The 2009 season officially comes to a close today regarding the Miami Hurricanes and either a 10-3 or 9-4 campaign. On paper, it’s a one-game swing, but in reality it’s all the difference in the world.
Winning or losing a bowl game; it sits with you all off-season. These Canes won’t take the field again for over eight months and you want something positive to build on, not dwell on.
Wisconsin is a quality Big Ten opponent with a matching 9-3 record. The Badgers need the win as much as the Canes, but it’s hard to believe this isn’t Miami’s time.
The Canes opened the season on a 3-1 tear when the consensus was a best case 2-2 scenario. Some went as far as to call for 0-4 and Randy Shannon fired by mid-season. Instead, wins over Florida State, eventual ACC champ Georgia Tech and an upset of then No. 8 Oklahoma. Sandwiched in between, a one-sided loss at Virginia Tech in the driving rain.
Miami had the ACC in reach the majority of the season, but stumbled against two conference foes; Clemson and North Carolina.
The Tigers took the Canes to the wire, stealing one in overtime while the Tar Heels nabbed their third straight against Miami. The common theme in both losses; turnovers.
All season the Canes have gone as far as Jacory Harris has taken them. When the sophomore quarterback is “on”, Miami has looked as good as anybody in the nation. All the early Heisman talk was indeed justified. Harris simply proved too green at times, showing he lacked the experience and poise needed year one of his run.
Against those two latter losses, Harris combined for seven interceptions, three returned for touchdowns and each more crucial than the last. The Clemson lost was easy to absorb as it proved to be a back and forth shootout, with the Tigers one play better that day. The loss at Chapel Hill was a bitter pill. Miami had 24 first downs to North Carolina’s 17 and 435 total yards to their 329. The difference in the contest was four turnovers to zero and the loss knocked the Canes from an at large BCS berth.
At 9-3 Miami looked to be Gator Bowl bound and slated for their first New Years bowl since the 2003 season, but sympathy for a retiring Bobby Bowden “earned” 6-6 Florida State an invite and sent Miami to Orlando.
ESPN recently ran Rakontur’s “30 For 30” documentary on “The U” and one has to assume these modern day Canes hunkered down in front of the TV as part of the 2.3 million folks who watched its debut.
The University of Miami wanted no part of the piece and didn’t allow current players or coaches to be interviewed, so there hasn’t been a write up mentioning what the ’09 Canes felt about Miami’s dominant run of yesteryear. Still, you have to believe these kids got a reminder regarding the legacy of this program. A little “Hurricanes: 101” shoved down their throat.
Safety Vaughn Telemaque recently called out Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien, essentially challenging him to throw deep against the Canes. Telemaque hasn’t recorded an interception all year, but it didn’t stop him from speaking his mind.
The combination of a few frustrating losses, letting a BCS berth slip away, a Gator Bowl snub and some orange and green cockiness re-running every other day on ESPN, I expect a fired up group of Canes to take the field this evening. Miami will show up as healthy as they’ve been since game one and offensive coordinator Mark Whipple has had a month to game plan for a Wisconsin bunch that hardly boasts the best passing defense in the game.
The Badgers have a solid back in John Clay, who’s earned most of the bowl preview hype to date. Any talk of the Champs Sports Bowl and you’re reading about his 1,396 yards and 16 touchdowns. A solid campaign, though not one article mentioned he did it against lesser talent and struggled against the bigger boys on Wisky’s schedule; Ohio State, Iowa, etc.
Shunned in all of this, the Miami rushing defense as well as three capable Hurricane backs who have impressed all year.
Miami’s defense has allowed an average of 96 yards over the final seven games, as well as two rushing touchdowns over that duration. The Canes held opponents to 3.3-yards-per-carry during the past nine games and held an explosive Georgia Tech rushing attack to 95 yards on 39 carries.
Clay’s biggest efforts came against the likes of Minnesota, Michigan. Hawaii and Fresno State. Hardly Cane caliber defenses.
