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Canes Come Back On Wolfpack

The Miami Hurricanes were in a familiar situation Saturday and a familiar name helped the Canes take the lead for good inside Doak Field at Dail Park.

Christian Del Castillo’s RBI groundout in the top of the eighth gave Miami (4-4, 2-3 ACC) its third and final lead of the day, helping the Hurricanes even the series at NC State (4-5, 1-4 ACC) with a 6-4 victory.

“The season has got so many ups and downs, you’d have to get to the end to see if this is a turning point for us,” head coach Gino DiMare said. “We certainly hope it is in a positive manner because that means the rest of the season is going to go well and we’ve learned and we’ve grown and we’ve matured. Bottom line is it’s one game. It feels a lot better because we played a lot better than yesterday, but we’ve got to be ready to play tomorrow. This means nothing if we come out and don’t play well tomorrow.”

With the game tied at 4, Yohandy Morales led off the top of the eighth with a ground-rule double to right. The true freshman advanced to third on a wild pitch and Miami had runners at the corners when lefty Canaan Smith walked Alex Toral with one out in the inning.

After an incredible play by first baseman Austin Murr to retire Del Castillo, Morales evaded the tag at the plate to snap the stalemate and out Miami ahead, 5-4.

“I was just staying confident up in the box, trying to hit the ball hard,” Del Castillo said. “I was pumped up when I saw Yoyo scored. That was a huge run to get ahead and brought some more energy to the team.”

Miami turned to closer Carson Palmquist to protect the one-run lead and the lefty pitched out of a jam, stranding a pair of base runners after snaring a J.T. Jarrett line drive up the middle to end the eighth.

“I’m just going out there and being confident and believing in myself and the eight other guys on the field with me,” Palmquist said. “It was a huge win for us. We were down bad yesterday and this team battled back We never call it quits and that showed today.”

True freshman CJ Kayfus picked a great time to get his first career hit, smoking a leadoff solo homer to left-center off Wolfpack reliever Dalton Feeney that gave the Hurricanes some breathing room, 6-4, and Palmquist retired the side in order to earn his third save of the season.

“I was trying to stay within myself and let everything happen on its own,” Kayfus said. “I was planning on attacking early on in the at-bat, so I got excited seeing the first pitch fastball. After hitting it I thought, ‘This might have a chance to get out’ and it did.”

Much like Friday’s series opener, Jordan Lala led off the game with a hit-by-pitch and came around to score to get the Hurricanes on the scoreboard in the first inning for the sixth consecutive game. After Lala scored on a Morales groundout, Adrian Del Castillo had an RBI single to right that sent home Anthony Vilar to make it 2-0 in favor of the Hurricanes.

“Yoyo is hitting in an obviously important spot for us there in the three hole,” DiMare said. “That was a big at-bat where he battled and it went to two strikes there and he put the ball in play up the middle, and it not only knocked in the run but it moved the runner over for Del coming up and then he gets the line drive hit. That was great situational hitting, good job by the guys in front of them to get on base. We’ve been great out of the gate in the first inning. I wish we could duplicate the first inning every inning, that’d be great.”

“I thought Jake did a solid job,” DiMare said. “He should have gotten out of the inning there. He got the ground ball for a double play. Anthony [Arguelles] did a great job because he’s had a couple iffy outings and that was a great job to come out and do that. That’s what we need from those guys. Let’s see if we can get some consistency. The whole thing in our sport is being consistent, get a consistent team out there that can play every day and be consistent.”

Miami and NC State will close out the weekend series Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m. True freshman Victor Mederos will make his third collegiate start for the Canes opposite NC State right-hander Matt Willadsen.

From hurricanesports.com. Read more there on UM baseball.

Chomp On This!

Winning a rivalry series is always special and the Miami Hurricanes did just that Sunday afternoon, taking the series finale over the top-ranked Florida Gators with an 8-6 victory inside Florida Ballpark.

