i am a Canes fan, of course. But i am a journalist first, and as such, I say the hated Gators will beat the Canes Saturday night. I hope I am wrong, but these Canes have yet to prove anything at this level - and no, a win over Charleston Southern does not count.

These Canes are simply too inexperienced. QB Robert Marve will start the game and his first play Saturday will be his first college play ever. To do that against the 5th-ranked Gators is quite a challenge.

I have high hopes for Marve and his backup, Jacory Harris. Both were studs in high school, winning Mr. Florida Football in 2006 and 2007 respectively. But this is another level. The Gators aren't just college football, they are elite college football with numerous guys on the path to NFL riches.

How can the Canes' pull the upset? Wet weather, which is expected this weekend, could be a start. Bad weather always gives the underdog a better chance to even things up.

Secondly, the Canes' ground gain has to work in a big-time way. That would chew up the clock and keep the ball out of Tim Tebow's hands for long stretches. And the Canes strength on offense is their offensive line and running backs, so this second part of the plan is not impossible.

No. 3 on the list is forcing turnovers. That's really the only way to stop Tebow. And the wet weather could help create turnovers.

Special teams, a Canes disaster last season, has to be a weapon Saturday night. Graig Cooper ran a punt back for a TD last week. Now he has to prove he can do that vs. the Gators.

Lastly, the Canes have to get something out of their passing game. They cannot be afraid to throw the ball downfield when the Gators crowd the line to stop Miami's runs. And a receiver - Travis Benjamin perhaps? - needs to emerge.   

After a convincing 52-7 win over Charleston Southern on Thursday night, the Canes face the hated Gators next.

But before we get to Florida, a word or two about the season opener. Over 48,000 fans came to see the team's debut at Dolphins Stadium. It will take a while to get used to not playing at the now-demolished Orange Bowl. But at least Dolphin Stadium has all the modern luxuries to offer the fans - although zero tradition.

Ultimately, the Canes need to have their own on-campus stadium in the next couple of decades.

As for the game, Jacory Harris became the first true freshman to ever start a home opener for the Canes. He did well, throwing for one TD and passing for another. He showed leadership and avoided killer mistakes.

The running game clicked and should be even better with right tackle Reggie Youngblood back from injury this week.

Special teams appear to be much improved from last season, especially with Graig Cooper scoring on a 66-yard punt return and Matt Bosher handling the kicking chores well.

Defensively, the Canes looked good, fast and athletic. But you can bet that they kept things basic and left some tricks up their proverbial sleeves for the Gators.

Speaking of the Hated Gators, the Canes beat them the last time they played - 27-10 on New year's Eve 2004. In fact, the Canes are 6-0 vs. the Hated Gators since their last loss in 1986.

The Canes will start redshirt freshman quaterback Robert Marve - back from a one-game suspension - vs. the Gators. But Harris will play, too. 

The other six Canes suspended for the opener will return as well and no serioious injuries were reported. The Canes will be huge favorites vs. the 5th-ranked Gators and their Heisman Trophy winning QB Tim Tebow. But it is also a great opportunity for the Canes players to step up and show their skills.

The Canes' 2008 opener is less than 48 hours away, and here is how the offense is looking:

QB - Robert Marve is suspended; talented true freshman Jacory Harris gets the start - a great opportunity for him.

RB - Javarris James is listed as the starter but could be upstaged by Graig Cooper just like last year.

FB - Junior-college transfer Pat Hill and true freshman John Calhoun have both been impressive as lead blockers.

WR - Senior Khalil Jones, a career disappointment so far, has won a starting job and become a team leader with his work ethic. He has great size and speed but always seems to have lapses in concentration and dropped balls.   Sophomore Leonard Hankerson won the other job with some big fall performances. BUT ... the starters don't mean much at this position because the Canes will rotate a number of players. And I fully expect the young speedsters such as Travis Benjamin, Aldarius Johnson, Sam Shields and others to make a bigger impact.

OT - Jason Fox is a stud at LT, but Reggie Youngblood is hurt at RT. Luckily, the Canes have a starting-caliber RT in Chris Rutledge.

OG - The Canes have two maulers in LG Orlando Franklin and RG Joel Figueroa and a couple of young and talented

C - Xavier Shannon is set as the starter, and Trump can swing over as the backup as needed.

TE - Dedric Epps is the starter and the guy with big-play skills. Chris Zellner is the top blocker, and Richard Gordon is a guy with exciting size-speed ratio. 

Seven Canes have been suspended for Thursday's opener vs. Charleston Southern, which is also the Canes'  home deut at Dolphins Stadium.

Here are the suspended players in order of importance and with a comment for each:

1 - QB Robert Marve - By far the biggest news was losing our starting quarterback. Even if it is against overmatched Charleston because now the Canes will have to play Florida with an untested Marve, who has been named the starter for the rest of the season but has yet to play in a college game.

2 - DE Adewale Ojomo - This hurts in a spot where depth is severely lacking. Expected starters Eric Moncur and Allen Bailey are doubtful for game one because of injuries. And another injured player, Courtney Harris, is out for the year. That leaves the Canes with 3 true freshmen and a sophomore on the two-deep at DE. And the sophomore, Steven Wesley, will be making his first start along with freshman Marcus Robinson, a linebacker last year in high school.

