In the end, a 38-34 nailbiter that came down to the final play. Nothing was kicked wide (when it mattered, anyways). No one muffed a snap. A three touchdown lead wasn’t spotted to anybody. Weather didn’t interfere.
There also wasn’t a Labor Day weekend hangover, which plagued this program years back when both teams had tighter defenses and sluggish offenses. Gone are the 16-10, 10-7 and 13-10. Add the three previous holiday scores together and the result is a 33-33 tie. The 2009 version of this rivalry topped that in a few hours on Monday night.
Par for the course, the critics are out. Most of the talk today surrounding The U has been positive, though a handful of folks prefer to point out the lack of perfection. Defensive play calling. Porous specials teams play, at times. Blowing through time outs. The few offensive play calls that didn’t work.
It’s game one. Get a grip.
For all the 0-4 pundits, the Canes won their opener. No. 18 Florida State – a six-point favorite – was upended by unranked Miami. The program took another step forward. This win currently serves as the turning point in The U’s resurgence. It doesn’t quite feel like Miami v. Florida State circa 2000, but after a half decade on the downturn, you learn the difference between a talent-heavy rivalry game and one where both teams are reeling.
Miami and Florida State are ‘back’. Not ‘national championship’ caliber back, but ready-to-take-over-the-ACC back and a year from now, an “in the hunt” back. It’s the first step and both these teams will get better as the year progresses. That said, the Canes feel a little bit closer.
In an evenly matched game, Miami seemed a few steps ahead in a few aspects of both respective rebuilding projects. Jacory Harris went toe-to-toe with Christian Ponder and in the end, bested him with a few more clutch plays — Harris in his first year as a starter, making his third career start while Ponder is in year two, coming off a solid first season.
Harris is a superstar in the making and the Canes have their first real quarterback of the post-Ken Dorsey era. Sure, Brock Berlin held his own and won some big games – but he was never the next great at Quarterback U. Kyle Wright flamed out, as did Kirby Freeman and all the other non-signees who almost came to Miami the past few years.
Calm. Cool. Collected. Poised. Harris is a gamer and will eventually become a big name in college football. Give it time. His demeanor on the field and on camera. The faith his teammates have in him. Harris is a born leader and he’ll lead this program back over the next few seasons.
Quarterback is half the story – the other, new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. Incredible to see a true offensive mind calling plays Monday night. New formations. Imagination. Whipple kept Mickey Andrews on his toes and the Canes dialed up the right plays when the game was on the line.
I can’t tell you what’s more exciting – a coordinator like Whipple who called the 40-yard pass to Travis Benjamin on the game-winning drive, or the fact Miami finally has a quarterback with the arm to make that throw.
The running game is still a work in progress and the defense gave up too many plays, similar to last year. Difference in this one, the fact that the Miami offense moved the ball and scored points. With last year’s O the Canes drop a 41-20 contest. This time around, tit for tat. The Canes answered.
Down 23-17 entering the final quarter, Miami outscored Florida State 21-11 to close it out. For all the grief the Canes defense took, it gave up three points in the fourth – the Noles lone touchdown coming on an interception return. 88 total yards surrendered down the stretch – thirty coming on a Ponder designed run. Miami’s stiffened up late, right down to the final plays.
Anyone calling Miami ‘lucky’ to escape with a win, check yourself. Five straight stops from inside the five-yard line. A phantom pass interference call giving Florida State new life from the two-yard line. Pass break ups. Solid defense. Strong coverage. Heart.
The U lost its mojo just over six years ago when Ohio State kept them out of the endzone with a solid goal line stand. This time around, it was Miami who held their ground, denied their opponent and might’ve just turned the corner. The Canes buckled down where in recent years they would’ve simply buckled.
The outing was far from flawless, but it proved effective. Miami found a quarterback and an offensive coordinator. Wide receivers and running backs look primed to break out an any given moment. Even the much maligned offensive line has stepped up their level of play, making a huge difference in Tallahassee.
Defensively, the late game clamp down… the fact it was game one… the lack of depth at defensive line and in the secondary due to injury.. the desire to keep a dual-threat quarterback at bay… as well as the fact Miami’s offense held their own in a shootout — now’s not the time to complain. Revel in the win.
The Canes have ten days to get on lock down regarding Georgia Tech’s triple option. One game at a time. Dial it in. Step up. It’ll be a Thursday night in South Florida. A nationally televised home stand. Get healthy and get ready.
Randy Shannon and his Canes took a huge step forward on Monday night. A quarter of this daunting schedule is in the books – and the next three foes look a little more mortal after week one. Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma – 1-2 combined – are now barely ranked ahead of the No. 20 Hurricanes.
From a psyche standpoint, a few more early wins just got a bit more tangible.
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View Comments
Canes305,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJM8-4jicQ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTJ2wOzjvfM
Above are two vids I uploaded to youtube.com after the game.
Miami's offense looks great. The new scheme looked very strong and it will only get better with time.
Pumped up about the season and what a perfect start to the year.
Thanks for all that you do...
First great post allcanes!!
Congrats to Randy. Was the talk of all of espn and radio shows. i stay in seattle and it was all over the radio shows here!!