The No. 11 Hurricanes (2-1) came into Gainesville for their annual three-game tilt against rival Florida (1-2). Miami nearly came back to win Friday’s opener before a resilient comeback win on Saturday. Sunday’s victory closed out the Hurricanes’ first series win over Florida since taking two-of-three in 2014 and was Miami’s first series victory in Gainesville since sweeping the Gators in 2009.

“It was a big, big series to start the year off and we know it was going to be a big test,” head coach Gino DiMare said. “The big thing I took away, especially the first few nights, is just the fact that our players never gave up. Even in the first game, we lost but we kept battling, and I think it carried over to the second game. We scored three runs in the last inning to tie it and that gave us the chance to go to extra innings and win it and taking that game gave us the chance to win the series today. It was nice to come out and get a big lead, but you just know it’s never going to be over. That’s obviously a very good program, they’re going to keep fighting and we were able to finish it there at the end. It was a total team effort from a lot of people, a lot of guys got their feet wet in this series for the first time, a lot of better veteran guys played well and I’m just so, so happy for our players and our program.”

After going down 0-2, leadoff batter Jordan Lala was hit in the back by a 1-2 breaking ball from Florida starter Hunter Barco. After Lala stole second, Yohandy Morales singled up the middle to put runners at the corners with one out and Miami standout Adrian Del Castillo at the plate. The third-year hitting machine ripped a two-run double and Alex Toral followed with an RBI single to right that sent Del Castillo home from second to cap a three-run first inning by the Hurricanes.

Stepping on the mound for the first time as a Hurricane, Victor Mederos showed why he is one of the top true freshmen pitchers in the country. The right-hander settled in after giving up a leadoff double to Jacob Young, striking out the side in first collegiate inning.

Miami’s offense got going again in the second, with Tony Jenkins leading off the frame with a walk and stolen base before scoring from third on a two-out line drive off the bat of Anthony Vilar that Florida shortstop Josh Rivera could not handle and resulted in a 4-0 Canes’ lead. The error extended the inning and the Hurricanes took advantage, running up Barco’s pitch count by sending three more batters to the plate in the inning.

The Hurricanes led off the third inning with their first homer of the season, as Raymond Gil crushed a 2-2- offering from Barco well beyond the 380-foot sign in left-center field. Gil, who delivered the game-winning hit in the 13th inning on Saturday, gave Miami a five-run lead after just three innings.

And Miami’s offense kept firing against Barco in the fourth, with Morales lacing a triple into the right field corner that drove in Lala to make it 6-0. Del Castillo followed with a hit-by-pitch, and Barco was lifted with runners at the corners and one out in the fourth. The Canes made Barco’s first start of the season a forgettable one for the second-year lefty, as he allowed eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits over just 3.1 innings pitched.

Right-hander Hunter Mink replaced Barco on the mound and the Hurricanes had success against the Gators reliever, loading the bases before Christian Del Castillo smacked a two-out, bases-loaded two-run single that made it 8-0.

“It’s huge to win this series,” Del Castillo said. “It means a lot to me, especially that I’m playing with my brother. It’s a once in a lifetime kind of thing. I’m just glad to be a part of it and to fight with my brothers along my side. I’m very happy to be here.”

“We had a meeting the night before the opening game and I said, ‘look, we’re not putting on any rings this weekend. Nobody’s going to crown us champions after one series, but our expectation is to come in here and win the series,’” DiMare said. “I thought we just did an excellent job — everybody, coaches, players, everyone — of just staying very relaxed and focused on just playing a full game. Whatever happens, we’re going to lay it all out on the line and everybody’s going to play their tails off.”

Mederos’ debut was a good one, as the true freshman held Florida to two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out five Gators over 4.2 innings.

“For his first outing, I thought he threw really well in that environment and playing against that team,” DiMare said. “I think both him and Alejandro Rosario, our two freshmen, really did a solid job. They’re only going to get better coming out of a performance and experience like this weekend here against the number one team in the country. Those two guys, I think they did a very, very good job for their first outing as freshmen, first college start as freshmen.”

