Game Four : Miami 21, Oklahoma 20

A week after a 31-7 beat down at Virginia Tech, the million dollar question remained – which Miami team would show up for Oklahoma? The answer? Not the one the Sooners saw two years ago in Norman.

It’s time for the nation to take notice; Miami is back. What degree of ‘back’ remains up for debate.

This squad isn’t 2001 reincarnated. A 34-game win streak isn’t on the horizon. The Canes aren’t a shoo in for back-to-back national title game berths. There won’t be half a dozen first rounders headed to the NFL in April. Anyone measuring this team up to those standards, stop right now. These 2009 Canes don’t have to achieve ‘greatest of all time’ status to be considered back.

Saying Miami is ‘back’ simply means the Hurricanes are relevant again. A 3-1 start. Wins in two nationally televised games against teams ranked higher than them – Florida State and Georgia Tech. Those are steps towards being ‘back’.

So is a win over a top ten team; the Canes first since a win at Virginia Tech four years ago. Not only did Miami hold their own against Oklahoma, but the Canes did so a week after running into a buzzsaw in Blacksburg a week ago. The last time Miami fell 31-7 against the Hokies (2003), the then-No. 2 Canes followed up with a 10-6 home loss to Tennessee a week later, ending any shot at a third straight title game berth.

Different team. Different coach. Different mindset.

Randy Shannon has proven much in his tenure as Miami’s head coach. He can recruit, he can assemble a staff and he can have his team ready to bounce back after a crushing loss. That might not have been the case year one and two, but with the personnel both on the field and on the sidelines, the Canes are proving they know how to forget about last week while focusing on the latest task at at hand.

Would Miami be ready for Oklahoma? That’s what the college football world wanted to know. Were those first two wins a fluke? How would the Canes handle the Sooners’ defense – one that is bigger, stronger and faster than the D the Hokies brought a week ago in a crushing defeat? Regarding Mark Whipple, when and how would the offensive guru implement a running game – one that’s been non-existent the first few games this season?

All those questions were answered in a thrilling 21-20 upset of No. 8 Oklahoma last Saturday night at The Shark.

Miami was ready. Those first two wins weren’t a fluke. The Canes were ready for that Sooners defense and Whipple was ready with a ground game, highlighted by a senior running back ready for career-type performance.

Down 10-0 out the gate after two early Jacory Harris interceptions, weaker teams would’ve folded – and weaker teams have. When was the last time the Sooners were down two scores and went on to lose a game? Last October against No. 5 Texas, which was a rarity. Oklahoma amassed a 34-8 record these past three years, with three BCS games and a title game berth.

During that same span Miami went 19-19, played in a blue turf bowl, missed a bowl and made their way to a lesser bowl in a San Francisco baseball stadium. Clearly on paper, this was a juggernaut taking on an up and comer ready to break out. It was just a matter of when and where.

Oklahoma was without Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford and all world tight end Jermaine Gresham before kickoff. They also lost wideout Ryan Broyles early in the game, which didn’t help their cause. Still, any Sooner who wants to compare depth charts with the Canes, go right ahead. One program has been reloading all decade while the other has been in rebuilding mode since 2006. Simply put, don’t expect any sympathy from Miami – a program with it’s fair share of injuries this season.

OU quarterback Landry Jones made his third start while Harris made his sixth for UM. Both quarterbacks had inexperience on their side and both had their ups and downs. Harris simply rose to the occasion, remained calm and made the plays needed to win a game of this caliber. Two early interceptions were followed up by three touchdown strikes – 18 yards to Jimmy Graham, 11 yards to Dedrick Epps and 38 yards to Travis Benjamin.

Stats-wise, this one was almost even – 341 total yards for Oklahoma and 342 for Miami. The Canes rushed for 140 yards to the Sooners’ 153 and passed for 202 yards to OU’s 188.

The majority of Miami’s ground game came via Javarris James, the oft dinged up senior running back who finally had his breakout game. James carried 15 yards for 150 yards and provided some of the game’s biggest moments. A 50-yard run early in the second quarter set the stage for the Canes first touchdown.

James again shone on the final drive when the Canes needed to retain possession while nursing a one-point lead. A 21-yard scamper on the second play of the drive moved the ball from the Miami 39 to the Oklahoma 40 and on his final rush of the night, James picked up 13 yards after a Harris to Epps connection sealed the game on 3rd and 6.

The only real discrepancy came in penalties where the home team was dinged by Big XII officials 12 times for 115 yards. Anyone who watched the game saw the bias and the fact that Miami prevailed keeps it from needing much mention in this piece. Had Miami lost, different story. I’d have written 1,500 words on the phantom ‘roughing the kicker’ call alone.

The four-game gauntlet is in the books and Miami is 3-1. Where are the haters now? All those who called for 0-4 and clamoring for Shannon to face plant so Tommy Tuberville could take over, how are you liking things now? Miami’s win over Oklahoma proved that the Virginia Tech loss was an aberration and not the norm.

An even more physical defense and the offensive line protected Harris, while also establishing a ground game that was non-existent a week ago. Adjustments were made and Miami proved they belong. The Canes are a legit top ten squad, even though the pollsters stuck them at No. 11. (Based on the schedule played, who really thinks Miami isn’t better than Boise State, Cincinnati, TCU or Ohio State on a neutral field?)

That said, nothing wrong with No. 11 at this point of the season. A lot of ball left to be played and the Canes need to remain focused. Act I is in the books and Act II begins this weekend, starting with undefeated FAMU and their electrifying punt returner LeRoy Vann. From there, a road game at Central Florida, a home game against Clemson and a trek to Wake Forest.

Act III starts with a home game against Virginia, a road game at North Carolina, home against Duke and at South Florida.

On paper, the most difficult part of Miami’s season is in the books at 3-1. That said, now the real season begins. The Canes are no longer under the radar and the pressure is on. You can expect more nationally televised games, more media coverage and more hype. As teams in the top ten lose, it opens the door for a Miami climb – even though the Canes are ranked higher than the rest of their foes this season.

It’s time to exhale, but it’s also time for an even more intense focus. The pressure remains on. Every game means that much more. Wins over Florida State, Georgia Tech and Oklahoma mean little should you stumble against FAMU or Central Florida.

One game at a time for this team and for the fans, a reason to truly be excited about the state of this program. Miami isn’t ‘back’ regarding championship standards, but the ship has been righted and the corner turned. The future is now. Soak it up.

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