It’s good to feel relevant. It’s good to feel wanted. I wouldn’t exactly say that Monday’s victory over Florida State makes them the warm fuzzy story of college football, but winning a game you aren’t supposed to will give some people that feeling (side note: so will this video). Games like that will silence the naysayers and propel you back into the national spotlight.
Welcome back, Miami.
In recent years, the University of Miami (ahem, “The U”) has been fighting an uphill battle against violence, bad seasons and coaching changes. Perhaps worst of all, there was even a time when some were calling South Florida the best team in the state.
But those days are over. Miami’s 38-34 triumph over 18th-ranked Florida State had all the excitement of those late ‘80s or early ‘90s games, minus the recruiting violations and alleged steroid use. To call this a shootout would be an understatement. Even an “all-out aerial assault” doesn’t quite do it justice, as Miami quarterback Jacory Harris finished with two touchdowns and 386 yards passing.
As an athlete back in 2007, when my UConn team upset South Florida on national television, we used that win as a rallying cry for the rest of the season (on our way to a share of the Big East title). I imagine Miami will do the same. In addition to being back in the neighborhood of powerhouse programs, Miami can also use this win to propel itself through a tough ACC schedule, including a tough home matchup with Georgia Tech next week.
Harris, Benjamin, Cooper, James, Epps
and Hankerson are all legitimate
offensive threats. And the return of
their DE’s will solidify an equally
talented defense. The ACC Coastal got
a little more formidable Monday night.