Game Eight: Miami 37, Florida State 29

Another year, another Miami/Florida State throwdown. I’m writing this a week after the fact, having been out of the loop with these So Cal wildfires. That said, in my down time I got to watch the game no less than three times since last Saturday, soaking up the Canes biggest win of the season.

The cynics have chimed in regarding how ‘big’ this one really was. Definitely not a high profile affair. Two multi-loss squads, two no name announcers and banished to Pay Per View for roughly 45 states after being “the” game of the past few decades.

All that said, when it’s finally teed up it’s still Miami and Florida State. Both sides go balls out and both fan bases are rabid for a win against a hated arch rival.

Defense definitely wasn’t the name of the game, but it played a big role down the stretch as the Canes clawed back from a late five-point deficit en route to an eight-point victory. Miami held Florida State to nine points in the second half, three coming in the fourth quarter as the Canes were making up ground.

Still, the story was Kirby Freeman. In a matter of two quarters we saw the best and worst of what #7 has to offer. 1 of 8 for 10 yards with two interceptions entering the final drive and then 3 of 3 for 49 yards and a water to wine-style, game winning miracle touchdown.

The Noles went 5-for-5 on field goals, but found other ways to self-implode. Stupid penalties. Not being ready for gimmick plays. Weak defense when they needed to make a stand. Oh yeah, and letting a second-stringer carve them up on the final drive.

Anyone who feels a game winning drive earned Freeman the starting gig over Kyle Wright needs to put down the pipe. The only thing those final three throws did was earn Freeman a place in this rivalry’s history. Without that, the kid would’ve been trashed for an all time tank job performance against a sub par Noles bunch. 

The final pass to Dedrick Epps bought Freeman an ounce of relief. Nothing more, nothing less. The first eight passes were closer to the real deal. Wright is still the better every down quarterback. 

Miami has four games on the roster and got a little boost the past 48 hours due to shake ups in the ACC standings. Boston College knocked off Virginia Tech and NC State upset Virginia. The result? Miami controls its own destiny. Win out and the Canes are in the ACC title game. Sounds great on paper, doesn’t it? Now a dose of reality.

The Canes have the slimmest of slim chances of pulling off the feat. NC State and Virginia head to the OB back-to-back weeks before consecutive road games at Virginia Tech and Boston College.

The days of penciling in wins are in hibernation. You can make a solid case for the Canes winning or losing each of the remaining match ups, but how can you accurately predict the fate of a team that can get beat at North Carolina, lose to GT a week later, roll up five straight road losses and then pull of a late game upset at Florida State?

Simply put, you can’t. There’s no rhyme or reason to this season. When Miami shows up, they can play some decent football. When they’re distracted or playing out of synch – it’s gonna get ugly. How can anyone be sure of what Miami shows up each of the next four weeks?

I’m neither optimistic or pessimistic regarding the final month of football. I’m hoping for the best, yet preparing for the worst. If this team plays with heart, starts on the right foot, finishes ball games and doesn’t play stupid (penalties), at best I see this team going 3-1 down the stretch. 2-2 could be seen as the ‘logical’ call and 1-3 could be the worst case scenario. |

Who shows up next week for NC State? I don’t know. Was the win over Florida State a sign of things to come? Or did the Canes shoot their wad and play the game of their season, with it all downhill from here?

Time will tell.

There were some positives against the Noles. Things to build on. Darnell Jenkins continues to be a solid threat at receiver. Graig Cooper and Javarris James can welcome Shawnbrey McNeal into their running back frat, as all three have proven to be capable backs with different strengths.

The offense line has shown some moxy and Wright has had some bright spots behind center. Quarterback play will remain erratic. The Canes just have to hope for more good than bad drives. Drive-making plays instead of drive-breaking plays.

Defensively the Canes are definitely beat and up and need to get healthy. Still, there are some playmakers out there getting their jobs done. Eric Moncur. Colin McCarthy. Teraz McCray. Even a guy like Randy Phillips, redeeming himself with two key interceptions after getting torched earlier in the game and season.

This has been a season of growth, this far. There have been pitfalls and set backs, but there have also been some big time moments where the kids seems to ‘get’ the message Randy Shannon is sending. When Miami has been “on” they’ve been on. Those moments are few and far between, but this team doesn’t look like the lost bunch we saw in 2006.

There have been some small steps forward that will pay off down the road and Miami gets four more chances to build on that. Every game is must-win from this point on.

Getting to the ACC title game can remain the goal, but it can’t be an “all or nothing” mentality. Meaning, this team can’t shut it down if they lose a ball game and check out like they did last year. One at a time. Win some ball games. 8-4 will feel a hell of a lot better entering bowl season than 6-6. 9-3 would be a dream at this point.

Miami showed some heart against Florida State. The most heart this team’s showed since Blacksburg 2005. The stakes weren’t the same regarding national rankings, but the Canes won a must-win game that a young team needed to net.

Let someone say that was a meaningless game. I guarantee you Florida State coaches would kill for that win as a building block for their new look program.

The Noles are reeling right now and have been since 2001. The Canes rectified the problem, canning Larry Coker and turning the keys over to a feiry old schooler and up and comer from the neighborhood. Miami has the blueprint for returning to prominence.

Florida State is wandering in the desert and will do so until Bobby Bowden calls it a career. The old man had all the success he’s gonna see, but is blinded by quest for one more ‘last hurrah’ and is killing his beloved program in the process. The Noles can’t rebuild until they find their next great coach, which is impossible if the ‘problem’ is still in charge.

Miami is a few steps ahead of Florida State in the rebuilding process, even with all their high profile, big name assistants. Supposedly an All-Star roster with the retreads like Chuck Amato rejoining and new offensive coordinator, Jimbo Fisher – the sideline whack job who yells at his kids all game.

The Noles got the big names, but they’re the same old disappointment who could reach a new low this season. Most likely 5-3 with a win over Duke tonight, Florida State gets Boston College, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Florida to close out the season. 6-6 or 5-7 is a harsh reality. Even harsher, Bobby and staff will be front and center in 2008 ready to do it again.

Miami should feel good about the road ahead. Four big weeks of football. Destiny in their hands. Represent at the Orange Bowl in the final two home games and prep for back-to-back road battles, most likely nationally televised sitting at 7-3.

Dream big for another week, Canes fans.

Reality sets in next Saturday at game time and then anything goes. Enjoy.

.:Canes305:.

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