A lot of preseason hype. A lot of puffed out chests. A lot of chatter about an unstoppable triple option.
Some in the media called the Yellow Jackets an ACC title contender. Tonight Miami called GT their whipping post.
The Atlanta media laughed at Jacory Harris and his claim that the Canes offense was unstoppable. In the end, J12 pulled off a 270-yard, three touchdown performance – 20-of-25 on the night, picking apart the Georgia Tech defense all night.
In the end, Harris was proven wrong on a technicality. The Canes offense can be stopped by one man; Randy Shannon.
With a 33-10 lead early in the fourth, faced with a 4th and goal from the four-yard line, Shannon trumped Mark Whipple with an offensive play call. Whipple wanted to go for six – Shannon played ‘gracious host’ and tried to let GT get out with some pride.
Matt Bosher missed the 26-yard field goal and a run-fueled drve later, Bosher missed a 31-yard attempt when the Canes kicked on a 4th and 3 from the 14.
The Canes left at least six on the field and if up to Whipple, this was a 50-10 beating. Miami showed mercy on Georgia Tech. The demon had been exorcised. A streak was broken and The U had all but secured a 2-0 start in ACC play. Style points didn’t matter to a hard-ass head coach.
Truth be told, by the beginning of the fourth Shannon was probably already thinking Virginia Tech.
After two big wins, what’s up, Nation?
Where you at Florida State and Georgia Tech? Anything to say for yourself sports media; most notably those who picked Miami either third or fourth in the Atlantic? Same to be said for the AP folk who didn’t feel this team was worth of a top 25 vote.
Two weeks down, two ranked teams taken out. The Canes are on a roll, baby. How’s that taste?
Bigger question – what’s up Miami nation? All you big-mouthed Shannon haters, where you at now? You’ve run your mouth for the past few years, some going as far to wish for that 0-4 start so your beloved Tommy Tuberville could swoop in and take over with a full cupboard.
Don’t bet on it. Shannon’s way is working. As I’ve said time and time again, he’s following the blueprint. Anyone that’s spent the better part of two decades around this program knows the formula for success. Aside from recruiting, developing and hiring quality assistants, it starts with razing.
Knock it all down, cut bait, dump dead weight and then rebuild.
2007 was a wash. Larry Coker’s team. Different mindset. A program chock full of players Shannon didn’t recruit or set the tone for. Some players got the boot, while others were sent to the bench. Shannon-style players played and new talent was brought on board two months after Shannon’s hiring.
Most effective out of that inaugural class, Graig Cooper. After a year at Milford Prep, the once-committed Coop was weighing his options. Shannon inked the Memphis product and a few seasons later, the junior tailback is setting the tone for this group of Canes. Hungry. Aggressive. Fired up. Ready to explode.
If Miami isn’t yet “back”, they’re pretty damn close. The ship has been righted and the destination will be known by December.
Add ‘ready to be noticed’ to that list, as well. 2-0 entering Blacksburg, the national media is now paying attention. Miami is ‘the story’ thus far this college football season. Question marks surrounded the once-proud program after a 12-13 Shannon’s first two season. It was statement time and the Canes answered.
This isn’t your father’s Canes team. The Orange Bowl is gone and it’s time for Shannon to make his own history. A new wrinkle in U of M folklore, this marks the first time a UM player has taken the reigns in the post Decade of Dominance era.
Butch Davis was a former defensive coordinator who knew the Canes’ culture before taking over as head coach – but Shannon lived and breathed is as a linebacker (coincidentally, under Davis). He spent his off seasons seeking counsel from former head coach Jimmy Johnson, guru Bill Parcells and So Cal’s Pete Carroll, arguably one of the game’s best.
It’s never been a matter of “if” with Randy Shannon – only a matter of “when”. Anyone who didn’t buy that was either an outsider, or an impatient fan to stubborn to realize rebuilding takes time.
Georgia Tech was overmatched out the gate. After a lengthy drive ended in solid Miami defense and a Tech field goal, the Canes came alive. A ninety second drive resulted in a 40-yard LaRon Byrd touchdown. It was set up by a clutch 3rd-and-11 conversion to Leonard Hankerson, for a drive-changing 36 yards.
A 13-yard pass to Dedrick Epps and a 34-yard Bosher field goal sent Miami into the locker room with a 17-3 lead and there was no looking back. A six-play, 60-yard drive ended with a three-yard Javarris James touchdown. 24-3, Canes and that sound you heard was the Jackets’ hearts being broken. Game over… with just under two quarters to play.
Tech found the endzone on a 60-yard drive midway through the third, but Miami responded with a nine-play, 52-yard drive of their own, ending with a 14-yard strike to tight end Jimmy Graham.
Cooper and James combined for 165 yards on the night. (So much for the Tech belief that the Canes couldn’t run the ball.) Combined, Miami gained 184 yards on the ground and posted 270 through the air. A 454-yard performance for The U.
Thank the mind of Whipple and the arm of Harris for that. Miami has an offense again. Look out, nation.
