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

[mi@mic@ne]

Why do you think they threw the last two touchdown passes in the back of the endzone? Because they watch film too. Hello...

[mi@mic@ne]

you know if you let a receiver behind you .. your busted.. weve been doing this on a regular basis in this d since ive been watching.. thats not hard to correct but obviously since its happening and we are losing and highschool coaches do a better job coaching covering a receiver you want to call someone a moron.

[mi@mic@ne]

I hate losing like this..im pissed.. got to go for now

[pbcfrcane13]

miamicane I'm with you buddy! Damn you ESPN for making so many channels lol

[Old Skool]

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.

Good post Soup

[AlpharettaCane]

I don't care if we lose in the last 6 seconds; I don't care if UVA beats us 3-4 times in a row; I don't care if our D gives up 500+ yards / game.

What I do care about is losing by sitting back and getting picked apart and dying a slow death.

No pressure = no wins.

If we're going to go down,at least go down fighting.

[Old Skool]

The game was there to be had.

We were up. We were positioned to win, but no.

Another case of victorious interruptus

[pbcfrcane13]

Couldnt agree more I would rather let our guys get bet one on one let them try to compete with their speed and talent instead of their brains. Let them play ball NOD!!!!!! Im starting to really not like him as a coach!

[Da U N Houston]

Any word on EJ44 and Scott?

[Old Skool]

In other words, it was a scheme defeat rather than a talent defeat

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Willie, your lady is so lucky, you've obviously treated her to the longest honeymoon in recorded human history, well except for this one you're spending with D'No, but still, impressive man!

[pbcfrcane13]

LMAO OGV

[Terrance Sullivan]

OGV you called it man with D'No you have long said that he was god awful. U were spot on.

[pbcfrcane13]

So really if USF gets the ball frst and scores on the opening drive fire NoD chants start? lol ah what a season.

[canezilla]

FUK EDDIE JOHNSON ,SELFISH CLOWN. DON'T CARE ABOUT HIM ANYMORE . TRANSFER TO UCF OR FIU. GETS NO RESPECT FROM ME. JUST LEAVE .U KILLED US YESTERDAY. U HAVE NO IDEA WHAT U HAVE RIGHT NOW. FUK U!!!!!!!

[texican cane]

Who compared DP EJ and Bush being out to the ravens not having #52, #20 and suggs ...you are going to compare replacing the greatest mlb and maybe safety the nfl has seen to some freshmen or soph's on a defense that wasn't very good with those 3?
Come on.

[Montreal-Cane]

Great article Soup. This is really how i felt yesterday. Add to my frustration the three jerks who were suspended just before the game...

From Al Golden: "It’s hard because, as I say to the team all the time, you’re sitting in a room with 110 guys and 107 of them are doing everything right, Golden said. And it’s two or three guys who screw up and you’re in there yelling at the whole team. We have to make sure don’t drain everyone else’s energy because we have two or three guys not doing what they need to do."

[pbcfrcane13]

I got a crazy idea......why not have the canes play in FIUS staduim? help them build that staduim up and make it to what we need to play in? Crazy....but maybe not so crazy!

[86Cane]

The news is NOT good inside the locker room.

That is all.

[pbcfrcane13]

wow you leave us with that lol not cool!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Pbc ar least that stadium would be sold out if that scenario happens lol.

[pbcfrcane13]

Yea it would and we can help build it to fit what we need like the OB! and FIU could use the money im sure

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Posted by: 86Cane | November 11, 2012 at 05:55 PM

D@mn right its not. Al Golden needs to stop fooling himself. His friend cant coach. Someone HAS to announce Mark D'Onofrio will not be back next year. His scheme is PROVEN horse sh*t. If the board or Donna needs to step in then do so. This has become competely unacceptable. A complete embarrassment. Shameful. How long will they let 1 man cost us games? Fire that noncoach right F*cking now! Right now! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

[Old Skool]

The locker room was probably a battle royal

That flight back must have been funeral quiet.