The lack of love for Miami backs Javarris James, Graig Cooper and Damien Berry is been surprising as each has had their share of big games and quality runs this season. James shone brightest on the main stage against Oklahoma, posting a hard-earned 150 yards and some big runs. Cooper had his 152-yard day against Virginia, but also ran solid against Georgia Tech, Clemson and South Florida.
Berry has been the surprise this season, showing he’s Miami’s toughest back while relegated to third string status. Berry shredded South Florida for 114 yards and had some tough, game changing runs against Wake Forest, Central Florida and Duke.
Combined, this trio has run for 1,744 yards and 17 touchdowns, better numbers than Clay yet the Badgers’ running game gets the hype.
Harris will need the time to operate today and whether he gets it or not, it’ll be the difference-maker. O’Brien Schofield and crew will attempt to wreak havoc. The question remains, how does Miami’s offensive line respond? Senior tackle Jason Fox is sidelined, which means the line up will be reshuffled and freshman Brandon Washington will again be called on as he did against South Florida.
If the Canes’ line comes to play and Harris’ nagging thumb injury doesn’t bog him down, it could be another pass happy day for Miami. Time for J12 to play smart football. Cut down on the turnovers and if the thumb is still hampering him, it’s on Whipple to devise a game plan with high percentage passing plays and shorter routes that won’t test Harris’ thumb.
Defensively the Canes need to contain and pressure Tolzien, which can be easier said than done – not just because the junior quarterback can play, but because Miami has a way of making average passers look spectacular. Look no further than Clemson’s Kyle Parker and North Carolina’s T.J. Yates as prime examples. The Canes couldn’t rattle either and both made big plays in upsets of Miami.
The Badgers also sport a pair of quality tight ends in Garrett Graham and Lance Kendricks. Miami needs to protect the middle of the field a the Canes have oft been damaged by tight ends in recent memory. (Visions of Virginia running the same play to their tight end three times in a row in the Orange Bowl finale… absolutely disheartening.)
The combination of four weeks to prepare, time to get healthy, the goal of a ten-win season and a chip on their shoulder due to a bigger bowl snub – it’ll be the difference for Miami. As cliche as it might be to say one team wants or needs a win more, that is indeed the case here. The Canes are as close to home as you can be for the holidays, with Orlando just short car ride away. Miami fans will be in full force and weather-wise, it’ll be home game environment.
2009 was the year the Canes were looking to break out, but fell a little short. 9-3 is vast improvement over 7-6 (2008) or 5-7 (2007), but Miami didn’t win the ACC or reach a BCS game, so all goals weren’t met. 2010 now becomes the year UM takes that giant leap forward.
A top ten preseason ranking is online the line, a slew of recruits will be watching and a healthy bunch of Canes is driven to get that fifth win. Simply put, Wisky is getting “The U” at the wrong time and is going down. Tune in at 7pm ET on ESPN to see it live.
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LET'S GO CANES!!! I think if we win this game we'll start in the top 10 next year which would be huge.
I also heard that the canes will be wearing the all white pro nike combat jerseys again tonight.
Finally an awesome game preview. been following you all season but first time commenting. i love allcanes and once again you hit another home run with this article. i agree with you 1000 percent. we are ripe for a break out bowl game with a shot at a huge run next year. how could these kids not be fired up after everything from our gator bowl snub to the "U". best 30 for 30 ever easily. send a couple of future nflers on a good note and leave me smug for our 8 months til next tear. everyone loves the big 10 and hates miami especially around here!!!
Envy the past fear the future!!
31 10 Canes
Awesome write up, but i think ya might want to spend some time proof reading your stuff. A few too many errors.
Appreciated.... eyes are fried. Did this write up first thing after my four-week old kept me up all night.
(Yes, I'm gonna milk this kid thing for a while.)
If you can point out the typos, it'd be appreciated.
I'm a Canes fan but I think you should try to make your facts a bit more fair.
>"Combined, this trio has run for 1,744 yards and 17 touchdowns, better numbers than Clay yet the Badgers' running game gets the hype."
You are comparing our top 3 RBs versus one of theirs, and question why their running game gets the hype? Their top 2 RBs have better numbers than our top 3, add their 3rd and it isn't close.
