Vote on how many games Dolphins, Canes will win (with polls); plus T.Y. Hilton, Brandon Meriweather, my state-teams ranking, McKeon's future & more

[Welcome to Monday. Look for our "G1: Hurricanes @ Maryland" blogpost beginning at 4 p.m. today. Sharp! Also join us on Twitter @gregcote].

COUNTDOWN! 4 DAYS TIL UPSET BIRD: Coming Friday, Sept. 9...

 

TIME TO SET BAR ON 2011 EXPECTATIONS FOR DOLPHINS, CANES: In separate polls below I invite fans to offer what I hope are realistic expectations on how the Dolphins and Hurricanes will fare this season. Not what you hope the win totals might be, but what you honestly predict they will be. Base your picks on a 16-game Dolphins regular season and on a 12-game UM regular season not counting possible conference title-game or bowl. Then tell us why you fall where you do on the optimism/negativity scale.

POLLS NOTE: I know more than just fans of the two teams are voting. Maybe some haters are, too. Free country. But that is counterbalanced by fans who may be thinking perfect season rather than being realistic. As the votes pile up reasonable fans will hugely outweigh extremists and render a fairly legitimate pulse-read on overall expectations.

T.Y. HILTON AND THE HEISMAN: FIU's Hilton4Heisman campaign for its exciting receiver/returner is admirable, but here is another indicator of the odds. StiffArmTrophy.com's preseason poll of 66 Heisman voters, out today/Sunday, shows no Hilton (or any other state-school player) in the top 25. The top three: Stanford QB Andrew Luck, Oregon RB LaMichael James, Boise State QB Kellen Moore. Right now Hilton is quite literally off the radar.

DOLPHINS MISS CHANCE ON BRANDON MERIWEATHER: The ex-Cane has been a Pro Bowl safety the past two straight seasons but was a surprising cut by the Patriots yesterday. Would have been a very smart and very timely pickup by Miami. Alas, Meriweather was signed by the Bears today. Dolphs reached the 53-man roster with a slew of cuts but no real shockers. The most notable to exit by my reckoning: RB Larry Johnson, CB Will Allen, FB Lousaka Polite; QBs Pat Devlin and Kevin O'Connell; TEs Dedrick Epps and Mickey Shuler; and WR Phillip Livas. Also, OT Lydon Murtha placed on injured reserve.

OWLS FAIL TO 'WIN ONE FOR THE HIPPER': FAU opened as a huge underdog tonight at No. 22 Florida, a day after coach Howard Schnellenberger briefly was hospitalized in Gainesville after experiencing pain in a surgically repaired hip. And the Owls lost, 41-3. Earlier, No. 6 FSU thumped Louisiana-Monroe, 34-0. Other FBS state-school games Saturday: South Florida scored a big upset win at No. 16 Notre Dame, 23-20, despite the desperate Irish asking God for two lightning delays, and inhospitable Central Florida beat visiting Charleston Southern, 62-0. In last night's national Top 25 matchups: 4-LSU beat 3-Oregon. 40-27, and 5-Boise State dispatched 19-Georgia, 35-21.

MCKEON ON HIS FUTURE: Jack McKeon, 80, is denying reports that he and the Marlins have mutually agreed he won't return as manager in 2012. He isn't expected back (think Ozzie Guillen), but says no decision has been made. I'm running the picture at left only because it shows my friend Clark Spencer, the Herald's Marlins beat writer, staring intently into his cell phone, which I found funny.

FOR DOLFANS WHO ARE JETS HATERS: I guess that would be pretty much all Dolfans, right? Ran across the adapted logo at right and thought y'all might enjoy it.

VIDEO DU JOUR: Coffee Jerks.

RANDOM JOKE: At a wedding reception someone yelled, "All the married men, please stand next to the one person who has made your life worth living." The bartender was crushed to death.

DUMBASS OF THE WEEK: Right here.

