The Beast : Driven

It’s 650 miles to Atlanta. We have a full tank of gas, a half bag of Cheetos, it’s sunny and we’ll probably forget our sunglasses. Hit it.

My good friend The Wizard and I are set to hit the road. Last year we had a blast driving all over the Sunshine State following our beloved Canes. O-Town bound twice – for Central Florida and the bowl game – and Tampa to take in South Florida in the season finale.

Outside of in-state games, Georgia Tech is the closest out of state road game for this fan base, so we decided we had to make the trip. Sort of makes you envious of the SEC where one can hop in a RV, hitting most of their team’s road games without breaking a sweat.

Unsure of what to think this weekend. You want to believe that Stephen Morris will continue to improve and make plays, leading Miami to a win over Paul Johnson’s Wramblin’ Wreck – but based on current trends, there’s no reason to feel overly confident going into the weekend.

A few years ago I was on the field Bobby Dodd Stadium for another hyped Thursday night affair. This time, the one where Tech’s triple option made Miami look like a Pop Warner team.

The Jackets racked up 472 yards on the ground; second most ever given up by the Canes. That night I paced up and down the sideline, looking for any sign that this team would get it together and that switch never flipped.

There are those losses where you go down courtesy of a late kick or last second score and those hurt for obvious reasons. Then there are those nights where you get creamed, never saw it coming, were never in the game and you’re just numb.

I remember getting on the bus and heading to the airport, with a confused smirk on my face, wondering if that just happened.

Even worse, I knew the Canes would face a similar feat a week later when visiting NC State and dealing with Russell Wilson.

The difference a year made as last season Miami took care of business and limited Georgia Tech to less than a hundred net yards on the ground. It was a huge win for the team and a moral one for the defense, though in that case Randy Shannon and staff had ten days to prepare. This year, it’s just a standard week.

Part of the reason for so many high scoring games in college football? Because defenses seemingly face a new offense every week. One week it might be pro style and the next, the spread. Another school might employ the pistol and this week for Miami, the face the triple option.

When you have limited hours on the field to prepare, it’s impossible to get kids to completely grasp the schemes they’re facing. From what I’ve been told, Miami coaches have done a good job simulating the triple option this week and at times had the scout team carrying three football at once, with the defense only successful if they got all the ball carriers to the ground.

Regarding Coach Johnson, he reminds me a bit of Mike Leach – another mad scientist on the sidelines, always thinking ahead about the next offensive play call. Neither uses a playbook or cheat sheet, calling all the plays from his head. Both just let it rip, sort of like a video game geek playing Madden.

While Johnson holds down the fort with his run-run-run offense, he snatched up former Virginia head coach Al Groh and made him defensive coordinator this season. Grow grew up under the tutelage of the legendary Bill Parcells, acting as his defensive coordinator with both the Giants and Patriots. Groh has done it all in the college ranks, as well – right down to being an offensive coordinator at South Carolina in the late 80s. Seriously.

Groh brings that Parcells / Bill Belichick 3-4 defense to Atlanta and with that, Miami’s Morris will have a huge challenge on gameday deciphering what’s being thrown his way.

On offense, Miami’s green signal caller is being asked to figure out a defense he’s never seen, while the Canes’ D has to play assignment football against an offense they only face once a year – when tacking has been an issue.

And you wonder why I’m not overconfident.

On paper is Miami more talented? Sure. But this is another game where scheming and coaching will be the deciding factors. I trust in Mark Whipple and John Lovett to call it like they should, but can and will these players execute?

As much as we take pot shots at the coaches, the players have to make the plays. Are they properly prepared entering this week? I’d like to think so.

Lastly, months back in my Pittsburgh preview, I mentioned opposing teams always using their Miami match up to honor past greats and to drum up motivation. This weekend will be no different as Georgia Tech has ‘randomly’ chosen this weekend to honor the twenty year anniversary of their 1990 National Championship team.

Never fails.

IN OTHER NEWS: By now I’m sure you’ve all heard the on air exchange between my big brother from another mother Don Bailey Jr., Dan Morgan and Will Manso. If you missed it, check the WQAM archives.

I love DBJ – and I mean love. Of all the people I’ve worked with in my career, I can’t think of anyone whose been there for me more and of all the people I miss working with in a day in, day out capacity, it’s him. He is one of the truly special people on this planet and you figure that out about ten seconds into know him.

That said, let me say this. Sometimes when you’re so wrapped up in a situation, doing pre-game and post-game work, you can lose a sense of how things you say are heard and received by the audience.

Don is one of Randy’s closest friends and at day’s end, should protect his friend. On a daily basis there are hundreds of folks ripping the Miami coach to shreds and someone has to take up for Randy. It’s only fair.

However one thing that is often forgotten by hosts, analysts and broadcasters is the fact that you are in the customer service industry. It took me getting fired and having to listen to sports talk from the outside to realize that. You have to ask yourself, “what does the listener want to hear?” as that’s the most important thing.

Anyone can set up an agenda, coming up with reasons why Randy is or isn’t a great coach – but in the end, you’re there to serve the listener.

No matter how hard DBJ hits us with his defense of Randy or drops facts about other teams and other coaches, nobody wants to hear that. Not at 6-3 and not after losing by four touchdowns to an arch rival or dropping one to an ACC bottom dweller weeks later.

When Don goes on about Butch Davis or Urban Meyer, quoting stats, fans are shouting at their radios, “Bro, we don’t care about anybody else. We care about the state of The U.”

When I tune into a pre-game show, I have no interest in listening to arguing and name calling. I’m there because I want some unbiased analysis on the game. I want to hear fun, not hostility. I want choice nuggets and quality insight, not venom.

But that’s just me. What do I know? I only put together the Canes pre-game show for more than a decade (going back to my WVUM days, as well.)

All of which leads to this question; can we all stop treating each other like crap over something as trivial (in the grand scheme of things) as football?

Scanning the message boards and listening to the radio, the hatred being spewed and Randy, DBJ, players and other fans – it makes me nauseous. In the end, it’s just a game. Get mad over a loss. Be upset. But be adults and let’s not get carried away.

Regarding some positive news, I really want to thank Brandon Harris for being a breath of fresh air when most of the time we get the opposite. He came in on Tuesday to take with the media and was as open, honest, unfiltered and soulful as I’ve heard any player in the past half decade.

You can agree or disagree with him, but his intention is to take some of the heat off Randy and that’s noble. As I sat there with my recorder, I pictured this kid twenty years from now either as a head coach or reaching some other pinnacle as he simply has that “it” factor.

A hearty thanks to No. 1 for being able to do what so many of your teammates can’t, won’t or aren’t allowed to and that’s speaking your mind. It was beyond appreciated.

To check out B-Harris’ take on the situation and to hear former offensive lineman Brett Romberg chiming in (hide the kids for this one as No. 66 was unfiltered and awesome), click here.

I’ll be holding down the press box live from Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday afternoon, so hit me up on Twitter and Facebook before, during and after. I love the interaction, so keep it coming.

Full Georgia Tech recap coming Sunday night. Stay tuned.

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