"The Day After Carolina - Part II"
Defensive issues & 6-1 - rise to the challenge or crumble?



Miami v. Clemson 2004 is a defining moment for Hurricane Football. One can’t really call it a “big” game as the Tigers are an average bunch – but Miami just lost to a below average bunch in Chapel Hill. This game now means everything. The college football world is about to find out the mettle of Hurricane players and coaches.

Is Miami Football a reality – or an old myth? Are these the playmakers and unique personalities of tomorrow like Irvin, Lewis and Sapp – or just a talented bunch of kids going through the motions and filling the pipeline at NFL U because they know all eyes are on Coral Gables every April before the draft?

Let it be said, losses like this hardly rest solely on the shoulders of 18 to 21 year old kids. At the end of the day, the coaches cashing the hefty paychecks are responsible. You can’t blame employees for following bosses’ orders and performing the functions the company puts before them. If there are issues with the design of a house – don’t blame the builders, wring the architect’s neck.

The damage control and coach-speak after a loss like this leaves many wondering what is really going on behind closed doors. How good - or bad - is this team?

"Teams that play us, I think they raise their level," Coker said. "That's part of the beauty of being at Miami."

Coach, you knew that as a coordinator from 1995-2000 and saw the point driven home the past 3.5 years as this team’s leader. Teams always raise their level against the Canes.

The million dollar question is, how do Miami coaches raise players’ intensity level when Florida State, Virginia Tech or Florida aren’t across the line of scrimmage? Days of sleepwalking or bringing that “C” game against lesser opponents are a thing of the past. Embrace it, fix it or prepare to lose a lot more football games.

Bet the house Clemson are licking their chops regarding this upcoming weekend.

1,492 isn’t only the year Columbus sailed the ocean blue – it’s the yardage Miami’s given up the past three games. The holes in the defense have been there three weeks straight. Opponents are almost laughing at how simplistic Miami's schemes have remained. Are they exposed a fourth time – or can the Miami coaching staff make adjustments and prime this team to make a positive statement this weekend? One will see.

Everything trickles down from the top and every Miami team has its coaches’ fingerprints all over it.

Howard and his kids were gritty and out to make a name for themselves and the program. Jimmy coached with bravado and swagger and his players acted it out weekly on and off the field. After a quick start, Dennis proved to be a poor judge of talent and inept in other ways. As a result, he’d field a team that could get throttled in the 1994 Fiesta Bowl, 29-0 by Arizona – yet months later knocked off No. 1 Florida State, 34-20 when their backs were to the wall. Seven games and an Orange Bowl loss later, he resigned.

During and after the probation era, Butch proved to be a disciplinarian and all business. As a result, he fielded a business minded, mostly swagger-less bunch. There were a few vintage Canes in Davis’ era that could’ve given any swagger-filled Canes a run for their money – but it wasn’t a universally accepted mindset.

What’s the writing on the wall, year four of the Coker Era?

A title year one and a great run again in year two. A stand up guy who the players love and went to bat for. 24 straight wins before an ill timed flag resulted in that first controversial loss.

Coker was bulletproof.

Were they Davis’ players he was winning with – or was he behind the scenes with recruiting? Was the loss of Davis’ right hand man Pete Garcia going to come back and bite Miami? Again – no one cared. The Canes were winning. Nothing else mattered.

A loss at North Carolina truly shakes the system to the core and Pandora’s Box has been opened.

Upon closer inspection, one sees that Miami is 17-4 since the end of 2002. A far cry from 24-0. While losses are expected – the way in which losses were incurred has many folk skeptical. Have the Canes completely lost that swagger bounce in their step? Can they get it back under current leadership? Is a change in order – or does Miami just have to weather a temporary storm?

There seems to be an ounce of stubbornness when it comes to backing away from a certain style of coaching. Just because it worked in the past doesn't mean it is foolproof. Brock Berlin isn't Ken Dorsey - and vice versa. Berlin performs better in the shotgun and sees the field better. Why leave him under center all the time if that's the case? Same with what we are seeing on defense. Opposing offensive coordinators have licked their chops the past three weeks. The reaction in MIami regarding defensive woes:
"The scheme's been very successful for us for the most part of four years," said Coker. "We just don't want to abandon what's been good for us."

Don't abandon coach, just fine tune. The 2004 Miami Defense is not the 2001 National Champions.

Off the most recent undefeated squad -18 defensive players wound up on NFL rosters. Nine were selected in the first round. Some have already made the Pro Bowl. How much credit is being given to the true athletes on those past few Miami rosters, for making the system and scheme work to perfection? Instead, much of the credit has been given to coordinator Randy Shannon - the defensive guru. Now that the system has broken down three games in a row - questions are brewing. Shannon's response to his players' breakdown before Saturday's match up:

"They got big-headed," Shannon said. "When you have success the big question is how are you going to handle it."

