Too Painful To Watch

This team. This season. This game.

They are all just too painful to watch.

Just when you thought it was safe to believe that your Miami Hurricanes would almost definitely, certainly and easily win an ACC game late in the season against an overmatched opponent, become bowl eligible and win the Coastal Division for the first time in history you were left to wonder:

"What the hell just happened?"

Yesterday in Charlottesville Miami head coach Al Golden and his assistant coaches, to put it simply, failed at their job descriptions.

The highly maligned swiss cheese UM defense, for lack of a better description, was in a word, indefensible.

The highly praised Hurricane offense scored lots of points but could not seal the deal with a simple first down when it mattered most in the final minutes.

This team, in need of their biggest win in over five years, just could not get it done. They lost and in the end that is all that really matters. Miami could not win a game they needed so desperately that at least a few of their fans (including me) were actually on their knees praying, begging and shouting for some sort of divine intervention to get the win.

Yet once again it was to no avail. Even divine intervention wasn't enough to help this Hurricane team win a game it should have won as many fans' hopes, dreams and prayers went unanswered on this Saturday in November.

The loss left Miami fans asking more questions than they started the game with and no answers in sight. Whatever the questions you found yourself asking the reality is that for hard core 'Canes fans it has been a difficult period of time over the last 10 years and yesterday did not make it easier or better. In fact it made it worse, much worse.

After Miami went three and out and punted to Virginia with about three minutes left the game was beginning to become too painful to watch.

Around 90% of Hurricane fans apparently knew what was now seemingly inevitable. Miami's swiss cheese defense would somehow give up the winning score and the Hurricanes would lose the game they so desparately needed to win.

Still, at that point I remained defiant and as one of the 10% who believed that UM could, and would, still win this game. They had to; losing was simply not acceptable and they simply had to win. 

With just over a two minutes left I stood there with my heart pounding, adrenaline racing through my veins while cheering and pleading with the Hurricane defense to stop the Cavaliers just this one time.

With under two minutes to go I literally got down on my knees and prayed. I shamelessly begged each of the UM defensive players to make a play and groveled with the UM coaches to please do something, anything, to make a call that would work.

With under a minute left and the Cavaliers now in scoring position in Miami's red zone I turned off the television and left my house to go to the "Sunset and Symphony" concert at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales.

I could not take any more suffering and had yelled and prayed my last.

I needed to see (and hear) something beautiful.

I just knew that the ending of this game was going to be too painful to watch.

Comments

[pbcfrcane13]

BTW two horrible PI calls against UM yesterday which cost us 14 points!

[pbcfrcane13]

Can it just Feb already so we can start complaing about recruiting and at least have an idea about what were gettign hit with from the NCAA! Im with you can not take this heartbreak anymore

From UNC, to ND, to FSU, to yesteday! My liver and heart need this season to end.

[nemo2002]

This is like the 8th season in the row that really sucks for the canes.
I think I am in the final stage of grief.

[86Cane]

My liver and heart need this season to end.

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | November 11, 2012 at 11:27 AM

I thought I was seriously going to have a heart attack yesterday at the end of the game. No literally and seriously.

I do know this: The liver is evil and it must die. Let's get to work on that next week against USF!

[8th Man in the Box]

This blog is on point..nothing like that empty feel. I for one began questioning if we were actually making progress. We suck at the simple things. I haven't seen much from this team ,as this season progressed, that made me believe we're ready to turn the corner next year. Evening if we good good D-linemen, we'd probably be another year away. I think Dorsett's class will be seniors if that happens.

I'm also wondering if Olsen is good enough to really push Morris next season. I like Morris but he seems to always miss the easy throws.

PARDON MY FRUSTRATION!!

[86Cane]

The Miami Hurricanes’ home finale Nov. 17 vs. USF will be televised live at 3 p.m. ET on Sun Sports in Florida, the Atlantic Coast Conference office announced Sunday.

The game will also be available on FOX Sports Florida, FOX Sports South, FOX Sports Carolinas, Comcast Sports Net Mid Atlantic and New England Sports Networks as well as on Watch ESPN. Additional regional sports network affiliates could be announced leading up to next Saturday’s contest.

Miami (5-5, 4-3 ACC) is tied atop the ACC Coastal Division standings with Georgia Tech. The Hurricanes are coming off a heartbreaking 41-40 loss to Virginia in which freshman Duke Johnson accumulated a school-record 373 all-purpose yards and a career-high 155 rushing yards.

