Game Seven : Clemson 40, Miami 37 (OT)

I’ve made the comment the past few years that while Miami continued rebuilding, there’d be a few types of games; inexplicable wins and equally inexplicable losses. Clemson obviously falls into the latter category, while Oklahoma fans are left wondering how Miami eked out that one-point win a few weeks back.

Welcome to Miami Hurricanes football in 2009; year three of a five-year rebuilding project. Close to being back, but not quite there. As strong and able as the depth chart will allow, but still having to change a game plan or scheme based on one or two in-game injuries.

My inbox has been flooded since Saturday, fans venting and rivals gloating. I still marvel that at 5-2 so many people are abandoning ship. The same Randy Shannon who was a hero in the wee hours after an early October win against Oklahoma, is now back to being the goat after an overtime loss.

Welcome to Miami, eh?

The Clemson loss was ugly. No doubt about that. Everyone knew the Tigers had the athletes, but that doesn’t excuse not having an answer for C.J. Spiller. The senior is a hell of a back and a special teams demon, but that doesn’t excuse a school-record 310 all-purpose yards. Save those stats for Duke. How does a Miami defense and special teams get torched at that capacity?

Even more frustrating, the Canes letting freshman quarterback Kyle Parker look like a Heisman contender. Instead of planting the newbie on his back and bringing the house, Miami let Parker go 25-of-37 for 326 yards and three touchdowns – including the game-winner in overtime.

Jacory Harris was a respectable 17-of-27 for 256 yards and two touchdowns, but three interceptions proved to be the difference. As frustrating as the turnovers were, the timing and overall result were ever worse.

Late in the second quarter, Harris goes 4-of-5 for 53 yards, the drive capped by a 23-yard Damien Berry touchdown run. Up 10-7 with under five minutes to play, a poorly placed Alex Uribe kickoff put the ball in Spiller’s bread basket and resulted in a 60-yard kickoff return. 14-10, Clemson.

Two solid Graig Cooper runs put Miami on Clemson’s 37-yard line with a first down. A field goal should’ve been the worst case scenario, but an errant Harris throw turned the ball over in the end zone. Half over.

Both squads traded scores and turnovers throughout the third quarter, making for a 24-24 tie entering the fourth quarter and after a 51-yard Matt Bosher field goal, Miami quickly shut down Clemson and took possession at the Canes 15-yard line. An errant Harris pass later, gone was the momentum and a 27-24 lead.

DeAndre McDaniel picked off a pass Harris rifled into traffic and returned it for a 23-yard touchdown. 31-27, Clemson.

As schizophrenic as this game proved to be, Harris’ first pass after the interception proved to be a 69-yard strike to Travis Benjamin. 34-31, Miami. Hi, I’m Jacory. Meet my other friend, Jacory.

Clemson put together a 65-yard drive, ending with a Randy Phillips end zone interception and from that point on, Miami coaches went conservative, having lost faith in Harris and the passing attack. Or at least that’s the current take.

Did Shannon handcuff Mark Whipple, or was the first-year offensive coordinator relying on a ground game he felt could provide a few first downs? Javarris James was the big bodied back in the game, but three straight runs are inexplicable. 1-yard, six yards and 1-yard, setting Miami up with a 4th and 2 from the Canes 28.

Like it did against Florida State, the Miami defense made a stand when it needed to, holding Clemson to three. The clock kept ticking and the Tigers needed to force overtime.

Miami’s missing ground game reappeared on the first play in the extra period. Cooper rushed for 19 yards, to the Clemson six-yard line. 1st-and-goal from the six, James was stifled for one, Cooper was stopped for no gain and on third down, an inexplicable passing play. Harris seemed to be looking for Leonard Hankerson up top, but there didn’t appear to be a good second or third option. A forced pass to Tevaris Johnson fell incomplete and was almost intercepted with Johnson blanketed by three Clemson defenders. Miami was forced into kicking a field goal.

On the ensuing possession, Parker’s first pass fell incomplete and on second down, Spiller was stuffed. Facing a 3rd and 11, wideout Jacoby Ford called for a passing play that hadn’t worked all week in practice. Coaches were sold, pulled the trigger and within seconds Parker hit Ford for the 26-yard game winning touchdown. For added emphasis, two Miami defenders crashed into each other, allowing Ford to waltz in untouched. Game. Set. Match.

I don’t have the authority to question the play calling, nor do I pretend to be in the know. Amazing what I’ve read on message boards this morning about Shannon, Whipple, the run versus the pass, etc. No one really knows the inner workings of a big time college football program – especially folks in the media, bloggers or message board know-it-alls.

A win against Oklahoma didn’t make this staff infallible, the same way an overtime loss to Clemson doesn’t mean heads need to roll. Fans need to have the wherewithal to look at the bigger picture here. Step outside of this most recent game and look at the overall state of the program.

Look at the talent which is returning, but isn’t quite there. Depth-wise, Miami is still relying on too many freshmen to carry the load. Shots some fans have taken against strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey, take inventory.

When established programs and humming along as they should be, you get your underclassmen on a program and in a regime that will put some ‘man weight’ on them. By junior or senior year (especially if you had the luxury to redshirt), your players are closer to resembling NFL talent than looking jacked up high schoolers.

It’s one thing for a Southern Cal or Florida to rely on a true freshman here or there, but the Canes are an army of underclassmen right now and that will be the case until next season. Year four, the depth will be one step closer to being back. Last year’s freshmen will be juniors and the latest crop of incoming freshmen won’t be thrown into the fire.

Miami’s sideline again looks like a MASH unit, meaning more underclassmen will be relied upon as the year rolls on. Gone are the days of the Canes relying on an Eric Moncur to provide that senior leadership and experience. Instead, it’s a defensive line chock full of underclassmen filling holes.

Blame Shannon all you want, but championship caliber teams aren’t so reliant on underclassmen. Until the depth and talent return, the Clemsons of the college football world are due for their day against a Miami. Even at 3-3, no one doubted the Tigers didn’t have the athletes – and the will – to hang with the Canes.

Talent and depth aside, Shannon faces arguably his biggest challenge of this season; getting his team out of the toilet. An overtime loss when sitting on a top ten record and 5-1 ranking – it’s crushing. All the talk about Miami’s brutal four-game opening stretch, to get through virtually unscathed and then to lose a heartbreaker weeks later? A crushing blow.

Wake Forest is on deck and Miami needs to quickly pick its collective head back up or 5-2 will be 5-3 before you blink.

It’s not about the BCS or ACC right now; it’s about keeping things together year three. It’s the halfway point of a five-year rebuild. Take inventory, right the ship and save this season. A two-loss season would’ve been more than welcomed when 2009 kicked off. Right now it still remains a reality, if Miami can get back on track. Focus. Don’t let Clemson beat you two weeks in a row. Take down Wake, get to 6-2 and press on.

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