YOU GET US CLOSER TO GOD
and the Life & Art Staff
The Shins
Chutes Too Narrow
***
Ah, yes…been listening to the Beatles-esque and celestial “Saint Simon” on the Shins’ second LP, Chutes too Narrow, and, with its delicate acoustics of clean guitars (sans much distortion), subtle chimes and eerie violins, it has gently washed all blunders away – the domineering college administrators condemning the new journalism, the hoochies on campus and frat boys stealing Sven’s bike (for the second time), and my superfluous math class.
Yes…but these jaunty lads on indie-rock label Sub Pop are from none other than Albuquerque, New Mexico, and make me wanna journey over there to go on an elysian peyote trip in the desert for endless days, the big cities fading away. Chutes too Narrow is an astral head-trip with a Beach Boys sensibility that ranges from the harder, rock-felt electricity on “Turn a Square” to the more canorous, harmonica-tuned “Pink Bullets,” where singer James Mercer croons, “The years have seem short, but the days go slowly by / Two loose kites falling from the sky.” And no, this isn’t merely a soft bouquet of lilies and roses – the Shins are the purveyors of honest guitar/keyboard indie pop without the poseur attitude and surreptitious musicianship. It’s all given here to you directly.
Now, you may hate on Mercer’s lovelorn lyrics on “Gone for Good” (“I find a fatal flaw in the logic of love and go out of my head” accompanied by a pining slide guitar), but then you hear “So Says I” – high-pitched, rambunctious strings played judiciously enough to strike a balance between angst and fortitude. That helps melt away some of our daily worries, although, since we can’t dodge them all completely, we keep fighting back: “We still can’t just behave ourselves / Even if to save our own lives / We are a brutal kind.”
-Omar Sommereyns
THE STREETS
All Got Our Runnins (online only)
**1/2
So I end up chattin’ to Andy talking about his fuckin’ grief with the knob you gave me for twos, says the Streets. Yep, this is “genius” shit. Perhaps the most flamboyantly overstated way of becoming something that Americans will never be able to: be white and speak unintelligibly without being from the Bible Belt – another notch, Ben! I’m skinny like a woman/ need to get some poo-nan frew the door.
But Mike Skinner, the English “MC” behind this follow-up EP to 2002’s overhyped Original Pirate Material, has my back, gotta do what I need ta, we all got our runnnins now. Note that you have to have to go to Vice Records’ website to download this album and therefore need not be from the streets to even hear this shit.
Oh yeah, Skinner’s got hot lines like: Girl brings two plates of full English ‘erbal/ plenty of scrambled eggs and plenty of fried to-mah-to. If you own a lot of neon gear and spend time jet-setting between the Village and London’s Piccadilly Circus, you’ll find something on here to give you a perma-boner for at least the transatlantic party plane. I really wish I owned more expensive shoes and pants to show them off so I could do the cabbage patch all night.
Is this guy rapping here? I really don’t know. Skinny – oops, I mean Skinner – is not singing though, and there’re more than enough douche bags on back-up (ghetto trickster Dizzee Rascal offers some muddled rhymes) to give the bmchk-bmchk-bmchk so this album never stops thumping sufficient fruitiness. But since he shouts out Paul Oakenfold and not C-Murder (free C-Murder!), it’s understandable. I’m a fake, I don’t live the streets/ but there’s only so many hours in a day and I use ’em to make beats. Clear enough? Nope, but opaque is the hotness, so don’t wipe the steam off your glasses and wear ’em to your classes, mmm hmm.
-Sven Barth
MATTHEW DEAR
Leave Luck To Heaven
***
“House” is a word heard as much as “Whatever” in this town. As the house capitol of the world, Miami attracts such million-dollar E-fairies as Oakenfold and Paul van Dyk, as well as the bi-annual highway robbery known as March’s Ultra. It is no wonder that the word is still synonymous with mobs of idiots waving glow sticks to music that breaks its own back trying to be excessively grand.
There is a small grouping of producers, however, trying to reclaim the 4/4 beat by re-introducing subtlety and grace into a genre so overrun by mediocrity and lackadaisically. Whereas trance has its Paul and Paul, minimal house has two Matthews: Matthew Herbert and Matthew Dear. The latter, signed to Ann Arbor’s reputable Ghostly International, is no slouch. He’s recorded under the monikers False and Jabberjaw and released projects as both overseas this very year.
With careful micromanagement and keen attention to detail, Dear re-injects some much-needed intellect into the dance music scene. The crisp beats and catchy melodies exerted on Leave Luck to Heaven are a welcome relief from the “funky, tribal beats” and atmospheric synths so popular in the house genre right now. Downplaying Michigan roots, Dear taps a German-esque approach to songwriting, engineering every click and pop until they exactly suit his intentions. Not to say this record is without its silly moments: splashes of female vocal come in occasionally, reminiscent of compatriots Data 80 and a handful of melodies are too playful for the beat precision they accompany.