Karl Rove called D'No to commiserate

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Seriously this is going to give me an aneurysm.

[CaneRock]

The news is NOT good inside the locker room.

That is all.

Posted by: 86Cane | November 11, 2012 at 05:55 PM

Yeah, with the recent suspensions, rumors of fights, yesterday's outcome, and AG's "splinter" comments, I figure the morale is down right now.

[86Cane]

FROM THE SUN-SENTINEL BUT ONLY 1/4 THE STORY:

"I don't want to get into it," Golden said. "It's football related for sure. I think we'll just leave it at that. There's a lot of kids who poured their hearts out in that game and it's disappointing that we were without their services."

Special teams player Gabe Terry was also left home a week after blocking a punt against Virginia Tech. It was a football-related matter.
"Not doing what he needs to do to prepare and help us win," was Golden's reason.

Having these issues so deep into the season was especially distressing to the coach.

“It’s hard because, as I say to the team all the time, you’re sitting in a room with 110 guys and 107 of them are doing everything right,” Golden said. “And it’s two or three guys who screw up and you’re in there yelling at the whole team. We have to make sure don’t drain everyone else’s energy because we have two or three guys not doing what they need to do.”

In terms of injuries, Golden said linebacker Denzel Perryman would be listed as "probable" for Saturday's game if asked six days in advance. Safety Deon Bush would be "doubtful," Golden said as it's still too soon to tell with the shoulder stinger injury suffered against Virginia Tech.

[86Cane]

CGNC knows the REAL inside story, but I'll leave it up to her to post what she thinks is appropriate here.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

We are ranked #115 in total defense. Mark D'Onofrio absolutely must be fired. Call up Winston Moss or Gregg Williams.

[laquinton]

Yeah. Im over d'no also. if al wants to be at the university of miami he needs to.figure that his bff,best man at his wedding doesnt need to be a coach here. look at the scheme... tracy howard arguing with him... playing every player ? for what... You can pick apart his defense so simply. rettig looked like brady out their.. klein was running over and through his zone.. bcc had 250 yards rushing.. and now rocco had a wonderful game. we need a new coach d'no isnt the answer.. eff stability. i love coach golden and what he stands for and his approach to the game and how he connects with players but all but barrow they should all take a hike. this is the university of miami teams should and still are mirroring the championship defenses. its very sad week in and week out to see miami get beat by teams that shouldn't want to come out to.the field. ugh this fall from grace isnt slowing down. look at Louisville..la tech..hell k state with snyder... notre dame is #2.. wtf tamu with a first year head coach in sumlin and a rshirt qb just beat all word bama in alabama .... its just sad

[laquinton]

i bet the locker room is divided. the sophomore and freshman came to turn um around and play their game of football not to be restricted and put on a leash. damn

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Posted by: laquinton | November 11, 2012 at 06:18 PM

I'm not sure if everyone but Barrow needs to be fired on D. Its the scheme that is garbage so its hard to judge any one position coach. I will say let Gregg Williams bring in whomever he wants though.

[laquinton]

greg williams lol nahhh. winston is getting a head coaching job

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

I dont think Winston Moss is getting a HC job anytime soon. He hasnt even proven himself as a coordinator yet. Dom Capers is the DC up in Green Bay. Maybe he is waiting for him to retire so he can take over? Maybe he is waiting for an NFL DC job? Gregg Williams would be an instant factor. He is a proven NFL DC that is one of the best in the game. He loves to blitz. He would do well with the type of players we have.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Plus Gregg Williams is suspended indefinately by the NFL. College football would be a logical step if he isnt reinstated. I know we would take some flak hiring the bounty-gate guy but we would start playing great D all of next year.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Williams is probably wanting to return to the NFL, so he is waiting it out. If I were on the board of trustees I would be pressuring Donna like crazy. Make him one of the highest paid DCs in all of college football.

