Feel the euphoria now, because the toughest two weeks of Canes’ season lead to Clemson
The toughest two weeks of the University of Miami football season start now.
Hurricanes fans: Go crazy, celebrate, do some trash-talking.
But your Miami Hurricanes that crushed longtime rival Florida State 52-10 Saturday sound as if they actually might settle down, buckle up and focus really hard for an opponent with no mercy: No. 1 (by a landslide) Clemson.
Because if they don’t, and the Hurricanes repeat recent history, this dreamlike young season could disintegrate by the time you say “Trevor Lawrence.’’ He’s the nation’s top quarterback projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he and his top-ranked Clemson Tigers (2-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) meet the now-No. 8 Hurricanes (3-0, 2-0) in Clemson, South Carolina, on Oct. 10.
So, what about Saturday, Oct. 3? That’s part of the significant challenge. UM coach Manny Diaz knows that this Saturday’s open date the Atlantic Coast Conference afforded the Canes is not so much of a gift as a recent problem. Last year, Miami lost all three games coming off bye weeks, including one against FIU after crushing Louisville — and of course, the bowl game to Louisiana Tech after four weeks to spare.
COVID-19 CHALLENGES
This year, the open weeks are even more daunting, with COVID-19 causing several college teams to postpone games and UM players getting tested three times a week (72 hours before games, 24 hours before games and the day after games).
“We just told them in the locker room, ‘We’re going to face our most difficult opponent of the year, and that’s not Clemson’ — and that’s no disrespect to them,’’ Diaz said late Saturday night. “It’s going to be this off week.’’
A huge difference in this year’s program, besides an obviously gifted new offensive coordinator in Rhett Lashlee: graduate transfer D’Eriq King, who not only looks spectacular on the field, but appears to be the offensive leader the Canes have desperately needed.
“D’Eriq King is probably one of the leaders that we always needed on our offense and we haven’t really seen in a long time,’’ said freshman running back Don Chaney Jr., who scored his first two career touchdowns Saturday. “I’ve never really had a leader, except for [tailback] Cam [Harris], like a quarterback type of leader to tell me what I’m doing wrong, correct me on it and still be able to go play and do his best.’’
King is more than that, though. His maturity and common sense and thoroughness seem to be seeping into his teammates, young and otherwise.
‘Be safe’
“First of all, we’ve got to be safe from [the] coronavirus,’’ was the first thing King said when asked about the open week challenges and facing Clemson. “They’ve got one of the best quarterbacks in college football. They’ve got a great defense.
“I like to tell my guys on offense, ‘It’s a 24-hour rule, so you’ve got to enjoy this game [because] you’ve got 24 hours to put it behind you.’ That’s what we’ve got to do. I’m going to enjoy this win tonight and be on Clemson [Sunday]/ We’ve still got a lot to improve on, but it’s coming together pretty good right now.’’
That’s an understatement. King, who still hasn’t thrown an interception, was 29 of 40 (72.5 percent) for 267 yards and two touchdowns passing on Saturday, added a team-best 65 yards rushing on eight carries for an 8.1-yard average. Eleven Hurricanes caught passes, including Dee Wiggins, who caught a 40-yard strike to make it 28-3 in the second quarter — two plays after teammate Mark Pope fumbled away a punt return and one play after FSU’s Jordan Travis was intercepted at the FSU 37-yard line by leaping, acrobatic defensive end Jaelan Phillips.
It should be noted that Phillips and his Hurricanes were so ecstatic about the pick that Phillips, with his teammates following, pranced all the way into the end zone with his arm raised high while clutching the football. That got Phillips an unsportsmanlike penalty, followed by another one in the first half, which resulted in an automatic ejection.
“He felt awful about it,’’ said Diaz, who warned Phillips he’d be disqualified if it happened again. “It’s a great teaching lesson, not just for Jaelan, but for everyone else on the roster. But full credit to [defensive ends] Cam Williams, Jahfari Harvey...Pat Joyner...Chantz Williams. It really gave some other guys a chance to step up.’’
Among nation’s best offenses
The Canes have scored 130 points in three games, good for 12th nationally; have averaged 499 yards their first three games, 14th best nationally; have allowed three sacks (none Saturday) this season, 10th best in the nation; and Saturday were an astounding 11 of 16 in third-down conversions and 3 of 4 in fourth-down conversions — while scoring touchdowns on their first five drives.
Said King (seventh nationally in passing yards and eighth in passing touchdowns) of putting up 52 points, the most ever scored by either of the teams in the series that began in 1951: “It’s a great feeling. The thing that kept sticking up to me the whole night was a meeting at the hotel saying, ‘It doesn’t have to be close.’ So, that was our mindset.
“We wanted to go out there and start fast and we did on both sides of the ball. We didn’t come in and celebrate at halftime. We told everybody to stay focused, keep our foot on the gas, you never know what can happen. ... Just being a mature football team, because a lot of teams would go out there, take their foot off the gas and let the team back in the game.
“That’s a big step for us.’’
Bubba’s birthday message
The Canes’ defense put the pedal to the metal as well, with six sacks, 13 tackles for loss, three interceptions and a forced fumble. Safety Bubba Bolden was again a force, contributing a sack, two tackles for loss, forced fumble, interception and pass breakup. After he earned the turnover chain for his pick, Bolden wrote “Happy B-Day Momma” for the world to see. The game was nationally televised by ABC.
“It’s her birthday,’’ Bolden said. “Last year against Florida State, on my interception I broke my leg. So, coming out this week and getting that turnover chain and making a play, it made me happy and it made her happy.’’
The question now: Can the Canes stay happy — and hungry?
“Manny always tells us, ‘Winning is simple,’ Chaney said. ‘But it’s just the things you’ve got to do to get to win are really hard.’ So, yeah, we’re focused.’’
This story was originally published September 27, 2020 at 12:20 PM.
