Florida expects Alli and Robey to play despite injuries

Despite missing much of training camp with a groin injury, wide receiver Stephen Alli will be used on special teams in the opening game on Saturday against Miami (Ohio), UF coach Urban Meyer said on Thursday.

“We have to get him on the field,” Meyer said. “He’s a talented guy, but he’s been limited so much. He’s a great guy, but he just keeps getting dinged up.”

Backup center Sam Robey, who has a bursa sac infection in his knee, could play but will be monitored.

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UCF's 'Lunch with George' starts Friday

"Lunch with George" will be held this Friday at the MOAT Sports Grille, owned and operated by UCF alumni. The event will start at 12 p.m. The MOAT Sports Grille will have a special price menu specifically for the Lunch with George event.

The brand-new UCF-themed MOAT Sports Grille is located right across the street from campus at 4250 Alafaya Trail (corner of McCulloch Road) in the University Palms Shopping Center in Oviedo.

UCF head football coach George O'Leary attends the event.

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Florida wide receiver suspended

Frankie Hammond Jr. a wide receiver who was expected to compete for a starting job this fall, will be suspended for Florida's season opener on Saturday.

Hammond had a DUI arrest in the offseason and had his scholarship taken away. Gators coach Urban Meyer said it would be next spring before he'll even consider giving Hammond the scholarship back.

Hammond is currently paying his own way at UF. The Gators host Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.

"It’s week-to-week, like I said a few months ago,'' Meyer said. “It’s being evaluated, and the same thing with his scholarship. The reason why I let you know that is because it was a public deal and a very serious deal. The good news about Frankie is he’s doing everything we ask, which you’d imagine he would.''

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Hurricanes announce men's hoops schedule

Seventh-year head coach Frank Haith announced the 2010-11 University of Miami men’s basketball schedule this afternoon, featuring 16 games versus 2010 postseason participants and at least ­­­18 televised contests.

At least nine of those games will be broadcast nationally, including home contests versus North Carolina (Jan. 26, ESPN or ESPN2), Georgia Tech (Feb. 3, ESPN or ESPN2) and Duke (Feb. 13, FSN), and road games at Duke (Jan. 2, FSN) and Virginia Tech (Jan. 30, FSN).

This season’s 16-game ACC slate includes 10 games versus 2010 NCAA Tournament participants – including a home-and-away series with defending national champions Duke, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Clemson. In addition, the Hurricanes will face long-time foe Boston College twice, one of three ACC programs debuting a new head coach in the upcoming season.

Miami will also host league games versus 2010 NIT finalist and 2009 NCAA Tournament champion North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland.

“Not only have we put together a challenging schedule for our team,” said Coach Haith, whose Hurricanes have averaged more than 20 wins over the last three seasons, “but we also put together an exciting lineup for our fans. As our program looks to get back into the NCAA Tournament, we have scheduled some tough non-conference games.

“Competing in a league that has produced five national champions over the last decade ensures we will have an exciting schedule. In addition to facing the last two national champions in Duke and North Carolina in ACC play, we head to Memphis – a very successful program over the last decade, and we are bringing in Ole Miss of the SEC and West Virginia – a Final Four team last year – to the BankUnited Center. We looked closely at the Miami Heat’s schedule and did our best to accommodate all of the basketball fans in South Florida.”

Fifteen of Miami’s 31 regular-season contests will be at home at the BankUnited Center, including eight games versus conference opponents. UM’s home lineup is highlighted by televised non-conference matches versus Ole Miss (Nov. 30, FS-FL/NESN) and West Virginia (Dec. 4, SUN), its ACC home opener against Boston College (Jan. 15, ESPNU) and home contests versus North Carolina (Jan. 26, ESPN or ESPN2) and Duke (Feb. 13, FSN). The Hurricanes have played tight games versus the Blue Devils as of late – with their last four games decided by an average of just 3.5 points, including a 77-74 setback in their last meeting in the semifinals of the 2010 ACC Tournament.

