Game Eleven : Virginia Tech 31, Miami 17

Even with a win against Virginia Tech, odds of the Miami Hurricanes sniffing the ACC title game as representatives of the Coastal Division were beyond slim.

The Hokies came into Sun Life Stadium undefeated in conference play and 8-2 after starting the season losing two straight while the Canes already had a pair of ACC losses in the books.

On deck after Miami, a home matchup against rival Virginia, who Tech’s owned since 2003; the final Big East year before making the jump to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Miami entered Saturday’s showdown 7-3, playing to keep a conference title alive, but even more importantly to beat a rival that’s cleaned their clock ten of the past fifteen meetings. The Canes and Hokies both joined the ACC in 2004, with Miami title-less in conference play while their northern rival has won three and is looking for a fourth in December.

As seen on a few occasions this year, Miami came out swinging and with purpose. An eight-play, 60-yard opening drive took just over three minutes and the Canes were quickly up 7-0 after Stephen Morris found Leonard Hankerson on a 9-yard strike.

Graig Cooper got some early carries, but after netting four yards on three plays, Damien Berry was called on and picked up 27 on three attempts. Hankerson also had some early action with a 20-yard grab on 3rd and 11.

As also seen many times before, when given a chance to shine or do those game-changing things elite squads do, the Canes choked away some golden opportunities.

Miami and Virginia Tech entered the half tied 10-10, though the Canes had clearly outplayed the Hokies. When second half adjustments were made, UM bent and finally broke in the game’s final quarter, while VT employed disciplined football, played to their strengths and pulled away late.

The first two quarters proved to be a microcosm of modern day UM. Some good, some bad and some ugly, all of which led to decent half instead of a great one. The lack of discipline resulted in opportunities missed, momentum not seized and kept the Hokies in a game that conceivably could’ve been a blowout:

>>> Up 7-0 early in the first, Miami failed to convert a 3rd and 9. What originally looked to be a first down, courtesy of Morris to Hankerson, was eventually overruled when the Canes had to burn a timeout as the current personnel wasn’t ready to run another play. The booth reviewed the spot and the first down turned into a 4th and 1 from the VT 12.

Berry lined up in an obvious run formation, bounced left, didn’t follow the block of fullback Pat Hill and was swallowed up behind the line. Instead of possibly going up 14-0 or at worst, 10-0, the Hokies stuffed the Canes and gained some momentum.

From there, Virginia Tech drove 88 yards on 12 plays and tied the game, 7-7.

>>> An unclutch, key moment on the Hokies’ drive – a conversion on 3rd and 16 with a back up quarterback. The Canes knocked Tyrod Taylor out of the game and back up Logan Thomas entered.

After putting some heat on Taylor the majority of the drive, Thomas remained in the pocket untouched and unrushed, completing a 24-yard pass. Drive alive and four plays later Ryan Williams scampered for a 14-yard score.

>>> Halfway through the second quarter, game still tied 10-10, Miami faced a 3rd and 1 from the VT 35 when Tyler Horn rushed the snap, Morris fumbled and the Hokies took over. More points left on the field and another crucial turnover for a team that fails to capitalize on opportunities, constantly shooting itself in the foot.

>>> Even after a slew of mishaps, Miami still rallies late in the first half, clamping down on Virginia Tech and getting the ball back on the UM 20 with 3:43 remaining. Morris found tight end Asante Cleveland on back-to-back plays, picking up 32 yards. After a sack on 2nd and 10, Morris hit Hankerson for fifteen on 3rd and 19. The Canes picked up the gutsy 4th and 4 when Morris found Aldarius Johnson for five.

The drive stalled and with a 4th and 3 from the VT 30, the inexplicably erratic Matt Bosher pushed a 47-yard field goal attempt, leaving the game tied 10-10.

Add it all up and Miami could’ve easily been ahead anywhere from 13-3 to 24-7. Instead, a tied ball game and headed into the locker room without momentum or an daunting lead.

Miami traded blows in the third quarter, quickly scoring behind the wheels of Miller, answering a 43-yard Taylor to Danny Coale touchdowns strike (courtesy of blown coverage). After a 34-yard kick off return courtesy of Cooper, Miller ran four straight times for 47, 9, 2 and 4 yards, the final resulting in a game-tying score.

But it was as close as the Canes would get.

The fourth quarter, nothing but daggers – the first, an 84-yard run by Williams after safety Vaughn Telemaque attempted to attacked the running back behind the line of scrimmage and blew past.

This was on the heels of a three-and-out by the Canes, set up by yet another false start courtesy of Orlando Franklin, giving Miami a 2nd and 17 deep in their own territory. The Williams run came after a 59-yard Bosher punt seemed to negate the field position battle.

