Five weeks into the 2012 season the Miami Hurricanes are a 4-1 football team. Before going any further, take a deep breath and absorb that for a minute.
UM is headed to Chicago to take on Notre Dame at Soldier Field next weekend and few saw “The U” as a one-loss team entering that showdown, yet that’s the reality.
A full recap of this exciting back-and-forth with North Carolina State is forthcoming, but for now a few knee-jerk thoughts on the win.
For starters, enjoy it, Hurricane Nation. Dive in, soak it up and embrace Miami’s best start since 2009.
Wins have been few and far between the past half decade so this is extra special.
Al Golden took over a 35-29 squad and went 6-6 year one of his tenure. Based on that, Miami fans have zero business turning their nose up at any win in this day and age as they are simply too few and far between.
In the past, you could bitch about style points or not winning by enough, but as the Canes rebuild, it’s about the win – as that’s something for coaches and players to build on – as well as heart, a can-do attitude, no quit and true grit. This team grows up every week, which hasn’t been the case in years.
Down 36-19 last week at Georgia Tech, Miami rattled off 17 to tie things up and after a big 4th-and-1 stop in overtime, put up six more for 23 unanswered en route to victory.
Today, another quick start against NC State and a 23-7 lead after one, which like last week was squandered when the Miami offense went into a hole. Four turnovers with no points netted off so many changes in possession.
Midway through the third quarter, that lead was cut to 23-21 and momentum was slipping away. As this happened, the focus remained on the missed offensive opportunities and points given up to the Wolfpack instead of everything the Canes did to stay in the game.
Miami “should’ve” put this thing away! How did NC State narrow the gap? Unacceptable!
While lamenting what UM didn’t do, fans missed all those little things the Canes did do to maintain a lead, to continue scrapping and to get the big win.
Nursing a two-point lead, the Canes went on a ten-play, ninety-yard drive late in the third quarter, where Duke Johnson eventually punched in the score from four yards out.
Earlier in the drive, Stephen Morris again hit Phillip Dorsett for a monster pick-up on 3rd and 8, this time for forty yards, keeping things moving the right direction.
NC State responded and mounted a similar drive, going ninety-seven yards over thirteen plays, and making it a 30-27 ball game, but Miami again reacted. Morris back to Dorsett for forty-six yards and an eventual touchdown to Rashawn Scott to make it a ten-point game.
The Wolfpack came back with ten of their own, complete with another Jake Wieclaw field goal miss between scores. The Canes veteran kicker hadn’t missed one in his career before a late-game whiff at Georgia Tech last week. He missed three today in a must-win game against NC State.
Tied 37-37, Miami had another shot. Five plays and a punt. NC State had their shot and Glennon turned it over. Under a minute to play, the Canes took over.
Morris to Dorsett, incomplete. James rushed for a loss of one. 3rd and 11 from the UM thirty-eight, Morris rolled right, bought time, squared his hips and let it rip. Seconds later, Dorsett hauled in the sixty-two yard touchdown and the game was all but over.
Much like last week, a quick some perusing of social media sites and message boards, countless fans doing their best Skip Bayless. Seems everyone wants to be first in line with the told-you-so approach. Instead of reveling in two exciting wins, some are lining up and building their case for that next loss – working hard to prove that this Miami team is flawed and will eventually unravel.
Seems half a decade of losing has broken spirits and left many in a position where they no longer remember how to appreciate a win – which is actually worse than losing itself; that inability to appreciate a win.
No one is pounding the drum that this squad will go 11-1 in the regular season. Several tough match ups are still on deck. Notre Dame. Florida State. Virginia Tech. Even supposed ‘lesser’ foes like North Carolina, Virginia, South Florida and Duke aren’t gimmies.
Every week is a one-game season and three of Miami’s four wins this season could’ve easily gone the other way. Boston College, Georgia Tech and NC State ALL could’ve easily taken out Miami, but in the end, didn’t.
No, in the end, the Canes found a way in each and every game. The program rose to the occasion. They took on the personality of Coach Golden and played with some bounce in their step. UM showed heart, left it all on the field and did just about every other sports cliche you could imagine when scrapping back and fighting down the stretch.
Fans countlessly and relentlessly rail on defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio and this young defense, but lost in all that is the punishment Miami’s offense is laying on other teams.