When measured against the dross being played on Miami’s new dance channel, this disc excels without second-thought hesitation, a constant reminder that Miami has such little sense of music history that its citizens prefer Dirty Vegas to Stravinsky. Yet, Dear’s latest does little to stand out amongst artists who are doing the same thing, and do it better. Though a figurehead in the minimal house scene, this disc is nothing to get too worked up about, but if you are new to Ghostly and avant techno, it does little wrong.
– James Hush
WELLWATER CONSPIRACY (A side project of Matt Cameron from Pearl Jam)
S/T
**
Now and then, we all reminisce of the early nineties when the Seattle alt-rock explosion flooded the airwaves of mainstream radio and MTV. Matt Cameron was idolized by many in that era for his drumming with Soundgarden and continues to carry the torch in his current gig with Pearl Jam. Unfortunately, the self-titled debut from Cameron’s new band, Wellwater Conspiracy, is a jumbled collection of amateur-sounding electronic beats, keyboard psychedelia and cheesy heavy-metal guitar distortion that will leave questions echoing in your headphones.
The lead-off track, “Wimple Witch,” is an energized rocker hinting at sixties nostalgia with a little taste of eighties post-punk frenzy thrown in the mix. To WWC’s credit, they give the song just enough Seattle grunginess to separate themselves from current groups who are attempting to make a career out of stealing Gang of Four and Television riffs. Cameron proves right from the get-go that he is capable of handling vocal duties and belts out line after line with admirable confidence (I have a soft spot for drummers who can sing).
While promising cuts like “Dragonwyck” and “Sea Miner” offer a welcoming blend of space guitar and smooth keyboards resembling Radiohead’s The Bends, the drum machine monotony of “Rebirth” and “Dresden Overture” pinpoint a pathetic attempt at industrial electronica that would make Steve Albini puke. A rendition of Thunderclap Newman’s “Something in the Air” even leaves a lot to be desired with an obnoxious electronic interlude stuck in the middle that lacks direction and holds no relevance to the 1960’s revolutionary anthem.
Wellwater Conspiracy search frantically for the LSD-induced sonic brilliance that bands like the Flaming Lips have perfected in recent years, but they constantly come up empty-handed and fail to take you on that magical “trip”. Should Cameron and co. rewind to the ripped jeans and flannel shirt days? No, sir. Grunge is a thing of the past. And I guess acid ain’t for everybody either. Oh well.
-Noah Penn
WE ARE NOT THE ENEMY: DO YOU KNOW WHO IS?
Well, well, well…something tells me we’re not liked around here. Livid and malevolent censurers clandestinely waft in the air.
PROTEST is the word of the day, if you please.
And so the negations of the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas, for those oblivious to the hype) have almost expired here in Miami, yes, dichotomous sides battling it out, riot police in the streets downtown, many stores told by law enforcement not to sell any gas masks to anyone “who looks like a protester.”
Since Monday morning, photographer Al Crespo – freelancer for the Associated Press – has been rat racing with the media through the city to find protesters and capture them on camera. Last Saturday, he opened a brief-standing show of prints for sale in a silent auction at a space downtown called Inlife (check the “Eye Filler” on p. 15 to see what else happened there).
Through slicing snapped shots and a revealing lens, Crespo swiftly immobilizes pictures of people in demonstration from 1997 to 2001 and then, with spirited
THE MIAMI HURRICANE NEEDS TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE
(This is a Life & Art Quality Smack Overdose prescribed by Hunter Stephenson, L&A Editor 2002-?)
TO THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS OF UM AND THE PUBLICATIONS OF RECORD IN MIAMI, FLORIDA
Wow. The old men on the UM Board of Publications really screwed up. You practically fire our Editor-in-Chief Brian Poliakoff, one of the few UM students in the School of Communication who have been in-and-occasionally-out of The Miami Hurricane office over the last four years because you do not like Life & Art?! And then you leave us with three issues left! Hah, hilarious. As L&A’s Jonathan Twiggar, a great man, says, “Servus.”
That’s cheers in German, which I find ironic right now in light of our current situation.
This is the end, as Jim Morrison says. We’re blasting that song in the office tonight all-night, racing off Ritazza coffee from the UM C-store (thanks “Campus Living”). After working here as a feature writer-to-Accent Editor-to-Life & Art Editor, I find it horribly awry who exactly makes up our Board of Publications. All of the students studying journalism here, all of the parents slaving to pay their aspiring journalists’ tuition here, need to know how much incompetence surrounds The Miami Hurricane.
