The Latest At The U

Miami sits at 0-1 after a bye and all eyes are now firmly planted on the season’s second opponent; Ohio State. Five missing starters are back and Sun Life Stadium will see it’s first Canes-related action since UM’s overtime loss to South Florida last November. The building will be electric for the 7:30pm ET nationally-televised ESPN showdown and between now and kickoff, we’ll be discussing the latest at ‘The U’.

Sidelines access seems to be the talk of the day, with UM limiting gameday access. Chris Freet, Miami’s associate director for communications, confirmed last night that a new policy will be in place for this weekend’s home season opener.

Boosters are no longer welcome on the sidelines – nor is anyone not specifically working the game, including administrators, trustees and deans. There will be a designated area (on the visiting sideline) where certain guests will be able to go with an ‘authorized university employee’, barring they’re escorted to and from and are gone before kickoff. Same goes for recruits, who will have to be off the field twenty-two minutes before the game begins.

Former UM players can still request sideline access on game day and while allowed to be on the ‘home’ side, they will have no access to the team’s bench area.

Another strong in-good-faith move from UM’s athletic department as it looks to remain in good favor with the NCAA, avoiding any ‘lack of institutional control’ type punishment with the investigation ends.


Head coach Al Golden has been speaking out about the bye week, practice and the Buckeyes’ motivation entering Saturday’s showdown.

Golden originally stated days back the the bye week didn’t necessarily help Miami, feeling that Ohio State’s showdown with Toledo would’ve resulted in a win where the Buckeyes didn’t have to show much offensively or defensively.

Of course that was before the Rockets clawed their way to a 27-22 loss, leading at the half and again early in the third quarter. Toledo out-gained Ohio State (338 to 301 total yards) and passed for 292 yards with two different quarterbacks.

Miami and Ohio State have now both opened up the playbook a bit, meaning there shouldn’t be too many surprises. Biggest thing in the Canes’ favor playcalling-wise comes from the addition of Jacory Harris and Travis Benjamin to the offense, though. With both sidelined against Maryland, Ohio State has no film on how both will be worked into the new offense coached by Jedd Fisch.

The world saw Stephen Morris spreading the ball around to nine receivers – with no true go-to – but with talk of Fisch creating a special package for Benjamin, the dynamic of he and Harris will be one to watch on Saturday.


Regarding Harris getting the start over Morris, Golden was questioned about his senior’s preparation this past week and what he’s done to take the reins as starter.

“I just think he’s focused right now, ” said Golden. “He’s done a good job all camp. He’s just got to be himself. Block out everything external and just run the show one play at a time. And just enjoy it. Enjoy the journey. That’s what he’s got to do.”

Blocking out the external and running the show one play at a time sound like ‘coachspeak’ but in reality are simple concepts that bridge the gap the difference between success and failure.

When you look at Harris’ performance in Columbus last season, it was an inability to do both. Rolling into the stadium all sweatervested-out, Tweeting before the game and a lack of focus, which helped cause four turnovers.

One play at a times means blocking out earlier mistakes made, old bad habits and disapproving fans – be it your’s or the enemy.

There have been too many occasions where Harris ran out of the tunnel with bravado and ran back in – at halftime – with head hung low and shattered confidence.

Developing a game plan to play to Harris’ strength isn’t impossible. Throw out the Mark Whipple playbook which called for multiple downfield hurls each half and instead balance a solid ground game with short passes to receivers who can move the ball.

Build Harris’ confidence drive-by-drive and it becomes that much easier for him to block out the external, focusing on one play at a time.


Another comment regarding the player formerly referred to as “J12”, Harris made a point of apologizing to fans, the university and president Donna Shalala for his involvement in the Nevin Shapiro scandal. It was Harris’ first interview since being named starter and he promptly cleared the elephant from the room.

“First of all, I’ve got to make sure I apologize to the University, president Shalala, starting with her first, for everything that happened, everything she had to go through during this time,” Harris said. “And then the fans, I want to apologize for something that happened our freshman year. We were all young, but still there’s no excuse for what happened.”

On one hand, yet another athlete apology in a sport world full of mea culpas. On the other, a much-needed step forward for a senior quarterback looking to become a leader and to put the pat behind him.

Eleven games (or twelve or thirteen, depending how the regular season goes) for Harris to write his legacy at Miami. Does he go out a ‘never was’ or a ‘late bloomer’? There’s still a ton of time left to play the role of hero in 2011.


One last Harris-related comment; the word “humility” entering the equation. Brash at times in the past – whether it was shaving ‘U SWAG’ into his hair or rocking Oakland Raiders overalls, Harris played the role of jokester his first several years at Miami.

You can cut it up all day long if and when you’re winning, but when you’re a an interception machine and your squad has gone 11-7 with you at the helm since your last truly impressive win (Oklahoma, 2009), not too many folks are going to be laughing with you.

Harris was humbled by being demoted to scout team quarterback Maryland week – holiday weekend that saw him bidding adieu to his teammates Sunday afternoon, seeing off the team bus, and then watching the loss to the Terrapins at home alone on Labor Day night.

Harris’ next move was to be the first person in the film room on Tuesday morning.

“I was here at 7am,” said Harris. “I watched the film and graded it. I just wanted to see what happened, to see what could’ve got done better and what we could’ve done better and how could we change this so it won’t happen again.”

The road to maturity is a long and arduous one. Harris has made his share of mistakes, but is proving that mentally and physically he’s doing what is currently in control regarding righting the ship. Re-winning over coaches and players. Owning up to mistakes. Putting in the effort on the field and in the film room. Working to prove himself.

There aren’t too many chances at redemption in life, but getting another crack at a big time opponent who you choked against the previous year? It’s the type of opportunity that winners live for.

Beating Ohio State in his first start of the season – in a turnover-reduced effort, no less – would be another enormous step in the right direction towards getting back to J12 status.

Comments

comments