Further proof why preseason polls need to be done away with. Critics, pundits and talking head know-it-alls give their opinions in summertime, most of which haven’t done a lick of homework.
They might check a depth chart, read up on recruiting and guesstimate how they feel a team will do – but rarely do they truly have their thumb on the pulse. Especially with some under the radar teams. Instead, the pollsters stick with tradition as well as what’s trendy.
Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Southern Cal, Ohio State, etc. come in a top the preseason polls. Virginia Tech remains the cream of the ACC crop, based on last season and nothing more. Boise State continues to get the love as the Cinderella-type squad who keeps making noise… even though they run from fierce out of conference foes (and whoever they take on seems to have to travel to Blue Turf Stadium.)
Three weeks into the season everything has already been turned on its collective ear.
Weeks back ESPN writes that Florida should be given the SEC East trophy now, en route to their pending National Championship game appearance. Two cupcakes later (Charleston Southern and Troy), the Gators took on their first real foe – Tennessee – and had to grind out a 23-13 win, even though they were a four touchdown favorite.
No. 2 Texas was in dogfight with unranked Texas Tech this past weekend. No. 3 USC lost to unranked Washington; a squad until a week ago held the nation’s longest losing streak.
A few weeks back preseason top ten Virginia Tech got worked by Alabama, while then-No. 3 Oklahoma was upset by No. 20 BYU, losing Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford for an undisclosed amount of time.
Two weeks later, then-No. 7 BYU is throttled at home by Florida State – the same Seminoles bunch of the Hurricanes beat 38-34, behind the arm of Jacory Harris and his 386 passing yards… the same Harris now being mentioned in Heisman conversation after shredding Georgia Tech last Thursday…. the same Tech that rolled Miami for 472 rushing yards last fall, entered this season ranked No. 15 and was not only an ACC darkhorse, but thought to be a legit conference candidate.
Three weeks into the season and we need to pause to catch our breath.
The new polls were released on Sunday and it’s sheer craziness. As a Miami fan, who’d have thought at 2-0 you’d see the Canes above Oklahoma, Southern Cal and Ohio State? Just like that, The U is back in the mix – having beat two formidable opponents and impressed their harshest critics.
For the second straight week, J12 earned ACC Offensive Back of the Week honors. Harris completed 20-of-25 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-17 win over Georgia Tech last Thursday night. It also marked the second straight week the sophomore did so in front of a nationally televised ESPN audience, which sparked any “Harris for Heisman” talk currently out there.
Many questioned Miami’s “murderer’s row” type schedule out the gate, but per Randy Shannon, the Canes took on the ‘to be the best you have to beat the best’ mentality and welcomed the challenge. The downside to losing out the gate would’ve sent this program into a tailspin, but as Shannon mentioned during summer – the upside if you win those games? You can’t put a price on it.
Columnist Jemele Hill called Miami the hottest team in the country on ESPN’s First Take Monday morning and analyst Kirk Herbstreit put the Canes at No. 5 in his power rankings Saturday night. Seems everywhere you look, everyone is back to talking about The U — even in the wake of a huge Florida State win.
FSU rolls into Provo, Utah on Saturday and derail BYU’s season with a 54-28 beat down — yet the talk is still Miami. How good are the Canes if they beat a Noles bunch that owned the then No. 7 Cougars? Hell, how good are the Canes if they beat a Noles squad that thumped a Cougars squad that upset the Sooners week one?
A few too many degrees of separation there to use that logic for a Miami win against Oklahoma in two weeks, but you get the point. The U deserves to be mentioned in the same breath of any undefeated team at this point of the season. Especially with two convincing quality wins. (Yes, the win at FSU came down to one play… but 476 yards of total offense and a win in a hostile environment work in the Canes favor.)
Miami gets a nine-day layover between Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. The Hokies are coming off a last-minute touchdown with their 16-15 win over Nebraska on Saturday. Par for the course it was solid defense and special teams coupled with an erratic offense – both of which will make for an exciting showdown in Blacksburg on Saturday.