See, this is a private institution; therefore, the university owns the student newspaper, unlike many respectable collegiate publications at traditionally public institutions. These people [try to] put the fear inside of you until the paper simply becomes a PR piece for their own agenda (see this last semester’s entire News section).
Thus, we have a News editor who also works for Student Government – can you say “conflict of interest?” Thus, we have an axed (only after Photo Editor David Eppolito spoke out and L&A followed) supposedly factual and un-biased column entitled “Greek Gossip” that was taken off a PR Web site for Greek life.
Thus, we now have a newly elected editor-in-chief for next semester, Leigha Taber, the current assistant News editor who is not majoring in Journalism. No, she’s majoring in Psychology and has a Public Relations inclination. “That’s bullshit.” I agree, Sven. Pass me another Amstel Light and turn up the Doors.
While I wasn’t present at the election, where Taber was chosen over the incumbent Poliakoff on Wednesday, here is who was (all have a vote, unless otherwise noted):
Sigman Splichal, Director of Journalism/Photography at UM and The Miami Hurricane Senior Advisor
Norman Parsons, Director of Wellness and Recreation (he does not get a vote, unless there is a tie)
Jorge Arauz, Hurricane News Editor and Student Government representative for the Board – again, make note of the conflict here (that’s like Sadowski being a Hurricane fact checker) and add many exclamation points. While the rest of the Hurricane staff can merely write recommendation letters endorsing a candidate (which were barely read at said meeting), he has a place and a vote on the Board of Pubs. Rumor is, he has been intimately involved in the past with his assistant editor, Leigha Taber.
Randy Stano, Knight Chair of Advertising and Public Relations and Ibis senior advisor (did not show up at the election, therefore, no vote)
Ambar Hernandez, President of Society of Professional Journalists (also a writer for Life & Art) (UM student)
Robert DuBord, Student Publications Financial Advisor, Associate Director of Residence Halls, WVUM 90.5 FM Financial Advisor (a busy man, perhaps too busy)
Omar Giritli, The Miami Hurricane Business Manager (UM student)
Ronald Newman, Associate Professor of the English Department (we are asking ourselves why he has a position determining the future of The Miami Hurricane, when he has absolutely nothing to do with it – yet he has a vote deciding our editor-in-chief)
Brian Poliakoff, Editor-in-Chief of The Miami Hurricane (obviously: no vote) (UM student)
Kristian Rodriguez, Editor-of-Chief of Ibis (UM student)
William Sandler, Dean of Students (one of the men responsible for the ongoing investigation of our newspapers being stolen from campus) (again, why a Dean has a vote is beyond us, as it creates possible conflict in what the Hurricane can publish regarding campus)
Donn Tilson, Associate Professor of Advertising and Public Relations (wait, associate professor of what?)
Now, connect the dots here (the final vote was 5-4), and guess who voted for Mr. Poliakoff (and not-so-indirectly, Life & Art) and who voted against. Whether you like Life & Art and (no need for an “or”) the person writing this, understand that there are people on the Board deciding the future of this student publication who have large outside interests.
Name another reputable publication where a good number of the people on the toppity top are straight out of a match of Guess Who? by Milton Bradley? That is almost like Bill Keller being elected executive editor by a publisher, a doctor, a lawyer, an Enron exec and…an English professor.
Enjoy the future of UM journalism. And if you’re a freshman, here is some drunken advice from a senior editor: If this paper does not become independent, do not work for it. And, to the staff already working here, word is, pay cuts are underway because, somehow, paying writers $8 an article and editors $280 bi-weekly has left this paper $40,000 in debt.
“Well, I’m sure I’d feel much worse if I weren’t under such heavy sedation.” – David St. Hubbins.
TO DEAN SINGLETON
Yeah, so after our memorable meeting, after you stated, “I do not care about The Hurricane,” and opened up a folder of my L&A Quality Smack columns and sighed, and after giving me two semesters of strict disciplinary probation for, “B.16 Distributing or Posting Printed Materials,” aka 5,000 Life & Art “Mustachio Bashio” glossy flyers, I go to my CVC class for once in Wolfson, where some girl is reading “Campus Living” like a sales-ad for The Limited.
After class, I walk back to the over-crowded parking lot, only to discover a flyer (above) on my driver’s side window (I couldn’t even make this up, hah). What is it for you do not ask? Well, the UM Men’s Soccer Club and L&A faves, Alpha Sigma Phi are selling a sexy calendar. Except on the back of said flyer, it says, “This advertisement is neither the responsibility of nor endorsed by the University of Miami.”
So, Dean Singleton, are you going to give the president of each organization the same punishment you issued me? I didn’t ask for this flyer. I don’t want a calendar. I’ll call you in four days and publish your answer. But if there is no reply, isn’t that a contradiction? And by the way, Life & Art and former Editor-in-Chief Jordan Rodack would like to give a big piss-off and good riddance to AEPi. This is the end?
