Get it together, fellas…

I’m pecking away here midway through the 4th quarter. ESPN360 is the call for today’s game, so those of us watching are doing so on a computer monitor… instead of a 50″ plasma screen. That is, unless you have a 50″ computer monitor and if that’s the case, I hate you.

Whether on the big screen or the PC, the result is still the same. Ugly. Miami just shanked a punt with less than 9:00 on the clock and Duke is fired up, as it’s 20-9.

The Canes played inspired football the first half, but sitting on a 17-0 halftime lead, Miami has done absolutely nothing in the second half. Unless you get some sort of credit for making mistakes and playing boneheaded football.

Another penalty. I think it was Baraka Atkins and an offside. Just grand. I think the Canes have somewhere near a dozen penalties today. I’ll check after the game. Either way. Duke is now on the 15-yard line. 3rd and 7… too much time. Good Lord, first down Duke. We’re looking at 1st and Goal from the 8-yard line. We need a turnover. I can’t believe we’re almost sweating one out against the Blue Devils here. The Canes are actually going to have to eek one out against one of the worst Division I teams out there.

Touchdown Duke. It’s 20-15 after a missed two point conversion try.

Kyle Wright looked pretty good the first half, but it’s been a joke these past two quarters. We need a big drive here. Someone needs to step up. Miami needs seven. Now. Now more screwing around. I don’t care if we’re down 13 players or 31, this is Duke. Step up.

1st and 10 from the 20 yard line with just under seven minutes left on the clock. Wright throws to Sam Shields, incomplete. A sub par throw. Not good, Kyle.

Another pass. Dropped by Lance Leggett. Should’ve been PI, but nothing. You’re not going to get those calls a week after a brawl, fellas. 3rd and 10.

Horrendous pass, Kyle. No one was in the neighborhood there. Wait, a flag. Illegal procedure on Miami. Are you kidding me? Even if we completed it, it was coming back.

Darren Daly back to punt. Just near the 50-yard line. 6:17 left to play, nursing a 20-15 lead and Duke has a shot as the upset. I can’t believe I’m even typing those words. This is eerily reminiscent of the Clemson game in 2004 where the Canes had a 17-3 halftime lead and lost 24-17 in overtime. Miami lulled themselves to sleep with a small lead at the half. Godforbid we ever put our foot on another team’s throat and pour on the points.

We just burned a timeout as we had 12 men on the field. One timeout remains. What a joke.

To think that Kenny Phillips has three interceptions and Jon Peattie hit a 51-yard field goal. Without that, where the hell is this team right now?

Clock rolling. Duke just picked up 10 yards for a first down. They’re on the 40-yard line and driving. Running play. About 5 yards. Flag. Looks like the Canes are getting called for a late hit. Duke held. Offsetting penalties.

These Canes absolutely lack discipline. I am mortified right now. Larry Coker, get some control of these kids. This is even MORE embarrassing to me than the fight. At least that can be blamed on emotion. Late hits at this point of the game? It should come down to this.

2nd and 8. 4:42 and counting. Four yard pick up on the run. 3rd and 4 with the Blue Devils actually having momentum. Amazing how lackluster Miami play can fire up an opponent.

Deep ball… overthrown. Thank God. 4th and 4. Duke is going for it… incomplete. Big hit by someone. Tavares Gooden made a big stick. Nice make up play as he made up for a penalty called in an earlier drive which resulted in a Blue Devils touchdown.

Miami ball. Clock ticking. Baby J just picked up 4 yards. 3:26 on the clock. Timeout, Duke.

ESPN’s Joe Schad is in the house. This guy is damn near stalking the Canes. He was on campus all week covering the brawl and now ESPN sent him to Durham, NC for a game that’s not even televised. I can only imagine the coverage we’ll see as Duke took Miami to the wire.

Game on. Wright’s pass is in the air. Leggett, doubled covered… he caught it. Nice, Lance. Your boneheaded spiking of the ball earlier in the game cost us 15-yard and eventually led to a field goal. You’ve also been nailed for holding twice. That said, you made up for it with a big time grab there. Miami’s on the 44-yard line and driving.

I don’t know what the first half stats were, but they just announced 7 penalties for 63 yards in the second half. They also mentioned some paltry rushing numbers. James and Tyrone Moss have been completely ineffective against lowly Duke. Georgia Tech is a week away and I’m already scared of Jon Tenuta’s defensive game plan next week.

On a side note, Miami is 4-2 on the season and has only played ONE road game up to this point. Who was in charge of that scheduling?

2nd and 5 with 3:14 on the clock… handoff to James for a loss of one. Gotta love conservative football. Everyone and their mothers saw that run coming and now it’s 3rd and 6. Just grand.

Wright to Khalil Jones… short of the first down. 4th and 2 and we’re gonna see Daly attempt to pin Duke deep. Can you even imagine a bad snap or blocked kick here? Disastrous.

Scratch that, Jon Peattie is in. Nice kick, Jon. Duke will line up at the 11-yard line with 1:35 on the clock and I believe ONE timeout remaining.

It was just announced that Duke hasn’t won an ACC game since 2004 against Clemson. That was a week after the Tigers upset the Canes at the Orange Bowl in OT.

Two quick completions for Duke. First down, 16-yard line. Overthrown. 1:04 left on the clock.

I still can’t believe I’m doing play-by-play here for Miami at Duke. It should be 41-2 right now and I should have a cocktail in hand. Instead, 20-15 and the Blue Devils have the ball.

Incomplete pass and ineligible receiver downfield. Duke is self-destructing, as they SHOULD.

1st down, Duke. Almost at midfield. Did I speak too soon? Maybe not. Another completion was just wiped out by an ineligible receiver downfield. Pathetic. We’re relying on the Blue Devils’ mistakes to win this game. Has it really gotten this bad?

Worse. Duke… long passing play. Inside the 20-yard line. A missed tackle by Lovon Ponder.

:21 left and Duke is on the 18-yard line. The pass… another flag. Pass interference. Glenn Sharpe. You’ve gotta be s**ting me. :17 left and Duke is on the 14-yard line. Pass. Complete. 6-yard line. No first down. Duke will have to spike it.

03: left…. last play of the game. Intercepted by Willie Cooper… running…. down at the 15-yard line. Again I say, are you kidding me. He’s injured in what should’ve been an easy return for six.

When you’re snake-bit, you’re snake-bit. Recap coming tomorrow.

Right now I need that drink I would’ve had if Miami was rolling in the third quarter as they should have.

.:Canes305:.

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