COTE'S STATE OF THE STATE: The debut of my weekly ranking of the seven FBS teams in our state. The preseason ranking entering Week 1:

1. FSU Seminoles

2. Florida Gators

3. Miami Hurricanes

4. UCF Knights

5. South Florida Bulls

6. FIU Golden Panthers

7. FAU Owls

STATE'S 10 BEST COLLEGE PLAYERS: According to the Palm Beach Post: 1. FSU DE Brandon Jenkins; 2. UM LB Sean Spence; 3. FIU's Hilton; 4. FSU OT Andrew Datko; 5. Florida DT Jaye Howard; 6. FSU QB E.J. Manuel; 7. UM DT Marcus Forston; 8. UCF CB Josh Robinson; 9. UM S Ray-Ray Armstrong; and 10. Florida LB Jelani Jenkins. 

THE REAL T-30: The Real T-30 is our weekly cumulative, consensus Top 30 college football ranking based on a combination of the three major polls: Associated Press, USA Today, ESPN. Points based on 30 for a No. 1 ranking, 29 for No. 2, etc. The combined preseason ranking entering Week 1:

Rank   Team   Points

1   Oklahoma   90

2   Alabama   87

3   Oregon   83

4   Louisiana State   82

5   FLORIDA STATE   77

6   Boise State   75

7   Stanford   73

8   Texas A&M   68

9   Oklahoma State   67

10   Wisconsin   61

11   Nebraska   59

12   South Carolina   57

13   Arkansas   54

14   Virginia Tech   53

15   Texas Christian   48

16   Notre Dame   44

17   Michigan State   42

18   Ohio State   41

19   Georgia   32

20   Mississippi State   30

21   Missouri   27

22   Auburn   24

23   West Virginia   23

24   FLORIDA   22

25   Texas   21

26   Arizona State   18

27   Penn State   13

28   Southern Cal   12

29t   MIAMI   4

29t   Utah   4

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Comments

[Jimbo]

Jimbo's official 2011 Miami Dolphins predictions

9-7 season
0-1 wildcard playoff loss

Tony gets canned.
Henne gets canned.
Tubby Tuna already canned.

[Jimbo]

Immediate future for the Hurricanes football season is bleak. 7 wins but this team is far removed from past prominence. Where is the U's penchant for top flight college QB's? Jacory Harris? The U should have top pickings considering the talent level in FL & all the "perks" offered to coveted athlete ,,, ahhhmmm students.

[The Truth]

Greg Cote had to make it a top 30, not a more traditional top 25, so he can squeeze UM in. Won't matter on Tuesday after Maryland destroys UM.

FIU will be ranked higher at season's end.

[Top 29?????]

TOP 29????

LOL. anything to get UM in.
Is this gonna be the top 63 list if UM loses?

And why is there a story about FAU? No one cares. This is not the Sun Sentinel.

[OC Dolphin]

Jimbo,

9-7 looks about right. As in other years I will keep a running total of everyone's predictions.

Duke,

Greg Cote has promised me a 2011 media guide for winning that last sudoku contest...I'm not holding my breath, but we'll see. I know he stiffed you a couple of years ago after you won. We'll see.

I'll be in and out of this as I had to fly into Mia on a family emergency. Will check as circumstances allow.

[I am Kazaam]

Regardless of wins and losses 2011 should be a wildly entertaining season for the Miami Hurricanes. Tons of NFL-caliber talent, games against some of the best teams in the country, and a us-against-the-world mentality - can't wait to see it play out.

Just found out the Terps fans I'm going to the game with are catering their tailgate with blue crabs from Cantlers, I pretty much can't lose.

[I am Kazaam]

Dolphins should beat Cleveland, Denver, Washington, and Buffalo twice.

Dolphins could beat Houston, Kansas City, Dallas, and Oakland.

Dolphins shouldn't beat San Diego, the New York football Giants, or Philadelphia.

Dolphins could split with New England and the New York football Jets.

