Canes Kick The Stuffing Out Of Pitt

Nine and Three.

Yes indeed, your Miami Hurricanes finished the 2013 college football regular season on a positive note with a record of 9 wins and 3 losses.

Long-time Canespace blogger CanesGirlNC (CGNC) finally had it right when she called for the UM football team to finish this year with a 9-3 record. Of course she (much like myself) had called for it the last five seasons in a row (or more) but at least she finally got her wish even if I had already abandoned mine.

And for that she deserves much appreciation and our sincerest congratulations!

So, when it was over your Miami Hurricanes had capped off the 2013 season with another victory to end what most would describe as a successful, but barring two consecutive miracles today, a slightly less than satisfactory season.

The bottom line for most Hurricane fans is that anything short of an ACC title game would be a disappointment for this year's team and unless UNC beats Duke and Virginia beats VT today the Hurricanes will be watching that game on TV instead of playing in it in Charlotte.

Sure, we can say that Miami beat Pitt on a cold night at Heinz Field by a score of 41-31 in a game that was not quite as close as the final score seemed. The offense looked much better this week as they broke the 40 point barrier once again behind another incredible performance by Freshman sensation WR Stacy Coley. Heck, even a TE caught a TD pass!

Yet still, the Miami defense remains an enigma, wrapped inside a mystery, that remains to be revealed. In the fourth quarter the UM defense went into the "prevent mode" which as all the fans but none of the coaches seem to know prevents nothing.

The Hurricanes once again gave up 501 yards and 31 points to another run of the mill team with a mediocre offense. Pitt scored at will in the final minutes of the game making the final score much closer than it should have been as the UM defense gave it up easier than Lindsay Lohan on a binge.

As I watched the final minutes tick away and the Panthers inserting themselves into our end zone just as easy as you please I almost expected to hear: "Hey SOUP, thrown down some beers; we need more beer for twerking!"

But that is a story for another day (trust me on this) as today we will choose to simply focus on the positive just because we can:

• UM won nine games in a season for the first time since 2009.
• Miami finished the season strong winning their last two games.
• The Hurricanes ended ACC play with a 5-3 record.
• UM will play in a bowl game for the first time in three years.
• The 2014 recruiting class id definitely looking like it could be one of the best in school history.

Comments

[Yoopercane]

Go Canes!

[IraqiCane]

Way to WIN!!! GO CANES!!!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Great stuff Soup!

[SOUP]

Stacey Coley is on our team, he'll get us at least 7 wins by his damn self the next 2yrs!

Posted by: Willie Will in Missouri | November 30, 2013 at 12:02 AM

THIS.

[SOUP]

I'll take a W despite the defense making me a little nervous again. Also want to thank KYcane for joining me. It was great to meet you.

Posted by: raizecane | November 30, 2013 at 12:03 AM

NICE!

[SOUP]

Ohio...thanks for the photos and the video.

U da MAN!

[raizecane]

Great job Ohio…..looks like u had some really nice seats. And the pictures came out real good despite your drunkenness,,,,,way to go!!

[raizecane]

looked like there were a lot of empty seats for the game…...

[Ohio_Cane]

@ByTimReynolds: Unless Miami goes to the ACC title game, it sounds like Russell Athletic Bowl vs. Louisville might be the way things work out for 'Canes

[VfB_Cane]

If you want to focus on the positive, "The Hurricanes ended ACC play with a 5-3 record." shouldn't be a part of the list.

9-3 overall is OK, as long as the losses are in non-conference play. Before we can claim to be back, we have to make it to the top of our conference (or even our division), and a 5-3 record is not getting that done.
First and foremost, we have to avoid losing to divisional rivals; we're 3-7 against VT since joining the ACC in 2004.

[Ohio_Cane]

SOUP, U are welcome, sir.

Raize, I too was surprised when I checked the pics and video later that they were actually legit lol. There were some of the seat, the ground, the air, etc, but I didn't post those. LOL

Oh, and there's no way that stadium had more than 20k people. Stadium was EMPTY.

Ps - Correction in the article:

"Sure, we can say that Miami beat Pitt on a cold night at Heinze Field by a core of 41-31"

*Heinz Field ... *Score of 41-31

[Ohio_Cane]

The crowd at the game had to have been 1/4 Canes fans

[KYcane]

Raize,

Yes sir, it was great to meet you as well. That was a good place to watch the game.

[Ohio_Cane]

@hurricanesports: STACY COLEY: The ONLY FBS player in 2013 to record a TD via reception, punt return, kickoff return & rush http://t.co/fZPLIqVENs

[SOUP]

Ohio...thanks and fixed.

[SOUP]

Kissimmee State Park here I come!

[j.w.]

Great writeup Soup, nice win this weekend. And what a relief it was to enjoy a Canes game with little to no angst!

