Full Circle - Back Where It All Began

It wasn't supposed to go down like this.

Not after what was accomplished in Blacksburg a few weeks back. Miami took a huge step towards becoming elite once again after beating No. 3 Virginia Tech, 27-7 on November 5th.

Two weeks later, a giant leap back towards the middle of the pack.

Painful to even write these words. I believed the Canes had turned the corner and were going to be prepared for the final three game stretch of 2005. Like many of you, I was blindsided Saturday night. The whole thing is still somewhat surreal.

Georgia Tech 14, Miami 10.

Kyle Wright sacked seven times. The inability to get into an offensive rhythm. The defense holding the opposing offense in check all night. Questionable officiating from our quality ACC referees. Seeing our staff out coached in a very winnable ballgame.

If it feels like we've heard this storyline before - we have. A few times too many the past three seasons.

Miami came full circle this weekend. From Florida State, to the ultimate high in whooping Virginia Tech and then crashing and burning against Georgia Tech in "Labor Day II: Deja Vu."

A few days Hurricane Nation is still wondering what the hell happened. Shell-shocked is the only way to describe it. Georgia Tech - an unranked, 18-point underdog - wrecked No. 3 Miami's season out of nowhere with everything on the line. The collapse is Impossible to comprehend.

Late November and Miami was in control of its collective destiny. Win out and an ACC Championship rematch against Florida State and BCS berth are in the cards. If USC or Texas stumbles, Miami is in the Rose Bowl and playing for a National Championship.

Twelve quarters of football. Two games at home and one at a neutral site against a bitter rival who tripped up The U in the season opener.

How could that not be enough motivation? A top-ranked defense needed to hold court while the offense just couldn't blow it.

They blew it.

For all intents and purposes, the BCS slot is gone - unless Miami beats Virginia and North Carolina pulls a miracle upset at Virginia Tech this coming Saturday.

The Hokies - the squad the Canes humbled two weeks ago in Blacksburg - are on the fast track to Jacksonville. They'll make mincemeat of a three-loss Seminoles bunch and will represent the ACC in the Orange Bowl, most likely against Ohio State. Back to back ACC Champions while Miami prepares for a lesser bowl, deals with two hated rivals in their own backyard for the Orange Bowl while wondering where it all went wrong... again.

Look no further than the offensive play calling. Inexcusable. Too much talent to not muster up more than 14 points against Georgia Tech. The seven point outing at Tallahassee was almost forgivable after this team rattled off eight straight wins and constantly improved weekly.

What remains unforgiveable - being shut out the second half against Georgia Tech, poor play calling and throwing the game away in the final moments.

The whole evening moved in slow motion. Maybe it's all a blur because it was so reminicent of past losses - Tennessee (2003), Clemson (2004) and Florida State (2005) all seem to run together at times. Now we can add Georgia Tech (2005) to that notorious list.

Failed drive after failed drive. Poor play selections. Miscues. Throwing from the shotgun and with a no back set on first downs reeked of desperation. No adjustment to the blitz. Was anything taken or learned from those recent losses? If so, what?

Miami has their formula - run the ball, set up the play action pass, open up the offense and occasionally throw a few deep balls to stretch the defense.

Where was any of that against Georgia Tech? The Canes looked desperate from the get go. The game was put squarely on Wright's shoulders - a sophomore with only nine starts under his belt. No run support. No short passes. Poor blocking and another night spent on his back.

Where were the high percentage passes we've seen in past outings? Look back at Virginia Tech. Throwing to the full back out of the back field. Short routes to get the ball out of the quarterback's hands as he avoids the blitz.

Take advantage of the middle of the field. If seven defenders are running down the quarterback - something has to be open. Have tight end Greg Olsen start to block, peel out a few steps, turn around and make the grab. Force Georgia Tech's defense to respect at least one aspect of Miami's offense.

Similar to the Florida State loss, an opposing defense brought the thunder and Miami's offense consistently tried to set up long developing plays instead of adjusting to what they were seeing on the other side of the ball.

In the post-Fiesta Bowl era Miami has lost seven games.

Four of those losses were in the Orange Bowl and two with an ACC Championship and BCS bowl implications on the line.

More disturbing than the actual losses - the low point totals. Five of the seven losses Miami scored 10 points or less. Four of those losses the Canes' defense held the opponent to 16 points or less. You can't really expect the D to do much better.

Lots of folks are again quick to blame head coach Larry Coker.

To a point, yes - the loss is credited to a team's leader, as is the glory when a team wins.

His role is CEO and top dog. If there are chinks in the armor, the staff aren't carrying their weight and the program isn't getting the most out of its kids - the boss has to react. Shake things up. Right the wrongs.

All that said, Coker isn't the reason Miami lost to Georgia Tech.

Should Miami have attempted the field goal with eight minutes left in the game as opposed to going for it on 4th down? In hindsight, even Coach thinks so:

"A critical coaching mistake," said Coker. "I didn't want to leave the game on the field with the chance that if we didn't get down there again, [we'd] lose 14-13. From a head coach's standpoint, you need to have a feel for the game and we hadn't been running well. We should've taken the points."

I can actually live with his decision to go for it. I respect when a coach strays from the oh-so-typical conservative play calling.

We're talking one lousy yard here. The same one lousy yard Miami needed in a 4th and goal at Virginia Tech a few weeks ago - running Charlie Jones on the same play for a touchdown. Instead it proved to be that one stubborn yard the Canes needed in Tempe on 4th and goal againt Ohio State.

Stifled.

No, the struggle comes from two conservative runs up the gut on back-to-back plays for a three-yard loss. 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 were handled with the generic and unimaginative play calling. Run once - but get creative on the other attempt. If you have the stones to go for it in that situation - go all the way. Call something stronger than halfback dive left.

Everyone with a 404 area code saw it coming a mile away.

Wright rolled out on the final drive, hitting tight end Buck Ortega on a drag across the middle of the field. Perfect execution. Rolling out the quarterback has worked for Miami this season. On a night where the run was constantly stuffed, while the run was stifled the better part of the evening - why force the run two critical plays in a row?

