Miami 16, Virginia Tech 14

A five-game win streak for a young team sitting at 2-3 in early October. Raise your hand if you can honestly say you saw that coming.

Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.

The Miami Hurricanes’ improbable roll continues. The latest victim, Virginia Tech. A former Big East foe with a two-game win streak in the series, the Hokies were another notch on the belt of these Baby Canes.

Another low-scoring defensive battle, where Miami again found a way to rise to the occasion. Dig a little deeper. Come together. Make a few more plays and most importantly, finish.

Randy Shannon has been preaching it all season and it’s the reason the Canes are riding their longest win-streak since 2005. These freshman are learning the art of closing.

Against Duke, it was the arm and legs of Jacory Harris who put a once-close game out of reach. A week later, it’s Robert Marve hooking up with Thearon Collier down for a much needed first down in the waning moments.

Against Virginia, a 95-yard drive in regulation to tie, a defensive strip, a shot at a game-winning field goal, a touchdown in overtime and another defensive strip to seal a fourth straight win.

This time around, it was Allen Bailey providing the signature moment. Down two, Tyrod Taylor was manhandled and thrown for a loss on a must-have 4th-and-3. Miami ran out the clock, pulled out a win and turned their attention to Georgia Tech; next Thursday’s foe and the Canes most meaningful game since 2005.

Three years ago Miami was riding high after a 27-7 smackdown of Virginia Tech, rose to No. 3 in the polls and faceplanted a week later when and upset-minded GT squad came to the Orange Bowl and left with a 14-10 upset. The Canes were in the driver’s seat, an ACC title game berth looked to be in the cards and at the most improbable moment, lost their mojo.

Two games later, a 40-3 loss against LSU in the Peach Bowl. The following year, an out of nowhere 7-6 season, an on the field brawl with Florida International, a four-game losing streak down the stretch, the firing of Larry Coker and an invite to a bowl game in Boise, complete with Smurf turf.

5-7 last year under Shannon, a top-flight recruiting class and a handful of hope entering year two – it all has a chance to come full circle next Thursday night, against the team that kicked off Miami’s decline and a program that owns a three-game win streak over the Canes.

Whether Miami finds their way to Tampa or a BCS game, take solace that this program has turned the corner. Don’t let that fact get lost if the Canes fail to pull off an unfathomable seven or eight game win streak down the stretch.

This team is overachieving. Freshman are playing wise beyond their years. Miami’s quarterbacks are finally an asset instead of a liability. It isn’t always pretty, but it’s proving effective. Boneheaded mistakes will be part of the process, but they’ll be worked out in time by both coaches and players.

Right now, the end result is what matters. Filter out the loser’s mentality and rid of the dark cloud that’s hovered over this program for three years. Win pretty. Win ugly. Win by the book or win an an unorthodox manner. Just win, Baby Canes.

Those criticizing the process instead of the result, you’re missing out on something good. For the first time in years, it’s a good time to be a Cane. The ride up is part of the process and after being dead in the water last season – the victories are overdue and welcome. Enjoy this part of the journey back.

Watching this team is like watching your kid grow. Losses are setback and it’s part of the process. Mistakes can’t be judged against what ‘older brother’ and more established programs are pulling off. There are growing pain when you field thirty-one freshman and rely on kids playing high school ball this time last year. The trip back to the top will be complete with its share of setbacks. We know that going into it.

You have two choices as a present day Cane. Enjoy the ride, or bitch about the view.

One group realizes the task at hand. The program was in horrible shape. A first-time head coach had to learn on the job, fire some coordinators along the way, settle for second and third-choice replacements and was starting from scratch, in an unforgiving city with a rich tradition and a university afraid to reach for it’s wallet. Better men have failed, with more at their disposal.

That side of the fence hasn’t lessened their expectations. They’re being realistic regarding the parity in college football and the fact that a three year erosion of a program won’t be restored overnight. As a result, they can enjoy the ride, the view and can focus on all the good things this team is doing.

Those on the other side, a miserable existence and constant bitch-fest. Head over to a Canes message board after a game and check out the impulsive rants and premature bashings players and coaches take, as early as the first drive of the game.

Three and out and it’s time to fire Patrick Nix. Give up a first down on third-and-short and now it’s Bill Young who needs to start updating his resume.

Marve throws an ill-advised pass and it’s Harris time. Settle for three with the newbie in the game and it’s time to go back to the redshirt freshman.

All before the first quarter even comes to a close.

Post-game, not a good word to say. Could’ve done this. Should’ve done that. Might’ve worked today, but will hurt down the road. Judging along the way, instead of looking at the final product and assessing after the fact. Hanging on every word of coachspeak as if it’s gospel and judging every move made by the staff.

For all the grief Shannon’s taken – be it the media or the fans – he’s a few games from having his name right up there for Coach Of The Year honors. To turn around a heartless 5-7 squad that started this season 2-3; not bad for a second-year, first-time head coach.

Happy days are here again, for those who care to notice. Those with that ‘title game or bust’ mentality, living in yesteryear and comparing everything to 1987 or 2001… it’ll be a long ride back for you. The present is now, if you open your eyes. Today’s freshman are the upperclassmen of tomorrow that will take this team to the top.

The journey is supposed to be more fun that the arrival at the destination. Once a top, there’s nowhere to go but down. Miami is on the fun side of the mountain right now. Enjoy this season. Root like hell these next two games. 

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