Random thoughts on Miami/Duke 2006

Miami survived Duke, 20-15 on Saturday.

I’m now physically ill from having typed that statement. No matter how low the Canes fall, they should never be in a dog fight with the Blue Devils. Even worse than the final score is knowing that Miami entered the fourth quarter with a 20-2 lead and that Duke had one last shot from the 6-yard line with :03 left on the clock.

The Duke Blue Devils were 18-feet from the most monumental upset in school history before Willie Cooper stepped in front of a Thaddeus Lewis pass and returned it 85-yards to the Miami 15-yard line. Cooper would’ve housed it, but he pulled up limp with a quadriceps injury.

Actually, it was a rather fitting way to end the game; limping to a halt.

At 5-2 entering Georgia Tech week, it truly feels like Dead Canes Walking. Two losses two weeks into September? The media all over the Canes for an on the field brawl? Unranked for the first time this decade? Coming apart at the seams days before the toughest road challenge of 2006?

Back in the day, I’d say this is just what Miami needed. Backed into a corner, the underdog mentality, a repeat of Virginia Tech 2005, etc.

No more. Not this Miami bunch. These Canes are hurting and seem in need of a hug, not some tough love. They’re embarrassed by the brawl. They know their head coach is on the hot seat. They know recent history and the fact that since joining the ACC, Miami has proven it falls apart down the stretch. It doesn’t gain momentum and pick up steam.

In 2004 it was late season losses at North Carolina, vs. Clemson and vs. Virginia Tech. Last year, it was this weekend’s foe. Georgia Tech upset then #3 Miami, 14-10 in the Orange Bowl ending any realistic shot the Canes had at reaching Jacksonville.

Clemson throttled Georgia Tech, 31-7 hours after Miami escaped Duke. The Tigers ran for 321 yards with James Davis and C.J. Spiller while their defense rattled Reggie Ball to the point where he didn’t find super receiver Calvin Johnson all night. It was the first time in Johnson’s career that he was held without a catch.

What does this mean for Miami? For once, I have no clue.

I want to believe that Georgia Tech was exposed and that Miami coaches will do all they can to emulate the Clemson game plan, which worked to perfection. Run the ball down their throat and pressure the hell out of Ball. But how will the Canes accomplish that with a rushing attack which only amassed 37-yards against the Blue Devils? How will Miami rattle Ball’s cage when they couldn’t get to Lewis on Duke’s final almost game winning drive?

Make no mistake about it, Miami was thin this past weekend. Very thin. You don’t want to believe that 13 suspensions and 2 injured starters (Jon Beason and Greg Olsen) are going to truly impact the bottom line against a now 0-7 Duke team, but it did.

Outside of missing the presence of Beason and Olsen, Miami was without some big time players in Carlos Armour, James Bryant, DajLeon Farr, Ryan Hill, Bruce Johnson, Charlie Jones, Brandon Meriweather, Brian Monroe, Derrick Morse, Randy Phillips and Anthony Reddick. All 13 players mention have seen extensive playing time in 2006.

All but Beason (MCL) and Reddick (suspension) should be back for Georgia Tech and all are needed if Miami is going to pull the unthinkable upset. The Vegas line opened at GT +6, but no one really has a clue how this one will play out.

Will Miami respond and pull together with 1/3 of its starting line up returning this weekend? Will Georgia Tech bounce back after their 31-7 road loss or will they be demoralized and ripe for an upset?

Again, I don’t know. Nothing would surprise me right now. On one level, it seems so easy. We saw Georgia Tech’s weakness against Clemson. They can’t stop the run and their quarterback is ineffective when pressured. To me that sounds like a steady dose of Javarris James and Tyrone Moss while Calais Campbell, Baraka Atkins, Kareem Brown and Brian Pata need to get after Ball and force him into mistakes. In theory, that SHOULD work… but come Saturday, will it?

I’ve read Omar’s blog and a few other articles online which mention that these Canes are down in the dumps right now. That’s understandable. The crap-storm has been raining down on them since Labor Day. The media. Hurricanes fans. Opposing fans. Talk radio. You name it, everyone is anti-Miami right now and these kids can feel the negative energy. At day’s end, we’re talking about 18 to 21 year olds here.

Omar called these Canes “psychologically damaged” and stated that they know some fans are actually pulling for them to lose, ensuring the firing of Larry Coker and a new regime in 2007.

I don’t get that.

Whatever your feelings towards Miami’s coaching staff, it’s an absolute sin for any fan to pull for a Hurricanes loss. Worry about the Coker saga AFTER this season. Right now, you should want nothing more than a Canes win this Saturday and every game the rest of 2006.

Going 5-0 down the stretch seems damn near impossible right now, but that shoudldn’t stop ANYONE from rooting that it happens. One game at a time and right now, it starts with Georgia Tech.

As this week progresses, I challenge all of you to put yourself in these kids’ shoes for a moment. They are preparing for their biggest test this season and they already have their “us against the world” mentality due to the media scrutiny the past few weeks. That mentality shouldn’t have to carry over to a fan base who turns on them like the South Florida weather.

Check your anti-Coker sentiments at the door and realize that this week is all about the players. They need your support more than ever. Morale needs to be at an all time high this coming weekend. Support these kids and help them roll into the A-T-L on a high note – not questioning themselves more than they already are.

The Duke game is in the rearview mirror. It’s done. Whether Miami won 41-2 or 20-15, a win is a win. Let go of the frustration which comes from eeking out a win as opposed to blowing out a lesser team. Truth be told, this was as difficult a week as this program has ever seen.

Going into Durham, NC with one hand tied behind its collective back, Miami needed a “W” and wasn’t concerned with style points. After the loss to Louisville and 1-2 start, it was a known fact Miami needed to be 5-2 entering Georgia Tech weekend. They are and that weekend is here. Forget everything you’ve seen thus far since Labor Day. The season officially kicks off this weekend. Hopefully the Canes will be up for the challenge.

.:Canes305:.

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