TO PARIS HILTON
Life & Art was going to review your sex tape, but then another one popped up, reportedly starring a Playmate and Simon Rex, who ex-ex-L&A staff writer Rachel Cusick “interviewed” at Opium a month ago. Anyhow, the first tape is bomb, especially when your celly rings and when you’re watching – I’m guessing BET late night – bobbing for apple. And, how diesel is that 90210-dating dude? Pounds.
Hunter Stephenson can be reached at Huntlaed@hotmail.com.
‘Canes back on track
The Hurricanes refused to enter Saturday’s game against Syracuse worried about the BCS or conference titles. All they were focused on was beating the Orangemen.
Led by stingy defense and the second-half running of Tyrone Moss, the ‘Canes were able to hold off Syracuse 17-10 at the Orange Bowl. The win improved the Hurricanes to 8-2 overall with a 4-1 record in the Big East, while the Orangemen fell to 5-4 (2-3).
In his first career start, junior quarterback Derrick Crudup completed five out of 13 passes for 80 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Crudup made things happen with his feet as well, gaining 48 yards on 14 carries. Moss ran the ball 18 times for 91 yards and a touchdown.
The Orangemen were led by running back Walter Reyes, who gained 101 yards on 24 carries, scoring the only touchdown of the day for Syracuse. Quarterback R.J. Anderson completed 12 of 21 passes for 85 yards.
Head Coach Larry Coker said he was satisfied with the effort his team showed against ‘Cuse.
“Well, obviously that was an extremely hard-fought football game, a tough game to win. We knew that it would be,” Coker said.
The Hurricanes started the game on offense, and Crudup used his running ability as a weapon, picking up a first down on a nine-yard run and gaining eight yards on the next play. His third pass attempt was picked off by Rich Scanlon, however, and the ‘Canes’ first drive did not result in any points.
Syracuse opened up the scoring with a 32-yard Collin Barber field goal, capping off a drive that lasted 10 plays, gained 43 yards, and took 4:56 off the clock.
The Hurricanes responded with 1:37 left in the first quarter when Crudup found Ryan Moore wide open downfield for a 45-yard touchdown to give the ‘Canes a 7-3 lead.
The Hurricanes were driving at the beginning of the second quarter when Crudup fumbled a snap, which was recovered by Syracuse’s Kellen Pruitt. The Orangemen capitalized off of the turnover with one-yard touchdown run by Reyes, making the score 10-7 in favor of ‘Cuse. Syracuse relied on its ground game throughout the scoring drive, alternating carries between Reyes and Thump Belton.
The Hurricanes had an opportunity to put more points on the board early in the third quarter when Kellen Winslow, who did not play during the first two series because of personal fouls committed against Tennessee, blocked Brendan Carney’s punt, giving the ‘Canes possession at the Syracuse 13 yard line. Miami couldn’t cash in on the golden opportunity, however, as Crudup was stuffed on a fourth down run, giving the Orangemen the ball back.
The ‘Canes’ defense forced Syracuse to punt, and UM began mounting another drive. Winslow caught a Crudup pass and appeared to pick up the first down, but the junior tight end coughed up the football. Pruitt recovered the fumble once again, and the Orangemen had another chance to capitalize off of a Miami turnover.
Syracuse was forced to punt, however, and the Hurricanes decided to change their offensive strategy. Moss began the drive with three consecutive carries for a first down, and would get the ball eight more times on the possession. Jon Peattie converted on a 44-yard field goal to tie the score at 10 apiece.
The defense tightened up during the fourth quarter, forcing the Orangemen to go three-and-out on their first possession of the period. It did not take long for the Hurricanes to regain the lead as Moss followed a 26-yard run with a nine-yard touchdown.
Moss said that increased amount of carries late in the game did wonders for his confidence.
“Getting the ball more makes me work harder every play and just try to get the job done,” Moss said.
Coker admitted that he should have called Moss’s number during the loss to Tennessee a week ago.
“I think I made a mistake in the Tennessee game by not playing him [Tyrone] early, and then when the game is on the line in the fourth quarter, he needed to be in the game at that time, but that’s not the right thing to do. It’s not fair to him,” Coker said.
Syracuse had one last chance with under a minute left in the game, but Anderson’s fourth down pass to Johnnie Morant was batted down by Maurice Sikes, and the ‘Canes could breathe a sigh of relief.
“We needed a win, and that was the important thing we were able to accomplish today,” Coker said. “I’m very proud of our football team today. It has been a tough two weeks.”
REPORT CARD: UM 17, SYRACUSE 10
Offense: The offensive unit was unspectacular, gaining only 250 net yards, but they played well enough to win. The decision to pound the ball with Tyrone Moss late in the game was crucial for the Hurricanes and helped overcome a sub-par passing performance by Derrick Crudup.