Miami stranded a baserunner in the top of the eighth and Florida appeared poised to score with runners at the corners and one out against Miami reliever Ben Wanger. But freshman first baseman CJ Kayfus snared a Thompson line drive and tagged Rivera to complete the inning-ending double play and preserve Miami’s two-run lead.

DiMare turned to his closer in the ninth and Carson Palmquist shut the door in the ninth to pick up his first career save and clinch the series for the Hurricanes. Arguelles also made history, picking up his first win as a Cane.

“I just always want to be there for my team and be the guy that gets to pitch in the toughest situations,” Palmquist said. “When you get the feeling of pitching in a huge game, you don’t worry how your arm or legs feel. It means an unbelievable amount to me to get my first save and help our team win this series. I know everyone who is a Miami fan or ex-player is going crazy about us beating the Gators and I am glad I could be a part of it.”

Miami heads back to Coral Gables for its first home series of the 2021 season. The Hurricanes will open conference play with a three-game set against Virginia Tech beginning Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.

From hurricanesports.com read more here:

https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2021/02/21/gators-chomped-miami-takes-series-at-no-1-florida/

Gimme Shelter

Sometimes even the strongest amongst us needs some shelter from life's storms. Today, our good friend VA Cane needs that and more. Now here he is, coming to you, in his own words, in his time of need...

Since you all are family, I mean that, let me share a little about my family. February has become a tough month for me over time. Good things, and challenging things.

My Dad's Birthday was Valentines Day. He was my hero, so Sunday thinking of him being gone was tough. The 15th, my son turned 26. He's the apple of my eye, my son I pass the torch to and a great kid!

The 18th my Mom will have been gone 2 years. She was the smartest person I have ever known. You could never fool that woman and she was very special to me. So, that's a start I prepared for this February.

But it gets tougher, much tougher. Friday night. my niece Tabatha Ann was murdered in her home by her live in of 10 years in front of a 5 and 7 year old. Never had something that tragic that close...man would never fight another man, then beats her to death in front of their children. I have to write the articles,  preach the funeral.

My 3 week old granddaughter, 3rd one behind Kensley and Lillian, her name is Elizabeth Ray, we call her Lizzy Ray, was ill during east coast ice storm. Went to the doctor yesterday, breathing problems, mucous, showing signs of cystic fibrosis. So folks, the VAC has a very full agenda, and as always everybody looks to me for answers, faith, leadership, poise. Not always easy with the regular stuff of the job, February thoughts, and murder and serious illness on top of it.

And we lost my mother in law in July to Alzhimers, so if I seem a little edgy, I dont feel bad, and was not trying to be a negative nancy, but you have some insight as to why!

You know old VAC, at one time. Long ago, the smallest starting corner in the nation in the 70s. Now the patriarch of a family,and while challenged with issues way more pressing than the field, will always be there for all. In the mix for the championships of the game calle Life!!!

I always advise people a simple saying: Let Go Let God. It works folks, cause Faith is what you have when there is nothing left to hang onto! Thanks for the time and will keep you all advised.

Please pray for my niece and granddaughter. I know you all will!

God bless all of you!

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/henrico-murder-suspect-faced-more-than-a-dozen-domestic-violence-charges-over-the-last-year

Learning To Fly

My friend and former look alike Tom Petty wrote a song with this title. Of course it was about something other than coaching college football. But it has its relative application to head coach Manny Diaz at the University of Miami.

Well, I started out down a dirty road
Started out all alone
And the sun went down as I crossed the hill
And the town lit up, the world got still

I'm learning to fly but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing

Well, the good old days may not return
And the rocks might melt and the sea may burn

I'm learning to fly (Learning to fly)
But I ain't got wings (Learning to fly)
Coming down (Learning to fly)
Is the hardest thing (Learning to fly)

Well, some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I've started out for God knows where
I guess I'll know when I get there

I'm learning to fly around the clouds
But what goes up (Learning to fly)
Must come down

I'm learning to fly (Learning to fly)
But I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing

I'm learning to fly (Learning to fly)
Around the clouds
But what goes up (Learning to fly)
Must come down

I Think It's About Forgiveness

I got the call today, I didn't wanna hear

But I knew that it would come
An old, true friend of ours was talkin on the phone
She said you'd found someone

 

And I thought of all the bad luck,
And the struggles we went through
And how I lost me and you lost you
What are these voices outside loves open door
Make us throw off our contentment
And beg for something more?