There's a side to football where fans must defer to the head coach, trusting his better judgment. Coker is entrenched in the program, these players and his assistants in a way the casual observer can't begin to fathom. Impossible to sum up based solely on a big win, bigger loss or missed opportunities.

Other times the answer seems blatantly obvious to even the most casual observer.

When a style of losing proves to be more a trend than a fluke, peel back a few layers and dig deeper.

Look at other programs, how they've handled similar situations and the success achieved. It makes you marvel at how so many others seem to do more with less while the Canes oft remain their own worst enemy.

Since 2000 - four straight BCS games , a 63-9 record, over 20 first round draft picks, two Heisman finalists and a 34-game win streak with only one title to show for it? Heartbreaking.

Should USC reach the Rose Bowl, their win streak will tie Miami's at 34 - one win away from the first 'threepeat' in NCAA history. Three titles to Miami's one. It's a sin what the Canes have let slip away at times - in most cases, a lack of offense as the main culprit.

Two years into it, The Dan Werner Project has occasionally shown promise - but when it's been off, the result has been disheartening.

This past weekend was a prime example of being way off - eerily reminiscent of two games last season - the second half shutout against Clemson and season finale collapse against Virginia Tech. Miami was again ill prepared this past weekend in an important conference game.

Unfortunately for Miami version 2005 - this loss is the least forgivable of the three.

Arguably the most difficult game of the season was behind - a road trip Blacksburg. After two straight losses to the Hokies, it looked like the Canes had taken the power back. The No. 3 ranking in late November was Miami's best outing since 2002. Everything was on the line this past weekend. The U knew it and should've learned from last season's mishaps.

I used the famous George Santayana quote in a previous article, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

This past weekend there was some serious repeating going on.

Though it was the case in the opener, Miami looked to have forgotten how a fast, aggressive, blitzing defense gives this young offense fits. The result - yet another late season collapse and a repeat feeling of that disappointment which comes in losing a do or die game. The ACC Championship game was in reach. Now it's at least another season away.

Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta followed a blueprint similar to what Virginia Tech (2004) and Florida State (2005) threw at Miami. Though it was broke (twice), the Canes didn't fix it.

The Canes' offense never adjusted and overcome what was thrown at them. The game was forced on Wright, the run was never established and it seemed that even though the offensive game plan faied in the first half - little was done in the second half to thwart Tenuta's aggressive defense.

There was almost a sense that Miami coaches felt their top ranked defense would again step up. Make a play, steal some points and put the game out of reach - not even relying on the offense. Reactive coaching as opposed to proactive.

For a program like MIami - mass producing NFL talent, carrying a tradition of excellence and is regarded as one of the most prominent, dominant programs in the game - the Canes need the best coaches in the game to consistently compete for the National Championship.

Entering 2004, the University of Miami promoted from within, offering the offensive coordinator position to then-quarterback coach Werner.

One of the deepest, speediest and naturally talented offensive units in college football was turned over to a relatively inexperienced leader. The Canes kept it in the family - as they have so many times before. Time would tell whether this was the correct decision.

With so many high-powered and prolific offenses in college football, one has to wonder why Miami didn't conduct a nationwide search and interview a handful of solid candidates.

Two states away the Auburn Tigers were also at a crossroads, looking to replace their offensive coordinator.

Instead of looking in, the Tigers looked north and found Al Borges - Indiana's record setting offensive coordinator. Borges spent the previous six seasons in the offensive-minded Pac 10 - one season at Cal and five more at UCLA as offensive coordinator and quarterback's coach.

The Canes not only knew Borges' offfense - they gave up 500+ yards to it in 1998.

One of the most exciting shootouts in school history - Miami 49, UCLA 45. Borges led the record-setting, No. 2 Bruins to a then-undefeated season before their defense collapsed that early December day at the Orange Bowl.

In his first season at Auburn, he hit the ground running - turning erratic quarterback Jason Campbell into a Heisman trophy darkhorse. He led the Tigers to an undefeated season, a Sugar Bowl win - and a legitimate gripe when being shut out of the National Championship game.

Some might point out that Borges benefited from a stellar running back duo in Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams - something Miami most definitely didn't have in Frank Gore and Tyrone Moss last season.

This season he has neither. He also lost Campbell behind center - yet still has Auburn playing as well as any team in the SEC. Two losses - the season opener, ironically against Georgia Tech - and a heartbreaking 20-17 loss to Louisiana State, with Auburn missing five field goals over the course of the evening. Wins at Georgia and Alabama have since ensued.

How does a team lose the crux of its offense and still stay a top the SEC? A solid offensive coordinator.

Even larger than the 'Borges Effect' in Auburn - Norm Chow's impact on Southern Cal the past few years before bolting to the NFL this off season.

A 'pretty good' Trojans squad the beginning of the decade has since transformed into a powerhouse and offensive juggernaut. An erratic Carson Palmer his first two seasons sans Chow became a Heisman winner as a senior - year two in 'The Norm Experience.'

In 2003, first year starter Matt Leinart leads USC to a split of the National Championship under Chow's tutelidge. The following season he too takes home a Heisman - the second for a USC signal caller in three seasons. He topped that when he delivered Southern Cal back-to-back titles.

Without Chow, USC hasn't missed a beat this season. The plays were scripted and the players were in place to execute them. Over the next few seasons, we'll see the development of younger Trojans and if this new staff can carry on what Chow started. Time will tell.

For Miami to achieve even similar success, Coker needs a stellar staff of his own. Period.

Randy Shannon has the defense in check and has remained one of college football's elite coordinators these past five seasons. A National Championship in 2001, Shannon also earned the Frank Broyles Award for defensive coordinator of the year. Coker now needs to find Shannon's offensive counterpart to complete the equation. His future depends on it.

I believe the right head guy is in place at Miami - as long as he can pull the trigger on some major decisions regarding the future of Hurricanes Football.

