HurricaneSportsMagazine - March 19, 2012 by Miami Hurricanes

Senior Anna Bartenstein is ranked No. 20 nationally in the latest ITA poll

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March 16, 2012

Get to Know Miami Hurricane Student-Athletes DeQuan Jones, Lina Lileikite, Tyler Hobgood

Video of the Week

Raising Canes - Football - The Offseason

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Photo of the Week

President Barrack Obama throws up “The U”

2011-12 Calendar of Events

Click the text below for more information about each Hurricane athletic event

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Games of the Week

Men’s NIT in Coral Gables The University of Miami men’s basketball team will face the University of Minnesota in the Second Round of the NIT held at the BankUnited Center on Monday, March 19 at 9 p.m. Miami is 1-0 against Minnesota overall, with the only meeting on Dec. 2, 2009, when the Canes won, 63-58. Head coach Jim Larranaga is in his 28th season as a head coach and first at Miami. He has a 490346 overall record and holds a 463-320 record in D-I games.

Save the Date

NIT M. Basketball vs. Minnesota

The Canes face Minnesota at 9 p.m. on March 19 in the Second Round of the NIT

W Tennis

UM’s nationally-ranked women’s tennis team hosts back-to-back matches on March 20 at Noon and March 21 at 2 p.m.

March 24, 2012

Miami Hurricanes Football Scrimmage Ted Hendricks Stadium | Hialeah, Fla. 10 a.m.

March 30, 2012

Miami Hurricanes Football Scrimmage Location: Bishop Verot High School | Fort Myers, Fla. 6:45 p.m.

April 14, 2012

BankUnited CanesFest & Spring Football Game Sun Life Stadium | Miami Gardens, Fla. 2 p.m.

Quick Links > Are you following the rivoting Raising Canes series on HurricaneSports.com? Here’s a link to 50+ plus episodes on YouTube. > The UM Ticket Office can now be reached through Live Chat during standard business hours. > UM Athletics and Spanish Broadcasting Systems have inked a new deal to bring Spanish language radio broadcasts to CIMA 106.3 FM. > UM has launched a ProCanes Monday Morning Recap that highlights the exploits of Miami alums in the NFL. > Text “canes” to 55888 to join the Canes Mobile Fan Club.

@HurricaneSports Tweet of the Week @SLarkin_0: Man i promise we will not be in this situation next year... Yall can take my word on that

Eric Baseball Erickson Last December, Eric Erickson walked back onto the baseball field at UM for the first time since 2010. From there, Erickson set out on a six-month process to fight for his return for a final year of eligibility and another season on the mound. This spring, he’s back and stronger than ever. Erickson has come a long way; two Tommy John surgeries and a year off from ball altogether have left him with a bit more maturity to his name. Through it all, he has still managed to stay Easy E. The nickname, given to him by his high school teammates, perfectly describes the calm and levelheaded demeanor of this 23 year old. The maturity, somewhat forced upon him by an up and down career of a recurrent arm injury, is something that the Canes will look to as they start their 2012 campaign to Omaha. Mentally, Erickson is prepared. Nothing about that has changed. The physical aspect has changed, but things are for the better because of it. “Both surgeries have actually helped me. They’ve made me a better pitcher. Looking back, it’s been a long tough road for me and my family. As a result, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge through the process.” That knowledge was something he may have always had in baseball terms, but the learning has come along a winding road. After a successful freshman year in 2007, Erickson began to feel pain as he pitched his sophomore year. However, he worked through it as the Canes took a trip to the College World Series, something that Erickson will always relish. “Coming to the U out of high school is my greatest accomplishment as far as a life choices and my playing career in baseball. It’s been my highlight,” said Erickson. “I got an opportunity to pitch in the World Series, which is an experience I’ll never forget.” He took 2009 to rehab from his first Tommy John surgery and came back in 2010. The resulting 11 games were the most painful pitching he had ever endured, even more so than before the surgery. The pain, as well as the frustration of not feeling top level, led to a revision surgery in 2010 and a complete removal from the 2011 team. During this time, Erickson headed to Tallahassee, where his family had relocated to, and took the entire time to rehab his arm, again. This time, Erickson was removed from academics and could truly focus on developing the physical aspects of his game.

