After losing heartbreakers to North Carolina and Florida State – by a combined total of six points and with the game in reach in the final moments – it was finally the Canes’ turn to experience the thrill of victory after making a few more plays than the other guys.
This wasn’t Wake Forest circa 2006. The Deacs were thumped 26-0 by Maryland last week and fell to Navy early in the season, but scored also “W”s in low-scoring affairs against Florida State and Clemson. Close down the stretch, Wake stepped up and pulled away.
Saturday’s contest looked like it was scripted in similar fashion.
Down 16-10 with 4:24 on the clock, the Deacs went three-and-out with no theatrics from Riley Skinner. The junior quarterback has a few fourth quarter comebacks on his resume and it almost made sense to mentally prepare for a 17-16 final.
Miami has been the anti-Skinner, giving games away in the waning moments and almost creating new ways to be unclutch. Defensive collapses. The absence of a game winning-type catch. The sense of being in control, instead of reactive and panicking.
It took eight games, but these young Canes are finally learning the meaning of the word ‘clutch’.
After their final possession went south, the Demon Deacons punted on a 4th-and-8 from Miami’s 44-yard line. With just over three minutes in the game and time outs remaining, Wake had seen this movie before and knew the ending.
Keep it close, take the Canes to the wire and let them self-destruct, effectively willing a win to the other guy.
A coaching staff criticized for conservative play finally took their gloves off and a few peerless freshman stepped up and won a ball game.
A glorified game of keep away ensued, with the Canes nursing a six-point lead the the Deacs one big play away from the comeback.
Miami of last year loses this game, a la NC State. Instead, this squad finally got a signature win.
Robert Marve threw his hat back in the quarterback competition, putting together an 11-of-20 performance for 153 yards with his arm and rushing for 56 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. The even more important stat; no turnovers.
Only given eight attempts last week and sidelined during a stellar outing by Jacory Harris, many were clamoring for the true frosh to assume starting duties – the wrong call proven by Marve’s response.
Early in the second, a 43-yard scamper by Marve set up a one-yard touchdown run two plays later. The beginning of the fourth, a 20-yard drive and third down conversion eventually resulting in a 43-yard Matt Bosher field goal and 16-10 lead.
Miami picked up five of their seven third downs with Marve behind center. On the surface, just another notation in a box score, but for a Hurricanes bunch that’s been anemic regarding keeping drives alive, it’s huge. At the game’s most crucial moment, the final two on the final drive secured the win.
On a 3rd-and-10 deep in Miami’s territory, Marve rolled left and floated the perfect pass to Thearon Collier. The freshman wideout had Miami at midfield and breathing new life.
The Canes almost non-existent running game remained grounded (102 yards on 33 attempts. 59 on 32 if you take out Marve’s long run), with Graig Cooper losing 3-yards on first down. On 2nd-and-13, Marve found Collier again, threading a 12-yard strike between Wake defenders.
It was the confident-type pass Harris was applauded for against Duke, but many said Marve didn’t have in the arsenal. The game-winner Marve sent over Kayne Farquharson on the final drive against North Carolina, he hit it Saturday, albeit in less dramatic fashion.
First-and-10 with two minutes and no timeouts, Wake was done while Miami notched back-to-back ACC wins for the first time since 2006.
The pundits will say it’s only a Wake Forest team on the decline, but it’s a big step forward for a young team.nOne step closer to being ‘back’.
5-3 doesn’t have the same ring of 6-2 or 7-1 (both of which were within reach), but it feels better than October 20th, 2006.
After an upset of Florida State, Miami sporting an identical record last season, though there was little reason for optimism. An utter beatdown at Oklahoma. A no-show at North Carolina. A second half collapse against Georgia Tech. Instability at quarterback. The same barrage of mistakes made week in and week out. Zero excitement. Watered down talent. Four losses from rock bottom.
Miami went 0-4 down the stretch – losing an OT snoozefest to NC State and suffering a 48-0 drubbing at the hands of Virginia; the Orange Bowl finale, no less. Two final road contests followed, smacked up at Virginia Tech and outlasted by Boston College.