Coker relates to these players as they do him. A mutual respect is in place. He's also comfortable in Miami. No NFL job is ever going to lure this guy away. Ego isn't part of his make up. He's a class act.

While many don't think he 'looks' the part - kids from all walks of life respond to him. Be it a Willie Williams, Ken Dorsey, Ed Reed, Clinton Portis, Greg Olsen, Kellen Winslow II or Jeremy Shockey - you get the sense these kids know and love the real Coker. There's a reason they're so quick to get his back. A reason the average fan will never get.

Good leaders need to lead. Tough decisions arise daily. When faced with setbacks or expectations aren't met - changes are in order. Coach Coker will face some major decisions this off season. His future at Miami is results driven and he'll need the best staff available to negotiate the ACC year in and year out.

Miami's offense has either been vanilla, erratic or merely found a way to get the job done the past few seasons. Talent bested average play calling between 2000 and 2002 when former coordinator Rob Chudzinski called the shots. Truth be told, Miami hasn't seen an aggressive and revolutionary offensive coordinator since Gary Stevens orchestrated things in the late 80s.

It's time to find this era's Stevens. Where's Miami's Chow or Borges?

The Canes need that difference maker. Someone who can develop players and get the most out of them while being creative, inventive and utilizing this team's natural talent, ability and speed. It's time to be cutting edge again - not just 'effective.'

Entering 2006, if Miami is going to make a title run -Coker needs to think long and hard about his current staff and it's capabilities. Can they hold their own and take the Canes back to Tempe? This coaching chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.

The situation is similar to what former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier faced after a demoralizing end to the 1995 season. His high-flying, fun 'n' gun offense ran into a nasty Blackshirt defense in the Fiesta Bowl.

Nebraska 62, Florida 24.

The Gators had the offense - but a Swiss cheese defense when it came to schemeing. Spurrier knew a personnel change had to be made. It was inevitable.

In 1996, Spurrier tabbed then-virtually unknown Bob Stoops to run his defense. Stoops had cut his teeth at Kansas State as a defensive coordinator and assistant for five seasons before leading Florida's defense in their National Championship run his first season.

The horses were already in the stable for him defensively - he just needed a different scheme and intensity level. That new blood earned the Gators their one title in school's history.

A similar situation regarding Miami. On offense, the players are there. Someone just has to get the most out of the overall talent, develop the players and breathe some new life into the program. The Canes have yet another National Championship caliber defense - but a few poor offensive outings have killed this team the past few years.

All food for thought for the off season, though. Before sights are set on 2006 - let's truly close out 2005.

Virginia is on deck. Senior day at The U with a handful of kids making their final home start for Miami. National Championship dreams are completely squashed and the ACC Title game is a pipe dream, unless North Carolina pulls a miracle in Blacksburg. On any given Saturday? Sure. But don't bank on it.

Still, the Canes need to play for pride. The team who won eight games straight this season - it still exists. Shake off last week's performance and get after the Cavaliers.

Miami has failed miserably the past two seasons the week after a late season, heartbreaking loss. These Canes need to shake that stigma if it wants to set the stage for a title run in 2006.

A win on Saturday and a victory in the bowl game gives Miami a respectable 10-2 season. Ultimate goals weren't achieved - but Miami must at least salvage what they can. Win out. There truly is no other option.

Come the off season, time for change.

With Pete Garcia back on staff as Senior Associate Athletic Director and Coker wrapping up year five in his tenure as head coach, it's time to put collective heads together. These guys have been around the program for a long time. They know Miami's history and what it takes to be elite. Personal and professional feelings aside, it's time to do what's best for The U.

Figure out how Miami can return to elite status again after flirting with it and faltering in 2005.

Deacons Get Rude Awakening... Canes Roll

Admit it, Hurricane Faithful. You were mildly concerned.

Wake Forest 17, Miami 14 late in the second half. The Canes with a 1st & 20 and the Demon Deacons crowd starting to come alive. Was this turning into a proverbial pitfall game? A typical letdown the week after a stellar, season-changing effort at Virginia Tech? No one expected Miami to keep up that intensity level in a lesser outing – but when trying to gain ground in the BCS and prove that the Canes were back, this was hardly looking like the dominating win everyone was hoping for.

Within the next 2:40 a 17-14 deficit turned into a 34-17 halftime lead for the Canes. So much for the letdown some predicted.

Kyle Wright found Sinorice Moss on a 64-yard touchdown strike. Moments later a Kelly Jennings interception resulted in an 11-yard Darnell Jenkins score. Wake Forest took possession, Chris Barclay fumbled, Kenny Phillips pounced on the loose ball and within seconds, Ryan Moore found the end zone for the first time since the Temple outing.

The second half – typical Miami coasting. Put the foot on the brakes, grind it out, don’t embarrass the opponent and start running the clock out in the third quarter. Even with that approach, Miami outscored Wake Forest 10-0 in the second half en route to a 47-17 beat down.

For those who witnessed it, it was another North Carolina-like effort. Miami goes through the motions, but when the beast has awoken – get out of the way. The defense began swarming and the Canes had the bounce in their step – dancing all over the field again, chest bumping and having fun. An endearing quality you see when players play as a team and check their egos at the door. That passion is a quality that isn’t coached. It’s an intangible. A confidence and something special which championship caliber teams exude. Though the Canes don’t control their Rose Bowl fate – the attitude displayed these past few weeks shows they will be ready should Southern Cal or Texas stumble along the way.

Up next is Georgia Tech. A make up game from October 22nd that was postponed due to a then impending Hurricane Wilma. What would’ve been a good home game last month has now been upgraded to ESPN Prime Time under the lights and one that commands national attention.

What a difference a month can make.

In late October Miami sat at 5-1 and worked its way back to a No. 6 ranking with five straight wins after the Florida State loss. October proved to be a lackluster month with wins over South Florida, Duke and Temple. Hardly the type of games to garner national attention.

