That is another episode in the books. Chapter 36 of the Mario era started off with an error. Like a routine ground ball going through the shortstop’s legs. When I played for Coastal Carolina I still remember a former teammate yelling at the top of his lungs, BOOTY BOOT! I called it a Miami Hurricane game week. Technically it was not. Next week is game week.

The excitement over the football program is palpable. Regardless of Toast’s record prediction, (more on that later) the overall mood over the Miami Hurricanes is positive. Sure, there are some perceived shortcomings on the roster side of things, but the staff is robust. They are a who’s who.  Charlie Strong is your linebacker’s coach and I think I have even taken that for granted.

On the Greentree, Scoop would have been hitless at the plate. I simply asked who coach Strong singled out recently as being a top linebacker performer in camp. Scoop Martell admitted if he had five guesses at linebacker it would have been five misses. Corey Flagg Jr. was in the spotlight a ton last year. When you’re the middle linebacker on a team that is third in the nation in missed tackles, it’s hard to hide, but Flagg’s linebacker’s coach didn’t hide his praise.

“With all the backers I would say that Corey’s had the best camp and the thing is, he is a student of the game. He is always studying and always wants to meet. He comes in our meetings, coach did you have a few minutes for me? That’s what I really like about him because he has put so much time into it.” –Charlie Strong

As fans on game day I have seen the reactions when players perform less than admirably. It can get a little ruthless. I will maintain that this phenomenon happens everywhere in the country with their respective fan bases but the next part is truth. Regardless of how someone does the year before, I, personally, want these kids to do well. If they can rebound like a wedding dress wearing Dennis Rodman then let’s go.

Record predictions. Someone didn’t drink the orange and green kool aid. “Oh yeah!” Why did the Toast just burst through my courtroom? Toast didn’t just burst through the proverbial family guy reference but he certainly busted through Scoop and I’s homer-ism. Too-Toasted had us losing to Virginia, Texas A&M, Clemson and Florida State.

I know that was painful to read in print but looking at this list, is it that far fetched? The Miami Hurricanes will be likely underdogs in the Texas A&M and Clemson games, Virginia was featured in our trap series and a rivalry game is when all bets are off. I am not going to say Toast is the voice of reason but I can see how decades of past performance didn’t just shake off like snowflakes on his coat. (Snow is this really cold thing that falls from the sky South Floridians)

I was the only Orange Bowl Boy who thinks we are going to beat Texas A&M apparently. Coach Cristobal knows the whole world is watching in what is set up to be a marquee matchup on the road. I called it an audition. No, not in the sense that he has to prove he deserves to be the head coach at Miami, he has done so in droves. It’s more than that.

I don’t think I articulated it well enough on the show. Mario has the opportunity early on this season to show the college football world that Miami is relevant again. I didn’t say back because that is a debate left for another time. The recruiting buzz, national buzz, the home buzz even Buzz Lightyear (terrible movie by the way) would be feverishly high. I think Mario is going to give it more than a puncher’s chance. I think coach Cristobal lands it right on Jimbo’s chin.

I do disagree with Toast. He thinks this is the same team from last year. Daryl Porter, Jr., Darrell Jackson, Jr., Frank Ladson, Jr., Henry Parish Jr., Caleb Johnson, Antonio Moultrie, Mitchell Agude, Jacob Lichtenstein, Jonathan Denis, Logan Sagapolu, and Colbie Young assure you this is not last year’s team. Many on this list will have huge role on this team. If you fail to see the commonality among them, that was just transfers.

More stadium renderings came out but her “honorableness” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said that Tropical Park is not for sale. We might have said we would get every Hurricane fan to put #resist in their bios and even encouraged John Ruiz to ride in on a dragon. Ruiz would change his name to Targaryen and ride in with white fiery hair. Power to the people. I want a new stadium with pontoons damnit!

Then after we paid some bills because we are huge cooperate sellouts, the last five questions segment of the offseason happened. In the middle of it I had a call, so I missed most of the segment. I had such a good question to add too. “What fictional friend was the worst?” (Shout out online for the question) It has to be Jenny Gump. I mean Forrest always protected her, was there every time she needed.

Jenny ran off with every man she could, got addicted to drugs and in the end, she dropped a kid on Forest’s lap. (And this was before Haley Joel-Osment saw dead people-yes that is the actor who portrayed little Forrest Gump Jr.) Nice friend Jenny. You suck. Well we will try not to suck next week as the OBB shift into regular season format. The next episode is a regular season episode. I promise. 10-2 baby here we come. #BANG!!!