If UM’s defense is a joke, what does that say for NC State, Georgia Tech and Boston College? The Canes bring a first-year quarterback, green receivers, a true freshman running back and a senior who has been pretty good, but far from great – and UM is rolling heads.
Tommy Streeter, Lamar Miller and Brandon Washington are all gone, yet Miami hasn’t missed a beat.
Morris broke a slew of records today – not just Miami records, but ACC records as well. 566 passing yards and five touchdowns on forty-two attempts — after a 436-yard performance at Georgia Tech last week.
All the talk about the Yellow Jackets’ potent triple option, but it was the Canes who had a 609-yard afternoon in Atlanta last Saturday. Week one in Chestnut Hill, UM put up 415 yards on BC and Johnson carried seven times for 135 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate game.
There’s a boatload of football left to be played this season. Seven games and a few truly formidable foes. Miami will drop a few, but they’re going to win some more, as well.
No one is screaming “national championship” or is beating a drum that the Canes are “back”. It’s also know that UM is a few plays from 1-4, but instead did enough to propel itself to 4-1 — so that’s the focus.
After so many years in the basement, why would any true UM fan want to play the “what if” game in a negative way?
Revel in this wins. Enjoy this explosive offense and realize that it wasn’t too many years back that Miami actually suited up a quarterback who went 1-of-14 against NC State, in a sluggish and embarrassing overtime loss.
The Canes have work to do, but this program is on the right track and wins like those the past two weeks are wonderful building blocks in “the process”. They give Golden and staff something to sell and prove to the kids that what their coaches are preaching is actually working.
Guys are buying in and the program as a whole is inching closer and closer to where it wants to be.
Notre Dame is officially on deck. 7:30pm ET kickoff and a nationally televised showdown on NBC. The world will be watching and based on these last two comeback wins, Miami will enter this weekend with a true belief that anything is possible.
If these Canes can put in the work, succeed and believe, then so should you. It’s that simple.
Christian Bello has been covering Miami Hurricanes athletics since the mid-1990s. After spending almost a decade as a columnist for CanesTime, he launched allCanesBlog.com. – the official blog for allCanes.com : The #1 Canes Shop Since 1959. Bello has joined up with XOFan.com and will be a guest columnist at CaneInsider.com this fall. Follow him on Twitter @ChristianRBello.
Thank you, this is the perfect way to look st this game and let’s take it game by game,
Next weeks game has no bearing on our ACC standing there for is meaningless if we lose
And giving the opponents stature a win would be huge, happy and hopeful Canes fan”’
I will take any win for the Canes this year. As said many times on this blog, “Other Miami teams would of quit” after what has happened so far. I believe Al Golden’s coaching is showing up in the player that he is teaching. Let’s go take down Notre Dame and prove we belong.
Michael – The lack of quit in this team is bigger than some want to admit. It’s an attitude and culture change that is absolutely necessary if Miami is ever going to become elite again. Said it earlier, but you have to jump from average to ‘good’ — you don’t just become ‘great’. Good has to come first.
This is the right perspective. I’m a longtime ‘Cane/alum and one in the ‘negative’ camp, still being cautious of the losses, mental errors, bad mistakes, etc that are yet to come. But I only feel this way when I hear others beating the drum and stating Miami is back. I’m just flat-out tired of hearing that word. Win the ACC then we’ll talk about being back. All the negatives aside, this was a great win today. This is a young ‘Canes team that’s consistently finding a way to win despite the odds. The trajectory is right, and in due time we will indeed having the conversation about being back. For now, the ‘Canes laid another brick in today’s victory.
Ryan – All the ‘back’ talk is so premature, it’s a joke. Saw a thread on a message board today talking about the ACCCG and how it could speed up the NCAA decision if the ACC put pressure on them to get an answers since Miami was on the path to represent the Coastal, etc.
Please.
3-0 in conference and needed mini-miracles to beat Boston College, Georgia Tech and NC State. Will take those breaks and bounces of 0-3 ANY day of the week and it’s great to be 4-1 instead of 1-4, but let’s have some perspective.
Better Miami teams have been on track to reach the ACCCG and failed (14-10 against an sub-par GT team in 2005 ring a bell?)
Another thread talked about Stephen Morris potentially going down as the best UM quarterback ever. Seriously.
So a few weeks ago this is pegged as a 4-8 team and during the Bethune game fans were clamoring for Ryan Williams because of spotty quarterback play.