Grade: B
Quarterback: Crudup did nothing to separate himself from Brock Berlin, going five for 13 for 80 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He threw a couple of passes that should have been picked off, but his rushing ability and the fact that the ‘Canes won help his overall evaluation.
Grade: C+
Running Backs: Moss was the entire offense during the second half, gaining 91 yards on 18 carries and scoring the winning touchdown for the Hurricanes. Jarrett Payton added 61 yards on 14 carries.
Grade: A-
Wide Receivers: Ryan Moore was the only regular wide out to have a catch, hauling in three receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. Kellen Winslow was a non factor on offense. If the Hurricanes want to beat Pittsburgh in a couple of weeks, they will have to find a way to get Kevin Beard and the other receivers more involved.
Grade: C-
Offensive Line: The o-line had their best performance in weeks, opening up holes for Moss to plow through in the second half. Their pass protection wasn’t as good as it could have been, but the ‘Canes barely threw the ball at all.
Grade: B
Defense: The defense has been rock solid all season long, allowing only 10 points for the second consecutive week. Syracuse netted only 192 yards of total offense.
Grade: B+
Defensive Line: The d-line only got to R.J. Anderson once, and Walter Reyes was able to run the ball up the middle with ease on a couple of drives. But the line bore down in the fourth quarter, not allowing Reyes to gain any substantial yardage at the end of the game.
Grade: B-
Linebackers: Jon Vilma and D.J. Williams did not have their best games, but it is hard to complain when a unit only gives up 10 points in a game. Syracuse never had any big offensive plays, and the linebackers did a good job of containing Reyes, one of the best backs in the nation.
Grade: B-
Secondary: Anderson only passed for 85 yards, and the Orangemen wide receivers never were allowed to get involved. Maurice Sikes was especially impressive for the Hurricanes.
Grade: A
Special Teams: Jon Peattie converted on a long field goal into the wind, Winslow blocked a punt, and Brian Monroe punted well for the Hurricanes. The unit was solid throughout the game.
Grade: A-
compiled by Eric Kalis
Quarterbacks unable to put up big numbers
Backup quarterback Derrick Crudup made his first collegiate start Saturday against Syracuse following a less-than-stellar performance by starter Brock Berlin against Tennessee. Crudup went five for 13 and threw one interception into the hands of Syracuse linebacker Rich Scanlon. He also fumbled the ball once, turning it over to the Orangemen. Crudup had 80 yards passing, including one touchdown, and was sacked twice. His touchdown pass was the first six-point score for the Hurricanes since playing Virginia Tech on November 1. Berlin made an abbreviated appearance against the Orangemen and did not complete a pass.
“I felt all right…I wasn’t as comfortable as I wanted to be,” Crudup said. “I don’t care if I had two yards passing, we won the game and that’s all that counts. People can say what they want to say, but we got that W.”
BREAKOUT GAME FOR MOSS
Freshman running back Tyrone Moss took over for Jarrett Payton in the third quarter and had 18 carries for 91 yards and one touchdown. After a Crudup fourth down conversion, Moss took off, scoring with just over eight minutes remaining in the game on a nine-yard run to give the ‘Canes their final lead.
“Getting the ball makes me work hard out there,” Moss said. “I’m really happy because I got the chance to play and I got the job done.”
Few would disagree that Moss was pivotal in the victory.
“Certainly Tyrone Moss came in the second half and really ignited our football team offensively,” Head Coach Larry Coker said.
Payton finished with 61 yards on 14 carries.
COKER EMPHASIZES DISCIPLINE
Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was benched in the beginning of the game because of personal fouls committed in last week’s loss to Tennessee. When he entered the game on the Hurricanes’ third drive, he accounted for a six-yard reception, a four-yard punt return, a punt block and subsequent tackle, and a fumble. Defensive back Sean Taylor was also benched momentarily in the second quarter after a personal foul for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“That was a message,” Coker said. “He was getting out of the process of the game.”
GETTING IT DONE
Ryan Moore had the only touchdown reception of the game for 45 yards late in the first quarter. Maurice Sikes intercepted quarterback R.J. Anderson late in the second quarter, but the Miami offense elected to take a knee, trailing 10-7 at the half. Al Marshall led with nine tackles, while Bryan Pata had the sole sack on Anderson for 11 yards. Still trailing in the fourth quarter, clutch kicker Jon Peattie was able to add a 44-yard field goal for the ‘Canes to tie the game with 12:30 remaining in the contest.
“We don’t need any stats, we don’t need any rhetoric,” said Coker. “We needed a win.”
