Virginia may not be the same caliber team as some of Miami’s other foes this season, but a five touchdown win is a five touchdown win – a rarity for these present day Canes.
The Cavs have played the Canes tough these past few years. Overtime last season. A 48-0 shutout in the Orange Bowl finale. The previous three games decided by no more than ten points. Miami and Virginia usually bring out the best in each other.
A lot of talk last week about the OB massacre serving as revenge for this year’s contest. Whether that was the case or not, Miami rolled and played a very solid games; punt protection aside.
Jacory Harris, a respectable 18 of 31 for 232 yards and two touchdowns while spreading the ball around to a dozen different receivers. Graig Cooper, a career-high 152 yards and a score, while back ups Lee Chambers and Damien Berry combined for 120 yards and two scores. On special teams, Thearon Collier brought the thunder with a “Hester-esque” 60-yard punt return for score, evoking memories of some old school-style Hurricane football.
Defensively, Miami finally locked things down a bit, only giving up 149 yards to Virginia. The Canes shut down the run, giving up a paltry 74 yards, 34 of which came on one play.
The 52-17 beat down was arguably Miami’s most complete performance of the season, even with a majority of starters sidelined and unable to contribute. Regarding November, it was an all around solid start to this final month of football.
One down, three to go. Next up; North Carolina. Headed back to Chapel Hill, where the Canes have never won and are 0-2 since joining the ACC. Randy Shannon, the student, is winless against Butch Davis, the teacher. Safe to say this fact, combined with Miami’s road track record against the Heels, will add some motivation to this week’s showdown.
More important, Miami sits at 7-2 and is ranked No. 12 in the land. With three weeks remaining, the Canes still have an outside shot at an at-large BCS bid and should Georgia Tech lose to Duke this weekend, Miami is back in the driver’s seat for a shot at an ACC crown.
With the Tar Heels looming, which Canes team shows up this weekend? Has Miami ‘turned the corner’ regarding a 52-point outburst? Or was this simply a talented team feasting on the less talented? Virginia was definitely a different monster without the versatile Jameel Sewell behind center. Marc Verica made the Cavs one-dimensional and the running game isn’t what it was with Cedric Peerman handling the carries the past few years.
None of that is said to take any wind out of the Canes’ collective sail. This is a win that should be built upon, but needs to be taken in stride. Virginia was thought to be a decent defensive unit, but Miami still racked up 515 offensive yards. North Carolina is said to be an even better defensive unit. Can the Canes bring the thunder again? What will Mark Whipple draw up and on the defensive side of the ball, what does John Lovett have up his sleeve as a former North Carolina assistant?
Since the loss to Clemson and close call at Wake Forest, Shannon and staff flipped the script. Miami practices are shorter, featuring less contact and more film work. The Canes are battered and bruised, so coaches are focusing more on the mental side of things as the seasons winds down.
The formula worked for Virginia and hopefully will for North Carolina, Duke and South Florida. No Canes were injured against the Cavs and there’s talk of Eric Moncur being ready for the trek to Chapel Hill. More depth on the line is welcomed as much of the Miami defense has been decimated due to injury. Any added pressure the d-line can muster up will help an ailing linebacker corps and secondary. The Canes pass rush has been suspect as of late – especially against Clemson and Wake Forest.
The Miami that showed up for Virginia needs to be the Miami that shows up the rest of this season. The fluidity of the offense combined with the aggressive nature shown on defense proved to be the perfect storm, allowing for the Canes biggest win and offensive outpouring against a legitimate opponent since a 47-17 win at Wake Forest in 2005. (For obvious reasons, not ‘counting’ wins against the likes of Charleston Southern, FAMU, FIU, et al.)
Stay healthy, get mentally prepared, focus… and clean up those special teams issues.
Three winnable games remain, if the ‘right’ Miami chooses to show up.
Chris, no doubt all three are winnable but we must play the way we are capable of playing. The game Saturday worries me soo much. We really have not played well on the road this year and have Never won at UNC. Nice win to start at FSU, tanked it in Blacksburg, did not play well (except the D) at Central Florida, and of course just getting out of winston-salem. We win Saturday if we can establish the run. There D is soo good, if Jacory is getting sacked and we turn it over on the offensive side of the ball were done. Offensive Line better be ready to play. If we lose Saturday we'll be 7-3, the exact same record through 10 games as last year. I feel we have improved but our record would certainly not show it. Always great post Chris, keep up the great work. Give me some confidence for Saturday! GO CANES!!!
