Postgame Thoughts

Well that was probably the most exciting Canes game I can recall since the 2004 thrillers with Louisville and Virginia. But this being FSU-Miami made the game all the sweeter and more meaningful for the coaches, the kids on the team and everyone here in South Florida and around the nation who has been feeling blue lately. The fact that Miami beat a team with vastly superior talent for the first time since Dennis Erickson's Miami team of 1994 used its Orange Bowl mystique to beat FSU 34-20 is even more important. Regardless of Florida State's record in the ACC the last few seasons they have far superior talent at almost every position to Miami. (Running Back being the clear exception) More importantly, Florida State with superior talent and the home field they had the game well within their grasp but Miami's heart and the fine play calling of Patrick Nix won the Hurricanes the game.

This is Miami-FSU and if someone tries to tell you its another game between two unranked teams they are dead wrong. The intensity and the passion shown by the Canes today has not been seen since that triumphant march through Lane Stadium two years ago when a much more talented Canes team crushed Virginia Tech. The fighting spirit has always been the Miami spirit. That had been lost in the past few seasons but today changed that. Regardless of what happens the rest of the season, our Canes, the pride of South Florida are back.

Some Notes:

• I could go on about how inept Florida State's coaching staff is and how many plays they were clearly out schemed and out coached on but I'll point out just two here. The first was the fake FG. It was obvious to the announcers and to many of us who watch the Canes week in and week out that Miami was running a fake. Francesco Zampogna has been replaced as the FG kicker and Miami has overloaded the left side of the line where FSU's rush wasn't coming from. Yet Bowden didn't take a time out and essentially lost his team the game there if you look back. The second example is Mickey Andrews knowing Miami has several times in the past beaten FSU on a corner route to the Tight End still left a linebacker on Dedrick Epps. As a staff you play Miami every year and they tend to do the same things around the goal line. Yet Kirby Freeman who prior to that throw lacked any confidence was given the opportunity to complete a relatively easy throw in the red zone to win a big rivalry game. Epps now joins a long list of Miami TE's who have burned FSU. Willie Smith, Alfredo Roberts, Coleman Bell, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow, Kevin Everett and Greg Olsen.
• Chavez Grant deserves some credit for the victory. At a time when Miami's defense was getting run over he made two critical plays in a row, the first stripping the ball at the last second from Greg Carr on a sure TD catch and the second tackling Preston Parker short of the first down marker forcing a FG.
• Kyle Wright's lack of accuracy over the middle is sickening. His decision making is even worse than that. But he did have nice touch on the deep ball to Darnell Jenkins (pictured above)
• Miami was very lucky to be in the game even in the 1st Quarter. When Miami went three and out and then FSU went down the field and scored to make it 3-0 it was obvious to any observer that FSU seemed to be able to push Miami around. Then Miami runs two weak plays and faces another third down. But Michael Ray Garvin, who is FSU's best DB gets a stinger and guess what Miami goes up top on the next play and burns his replacement for the only really big offensive play they had all game until the final drive. Honestly, if Garvin isn't hurt on that one play I think FSU wins the game. Give Pat Nix credit for knowing he was out for the play and going deep.
  
• I'm a little upset Graig Cooper got caught from behind by Myron Rolle. I guess their five star recruit is faster than ours.
  
• FSU DID BREAK THE HUDDLE ON THAT REPLAY CALL WITH 12 MEN. EVERY ANGLE SHOWED IT YET THE CALL WASN'T OVERTURNED! YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF POOR ACC OFFICIATING IN A FLORIDA STATE-MIAMI GAME.
  
• It may sound crazy but I actually liked Darren Daly's decision to kick the ball out of bounds and give FSU the ball at the 35 was better than taking the chance of two speed burners Michael Ray Garvin or Preston Parker beating you. Miami's kick coverage has been so poor all year long I could just see FSU bringing one back in that situation.
• Miami has to thank the NCAA for even being competitive this year in the ACC. Had Darnell Jenkins not received a fifth year of eligibility Miami would have no deep passing game whatsoever.