Eight quarters later, they’re are some now talking about winning the Coastal and Morris being the G.O.A.T.
I mean this in the nicest possible way, but people need to shut the f**k up and enjoy this thing one game … one quarter … and one snap at a time.
What a wonderful dilemma to have in late November, deciding to fall on a sword and missing the ACCCG and a bowl game — so talk about that then. Not at the end of September and not when the next three conference games are North Carolina, Florida State and Virginia Tech. Run that gauntlet and if / when 6-0 in ACC play, THEN start dreaming about December.
First, you can’t have it both ways. It can’t be that fans are nitpicking as if it’s the 2002 season (Beast’s post) and we’re acting as if it’s expected to be 4-1 or 5-0, that everyone is in an uproar due to unrealistic expectations, being nattering naybobs of negativism, AND it’s due to the fact that the fans spirits have been broken and this is a whole new thing where we don’t know how to enjoy wins anymore. There are two completely inconsistent arguments.
Which is it?
Militancy because we’re our expectations are that of when Miami was on top, or broken spirits? I would venture to suggest that the more broken the spirit, the more likely they would have lowered expectations, that they would be happy with just a W and no longer looking for areas of improvement, that we’d be so malnourished that we’d be enjoined in a circular firing squad just berating one another over simple analysis or pointing out areas where we could improve (improve! Improve as a 4-1 team! Exciting to think we could become more consistent on offense, better executing at the tight end position, actually stopping someone on the back end on defense, etc.) as indications that Miami fans are broken.
It’s unbecoming to the fanbase to say such things and it’s really out of touch with who we are. We’ve always been militant, with high expectations, who appreciate the win but realize we can do better. It’s nothing new and it’s not because we’re broken. But the attitude of some trying to shame others for doing so certainly is a new development since 2007.
First up, Beast doesn’t write here anymore. He’s over at CaneInsider. Canes305 is the resident blogger and wrote the piece you speak of.
To your point, in this case, the more broken the spirit doesn’t mean lowered expectations. If anything, losing has caused fans to check out and to simply live in the past, turning their backs on the program until the ship is righted.
I have this debate with a close friend weekly. We’re both born and raised Miami fans. Went to games our whole lives. Saw four titles between fourth grade and our senior years of high school.
I take what I feel is a logical approach to the state of the program, while he lives in meathead mode — incessantly bitching about everything.
Once 7-6 seasons became the norm, he dropped his season tickets. The UM pride went out the window and he has no more ‘bragging rights’ over other friends or rivals, so instead of supporting the rebuild, he puts his fanhood on the shelf and will leave it there until Miami is “back”.
He lives in Palm Beach and DID NOT go to the Bethune-Cookman opener, but texted me all game stating that Miami “sucks” … that we USED to beat team like this 52-3. That 38-10 was an embarrassment. He has no faith in Golden or the process and simply believes that “we’re Miami” so we should just win games by showing up.
He forwarded me the Sileo rant days later, agreeing with that idiot, as well as the image of an empty Sun Life for the opener – missing the irony that he’s part of the problem.
Not a peep out of him the past two weeks with the wins, but bet your ass should Notre Dame get it done next week, he’ll be ranting and raving about the loss being unacceptable.
Again, I just don’t understand this culture of sports fan that takes NO joy in a win the past two weeks and does nothing but state that the team sucks, got lucky, that the opponents weren’t any good, et al.
NO fan right now is beating a drum that this is a national championship caliber team. We all knew that 5-7 to 8-4 was the route this season would most likely go — and we just wanted to see measurable improvement during that process.
Miami has shown tremendous heart the past two weeks and can now ride some momentum into Notre Dame. The Canes SHOULD lose that game — but don’t tell them that. The kids are feeding off their recent success and the culture at Miami is again shifting back towards that of a winner. Let’s appreciate that and move forward.
Yes, we all want better production and more execution — but do the simple math. This defense is insanely young and lacks depth. Miami has zero pass rush and if your line can’t get to the quarterback, he has time to pick apart your secondary and linebackers.
At linebacker, Miami was without Denzel Perryman and Jimmy Gaines, who are VERY NEEDED.
