Party Like 1999?

Bubba Franks catches a pass from Ken Dorsey vs Syracuse

Miami football fans tend to be not only spoiled, but they have a short memory. Just nine seasons ago the Hurricanes rode a three game losing streak to a 2-3 league overall start and found themselves down 28-0 in game six of the season in the 4th quarter. (Miami scored 31 fourth quarter points in Chestnut Hill to come back against BC) Those Canes were still ranked #23 in the country at 2-3 (if I am not mistaken Miami was the last team to be ranked in the AP Poll with a losing record after five games in a season) because two of the losses were to Penn State and Florida State. The third loss was to an emotional East Carolina team in the last minute. ECU had to play the game at Carter Finley Stadium in Raleigh after Hurricane Floyd had done substantial damage to the campus area. While losing to ECU wasn't good, the pollsters were impressed enough by how Miami played at Florida State in game five of the season to keep ranking the Canes.

We all recall the defensive breakdown that led to Choppy Fields late TD for Penn State after James Jackson had run the Canes to a late 23-20 lead. Was that defensive breakdown similar to the third down draw play for FSU last week. Or perhaps similar to the DVD "lunge" the week before which gave North Carolina it's winning TD?

In 1999, Miami would finish 9-4. The only remaining loss on the schedule would be to Michael Vick and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in a game where Kenny Kelly was knocked out with a 10-0 lead and Ken Dorsey had a deer in the headlights look as he had to play for the first time in his career on the road. The team which was 14 minutes from starting 2-4 finished ranked 16th in the country and won the Gator Bowl.

Obviously this Miami team does not have Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss, James Jackson, Dan Morgan or Ed Reed. This team is still growing and learning. I believe this team currently has the talent and experience level of a losing team: 4-8 or 5-7 caliber. But my point when looking back at 1999 is that you cannot give up on a team that starts 2-3 nor give up on a team that blows a could games late. In 1999, the defining moment was the comeback against a bowl bound Boston College team. Perhaps the defining moment of 2008 will be the comeback that fell short against FSU? I have my doubts but one never knows and that is why fan should never quit on their team.