Great game! It was a fun game to watch, and really was the most complete game we have played this season.
A big hats off to Randy Shannon for recognizing that the team needed a break from grueling practices before the sun even rises. We played fresh and stayed healthy. Nice adjustment by Coach Shannon and hopefully we can continue to use that to stay fresh down the stretch here in November.
Let's go to Chapel Hill and come out with a big win over Butch Davis and the Tar Heels! Go Canes!
Carl
The Canes played well Saturday. I think Jacory Harris is still growing as a player and lets not forget he is still young. The defense played well, but Special teams was off a bit. Is there really a perfect game? No, even the top teams have been struggling and winning. We are really playing as a team for the 1st time in a couple of years. Randy Shannon has put together a good team. I'm hoping for a 10-2 season and a nice bowl game. As I've always said 12-0 or 0-12 season-I'm a fan.
I love this blog – most of all I love that my company's internet does not block it. If I happen to miss a game, I always look forward to a fellow cane fan telling me what i missed. Heather Dinich can't cut it and SI shows the canes no love. Keep up the good work bro
I was in SEC 135 what a game! This season has been so FUN! "I have only been a season ticket holder for 3 years"
Nice to see the program headed in the right direction.
2010 BCS for sure!!!!
This was a fun game to be at. What ever Shannon said to the Canes at the Half must have worked because the Canes pounded the Cavs in the second half. It reminded me of old times at the Orange Bowl.
I would love to see a huge crowd at Joe Robbie for the last game of the year at home. But, we all know that we will have to wait until next year for the bandwagon jumpers to get on this train.
The Canes will beat Butch and his heels this time around.
"Bring on the Heels!"
Yea, UNC will be a hard game to watch. Butch Davis is a good coach and knows how to play Miami. Hopefully we will play like last week. We are playing with a bit more confidence and please let both the Offensive and Defensive line show up on the same day….
One thought, we seem to be beating teams that humiliated us the last 3 years…This is the year to beat UNC.
The U
I do hope the weather is nice for the game Saturday, which could be a factor.
Ultimate U Fan, you are so right…Butch Davis will beat the Canes again! He knows EXACTLY how to beat that wannabe coach we have!
Miami loses this game by 3 or less points!
Butch Davis will beat the Canes again! He knows EXACTLY how to beat that wannabe coach we have!
… for all Butch's infinite wisdom he has (1) less national championship rings than Randy Shannon, (2) has been outrecruited by Shannon since both took over their respective programs and (3) Butch lost to GT, UVA and FSU this year and is an unranked three-loss team while Miami is 7-2 and is No. 12 in the land… but keep hating on Randy. Classic.
I don't doubt Butch as a coach and respect what he did at Miami… but lame to refer to Shannon as a 'wannabe coach' when he took over a dog of a program in 2007.
Hell, Butch inherited more talent at UNC that year than Randy did at UM.
Lets be nice about Randy Shannon. He inherited a team in shambles which included Marve….
He's worked hard to rebuild and it takes time. Butch Davis is a good coach, but Shannon has matured over the last 3 years. It will be a close game, but lets support the Canes. It should be an exciting game, which is more than anyone can say about UF and the SEC season.
Anonymous is wrong – Coach Shannon will win against UNC.
Shannon has done a great job, and thankfully will be getting a contract extention soon after the season ends.
Go Canes!
Carl Garcia
I apologize for criticizing and questioning Randy Shannon and his hiring in the past.
Carl Garcia
I had the privilege to meet Randy Shannon 3 years ago and he was so nice, polite, well spoken and relaxed. He said he had to rebuild the team from the QB up. He had a rocky start, but his coaching skills will develop over time. He has brought class back to the program. Plus, I gather from a friend who attends UM-he sits on the back of the bus that takes students to class to make sure players are attending. He does need to work on his disguises I gather. I like the fact that Jacory walked away last week when his helmet was knocked off and brushed off the incident. The team has come a long way. come on Canes fans, lets stay positive and we may win at UNC.