The Hurricanes finished 20-13 overall last season and closed the season strong, knocking off Wake Forest and Virginia Tech en route to the ACC semifinal match versus Duke. Miami returns four starters from that tournament run, including ACC All-Rookie and ACC All-Tournament First Team selection Durand Scott, ACC All-Tournament Second Team pick Reggie Johnson and the ACC’s leader in three-point field goal percentage last season in sixth-year veteran Adrian Thomas.

In addition, Miami welcomes Georgia’s Class 3-A South Player of the Year Rion Brown, California’s Mission League MVP Erik Swoope and Kansas All-State Class 1-A honorable mention selection Raphael Akpejiori to the Hurricanes family.

“My staff and I believe we have a special group of kids this season that can accomplish some great things,” said Coach Haith. “I look forward to getting this year started with the support of our great Hurricanes fans.”

Miami hoops action begins with a pair of exhibition contests versus Barry (Nov. 3) and Florida Southern (Nov. 8), followed by the home opener versus Jacksonville on Fri., Nov. 12 – the first of four regular-season home games for the Hurricanes in November.

On Mon., Nov. 15, the Hurricanes open their road schedule at Memphis, kick starting ESPN’s third annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon. Miami returns to the road to face Rutgers of the Big East on Sun., Nov. 21, in Piscataway, N.J., and adds another early-season away game at Florida Gulf Coast on Sat., Nov. 27.

After three-straight home games – including back-to-back televised contests against Ole Miss (Nov. 30, FS-FL/NESN) and Bob Huggins’ West Virginia squad (Dec. 4, SUN), the Hurricanes return to the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic versus in-state foe UCF on Sat., Dec. 18, at the BankAtlantic Center in a game to be carried live by SUN/FS-FL.

Miami wraps up the heart of its non-conference schedule in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic from Dec. 21-23, taking on 20-win teams in Oral Roberts and Akron, as well as Rice.

UM has a challenging start to its 2011 ACC schedule, opening league play with back-to-back nationally-televised road games at Duke (Jan. 2, FSN) and at Clemson (Jan. 8, ESPNU), before returning home for a pair of games against Boston College (Jan. 15, ESPNU) and Florida State (Jan. 19, RSN).

The Hurricanes then pack their bags for two of the three remaining games in January, heading to NC State (Jan. 23, Raycom), then returning home to face North Carolina (Jan. 26, ESPN or ESPN2), before closing the month at Virginia Tech (Jan. 30, FSN).

Miami returns to sunny South Florida to open February with home contests versus Georgia Tech (Feb. 3, ESPN or ESPN2) and Virginia (Feb. 5), before heading back north to face Wake Forest (Feb. 9, RSN). UM opens the next week with a nationally-televised Sunday showdown versus Duke (Feb. 13, FSN), and then travels to the Greensboro Coliseum – site of the 2011 ACC Tournament – for a rare February non-conference meeting with UNC Greensboro on Tues., Feb. 15.

UM returns to the BankUnited Center to play host to Clemson (Feb. 20, TV TBA), before two-straight road games at Boston College (Feb. 23) and Florida State (Feb. 26, Raycom).

Miami begins March at home versus Maryland (March 2, ESPNU), before hitting the road for its regular-season finale at Georgia Tech (March 6, Raycom).

The ACC Tournament is slated for March 10-13 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.

Tickets are now available through the Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES or visit us online at hurricanesports.com. Prices have been reduced in various sections, including the premium courtside seats. Please contact the Hurricane Ticket Office for details.