Can Mark Whipple solve Bud Foster’s defense? Will Harris continue with his superhero-like play? What will the Miami defense do to again shut down and contain Tyrod Taylor?
Even more important, how does Shannon keep these Canes level-headed? A No. 9 ranking this early in the season? Columnists stroking Miami’s ego, telling this team they’re something special? It’ll take a yeoman’s effort from Shannon and staff to pump the brakes on all that.
2-0 is a hell of a start, but it’s just that – a start. There’s a lot of football left to be played and these Canes need to weather the storm. Take care of business and down the stretch, close strong – something that wasn’t the case last year.
More to come this week as Miami prepares for yet another trek to Blacksburg. Stay tuned!
What's up Chris? Any chance the OU/UM game is the prime time Saturday game, if Miami wins Saturday?
I think my question has been answered. According to ESPN, ABC will announce the gametime no later than Sunday at noon. The two time slots 3:30-8. That tells me that if we take care of buisness on Saturday, we are going Prime Time in the 305! Hell Yeah!
I'll be the first to admit im getting swept up in this hurricane of a media storm(pun intended). I mean how can you not? 2 quality wins over ranked foes, one of those games being over by the end of the 1st qtr, thats something to be excited about. I know im a fan and its easy for me to say, but i think there is something special about this team. I feel we are heading to the two toughest games we will play all season and we should know exactly where this team stands after those 2, but after having seen what this team is capable of, those games are not nearly as tough as they seemed 4 weeks ago. I feel this team is literally one strong performance away from being a legit National Title contender, something i wouldnt have thought possible at the start of the season. Im putting a lot of stock on this weekends game. If the Canes can go into Blacksburg and come away with a quality win, then i dont see how it's possible to not look at these guys as contenders THIS year.
Again, maybe im getting too swept up in the media hoopla but i feel this years team is destined for big things, be it an ACC title berth or something far more grand. Guess we'll know a little more come Saturday @ 3:30pm.
Go 'Canes!
Glad this game is a 3:30 game and not a night game.. Lane stadium is no joke. VTs defense is no joke. They have some tape now on us (yeah i know whipple has a million plays). I just hope our D doesnt let Tyrod run rampid. I dont know what to expect. I think this game will be closer than the GT game, but who knows. I hope this hasnt gone to their heads. A win here is huge. Prediction allcanes?
Wow! Right now it feels really good to be a Cane! I'm very shocked on how well we are playing. I will admit that I was one of those skeptical fans at the beginning of the season. I didn't think it was realistic that we would go 2-0 but I'm glad that I'm getting proved wrong. I still don't think that we are officially "back" until after the Oklahoma game but our chances are looking pretty good. If we win the next two games, I would definitely feel a lot better. We should be in the national title hunt after that. I think it's too early in the season to be ranked 9 but right now, we are on fire! Now let's fill LandShark stadium and support our Canes!
Couldn't agree with you more on the uselessness of preseason polls. I'm just glad the voters are big enough to adjust now. In years past, we wouldn't be anywhere near the top ten yet.
I'm in the heart of SEC country here in Lower Alabama. Even the staunchest of Alabama and Florida supporters on talk radio are describing Miami as "dangerous", "hot", and "underrated." One usual Miami basher went as far today as saying we'd go undefeated this year. Wow.
Anyone have a problem with the coaches poll? Miami is still behind 4 one loss teams! What really makes it a joke is the Oklahoma, BYU, and FSU rankings! Do any of the coaches pay attention to who won? Biggest Nole hater ever right here, but how can they be behind BYU?
I Truly hope no non-bcs conf team gets into the bcs bowl games this year! I'm sick of hearing about them!
The worst thing that could happen to the canes this weekend is if the hokies go out and score TD's on the 1st couple of possessions. Luckily, they are not consistent, so i do not see that happening.
The playaction pass will be HUGE this weekend for the canes!
Watch out Blacksburg. The Canes are bringing the "WHIP" this weekend!
Lets goooooo Canes!
