It was announced days back that Miami and Florida Atlantic will take their crosstown rivalry to the gridiron for a three-game series, kicking off in 2013. The Owls will visit the Canes at Sun Life Stadium on August 31st next year. From there, Miami heads to FAU in 2015 and then back to Sun Life in 2016.
For the sake of legendary head coach Howard Schnellenberger, the true architect of both programs rising from nothing to something, the match-up has to be a dream come true – but for the Miami Hurricanes, it’s another lose-lose showdown with another Sunshine State lesser looking to climb the in-state ladder.
Where does Miami benefit playing a Florida Atlantic? There are a million reasons for the Owls to jump for joy over landing a three-game series with the Canes, but what is the upside for UM?
Win and everyone will not only is it ‘expected’, but bet that whatever the final score, it won’t be deemed enough. Lose and you’ve just given a same city rival some ammunition on the recruiting trail.
Due to their success, it was inevitable that Miami, Florida or Florida State would start scheduling the likes of South Florida and Central Florida – two programs in major conferences that have climbed the ladder and earned their shot against The Big Three – but Florida Atlantic of Florida International? No way.
Florida Atlantic and Miami – it’ll be the Owls’ national championship game each of those three years, while nothing more than a pitfall game for the Canes.
Yes, it’s easier to pencil in a win than out of conference games like Kansas State or Notre Dame, both on this year’s schedule, but if you were looking for a non-ACC patsy, there are countless teams nationwide that would plays a three-game series at Sun Life, with no underlying theme or sub plot. – C.B.