This time around, the Canes head to Virginia, work through a bye and then sport back-to-back Thursday night ESPN games against Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. The season finale, a post-Thanksgiving road trip to NC State.
Based on the schizophrenic nature of the ACC this year, even Nostradamus is gun shy offering up a down-the-stretch prediction.
The same way he’s shaken off any notion of quarterback ‘controversy’, Randy Shannon isn’t playing the revenge card for the final four foes. Different year, different team – as proven the past few weekends. No more wilting down the stretch, the Canes are finishing.
But where does it go from here? Has Miami truly turned a corner, or will the rise in competition knock this green team down a few rungs? Central Florida, Duke and a lesser Wake Forest bunch don’t hold a candle to Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and NC State. The Canes first true test is next weekend in Charlottesville.
Shannon may avoid any revenge angle, but someone in that locker room better do his best Ed Reed and remind everyone about last year, just as the former Miami safety did at Florida State in 2001, (“Forty-seven to nuthin!”, Reed bellowed in the locker room, recalling the Noles beatdown of the Canes in 1997).
Let these freshman know what it felt like to go out with a thud and embarrass yourselves in front of all those football alum, as well as an entire city.
There’s added motivation to stick it to Virginia and it’s on the players to muster it up – not on their head coach to fabricate it. Someone get out there and lead by example this weekend. Make another statement. Notch another win.
6-3 sounds a hell of a lot better than 5-4.
Miami is building for the future and the best way to do that is to create some more signature moments and save this year. Win some more ball games. Prove that 5-7 was an aberration and that the road to redemption is closer than the critics think. Show next year’s recruits the instant impact they can have on a hungry program ready to get back to winning ways.
A lot remains on the line, ACC title game aside. All the zigging instead of zagging down the stretch last year, get it right this time. Create more moments. Invigorate Miami football.
While many want an instant turnaround, the logical folk realize how bad things had gotten and understand what it takes to right the wrongs. They key to this year was growth. Nurture the new players and get production out of your playmakers. Grow two new quarterbacks from the ground up. Take it a week at a time. Improve on last year. Get to a bowl game. Recruit like hell and get back after it again next fall.
Miami is growing, albeit not fast enough for some. Don’t let impatience cloud your vision. Rewatch the last eight quarters of football and be honest with yourselves. This team is starting to turn a corner, though a daunting task awaits with November upon us.
Revel in this win and buckle up as the real season starts on Saturday.
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I think the issue that alot of Cane fans have is that we are not winning like we're used to seeing Miami win in the past (blowouts), we are scratching and crawling our way to victories, but hey at least we are winning. I think the theme for the rest of the season should be "Win Ugly"!!
This may sound silly but a trend has developed that should make the University drop its "wear Orange" campaign. (For the record I don't like the orange because half the schools in the country have the same color it seems and Miami's green is much more unique and screams south florida, much like the Dolphin aqua.)
The Hurricanes have won three straight ACC games wearing green tops or green pants. The Canes have lost eight of the last nine in the league wearing orange tops or orange pants.
Sound crazy? Maybe, but Green makes us unique and in the 2000-2002 run we didn't even sport orange pants. Even though in the glory days with the Russell jerseys we always wore orange tops or orange pants, in the Nike days green has been better.
Back to the games. I've seen UVa now a few times recently and to say they are playing well would be an understatement. I don't know what happened those first few weeks for them: maybe it was all the suspensions, etc. But since the calender turned to October and Lalaich was tossed from the team, they have been hands down the best team in the conference. Despite the score they really dominated GT in Atlanta. Against, ECU they looked flat out scary (recall ECU actually beat VT and West Virginia) and though I didn't see it I know they crushed the same Maryland team that has not lost since. Al Groh is also possibly the best game day coach in the league. He doesn't have the special teams of Beamer or the wins of Bowden, or the media love of Grobe, but Virginia is always impressive with halftime adjustments and exploiting mismatches.
