Buck Up: It's Enemy Week

Few games the Hurricanes have played since the end of the series with Notre Dame in 1990 get my personal attention and excitement as do our yearly rivalry game with Virginia Tech. Why exactly do we have a rival with a school that has WON NOTHING historically?

A few factors here: When Miami joined the Big East many of the traditional teams Miami played regularly like Florida, Penn State and Notre Dame were off the schedule. In the 1960s and 1970s Miami had played Alabama regularly (at one point in time despite not being a member of the SEC Miami had more all time meetings with Bama than Florida had) but without those national type matchups on UM's schedule their was an opening for a new rivalry. Pittsburgh and Boston College, two schools UM had faced more than any others from outside the state historically were the two most likely candidates but neither were strong enough to compete with Miami in the Big East. So it fell to two schools: Syracuse and Virginia Tech. One school, Syracuse had more of a Basketball following and a polite, respectful fan base. The other, Va Tech had a major inferiority complex with Miami which masked itself into arrogant aggressive behavior towards Miami fans and the teams.

Virginia Tech's move with Miami to the ACC kept alive the rivalry. Let me be frank. I loathe Virginia Tech. I dislike them much more than Florida State (I am not alone in this, not only did our poll question a few weeks ago indicate that twice as many readers of this site dislike the Hokies more than the Noles, but loud cheers for FSU against VT in the parking lot of the OB last Saturday is another indication as to how far Miami's fan base has gone towards hating Virginia Tech more.....On Canes Sport a poll was put up which showed 64% considered VT the more ha table team, whereas only 35% and change said FSU. ) and now am beginning to dislike them as much as Notre Dame. And exactly why is this?

Virginia Tech has never won anything of substance except for the occasional Big East and ACC title when Miami and/or Florida State were down. But the bottom line is Virginia Tech has gone out of its way to poke Miami's program, players and fans squarely in the eye time and time again. Back in the day this would be a death sentence for a lowly program like Va. Tech but these days with the Miami mystique having faded, the Hokies seem to be thriving on making us feel miserable.