 

 

Butch Davis and Greg Schiano, if only you both would have stayed at Miami and continued recruiting and coaching the way you did leading up to the 1999 season and beyond, eventually to build the greatest team ever assembled on a college football field in 2001, you could have been the Bear Bryant and Nick Saban of your day. But you got greedy and moved on. Still, we forgive you.

I'm learning to live without you now
But I miss you sometimes
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew, I'm learning again

 

I've been tryin to get down
To the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think its about forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me anymore

 

 

Larry Coker we all loved you then, but now as we look back, most of the UM fans don't love you now. You took over a uber talented team, with incredible internal leadership, and won a National Championship in 2001. For that we applaud you. Then you ran the Mercedes you were given into a brick wall at a 100 MPH by your failure to recruit. But still, we forgive you.

 

These times are so uncertain
There's a yearning undefined
And people filled with rage
We all need a little tenderness
How can love survive in such a graceless age?

 

 

Head Coach Randy Shannon was so absolutely sure to be a success at Miami that is was unquestionable. He had played, coached and worked his way up through the ranks of his beloved and esteemed educational institution so much that he could not fail. Then he did, and badly. Randy, we appreciate and forgive you.

The trust and self-assurance that lead to happiness
They're the very things - we kill I guess
Pride and competition
Cannot fill these empty arms
And the work I put between us
You know it doesn't keep me warm

 

 

Al Golden came long and he appeared on the surface to be the real deal and a highly motivated and intelligent coach who might be able to get UM to the next level. He decided to wear a white shirt and orange tie as a Jo Pa disciple would have him do. He worked hard, he tried diligently, he cared deeply and then he failed miserably. He was sent packing, but still we forgive him too. 

 

I'm learning to live without you now

But I miss you, baby
And the more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I'd figured out
I have to learn again

 

 

There was no way ever in hell that experienced head coach Mark Richt, who came trotting down from Georgia, was ever going to fail once he was back at his alma mater in Coral Gables. It was a match made in Heaven for sure and without a doubt. He was smart, experienced and made for this very job. Until he wasn't just a few years later. Mark we love you. And we forgive you.

 

I've been trying to get down
To the heart of the matter
But everything changes
And my friends seem to scatter
But I think its about forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me anymore

 

 

Now UM fans have Manny Diaz at the helm of this seemingly rudderless ship. Storm winds continue to blow and cross currents rip at the very foundation of once was a great college football program. Manny has shown some promise during his brief tenure at Miami but serious flaws have also been exposed.

 

We are not sure where this coaching staff will wind up, but in the end if they do fail, we will forgive them too eventually I am sure.

 

There are people in your life who have come and gone
They let you down you know they hurt your pride
You better put it all behind you baby, life goes on
You keep carrying that anger, it'll eat you up inside

 

I've been trying to get down
To the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak
And my thought seem to scatter
But I think its about forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me

 

 

I have always loved the Miami Hurricanes since attending my first game at the Orange Bowl in 1973. And I always will love "The U". But the joy they gave me from 1983-2003 seems like a distant memory. I'd really like my joy back please.

 

I've been tryin to get down
To the heart of the matter
Because the flesh will get weak
And the ashes will scatter
So I'm thinkin about forgiveness

Even if, even if you don't love me anymore...

It's Over For Olsen

Greg Olsen, one of the most prolific pass-catching tight ends in NFL history, announced his retirement on Sunday.

Olsen, who spent the 2020 season with the Seahawks, announced the news on FOX prior to Sunday's NFC Championship game, officially bringing to an end a 14-year career with he Bears, Panthers and Seahawks. Olsen also announced that he will be part of FOX's broadcast team next season.