Everybody keeps saying the same. not giving Miami the W..just talking about the special teams and the cramping players and Spence of course. But I would take a W like this over FSU anyday. This was a good game. Miami didnt back down. And better yet..neither did Jacory.
And your right allcanes..the rest of these games seem soo much more winnable now that we see VTech isnt that good. And OU is having a injury year.
Go Canes!!
((ZarOkoN))
All I have to say is Wow I'm so excited to have a QB and a team with heart. This is something that Cocker didnt understand/teach. I'm ready to see the offense light up the score board this year which we havnet see since 2002. I do see some adjustments needed on D and special teams. 305 you didnt mention anything about the kicking game. What are your thoughts on the squib kicks?
Land O Lakes Cane
Clayton
Chris - I have to agree, all things considered Miami played better than expected. Most football pundits stated that while UM and FSU were "on their way back," it was FSU "that was a few steps forward." I don't think that was an unreasonable opinion based on the evidence from last year and with UM entering the game without its two starting DEs.
A point about the throw to Benjamin: That was actually a trick play. UM had moved the right tackle over to the left side and left the TE on in the right tackle position. He released and went down the middle but was actually covered by the LB. Benjamin was the check down. This actually shows how calm and smart Harris is. He saw his first option covered and threw a perfect pass to the double-covered check down. Even more impressive!
To be sure, there are some issues to address - as all teams must after game 1. (I could have killed whoever is calling for pooch/squib kicks and giving FSU the ball at the 40/50 all second half!) I watched the game replay last night and felt that the defense did tighten up a bit - especially in the 4th. They seemed to be getting more pressure too.
All in all - great win! We may end up seeing FSU again in a conference championship game should Miami play well enough to get there.
Until then ... Go Canes!
Jake
towards the end of the game the O-Line really started to scare me. The lack of depth was showing as we weren't getting any push off the line, and our backs were running into a sea of FSU defenders. The team looks great but my feeling is that this line will be the achilles heel of the offense. Luckily jacory was able to avoid the rush a few times but my worry is that the line will fatigue and or find injuries throughout the course of a brutal schedule and will bring this exciting offense to a screeching halt. otherwise we looked great on offense, Hank was a pleasant surprise (maybe we should bring duper on full time?) and both backs looked great, Coop was showing an incredible burst to the outside that just wasn't there last year.
I would have loved to see Kyle Wright with the proper coaching and tutelage. He got robbed...We got robbed! - thanks again Joker!
Nice write up. I agree that this was really a combinaion of two things coming together - Whipple's play calling and Jacory's talent. In watching ESPN news last night, they said the play to benjamin was supposed to be a trick play that broke down and Jacory immediately read the break down and threw it to Benjamin. When I looked at the replay, sure enough that is what happened. Genius on two levels. Whipple for trying to be tricky but designing an option if it didn't work and to Jacory for immediately reading and reacting to the breakdown, sliding up in the pocket, and throwing a laser pass.
I am going to enjoy this win, and stay positive. Georgia Tech will be a challenge, and certainly our defense will have to play better to win. But I like our chances.
Funny how you put the youtube video withe Pacino Any Given Sunday "Its a game of Inches" speech. And boy did it come down to a few inches. I am glad those couple of inches went our way though.
Jacory + Whipple + RB'S + WR'S = WOW!!! Feels good to see us putting up some points again.
Defense = Have a feeling that Lovett got an earful from RS about this one, and I bet you the defense will be working hard the next 8 days till GT. By the way what the hell was Jo Jo doing back there half the time? Just a thought..
That ghost pass interference call was ridiculous, game should have been over on that fade pass tipped away by B. Harris. Thought Terry Porter snuck out onto the field just to throw a flag for $h!t's and giggles!!
For are all of you d-bags talkin ish about RS and his coaching... shut the hell up... considering most coaches that take over major coaching jobs after numerous years getting head coach exp. elsewhere, RS is doing a hell of a job. He bleeds orange and green, unlike you couch coaches... hell, he can't play the game for these young players. I felt he did a great job of stepping in when his players got confused.
Canes- Thanks for showing fortitude throughout that emotional rollercoaster and coming out on top.
UknOw
One of the best games I've seen in recent years fell in the Canes favor and I'm ecstatic! I have a lot of respect for the Noles and was really surprised not seeing the hatred between teams that we've seen in recent years. I lost count of the number of times I saw Noles and Canes helping each other up Monday night. It was great to see the respect for one another but its too bad that the fans don't have that same respect. Booing after another Cane on the defense goes down with a cramp? I'll agree that it was getting ridiculous but its game 1 of the season and that gonna happen from time to time. I'm a little nervous for the next few games but knowing that we have a decent chance of a 10-2 or 9-3 season and a potential trip to the ACC Championship...I'm really looking forward to the next few years and watching these young players come into their own and show the nation we're back. #20 and hopefully climbing after next Thursday! GO CANES!
Great comments from everybody. Love it.
Regarding Carolina's comment about Kyle Wright, fully agree. I've supported Wright from day one - reminding folks that he turned down Southern Cal and Texas to come to Miami. Dude could've backed Matt Leinart or Vince Young a few years and would've had superior talent around him and great coaches.
No doubt to me that a Mark Whipple would've helped Wright tremendously. Sadly, Kyle's fate was similar to a Ryan Clement -- at Miami during a down cycle and paying a price for that.