Shannon has made it clear that he stated this bunch had the "potential" to be great - but would take time to get there. Still, even the greenest Miami defense in the modern era should never give up 545 to the likes of a North Carolina. A far cry from having the "potential" to be great. That is flat out embarrassing and not Miami style football. Defensive gurus need to see the breakdowns and must make necessary. The Canes D is nowhere near as bad as it's played the past three weeks.

As much as it pains supporters of "The U" - the Canes looked soft on Saturday night. Talk about a word one doesn’t ever think to associate with Miami – soft.

Third string tailbacks don’t amass 174 yards against Shannon's defense. They are tattooed the first drive of the game, planted in the turf, dragged off the field by trainers and run tentative all night while Hurricane defenders continue intimidating them with trash talk, bone jarring hits, strips and forced fumbles. Just ask Randy when he wore that #22 for the Canes and swarmed ballcarriers as a Miami linebacker and four year letterman who started on the 1987 National Championship team. No third string tailback would make a name for himself on Miami's watch.

This is Coral Gables – not Austin, Texas. Miami isn’t a program that brings in the highest rated recruits, aspires no higher than conference championships, occasionally wins the rivalry games and is satisfied with 10-2 every year. Ain’t happening. The bar was set two decades ago and it will remain there. The Canes remain in the National Championship hunt every season and win the games they are supposed to win. If you can’t handle those demands, Coral Gables won’t remain home for long.

Occasionally a better team will knock Miami off. Go back, regroup and tag the next opponent in the mouth. North Carolina does not fall into that “better team” category. On what was billed as “Upset Saturday” – few experts believed that Miami was a prime candidate to get knocked off.

Southern California strolled into Washington State and cruised to a 42-12 win – like No. 1 teams are supposed to. Sure, the Cougars are banged up and nowhere near the team they were predicted to be in 2004. So what? North Carolina was banged up and beat Miami while other top ranked teams took care of business.

No. 2 Oklahoma visited rival Oklahoma State in Stillwater – a team that’s knocked them out of the running the past 2 of 3 seasons. With the money on the table, the Sooners came up strong. The two squads traded blows all day long – but OU outlasted OSU, 38-35. One step closer to undefeated.

Auburn rolled Ole Miss and Georgia got the Florida monkey off their back. Teams that wanted to find a way this weekend, did. Miami didn’t.

Hurricane Nation has pounded that drum all season, chanting, “disrespect.” As it’s oft said in Dade County, “no mas.” That rallying cry goes right out the window after a loss like this.

The time has come to stop talking and start doing. Make a positive statement on the field this week. Focus on nothing but Clemson and make them pay. Beat the Tigers or be prepared to be called frauds and overrated… and that’s just by the hometown crowd.

Again, Miami has everything to prove this Saturday night – and like so many other teams this weekend, Clemson has the luxury of playing loose, with nothing to lose.

There aren’t many “do overs” in life – or déjà vu moments where history is kept from repeating itself. Oddly enough, Miami gets that chance this weekend. Last November, after being embarrassed by Virginia Tech to the tune of 31-7, things appeared to be at their worst. They weren’t.

The only thing more embarrassing than the Virginia Tech debacle was showing up lifeless a week later in a 10-6 loss to Tennessee.

Almost a year to the day, North Carolina drops Miami’s pants in front of the nation and a week later, a sold out Orange Bowl has the chance to be the difference maker while the Canes can take out all frustration on the Tigers.

Miami got their lip buttoned in Chapel Hill. Time to move on and see how this team responds. Come out possessed – or turn tail and run? Use this loss as a motivator – or believe this defense is weak, pack in the season and drop a few more to lesser opponents?

The coaches will prove this weekend if they are leaders or not. In the palm of their collective hand - a talented, young team searching for answers and a point in the right direction. Put every ounce of energy into getting their heads right. Miami has the talent to beat every team on their schedule. What has lacked at times is a solid game plan and a belief to do so. Utilize the playmakers, throw new wrinkles in what is being called a very predictable defense and fill these kids with confidence.

A defining Saturday is on tap for the Canes. Nationally televised and all eyes again on the Canes. Will it be a rerun of last Saturday’s letdown – or Classic Sports-esque, Decade of Dominance-style beat down from yesteryear? No excuses or time to wallow in sorrow. This is Miami. Get out there and get back to winning ways. There’s no alternative.


The Call: No prediction. Sack up, execute, have swagger & win this game Miami style. End of story.

Part I of "The Day After Carolina"

Born and raised in Miami, FL and a CanesTime.com columnist since 1996, Chris Bello now resides in San Diego, CA and handling online sales and providing content for allCanes.com. Feel free to send your comments or to contact him at chris@allCanes.com