“Mechanics were a big issue of mine that kind of helped lead to my arm problems. In the year in Tally, I had a lot of time that I didn’t have before to sit back and analyze the different parts of my game,” said Erickson. “I was able to change the parts of my game that needed tending too… changed some things that make me more efficient.” Among the changes, Erickson will look to use his legs more, which will hopefully allow him to go deeper into games and throw harder. His ability to find more strikes and more consistency in his delivery will undoubtedly aid in his efforts to be a go-to starter for the Canes. When he wasn’t working with a team of therapists, Erickson worked two jobs in Tallahassee. He gave lessons as a pitching coach at an indoor facility, which allowed him to correct the mechanics of athletes ranging from Little League to college-aged players, while evaluating his own. His second job had him working with two area middle schools to teach physical education programs that include circuit workouts and nutritional education. Today, Erickson is assuming a different role on the field, but using many of those same skills from his jobs. A self-proclaimed “quiet guy,” Erickson is happy to get his work done and work hard at it. “During the right times, I try to be the guy that steps up and says the right thing. I get everyone motivated for practice or the game coming up,” said Erickson. “I was voted captain of the team, so I think those guys are looking at me like that. They need me, which is cool and an awesome feeling.” For Erickson, the role of leader is not one he would have assumed at the beginning of his campaign at Miami. In fact, it’s the first team he’s even been elected captain of a team in all of his years of playing. However, the recent events of his career have made it something that he has developed and grown into. “I’ve always had it in me, but I was never focused on the team. I was more of a selfish player. I like being a leader a lot better,” said Erickson. That feeling, along with the chemistry that Erickson feels this year’s team has, will hopefully mean a chance at another World Series title. That chase will be aided by the pitching of both Erickson and a close friend of his, Eric Whaley. Both pitchers will be clutch members of the starting rotation in each series, as junior Whaley will also bring experience from his previous two years.

“It’s an honor to be on the same pitching staff as Eric Whaley. He’s a future major leaguer and the competition we create amongst ourselves makes us better,” said Erickson. “[The fact that] we’re great friends and able to compete at the same time puts everything in perspective… It’s a beautiful thing.” Those major league hopes aren’t just for Whaley. Erickson would be content with going in the draft this year, but he’s not overly concerned with that right now. His chances of making the big money are not quite as high. So, he just wants to stay healthy, prepare well and pitch the best that he can. “I try not to over think anything. All the preparation is worth it when it comes to game time,” he said. “That’s when it’s time to have fun. The rest is up to God and me trusting my preparation.” That preparation has been a year in the making and it shows. His first true test comes against the season opener against Rutgers on Feb. 17. This is the same team he came back to face in his return after his 2009 surgery, in which he only allowed two hits and an unearned run, while striking out six in 5 2/3 innings for the win. “I have a drive that’s stronger than, to be honest, any one I’ve ever met. I’m committed and I’m proud of myself for believing,” said Erickson of his commitment to make this last year one for the record books. “I started going to church every Sunday last year with my Grandma and that helped me. I did a lot of praying, and I think that was a huge help for me.” That help is what keeps Erickson at home, on a baseball diamond. “Every day that I get to go to the field and put on cleats, (laughs) there’s nothing like it. I missed that all last year; I was completely removed from the game, and I was sad. I wasn’t a happy guy, even though I knew I was working towards playing again, baseball is part of me and who I am. It’s what I love and what I want; it’s what I believe in. Just to have the opportunity to go to the field is just really special and it’s something I hope I get to do for many more years. What a blessing that would be.“ by Haley Struthers

Garrius Adams APEX, N.C. | GUARD | JUNIOR

Click here to learn more about Garrius

They are stories of perseverance. Stories about growing up, becoming men and being a part of a family. One-by-one, we hear from them. These are the Miami Hurricanes...