Olsen, a first-round pick by the Bears in 2007, was a three-time Pro-Bowler with the Carolina Panthers, and from 2014-2016 he was the first tight end in league history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

Olsen had opportunities to pursue a broadcasting career after the Panthers released him following the 2019 season, but instead signed with Seattle hoping to make one last run at one of the few things missing from his impressive resume, a Super Bowl title.

Olsen's one season with Seattle saw him appear in 11 regular-season games, as well as Seattle's Wild Card loss to the Rams. A plantar fascia injury in November landed Olsen on injured reserve, but he was able to make it back before the end of the season. Olsen caught 24 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown as a Seahawk, and he finishes what could very well be a Hall of Fame career with 742 catches for 8,683 yards and 60 touchdowns.

Article from John Boyle at seahawks.com. Click here for more:

https://www.seahawks.com/news/greg-olsen-announces-retirement 

Deck The Halls

For Dan Morgan, sharing the news that he’d finally been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame was emotional and special. There’s no doubt Morgan’s pending induction into the College Football Hall of Fame puts him in some very exclusive company.

According to the Hall, only 0.02 percent of college football players and coaches can claim the same honor. Of the 78 FBS players on this year’s ballot, Morgan was one of 11 first-team All-Americans to make the cut.

And despite Miami’s storied football history, Morgan will become just the ninth former player to join the Hall along with Bennie Blades, Don Bosseler, Ted Hendricks, Russell Maryland, Ed Reed, Vinny Testaverde, Gino Torretta and Arnold Tucker.

Former Hurricanes coaches Dennis Erickson, Andy Gustafson, Jack Harding and Jimmy Johnson are also enshrined and for Morgan – who is now the director of player personnel for the Buffalo Bills – having his name linked to those Miami greats is the stuff of dreams.

“I wanted to play at Miami ever since I was a little kid. To be able to go there and play linebacker there – there’s so many great linebackers that have come through there,” Morgan said. “I just wanted to live up to their expectations and be the best that I could be. It all worked out well and I’m just proud I could represent them in the Hall of Fame.”

Morgan – who was recruited out of Broward County’s Taravella High School as a fullback – more than lived up to those expectations once he switched to playing linebacker at Miami.

His 532 career tackles make him the Hurricanes’ all-time leader in that category. He led the team in tackles three of his four years on campus and in 2000, Morgan became the first player in history to sweep college football’s three major defensive awards in a single season when he won the Bednarik, Butkus and Nagurski Awards.

That same season, he was a unanimous First Team All-American and the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. He was a four-year starter at Miami and a three-time captain, becoming the first sophomore in Hurricanes history to earn that distinction.

After his stellar college career, Morgan was drafted 11^th by the Carolina Panthers in the 2001 NFL Draft and it was there that he earned All-Rookie team honors and was a 2004 Pro Bowl selection. He made a Super-Bowl record 18 tackles in the Panthers’ 32-29 loss to the Patriots – though coaches in Carolina tabulated that number even higher.

For more on Morgan click here: https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2021/01/11/morgan-celebrates-hall-of-fame-moment/

Just For Kicks

In 2019, Jose Borregales – who grew up cheering for the Hurricanes and hoping to one day suit up for them – was at FIU, where he broke school records and kicked field goals of 29, 50 and 53 yards in the Panthers’ stunning win over Miami.

Not long after that game, though, Borregales sought a bigger stage on which to showcase his skills. He entered his name into the NCAA’s transfer portal and eventually, found his way to his dream school in Coral Gables.

He wasn’t sure how his new teammates would receive him, not after that fateful night at Marlins Park. So he put his head down, threw himself into every offseason training session and worked to show the Hurricanes he was more than just a special teams player who kept to himself.

“Coming in, you know, obviously, you’ve got to win the locker room. I tried doing that by doing everything with the team and during workouts, doing everything they would do,” Borregales said. “I didn’t want to be the typical specialist who just goes to practice, does his kicks and is there by himself. I tried to get involved with the wide receivers, the linebackers, the linemen, all of those guys. I’d crack jokes with them in the locker room or on the field and sometimes, I think that that was one of the things they liked. Once I started making kicks, they loved it even better. … Ultimately, we became a family.”

