’Canes defense generating turnovers Panthers’ Davis salutes Broyles

CORAL GABLES — While the Miami Hurricanes face several questions on offense — namely, who will be the starting quarterback? — Miami does know its defense has the potential to be among the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Hurricanes return two former freshman All-American linebackers in Shaq Quarterman and Mike Pinckney and the defensive line features talented veterans in Chad Thomas, Kendrick Norton, RJ McIntosh and Joe Jackson, all of whom have earned praise from teammates throughout camp.

Still, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz has said multiple times that the next step he wants his defense to take is to create turnovers and scoring opportunities of their own.

It seems as if that has happened throughout camp, with Mark Richt noting that while the offense was sharper in Saturday’s second scrimmage of camp, the unit still had multiple turnovers with quarterbacks Malik Rosier and Evan Shirreffs both throwing interceptions and receiver Dayall Harris having a ball knocked loose.

Richt noted Rosier’s interception came on a pass where he was being hit by a defender, but Shirreffs threw his pick on a deep ball that a defender was able to get to rather easily. For an offensive coach, that’s all frustrating. “Our defense has knocked out more balls than I’ve ever seen in a camp,” Richt said. “Hey, it’s great the defense is doing that, but you have to secure the ball.”

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MIAMI — FIU’s Butch Davis may never have been a football coach if had it not been for Frank Broyles, who passed away Monday at age 92 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

Even though he was born in Oklahoma, Davis grew up rooting for the Arkansas Razorbacks teams coached by Broyles, a College Football Hall of Famer.

Davis was 13 when Broyles led the 1964 Razorbacks to a national title, the last Arkansas team to finish with a perfect record.

Given that he was a fan of the Hogs, it’s no surprise that Davis, who was an all-state defensive end and fullback, signed with Broyles and Arkansas.

“I had enormous respect for Coach Broyles,” Davis said. “He was a charismatic recruiter and one of those Southern gentlemen.”

After a strong freshman year, Davis’ playing career was derailed by a knee injury the following spring. He tried to rush back for the season opener against Stanford and its superstar senior quarterback, Jim Plunkett. But one week before that game, Davis reinjured his knee, this time rupturing his ACL.

What happened Davis.

“He could have run me off,” Davis said could’ve taken away my scholarship.”

Instead, Broyles convinced Davis, the son of a high school coach, to help out the team as a volunteer assistant.

Davis, a business major at the time, found his calling. next surprised

Walter Villa, Miami Herald an eternally grateful of Broyles. “He