[86Cane]

Bok Tower Gardens (also known as Bok Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower) is a botanical garden and bird sanctuary, located north of Lake Wales, Florida, United States. It consists of a 250-acre (1 k2) garden, the 205-foot (62 m) tall Singing Tower with its carillon bells, Pine Ridge Trail, Pinewood Estate, and a visitor center. The tower is built upon Iron Mountain, one of the highest points of peninsular Florida, estimated to be 295 feet (90 m) above sea level.[4] It is a National Historic Landmark that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[pbcfrcane13]

Ill be there at the USF game to root on my Canes even if they are just breaking my heart over and over again! Thats what we true canes fans do we complain and bitch, but we support our team no matter what!

Btw what is the real chance that Coach Golden will ever fire coach D if and when that time comes. Lets say the d doestn get any better next year.....or is this a Bobby Bowden Mick Andrew thing were he wont ever fire him. Ah really can we just have next season here already lol!

[86Cane]

The Singing Tower is the centerpiece of the gardens. The tower was built at the highest elevation of the site, south of a reflection pool that allows the water to reflect its full image. A 60-bell carillon (cast by Taylor[7]) set within the 205-foot (62 m) tall, Gothic Revival and Art Deco tower that was designed by architect Milton B. Medary. Construction on the tower began in 1927 and was completed for the dedication of the gardens in 1929, when it was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge. The tower is 51 feet (16 m) square at its base, changing form at 150 feet (46 m) high to an octagon with 37 feet (11 m) sides that include sculptures designed by Lee Lawrie. The tower is surrounded by a 15-foot (4.6 m) moat that serves as a Koi pond. It is built of pink Etowah marble and gray Creole marble, mined in Tate, Georgia, and Florida native coquina stone, from Daytona Beach, Florida.

[86Cane]

Ill be there at the USF game to root on my Canes even if they are just breaking my heart over and over again! Thats what we true canes fans do we complain and bitch, but we support our team no matter what!

Posted by: pbcfrcane13 | November 11, 2012 at 12:00 PM

There IT is right there.

I'll be there too. This time can I order my vodka IV in advance? LOL

[Hassan]

Reposted from other blog

We got 1 DT now, that is something. We got 3 good LB but they never play 100% at the same time. We got 1 safety and might have another but they have never played together much. Our DE's will be stronger and guys like McCord would be bigger and much better next year, you have to think guys like Hoiett and Williams will do something by next year.

The Scheme sucks, it is not our style and D nofrio has never been a top coach hence why he was at Temple. we should replace him but we wont barring him looking real really bad in these next two games.

The players are small and inexperienced, hey we have "talent' these guys could have played anywhere except for a couple of our 2 star guys. But if you play alabama's freshman 60 snaps a game they would look small and lost too. Next year we WILL LOOK BIGGER, we WILL HAVE EXPERIENCE. we can only go UP from here. Golden will get it done, the road is not pretty it is not an expressway but he is on the road and he will get it done.

With all I said we are 5-5 and even with the exact same team but a sophomore Duke Johnson instead of a Freshman Duke we would be about 7-3 right now and almost ranked and a lock to be acc champs. Playing these young guns will pay off next year. Support this team like they are your own kids. We are not the Harlem Globetrotters but we are not the Washington Generals either.......

Guys for all the talk about having crappy temple coaches, having a crappy stadium, having a crappy fan base, not having horses to win the race. On the bright side the school is still in SFLA and that was the only key element in each of the 5 titles. The Championship talent still plays HS ball in SFLA, as long as that is the case we have a chance to be elite and build a program. We all wanted out team to go from 6-6 a top 75 team to top 5 in one year. the reality is what Randy left behind was a team with some talented individuals but not a TEAM. the roster was a mess, Golden probably could have got more studs overall on this team but he had to address certain things.

*He had to get bother a kicker and a punter in one year, his first year at that.

* He had to recruit 7 WR because we did not even have enough to run practice. Had we had normal depth and he only needed 2-3 guys there he would have had 4-5 spots to get top studs all around. When you recruit 7 guys in ONE YEAR at the same position you are not getting a top 100 guy or even top 10 guy at that position with your 5th,6th and 7th WR. When you only take 2-3 in one year you have a chance to shoot for the top 100 guys and top 10 in their positions for each of those top 2-3 guys. The roster is finally gaining symmetry but because Golden had to address these issues it does not have top talent through out. There is a big drop off the the top level guys and their back ups. Each each this will be addressed and as long as we do not have suspensions and injuries like these last two years we can fight this. These issues happened at numerous positions QB,WR,CB,LB

I can write a thesis about this team and our issues but Bottom line the sky is never falling as long as this team has that U on their helmet and they play football in Dade County where the best HS players in the Nation play. All it takes it a couple of kids and a couple of bounces of a football to make your year special. Ask the Gators they are 9-1 and the worst 9-1 team I ever saw. a couple of bounces from being 7-3 or worst. The organization and support issues are being fixed by Golden it takes time to fix and 85 man roster and years of a lazy culture. Next year with a SR QB who will be better after spring, Bigger better DL, 16 guys who RS this year, our ST our depth our entire team will be better. Our Senior's next year will be better and Juniors too. We are close have faith.