We made no plays aside from the first play of the game. Nobody on either side of the ball has done a goddamn thing tonight. The Wisconsin QB had a perfect view directly in front all night and just threw to the TE's all night. Pathetic. What a shitty way to end a up-to-this-point good season. In my mind, it kind of ruins the whole vibe for 2009 as far as momentum. We didn't even put up a fight. How do you lose to Wisconsin? We looked like we just expected to roll our helmets out there and Wisconsin would give up. I hope every player on this team remembers this game all off-season. Now we have to live with this for eight months. We obviously need more difference makers on both sides of the ball.
-Columbus Cane
That was one of the most pathetic displays of football I've seen from Miami in the last few years. How many times can Jacory get hit before he slaps his linemen in the helmet and speaks his mind. Not only that, but how many times can our defense stand still and wait for the play to happen before making a move. Wisconsin should have just had a TE run to the center of the field every play, then the final score would be 48-14. I really look forward to your thoughts on the game and how disgusted you are at all of this. I live in the heart of Big Ten nation and have to see 50 statuses on my Facebook that say...Its all about the (double) U. I'm so pissed right now. Lots of people will be calling for Shannons head but i put no blame on him at all.
I am in agreement with the above two. I would have been merely disappointed with a hard-fought, close loss--this show was embarrassing.
What's more frustrating is that the defense actually played a decent game...they bent but didn't break, forced two turnovers, and kept us in the game. Given the absurd disparity in T.O.P (20:45 to 39:15) our D put up a valiant fight. They were exhausted, and 20 pts to a 9-3 team isn't bad.
I'd say 80% of this loss is on the same group that has limited this team for the past 5 years: the O-Line. I haven't seen line play this sh*tty since the Kyle Wright years.
We could have Jim Brown, Dan Marino and Jerry Rice out there, I don't care. When your QB gets mauled (or is in fear of being mauled) every other play, you will lose. Granted, JH had a bad game, but was lucky to get out of there without permanent injuries, and the 5 guys up front did NOTHING to help. They looked like a JV team, missing assignments, and looking like fools. Don't they practice? Are we that inept? I can't remember ever losing like this to a Big-10 team.
The other 20%, imo, falls on Whipple. Though he is a breath of fresh air on the heels of Nix, his decisions perplex me of late. Here you have a soph. QB with numerous injuries, STRUGGLING, running for his life every down, and what do we do? Bomb. Bomb. 7 step drops. Shotgun. Long-ass plays that don't help the situation at all. He calls plays like it's Elway behind center.
I'm no football guru, but it is often said that successful offenses take what the defense gives them. Where were the screen plays? The quick slants? THE RUNNING GAME? TAKE THE BURDEN OFF JH by trying to establish a running game. Seriously, our backs had a combined 13 carries. That sucks.
But no, Whipple seems intent on forcing the issue, calling long passes again and again and again. I almost feel like he has an ego, he seems so stubborn in his calling. Case in point, the VERY FIRST screen pass we called was the last TD drive with 1:30 left or so. Too little too late.
Great promise to the year, but very deflating. Suddenly, instead of feeling like this team is on the rise, I just don't know anymore. Apologies for the rant, but I had to get it out.
These are the type of games that make you feel like you have no hope in this team..yeah allcanes you can go ahead and say 7 wins are better than 5 and 9 is better than last season.You would think that the show the U would give some inspiration and fire to kick pissconsins teeth....but no..i come home from a hard-assed days work only to see my team get their ass kicked it breaks my heart to see this team lose unnecessary games..no excuses in my opinion..NO MORE EXCUSES!!!!!
Unlike Canesfan24, I put the blame squarely on Shannon. What I see is a team with no leadership and no direction when the going gets tough.
This is college football, not the pros and the headcoach is the team. I saw similar mistakes to last year albeit less as in shitty clock management, lousy play calls on both sides of the field, etc. But what I didn't see was a team motivated to win. It reminds me of the Peach Bowl against LSU where the Canes didn't show up because it wasn't the game they were supposed to be at.
It truly was a pathetic display of football. I am very disappointed. It is just the exclamation point on a horrible year overall (besides college football) I guess.