I was raised in Raleigh, NC. I was born and raised there. I was the only child and I had a lot of family to support me. When I was growing up I played basketball and soccer. Soccer was actually my first love. I played soccer until I was 13 or 14. It got way too hot in North Carolina, it’s like a dry heat, so I just stuck with an indoor sport. I started playing basketball when I was five or six. Probably because that’s when those Fisher Price goals started coming out and I was dunking and all of your friends were talking about how high you could dunk on your Fisher Price goal. I secretly wish I was five inches taller. I wish I was 7 feet. I feel like everything in basketball would be so much better if I was 7 feet. I’m a Miami Hurricane because of my teammates, because of how they treated me so well on my visit. Also because I have a grandmother here and she always wanted me to visit more and it was awkward because I did not know I would be going here. Since I was an only child and really close to my family I thought I would stay in the state of North Carolina. But after taking a visit, I met my grandmother and just seeing her again here, I knew I would have another time here outside of school. She comes to games and tries to be the loudest one in the stands. When I played basketball as a kid, I pretended to be Kobe Bryant, that was my favorite player. He still is, hands down. There was nobody else I imitated. I always watched Michael Jordan but Kobe was more of my time and he was doing all of the dunks and he was athletic and I stuck with him. Playing basketball has given me something to do to keep me occupied and it is what I’ve been doing since I was a little kid. It’s one of the best things I know how to do. It’s kept me out of a lot of trouble. My family is mostly from the East Coast. I probably have a family member in every state on the East Coast which is good because I always have support. My family is really strong and really close so my family is really big to me. Competition is hard work and fun. Being born and raised in North Carolina, the ACC is everything. Competition is the most fun I’ve had, just being in this conference every night in and out. The U is very family orientated and a really nice community. It’s pretty much a small community and city and I really like it. I’ve been here for three years now. I haven’t had any problems. When I was introduced to Coach L I was very nervous and excited. I was excited to see what he had to say. When we first met him it was right when he had his conference and his excitement to me was just in-

Fast Breaks

credible. It was something you just had to be there to see it and you could tell he took his job very seriously from the first day. Ever since then we’ve had a good time. The hardest part about being away from home probably is family, especially when I have five little nephews and to not see them grow up and they’re growing up with all women. I don’t really like that too much. I always wanted to be that male figure since I never had one. I had my father but I never had a brother. You miss a lot of events and stuff like that. One thing everybody should know about Miami Basketball is it’s a different team this year. Coach L is really doing a good job of setting down a great foundation of fundamentals. He’s doing a really great job of just building character around the whole program and I think by the end of this year you’ll definitely see the change and when you watch us play it’s a big change. I’m closest on the team with Durand and Reggie. Durand and I are in the same year. We’re the only

two left of our class. Because we’re in the same year we’re usually in the same housing. For example last year Durand and I were neighbors and we were the only two who were always together and had a lot of time together. Reggie and I are both from North Carolina. I knew him before I came here so we go home, we plan trips together to go home. I go stay with him and he stays with me so we’re always together. I’ll never forget my visit to the University of Miami when I was in high school. I took a lot of visits before I committed here. The thing I won’t forget is the family atmosphere. I felt coming down here, especially with my team, is kind of like I just fit in which is exactly what I was looking for. In basketball you’re always getting better but sometimes with people it doesn’t always work or it’s just different from you. With this group here, we all fit together and I just felt at home. Check out more player profiles on the University of Miami’s athletics website at Fast Breaks Central.

Getting to Know U DeQUAN JONES | SR | STONE MOUNTAIN, GA. First memory of playing basketball?

Playing on my Fisher Price hoop in the yard.

I hate to admit it, but I love Dove chocolate.

If you walked into my dorm room, you’d see... Bob Marley posters

If I win the lottery, the first thing I’ll buy is ... Stocks.