8-8 seems possible, playoffs are very unlikely with the wildcard spots pretty much spoken for by the Pats/Jets and Steelers/Ravens.

[Sebastian]

Kazaam,

I hope they poison your crabs.

Love,
Sebastian

[Alex in Boca]

"Wildly entertaining season" "tons of NFL talent"...No Hurricane fan in their right mind would say that. Put down the crack pipe. It's clear you have only been a fan since probably 06 or 07, and the horse manure product that's been on the field is what you're accustomed to. Wildly entertaining season? No, starting a season outside the top 25, having multiple starters being suspended, and the whole country laughing at Miami's expense isn't exactly what I'd think of as being entertaining. Maybe if you made your exact statement back in 2000 or 2001 nobody would think of you being a complete meth head. And tons of NFL talent? Again, you wouldn't be a dumb ass if you made that statement 10 years ago back in the Reed and Johnson days. I don't think the league is thrilled with a Jacory Harris..who never hits the gym and just threw another INT. You'll probably say Marcus Forston? Soft, lazy, and has never made a big time play. Don't compare him to Sapp. You'll probably throw the name Ray Ray Armstrong out..Soft, out of position, and lets big plays go right through his hands (see Ohio State game). These guys aren't impressing the league. Losing to Virginia last year, losing by 28 to FSU at home, losing to S FL at home, and getting humiliated by Notre Dame isn't making any fans wet. Don't claim to be a Hurricane fan when you say stupid sh*t like you just did.

[Gator Nation]

Excellent post Alex.

[Reality Bites]

I wonder when UM fans will accept reality. Those days of UM dominance ended nearly 10 years ago.

Now, they are just a middle of the road team that believe every year that they are top 5 in the country.

Then Winconson snaps them back down to earth.
Then Notre Dame snaps them back down to earth.

It is ridiculous that before every game they still talk about how even with their second string they can beat the first stringers.... ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?!

[Tom]

OC

After careful consideration of all relevant factors I am sorry to say the Dolphins will once again be a sub-500 team. As much as I hope I am wrong I see no way possible for this team to win more than 7 games.

So my prediction is 7-9. I agree with Jimbo that Tony The Clown will be fired and Hennepin will be someone else's headache next year.

That said, I hope I am wrong and that all the dope smokers who predicted more than 10 wins turn out to be right.

[I am Kazaam]

Haha, for those of us who aren't bandwagon fans a season can be entertaining even if it doesn't result in a national championship. I'm sorry that you haven't been able to enjoy UM football since 2002 Alex of Boca but with all due respect UM doesn't owe you anything. Please don't ever jump back on board, they say FIU shouldn't lose a game this year, maybe follow them instead?

[Gator Nation]

Then LSU snaps them back down to earth.
(Bowl loss 2005)

Then Nevada snaps them back down to earth.
(Bowl win (loss really, one point win against Nevada, lol) 2006)

Then Cal snaps them back down to earth.
(Bowl loss 2008)

Then Wisconsin snap them back down to earth.
(Bowl loss 2009)

Then Notre Dame snap them back down to earth.
(Bowl loss 2010)

Outside of South Florida, UM is irrelevant and often viewed alongside Notre Dame as the laughing stalk of college football.

Its true.

[I am Kazaam]

Irrelevant teams don't have fans of a school who doesn't even play them looking up their bowl records.

[Gator Nation]

Kazaam, who says FIU is supposed to win every game this year? If they do, they'll be a BCS Bowl Buster according to ESPN.COM (google or search that)

[dukey]

Fins 4-12 and that's my final offer. OC, I told you. Cote is using us!

[Nik Shmenga]

Sparano

He complied with the owner's wish (everybody's wish) and hired a new OC to bring more scoring and excitement: the new Sparano already seems preferable to the old Henning-Pat White-wishbone Sparano.

He deserves credit for hiring Nolan and the special teams coach.