MISCELLANEOUS
The homecoming game yielded a mere 48,130 spectators…Roscoe Parrish was out of the game with a knee injury, but is expected to return this season…The 1983 National Championship Hurricanes were honored prior to the game in celebration of their 20th anniversary; 40 members of the team were in attendance…Miami is 14-0 on ESPN regional television…The Hurricanes are now 15-7 against the Orangemen since their first meeting in 1960…During the game, Syracuse running back Walter Reyes extended the school’s 1,000-yard season streak to four years…Hurricane middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been named a finalist for the Butkus Award…The seniors on the team will be honored as the ‘Canes take on Rutgers Saturday in the Orange Bowl, continuing their quest for the Big East Title and a Bowl Championship Series berth.
Melissa Teich can be reached at melissateich@hotmail.com.
Men’s basketball kicks off season
In their final season in the Big East, the men’s basketball team wants to leave the conference as a champion, not a laughingstock. Led by a senior superstar, mature sophomores, and an exciting group of freshmen, the Hurricanes feel that they have a chance to do so.
Head Coach Perry Clark suffered through one of the worst seasons of his career in 2002-2003, leading the ‘Canes to an 11-17 record and a first-round exit at the Big East Tournament. The Hurricanes showed flashes of brilliance, but ultimately injuries and inconsistency took their toll and the ‘Canes were never able to get anything going.
Clark will rely on Darius Rice to lead the young team into prominence. Rice, a preseason candidate for the National Player of the Year Award, averaged 18.7 points and 5.8 rebounds last season, including a career-high 43 points against Connecticut on national television.
Rice will be counted on to provide a large portion of the Hurricanes’ scoring, as he is the only established offensive threat for the ‘Canes. The pressure is on the senior from Jackson, Mississippi on several different levels.
“I think the pressure is on me because I want to go high in the draft,” Rice said. “I think a lot of people overlooked me and a lot of people don’t give me the respect that I think I deserve and this year I’m going to go out there and prove it to everybody.”
Fortunately for Clark, the Hurricanes have other options when opposing defenses focus on Rice. Sophomore Robert Hite has matured a physically and emotionally after playing substantial minutes during his freshman season, and is ready to become a consistent contributor for the ‘Canes.
“I’ve worked hard over the summer and I’m trying to get better with my defense,” Hite said. “I’ve been working on my shot and I got a little stronger. I’m just trying to get better all-around so I can help my teammates this year by being a leader.”
Sophomore point guard Armondo Surratt will have the important responsibilities of controlling the tempo of each game, distributing the ball effectively, and hitting open shots. Surratt will be a critical part of an offense that Clark hopes can sustain a fast pace throughout the season.
“We really want to run,” Clark said. “One of the things so far is that we’ve shown that we can put some numbers on the board. We have to be able to do that without giving up points.”
The Hurricanes have received a huge boost from the return of forward William Frisby, who sat out the 2002-2003 season with a foot injury. The junior provides rebounding, defense, and toughness for a team that struggled with all three last season.
Frisby is excited to be fully healthy and back on the court for the ‘Canes.
“It has been a tough two years,” Frisby said. “I’m focused on being the best player that I can be.”
The x-factor for this year’s Hurricanes will be the play of the freshmen off of the bench. Clark has been thrilled with the play of touted recruits Guillermo Diaz, Karron Clarke, Anthony Harris, and Anthony King. All four will earn valuable minutes and will be asked to mature and learn on the fly this year.
“This is a young basketball team,” Clark said. “We have a young basketball team. They have to grow. What we’re doing is being very hard on them to get them to grow as quickly as we possibly can. I think that they are competitive, and I think that they listen, and they accept criticism and try to correct it.”
The Hurricanes schedule features many intriguing match-ups before Big East play even begins, as the team will take on several local rivals and make a trip to Chapel Hill for a rematch with North Carolina, whom the ‘Canes defeated in their first game at the Convocation Center last year.
“Even in the early part of our schedule, we have a lot of emotional games,” Clark said. “Florida International will be an emotional game, Florida Atlantic will be an emotional game…Florida State as well, and then we have to go back to North Carolina after beating them last year. So I think there are some real emotional games, and to me, you don’t really want that in the preseason.”
Rice said that he is enthusiastic about the way this year’s team is developing, and feels they are capable of overcoming the criticism they faced at the end of last season.
“I think we’re learning and we’re getting better…I think the team is really athletic,” Rice said. “We can really run. We can take five guys out and put five more in…I think this team can do some big things.”
The Hurricanes begin regular season play at the Convocation Center on November 21 against Lubbock Christian.
Rice enters season under pressure
For the last three years, Darius Rice has been the man on the Hurricanes. He has been the man the team looked to for the big play, and the man criticized when the team failed.
This year, as a senior, Rice will try to take the ‘Canes to new heights and show everyone that he is one of the best players in the nation.
