14. Miami

Every Friday night this summer, members of the football team would don black T-shirts and, in the words of senior quarterback Ryan Clement, "try and look big" as they accompanied police through some of the city's most dangerous neighborhoods. The weekly ride-alongs were part of Canes on Patrol, a community-service project meant to repair the team's outlaw image. And while Canes on Patrol may sound at first like a Just Say No program brought to you by the Medellín cartel, Miami fans can take heart. In contrast to the summer of '96, when five Miami players were arrested on felony charges, Hurricanes spent the summer of '97 exclusively in the front seat of patrol cars.

One of the CoPs, in fact, was Jammi German, the talented but troubled receiver whose fortunes might well dictate those of the offense this fall. Two seasons ago German led Miami with 41 catches for 730 yards, but he missed all of '96 after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and being suspended by coach Butch Davis for nine games for his role in instigating an on-campus brawl. (He pleaded no contest to burglary and battery charges and was sentenced to two years' probation and 200 hours of community service.)

"If people are going to judge me by one incident, then those people don't know me," says German. "I just want to go out and have fun this year. Right now I'm feeling like a kid in a candy store."

Clement seems equally excited to have his primary receiver back in action. "I feel as comfortable with Jammi as I've ever felt about anybody," says Clement, a third-year starter who completed 60.3% of his passes for 2,257 yards last season.

Try as he might, though, German still wears the mark of 'Cane in the eyes of many. A trial continued until Sept. 10 of two Miami-based agents charged with "committing unlicensed athletic agent activity," a third-degree felony, and misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to commit perjury will likely reveal whether German misled NCAA investigators about a December 1995 limo ride he took with two teammates that was allegedly paid for by one of the agents. If the NCAA finds inconsistencies between German's court testimony and what he told its investigators, he could face suspension, which would weaken a receiving corps already depleted by Yatil Green's departure to the NFL. (After SI went to press, the university suspended German pending further review by the NCAA. It was unclear if he will miss any games).

Green was one of four Miami juniors who moved on to the professional ranks after last season. The others were part of a defense that has only three starters back. Left to fill the gaps are youngsters like starting right tackle Damione Lewis, a redshirt freshman, who needs to develop in a hurry.

As for the offense, leading rusher Dyral McMillan (565 yards last season) is No. 1 on the depth chart at tailback for now, but talented sophomore Edgerrin James, with his 446 yards and 6.3-yards- per-rush average in '96, could win the job in preseason practice. Either one will have the luxury of running behind a solid line that has three starters back.

If the Hurricanes can pull off an upset or two, they might fulfill German's dream of winning the national championship on Jan. 2 in the Orange Bowl. That's a bit of a long shot, but until this summer, so was the prospect of Miami football players riding around in police cars helping keep their city free of crime.
—Grant Wahl

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