2010-11 Miami Men’s Basketball Schedule
November: 3 vs. Barry (Exhibition), 7:30 p.m.; 8 vs. Florida Southern (Exhibition), 7:30 p.m.; 12 vs. Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.; 15 at Memphis (ESPN/ESPN3.com), 11:59 p.m.; 19 vs. North Carolina Central (FS-FL), 7 p.m.; 21 at Rutgers, 4 p.m.; 24 vs. McNeese State, 7:30 p.m.; 27 at Florida Gulf Coast, 7:05 p.m.; 30 vs. Ole Miss (FS-FL/NESN), 7 p.m. December: 4 vs. West Virginia (SUN), 4 p.m.; 12 vs. Stetson^ (in Coral Gables), 4 p.m.; 18 vs. UCF# (SUN/FS-FL), 2 p.m.; 21 vs. Oral Roberts^, TBA; 22 vs. Rice^, TBA; 23 vs. Akron^, TBA; 30 vs. Pepperdine, 6 p.m. January: 2 at Duke* (FSN), 7:45 p.m.; 8 at Clemson* (ESPNU), 6 p.m.; 15 vs. Boston College* (ESPNU), 6 p.m.; 19 vs. Florida State* (RSN), 9 p.m.; 23 at NC State* (Raycom), Noon; 26 vs. North Carolina* (ESPN/ESPN2), 7:30 p.m.; 30 at Virginia Tech* (FSN), 5:30 p.m. February: 3 vs. Georgia Tech * (ESPN/ESPN2), 7 p.m.; 5 vs. Virginia*, 2 p.m.; 9 at Wake Forest* (RSN), 7 p.m.; 13 vs. Duke* (FSN), 6:45 p.m.; 15 at UNC Greensboro, 7 p.m.; 20 vs. Clemson* (TBA), TBA; 23 at Boston College*, 7 p.m.; 26 at Florida State* (Raycom), 2 p.m. March: 2 vs. Maryland* (ESPNU), 7 p.m.; 6 at Georgia Tech* (Raycom), 2:30 p.m.; 10-13 at ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament (Greensboro, N.C.).

All times eastern and subject to change | All home games played at the BankUnited Center
* ACC Game | # MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic | ^ Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic

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Ingram expected back soon at Alabama

Alabama coach Nick Saban doesn't expect Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram to miss much playing time.

"Fortunately, it's not a serious thing,'' Saban said of the injury to Ingram's left knee, which required an arthroscopic procedure Tuesday morning. "He'll be back soon.''

The defending national champions open the season at 6 p.m. Saturday with a home game against San Jose State. The Crimson Tide hosts to Penn State next week, then visits Duke and Arkansas before playing host to Florida Oct. 2.

"I think it's important for us to support Mark so that he does get back and is in the kind of positive attitude that he needs to do the rehab to get back out there quickly,'' Saban said.

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ESPN to feature Meyer on GameDay

ESPN will have a feature on Saturday morning during its GameDay telecast on Florida coach Urban Meyer and his decision to quit then change his mind and stay the Gators' head coach last December.

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FSU's Fisher not taking Samford lightly

While most are expecting a blowout on Saturday when FSU hosts Samford, Jimbo Fisher is taking his debut as head coach cautiously.

"I never think that it will be a blowout. We are going to play as hard as we can play. Samford is going to come in here and play very well. They are going to battle and scrap. . . . We are expecting a dog fight. I am serious. You have to expect a great game. They have had all summer to prepare, so you don’t know what wrinkles
they are going to throw at you, what different looks they are going to throw at you, so we are expecting them to scratch and claw it out.''

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UM's Shannon focused on getting better

Miami coach Randy Shannon's goal against Florida A&M tonight is simple.

"I just want to see the team get better and see them improve. We have had three scrimmages and they have gotten better each week. We want to continue to see that progress. I think the more that we continue those things the better we will be as a team. You don’t like to see the team go up and down. I think we did a good job in two-a-days because I did not see us hit a wall. I am excited to see where we are and how we address this team this week.''

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Gators' Meyer backing off using Demps on kickoffs

After so much talk about tailback Jeff Demps returning kicks this season in August, Florida coach Urban Meyer appears to have cooled to the idea in September.