No way they beat us 48-0 again. But they are better than us right now. even if Shannon says openly he doesn't want 48-0 to be a motivator, I believe we have to use it privately because we need some sort of edge against what right now is a superior team. We can beat VT and GT for sure if we play our game. Right now UVa looks like the team to beat and we're going to need to really step up (and wear green pants) to beat them.
allcanes (Chris), what a game. I was there right behind the bench only 11 rows up. This is 100% nowhere close to last year’s team. The body language of the players screamed confidence and discipline. When you see these guys in person, it's hard to believe some are true freshmen. I brought my 18-year-old brother that was in high school last year as well. I said to him (all 5' 9" and 170 lbs of him) could you believe that guy and that guy and that guy were in high school last year as well. He was in just as much disbelief.
Putting the physical aside, young raw talent is still what they are. As fans we could feel energy in the stadium. Like soon, very soon all will click and this team will be something to contend with. Like hopefully this Saturday against Virginia.
Wake ran us ragged in the first half. Same basic run plays and we couldn't man up and stop them for $hit. But again, in these '08 Canes, I saw no quit or complacency in them. That plus the halftime adjustments made for an improved defensive second half.
Marve looked much more controlled and relaxed. That’s all I wanted to see out of him, as that’s all he really had to improve. The QB by committee works, the coaches just need to work on the timing of the change. Also, Nix almost pulled a “Mr. Conservative” by trying to early to play keep away (with 5:47 left in the fourth). That’s when we the fans let out the “boos”. Thank God the defense continued to hold and the rest is history.
Apparently all Wake was banking on (early season norms from the Canes) never came to be. So perhaps this is that turning point. As these Canes certainly are showing signs of being clutch in the end.
Guys, if you can you have to make it to the Virginia Tech home game. It was a great experience watching a team with no quit in them. I think the crowd was only 41,000. But the excitement in the stands felt more like 70,000.
Looks like my prediction of 7-5, is still where we are. But a BIG, you never know has to be stated. As the ACC games are so unpredictable. One thing for sure, these guys will compete to no end.
We’ll get there, go CANES!!
Prediction for Nov. 1...THE U 48 Virginia 0...000000000000h C A N E S!!!
I am just happy with the win. I did not get to se the game and didn't think they'd pull it off, but they did. I am ecstatic about this win. That being said, somehow Virginia is the hottest team in the ACC right now. The plan has to be similar to what it should have been last week: Stop the run and cover the TE. I am not a believer in UVA, but they are somehow getting it done right now. We can get the W with execution and playing assignment football.
-Columbus Cane
ok... after complaining about the Green, i think i just got my wish for once! and guess what Canes won in Green and looked better!
Now im curious as to know if anyone has heard this random rumor that the canes will wear a black jersey on the Thursday night game vs. VT?
the rumor has been floating around all over, but there isnt any credible information out there yet..
Hey ALL CANES!!!!
I don't know if you got a chance to see the canes game but,what do you think of coker commentating on the canes? One of his concerns was the lack of proper snaps from xavier shannon...saying the ball was snapped to high for marve or harris like that's not correctable. How bout lack of playmakers that he recruited for one thing and lack of discipline that he had in four years!!
Anyway, not taking anything away from the canes but all wake did in the first half (just about the whole game) was run against us and it seemed we had a hard time just stopping that! I know were a young team but thank god for our freshmen!! Like you said i sure somebody steps up this weekend and motivates this young team to what we once were. One last thing can you possibly clear up any rumors that coker and his sidekick were commentating about last game about the fact that randy could'nt possibly keep both quarterbacks happy and stick around to help build this team back again. I pray that harris nor marve do not go anywhere else!! And just maybe we'll see some retro uniforms this weekend. GO CANES!!!!
THE DARKER THE COLOR THE MORE HEAT IT ABSORBS. DOWN HERE IN THIS HEAT WE DONT NEED DARK GREEN JERSEYS @ 12 NOON
What would be the fallout from another 48-0 loss?
THE DARKER THE COLOR THE MORE HEAT IT ABSORBS. DOWN HERE IN THIS HEAT WE DONT NEED DARK GREEN JERSEYS @ 12 NOON
In theory, sure.... but is there REALLY that big a difference between a dark green jersey and an orange jersey? Hot is hot. Humid is humid. Noon is noon.
If schools like Wake can wear black at home and win... Florida State can wear garnet... Florida can wear blue... Miami can swing dark green.
Didn't seem to stop the Canes in home games from 2000-2002.