Graham and Hicks intensity propels cold shooting Canes to easy win

Call it a holiday hangover. Miami looked nothing like the team ranked in the AP Top 25 in the first 12 minutes of the game. Turnovers and some horrible shot selection allowed Georgia Tech to run out to a 22-9 lead this afternoon at the Bank United Center. At that point Frank Haith turned to his bench and the bench duo of Ray Hicks and Jimmy Graham took over the paint and set up some nice shots for the guards as Miami went on a 24-7 run to take the a lead into the locker room. James Dews who seemed half asleep (as many of us in Section 107 were commenting) woke up with two late first half mid range jumpers, and then scored 16 in the 2nd half to lead the Hurricanes with 20 points.

The game was never competitive in the 2nd stanza. Once the Canes got out in front 41-33, the closest the Jackets came was within 7 points. However, the ease with which Miami played in the 2nd half was worrying. The team on cruise control in front of a loud sellout crowd became sloppy and began settling for jump shots instead of working the ball inside. While Georgia Tech, who is clearly one of the weaker teams in the league never threatened to make a game out of it, Miami CANNOT show such an indifference to ball handling and good shot selection against most ACC caliber opponents.

Miami unlike past seasons is better on paper than most of the other ACC teams. The only thing that can stop Miami for competiting for a first division place in the league is sloppiness and stupidity. Coach Haith must use today's game filled with turnovers, several bad offensive lapses and horrible ball movement as a teaching tool for the rest of the season.

Early tomorrow morning the new Canes Rising Radio show will be released with some post game thoughts from the Georgia Tech game and a look ahead to Boston College on Tuesday. We'll also have some audio from the arena.

The Old Lady Dies Weeping

This morning I'm still speechless and dumbfounded by the performance last night. As poorly as I believed Miami would be this season, and as good as I picked UVA to be (recall before the season on this site I picked Miami to finish below .500 and Virginia to win the ACC Coastal but lose to FSU in the ACC Title Game) I remarked yesterday morning that I believed the Cavs were 2 to 3 TDs better than UM any time other than this night, the grand finale at the OB. But the old lady I believed would be the equalizer, the intangible the spurred the Canes to at the very least an inspired close shave loss to a very good and nationally under appreciated Virginia team. The monster crowd last night wanted something good to happen and tried to spur on the team but alas the crowd cared a heck of a lot more than the team did.

But the disgraceful play which the emotionless Hurricanes demonstrated, totally stripped of any enthusiasm by Coach Randy Shannon's old school rules and regulations is an a complete embarrassment to South Florida, the legacy of this program and most of all to the old lady herself. The Hurricanes have a fickle fan base to start with. While public opinion polls and merchandise sales show Miami as one of the most popular College sports programs nationally, I would venture to say the majority of these people are actually not Miami fans but in fact fans of winning. They have "supported" Miami because of the winning football we have played for the last twenty five plus years. They have also by and large supported Miami because of the anti-establishment nature of UM's teams and exciting open pro style offense we played. My fear is that as a a small urban private university competeting in the conference and the state against larger public schools that Miami could go into a permanent state of decline. While I can be partly reassured by Miami's top 5 recruiting class this year, the reality as Steve Walsh described last night on Hurricanes Extra Point last night is that Miami traditionally took players that flew under the national radar (2 and 3 star recruits), instilled an attitude in them of world beaters and then took on the big boys who had the 5 star recruits and usually whooped them.

Larry Coker's failures have much discussed on this site, and while I feel for many reasons Coker gets a bad rap, his biggest fault was his obsession with recruiting ratings and his psychopathic loyalty to Kyle Wright, whose failure after being to top HS player in the nation will go down as symbol of this failed era of UM Football. I still recall the first game of 2004 sitting in the West End Zone as we trailed FSU arguing with numerous fans who wanted Brock Berlin benched and Freshman Kyle Wright to enter the game. I pleaded with these people that Brock had done it before and could do it again, that he'd never quit on this team or our fans. I was right: Brock took us 89 yards in the last minute and then led us to an overtime win. The next week I sat in horror as during a blowout win over LA Tech the crowd gave Kyle Wright making his first UM appearance a standing ovation. Not only was it insulting to our incumbent starting QB, but it was too much of a burden for one kid to endure. When I saw Wright play against GA Tech three weeks later in mop up duty after Berlin had thrown 3 TDs in an easy win, I was horrified. How could this guy be a future starting QB at the U, I wondered?

I had hoped I would be wrong. I had hoped all the flak I have taken both on this site and at the games the past four years about not trusting Wright would be wrong. But my initial hunch was dead on. What was worse is that Larry Coker failed to sign another decent QB during Wright's tenure and let 4 QB commitments sign elsewhere. Kirby Freeman had his moments last season, as Wright did the year before. But both QBs had substantially regressed as Juniors and in Wright's case he has regressed even further as a senior. But it isn't all his fault. Around him are a group lifeless, emotionless players who go through the motions far too often to be appreciated.