In fact, he's even backing off using Demps, the 2010 NCAA 100-meter champion, so much in practice now that the season is about to start on Saturday. The junior should play a major role in the running game this season with Tim Tebow now in the NFL.

"We're very cautious, hopefully he won't return many kicks,'' Meyer said on Wednesday. "In practice, I'm very cautious because he only knows one speed. And part of his rundown isn't the game, it's the darn practices because he just goes 40 yards every time he touches it at warped speed. So we've really backed down on him. And certain practice thing, if it's not essentially running, we've really backed off of him.

"And he feels the best he's ever felt going into a game. So (Wednesday and Thursday) are critical for that, because that's usually when all the skill guys get run down just running and running, not even the contact. So that's probably No. 1 or No. 2 on our list to make sure that does not happen.''

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Miami's Shannon likes Yankee Stadium game

Miami is considering playing a game in the new Yankee Stadium in 2013, which is fine and dandy with Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon.

"I think it's great for college football and for the University of Miami,'' Shannon said during the ACC teleconference on Wednesday. "Sometimes you play teams outside the conference a lot. I think being at Miami, we've played a lot of teams outside the conference, being in the ACC, just playing great competition. It's an opportunity for us to be in the northeast, which is a big University of Miami alumni base area, for the fans to come out and enjoy the game if we have those things accomplished.''

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ESPN analysts like Miami and Florida State

Several ESPN college football analysts are picking FSU and Miami as favorites to win the ACC title. Their picks and comments:

Kirk Herbstreit
Miami
(Over Boston College) I think the ‘Canes have been a very young team the last couple years, they group up this year, show some maturity, more consistency.

Lee Corso
Virginia Tech
They run the old-fashioned way: Run it, kick it, play defense.

Desmond Howard
Miami
I think they do have the talent to do it this year; the coordinators are in place finally for two years in a row.

Ed Cunningham
Florida State
The champion will have two or three in-conference losses and Florida State is good enough to only do that.

Bob Davie
Virginia Tech
Great balance and skill on offense. Always good on defense.

Lou Holtz
Florida State
(Over Georgia Tech) Christian Ponder will have a great year at QB. Five starters back on the offensive line, good receivers and defense can’t help but be better under Mark Stoops.

Craig James
Georgia Tech
Very balanced league, yet again I go with a team who I know will run the ball and control the clock.

Jesse Palmer
Virginia Tech
Improved passing QB Tyrod Taylor has his top six targets back, as well as one of the best RB tandems in the nation, Ryan Williams and Darren Evans.

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ESPN college analysts split on SEC winner

ESPN's college football staff offered their picks for who will win the SEC title this season. Among the comments:


Kirk Herbstreit
Florida
(Over Auburn) John Brantley is going to perform well, I think Jeff Demps is going to have a breakout year this year, put up some huge numbers. And the defense will have a chance to really rally around people questioning some of the youth and inexperience.

Lee Corso
Florida
They’ve got tremendous athletes on both sides of the ball, a favorable schedule -- they could lose to Alabama at Alabama, and still win it in the SEC title game in Atlanta.

Desmond Howard
Alabama
But not against Florida. I have Alabama against Georgia in the SEC championship game.

Ed Cunningham
??
There are almost four teams that can compete with all too many unanswered questions.

Bob Davie
Alabama
Because of their ability to run the football and minimize mistakes.

Lou Holtz
Alabama
(Over S. Carolina) A winner at QB, two great RBs, Julio Jones at WR, good offensive line and SABAN will always have a great defense.

Craig James
Alabama
Anybody who picks another team to win the SEC is throwing mud against the wall trying to look good “if” their pick is right. No plausible reason to pick any other team in the SEC.

Jesse Palmer
Alabama
With nine starters back on offense, and the best 1-2 combination in the Bowl Subdivision at RB, Alabama continues its physical dominance on both sides of the ball in 2010.

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