[86Cane]

wtf tamu with a first year head coach in sumlin and a rshirt qb just beat all word bama in alabama .... its just sad

Posted by: laquinton | November 11, 2012 at 06:18 PM

YUP

[CGNC]

Another case of victorious interruptus

Posted by: Old Skool | November 11, 2012 at 04:30 PM

BRILLIANT! Sounds like some kind of colitis though- aaarrgggggg

[86Cane]

I asked for Winston Moss BEFORE Golden was hired. If he comes in as DC I would be thrilled! Prolly not gonna happen.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

SOUP, I sent you an email.

At what point are we the worst D in UM history? Have we passed that point yet? Whats the record for sh*tty defenses here?

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

Because we must be pretty close.

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

I'm out. Gotta go get my free dinner at Olive Garden. You know that's right. Thanks to all who have served or are serving. GO NAVY!

[Account Deleted]

Ya gotta keep it real. We may be fans, but no sense losing perspective.

At best this a 7-5 team playing in a weak conference. All teams have injuries week to week, so no excuses about players missing a game. It's next man in. The winning teams get it done, the losers have stories to tell.

I never figured we had the talent to go much better than 6-6. Add in the poor coaching esp on D and even that becomes a stretch.

Good news, we've got Duke and Morris and a pretty good O coming back next season. Bad news, while the D may get better it will still not be very good. Just too many spots to fill and no depth behind the starters.

[orange 'n green in the vein]

T. Sully, believe me when I tell you that I take no pride in trying to let you know these Temple guys didn't deserve their spot based off of their history and tactics. I'm just hoping, but quickly losing hope, that Al's going to wake the hell up and get a real coach who doesn't subscribe to the Paterno/Sandusky mentality on defense of letting the other team beat themselves by not executing to chain together long drives.

Most of the problem with this coordinator and scheme lies right from the opening drives where he's calling passive zones to try and first of all get the drives to self destruct by the opponent but also he's trying to see what kind of strategy the other team is going to employ this game. The problem with the second part of that is that if the first part doesn't come into play, like Thomas on Thursday who was about as bad of a converted TE playing QB as you'll ever see and his draft stock has plummeted this year because of that fact, now you're setting up the other team's trigger man with a lot of confidence right out the gate. Instead of making the guy have to mentally deal with a long day ahead and begin to affect his play negatively accordingly, D'No is giving the guy confidence by letting him make those easy 'rhythm' completions thus setting him up for a great first half. Now you've got a QB playing with confidence, now you've got a whole offense feeding off that, now you've got a problem derailing that in the second half because D'No's situational play-calling is the worst I've ever seen at UM, this includes Tim Walton as a first time coordinator mind you, so the odds of him finally dialing up something to derail that self inflicted boost of confidence on his part is null and void.

The bad news is that this is Golden's defense and he doesn't believe it sucks, despite his career results to an impartial observer telling you otherwise. So UM is stuck with the mutant from Philly even though Jethro might get sent back to the hills to shoot at some food if UM's lucky. DB coach is worthless too, he can join them, so can Carrol tweeter. Al's got about six more games to get this thing on track and then I'm going to start calling for his C- behind to get lost too, veteran head coaches such as he shouldn't be so clueless about this stuff.

[laquinton]

Coordinators become head coaches J.Haurbaugh(spellcheck]

[laquinton]

Rex ryan is gonna be available soon

[mi@mic@ne]

If al is afraid of splintering then he aint afraid of losing enough. He needs to be more afraid of losing so he will do anything to get this ship righted.

[CGNC]

A big thank you to all the current and former military who serve and have served

[mi@mic@ne]

fear the tie with the L on it

[Dude on a Pale Horse]

OGV,
I just wanted to say you were 100% right on our defense. Or as some have said "offenses waterbreak." I am hoping you are 100% wrong on Al Golden believing in this garbage. He has to move on from his bff.