As for the secondary, it’s either uber talented, albeit green kids like Howard, Bush, Crawford, etc. — or veterans who were never that good to begin with. (There’s a reason McGee and Rodgers have been on the bench the majority of their careers … and Telemaque never became that next-level guy. Highsmith is a converted quarterback and Swasey is just another body back there.)
This defense isn’t supposed to be anything special and they are giving up a lot of points and yards — but they’re also growing up. They’re making crucial stops. They’re becoming ball hawks. They’re making plays.
If you chart the growth and don’t just make it a points / yards situation, you can see that these Canes ARE getting better weekly. Especially based on what they’re working with.
This is spot on
Seems half a decade of losing has broken spirits and left many in a position where they no longer remember how to appreciate a win – which is actually worse than losing itself; that inability to appreciate a win.
I was proven wrong again, i thought the Canes would lose, i underestimated how bad NCst was. However, with that said, lets look at who we have managed to “defeat”. The mighty Eagles of BC sit at 1-3. Bethune Cookman, doesnt even deserve to be touted as a win, that deadly GT team just finished getting BLOWN out by Middle Tenn St and has tallied just two wins(both over talentless teams) and of course NCst lost the only matchup even worth showing up for. And the ONE matchup these Canes have faced that were wroth a damn? Yea a complete DISMANTLING by KSt.
You keep wanting to tout these wins as building blocks. Look at the opponent. You dont build on wins over trash teams. All these ‘wins’ do is show how far this Canes team is from being where they should be. FSU is a few months away from going undefeated while this Miami team celebrates a win over garbage, nothing teams like Bethune Cookman and a 1 win Boston College. You shouldnt be pointing out what the Canes did right, because its all under false pretenses. The teams the Canes have played are FAR more responsible for the 4-1 record than the actual Canes themselves.
Oh and for the record, im ECSTATIC these Canes are 4-1 but i have yet to see even one positive from any of these wins. Heart and a “no quit attitude” doesn’t cut it. EVERY athlete should have a never die attitude.
Jeez, man. Pathetic outlook. Sorry. You’re “ecstatic” to be 4-1 — but don’t see ONE POSITIVE from any of the win?
News flash, yes, every athlete SHOULD have a never-say-die attitude — but that hasn’t been the case at Miami for years. Just go back and look at 2006 through 2010. Didn’t go 35-29 during that stretch because of heart and guys refusing to quit.
Part of the process is changing the culture. You have to get ‘good’ again before you graduate to ‘great’.
Based on expectations this year, Miami is exceeding them, is playing sixty minutes and is willing itself to victory. That will go a long way in the growth of this program — especially with so many underclassmen being relied on.
Funny how Georgia Tech was a ‘good’ team but when Miami beat them they were suddenly garbage.
All this week the talk was NC State being a solid team and their 6-foot-3 defensive backs and roving safeties giving Miami’s offense fits. Mike Archer was going to have a plan for Miami, as was Jon Tenuta. They had weeks to plan as they’d played nobodies and were going to throw some serious wrinkles at UM.
Then Morris has a career day and again, they suck. Not that Miami’s offense MADE them look bad — they’re just flat-out bad.
Boston College just put up 31 points and 420 yards on Clemson yesterday and Rettig passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Everyone talked about BC being pretty good when UM went up there – but after the Canes win, the Eagles were “garbage”. Showed yesterday they’re a pretty good bunch against defending ACC Champs, Clemson.
The best way to look at it is so simple. Last season how many games did we lose in the 4th quarter? How many times did we find ways to LOSE games? Seems to me, that this year we’re finding ways to WIN those games. YES the defense is giving up a ton of points and yardage. HALF your defense has a season or less under their belt. But you see growth. You see minor improvements. To me the biggest one is turnovers. Guys trying to strip the ball. Key interceptions. 4th down stops when they are critical. Slowly those kids WILL improve. I was reading the blogs during the game. I was disgusted by people yelling to bench Morris. Seriously?!?! The guy has done everything in his power to make sure that team wins games. Big play after big play is all I see from this kid. Game winning throw today after escaping a sack and buying time. 90+ yard drive in under 2 minutes to tie last week. Over 1000 yards passing in two weeks. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM THE KID?!?! I know we could just as easily be 1-4 but i’m all grins at 4-1. Not because of our record but because I see the growth and potential and I know our future is bright. Get on board or get the @!#?# off because the bandwagon will be full when you realize you we’re an idiot for doubting the team, the coach, and the process. ND is up next and I TRULY BELIEVE we can come out of there with a win. And people need to relax with the “we’re back” talk. No. We won a few games. We’re back when we put that 6th ring on. Just my two cents.
