It’s Thursday and it’s Sun Bowl eve. All focus should be on the Canes and Irish slugging it out in the post-season, but strangely, it’s not.
Sure, both teams underachieved their way to matching 7-5 seasons and third tier game in El Paso won’t be mistaken for the Rose Bowl anytime soon, but based on the match up you’d expect more hype amongst fans. Miami and Notre Dame haven’t crossed paths in two decades and if this were a BCS game, guarantee it’d be the most hyped showdown outside of the national championship.
In Coral Gables it’s been an off-season of transition, after a season of falling short. The ACC title game wasn’t reached and five losses were racked up in a year when the Canes were expected to take a step forward.
Many wanted head coach Randy Shannon fired and hours after the overtime loss to South Florida, they got their wish. When the search for a new leader took a few weeks, some panicked and wondered if Miami’s administration pulled the plug too quickly.
Jon Gruden proved to be a pipe dream, while Al Golden emerged from a “best of the rest” list. Everything since has been history.
Offensive line and interim head coach coach Jeff Stoutland has led bowl preparations, attempting to keep his team focused, as well as a mismatched coaching staff – with some sticking around and others firing out their resumes on New Years Day.
A ‘too close to call’ quarterback battle seemed underway, until freshman Stephen Morris twisted an ankle and headed to the sideline, meaning much maligned junior Jacory Harris looked to be ‘the guy’ for the past 24 hours … but it’s now being reported that Morris’ injury isn’t as bad as feared and a starter will be named at some point today.
Regardless who gets the start, both quarterbacks should get their fair share of snaps, a la Ken Dorsey and Kenny Kelly back in the 2000 Gator Bowl. The Sun Bowl may technically be the close out to the 2010 season, but in all reality it’s the beginning of 2011 and coaches need to see both players in action prior to spring practice kicking off and this quarterback ‘competition’ getting underway.
The weather figures to be somewhere in the thirties by Friday’s kickoff; worrisome considering UM players were huddled around heaters for last year’s bowl game … in Orlando.
On paper, the game plan appears pretty simple. Run. The. Ball. Miami’s offensive line proved to be a bright spot this season and there’s no shortage of running backs ready to carry the load. Pick your poison. Damien Berry should shine in his final game, while freshman Storm Johnson has come on late in practice. Graig Cooper will be taking his final carries, while Lamar Miller should pick up where he left off, after what was a productive regular season.
Then there’s Mike James, putting on a football uni instead of a suit, choosing to run in the Sun as his mother is being buried in Florida as it’s what she’d have wanted.
Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple isn’t expected to be retained, so does the Sun Bowl prove to be his audition for his next gig? Will a different Whip show up as he won’t be sharing the sideline with Shannon, as rumors swirled regarding their differences of opinion?
Wide receiver Aldarius Johnson is sidelined, but Miami will be with go-to Leonard Hankerson and the shifty Travis Benjamin. Tight end Asante Cleveland came on late, albeit mostly with Morris in the game. Will Harris find Cleveland the way he used Jimmy Graham and Dedrick Epps last season?
What about the defense? Do we see the bunch that forced turnovers against Clemson and clamped down when North Carolina came to town? Or will this be the squad that Florida State ran roughshod over and the crew that bent and broke down the stretch against Virginia Tech?
In year’s passed you could somewhat “predict” a game with a preview like this, but 2010 has been marred with inconsistency and based on so many off-season intangibles, Friday’s contest really is the flip of a coin. Miami had the talent to beat every team on its schedule this season, so a 7-5 Notre Dame squad shouldn’t have anyone shaking in their books. That said, who shows up?
Bowl season kicked off weeks back with a Northern Illinois / Fresno State showdown that also could’ve gone either way. The Huskies lost head coach Jerry Kill to the Minnesota vacancy and had to rally under interim head coach Tom Matukewicz. NIU was also coming off a loss in the Mid-American Conference title game to Miami (OH) and have every reason to fold the tent. Instead, they played with purposes and routed the Bulldogs, 40-17.
Will Stoutland have these Canes playing with purpose on the heels of a two-game losing streak and firing of a head coach? And what about these players? Will they allow the regular season hangover to carry over to the post-season? Or will they man up and play both for pride, as well as to impress their new head coach? The Sun Bowl is truly an audition for spring ball and this is their chance to make a good first impression on Coach Golden and his staff.
The Canes’ last post-season win came in 2006 when Miami beat Nevada on the blue turf in the MPC Computers Bowl. Shannon had already been named head coach, though Larry Coker stuck around for the season finale. Miami didn’t reach a bowl the following season and went 0-2 on Shannon’s watch the past two years.
A loss to Notre Dame wouldn’t necessarily leave a bad taste in Miami’s mouth as a new regime is underway and old ways are being checked at the door. That said, a win is something to build on and with all the positives that have taken place since Shannon’s firing and Golden’s hiring, you want optimism going into Signing Day and spring football.
On top of that, this is hated Notre Dame and whether these teams are 12-0 or 0-12 when meeting, you always want to take it to that arrogant bunch. Here’s hoping that message has been drilled home and that this squad’s Golden audition is flawless.