Toss in the fact Miami let up on Temple in a 34-3 victory – a game with no second half scoring and little building upon a 27-0 first quarter lead. Injury was actually added to insult when Wright sustained an injury to his throwing hand while lining up behind a paper-thin second team offensive line. With the Yellow Jackets looking and the true start of ACC play on deck, it was no time to suit up an injured starting quarterback.

Four weeks later, it’s finally time for Miami and Georgia Tech to tussle. Over that span, the Canes had their awakening – a second half beating of the Tar Heels. A week later, on a national stage they upended then No. 3 Virginia Tech and officially put the Marcus Vick Show on hiatus, forcing six turnovers and rolling to a 27-7 victory. Miami was back. A week later – sporting a No. 3 ranking – The U avoided the letdown against Wake Forest and now are two wins away from a rematch against Florida State in the inaugural ACC Championship game.

Over that same time span, Georgia Tech eeked by Clemson, 10-9 and beat Wake Forest to the tune of 30-17. Last week – their third loss of the season, 27-17 at Virginia. Though the Yellow Jackets are hardly reeling, they are definitely catching the Canes at a worse time in late November than on the originally scheduled date of this match up.

After a few lesser games buried on ESPN U and GamePlan – the Canes are prime time again. The win at Virginia Tech opened the nation’s eyes and folks are more apt to pay attention to No. 3 than they are No. 6.

When Hurricane Wilma did a number on the Orange Bowl last month, it was then decided that Miami’s final games would have noon kickoffs. The lighting issues would be fixed in the off-season as few gave the Canes any shot at winning in Blacksburg. Of course the rest is history. Beat Virginia Tech and ESPN can’t roll those trucks and temporary lighting structures into the Orange Bowl fast enough. There’s even talk of doing the same for next week’s season finale against Virginia. ABC Prime Time. More exposure for The U.

Feels good, doesn’t it? Just hearing “Miami” and “National Championship contender” in the same sentence? It hadn’t been the case since mid-2003. Amazing how one stellar road win against a then-media darling can reinvigorate a program.

Of course that can all go out the window should the Canes lose focus at any point over the next eight quarters of football. While Georgia Tech and Virginia are both beatable – especially in the Orange Bowl – they are no doormats. Both will come to play. Both believe they can win. Both will save their seasons by ruining Miami’s.

I’d be shocked if the Canes can’t close out this season strong. Many have knocked this current coaching regime with not being able to finish – be it a game or the season. While that may have been the case in 2003 and 2004, that certainly isn’t how this 2005 team will react. The last two seasons were built on expectations set higher than the team’s talent level and chemistry. High preseason rankings, a few close calls and a November collapse could easily sum up the past two seasons.

2005 has been the opposite. Miami stumbled out the gate but continued to improve weekly. This team is still jelling and once hitting that turning point in the second half against North Carolina – there’s been no looking back. Simply put, they’ve worked too hard to get where they’re at right now and they know what’s on the line. Miami ate a lot of crow regarding year one in the ACC.

Three conference losses, tied for third place and a Peach Bowl invite were a far cry from four straight BCS games and a 46-4 record this decade. 9-3 wasn’t a full on debacle – but in a season where Miami needed to make a statement in a new conference to prove it could hang with anyone, anyplace, anytime – they didn’t. Sure, the three losses were on a last second field goal against North Carolina, a dropped pass in overtime against Clemson and possession of the ball down 16-10 against Virginia Tech with time to score a game winner. The Canes were never beaten like a drum – but letting those games get away hurt just as bad.

Year two in the ACC started in Tallahassee and resulted in a 10-7 loss to Florida State.

How badly do you think Miami wants another shot at their arch rival – a team who started 5-0 and has since lost three of their last five? Getting to the Rose Bowl requires some help from other teams falling short – but winning the ACC is where the Canes control their destiny. If a legit title run is in the cards in 2006, it starts with a high pre-season ranking. Win the conference, get to the BCS and whether the outlook it Rose-y or Orange – it’s all good in Coral Gables. Miami is Miami again. Win out. Everything else will fall into place.

We definitely know Miami is back when The U is making headlines on a national level and the critics are out in full force. A national media who hardly gave the Canes enough credit for the dominating 27-7 win in Blacksburg definitely had Miami on the forefront today regarding a rap tape which surfaced this past Wednesday.

I only bring this up because I’ve received several emails asking me my stance on the matter. Truth be told, I’m extremely disappointed.

Disappointed in the media – not the Canes.

If you are a teen or twenty-something, you know it’s a hip-hop culture. Look at the NBA and the NFL. Turn on any modern radio station or video channel. Kids want turntables and recording equipment these days to emulate their musical icons – not guitars and drum sets.

Pat Forde and Colin Cowherd of ESPN tried all they could to hype this story the past 24 hours. Like a candle in the wind, that flame quickly flickered out. Why? Because it’s not a big deal.

Arizona State's then-starting running back Loren Wade’s cold-blooded murder of former Sun Devil Brandon Faulkner outside a nightclub in Scottsdale this past spring didn’t garner this kind of media attention.

How about a Fulton County (GA) judge reinstating Georgia Tech defensive back Reuben Houston after a year long suspension as he awaits felony drug charges?

Before the 2005 season kicked off, in state rival Florida State had one starting linebacker dealing with domestic violence issues and another reeling from a DUI arrest. When head coach Bobby Bowden started both against Miami - the national media never batted an eye and praised the legendary coach in the ABC broadcast.

Even more of a double standard - the fact that Southern Cal has embraced rapper Snoop Dogg as an honorary Trojan.

Snoop – the rap artist/pop icon who stood trial for murder, is affiliated with local Los Angeles gangs, dabbled in the porn industry with a Girls Gone Wild video, endorses marijuana use and whose lyrics are as misogynistic as any in rap – the Trojans take no heat for him hanging around practice and parading the sidelines on game day. But a few Miami Football players record a rap in an on campus dorm two years ago – and it’s a federal offense.

