Virginia Tech proves Miami Hurricanes a breeze
Thank you notes are arriving by the thousands at the Universityof Miami this week.
They are coming from Florida State, USC and LSU fans that aregrateful the ‘Canes decided not to show up against VirginiaTech last week; their national championship dreams came back tolife.
Sparked by an early fumble return for a touchdown, Virginia Techpunked Miami 31-7. How did this happen to a team that previouslywon 39 consecutive regular season games?
Make no mistake, this loss was no aberration; it has been in themaking all season. Miami began to show the chinks in their armorlast year when they trailed a severely overmatched Rutgers team athalftime.
That, coupled with a close call against Pittsburgh and a loss tothe worst National Champions ever, Ohio State, should have beenenough for everyone to see how head coach Larry Coker had let thisteam slip. But it wasn’t.
Still the media, and everyone else, thought Miami had amystique, a swagger, an aura. They thought they were unbeatable.Enter 2003.
After a tuneup game against Louisiana Tech the ‘Caneshosted intrastate rival Florida. This was a Gator team that was indisarray; they had no identity and no ranking. It didn’tmatter.
They jumped on Miami early and took a commanding 33-10 lead latein the third quarter. Florida ended up blowing the game, but Miamihad been exposed.
Hurricane apologists argued that the Gator game was a wake upcall; their ‘Canes were now ready to dominate.
I don’t think so.
The following week, Miami took on East Carolina, one of theworst teams in Division 1A, and let them stay in the game until thefourth quarter. At this point it was obvious they wereslipping.
In fact, if any Hurricane performance has been an anomaly thisyear, it was their win over Florida State. But even thatwasn’t impressive. The ‘Noles handed them the game.They turned the ball over five times, they had a punt blocked, andChris Rix couldn’t get anything going because of theridiculous downpour.
But it doesn’t matter anymore.
Virginia Tech showed that the ‘Canes are just anotherdecent football team, like Iowa, Washington State and Georgia. Theyproved they no longer deserve to be called the Hurricanes butrather the Miami “cool fall breeze.” A walk in the parkif you will.
This weekend, Miami hosts Tennessee in a battle of twoover-rated teams. The ‘Canes will be out to avenge lastweek’s embarrassing loss and should win pretty easily.
Notes
Florida State heads up to Clemson this week for Bowden Bowl 5.The ‘Noles will look to take advantage of a weak Clemsonsecondary. On the other side of the ball, Clemson head coach TommyBowden might need to get a win in order to save his job. The Tigerswill need a big game from quarterback Charlie Whitehurst and histalented group of receivers. But in the end, Florida State shouldwin big.
Virginia Tech looks to avoid a hangover as they travel toPittsburgh. This game could get hairy for the Hokies as they lookto slow down Pitt’s receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Normally, theywould ask all-American cornerback DeAngelo Hall to do so, but hehas been suspended for fighting in last week’s Miami game.Look for the Panthers to upset emotionally drained VirginiaTech.
Texas travels to Stillwater to take on Oklahoma State. Texas wasimpressive last week in a rout over Nebraska whereas the Cowboyslooked like a junior varsity team against Oklahoma. The Cowboyswill still be drowning in their sorrows and will lose at home toTexas.
Finally, this week in the upset special, LSU will go down atAlabama.