The old lady is about die a violent death at the hands of City of Miami's greed and avarice. As I left the Orange Bowl for one last time last night, I couldn't believe a group of impostors wearing a "U" on their helmets had so little regard for what that stadium meant to the game. The OB is the cathedral of the College game, the place where championships were won and the place where the feeling was always so special. Were this some other town in the US, or some other part of the world, they wouldn't be tearing down the old lady. But this is south Florida where the transient nature of the people and the pro sports culture deems the Orange Bowl a "dump." I understand why UM had to move north to Dolphin Stadium, though I wish it weren't so. But I don't understand the City of Miami and their rush to demolish the stadium and presumably replace it with condominiums or something of the sort. I suppose the Hurricanes play last night typifies the attitudes in this town towards the shrine that is the Orange Bowl. May she rest in peace and not remember the last several games her 70 year long spouse played on her field.

The Low Point?

I predicted yesterday on this site that a renewed NC State club would beat Miami today at the Orange Bowl. What I did not know is that Miami would complete just one pass and despite running for 314 yards would be so poor in the red zone that the game ought not have gone to overtime.

Pat Nix called a poor game despite the obvious fact that Miami is now as one dimensional as Oklahoma and Nebraska were in the days of the wishbone. Miami's standard formation today was a one WR look with 3 TEs. Never at any point was an attempt to spread NC State's defense out and then run a draw or trap play. Additionally the Canes may have been able to generate some sort of passing game on screens or bootleg throws to the TE, but after the first few drives neither of this plays were attempted.

For years I have wanted to Miami to be a power running team. Perhaps I should have been more cautious about what I wished for. I never realized it was possible in this day and age for team with supposed athletes Miami has to only be able to complete one pass in a game. This is the 4th time this season Miami has completed under 10 passes in a ball game, and while each and everyone of those games resulted in a good ground game, now Miami is becoming easier and easier to scheme against.

Darren Daly's missed FG in OT was disappointing no doubt, but it should never have come down to that. Missed opportunities in the red zone because UM cannot throw the ball and the Wolfpack were able to put nine players in the box doomed Miami before the OT began. The crowd was dispirited in the West End Zone throughout the 4th quarter. We've all seen this movie before and always know the ending.

More thoughts on this performance later.

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.
  

A Culture of Losing

After today's second half defensive collapse I am at a loss for words. Miami punted the ball away down 3 points with almost 6 minutes left in the game and never got the ball back. Georgia Tech ran for 225 yards in the second half after Miami pretty much controlled the first 30 minutes. While Hurricane fans seem in genuine shock by the play of the team, before the season I thought realistically this was a four or five win team and quite honestly they played better than I expected today against what was a desperate Georgia Tech team that HAD TO WIN TODAY. You see it may seem like hyperbole for some, but seeing Miami on the schedule for an opposing ACC Coach who needs to win a game badly (like Tommy Bowden, Chan Gailey and Al Groh in past seasons) is the equivalent of seeing Duke with two exceptions: Miami actually has some talent but Duke is the team that actually has some heart. Sitting in the West End Zone today it seemed the ruckus crowd became lifeless as soon as Tech tied the game, and it reflected a "here we go again" mentality that has set in to Miami Football.

Miami's lack of talent and defensive deficiencies are obvious anytime they play. These same problems were evident last year but it became overly fashionable to assume the players had quit on Larry Coker and would play better this season. The truth is Miami has a number of heartless players who don't have any pride in wearing the "U" on their helmet. However as fans it would be bordering on criminal to quit on this team. More than anytime since the late 1970s this program needs fan support at this tough time. I personally will continue to do what I can by going to games and promoting the program to help change the culture of losing that has set in at the "U."

Some random thoughts from today:

• Miami's depth at Running Back is impressive for such a bad team. The most impressive run by true Freshman Shawnberry McNeal may have actually been on the 4th down in the 4th quarter when GT's line got penetration and should have ended the game there but he juked two defenders to gain a first down running between the tackles. McNeal's long touchdown was a beauty and it appears he will figure into Coach Shannon's long term plans at Tailback.
  
• Kyle Wright continues to lack to kind of touch on the deep ball you'd expect from a fifth year senior QB. Kirby Freeman? His failure to properly sell option plays in his package was striking since he obviously only works on a few plays a game.
  
• Miami's Defensive Line is an embarrassment and if I were an NFL GM I wouldn't touch a single guy on Miami's entire defense.
  
• Kenny Phillips a preseason All-American? That's as laughable as the people who wanted me banned from some of the fan sites for merely suggesting Miami wasn't very good before the season.
  
• I don't want to hear about these being Coker's players. Shannon had an important role in recruiting during Coker's entire tenure and he can only blame himself for recruiting some of the biggest underachievers on defense.
  

Miami now faces another desperate team, Florida State. Does Miami have a chance in that game? Probably not, but we'll breakdown that game all week long on the site.