UM's Shannon: Harris is our starting QB

By Jorge Milian Palm Beach Post Staff WriterCORAL GABLES ? University of Miami coach Randy Shannon has insisted for the last three weeks that quarterback Jacory Harris would be the Hurricanes' starter once he recovered from a concussion.That return is expected to take place at noon on Saturday when the Hurricanes (7-4, 5-3 ACC) close the 2010 regular season against South Florida (6-4, 3-3 Big East) at Sun Life Stadium.Shannon said that Harris, who has not played in three games since getting hurt against Virginia on Oct. 30, will practice this week with no restrictions. Harris practiced last week but wore a green, no-contact jersey."If he's ready, he's the starter like always," Shannon said Sunday.Harris suited up for the 31-17 loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday, but did not see action. Freshman Stephen Morris started his third consecutive game, but threw three fourth-quarter interceptions as the Hurricanes were eliminated from the Atlantic Coast Conference championship race.The defeat dropped Miami out of the Associated Press Top 25 for the third time this season.Whether it's with Harris or Morris, the Hurricanes don't have a lot to play for. With its aspirations of winning the ACC crown and earning a Bowl Championship Series berth now vanished, UM is left to wait for a lower-tier bowl game to come calling.Miami seems most likely to end up in El Paso, Texas, for the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31. ESPN projects a Sun Bowl match-up between the Hurricanes and either California or Notre Dame.UM could also end up at the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando where it lost to Wisconsin last December or other bowls in Charlotte, N.C. or Nashville, Tenn. With Saturday's loss, it's unlikely the Hurricanes will be considered by the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, which has first pick among ACC teams not including the league champion."I really don't get involved in it," Shannon said when asked if he had a bowl preference.Against Virginia Tech, the Hurricanes were hampered by mistakes that have dogged them all season. UM committed a season-high six turnovers, were flagged for critical penalties and had several key dropped passes.Drops have been a recurring problem all season, but Shannon said he it's happening."Travis (Benjamin) had one, Aldarius (Johnson) had one in the end zone," Shannon said.Shannon is completing his fourth year as UM coach. Asked if he had expected to play in the ACC title game by now, Shannon spoke of a schedule which he calledShannon pointed to next year's slate which includes out-of-conference meetings with Ohio State, Kansas State and USF. UM also has ACC road games in 2011 at Florida State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina."You look at other schedules across the country, they have two or three (difficult games)," said Shannon, adding that,

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