Rice, a Mississippi native, could work his way into the NBA lottery with a solid season. His 6-10 frame is appealing to NBA teams, especially since he has shown the ability to shoot from the perimeter. Rice led the ‘Canes last season with 18.7 points per game, and in the preseason, he has scored 34 and 26 points in the two exhibition games.
“I’ve worked hard this summer to try to make my teammates better, myself better and to try to become a lottery pick,” Rice said. “That’s the name of the game to try to go to the next level, you want to be in the lottery, so I have really worked hard to get myself there.”
Rice has always been a team player, and is quick to deflect credit away from himself and toward his teammates. He knows he is the leader of the team, but that doesn’t downplay the role of his teammates.
“I never say the offense runs too much through me, if you are a good player, you always want the plays to run through you,” Rice said. “We have a lot of guys who can take the load off me this year, so if they double or triple team me, the other teams better watch out because we have a lot of scorers besides me this year.”
Rice comes from a family of athletes. His uncle, Jerry, is one of the greatest players in National Football League history. Rice talks to his uncle almost every week.
“I talk to Jerry every week, we don’t really get into what I am doing too much, he asks me how the games been and everything,” Rice said. “They have been losing this year so he hasn’t been real happy. We just talk about how life is going, instead of sports.”
Rice has improved drastically from his freshman season. He became stronger and developed an inside game to complement his perimeter shooting. Versatility is something that Rice prides himself on.
“I try to bring versatility, inside or outside, wherever I need to play and against whoever,” Rice said. “The match-up is pretty hard for anyone because if they are small, I am going inside and if they are big, I can do it outside.”
Despite his successes on the court, Rice remains extremely modest. He knows he still has areas that he needs to improve on in order to take his game to the next level.
“I need to get better at ball handling and get bigger,” Rice said. “I think I’m a lot stronger than I was a couple years ago and I just need to keep rounding out my game overall.”
One of the common criticisms of Rice has been that he does not play defense. His defense has come a long way, however, and he has become one of the best defensive players on the team.
“I feel like I can guard one through five, it’s really not a big deal anymore. A couple years ago, I would have said I can only guard one position, so I’ve really improved in that regards,” Rice said.
Despite the team’s losing record last season, Rice does not let that influence his game or his goals. He believes in himself and more importantly, he believes in his teammates and their abilities. His goal for the season is to win the national title.
“I want to win a national championship, I don’t have any rings and that’s my main goal right now,” Rice said.
The draft position of Darius Rice is still up in the air. As the season progresses, however, the draft picture may become clearer. Rice doesn’t particularly care what spot he is drafted in, but he does have a preference of where he wants to play.
“I really don’t care, but I am from Mississippi, so it is all about location to me,” Rice said. “I don’t want to go too far from home, so Atlanta to Memphis, anywhere in that area would be great. Anywhere they take me would be fine, I will go wherever, but I’d like to stay close to home for at least a couple years so my family can come see me easily.”
BASKETBALL: ’03-’04 STARTING LINEUP
WILLIAM Frisby
POSITION Forward
HEIGHT 6 feet 8 inches
WEIGHT 235 pounds
HOMETOWN Bay Shore, NJ
Frisby returns to the Hurricanes this season after sitting out last year with a foot injury. He will be counted on for rebounding, defense, and athleticism as he takes on opposing centers from the Big East. As a sophomore, Frisby averaged 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds.
DARIUS Rice
POSITION Forward
HEIGHT 6 feet 10 inches
WEIGHT 222 pounds
HOMETOWN Jackson, MS
Rice, a preseason candidate for the Wooden and Naismith awards, led the Hurricanes in scoring last season with 18.7 points a game. Rice has started throughout his Miami career, and will be the centerpiece of the ‘Canes’ offense this year. Rice is expected to be a high draft pick next year, and the entire country will be curious to see how he performs in his final season with the Hurricanes.
Wilkins ERIC
POSITION Guard/Forward
HEIGHT 6 feet 4 inches
WEIGHT 196 pounds
HOMETOWN Plainfield, NJ
Wilkins played in all 28 games as a freshman, averaging 4.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. His size, strength, and athletic ability have earned him a starting spot this year. Wilkins has a vertical leap of 39.5 inches.
ROBERT Hite
POSITION Guard
HEIGHT 6 feet 2 inches
WEIGHT 186 pounds
HOMETOWN Cincinnati, OH
Hite played in all 28 games as a freshman, starting 18 of them at the off-guard position. He averaged 7.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He will be counted on as the second option behind Rice in the Hurricanes’ offense, and has worked on his defense all summer. Hite put on about 10 pounds of muscle in the off season.