He'll be judged by our record and the OL play, but maybe we should also see if the new SF coach turns out to be a miracle worker, or not.

[I am Kazaam]

Dolphins need to sign Brandon Meriweather TODAY.

[OC Dolphin]

I'm surprised that they cut Larry Johnson. I would have cut Lex Luthor (Hilliard) instead.

[I am Kazaam]

I'm surprised they cut Lousaka Polite, he wasn't a good blocker but he filled a huge need in short yardage situations.

[Gator Nation]

Hey Greg,

Since Notre Dame beat UM, and USF beat UM, and USF beat Notre Dame, I think its time you reshuffle your top teams. We all know Maryland is going to embarrass scUM.

1. FSU
2. UF
3. USF
4. UCF
5. UM
6. FIU
7. FAU

[Miami Vice]

Congrats to FIU Alum Anthony Gaitor who made the final roster with the Tampa Bay Bucaneers!!!

[the shadow knows]

Kazaam,

boise state and kellen moore, to my delight, looking awesome versus georgia;kellen moore is themsot accurate passer i can remember.

[the shadow knows]

Kazaam,

should read "the mosr accurate passer..."; he is unbelievably on target and gets it into small windows of opportunity. thus far, a pasting of the bulldogs.

[the shadow knows]

Kazaam,

the r and t are way too close together on my keyboard!!

[soundmixer]

Alex! Great post, we shall stare adversity in the face, not shake hands and knock the snot of him. Lets Go Canes!

[canesfan29]

Great post Alex in Boca!! Hurricanes are done, why can't we all accept it??!!

[OC Dolphin]

Agree,Kaz. Polite was a keeper. Last Dolphins Pro Bowler, if not mistaken. So nearly 2:30 am (Miami time), LA 11 and change. A few observations: Having a parent with Alzheimer's sucks; Went to Dadeland which demonstrated that the local economy is doing quite well, thank you. (hint---consider this place lucky!); The Dolphins will do much, much better than most people think; and thank God for friends & fam.

Here till the 7th if anyone wants to join me for a brew.

[Turds spell and grammar checker]

Outside of South Florida, UM is irrelevant and often viewed alongside Notre Dame as the laughing stalk of college football.

Its true.

Posted by: Gator Nation | September 03, 2011 at 02:13 PM

Laughing stalk????

Haha,you just made my day!

[hiptosstonight]

I say Miami Dolphins wins Division with a 11-5 record, wins 3 playoffs games, goes to the Superbowl and Wins! I also think the U will win 11 games and represent in the BCS championship bowl and win. To anyone who isn't a hard-core Miami Dolphins Fan especially so-called "fair weather Miami Dolphins fans, who doesn't believe in "Our Miami Dolphins /Miami Hurricanes!!!!! Why don't U go eat Sh*T and Die or worse Root for the Stinking Jets,over-rated Pats, or the Raiders! 3 teams I Hate worst than yo Mama! Dolphins D!

[Anonymous Cane]

I see the Alachua County Detention Center is now allowing internet privileges!

FIU just Beat Somebody out side the conference. Not talking about Duke who can't beat an FCS team either!

Forever Inferior to the U!

[Benz]

Cote, before yesterday anyone could have told you USF should be higher in your rankings.

[JLo]

OC, I'd love to join you for a brew. Don't tell Marcus Aurelius...

[canes527]

gator nation ur so much of a loser that u have to go on our websight.dude get a life and stop tryin to get with ur sister..loooooooooser

[Gator Nation]

Canes527,

My sister died three years ago from pancreatic cancer three.