Anyone still want to argue a media bias against the Canes?

Were the lyrics offensive? To some. If that’s how you feel – don’t listen. Rap music isn’t for everyone. This recording may have been in poor taste – but for Forde to suggest that the past ten years of image overhaul at Miami, zero arrests on Larry Coker’s watch and a cleaned up Hurricanes program can be tainted by this recording?

That form of ‘journalism’ is as offensive as Sports Illustrated’s Alexander Wolff suggesting Miami drop football a decade ago. It’s sensationalism. Stirring the pot to drive traffic to websites or new listeners to call in radio shows at the expense of a program who’s kept it’s nose clean the better part of the past decade and is on track to graduate 87% of its players this year.

Stepping down from my soapbox.

The focus needs to remain on Saturday night. Prime time. Under the ESPN provided, temporary Orange Bowl. Rowdy crowd. The new Nike Revolution Jerseys. Georgia Tech looking to ruin our season. Two games from clinching an ACC Championship game berth and rematch against Florida State.

Yet another week where it’s proving to be Miami against the world – and that’s just fine. It’s a Canes thing. Always has been, always will be. Bring it on. This team has the heart and character to respond accordingly.

Focus. Execute. Realize what’s at hand here. Winning the ACC is a must – and is not an option with a loss this weekend. Take care of business, fellas.

No Review Necessary, Chokies

Talk about a week almost too hard to put in words. A lot of biting one’s tongue leading up to game day for Hurricane Faithful. A wait and see mentality was implemented.

‘Us Against The World’ was in full force mode more this past week than it has been in years. The national media was picking against the Canes and even local Miami beat writers were struggling to give The U any chance this past Saturday.

Read any sports website or get sucked into some talking heads on ESPN a week ago this time and you wonder why they would even bother playing the game. The Hokies were expected to roll. Days before kickoff and everyone was already shoveling dirt onto Miami’s casket. The baton hadn’t been passed – it was snatched by Virginia Tech, or so the story was being told.

As CBS Sportsline columnist Dennis Dodd so eloquently stated the Hokie program, “Blew past Miami. Lapped ‘em. Passed ‘em up.” He cited better program, better facilities and better players. If the changing of the guard hadn't happened yet - brace yourselves, becuase it's inevitable.

He stated that the Canes’ legacy was being tested. Cracks were showing. The ACC was swallowing the program up. Simply put – Virginia Tech owns Miami, according to Dodd – and he wasn’t the only critic. Many were down on The U and were tuning in this weekend not even so much for a Virginia Tech dominating win – but smugly, to see Miami crash and burn on National TV.

The talk wasn’t just the Canes losing, but losing big. The assumption was that Virginia Tech would respond better in the BCS spotlight than Miami would the whole college football universe turning up it’s collective nose as its program.

Obviously these are exactly the situations those who bleed the orange and green live for. You know that moment. We’ve seen it countless times over the past few decades. The sleeping giant awakes. You can almost literally see that light switch go off. Immediately, Miami comes alive and wreaks havoc on anything in its way.

Those who read my article last week saw my prediction – Miami 19, Virginia Tech 16. That was the ‘head’ prediction. The 'heart' told me Canes by a smidgen more, but don’t push it. Call for a win, then watch and wait. For this writer, all signs pointed to Miami blowing through Blacksburg and strutting out, heads held high. Still, no reason to run the mouth. If Miami's players could hold their tongues - I could certainly do the same.

Something has been missing at The U for a few years now. At times it’s been an intangible. Other times that key playmaker or vocal leader. Regarding certain positions, it was merely depth. You don’t lose six starters in the first round of the NFL Draft and not miss a beat. Miami reloads – but that’s losing all six bullets and the damned gun.

A season opening loss set the tone for 2005. I’ve repeated it several times this year, but one more time for effect – 0-1 this season showed more promise than 1-0 in 2004. It was humbling for the Canes to lose out the gate. Six straight against your archrival – you’re eventually going to end up on the wrong side of the ledger. That being the case, what better time than Labor Day 2005?

Lose early, win out, get a crack at Virginia Tech in November and hope for a ratings boost. Ten straight and you’re in Jacksonville against that same Florida State team you beat everywhere but the scoreboard, while sitting pretty in that top three if a few upsets happen along the way.

Based on that scenario, the Canes are pretty much ¾ of the way home with their biggest challenges already met. Florida State – hung tough. Clemson – survived and grew up that day. Colorado – a dominant defensive performance against a physical opponent. South Florida/Duke/Temple – twelve straight quarters to maintain focus instead of sinking to the level of the competition. Hurricane Wilma postponing a match up with Georgia Tech and an extra down week where lethargy could’ve set in and killed this team’s momentum.

After thirty minutes against North Carolina, three Kyle Wright interceptions and a 16-7 deficit looking Miami in the face – this team faced that proverbial fork in the road. Would they take the path of 2003 and 2004 Miami teams – who remained undefeated until November and then fell apart down the stretch? Or was this that turning point all in Coral Gables were clamoring for? Based on last week’s media coverage, it was hardly the latter.

This is the exact reason “it’s a Canes thing – you wouldn’t understand” was coined and is now almost a twenty-year-old definition of Miami Football.

The mainstream media merely saw a box score – Miami 34, North Carolina 16. A sluggish start and Wilma-hangover for the Canes, the Tar Heels simply ran out of gas and wilted in the South Florida sun. Next story.

Maybe for those out of ‘the know.’

The Miami Faithful, we finally saw that ‘intangible’ resurface.

A good 11:58 remaining in the third quarter, score still 16-7 - that Hurricane defense started getting loose out there. A little bounce in the step and ‘enough is enough’ kicked in. Time to take over this game – and possibly the season. ‘Defense wins championships’ ain’t just coach speak. It’s gospel.

Miami had North Carolina pinned at their 4-yard line and took control of the play in one play. Vintage gang tacking and some extracurricular chest thumping ensued. One-yard gain. Next play, an incomplete shovel pass and dog pile for what at first looked to be a fumble. Third and long – batted back into the quarterback’s hands and he was swarmed on.

