The question was discussed here days ago regarding the Miami Hurricanes being “back”, and while the consensus was that UM was on it’s way, the program wasn’t quite there. Another baby step was taken today, though as Miami was picked to win the ACC Coastal Division for the first time in the Al Golden era, only one season removed from being picked fifth.
The Hurricanes received sixty-five first-place votes, followed by Virginia Tech and North Carolina, who had twenty-seven and twenty-two, respectively. Clemson was picked to win the Atlantic Division, with ninety-five overall first-place votes. Florida State was picked second with fifteen.
While this type of news can fire up a fan base, coaches and players are taking things in stride, refusing to cite it as bulletin board material or any extra motivation regarding last year’s low prediction which ended in the Canes earning a share of the Coastal Division crown.
“That’s not how we operate,” Golden said in regards to using the news to motivate players. “As I sit here today, I know know who’s preseason what, who’s doing what. I don’t know any of it. I’ll answer it the same way I answered it last year. … We don’t base any motiviation on anything outside of our process on a daily basis.”
Senior quarterback Stephen Morris echoed Golden’s sentiment.
“No matter if we were ranked low or we were ranked high, I think my expectations as a leader or a teammate hasn’t really changed,” Morris said over the weekend.
Safe to say Golden and Morris are on to something as this is nothing more than a media prediction – the same media that gave Miami no shot to get anything done last year and is often wrong in its pre-season assessments. On-paper means nothing once that ball is kicked off late August and anything can happen over the next twelve games.
Regarding Morris’ on-the-field-efforts, despite earning some off-season hype for his growth, maturity and arm strength, which already has scouts talking, still isn’t viewed as the top in-conference quarterback.
Clemson’s Tajh Boyd is garnering all the pre-season love right now, earning 105 votes in ACC Player Of The Year polling, while Miami running back Duke Johnson earned four votes. Morris only nabbed one.
The Tigers and Canes don’t cross paths this regular season, but could obviously face off in Charlotte for the title should both teams meet these lofty expectations. (Note: Miami and Clemson are next slated to meet in the regular season in 2015 at Sun Life Stadium.)
OTHER NEWS : Some good ink from Michael Casagrande at the Sun-Sentinel, regarding a one-on-one with Golden, where the third-year coach refers to Miami feeling like a “normal program” for the first time in his tenure, as well as a piece regarding UM’s mood and thoughts on the nearing NCAA decision as that “6-to-8 week window” regarding a verdict is just around the corner.