Jose – Exactly. Stated earlier this year that part of the growth process needed to be winning games late and winning the kinds of games there for the taking that Miami gave away last year. Maryland. Kansas State. Virginia Tech. Even Virginia and Florida State. Those five games all got away … though Miami did steal a few in North Carolina and South Florida. Still, gave away more than it got and that was the difference between 6-6 and 9-3.
Defense is giving up too many yards and points – but two weeks in a row now, it also got some crucial stops and especially yesterday, forced some serious turnovers, though the offense didn’t capitalize four of five times.
Miami is far from “back” – but the first step is chartable growth and these Canes are growing weekly. Kudos to Al and staff for getting it done and changing the culture.
Chris – always spot on as usual! Great win for a young team. My hope is that they continue to play well with fire. While realistic about their chances against very good Notre Dame and FSU teams, I’m savoring the wins and continue to see improvement. That’s really all we can ask of the coaches and players after so many down years. UM is on the right trajectory and this is a long process. Thanks for your continued coverage, insight and analysis!
Go Canes!
Jake
yes…agree..and living on left coast as u are it kills me to not be at that game…great win a lot to build on but one game at time…interesting note that sticks with me is what coach said our goals are internal…canes 3-0 acc…it is up for grabs what are those goals ?…ksate nd meaningless games in route to acc champ game…side note look at clemson and fsu games this weekend stellar i think not…acc wide open? go UM!
Definitely a great win, and the players fought hard throughout. So I will not criticize any of the players because this team is so young that anything we get north of 5 wins this year is a bonus to me.
But I do have to challenge some coaching decisions, even from Al. Early in the 2nd half we get the last 3 and out we were going to see, yet somehow we send in 3 guys to rush the punter on a 4th and 1? Are you kidding me? That decision completely changed momentum around and guaranteed that we were going to be in for a long afternoon.
We know Wieclaw has missed his last 3 kicks going back to the horrible one against Ga. Tech. So when we were up 37-34 I had to assume that on 3rd and 7 from the 25 yd line (or thereabouts) we were in 4 down territory. A FG would be helpful, but anyone with eyes knows that the best chance we had at winning was going up 2 scores. So when we don’t convert I was pretty disappointed that he sent a kicker out there that was really shaky. I know about trusting your players, but that was a bad decision. Even if he makes it, we’re only up 6 points. Very questionable.
Despite all the yards we put up, I still am baffled at some of Fisch’s play calling. Hard to complain about an offense that puts up over 600 yds, but a lot of that came on really huge plays against a terrible secondary. But I can criticize Fisch’s clock management. After NC State tied the game (and I was equally baffled that O’Brien went for a 51 yd FG attempt. He made it, but I looked at that as a gift. He goes for the first down when they basically had 2 cracks at 5 yds, then State had a good chance of bleeding the clock and putting us in a position where we need a TD to win) we had 1:57 to go, 2 TO’s and anyone with a brain is thinking…get a score and don’t let them get the ball back. So after we get two successful plays in :35 seconds, does Fisch even think of slowing the game down? No. Pass, incomplete, Pass, incomplete, Pass, incomplete. A great punt by Botts does pin them back, and a bad route by State gives us the ball again after the inexplicable INT, but that was horrible clock management by Fisch and someday that is going to burn us.
So when we get the ball back, we get a 2nd down and long and then he finally decides to run the ball with 30 seconds to go? Really? The fact is, Morris bailed us out with his cannon (63 yds in the air while on the move) and the State secondary letting Dorsett get behind them. How that happened I will never know but I’ll take it.
Great win for the players. Not a great day for the coaches. And I am not a basher of the defensive coordinator. Our best player is hurt, our DL cannot get consistent pressure and our safeties leave a lot to be desired yet we still had 5 takeaways and won the game.
Andrew – A lot of your points are things I plan to bring up in the recap. Especially running with James on second down after the Finnie interception. A total head-scratcher of a play. Same with the last field goal attempt. Three points would’ve only given the Canes a six-point lead and we all knew this was a game of touchdowns. Would’ve been a great fourth-down opp to go for it again as it could’ve put things away.