The Canes danced off the field – arms flailing, high stepping and confidence soaring. That’s when this team crossed the threshold. Miami was about to turn it around – the game and then the season.

The next quarter and a half of football was vintage Miami. Solid special teams, power football with Tyrone Moss and a defense who wanted nothing more than to get out there and keep making plays. The slow start wasn’t looking ahead to Virginia Tech – it was a Miami team in the midst of 2005’s maturation process. The Canes were coming into their own – on the heels of a postponed game, a Hurricane which really blew and the embarrassment of trailing a North Carolina team who ruined a then-perfect season in 2004.

Trailing 16-14 with 2:24 left in the third quarter, Quadtrine Hill sent a message to all of Blacksburg - and Beamer Ball – blocking a punt and diving on it for score. 20-16 and no looking back. More bone jarring hits, a recovered fumble, Moss bulldozing for six – dragging a six-pack of Tar Heels behind him. 27-16 and Dance Party USA on the sidelines. The uniforms were 1967 – but Canes were shaking it up like it was 1987.

Post game, word gets out of Rocky McIntosh dropping some inspirational words on his teammates. To have a vocal leader finally emerge is huge in it’s own right. To see those words result into a dominating 27-0 shutout in the second half? That gets you believing in the guy next to you and that much more confidence heading into Lane Stadium.

Lane Stadium - as if it’s some sacred, college football cathedral. All the talk last week about how Miami would cower; that just fueled the fire. Last I checked, the Orange Bowl was still home of the 58-game win streak. Going into Tech last Saturday, that streak was safe by about fifty games. Eight straight since falling to N.C. State in 2004. That’s not a mountain – it’s a speed bump.

65,000+ orange/maroon-clad Hokies payed top-dollar to witness what most predicted would be the biggest moment to date in school’s history.

They were spot on – it was definitely monumental.

Miami returned to that upper echelon of college football while Virginia Tech was slapped upside the head with a dose of reality. The Canes aren’t going anywhere anytime soon – and the ACC Coastal Division will be an annual brawl.

This year’s 27-7 dominant win separated the men from the boys. With everything on their side – the media, the fans, the home-field advantage, the supposed Vick factor, two-straight wins against the Canes, defending the ACC crown – the Hokies still folded. Miami even spotted Virginia Tech a few of its best players most of the game.

Tyrone Moss was sidelines early with a knee injury, Kyle Wright was knocked out of the better part of the first half and return specialist Devin Hester pulled up with a hamstring injury before even taking one of the twenty or so offensive plays scripted for him last Saturday night. The Canes shrugged off any bit of adversity that was thrown their way.

Virginia Tech, you were dominated.

All the talk about winning big, all the recent history and all the hype – it meant nothing once that ball was kicked off. Once the speakers stopped blaring “Enter Sandman” and the explosions ended, the game time fireworks began. Miami wanted it more and the Canes were the tougher bunch; not the ‘lunchpail’ crew boasting a blue-collar work ethic.

Lots of football left to be played this season. Wake Forest. Georgia Tech. Virginia. Hardly South Florida, Duke and Temple. Miami better focus on each task at hand before even thinking Jacksonville or Pasadena. One slip up over the next twelve quarters of football and the monumental effort of last Saturday night gets downgraded.

Should Miami get to the ACC Championship and earn that much-anticipated rematch against Florida State, this win over Virginia Tech will be long regarded as the true turning point.

As I stated last week, the Canes are only as solid as their play behind center. In this post-probation era, Miami was 3-0 against Virginia Tech with Ken Dorsey at quarterback. With Brock Berlin, 0-2 and a rough patch for The U. Kyle Wright now sits at 1-0 and has Miami’s offense looking as promising as it has the past few seasons. Unfortunately for the Hokies, Wright will be around a few more seasons and next year the annual match up moves south the Orange Bowl.

Miami was counted out last week and responded with an exclamation point. A statement was made. Thank you to the National media for pushing Virginia Tech as a Rose Bowl dark horse and billing this meeting as the Hurricanes’ funeral. Talk about your all time backfire. Not only was Virginia Tech exposed for sixty straight minutes – but Miami showed millions across the nation that this program is still a force to be reckoned with.

Southern Cal. Texas. Alabama.

Watch your backs. One mistake and you’re letting the wrong program get its foot back in the door. This team can smell the roses in Pasadena – but knows it’s a long way off. The pressure is all on #1, #2 and #3 in the BCS. The pressure has been off the Canes since dropping one in Tallahassee.

Loose play will guide the Canes to Jacksonville. From there, we’ll soon find out. For now – Wake Forest. Raleigh-Durham is next on Miami’s path of destruction. Stay focused. Press on. Dominate. Get it done.

Take The Power Back - Miami/Virginia Tech Preview

"It has to start somewhere. It has to start sometime. What better place than here? What better time than now?" - Rage Against The Machine

The Game of the Year. Here it is. Everything we've been waiting for - and then some.

A cliché and overused media statement? Absolutely. But this time, it’s the truth. No. 5 Miami is headed back to Blacksburg to take on No.3 Virginia Tech. The storyline – hell, this thing has written itself and grown leaps and bounds over the years.

For those who can't remember back that far - the Canes pounded on the Hokies in the early nineties winning the first twelve games in the series, dating back to 1953 and resurrected in 1992.

Late nineties, all Virginia Tech as Miami faced probation and was a shell of the powerhouse it once was. This decade, 3-2 in Miami’s favor – though the Canes have lost the last two in the series.

Make no mistake, come Saturday this rivalry will be taken to a whole new level as it's the highest profile meeting between these two foes. Everything is on the line this weekend - for both programs. The media has jumped Virginia Tech's bandwagon as of late – already painting them as the potential undefeated victim on the outside looking in, come bowl season. Miami was tagged early by Florida State and hasn’t had a marquee game since triple overtime in Clemson, week two.