The weirdest thing I’ve ever eaten is... Frog legs.

Best piece of advice for a teammate?

The harder you work during peace, the less you bleed during war.

LINA LILEIKITE | FR | LIEPAJA, LATVIA What is one thing on your bucket list? To make a parachute jump.

What is your favorite meal? Sushi or lasagne.

What is your all-time favorite Christmas present? Lego railway.

If you could visit one place, where would it be? The moon.

To be a Hurricane means...

To be hardworking and patient. Favorite sports besides tennis? Socer and volleyball.

TYLER HOBGOOD | FR | OXFORD, N.C. Favorite candy? Extreme Airheads.

Favorite class? Math.

Farthest you have traveled from home? Alaska with the team.

Favorite restaurant? Golden Corral.

Most watched TV show?

Animal Planet - Findings of Bigfoot.

Favorite accessory in your wardrobe? My watch.

2012 Hurricane Club Membership Renewals 2012 Annual Contributions: $5,166,338 2012 Active Hurricane Club Members: 2,380 40for40 Campaign Participants: 660 States Represented: 41 Countries Represented: 4 Goals • Raise $10.1 million for scholarship support • Increase Hurricane Club membership to 5,500 active members • Achieve a 40 percent participation rate among active members in the 40for40 Campaign in honor of the Hurricane Club’s 40th anniversary, with each member increasing his or her annual gift by $40

Important 2012 Dates • 01/01 Annual giving cycle begins • 01/31 Hurricane Club contributions due in full or on approved five-month payment plan from January 31 to May 31 • 01/31 Donation payment plan charge #1 • 02/15 Priority Points update #1 • 02/29 Donation payment plan charge #2 • 03/30 Donation payment plan charge #3 • 04/30 Donation payment plan charge #4 • 05/25 Donation payment plan charge #5 • 05/31 Priority deadline for Notre Dame and away-game tickets • 06/15 Priority Points update #2 • 11/15 Priority Points update #3

Please Note: • All Hurricane Club donations were due in full or on an approved payment plan by Tuesday, January 31, 2012. • Ticket invoices for 2012 Football & 2012-2013 men’s basketball will not be mailed until your Hurricane Club membership is renewed in full or on an approved payment plan. • Only Hurricane Club members at the Orange Level ($250+) and above are guaranteed priority to order tickets for the Miami vs. Notre Dame game, October 6, 2012 at Soldier Field in Chicago. The number of tickets allocated per giving level will be announced this June. Click here to Renew your 2012 Hurricane Club Membership Now Please use your Account ID and your security password. If you do not have your security password, use the password reminder link at sign in. Click here to download 2012 Giving Opportunities Brochure

Save the Date

Miami Hurricanes Football Practice, Saturday, March 24, 2012 Location: Ted Hendricks Stadium, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah, Fla. Time: 10 a.m. Miami Hurricanes Football Scrimmage, March 30, 2012 Location: Bishop Verot High School, 5598 Sunrise Drive, Fort Myers, Fla. 33919 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hurricane Club Southwest Florida Golf Classic and Luncheon, March 31, 2012 Location: Heritage Bay Golf and Country Club Registration: 7 a.m. Shotgun Start: 8 a.m. Lunch and Awards: 1 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities available. Click here to download the tournament brochure. Visit uhurricaneclub.com or call the Hurricane Club at 305-284-6699 to register 2012 Women’s Basketball Banquet, Thursday, April 19, 2012 Location: Newman Alumni Center, 6200 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL Time: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $50 Adults, $35 Children (12 and under) R.S.V.P. by Friday, April 13, 2012 by calling the Hurricane Club at 305-284-6699. ‘Canes Alumni Golf Tour U Miami Golf Classic and Dinner, Friday, May 4, 2012 Featuring Head Football Coach, Al Golden Location: Biltmore Golf Course Click here for more information or call 305-284-2872 to register.

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