Playing the rest of the game from behind, Morris finally unraveled and played like a true freshman. His first pick, the most crucial as it occurred midfield, down seven with just under ten to play and gave the Hokies the ball at the UM 25. Five plays later Taylor ran it in and up 31-17, the Canes and Morris were in desperation mode, forcing two more picks. Miami turned it over six times on the day and Virginia Tech scored 14 points off Hurricane turnovers – the difference in the game.

An aggravating week where Miami won just about everywhere but the scoreboard. The Canes had more first downs (23 to 19), more total yards (464 to 369), more passing yards (202 to 118), more rushing yards (262 to 251) and only one more penalty than the Hokies (5-55 vs. 4-50). Where Miami failed most, the 6-to-1 turnover differential and time of possession (26:29 to 33:31).

The morning after, another presser where Shannon was able to point out all that went wrong. This twenty-first career loss was pinned on “turnovers and big plays”. Opportunities to score were missed. There were key drops.

It was stated that Morris had a good first half, while the Hokies were given credit for “the perfect call” on the game’s first interception. In the future, mistakes like this could be thwarted by guys having to “step up and make plays”.

Their players made some of those plays, ours did not,” said Shannon. “That was the difference in the game.”

Unfortunately, anyone who watched the game could’ve given a similar summary. What wasn’t addressed was “why”?

Why is Miami still a turnover machine at this point of the season? Why are receivers still dropping balls?

Why are offensive linemen still jumping off sides? Why are defenders still overpursuing plays or taking bad angles?

Why has the run defense flat out disappeared at times this year? Why are teams pasting the Canes for 84-yard touchdowns on what seems like a weekly basis?

Where is the consistency? How is this team ‘all world’ one week and ‘deer in the headlights’ the next?

A second straight year where we’ve heard about Miami’s talent and “running the table” after an early loss, only to lose three more (with two to play this year!) When does this program stop losing annually to “inferior” opponents and when do players start progressing instead of regressing?

Bosher, a Lou Groza Award candidate, has gone from one of the nation’s best, to shanking routine extra points. Unfathomable.

For the second time in a few years this team chose “no excuses” as its mantra, yet every Monday morning when listening to Shannon on WQAM, there’s an explanation for what didn’t work. The media gets the same canned answers from a small handful of players Saturdays after the game or Tuesdays, when they sheepishly face the music.

“We got to man up. We got to show up for big games. At the end of the day, we just got to show up,” said center Horn. “It’s heartbreaking. It stinks. I’m angry about it. I hate it.”

Not as much as some lifelong fans, No. 60.

The bar set for this program is in many ways unattainable, but this year was supposed to at least show tremendous growth. No one ever counted on this type of regression year four.

Shannon contests that this year’s Canes are further along than last year’s, despite not beating one top 25 opponent.

The 2009 squad had three wins over ranked teams.

After falling to the Hokies, not only have Shannon’s Canes tallied 21 losses in 49 total games, Miami is now 4-9 against top 25 foes and none of the nine defeats were necessarily close. Take away last year’s six-point bowl loss to Wisconsin and the Canes have lost the remaining eight by big time double digits.

Four years in, that shouldn’t be the case and this administration knows it’s at a serious crossroad entering 2011.

Do you continue backing your horse, knowing it could impact both the long and short term on the recruiting front? What about the program as a whole? Can UM afford another season of treading water or slipping further?

On paper, this is a talented squad entering next season. How long will that be the case?

The 2007-2008 run was forgivable, based on the lack of talent and state of the program. Shannon needed his players and his coaches before the clock had any business ticking. It’s been ‘game on’ since 2009 and after this recent loss, that means 16-8 since last year’s season opener at Florida State.

Fifteen months ago there was hope. Mark Whipple and Jacory Harris started hot and a 3-1 start (when some predicted 0-4) was enough to convince many that Miami was “back”.

The Canes closed out the year 6-3, but the early bright spots gave reason to believe. Whipple would be better year two. Harris would cut down on the turnovers, his late season skid being attributed to hand injury instead of poor decision making.

Miami was to come out stronger, faster and better this year, with the heralded class of ’08 making their presence felt as juniors. Many were betting the over regarding last year’s 9-4 run. Ohio State early and a shot at a breakthrough game. Florida State, Virginia Tech and North Carolina at home. “ACC or Bust” became the fans’ rally cry.

Winning a national title wasn’t the benchmark and conference champs wasn’t aiming too high. Instead, another year of the the same ol’, same ol’.

High expectations, mediocre excution, lame explanations and a program still on the outside looking in.

Not the way Randy drew it up and not the way this fan base did either. With 9-4 the new best case and 7-6 the worst, something has to give.

Four years in, Shannon’s Canes aren’t where they should be and based on this year’s backslide, there’s little reason to expect anything different should there be a year five.

Eight quarters of football remain and the script is yet to be written.

Buckle in and watch it all unfold as there will be fireworks one way or another.

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