Game One: Miami 38, Florida State 34

Another shootout. Another chapter of a storied rivalry. Another sea of new faces. Another Miami v. Florida State weekend in the books.

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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