Hurricanes Alive And Well After Trip To Death Valley

Your Miami Hurricanes and several thousand of their diehard fans walked right throught the heart of the Death Valley on Saturday and walked out alive and well as winners in their big ACC showdown against the Clemson Tigers. 

 
The road victory moved Miami up to 13th in the polls and ahead of in-State rivals Florida (14th) and Florida State  (23rd) for the first time in a long time.

 
Before we move on to next week's showdown with FSU at Sun Life Stadium we want to take one more look back at the Hurricanes beat down of the Tigers and note some of the facts and stats that made the difference in the game.

When the game was over the teams met at mid-field to shake hands in front of the already empty stands that were once packed with 81,000 screaming orange-clad fans.

 
Clemson's hopes and dreams of victory had long since evaporated into the brilliant Fall sky like ballons drifting away to nowhere while Miami's dreams of their first ACC title grew ever closer.

 
Here are some interesting FACTS from the Clemson game:

• Clemson led the ACC in fewest turnovers coming into the game with just two in three games this season. But Miami had six takeways in the game by forcing the Tigers into three fumbles and three interceptions. It was the worst T/O ratio in a game for Clemson since they played GT back in 2008.
• Clemson had held it's opponents to 10 points in the first half of their first three games on 2010.  Miami was having none of that nonsense and scored 27 against the Tigers to take a 13 point lead (27-14) going into half time.
• The road team has won the last four meetings between these two teams.  Miami's win marks the third straight year that the Hurricanes have won their opening ACC game of the season and also is the third straight year they have started 3-1 under randy Shannon.
• This was just the fourth Clemson loss on Homecoming since 1971. Clemson is now 34-4-2 on Homecoming over the last 40 years. Clemson had won eight in a row on homecoming prior to today. Clemson's Head Coach Dabo Swinney had been 7-0 as an assistant and Head Coach on homecoming prior to today.

Some say that STATS are for fools, but we tend to disagree:

• Miami outplayed Clemson in evefry offensive category.  Miami had the advantage in first downs 19-15, rushing yards 171-162 and passing yards 205-149.
• Miami's Damien Berry topped the 100 yard mark on the day with 101 yards while Lamar Miller added 53 of his own on the ground for the Hurricanes.
• Miami's Leonard Hankerson continues his meteoric rise to fame and fortune that started in 2009 and has grown even brighter in 2010.  Hankerson led the Hurricanes with 7 catches for 147 yards and three touchdowns against the Tigers.
• Miami had eight, count 'em EIGHT, tackles for loss against Clemson.  The Hurricanes coninue to lead the Nation in this category thanks to a deep and solid defensive line and some excellent coaching from new DL Coach Rick Petri.

Here some comments and opinions for Hurricane Fans on Canespace:

Question for the team: how does it feel to silence 82,000 fans in death valley?

Posted by: usagainstheworld | October 02, 2010 at 10:34 PM

I thought this game would be a nail biter and it really wasn't except the 4th down play. Miami just had better players across the board. Me thinks Dabo Swinney is also overrated, and benefited greatly from the talent Bowden left him. A smart coach always keeps his team within a field goal in the fourth quarter and does not go for it on fourth and better than a yard.

I really like our chances next week. FSU is a good team but they have some defensive issues. Hopefully this team keeps the pedal to the medal and wins that game. After that, I think the schedule is not too tough until VT at the end. And VT is not who we thought they were before the year began.

Posted by: SJMPARMAN | October 02, 2010 at 10:47 PM

Once again the `Canes ride their outstanding D to another impressive victory. The D is nasty, fast and fierce.  It's not going to be the O that gets the `Canes to the ACC Championship game, it will be that gruesome D.  Big Daddy Fortson is really coming into his own this year!

Posted by: Sebastian57 | October 02, 2010 at 11:24 PM

The key for the Canes is execution and the elimination of mistakes. That is why these Canes cannot be complacent - for some games they will need style points to continue to move up the polls, and the only way the Canes can do that is to work hard and get that execution on the little things done right.

Posted by: WindyCane1 | October 03, 2010 at 09:17 AM

Anyone see this coming 5 weeks ago? Our biggest concern is our offense, specifically our WR's? And Jacory? Guess the LB situation is not as bad as we thought it might be and the O is not as strong as we knew it would be. If our offense starts to gel and come together we have a scary good team. Eliminate the penalties, picks, and drops and we are a really good team. All seems mental to me.

Posted by: 411 | October 03, 2010 at 09:35 AM

-

Solar, SOUP, Hershey, OCALA...We had a blast. Glad you enjoyed the tailgate. It's good to finaly meet you guys. Hope to do it again.  Great game for the Canes. Lots of room for improvement, but I think we are improving every game. If we continue to do that, it will be a great season.

WE GOT SOME CANES OVER HERE.......