His efforts paid off.

Borregales’ work ethic – and his booming leg – won over those new teammates, a fact that was on full display at Louisville during Miami’s second game of the season.

“Jose’s a great player. Every time we cross the 50-[yard line], I know we’re in field goal range,” Hurricanes quarterback D’Eriq King said that night. “That’s a big deal for us as an offense, just knowing on third down I don’t have to force it. I know we have a great kicker, so let’s keep the ball moving, try to cross the 50-yard line, try to get in field goal range and I’m confident he’ll make the kick.”

King’s early-season assessment of Borregales proved correct.

The kicker went on to finish the season as Miami’s leading scorer. He was 20 of 22 on field goals and was a perfect 37 of 37 on point-after attempts.

At season’s end, Borregales was named a first-team All-ACC selection and a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America, the Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

His distinction as a first-team All-American means his name will now hang from the rafters at the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility along with those of his fellow Hurricanes All-Americans.

Thursday, he became the first Hurricane to win the Lou Groza Award and the first Hurricane to win one of college football’s major awards since 2003. Combined with his career at FIU, Borregales is second in the nation among active kickers with 70 career field goals.

Read more here: https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2021/01/08/borregales-leaves-a-legacy-at-the-u/

What We Learned In 2020

What we always knew is that cliches are for losers. Some people use terms like:

"At the end of the day."

"Look at their whole body of work." 

""Take them one game at a time."

"Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships."

Yeah, yeah, yeah...yadda, yadda and whatever.

Beyond that, what we learned during the 2020 college football season is this:

• Manny Diaz and his Miami Hurricanes are not quite ready for prime time football. Transfer QB D'Eriq King saved Manny and his bacon (read: questionable coaching staff) from yet another emabarrasing season all by himself. King alone was good for at least three wins and elevated Miami's record from an almost certain 5-5 to a smooth 8-3. Manny was heard saying" "King me."
• Clemson was a good football team that beat Miami, lost to Notre Dame without their star QB, won the ACC over the Irish but eventually got their a** handed to them by a very motivated and determined Ohio State team. Teaching us that NO team is unbeatable and some can be beaten even when very good and well coached.
• Notre Dame tried to fake it before they could make it but did not succeed. We hate the Golden Domers so good riddance.
• Cincinnati surprised many yet fooled few in their seemingly amamzing, if not historic, run up to the top of the polls. They gave Joe-Ga everything they could handle in their bowl game before the Dawgs eventually wore them down and won by a single point (not couting a meaningless last second safety). Their coach is an awesome guy and significantly better than the guy UM.
• Which brings us to Iowa State and Coastal Carolina. They have really, really good coaches who you have never heard of who do more with less as compared to the crew in Coral Gables. Imagine what they might do with the talent in the 305? The Iowa State motto this season was: "We do not have a 5 star talent, but we have a 5 star culture." Yeah, I got excited too.
• Roll Tide! Alabama has a head coach, forgot his name, who alledgedly is really good at this whole "coaching thing". He loses his top coaches and coordinators almost every year or two but still keeps on winning, recruiting, and winning some more. We would like a genetic clone to come to Miami anytime soon if possible. In God we trust
• COVID-19 is highly contagious. COVID-19 is dangerous and can be deadly. Basically COVID-19 sucks. But if football players can play football in their highly competitive, close contact and contagious environment, then healthy, normal people can go to restaurants, stores, school and work like no big deal. This is a no brainer or as we used to say back in the day: "No shit Sherlock!"
• The Miami Hurricanes do not play well after bye weeks, during bowl games or anytime they have time to plan, prepare and think about what they should actually do during the game. This is a very concerning trend that only SolarCane can explain but alas, he is in limbo in a self imposed time out. We need him back to help us understand this concept.
• The concern going into the 2020 college football season for UM was squarely on their offense. Could King play? Could Lashlee coordinate? Could the OL hold up? Could anyone get open or catch the ball if they did? The answers are YES, maybe, and so-so. The run game was horrible as was the play calling at times, but they made it work.
• The concern at the end of the season was squarely on the defense. Is Baker up to the task? What does Rumph actually do if he can't recruit? Can anybody cover anybody or set the edge? No, we have no clue, no, and no are the answers. The defense got run through like swiss cheese (pun intended) early, often and at times in an embarassing fashion like in the loss to North Carolina a score of 62-26. Ouch!
• Miami's completely "un-special" Special Teams coach, who will not be mentioned by name to protect his identity, completely lucked out by having possibly the two best plyers on the team on his side. Punter Hedley and kicker Borregales were always consistently brilliant even when their coach was not. Answer me this: How many kicks or punts did Miami block in 2020? How many kickoff or punt returns for touchdowns did the Hurricanes have? I will wait, go ahead. 