3 - FS Randy Phillips - This should be the time that Phillips, a senior, is stepping up. Instead, he gets himself suspended. Very  disappointing.

4 - WR Kayne Farquharson - This is worse for him than it is for the Canes because the team is deep and talented at receiver.

5 - RB Damien Berry - He is a non-factor in the backfield, especially if he is breaking team rules.

6 - FB Eric Houston - Same as Berry.

7 - Long snapper Chris Ivory - Inexcusable for a walk-on to get in trouble.

The good news out of all of this is that true freshman Jacory Harris will start at quarterback, and I am eager to see what he can do after winning a state title for 15-0 Miami Northwestern last year.

Canes Coach Randy Shannon said Harris will play every game this season, which is good. You need more than one quarterback most years, and with Marve starting and Harris relieving, the Canes are in good shape.

I just worry about Marve not getting any playing time before he has to play Florida in week 2. That's a rivalry game we want to win and need to win very badly.

With quarterback Robert Marve suspended for Thursday's season opener, it's up to true freshman Jacory Harris of mythical national champion Miami Northwestern to show his skills and lead the Canes.

Marve, a redshirt freshman, should return the following week for the war vs. Florida. But this is a great opportunity for Harris to light it up vs. Charleston Southern, which should be a soft touch in the opener. 

Former Canes track star Lauryn Williams, who won a silver medal in 2004, finished fourth in the Olympics in the 100 meter dash.

She was the fastest American woman in the race.

In fact, she was the fastest woman in the world not counting the island nation of Jamaica, which is now the sprinting capital of the planet.

 Jamaican won the men's and women's 100-meter dashes.

Speedy wide receiver Travis Benjamin continues to be the hit of camp.

Speaking of the benjamins, Canes first baseman Yonder Alonso signed with the Reds as expected, taking Cincinnati right up until the deadline before annoucing that he was taking their 4-year, $4.55 million offer, including a $2 million bonus.

Alonso made a great deal coming out of Coral Gables High School, turning down a $200,000 pro offer to play 3 years of college ball at UM, earning enough money this past to become a millionaire.

Congrats to Yonder, who will get an invitation to spring training in 2009.

Meanwhile, Miami Braddock High School infielder Harold Martinez turned down a pro offer to attend UM. Hopefully he can have a huge career with the Canes and strike it rich just like Alonso. 

Four surprises for the Canes this fall:

1- Freshman WR Travis Benjamin has shown incredible speed, taking 1-yard throws and converting them to 60-yard TDs.

2 -  Sophomore FS JoJo Nicholas has elevated past veterans to become a starter.

3 - Freshman FB John Calhoun has been impressive battling junior-college transfer Pat Hill. 

4 - DE Steven Wesley has taken advantage of injuries at the position.

Four disappointments for the Canes this fall:

1 - DE Allen Bailey's injury. The redshirt freshman is - by all accounts - a stud. Hopefully he can return for the opener.

2 - Kicker Jake Wieclaw, who had a record-setting prep career in Illinois, was supposed to contriubte immediately as a freshman but is apparently losing his battle vs. sophomore Matt Bosher.

3 - Brandon Washington did not make the grade and has to go to prep school. Hopefully, the Canes will get him in school in January because they need offensive lineman.

4 - Randy Shannon, maybe. I will be upset if Shannon does not play Brandon Harris and DeMarcus Van Dyke at corner, Sean Spence and Arthur Brown at linebacker, Marcus Forston, Allen Bailey and Adewale Ojomo on the D-line, Aldarius Johnson, Travis Benjamin and Richard Gordon at receiver/tight end. None of those talents are currently listed at first-team  

As the start of the Canes' football season inches closer, the team has a big scrimmage tonight.

One of the interesting position battles to watch is at safety. Sophomore JoJo Nicolas is a surprise starter at one safety spot, leap-frogging veterans Lovon Ponder and Randy Phillips. The other starter is talented but injury-prone Anthony Reddick, who, hopefully, is finally healthy.

Two other safeties to watch are Jared Campbell - brother of ex-Canes DE Calais - and Ryan Hill, who played corner in high school and wide receiver in his first two years at UM.

At cornerback, freshman phenom Brandon Harris is still not on the two-deep and last year's star freshman DeMarcus Van Dyke is on the second team. That must change. Those are the Canes' top two talents on the corner with current starter Chavez Grant excellent as a nickel. (Bruce Johnson is the other current starter and Carlos Armour is also second team.)

At linebacker, Colin McCarthy and Darryl Sharpton are starters as expected. I want to see freshman Sean Spence elevated to starter status soon. Veteran Glenn Cook currently holds the spot.

- In academic news, it looks like safety Joe Wylie will be admitted to UM. But fellow freshman DB C.J. Odom has left prep school and may never get to UM at all.

The good news is that OT Brandon Washington and LB Zach Kane are doing well at prep school. Hopefully, they will arrive at UM in the spring and be ready to contribute at 2009 spring practice.