Happy Tuesday, Canes. Here’s your news of the day:

WR Sam Bruce dismissed from Miami Hurricanes Football Program

New broke mid-day on Monday that Freshman WR Sam Bruce had been dismissed from the Hurricanes Football Program.

Bruce, the highest rated player in the 2016 recruiting class, never seemed to get on solid footing at Miami. Bruce withdrew from St. Thomas Aquinas after a picture of him with a firearm surfaced, and finished his HS credits at Westlake Prep. For this incident, Bruce was suspended for 3 games to open his Miami career.

While suspended, Bruce broke his leg playing basketball. Bruce reached out to a Miami Herald writer to dispute this incident, saying he broke his leg in a “freak bike accident”, but that had not been mentioned by any previous report on the incident. After surgery to fix that injury, Bruce was on track for a redshirt in 2016, with 2017 being the first time he’d hit the field.

However, due to repeated “violations of team rules”, Bruce was dismissed on Monday. In the release on this dismissal, UM stated that Bruce failed to meet “the clear expectations established to be a part of the Miami football program”. Yeah, that’s not good.

While we wish Sam the best in his future academic and athletic pursuits, this is yet another instance of a player coming to Miami with lofty ranking and potential who failed to reach it — any of it in Bruce’s case as he never suited up for the Canes.

There will most likely be recruiting fallout from this — Miami is going to need to replace Bruce with another WR in this class — but we’ll get into that more at a later date.

Canes battling the injury bug

It had been stated that Brad Kaaya was dealing with a shoulder injury during/after the FSU game. On Monday, more injury news came out.

Citing a source, Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post has reported that, in addition to Kaaya’s shoulder injury, OT Sunny Odogwu is out indefinitely with a leg/ankle injury, DE Chad Thomas has a broken hand (which he played the latter part of the FSU game with), WR Stacy Coley and DL Gerald Willis have knee sprains, and LB Shaq Quarterman has a torn labrum in his shoulder.

That’s a lot of injuries.

Odogwu, who left the game with his injury, seems to be the most seriously injured of these players. Thomas returned to the game and played the final portion few series with his broken hand wrapped. Trent Harris played with a protective wrap on his previously-broken hand, so that’s something you can work through. Coley and Willis will have to see how bad their knee sprains are. And Quarterman’s pain tolerance will probably be a key factor in determining his availability in the near future.

So, 6 starting level players are injured for Miami. This can be problematic, because while there’s talent on the Canes team, there isn’t great depth. Or, any depth at all, really.

Of the reportedly injured players, Thomas is the one most easily replaced. Miami’s DL has become a point of strength this season, with a number of players up front making plays.

Conversely, the hardest player to replace is Odogwu. With few true tackles on this roster — and with sophomore Tyree St. Louis having a downright dreadful game in relief of Odogwu on Saturday night — Odogwu’s absence has already been felt.

Injuries are a part of football. Now, the way the backups step up will be a key factor in the short and long term success Miami has this season.

Canes fall in the polls

Just quickly, but following the loss to Florida State, Miami is now 16th in the Associated Press top 25

And 17th in the Amway Coaches Poll

Whatever. Go win games. The rest will work itself out.

BUC no more: Miami announces new name for on-campus “Multipurpose entertainment facility”

After years under the moniker “Bank United Center”, the University of Miami officially announced that the multipurpose facility has been renamed the Watsco Center.

A leading manufacturer of HVAC systems, Watsco now has naming rights to this facility. I remember it as the Convocation Center — that’s what it was called when I was a student. Many will obviously remember it as the “Bank United Center”. But, whatever the name of the building, the Miami Hurricanes Men’s Basketball team will make it their home, as well concerts and other events, including graduation.

Financials for this naming deal were not disclosed, but this fits in the paradigm of Athletic Director Blake James’ continued monetization of Miami Hurricanes athletics. Bravo, sir.

I can’t wait to “Pack the HVAC” later this year for some good, exciting, winning Miami Hurricanes Basketball.

Quick Hitters

Rounding the turn and heading down the back stretch.

Canes alum TE Greg Olsen had himself QUITE the game on Monday Night Football last night.

Speaking of #ProCanes, here’s Devin’s ProCanes recap from week 5 of the NFL

Stacy Coley. ACC Receiver of the Week.

Peter Ariz of CanesInSight.com reported that Miami is in the picture for 4-star CB Latavious Brini. If you remember, Brini decommitted from Georgia last week.

Pro Football Focus says Miami is the 25th best team in CFB right now

And, if you missed yesterday’s news and notes, look no further than the link below:

That’s what I’ve got for today.

Seeya.

Go Canes!