Thanks

[Conscious]

Sorry for your loss Gator Nation, but you would think that with the tragic loss of your sister you would find something more susbstantiel to do with your time than trying to flame the local college football team (the team that has more national championships than you and also leads the all-time series with you). Anyhow, if you really want to talk college football, why not go on a Gator website and discuss the tough victory that the Gators eeked out over the powerhouse team from Boca Raton. Lastly, since you have lost your sister tragically and I know that if you could you would save any other person or person (except Hurricane fans of course, they need to all get some tragic disease and pass on 'cause we know that's how you bible belt folks in Gainseville role when ot comes to your enemies)from having such a tragic loss, why don't you try to work on your OC in Gainesville. 'Ol Charlie Weiss has got to be pushing 4 bills and if he does not push away from the bufffet table, he will ake his wife a widow. So my friend, I recommend that you get 'ol Charlie on a some type of diet pronto, or you guys will be looking for a new OC soon and Mrs. Weiss will be looking for a new hubby.

[Joe]

Reality Bites....How about this one....Gators...never an undefeated season....oghhhhhhhhhhhhh....

[Joe]

Glad to see the Gator trolls here...they win thier first game against FAU and all of a sudden "it's all about them again". Canes are better then ND and USF....our coaching staff SUCKED the last few years...Golden and Co. will prove that...we beat Maryland last year with a freshman QB....this kid is now 6'2 and 220 with experience under his belt. YES OUR SECOND teamers are better then Marylands starters....with that said....four freshman that I think will have an impact tomorrow night....Chickillo, Dorset, Gionni Paul and Perryman....my gut tells my Gionni Paul will open alot of eyes tomorrow....

[wizjinx]

You know what Gayturd Facial? T'wasn't long ago that your beloved skool (that's how they spell it in up in north Florida) was in hot water twice in one decade with the Naziesque NCAA. Nice to see that you're program is down once again now that Teblow and his walking on water bs act have made their way to the bench in Denver. Your team will be fortunate to win 8-9 games this season and get to play in the We-suck-at-Florida bowl.

And remember, your skool ducked out on the U, not the other way around. Have you checked the scoreboard since 1980? You are not on top. So go blow yourself a new tight end, you miserable vomitous mass (I just watched The Princess Bride again. Thought it was appropriate lmao). Anyway, love you all...'cept for that Gayturd fellow.

[Jimbo]

as a Penn St fan with a dying loyalty to the Dolphins, I stay on this site. To the regulars and newcomers on here, I like the posts.
But.... this UofMiami vs FL Gators vs Seminoles vs the world is entertaining. To all you Canes fans, once again, my heart goes out to what you guys are going thru.

This is my first yr partaking in fantasy football. We had our draft yesterday and I felt I did pretty good. We had a 16 rd draft, I picked 5th in the odd rds and 9th in the even rds. This is my team.

1. QB Aaron Rodgers
2. WR Vincent Jackson
3. RB Jahvid Best
4. WR Dwayne Bowe
5. RB Tim Hightower
6. WR Brandon Marshall
7. TE Kellen Winslow JR
8. QB Donovan McNabb
9. Miami Dolphins D & Special Teams
10. WR Michael Crabtree
11. Kansas City Cheifs D & Special Teams
12. RB Ben Tate
13. RB Jason Snelling
14. WR Bernard Berian
15. K Dan Carpenter
16. WR Riley Cooper

you can play QB (1), RB (2), TE (1), WR (3), D & ST's (1), K (1) each week. everyone else is inactive.
Houston's Tate maybe a steal considering Arian Foster's current hamstring injury. Washington named Tim Hightower the feature back & Shanahan's offenses always produce big running numbers. Between Marshall, Bowe & Jackson the WR is covered & IF Crabtree can get healthy, I could really clean up. I'm wondering if Jahvid Best is overated, but he was the highest graded RB in the 3rd rd.
REgrettably all of know how Sparano loves FG's, so drafting Carpenter as my kicker was no brainer. I picked the first QB in Rodgers, Brady was rated lower but he got drafted 2nd (by a Dolphins fan 2, go figure).

[Orange Bowl 4EVER!!]

Welcome to landover...where you definetly can't hear or say..."oye"....

Check your passport at the door.....

Still think these people are pissed they lost the civil war....

GO CANES!!!