By the way, Porter gets more penetration up the middle then Ron Jeremy in Vegas. So why does Coach D have him drop into coverage on the game winning TD play allowing their QB to step into his throw and place that ball in the endzone?

EJ missing practice? hmmm

[canesteeler]

Call me whatever you want but if DNO is not fired after the season I will be giving up the season tickets I have had for the past 20 seasons. I can no longer watch my team lose to inferior teams because a lack of coaching!

[canesteeler]

Hassan aside from youth coaching is still an issue and it has been that way at the U since Butch took off.

[j.w.]

Hassan, good post. I'm not on board with a lot of your points, but I would rather read that than something I would write today.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Well since I'm not a fan, I'm an alumni, this is very carthitic to post;

Let's see, do I want to spend $40 bucks on a pair of tickets, $220 on two nights in a hotel, $80 on gas, $100 at least on meals, and another $20 on beer at the minimum to watch some total turd laying by D'No for the 19th time out of 23 games, this time against a team playing with its backup QB and a chance to stay bowl eligible by having Miami crap the bed at home again?

No. I've seen enough weak garbage on display from the mutants from Philly. Fire D'No now and fear the lie. No Gatorade baths for anybody, especially for stopping a high school team offense. Field rushed for being beaten to send you back to .500 and staying alive in the worst division in college football, pathetic.

On the other hand, Duke Johnson is worth the price of admission when he goes off. But not the price of attendance if he doesn't.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Great posts by all. See you at Sun Life 86 and PBC and the rest of the Canespace fam. Let's win these last two games and finish 7-5 and whatever happens after that is okay with me. Hassan epic take on the Ron Jeremy penetration analogy lol.

[canezilla]

SO TIRED OF IT. WE SHOULD OF LOST 1 GAME THIS YEAR AND THAT WAS TO K-STATE. NO EXCUSES ABOUT YOUNG TEAM. A FRESHMAN WENT INTO BAMA LAST NIGHT AND BEAT THE NUMBER 1 TEAM. THE GATORS HAVE A HORRIBLE OFFENSE BUT GREAT D AND ARE #6. EDDIE JOHNSON LOST ALL RESPECT FOR U. FREE RIDE TO A UNIVERSITY THAT'S 50G'S A YEAR AND ITS THE 10TH WEEK IN AND U BREAK RULES?SELFISH AHOLE!!!!!I SWEAR IF WE DON'T BEAT USF. HEADS BETTER ROLL!!! WE HAVE SO MUCH TALENT WE SHOULD OF KILLED UVA. IF DUKE WASN'T PLAYING WHAT THE FUK WOULD OF HAPPEN???IM OUT BISHES

[pbcfrcane13]

I agree with all the people who say NoD should go and promote Barrow F it at this point he can't be worse.

I do think that our D was terrible because we were missing our 3 best D players....but the problem I have is that we are playing the same dsince game one and we are giving up points and yards at a record pace. You have to try something different dont you! It cant get worse so why keep getting beat. Your playing a QB who is not good and you font blitz him and you let him pick you apart CHANGE IT UP NOD!!!!

[WWIN]

Old Skool that is a good plan. It's funny - when we win a couple of games everyone gets excited and thinks "there are teams we should beat". Past history and this includes Shannon and Coker's last couple of years should really tell us that right now there are not really any "teams we should beat". And Hassan is right - that is alot of defenders to be off the roster. We finish this season 7-5, I will be ok with that as I really didn't t hink we would be in the hunt for anything big. Next year I want better though.

Happy Sunday party people and GO CANES

Posted by: CGNC | November 11, 2012 at 07:55 AM

Good post

[Jack]

This team must finish 7-5!

Finish strong Canes!!!

[WWIN]

WHAT I DON'T GET

Everybody knows we don't have any depth on defense, most of our linebackers can hula hoop wit a cheerio, and are young WITHOUT its best 3 players, what did you expect.

FACTS;
PERRYMAN = MIND
JOHNSON = HEART
BUSH = SOUL

Those are our mind, heart, and soul of our defense that we needed yesterday. That's like the Heat without Wade, James, and Bosh. What would the Heat be without those three?? Its also a thing called CHEMISTRY that was thrown out the window yesterday. Majority of y'all didn't think we would win this many games and now you still mad??.

