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Great news out of the U. After Graig Cooper's knee injury in the bowl game, talk was that he would sit out next season, get a medical redshirt and return to UM in 2011. But Cooper's father said the surgically repaired injury was less serious than feared, doctors are optimistic, and Cooper believes he will be ready to start the 2010 season. Cooper was told he had a partial ACL tear and no MCL tear and after surgery, can take as long to heal as a full year. That means if he returns in September, it might take another month for him to feel where he was before the injury. But he would need to regain his old form to earn a lot of playing time. They are stacked with Damien Berry will be the favorite to start, and teammates rave about Lamar Miller (who is the fastest back). No matter though who he is competing against, if Cooper is healthy enough to play, it doesn't seem likely he would agree to sit out 2010 and return to UM in 2011, delaying an NFL career.
"It's all about the U" let me down last night. The game could have been a lot closer, or it could have been a LOT worse. Miami blew several opportunities to make this a game. Unfortunately, they didn't capitalize until it was too late. The Hurricanes struggled on both sides of the ball. Defense didn't play as they allowed Badgers QB Scott Tolzien to have a career-high 260 yards. After allowing only two rushing touchdowns and an average of 96 rushing yards over their last seven regular-season games, the Hurricanes’ run defense permitted 197 rushing yards and both of Wisconsin’s touchdowns on the ground. They gave up 430 yards of total offense. Unbelievable! I mean but the offense didn't show up either. I was expecting it to be a rout when they took the opening kick to the house [called back] and Graig Cooper scored. Well I guess I was wrong because that was the only high moment of the night. Jacory Harris was rattled all night. It was not his fault though because his line gave him no time. Then on top of that, Cooper's next carry may not be until 2011. The initial diagnosis of Cooper's injured right knee is that the severity is "very bad" and could sideline Miami's leading rusher for the 2010 season. He likely had an ACL tear. There could be more damage. Hope he is alright though.
Todd McShay, ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst, has some advice for UM running back Graig Cooper. Skip your senior season and head to the NFL. Cooper were told by Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon last month to test the NFL waters by applying to the league’s advisory committee for a projection on where they might be drafted if they choose to forego their final seasons. But McShay, who views Cooper as a second or “worst-case” third round pick, said the 6-foot, 200-pound running back is the only UM junior that should pull the trigger and enter the NFL Draft. “Obviously, he’s had his ups and downs throughout his career, but when it comes to running backs, I just think the sooner you can go the better,” McShay said during a conference call on Monday afternoon. “It’s the only position I would say that for. The shelf life for backs is so short as it is that if you’re going to come back and take another pounding…he’s looking at a not-great running back class [in] a year where he showed some flashes. “It’s a business decision that he has to make. Is he better off moving up a round by coming back next year and losing out on a [NFL] year, or is he better off being one year closer to free agency in what projects to be a very short career in the NFL because of the position he plays. That’s why I think Cooper, of those four, is the one that should go and the other three should go back to school.” McShay said tailback Javarris James will be taken “somewhere in the middle to late rounds.” Among running backs, James will be the 10th to 14th player picked at the position, McShay added. Personally I would hate to see Cooper gone because the U maybe something special next season. He has to do what is best for him though.
Miami Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon talked about the importance of having a primary runner. He was lucky after the Hurricanes used three running backs this season. Shannon wasn't disappointed not having a 1,000-yard back because Graig Cooper, Damien Berry and Javarris James took turns leading the ground game. When any suffered was hurt, another filled in with a solid performance. Cooper leads UM with 666 yards, ahead of Berry 587 and James 491.
Other notes: Cooper, remains unsure if he will return for his senior year. His father, Tino Thomas, said he expects Cooper back for another season. Cooper will announce his plans sometime after the bowl game. As of now Graig Cooper is a potential ``third-rounder because of speed, versatility, return ability.''
Man I swear if the ACC don't have at least a .500 record in their bowl game then they should be stripped of their BCS spot. No questions asked either. I mean the Iowa-GT game, GT should have a field day personally I feel. Unless something funky happens like last year vs LSU, I see GT by at least two TDs. I know that's crazy since the ACC can't win the BCS games, but I feel they will make it back to back years. VT vs Tennessee, I have VT winning in maybe a blowout or a field goal. Have yet to make up my mind. For VT to win the players: Ryan Williams and Tyrod Taylor will have to come ready to play. I mean if Ryan Williams goes off like he did the last time he was on the field, it will be a long night for the Kiffins. Now here is where we get to the first toss-up matchup for the ACC. Florida State against WVU. Bobby Bowden coaching for and against both his teams in his last game. I mean you would think FSU would win but there in lies the problem. I have seen FSU this year and they are not the same. It seems like every game they lose the just get worse and worse. So I think I will give this win to WVU by under a touchdown. If Ponder was playing I would go FSU but Noel has a stellar day. Next game should be the UM all day. I mean I am not taking anything from Wisconsin but the year the U is having you would think they would finish it off with them starting their bid for a Nat'l Championship hopes for next season. Um, for the next game no comment is needed just one name: CJ SPILLER. You wish nothing but for this guy to go out on top and even do better than his ACC Championship performance. Will it happen? Odds say no but he will have a decent game. The next two games I have different opinions on. I think I will get one of them out of the way by saying, you would BELIEVE that the Trojans will finish the season with a huge win. This year though, this USC team has been unpredictable. For "common sense" sake, we'll just say this is one game the ACC will definitely lose and should be BIG. Personally, I won't watch the game just watch highlights on ESPN. The last game is a toss-up and is just like the FSU-WVU game. The match up is between UNC and Pitt. A pair of teams that lost to N.C. State in a bowl? Imagine where these two would be without the Wolfpack lost? UNC lost in this game last year. UNC's D usually thrives against running teams and that's Pitt but they are facing a running back that is one of the best. I will not pick that game as of right now. So by the look of this, the ACC should only lose 1 game and they have 2 toss ups but that still puts them at 4-3. Not a bad record from last season where you had 10 and only won 4 of them (which was embarrassing considering Conf USA did better than them).
Although the passing game has drawn the most attention, the 'Canes remain content on establishing the run. Coach Shannon said they were so successful in last week's 21-20 victory against Oklahoma because of their ability to run. Running back Javarris James rushed for a season-high 150 yards on 15 carries. "If our running game is going, it makes the passing game a lot easier," Shannon said. "Javarris starts running the football, the linebacker, the safeties have to come up." The performance came just a week after the Hurricanes were shut down against VT, rushing for a season-low 59 yards. Shannon said UM's offense has been most dominant with the presence of a run game. He cited the OU and Georgia Tech wins, both games where the Hurricanes topped 100 yards rushing. "(Our offense) can be really scary if you run the football like we did the other night," Shannon said. I mean as bad as I was rooting for OU this year, I have to give props to the U for making a comeback and is starting to be a team to contend with. I was a temporary U fan during Coker years so I have seen the best. If this team continues to get better they will really be making noise next year.
