing is hard for a 17-year old to figure out," the elder Devlin added. "If Pat’s relieved, I’m relieved. And he’s smiling ear to ear right now, so I’m a happy camper."

To contact staff writer Dave Zeitlin, send an e-mail to [email protected].
 
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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2006/01/24/0124umrecruit.html

Hurricanes lose top QB recruit

By Jorge Milian

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

CORAL GABLES — Fallout from the firing of four University of Miami assistant coaches earlier this month has resulted in the Hurricanes losing their top recruit.

Pat Devlin, a quarterback from Exton, Pa., ranked by Rivals.com as the nation's fifth-best player at his position, has walked away from his oral commitment to UM and will sign with Penn State on Feb. 1.


Devlin called UM coach Larry Coker on Monday night to inform him of the decision.

The reason?

The firing on Jan. 2 of UM offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Dan Werner, who was in charge of recruiting Devlin for the Hurricanes. UM coach Larry Coker has yet to replace Werner, who is now offensive coordinator at Mississippi.

"He hates to be one of those kind of guys that makes a commitment and reneges on it," said Mike Matta, Devlin's coach at Downington East (Pa.) High School. "But he can't get away from the fact that when you're a quarterback, you have to build a relationship with the offensive coordinator, and that's where he had the problem."

This marks the second straight year that UM has lost a top quarterback late in the recruiting process. Derek Shaw, a quarterback from Oceanside, Calif., bailed out of his oral commitment last year less than three weeks before signing day. UM was unable to sign another quarterback.

Devlin orally committed to the Hurricanes in July and reaffirmed his choice after Werner and three other UM assistants were fired. But despite home visits from Coker, associate athletic director Pete Garcia and assistant coaches Mario Cristobal and Todd Berry, Devlin's commitment began to waver in the past couple of weeks.

Devlin, who could not be reached at his home on Tuesday, took an official visit to Penn State last weekend. His father and mother are alums of Penn State, according to Mazza.

"This is a big loss for Miami," said Jeremy Crabtree, a recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. "This is the second year they've lost a quarterback and that's something that could catch up to them. Right now, they're trying to hold things together."

As a hedge to Devlin's possible defection, UM offered a scholarship last Saturday to Daniel Stegall, an unheralded quarterback from Greenwood, Ark. Stegall, who was orally committed to Arkansas State, changed his mind and accepted Miami's offer on Sunday.

But Stegall isn't considered nearly as good a prospect as Devlin. Stegall received limited interest from Division I-A schools until Miami came into the picture. Berry, UM's new quarterbacks coach, recruited Stegall for the University of Louisiana-Monroe before changing jobs.

The Hurricanes, who have 18 oral commitments, are not expected to sign another quarterback.
 
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Whoops. Larry Coker rode the coattails of Butchie into an MNC in '01 and the BCS championship game again in '02. His lack of coaching skill is beginning to catch up to him and his recruiting is beginning to feel the effects of that. I give him two more seasons at most at "da U".
 
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Miami Football (official thread)

This was just too funny not to post.

Why do you continue to malign our 'Canes? Nine overall 2006 draftees and a record 12 consecutive years with a first-round pick indicates that UM is still elite. Granted, we need to show better on-field results than we have the past two years, but don't be surprised by an imminent return to form in 2006!
-- Rich Lillis, Miami
You're absolutely right, Rich. Nothing says "elite" like losing a bowl game 40-3 and falling at home to a 7-5 Georgia Tech team. It's almost like watching Michael Irvin, Bernie Kosar and Alonzo Highsmith reincarnated.

:slappy:
 
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4 'Canes suspended for opener against FSU

Per ESPN News.

RB Tyrone Moss, WR Ryan Moore, LB James Bryant and WR Rashaun Jones have been suspended by Larry Coker. They will not play in the Florida State game, (Monday night Sept. 4th), and Moore will be also suspended for the second game.

Coker said all suspensions were from the same incident, and were for a violation of team rules.
 
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