There were definitely some suspects plays called offensively and again, it worked, so no need to be over-critical … but at some point it won’t work, so must point it out now.
It’s great for the kids to break records ,but I think breaking the rushing records with the backs we have would have more bearings on the games! RUN THE BALL MORE ,WITH THE DUKE PLEASE!!!!
Tim – A safe bet that teams are coming into the game with a game plan to shut down Duke and James. NC State’s goal was to shut down the run yesterday, which opened up the passing game. Based on what teams have seen out of Duke and his explosive ways, it’s going to be expected. GT played that way, too – which was why Morris had a field day in Atlanta, as well.
I think middle Tennessee showed everybody why we threw the ball well on GT!!!! If you have the talent at the running back position like the canes do you def make teams stop you don’t quit running the ball.its one thing to try to stop the run but actually doing it is another.
Got my tickets to Chi-town and anxiously awaiting a Notre Dame piece! Go CANES!!
Golden is a good in game coach, example the late game punt and kicking deep after the winning touchdown.
Yes, Miami’s HIGH OCTANE offense, momentarily, went ” into the abyss, ” yet that D’ Onofrio’s D-unit didn’t make Cane matters any easier for the Green n’ Orange squad!
Thankfully, the Hurricane defense had their fair share of take aways yesterday!!
Bottom line is Notre Dame will be the ABSOLUTE best defense Miami’s face so far this season. And yes, much stronger than a legimate Top 10 K.St. squad.
So it begs the Hurricane question. Will Miami’s offense be STRONG ENOUGH to carry the entire team, again, come Saturday night. Eh.
Bon jour
By the way, I ain’t NO Skippy Bayless and went on record and projected Miami finishing with a 7-5 regular season campaign. dUh However, the sky is the limit for The Golden One’s squad now!
But then again, the exception to the Cane rule, is bloody Notre Dame and F.S.U. Because these Hurricanes CAN DEFEAT the rest of the squads on their schedule!!! No if’s, but’s or wait for the ‘ process ‘ to U nfold.
… the Skip Bayless comparison is in regards to a portion of this fan base who can no longer revel in a win. Any post-game commentary comes with a, “but”. They want to jump on a soapbox, telling you everything wrong with the 2012 Canes – without even taking a minute to appreciate a win.
Honestly, if someone’s reaction to the past two weeks was to play the, “sorry to tell you, but we’re not that good” card – without enjoying the win, then what’s the point of being a fan?
Everyone and their mother knows this team has its problems … so when an exciting win DOES come down the pike this season, at least attempt to enjoy it without playing the role of ESPN analyst and someone trying to “keep it real”.
Interesting article. I agree that a great deal of this fan base is broken. There’s something wrong with them. Your friend who lives in S.Fla has not excuse for not enjoying the GT win and going to the NCst. game. What’s interesting is that the UM fan base outside of S.Fla is alive and well I can promise you. Canes fans have been showing up strong and loud on the road. I’m flying out to Chicago Thursday morning and I know I’ll run into a small army of ‘Canes. There’s a buzz here in central VA and I’m sure other places about UM. I guess we have to give most fans (in S.Fla) time to heal, get theirs heads right, and come back home to UM football (and UM athletics in general). I’ve been hard on S.Fla fans for their lack of support and negativity (and probably will continue to do so) but it does make sense that, fundamentally, their spirits have been broken.
While I loved this win I also wanted to shoot my tv during half of the game. Do you realize that we had 2 TD’s dropped in the endzone by Walford and Cleveland? We would have been up 37-14 at the half!!! I just don’t understand how our TE’s have not progressed at all. I also don’t understand how Telemaque, a senior, still commits major mental errors. He let the receiver get way behind him giving NCSt. and easy score on 4th and 4. As a fan I’m very happy with the win but this team shoots itself in the foot more than any team in sports history. UM breathed life into GT and NCST because of repeated mental errors. All of this begs the question, can this team evolve and cut down on the mental errors? Time will tell. Go ‘Canes!
