Bowl Projections as of Week 12

When looking at the Bowl Projections as of today, it seems likely that we will be either in one of three places:

• El Paso (Sun)
• Nashville (Music City) 
• Shreveport (Indepedence)

CANES Bowl Projections Week of 11/17/19

CBS Sports Jerry Palm: Sun v Arizona State (12/31)

Sports Media Pass: Independence v Kentucky (12/26)

ESPN Kyle Bonagura: Military v Temple (12/27)

ESPN Mark Schlabach: Music City v Kentucky (12/30)

Brant Parsons (Orlando Sentinel): Quick Lane v Michigan State (12/26)

247Sports (Brad Crawford): Sun v Cal (12/31)

Bill Bender (Sporting News): Independence v Kentucky (12/26)

Banner Society (Jason Kirk): Gator v Mississippi State (1/2/20)

Saturday Blitz (John Mitchell): Independence v Ohio (Replacement for SEC) (12/26)

CFN (CollegeFootballNews): Music City v Liberty (Replacement for SEC) (12/30)

Brett McMurphy (Stadium): NY6 Orange v Alabama (1/1/20)

Athlon Sports: Sun v Washington State (12/31)

Erick Smith (USA Today): Camping World v Texas (12/28)

Bleacher Report: Military v Navy (12/27)

Last Word on Sports CFB: Sun v Arizona State (12/31)

Off Tackle Empire: Sun v Arizona State (12/31)

College Sports Madness: Pinstripe v Illinois (12/27)

SI (Michael Shapiro): Music City v Mississippi State (12/30)

Sun: 4

Independence: 3

Music City: 3

Military: 2

Quick Lane: 1

Gator: 1

Camping World: 1

Orange: 1

Pinstripe: 1

The one that really got my attention was from McMurphy, when he projected that we might end up in the Orange (NY6 game). He projects that no ACC team (outside of Clemson) will be the Top 25 CFP final poll on Dec 8th. If that happens to be the case, we're sitting in a very good position to end up being in the Orange. 

However, right now, more realistically, it'll be one of the three Bowls mentioned above. 

Major News on Blake's Future as AD

There's some Major news on Blake's Future, if a Tweet from Gianna McMichael is to be believed:

It started with this tweet I got from McMichael when I mentioned Manny is going nowhere anytime soon, and the fact that he's not, so let's get that out of the way now.

Here's the tweet that started this:

Wanna bet? Several major donors are incredibly unhappy about the state of the UM athletics program. Fans aren’t filling seats either. you aren’t reading the tea leaves.

— Gianna McMichael (@GMcMik) September 30, 2019

After analyzing the original tweet, a couple of things come to my mind here:

1. The big donors (i.e., Category 4-5 Hurricane Club donors) are not happy at all. 
2. The business community, (i.e., the Major power players in South Florida) aren't happy with the state of the UM Athletics program. 
3. This tells me, that if this from McMichael is true, Blake is, at least right now behind the scenes, in big trouble.
4. There's no denying the fact that the empty seats have long been an issue in South Florida, even when the Canes were winning their titles, the only time the seats have been filled were for big games (i.e., ND, FSU, UF, OU, Ohio State). 
5. The headscratching hires in recent years (exceptions being Richt, L, Manny). Some of the big hitters, from McMichael's tweet, are starting to grumble about Blake behind the scenes. 

On the follow-up tweet when I asked if there some names out there, this is the response I got:

Pay attention Danny, they are angry. Names haven’t been presented, don’t think its to that stage. Never said it was. I told you they don’t like what he’s done. He’s incompetent as an AD. I am sure a few have ideas who, but I don’t know what they think. Minds I don’t read.

— Gianna McMichael (@GMcMik) September 30, 2019

The people upset, per McMichael's tweet, are the big donors (i.e., the Category 4-5 donors), and that's not a good thing if Blake wanted to keep his job. Behind the scenes, again from McMichael's tweet, there's some smoke. Also, McMichael did say that not to expect anything until May at the earliest on Blake's future.

To be fair to McMichael, she did point out in that tweet that no names at this point, but you have to believe if this tweet from her is accurate, that the BOT would have to have already contacted through back channels some names for that job, if nothing else to starting gauging interest in the job. For me, the first name that would be on my list if I were doing a search would be former Florida AD Jeremy Foley.

If there's anyone that could instantly command respect and know who's in charge inside the Hecht Center, Foley would be that guy, if he wants the job.

After Foley, who else is there, that's available that would be interested and command respect in that building?

The next few months, if McMichael's tweets verify, will be very interesting to watch here.