AMROMDO Surratt
POSITION Point Guard
HEIGHT 5 feet 11 inches
WEIGHT 173 pounds
HOMETOWN Oakland, CA
Surratt played in all 28 games last season, making 15 starts. He averaged 6.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals for the Hurricanes. He is known for his exceptional speed, court vision, passing, and ball handling abilities. Surratt will be counted on to be a floor general and tough defender for the ‘Canes.
Volleyball has no trouble with Hokies
It was a good Saturday for Hurricane athletics. Along with the football team getting back on the winning track, the women’s volleyball team ended their regular season on a winning note as they swept Virginia Tech 3-0 (30-25, 30-28, 30-21).
The match was key in the positioning battle for the Big East Championship, as Miami held a one game lead over Virginia Tech in the Big East standings coming into the match.
The ‘Canes were never in trouble all night except for a late Hokies run in the second game to make the score look much closer than it actually was. Miami was led by senior Leyre Santaella Sante, who had 13 kills in her final match ever at the Knight Sports Complex.
“I think we were pretty steady tonight,” Head Coach Nicole Lantagne Welch said. “We had a great offensive performance out of Leyre, Robin and Karla. We had three players who were on fire and when you have that many people putting up those kind of numbers, you are in a good position.”
In the second game, the Hurricanes reeled off five straight service points behind the serving of junior Elizabeth Tyson. The Hokies came back to tie the game at 14 before the ‘Canes took the lead for good behind red shirt freshman Francheska Savage’s shot into the center of the court.
After intermission, freshman Jill Robinson put to rest any of the Hokies’ dreams of a comeback victory with a kill to secure Miami’s spot in the Big East Tournament.
This is the second straight year UM will move on to the postseason. They will play as the No. 3 seed in the tournament behind Notre Dame and Pitt.
“We secured our spot,” Lantagne Welch said. “We will probably play Notre Dame or Pittsburgh. Both of those teams got us earlier this year and we will be coming in as an underdog and we are excited about being in that position.”
Notre Dame defeated the Hurricanes 3-0 on Nov. 9 in South Bend, while Pittsburgh won 3-1 in Coral Gables on Nov. 2.
The ‘Canes head to South Bend on Saturday for the opening round of the tournament, with their opponent being the loser of the Pittsburgh-Notre Dame match.
Report: Irish still exploring ACC change
(U-WIRE) SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Is Notre Dame still considering changing conferences – even if it means losing its football independence?
In its Thursday edition, USA Today cited two anonymous sources who said Notre Dame had approached ACC officials about becoming full members in the conference.
Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White, through the University’s sports information department, issued a statement saying the Irish were “staying the course with the Big East” but that officials are “continuing to monitor the landscape” – essentially the same statement White issued when the Big East announced a five-team expansion Nov. 4.
Although Notre Dame spokesman John Heisler did not specifically address the USA Today report, he said the school is standing by its statement.
ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a statement his conference “has not initiated discussions with anyone regarding further expansion,” although he later added that the conference had “received some informal inquires concerning potential membership.”
The ACC did not specify if Notre Dame was one of the schools who had made any inquires.
The issue of Notre Dame leaving the Big East in favor of the ACC isn’t a new one. Almost two months ago, numerous reports said the conference – which recently added Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College – was talking with Notre Dame to gauge the school’s interest in joining the ACC. At the time, Heisler said he had “no idea” if the Irish had been negotiating with the ACC and called the stories pure speculation.
White has repeatedly declined to comment on the conference re-alignment and Notre Dame’s potential conference future.
But on the day the Big East announced it had added basketball powerhouses Marquette, DePaul, Cincinnati, Louisville and South Florida, Heisler said Notre Dame fans shouldn’t assume Notre Dame would remain a football independent forever.
“At some juncture, it doesn’t make any sense to say [we’ll stay independent forever],” he said Nov. 4. “We don’t know where the world is going to go. We’re not going to sit here and guarantee that we’re not going to be an independent.”
Notre Dame is currently a member of the Big East in most sports, with the notable exception of football.
The ACC officials who spoke to USA Today said Notre Dame is considering sacrificing its football independence because of its uncertain future with the Bowl Championship Series. The Irish, who also have a lucrative television contract with NBC, have an agreement with the BCS conferences to be included in the season’s four major bowl games if they finish high enough. But both the television contract and the BCS contract expire in 2005.
Were Notre Dame to leave the Big East, as the USA Today report suggests, it would have to provide 27 months’ notice and pay $5 million. And Big East spokesman John Paquette said the 16 Big East teams agreed to an informal five-year commitment to the league when the conference announced a week and a half ago it had expanded.
“Let’s not bury our head in the sand here and make some judgment that we have no idea is going to work forever,” Heisler said when the Big East announced its expansion. “Is [football independence] important? Of course. Will that change? Nobody knows.”