First of all, Skip Bayless is as qualified to recognize talent on a football field as I am on working on the space shuttle..He thinks Tim Tebow is a NFL QB for gods sake..Nuff said.. As for the Canes, a corner has obviously been turned.. In recent years we would be sitting waiting for the other shoe to drop..Who was going to fumble?..Who was going to commit a boneheaded penalty?…Who was going to blow an assignment?..And when it happened, you could see the life sucked out of the team and its fan base…THIS IS NOT HAPPENING HERE IS IT?..One of the first things you have to do to win games is to trust each other, and the game plan on a weekly basis, that if you keep on grinding, things will work out the way they should..Could we be looking at 1-4 ? Hell yes! It could have been that in a blink! But when the chips were down, and we were toe to toe with our opponent, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER IT WAS THE OTHER GUY WHO FLINCHED!…NOT US!!!..What does that tell you?..I know what it says to me..CLEARLY!..I cant remember being that frustrated after a win as I was after Saturdays win..SO MANY POINTS LEFT ON THE FIELD…So many times NC State said “pleae just kill me”..And we didnt..Time after time we let them back in..And it drove me nuts!..But when I looked at it from a team resiliency standpoint, I dawned on me that THIS TEAM OVERCAME ALL OF THOSE GAFFES, AND WON ANYWAY… And that needs to be the focus going forward..Is this team laying down, or are they lining up, and going balls out on every play?… And we know the answer to that already dont we!
Skip is a clown. The only point was the fact that fans are becoming too analytical and have forgotten how to enjoy a win. Thanks to social media, blogging and the whole ESPN culture, everyone breaks down games where they take the “con” angle, ripping every mistake and breaking down everything from a negative point of view. It’s taken all the fun out of being a fan.
To your points, fully agree. Miami is doing the little things right that it used to do wrong and that in itself shows things are going the right direction. The other team is making the mental mistakes … is turning the ball over … isn’t playing through the whistle and is getting burned by the more disciplined team.
The way things have been as of late, who thought Miami would be the more prepared and fundamentally sound team when lining up across a Tom O’Brien-led squad?
Miami is finding a way to win after spending the last half decade finding a way to lose. THAT is progress. THAT should be celebrated.
47 is your TYPICAL ‘ bandwagon, fairweather, SOUR FICKLE ‘ college sports fan!!! Nothing more and nothing less. Eh.
Heck, is it any wonder WHY Miami is bloody well LAUGHED at by major college football fandom for the Hurricanes Un-loyal support. Well, ENTER one 47 and like-minded ILK!
And speaking of F.S.U., 47. Your lame arse sports opinions would have a degree of sense, IF you’d meniton how F.S.U. ‘ feasted ‘ on TWO Division I AA teams. dUh
I don’t know 47’s deal, but he’s done here. Tired of his negativity, pointless rants and answers for everything. Calls for GT to put up 700+ yards and then makes a slew of excuses after Miami wins. Called it an aberration and then says NC State will smoke Miami. Canes win again and more excuses. Now, suddenly the Yellow Jackets and Wolfpack are garbage teams, etc.
Miami has a LONG way to go as a program, but makes absolutely zero sense to this writer that some fans can take ZERO joy in the past two wins. No one should be screaming 12-1, ACC champs and BCS-bowl game bound — but c’mon now, the last two games were exciting and UM won the type of games it’d been losing the last few years.
Based on that alone, as Miami fans, lighten up a bit and enjoy the two recent shootouts that resulted in wins.
Before you write about how the canes played a good game & played their hearts out . I want to say first that our def coordinator needs to resign! I also want to say that if golden was such a good coach canes wouldn’t commit so many costly penalties.I know the players are young but that’s when the coach is suppose to put his coaching skills on display & the way Golden kept #4 in the game after the costly drops shows his true skills. This isn’t TEMPLE 9-4 is not going to get the job done. Once again no running game early!!! Let me guess notre dame was trying to stop the run , yeah right I forgot. I will go on the record & say that the canes will NEVER win a championship while GOLDEN is the head coach!! I’ve been a canes fan foe 37 years & always will be one but I really would like to have something to be excited about!!!! IT SUCKS TO BE []_[]
If anyone thinks the canes have a shot to win the acc!!!!!!!! Lmfao , yeah right don’t kid yourself ,,
Safe to say that Miami isn’t going to win the ACC. The point of the article was that the GOAL is to work towards winning one, and at 3-0 it is still a viable goal. Lose to UNC, FSU and VT and the Canes are 3-3 in conference and the dream is dead, but sitting here now, that was the only goal worth working towards. A national title was never in the cards and in a rebuilding year, it’s about working towards a conference title.