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21 November 2010
The loss to Virginia Tech puts a cap on a very disappointing season for the Hurricanes. The goals going into this year were to contend for an ACC title and possibly get back into the national spotlight. Sadly, the Hurricanes football team failed to meet either of those goals. After 11 games they are sitting right where they were last year. Even worse, they don't have one signature win to hang their hat on and take into next season. Every big game on their schedule (Ohio State, Florida State, Virginia Tech) was lost. So the truth is that this season has been heartbreaking for me as a fan.
The bottom line with this team is this: Until they learn how to play consistent, mistake free, turnover free, football, these types of records will never change. Rarely have I watched a team at any level defeat themselves more than I have seen with this 2010 Hurricanes Club. Too many mistakes, too much inconsistency and not enough big plays. The same theme has come up time and again with this team. A lot has been made about is it the coaching or is it the players. Personally, I believe the blame should be spread to both. After all the missed opportunities we had last night on the field.. who can blame me. At some point these players have to say enough is enough and stop settling for just being good. I believe these guys have all the talent in the world. What they lack is focus and poise at gametime. This must be corrected!
Last week I said if I'm coach and Harris was cleared, He starts over Morris. The reason being for this position manifested itself in the 4th quarter of yesterday's ballgame. Down 7 and driving Morris made a bad decision by trying to hit Travis Benjamin on a slant and the VT defender jumped the route and got the interception. I had a feeling that the inexperience of Morris would bite the team sooner or later. I am in no way blaming the kid for the loss. Until that throw, I thought he played a heck of a game and his future looks great with UM, but sooner or later you just knew the inexperience factor would play a role in the outcome of the game. His receivers didn't help much with two big drops by starters that could have resulted in points and a first down. Same old story. I look for Harris to get the starting nod against South Florida.
Defensively I thought we were solid at the beginning of the game, but just couldn't finish at the end when it counted. Too many big plays were given up: the long run and the touchdown pass on the blown coverage. Again, same old story. Consistency, Consistency, Consistency.... Missing Missing Missing...
Penalties and Turnovers.... I usually don't sound off against officiating. I think the officials have one of the toughest jobs in the world, but in this case I have to state an opinion. Randy Shannon can't say it, The University of Miami can't say it, but as a fan, I can say it. There is a definte BIAS WHEN IT COMES TO ACC OFFICIALS AND MIAMI! And its all negative. Way too many flags have been thrown over the course of this year against the canes... THATS A FACT! I realize officially the coaching staff and the University can't do to much about it, but the ACC needs to get its act together when it comes to Miami football in my opinion. As far as turnovers, this football team has too many. You can't turn the ball over six times and expect to win a football game. I don't care who your playing. They teach that at the pee-wee level, but amazingly the Hurricanes haven't learned that yet.
After the game yesterday I found myself on Youtube searching for Hurricanes Highlights of the past. I watched Randall Hill take the touchdown into the tunnel at the Cotton Bowl. I watched the team led by Jimmy Johnson get off the plane at the Fiesta Bowl wearing fatigues. I watched Miami upset Nebraska at the Orange Bowl under Howard Schnellenberger. And I watched Edgerrin James rack up a ton of yards against a top ranked UCLA team. As I watched those highlights, I began to wonder if this program would ever ascend back to those heights. I sat down and wrote a rather lenghty article about the possibilities (or lack there of right now) for this program. After writing it I decided to save it for the game following South Florida out of respect for the players and coaches, but its harsh. I don't know where we go from here, but I do know that today typing this article, I am one very sad hurricane fan.
