What are U playing for?

Miami takes on No. 10 Virginia Tech at 3:30pm ET on Saturday and nobody cares.

Actually, let me rephrase that. The fans care. It’s just not the national affair it was two years ago when the No. 5 Canes headed to Blacksburg and whooped the No. 3 Hokies, 27-7 in front of a nationally televised audience.

Sadly, that big time win feels as recent as Kenny Calhoun deflecting a game-winning two-point conversion attempt from Turner Gill. Miami is 14-13 since schooling Virginia Tech in 2005 and things aren’t expected to start looking up anytime soon.

In years passed, I’d roll out one of my ‘rally the troops’ type blogs. In 2005, I was dropping quotes from Rage Against The Machine and playing the ‘backed into a corner’ card. Luckily, it all came together for the Canes that night and my prediction looked much more on par than that of Dennis Dodd (CBS Sportsline), who called for Miami’s demise.

Heading into Saturday, there’s no rah-rah speech coming from Canes305. If stats mean anything, the Canes are in big trouble tomorrow. The Hokies are a top ten squad with two losses.

Regarding common opponents, Virginia Tech took it to North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Florida State. No miracles necessary; just some smashmouth football. Solid defense, solid special teams and an offense which doesn’t make too many mistakes. Pretty much the complete opposite of the 5-5 Canes.

If Miami has any shot as an underdog, it can be placed on the proverbial pitfall game for Tech. Next week, a road trip to rival Virginia – a game with state bragging rights, but also national ones this year as both are ranked and in the ACC Coastal hunt with two losses a piece. 

Sad that the Canes have gotten to a point where they can actually be ‘overlooked’ but welcome to Miami Football 2007. Beggars can’t be choosers and right now, it ain’t all about The U. It’s all about a “W”. The Canes need a win and need it bad. A bowl berth is on the line and this team has to get another win under its belt, pronto.

Say what you will, but 5-7 vs. 6-6 vs. 7-5 are a big deal regarding this fragile, in transition mode team. Don’t want to see another bowl game on blue turf? Tough. This team needs to take any bowl game it can get right now. Miami needs the extra month of practice as they prep for next year. No one needs this season to end next Saturday at Boston College, no matter how ugly it’s been at times.

The Canes have two shots left and the turnaround needs to start tomorrow. Will it? Doubtful, though I’ll never count this team out. Especially against Virginia Tech, who have been known for late season collapses. Miami could rise up and steal one tomorrow, though personally I believe this team is broken beyond repair and will most likely mail it in the next two games. 

Once adversity strikes, the 2007 Canes simply seem to fold. Yet one more reason so much attention and focus is being paid to the recruiting game. 

The conspiracy theorists have been en masse lately regarding who will sign with The U come February. Everyone knows someone who knows someone ready to guarantee the fate of a few dozen football-playing teenagers.

Rumor of the week has uber-defensive back Patrick Johnson heading to LSU and today’s Sun Sentinel article talked about a few other recruits possibly rethinking their decisions.

Dare I say, who cares?

Miami needs kids who want to be part of this program. This isn’t going to be a class chock full of front runners who want their spot on the bandwagon. The 2008 class will be a bunch who has their work cut out for them, wants to help reestablish the Canes a top the college football world and will take pride in doing just that. The Northwestern kids know that and I believe Johnson does as well. 

While 5-7 and 7-5 are night and day regarding this current team, don’t fool yourself into thinking that will be a difference maker in the recruiting game. News flash, people – both records suck. One gets to you a lower tier bowl game and the other has you home for the holidays. 

Unlike the fan base, these recruits are thinking playing time and aren’t as fazed by wins/losses they’re not a part of. Potential Miami-bound recruits are sizing up the competition and when they see 48-0 ass kickings and holes on both sides of the ball, they’re licking their chops and envisioning themselves making plays for the Canes next year.

The recruiting game will play itself out. No need for this fan base to pull its hair out or trash potential recruits on message boards for the next three months. Hang in there. What will be, will be. Kids that are meant to be Canes will sign on the dotted line in February. The ones who want to be part of the rising will be on board and those are the only kids we need to care about. 

Until then, there are two more games left. Two more Saturdays to be optimistic until the clock reads 0:00. We wait all year for football in the fall and have the entire off-season to be pessimistic and cynical. With two games left, it’s time to support the squad, hope for a few upsets and dream of better days ahead. 

.:Canes305:.

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