At the end of the day, and after evaluating their whole body of work, (please forgive me) what we really learned in 2020 is that your Miami Hurricanes have a long way to go to compete with UNC, Notre Dame and Clemson for an ACC title and an even longer journey to compete for a National Championship.

But we are in this for the long haul. I have been going to games since the 1970's, winning championships since the 1980's and suffering since 2004. I guess I will stick around until Manny Diaz wins it all, or until his successor is named.

Either way, we seem to keep learning things every year as we go. 

Sure, 2020 was more complicated than most, but still the same.

Let's go Canes!

Let's Go Bowling: 2020 Edition

Your Miami Hurricanes have one final piece of business in 2020 and that is a game against Oklahoma State in the Cheez-It Bowl today at 5:30 PM. The Canes know a victory at Camping World Stadium will put the finishing touches on a strong season and give the program momentum to build off of in 2021.

“I think it could certainly serve as that effect,” head coach Manny Diaz said. “I think the last time we came to Orlando [for a bowl], and I think our big win against West Virginia really set us up for a great offseason. Where we started 10-0 the following year, so I do think there is a kick-on year. But every year still exists in its own universe as we’ve seen. Obviously, we’re nothing like the team that played in Shreveport a year ago. We would like this to sort of be a bridge to next year, but we know there will be some key additions coming to our team next year.

“There’s a way we want to do things and a way we want to establish the program and we’re trying to sort of knock down these things that have sort of gotten us in the past and a bowl win is staring us right in the face,” Diaz added.

“It’s a big deal for us. [Orlando] was the site of our last bowl victory back in 2016,” Diaz said. “And that was the only bowl victory for a decade prior to that. We’ve been trying to build the program step by step and part of doing that is you kind of try to accomplish things that have been hard to accomplish here over the past few years. Winning a bowl game is right in that category and then to beat a team with the quality that Oklahoma State has will mean a lot as well.”

Miami received some great news a couple of days ago, as redshirt senior quarterback D’Eriq King announced his intentions to return for the 2021 season. The unquestioned leader of the offense and one of the Canes’ four team captains, King believes his team is eager to earn a victory on Tuesday to finish the season on a high note.

“Bowl games are kind of weird in that the team that wants to be there and wants to win will most likely win the game,” King said. “It is very important for us. We have a nasty taste in our mouth from the North Carolina game and I feel like the last two weeks of practice have been good. I hate losing more than anything, so we are trying to go out there and prove a point.”

Redshirt junior safety Bubba Bolden, who is Miami’s leading tackler with 65 stops on the season, believes the Hurricanes defense is looking forward to the opportunity to bounce back from the regular-season finale against North Carolina. While the Canes had a tough showing against the Tar Heels, they have turned that loss into motivation ahead of their game against the Cowboys.

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“We take this very personally and [especially so] after the last game’s performance; that was not the Miami way,” Bolden said. “That was not how we play football, especially on the defensive side. So, we are coming into this game with a lot of fire, I’ll tell you that right now, and we’re going to come out and that’s what’s going to happen.”

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