Have y'all ever heard of a team getting hot or on a roll?? Nobody would have thought virginia's record would be what it is today before the season started and losses don't always indicate how good a team is. I believe the Giants lost 6 games before they won their super bowls when they got hot. Yes Virginia averaged 21pts a game but after the bye they scored 33 on nc state and held them to 6. A lot of teams are new teams after a bye week.

Ye of little faith. Golden is on the right road but sometimes you come across pot holes. He is trying to build a team for next year not today. Sometimes you got to take a LOSS to get a GAIN, we lost the game but we won team discipline. If you think this current team is built to withstand losing its best three defensive players you are kidding yourself.

[Terrance Sullivan]

Our Canes have to win out to at least salvage the season at 7-5. Not happy by any stretch. Our Canes started out 4-1 in the first 5 games only to go 1-4 the last 5 games. I think all of us is numb right now. We have a long ways to go until we are an elite program again. We are mediocre at best. I will just drown my sorrows in Sam Adams Winter Lager.

[Al]

Barrow is the worst LB coach ever at UM. He should only recruit. Other than Kehoe, the rest of the staff should get the hell out of Miami. Starting with Golden. He sucks. We should fear the Lie.

[86Cane]

On the other hand, Duke Johnson is worth the price of admission when he goes off. But not the price of attendance if he doesn't.

Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | November 11, 2012 at 01:08 PM

Hey U got my swag bag, U better show up!

[j.w.]

Wllie, the issue is UVA flat out Sucks. There is zero excuse for letting a team like that walk all over you. Golden lost the benefit of the doubt with me yesterday. I judge on what I see, and that easily was the worst loss I be seen since Shannon's last game.

[86Cane]

We have a long ways to go until we are an elite program again.

Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | November 11, 2012 at 02:59 PM

Elite? Now U are talking ELITE???

Next U'll be talkin 'bout PRACTICE!

I don't think anybody thought we would be an "elite" team but 9-3 was was very doable and nowhere close to earning an elite status. Bottom Line:

Losing to UNC and UVA is UNACCEPTABLE.

[Al]

I could care less if we win the rest of the games. Next year it will be the same shit! We need change. Real change.

[86Cane]

A lot of teams are new teams after a bye week.

Posted by: Willie Will in Nashville | November 11, 2012 at 02:56 PM

Really? Then why aren't we?

[pbcfrcane13]

Btw just wondering for all you people who want change not sure if you mean Golden, but let me ask you this and would love to hear some real answers....who the hell do you think is going to take this job in the state it is right now about to get hit with NCAA sanctions. Nobody wanted the job before the sanctions whos going to want it now?

[pbcfrcane13]

I know maybe a young and up and coming HC from a small school that is playing really well.......Oh wait that was Golden.

[j.w.]

I don't know, pbcf, really I don't know. All I know is if Golden bolts it wouldn't be the worst thing for UM.

[WWIN]

Really? Then why aren't we?

Posted by: 86Cane | November 11, 2012 at 03:13 PM

What are the Heat without Wade, James, and Bosh????

[mi@mic@ne]

So this year we are not suppose to win most of our games unless of course we play a perfect game... which isnt what we should always do ...because we have players who are recruited by sec and acc but they are not mature enough to always be in position.. so if we dont play according to what we should be playing its not the coaches fault that the players are out of position but its because the players are young and they dont know any better so its ok to lose cause next year they are gonna be a year older.

So next year non of the first year freshman are gonna play because they are always out of position but our second year guys should almost play a perfect game but maybe if we lose next year its because they only have one year and they still are learning the scheme.. so we have a good reason to lose until they become juniors. So if we have a freshman that is a good player and he gets some playing time its ok if we lose because he is out of position and we got to wait until hes a junior.. and on an on and on. This is the way losers keep losing.

[pbcfrcane13]

So if Golden left all your going to do is take another gamble on another unproven coach and hope he works out. Golden so far as we can see can recruit....now its about seeing if he can develop his talent which we will find out IMO next year. Btw only way Golden leaves is if he choices to leave....10 year contract hes not getting fired.

[WWIN]

j.w.

Virginia's record sucks, I don't think their team sucks. I think they have a pretty good coach.

[86Cane]

pbc...I am NOT one of the ones calling for Golden's head. I like him and see him as a program builder with a plan and a vision. He gets 4 or 5 years just like any coach deserves.

I just am complaining that the team's performance has not been acceptable during two (or more?) games this season. I was OK with losing to top 10 teams KSU, FSU and ND. We are not a top 10 team right now, everybody knows that.