Miami 27
Notre Dame 17
Good post, thanks for getting things back on track. The games are what matter. I love the blog and most of your posts allcanes, but I must say you are hopelessly optimistic. I can't remember the last time you predicted a loss, certainly not this year or last. I guess that's a good thing?
I love the blog and most of your posts allcanes, but I must say you are hopelessly optimistic. I can't remember the last time you predicted a loss, certainly not this year or last
I am far from optimistic and if you've read this blog the past several months, I've been very critical of both the staff and players who deserved it.
Also, the times I "pick against Miami" here, I simply don't give a prediction. If you look back, I didn't give a prediction against Ohio State and a few other games this year.
I don't count the Canes out of those games … but certainly don't feel right predicting a win – nor do I want to call for a loss.
Miami is favored against Notre Dame and according to ESPN's poll of the nation, 58% of fans pick the Canes to win – as do some of the analysts. Not really all that off base to feel that the Canes should play inspired ball (re: Shannon gone, Golden in, impressing new coach, outgoing seniors' last game, et al) against a 7-5 Notre Dame team.
I get your point, but I certainly don't pick the Canes to win every time they suit up. A lot of times I predict nothing and just hope for the best.
I believe it's important for Miami to win this game for a number of reasons. One, obviously is to help salvage this year's recruiting class. A win can give reassurance to the recruits still interested in the program that Miami's headed in the right direction, at least heading into the off- season. Another is to give the players returning confidence that they can improve next year and start fresh, off on the right foot under Golden. To win this game, besides the obvious which is limiting turnovers and foolish penalties, any fan knows Miami must run the ball effectively. They also need a stellar performance from both lines. The players have to make plays because being outcoached is a concern for Miami in this game, No disrespect to Whipple or Stoutland. It comes down to playing disciplined football, decent play from both lines and an effective ground attack in my opinion. MIAMI 31 NOTRE DAME 24….GO CANES. P.S. LOVE the blogs ALLCANES
Al Golden's first mistake was hiring Stoutland to return. The players gave up on Stoutland today. Isn't that why Randy Shannon was fired? No fire.No swagger. We need a quarterback for next year. Might be time to call Teddy Bridgewater back.
absolutely no heart. you know when i was growing up in south fla playing ball through dade broward and palm beach there was a certain sense of pride instilled in us that if someone slaps you in the mouth you slap him back and harder, and it didn't matter if you got knocked downed because it was more humiliating to stay down then it was to keep getting back up and keep getting knocked down because at the end you hard enough heart to keep going. you had respect.
these canes ain't got no heart, no backbone, and damn sure no pride.
i am and always will be cane but you can't teach or coach desire and heart.
i sitting here watching in disbelief as our boys are getting toyed with by the midget fags and not one person has stepped up or said anything they are just holding their nuts on the sideline cause they think it's too cold….
when do they play championship games???? another example of not doing whatever it takes.
27-3 at the half, i thought this was Miami playing not FAU. WTF happened to this team?
It's still in the 3rd quarter and anything can happen, but it looks like the same old Canes.
I hope Al Golden kicks these guys asses and procedes to start recruiting men.
Just like last year against Wisconsin they look like children playing out there.
It's embarrassing to see this shit!!
after watching another heartbreaking and vomit inducing 'Canes game filled with turnovers, penalties, miss-cues, drops, questionable play-calling, etc, etc,etc…I only have one thing to say: I can't wait for Golden to fix this team. There was almost nothing good to take away from this, other than the realization that I'm beyond ready for the Golden era to start.
Miami sucks!!!!!!!!! I have been a fan for 30 plus years and never seen a team that has no inner desire to play.
Why did Coach Golden retain Stoutland, and Barrow? After losing to ND (33-17) does this make sense to keep Stoutland and Barrow? Don't most coaches clean house an bring in their own personnel? Miami will get the same results with these two coaches in 2011!!! PS, keep J12 on the BENCH!!!
Watching that game it's apparent Golden will have to change the mentality they currently have. Great thing is we'll never see THAT squad on the field again representing Miami. Looking forward to what Golden does to have a turnaround. To Jacory though, being a starter is not for you, graduate this year and figure out another plan in life, QB is not it.
So we got beat by Notre Dame…That is a joke…Overall this season and well actually ever since we got screwed out of a title every season has been a joke..You can point the finger at the coaches all you want..Yes some aspects have to do with coaching, but the players are the ones who must execute on Saturdays..Face it, we were once a powerhouse, not we are looking at becoming a spank toy..Thank god Urban Meyer retired from Florida, maybe the recruits might consider Miami now…Doubting it, but who knows..The bottomline is we need a complete overhaul..The coaching staff blows, the higher ups blow, and the players are not the high caliber players that once wore the orange and green..Don't dance around on Saturdays and say we are the U when you haven't won shit or done anything worth bragging about..Since we have joined the ACC there has not been any conference titles and not even anyting close to a national title..We have looked horrible in bowl games…Its a joke…The 2011 season does not get any better, so hopefully we get some recruits that can execute and play like the U should…Who knows, but I am starting to lose hope.