Posted by: Aces & Canes | October 03, 2010 at 12:35 PM

Our defense is the real deal this season however winning our remaining games is possible only if we can run the ball. I have resigned myself to the fact Jacory lacks poise and is going to make bad decisons which results in turnovers. I am nervous as hell when he drops back to throw a pass. In closing I am convinced the officials nationwide have made it their mantra to punish the U for our brash behavior of the 80's and 90's. It seemed as if every freaking play was under review and they were saying we are going to make sure this game stays close. The officials during the Pitt game were no better.

Posted by: canesteeler | October 03, 2010 at 10:06 AM

Comments

[DallasTX Cane]

FSU's stats are a-fixin to take a beatn come Sat.

They might be on the right track, but they're a couple of years behind us - although they didnt fall quite as far IMHO.

[macjones]

For U'all Miami rowdies who ' doubt ' the computer variable of the B.C.S. formula. Bloody think again!

For instance, Sagarin's currently has yoUr Hurricanes at No. 10, and has Team Shannon with the No. 20 SOS.

By the way, I believe there are ' six ' various computers used by the B.C.S.

Moral of the yap. I take the computer variable over the relatively biased human element of both the USATODAY/ESPN Coaches and Harris polls.

Always have and always will!

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin

[solarcane]

"For all those worried about the health of Jacory Harris, players said after this morning's practice not to worry.

"He's throwing the ball pretty good," WR Leonard Hankerson said."

Canez1 thanks,

just watched that clip of Jacory throwing today and he looks just like he always does.

[solarcane]

mac
I'm with you.

The coaches and AP are in the " prove it to me" mode with their assesments of Miami.
We would have to be undefeated and be averaging around 45 points a game to climb into the top 5 I think.

[Ohio_Cane]

The coaches and AP are in the " prove it to me" mode with their assesments of Miami.
We would have to be undefeated and be averaging around 45 points a game to climb into the top 5 I think.

Posted by: solarcane | October 05, 2010 at 03:24 PM

--------------------------------------------

Well, we need to run the table then, don't we? If that doesn't put us into the top 5, it will for next year in the pre-season polls, then they'll have no way of keeping us out! =)

[USAFCane]

2 questions for those of you smarter than me.

1. Will henderson go to left tackle next year after Franklin leaves?

2. What's the difference on the D? Every area appears improved, but the corners have been incredible of late

[solarcane]

Ohio c4l,

I hear ya.
We have everything we need to end up golden if we play to our capabilities.

[DallasTX Cane]

Posted by: macjones | October 05, 2010 at 03:17 PM

I think the world's flipped upside down. Whats the deal with MACJONES being the voice of reason and sensibility?!? Not to mention, basically understandable these days. WTF?? LOL

Love ya MAC. And, agree with U.

There's plenty of OPINION to go around here, but sometimes precious little FACT. Esp when the same poster bitches bout the bias against the CANES, then bitches bout the computers using "stats" to rank teams. Makes me say, "well then, which is it??"...

AP & Coaches polls are too dependent on pre-season rankings to be worth a dam until Week 6 - 1/2 way thru the season. Gee, thats about the same time as the BCS 1st comes out...when there's been enough ball played for a decent ranking to be developed and for the scheduling differences to even out.

Our CANES will do just fine in all the polls...just keep winning. Also, as distastful as it might be...root for OSU to keep winning, at least until the very end of the season. The better OSU plays, the better we look to voters AND computers alike.

[macjones]

Thanks solarcane and DallasTXCane.

I guess, there are times I can be quite sane. At least in a relative way. No. LMAO

[DZ8]

.

[DallasTX Cane]

2 questions for those of you smarter than me.

1. Will henderson go to left tackle next year after Franklin leaves?

2. What's the difference on the D? Every area appears improved, but the corners have been incredible of late

Posted by: USAFCane | October 05, 2010 at 03:33 PM

I'll never claim to be smarter than anyone USAF (well...there might be a few unlucky souls out there); altho I did join the NAVY back in the day instead of the USAF! Ok, that may have proved that U are smarter.

1. IMO, yes. LT is the "money" position on the OL and The League makes decent LTs rich men. Great LTs become VERY rich men. There's a good reason why. Having a dominant LT for 2-3 years is a wonderful place to be for any offense/OC/QB.

2. IMO there are several answers to this question. a) We're healthy right now. We had a lot of injuries last season resulting in a thin DL. b) Petri. Combined with a healthy DL the addition of Coach Petri has resulted in MUCH improved DL play = pressure on the QB. Opposing QBs have less time to throw = less time the DBs have to cover. c) Experience and Maturation of the studs that came in during 07-08. we're more experienced and physically stronger. we've been "around the block". d) We seem to have "gel'd" as a defense. meaning each guy trusts his teammates to do their job. So, no single player feels like he has to try to do everything. that means better concentration by each player on his specific responsibility on each specific play which = fewer mistakes, being in proper position, etc.

[SOUP]

NEW BLOG IS UP!