I am not OK with getting blown out in ANY game EVER. Just take your beating if U must, keep it close and play run out the clock or just go balls to the wall and die fighting. We did neither in those games and played half azz and I personally told Chris Freet that too.

KSU will likely play for the BCS Title. But Pitt kept it close and should have beaten ND. FSU lost to NCST. Those games were winnable beyond a doubt but even that I can let slide for 2012.

I cannot let losing to teams that we should beat like UNC and UVA with the ACC Coastal title on the line. No way, no how.

[j.w.]

Willie, we both saw their defense get shredded yesterday. Until 5 minutes left in the game, anyway. I've seen their offense struggle against pretty much every team that doesn't have a U on their helmet. I just disagree with you on this one. I don't have an opinion on their coach, he looks like he's the best coach in the country in the two games he's played vs. Golden, but his record against everyone else isn't very good.

[WWIN]

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Maybe we tried to lose yesterday. That way we have no pressure on declining the acccg. If shalala declined the acccg everybody would be calling for her head

[pbcfrcane13]

86 I agree with you, you can not lose to UNC at home, but that one Im not so annoyed about because UNC is pretty damn good and we lost our QB in the 4th quater....yes yesterday was so heart breaking a game if you want to build a program you should have won and if things dont change soon I do believe a change will be needed but not at HC.

The one thing we need to becareful is falling back into the trap we did at the end of Cokers era and all of Shannons era of changing coached every year and not letting young kids learn a system and master it.

[86Cane]

And U want to know something else?

D'No and his scheme is ruining out top recruit (besides Duke) and 5* CB Tracy Howard. Making him play in that soft azz zone is completly opposite of his skill set.

Did you see the play near the end of the game where he was playing 1:1 and tight coverage and made the aggressive play by knocking the ball away at the 5 yard line?

That is the type of defense what TH3 should be playing in all the time. No but D'No says out loud "In our defensive scheme we don't have a shut down corner position."

WTF?

[86Cane]

Ah, Willie breaking out the old conspiracy theory angle? NICE!

[pbcfrcane13]

So how early do the fre NoD chants start next week?

[pbcfrcane13]

If I was a reported today on the Conf call or on Tuesday I would hammer Golden about the D play calling and I would make sure I have stats about how when they play man the % of yard for play....against when they play drop back zone.

[Terrance Sullivan]

86 I agree at the start of the season I had us going either 8-4 or 9-3. U are correct losing to UNC an UVA is unacceptable and Golden should get the 4-5 years to get this program back at least to a very good program.

[WWIN]

j.w.,

our offense is good enough to shred anybody when we are rolling. The things you said are true but other things factor into it. I don't think it's fair to judge a team without their top three starters and then the offense lost a starter for the year. You never know how that effects a teams psyche. We don't know if players were mad about the suspensions or not, we don't know what goes on behind closed doors. Some players might have been mad at golden for suspending the players, so the team could have been divided yesterday. That's probably why golden said that they needed to stick together after the game yesterday

[2002nemo]

Virginia's record sucks, I don't think their team sucks. I think they have a pretty good coach.

Posted by: Willie Will in Nashville | November 11, 2012 at 03:29 PM

MIAMI's record _________, I don't think the team __________. I think we have a pretty __________ coach.

FILL IN THE BLANKS

[Terrance Sullivan]

86 yes I sure saw that D'No should go. Worst bs scheme ever. Our fans at Sun Life on Saturday should start Fire D'No at start of the game. We are all pissed and changes have to be made.

[86Cane]

Dolphins lose 37-3 to Titans at Sun Life.

Maybe the place is cursed? LOL

[mi@mic@ne]

Ive seen the laid back acid spill on our d a certain times of the game. Yesterday was one example. You know what the opponent thinks of our d schemes when they attack the middle of the field all day long. There is not much fear of our d backs. Their first drive was successful passing rite down our throats in the middle of the field. Gawd that is so humbling to us old U guys. Thats like slapping us around kicking us in the belly.

That laid back defense does not produce backs that cover a receiver ..as a cardinal rule ...to be beat is to let the receiver get a step where the d back should be on his back shoulder all game long. But guys are not even within two steps on that lazifare zone. This is why we do not have corners that play to shut the receiver down knowing the cardinal rule. Who cares about being in the rite zone if the receiver has no one on his back shoulder.

We let their receivers get behind us twice in the endzone because our backs are taught to get to a spot in the zone instead of being on their back shoulders.

[j.w.]

Willie, I appreciate your perspective, but if that's the case, does that mean U Tough was a failure? I really do hope your point is correct, that the team is a lot closer to where we want to be than I think, and that was ailing us is something that can be fixed quickly.