2-0 and halfway through a schedule that was dubbed “Murderer’s Row” during the preseason. Florida State and Georgia Tech have since been put out to pasture, while Virginia Tech and Oklahoma are still licking some wounds after early season losses.
A stretch of ball that looked like it’d be, well, a stretch? Seemingly very doable right now with two more big ones on deck. The Canes have ten days to prepare for the Hokies, while the Sooners will head to down a top-flight tight end and most likely a Heisman-winning quarterback. (Going on record as saying Sam Bradford doesn’t start against Miami in two weeks. Shoulder injury has him out until meat of Big XII schedule and game-of-season against Texas mid-October.)
While some idiots called for 0-4, those who whispered 4-0 or 3-1 look like full-fledged prophets. Take it one at a time? Sure. But don’t count Miami out. If you’re a fan, you have reason to be excited. This team has officially turned the corner.
Georgia Tech, thanks for coming out. It was a nice 4-0 run, but that triple option doesn’t fly when a team has the talent, speed and depth to bring it. LSU proved that in last year’s Peach Bowl and Miami showed that it’s one step closer to being ‘back’ thanks to an overall influx of talent.
This was a revenge game and the Canes called for a Thursday night, nationally televised outing for this showdown. Miami was a team on a mission and kicked the ass off of Georgia Tech in front of the college football world. How’d that workout for everyone?
Virginia Tech, get ready. Miami brought the thunder a year ago and is coming to play with a full deck next Saturday.
One step closer. The future is now.
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View Comments
Nice write up. It is time that everyone stops talking about the 2010 season. We are the real deal THIS season and are playing with confidence, poise, and a Champion's swagger.
Let's win 'em all boys.
Go Canes!!!!
letssssssssssssssss gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..... ITS A CANES THANG... NO ONE UNDERSTANDS
Very good post!!
Talk about DOMINATION!! Wow. No arm tackling Canes. No we opened up a damn can!! The D played lights out. And if it weren't for that play where B.Harris got that pick we woulda been up some more. The kick off were not that good. But im good with the W any day!! Again J.Harris with a very solid performance!! Him for the next 3 years!! wow!! give Whipple some more money!! nahh!! i was pumped for this game. And that block by futch!! and telemaque with that hit!!!! wow! go canes!!
ZarOkoN
Yes, baby. It is so fun to watch this team!
You have been a voice of reason during these tumultuous past few seasons.
Like a certain recent presidential candidate was fond of saying, sometimes change is slow. You don't just turn a big ocean liner around. First you slow it down before you get it going back in the right direction.
I think some impatient fans mistook the past couple of seasons as harbingers when they were simply a Coker hangover. Just slowing the big ocean liner down before it could be set in the right direction.
I like the tone. Those who augured disaster and ruin can save a bit of face by coming round to appreciating the talent and effort that has left all fans of the white orange and green so happy after two huge games. Unadulterated haters should just hide themselves.
Guts and determination in a rivalry game and cold blooded execution in a revenge tilt.
The Atlanta Witch is dead and all that Techie crowing and bravado has morphed into the soft whimpers of wound licking and excuse making.
We need to appreciate what we are seeing because the mountain has been high and hurtful at times; the return of a competitive team with heart is a gift not to be undervalued.
C A N E S !!!
I think of all the Canes blogs I read, yours is the best. You tell it like it is. Thank you.
PS: I was wearing my allcanes black 305 shirt during the game here at home in Keller Texas.
Well said AllCanes. I called a 3-1 start, but had no prescience regarding Bradford going down for the count. Best part of the GATech game prep is that it instantiated discipline and assignment football as a methodology for the Canes defense. Once upon a time they only *required* a Cover 2 Man on defense by way of simply winning each and every individual match-up with the likes of Sean Taylor, Vince Wilfork et al. Assignment football will go a long way to emphasizing Miami's disciplined talent in that regard.
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The canes are back. We finally have an offense. The defense will only get better through the season. A win at VA TECH and we should be in the top 5 headed into the Oklahoma game.
Go CANES!!!!!!!
Great write up, and glad you brought up the last 2 field goals. I am one of those that wants to show noone mercy, I would have gone for the TD both times. Me and some other canes fans have gotten alot of flak for it on one of the canes forums. Some people are saying running out the clock is smart football, thats fine i can understand that. Others are saying Shannon is being a class act, and not trying to sound like a hypocrite after last years Florida game. But the way I see it we were up 16, that may be fine for the like of Georgia Tech. But against a healthy OU team that isn't nearly enough points to feel safe. What i am worried about is the offense just running out the clock, and the defense sitting back and relaxing thinking the other team is out of it. I like Whipple more and more, DONT LET HIM LEAVE! The man wanted to go for 6 when shannon was fine with going for 3, and look at how that turned out. Now im not bashing Shannon, I will say he is definetly turning this team around. Even though in the past I have been one of the many people that didn't have that much faith. Im just saying i don't want the team getting accustomed to just thinking the other team is out for the count, then realizing the other team has come back and taken the lead.
Great game CANES! It was fun for the fans, and I'm sure fun for the players. Can't wait for next week.
-Joel