[dj moonbat]

@hurricanesports: STACY COLEY: The ONLY FBS player in 2013 to record a TD via reception, punt return, kickoff return & rush http://t.co/fZPLIqVENs

Some people just can't make up their mind.

[KYcane]

Ohio,

Great video... Looks like you had some good action in the corner of that EZ w/the catch & Coley's run.

[MaryLouAlumni]

Wonderful pictures. Thank You. Great article too, but look what happened with the defense! Geez, I just wanted the darn game to end, because everytime they got the ball, they marched down the field. I was holding my breath. As you said, it should NEVER been that close. GOLDEN & CO JUST DON'T GET IT.
Let's hope today goes our way for once.

[AfriCane]

its funny how the media can make excuses for an SEC team like florida that loses 7 in a row including to an FCS team that also had 19 players missing due to injury. so what if they had a lot of injury? Florida has had a top 5 recruiting class for like the last 8 years. they have depth. no reason they should be this low with all those 5 stars. if that were Miami, they would just simply call us garbage. God! I hate the SEC, the media & Florida.

[AfriCane]

Damn Jort wearing sissies from Gays-ville.

[Jramos]

I kind of hope they go to the Russell athletic bowl cause then i will be going...Is in Orlando right guys?

[VfB_Cane]

Promising start: NC scores, up 7-0.

[CGNC]

LOL Soup, the team needs to win their bowl for me to completely abandon the 9-3.

[pbcfrcane13]

God what I would do for an attacking D like UF wow!

[pbcfrcane13]

They are just playing man bump on the outside andsstanding guys up showing blitz blitzing from all sides oh man its fun to watch

[VfB_Cane]

NC and Duke tied at 7.

[AfriCane]

pbc, they didn't swarm against the fcs team.

[CGNC]

Ohio glad you had fun at the game and kudos to Mrs. Ohio for sitting in that freezing weather with you! I always found the away games more fun than the home games

[pbcfrcane13]

Yea its one game that I'm sure they thought thru could cake walk plus there only missing there best player. Not saying I want there team I want there style of defense of play calling.

[AfriCane]

our secondary is better thaan UNC's.

[pbcfrcane13]

Osu Michigan game wow fun!

[VA Cane]

Hello all you Canes fans. I saw you brave fans in the stands, think you really helped us!!!

We did a nice job in the cold overall....that was good to come out shirtless.....good for mental toughness.

Overall I cant fuss too hard as we won. There is still room for improvement as with any team.

Offense SM did not play bad, threw ball away when needed to...good job. Got the ball to Hurns and Coley....those guys are awesome....like Reggie W and Harrison....they will be great pros. The line did a good job in protection....and at times on the run....other times not so much. We get lazy up front, do not pick our feet up, do not fly out there when we pull and do not turn it up to block...that's lazy and poor foot work. It has to happen every play. Linemen that size must be quick....pick them feet up....drive block hard....sprint on the pull. We got lazy in the 2nd half until Pitt started coming back...it was like wake up. I did like the TD to Cleveland nice pass. Walford should have scored on his burst....he just fell down over the guy.....then he got his AZZ chilled.....he runs straight up.....again pick them feet up and go run....north south and in a football position. Again, Coley and Hurns were great and overall the O did pretty good. I do not like the false start stuff they are non competitive fouls before anything happens....THINK!!!!

Punting, coverage, KO, returns were pretty good as well. Punter is a great weapon....and he made the strip.

Defense.....again we made a few plays but overall it is disappointing. There is no pressure up front at all. We get turned sideways on runs and driven out of the attack zone. At times we made stops, but they blew us off the ball too often. Linebackers did ok at times, but way too many missed tackles......and 5-7 yards off ball? Not looking into the backfield and letting TEs and backs slip out wide open? Bad coverage. I think The Dude said we have 5 free safties......I swear there might have been 7....all in the middle of the field 15+ yards back....guys were running wide open nobody there. That is bad D. Overall the tackling was embarrassing.....KR22 on their first TD just whiffed....head down arms flailing....awful. You will never be a contender with this soft vanilla laid back be nice don't hit tackle or cover D. Bad D.

Now it was a win, and the O looked good at times, the D looked good in spots....ST pretty good. I liked the spirit and they did well in the cold.

The D is broken, and it is not acceptable. Maybe I am wrong, maybe I think I know it all, maybe I am too critical....but I have to be honest. That scheme is wrong, bad, failing and unacceptable.

Somebody was talking about talent...well we have some talent.....Coley Hurns were impressive.....but watch their fundamentals, footwork, focus, concentration, effort, will, desire......they were taught these things and they drank deeply....they are top notch. Linder looked really good he is solid.