[I am Kazaam]

Landover is PGC (Washington D.C) - they won the civil war pretty decisively.

[I am Kazaam]

Game tonight's in College Park, not FedEx Field.

[Quijote]

Greg,

Nice find on the JETSUCK image. I did a little more research and here's the link for us dolfans who'd like to buy it:

http://www.hatersports.com/site/product_info.php?cPath=15&products_id=142

GO FIU PANTHERS!!!

[Harry Nutz]

Man those that picked Miami to win 10 or more games are HIGH!

[Harry Nutz]

Even if Fins had a nucleus of a good team they still have Ross, Ireland, Sparano & Co.

[Gazi]

Congratulations to FIUs TY Hilton on:
1. Conference player of the week.
2. Leading the nation in all purpose yards.

[naples jack]

Kazaam- I think I asked you before, what type of a scientist are you? Do you work for the Govt.?

[FZB]

After careful consideration the Dolphins will finish the season 10-6 ....No I'm not smoking jamaican weed ...

Henne will be much better under Daboll's offense and the defense will be top 10...Sorry Jimbo, Ireland, Sparano and Henne will keep their jobs.

I'm calling it right now, The Dolphins will shock the world and Beat the Beli-Cheaters on prime time, I don't have a reason other than blind homerism on my part, but there you have it.

[naples jack]

I am heading back to Naples wed. after spending 5 weeks in NE., got to watch some practices at Foxboro, and all the preseason games once again. Anybody who thinks the Dolphins should of put in a claim for Brandon Merr. are crazy. as a Pats fan I wish you did get him. He is a waste. dont let the 2 Pro Bowls fool you. The guy is trouble on and off the field. Pats tried to trade him, no takers. He even does not know how he made the all-star team. Nothing but a headhunter, would rather lay someone out, then make a tackle or INT. Always out of position, drove the coaches crazy.

[naples jack]

OC Dolphin- I think the Dolphins are in for a tough season. 5-11, looks like my take. I think they beat browns, Broncos, Bills once, Raiders, Redskins. I dont see them beating anybody else.

[FIU Fanatic]

Congrats to T.Y. Hilton for being #1 in the nation in all purpose yards!

[the shadow knows]

FIU Fanatic,

t.y. hilton is a tremendous ballplayer, and leading the country in all-purpose yardage is no small feat, even after only one game.

[the shadow knows]

OC Dolphin,

so sorry to hear that you have a parent suffering from alzheimer's disease. my friends with the same situation are so saddened to look at the shell of a formerly active and vivacious parent currently spaced out and with no cure in sight.

[OC Dolphin]

Shadow,

Thank you so much for your sentiments. It has been very, very difficult during these past three days. Life dishes out a spectrum of highs and lows, leaving many of us with challenges properly managed by the very lessons and modeling of our parents, family and friends have provided. It continues to be a tough visit and I thank you again for your learned empathy.

[The Corpse of Dolfin Denny]

MIAMI DOLPHINS, MIAMI DOLPHINS

MIAMI DOLPHINS SUCK!

[The Corpse of Dolfin Denny]

NAPLESJACK, THE DOLPHINS NEED A WOODSHED BEATIN'

[the shadow knows]

OC Dolphin,

have i already given you my dolphin prognostication for the upcoming year?

[OC Dolphin]

shadow,

I remember reading one of your posts regarding the Dolphins' expected season, but I don't know which subject post it appeared under. Best post it here or on a newer subject and I'll add it to our compilation.

[OC Dolphin]

If I recall, you weren't that optimistic.

[Corpse of Dolphin Denny]

DOLPHINS 4-12 with alittle luck...

[the shadow knows]

OC Dolphin,

shall do. probably on a pre-dolphin season thread. i am hovering between 7-9,8-8, and 9-7. not looking for a great season and 9-7 will not be a playoff team this year.

[Kurt]

Prediction:

Miami Dolphins 7-9

New England Patriots 12-4