Canes hire new QB coach from La.-Monroe

[E.T.]

Canes hire new QB coach from La.-Monroe

In a move that certainly will quell concerns of Miami Hurricanes fans, the quarterback coaching position was filled Friday by a guy from Louisiana-Monroe, who before that was 5-35 as a Division I head coach.

Todd Berry, who compiled that mark during four seasons at Army before being fired, has been the offensive coordinator at La.-Monroe the last two years. Monroe did have a good quarterback this year in Steven Jyles, who was the Sun Belt Conference player of the year.

"Without question he will help our offense move forward," Miami coach Larry Coker said. "Todd has turned down opportunities to coach in the NFL, so we're pleased to have him as part of our offensive staff."

Former Hurricanes coach Art Kehoe has been hired at Mississippi where he will serve as associate head coach and offensive line coach, the same positions he had in Coral Gables. This came on the heels of former Canes offensive coordinator being hired in Oxford on Monday

Ole Miss is also set to add Hugh Freeze, a former assistant A.D. at the school, to head coach Ed Orgeron's staff. Kehoe worked at Miami for 25 years, 20 helping the offensive line and is in the school's Hall of Fame.

Kehoe was one of four coaches let go after a horrid Peach Bowl performance along with Werner, running backs coach Don Soldinger and linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves.

Last Monday kick returner/receiver Devin Hester declared that he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

A backup quarterback was supposed to struggle mightily against the nation's third-ranked defense. Matt Flynn was efficient on offense and the LSU defense absolutely throttled Miami as the Tigers destroyed the Canes 40-3 in the Peach Bowl.

It was Miami's worst loss in a bowl game ever, the margin eight points greater than the previous low point. After the game there was a brief scuffle between some members of both teams, heightening the embarassment for Miami.

The teams had to leave the field in the same tunnel, and there is where the problems began. Coker said that players Andrew Bain and Khalil Jones were knocked briefly unconscious. No one was hospitalized.

LSU's Jacob Hester said that it might have started with some good-natured trashtalk between Tiger receiver Dwyane Bowe -- who played high school ball in Miami -- and some of the Canes players. "We had a guy who is from Miami who was kidding around with one of his boys. Miami thought it was something serious. They came in the tunnel and they were swinging, but it was just a joke between friends."

No Miami players were made available to the media for comment after the game.

Miami started the scoring with a field goal, then the Tigers proceeded to score on eight straight possessions. LSU outgained Miami 471-153. Flynn (filling in for the injured JaMarcus Russell) threw two touchdown passes, both in the second quarter as LSU was taking a 20-3 halftime lead. Joseph Addai added 130 yards on the ground. Meanwhile Miami quarterback Kyle Wright was awful, completing 10-of-21 passes for 100 yards.

Tigers coach Les Miles seemed to take delight in administering the butt-whipping, calling for two fake kicks after the score was 34-3.

The Tigers won the game on the same field as their SEC championship loss, the Georgia Dome, but unlike that time LSU had the bulk of the crowd on their side. Miami finishes the season with a 9-3 record while LSU ends at 11-2.

[smazza]

usf missed a golden opportunity in not hiring

Former Hurricanes coach Art Kehoe

[Guest USFSam]

smazza, i agree...20+ years at miami, he could have helped upgrade our recruiting as well the o line. i think he would've preferred tampa over oxford, ms. this guy was a casualty of coker's ineptitude...he's a great coach and players love him.

[bulls96go]

we whiffed i hope leavitt knows what he is doing the offense had better improve. his job will be on the line if we do not at the very least go to a bowl.