Talent rating from talking heads who just talk does not work for me. These kids were good HS players....who got by on speed, ability, arm tackles, shove blocks....they were superior talent then. Now you step up against the big boys who do it right.....that shine aint so bright. We have got to get serious about the fundamentals of the game....in all areas. You can talk talent all you want....go for it....stars, 40 and 100 times, Under Armour All Star, HS records, SWAG......grab it baby. I will beat you every time with talent.....but talent that is rock solid based in fundamentals, football smarts, the ability to learn the new while still basing it on the basics, desire, aggression, passion, TEAM mentality TEAM first attitude.....and has some of those other things as additional features.....the speed the times, the accolades and records.....I don't need no SWAG.....I need silent confidence assassin mentality.

I like AG and staff....they have improved some things......but they are wrong if they do not wake up and realize how fundamentally inept we are. You have got to coach hard every day, repetition of fundamentals.....you blend mold shape and positively indoctrinate your players into players highly motivated passionate assassins who attempt to execute the fundamentals of the game perfectly every play. Perfection never happens, but by chasing it excellence is certainly possible.....Per Vince L......JMO

[VA Cane]

Check my boy Derrick Green FB Michigan.....freshman playing big time for the Wolverines......fine young man very tough!!!!!!! He's listed from Richmond but played for me in the county......

[Account Deleted]

Duke came back to defeat NC.

We're safe from another FSU beat down....

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Go Blue Devils in Charlotte.

Just to recall;

Atlantic Division
1. Clemson (102) 815
2. Florida State (18) 731
3. NC State 490
4. Wake Forest 392
5. Maryland 373
6. Syracuse 320
7. Boston College 211

Coastal Division
1. Miami (65) 736
2. Virginia Tech (27) 654
3. North Carolina (22) 649
4. Georgia Tech (6) 522
5. Pitt 313
6. Virginia 230
7. Duke 228

Just wait until Golden's in year nine as a coach, THEN he'll finally live up to a preseason prediction for his team. Sure he will.

(Blown out by Duke. Pathetic.)

[j.w.]

Well, so much for the Coastal. Not that we deserved it, but would have been nice. At least the Hokies didn't get the title.

[CGNC]

j.w. - let the Dookies get pasted by FSU. Cause you know it is going to happen

[Surfercane]

Louisville will be a tough outing, Teddy will light up our D!

[TonyCane]

Predictions for Duke vs FSU?

My own, FSU 53 Duke 10

[TonyCane]

Number of games Miami has scored 40 or more points:

1994: 2
1995: 2
1996: 4
1997: 5
1998: 5
1999: 4
2000: 7
2001: 6
2002: 8
2003: 2
2004: 4
2005: 2
2006: 1
2007: none
2008: 3
2009: 2
2010: 1
2011: 2
2012: 6
2013: 5

Number of games Miami has allowed 40 or more points:

1994: none
1995: 1
1996: none
1997: 2
1998: 2
1999: 1
2000: none
2001: none
2002: 1
2003: none
2004: none
2005: 1
2006: none
2007: 3
2008: 2
2009: 1
2010: 1
2011: none
2012: 4
2013: 3

[Canezitis]

Something I've been thinking about since the duke game is even though Dno calls too much soft coverage and doesn't dial up enough pressure, when he does the guys just don't get there. So is he calling plays based on the fact that our Dline is basically void of talent- sorry front 7, or because that's just his scheme. Over the last few games this is what I can surmise: we have a talented secondary when 1,2,3,& 26 are in the game, but our LB's minus perryman are just bad-athletically and mentally. Our dline needs this next recruiting class and McCord and Quan need another year. My hope is that Dno will be more aggressive when we get better front seven athletes and have 2 healthy safeties so as to not get burnt. I partially believe he needs that influx of talent because I think we can all see the guys are struggling and mainly against the run. We'll have to wait and see next year because at this point, Dno has weathered the onslaught of pissed off fans and I think Al keeps him on.

[canezilla]

HAVE FUN IN ORLANDO GUYS NO WAY IM SPENDING MORE MONEY ON THIS TEAM THIS YEAR. ILL WATCH IT FROM THE CRIB WITH MY GOOSE N VODKA

[canezilla]

AND CRANBERRY JUICE LOL

[The Dude]

Some good football games today. Cross your fingers Perryman comes back. Anyone know where he is at with his choice? I'd have to think he's 98% NFL. We sure could use his play next year. No'D will be our DC again next year, hopefully he can get it done. A ten win season gives Golden some space to do whatever he wants, even if his D is garbage.

[Ohio_Cane]

Ohio,

Great video... Looks like you had some good action in the corner of that EZ w/the catch & Coley's run.

Posted by: KYcane | November 30, 2013 at 11:32 AM
----------------------------------------

And Gus' TD run!

[CGNC]

Tech taking it to Georgia

[The Dude]

Posted by: CGNC | November 30, 2013 at 04:34 PM

I've been keeping an eye on that one too.

[The Dude]

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | November 30, 2013 at 04:33 PM

Glad you had a good time and the Canes won, no walk of shame, lol.