The Canes are flying under the radar right now. Many are repeating the same mantra they have the past few seasons. Miami’s taken a step back. They're no longer elite. This is hardly the program that won a National Championship, played for another, saw four straight BCS games and amassed a 35-2 record between 2000-2002 - three of those wins coming against Virginia Tech.

Meanwhile the Hokies have shaken that "Chokie" stigma of being a team which collapses down the stretch. The earlier part of this decade, Virginia Tech found ways to fall apart late season after very promising starts.

In 2004 they seemed to flip the script – year one in a new conference, winning the ACC. But is that a fluke or a new trend in 2005? We'll find out soon enough. They definitely appear to be the team to beat in the Atlantic Coast Conference – something that certainly doesn’t sit well with a feisty bunch of Hurricanes who are used to having the rest of the college football world looking up at them.

As a writer and avid reader of all articles college football related, I'm stunned no one is screaming ‘upset’ this weekend. Seems almost all the media is drinking up that Hokies-flavored Kool Aid and believes the hype. Lane Stadium is invincible. Lil' Vick on track to being better than Big Vick. A clear-cut path to Pasadena for Virgnia Tech if Southern Cal or Texas fall apart because no one will beat Frank Beamer's bunch in the regular season.

That surely could be the case – but many are forgetting Miami has sixty minutes to shake things up a bit and make a case for themselves as a Rose Bowl darkhorse and ACC power.

There's a fine line between blatant 'homerism' when covering a team for a decade – and using one’s knowledge of a program wisely, seeing things other media members might miss.

I’ll in no way guarantee victory this weekend – but I sure as hell believe Miami has all the pieces in place to put Virginia Tech in check, IF Hurricanes Football is played under those Saturday nightlights.

Simply put, it’s not all about The U – it’s all about The U executing, finishing drives and playing a complete game.

A lack of execution and concentration is the difference between 6-1 and 7-0 at this point of the season. It’s also what keeps Miami from beating a team like a South Florida 51-0 or settling for 27-7 - playing down to the level of competition.

Missed kicks, muffed snaps, dropped passes on sure-third down conversions, snaps over the QB’s head and even a Lamar Thomas-esque strip out of Greg Olsen’s hands on a would-be touchdown. You name it and Miami has managed to let it slip away somehow this season. Once again, the Canes have been their own worst enemy more times than not.

The Canes can get away with boneheaded mistakes against the likes of a South Florida, Duke or Temple. One can even make a handful of mistakes against a Florida State – as seen by Miami’s first half debacle, though still in position to win in the game’s final minute.

Those mistakes will be unforgivable if looking to upset Virginia Tech in Blacksburg this weekend.

All the chatter this week, pre-game hype, aura of Lane Stadium, revenge talk, statistical information about the top two defenses going toe to toe – it all ends when that ball is kicked off. Xs and Os are what it comes down to - not Miami shaking it its collective boots when Metallica's "Enter Sandman" blares through the house PA.

The team with the fewest mistakes wins this one – as shown by 2003’s match up, a game where Miami might’ve won the stats battle but lost on the scoreboard (31-7) thanks to turnovers and mental mistakes.

Much is being made of Virginia Tech’s so-called dominance over Miami recently. Actually, too much.

Last I checked, it’s 3-2 in Miami’s favor this decade. The Canes have lost three home games in the Orange Bowl to Virginia Tech’s six losses in Lane since 2000 - making Miami's house the more intimidating venue for foes.

Four BCS games for Miami and one National Championship this decade to Virginia Tech’s one BCS game and nothing close to a title game berth as well.

The records? Over the past five seasons the Canes are 61-8 while the Hokies are 55-17.

Why the trip down memory lane? To show that Miami deserves a bit more credit going into this weekend’s match up. It is definitely Virginia Tech’s time here and now in 2005 – but they're about to face the biggest challenge of their season. Miami isn’t Boston College. The Canes aren’t the Terrapins of Maryland. Intimidated by Lane Stadium? Please. Miami holds an NCAA record 58-game win streak at home and has traveled to Tallahassee, Gainesville, Happy Valley, Knoxville – and even Blacksburg this decade - leaving as victors.

Miami knows what it’s in for this weekend and welcomes the challenge. The underdog role is one the Canes haven’t seen to often, but when it happens – Miami thrives in that role.

Old habits die-hard and for the past few decades, the Canes truly do live for those ‘us against the world’ moments. Be it last season in Charlottesville when many expected Virginia to topple Miami in their house - yet the Canes pulled away late, 31-21. Same can be said for a road trip to Tallahassee in 2003 where the higher-ranked Canes were an underdog to the Noles, yet rolled 22-14.

Make no mistake, a trek to Blacksburg might be tougher than both aforementioned challenges combined – but this is also the best offense Miami has fielded since 2002. Erratic and struggling at times? You bet. But still light years ahead of the offenses the Canes showed the Hokies these past two seasons.

One man holds the keys to Miami's O. Sure, a good running game, solid blocking and production out of receivers are all huge– but make no mistake, it all comes down to Kyle Wright this Saturday night. Wright's play will absolutely make or break these Canes.

Look at recent history. Ken Dorsey was 3-0 against Virginia Tech winning twicein the Orange Bowl and once at Lane Stadium - while in the following years Brock Berlin struggled and was 0-2 against the Hokies.

Granted Berlin didn’t have the same weaponry as Dorsey – especially in 2004 with a banged up offensive line, his two starting tight ends on the bench and a couple of overweight, unproductive rushers in the backfield.

Still, where Dorsey made plays against Virginia Tech – it seemed Berlin flat out gave the game away in 2003 while struggling immensely in 2004, letting the game winning drive slip through his fingers in a 16-10 loss.

Hopefully Wright can find a middle ground on Saturday.

No one needs #3 to be Superman – but he also can't play the role of villain. Make plays. Be effective. Get rid of the ball in time. Make good reads. Tuck, run and scramble for gimmie yards if they're there. Fire that perfect pass on a third and long when needed. Don’t under throw the deep ball if a sure touchdown presents itself, a la Florida State.

