Canes’ Choice…

The Canes welcome the Yellow Jackets this weekend and I’ve been rather mum on the subject all week. I’m in my “wait and see” mode, again. I was at this same point last season when the Canes headed to Atlanta with a 6-1 record late in the season, before losing 30-23 with an ACC title berth on the line.

Of course, I became a skeptic in 2005 when #3 Miami went down 14-10 to Georgia Tech while sitting pretty at 8-1 and eight quarters away from an ACC title game berth.

Last year Miami went into Georgia Tech weekend with false hope and a win/loss record of a paper champ. 1-2 out the gates, losing to Florida State and Louisville in a three-week span, the 5-2 Canes beefed up their winning percentage against the likes of Houston, UNC, FIU & Duke.

A road game against the Yellow Jackets would be the measuring stick and the Canes failed for the second year in a row? Hence, my ‘wait and see’ approach for tomorrow.

Can Miami beat Georgia Tech? Absolutely. Will they? Depends who shows up.

We don’t need to relive the tale of two halves last week in Chapel Hill. We saw what the Canes are capable of on both sides of the ball. A lethargic bunch who looked like the quitters seen at Oklahoma, Louisville or against LSU in the Peach – or the kids who played like a team and kicked some ass, be it for 3/4 of the game against Texas A&M or the final two quarters against North Carolina, outscoring them 27-6 en route to a 33-27 loss.

I won’t even speculate an outcome. Why bother? There’s no way to have a clue which Miami team will surface at any given time this year.

The Canes did deliver against the Aggies – on a Thursday night, in a packed Orange Bowl on national TV. It was vintage Miami and something we haven’t seen enough of the past few seasons. But a few weeks later fell flat on their faces at North Carolina (for two quarters) after struggling a week earlier to put away Duke.

Similar to last year, Miami isn’t as good as their record. Of the four wins, we’re talking Marshall, Texas A&M, FIU and Duke. For a half last week, UNC smacked around The U harder than Oklahoma did (27-0 vs. 21-10). What’s to lead any of the bleeding hearts to call for 38-10 style beatdowns on the message boards this week?

Amazing what I’ve read online regarding the contingent who can always list a dozen reasons the Canes SHOULD win. Those reasons aren’t worth squat if the product on the field isn’t getting it’s job done. Talk is cheap. Stats are for losers. Time to shut up, buckle in get busy if this team has any dreams of getting to the ACC title game. Another loss and it’s a ‘guaranteed’ lower-tier bowl.

Miami needs to come to play on Saturday. A Texas A&M-like performance would be ideal, but a one-point win would feel equally as satisfying right now.

These kids are ‘talked’ out. They’ve had the gospel according to Randy Shannon preached to them for the better part of 2007. The message has been delivered and if it hasn’t sunk in now, it won’t over the final handful of games.

Sign a solid class and start programming them early, just like this current group of freshman. Remember, it was first year running back Graig Cooper calling and texting coaches, apologizing after multiple fumbles a few weeks back. How many upperclassmen owe apologies and never thought to step up like that? Too many.

For some of these Canes, it’s too late to ‘deprogram’ all the effects of the Larry Coker era. Cut bait. Make it a youth movement from here on out. Play the kids who “get it” and let the others ride the pine.

This is the fork in the road – a chance to save or ruin a season.

Win and it’s a respectable 5-2 heading into Florida State weekend. Limp in 4-3 and the wheels most likely fall off big time with NC State, Virginia, @Virginia Tech and @Boston College closing out the season. Gain a little momentum this week and next, and the Canes are right back to controlling their own destiny.

I’m done talking. These Canes should be as well. 

No one needs to here ‘why’ Miami will win. Prove it already. It’s time to let the product on the field speak for itself.

.:Canes305:.

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