A few weeks back the “game of the year” took place when No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama squared off under the lights. After four quarters, a 6-6 tie and in the end, a 9-6 Tigers win in overtime, which some attempted to hail as a “defensive battle”.
Miami outlasted South Florida on Saturday to the tune of, 6-3 and while no one is screaming “game of the year” or “defensive battle”, for the Canes it might go down as the most important win of the season.
For any UM fans not taking any joy from the last-minute victory, get some perspective and look across the field at the guys who only scored three and would’ve given anything to emerge victorious.
The Canes needed this one. Not for bowl eligibility, but for validation.
So many times this year Miami came close to a game-winning drive, but fell short. Maryland. Kansas State. Virginia Tech. Virginia. On several occasions UM had possession and a chance to mount their comeback, but failed.
This time around, albeit in not the most exciting fashion, things came together and all that Al Golden had been working towards, finally jelled.
Tied 3-3 with 5:43 remaining, Miami took over at its own twenty and began a sixteen-play drive that culminated in a 36-yard Jake Wieclaw field goal. Jacory Harris, sacked six times on the day, saved his best for last and was the true driving wheel behind this final Canes march.
After a first down pass to Travis Benjamin lost a yard, Harris proved shifty and kept his feet moving, eventually bolting for a ten-yard pick up. Running back Eduardo Clements picked up his first of two third downs on the drive and Harris went back to work.
After a first down sack, Harris found Philip Dorsett for ten yards on 2nd-and-16. On 3rd-and-6, a quick strike to tight end Chase Ford for ten more. Lamar Miller rushed for three and on 2nd-and-7, a quick pass from Harris to Miller netted twelve.
From there, back-to-back passes for Tommy Streeter – for three and for six – the first coming on a 1st-and-10 on the heels of a bad snap and fumble. What could’ve been a detrimental loss instead turned into 2nd-and-7 and then 3rd-and-1 after going back to Streeter again.
Clements then rushed for three on third down when Miami needed one. Harris hit Streeter again, this time for eight, and with time running down, Miller ran twice in effort to get in field goal range with :02 remaining. The drive spanned 15 plays in 61 yards and took 5:41 and in a 3-3 game was going to come down to a kick.
Miami hadn’t needed a game-winning field goal since Jon Peattie booted one against West Virginia in 2002 for the 22-20 Thursday night victory and Wieclaw noted post-game that he hadn’t kicked one since junior high school.
As Wieclaw lined up for the kick, South Florida used a timeout as the Bulls only had ten on the field. When Wieclaw lined up a second time, another timeout was used to ice the kicker. Both times Wieclaw returned to the sideline, he was surrounded by amped up teammates.
Upon taking over at UM, Coach Golden implemented a Thursday pressure drill for the kicking game, tailor made for situations like the one that arose this past Saturday. After the first timeout, Golden put some bounce in his step, got the “bee hive” started and quickly slipped out, allowing the kids to take over.
After the second timeout, Miami got hopping again, while cameras showed a visibly comfortable Wieclaw, pumping a fist and looking loose. Seconds later the Canes took the field and Wieclaw’s kick split the uprights.
An amped up Miami team might evoke memories of the Decade Of Dominance or an era that outsiders might not care for. That wasn’t the case here, though. This was true camaraderie and kids rallying around a teammate.
It wasn’t the faux swagger and false bravado Miami brought to Louisville back in 2006, rushing out to the center of the field and stomping the Cardinals logo, en route to being stomped out 31-7 and sent home with a bruised ego and an embarrassing loss. These Canes were having fun and keeping their kicker loose in a big time pressure moment.
At 6-5 there’s a good chance the Canes won’t be bowling this season, choosing to self-impose a bowl ban in good faith of the NCAA investigation sparked by the Nevin Shapiro scandal.
If so, a Friday home showdown against Boston College takes on even more meaning, as will this win over South Florida. A game-winning kick becomes something to build on. Something to carry over to Senior Day, a season finale and a quicker-than-expected close out to a tumultuous, yet productive, 2011 season.
The first year of The Golden Era didn’t bring home as many wins as expected, but change is in the air and the culture of Miami football took a step forward and for the first time in a decade, is truly in good hands. – C.B.