Good write up 305. I think these kids will keep their heads on straight and not get caught up in the hype. I mean, this IS Miami after all.
and I don't think I've heard or read the word "yeoman" since 8th grade history lol
Shannon will no doubt keep egos in check!
What you will see this week is Coach Whipple reverse his game plan. The run will be used to setup the deep ball. James & Cooper will each have a 100 yard day, J12 will have just over 200 yards w/3tds.
VT has had a rusher gain 100 yards in each of it's first 3 games. Whipple will capitalize on that an play action off of that.
The VT offense will find itself behind just like GT, and Tyrod Taylor will start dropping back to pass and force throws and this will take them out of their gameplan.
Miami will win big time. As long as the O-line continues to give him time to fix lunch before he throws the ball, Miami will get better and win bigger!
Go Canes!!!
"2-0 is a hell of start, but it's just that-a start" Great, Great point!!!
We must keep a cool head and keep fighting like a team, a very dangerous team. The media tones switch just like that. Before the season it was 0-4, now a possible 4-0 and heismen … This really distracts the team! Hope Shannon can keep everybody's heads cool! 'Cause the games ahead is tough and only get tougher and tougher …
I don't even think this one will be close. VT has a HORRIBLE offense and their defense isn't as good as usual (just ask Alabama). I like the Canes to win farely easy: Canes 24 Chokies 10
The key for this Miami team is to stay humble and hungry. That is what happen in 2001. Miami got snubbed by the BCS and that team had a chip on its shoulder the whole season. I think Miami knows that there are critics just waiting for Miami to slip up so they can bash them. Heck even Lou Holtz is on the Miami bandwagon. Miami needs to this its us against the world mentality the rest of the season. Yes VA Tech and OU maybe down, but they say never mess with a wounded animal. The Canes need to focus and one game at a time.
The Hurricanes are legit!!!!!!!!!!! NUF SAID!!!
I think you'd be happy to see this, from ESPN.com, ranking the Canes #1 based purely on performance to date:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&page=dash0904&sportCat=ncf
One game at a time and playing with the same passion as if we were still unranked and this could very well be a special season for our beloved Canes!!!!
Hey check the front page of ESPN.com … all about the U!
Wow, now even Lou Holtz is jumping on the Canes bandwagon! Screwy Louie predicts the Canes to lose by two touchdowns to FSU, then says there's no way they'll stop Georgia Tech's vaunted triple-option attack. All of a sudden, Screwy Louie, the ultimate anti-Cane, vows not to pick against the Canes again unless they lose. WOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW, GO CANES!!!
The reason we are number 9 right now is contained in the attached picture, looking at the names on the jerseys: Lots of young talent mixed in with experienced, battle-tested upperclassmen. Add in the coaching and you have the recipe for success.
-Columbus Cane
**per Miami Herald**
One thing Hill said has definitely developed after UM's first two games is a genuine level of excitement about the offense from recruits. Hill said he's been receiving more phone calls from players Miami is after who have been more than impressed with Whipple's play calling.
"Many recruits prior to the season started were kind of waiting to see how the offense was going to do," Hill said. "It kind of speaks for itself when you do well on the field and you get the recruits calling saying good game, great win, we like what we saw. If it was the other way around still, where we were the ones calling all the time then you know how we're doing."
Am I crazy, because I actually hope we can hold onto Whipple for 2-3 more years rather than winning the ACC title this season. Okay, I'm being extreme on purpose. But the recruits excitement and interest don't lie. Hell who wouldn't want to play in this offense while getting real preparation for the NFL.
Let's just keep winning and hope we can keep a staff for more than a year. Especially since we have a successful one. And not because of two wins. More so because of play calling, player development and over all preparedness come game day.
Whip, show your stuff Saturday because V-tech certainly knows how to play defense.
Woohoo, big fucking deal. They beat a Florida State team in a fluke and beat a GT team that was gassed (3 games in 12 days). They're going to face a tough Hokies D (don't doubt Beemerball, ever) and haven't shown much on D. They're going DOWN!