For the Miami Hurricanes, the 2013 season is officially in the rear view. Al Goldenand his squad wrapped up the year with a 9-4 record, winning the final two ACC games but falling in the Russell Athletic Bowl to the Louisville Cardinals, 36-9.
Of course in the world of college football, the “season” is now year round with recruiting taking on a whole new meaning. Miami currently has 29 verbal commitments and what Rivals.com ranks as the number four class. There are also a few on-the-fence recruits remaining who could help the Hurricanes close strong.
Later this week some of the nation’s best high school athletes will compete in both theUnder Armour All-America Game on Thursday and Army All-American Bowl come Saturday.
Miami has a handful of committed players who will be suiting up, as well as some recruits the Hurricanes are chasing down the stretch.
Read on to find out who is solid, who could be Coral Gables-bound and who might shock the world, pulling out a “U” ballcap on national television in the coming days.
Click here for a slideshow featuring the following Miami Hurricanes recruits, commits or targets, including Braxton Berrios, Dalvin Cook, Trevor Darling, Bryce Dixon, Johnnie Dixon, J.C. Jackson, Ermon Lane, Nick Linder, KC McDermott, Sony Michel, Damian Prince, Travis Rudolph, Chad Thomas, Travonte Valentine and Joseph Yearby, all of which are playing in high school all-star games this week.
Disappointing last game which reminded me of a bowl game we played against LSU nay years ago and got soundly drubbed after a successful season. Play call was lousy, no zip in our guys at all, Teddy was great, everybody took the day off.
… sort of, George, but there are a few caveats.
For starters, the Miami defense DID show up early and hung tough. It was a 16-2 ballgame until the final drive of the first half. The Canes defense kept the Cards’ offense in check—but the Miami offense couldn’t even move the chains or stay on the field. 0-of-11 on third down and a season-low 174 yards. That’s awful.
Still, a caveat there too when you really look at the injury issues. Phillip Dorsett, Allen Hurns, Malcolm Lewis and Herb Waters were all hurt, while Rashawn Scott was back home. Stacy Coley was the lone healthy receiver … and with Miami’s best offensive player Duke Johnson out the past five games, the rushing attack was piss-poor AND there was no one to catch the ball.
Factor in an erratic Stephen Morris and an offensive line that was worked over with disguised blitzes and it’s apparent why Miami got smoked.
The 2005 team showed up in the 2005 Peach Bowl with a No. 8 ranking, 9-2 and a few weeks removed from being a one-loss team and No. 3 in the nation, hoping to backdoor into the national championship game.
The 2013 Miami Hurricanes were coming off a 13-11 run under Golden Al the past two years, 28-23 under Randy Shannon the four years before that, were unranked to start the season and needed a few mini-miracles against mid-level ACC teams to even reach 7-0 when HEALTHY.
In short, this team wasn’t that good this year, nor were they supposed to be. Actually very fortunate to have wrapped up 9-4 based on everything.