Game Three : Virginia Tech 31, Miami 7

Let’s get it out there in the open; Miami put the “U” in ‘ugly’ in a lopsided 31-7 loss at Virginia Tech. A one-sided thumping with a few redeeming moments where the Canes showed a pulse. Outside of that, a train wreck of epic proportions. 1-of-11 on third down efficiency. A mere 59 rushing yards. Every type of turnover possible; fumble, interception and blocked punt for score.

All that said, it’s one game and it’s as much in the rearview mirror as wins over Florida State and Georgia Tech. 2-1 with Oklahoma looming, Miami needs to bury this loss and focus on the next game.

Amazing how quickly everything changed. A preseason that began unranked, with predictions of an 0-4 start – Miami surprised out the gate and took down two ranked foes in the Noles and Yellow Jackets. From there, the media blitz began, with The U the ultimate feel-good story this fall.

Miami’s “back”. Jacory Harris is Heisman-worthy. The Canes and Gators are on track to meet in Pasadena for the title game.

That wasn’t message board fodder or commentary from local beat writers. We’re talking ESPN, Sports Illustrated and anyone else who hopped on the bandwagon and made the Canes ‘the’ early story in college football. The same media who had their reasons for picking Miami fourth in the ACC Coastal was now rattling off their reasons why the Canes could win it all.

If there’s one good thing to come from this recent loss, the media spotlight will shift its focus. Back to business in Coral Gables. Address what went wrong, work to correct it and keep this new season on track. Randy Shannon is still in year three of what from day one looked to be a four or five-year rebuilding project – regardless of how the media or this fan base felt after two early season wins.

Until the depth is ‘back’, Miami will remain ‘almost back’.

A humbling loss should force everyone – most notably fans, media and rivals – to take inventory regarding the Canes. There are bright spots regarding this current Miami bunch, but there simply isn’t the depth and across-the-board talent that championship caliber teams possess.

That’s not to say this couldn’t be a Cinderella-type season if all the stars aligned, players stayed healthy and Miami got a few lucky bounces. It simply means you don’t bank on making the BCS when you’re so reliant on underclassmen and are one injury away from catastrophe. Until the depth returns, Shannon is reliant upon undeveloped freshman and sophomores.

As promising as Sean Spence looked last season, he wasn’t truly built to endure the wear and tear of a full college football season. Same to be said for a Marcus Robinson last year or an Oliver Vernon early this season. Programs with more depth are afforded the luxury of bringing top-fight talent along much more slowly.

Early playing time is one thing. Being expected to shoulder the burden of a twelve-game season and pulling a program out of lethargy is another.

Miami was swallowed up in a pitfall game at Virginia Tech. It doesn’t take away from the 2-0 start, nor does it foreshadow how the rest of this season will play out. Coaches and players refuse to blame the weather, taking the loss in stride and delivering their politically correct answers in the media room. It’s commendable, but let’s break some things down regarding a game where it simply wasn’t the Canes’ day:

– Inclement weather not suited to the aerial assault the Canes used in games one and two.

– An uncharacteristic Harris fumble on Miami’s first drive, setting up Tech at the 11-yard line for a quick 7-0 lead.

– A Tech fumble on a punt return, bouncing back into the arms of of Hokie.

– A 48-yard Tyrod Taylor touchdown pass where Miami’s Chavez Grant slipped and fell. The same Taylor who went 4-for-9 on the day and isn’t necessarily known for his arm.

– A blocked Canes punt for a Hokies touchdown – the first given up by Miami since 2002.

And that was all before halftime.

Down 21-0, Miami drove 54 yards in 1:43 to open the third quarter. 21-7, Hokies. The Canes defense stiffened, forcing a three-and-out and setting up the offense at the UM 35-yard line. A balanced attack allowed Miami to move the ball 41 yards over eight plays, but two crucial drops from first-year tight end Jimmy Graham killed all momentum. (Back to that depth thing, the Canes had to turn to a former basketball star for tight end depth.)

Graham dropped a pass for a large gain on 1st and 10 and two plays later let a sure first down bounce off his fingers on a 3rd and 13. The weather thwarted out any shot at a 50-yard field goal and a 4th and 13 attempt fell four yards short, forcing the turnover on downs.

Miami’s defense again hung tough, forcing Virginia Tech to settle for three on the ensuing drive — the first true offensive points earned in two and a half quarters of play — but the damage had been done and momentum was lost at 24-7.

To their credit, Bud Foster and his defense continued their aggressive play and owned the Miami ground game. Graig Cooper and Javarris James combined for 90 yards on 25 carries and never got it going against a team where a solid rushing attack is a must.

Virginia Tech came to play. No doubt about that. After losing their season opener to Alabama – arguably one of the nation’s best squads – the Hokies beat up on a lesser Marshall bunch and survived a nailbitier with a decent Nebraska team. Sitting at 2-1, this was the type of game that could jumpstart a season that started on the wrong foot and the Hokies capitalized. Credit where credit is due.

Those wanting to blame the media hype for the loss, big heads in Coral Gables or crediting Tech for “wanting it more” – step back and quit with the armchair quarterbacking. Everyone on the field ‘wanted’ that game. One simply got their breaks, made some of their own and capitalized, while another ran into a buzzsaw and was unable to get out of their own way. It’s sports, people. It happens to the best of them. Don’t believe me? Look no further than the current state off college football this year.

Aside from No. 9 Miami getting worked by No. 11 Virginia Tech, two other top tens got dropped this past week; No. 4 Ole Miss to unranked South Carolina on Thursday night and No. 5 Penn State – falling at home to unranked Iowa. After one month of college football, ten teams ranked in the top ten have now lost. Eight fell to underdogs.

In other Sunshine State news, Florida State – fresh off their shellacking of then No. 7 BYU – came unglued at home against an unranked South Florida squad. Three time zones away No. 6 Cal gets their lunch handed to them 42-3 at Oregon; the same Ducks bunch who couldn’t buy a first down at Boise State in their opener and without star running back/fist-wielding LaGarrette Blount.

Week one Then-No. 3 Oklahoma falls to then-No. 18 BYU in their season opener. A few weeks later then-No. 3 USC loses to unranked Washington. It’s a trend for 2009; expect the unexpected and don’t get too comfortable with those ever-changing rankings.

Just as Virginia Tech rallied around a loss and prepared accordingly for a showdown with a top ten Miami team, the Canes now are afforded an even bigger opportunity with game four on deck.

Miami welcomes No. 8 Oklahoma this coming Saturday. A prime time, 8pm ET kickoff – under the lights at Land Shark Stadium. How will the Canes respond? The media will be quick to pile on The U, ending a two-week long love affair and stroke-fest.

Shannon and staff can again play up the ‘us against the world’ card, which in the past has worked in the Canes favor. How that plays out against a successful Oklahoma squad, time will tell.

Put Virginia Tech in the rearview. That’s a message for players, coaches, fans and media members. It’s one game in a topsy-turvy season where several good teams have gotten tagged out the gate.

A lot of football remains. Take it one game at a time. Worry about Oklahoma before thinking ACC or BCS. The Canes have a week to get game-ready. Regain any early-season swagger and refocus.

Nine big games remain. Get back to winning ways and no one will remember a late September loss at Virginia Tech come December.

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