If Wright is effective, Miami wins on Saturday - bank on it.

In a battle of two of the nation’s best defenses, every offensive snap counts. Missed opportunities are almost as bad as a turnover.

One has to believe that Tyrone Moss can continue his effectiveness on the ground. If he could grind out 102 yards against Florida State’s defense – six games later, a much improved #30 can make plays against Virginia Tech.

Defensively Miami will be challenged – but as the top-ranked defense in the nation, one would believe the pressure they can put on Marcus Vick will be like nothing he’s seen in eight previous games this season. Hard to hit your target when running for your life.

The Canes’ front seven need to be nasty and in Vick’s face all night – while Randy Shannon must steal a page from Bud Foster’s playbook, throwing new looks at the Hokies which they haven’t seen when studying Miami’s film.

This weekend’s match up is being billed as Virginia Tech’s coming out party for all folk who are talking USC and Texas for the Rose Bowl. Much more high profile programs who have a stranglehold on the top two spots and appear to not only be a shoo-in for the big game, but also the match up sports fans are clamoring to see.

If the Hokies can lay one on the big, bad Hurricanes and embarrass Miami – they'll surely start making their case for Pasadena. There's your obviously storyline and the one the media hoping prove true. Controversy sells and another season with an undefeated being snubbed from a title shot – that'll get you tuning into SportsCenter while sipping that morning coffee.

Still, there’s another storyline. The one nobody outside of Coral Gables seems to care about.

Miami. One of the most dominant programs these past few decades. The feisty bunch with five National Championships the past twenty-one seasons and a handful of titles left on the field. A program with the best record and winning percentage this decade – even better than mighty two-time champs, USC.

The U deserves more credit going into Virginia Tech weekend than it is getting.

It’s not a slap in the face being an underdog – but not being given a chance this weekend? No one stepping up and talking upset? Absolutely asinine. The Canes have built a reputation as the perennial program in college football that thrives on big game situations like this. Let the boos reign down. Let the media call them out. It’s more fun when no one outside of Coral Gables believes.

If there was a turning point this season, it was last weekend against North Carolina.

Miami was embarrassed mid-season 2004 in Chapel Hill, thanks to a last second field goal and inability to stuff the run. A year later the Tar Heels are in the Orange Bowl boasting a 16-7 halftime lead. Leadership surfaced in the form of a Rocky McIntosh pre-third quarter speech. The Canes woke from their post-Wilma slumber and took over the game the second half with swarming defense and a steady diet of ramming the ball down the opponent’s throat.

The result, a 34-16 victory and outscoring the Heels 27-0 in the second half.

Within that win, something more. Confident and loose play. Bouncing around on the field and sidelines. Excitement. Those who watched the second half saw as fired up a Miami defense as anyone can recall this year. Hard-hitting, intimidating and borderline arrogant. It's everything fans love about The U.

Every successful Miami defense has embodied that attitude – and what better time for Miami 2005 to get that defensive swagger back than Virginia Tech week? These Canes know they can bring it and are ready to tangle with anybody – which is a good thing, as they’ll have their hands full Saturday night.

It's almost been a Matrix-line rebirth. No sooner did Miami squash out North Carolina when the talk turned to Virginia Tech.

“We’re going to stomp them out,” said Quadtrine Hill. “They think they are invincible in Blacksburg, but they have another thing coming.

They can’t forget, this is The U. We’ve got something to fight for. Every time we step out on the field, we feel we are good enough to win. Anybody (reporter) predicting us not to win this game needs to re-think their job, because their profession should be on the line.”

Hill isn’t trash talking and he isn’t disrespecting Virginia Tech. He’s merely summing up the feelings of Hurricane Nation. Miami deserves some respect here. If no one wants to give it – dammit, the Canes will go out there and take it.

The final third of 2005 is here and Miami is about to play a pivotal game in regards to the future of this program. When the question was posed to me earlier this week, ‘how big is this game?’ – I gave it serious though and came up with the following: based on 2004 and a 9-3 season, this game is has now become as big Miami v. Florida State 2000.

Virginia Tech has been a thorn in Miami’s side on and off this past decade and a few years has gone by since the Canes’ last dominated the rivalry – much like Florida State 2000.

Entering that October 2000 contest, there was question as to Miami’s status. Were the Canes ‘back’ or were they that just below that upper echelon in college football?

The same question can be posed today. The early dominance of this decade is legendary. But put it on a shelf because that was then and thisis now. It’s been two and a half seasons since Miami was truly on top. Like Florida State 2000 – this is a chance on a National stage for Miami to take back what they feel is rightfully theirs.

A win on Saturday will have the entire country talking Hurricanes Football again. To be truly ‘back’ Miami will have to toppled media darling Virginia Tech.

The Miami/Florida State match up five years back also featured a one-loss, underdog Hurricanes team pitted against an undefeated, higher ranked bunch. The Canes were also led by a promising sophomore gunslinger who wound up having a coming out party and game winning drive. Dorsey led Miami to that 27-24 win and the stage is set for Wright this weekend.

Wright came close on a game winning drive against a stingy Florida State defense in this season’s opener. Now he has another shot on the road, with a hostile crowd, to make plays against Virginia Tech. One can only imagine this young man's dream scenario to prove himself after falling two yards short in Tallahassee.

Come Saturday, a statement will be made.

The college football world will either know Virginia Tech is one of the Nation’s elite and deserving of the recognition – or it’ll be all about Miami. The Canes will be back and after stumbling out the gate year one in the ACC and losing to the Seminoles in this season's opener – they will become the team to beat and an instant Rose Bowl dark horse.

I’m going with the latter. A defensive battle, hard hitting, big game atmosphere eerily similar to Miami at Florida State circa 1991 with the Canes making a few more plays and coming out on top.

THE CALL: Miami 19, Virginia Tech 16